| As
pets of the aborigines, the Telomians were an integral part of
their lives, protecting the villagers from snakes. The dogs
were sight hunters of small game and caught fish in the midst
of a stream. These natives ate mostly tapioca, rice and a
small amount of fish and fruit, a diet shared with their pets.
The masters' huts were built on six-to-eight foot stilts, and
the Telomians climbed the ladders to the quarters to sleep.
Entering first, a dog chased out and killed any snakes and
small animals that had taken up residence during the family's
absence. Today, the breed retains that climbing agility and is
difficult to confine.
The breed reached the public eye
in 1963 when anthropologist Dr. Orville Elliot discovered
specimens protected by aborigines in the jungles of
Malaysia. The Telomian was named for the Telom River near
their source. Due to increased access to the jungles, the
little dog's lifestyle was changing and threatened. The
natives communicated their concern for their beloved dogs to
the doctor and his wife. To prevent dilution or extinction
of the breed, the Elliots obtained a pair.
Dr. Elliot sent this pair to Dr.
J.R Scott, at Jackson Laboratory in Maine, for inclusion in
his study on animal behavior. They were bred in laboratory
situations until their introduction to the public in 1970 by
research assistant Audrey Malone Palumbo. That year the
Telomian Dog Club was formed and became interested in
obtaining another pair of dogs, as the current stock was
intensely inbred. Elliot once again traveled to Malaysia to
search for a pair, which arrived in 1973.
The Telomians carry many
similarities to the Basenji and other pariah dogs: the
wrinkled brow, almond eyes, light square body structure and
annual estrus cycle. They vocalize in the same manner—a
unique howl/growl/crowing effect.
Telomians love to play and run,
needing to work off energy, making them excellent pets for
children. Similar to their playmates, they are attracted to
almost anything—balls, sticks, fris-bees, toads, skunks. A
characteristic of the breed is the use of their paws,
opening doors, holding toys and chewbones, much like a human
infant.
They require a maximum amount of
human handling at four-to-eight weeks of age, starting
earlier than the peak socialization period of other breeds.
Without this bonding, they remain aloof to people and unable
to adjust to new situations. If socialized, Telomians become
marvelous and fascinating friends.
Mostly companion dogs, they are
lure-coursed and do well in coursing trials. At 35 mph, they
are swift competitors. The Telomian Dog Club, based in the
United States, helps place Telomian puppies in appropriate
homes. All Telomians existing today in America stem back to
only two original pairs.
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