Want to adopt an Indian breed dogs?
In an attempt to urge citizens to become more self-reliant, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has requested Indians to adopt only Indian dog breeds as pets. In his recent Mann ki Baat radio address, he emphasized on the need to become truly independent in all aspects, even in adopting dogs by only opting to adopt Indian breeds.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Indian breed dogs are competent and very good. Among them, the Mudhol Hound and Himachali Hound are high-pedigree dogs. He also mentioned the Rajapalayam, Kanni, Combai, and Chippiparai in the list of good Indian breeds.
These Indian dog breeds are not popularly discussed or even featured in mainstream media. Thus, here is all you need to know about these lesser-known but just as amazing Indian dog breeds.
List of Top 10 breeds in India
1. Indian Spitz:
The Indian Spitz looks a lot like the Pomeranian. They are an extremely active and bright breed of dog.
- Origin: India
- Size: Small/Medium
- Weight: 12 to 20 kilograms
- Height: 35 to 45 centimeters
- Life span: 10 to 16 years
- Home dwellers: Yes
- Temperament: Intelligent and human-friendly
2. Rampur Greyhound:
One of the strongest Indian dog breeds – the Rampur Hound is one of the best Indian breeds of dogs out there. They have a super-powerful body build and strong jaws.
- Origin: Rampur region, Near Delhi-Bareilly border, India
- Size: Muscular and tall
- Weight: 23 to 32 kilograms
- Height: 56 to 76 centimeters
- Life span: 10 to 12 years
- Home dwellers: No
- Temperament: Not human-friendly
Also See: Top 10 Websites Every Dog Owner Must Know
3. Himachali Hounds:
The Himachali hounds are a massive, Mastiff-like breed that has a thick coat to protect them from the cold. Hailing from the Himalayan region, the primary job of these dogs is to guard livestock.
- Origin: Himachal Pradesh, India
- Size: Medium/Large
- Weight: 40 to 45 kgs
- Height: 61 to 71 centimeters
- Life span: 9 to 14 years
- Home dwellers: Yes
- Temperament: Fearless and friendly
4. Mudhol Dogs:
According to legend, the brave Chhatrapati Shivaji bred these dogs and used them in his army. They can be found near the borders of Karnataka and Maharashtra. The breed is named after the princely state, Mudhol. These dogs have heads that are smaller than their bodies but they have a nice height.
- Origin: Mudhol – Karnataka, India
- Size: Tall and muscular
- Weight: 9.1 to 13.6 kg
- Height: 64 to 68 cms.
- Life span: 10 to 12 years
- Home dwellers: No
- Temperament: Highly alert and intelligent. Trainable and useful in sentinel purposes
5. Rajapalayam Dogs:
This is a rare Indian dog breed, found only in some pockets of Tamil Nadu. They are historically great hunters, with their tall and muscular build. They are named after the Rajapalayam city in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu.
- Origin: Tamil Nadu, India
- Size: Tall and lean
- Weight: 30 to 45 kgs
- Height: 65 to 75 cms
- Life span: Up to 20 years
- Home dwellers: No
- Temperament: Courageous, intelligent, and aloof
6. Pariah Dogs:
Indian Pariah dogs are the most commonly found Indian breed. They are very sociable, alert, and highly intelligent. They make for great watchdogs.
- Origin: All across India
- Size: Small/Medium
- Weight: 15 to 35 kgs
- Height: 46 to 64 cms
- Life span: 10 to 13 years
- Home dwellers: Yes
- Temperament: Friendly, alert, and sociable
7. Kanni And Chippiparai:
Kanni is another breed found in Tamil Nadu. The word “Kanni” means “pure” and the dogs are named so owing to their fiercely loyal attitude. Like the Rajapalayam, these dogs also make for great hunters. They are also registered under the name Chippiparai by the Kennel Club of India.
- Origin: Tamil Nadu, India
- Size: Tall and lean
- Weight: 16 to 22 kgs
- Height: 64 to 74 cms
- Life span: 14 to 16 years
- Home dwellers: Yes
- Temperament: Friendly and loyal
8. Combai:
Another breed found in Tamil Nadu, the Combai is a tan-coloured breed with a black snout. They are shorter and stouter than the Rajapalayam and are classified as “terriers”. These dogs too were amazing hunters but currently, they’re a dying breed, just like the Combai or Rajapalayam.
- Origin: Tamil Nadu, India
- Size: Small/Medium
- Weight: 20 to 30 kgs
- Height: 40 to 50 cms
- Life span: 9 to 13 years
- Home dwellers: Yes
- Temperament: Adaptable and intelligent; aggressive or aloof from strangers
9. Bakharwal Dog:
Almost on the verge of extinction, the Bakharwal dog is found in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir. They are extensively used for herding as a working and herding dog breed.
- Origin: Jammu and Kashmir, India
- Size: Medium to large dog
- Weight: 40 to 60 kgs
- Height: About 60 cms
- Life span: 10 to 12 years
- Home dwellers: Yes
- Temperament: Alert and great guard dogs
10. Pandikona:
Found in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the Pandikona is a great hunting dog. They are also fiercely loyal and great with children.
- Origin: Central India – Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
- Size: Medium to large
- Weight:
- Height: 48 to 66 cms
- Life span: About 10 to 15 years
- Home dwellers: Yes
- Temperament: Brave, fearless, and loyal to their owners
We have listed the top 10 Indian breeds of dogs for you. With the ever-rising popularity of foreign breeds, these dog breeds are getting adopted less and less, leading to part extinction of the breed. Therefore, we urge you to consider one of the breeds from this list or any other Indian dog breed the next time you are in the impound to bring home a furball.
