10 Most Dangerous Dogs in India

Do you know India is known for great dogs? Well, since 400 BC, there have been written records of their high regard. Let us know about ten such dogs today.

1. Indigenous Himalayan Mastiff or Himalayan Guard Dog- Himalayan mastiffs are born in the Himalayan region also known as Tibetan mastiffs. They are quite calm dogs and love to cheer their master and be around their owner and family. However, they cannot survive warm weather and do not like the company of other dogs. An interesting fact is a full-grown male is able of taking down two wolves on its own. They become harsh if something goes wrong. You must be aware that they are known for the fight to the death.

2. Indian Mastiff or Bully Kutta- Belonging from North India, Indian mastiffs are the biggest and strongest dogs. They are also known as the Kumaon mastiff, Sindh mastiff, Pakistani bully, and even Indian bull dogs. Their name came from the Hindi/Urdu word bohli, meaning “heavily wrinkled” and Kutta, which means dog. Thus, the original name of this breed is Bulli, not Bully, but changed because the British could not pronounce the word. This dog is quite rough and tough and is well-suited for the Indian subcontinent’s climate. Meanwhile, they were bred to protect their owners from wild animals and help them hunt. Their aggressive nature and fighting instincts are quite famous. Also, they are intelligent, loyal, and protective.

3. Alangu or Sindh Mastiff- These dogs are tall and powerful and used for guarding or fighting. They are also known for their sharp instincts and guarding skills. They are also called a Sindh mastiff and are the heirs to the Indian Bulli or mastiffs. They are originally from the Bhawalpur area of Punjab, parts of Rajasthan, and the desert area of Kutch. However, presently they are found in two districts of South India: Thanjavur and Trichy.

4. Indian Gaddi Kutta or Pahari Leopard Hound- Found in North India, Gaddi Kutta is a mastiff-type mountain dog. One will get them mostly in states of the western Himalayan region: Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Kashmir. They are also named Indian panther hounds and Mahidant mastiffs. They are bred for hunting purposes, the multi-talented Gaddi Kutta is widely used by local shepherds, mostly Gaddis (from the tribe of the same name). They are one of the strongest dogs that are enough to repulse attacks by snow leopards and have the intelligence to herd stray sheep and goats back to their pens.

5. Kombai or Combai Dog- The Combai is again a powerful working dog that is born in the Southern Indian region of Tamil Nadu. They are also known as Indian or Tamil bear hounds. The Combai is usually tan or red brown with a black mask and a ridgeline along its back. It has got strong jaws, a deep and broad chest, and erect ears. Even they are known to fight intruders—human or animal—to death.

6. Rajapalayam- Being a tall dog, only slightly smaller than a Great Dane, they have a powerful, muscular, and heavy build. It is a natural boarhound used for hunting wild boar and hare. It was the companion dog of the royal family of the Southern Indian town of Rajapalayam and that’s where it gets its name previously. They need wide-open spaces and are very polite and devoted to its owner. Rajapalayam usually does not get along well with other pets owing to their strong hunting instincts.

7. Bakharwal Dog, Kashmir Sheepdog or Bakharwal Mastiff- This breed is an indigenous one and was exclusively bred by a Muslim nomadic group called Gujjars to safeguard their livestock from wolves. Bakharawal is taken from the word Bakri, meaning goat, because they were bred to protect goats and sheep from wolves and bears. They are further known as Kashmir sheepdog, Bakharwal mastiff, Kashmiri Bakharwal dog, Gujjar watchdog, Bakharwal, Gujjar dog, and Kashmiri mastiff. These dogs are deep-chested, muscular, and agile. They have straight backs, broad shoulders, and long legs. Meanwhile, their special feature is that they like vegetarian food.

8. Rampur Hound- The Rampur greyhound is however a sighthound local to the Northern Indian city of Rampur. It was used to hunt deer, foxes, jackals, and rabbits. It is also said that it has the courage of a single hound to take down a golden jackal. They may appear lazy but have enormous running speed and stamina. Some can run up to 42 miles per hour, much faster than Indian wild dogs or Dholes.

9. Kanni- This breed is extraordinary and indigenous to Tamil Nadu, India. It resembles the smooth-coated Saluki or Doberman pinscher, with naturally cropped ears and long tails. They are usually black and tan, sometimes with white on the feet and the chest. There is a cream-colored variety known as Paalakanni. It’s agile, graceful, and moderately built, with a deep chest and a slim body. The male of this variety stands about 25 inches at the withers, with the female standing about 22 inches.

10. Dhole, Indian Wild Dog or Indian Red Dog- This Indian dog is a wild one. They are also called red dogs or red fox dogs. Interestingly, they can kill prey up to ten times their size. They have a running speed of about 34 miles per hour.