The Korean Jindo is a medium-sized dog breed with a well-proportioned, equilateral body. His length and height at the withers are about equal to each other. There are three types of Korean Jindo based on their body shape:
- Hudu or Heutgae
This type has a slender body that is slightly longer at the withers. This dog’s ears, head, loins, and muzzle are somewhat elongated.
- Tonggol or Gyupgae
This type has a deeper chest and a proportionate muscular body.
- Gakgol
This type shares the same elongated body like the Hudu and a similar deep chest like the Tonggol.
Generally, the Korean Jindo has a broad skull and wedge-shaped head. His furry ears are triangular, raised upright, and slightly leans forward. His thick tail is curled in the form of a sickle. His hind legs are sturdy and powerful with cat-like feet that have tough, round, and well-furred pads.
The breed has almond-shaped eyes that come in various shades of brown. Some dogs may have light brown eyes, but these are not favoured by fanciers. Most of the dogs have pointed muzzles that are black, except for white Jindos, which can have different shades of tan and pink on their noses.
The Korean Jindo sports a short, thick double coat. The topcoat is sleek and smooth, whilst the undercoat is soft and dense. The coat comes in colours of fawn, grey, red, white, yellow, brindle, and black and white.
The breed requires fairly low-maintenance. The coat needs brushing once or twice a week with a pin or slicker brush. However, he may require it more often once his shedding period starts.
The Korean Jindo has a wash-and-wear coat, and he grooms himself much like a cat. He also has a strange aversion to water, thus it is best to bathe him sparingly. Only do it when he gets too smelly or grimy.
Keep his nails trimmed regularly to prevent it from excessively growing, which can lead to cracking or splitting. Regular checking and cleaning of his ears is a must to avoid dirt build-up that can cause ear infections. Daily toothbrushing should be a part of his grooming routine, not only to curb doggy breath but also periodontal diseases.