Bully Kutta


The Bully Kutta, also known as the Indian Mastiff or Indo-Pakistani Mastiff is a type of large working dog that originated in the Indian subcontinent, dating back to the 16th century. The Bully Kutta is a working dog used for hunting and guarding. This dog is often confused with the extinct Alangu dog of Tamilnadu.The dog breed is popular in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, including Haryana and Delhi.

Name and description

Bully Kutta literally translates to heavily wrinkled dog. The word Bully comes from the root word of the Hindustani and Punjabi languages Bohli which means heavily wrinkled and Kutta means dog. Bully Kuttas have an average weight of 78 kg and height of 2.7 ft.
The Alangu Mastiff originated in the Indian subcontinent, either in the Thanjavur and Tiruchi districts of Madras or the Sind region of medieval India. In Thanjavur, the Bully Kutta was a favorite pet of ruling families. The Mughal emperor Akbar owned a Bully dog, which he used for hunting.
The Second International Dog Show at Islington Agricultural Hall, held on 28 May 1864 in London, showcased the Indian Mastiff among several other dog breeds. The previous year, Edward, the Prince of Wales, and Princess Alexandra, entered an Indian mastiff in the same show, along with a Newfoundland, Russian retriever and two borzois. In 1884, Littell's Living Age said that historically, this dog was employed by kings "in the chase of wild beasts".

Temperament

Bully Kuttas have been described as intelligent, alert, responsive, energetic and aggressive. A well known veterinary Dr. LN Gupta from Agra, India has stated that bully dogs are a dominating canine and should only be handled by well-experienced owners.
The American Humane Association has stated that "on tests conducted in 2009 by the American Temperament Test Society, bullies scored better than several breeds that are rarely associated with aggression, including beagles and collies."
In 2017, a Beagle dog was mutilated to death by a Bully Kutta and a Rhodesian Ridgeback in Eccles, Greater Manchester.
Bully Kuttas must be exercised and walked regularly or they may develop several behavior issues.

Use as a fighting dog

Bully Kuttas have been illegally used for dog fighting in Pakistan and India, including areas such as Delhi, Gurugram, and Noida. In June 2018, police in Indian Punjab filed First Information Report for the first time against organizers of a dog fight. According to a specialist at Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, "imported animals are being crossbred to be more menacing". In Pakistan, many non-profit organizations are now working against illegal fighting and creating awareness among the people.

Popularity

The dog is popular in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. In India, breeders from several rural areas of Punjab and Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan rear the Bully Kutta; however it is not recognized by Kennel Club of India. They have been part of many competitions in India. According to Times of India, it has importance among youth of having a macho image.

Citations