The words Dog Breed Info with the letter D inside of a black paw print

Komba

Information and Pictures

A large breed tan dog with ears that hang to the sides with a black nose and dark eyes sitting down with the words overlayed in red letters 'I am Komba !!'

An adult Komba—Photo courtesy of the Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center, Tamil Nadu India

Other Names
  • Komba Dog
  • Por Komba (Por means War in the Tamil language, as the dogs were used in war during ancient years)
Pronunciation

Komb-ba

Description

The Komba is a landrace of “Ancient Tamil Civilization” originally bred and developed in the Ramanathapuram district (Ramnad), Tamil Nadu, INDIA. The Komba is a medium to large size “sight as well as scent” Hound Dog. This breed is tall and heavy with good boned broad legs and a deep chest. The Komba has a short coat with a natural variety of colors, shades and patterns. The most common colors are reddish brown with a black muzzle, black, fawn, brindle, grey/ash (saambal), white with various wonderful shades and patterns as shared in the pictures.

Temperament

Intelligent, loyal, alert and eager to please with a balanced temperament. The Komba is good with children. They are good at reading a humans energy and knowing what they are feeling, to the point where they are always astonishing the native people of Ramanathapuram. A fully grown male dog (more than 2/3 years) can get adopted and attached to a new family or an individual with ease. The breed does a great job guarding its home and property. The Komba dog has a natural tendency to hunt, it is used for hunting wild boar and other big game such as bison and deer. Be sure you are this dog's calm, but firm, confident and consistent pack leader. Does best with an owner who is even-tempered, displaying a natural, but gentle authority over the dog.

Height, Weight

Height: Male 28-32 inches (71-81 cm) and some reaches more than 32 inches Female 26-30 inches (66-76 cm)

Weight: Male 77-100 pounds (35-45 kg) Female 66-88 (30-40 kg) Some may weigh beyond the specified limit depending on their lifestyle.

Health Problems

This is a hardy, healthy breed that is used to tropical climates.

Living Conditions

The Komba dog will do okay in an apartment and can live with only a small yard so long as it gets enough exercise but would love to live in farmlands with a good fenced yard.

Exercise

Komba that are kept as pets should be taken on long, brisk walks daily. They would love to go for a swim.

Life Expectancy

About 15-20 years

Though this is a medium to large size breed they have a long life span from 15 years until just more than 20 years according to the natives who own them. This is due to their high immunity and ability to survive in nature.

Litter Size

About 6 to 10 puppies

Grooming

The smooth, shorthaired coat is very easy to groom. Simply comb and brush with a firm bristle brush once a week. The skin is usually healthy. This breed is a light shedder.

Origin

This prized breed dates back to the ancient Tamil Civilization, which was popular in the current Ramanathapuram (Ramnad) district of Tamilnadu state, India. The breed is sometimes miss spelt as Kombai or Combai based on the dialect and pronunciation. This is well documented by famous animal enthusiasts and researchers such as W. V. Soman (1963) and Desmond Morris (2002). This breed has been protected and kept only within the natives and therefore it is nearing extinction. This native breed of Tamil is not the same as the “ANANGU” Dog, “KUKKAL” Dog and “PATTI” Dog. The Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center (AKCC) (non-profit organization) has agreed to revive and conserve this breed. The Komba is not only for guarding, shepherding and hunting but also were used as a working dog in the “war”, documented in historic moments. Those rich legacies were traditional evidence through an invaluable, countless, carvings in stone sculptures widespread across the region. Kerala Kennel Club released a book in 1973 stating Marawa kings owned this native breed.

Group

Tamil Hound, Herding and Guarding

Recognition
  • AKCC - Anangu Komba Conservation Center
Side view of a reddish colored large breed puppy with rose ears that stand out to the sides, a black nose with a black tipped muzzle and a long tail wearing a red collar standing outside in red dirt

Bairava the 4-month-old Komba puppy—Photo courtesy of the Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center, Tamil Nadu India

A large breed tan brindle dog standing with one eye squinted closed and a long tail with a black nose standing on a dirt floor

An adult brindle Komba—Photo courtesy of the Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center, Tamil Nadu India

Side view of a large breed black dog wearing a red collar with his tail curled in a ring over her back walking outside on a dirt surface

An adult black Komba—Photo courtesy of the Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center, Tamil Nadu India

A dark gray large breed dog with a very long thin tail and lighter ears with white tipped paws standing outside in hay that is spread on top of dirt with chickens in the background

An adult blackish-gray Komba—Photo courtesy of the Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center, Tamil Nadu India

A large breed tall, thin white dog with black spots and black ticking with a long thin tail with a ring tip end with a long muzzle standing outside in front of a chain link fence

An adult black on white Komba—Photo courtesy of the Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center, Tamil Nadu India

A large breed brown brindle dog with white tipped legs, tail, muzzle and on the back of his neck standing outside on a stone patio

An adult brindle on white Komba—Photo courtesy of the Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center, Tamil Nadu India

An adult tan and white large breed dog with a long thin tail that curls up and over his back wearing a blue collar standing outside in dirt in front of a plant with large green leaves and large rocks on the ground

An adult fawn Komba—Photo courtesy of the Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center, Tamil Nadu India

A large breed red colored dog with a white muzzle, chest and legs and paws walking outside in sand looking like she is talking as she walks

An adult red on white Komba—Photo courtesy of the Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center, Tamil Nadu India

A large breed gray dog with white going down the front of his muzzle, chest and tops of his paws and tail laying down in dirt looking to the left with his mouth open looking happy

An adult saambai on white Komba—Photo courtesy of the Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center, Tamil Nadu India

A large breed white dog with darker gray skin pigments and a long tail with a ring on the tip wearing a green collar standing outside on a blacktop path in front of green leaves

An adult white Komba—Photo courtesy of the Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center, Tamil Nadu India

A large breed red colored dog attached to a dark blue leash pulling forward while standing on a stone patio

Naachiyaa adult female reddish brown Komba at 3 1/2 years old—Photo courtesy of the Anangu-Komba-Conservation Center, Tamil Nadu India

See more examples of the Komba

Dog Breed Info Center(R) DBIC