Dogs are indeed adorable; first thing that comes to our mind while we think of having a pet is their innocence and cuteness. Our hearts tend to incline towards their appearance and the love they induce in us, but unfortunately that’s not all we need to look for while bringing home a dog. India, being a tropical country, has wide range of weather conditions with hot weather most of the year round, and a short duration of monsoons and winters in most parts of the country. Depending on where you are in India, humidity also often tends to be quite high.
Therefore, it’s important to opt for dog breeds suitable for an Indian climate that can adjust easily to such conditions, else will have shorter life spans and will struggle to stay healthy – physically and mentally. For instance, a humid Indian climate is not suitable for breeds like Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute or St. Bernard – they are most comfortable in cold weather conditions. India’s tropical, humid climate drains the energy of these dogs and to them, everyday life in heat, is the equivalent of a human wearing a thick fur coat in peak summer. We would not enjoy a life like that, neither would our pets! So, choosing the right dog breed keeping in mind the place we live in is very important.
Generally, dogs found locally in the region are suitable for the particular climate. So considering Indian climatic conditions, the native Indian dog breeds are the most suited ones; they are extremely resilient to falling sick compared to foreign pedigrees that suffer from a myriad of health issues. Amongst Indies, Indian Pariah Dog is the best; here’s why it tops our list:
Indian Pariah Dog
According to Indian climate, food, and people, this breed wins when survival of the fittest comes to mind. They are intelligent, loyal, extremely territorial, and could be used as a guard dog as well. Native to India, they have been avoided for breeding for thousands of years. Since they don’t suffer from the downsides of in-breeding that causes health issues, they are very hardy, resilient breed and therefore overall require a lot less maintenance than various foreign breeds. When taken good care of and given a perfect diet, this breed can have good digestion and be odourless (which may not possible with other dogs). All in all, Indian Pariah dog is a hidden gem of dog breeds in India.
Other Indie breeds that deserve a mention for being suitable dogs for Indian climatic conditions are Rajapalyam, Kanni, Rampur Greyhound, Pandikona, Mudhol Hound, and Kombai.
However, dog breeds that you spot in India are mostly the Non-Indian Dog Breeds. We see that, over the years, foreign dog breeds brought to India have gained tremendous popularity. So, let us have a look on the breeds that are not native to India but can be raised in Indian climate with some extra care:
Labrador
Arguably one of the most popular breeds in India and in many countries in the world, the Labrador or the Labrador Retriever was bred to be a working dog breed and a friendly companion. They have a soft, silky undercoat that keeps them warm and dry in cold weather and an outer coat that is hard and helps in repelling water. They make good family pets, love food and do require a lot of regular exercise otherwise are prone to obesity and related health issues. They can be found in black, dark brown, light brown, golden, beige, and cream colour. They have a better ability to learn than the rest of the dogs, making them a good choice as a pet. By far this is the most child friendly dog breeds in the world.
German Shepherd
They are handsome, regal, powerful, courageous, loyal, wolf-like, and intelligent. Also called Alsatians, these dogs make very fine guard dogs with their impressive personality and their unflinching loyalty towards their owner. One of the most easily recognized and one of the most popular of all breeds, they are acclaimed for their versatility.
German Shepherds have a high tolerance against cold. However, they can also survive in hot weather, but they need additional care. Their double coat helps them cope with varied weather conditions; their inner jacket acts like insulator and keeps cold air trapped inside it in the hot season while performing opposite duty in the cold season. German Shepherds enjoy learning, so basic obedience training is excellent for them. Characterized by their great adaptability and physical prowess, German Shepherds make for one of the best foreign dog breeds suited for Indian climatic conditions.
PUG
It is the smallest dog breed suitable for Indian climate. They have wrinkly faces and bulging dark eyes filled with spark. Originated in China, this breed is very good for small homes as it requires lesser space. They are friendly, cheerful, self-confident, and also a bit stubborn. Pugs make the best dog breeds in Indian climate for the cool region of India. A humid and hot environment can make them suffer heatstroke as they have a tiny nose; they are very sensitive to heat and humidity, so they need a lot of care and regular check-ups with the vet.
Dachshund
Small bodies and big personalities are iconic of Daschunds. Dachshunds are short legged, long bodied dog breed; they are funny, playful, intelligent, active, and affectionate dogs. But don’t let that small size mislead you, as they are very aggressive when it comes to strangers. Smart and always alert, with a big-dog loud bark, Dachshunds make surprisingly good watchdogs. We even need to take extra care when they are with children lesser than 6 years. They aren’t very hairy, so maintaining their coat isn’t too difficult considering Indian climatic conditions.
Beagle
Beagles are quite popular among people who are looking for a smaller dog. Beagle is a good choice for a family with children. They are tolerant, cheerful, and always curious, thanks to their nose. Personality-wise, they are often difficult to train because of their tendency to be less obedient.
However, training is critical for the breed — especially the command to ‘come’. Because of their strong desire to explore the universe, the Beagles should never be allowed outside a secure area unless they are attached to a leash. They are reasonably adaptable to their surroundings and have a fairly decent tolerance level. They are quite comfortable in hot weather conditions and require no special treatment. Beagles adapt moderately well with the Indian climate. This makes them an easy and novice choice for a pet in India.
Indian Spitz
Indian Spitz is an attractive dog breed that needs care and pampering and has the potential to become an ideal pet. The British who began breeding them from a stock of German Spitzes introduced the Indian Spitz in India. After the years of frequent researches and breeding, the dog breed was produced that was perfect to be suited in the hot and humid climate of the plains in India. They are extremely zealous, energetic, and enthusiastic and are sometimes, even known for understanding human intentions! These traits make them an ideal choice for an Indian.
Doberman
Doberman belongs to one of those dog breeds that are best watch dogs. Dobermans have thin and sleek body shape making them great security dogs. Their body is compact and muscular, with the head, neck, and legs in proportion to the body. They are strong, agile, have great stamina, can run very fast, and are very faithful towards their owners. These dogs were bred to protect their owner and at the same time be athletic to chase high-speed targets. Due to their short hair, they prefer warmer temperatures and can easily survive in India. They are also less prone to overheating unlike other foreign breeds of dogs. They tend to develop less body fat so this breed is not suitable for colder temperature. All these traits make them one of the best dogs suitable for Indian climate.
Dalmatian
As we hear Dalmatian, it reminds us of the movie 101 Dalmatians, right? They are as gallant, as they are goofy and are extremely social dogs. One feature that we all know about Dalmatian is they have black/brown spots over white coat. But the interesting part is – they have spots everywhere on the body, even inside their mouth. Dalmatians are midsized, muscular, and have great endurance. They are very friendly, simple, active, and lively dogs and require a lot of activity and playtime. The athletic built of Dalmatians helps them to run very fast with their little and round feet. They are also good with children, which makes them common pets in many households. Dalmatians’ coats are dense, short, and very fine; this makes them one of the best dogs for Indian weather and suitable for the warm region.
To sum up, we can say that keeping and raising pets, along with being a wonderful hobby, is a serious responsibility and our tropical climate makes it difficult. So, better to choose the breed that is best suited to our Indian weather conditions; else we wouldn’t do justice to the lives of our pets. From the list given above, you can opt for any of the dogs to be your pet guilt free. However, care should be taken to look after your dog as you would look after yourself in this climate. Regular exercise, good balanced diet, and vet checkups are a must if you want a happy healthy pet at home.
