WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

Menoducational...Canine Chronicles - INDog Facts

Hari om

At the beginning of the TAKE TOO blog, a series of tales about the ashram dogs was begun. They are going to reappear here throughout the next few weeks. The Canine Chronicles are about the Indian Native Dog, fondly referred to as the INDog.

If at all you are interested in this ancient breed, I recommend this site by Rajashree Khalap.

In the INDog, we have the closest thing to how all our ancestors would have interacted with the canine creature.  They are neither fully wild nor fully domesticated - but their propensity for remaining close to man resulted in advancement of the latter. Sadly, in the West in recent years (certainly the last 100), we have done the dog species no favours. Over-feeding, over-breeding, inventing breeds,…. (Don't get me started on puppy mills and the unnecessary handbag accessory, the unwanted Christmas 'live toys' and the abandonments). The Western model has sought to subjugate and twist the species to the will and vanity of man. In traditional societies where pariah species co-exist, there is no ownership of the dogs; instead there is mutual benefit arrangement. Humans feed the animals, who in their turn take up guardianship.

The rural INDog has a relatively good life; everyone knows their place and troubles are minimal.

"Is that for meeeee???"
The same is not necessarily true for the urban INDog. Competition between themselves as well as other species is higher and risk to life and limb is greater.  Pup mortality rate is also significantly higher. There are some dreadful cruelties out there, no escaping the fact. It truly is a dog-eat-dog life at times. Then there all the inherent nasties of life. Before pointing fingers though, it is imperative to 'check one's own back yard'. The cruellest creature of all is Man. Bear in mind that "cruel" is an intellectual concept. Between dogs themselves, and within Nature as a whole, it cannot be applied. Survival of the fittest is all that counts.

As I proceed with the Chronicles, I will not hide such things from you, dear readers.  All I ask is that you understand, the INDog knows very well what its life is.  It is a world apart from how your own pooches live and therefore cannot be judged in the same frame of reference.  These are wonderful, regal, amazingly intelligent dogs.  Their survival skills are second to none.  They can be as frightening as any wolf and as loving as the gentlest doe.  Despite the fact that there are humans who have a hatred for them, they remain attached by some invisible bond to their two-leg co-habitants.

I do hope you will enjoy the stories of the ashram dogs, which will commence next Monday.  


Clearly the Raja of his town!!! This INDog was spotted from the ashram bus, high in the Sahyadhri Hills in the village
of Kolwan. It is rare to see any sign of 'ownership'. This fellow not only looked well cared for and happy, but is
obviously honoured, his bed having been placed up from the ground.




11 comments:

  1. Hi Yam
    I couldn't open the link near the start of this post, but I read the page accessed by clicking the little picture, and enjoyed reading it and looking at all the photos. My favourite, however, is the four dogs lying by the wall, two facing one way and two the other!
    Interesting facts about the dogs of India.
    K

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  2. I agree we have done urban dogs no favors. In my barely rural township, dogs no longer run free, as in my childhood, which you made me think back on. The smallest dogs were terriers, and we went as big as boxers and doberman's. We children knew how to interact with dogs, and they with us, for the most part.In case of the worst trouble, a bicycle chasing dog, there always was a mother to intercede and march the offendng dog home to its own backyard.
    Looking forward to learning about INDogs.

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    Replies
    1. Hari OM
      Spot on Joanne! We all knew how to read dogs and when to approach and when not - and occasionally learn the lesson we paid no attention to - and very very very rarely did things get 'out of paw'... Now, dogs know only territory according to fencing and leashes; not that these ought not to exist, but that they have become the dog's boundaries and it takes a lot of training to understand they are permitted to be challenged and crossed. ...not that I am advocating a return to nature such as described above; however, society does need to understand that many of the issues it has with dogs are induced by human themselves. Dogs are only doing what dogs do! I do hope you will enjoy the little story series which is coming up - I think you were one of my original readers of them, but it was two years back, so perhaps they will seem fresh! YAM xx

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  3. Sounds like an interesting tale to tell over time. This is the first we've heard of Indogs.

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  4. We've not heard of them either. When we were in Athens we were amazed at all the dogs that live amongst the ruins.

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  5. Very thought provoking and fact-filled post, Yamini.
    Being a animal lover, I love all of them - dogs, cats, etc.
    My heart goes out to all the uncared for street dogs of the world.
    But, amazingly, they do survive don't they?
    I thoroughly enjoyed this post.
    Thank you!
    Namaste.

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  6. A good introductory post. Can´t wait to read the rest.

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  7. Are InDogs the feral version of Push-T-Cats?
    I do believe The cruellest creature of all is Man! The world should be ruled by dogs!!!! And of course me being a Princess should make ALL the laws, like the 'Treats fur everyone' rule I'm trying to get in place at home!
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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    1. Hari Om
      Trust me on this one your Treatliness - pushTcats have their own, very virulent, feral varieties and the INDogs are saints compared to them!!! Yxx

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  8. I'm so sorry that we humans do so much bad things.... I can't wait to read more about the ashram dogs....

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  9. Thank you for sharing this - I'm glad your animals are safe and loved with you.

    Abby Lab

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