Top 10 Popular Dog Breeds in India

The dog lovers world over know that dog is the best pet to be adopted. Dogs are the most loyal, affectionate and intelligent animals to be taken as a personal companion. They love their owners unconditionally. No wonder they are “man’s best friend”. Most of the dogs popular with people in India are imported. Some of the most popular dog breeds in India, which can be kept as a pet or guard/watch dogs are:

1) Beagles–

Beagles are extremely friendly and intelligent dogs. It’s the most adorable and one of the preferred pet dog breeds worldwide. It is a small to medium sized compact dog used as a sniffer dog in airports because of its strong sense of smell. It is tricolor or white in combination with black and tan or brown. It has short haired, hard coat of medium length.

Vital Stats:

• Group:                                      Hound Group
• Height:                                     13 – 15 inches
• Weight:                                   20 – 25 kgs
• Life Expectancy:                   12 – 15 years
• Temperament:                      Friendly, Curious, Merry

Highlights:

• Beagles have a tendency to eat whatever food comes their way. They have a high tendency to over-eat. So monitoring the amount and type of food given to them is absolutely necessary.
• Beagles need a thorough house-training and it may take up to a year to fully train some beagles. Stick up to a Crate training process.
• Beagles are not good protection or guard dogs because they’re usually friendly to everyone they meet.

2) German Shepherd–

Considered an all-purpose worker in the dog’s kingdom, the German Shepherd is  curious, loyal, intelligent and a courageous dog breed. They can put their life at stake for the protection of their family, making them one of the best guard dogs in the world. Being an active and agile breed, the German Shepherd would need a sufficient amount of physical activity daily.

Vital Stats:

• Group:                                     Working Group
• Height:                                    24 – 26 inches (male), 22 – 24 inches (female)
• Weight:                                   55 – 75 pounds (25 – 35 kgs)
• Life Expectancy:                   9 – 13 years
• Temperament:                      Affectionate, Loyal, Courageous

Highlights:

• German Shepherd puppies have a faster growth rate and hence require a diet rich in protein.
• German Shepherds shed heavily and possess a thick double coat requiring regular brushing and grooming.
• German Shepherds are sharp dogs who are known to learn a trick with only 5 repetitions.

3) Great Dane–

Great Dane, often called as the ‘Apollo of Dogs’, is a very obedient guard dog which can be trained easily because of its intelligence. It is very friendly and loves children, people and other dogs. It is available in black, blue, fawn, mantle, harlequin and brindle colors.

Vital Stats:

• Group:                                     Working Group
• Height:                                    30 – 32 inches (male), 28 – 30 inches (female)
• Weight:                                   110 – 175 pounds (25 – 40 kgs)
• Life Expectancy:                   10 – 12 years
• Temperament:                      Bright, Fun-Loving, Active

Highlights:

• Great Dane should be fed with high-quality dog food appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). The primary killer of the breed is bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach distends and twists, and multiple small meals per day and preventing vigorous exercise around mealtimes can help reduce the chances of it happening.
• Usually Great Dane’s short, smooth coat doesn’t shed much, but during the shedding season, hair loss would be profuse and daily combing would be a necessity. the dog’s usually long nails should be trimmed regularly.
• For a breed as large and powerful as the Great Dane, obedience training is a must. Early socialization and puppy training classes are recommended.

4) Boxer–

It is a very intelligent, sporty dog which is very easy to train. Also, it is one of the best guard dogs to keep. It has a large body and head, a square muzzle and strong jaws. It is gentle, friendly, quiet and protective by nature and is used as guide for blind people.  This dog’s inherent patience and protective nature has earned it a reputation as a great dog with children. It can be found in brindle, fawn and white color.

Vital Stats:

• Group:                                     Working Group
• Height:                                    23-25 inches (male), 21.5-23.5 inches (female)
• Weight:                                   50 – 80 pounds (60 – 80 kgs)
• Life Expectancy:                   7 – 10 years
• Temperament:                      Friendly, Patient, Dependable

Highlights:

• The Boxer should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared.
• The Boxer’s short, shiny coat requires very little grooming. Its nails should be trimmed regularly.
• Early socialization and puppy training classes are necessary for this breed. They are highly intelligent and tend to have a mind of their own and are excellent problem solvers.

5) Labrador Retriever–

Labradors are famously friendly and companion housemates who bond with the whole family. Their social skills with neighbor dogs and humans are the breeds’ highlight. They come in yellow, black, and a luscious chocolate color.

Vital Stats:

• Group:                                     Sporting Group
• Height:                                    22.5 – 24.5 inches (male), 21.5 – 23.5 inches (female)
• Weight:                                   55 – 80 pounds (65 – 80 kgs)
• Life Expectancy:                   10 – 12 years
• Temperament:                      Friendly, Active, Outgoing

Highlights:

• Labradors require high-quality food in accordance with the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior) with all the necessary nutrients the breed requires. This breed is highly prone to obesity.
• Labradors have thick, water-repellent double coat skin which require occasional grooming.
• Labradors are highly agile and energetic who require a lot of exercise each day. They are also highly obedient.

6) Rottweiler–

A breed known for its enormous strength, Rottweiler has a lineage of mastiffs   of Roman legions. These dogs are incredibly devoted and loyal to their loved ones, making them great family pets. To make your Rottweilers well behaved, it is suggested they are socialized right from puppyhood. Even though Rottweilers have a short coat, they do shed a fair amount of hair. Using a dog brush that removes dead undercoats in them can tremendously lower the hair fall. Rottweilers come in colors like Black and Tan or Black and Mahagony.

7) Pug–

One of the best family dogs, Pugs are ideal for small households and apartment dwellers. Even though pugs shed, the hair fall is quite low, making the dogs very easy to maintain. They don’t need to be bathed unless they get into some dirt or mess. Though they need regular trimming of nails, as long nails can cause uneasiness in them. Pugs come in colors like Black, Fawn, Apricot and Silver Fawn.

Vital Stats:

• Group:                                     Toy Group
• Height:                                    11–13 inches
• Weight:                                   15–18 pounds (11–16 kg)
• Life Expectancy:                   12 – 15 years
• Temperament:                      Charming, Playful, Stubborn

Highlights:

• Pugs do well with both homemade and manufactured foods as long as they are fed healthy calories.
• As pugs are a little vulnerable to obesity, their diet should not contain too much fat.
• Pugs are highly adaptable dogs who equally cherish to stay at home as well as enjoy the outdoors.

8) Golden Retriever–

Golden Retrievers are very popular with people as pets because of their loving and obedient nature. They are very intelligent, can be trained well and excel in competitions. They make good watch dogs. They are sturdy, good looking, medium sized dogs. They have a water resistant coat, dense with straight or wavy outer coat requiring regular grooming. They come in cream and rich golden colors.

Vital Stats:

• Group:                                     Sporting Group
• Height:                                    20–24 inches
• Weight:                                   55–75 pounds (25–35 kg)
• Life Expectancy:                   12 – 15 years
• Temperament:                      Friendly, Intelligent, Devoted

Highlights:

• Golden Retriever needs high-quality food be it commercially manufactured or home-prepared. This breed has history of suffering from obesity, thus watching the dog’s calorie intake is of utmost importance.
• Golden Retriever heavily shed their thick, water-repellent double coat once or twice a year. So, brushing it on a regular basis is important. During times of heavy shedding, these brushing sessions turn into daily affairs. Nails also need to be well-trimmed.
• Golden Retriever is usually outgoing, loyal, and eager to do its owner’s bidding, which makes it very easy to train. Early socialization and puppy training classes are highly recommended.

9) Cocker Spaniel–

Cocker Spaniel is a medium sized dog with dark almond shaped eyes. It has a litter size of average 5 puppies. It is a fairly active dog suitable to live in an apartment. It has a silky coat of medium length, which is flat or slightly wavy. The colors it is available in are black with tan points, merle, parti-color (white with black, white with black and tan etc.)

Vital Stats:

• Group:                                     Sporting Group
• Height:                                    13-16 inches
• Weight:                                   20 – 30 pounds (25–35 kg)
• Life Expectancy:                   10 – 14 years
• Temperament:                      Gentle, Smart, Happy

Highlights:

• Cocker Spaniel needs a quality meal with necessary ingredients. A chicken and rice–based food has long been a good starting point for Cocker food.
• Cocker requires regular grooming as avoiding may lead in tangling or mats in the dog’s coat.
• Being a people-pleasing breed, Cocker is generally sensitive to reaction (approving/disapproving) of its owner.

10) Dachshund–

A bundle of energy in a small body, Dachshunds are dogs famous for their ever-alert expression. These dogs come in two sizes, standard and miniature, the miniature being the smaller. Even though they are little dogs, their bark is so loud that it can terrify the visitors at your house. Dachshunds live longer and have an average lifespan of around 15 years.

Vital Stats:

• Group:                                    Hound Group
• Height:                                   8-9 inches (Miniature); 13-16 inches (standard)
• Weight:                                  11 pounds (Miniature); 16 – 32 pounds (standard)
• Life Expectancy:                  10 – 14 years
• Temperament:                     Lively, Stubborn, Clever and Courageous

Highlights:

• Dachshunds have a small digestive tract, yet their energy requirements are high. This makes them need a diet high in protein content.
• Dachshunds are great watchdogs who will alert you on finding the slightest of suspicious activities.
• These dogs have a longer lifespan, making it one of the longest living dog breeds.
• The ancestors of Dachshunds used to chase and flush out badgers and rabbits from deep burrows.

Wrapping Up

Other than these dogs, a few more dogs which feature in the popular dog’s category with Indians are Fox Terrier, Saint Bernard, Labrador, Doberman, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu etc. Now a day’s it is possible to get any breed of dog from abroad as per the requirement of the dog lover.