Surely having a canine as a treasured part of the family isn’t new to the South Asian subcontinent?

An interest in animals; having and caring for domesticated animals and pets is not new. But the projection of human characteristics onto non-bovine household pets (and the opportunities to treat them as family-members), specially dogs, at such a large scale, are part of a relatively new (marketed?) phenomenon. In my grandparents' generation, there were fewer nuclear families or childless households. So family members competed among themselves for each other's resources, time and emotions. Nowadays, there are more widespread opportunities to dress up your dog/b*tch in pink and head for a stroll in the park without an embarrassed grandma stopping you at the door before the neighbours catch sight of you and your funny human-like dog.

These are my observations as one who comes from a family that used to breed dogs (pomeranians, American and English cocker spaniels) and as a non-practicing vet. And also, I doubt if pomeranians are still a status symbol in Delhi (as the article states). Pomeranians were so 1970s among the monied classes.

Neuter/spay your canines & felines, people. All things considered, it remains the best option for all. I know animal rights' people hate to hear that but...

Malathi - I think it's only the extreme animal rights ppl who disagree with spay/neuter.

When I was a kid, visiting relatives in India, I think only one house in my huge extended family had an indoor dog (a Pomeranian, oddly enough!). My grandfather had an outdoor mutt dog that he fed (not sure if he was a stray that just came by for food, or if he was really my grandfather's dog), but he was definitely not for us kids to play with.

I'd love to read more about peoples' views on keeping dogs as pets in India.

My parents wouldn't let me get one as a kid, I think because my dad was afraid of dogs and thought they were too dirty/messy. My cousin, who grew up in India, is so afraid of dogs that he can't really come over to my house for long periods of time because our 2 dogs are mostly indoor dogs (and will raise holy hell if we keep them outside while we have guests).

Then my dad caved in after I left home and got a dog for my brother (yes, I'm still bitter about that!!) and my parents LOVED that pup. Interesting how things can change over time. I think they've even got some of their previously dog-averse friends and relatives to at least be comfortable around indoor dogs, if not actually getting one themselves.

On my last trip to India, I had to literally stuff my hands in my pockets to avoid petting the street dogs in Hyderabad. (I'm one of THOSE people that can't walk past a dog without petting it.) It was really hard to see those guys, in such bad shape.

Yes, I'm totally rambling. But this is a subject that I've been interested in for a while.

An interest in animals; having and caring for domesticated animals and pets is not new. But the projection of human characteristics onto non-bovine household pets (and the opportunities to treat them as family-members), specially dogs, at such a large scale, are part of a relatively new (marketed?) phenomenon

There did used to be a few stray dogs in my father's village. Everyone just had a hand in feeding them and they roamed around. I guess they were something of a pack of communal pets.

Pomeranians were so 1970s among the monied classes.

I need to explain that carelessly-written statement before somebody finds it offensive.

It has been my experience that people who purely trot out dogs as status symbols (does not mean they don't love them), are always on the look-out for that rare breed. Breeders of pups from a 'rarer' breed in any given country ask and receive a higher price. At the same time, breeds go in and out of fashion and while a particular breed is on the way out there is both an emotional and a financial cost that breeders will have to bear.

My husband's family always had dogs - Khushi, a GSD, was the main dog he grew up with, and was spoiled rotten by all accounts.

Our (non-serious) current retirement plan is to move to a hill station and breed and show Alaskan Malamutes around India - guaranteed best in breed, I imagine, given how uncommon the breed is in India. I suppose we'd have to screen potential buyers for year-round AC before selling any pups, though.

"Our (non-serious) current retirement plan is to move to a hill station and breed and show Alaskan Malamutes around India - guaranteed best in breed, I imagine, given how uncommon the breed is in India. I suppose we'd have to screen potential buyers for year-round AC before selling any pups, though."

I know I promised not to inflict my comments on this blog anymore, but I'm going to be a little rude and say this, and I hope I'm not insulting you: As someone who grew up in a hill station in India for awhile, I saw the stray problem firsthand. Whilst the mutts were generally tolerated and fed by some well-meaning people (of all socioeconomic backgrounds), they also endured incredible cruelty and culling/death by barbarous methods. Bubbles the Pomeranian and Max the German Shepherd were treasured whilst the poor street dogs were strangled to death. I've seen people in Bangalore keep a full-grown St. Bernard in an airconditioned environment constantly because that's the only way it can be comfortable. Nice for the owner to show off, not nice for the dog to spend its life indoors like that. Soon there will be puppy mills, pit bull dogfighting rings and the like. The Indian middle class and elite, like most of their counterparts in every country I've been in, are obsessed with designer dogs/cats to the detriment of native street/feral/mutt dogs. Even in the U.S., millions of animals get put to sleep because there are just too many of them. I've had people in other countries ask me why I buy good brand dog food for mutts/strays when they're not even breed dogs.

I know this is none of my business, but what the hill stations/India really need are more efforts put into spaying/neutering/building more humane shelters/educating people on how people are the problem, not the animals. Those animals already don't stand a chance in most cases. And this solution also helps the people most affected by the problem of strays. Thank you.

was suprised looking an american airlines commercial....it was a picture of dog looking at the door waiting on the master....with the words " We know why you are flying" ...on further research i found americans own more pets than rest in the world and Ohio tops the list in pet ownership...

My parents wouldn't let me get one as a kid, I think because my dad was afraid of dogs and thought they were too dirty/messy.

Same here. On another tangent, my parents gave away my puppy when we moved to Philly :'(

on further research i found americans own more pets than rest in the world

Makes sense as the US has the largest population among the affluent nations in the world, an established dog-owning culture and a relatively low population density (i.e., more physical space around us means more space for dogs).

But per capita-wise...? I am not so sure. I am pretty sure Greenland has more dogs (sleddogs) than people.

Here is some trivia: Countries with most pet dog population

More market statistics here and here (with a twist).

What Whose God is it anyways? said. Though I think (I hope) you were kidding, Gori Girl.

::

My family has had English Mastiffs and GSDs in Kerala for the past few generations. I include the following odd fact, only because it makes me immensely proud; my great-great-grandfather on my Mother's side was a Veterinarian of some note who got press for a dramatic delivery of a baby elephant. Anyway, the last two dogs my Father had before coming to America were named Gobi (after the desert) and Caesar.

We had three GSDs in this country. All three were outdoor dogs (almost everyone in my family is allergic), which is easy in gorgeous California. Meanwhile, my boyfriend wasn't allowed to have a dog when he was a child; as a result, he is consumed with them now. He, like the dog-father in the article wants a Basset. I am convinced that the reason why I was put in his life was to make sure that when he finally rescues a dog

a) it will get fed, walked and bathed.

b) it will get neutered, because like many people new to all of this, he thinks it would be AWESOME to breed puppies. I have talked him out of this lunacy.

I hope.

Ironically, I'm longing for the day when things in my life are settled enough that I can seriously contemplate adopting a Bombay street puppy (who are apparently related to basenjis). Having done the heretofore unthinkable and been through the whole rigamarole a few years ago with a kitten in Bangkok, I think it's feasible.

I love these "pariah dogs" and have seen on various websites and YouTube that several people have brought them home to live in the US and UK (just look at this beauty!).

#6, when I read your comments, it reminded me of some of the critters at the Visakha SPCA and their stories...

I'm going to be a little rude and say this...people are the problem, not the animals

Yes, why be rude?

In my opinion and experience, nothing is ever black and white. Everybody means well at every level, when it comes to human-animal interaction. Breeders mean well (most are in it for the love of the breed that they find uniquely endowed with some characteristic), dog enthusiasts mean well (they want everyone to experience unconditional love and inter-species connection and they unabashadely spread the joy), couples who postpone (or avoid) child-bearing and adopt a puppy for the interim (or forever) are coping with their belief that they cannot afford to raise a child (as in Russia), the slum-dweller chasing away the street dog is only trying to keep his own, helpless newborn baby safe from a hungry feral. A family I know with an Irish Wolfhound in Banglore means well by putting the dog in an AC room and by employing a full-time maid (read job creation) for the dog's needs.

On the other hand, I can find at least 10 people that find each of the above points comical or worse, meaningless, selfish acts with no redeeming quality whatsoever and with horrible ripple effects. Theirs would just be a different but legitimate worldview.

You mean well too when you buy brand dog food for the mutts/strays but personally I have huge concerns with pet food industries and the nature of their brand economies. For example: Tuna for cats? Wait a minute--we are running out of tuna in the ocean for people are we not? And advocates and funders for humane shelters mean well but in my humble (and cautious) opinion, I think shelters are postponing the inevitable after bringing about another layer of problems; after involving another group of well-meaning adopters. Don't get me wrong: they do have their success stories but there is a lot I am critical about (just not openly).

I don't really have A point. I just have several related and opposing points that I always have to think through and come to terms with in my own personal and professional life. So I thought I will muddy your waters too and complicate things just a bit. But please don't take it personally--I am not being judgemental. Just mediating, I suppose?

Indians have always had dogs for pets, but the dog is also considered lowly, thus an insult as well
This sounds like more copying the west

My dad said the same thing, that keeping pets was a Western affectation, and we never had any animals growing up. Well, except a fish that died pretty much right after coming home. Silly goldfish!

keeping pets was a Western affectation

An "affectation"? Of what? I don't understand what your father meant; not that I'm a pet-guy myself.

I know that when I was growing up in Goa, practically every family had atleast one dog. Didnt see too many pure breeds besides GSDs, dobermans and pomeranians, most were mutts.

My dad said the same thing, that keeping pets was a Western affectation,

No inside pets for me and it freaks me out when i see cat hair on coats of women.

Pets are great. I had family members with dogs at home as cherished pets, and family members who used to feed stray dogs or cats who used to come regularly to their homes to be fed. I do hope people will consider mutts more than designer dogs. Mutts are just as lovable as any other dog, and tend to have less health problems than pure breeds. There are so many dogs and cats who could have a great home if people could be more open to mutts.

I do hope animal welfare groups and animal rights group also rise more in India along with the interest in pets as family members.

Koreans and Filipinos love their dogs. Especially stir-fried.

I should say that I am not a Tam Brahmin, so my experience maybe typical of TN as a whole but not the SM readership (this is not a dig or a caste based aspersion, it is however very relevant to how dogs were traditionally perceived about 30 yrs ago).The Rajapalayam is a particularly awesome local breed (I have heard that it is the only recognized Indian breed) that we used to keep but it has pretty much been replaced by the Alsatian as the standard farm guard dog. They were part of the family, when they passed away their pics would be placed in the puja room. This was not done for the kids, it was a given that they were "ensouled". However, they were definitely not allowed in the house.

In case it wasn't clear above, the dogs we kept were "working dogs" that guarded livestock etc. They were also used for traditional forms of hunting, but that died out during my great-grandparents' generation

"They were part of the family, when they passed away their pics would be placed in the puja room. This was not done for the kids, it was a given that they were "ensouled". However, they were definitely not allowed in the house."

haha...my mom said it used to be the same way in her family. Things have changed though...our dog gets a share of prasadam when my mom does puja. He used to come and watch her in the morning while she did her prayers and I guess now he knows he's gonna get something at the end if he sits through it.

Interaction of children with a dog or a cat can help to inculcate kindness/connection to animals--they are not human, no, but still most are treated far too badly in our present civilization(s).

I still remember the first time I bought a puppy. I was a kid and went with one of our worker and got the lovely aggressive puppy. We both put the puppy on leash, and the puppy started to scream non-stop. Then my ever pissed off father came home and got even more pissed, then the rough translation of what he said would be like "Is that your aunt's or uncle's son!?" and unleashed the puppy. The puppy got its freedom and grew up to become a lovely dog with a huge golden colored mane.
Since our family was vegetarian the dog was made a vegetarian too and it used to bark only at people who were not well dressed :-)

@phillygrrl - I'm sorry to hear about your puppy - that sucks.

My parents are living in India temporarily and my mother is looking into volunteering at an animal shelter there. I'm glad to hear that there are people looking out for the strays and trying to get them healthy/adopt them out.

And to the commenter who was lamenting about the St Bernard indoors in the AC all day - big dogs actually don't need lots of exercise typically, and they prefer to be indoors. As long as you walk them regularly, they do perfectly well as indoor dogs in small spaces. Ironically it's the tiny dogs that usually need more room to run and burn off energy.

Can someone explain the popularity/prevalence of Pomeranians and GSDs in India? Why those two? Is it just that other breeds haven't taken hold because India isn't as dog-crazy as we are here in the US?

On another note, my dad jokes about wanting to be reincarnated as someone's beloved pet dog in the US because he thinks that might be the ultimate good life :)

Click here for a list of dog breeds by country of origin, development (India, Pakistan, SriLanka). I don't know how many of these native breeds have survived.

Louiecypher, 'recognized' is a relative phenomenon. The AKC does not (yet) recognize the Rajapalayam but the Kennel Cub of India, on the other hand, naturally, does. But it does not yet recognize all of its indigenous breeds.

ARC, the pomeranian is sometimes confused with the Indian spitz (a farmdog breed listed as native to India). The two breed names are used interchangeably at times (I did the same mistake in my earlier comment; my family actually bred the spitz not the pomeranian). (This can artifically inflate population counts in casual observations and conversations like this.) I think size may be one reason. For example, people in apartments favor smaller dogs. (Especially since, temperament-wise, the pomeranian doesn't have too many positives going for it). Other specific reasons, I am not sure. Perhaps, a particular popular movie ushered in a trend or a popular public figure cherished it?

GSDs were thought of as trainable guard-dogs (the police force uses them).

Malathi,

My comment about my comments possibly being seen as rude was directed at the person to whom I was responding. I didn't want to come across as judgemental and rude and hectoring, and I hope I did not come across that way. However, I don't think it's rude to say that people (in general, all of us) are the problem and not the animals. The truth is, we are, intentionally and unintentionally. I'm not talking about someone who is concerned about protecting their child from a feral dog. People, whether poor or rich, also create the conditions for feral/stray (who are not necessarily feral) animals to become a nuisance sometimes. Creating and perpetuating the conditions and then being extraordinarily cruel to the animals for basically just trying to exist is a pointless exercise and doesn't solve any of the problems. Poverty, too, is not an excuse for vicious cruelty. But then again, some of the kindest people I've seen (to feral animals) have been the poor. So, you're right, it's not black and white and varies fron environment to environment.

My comments are driven by my own experiences, so I'm biased. I'm going to disagree with you on the need for more humane shelters merely postponing the problem. If I had a choice between seeing a dog strangled with wire in front of my eyes or enduring a slow, agonizing death by poison for having the gall not to be a pure breed and to try to exist in a world run by humans or giving them a chance in a shelter or a home, I'd opt for the latter. Spaying/neutering is ideal, but they're not all going to disappear anytime soon. Some will always need a home. They are like people. Some can survive on their own, fend for themselves while others are shy, cannot fend for themselves and die from depression, loneliness in addition to starvation/injuries etc. Some are bold and happy on the street, others wither away from fear. Not all shelters are equal, I realize. But my experience has been different. Mass cullings (and often cruel cullings) solve the problem for awhile and then the problem reappears. As for the pet food industry, there are huge concerns, but you can feed them on your own or there are various other more sustainable options available. They don't even need a lot of food to survive. Humans have chosen over the centuries to form certain bonds and domesticate certain animals more than others. It's not a bond that can be deleted from these animals' wiring anytime soon, even if they are feral/stray.

Re the St.Bernard: it wasn't a question of exercise, it's just that it didn't seem like a very happy dog cooped up in an A/C room most of its life. It was a depressed being. Again, that was just the experience of that one dog who was more for show than anything else.

Westernization as the sole explanation for the relative increase in popularity of dogs in modern/contemporary India does not work. That arguement denies the existence of all those people with a predisposition to inter-species interaction; with a skill to manipulate environmental resources (which includes the flora and fauna in the given region) for survival. Every group, every society, every civilization benefitted from the skills of such people. In general, domestic animal breeds, including most dogs breeds, were developed with specific utility values for the society. Is China part of the west? Is Russia part of the west? Both countries have given the world several dog breeds.

In modern societies, where dogs have moved indoors and predominantly serve as companion animals, the utility value may not be instantly and outrightly obvious (and may be hard to justify). And even the 'western' world did not always use dogs primarily as companions. Even today, in rural America, dogs are primarily used as herders or hunters or guarddogs for farm animals and not as indoor companions (or half and half).

I think the trend we are seeing now in India is a combination of several factors including availability of discretionary incomes, breakup of traditional family setups, increased personal 'me' time, more knowledge and information about how to keep children and selves safe and free of zoonotic diseases from dogs. On top of all this, social tolerance of the concept of pets as family members helps immensely. And why wouldn't we as a nation be attracted to the idea of animals as part of our families? We are the land of the panchatantra tales--where animal behavior is so effectively and beautifully used to teach ethics & morality & life lessons to people?

Having said all that, I want to add also affluence/higher socioeconomic status alone doesn't explain why some people are predisposed to special bonds with non-human life. I recommend 'Man needs dog' a poignant short story beautifully written by Regina Ezra, a Latvian writer. It can be found in 'Stories from the New Europe' ed by Scott Walker (1992).

My comment about my comments possibly being seen as rude was directed at the person to whom I was responding.

I knew that. I wasn't personally offended.

And I don't know Gori Girl. However, I assumed that it was just a light-hearted conversation she was sharing about a dream (that may or may not ever materialize). Topics about animals, dogs tend to bring the best out in people, conversations abound, people lose their usual inhibitions and reservations. (Unless it is about eating animals--then it is another story altogether, although, then too, people tend to lose their inhibitions and reservations albeit in a different direction.)

So I just wanted to smoothen out what I thought of was a disconnect. Put it down to a deliberate, self-induced, slow afternoon. I was looking for distractions.

Surely having a canine as a treasured part of the family isn’t new to the South Asian subcontinent?

not in majority muslim communities. muhammad liked cats, not dogs.

Razib wrote:
not in majority muslim communities

Don't generalize from doctrine. My family in semi-rural UP has always had dogs, as a utility animal. Ultra-modern Pervez Mushharraf has dogs as pets. Muhammad's opinions, while of interest, are not determinitive. Plenty of Desi muslim families have dogs.

Don't generalize from doctrine. My family in semi-rural UP has always had dogs, as a utility animal. Ultra-modern Pervez Mushharraf has dogs as pets. Muhammad's opinions, while of interest, are not determinitive. Plenty of Desi muslim families have dogs.

fair enough, and i know about mushharraf, but the man also enjoys his scotch ;-) in any case, my point was that there is a social-religious resistance about having dogs as *indoor pets* in much of the world dogs serve as essential "organic garbage collectors" so their utility is pretty obvious. i would hazard to guess that muslims would own dogs as household pets on the order of 1-2 orders of magnitude below the norm of the societies they live among in terms of frequency. network effects are at work here; an atheist iranian friend of mine mentioned once how his family didn't have dogs in part because it might have made some social situations awkward if the invited over people who were more religious than they were and the dog was slobbering all over them.

p.s. also, muslims aren't necessarily even hostile to dogs. e.g., one of my uncles who is an imam talked about how dogs were good (again, the utility is obvious), but just to keep your distance.

You can see the variation in the umbrella term 'Muslim culture' by looking at which countries have a sizeable community of small-animal veterinarians (without a market for their services, they will not survive). I tried searching for statistics but couldn't find it, so I'll venture and guess based on my personal experience.

Where I went to vet school, approximately 100 students per graduating class were from Africa, Latin America, middle east and South Asia. (Some countries from each of these regions were not represented; other countries from other regions were included but this works as a general representative list) About 50 to 70 in each class were Muslims. So my personal observations are based on a sample size of about 300 Muslim students. But I also knew what was going on in other schools in other cities--we international students traveled quite a bit and networked.

Muslim guys (and occassionally a few gals) from Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon, Nigeria will be interested in small animal medicine including canine medicine. Guys from Mali, Yemen, Sudan (except for the one diplomat's son) we had will sooner hit the instructor than go near a dog. Our professors were usually ones with international experience, so they sometimes tailored the curriculum based on the students. Jordan -- depended on the individual. Perhaps there was a (socioeconomic) class factor at play too.

There is a dramatic, telling scene in Majid Majidi's Children of Heaven where the character (from the poor part of the Tehran) is so afraid of the barking guard dog in one of the huge mansions in the rich part of Tehran. The dog was one of the tools for the narrative; to contrast the class-based cultural clashes within Iran.

Malathi, I have always had a soft corner for Vets. Good to know that you are one :)
My family has always believed in keeping dogs. And for some reason, all these dogs have been 'mixed breeds'. I attribute it to inverse snobbery.
Being from an army family, these dogs were always free to roam, and had vast tracts to colonise. A notable one was an uber alpha male, and spawned a small community of clones before he was neutered (I fought tooth and nail against it). When we were posted in Nagaland,I was genuinely afraid for his safety (he was jet black).
I feel closer to dogs than I do to human beings. Perhaps my handle reflects my canine-philic sentiments.

It's not a just a Muslim aversion to dogs in India. My uncles had several friends who were the sons of village pujaris (i.e. completely unwesternized & poor), if a pup so much as licked their toe they would jump up and bathe again. No joke. But they had no hatred of dogs and would feed strays. In contrast my relatives would pet their farm dogs but admonish them with a "Dey !" if they started to lick them...no emergency full body immersions though. In short, I think all Hindu communities used to view dogs as somewhat polluting, but for some the perceived danger is greater

In contrast my relatives would pet their farm dogs but admonish them with a "Dey !" if they started to lick them...no emergency full body immersions though.

Just wondering.

So Louiecypher, are you an aristocrat? :)

The Rajapalayam is an Indian sighthound. It was the companion of the royalty and the aristocracy in Southern India, particularly in the town Rajapalayam fro mwhere it gets its name.

More seriously, do you know if your extended family is/was involved in the breed's comeback (it was endangered at some point)? I have always wondered why the Rajapalayam breed alone lucked out in some ways compared with the Combai, the Chippiparai and the Kanni but now that I am a mother myself I can more honestly appreciate why ordinary people/families think twice before going in for one-master dogs. (The Rajapalayam, despite being a hound, is apparently also a good family dog). (But then again, the GSD, is a one-master dog too. And the lhasa apsos and the pomeranians were not exactly selected for their good temperaments. Yet they are unquestionably accepted as family-dogs.)

Hopefully, Shining India effect will extend to its native animal breeds as well as species.

Hmm, I have to take back my words on the average pomeranian's disposition according to the temperament information on this site.

Here is some explanation about the pomeranian's popularity in the US.

The Pomeranian has been among the most popular of dog breeds, consistently in the top 15 of registered AKCAmerican Kennel Club It came in at #13 in the most recently released 2008 rankings having attained the same ranking in 2007 and 2003. In a way, the Pomeranian is becoming an "accessory" or a "prop" to many people, notably women and especially celebrities. The breed also shows up regularly on television shows and commercials. The dog's diminutive size, ease of care in regards to manage due to its stature and good overall demeanor makes for a very likeable dog. A good Pomeranian, because of the dog's aforementioned traits, makes for a popular pet and is also a prize by many an owner.

Malathi,

If you would, please, could you contact me backchannel please (filmiholicATgmailDOTyouknowtherest)?

cheers,
Maria

Somehow I was under the impression that animal rights activists/supporters were in favor of neutering and spaying dogs and cats (like the SPCA, Humane Society, etc).

Interesting post though. Cute as well!

Somehow I was under the impression that animal rights activists/supporters were in favor of neutering and spaying dogs and cats (like the SPCA, Humane Society, etc).

Malathi - I think it's only the extreme animal rights ppl who disagree with spay/neuter.

SPCA, Humane society are examples of Animal Welfare orgs not Animal Rights orgs. But you are right, all well-known animal rights orgs recommend spay/neuter (in fact, some have even advocated for mandatory spay/neuter laws, and AVMA has taken a stance against mandating spay/neuter procedures).

Actually, in my original statement in comment 1, I wasn't referring to any particular org--I was referring to the mindset of several ordinary people (people who wouldn't consider themselves as part of the organized AR movement) who feel squeamish about spaying/neutering otherwise healthy, young animals that have distinct personalities. Survey after survey (in the U.S.) has shown us that males dogs are more likely to be intact than female dogs; and dogs owned and cared for by men are more likely to be intact than dogs owned and cared for by women. Follow-up interviews led us to understand that otherwise well-meaning people are expressing sentiments, a philosophy, where they are reluctant to interfere and take responsibility for such a drastic decision regarding a fundamental biological property of life such as reproduction.

where they are reluctant to interfere and take responsibility for such a drastic decision regarding a fundamental biological property of life such as reproduction.