The term Pariah Dog was earlier used as a generic term for any stray or feral dogs, without any geographical restriction. Stray dogs are dogs with a more or less intensive human connection, mostly living around villages or towns scavenging on leftovers and trash, while feral dogs live in a fully wild state with no human connection at all. However, throughout the 20th century, cynologists have been using the term Pariah to describe a primitive natural breed of dogs which have the same physical appearance in all parts of the world in which they are found. The term Pariah comes from India where it originally designates a low caste "untouchable" human tribe in the state of Tamil Nadu. The term Pariah dog is not to be confused with "mongrel" or "mutt," which means a dog of mixed breed – although most mix-breed dogs in India are partly pariah. Pariah dogs who have been selectively bred and officially recognized include the Canaan Dog of Israel and the Carolina Dog of the USA. Some scholars think that Pariahs may represent an evolutionary transition between the wolf and modern dog breeds. One important feature is that Dingoes and other canids of this group reproduce only once a year, as wolves do, as opposed to twice a year for pure breed domestic dogs. A major difference between the continental Pariah dogs and Dingoes is that the former bark and Dingoes don't. The Australian Dingo Conservation Association's (ADCA) work shows that those who do invariably have dog markers in their DNA. The dogs mentioned by Rudyard Kipling in "Just so stories" and "The jungle books" were most likely Indian Pariah dogs. The Indian Pariah Dog is also called the INDog (Indian Native Dog) by some experts. Generally speaking, The Pariah, much like wolves and some other canids live in packs and scavenge in packs. In India, many INDogs are neighbourhood or community dogs and few are actually feral in the strict sense. In villages and city slums, they are very often free-roaming pets of specific individuals or families, given food and usually even names. In urban and even some rural areas, they are facing increasing hybridization due to interbreeding with the western purebreds that are popular among the more affluent members of society. However, in the last few years they have started acquiring acceptance as pets of the affluent, largely due to adoption campaigns by animal shelters. They have an adaptable, friendly nature, high intelligence and trainability and overall good health, as they have evolved for survival. Their high territorial instinct makes them naturally good watchdogs. Some individuals tend to be more independent than others. They are extraordinarily loyal and devoted to their family. While the dog has usually survived as a scavenger, it has also been used for hunting by some tribes. Historically the dog is very interesting, as it is in evolutionary and anthropological terms.

The Pariah dog is probably a direct descendant of the early domesticated dogs, which according to analyses of mitochondrial DNA originated in Eastern Asia. Pariah dogs are considered the ancestors of the Dingo and the New Guinea singing dog. Others have been transported by humans to North Africa, the Balkan peninsula and the East Indies and even as far as South Africa, Japan, the Pacific Islands and possibly North America. According to Barry Oakman of the ADCA the situation in Africa was similar to that in Australia, insofar as people (the Basuto) kept their dogs, a bit in a loose association, with many turning feral. These Shenzi dogs were crossed with dogs brought by later settlers, giving rise among others to the Rhodesian Ridgeback. The Pariah dog is threatened by human persecution, modification of the environment (urbanisation) and hybridisation with modern purebreed dogs. The Dingo has remained genetically pure much longer due to its isolated situation, but now 75-80% of them show hybridization in their DNA. Historically the Pariah dog is one of the most important dogs. In the colonial and post-colonial era, affluent Indians (like their counterparts in other third-world countries) have tended to value western pure-breeds and keep them as status-symbols, and to look down on indigenous dogs. This has led to the Indian Pariah dog/INDog being treated as an inferior animal instead of as an ancient, natural and valuable breed.

How this dog plays statistical games is interesting. For example in Mumbai where 65 % of the population live in hutments or slums, they are considered homeless. In India urban infrastructure is very weak and because of this people throw garbage onto the street and in large garbage dumps. This activity helps the dog to flourish in its scavenging niche. Some of these dogs may be taken in as "quasi–pets" which escape the statistician's eye and the anthropologist's observations.

WSD Indian Pariah Dog Club: In May 2002, the WSD Indian Pariah Dog Club was launched to promote the adoption of Pariah/INDogs and Pariah/INDog-mix dogs. The Club is an informal group linked to the registered Mumbai non-profit The Welfare of Stray Dogs (WSD). Membership is free and open only to INDogs and mix-breeds (mongrels) that have been adopted as house pets. The club has been very successful and has over 145 members.

Besides the Club, almost all animal welfare organizations in India also encourage adoption of these dogs. By adopting a pariah from an animal shelter or the street, dog lovers can better an animal's life and also help ease the dog overpopulation crisis. Pariahs/INDogs make wonderful family members.

Some canine experts have started calling the Indian Pariah Dog the "INDog," "Indian Pariah" is merely generic and descriptive. Just as the Israeli Pariah is called the Canaan Dog and the American Pariah is called the Carolina Dog.