The Thai Bangkaew Dog is believed to have originated in the early 1900s at the Wat Bangkaew Monastery in the village of Bangkaew, Bang-rakam District, Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. Phitsanulok Province is located in Central Thailand. The area is known for its rich culture, natural beauty and plentiful wildlife.
Luang Puh Maak Metharee, the third abbott of the Buddhist Wat Bangkaew Monastery, is recognized as the founder of the Thai Bangkaew Dog breed. Legend states that a resident of Bangkaew village brought a pregnant female dog to the monastery as a gift for the abbott. It is believed the female dog had mated with a wild dhole or jackal. Analysis of DNA has suggested similarities between the Thai Bangkaew Dog and the Golden Jackal. The female dog delivered four puppies which later interbred with dogs owned by the Song people who lived by the Yom River. By 1957, the Thai Bangkaew Dog breed was established in Phitsanulok Province. Over the years, interest in the TBD declined and by the 1980s, it was close to becoming extinct.
In 1983, Dr. Nisit Tangtrakarnpong, a veterinarian, started a project in Phitsanulok Province called “Bang Kaew Khuen Thin” to save the breed from extinction. His efforts are credited with preserving the Thai Bangkaew Dog which is now considered a national treasure in Thailand, Although the TBD is still a rare breed outside of Thailand, it has dedicated enthusiasts in many countries including the United States of America.
More information about the origin of the Thai Bangkaew Dog breed is coming soon.
Thai Bangkaew Dog Club of America 