Russian Setter vs Indian Pariah Dog - Breed Comparison

People often think it is ridiculous that a Setter dog comes from Russia. It is believed that the Russians did have some kind of Griffon and the word Pointer is also often translated as Setter.

It is believed that the Russian Setter is one of the ancestors of the Wire-haired Pointing Griffon and that it possibly shared an ancestry with the German wire-haired and broken-haired pointers.

References to Russian Setters were fairly common in the 19th century, but there is such contradictory information that it is hard to get good information on the dogs. The Russian Setter is believed to have existed before the Russian Revolution resembling the English Setter. Dog experts tell us the dog no longer exists.

The Indian pariah, known also as the Indi-dog or In-dog, is an ancient dog breed common throughout India as well as Bangladesh.

A breed standard does exist for the dog with the Indian Kennel Club and the dog has also been recognized by the Primitive and Aboriginal Dog Society.

A great dog enthusiast, Indian environmentalist, M Krishnan, has written about this ancient dog breed, telling about its wonderful temperament and its hardy constitution.

In terms of appearance, it was John Henry Walsh who said that the Russian Setter was a dog hidden by its long, woolly matted coat.It seems to have been a medium sized dog with an elegant appearance. It seems the dog came in two varieties - the curly coated liver coated dogs and the fawn colored dogs which are straight coated.

Because there is very little information on these dogs, we assume they were between 57 – 68cm in height and between 27 and 32kg in weight. The coat was no doubt in colours such as grey, reddish-brown with some black and white and shortish and wiry. The ears were floppy,and the face no doubt had some longer hair around the muzzle.

Temperament:

Nobody seems to know exactly what the temperament of this dog was, but when you look at some of his ancestors you can assume that he was strong-willed, confident and a skilled hunter.

He would have required a lot of exercise too. He was lively and energetic. Because he had Pointer in him you can be sure that he would have been intelligent so that he could be trained and socialized.

He would have been keen to learn with an owner who was firm and consistent in his treatment of him. He is a dog most happiest when he can spend time with his human family, a most loyal and devoted family friend, capable of getting on well with children and pets in the home.

The Indian Pariah dog is a medium sized, lanky looking dog with the males and females standing at 46cm to 64cm in height and weighing roughly between 15 to 30kg.

These dogs aren't big eaters so they tend to be lean and muscular. This is a double coated dog with the hair being coarse and fawn in colour or reddish brown.

He has fairly large, erect ears and brown eyes. He has a long tail which is held down but when he is excited it is held high and over the back, curling at the tip. There is sometimes white around the face and chest.

Temperament:

The Pariah dog is a social dog but he is somewhat timid, even though they make excellent watch dogs, being territorial around their human family. Being territorial, he can have an aggressive side to him so it is wise to have him trained and socialized as then he is obedient and capable of getting on well with children in the home.

These dogs are also very intelligent and therefore easily trained. He is an active dog and likes to be kept busy, wanting to be participating in the activities of his human family.

It appears, according to records that the Russian Setter has come and gone. However he would have been a calm, gentle pet with running ad hunting keeping him happy. He would therefore have required a lot of exercise.

We can assume that according to the few records that there are, that this was an affable, pleasing dog breed which made a great family pet.

The Indian Pariah dog is just an ordinary dog looking to be a superb companion for you. These are dogs with no airs and graces and in fact they have lots of positive attributes about them.

They are just your ordinary, social dogs who are able to form strong, loyal friendships with their human owners. He is a faithful dog breed and he has had a long association with humans dating back to thousands of years. He is healthy and cheerful and he is just waiting for you to give him a chance so that he can show you what a cheerful, playful, devoted, wonderful friend he can be to you too.

The Russian Setter had an average lifespan of 10 – 14 which is a fairly good innings for a dog. Nonetheless you would have had to be aware of some common dog problem. These dogs were prone to major health issues such as both hip and elbow dysplasia, deafness, epilepsy and hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism:

The thyroid glands produce hormones that affect the function of many parts of the body. Dogs with this illness have a low production of thyroid hormones.

This disease is mainly caused by inflammation or shrinkage of the thyroid gland. The most common signs of low thyroid in dogs is thinning of the fur, the coat is dull, there is weight gain and excess shedding. The dog doesn’t tolerate cold well either. These dogs also often have ear infections.

This is a dog which can live to between 13 and 15 years of age when he is treated well.

These Indian Pariahs are a natural dog breed, and to this end they are free of genetic health concerns such as hip dysplasia which is a very common ailment with nearly all dogs.

Remember that every dog stands a good chance of picking up some life-threatening illnesses if not vaccinated against them. Some of these diseases to be concerned about are canine distemper and parvo-virus. Rabies, kennel cough and parasites such as fleas and ticks can also pose a real danger to your pet.

The Pariah has been around for a very long time and today he is a robust, low maintenance pet that isn't going to cost you a lot of money .

Whatever kind of coat the Russian Setter ad it would have required a brushing twice a week to keep it in top form.

The medium length floppy ears would have to be checked inside for ear infection.

His owners would have checked inside the mouth for any signs of rotten or bad teeth.

His nails would have required trimming.

Diet:

Dogs need the best food there is to stay healthy. The Russian Terrier, if it were still around today, would have had the best commercially manufactured food there was.

You want to provide dogs with some good homemade food too. Dogs thrive on simplicity and consistency to avoid upsetting the stomach. Some home-cooked food such as boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach would be perfect for him. Chop the food up finely and add it into the dry kibble once or twice a week. Raw meat should also be added in when possible to promote good skin health.

Make sure your pet is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

This is a low maintenance dog who also happens to shed little. A brush once or twice a week will be sufficient and it will keep the fur shiny and healthy.

General Care:

Your puppy will need to be vaccinated at 6 weeks of age. There are some veterinary clinics in India that offer free vaccine shots. Your puppy will be dewormed too. Make sure he has a nice dry, warm place to sleep, and for during the day, ensure that there is a shady spot for him too.

Diet:

It's always a good idea to try and feed your puppy the best food there is. If you visit a veterinary clinic, find out what the most appropriate food would be for your puppy and how often you should feed him during the day.

If you feed your adult Indian Pariah dog kibble and you're able to, try and add in some home-made food too such as cooked chicken or rice. Some raw meat added in from time to time will also do your dog the world of good. Make sure there is always a bowl of cool, clean water standing by.