Grooming your Indie dog: a simple guide

Indian pariah dogs, or Indies, are one of the oldest dog types in the world. They're perfectly suited to Indian weather: short coats, lean bodies, sharp minds. They're often called low-maintenance, and they are, but a simple routine keeps them healthy, especially for adopted street dogs settling into home life.

Bathing

Indies have short, smooth coats that shed dirt easily. Most do well with a bath every four to six weeks, or when they're visibly dirty.

• Use an everyday formula like 5-in-1 Shampoo.
• In tick season, switch to an Anti-Tick & Flea Shampoo.
• Many Indies are wary of water at first, especially if they lived on the street. Go slow and keep it short. Our first bath guide works for nervous adults too.

Brushing

A rubber grooming mitt once or twice a week removes loose hair and dust. Indies do shed, especially when seasons change. Brushing also helps you spot ticks, scars and skin issues. See our brushing guide.

Ticks: the big one

Indies love exploring and sniffing in grass and bushes, which makes them tick magnets.

• Check daily after walks. See how to check for ticks.
• Use a Tick & Flea Repellent Spray before walks in grassy areas.
• Follow your vet's tick prevention plan.

Paws

Indies walk on everything: hot roads, rough concrete, construction rubble. Check their pads regularly and rub Cracked Paw Repair Balm into dry pads at bedtime. In summer, follow the hot road paw care routine.

Ears

Indies usually have upright ears with good air flow, so ear problems are less common than in floppy-eared breeds. Still, check weekly for dirt, redness, smell and ticks hiding in the folds. See cleaning your dog's ears.

Nails

Active Indies often wear their nails down naturally. Check every few weeks, and don't forget the dewclaws. See trimming your dog's nails.

For adopted adult Indies

Street dogs adopted as adults may have had little gentle handling. Build trust first:

• Start with short sessions and lots of treats.
• Let them sniff tools before using them.
• Never restrain them roughly; it can break trust.
• A vet check-up soon after adoption covers vaccinations, deworming, ticks and any old injuries.

A simple Indie routine

• Daily: tick check after walks, paw wipe
• Weekly: brush, ear check, paw balm
• Monthly: bath, nail check
• Seasonally: step up tick protection in the monsoon