Top family dog breeds in India
Do you know who is the most loyal companion to a man?
Yes, yes it is the DOG.
Dogs not only give out unconditional love but are very loyal and selfless. This is the reason why there are many dog lovers around the world. India solely amounts to 19.5 million pet dogs in 2018. Moreover, a forecast says that it is about to reach 31 million by the end of 2023.
Dog lovers are anywhere and everywhere. And they think a dog is itself the best pet to own. But owning a dog is not as easy as it sounds. There are end number of factors that are taken into consideration before petting a dog. Simpy, ranging from the behavior of the dog, pricing of the dog in India, climate adaptability in India to the lifestyle and food habits of the dog.
So here is a list of the top 10 dog breeds, which all the pet lovers can go through before deciding which dog breed they would like to pet.
Top 10 family dog breeds in India:
The top 2 dogs on my list are pure Indian breeds, which I favor. Haha!
1. Indian Pariah Dog:
Wedge-shaped head with erect ears, oh yes it is a pariah dog. Also known as Desi breed or native Indian dog, this breed is frequently used as a police or guard dog. They often bark at strangers and unfamiliar dogs a lot. And the fun fact is that most Indian street dogs belong to this breed only.
Characteristics of this breed:
Origin: Indian Subcontinent
Weight: Male 20–30 kg
Female 15–25 kg
Height: Male20–25 in
Female 18–23 in
Life span: 10–14 years
Tendency to Bark: Moderate
Social Needs: High
Price in India: Rs. 4000–7000 (sometimes negligible too)
Color: Brown and shades of brown, white, and black also.
2. Indian Spitz Dog:
Resemble the Pomeranian breed and are often confused with them, oh yes it is an Indian spitz. Spitz's legs are smaller which makes their head looks bigger. This makes them look way too adorable. At times, spitz bark so much that even a barking contest can be organized for them.
Characteristics of this breed:
Origin: Indian Subcontinent
Weight: Male 6–20 kg
Female 5–17 kg
Height: Male16–18 in
Female 14–16 in
Life span: 10–13 years
Tendency to Bark: High
Social Needs: Moderate
Price in India: Rs. 4000–10000
Color: White
3. Pomeranian Dog:
Cute little toy-like face, oh yes it is a pomeranian. Also known as Pom, they are often called toy dogs. Earlier this breed was owned by royal people after which it became famous. And now people just love them because of their cuteness. The fun fact here is that sometimes they don’t remember how small they are and tackle large dogs just by barking.
Characteristics of this breed:
Origin: Pomerania
Weight: Male 1.8–2 kg
Female 2–2.5 kg
Height: Male 10–11 in
Female 9–10 in
Life span: 12–16 years
Tendency to Bark: High
Social Needs: Low
Price in India: Rs. 5000–15000
Color: White, Black, Shades of Grey, Brown, and Orange.
4. Labrador Dog:
Broadhead and expressive eyes, oh yes it is a labrador. Labrador Retriever often abbreviated as Labrador. It is the most popular dog breed in the world. This breed is known for its outstanding family companionship. One more thing to pay attention to, labs can be really destructive if left alone for long.
Characteristics of this breed:
Origin: United Kingdom
Weight: Male 29–36kg
Female 25–32 kg
Height: Male 22–23 in
Female 21.5–22 in
Life span: 10–12 years
Tendency to Bark: Low
Social Needs: Moderate
Price in India: Rs. 8000–15000
Color: Shade of Yellow and Brown mixed, Black, and Chocolate Brown.
5. Golden Retriever Dog:
Golden coat with adorable eyes, oh yes it is a golden retriever. Their thick golden coat is water repellent. Moreover, they look very adorable because of the feathering on their neck. This breed just loves to eat so beware as they can quickly become overweight if overfed. They also need lots of grooming and they shed a lot too.
Characteristics of this breed:
Origin: United Kingdom
Weight: Male 29–34 kg
Female 25–29 kg
Height: Male 22–24 in
Female 20–22 in
Life span: 10–12 years
Tendency to Bark: Moderate
Social Needs: High
Price in India: Rs. 35000–42000
Color: Cream, and Shades of Golden.
6. Pug Dog:
Small face with the wrinkled body, oh yes it is a pug dog. Pugs are easy to maintain as they shed very little hair. But, the eyes of this breed are very sensitive and have to handled with utmost care. The pug became popular in India with the Vodafone advertisement.
Characteristics of this breed:
Origin: China
Weight: Male 11–16 kg
Female 10–15 kg
Height: Male 11–13 in
Female 10–12 in
Life span: 12–15 years
Tendency to Bark: Moderate
Social Needs: High
Price in India: Rs. 9000–18000
Color: Black, Cream, and Shades of grey and brown.
7. Beagle Dog:
Broadhead, large ears, and short legs, oh yes it is a beagle. Beagles smelling senses are way too good and they are often used for tracking. Beagles are highly social dogs. And if left alone at home will bark, bark, and bark the whole day and sometimes can become destructive too.
Characteristics of this breed:
Origin: England
Weight: Male 10–11.5 kg
Female 9–10.5 kg
Height: Male 13–16 in
Female 12–14 in
Life span: 12–15 years
Tendency to Bark: High
Social Needs: High
Price in India: Rs. 23000–30000
Color: Tri-color mostly White, Brown, and Black.
8. German Shepherd Dog:
Nice handsome and muscular body, oh yes it is a german shepherd. German Shepherd is an active dog and thus, they need proper exercises daily. At times, this breed can put its own life at stake to protect the owner. They are often used as Police or Guard dogs because of their courageous nature.
Characteristics of this breed:
Origin: Germany
Weight: Male 30–40 kg
Female 22–32 kg
Height: Male 24–26 in
Female 22–24 in
Life span: 9–13 years
Tendency to Bark: Low
Social Needs: Moderate
Price in India: Rs. 15000–30000
Color: Bi-color mostly with Tan and Black color.
9. Dachshund Dog:
Sausage-like body cute adorable eyes with a long tail and short legs, oh yes it is a dachshund dog. Also, this breed present in three varieties, smooth, wired, and long-coated. Dachshunds are low maintenance dogs which makes them a perfect choice for Indian families.
Characteristics of this breed:
Origin: Germany
Weight: Male 10–15 kg
Female 8–14 kg
Height: Male 15–19 in
Female 14–18 in
Life span: 12–14 years
Tendency to Bark: High
Social Needs: Moderate
Price in India: Rs. 8000–10000
Color: Black, Tan, Cream, Chocolate, and shades of Red.
10. Rottweiler Dog:
Jet black color dog with some tint of golden and tan markings over the eyes, chest, and legs, oh yes it is a rottweiler dog. During the first World War, they played a major role as guard dogs. Moreover, this breed is also known for its intelligence and confidence.
Characteristics of this breed:
Origin: Germany
Weight: Male 50–60 kg
Female 34–48 kg
Height: Male 24–27 in
Female 22–25 in
Life span: 8–12 years
Tendency to Bark: Moderate
Social Needs: High
Price in India: Rs. 18000–25000
Color: Black and tanned spots.
Conclusion
I wish this list helped you to understand the top breeds which can be kept as a pet in India. Every breed is a good dog, but do make sure that you are 100% ready to pet a dog. Because these little friends deserve all your love.
Comment down to let me know what are your opinion, and which breed do you own.
Till then happy reading and happy pet keeping.