Everything You Need to Know About the Hawaiian Poi Dog

The Hawaiian Poi Dog initially lived amongst the Polynesian tribes and was bred for a different purpose than our canine companions today. Read below to learn everything you need to know about the Hawaiian Poi Dog.

History

The Hawaiian Poi Dog was brought to Hawaii by Polynesian settlers. The dogs lived with the tribes and usually played with the children. Unlike dogs today, the Poi Dog was considered a delicacy and bred to be eaten. To fatten the dogs up, they were only fed poi, a paste made from taro root. The dogs often spent their time with the hogs bred by the tribes for eating.

Appearance

The Hawaiian Poi Dog’s appearance resembled other Polynesian dogs and other primitive breeds worldwide. The dog’s legs were pretty short, causing the breed to be between 13 and 16 inches tall. Additionally, the species had a long body, similar to a corgi. The breed adopted a vegetarian diet, resulting in the skull developing to be large and flat due to bone disuse. Plus, the coat was short and smooth due to its tropical origins. Additionally, the fur was commonly brown with white markings. But, many colors and patterns were standard, much like other domestic dogs.

Temperament

The Hawaiian Poi Dog was friendly but often clumsy. The breed often spent time with the hogs in the tribe. As a result, they often acted like hogs and tended to shuffle, too. Because of their friendly nature, the dogs were seen as spiritual protectors of the tribe’s children. However, they were not very active and tended to be slow against strangers due to their diet, which made them overweight and lazy.

Extinction

Poi Dogs were crossed with other breeds around the 19th century. As a result, the Hawaiians lost interest in the species because it was no longer pure. So, the breed eventually went extinct.

Today, mixed-breed dogs in Hawaii are often called poi dogs.