Shirin Dhabhar Ever caught yourself singing to your dog, convinced that your off-key rendition of ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’ is the highlight of their day? Or perhaps you’ve splurged on a designer dog bed, only to find Zorro happily snoozing on a pile of laundry instead? As loving dog-parents, we often think we know […]
Shirin Dhabhar is India’s pioneering Canine Behaviourist and Trainer. For the past 25-plus years, she has worked hard to ensure that dogs in India are trained using humane, reward-based methods. Many years ago, a lady came to meet me with her Chihuahua in tow. I listened intently as she proudly explained the dog’s indulgent mealtime […]
Every year, a number of children fall victim to dog-bites. In virtually every such case, it is neither the dog nor the child that is at fault – it’s the lack of communication and awareness to blame. Understanding the ‘Why’s, If’s and How’s’ of dog-bites helps us avoid adding to the dog-bite statistic. Why Do […]
Rita, a pretty girl in her twenties, had been hiding behind closed doors for over the past five years now. When her teacher connected with me to help her, I was initially sceptical about her willingness. You see, Rita is an acid attack survivor; and most of them prefer to hide from the world for […]
The dog stopped dead in his tracks. His little black nose quivered with trepidation. Something was very wrong. He looked over at me puzzled. “Go on, Snoopy, find ’em,” I urged him as I scrambled over loose rubble, trying hard to keep my balance. He stared ahead blankly briefly, then put his nose to the ground […]
– Lessons Learnt By Pet Parents In 2021 – “You need to help me NOW!” a lady screamed at me over the phone. “My Figaro has pooped on my carpet for the 100th time and I am fed up!” 2021 was the year that dog lovers abruptly decided was a good year to bring home a […]
Socialising your pup at the correct age can help it to grow into a happy, confident, adult dog. Romila thought she was the perfect puppy owner. She had brought up her six-month-old Golden Retriever – Tango, with plenty of love, discipline and protected him from all harm. As per the vet’s suggestion, she fed him […]
Being stuck at home due to the rains or the pandemic, with all its social restrictions, is as much a bummer for you as it is for your pup. When you’re stuck at home, your dog is likely to get less exercise than usual. But did you know that despite being confined inside the house, […]
A year ago, when the pandemic struck, it changed our lives and those of our dogs’ too. We were all stuck at home and many dogs enjoyed the constant attention that they received. But this constant access to the family became a problematic basis for many pet-parents and I started to hear complaints… “My dog […]
The little dog screamed in pain and fear as I approached her. If her legs could move, she would have run away from me. Unfortunately, she could only drag herself around. Frightened and hungry were how I found Bambi and Lyla, hours after they had been abandoned in a public park. More victims of COVID-19, […]
otw_shortcode_info_box border_style=”bordered” css_class=”boxed”]Shirin Merchant is India’s pioneering Canine Behaviourist and Trainer. For the past 25 years, she has worked hard to ensure that dogs in India are trained using reward-based methods.[/otw_shortcode_info_box] Many of you have written in to me, telling me how upset or depressed you are with the current situation and that you are […]