India · prices in rupees, weights in kilograms
International siteRajapalayam Dog
The Rajapalayam is a white sighthound from the Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Madurai districts of Tamil Nadu, and one of the first three Indian dog breeds the national breed bureau registered. A measured study puts adult males at 24.69 kg and 63.1 cm at the withers and females at 21.42 kg and 58.9 cm, with a working life of 10 to 12 years.
- where it is from
- Tamil Naduwhere it is from
- adult weight on our sources
- 14–32 kgadult weight on our sources
- with the ICAR breed bureau
- Registeredwith the ICAR breed bureau
In short
Key takeaways
- The Rajapalayam comes from Tamil Nadu. Medium to large sighthound, white coat.
- Adult size on our sources is 14 to 32 kg and 55 to 72 cm at the shoulder, stated as Mean adult body weight 24.69±0.43 kg (male) and 21.42±0.47 kg (female) in the characterization study. NBAGR gives the range as 14 to 32 kg..
- Registered with the ICAR National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources. We did not find a Kennel Club of India listing we would cite for this breed.
- Suits the Indian climate. A breed developed in the dry heat of southern Tamil Nadu and still kept there.
- Short white coat, pink skin, which our data rates as low grooming effort.
- We found no three dated Indian price sources for this breed, so this page gives no price.
- NBAGR estimates the population at 3,000 to 4,000.
Key facts
Rajapalayam: size, coat and recognition
Every figure in this card is quoted from a named source, and the sources are listed at the foot of the page. Where a figure is missing, the card says it is missing rather than filling the gap.
- adult weight
- 14 to 32 kgadult weight
- height at the shoulder
- 55 to 72 cmheight at the shoulder
- lifespan
- 10 to 12 yearslifespan
- Origin
- Tamil Nadu
- Also called
- Poligar Hound
- Weight, as our source states it
- Mean adult body weight 24.69±0.43 kg (male) and 21.42±0.47 kg (female) in the characterization study. NBAGR gives the range as 14 to 32 kg.
- Height, as our source states it
- Mean height at withers 63.10±0.91 cm (male) and 58.91±0.57 cm (female) in the characterization study. NBAGR gives the range as 55 to 72 cm in males and 38 to 70 cm in females.
- Coat
- Short white coat, pink skin
- ICAR-NBAGR
- Registered with ICAR-NBAGR, accession INDIA_DOG_1800_RAJAPALAYAM_19001
- Kennel Club of India
- We did not find a Kennel Club of India listing we would cite for this breed.
- Space it needs
- A house with a yard
| Weight | Height at the shoulder | |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 21 to 32 kg | 55 to 72 cm |
| Female | 14 to 28 kg | 38 to 70 cm |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Two sources with different jobs: the study reports means from 88 adults, NBAGR reports the range across the breed. The chart on this page uses the NBAGR range, which is wider.
Growth
How a Rajapalayam grows
The band below is our own calculation: we take the adult weight range from the source above and scale a published veterinary growth curve for the large size class to it. Nobody has weighed a cohort of Rajapalayam puppies month by month, so this is an estimate of the shape of the curve rather than a measurement of this breed.
| Age | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|
| 2 months | 2.7 kg | 6.2 kg |
| 3 months | 4.4 kg | 10.1 kg |
| 4 months | 6.4 kg | 14.6 kg |
| 5 months | 8.2 kg | 18.7 kg |
| 6 months | 9.8 kg | 22.3 kg |
| 7 months | 10.9 kg | 25 kg |
| 8 months | 11.8 kg | 26.9 kg |
| 9 months | 12.3 kg | 28.2 kg |
| 10 months | 12.7 kg | 29 kg |
| 11 months | 12.9 kg | 29.5 kg |
| 12 months | 13.1 kg | 30 kg |
| 15 months | 13.5 kg | 30.8 kg |
| 18 months | 14 kg | 31.9 kg |
Estimated from the adult weight range and the growth curve for the large size class. Weekly weight gain drops to almost nothing by about 11 months.
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
The same growth engine drives our puppy weight calculator, which works in pounds, and the method is set out on the how we calculate page.
Origin
Where the Rajapalayam comes from
The Rajapalayam takes its name from the town of Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district, and NBAGR records its distribution across Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Madurai. The characterization study was carried out in 2013 and 2014 on 88 adults and 21 puppies, with 20 owners interviewed.
In 2020 it became one of the first three Indian dog breeds registered by the ICAR National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, under accession number INDIA_DOG_1800_RAJAPALAYAM_19001. Registration matters for a native breed: it is the formal record that the population exists and is distinct.
What it was kept for
The Rajapalayam's working role
NBAGR records the utility plainly: Rajapalayam dogs are used for guarding farms and farm houses, and the bureau notes high obedience, easy trainability and a medium-pitched bark.
The build is a sighthound’s. The study records a compact body with a tucked-up abdomen and a chest girth well above the paunch girth, which it reads as a breed built for running.
A note on temperament
This section says what our sources say this breed was kept for, and stops there. We do not rank breeds by temperament and we do not describe any breed as aggressive. A breed bureau descriptor records what a dog looks like and what it is used for; it does not record what it is like to live with, and we are not going to supply the difference out of our own heads.
Indian climate
Suits the Indian climate
A breed developed in the dry heat of southern Tamil Nadu and still kept there. The one practical caution our sources imply rather than state is the pink skin: an unpigmented nose and eyelids get more sun than a dark one.
Space is the real requirement. This is a running dog from open country, not an apartment breed.
The coat needs almost nothing. The skin needs more thought than the coat does, because it carries no pigment.
The study records a litter size of 4 to 10 and weaning at 30 to 45 days, with 10 to 12 litters in a lifetime for a breeding female.
NBAGR describes a white coat with pink skin, nostrils and eyelids, and golden eyes. The characterization study adds that some dogs have silver eyes, sometimes called a wall eye. A short coat needs very little work.
Price
What a Rajapalayam costs in India
We found no three dated Indian price sources for the Rajapalayam, so this page gives no price. The Supertails price list gives ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 for the breed, but one source is not three, so we are not printing a range. Approach a breeder through the breed’s home districts or ask Tamil Nadu veterinary services, and expect to travel.
That is not a coy way of saying the breed is expensive. Most native Indian breeds are not sold through the channels that publish prices at all: they change hands within a region, through shepherding and farming households and through state-run breeding centres, and no Indian pet publisher prices them. A shelter or rescue fee of ₹0 to ₹2,000 is the only dependably sourced figure we can offer you for a dog of this kind.
If you have seen this breed advertised at a particular price, treat the advertisement as the source it is. The price calculator covers the imported breeds that are priced by three or more Indian publishers.
Population
Conservation and population status
NBAGR estimates the population at 3,000 to 4,000.
Running cost
What a dog this size costs to keep
Our food and grooming figures are sourced breed by breed for the imported breeds, not for the native ones. The calculator below is the imported-breed calculator; set it to a breed of roughly the same size as a Rajapalayam and the food, vaccination and accessory lines are a fair guide, because those costs follow the dog's weight rather than its pedigree. The purchase price is not transferable and we would not pretend otherwise.
Dog price calculator for India
Labrador Retriever puppy, kci-registered breeder
₹25,000 to ₹60,000 and up
The range our sources give for a KCI-registered Labrador Retriever.
Supertails gives ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 for a KCI-registered Labrador and Inside Scroller ₹30,000 to ₹60,000 and up. Mr n Mrs Pet states ₹30,000 to ₹1,20,000 and up.
In Delhi NCR
₹10,000 to ₹70,000
Delhi NCR is a metro. Across the metro cities our sources name, a Labrador Retriever runs ₹10,000 to ₹70,000. That is the general market across seller types, not the figure for one seller.
Inside Scroller’s metro rows run ₹10,000 in Kolkata to ₹58,000 in Mumbai. Supertails is higher, giving Delhi NCR ₹25,000 to ₹70,000 and Chennai ₹20,000 to ₹61,000, and adds that flight-nanny transport costs ₹3,000 to ₹8,000 on top.
The other ways to buy one
- Unregistered home breeder
- ₹8,000 to ₹45,000
First year of running costs
₹45,020 to ₹1,02,100
That is ₹3,752 to ₹8,508 a month. The puppy price above is not in this figure.
- Food₹2,500 to ₹5,000 a month₹30,000 to ₹60,000
- Puppy vaccinationsthe full first-year course₹3,000 to ₹8,000
- Dewormingfour to six doses in the first year (working estimate)₹320 to ₹1,500
- Vet visitsthree to five consultations, vaccinations counted separately (working estimate)₹900 to ₹4,000
- Grooming13 to 13 grooms a year₹7,800 to ₹15,600
- Starter accessoriesbed, crate, bowls, collar, leash, toys₹3,000 to ₹13,000
Working estimates included. The number of deworming doses and vet visits in a first year is ours, not a figure from a source. The prices per dose and per visit are sourced.
Indian climate
Suits the Indian climate
Inside Scroller writes that in India’s climate the Labrador’s short coat handles heat better than double-coated breeds, while noting that a black coat absorbs more solar radiation than a lighter one, so midday outdoor exercise is best avoided in peak summer.
The Labrador Retriever was not on the list in the 2024 central advisory.
The 11 sources behind this result
Labrador Retriever price in India
Supertails — dated 2026-07-13 — read 2026-10-14
supertails.comBlack Labrador dog price in India 2026
Inside Scroller — dated 2026-04-11 — read 2026-10-14
insidescroller.comLabrador Retriever puppies for sale in India
Mr n Mrs Pet — no publication date shown — read 2026-10-14
mrnmrspet.comTamil Nadu bans 23 'ferocious' dog breeds including Pitbull terrier, Tosa Inu
India TV — dated 2024-05-09 — read 2026-10-14
indiatvnews.comLabrador Retriever breed standard
American Kennel Club — no publication date shown — read 2026-10-14
akc.orgDog Price List in India 2026: Top 40 Breeds, City-wise Costs & Monthly Budget
Supertails — dated 2026-03-09 — read 2026-10-14
supertails.comPuppy and dog vaccination schedule in India: chart and cost (2026)
Dog with Blog — dated 2026-10-12 — read 2026-10-14
dogwithblog.inDog vaccination schedule in India (2026): age-by-age chart, costs and rabies rules
Supertails — dated 2026-08-21 — read 2026-10-14
supertails.comComplete new puppy checklist for India (2026)
Supertails — dated 2026-05-30 — read 2026-10-14
supertails.comHow to adopt a street dog in India (2026 adoption guide)
Dog with Blog — dated 2026-10-09 — read 2026-10-14
dogwithblog.inDog breeds in India with price (2026 guide)
Aruani Pet Stop — dated 2026-07-25 — read 2026-10-14
aruanipetstop.in
Every figure here comes from a published Indian source named above, read on 14 October 2026. Puppy prices move with demand and are negotiated one dog at a time, so treat these as the range to expect rather than a quote.
FAQ
Rajapalayam: the questions people ask
- How big is a Rajapalayam?
- NBAGR gives a height at withers of 55 to 72 cm in males and 38 to 70 cm in females, with adult body weight from 14 to 32 kg. The characterization study, measuring 88 adults, found means of 63.10 cm and 24.69 kg for males and 58.91 cm and 21.42 kg for females.
- Is the Rajapalayam a recognised breed?
- Yes, by the body that matters in India. It is registered with the ICAR National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources under accession number INDIA_DOG_1800_RAJAPALAYAM_19001, one of the first three Indian dog breeds registered.
- What is a Rajapalayam used for?
- NBAGR records the utility as guarding farms and farm houses, and notes the breed is highly obedient and easy to train with a medium-pitched bark.
- What does a Rajapalayam cost?
- We are not giving a figure. Our rule on this site is three dated Indian price sources per breed, and we found one. The breed is not widely sold commercially, which is itself the answer: you will be going to its home districts rather than to a city breeder.
- How long does a Rajapalayam live?
- The characterization study reports 10 to 12 years.
- Why do some Rajapalayams have pale eyes?
- The study records golden eyes as usual for the breed, and notes that some dogs have silver eyes, sometimes called a wall eye. The white coat and pink skin come with the same lack of pigment.
- How big does a Rajapalayam get?
- Mean adult body weight 24.69±0.43 kg (male) and 21.42±0.47 kg (female) in the characterization study. NBAGR gives the range as 14 to 32 kg. and Mean height at withers 63.10±0.91 cm (male) and 58.91±0.57 cm (female) in the characterization study. NBAGR gives the range as 55 to 72 cm in males and 38 to 70 cm in females., as our sources state it, which is 14 to 32 kg. Most of the weight gain is done by about 11 months for a dog in the large size class, on our own growth calculation rather than any measurement of this breed.
Method
Every source behind this page
Breed facts here come from the ICAR National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, from peer-reviewed characterization studies, and from veterinary and state publications. Wikipedia is not a source on these pages: where it pointed us at a study or a registry entry we went and read that instead and cited it. No figure on this page comes from a page that sells dogs.
Sources
4 sources behind the figures on this page.
Phenotypic characterization of Rajapalayam dog of Southern India
Raja K N, Singh P K, Mishra A K, Ghosh I, Uma Devi R, Kathirvel S. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 87(4) - dated 2017 - read 2026-10-15
Measured 88 adults and 21 puppies, with 20 owners interviewed. Open access through the ICAR journals site.
doi.orgRajapalayam dog
ICAR National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources - read 2026-10-15
NBAGR breed descriptor. Read through the Internet Archive snapshot of 23 January 2025.
nbagr.icar.gov.inRegistered dog breeds
ICAR National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources - read 2026-10-15
The register of Indian dog breeds and their accession numbers. Read through the Internet Archive snapshot of 14 October 2024, which lists Rajapalayam, Chippiparai and Mudhol Hound. Later registrations are sourced separately.
nbagr.icar.gov.inHow to adopt a street dog in India (2026 adoption guide)
Dog with Blog - dated 2026-10-09 - read 2026-10-14
dogwithblog.in
Nearby
Similar breeds
- ChippiparaiTamil NaduMedium to large sighthound
- KanniTamil NaduMedium sighthound
- KombaiTamil NaduMedium, powerful guarding hound
Or put two of them side by side in the comparison tool, or answer ten questions about your home in the breed finder.
Breed facts and recognition status last checked . Prices move, so treat anything older than a few months as a guide rather than a quote. Estimate only. For health questions, ask your vet.