New Delhi, Aug. 23 -- Get a street dog, they told us. They are hardy with great immunity unlike those pampered foreign breeds. Our indie Chutney eats grain-free lamb and apple meals, gluten-free high-calcium smoke-dried yak milk puffs and hypo-allergenic duck and quinoa to deal with his skin allergies.

Get a street dog, they told us. They are fiercely territorial and excellent guard dogs. Chutney is a fiercely territorial scaredy cat. He barks at every courier and delivery person on a bike but from the safety of his divan.

Get a street dog, they told us. They are natural learners. They are so intelligent, Indian police academies are now starting to use them. Chutney has never learned anything beyond "sit"; he expects to get a treat if h...