Dog Breeds that suit Indian Climate

The Non-Indian Breeds

Labrador

Be it black or golden, this retriever is known for its loving, sensitive nature. You want a dog to love, this is the one. Being sensitive, it does not like to be left alone for a long time as it feels very sad and it affects its emotional state of mind.
They have a double coat - a soft, downy undercoat that keeps them dry and warm in cold water and a hard outer coat that helps them repel water.

Labradors tend to shed a lot of hair in hot climates. It requires a cool enviroment to grow up. Labs need to be brushed on a regular basis (about once a week) to keep them clean. This will also help keep the shedding under control. Labradors are easy to train which makes obedience work a fun way to interact with your dog. Labradors also require plenty of exercise - this is especially true since most Labs love to eat. Ensuring they get proper exercise, training, and attention will give you a happy, healthy Labrador.

Daschund

The Daschund is well known for its laid back attitude and the long body, which make of it a great pet. Royalties preferred this breed even from the days of Ancient Egypt. The Daschund is usually funny, playful and loyal. Its intelligence cannot be ignored and it is also brave and it has a strong will. That will also bring some difficulties when it comes to training.

But sometimes, the dog can be quite shy and it must be trained to be able to socialize very easy. Interestingly, a Daschund's temperament is connected with its hair type. Those with long hair are more relaxed and the eyes are deep and have a sweet expression. Their rich bark is easy to recognize and the snoring caused by the large lungs is also a trait.

The Pug

The pug has become a huge craze among people to have as a dog pet. But not many people know that it is an endangered breed with quite less immunity to diseases and fatigue compared to the other breeds. Even in the Vodafone ad, the dog is shown hanging its tongue out. Ofcourse, it looks cute but in reality it is out of breath.

This breed can be prone to many infections because of its skin and eyes. Because of its peculiar shape and location on the face, the pug's eyes are not protected properly and are prone to injury and other problems. Look for any inflammation in the eye regularly and take the dog to the Vet immediately if you identify any problem in the surrounding area.

Pugs are very sensitive to heat and humidity, so don't leave your dog outdoors without shade or locked in a car during the summer. An overheated pug can have a hard time breathing, so make sure that you don't leave him anywhere where he might be subjected to high heat for any length of time.

Beagle Dog

The Beagle is a well-muscled, small-to-almost-medium-sized dog with a keen sense of smell and a wanderlust that can lead him into trouble. The Beagle's compact body is longer than tall. He carries his moderately-long tail like a flag above his back, providing a marker when he follows scent through tall grass.

Gentle and generally pleased with life, the Beagle can also be stubborn and difficult to obedience train or house train. Few Beagles compete in obedience trials, for they are easily distracted by the sight or scent of any animal that crosses their path — or crossed it hours ago. However, training is critical for the breed — especially the command to 'come'. Because of his strong desire to explore the universe, the Beagle should never be allowed outside a secure area unless he is attached to a leash.

Beagle coat is hard and short but sheds. It has a double coat like labs, with fine undercoat and coarser top coat; it is generally thicker in winter and sheds most heavily in spring.
Some Beagles love to roll in disgusting organic matter and may need frequent baths, but they usually need little more than a weekly brushing to remove dead hair. Their droopy ears do need attention because they are subject to yeast and other infections. Owners should know what healthy ears smell like so they will know in a whiff if an infection is developing. Ticks and fleas can be a problem if the Beagle spends much time in tall grass or brushy areas. Owners can set aside a quiet half-hour after each outing to search for these parasites, time that provides for bonding as well as grooming.

Great Dane

Referred to as the King of all dogs, this old giant dog breed is dignified, sweet and gentle nature and yet is quiet powerful and strong. It needs lot of space, plenty of food and exercise to keep fit. They are calm and well behaved indoors and are affectionate, calm, loyal and intelligent. They are excellent watchdogs and do not bark much. They are friendly to children, pets and other dogs in the family and its friends but are cautious of strangers.

They need to be trained early in life and not to pull on the leash as they grow up to a very large size and become quite strong as they mature. Great Dane puppies need proper nutrition and proper rest. They need a soft place to lie down and they need to be brushed thoroughly using a rubber brush, when they are shedding, to remove dead and loose hair. Running free in the country and getting engaged in lots of physical activities and exercises is a must for a Great Dane dog.

Doberman Pinscher

This breed is one of the best watch dogs. The Doberman Pinscher is a dog of medium large size, powerfully built and capable of great endurance and speed. Its body is compact and muscular, with the head, neck and legs in proportion to the body. The tail is almost always docked short. The head is long and wedge-shaped, starting wide at the ears and tapering to the nose.

The Doberman Pinscher is an energetic, friendly dog. It is a loyal and affectionate family member who loves to be physically close to members of the home. Some are family dogs, while others will fixate and shower most of their attention on one person. Dobermans can be aloof or aggressive toward strangers and other dogs, though this can be remedied with proper training.

Dalmatians

A popular breed, Dalmatians are midsized, muscular and have great endurance. Dalmatians' coats are dense, short and very fine. The base color of this breed is white, with round spots in black or brown. A Dalmatians feet are small and round and their nails are either the same color of their spots or white. The color of their nose also depends on the color of the spots that they have. Spots on Dalmatians come later, as Dalmatian puppies are born fully white.

As a result of their history as coach dogs, the breed is very active and needs plenty of exercise. They are very fast runners, with a great deal of stamina and self-reliance. Given freedom to roam the wild, they will take multi-day trips on their own across the countryside. In today's urban environment, they will not likely survive such excursions and must be contained. Their energetic and playful nature makes them good companions for children and they have an instinctive fondness for humans and horses. These qualities make them somewhat "unbreakable", and forgiving of rough handling by children. However, it is imperative that they be socialized with children while still puppies, and also that children be taught the correct way to play with animals.

German Sheperd

Characterized by its great adaptability and physical prowess, the German Shepherd Dog is respected, admired, and utilized throughout the world. One of the most easily recognized and one of the most popular of all breeds, it is acclaimed for its versatility, renowned for its intelligence, and beloved for its devotion and loyalty to its owner.

A sound temperament is of the utmost importance in a good companion. Temperament is inherited, and therefore is a direct result of the dog's breeding.

The character of the German Shepherd Dog is one of self-confidence and nobility. Although a mature German Shepherd will not wear his heart on his sleeve, he should be approachable and outgoing. Strangers may be regarded with some suspicion, but the dog should be neither overly sharp and aggressive nor cringe with fear. A sound German Shepherd makes an excellent companion. An unsound one is a disaster waiting to happen.

German Shepherds are keenly intelligent and enjoy learning. Basic obedience training is excellent for them. Many of them enjoy learning tricks as well (or more!)

This is a natural breed, meaning that it does not require clipping or unusual grooming. Only occasional baths are needed. German Shepherds are double-coated with a coarse, water-resistent outer coat and a heavy, woolly undercoat. They are heavy shedders, especially in spring, and require regular combing. This is definitely not a dog for those who cannot abide dog hair on the furniture, carpets, clothes, etc.

The Indian Breeds

These are the once that can survive best in Indian climate.Their habits and health structure is accustomed to Indian summers or winters. Here is a list of the most common ones.

1. Rampur Hound
Rampur Hound is the breed who loves human companionship and is well adjusted to other dogs. It has clean habits. They may appear lazy but will charge if needed. The animal was very popular about 100 years back when the Pathan traders used to carry them to Rajputana, Central India and lower Bengal. This breed was used as a popular hunter an appropriate day was chosen and intimated to all hunters.

2. Rajapalyam

This breed looks like a miniature Great Dane. Rajapalyam have powerful, muscular and heavy build. It is a typically boar hound which was used for hunting wild boar and hare. The dog needs plenty of freedom and space. If you properly trained the dog, they make excellent guard dogs.

3. Caravan Hound

The Afghans, Mongols, Persians and the Arabs brought many hounds like the Afghan and the Saluki when they came to India. The Caravan Hound probably owed its ancestry to these dogs. They were called so because they used to travel along with the caravans from place to place.

This breed was usually selectively by the villagers to withstand the weather, hunt or immune to many diseases and has plenty of stamina. They are very alert and keen.

Mudhol Hound

Mudhol Hound is a hardy dog and a keen sight hound. But it has an independent temperament and the male has a tendency to attack at times. Mudhol Hound is obliquely placed. They give the dog an intelligent expression. It is a dog that needs plenty of exercise and movement. It can't be managed in confined areas. They are ideally used for racing and hunting, though they make good companion and guard dogs.

Chippiparai

The Chippiparai is a native hound to Southern India particularly the district of Thanjavur. This a one dog which does not like to be petted fed by anyone other than its master or handler. It has an independent mind. Chippiparai has a compact streamlined body built for chasing game.

It needs very little grooming and enjoys the outdoors. Its food requirements are very minimal. It is very hardy and resistant to climate change.