Ranking · Updated October 2026
Best Dog Breeds for Hilly Areas and Cold Places in India: Himachal, Uttarakhand, Kashmir and the North East, Ranked on Climate Data
The best dogs for Indian hill towns are double-coated breeds such as the Labrador, German Shepherd, Japanese Spitz and Golden Retriever, and at high altitude the Tibetan Mastiff and Malamute. All 29 breeds that score 1 or 2 out of 5 for Indian heat are named by our guides as good fits for hill regions. Shimla's hottest month averages 25.1 C, against 39.9 C in Delhi.
Key findings
- Our guides name hill regions as a good fit for all 29 breeds rated 1 or 2 out of 5 for Indian heat. None of the 9 breeds rated 4 gets that note.
- Shimla's normal maximum peaks at 25.1 C in June, 14.8 C below Delhi's May peak of 39.9 C (IMD, 1991 to 2020).
- Gulmarg has 10 months a year with a mean minimum at or below 10 C, Leh 9, Manali 8 and Shimla 5, against 2 in Delhi.
- Jammu and Kashmir, with Ladakh, logged 89 cold wave days from 2012 to 2024 and Himachal Pradesh 39, per IMD data republished by the RBI.
- Himachal Pradesh still had 38 heatwave days in 2022, 18 in 2024 and 10 in 2025, per IMD figures given to the Lok Sabha.
- Dehradun and Pachmarhi reach a normal 35.3 C in May, so heavy-coated dogs in lower hill towns still face a hot season.
- Our ranking puts 25 breeds in the hill-ready tier, 10 as hill-friendly with a winter coat, and 13 as feeling hill cold.
- Six breeds are named by their guides for Leh and high-altitude Ladakh, including the Tibetan Mastiff, Alaskan Malamute and Saint Bernard.
- Gangtok averages 164.3 rainy days a year and Shimla 83.7, against 40.6 in Delhi, which is why we rank hill breeds on monsoon handling first.
How cold do Indian hill stations get for dogs?
Cold enough that heavy coats finally make sense. Leh's normal January minimum is -13.1 C and Gulmarg's -7.7 C. Srinagar averages -1.9 C and Manali -1.1 C, per IMD normals for 1991 to 2020.
Shimla's January nights average 3.0 C, Darjeeling's and Mukteshwar's 1.7 C. The Nilgiris are milder: Ooty averages 6.5 C and Kodaikanal 8.8 C.
The length of the cold season matters more for a coat than one cold night. Gulmarg has 10 months with a mean minimum at or below 10 C, Leh 9 and Manali 8. Delhi has 2.
Source: IMD climatological tables, 1991 to 2020, from city.imd.gov.in station pages read on 15 October 2026. Delhi (Safdarjung) shown for comparison.
Show the numbers
| Label | months |
|---|---|
| Gulmarg | 10 months |
| Leh | 9 months |
| Manali | 8 months |
| Srinagar | 7 months |
| Mukteshwar | 7 months |
| Darjeeling | 7 months |
| Bhuntar (Kullu) | 6 months |
| Shimla | 5 months |
| Ooty (Udhagamandalam) | 5 months |
| Kohima | 4 months |
| Gangtok | 3 months |
| Shillong | 3 months |
| Dehradun | 3 months |
| Delhi (Safdarjung) | 2 months |
Embed this chart
| IMD station | State or UT | Elevation (m) | Jan min (C) | Jan max (C) | Hottest month max (C) | Annual rain (mm) | Rainy days a year | Months with min at or below 10 C | Months with min at or below 0 C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leh | Ladakh | 3,513 | -13.1 | 1.5 | 28.5 (Jul) | 34.8 | 3.8 | 9 | 5 |
| Gulmarg | Jammu and Kashmir | 2,655 | -7.7 | 0.7 | 21.1 (Jul) | 1,449.2 | 95.3 | 10 | 5 |
| Srinagar | Jammu and Kashmir | 1,587 | -1.9 | 7.1 | 30.0 (Jul) | 697.5 | 55.9 | 7 | 2 |
| Manali | Himachal Pradesh | 2,039 | -1.1 | 10.5 | 26.4 (Jun) | 1,239.3 | 82.6 | 8 | 1 |
| Bhuntar (Kullu) | Himachal Pradesh | 1,084 | 1.6 | 16.1 | 32.9 (Jun) | 926.9 | 65.5 | 6 | 0 |
| Mukteshwar | Uttarakhand | 2,311 | 1.7 | 12.1 | 24.2 (May) | 1,286.0 | 71.6 | 7 | 0 |
| Darjeeling | West Bengal | 2,128 | 1.7 | 11.1 | 19.9 (Aug) | 2,373.3 | 106.1 | 7 | 0 |
| Shimla | Himachal Pradesh | 2,202 | 3.0 | 11.4 | 25.1 (Jun) | 1,487.3 | 83.7 | 5 | 0 |
| Kohima | Nagaland | 1,406 | 5.1 | 16.1 | 26.2 (Aug) | 1,727.6 | 116.1 | 4 | 0 |
| Gangtok | Sikkim | 1,756 | 5.5 | 12.4 | 22.1 (Aug) | 3,574.0 | 164.3 | 3 | 0 |
| Shillong | Meghalaya | 1,598 | 5.7 | 15.2 | 24.4 (Aug) | 2,099.9 | 111.3 | 3 | 0 |
| Pachmarhi | Madhya Pradesh | 1,075 | 6.4 | 20.6 | 35.3 (May) | 1,581.7 | 66.7 | 3 | 0 |
| Ooty (Udhagamandalam) | Tamil Nadu | 2,249 | 6.5 | 21.4 | 23.3 (Mar) | 1,157.4 | 80.9 | 5 | 0 |
| Dehradun | Uttarakhand | 682 | 6.6 | 19.7 | 35.3 (May) | 2,161.5 | 84.1 | 3 | 0 |
| Kodaikanal | Tamil Nadu | 2,343 | 8.8 | 18.6 | 21.2 (May) | 1,578.7 | 92.8 | 3 | 0 |
| Mahabaleshwar | Maharashtra | 1,382 | 13.4 | 26.4 | 32.1 (Apr) | 5,882.6 | 113.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Delhi (Safdarjung) (comparison) | Delhi | 215 | 7.5 | 20.1 | 39.9 (May) | 758.9 | 40.6 | 2 | 0 |
Four stations have months with a mean minimum at or below 0 C. Leh and Gulmarg have 5 each, Srinagar 2 and Manali 1.
Which is the best dog for hilly areas in India?
Double-coated breeds that handle rain well suit Indian hill towns best. Our ranking puts the Labrador Retriever, German Spitz, Japanese Spitz, Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Pomeranian first. Each has a double coat, a hill recommendation in its guide and a monsoon score of 3.
For guarding, the German Shepherd and Rottweiler rank 7th and 10th. For high altitude around Leh, the guides name the Tibetan Mastiff, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed, Saint Bernard, Siberian Husky and Bernese Mountain Dog.
We sorted all 58 breeds into four tiers, then ranked within each tier. The order uses our Handles monsoon score first and Beginner friendly second, because hill towns are wet for months.
| Rank | Breed | Hill tier | Double coat | Handles monsoon (1 to 5) | Beginner friendly (1 to 5) | Tolerates Indian heat (1 to 5) | Suits a flat (1 to 5) | Puppy price as listed | Monthly cost as listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Labrador Retriever | Hill-ready | Yes | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | Rs 8,000 to 30,000 | Rs 4,000 to 9,000 |
| 2 | German Spitz | Hill-ready | Yes | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | Rs 5,000 to 20,000 | Rs 3,000 to 6,500 |
| 3 | Japanese Spitz | Hill-ready | Yes | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | Rs 15,000 to 35,000 | Rs 3,000 to 6,500 |
| 4 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Hill-ready | Yes | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | Rs 60,000 to 1 lakh | Rs 3,500 to 7,000 |
| 5 | Pomeranian | Hill-ready | Yes | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | Rs 10,000 to 25,000 | Rs 3,000 to 6,500 |
| 6 | Australian Shepherd | Hill-ready | Yes | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | Rs 35,000 to 60,000 | Rs 5,000 to 11,000 |
| 7 | German Shepherd | Hill-ready | Yes | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Rs 20,000 to 35,000 | Rs 5,000 to 11,000 |
| 8 | Shiba Inu | Hill-ready | Yes | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Rs 50,000 to 1,00,000 | Rs 4,000 to 8,000 |
| 9 | Border Collie | Hill-ready | Yes | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Rs 20,000 to 35,000 | Rs 4,000 to 9,000 |
| 10 | Rottweiler | Hill-ready | Yes | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Rs 18,000 to 35,000 | Rs 6,500 to 14,000 |
| 11 | Golden Retriever | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | Rs 25,000 to 45,000 | Rs 5,000 to 10,000 |
| 12 | Pug | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | Rs 8,000 to 20,000 | Rs 3,000 to 7,000 |
| 13 | American Eskimo Dog | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | Rs 45,000 to 75,000 | Rs 4,000 to 8,000 including grooming and cooling |
| 14 | Lhasa Apso | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | Rs 10,000 to 20,000 | Rs 3,500 to 7,000 including grooming |
| 15 | Shih Tzu | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | Rs 20,000 to 35,000 | Rs 3,500 to 7,500 including grooming |
| 16 | Bernese Mountain Dog | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Rs 60,000 to 1,00,000 | Rs 8,000 to 18,000 including AC |
| 17 | English Mastiff | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | Rs 25,000 to 60,000 | Rs 9,000 to 20,000 |
| 18 | Samoyed | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | Rs 80,000 to 1.2 lakh | Rs 7,000 to 15,000 including cooling and grooming |
| 19 | Alaskan Malamute | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Rs 60,000 to 90,000 | Rs 8,000 to 16,000 including cooling and grooming |
| 20 | Kangal | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Rs 60,000 to 90,000 | Rs 7,500 to 15,000 |
| 21 | Saint Bernard | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Rs 25,000 to 45,000 | Rs 9,000 to 18,000 |
| 22 | Siberian Husky | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Rs 40,000 to 60,000 | Rs 6,000 to 14,000 including AC and grooming |
| 23 | Tibetan Mastiff | Hill-ready | Yes | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Rs 50,000 to 1,00,000 | Rs 9,000 to 20,000 |
| 24 | Pekingese | Hill-ready | Yes | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | Rs 15,000 to 25,000 | Rs 4,000 to 9,000 including grooming and vet care |
| 25 | Chow Chow | Hill-ready | Yes | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Rs 30,000 to 50,000 | Rs 6,000 to 13,000 including cooling and grooming |
| 26 | Boxer | Hill-friendly, coat in winter | No | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | Rs 15,000 to 30,000 | Rs 5,000 to 10,000 |
| 27 | Dalmatian | Hill-friendly, coat in winter | No | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | Rs 20,000 to 30,000 | Rs 4,500 to 9,000 |
| 28 | Kombai | Hill-friendly, coat in winter | No | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | Rs 5,000 to 15,000 | Rs 3,000 to 6,000 |
| 29 | Bullmastiff | Hill-friendly, coat in winter | No | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | Rs 30,000 to 55,000 | Rs 8,000 to 16,000 |
| 30 | Dogo Argentino | Hill-friendly, coat in winter | No | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Rs 80,000 to 1,20,000 | Rs 7,000 to 14,000 |
| 31 | Great Dane | Hill-friendly, coat in winter | No | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Rs 20,000 to 40,000 | Rs 9,000 to 18,000 |
| 32 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Hill-friendly, coat in winter | No | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | Rs 50,000 to 75,000 | Rs 4,500 to 10,000 including likely cardiac care |
| 33 | French Bulldog | Hill-friendly, coat in winter | No | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | Rs 50,000 to 90,000 | Rs 5,000 to 12,000 including likely vet care |
| 34 | Cocker Spaniel | Hill-friendly, coat in winter | No | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | Rs 15,000 to 25,000 | Rs 4,500 to 9,000 including grooming |
| 35 | English Bulldog | Hill-friendly, coat in winter | No | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | Rs 50,000 to 80,000 | Rs 6,000 to 15,000 including routine vet care |
| 36 | Indian Spitz | No hill note | Yes | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | Rs 5,000 to 15,000 | Rs 3,000 to 6,000 |
| 37 | Jack Russell Terrier | No hill note | No | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | Rs 20,000 to 30,000 | Rs 2,500 to 6,000 |
| 38 | Belgian Malinois | No hill note | Yes | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | Rs 30,000 to 50,000 | Rs 6,000 to 14,000 including training |
| 39 | Cane Corso | No hill note | Yes | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Rs 50,000 to 80,000 | Rs 7,000 to 15,000 including training |
| 40 | Pit Bull | No hill note | No | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | Rs 20,000 to 40,000 | Rs 4,500 to 9,000 |
| 41 | Poodle | No hill note | No | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | Rs 30,000 to 50,000 | Rs 4,000 to 10,000 including grooming |
| 42 | Beagle | No hill note | No | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | Rs 15,000 to 25,000 | Rs 3,500 to 7,000 |
| 43 | Dachshund | No hill note | No | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | Rs 15,000 to 30,000 | Rs 3,000 to 6,500 |
| 44 | Bully Kutta | No hill note | No | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Rs 15,000 to 50,000, highly variable | Rs 8,000 to 18,000 |
| 45 | Bichon Frise | No hill note | Yes | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | Rs 30,000 to 45,000 | Rs 4,000 to 8,500 including grooming |
| 46 | Indian Pariah Dog | Feels hill cold | No | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | Free to about Rs 3,000 | Rs 2,000 to 4,500 |
| 47 | Chippiparai | Feels hill cold | No | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | Rs 5,000 to 12,000 | Rs 2,500 to 5,000 |
| 48 | Kanni | Feels hill cold | No | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | Rs 5,000 to 15,000, where available | Rs 2,500 to 5,000 |
| 49 | Miniature Pinscher | Feels hill cold | No | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | Rs 15,000 to 28,000 | Rs 2,500 to 5,500 |
| 50 | Mudhol Hound | Feels hill cold | No | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | Rs 3,000 to 10,000 | Rs 3,000 to 6,000 |
| 51 | Rampur Greyhound | Feels hill cold | No | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | Rs 8,000 to 20,000 | Rs 3,000 to 6,500 |
| 52 | Doberman | Feels hill cold | No | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | Rs 20,000 to 35,000 | Rs 6,000 to 12,000 |
| 53 | Rajapalayam | Feels hill cold | No | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | Rs 5,000 to 15,000 | Rs 3,000 to 6,500 |
| 54 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | Feels hill cold | No | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | Rs 35,000 to 60,000 | Rs 5,000 to 11,000 |
| 55 | Chihuahua | Feels hill cold | No | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Rs 15,000 to 25,000 | Rs 2,000 to 5,000 |
| 56 | Yorkshire Terrier | Feels hill cold | No | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | Rs 20,000 to 40,000 | Rs 3,000 to 7,000 with grooming |
| 57 | Bull Terrier | Feels hill cold | No | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | Rs 25,000 to 45,000 | Rs 5,000 to 10,000 |
| 58 | Maltese | Feels hill cold | No | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | Rs 25,000 to 40,000 | Rs 3,000 to 7,000 including grooming |
Do heavy-coated dogs stay cool in the hills in summer?
In the high towns, yes. Shimla's hottest month, June, averages a maximum of 25.1 C. Darjeeling peaks at 19.9 C in August and Gangtok at 22.1 C. Delhi peaks at 39.9 C in May.
Lower hill towns are a different story. Dehradun and Pachmarhi both reach 35.3 C in May, and Bhuntar in the Kullu valley 32.9 C in June. Mahabaleshwar reaches 32.1 C in April.
Altitude decides it. Dehradun's station sits at 682 m and Shimla's at 2,202 m, according to NOAA's station list. A Husky that is comfortable in Shimla can overheat 1,500 m lower.
Source: IMD climatological tables, 1991 to 2020. Hottest month in brackets. Red is 35 C or more, amber 30 to 34.9 C.
Show the numbers
| Label | C |
|---|---|
| Delhi (Safdarjung) | 39.9 C (May) |
| Dehradun | 35.3 C (May) |
| Pachmarhi | 35.3 C (May) |
| Bhuntar (Kullu) | 32.9 C (Jun) |
| Mahabaleshwar | 32.1 C (Apr) |
| Srinagar | 30.0 C (Jul) |
| Leh | 28.5 C (Jul) |
| Manali | 26.4 C (Jun) |
| Kohima | 26.2 C (Aug) |
| Shimla | 25.1 C (Jun) |
| Shillong | 24.4 C (Aug) |
| Mukteshwar | 24.2 C (May) |
| Ooty (Udhagamandalam) | 23.3 C (Mar) |
| Gangtok | 22.1 C (Aug) |
| Kodaikanal | 21.2 C (May) |
| Gulmarg | 21.1 C (Jul) |
| Darjeeling | 19.9 C (Aug) |
Embed this chart
Our how hot is too hot for dogs report has the plains comparison and pavement data.
How many cold wave and heatwave days do hill states get?
Jammu and Kashmir, which in this series includes Ladakh, logged 89 cold wave days from 2012 to 2024. Himachal Pradesh logged 39, with 2019 missing. Uttarakhand had 8 and Sikkim 1.
IMD counts a cold wave in the hills only once the minimum falls to 0 C or less. So hill counts measure unusual cold, not ordinary winter. A dog in Shimla meets nights near 3 C every January regardless.
The hills get heatwaves too. Himachal Pradesh had 38 heatwave days in 2022, 18 in 2024 and 10 in 2025. IMD's hill threshold for a heatwave starts at a 30 C maximum.
Source: IMD data via MoSPI EnviStats India 2025 and RBI Handbook of Statistics on Indian States, Table 103 (11 December 2025). State averages per winter season (December to February), summed by dogeats.in. Himachal Pradesh has no figure for 2019.
Show the numbers
| Label | days |
|---|---|
| J&K and Ladakh | 89 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 39 |
| Uttarakhand | 8 |
| Sikkim | 1 |
Embed this chart
| State or UT | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jammu and Kashmir (incl. Ladakh) | 9 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 89 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 39 | |
| Uttarakhand | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Sikkim | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Source: IMD data in Annexure-1 to Lok Sabha unstarred question 4494, Ministry of Earth Sciences, 20 August 2025. 2025 is as of that date.
Show the numbers
| Label | days |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 18 |
| 2025 | 10 |
Embed this chart
| IMD sub-division | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total 2015 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Himachal Pradesh | 2 | 38 | 0 | 18 | 10 | 79 |
| Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh | 0 | 19 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 45 |
| Uttarakhand | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim | 0 | 1 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 28 |
Why do the hills suit breeds that cannot cope with Indian heat?
Because the coat that fails in Delhi works in Shimla. All 29 breeds we rate 1 or 2 out of 5 for Indian heat are named by their guides as good fits for a hill region. None of the 9 breeds rated 4 gets that note.
The pattern runs both ways. Breeds rated 5 for heat are mostly lean Indian sighthounds, and 7 of those 8 are flagged as feeling the cold. Only the Kombai, rated 5 for heat, gets a hill note, for the southern hills.
Our heat risk ranking lists the same scores for every breed.
dogeats.in editorial data from 58 breed guides, October 2026. Heat score is our 1 to 5 rating for tolerating Indian heat; hill named means the guide lists a hill region as a good fit.
Show the numbers
| Label | Guide names a hill region | No hill note |
|---|---|---|
| Heat score 1 | 13 | 0 |
| Heat score 2 | 16 | 0 |
| Heat score 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Heat score 4 | 0 | 9 |
| Heat score 5 | 1 | 7 |
Embed this chart
What is the best dog for Himachal Pradesh?
For most Himachal homes, a Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd or one of the spitz breeds. Their guides all name Himachal or hill towns as a good fit, and none is flagged for cold.
Shimla shows why. Its nights average 3.0 C in January and stay at or below 10 C from November to March. July and August bring 328.3 mm and 351.3 mm of rain, so a coat that dries well matters.
Manali and Gulmarg are colder still. Manali's January maximum is only 10.5 C, and Gulmarg's 0.7 C. Those suit the Arctic and mastiff breeds better than a Labrador.
Source: IMD climatological table for Shimla, 1991 to 2020.
Show the numbers
| Label | mm |
|---|---|
| Jan | 80 |
| Feb | 83 |
| Mar | 79 |
| Apr | 58 |
| May | 82 |
| Jun | 192 |
| Jul | 328 |
| Aug | 351 |
| Sep | 164 |
| Oct | 30 |
| Nov | 14 |
| Dec | 26 |
Embed this chart
| Month | Min (C) | Max (C) | Rain (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.0 | 11.4 | 79.6 |
| Feb | 4.2 | 12.9 | 82.6 |
| Mar | 7.5 | 16.6 | 78.6 |
| Apr | 11.9 | 21.4 | 58.3 |
| May | 15.1 | 24.8 | 82.2 |
| Jun | 16.5 | 25.1 | 191.8 |
| Jul | 16.5 | 23.1 | 328.3 |
| Aug | 16.1 | 22.5 | 351.3 |
| Sep | 14.6 | 22.7 | 164.5 |
| Oct | 11.5 | 21.1 | 30.3 |
| Nov | 8.2 | 17.5 | 13.6 |
| Dec | 5.6 | 14.4 | 26.2 |
Which dogs suit Ladakh, Kashmir and other high-altitude places?
Six breeds in our guides are named for Leh and Ladakh. Leh's station averages -13.1 C on January nights and only 1.5 C by day. Its hottest month, July, reaches a normal 28.5 C.
The Tibetan Mastiff's guide notes the breed has lived around Leh for centuries. The Alaskan Malamute's guide calls high-altitude Ladakh the most suitable Indian location.
All six score 1 out of 5 for Indian heat, and four are large or giant dogs. They need room: all six score 1 or 2 for suiting a flat.
| Breed | Adult weight midpoint (kg) | Tolerates Indian heat (1 to 5) | Suits a flat (1 to 5) | Puppy price as listed | What our guide says |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 44 | 1 | 1 | Rs 60,000 to 1,00,000 | Ladakh and the high valleys around Leh |
| Samoyed | 24.5 | 1 | 2 | Rs 80,000 to 1.2 lakh | Leh, where the cold finally matches the coat |
| Alaskan Malamute | 39.5 | 1 | 1 | Rs 60,000 to 90,000 | Leh and high-altitude Ladakh, the most suitable Indian location |
| Saint Bernard | 73 | 1 | 1 | Rs 25,000 to 45,000 | Leh and high-altitude Ladakh, close to ideal |
| Siberian Husky | 23.5 | 1 | 1 | Rs 40,000 to 60,000 | High-altitude Ladakh, about as good as India offers |
| Tibetan Mastiff | 54.5 | 1 | 1 | Rs 50,000 to 1,00,000 | Leh and Ladakh, where the breed has lived for centuries |
dogeats.in editorial data: first price line in each breed guide, compiled from breeder and marketplace listings, October 2026.
Show the numbers
| Label | Rs |
|---|---|
| Samoyed | Rs 80,000 to 1.2 lakh |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | Rs 60,000 to 1,00,000 |
| Alaskan Malamute | Rs 60,000 to 90,000 |
| Tibetan Mastiff | Rs 50,000 to 1,00,000 |
| Siberian Husky | Rs 40,000 to 60,000 |
| Saint Bernard | Rs 25,000 to 45,000 |
Embed this chart
Which dogs struggle in the cold of hill stations?
Thirteen breeds in our guides are flagged as feeling the cold, and all are single-coated. They include toy breeds such as the Chihuahua and Maltese, and lean dogs such as the Dobermann and India's sighthounds.
They can live in the hills, but with a coat for winter and a warm, dry bed. The Indian Pariah Dog guide flags only very cold, high-altitude winters.
Indian hill dogs such as the Gaddi Kutta and Himalayan Sheepdog are not yet in our breed guides, so they are not ranked here. We cover their feeding in our Gaddi Kutta food guide.
| Breed | Size | Coat | What our guide says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Pariah Dog | Large | Short, single, close-lying | Nowhere climatically, though very cold high-altitude winters need a jacket for a short coat |
| Chippiparai | Medium | Very short, fine, glossy | Cold north Indian winters, where a lean dog with no body fat needs a coat |
| Kanni | Medium | Very short, fine, close | Winters up north, which a dog with this little coat and fat feels sharply |
| Miniature Pinscher | Toy | Short, hard, smooth, single | North Indian winters, where a lean short-coated toy dog needs a jacket |
| Mudhol Hound | Large | Short and smooth, or feathered in the Pashmi type | Hill stations and cold north Indian winters, where a lean short-coated dog needs a coat |
| Rampur Greyhound | Large | Very short, fine, close-lying | High-altitude cold regions, where a lean short-coated dog needs a coat |
| Doberman | Large | Short, smooth, single, no undercoat | Delhi and north Indian winters without a coat for the dog |
| Rajapalayam | Large | Short, fine, close-lying | Cold north Indian winters, where a lean short-coated dog needs a coat |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | Large | Short, dense, sleek, single | Cold north Indian winters, where a short-coated lean dog needs a coat |
| Chihuahua | Toy | Smooth or long coat | Hill stations and north Indian winters, where a 2 kg dog needs a jacket |
| Yorkshire Terrier | Toy | Fine, silky, single, grows continuously | North Indian winters, where a 3 kg dog with no undercoat needs a jacket |
| Bull Terrier | Large | Short, flat and harsh | Hill stations, where the short coat needs a jumper in winter |
| Maltese | Toy | Long, silky, single, grows continuously | North Indian winters, where a tiny dog with no undercoat needs a jacket |
Our dogs in winter report covers cold wave days and winter care across the plains.
How much do the best hill dog breeds cost in India?
Prices span a wide range. Among our top 14 hill-ready picks, listed puppy prices start at Rs 5,000 for a German Spitz. They reach Rs 1 lakh for a Corgi or Shiba Inu.
Monthly running costs in the guides run from about Rs 3,000 for the spitz breeds to Rs 14,000 for a Rottweiler at the top. Giant mountain breeds cost more: a Saint Bernard's guide lists Rs 9,000 to 18,000 a month.
Our dog breed price index has every breed's price in one table.
dogeats.in editorial data: first price line in each breed guide (pet quality or typical), compiled from breeder and marketplace listings, October 2026.
Show the numbers
| Label | Rs |
|---|---|
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Rs 60,000 to 1 lakh |
| Shiba Inu | Rs 50,000 to 1,00,000 |
| American Eskimo Dog | Rs 45,000 to 75,000 |
| Australian Shepherd | Rs 35,000 to 60,000 |
| Golden Retriever | Rs 25,000 to 45,000 |
| German Shepherd | Rs 20,000 to 35,000 |
| Border Collie | Rs 20,000 to 35,000 |
| Rottweiler | Rs 18,000 to 35,000 |
| Japanese Spitz | Rs 15,000 to 35,000 |
| Labrador Retriever | Rs 8,000 to 30,000 |
| Pomeranian | Rs 10,000 to 25,000 |
| Lhasa Apso | Rs 10,000 to 20,000 |
| Pug | Rs 8,000 to 20,000 |
| German Spitz | Rs 5,000 to 20,000 |
Embed this chart
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best dog for hilly areas in India?
Double-coated breeds that cope with rain, such as the Labrador, German Spitz, Japanese Spitz, Corgi, Pomeranian and German Shepherd, top our ranking. All have a hill recommendation in their guides and none is flagged for cold.
What is the best dog for Himachal Pradesh?
For towns like Shimla, a Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd or a spitz breed. For colder places like Manali, whose January maximum is 10.5 C, heavy breeds such as the Saint Bernard or Malamute also suit.
Can a Siberian Husky live in Shimla or Manali?
Yes. Its guide calls Shimla, Manali, Dehradun, Gangtok and other hill stations the only suitable Indian locations, along with high-altitude Ladakh. Shimla's hottest month averages 25.1 C, but Dehradun reaches 35.3 C in May.
Which dog is best for Ladakh?
Our guides name six breeds for Leh and Ladakh, including the Tibetan Mastiff, Alaskan Malamute and Saint Bernard. Leh's January nights average minus 13.1 C.
Which dogs should not live in hill stations?
No breed is ruled out, but 13 single-coated breeds are flagged as feeling the cold. They include the Chihuahua, Maltese, Dobermann and the Indian sighthounds, and need a coat in winter.
Do hill stations get heatwaves?
Yes. Himachal Pradesh had 38 heatwave days in 2022 and 10 in 2025, per IMD data given to the Lok Sabha. IMD's hill heatwave threshold starts at 30 C.
Is Dehradun good for a Husky or Saint Bernard?
Less so than the higher towns. Dehradun's normal May maximum is 35.3 C, against 25.1 C in Shimla's hottest month, so these breeds need cooling there in summer.
How cold does Shimla get for dogs?
Shimla's normal January minimum is 3.0 C and its maximum 11.4 C (IMD, 1991 to 2020). Nights average 10 C or less for five months, November to March.
Methodology and limitations
Hill station climate comes from IMD's climatological tables for 1991 to 2020, read from city.imd.gov.in station pages on 15 October 2026. We identified stations by WMO number and took station names and elevations from NOAA's Integrated Surface Database station list. The plains station mapping matches our winter and heat reports.
Cold wave days come from RBI's Handbook of Statistics on Indian States, Table 103, dated 11 December 2025, which reproduces IMD data from MoSPI's EnviStats India 2025. Each figure is a state average for one winter season, December of the previous year to February, and our totals add them. Heatwave days come from IMD data in Annexure-1 to Lok Sabha unstarred question 4494 of 20 August 2025.
Breed data is dogeats.in editorial data compiled from our 58 breed guides, October 2026. Prices and running costs were compiled by dogeats.in from breeder and marketplace listings for the guides. Scores are our editorial 1 to 5 ratings.
Hill tiers: hill-ready means the guide names a hill region as a good fit, the breed has a double coat, and it is not flagged for cold. Hill-friendly means a hill note but a single coat. Feels hill cold means the guide says the breed needs a coat in winter or lists cold places as hard. The rest have no hill note.
Within each tier we rank by our Handles monsoon score, then Beginner friendly, then name. We chose monsoon first because hill stations get far more rainy days than the plains, as the climate table shows.
Sources
- India Meteorological Department, station climatological tables (Shimla shown; 16 hill stations and Delhi read), Monthly normal minimum, maximum, rainfall and rainy days, 1991 to 2020
- Reserve Bank of India, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States, Table 103: State-wise Average Number of Cold Wave Days (11 December 2025), Cold wave days in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim, 2012 to 2024
- Ministry of Earth Sciences, Lok Sabha unstarred question 4494, Annexure-1 (20 August 2025), Heatwave days by IMD sub-division, 2015 to 2025
- Also consulted: IMD, Weather Forecasting and Warning Services SOP, section 7.3, NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database station history, dogeats.in breed guides (58 breeds), October 2026, IMD Chennai and New Delhi station PDFs, used earlier to confirm the station mapping.
Cite, embed and download
This report, its data and its images are free to reuse under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Credit dogeats.in with a link to this page. Every chart has its own embed code, every table has a CSV and an image download, and the images below are ready for social posts, slides and articles.
Cite this report
Link to this report
Every chart and table as an image
