Creature Companion - Interzoo Special Interzoo Special 2018 | Page 34

Indian Breeds Let’s Talk INDIAN BREEDS By CC Bureau T he human–animal relationship has always been a little hazy in India, where love for animals, especially pets, depends on the animal’s breed, its appearance and its ‘merits’ (does it behave in accordance with its owner’s demands or not). Last but not the least, it also depends on the price paid to acquire said pet. Th e higher the price, the greater the attributions of loyalty and capability to the animal, whether justifi ed or not. Dogs, of course, are the most popular targets in India of all such labels and treatment among all the types of domesticated animals. To break the popular trend of adopting only foreign breeds, we introduce you to Indian breeds. Th e Indian Pariah Dog Considered the oldest dog breed in the world, the Indian Pariah dog came into existence about 15,000 years ago as a result of natural selection, and not intentional breeding by humans. Today, the Indian Pariah is a medium-sized dog with a darker jacket and a coat that comes in a range of dull to ruddy shades. Th is dog, also called the Pye dog (pye being an Anglo-Indian word from the Hindi pah, meaning 'outsider'), is bred not only in India but also in other regions of South Asia. In India, forest-dwelling tribes mostly rear this breed for specifi c purposes. Th e highly intelligent Indian Pariah is considered a relative of the Australian dingo, another primitive breed that was never reared by humans but evolved on its own. Th e Indian Pariah looks quite similar to the dingo, and also to the African Basenji and the Podenco Canario. Th e Indian Pariah dog, known for being territorial as well as protective in nature, is also known to be loyal, social, smart and intelligent. Th e breed has been accorded recognition by the Primitive and Aboriginal Dog Society (PADS). Th is naturally advanced breed has a normal life expectancy of around 15 years in human terms. Th e Chippiparai Th is Indian breed is a hunter known for its loyalty, and was fi rst bred by the royal families of Madurai and Tirunelveli in Chippiparai in Tamil Nadu. Th is