Indian pariah dog

Indian pariah dog
Indian pariah dog
Other names	Pye-dog
Dog (domestic dog)

The pariah dog of India or Indian pariah dog is the aboriginal landrace, or naturally selected dog of the Indian sub-continent. It is thought to have a heritage going back 15,000 years, making it one of the oldest in the world, and be the progenitor of the Australian dingo. Its place of origin has not been determined.

The term is not derogatory in the canine context but refers to a class of primitive dogs. It is not commercially bred or recognised.

Often erroneously used to refer to all urban Indian street dogs, some free-ranging dogs in India do not match the 'pariah type' and may not be pure indigenous dogs but mixed breeds, especially around locations where European colonists historically settled in India, due to admixtures of European dog breeds.

Other names

From the from Anglo-Indian word pye or paë and Hindi pāhī meaning 'outsider', it is sometimes referred to as the pye-dog (also spelt pie or pi), the Indian native dog or INDog.

It was referred in the works of Rudyard Kipling as the "yellow pariah dog".

History

A domesticated Indian pariah dog with his owners who belong to the Gond tribe. This picture was taken near Pench Tiger Reserve, Central India.

The pariah dog of India is an ancient autochthonous landrace that is found all over India, Bangladesh and even beyond in South Asia. It was featured on National Geographic Channel's film, Search for the First Dog along with the other related ancient types such as the Canaan Dog of Israel and the Australian dingo. This is the original dog of the country, found free-living as a commensal of human all over the Indian subcontinent. Where not mixed with the blood of European dogs or other breeds and types, it is similar in appearance all across the entire country.

The type represents one of the few remaining examples of humans' original domestic dog and its physical features are the same as those of the dogs whose fossil remains have been found in various parts of the world, from very early remains in Israel and China to later ones such as those found in the volcanic lava at Pompeii, near Naples in Italy.

In India these were the hunting partners and companion animals of the aboriginal peoples of India. They are still found with the aboriginal communities who live in forested areas. Since these dogs have never been selectively bred, their appearance, physical features and mental characteristics are created by the process of natural selection alone. The breed has not been recognized by any kennel club but has been recognized by the Primitive and Aboriginal Dog Society (PADS), a worldwide grouping of enthusiasts based in the USA.

Temperament

It is an extremely alert, very social dog. Its rural evolution, often close to forests where predators like tigers and leopards were common, has made it an extremely cautious breed and this caution is not to be mistaken for a lack of courage. They make excellent watch dogs and are very territorial and defensive of their pack/family. They need good socializing as pups and do well with families and children if provided with such socialization. They are highly intelligent and easily trainable, but can get bored equally easily and not want to play typical, repetitive dog games like "fetch".

They are modest eaters and will rarely overeat. They are a very active breed and thrive with regular exercise and very long walks, several times a day. They bark at the slightest doubt or provocation and can hence be noisy.

Health

Being a naturally evolved, hardy and perfected breed, they have very few health concerns and thrive with minimal "maintenance", especially in tropical weather.

The skin needs very little grooming and the dogs themselves are relatively clean. They have no body odour. Genetic health ailments like hip dysplasia etc. are extremely rare since in a naturally evolved race only the fittest individuals breed and the flaws are bred out.

They are generally very healthy and average life expectancy is over 15 years under good care.

Appearance

It is a medium-sized dog of square to slightly rectangular build and short coat. The dog has a double coat, a coarse upper coat and a soft undercoat. The most commonly observed colours are brown, range from dark to reddish-brown, with or without white markings. Solid blacks are rare but some dogs are pied. Shaded coats, brindles, solid white and dalmatian-type spotting are never seen in pure populations. These may be a sign of mixing with modern breeds as they are only seen in dogs in cities and other sites where non-native dogs have been introduced.

The head is medium-sized, wedge shaped. The muzzle is pointed and is of equal or slightly greater length than the head. The neck is noble and the forequarters are erect. Hind quarters are minimally angled. The trot is short. The eyes are almond shaped and dark brown in colour. The ears are held erect and are pointed at the tips, with a broad base, set low on the head and the tail is curled and held high, when excited.

Adult dogs:

Height: 20 - 25 inches high at the withers

Weight: 20 - 30 kilograms

Adult Female:

Height: 18 - 23 inches at the withers

Weight: 15 - 25 kilograms

Behaviour

The dogs are found throughout the Indian subcontinent, often kept as pets in remote villages and many are ownerless scavengers found in cities. However the ones in large cities and towns are no longer pure indigenous dogs but are often mongrelized with modern breeds.

They are territorial to a particular area, though a certain amount of immigration occurs to maintain population levels and also for the purpose of mating. They are more active and engage in play during mornings and evenings. But during breeding season they become more aggressive during the evening and late night hours to prevent the stranger male dogs and also to protect the pups from other animals including humans. Territorial aggressions are common in free-ranging dogs mostly during breeding season (August to January). On some occasions some males enter into another’s territory for extra-group mating.

The pariah group of dogs tend to breed once a year. During the mating season the oestrous female may mate with several males.

Most of the aggression from the alpha male is directed to the young males, but they are not driven away. When the young males fail in the mating competition, they disperse. As a result the pack size is maintained.

See also

• Canaan Dog
• New Guinea Singing Dog
• Dingo
• Africanis
• Carolina Dog (Yellow Dog)
• Basenji
• Telomian
• Sinhala Hound

External links

• INDog: The Indian Pariah Dog
• Primitive & Aboriginal Dog Society