Two years after first walking into the Philippine Circuit Dog Show in traditional Filipino attire, the asong gubat is suddenly the talk of the local canine circuit, and breeders are betting it could be the country’s next breakout breed.
Also called the Philippine forest dog and sometimes nicknamed the “witch dog” for the wild, almost-fox-like look of its face, the asong gubat returned to the PCCI Philippine Circuit Dog Show 2026 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in January, drawing crowds away from imported breeds like the Siberian Husky and the French Bulldog. The Philippine Canine Club, Inc. (PCCI) logged 7,440 entries across 91 breeds at the 2026 edition, and the forest dog was one of the most-photographed dogs in the building.
What makes the asong gubat different
The breed is native to the Philippines and is one of the oldest landrace dogs in Southeast Asia. Unlike purebreds with closed studbooks, the asong gubat has been shaped by generations of living alongside rural Filipino households. The result is a small, lean, alert dog with a curled or sickle tail, pricked ears, and a coat that runs from tan to deep mahogany.
| Trait | Asong gubat |
|---|---|
| Origin | Indigenous to the Philippines, landrace breed |
| Size | Small to medium, typically 5 to 9 kilograms |
| Temperament | Alert, loyal, highly intelligent, reserved with strangers |
| Coat | Short, smooth, often tan, brown, or black-and-tan |
| Recognition status | Pending international recognition; PCCI-sanctioned local class |
Why 2026 could be the breakout year
Three things are happening at once. First, the January 2023 show debut put the asong gubat in front of international judges for the first time. Second, the breed has been endorsed as the proposed Philippine national dog breed, which is a big emotional hook for Filipino pet owners. Third, the cost of a purebred imported dog has climbed sharply since 2022, pushing many new owners toward locally available native dogs, exactly the gap the asong gubat fills.
Long-time Filipino pet owners say the appeal is simple. “They are smart, they are loyal, and they do not get sick easily,” one asong gubat owner told Rappler in 2023. That combination is exactly what first-time dog owners in Metro Manila are now looking for, and breeders are taking notice.
What still needs to happen
For the asong gubat to move from crowd favorite to legitimate show breed, three things have to fall into place. First, a formal breed standard has to be written and accepted by the PCCI board. Second, a recognized studbook needs to track pedigrees across at least four generations. Third, a delegation has to file a recognition petition with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the global body that governs breed standards worldwide. The PCCI has hinted it is working on the first two; the third is still a few years away.
None of that matters much to the fans already following the breed. At the 2024 show, forest dog owners dressed in traditional Filipino attire and walked their dogs in a dedicated fun match; the crowd reaction was strong enough that the segment has become a recurring feature. By 2026, the booth was packed every single day.
Should you get one
If you are looking for a small, low-maintenance dog with strong watchdog instincts and a clear Filipino identity, the asong gubat is a serious contender. Just go in knowing it is still a working landrace, not a show breed in the traditional sense. They are alert, they will bark, and they need early socialization with people and other pets. They are also extremely food-motivated, which makes training straightforward. Most Philippine animal welfare groups now have asong gubat mixes available for adoption, and a small number of dedicated breeders are working on pedigreed lines for the show circuit.
The asong gubat will not replace the Golden Retriever or the Shih Tzu in Philippine homes overnight, but the 2026 Circuit Show made one thing clear: Filipino dog owners are ready for a breed that is actually Filipino. The forest dog has been waiting in the Philippine countryside for centuries. It just needed someone to walk it into a show ring.
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