Indian dog breeds you did not know – Amidst all the heat and organized chaos, India is defined by lively colors. From the bright clothes that Indians wear to the vibrant collage of designs on the Indian trucks on the roads, life in India is full of colors. It almost feels like living out of Instagram!
Indian dog breeds
Chippiparai – an Indian dog breed
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.
Indian Pariah dog breed
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. The Indian Pariah is the most primitive and ancient breed of dog known that belongs to India. 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 primitive pariah-type dogs around the world like the Basenji.
Mudhol Hound
The Mudhol Hound dog 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 Hound’.
Rampur Greyhound – Indian dog breed
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.
Bully Kutta – Indian Mastiff dog breed
Bully Kutta 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.
Rajpalayam – Indian breed
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 white 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.
Indian Combai dog breed
Indian dog breeds – Combai: 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.
Gaddi Kutta Indian dog
Indian dog breeds – 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.
Kanni Indian Dog breed
Indian dog breeds – 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 independent 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.
Indian Shepherd dog
Indian dog breeds – Shepherd Dog: These dogs mostly accompany the shepherds from Rajasthan while they move from place to place grazing the herds of sheep in nearby states like Madhya Pradesh. These are large dogs and are very brave and intelligent.
Mandai Indian dog breed
Mandai in Tamil language means head. Mandai dogs have big heads and are very ferocious. They are assigned guard duty by land owners to ward off intruders.