The INDog (also known as the Indian Pariah Dog and the Desi Dog locally) is an ancient autocthonous landrace type of dog found throughout India. It was featured some years ago in National Geographic Channel's film, Search for the First Dog, along with similar primitive dogs of other countries like the Canaan dog of Israel and the feral Dingo of Australia. It is not yet recognized as a breed by any of the major kennel clubs worldwide, though efforts are being made to bring it into official recognition. INDogs are still hunted and kept as livestock guardians and property dogs in Indian villages. They are also prized as companion dogs.
Archaeological records suggest that Indian village dogs have been in existence since antiquity. We do not know for sure whether the INDogs of today are the descendants of those primitive dogs as no DNA testing has been done on ancient domestic dogs in India. But it is a reasonable hypothesis until such testing does occur.
INDogs are healthy and have minimum genetic disorders due to natural selection over generations in the wild. They have a broad gene pool, which gives them a great chance of producing strong, vigorous offspring. They are also self-sufficient and can survive with little or no human food. They have a modest appetite and must be fed only to the point of satiety. Overfeeding leads to behavioral problems, such as selective eating and weight gain.
Because of their ancient hunting heritage, unmixed INDogs still retain innate hunting instincts. They can become very aggressive if their innate instincts are abused or neglected, Indogg but they will be gentle and loving with the owners they trust. Their social nature makes them good pets, but they do not easily accept strangers and may be protective of their home/pack.
The biggest threat to INDogs is the genetic swamping by non-native breeds, which have overrun many indigenous dog populations. This threat is aggravated by urban free-ranging dogs that are forced to compete for scarce resources with humans, and are exposed to crowded, high-risk conditions where they are vulnerable to vehicle hits, abuse and disease.
We wish to thank Janice Koler-Matznick, the founder of the Primitive & Aboriginal Dog Society (PADS), and Gautam Das, who first championed the INDog and coined the name. They have supported this project from its inception and continue to do so. We are very grateful to them and to all the people who have helped us in one way or another. This is a very important project and we hope to see it grow to its full potential in the near future. Please support this worthy cause by adopting, volunteering or donating. Together we can make a difference. We look forward to hearing from you. - Indoggo Gin
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