A single Bhote breed dog raised by Panchbir Rai, a native of Maijhuwa, Ilam, who has been raising dogs and puppies professionally in Kalpokhari, has been fetched up to eight hundred thousand rupees by customers.
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A separate block has been built for dogs near the magnificent cowshed in Kalpokhari, Sandakpur-4, Ilam.
Among the 14 Bhote breed dogs tied up in a block is a black-faced, furry-bellied dog. The attractive dog, which barks loudly and looks like a bear, has been priced by customers at eight hundred thousand rupees.
The Bhote dog named ‘Sekya’, raised by Panchbir Rai, a resident of Maijhuwa, Ilam, who has been raising cattle and dogs commercially in Kalpokhari, has been priced by customers at eight hundred thousand rupees. Last time, a group of Sajan Basnet and Vijay Poudel, who came from Kathmandu and Pokhara, wanted to buy this dog and paid eight hundred thousand rupees. However, Rai did not sell this dog.
The Bhote breed dog, which is on the verge of extinction, is currently being raised in the high hills of Ilam and Panchthar. ‘This is the biggest and most attractive, so it is worth more than the money paid by the customer,’ said Rai. Rai said that since the time has come to improve and preserve the Bhote dog breed, this dog is suitable for producing improved puppies from mother dogs from Ilam and Panchthar.
Rai has 14 Bhote breed dogs in his stable, including one named 'Bhalu', 2 other males and 11 females. He has raised these dogs commercially with the aim of producing and selling puppies. 'Sekya', who was bought with his mother from Panibhitta, Yangwarak Rural Municipality-1, Panchthar, eight years ago, is now an adult. That is why this dog is strong in all respects, Rai said. Rai said that 10 puppies born to three out of 11 mothers this season have been sold. 'After one and a half months, four more females give birth. After four months, it is time to sell puppies again,' he said.
The price of the Bhote dog puppies born in his shed is determined by the body structure, size and color. He also said that some people book puppies without breeding them. ‘The largest and most attractive puppies are sold for up to one lakh rupees and the smallest (unborn) puppies are sold for at least 20 thousand rupees. If the customer likes them, they pay more than they ask for,’ Rai said, ‘Since the demand is high, they are booked before they are born.’
The Kalpokhari area is bustling with tourists. Tourists from Darjeeling, India, and Pashupatinagar, Ilam, travel through Sandakpur to visit the high-mountainous and Himalayan regions. Customers from various places buy and take the puppies produced here. Local ward chairman DB Gurung says that the dog named ‘Sekya’ bred by Rai is everyone’s favorite. ‘Every day, 8-10 people are interested in buying this dog. But he does not want to sell it,’ said Gurung.
Rai has registered a firm called ‘Sandakpur Kalpokhari Bhote Dog Farm House’ for commercial dog breeding. He has registered this firm with Sandakpur Rural Municipality and the Cottage and Small Industries Development Committee, Ilam. The dogs he raises are fed with flour, milk, mohi and chhurpi juice.
It is customary to raise Bhote breed dogs in the high hilly areas of Ilam and Panchthar for the protection of livestock and stables. Many also raise such dogs for fun. Locals say that this obedient dog is more attractive than others.
Mother dogs are brought to the stables here from Sikkim and Darjeeling in India, along with Ilam and Panchthar. The mother dogs brought in this way are kept in the stable for a certain period of time and impregnated. It is customary for the owner of the mother dog to return a puppy to the owner of the male dog in exchange for breeding them in this way. But dogs brought from outside are not allowed to mate in Rai's stables. 'Since I raise dogs professionally, I have advised against bringing outside dogs for mating as they cannot survive in a large group,' he said.
