Dog Breeds

Keeping pets is not exactly a child’s play. It requires a lot of research; you cannot go and get a pup just because he or she is cute or just because you are getting it easily. Having a pet is a lot of work and at times can be tedious and time consuming as well. Getting a puppy is like bringing a child home, it is a lot of hard work with excellent rewards. So, when you decide that it is time to own a pet it is absolutely essential to know a few things about the breed.
The FCI (the world canine organization) registered 343 dog breed types in the world. That is a whopping number to select a breed from, so what do you do in such cases. We will help you resolve this issue efficiently.

Recognised breeds
As we mentioned earlier there are numerous dogs breeds in the world and all of them are not even recognised by the Kennel Clubs. So, how do you know that which is the pedigree breed and has been recognised by the Kennel Clubs. Simple, in our breed write ups, we have dedicated an entire section to the breed standards that is how each and every part of the breed should be or you can say that the standards that are excepted by the kennel clubs across the world. The standards have been taken from the esteemed kennel clubs such as AKC and UK Kennel Club.
This will be for both the existing as well as the prospective dog owners. So now whichever breed you want, whether it is the handsome German Shepherd or one of the adorable Retrievers, we will help you to find the perfect pet breeds in India and throughout the world as per your requirement.

Why do you want a dog?
Our six broad filters will help you to select the perfect breed. Not everyone has the same requirement. Every breed will have its pros and cons; we will help you to select the perfect breed for your home or estate. Whether it is to guard your big estate or just for companionship in your home. Our aim is simple to show the dog that will be best suited for you. 

Most of these breeds are quite unheard of let alone seen by most of the people in India. The fad for international breeds leading to over-breeding of the popular Western breeds has also resulted in some Indian breeds almost becoming extinct. Certain individuals across the country slowly realised this issue and decided to revive many such breeds. Here is a list of 9 breeds that belong to India:

1. Chippiparai

One of the many sighthound breeds originating in India, this dog is bred by royal families in Chippiparai near Madurai district Tamil Nadu. Primarily used for hunting boar, deer and hare; it was later kept as a symbol of royalty and dignity.

2. Indian Pariah Dog

The most primitive and ancient breed of dog known to us that belongs to India is this Indian Pariah. A relative of Dingo, this breed has no trace of genetic tweaking or modification from the human side. Owing to this, they share an appearance with various other primitve pariah-type dogs around the world like the Basenji (Africa) , Dingo (Australia), Podengo (Australia) etc.

Note: Do not mistake this breed for the stray/ mongrel dogs we see on the streets as they have a lot of other breeds mixed in them over the years. Whereas the INDog (name coined for this breed) is meant to be pure in their primitive heritage.

3. Mudhol/Caravan Hound

This breed is known by various names across different cultures and groups. Known as ‘Karwani’ by village-folk around the Deccan Plateau region, who usually adopt this breed as companions for hunting and guarding. KCI (Kennel Club of India) recognizes this breed as ‘Caravan Hound’ whereas INKC (Indian National Kennel Club) opts for the name ‘Mudhol Hound’. To add to that, the feathered variety of this breed is known as ‘Pashmi’. Talk about one dog - multiple personalities.

4. Rampur Hound

One of the more popular names in the list, the Rampur Greyhound (alternate name) is native to the Rampur region in Northern India, that lies between Delhi and Bareily. It was a preferred breed by Maharajas of this region to hunt big game and protect against fierce animals like jackals, lions, tigers, leopards and panthers. The Rampur Hound is known for its endurance as it was built to cover large distances at great speeds.

5. Indian Mastiff

Also known as Bully Kutta, this dog shares origins from both India and Pakistan and is predominantly found in the Punjab region. They are the most common choice for guard dogs but unfortunately, many of these dogs are still bred and nurtured for dog fighting purposes.

6. Rajapalayam

This breed is an Indian guard dog developed in the Rajapalayam region in Tamil Nadu. It was believed that they were used to fight against British Cavalry in a few battles. The most prized look is the milky-white coat with pink nose, although the whiter mutations come with a higher chance of deafness as with all other white coat dog breeds. Lately, they are being used by the Indian army as guards along the Kashmir border.

7. Kombai

Another hound from South India, the Kombai (Combai) was bred to hunt boar, bison and deer since as early as the 9th Century. In comparison with the Rajapalayam, the Kombai has a tan coat with usually a black muzzle. The jaws are wider and much stronger as well. In recent times, this breed is highly endangered and can be found in scarcity in a few regions and a couple of specialized kennels.

8. Gaddi

Another mastiff-type dog breed, Gaddi was developed in the Himalayan region by a tribe of the same name. Over the years, the Gaddi has become reputed to be a fierce guard dog to protect against leopards and other predators. At the same time, they are revered as intelligent enough to be herding dogs as well. As opposed to the Indian Mastiff, the Gaddi Kutta is not considered to be a fighting dog.

9. Kanni

Kanni is a rare indigenous breed of sighthound also bred in Tamil Nadu. They are closely related to the Chippiparai and are said to be descendants of the Saluki. These breeds were built to hunt deer as they are very agile and light on their feet. Usually a silent dog, they are great as guards of their owners and easy to train. However, they act independant when on a hunt as is their disposition. This is one of the rarest breeds on the list, almost on the verge of extinction. Due to the lack of proper specimen available, no proper effort has been taken to revive the Kanni breed.

WHAT ARE THE FOREIGN DOGS WE HAVE NOW

LABRADOR

PUG

POMERIAN

GERMEN SHEPARD

DALMATIAN

BEAGLE

DOBERMAN

No matter how rich you are, how many air conditioning systems you are arranging for, it is impossible to mimic the sub-zero temperatures(-60 to -30 deg C) of the Siberian peninsula in the tropical climate of India.

Statistics show as many as few hundred huskies are abandoned every year in India. While some end up getting mauled by street dogs,others find solace in government local shelters in far more deplorable conditions.(commonly where street dogs creating nuisance/having developed a particular infection are kept by the municipality). You may think you are caring a lot for your new husky puppy by keeping him under air conditioning 24*7, but you are simply not doing enough. Especially during Indian summers, your visits to vets will increase(of course if you are lucky enough to find a proper veterinarian in your locality in India) as your furry pet is likely to suffer from dehydration or even heat stroke. Also during Indian summers, most huskies suffer from loss of appetite and show stunted growth. Apart from that,huskies are high energy dogs who need regular outdoor exercises which you won’t be able to provide him/her in an ac room. Some Indian dog owners end up shaving their double-coated huskies during summer,what they do’t realize that in doing so,they the exposing their puppy/dog to even more sunlight and heat. Also aggressively shaving your husky makes him more prone to shedding problems/skin disorders. So, if you have planned on getting a husky, do yourself and your future pet a favor, don’t buy one unless you find one to adopt. Like the husky,other Arctic breeds like the Alaskan Malamute too is unsuitable for our climate. If it is a foreign breed that attracts you, get a well-breed German shepherd which is quite ideal for Indian climate and is as agile as the husky.

2)Tibetian mastiff-Although not as popular among Indian dog owners like them huskies, some do end up buying this exotic breed. Either they spend a fortune to illegally import a pure foreign breed or end up with an impure breed mastiff who is likely to suffer from a host of health problems in future. If it is a giant dog you seek, look into saner options suitable for the Indian climate like the great dane. Looking for a guard dog which is quite the size of the Tibetan mastiff?Check out the Indian mastiff also known as bullykutta. They are ideal for the Indian climate and are excellent guard dogs while being huge is size.

3)St.Bernard-Once upon a time, this dog breed was considered to be an exotic breed in India but now, they are everywhere. St.bernards also are not ideal for the Indian climate,even those bred in India have adapted themselves to some extent with the Indian climate. If you are planning to get one, make sure you make adequate cooling arrangements and get one only if you are optimistic of guarding the dog against harsh Indian summers by air conditioning 24*7 and be ready for frequent vet visits. This particular breed has become so popular now in India, that it has become useless to stop people from buying or breeding them anymore in India.

Buying a dog is easy these days, but it is a cumbersome task to maintain a dog properly,especially these breeds not meant to be here. So, it’s our ardent request to all pet owners to not just jump into buying one of these breeds for the sake of showing off or because you saw one playing in the snow on TV and instantly liked him. 

There are a wide range of other dog breeds ideal for the Indian climate to choose from like labs, goldens, great Danes, rottweilers, German shepherds(alsatian), beagles, poodle,Maltese, boxer ,pug ,pitbull,doberman,cocker spaniel,chihuahua,dachshund etc and it’s better to get one among these as they will feel comfortable naturally in our tropical climate.