From street to squad: How ‘Thenga’ the Indie dog is changing India’s K9 units

Dehradun: Most police dogs in India come from imported breeds like German Shepherds and Labradors. Thenga came from the streets of Dehradun.

In 2019, Uttarakhand Police’s Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad adopted the thin stray puppy as an experiment. With no pedigree or breeding program behind him, handler Kamlesh Pant began training him anyway.

By 8 months old, Thenga was clearing 5-foot jumps, weaving through obstacles, and tracking scents with a speed trainers usually see only after months. He soon matched, and sometimes outperformed, pedigree dogs in drills.

Today, Thenga serves as a trained tracking, rescue and sniffer dog. His work includes detecting explosives and narcotics, tracking suspects, and helping locate missing people.

Thenga’s success is pushing security agencies to rethink recruitment. The Indian Army is now trialing indigenous breeds like Mudhol Hound, Rampur Hound, Kombai, Gaddi and Bakharwal. The CRPF and several state police forces have also expanded programs for native dogs.

Experts note the difference: indigenous breeds were shaped over centuries for specific work. Street dogs or “Indies” like Thenga have mixed ancestry, but their value lies in temperament, intelligence and resilience to local climate and disease.