A unique class for pets and their owners

AHMEDABAD: It is an unique class where a 70-year-old and a 10-year -old can enrol in the same class with their pets. They undergo behaviour training programmes and even have ‘homework’ for follow-up and practice what they learn.
Ahmedabad is gradually witnessing a rise in the number of people owning pets, with rough estimates putting the number of owned dogs at over 15,000.This has led to a rise in pet accessory and veterinary shops that have a range of imported pet food and accessories.
It has also led to starting of special dog training and behaviour programmes so that dog owners can manage their pets better.
Lochen Kharawala of the Ahmedabad Kennel Club says that their dog training academy aims to help pet owners train their dogs and understand ‘dog psychology’. This training is for both the owners and their pets and would help reduce the number of people disowning pets.
“A first-time pet owner may enjoy the first few days when the dog is a puppy, but later as it grows many find it difficult to manage the dog. Some even abandon their pets when they are unable to manage them. This training helps owners understand dog psychology so that they can train and manage them better,� he said.
Namrata Maheshwari a 10-yearold, class five student says she goes to the dog training class so that she can train her four-month-old Labrador puppy. “My brother and I were keen to have a pet. This training class would help us learn how to train her. We had a homework to train her to kneel,� she says.
Firdaus Cambatta says, “My new pet is a six-month-old German Shepherd, he is the fourth pet I have had. I decided to opt for the training classes as by nature German Shepherd is a dominant breed and I wanted to train him properly. Besides I am learning many new things and therefore it is a useful activity for me,� he said.
According to Usha Nayak, the dog training course is necessary to understand the needs of the threemonth-old Great Dane she has recently acquired. “Once my children leave to study abroad, I would be lonely and I am looking forward to spending time with my pet.We have had an Alsatian before, but I joined the classes as Great Danes are known to grow big. I want to train it so that we can take care of him properly,� she says.
Kharawala says they have seen a fall in pet owners coming to them with complaints of aggression, disobedience amongst other complaints.
The Animal Help Foundation (AHF) here receives at least one distress calls daily of a Pomeranian, Alsatian or a Doberman being abandoned. Rahul Sehgal of the AHF says that in most cases they shelter the animal and help ‘rehome’ it again. “So far we have helped 46 such animals find a new home after their owners disowned them. Sometimes the pets are abandoned either at the AHF or on roads,� he says.