Is the Bakharwal dog a recognised breed?

It is described as an ancient breed of Jammu and Kashmir in a 2017 SKUAST-Jammu study, but it is not on ICAR-NBAGR's register of Indian dog breeds, and Petym found no Kennel Club of India standard. The study calls for conservation because numbers are falling.

Is a Bakharwal dog aggressive?

It is a guardian. The 2017 study describes the breed as highly protective, ferocious and courageous, kept to protect flocks from predators. With strangers, including a new sitter, expect caution or defence. Introduce people slowly at home, keep visitors away and get help from a qualified behaviourist if you have concerns.

How long does a Bakharwal dog live?

Owners questioned for the 2017 study put the lifespan at about 6 to 10 years. That is an estimate from owners, not a measured veterinary figure. Regular vet check-ups, vaccines, tick control and a lean body give any dog its best chance.

Can a Bakharwal dog cope with heat in the plains?

No study has measured it. It is a heavy-coated mountain guardian, and a large UK study found heavier dogs at greater risk of heat-related illness. In the plains, keep it in the coolest room through the day, walk only at dawn and after dark, and never leave it in the sun.

Can I leave a Bakharwal dog alone for a day?

There is no breed study. PDSA's general advice is no more than four hours alone at a time. A protective dog alone for long hours may bark at every sound and become harder to manage, so book a sitter it knows for longer absences.

Is the Bakharwal dog the same as the Gaddi dog?

No, though they are related types of Himalayan flock guardian. The Gaddi dog of Himachal Pradesh was registered by ICAR-NBAGR in 2025; the Bakharwal of Jammu and Kashmir is not registered. A 2022 study says their adult body weights are similar.

What does a Bakharwal dog eat?

The 2017 study does not describe a special diet, and Petym found no other source. While you travel, leave your dog's usual food with written portions and times, keep onion, garlic, grapes, chocolate and xylitol away from it, and keep it lean in the hot months.

Dog breed 14 min read

Bakharwal dog care in India: guarding, heat and sitters

Updated October 2026By PetymFacts checked against official sources on 21 October 2026

Quick answer

The Bakharwal dog is a livestock guardian of the Bakarwal and Gujjar herders of Jammu and Kashmir, described by the only study of the breed as highly protective, ferocious and courageous. With a sitter, it needs one calm person it has met first, a home free of visitors, a cool room in summer and walks only in the cool hours.

That 2017 study measured just 36 dogs in Poonch district. The breed is not registered by ICAR-NBAGR, and almost nothing about its health has been published.

Find a sitter for your Bakharwal dog

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A tan Bakharwal dog with a plumed tail standing beside a wall, side view — Photo: User7051399901, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Indian breed: Developed in India
Origin: Jammu and Kashmir, India (hill regions; Poonch district is a main breeding tract)Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Adult weight: 28 to 40 kg (No Bakharwal weight has been published. This is the Gaddi dog's adult range (females 28 to 35 kg, males 32 to 40 kg) from a 2022 study, which says the Bakharwal of Jammu has a similar adult body weight.)Indian Journal of Animal Sciences (2022), CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural Universitystudy
Height: 56 cm (Average height at the withers of 36 adults in Poonch, about 55.9 cm, with no significant difference between males and females; no range was published)Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Lifespan: 6 to 10 yearsIndian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Coat: Black was the predominant colour in the 2017 study. No published source describes the coat's length or texture.Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Energy: HighIndian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Indian heat: Struggles in heatPDSA
Flats: Needs spaceIndian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy

Bakharwal dog snapshot

Bakharwal dog: facts from the 2017 SKUAST-Jammu study
What	The rule	Source
Size	Medium, in the study's words. Thirty-six adults in Poonch averaged about 56 cm at the withers, with no significant difference between males and females.	Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Temperament	Highly protective, ferocious and courageous; kept to protect sheep and goats from wild animals and other predators.	Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Coat	Black was the most common colour in the dogs studied.	Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Lifespan	About 6 to 10 years, according to the owners questioned. That is an owner estimate, not a measured figure.	Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Registered as a breed	No. ICAR-NBAGR's list of registered Indian dog breeds does not include it.	ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources
Alone-time tolerance	Not studied. PDSA's general advice is that a dog should not be left alone for more than 4 hours at a time.	PDSA

Where does the Bakharwal dog come from?

The Bakharwal, or Bakerwal, dog is an ancient breed of the hill regions of Jammu and Kashmir, according to a 2017 study by SKUAST-Jammu's veterinary faculty. It takes its name from the Bakarwal community, who with the Gujjars have long reared it. It is also called the Kashmiri Sheepdog, the Himalayan Sheepdog and the Kashmiri Mastiff.

Its work is guarding. Tribal and pahari communities keep it to protect their sheep and goats from wild animals and other predators during migrations and in the high pastures. The study describes it as highly protective, ferocious and courageous, a medium-sized dog with litters of only one or two puppies.

Before that study, the authors write, no systematic study of the breed existed, and very little is known about it still. They surveyed owners and measured 36 adult dogs in Poonch district, and found the breed's numbers falling day by day.

How did the Bakharwal dog come to India?

The Bakharwal is an Indian dog from the start, kept in its home region by herding communities rather than bred for show. It is not on ICAR-NBAGR's list of registered Indian dog breeds, and Petym found no Kennel Club of India standard for it. The 2017 study calls for its conservation because numbers are falling. A 2022 study of the related Gaddi dog of Himachal Pradesh groups the Bakharwal of Jammu with the western Himalayan sheepdogs.

In October 2023, PTI reported that the Bakharwal was among the Indian breeds under trial at central armed police force training centres, with the Gaddi, Rampur Hound, Himachali Shepherd and Tibetan Mastiff.

What care does a Bakharwal dog need?

The three things that shape a good day for this breed.

Exercise
It was bred to walk with migrating flocks, so it needs long daily walks; no study gives an hour figure. In the plains, walk only before sunrise and after dark between March and June, and keep it in the coolest room through the day. Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Grooming
No source describes its coat care. Brush through to the skin regularly, check for ticks after every walk, and dry the coat fully after rain or a bath. Do not shave it to the skin without asking your vet. Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine (Pet Talk, 16 June 2022)
Training
A guardian the 2017 study calls highly protective and ferocious will treat strangers entering its home as a threat. Socialise it from puppyhood, introduce visitors and sitters slowly with you present, and get help from a qualified behaviourist if you have concerns. Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy

How much should a Bakharwal dog eat?

Daily calories for a healthy, neutered adult Bakharwal dog, worked out from its weight with the formula vets use (70 x weight in kg to the power 0.75, then AAHA's factor for a neutered adult). Divide by the kcal per kg on your food's pack for grams a day, and adjust by body shape.

	Resting need (kcal a day)	Neutered adult (kcal a day)
28 kg AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association)	850	1190 to 1360
34 kg	990	1380 to 1580
40 kg	1110	1560 to 1780

No published source describes a special diet for the Bakharwal. WSAVA's advice for any dog is a complete and balanced diet, since home-cooked food can lack nutrients unless a vet nutritionist designed it. The energy table on this page uses the Gaddi dog's weight range as the closest published figure, so weigh your own dog and check its body condition with your vet. If it shares roti or rice from the family kitchen, keep onion and garlic out of anything it eats, and no grapes, raisins, chocolate, salty snacks or xylitol, as ASPCA warns. Keep it lean in the hot months: in a large UK study, dogs above their breed's average weight had higher odds of heat-related illness. Meals a day: 6 to 12 weeks, 4 a day; 3 to 6 months, 3 a day; 6 to 12 months, 2 a day; adult, 1 or 2 a day; VCA suggests at least two. Puppies, kittens, working, pregnant and older animals need different amounts: ask your vet, or use Petym's food calculator.

Which illnesses is the Bakharwal dog prone to, and how are they treated?

The conditions veterinary studies and breed surveys most often report in the Bakharwal dog. Knowing the early signs means a vet sees it sooner.

See your vet first. This is general information from veterinary sources, not a diagnosis. Only a vet who has examined your pet can say what is wrong and prescribe treatment, and this page never gives a dose. Do not give your pet human medicine. If your pet seems very unwell, go to a 24-hour vet: find one in your city.

Heatstroke
Emergency: go to a vet now
No study has looked at illness in the Bakharwal, so these are the general risks that matter most for a mountain guardian living in the plains. PDSA lists thick-coated dogs among those most at risk of heatstroke, and most cases happen during play or exercise. PDSA
Signs to watch for
- Heavy panting that does not settle
- Drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Weakness, wobbling or collapse
- Confusion or seizures
How a vet treats it
PDSA says cool the dog at once with cool tap water and moving air, then go to the vet. A vet keeps cooling the dog and may give fluids through a drip, oxygen and medicines, with blood tests and organ support.
Prevention
Walk only in the cool hours, give a cool room and plenty of water, brush out loose coat and keep the dog lean.
Tick fever (ehrlichiosis)
See a vet soon
Ticks were found on 53% of dogs in a survey of four Indian cities, and about half the dogs carried a tick-borne infection. Merck says canine ehrlichiosis is spread mainly by the brown dog tick. Parasites & Vectors (2011)study
Signs to watch for
- Fever and dullness
- Nosebleeds, bruising or black stools
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Pale gums
How a vet treats it
A vet diagnoses it with blood smears, antibody tests or PCR. Merck says the antibiotic doxycycline is the treatment of choice, with supportive care and, for severe bleeding or anaemia, blood or platelet transfusions.
Prevention
Check the coat after every walk, remove ticks with tweezers close to the skin, and keep the tick prevention your vet chose up to date.
Skin infection (pyoderma)
See a vet soon
A bacterial skin infection, usually following another problem such as allergies or parasites. Merck says warm, damp skin lets bacteria overgrow, which is a risk under a dense coat in the monsoon. Merck Veterinary Manual
Signs to watch for
- Scaling, scabs or bald patches
- A smell, pus or crusting
- Red, painful skin
How a vet treats it
A vet examines the skin and may take scrapings or cultures. Merck says treatment is antibiotics for several weeks, medicated shampoos and treating the underlying cause, which is the main reason pyoderma comes back if missed.
Prevention
Keep the coat groomed and dry, and keep up flea and tick control.

What the one study of the Bakharwal dog found

Before 2017, the authors write, no systematic study of the breed existed. Their survey is still the main source.

Scientists at SKUAST-Jammu's veterinary faculty surveyed owners and measured adult dogs in Poonch district, which they describe as an intensive breeding tract. They call the Bakharwal an ancient breed of the hilly regions of Jammu and Kashmir, named after the Bakarwal community who, with the Gujjars, have long reared it. It is also known as the Kashmiri Sheepdog, Himalayan Sheepdog and Kashmiri Mastiff.

Herders and hill communities keep the dog to protect sheep and goats from wild animals and predators during migrations to the high pastures. The study found black to be the predominant colour, recorded litters of only one or two puppies per whelping, and put the total lifespan at about 6 to 10 years from what owners reported. It concludes that the number of Bakharwal dogs is falling day by day and calls for conservation.

A separate 2022 study of the Gaddi dog notes that the adult body weight of the Bakharwal of Jammu is similar to the Gaddi's. In October 2023, PTI reported that trials of the Bakharwal were under way at CAPF training centres, along with the Gaddi, Rampur Hound, Himachali Shepherd and Tibetan Mastiff.

Bakharwal, Bakerwal, Kashmiri Sheepdog: the names

Bakharwal or Bakerwal: Named after the Bakarwal herding community of Jammu and Kashmir, who rear the dog with the Gujjars. Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Kashmiri Sheepdog: Another name the 2017 study records, reflecting its work with sheep and goat flocks. Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Kashmiri Mastiff: A further name in the study, for its heavy guardian build. It is not a Tibetan Mastiff. Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammustudy
Livestock guardian: A dog that lives with a flock and drives off predators, rather than herding it. Such dogs are bred to be suspicious of strangers.

How a Bakharwal dog takes to a sitter

Slowly, if at all, unless the introduction is planned. This is a guardian first.

A dog the researchers call highly protective and ferocious will treat an unknown person entering its home as a threat to deal with. That is the job it was bred for on the mountain. In a city home it means the sitter must be introduced by you, in person, before you go: Petym's free meet and greet exists for exactly this. Two or three short visits are better than one.

At each visit the sitter should come in with you, avoid staring at the dog, sit down and let it settle. Food can be tossed rather than handed. Only when the dog is relaxed should the sitter hold the leash on a short walk, with you alongside. Be honest with the sitter about any bite or near-bite; it changes how they will handle doors, food bowls and guests.

While you are away, keep the home quiet. Ask building staff and deliveries to wait at the door, and do not let friends drop in to check on the dog. A guardian left with one familiar sitter in its own territory is far calmer than one moved to a strange house.

A hot-weather day for a mountain guardian

Petym’s working from the official rules, no government publishes a total.

A sample plan for a sitter in the plains between March and June. No source has measured heat tolerance in this breed.

Dawn
A short, slow walk on a strong leash before the ground heats up. Return at the first sign of heavy panting.
After the walk
Water, a rest in the coolest room, then breakfast once the dog has cooled down.
10 am to 5 pm
Indoors with a fan or AC, water in a heavy bowl, no exercise. AWBI's heat circular asks that animals be kept out of direct heat in extreme weather. Animal Welfare Board of India
Late afternoon
A brush to lift out loose undercoat, and a quiet chew. Check under the thick neck coat for damp or sore skin.
After dark
The second short walk once the road has cooled. Test it with the back of a hand first. The Royal Kennel Club
Night
Doors and gates checked, the dog's own bed, and the daily photo update to you.

When a sitter should call the vet

Almost nothing is published on the breed's health, so these are the emergencies that matter most for a heavy-coated guardian in India.

If Heavy panting, thick drool, a dark red tongue, weakness or collapse.
Heatstroke: cool the dog with cool water and a fan and take it to the nearest 24-hour vet at once. PDSA
If Ticks found in the dense coat, followed by fever, dullness or pale gums.
Call the vet the same day. In a survey of 525 dogs in four Indian cities, about half carried a tick-borne infection. Parasites & Vectors (2011)study
If Damp, smelly or raw skin under the coat after the monsoon or a bath.
Dry the area, send the owner a photo and call the vet.
If Vomiting, diarrhoea or not eating for more than a day.
Call the vet; keep the food exactly as the owner left it. PDSA
If The dog bites or badly frightens someone.
Secure the dog in a closed room, make sure the person gets medical help, and call the owner straight away.

Food and coat care for a Bakharwal dog

No source describes a special diet for the breed. Keep what works at home, and keep the coat clean and dry.

Do

Leave the dog's usual food with written portions and times; the sitter logs each meal in the daily update.
Keep to the same food for the whole trip, since a sudden switch can cause diarrhoea. PDSA
Keep the dog trim: in a large UK study, higher bodyweight for the breed raised the risk of heat-related illness. Scientific Reports (2020)study
Brush through to the skin several times a week in the hot months, and dry the coat fully after rain.

Don’t

No onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate or xylitol, however the dog begs. ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Do not shave the coat to the skin without asking your vet and groomer first. Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine (Pet Talk, 16 June 2022)
Do not put the bowl down near other pets, or reach into it while the dog eats.

Bakharwal dog sitter checklist

The dog's history with visitors, other dogs and children, including any bites.
How you calm it, and the commands it knows.
Strong leash and collar or harness; a muzzle if it is trained to one.
Which rooms are off limits to visitors, and how deliveries are handled.
Coolest room, fan or AC, and a plan for power cuts.
Food, portions and times, with no onion or garlic in shared food. ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Vaccination card, deworming and tick prevention dates, and your vet's number.

Which Petym service suits a Bakharwal dog?

Almost always
Overnight pet sitting
One sitter, met in advance, staying in your home so the dog keeps its territory.
Day absences
Dog walking
The same walker at dawn and dusk, if the dog already accepts them.
On medicines
Special-needs pet care
For a dog recovering from illness or on a vet's plan, followed and logged.

Breeds with similar care needs to the Bakharwal dog

Going away soon? Tell us your dates.

A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.

Find a sitter for your Bakharwal dog How it works

Meet your sitter first, free
PAN-checked, first-aid trained
A photo every day
Pay through Petym, never cash

Questions owners ask

Is the Bakharwal dog a recognised breed?: It is described as an ancient breed of Jammu and Kashmir in a 2017 SKUAST-Jammu study, but it is not on ICAR-NBAGR's register of Indian dog breeds, and Petym found no Kennel Club of India standard. The study calls for conservation because numbers are falling.
Is a Bakharwal dog aggressive?: It is a guardian. The 2017 study describes the breed as highly protective, ferocious and courageous, kept to protect flocks from predators. With strangers, including a new sitter, expect caution or defence. Introduce people slowly at home, keep visitors away and get help from a qualified behaviourist if you have concerns.
How long does a Bakharwal dog live?: Owners questioned for the 2017 study put the lifespan at about 6 to 10 years. That is an estimate from owners, not a measured veterinary figure. Regular vet check-ups, vaccines, tick control and a lean body give any dog its best chance.
Can a Bakharwal dog cope with heat in the plains?: No study has measured it. It is a heavy-coated mountain guardian, and a large UK study found heavier dogs at greater risk of heat-related illness. In the plains, keep it in the coolest room through the day, walk only at dawn and after dark, and never leave it in the sun.
Can I leave a Bakharwal dog alone for a day?: There is no breed study. PDSA's general advice is no more than four hours alone at a time. A protective dog alone for long hours may bark at every sound and become harder to manage, so book a sitter it knows for longer absences.
Is the Bakharwal dog the same as the Gaddi dog?: No, though they are related types of Himalayan flock guardian. The Gaddi dog of Himachal Pradesh was registered by ICAR-NBAGR in 2025; the Bakharwal of Jammu and Kashmir is not registered. A 2022 study says their adult body weights are similar.
What does a Bakharwal dog eat?: The 2017 study does not describe a special diet, and Petym found no other source. While you travel, leave your dog's usual food with written portions and times, keep onion, garlic, grapes, chocolate and xylitol away from it, and keep it lean in the hot months.

Keep reading

Gaddi dog careHimachal's registered Himalayan guardian.
Tibetan Mastiff care
Caucasian Shepherd Dog care
How to stop a dog biting
Heatstroke in dogs
Meet and greet checklist
Overnight pet sitting

Services that help

Free tools for this

Words on this page, explained

Keep exploring

Other dog breeds

Sources

Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources

PDSA: Heatstroke in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources: Dog breeds of India (registered breeds and accession numbers) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine (Pet Talk, 16 June 2022): Time for a summer cut? Tips for warm weather dog grooming (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
WSAVA: Frequently asked questions and myths (Global Nutrition Committee) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: People foods to avoid feeding your pets (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Puppy care (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026

Show all 21 sourcesShow fewer

VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association): 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats: energy requirement calculations (Box 1, PDF) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional requirements of small animals (full review November 2023, updated September 2024) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Ehrlichiosis in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Ticks of dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Pyoderma in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
PDSA: Separation anxiety in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Animal Welfare Board of India: Request to ensure care and protection of animals from direct heat during extreme hot weather (4 May 2026) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
The Royal Kennel Club: The danger of hot pavements (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Diarrhoea after a change of food (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity (2017), SKUAST-Jammu: Some morphological characteristics of ancient Bakerwal dog (opens in a new tab)Peer-reviewed study · checked 21 October 2026
Indian Journal of Animal Sciences (2022), CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University: Phenotypic characterization and documentation of Gaddi dog of western Himalayan region of India (opens in a new tab)Peer-reviewed study · checked 21 October 2026
Scientific Reports (2020): Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness in UK dogs (opens in a new tab)Peer-reviewed study · checked 21 October 2026
Parasites & Vectors (2011): A survey of canine tick-borne diseases in India (opens in a new tab)Peer-reviewed study · checked 21 October 2026
The Tribune (PTI): Forget foreign breeds, Indian canines to help CAPFs take a bite out of crime (24 October 2023) (opens in a new tab)News report · checked 21 October 2026