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{{Infobox dog breed | {{Infobox dog breed | ||
| image = | | image = File:Dog 00154.JPG | ||
| image_caption = | | image_caption = South Asian pariah dog photographed in [[Howrah]], [[India]] (2004) | ||
| name = Indian pariah dog | | name = Indian pariah dog | ||
| nickname = South Asian pariah dog<ref>{{cite journal|last1=van Asch|first1=B.|last2=Zhang|first2=A.-b.|last3=Oskarsson|first3=M. C. R.|last4=Klutsch|first4=C. F. C.|last5=Amorim|first5=A.|last6=Savolainen|first6=P.|title=Pre-Columbian origins of Native American dog breeds, with only limited replacement by European dogs, confirmed by mtDNA analysis|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences|date=10 July 2013|volume=280|issue=1766| | | nickname = Indie dog<ref>{{cite web |title=Hyderabad to host Indie Dog puppy adoption drive on Aug 17 |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/southern-states/telangana/hyderabad-to-host-indie-dog-puppy-adoption-drive-on-aug-17-1897310 |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |access-date=29 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Indie, BSF K9 dog, stuns with 18-foot leap over a wall |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indie-bsf-k9-dog-stuns-with-18-foot-leap-over-a-wall-video-101758975436524-amp.html |publisher=Hindustan Times |access-date=29 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SC order on finding homes for Indie dog friends |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/sc-order-finding-homes-indie-dog-friends-10197238/ |publisher=The Indian Express |access-date=29 December 2025}}</ref><br />South Asian pariah dog<ref>{{cite journal|last1=van Asch|first1=B.|last2=Zhang|first2=A.-b.|last3=Oskarsson|first3=M. C. R.|last4=Klutsch|first4=C. F. C.|last5=Amorim|first5=A.|last6=Savolainen|first6=P.|title=Pre-Columbian origins of Native American dog breeds, with only limited replacement by European dogs, confirmed by mtDNA analysis|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences|date=10 July 2013|volume=280|issue=1766|article-number=20131142|doi=10.1098/rspb.2013.1142|pmid=23843389|pmc=3730590}}</ref><br />Pye-dog<ref name="Vellampalli"/><br />INDog<ref name="Kutta">{{cite web |url= https://padsociety.org/breed-profiles/indog/ |title= INDog-Primitive and Aboriginal Dogs Society |access-date= 2020-05-31 |archive-date= 2021-01-12 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210112044708/https://padsociety.org/breed-profiles/indog/ }}</ref><br />Desi dog<ref name="ChoudhuryMahajan">{{cite web |last1=Choudhury-Mahajan |first1=Lina |title=Paws for thought |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/paws-for-thought/story-YNym7MKVc2axiKZncw3ZIK.html|publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=12 April 2019 |language=en |date=12 July 2011}}</ref> | ||
| origin = [[Indian subcontinent]]<ref name="2018Vellampalli"/> | | origin = [[Indian subcontinent]]<ref name="2018Vellampalli"/> | ||
<!-----Traits-----> | <!-----Traits-----> | ||
| maleweight = {{convert|20|-|30|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | |||
| maleweight | |||
| femaleweight = {{convert|15|-|25|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | | femaleweight = {{convert|15|-|25|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | ||
| maleheight | | maleheight = {{convert|20|-|25|in|cm|abbr=on}} | ||
| femaleheight = {{convert|18|-|23|in|cm|abbr=on}} | | femaleheight = {{convert|18|-|23|in|cm|abbr=on}} | ||
| coat | | coat = Short | ||
| colour | | colour = solid fawn, pied (fawn/black & white), black (rare) | ||
<!-----Kennel club standards-----> | <!-----Kennel club standards----->| kc_name = [[Kennel Club of India]] | ||
| kc_name | | kc_std = http://indog.co.in/preserving-indian-native-dog<!-----Notes-----> | ||
| kc_std | |||
<!-----Notes-----> | |||
| note = | | note = | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''Indian pariah dog''', | The '''Indian pariah dog''', '''Indie dog'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=After SC order, finding homes for our indie dog friends |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/sc-order-finding-homes-indie-dog-friends-10197238/ |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-27 |title=An Indie dog in paramilitary K9 unit stuns with 18-foot leap {{!}} Watch |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indie-bsf-k9-dog-stuns-with-18-foot-leap-over-a-wall-video-101758975436524.html |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Correspondent |first=D. C. |date=2025-08-13 |title=Hyderabad to Host Indie Dog Puppy Adoption Drive on Aug 17 |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/telangana/hyderabad-to-host-indie-dog-puppy-adoption-drive-on-aug-17-1897310 |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}</ref>, '''South Asian pariah dog''',<ref>{{cite web |author=Deepa Lakshmin|title='The new cool': Adopting street dogs is gaining popularity in India |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/street-dogs-indies-india-pets |publisher=[[National Geographic]] |language=en |date=9 July 2025 |quote=Most are native Indian breeds, like the South Asian pariah dog}}</ref> or '''Desi Kutta''',<ref name="ChoudhuryMahajan">{{cite web |last1=Choudhury-Mahajan |first1=Lina |title=Paws for thought |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/paws-for-thought/story-YNym7MKVc2axiKZncw3ZIK.html|publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=12 April 2019 |language=en |date=12 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="IKC"/> is a [[landrace]] of [[dog]] native to the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref name="2018Vellampalli"/> They have erect ears, a wedge-shaped head, and a curved tail. It is easily trainable and often used as a [[guard dog]] and [[police dog]].<ref name="Pandey2019">{{cite web|last1=Mukherjee Pandey|first1=Jhimli|title=Rescued pup trains her way into elite dog squad|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/rescued-street-pup-trains-her-way-into-elite-dog-squad/articleshow/68262450.cms|publisher=[[Times of India]]|access-date=12 April 2019|language=en|date=5 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="Vellampalli2018">{{cite web |last1=Vellampalli |first1=Jaya |title=Why the Indian Pariah is a perfect pet |url=https://telanganatoday.com/why-the-indian-pariah-is-a-perfect-pet |publisher=[[Telangana Today]] |access-date=12 April 2019 |language=en |date=13 January 2018|quote=They are commonly seen in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. They adjust well in tropical climates as there is a mix of both winters and summers. But, even extreme weather conditions do not affect them in any way. This breed of dog sheds little fur. As they have short coat, the need for regular brushing and combing is less. They don't even need regular bath as they do not have an unpleasant body odour. ... They are very devoted to their family/owners. In rural areas, these dogs are seen guarding farm animals. ... These dogs are free from all genetic health problems as they are a natural breed.}}</ref> This dog is an example of an ancient group of dog known as [[pye-dog]]s. There is archaeological evidence that the dog was present in Indian villages as early as 4,500 years ago.<ref name="INDogs">{{cite web|url=http://www.indog.co.in|title=INDog, The Indian Pariah Dog Project|date=October 2010}}</ref> | ||
Though most street dogs in the Indian subcontinent are in fact Indian pye-dogs, the names for this breed are often erroneously used to refer to all urban South Asian stray dogs despite the fact that some [[free-ranging dog | Though most street dogs in the Indian subcontinent are in fact Indian pye-dogs, the names for this breed are often erroneously used to refer to all urban South Asian stray dogs despite the fact that some [[free-ranging dog]]s in the Indian subcontinent do not match the "pariah type" and may not be pure indigenous dogs but mixed breeds,<ref name="Vellampalli">{{cite web |last1=Vellampalli |first1=Jaya |title=Why the Indian Pariah is a perfect pet |url=https://telanganatoday.com/why-the-indian-pariah-is-a-perfect-pet |publisher=[[Telangana Today]] |access-date=12 April 2019 |language=en |date=13 January 2018|quote=Indian Pariah dog also known as the Pye Dog is a perfect pet. There is always some confusion when it comes to this specific dog breed. Most of us assume every street dog to be Pariah. But not all of them belong to this breed. Many strays are [[mongrel|mixed breeds]], often referred to as mongrels, and cannot be considered pure Pariah dogs.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Opening doors to what we call pariah |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/opening-doors-to-what-we-call-pariah/cid/1653257 |publisher=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |access-date=12 April 2019 |language=en |date=27 November 2005|quote=A pariah is a desi dog, while a stray is an ownerless dog and a mongrel is a mixed breed. In India, most strays are pariah dogs or mongrels.}}</ref> especially around locations where European colonists historically settled in India, due to [[Genetic admixture|admixture]]s with European dog breeds.<ref>{{cite journal |title= Genetic structure in village dogs reveals a Central Asian domestication origin | doi=10.1073/pnas.1516215112 |pmid= 26483491 | year=2015 |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume= 112 |issue= 44 |pages= 13639–13644 | last1 = Shannon | first1 = Laura M.|pmc=4640804 |bibcode= 2015PNAS..11213639S | doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icbblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Boyko-and-Boyko-2014-Dog-conservation-and-the-population-genetic-structure-of-dogs.pdf|title=Dog conservation and the population genetic structure of dogs }}</ref> | ||
==Appearance== | ==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 browns, ranging 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Indian breed dogs - Indian breed dogs - Indian street dog, dog breed lists |url=https://www.meramaal.com/blog/indian-breed-dogs/ |access-date=28 November 2018 |work=www.meramaal.com}}</ref> | 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 browns, ranging 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Indian breed dogs - Indian breed dogs - Indian street dog, dog breed lists |url=https://www.meramaal.com/blog/indian-breed-dogs/ |access-date=28 November 2018 |work=www.meramaal.com |archive-date=28 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128164704/https://www.meramaal.com/blog/indian-breed-dogs/ }}</ref> | ||
The head is medium-sized and 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. Hindquarters 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. | The head is medium-sized and 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. Hindquarters 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. | ||
==Names== | ==Names== | ||
[[File:Pariah Dog.jpg|thumb|right|Indian pye-dogs have been used as [[guard dog]]s for centuries.]] | [[File:An Indie on Chirala beach.jpg|thumb|An Indian Pariah Dog who is a mix of brown and white colouring]] | ||
[[File:Indian pariah dog puppy litter.jpg|thumb|Newborn puppies, just a few hours old, from a single litter]] | |||
The namesake of this breed was given during the [[British Raj|British Raj in India]] after the [[Paraiyar|Pariah]] tribe of the [[Madras Presidency]].<ref name="Chakrabarti2010">{{cite journal |last1=Chakrabarti |first1=Pratik |title=Beasts of Burden: Animals and Laboratory Research in Colonial India|journal=History of Science |date=June 2010 |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=125–151 |doi=10.1177/007327531004800201 |pmid=20582325 |pmc=2997667 |bibcode=2010HisSc..48..125C }}</ref> From the [[Anglo-Indian]] word ''pye'' or ''paë'' and Hindi ''pāhī'' meaning 'outsider', the Indian pariah dog is sometimes referred to as the pye-dog (also spelt ''pie'' or ''pi'') and the Indian native dog.<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pye–dog Merriam-Webster Dictionary]</ref> It is popularly known as Desi Kutta or Desi Dog (which derives from the [[ | [[File:Kukur Tihar 2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kukur Tihar]] is annual Hindu festival where people pay homage to stray dogs and feed them]] | ||
[[File:Pariah Dog.jpg|thumb|right|Indian pye-dogs have been used as [[guard dog]]s for centuries]] | |||
[[File:Pariah dogs in a city park in Yelahanka, Bengaluru, India. They are alert to the presence of an unfamiliar pariah dog from outside the park..jpg|thumb|Pariah dogs in a city park in Yelahanka, Bengaluru, India. They are alert to the presence of an unfamiliar pariah dog from outside the park.]] | |||
The namesake of this breed was given during the [[British Raj|British Raj in India]] after the [[Paraiyar|Pariah]] tribe of the [[Madras Presidency]].<ref name="Chakrabarti2010">{{cite journal |last1=Chakrabarti |first1=Pratik |title=Beasts of Burden: Animals and Laboratory Research in Colonial India|journal=History of Science |date=June 2010 |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=125–151 |doi=10.1177/007327531004800201 |pmid=20582325 |pmc=2997667 |bibcode=2010HisSc..48..125C }}</ref> From the [[Anglo-Indian]] word ''pye'' or ''paë'' and Hindi ''pāhī'' meaning 'outsider', the Indian pariah dog is sometimes referred to as the pye-dog (also spelt ''pie'' or ''pi'') and the Indian native dog.<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pye–dog Merriam-Webster Dictionary]</ref> It is popularly known as Desi Kutta or Desi Dog (which derives from the [[Hindustani language|Hindi-Urdu]] word ''[[desi]]'', meaning ''native''), as well as the Indi-dog or In-dog (in various spellings).<ref name="ChoudhuryMahajan"/><ref name="Purkayastha2005">{{cite book |last1=Purkayastha |first1=Bandana |title=Negotiating Ethnicity: Second-Generation South Asians Traverse a Transnational World |date=8 June 2005 |publisher=[[Rutgers University Press]] |isbn=978-0-8135-3780-1 |page=53 |language=English |quote=Desi is a Hindi/Urdu term for South Asian native}}</ref> It was referred to in the works of [[Rudyard Kipling]] as the "yellow pariah dog".<ref>Kipling, Rudyard. (1894) [[The Jungle Book]].</ref> | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
[[File: | [[File:Lord Shiva as Bhairav Wellcome L0043625.jpg|thumb|Early modern North Indian depiction of [[Bhairava]] riding on his [[vahana]], the dog, whose appearance is based on the Indian pye-dog]] | ||
The | The pariah dog of India is an ancient [[Indigenous (ecology)|autochthon]]ous [[landrace]] that is found all over [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Nepal]], [[Sri Lanka]] and even beyond [[South Asia]].<ref name="2018Vellampalli">{{cite web |last1=Vellampalli |first1=Jaya |title=Why the Indian Pariah is a perfect pet |url=https://telanganatoday.com/why-the-indian-pariah-is-a-perfect-pet |publisher=[[Telangana Today]] |language=en |date=13 January 2018}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=website, nor refs|date=May 2020}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Pathak|first=Arun |title=Handicrafts in the Indus Valley Civilization|year=1995|publisher=Janaki Prakashan|isbn=81-85078-87-4}}</ref>{{page needed|date=May 2020}} A pariah-like dog skull was discovered in the [[Indus Valley Civilization|Harappan]] site of [[Mohenjo-daro]], and prehistoric rock art depicting a dog of similar type has been found in the [[Bhimbetka rock shelters]].<ref name="ChoudhuryMahajan"/>{{better source needed|reason=website, nor refs|date=May 2020}}<ref name="Pariah Dog">{{cite web|title=Indian Pariah Dogs|date=9 April 2020|url=https://dogwithblog.in/Indian-pariah-dog/}}</ref> It was featured on [[National Geographic Channel]]'s film, ''Search for the First Dog'' along with the other ancient types, such as the [[Canaan Dog]] of [[ The Levant]] and the [[Australian dingo]].<ref name="ChoudhuryMahajan"/> | ||
The Indian pye-dog was introduced to the [[Andaman Islands]] with the establishment of a penal colony there, dogs having been previously unknown to the native [[Andamanese peoples|Andamanese]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Cipriani |first=Lidio |author-link=Lidio Cipriani |title=The Andaman Islanders |year=1966 |page=81 |publisher=[[Weidenfeld & Nicolson]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QxVFAAAAMAAJ&q=pariah+dog}}</ref> | |||
Despite the Indian pariah dog being highly intelligent and easily trainable, the breed was intentionally downplayed during the [[British Raj]] by merchants who wished to sell their foreign breeds within the country.<ref name="ChoudhuryMahajan2011">{{cite web |last1=Choudhury-Mahajan |first1=Lina |title=Paws for thought |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/paws-for-thought/story-YNym7MKVc2axiKZncw3ZIK.html|publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=2 March 2019 |language=en |date=12 July 2011}}</ref> Their popularity in the West in recent years, however, has resulted in hundreds of dogs being exported out of the Indian subcontinent.<ref name="Sharma2017"/> | |||
In 2015, a breed standard was published in the Indian Kennel Gazette, the publication of [[Kennel Club of India]],<ref name=IKC>{{cite web|url=http://indog.co.in/preserving-indian-native-dog/|title=Article on the Indian Native Dog in the Kennel Gazette, Kennel Club of India, July 2015 – INDog Project}}</ref> and the dog has been recognized by the Primitive and Aboriginal Dog Society (PADS), a worldwide grouping of enthusiasts based in the US.<ref name="INDogs"/> | |||
Some in the society view these dogs as a risk citing their increasing population in India in recent years. They consider these dogs as menace and nuisance owing to constant barking and biting people. The numbers of dog bites and deaths due to dog attacks are increasing every year. Since these dogs are largely not vaccinated, they frequently carry rabies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/world/asia/india-stray-dogs-are-a-menace.html|title = Where Streets Are Thronged with Strays Baring Fangs|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 7 August 2012|last1 = Harris|first1 = Gardiner}}</ref> Only a few island territories of India, eg, [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] are rabies free despite having pariah dog population.Indian pariah dogs are one of the oldest dog breeds in existence today. | |||
==Temperament== | ==Temperament== | ||
Indian pariah dogs are very alert and social.<ref name="INDogs"/> They are used as [[guard dog]]s and [[police dog]]s, being very territorial and defensive.<ref name="Pandey2019"/><ref name="Vellampalli2018"/> They need good socializing as pups and do well with families and children if provided with such socialization.<ref name="Sharma2017">{{cite web |last1=Sharma |first1=Purnima |title=Desi stray dogs are finding loving homes thousands of miles away from the mean streets of India |url=https://qz.com/india/908853/desi-stray-dogs-are-finding-loving-homes-thousands-of-miles-away-from-the-mean-streets-of-india/ |publisher=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]] |access-date=2 March 2019 |language=en |date=13 February 2017}}</ref> They are highly intelligent and easily trainable; to this end, veterinarian Premlata Choudhary stated that "desi dogs are much more intelligent and hardy than most pedigreed dogs that people spend so much money on."<ref name="Sharma2017"/> | |||
==Health== | ==Health== | ||
Being a naturally evolved breed, they have very few health concerns and thrive with minimal maintenance in suitable climates.<ref name="Vellampalli2018"/> The skin needs very little grooming and the dogs themselves are relatively clean.<ref name="Vellampalli2018"/> They have little body odour.<ref name="ChoudhuryMahajan"/><ref name="Vellampalli2018"/> Genetic health ailments like hip dysplasia are extremely rare, since there is no inbreeding and the dominant genes that aid their survival are naturally selected over time.<ref name="Vellampalli2018"/> Most of their deaths occur due to accidents on the roads and railway tracks, | Being a naturally evolved breed, they have very few health concerns and thrive with minimal maintenance in suitable climates.<ref name="Vellampalli2018"/> The skin needs very little grooming and the dogs themselves are relatively clean.<ref name="Vellampalli2018"/> They have little body odour.<ref name="ChoudhuryMahajan"/><ref name="Vellampalli2018"/> Genetic health ailments like hip dysplasia are extremely rare, since there is no inbreeding and the dominant genes that aid their survival are naturally selected over time.<ref name="Vellampalli2018"/> Most of their deaths occur due to accidents on the roads and railway tracks, starvation, drinking polluted water, tumors in the body, snakebites, or harm from humans.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pandey |first1=Ashish |title=Over 300 dogs poisoned to death by Andhra village panchayat, alleges activist |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/story/dogs-poisoned-to-death-by-andhra-village-panchayat-alleges-activist-1835404-2021-08-01 |access-date=11 October 2021 |work=India Today |publisher=India Today |date=1 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref> | ||
==Gallery== | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:Indie Dog.jpg|Domesticated Indie dog | |||
File:Indog Pune Stray.jpg|Stray pariah dog in India | |||
File:Indian Pariah Dog named Scratchy standing.jpg|Pariah dog | |||
File:Nibri and jhibri.jpg|Puppies | |||
</gallery> | |||
== See also == | ==See also== | ||
*[[Telomian]] | * [[Portal:Dogs|Dogs portal]] | ||
*[[Sinhala Hound]] | * [[List of dog breeds]] | ||
* [[List of dog breeds from India]] | |||
* [[Telomian]] | |||
* [[Sinhala Hound]] | |||
* [[Aloka (dog)]] | |||
* [[Stray cow]] | |||
* [[Bombay Dog Riots]] | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
| Line 71: | Line 82: | ||
* [http://padsociety.org Primitive & Aboriginal Dog Society] | * [http://padsociety.org Primitive & Aboriginal Dog Society] | ||
* [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/pets/life-as-a-pariah-sees-it/articleshow/63623184.cms Life as a pariah sees it] - [[Times of India]] | * [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/pets/life-as-a-pariah-sees-it/articleshow/63623184.cms Life as a pariah sees it] - [[Times of India]] | ||
* [https://trendingnewswala.online/dog-breeds-in-india/ Dog Breeds In India] | |||
{{Indian dogs}} | |||
{{Primitive dogs}} | {{Primitive dogs}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pariah Dog}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Pariah Dog}} | ||
| Line 81: | Line 93: | ||
[[Category:Dog landraces]] | [[Category:Dog landraces]] | ||
[[Category:Animal breeds originating in Afghanistan]] | [[Category:Animal breeds originating in Afghanistan]] | ||
[[da:Pariahhund]] | [[da:Pariahhund]] | ||
[[fr:Chien paria]] | [[fr:Chien paria]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:25, 4 March 2026
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| Common nicknames | Indie dog[1][2][3] South Asian pariah dog[4] Pye-dog[5] INDog[6] Desi dog[7] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Indian subcontinent[8] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Indian pariah dog, Indie dog[9][10][11], South Asian pariah dog,[12] or Desi Kutta,[7][13] is a landrace of dog native to the Indian subcontinent.[8] They have erect ears, a wedge-shaped head, and a curved tail. It is easily trainable and often used as a guard dog and police dog.[14][15] This dog is an example of an ancient group of dog known as pye-dogs. There is archaeological evidence that the dog was present in Indian villages as early as 4,500 years ago.[16]
Though most street dogs in the Indian subcontinent are in fact Indian pye-dogs, the names for this breed are often erroneously used to refer to all urban South Asian stray dogs despite the fact that some free-ranging dogs in the Indian subcontinent do not match the "pariah type" and may not be pure indigenous dogs but mixed breeds,[5][17] especially around locations where European colonists historically settled in India, due to admixtures with European dog breeds.[18][19]
Appearance[edit | edit source]
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 browns, ranging 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.[20]
The head is medium-sized and 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. Hindquarters 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.
Names[edit | edit source]
The namesake of this breed was given during the British Raj in India after the Pariah tribe of the Madras Presidency.[21] From the Anglo-Indian word pye or paë and Hindi pāhī meaning 'outsider', the Indian pariah dog is sometimes referred to as the pye-dog (also spelt pie or pi) and the Indian native dog.[22] It is popularly known as Desi Kutta or Desi Dog (which derives from the Hindi-Urdu word desi, meaning native), as well as the Indi-dog or In-dog (in various spellings).[7][23] It was referred to in the works of Rudyard Kipling as the "yellow pariah dog".[24]
History[edit | edit source]
The pariah dog of India is an ancient autochthonous landrace that is found all over India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and even beyond South Asia.[8][better source needed][25][page needed] A pariah-like dog skull was discovered in the Harappan site of Mohenjo-daro, and prehistoric rock art depicting a dog of similar type has been found in the Bhimbetka rock shelters.[7][better source needed][26] It was featured on National Geographic Channel's film, Search for the First Dog along with the other ancient types, such as the Canaan Dog of The Levant and the Australian dingo.[7]
The Indian pye-dog was introduced to the Andaman Islands with the establishment of a penal colony there, dogs having been previously unknown to the native Andamanese.[27]
Despite the Indian pariah dog being highly intelligent and easily trainable, the breed was intentionally downplayed during the British Raj by merchants who wished to sell their foreign breeds within the country.[28] Their popularity in the West in recent years, however, has resulted in hundreds of dogs being exported out of the Indian subcontinent.[29]
In 2015, a breed standard was published in the Indian Kennel Gazette, the publication of Kennel Club of India,[13] and the dog has been recognized by the Primitive and Aboriginal Dog Society (PADS), a worldwide grouping of enthusiasts based in the US.[16]
Some in the society view these dogs as a risk citing their increasing population in India in recent years. They consider these dogs as menace and nuisance owing to constant barking and biting people. The numbers of dog bites and deaths due to dog attacks are increasing every year. Since these dogs are largely not vaccinated, they frequently carry rabies.[30] Only a few island territories of India, eg, Andaman and Nicobar Islands are rabies free despite having pariah dog population.Indian pariah dogs are one of the oldest dog breeds in existence today.
Temperament[edit | edit source]
Indian pariah dogs are very alert and social.[16] They are used as guard dogs and police dogs, being very territorial and defensive.[14][15] They need good socializing as pups and do well with families and children if provided with such socialization.[29] They are highly intelligent and easily trainable; to this end, veterinarian Premlata Choudhary stated that "desi dogs are much more intelligent and hardy than most pedigreed dogs that people spend so much money on."[29]
Health[edit | edit source]
Being a naturally evolved breed, they have very few health concerns and thrive with minimal maintenance in suitable climates.[15] The skin needs very little grooming and the dogs themselves are relatively clean.[15] They have little body odour.[7][15] Genetic health ailments like hip dysplasia are extremely rare, since there is no inbreeding and the dominant genes that aid their survival are naturally selected over time.[15] Most of their deaths occur due to accidents on the roads and railway tracks, starvation, drinking polluted water, tumors in the body, snakebites, or harm from humans.[31]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Domesticated Indie dog -
Stray pariah dog in India -
Pariah dog -
Puppies
See also[edit | edit source]
- Dogs portal
- List of dog breeds
- List of dog breeds from India
- Telomian
- Sinhala Hound
- Aloka (dog)
- Stray cow
- Bombay Dog Riots
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Hyderabad to host Indie Dog puppy adoption drive on Aug 17". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
- ↑ "Indie, BSF K9 dog, stuns with 18-foot leap over a wall". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
- ↑ "SC order on finding homes for Indie dog friends". The Indian Express. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
- ↑ van Asch, B.; Zhang, A.-b.; Oskarsson, M. C. R.; Klutsch, C. F. C.; Amorim, A.; Savolainen, P. (10 July 2013). "Pre-Columbian origins of Native American dog breeds, with only limited replacement by European dogs, confirmed by mtDNA analysis". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 280 (1766) 20131142. doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.1142. PMC 3730590. PMID 23843389.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Vellampalli, Jaya (13 January 2018). "Why the Indian Pariah is a perfect pet". Telangana Today. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
Indian Pariah dog also known as the Pye Dog is a perfect pet. There is always some confusion when it comes to this specific dog breed. Most of us assume every street dog to be Pariah. But not all of them belong to this breed. Many strays are mixed breeds, often referred to as mongrels, and cannot be considered pure Pariah dogs.
- ↑ "INDog-Primitive and Aboriginal Dogs Society". Archived from the original on 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Choudhury-Mahajan, Lina (12 July 2011). "Paws for thought". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Vellampalli, Jaya (13 January 2018). "Why the Indian Pariah is a perfect pet". Telangana Today.
- ↑ "After SC order, finding homes for our indie dog friends". The Indian Express. 2025-08-19. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ↑ "An Indie dog in paramilitary K9 unit stuns with 18-foot leap | Watch". Hindustan Times. 2025-09-27. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ↑ Correspondent, D. C. (2025-08-13). "Hyderabad to Host Indie Dog Puppy Adoption Drive on Aug 17". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ↑ Deepa Lakshmin (9 July 2025). "'The new cool': Adopting street dogs is gaining popularity in India". National Geographic.
Most are native Indian breeds, like the South Asian pariah dog
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Article on the Indian Native Dog in the Kennel Gazette, Kennel Club of India, July 2015 – INDog Project".
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Mukherjee Pandey, Jhimli (5 March 2019). "Rescued pup trains her way into elite dog squad". Times of India. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Vellampalli, Jaya (13 January 2018). "Why the Indian Pariah is a perfect pet". Telangana Today. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
They are commonly seen in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. They adjust well in tropical climates as there is a mix of both winters and summers. But, even extreme weather conditions do not affect them in any way. This breed of dog sheds little fur. As they have short coat, the need for regular brushing and combing is less. They don't even need regular bath as they do not have an unpleasant body odour. ... They are very devoted to their family/owners. In rural areas, these dogs are seen guarding farm animals. ... These dogs are free from all genetic health problems as they are a natural breed.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "INDog, The Indian Pariah Dog Project". October 2010.
- ↑ "Opening doors to what we call pariah". The Telegraph. 27 November 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
A pariah is a desi dog, while a stray is an ownerless dog and a mongrel is a mixed breed. In India, most strays are pariah dogs or mongrels.
- ↑ Shannon, Laura M. (2015). "Genetic structure in village dogs reveals a Central Asian domestication origin". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112 (44): 13639–13644. Bibcode:2015PNAS..11213639S. doi:10.1073/pnas.1516215112. PMC 4640804. PMID 26483491.
- ↑ "Dog conservation and the population genetic structure of dogs" (PDF).
- ↑ "Indian breed dogs - Indian breed dogs - Indian street dog, dog breed lists". www.meramaal.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ↑ Chakrabarti, Pratik (June 2010). "Beasts of Burden: Animals and Laboratory Research in Colonial India". History of Science. 48 (2): 125–151. Bibcode:2010HisSc..48..125C. doi:10.1177/007327531004800201. PMC 2997667. PMID 20582325.
- ↑ Merriam-Webster Dictionary
- ↑ Purkayastha, Bandana (8 June 2005). Negotiating Ethnicity: Second-Generation South Asians Traverse a Transnational World. Rutgers University Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-8135-3780-1.
Desi is a Hindi/Urdu term for South Asian native
- ↑ Kipling, Rudyard. (1894) The Jungle Book.
- ↑ Pathak, Arun (1995). Handicrafts in the Indus Valley Civilization. Janaki Prakashan. ISBN 81-85078-87-4.
- ↑ "Indian Pariah Dogs". 9 April 2020.
- ↑ Cipriani, Lidio (1966). The Andaman Islanders. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 81.
- ↑ Choudhury-Mahajan, Lina (12 July 2011). "Paws for thought". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Sharma, Purnima (13 February 2017). "Desi stray dogs are finding loving homes thousands of miles away from the mean streets of India". Quartz. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
- ↑ Harris, Gardiner (7 August 2012). "Where Streets Are Thronged with Strays Baring Fangs". The New York Times.
- ↑ Pandey, Ashish (1 August 2021). "Over 300 dogs poisoned to death by Andhra village panchayat, alleges activist". India Today. India Today. Retrieved 11 October 2021.