How Big Do Full-Grown Hmong Dogs Get? (Size Chart)

The Hmong dog is a very rare dog native to Vietnam that recently gained popularity after some photos of an adorable Hmong puppy went viral for looking like a cat-dog hybrid. Rest assured, there’s no feline DNA involved, but that doesn’t stop us from wanting to know more about this scarce breed.

The Hmong dog is a medium-sized spitz breed with a sturdy, muscular build, erect ears, and bobbed tails. They are known in Asia for their incredible hunting abilities and for making faithful companions to their human families. In this article, we are going to take a deeper look into not only their size but some other interesting information about these rare doggos.

History of the Hmong Dog

The Hmong dog is also known as the Hmong bobtail dog, which in Vietnamese is “Chó H’Mông Cộc đuôi.” There is a lot of speculation surrounding the origins of the breed, but they are thought to possibly be descended from natural bobtail dogs from southern China that accompanied the Hmong, an indigenous group of people from East and Southeast Asia as they migrated into Vietnam in the early 1800s.

After that, it is believed the bobtail dogs then crossbred with Vietnamese jackals, resulting in a multi-purpose breed used for hunting, herding, and guarding by the Hmong people. To this day, the Hmong dog is used in law enforcement, border patrol, and military work and is recognized by the Vietnam Kennel Association.

Hmong Dog Size and Growth Chart

A fully grown Hmong dog will often reach anywhere from 18 to 22 inches tall and 35 to 55 pounds. As with most canines, the males often get larger than the females. You may not hear a lot about the unique dog breeds that come from Vietnam, but the Hmong is just one of Vietnam’s Four Great National Dogs.

The three other breeds include the Phu Quoc Ridgeback, the Bac Ha dog, and the Lai Dog, also known as the Indochinese Dingo or the Vietnamese Dingo. All of these breeds are considered medium-sized, none weighing more than 60 pounds.

Vietnamese Dog Breed Size Chart

Here’s how the size of the Hmong dog compares to other Vietnamense dog breeds.

When Does the Hmong Dog Stop Growing?

Hmong dogs, like other breeds, usually stop growing between 1 to 2 years of age. At this age, that should be around 25 inches tall and weigh no more than 55 pounds on average. However, although they may not grow anymore as far as height, they may continue to put on weight, especially if they are overfed.

Factors Affecting the Size of the Hmong Dog

There aren’t a lot of factors that are going to affect the height of the Hmong dog. In general, these dogs are going to be between 20 and 25 inches tall when fully grown, but they may be a little shorter or a little taller.

However, there is more variation in the weight of the Hmong dog. The most common factor that is going to affect the weight of a Hmong dog is their diet. Hmong dogs that eat a healthy and balanced diet and that are given the appropriate amount of food should maintain the average weight for the breed. However, dogs that are overfed or fed a diet that is high in fat may become overweight or even obese. It is important to follow the feeding guidelines listed on the bag for your dog’s age and weight. Also, Hmong dogs that don’t get enough exercise may also become overweight, and dogs with certain health conditions may be slightly underweight.

Ideal Diet for Maintaining a Healthy Weight

In order to help your Hmong dog maintain a healthy weight, it’s important to make sure you feed them a proper diet. The best diet for Hmong dogs is one that is higher in protein (at least 22%) and lower in fat (around 8.5% minimum). They should be fed high-quality food that is well-balanced with plenty of meat-based ingredients, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals. Adult Hmong dogs should be fed around 2–3 cups of dry food per day, split up into two meals.

How to Measure Your Hmong Dog

A dog’s height is measured from the withers to the floor. To measure your Hmong dog, you should have them stand straight up, then measure them from the highest point of the shoulders (withers) to the floor with a measuring tape. Or, you can have them stand up against a wall, mark where the withers are, and then measure from that mark to the floor.

More About the Hmong Dog

Appearance

This breed is very strong and athletic, with a sturdy, muscular build and wide stance. Their most notable physical feature is their bobbed tail. Their coats are shorter, but very dense and may be black, varying shades of brown, or white in color. Like other spitz breeds, they have a wolf-like face with large, upright ears and almond-shaped eyes.

Temperament

The Hmong dog is known for being a loyal and loving companion. While they are very friendly and devoted to their families, they are often more aloof with strangers. They have strong protective instincts over their family and their territory, which is why they are often used as guard dogs.

This is a high-energy breed with lots of stamina, which is common in dogs used for hunting and herding duties, so they thrive best when they have a job to do. They require at least an hour or two of exercise each day and a fair share of mental stimulation to keep them from becoming bored.

Hmong dogs are very intelligent and often learn very quickly. They are fairly easy to train, though training should be done in short intervals in order to keep their attention. Also be sure to use positive reinforcement techniques such as treats and praise when training your Hmong.

Health

Hmong dogs are an incredibly healthy breed with a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. Of course, they are susceptible to disease and parasites like any other canine, but they show incredible hardiness when it comes to their overall health. They also do well in various weather conditions and show a great deal of both heat and cold tolerance.

The Popularity of the Hmong Dog

The Hmong dog is an incredibly rare breed with little to no selective breeding influence. It is said that there are only about 1,000 Hmong dogs worldwide. Their popularity in the Western world grew when photos of a Hmong puppy went viral for looking like a cat-dog hybrid.

While they may bear some resemblance to a cat during puppyhood, this breed often has a high prey drive, making them not so friendly around cats, especially if they have not been properly socialized from a young age.

The Hmong is not found outside of their native land of Southeast Asia, so finding one in the United States or Europe is nearly impossible. With recent recognition, only time will tell whether this rare breed will make its way into other parts of the world.

Final Thoughts

The Hmong dog is a very rare breed from Vietnam that has been around for centuries. While they are not well known outside of Southeast Asia, these dogs have long been used for hunting, herding, guarding, military, and police work.

The breed is medium-sized, reaching up to 22 inches at the shoulder and weighing up to 55 pounds when fully grown. They are among Vietnam’s Four Great National Dogs, all of which are similar in size but vary in build.

Featured Image Credit: Natchanan19, Shutterstock