Characteristics Tahitian Dog

a dog sitting below boy in outrigger canoe sydney parkinson s view of island of otaheite several vessels of island, c. 1773.

the tahitian dogs described having small or medium build, resembling terriers or crooked-legged dachshund in size. coats brown, white or rust-yellow smooth hairs. had broad heads, small eyes, long backs, sharp-pointed muzzles , erect ears. described lazy, shy, , not ferocious, having notoriously bad dispositions. seldom barked howled. lumped hawaiian poi dog 19th-century taxonomists because of similar appearance , diet, in contrast kurī, larger in size due higher protein diet.

their diet included breadfruit, coconut, yam , poi made taro , fish. soft vegetarian diet caused dogs develop round skulls , small stature.

german naturalist georg forster wrote polynesian dogs, more in response ones saw in society islands during visit huahine in september 1773:

the dogs of these islands short, , sizes vary of lap-dog largest spaniel. head broad, snout pointed, eyes small, ears upright, , hair rather long, lank, hard, , of different colours, commonly white , brown. seldom if ever barked, howled sometimes, , shy of strangers degree of aversion.