If you’re among the growing numbers opening their homes and hearts to Indie dogs – you have our full support! It’s heartening to see Indies finally receiving the love, care and pampering you will surely shower them with. However, if this is your first trip down the pet-parenthood lane, especially pet-parenthood, to an Indie, there are some things to keep in mind.
Indies, while sturdy and resilient, come with a whole set of quirks of their own. With distinctive characters and unique personalities, it takes a loving, nurturing and patient environment for them to flourish and live their best life fully.
But if you adopted an Indie under the assumption that they would be low-maintenance – you might have already realised that’s not necessarily the case! They’re adapted to local environments and less susceptible to breed-specific illnesses. However, they still have distinctive needs – although nothing a little love and patience can’t address.
With decades of experience interacting with Indies, here’s what our team at Friendicoes believes every pet parent should know as they step into this journey.
Getting to know your pup – temperament and behaviour
Your recently adopted Indie pup may have some inherent behavioural tendencies due to their natural and survival instincts, and it’s best to understand and address these early on. How can you spot these behaviours? Spend quality time with your pup and observe them in various situations.
- Indies have an intense fight-or-flight response from surviving on the streets. Many of them can therefore be inherently nervous and skittish at first when introduced to home environments, new sounds and objects. Suppose you notice that this behaviour is not subsiding with time and find them to be continually anxious. In that case, it’s crucial to identify their triggers and help them overcome these fears with patience and training. Constant anxiety, as with any being, is detrimental to both their physical and mental health.
- Indies are pack animals that have also evolved to become considerably territorial. If you notice your pup growing overly protective of their home and family members and perhaps not allowing guests to come over – it’s important to help them understand that their space is not threatened. Left unchecked, this behaviour could lead to aggression in later years, as with any breed. Indies are among the most loyal dogs you will ever come across, and with the right help at the right time to adjust to home life, they make the most wonderful and loving companions.
- Indies are also known to be great with children, but it’s important to socialise them at an early age. Many Indies who are only exposed to family members tend to be far more wary and distrustful of other dogs and humans.
Building a conducive environment and lifestyle
To make sure you’re providing the most nurturing environment and lifestyle for raising your pup, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Give them a designated space to call their own. Indies, while being creatures of habit, are also territorial and tend to gravitate towards the same spots within each room. Initially, pick a quiet corner of the room and set it up for your pup with a bed. After a while, you might notice them choosing their own safe spaces, and you can reposition their beds to their liking.
- Regular vet trips are necessary for thorough health check-ups and annual vaccinations. If you have adopted an Indie pup from a shelter, don’t forget to carry any medical reports and records that have been shared with you about their history.
- Unpredictability can cause dogs some stress; therefore, it is important to establish and stick to a routine. They will take some time to get used to their new family, environment and lifestyle. It could take a few weeks or even a few months. Once they get the hang of the routine for feeding, walks/exercise, playtime and grooming, they’ll be prepared for what is to come as they go along their day.
- For Indies especially, exercise is super important. Indies, in general, are incredibly high on energy, so they need regular exercise daily to burn off the excess. They must also be frequently entertained with engaging and stimulating activities that occupy them for hours. So be prepared to get in your daily steps and have your creativity challenged as you take your pup for long walks, runs, games, activities and doggy dates.
- Start training them from Day 1. Indies are highly intelligent and easy to train. With just 10-15 minutes of daily training, they can pick up many tricks and commands. You can cover everything from basic commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’, etc., to socialisation with humans and other dogs and behavioural training. For bonding purposes and to avoid confusion in their minds, it’s recommended that you take on this responsibility with your dog and, ideally, not pass on the training to a hired individual.
- With short coats that are mostly easy to maintain, you can stay on top of their basic grooming needs like bathing, brushing, and nail trimming at home without a hassle. However, if you’re hesitant to cut their nails by yourself, you can always treat them to a formal grooming session to avoid any mishaps. Be sure to indulge in positive reinforcement after grooming to ensure a pleasant experience and association for them.
- Home-cooked meals are the way to go. Indies are fuss-free regarding their nutrition, and you need to ensure that you’re feeding them healthy and balanced meals – easily achieved with Indian cooking. You can even experiment with the same after consulting your vet – but be careful about specific ingredients that are a no-no for dogs.
While these tips will help you better understand your new baby and navigate the various responsibilities you hold, perhaps the most important thing to learn about Indies is this: given their inherently self-sufficient nature, their instincts with respect to their likes, dislikes, routine and lifestyle are unsurprisingly strong. They’re very in tune with their needs, and you must be perceptive, learn their communication cues and follow their lead. With time, you’ll find a routine that suits you both, and your trust in them will help build a bond like no other.
Each dog’s temperament and needs will be unique, but we hope this gives you a better understanding of how to raise your Indie puppy. Caring for a dog is a big responsibility, and the puppy days, in particular, can seem chaotic and stressful at times. But we guarantee it’s always worth it in the end. The hectic days of the pup-parent life are to be enjoyed to the fullest and treasured, as you will dearly miss them as time passes. Patience, consistency, gentleness and a whole lot of love will guarantee you a happy and fulfilled pet parenting journey ahead!
