A young man came to my clinic last month with his new puppy. Lovely brown indie, maybe ten weeks old, found near his society gate. He sat down, looked very worried, and asked me which imported brand of dog food he should buy "because she's a special case."
I asked him what made her a special case.
"Doctor, she's a street dog. Will she even survive without proper food?"
I laughed. Then I caught myself, because he was being completely sincere. His family had warned him that "those dogs" don't make good pets, that they get sick all the time, that he'd regret it. They told him to buy a Labrador instead.
That conversation is why I'm writing this. Every week I see new pet parents struggling with the same mix of love, confusion, and bad advice when it comes to Indian indie dogs. Some are first-time adopters. Some have had pedigree dogs for years and don't know how indies are different. Most have been told some version of the same myth — that desi dogs are second-class pets.
They aren't. In many ways they're the best dogs you'll ever have. But they have their own quirks, their own dietary needs, their own personality patterns, and yes, their own health concerns. Here's everything I wish my clients knew on day one.
So what exactly is an "indie" dog?
Indie is short for "Indian dog" — though most of us also use "desi dog" or just "INDog" interchangeably. Scientifically these are landrace dogs, meaning they evolved naturally over thousands of years in the Indian subcontinent without selective breeding by humans.
You'll recognise them: medium-sized, lean, with short coats that range from sandy yellow to dark brindle. Pricked or semi-pricked ears, alert eyes, a curved tail that often arches over the back. Most adult indies weigh between 15 and 25 kilos.
Here's the part people don't realise. These dogs have been living alongside Indians for at least 4,500 years. They appear in Indus Valley seals. They're mentioned in the Mahabharata. Genetic studies suggest they're one of the oldest dog populations on earth.
So when someone tells you indies aren't "real" dogs, they have it exactly backwards. Pedigree breeds are recent inventions. Indies are the original.
The myths I have to bust every week
Let me get the common ones out of the way because they keep pet parents from making good decisions.
"Indies are aggressive." They're not. Like any dog, they can be territorial or anxious if poorly socialised, but the breed itself is not aggressive. The street dogs that scare people are often unsterilised, hungry, or have had bad experiences with humans. A home-raised indie pup, exposed to children and other animals early, becomes one of the gentlest dogs you'll meet.
"They don't bond with humans like Labradors." This one drives me a little mad. Indies are intensely loyal. The difference is that they tend to bond very deeply with one or two people rather than being indiscriminately friendly with everyone. That's a feature, not a bug.
"They get sick easily because they came from the streets." It's actually the opposite. Indies that survived puppyhood on the streets have immune systems that handle Indian conditions far better than imported breeds. The vet bills I see for indies across their lifetime are a fraction of what I see for Huskies or Saint Bernards in the same city.
"They're not trainable." Indies are extremely intelligent. The problem is they're also independent thinkers. They won't do something just because you said so — they need to understand why. With positive reinforcement they learn fast. With punishment-based training they shut down. More on this below.
"They need special imported food." No. They genuinely don't. This is probably the biggest scam of the Indian pet food industry.
What to actually feed your indie
Indie dogs evolved eating Indian food. Rice, dal, vegetables, occasional meat scraps, milk products. Their digestive systems are built for this.
That doesn't mean you should feed them oily restaurant leftovers — please don't, you'll give them pancreatitis. But it does mean you have flexibility most pedigree owners don't.
A simple, healthy daily meal for an adult indie looks something like:
• Boiled rice or roti as a base
• Boiled chicken, fish, or eggs for protein (or paneer and dal if vegetarian)
• A small amount of curd
• Boiled vegetables — pumpkin, carrots, beans, spinach
• A teaspoon of ghee or coconut oil for healthy fats
You can absolutely feed commercial dog food if it's easier — Drools, Pedigree, Royal Canin all work fine. But you don't need to spend ₹4,000 a month on imported kibble. A home-cooked Indian diet costs a fraction of that and most of my indie patients actually do better on it.
For puppies under six months, feed three to four times a day. Adult dogs do well on two meals. Keep an eye on body condition — you should be able to feel ribs without pressing hard, and there should be a visible waist when you look down at your dog from above.
Foods to never give: chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic in large amounts, cooked bones (raw is sometimes okay but I usually advise against), anything with xylitol, very spicy food, leftover biryani with masala. The basics.
Vaccinations and the medical schedule
This part is the same for indies as for any other dog in India. Don't skip it.
For puppies:
• First DHPPiL shot at 6-8 weeks (covers distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, leptospirosis)
• Boosters at 10-12 and 14-16 weeks
• Anti-rabies from 12 weeks onwards — legally mandatory
• Annual boosters for life
Deworming starts at two weeks old and continues every two weeks until 12 weeks, then monthly until six months, then every three months for life. Indies pick up worms easily because they're so curious about everything, so stay on top of this.
Tick and flea prevention is essential, especially from June through September. Indian humidity creates a perfect environment for ticks, and tick-borne diseases like ehrlichiosis can be fatal if missed. I use Bravecto or Nexgard tablets for my own dog — one tablet covers three months. Talk to your vet about what suits your area.
Sterilisation should happen around six to nine months. There's been some recent research suggesting slightly later is better for large breeds, but for indies the standard timing is fine. Sterilisation prevents pyometra, mammary tumours, testicular cancer, and obviously reduces the stray population if your dog ever escapes.
How much exercise do indies actually need?
More than most apartment-dwellers want to hear. Indies are working dogs by evolution. They were patrolling village perimeters and chasing off threats long before they were lying on your sofa.
A healthy adult indie needs:
• One long walk in the morning (45 minutes minimum, ideally an hour)
• A shorter walk in the evening (20-30 minutes)
• Mental stimulation — sniffing, exploring, puzzle toys, training sessions
Without this, you'll see destructive behaviour. Chewing furniture, excessive barking, restlessness. People then blame the breed when it's really their schedule.
Important: in Indian summers, walk your dog before 7 am or after 7 pm. The pavement gets hot enough to burn paw pads by 9 am in May. Put the back of your hand on the road for ten seconds — if it's uncomfortable for you, it's burning for your dog.
During monsoons, dry your dog thoroughly after walks. Especially between the toes and inside the ears. Indian humidity plus wet fur is a fungal infection waiting to happen.
The training part nobody warns you about
I said earlier that indies are intelligent but independent. Let me explain what that looks like in practice.
A Labrador will sit because you said sit. An indie will sit because she's calculated that sitting will result in something good happening — a treat, a walk, your attention. The motivation matters to her.
This means traditional dominance-based training doesn't work well. Yelling, scruff-shaking, alpha-rolling — all the stuff you might see on old TV shows — will make an indie either fearful or defiant. Probably both.
What works:
• Positive reinforcement. Reward what you want, ignore what you don't.
• Short training sessions. Ten minutes, twice a day, far more effective than one long session.
• Consistency. Use the same word for the same command every time.
• Patience with toilet training. Indie puppies usually catch on by 4-5 months but accidents will happen.
• Socialisation, socialisation, socialisation. Between 8 and 16 weeks, expose your pup to as many people, animals, sounds, and environments as you safely can. This window is golden.
Indies also tend to be vocal. They bark to alert you, not for no reason. If your indie is barking, look first for what she's noticed — usually a delivery person at the gate, a bird, another dog in the neighbourhood. Once you acknowledge what she's flagged, she usually stops.
Grooming — the easy part
Indies have short coats and almost zero grooming needs compared to pedigrees. This is one of the joys of having an indie.
A bath every 3-4 weeks is plenty. Over-bathing strips natural oils and causes skin problems. Use a mild dog shampoo, not human shampoo — the pH is different.
Weekly brushing helps with shedding, which is moderate year-round and heavier during the two big shedding seasons in spring and autumn.
Trim nails every 3-4 weeks if your dog doesn't wear them down naturally on walks. Most city indies do need nail trims.
Brush teeth two to three times a week if you can. Dental disease is hugely underdiagnosed in Indian dogs and it affects everything from heart health to lifespan.
Common health issues to watch for
Indies are sturdy but they're not invincible. The conditions I see most often in indie patients:
Tick fever (ehrlichiosis and babesiosis). Top of my watch-list. Symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite, pale gums, nose bleeds. If you see any of these, do not wait — go to a vet the same day. Tick fever is treatable when caught early and devastating when missed.
Skin allergies. Particularly during monsoons. Watch for excessive scratching, hair loss patches, red skin. Often manageable with medicated baths and dietary tweaks.
Ear infections. Common in dogs with even slightly floppy ears, especially in humid weather. Smell their ears occasionally — healthy ears have almost no smell. Yeasty or foul smell means a vet visit.
Pyometra in unsterilised females. A uterine infection that can be fatal within days. This is one of the main reasons to spay.
Heat stroke. Indies handle heat better than Huskies but they're still dogs in 40°C summers. Signs include excessive panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting. Move to AC or shade immediately, wet the body with cool (not ice cold) water, call a vet.
Diwali stress. Worth its own paragraph. Loud firecrackers cause real anxiety for dogs. Some shake, some hide, some bolt and get lost. In the week before Diwali, microchip or update your dog's ID tag. On the days of firecrackers, keep her indoors, draw curtains, play music or white noise, and consider talking to your vet about a mild sedative if she's severely affected.
Indies with children and other pets
In my experience, indies are wonderful with children when they've been socialised early. They're protective but rarely aggressive. They tolerate the chaos of family life beautifully.
With other dogs, your indie's experience matters. Indies who were street pups and got into territorial fights early can be wary of unfamiliar dogs as adults. Indies raised in homes from puppyhood typically get along fine with other pets, including cats, if introduced properly.
The introduction process matters. Don't just put two animals in the same room and hope. Take it slow, supervise, separate when you're not watching, let them set the pace.
Things people ask me
Are indies hypoallergenic?
No dog is truly hypoallergenic, but indies with their short coats often produce less dander than long-haired breeds. Some people with mild allergies do well with indies. Spend time with one before adopting if allergies are a concern.
How long do indie dogs live?
A well-cared-for indie typically lives 13 to 16 years. I've had patients reach 18. That's significantly longer than most large pedigree breeds.
Can I take my indie to the hills or to Goa for a holiday?
Yes, indies travel well. Acclimatise gradually to altitude, carry their regular food, and make sure their rabies certificate is current — some hill stations and beach destinations check.
My society won't allow "street dogs". What can I do?
Indian law is actually on your side. The Animal Welfare Board of India has issued multiple advisories stating that housing societies cannot discriminate against indie dogs. Print these out, talk to your association, and if needed, consult a lawyer. Many societies back down once they realise their position isn't legally defensible.
Should I adopt an adult indie or a puppy?
Both have their joys. Adult indies often skip the destructive puppy stage and bond fast with rescuers. Puppies require more time but you shape their entire personality. Honestly, just pick the dog that picks you.
Is it true indies don't like AC?
Some don't, some love it. Indies are adapted to Indian temperatures so they don't need AC the way Huskies do, but most enjoy a cool room in May and June. Just don't make the room freezing cold — sudden temperature changes can cause respiratory issues.
A small request, from one indie lover to another
If you're reading this because you're thinking of adopting an indie, please go ahead. You won't regret it.
If you already have one and you've made it this far, you probably already know what I'm about to say. These dogs deserve the same respect, the same medical care, the same recognition as any pedigree. They've been by our side for thousands of years. The least we can do is take care of them properly.
And if you want a community of other Indian pet parents who get it — who understand indies, share local vet recommendations, swap food tips, and connect for playdates — that's exactly what we're building at PawVerse. It's free to join, and it's how I've connected with the families of so many of my patients across India.
Adopting or already adopted? Tell your indie I said hello. They'll know.
This guide was written by the PawVerse Veterinary Team and reviewed by qualified veterinarians. It offers general information for Indian pet parents and is not a substitute for personalised advice from a vet who has examined your pet. Always consult a veterinarian near you for guidance specific to your animal.