A pet care magazine publish by rutaksha rawat

THE EDITOR’S APPRENTICE
EDDIE RAWAT
Editor’s
Note
Dear Reader,
Summer is here and it’s time to cool off at your nearest pool. Read this month’s
COVER STORY to learn if your dog is a ‘water baby’, as the story lists 10 dog breeds
that not only like, but also love the water. This month, learn about the strong and
fiercely loyal German Shepherd Dog in BREED PROFILE and read about weight
issues in canines in HEALTH & WELLNESS.
Dr Richardson gives helpful tips to puppy owners on toilet training in DOG
WHISPERER INVESTIGATES and British journalist Naomi Canton relates her
struggle to help the stray cats of Mumbai in FELINE.
Read the touching story on Duke, the 10-year-old Beagle, who was rescued from lab
testing in PET BRAVEHEART and read the exciting essay on animal consciousness
by renowned ecologist, Dr Marc Beckoff, in ANIMAL WELFARE.
NEWS, JUST FOR BARKS, DOG WITH BLOG, AQUA, BIRDS’ EYE VIEW, PET
OF THE MONTH, EXOTIC PETS — it’s all in this issue!
Happy reading.
Rutaksha Rawat
Co-Editor
also find us on
www.facebook.com/Creature.Companion

Appu
My husband brought home the February issue of Creature
Companion and I really loved it. A magazine like this is indeed
very much needed in a country like ours, where pets are taken
for granted and treated as just watch dogs, chained or confined
in small places/cages, with only one feed a day and without
water bowls in many houses including the highly educated
families.
I very much liked the colourful illustration of the article titled
‘Appu The School Dog’. The school bag with a doggie’s face and a
bone — really a very endearing representation!
Shamalatha Rao
Bengaluru
Pet Homes Story
I simply loved reading the cover story in your March issue,
wherein such attractive pet home options have been featured.
Your story came in the nick of time, as I am in the process of
constructing my own home. Guess what? I’m making a den for
my pet in my living room! More than my own room, I’m excited
about the den for my sweet dog. Thanks to your ideas! Great job.
Do continue to share new ideas and concepts.
Sujata Bhati
New Delhi
Street Cats
Being an avid cat lover, it was nice to read the article on street
cat adoption by Naomi Canton. I now know how to approach
stray kittens and have already adopted one. Do thank the author.
Priyank Maliah
Bengaluru
Holi Hai
I appreciated reading the article on Holi in your February
issue. I was actually planning to let my dog partake of the Holi
festivities. But I know better now. Really appreciate it.
Yamini Veer
Mumbai
RIP
I liked the little RIP box on the editorial page. Yes, indeed we
will all meet at Rainbow Bridge!
Daniel Waters
London
LETTERS
FROM PETSVILLE & BEYOND
WRITE TO US!
We’d love to hear what you thought of our last issue or
the magazine in general. Give us your ideas, opinions and
reviews on the content and tell us what YOU want to see in
Creature Companion. To voice your opinions, simply write
to us at businesseditorlba@yahoo.com.

Contents April2013
14 ��News & Events
18 �� Post Show Review — Pedigree Conference
19 �� Post Show Review —The Great Indian Dog
Show
20 �� Post Show Review — Kennel Club of
Mahakaushal Dog Show
Pet of the Month
22 �� Peppy Peggy
Dog Whisperer Investigates
24 �� Pugsly the Incorrigible
Pet Braveheart
28 �� 12 Days with Duke
Cover Story
30 �� 10 Water Babies
40 ��Dog with Blog
Breed Profile
42 �� German Shepherd Dog
Feline
48 �� My Battle to Save Mumbai’s
Stray Kittens Part I
Exotic Dogs
52 �� The Havanese
Aqua
54 �� Fish Keepers of Kolathur
55 �� Fresh Water Fish for Beginners
Birds’ Eye View
56 �� Breeding in Lovebirds
Research
60 �� Animal Emotions
Health & Wellness
62 �� Why Weight?
Pet Blog
65 �� Tehya
Excerpt
66 �� Sigmund Freud: Freud’s Dream
Companions

Edited, Printed, Published & Owned by
Linda Brady Hawke
Published from
L.B. Associates (Pvt) Ltd
H-108, Sector 63, Noida - 201301
Dist. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P.
Delhi NCR, India
Tel: +91-120-4727107
Fax: +91-120-2427108
Email: binoy@lbassociates.com
Websites: www.creature-companions.com
www.lbassociates.com
Printed at
US Printographics
E-53, Sector - 7, Noida 201301,
GB Nagar UP, India
Co Editor
Rutaksha Rawat
Guest Writers
Inderjeet Singh Bansal
Dr Marc Beckoff
Naomi Canton
Kim Bawitlung
Dr Geeta Sharma
Dr R Selvakkumar
Dr Srilakshmi Amirtheshwaran
Neeta Godambe
Jaysal
A Shamalatha Rao
R S Prabakar
Blog Partner
Abhishek Joshi
Photo Consultant
Gaurav Thombre
Illustration Partner
Alicia Souza
Special thanks to
Priya Kapoor
Director - Business Development
Binoy Sahee
Marketing
Amit Kumar Gupta
Tel: +91-120-4727111
akgupta@lbassociates.com
Yash Malhotra
yash@lbassociates.com
Tel: +91-9911787926
Design
Atul Kumar
Pradeep Singh Bisht
Webmaster: Uday N Jha
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed
in Creature Companion are solely those of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect those of
the editors or publisher. Although all efforts have
been made to ensure the complete accuracy of
text, neither the editors nor publisher can accept
responsibility for consequences arising from errors
or omissions or any opinions or advice given.
Alicia Souza: All of 26, Alicia
Souza is already making
waves in the art world with
her oh-so-cute illustrations
that almost everyone can
relate to, especially pet lovers.
Alicia’s quirky illustrations
can be found on the products
of popular lifestyle brand
Chumbak, inside the pages,
of Tinkle Digest and even on
pet products under the alicia
Souza brand. Alicia joined us
is in 2012 as our Illustration
Partner and her doodles on
pets are carried in every issue
of Creature Companion. Alicia
is proud pet parent to her two
dogs, Lola Bear and Charles
Brown.
Rohan More: Rohan More
is managing director of the
Japalouppe Equestrian Center,
Pune, and convenor of the
Annual Equestrian Games
hosted in Pune every year.
Established in 1998 by Rohan
and his mother, Lorraine,
Japalouppe has emerged to
be the foremost authority
on equine training in India.
Rohan has been a keen rider
and horse owner for 27 years
and presents in depth articles
on horse care and upkeep in
HORSING AROUND. He lives
on a farm with 5 dogs, 5 cats,
40 horses, 1 pig, and turkeys,
ducks, emus, and donkeys,
galore.
Abhishek Joshi: Marketing
manager by day, Abhishek
Joshi moonlights as prolific
blogger in his free time and
has created a buzz in the
canine lover’s world with
the creation of his blog,
Dog with the Blog (www.
calvy.wordpress.com), the
inspiration behind which,
are his dogs Rusty (late) and
Kaalicharan. Abhishek is
also creator of the popular
Facebook community page,
Dog With Blog, which uploads
and showcases personal
photographs of people with
their pets. Dog With Blog
joined hands with Creature
Companion in 2012 by
becoming its official Blog
Partner, and the latter features
pictures sourced from the
former on a monthly basis, in
a segment called DOG WITH
BLOG.
Mathew D’ Silva: Mathew
D’Silva is GM, Nautilus
Aqua Systems, Mumbai, a
company catering for all
aspects of aquarium design,
filtration, construction and
maintenance of live specimens,
as well as, allied equipment
for marine, freshwater and
planted aquariums. He
instructs aquarium hobbyists
on aquarium set up and
maintenance in our monthly
column, AQUA. John Richardson: John
Richardson aka The Dog
Whisperer TM is founder
of Dogtech International,
a professional dog training
school chain in Australia,
and is an accredited canine
behaviourist, accredited
temperament assessor
for dangerous dogs
(Australian Government),
and certified companion
animal hygienist (PIA). He
enthrals readers with his
column DOG WHISPERER
INVESTIGATES month after
month, wherein he presents
new case studies in every issue
of Creature Companion, of
dogs with behavioural issues,
and how these issues came
to be resolved by him. Mr
Richardson is pet parent to
dog, Whisper.
GUESTLIST
Dr Spartia Piccinno: Dr
Spartia Piccinno is president
of the Associazione Italiana
Pet Therapy, Alessandria,
Italy, and is also the creator of
psychomotor animal assisted
therapy. She has authored Pet
Therapy Psicomotoria, a book
on psychomotor pet therapy,
and authors a column called
THERAPY DOGS, in Creature
Companion, wherein, in every
issue, readers are introduced
to one of the therapy dogs at
the Associazione Italiana Pet
Therapy.

14Creature Companion | April 2013
News & Events
Mumbai: Actress Kareena Kapoor’s pet dog Elvis has become a neighbourhood
favourite. The dog, who is just six months old, is such a bundle of joy and energy that
every other animal lover in Bandra is fascinated with him.
Incidentally, Elvis also has a special friend called Margo in his own building. Now,
there are a number of people following the antics of Elvis and his female partner
Margo.
Kapoor’s actor husband, Saif Ali Khan, gifted her the Jack Russell Terrier in 2012.
Reportedly, the pet is extremely attached to Khan and the latter takes him everywhere.
Kareena’s Pet, Elvis
Facebook Group organises
Fundraiser for Cats
Jilly wins Crufts
New Venue for Aquarama &
Pet Asia 2013
Mumbai: The Facebook group, Bombay Cat Club, hosted its second fundraising party
for stray cats in Mumbai on March 8 at the Intercontinental Marine Drive Hotel. The
event was organised in partnership with the Facebook group, Bombay Expats, and
Network Prive, a networking and events organiser based in Mumbai.
Guests were charges `500 upon entry to include a drink (glass of domestic wine or beer)
and `200 per person went to the fundraiser. A total of 216 guests attended the party
and a total of `43,200 was raised for the cause. The proceeds will go to Mumbai based
charities, groups and individuals supporting cats.
Although the party was for expats, all were welcome to attend. Creature Companion
supported the event by distributing 150 magazines at the venue, free of cost.
Birmingham: Four-year-old Basset Griffon Vendeen, Jilly, won the Best Hound category and went
on to be pronounced Best in Show after four days of competition at Crufts 2013.
Gavin Robertson, Jilly’s breeder, said he had been attending the dog show since he was a boy and
had always wanted to win the prestigious prize.
As photographers took snapshots of the pair on the podium after they were presented with the all
important trophy, Robertson took a call from his wife Sara and their two children, congratulating
the pair on their win.
Jilly, from Oxfordshire, beat more than 20,000 dogs over the four-day competition to take the
coveted title.
Singapore: Aquarama 2013 and Pet Asia 2013 will now be hosted at the expo and convention
center at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. The Sands Expo and Convention Center is Singapore’s
largest exhibition and meeting venue, featuring the island’s largest hotel. At more than 120,000
square meters, the Sands Expo and Convention Center is the largest and most versatile exhibition
and meeting venue in Singapore.
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, which was the venue earlier,
will not be hosting the event due to renovations.
“The exhibition dates for Aquarama 2013 and Pet Asia 2013 remain as planned (from May 30 to
June 2), as do all other existing arrangements we have in place for our exhibitors,” says Aquarama
and Pet Asia Project Manager, Jennifer Lee.

News & Events
Mumbai: Popular Mumbai Café - Brasserie – Bar, Café Zoe, has gone dog friendly.
The café has started allowing dogs on its quaint patio.
Open all days of the week, from 7.30 am to 1:30 am, the 4,000 sq ft café offers traditional
European cuisine. Dogs are allowed on the premises from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm.
The decision to go dog friendly was made by the three managing directors of the
cafe, Viraf Patel, Tarini Mohindar and Jérémie Horowitz, who are avid dog lovers.
“Mumbai does not offer many options for pet/owner pairs and being dog lovers
ourselves, we could recognise the need for pet owners to share quality time with
their pets outside of the home. However, in order to keep everyone’s comfort in
mind, we only allow dogs on the patio (and not inside the café). We also request
patron dogs, as well as, their pet parents to be on their best behaviour!” says
Horowitz.
London: Chicken-Fish and Pickywickywoowoo are some of most bizarre names
that owners have given their cats and dogs, a survey reveals. Battersea Dogs
and Cats Home, UK, an animal welfare organisation put together its top 20 by
asking its 225,000 Facebook and Twitter fans to give them the most bizarre pet
names they knew.
Besides Pickywickywoowoo, cats’ names are as outlandish as Princess Maisie
Dolores, Strawberry Surprise, and Mister Fuzzy Mittens. Dog names ranged
from the funny to the peculiar, such as Toe-Jam, Chicken-Fish and Towpath
Tidy.
Last year, Britain’s most popular dog and cat name was Charlie, but now, owners
are branching out and coming up with the most unique names they can.
Café Zoe is Dog Approved
Weird Pet Names
Pool Party for
Bengaluru Canines
Knightsbridge: Marianne
Yvette Perkins, 42, a
barrister, says she was
held in a vice like grip by
four to six members of a
Harvey Nichols store and
her Maltese puppy was
intentionally elbowed by
the staff after a dispute
in September 2010 over
whether she was permitted to bring her dog into the luxury
Knightsbridge department store.
Perkins has now lodged a High Court writ suing Harvey
Nichols Group Ltd, which ironically has recently launched an
ad campaign featuring models carrying oversized lapdogs in
large handbags.
Perkins is claiming up to £1m damages for alleged false
imprisonment and personal injury, as well as, the costs of
medical treatment for injuries to her dog.
Bengaluru: Anvis Inc, the integrated pet management
company in Bengaluru, is geared to host Doggies Day
Out – Paw Splash on April 7 at a farm on the periphery
of the city. The highlight of the event will be a farm style
swimming pool at the venue, where pets can cool off
while their owners socialise amongst each other. Other
attractions include pet and owner games and goodies for
dogs.
The event will be sponsored by Pedigree, dog boarding
Pet Stepin’, Shevar Spa & Grooming Parlour, DogSpot.in,
and Creature Companion as magazine partner.
Approximately 50 dogs have registered for the event and a
footfall of 100 is expected.
Barrister sues Harvey
Nichols for £1m after
Dog was “Elbowed”

and ex-trustee of NGO, Compassion
Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), Sudha
Narayan; award winning animal welfare
activist, Achala Paani of animal welfare
NGO, Let’s Live Together; vets, Dr
Thanuja and Dr Karthiga Kartheepan;
pet store owners, Savita and Ramya
Hemanth; SheelaVenkatesh, the only lady
distributor for Pedigree in Karnataka;
and, Yours truly.
The discussion was thrown open to the
floor after a welcome address from Dr
Shashank Sinha, speciality pet trade
(SPT) manager, Pedigree, Karnataka,
followed by a speech by Dr Surajit Das,
SPT manager, Pedigree, Tamil Nadu &
Kerala. The conference was moderated by
Dr Anita Sriram, vet business executive,
Pedigree, Bengaluru.
Events
POST SHOW REVIEW
Pedigree Conference on Careers for Women
in Indian Pet Industry
Pedigree’s
initiative to
empower women
of the Indian pet
industry and steer
more towards it
M
ars India (Pedigree) organised
a women-only conference
on March 12 at the Iris Hotel
in Bengaluru. Hosted between 3 to 6
pm, the conference aimed to belatedly
celebrate International Women’s Day
(March 8) by discussing career prospects
for women in the Indian pet industry.
Attended by approximately 50 women
pet industry entrepreneurs and
professionals, the conference had a rich
panel of speakers including: Meenakshi
Reddy, noted breeder of Labradors
and president of the Labrador Club of
India (Karnataka chapter); Rajlakshmi,
vice president of the Bangalore Canine
Club; Radhika of grooming parlour and
pet boarding, Wags & Wiskers; Shweta
Munjal of grooming parlour, Prince
of Tails; passionate animal activist
The conference focussed on the various
facets of the pet industry and how
women can create roles for themselves
in the same. Established entrepreneurs
and vets shared stories of how they came
to be part of the industry and shared
tips with aspiring professionals and
businesswomen. “After moving to India
from the US, I started assisting vets
here but found that I had new ideas and
knowledge that I could only enforce if I
were to start my own practice. Therefore,
I established my own vet clinic two years
ago,” said Kartheepan of Whitefield Pet
Care.
“I used to be an invest banker but tired
of the long hours spent on work that
paid well but was not satisfying. That is
when I decided to take a break and go
to Singapore to acquire accreditation for
professional pet grooming,” said Munjal.
“The pet industry in India has evolved.
Back in the day, when I was in vet school,
a lot of students dropped out to pursue
their MDs. The scenario now is different.
The vet is second to none and has a place
in the industry. Pedigree aims to bolster
the confidence of all individuals, and
especially women, who want to join the
pet sphere in the country,” said Sinha at
the event.
Creature Companion was Pedigree’s
magazine partner for the conference and
all participants received copies of the
publication.
■ Rutaksha Rawat

T
he 2nd
edition of Blue Cross of
India’s The Great Indian Dog
Show was hosted on March 16 at
Patel’s Inn, Bengaluru.
The main objective of the show was
to generate pride for Indian dogs, to
bust myths related to them, and to help
people shed biased mindsets about these
wonderful companions.
Sixty five Indian dogs with their human
companions participated in the show and
enthralled the audience at the event.
The show kick-started on a patriotic note,
with Sean Blagsvedt’s (owner of Café
Jaaga) giving a musical rendition of the
national anthem using a mouth organ,
while his dog, Berlin, matched every
musical note with his howling. This was
an appropriate beginning, as people had
gathered to celebrate the ‘Indianness’ of
their dogs.
The organisers of the event, in an
endeavour to reach out to more people
than the last edition of the event, devised
the innovative medium of flash mobs
to spread the message of the show. One
such an occasion, the team reached out
to a surprised crowd on Mantri Square
in the city.
The celebrity guest list at the do included
Parimala Jaggesh, wife of Kannada
acclaimed actor Jaggesh. Her son,
Gururaj joined her as she spoke at length
about her love for dogs.
Maya Sharma from NDTV spoke about
how Jogi, her adopted Indian dog,
changed her life and was seen cuddling
all the pups at the adoption pen.
The show had an adoption camp, which
was successful in facilitating adoptions of
eight adorable pups.
All dog owners were called up on stage
one by one, wherein each introduced
their Indian dog to audience and talked
about it at length. The show was judged
by Dr Lohith, a compassionate and well
known vet, with an MA in Veterinary
Surgery & Radiology; Amrut Sridhar
Hiranya, popularly known as the Dog
Guru, a canine behaviourist trained from
Unitec Auckland, New Zealand; and
Sudha Narayanan, founder trustee of
WRRC, and ex-trustee CUPA, who has
worked in the field of animal welfare for
22 years.
Best Dressed Dog: Charlie, belonging to
Michelle Pereira
Shiniest Coat: Brownie, belonging to
Leela Naidu
Rarest Coat: Pepper, belonging to
Aparajitha, Ashwani, Nandini
Biggest Dog: Foster, belonging to Bhavya
Smallest Dog: Chuck, belonging to
Prakrithi Pushp
Naughtiest Puppy: Cookie, belonging to
Prakrithi Pushp
Naughtiest Dog: Minchu, belonging to
Mohan Kumar
Friendliest Dog: Harper, belonging to
Kara Jordan
Wackiest Name: Shunti, belonging to
Amruth
Survivor of the Year: Pulla, belonging to
Savitha Sharma
Pulla was thrown by a drunken gambler
from the 3rd
floor and fell in a heap on
hard concrete, going into a coma. Savitha
Sharma rescued him and took care of
him.
WINNERS
Dog with the Waggiest Tail: Honey,
belonging to Shamala Balaji
Owner Lookalike: Pulla, belonging to
Savitha Sharma
Healthiest Neutered (male): Zee,
belonging to Neha Girish
Healthiest Neutered (female): Maya,
belonging to Deepthi Hebbale
Oldie Goldie (oldest dog): Lyka,
belonging to Melissa Marak
Best Dressed Dog: Charlie; Companion:
Michele Pereira
THE GREAT INDIAN DOG SHOW
POST SHOW REVIEW
The only dog show in India celebrating Indian dogs
Contact: thegreatindiandogshow@gmail.com,
www.thegreatindiandogshow.com
Coolest Dog: Clap, belonging to Ankush
Sharma. Clap rides long distances on the
bike with owner, Ankush. Clap made a
grand entry at the show on a bike and
took away the Coolest Dog award for the
second year in a row.
■ Jaysal

Events
POST SHOW REVIEW
Kennel Club of Mahakaushal Dog Show
Pug, Huchujk Ode to The Past, won Best in Show
T
he Kennel Club of Mahakaushal hosted its 1st
and 2nd
Championship Dog Shows
at the Sports Club of Jabalpur, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, on March 3, 2013.
With a total of 213 registrations for the one-day event, the show was judged
by CV Sudarshan and Rajiv Shandilya. Concurrent to the championship shows was
a sculpture exhibition, Sparsh, where dog head sculptures were displayed by award
winning sculptor (& physiotherapist), Dr Priyanka Pawar. The following are the results
of the dog shows.
KCM 1st
ALL BREED DOG SHOW
Best in Show – First
Dog’s Name: Huchujk Ode to The Past
Breed: Pug
Owner’s Name: Shatrughan Dubey,
David Cook
Best in Show – Second
Dog’s Name: Asta Von Schnitzerteam
Breed: German Shepherd
Owner’s Name: K Kamala Kannan
Best in Show – Third
Dog’s Name: Liquor on Rocks Von
Agrani
Breed: Boxer
Owner’s Name: Dr Mahender Singh
Best in Show – Fourth
Dog’s Name: I Bravi Ragazzi Just A
Gigolo
Breed: Bullmastiff
Owner’s Name: Dr Ankur Choudhary
Best in Show – Fifth
Dog’s Name: Fiery Fox Safari
Breed: Wire Fox Terrier
Owner’s Name: Utkarsh Rathore
Best in Show – Sixth
Dog’s Name: Sudeo Best Bib & Tucker
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Owner’s Name: Gurvinder Cheema
Best in Show – Seventh
Dog’s Name: Chevy of Ravia
Breed: German Shepherd
Owner’s Name: Rajan Thirumalai
Best in Show – Eighth
Dog’s Name: Shapers Sharp Shooter
Breed: Great Dane
Owner’s Name: Manish S Chauhan
Best Puppy in Show
1] Dog’s Name: Shapers Sharp Shooter
2] Dog’s Name: Enakshi’s Choco
Owner’s Name: EnakshiChandel
Best Breed in India
Agrani
Reserve Best Bred in India
Dog’s Name: Chevy of Ravia
KCM 2nd
ALL BREED DOG
SHOW
Best in Show – First
Dog’s Name: Huchujk Ode to The Past
Best in Show – Second
Dog’s Name: El Diablo Brcko Star
Breed: Rottweiler
Owner’s Name: Rahul Tyagi
Best in Show – Third
Dog’s Name: Asta Von Schnitzerteam
Best in Show – Fourth
Dog’s Name: Sudeo Best Bib & Tucker
Best in Show – Fifth
Dog’s Name: Enakshi’s White Lily
Owner’s Name: Enakshi Chandel
Best in Show – Sixth
Agrani
Best in Show – Seventh
Dog’s Name: Fiery Fox Safari
Best in Show – Eighth
Dog’s Name: Rosy’s Carlos Von Kelemen
Breed: Rottweiler
Owner’s Name: Amar Singh Rajpoot
Best Puppy in Show
1] Dog’s Name: Enakshi’s Choco
2] Dog’s Name: Shapers Sharp Shooter
Best Breed in India
Dog’s Name: Enakshi’s White Lily
Reserve Best Bred in India
Agrani
■ Rutaksha Rawat
Dog head sculptures by Dr Priyanka Pawar

Pet of The Month
PEPPY
PEGGY
The Facebook Public Figure
“Peggy is a dog of the
digital world. She has her
own website, Facebook
page and email address”
— Tina Sharma,
Peggy’s human
PET OF THE MONTH
APRIL 2013
Name: Peggy
Breed: Pug
Age & Gender: 8 months; female
Name of Human: Tina Sharma
Resident of: New Delhi
Food Habits: Non vegetarian (loves chicken, meat jerky and
cottage cheese).
Adorable Habits: Dancing (jumping to songs).
Funny Anecdotes: Peggy is full of adorable antics but a very
sweet incident occurred recently when she’d finally accepted our
other two pets,Jack & Cody (rabbits), and started playing with
them. Last Sunday, just like other elder sisters, she gave food to
her brothers and then started dancing in front of them to her
favourite Bollywood song, “Fevicol”!
Claim to Fame: Peggy won ‘Most Creative Outfit’ at the Pet
Fashion Show hosted at the 6th
India International Pet Trade
Fair, Noida. She also won ‘Best Bred Pug’ at the 5th
Annual Dog
Show hosted by Canis Welfare Pet Club in Delhi. Peggy is a
reputed public figure in the digital world and has her own page,
Peppypeggy, on Facebook. She also has her own website, www.
peppypeggy.webs.com and is digitally savvy, able to check and
reply to mails at peppypeggy19@gmail.com.
Future Plans: After winning trophies at various dog shows,
Peggy is now geared up for other shows and commercials.
Favourite Pastime: Playing with rabbits and sleeping.
Fears: Peggy is petrified of heights.
CONTACT PEGGY
Follow Peggy on her Facebook page: Peppypeggy
Website: www.peppypeggy.webs.com
Contact Peggy: peppypeggy19@gmail.com
Best Bred Pug trophy
at the 5th
Annual
Dog Show hosted by
Canis Welfare
Pet Club
Outfit shopping at
Sicons The Pet Safari

P
uppies come in all shapes and
sizes, with many different breeds
and cross breeds. But despite
puppies having different traits and
personalities, raising any puppy is
basically the same.They all need toilet
training, and if we want to avoid a life of
doggie problems and to live in harmony
with our puppies, then, basic training is
absolutely necessary.
Case History — Pugsly
I was contacted by Mrs Knight, who
called me in desperation about toilet
training her 11-week-old male Pug,
Pugsly. She explained that she was
vigilant in taking her Pug out to the
toilet on a regular basis, and spent
many minutes encouraging him to “go”.
However, he waited until she brought
him back inside before he did his
business. As Mrs Knight had a lovely
home, and an expensive carpet (Pugsly’s
target of elimination), this was very
frustrating for her.
One of the questions I asked Mrs Knight
was what she used to clean her carpet
after Pugsly’s little “accidents” and she
named a commercial carpet cleaning
product. I explained to her that an
ingredient in the carpet cleaner may
have been partly responsible for Pugsly’s
repeated offences, as the smell may have
actually encouraged him to continue
to go to the toilet in those places. I
recommended she use a mixture of white
vinegar and water (approximately 30%
vinegar/70% water) for cleaning those
areas to eradicate the smell.
In talking to Mrs Knight, it was obvious
that she would often shout at Pugsly
when he messed in the house, which was
understandable. However, I said that
she should ignore the behaviour and
just clean up the mess with the vinegar
solution because shouting at her dog
might make the situation even worse.
What a dog will often do in this case is
to continue to mess in the house but in
a less conspicuous place, such as in a
corner behind the furniture!
PUGSLY
THE INCORRIGIBLE
The Dog Whisperer
was called to the
home of a frustrated
Mrs Knight, whose
dog, Pugsly, had taken
to relieving himself
on her expensive
carpet……….
If used correctly, a crate is
an excellent tool to toilet
train a puppy
■ John Richardson

Before going to bed that night, I put
Whisper in a large cardboard box lined
with lots of papers in case of any little
of my car, half asleep, and placed her on
the grass in my backyard. With the long
journey home I was reasonably sure she
would want to go to the toilet, so to start
her new life with us, I knew it was best
to start her toilet training as I intended
to continue. As soon as I put her on the
grass she started to sniff. I started saying
to her “go toilet, go toilet, go toilet” and
very soon she relieved herself. At that
point, she didn’t relate to the words I was
saying, but as time went on and she got
used to this phrase, this prompted her to
go to the toilet.
accidents. I placed her by the side of my
bed so that if she had a little whinge I
could slowly dangle my hand into the
box to remind her she wasn’t alone. She
soon settled down. I must have dozed
off for about 3 hours when I awoke with
her whimpering. It was mid-winter, with
frost on the ground (I live in Australia),
but half asleep, I took her outside to the
backyard to the same spot as before,
repeating the same words: “go toilet, go
toilet, go toilet”, and she quickly obliged.
As soon as I put her back in her box she
settled, because she had company, and
I got back to sleep. This was the pattern
themselves; however, we need to be
vigilant for the signs.Your puppy’s body
language will usually give you some
indication that it needs to go out, even
at an early age. It may suddenly start
sniffing the floor in a circling motion, or
go to the door, or lift its tail in an unusual
manner. Watch carefully and observe.
You will soon learn the signs.
Just gently pick the puppy up and take
it outside to the same area each time,
preferably a grassy one. Puppies are
creatures of habit, so by taking our puppy
out to the same area each time, it soon
gets used to this toilet area and will prefer
this spot, provided we give our puppy
of the first night, taking her out around
every 2-3 hours.
I continued this procedure for the first
week, but after that, found her visits
outside were getting less frequent. On the
second week, I started to move her box
just a little at a time each night, closer
and closer to our bedroom door, so that
by the end of that week our new puppy
was out in the hallway, where she now
sleeps.
We need to bear in mind that our
puppy has just been separated from its
mother and siblings and arrived in a new
environment and during the first weeks,
we need to make an effort to care for
it properly, gradually easing it into our
family routine. New puppy parents will
sometimes put their puppy on its own in
a cold lonely laundry room, or outside
in a shed, and wonder why the puppy
cries or howls all night. Its owner may
then get frustrated and start shouting at
the puppy — not a good start to a new
relationship! It doesn’t make sense, does
it? But I can assure people do this.
Reading the Signs
Our puppies usually tell us
when they want to relieve
I recommended to Mrs Knight that when
she took Pugsly out, she tether him up
in an area that was safe, and encourage
him to go there. If he didn’t oblige the
first time, she should continue to take
him outside to the same place and tether
him up until he did (of course keeping
a close eye on him also while he was in
the house). Eventually, Pugsly would get
the message that the area his owner had
chosen was his toilet place.
Getting the First Night Right
Getting a new puppy is an exciting time
for most families. However, that happy
feeling can change to frustration as early
as the first night if we don’t know how to
properly care for our puppy. I would like
to share with you my own experience in
toilet training my own puppy.
When I first brought home my
8-week-old puppy, Whisper,
I carried her gently out
Puppies need to urinate every
2 hours in the initial months
“Mrs Knight
explained that
she was vigilant in
taking her Pug out
to the toilet on a
regular basis, and
spent many minutes
encouraging him
to ‘go’. However,
he waited until she
brought him back
inside before he did
his business”

access when it needs it. Initially, puppies
need to go out about every 2 hours, but
after a few weeks this situation should
improve as the puppy starts to grow. By
the time my dog Whisper was 6 weeks
of age, she was able to sleep all night
without needing to go outside, provided
we took her out prior to bedtime.
one corner of this area. (Paper is porous,
allowing liquid to soak up, and this is
what puppies prefer.) There are three
main times a puppy will want to go to
the toilet: first thing in the morning, after
meals and after exercise. If you put a
small amount of the pup’s droppings on
the paper, it will encourage it to toilet on
chooses the correct area to go to the
toilet, praise it and give it a treat to
encourage that behaviour.
Crate Training
If used correctly, a crate is an excellent
tool to manage a puppy. An advantage of
crate training is that a puppy is usually
reluctant to mess in its own area, and
this makes the situation easier to control,
provided you take your puppy outside
on a regular basis. I suggest that some
newspaper be placed at one end of the
crate in the event of any accidents, should
you not notice the signs that the puppy
needs to go until too late.
When first introducing your puppy to
a crate, you may put it in there with
its favourite treat or toy, or feed it in
there, but start it off with very short
stays, building it up to about an hour.
Eventually, just leave the crate door open
and you will find that your puppy will
probably go in there itself. If introduced
correctly, the crate is a place where your
puppy will feel safe and relaxed for brief
periods. It is not, however, a place to keep
your puppy whilst you are out all day.
During those first weeks, if you allow
time to get your puppy into good
toileting habits, it will pay dividends later
on. Above all, have fun and enjoy your
puppy — they grow up all too soon!
What If I Live in an Apartment?
Not everyone lives in an independent
home with a yard. In fact, most people in
busy cities live in high rise apartments,
where they find it difficult, even
impossible to take the pup 10 stories
down every 2 hours. These people can
actually train their dogs to “go” indoors,
although this is not the ideal scenario.
To train a puppy to go to the toilet
inside our home, you need a room that
has a non porous floor — such as tiles
or vinyl. You can dedicate one of your
bathrooms or laundry rooms for this
purpose.You need to put lots of paper in
the paper and at appropriate times, you
need to have your puppy confined to that
area until it gets used to the idea. Later,
you can simply leave the door open and
the puppy will know what to do.
As I mentioned above, if your puppy has
an accident you shouldn’t reprimand
it. Just clean up and wipe the area with
the white vinegar and water solution to
neutralise the smell. When the puppy
Diligent toilet training can be tedious
but it pays life long dividends
Spreading newspapers on the floor
is a good way to replicate grass (on
which dogs are prone to urinate)
• You HAVE to take your puppy out every 2 hours in the beginning, if you want him
to learn to go outside.
• Consistency is a MUST. Feed the pup at the same time every day, so that he
eliminates at the same time and, therefore,wants to go to the bathroom at
approximately the same time every day.
• Take note of your pup’s body language. Certain actions will indicate that he needs
to go to the bathroom. Once a little older, dogs actually start whining and pacing
when they need to relieve themselves and sometimes even fetch the leash to tell
their owners they need a bathroom break
• Taking out your pup every 2 hours may seem hellish at first, but if you are diligent
enough, you will soon the reap the reward of having a loving, toilet trained dog for
life. It is a small price to pay!
TOILET TRAINING TIPS
John Richardson
The Dog Whisperer™
Accredited Canine Behaviourist
Accredited Temperament Assessor (Australian Govt)
www.dogtech.com.au

I
was immediately charmed by
Duke’s adorable face the moment
he stepped into my home. I was
drawn in by his big brown eyes. As it
was a new environment, he was a little
cautious at first but he slowly got into
the business of sniffing and scoping out
the surroundings, as well as, the other
two dogs that were residing with me at
the time. As I bent down to pat his head,
Duke ducked and was apprehensive
about letting me touch him. He brought
his body down to the floor to make it
difficult for me to reach him. It didn’t
take me long to sense how scared he was
of humans; he would flinch every time I
reached out to him physically.
When his owner Anup told us Duke’s
story, my sisters and I felt sorry for the
poor dog, who had been suffering for
10 long years. Duke was one of the 28
Beagles that had been rescued from a
pharmaceutical laboratory in Bengaluru,
which was illegally importing dogs from
China to use for chemical testing. These
dogs were all in the age group of 10 to
11 years and had been kept as lab rats
their whole lives. They were tortured
mentally and physically. It was going to
take a whole lot of love, patience and
understanding to get them back on track
and make them trust humans again.
Duke, too, was still carrying the pain that
had been inflicted upon him for so many
years and the decade of cruelty wasn’t
going to erase itself from his memory
easily.
A Lifetime in a Cage
Having inhabited a cage his whole life
with little space to even stretch his legs,
Duke’s bones had become very weak,
further enfeebled by age. Deprived
of movement his entire life, his front
legs had become bow shaped and were
unsteady. His teeth are all rotten. Anup
got him a box full of Dentastix (dog
chews that remove tartar) for his teeth
as a remedial measure, but the only
solution to his weak bones is to exercise
them by regularly walking him. Duke’s
coat had lost its lustre and he had a hard
time finding a home after his rescue, as
a cancerous growth had developed on
his testicles. However, the growth was
surgically removed and Duke eventually
found a loving home with brothers, Anup
and Ravi.
Giving Life a Second Chance
After the initial days of wariness, Duke
eventually adjusted himself to my place.
12 DAYS WITH DUKE
Duke is one of the 28 Beagles that were rescued from an animal
testing lab in Bengaluru. He had spent 10 years in a laboratory cage
Pet Braveheart
■ Kim Bawitlung

He learned to trust us. When we would
stroke his hair or give him a tummy rub,
we could tell he was feeling at home
and had begun to enjoy our company.
He would often bring his paws forward
whenever he wanted another round of
tummy rubs! He didn’t bother anyone,
not even the cats. He was at peace with
everyone. He stayed with us for 12 days
during which, he became healthier and
stronger, his appetite increasing at a
robust pace. Duke loves to eat and would
spin in circles till we would put his bowl
down. He’d give a loud Beagle howl when
food was not served fast enough. Despite
his weak bones, he learned to climb the
two steps that lead to our dining hall.
There was only one problem — the
minute we put a leash on him, it took
him back to his wretched past and he
would resist terribly. It was painful to see
him fight back so much. But soothing
words and gentle pats on his back calmed
him down and he would finally give in.
My Hero
The 12 days I spent with Duke made me
learn a lot. For one thing, my threshold
for patience has gone up exponentially,
as I had to be extra careful, given his
painful past. The fact that despite bearing
10 years of torture and being well into
his twilight years (Beagles live as long
as 12-15 years), Duke was entertaining
tummy rubs, walks, and displaying a zest
for food and life, made me marvel at his
spirit, his character and most of all his
big heart. To me, Duke is a hero — a true
survivor.
On the other hand, I see that life has
been so unfair to him because he has just
started his — at the age of 10 years.
Kim Bawitlung is the founder
of popular Bengaluru pet
homestay, Kim’s Place. An
animal lover, she spends
her time taking care of her
boarders, along with her two
Persian cats and her 5-year-old Tibetan
Terrier, Nacho

Cover Story
10 WATER BABIES
Dogs that simply love to swim
The Labrador’s
affinity to water can
be traced back to
its history of helping
the local fishermen
of Newfoundland,
where the breed
was first bred. Take
your Labrador with
you to the beach or
a canine pool, and
he’ll probably race
you to the water!
U
nlike felines, most dogs woof
with excitement for water, be
it in the form of an ocean, a
lake or even a kiddie pool. There are
some dogs, however, that not only
love the water, but are also excellent
swimmers. If your summer plans include
poolside lounging, you’ll need a nose
diving companion to help you enjoy
the swimming season. Whether you’re
looking for a furry companion to join
you in the water or simply a pup with a
zest for summer activities, these 10 dog
breeds were born to doggy paddle. So,
if you have any of the following breeds,
you know you need to get them near
the water as soon as temperatures start
soaring.
Dogs that avoid WaterAkita
Chihuahua
Basenji
Whippet
Great Dane
Shar Pei
Chow Chow
■ Rutaksha Rawat

result of
being bred to
retrieve game such as waterfowl.
Health: The Labrador’s life expectancy
is generally 10 to 12 years, and it is a
healthy breed with relatively few major
problems. Notable issues related to health
include hip and elbow dysplasia, luxating
patella, progressive retinal atrophy,
cataracts, corneal dystrophy, retinal
dysplasia, hereditary myopathy and
autoimmune diseases.
Labradors love to eat, and without
adequate exercise, can become obese.
Laziness and a penchant for sleeping
contribute to this. Obesity can give
rise to conditions such as hip dysplasia
and joint problems, and can lead to
secondary diseases, including diabetes.
One of the most loving family dogs and
a reliable companion, the Labrador is
known to be a water lover. The breed’s
affinity to water can be traced back to its
history of helping the local fishermen of
Newfoundland, where these dogs were
first bred. Take your Labrador with you
to the beach or a canine pool, and he’ll
probably race you to the water!
The Labrador Retriever is one of several
kinds of Retriever, a type of gun dog.
A distinct characteristic of the breed is
its webbed paws, useful for the breed’s
original purpose of retrieving fishing
nets. Besides being the most popular dog
breed in India, the Labrador is also the
most popular breed of dog by registered
ownership in Australia, Canada, New
Zealand, the United Kingdom and the
United States.
History: The Labrador’s predecessors
originated on the island of
Newfoundland, now part of the province
of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
The founding breed of the Labrador
was the St John’s Water Dog, a breed
that emerged through ad hoc breeding
by early settlers of the island in the 16th
century. The forbear of the St John’s
Dog are not known, but were likely
a random-bred mix of English, Irish,
and Portuguese working breeds. The
Newfoundland (earlier known as Greater
Newfoundland) is likely a result of the
St John’s Dog breeding with Mastiffs
brought to the island by generations
of Portuguese fishermen since the 16th
century.
Appearance: Labradors are relatively
large, with males weighing from 29
Labrador Retriever1
to 41 kg and females, 25 to 32 kg.
Labradors weighing close to 45 kg are
considered obese or having a major fault
under American Kennel Club (AKC)
standards, although some Labradors
weigh significantly more. The majority
of characteristics of this breed, with the
exception of colour, are the result of
breeding to produce a working Retriever.
Temperament: The Labrador’s
temperament is kind, pleasant, outgoing
and tractable. The Labrador’s sense of
smell allows it to hone in on almost any
scent and follow the path of its origin.
They generally stay on the scent until
they find it.
Labradors enjoy holding objects and
even hands or arms in their mouths,
which they can do with great gentleness
(a Labrador can carry an egg in its mouth
without breaking it). They are known to
have a very soft feel to the mouth as a
Kiwi
Photo Courtesy: Meghna Mein Jaswal

breeder will minimise the risk of illness
by having the health of dogs in breeding
pairs professionally assessed and selected
on the basis of complementary traits.
They should be taken to the veterinarian
for yearly check ups.
Golden Retrievers are most commonly
plagued by hip dysplasia and obesity in
their senior years.
2Golden Retriever
The
sweet
natured Golden
Retriever was born
to swim. Bred to retrieve
fowl from water and land, this
lovable companion is no stranger to
the doggy paddle. With a dense water
repelling coat, webbed feet and a Healthy
stamina, Goldens are fully equipped for
long days of fetching, swimming and
playing at your favourite summer water
hole. Since the breed is easily trainable,
its love for water has already become an
innate skill, which is why they are often
used for water rescue missions. With an
eager-to-please demeanour, Goldens are
more than happy to help you perfect your
backstroke or join you on a freelance
swim.
History: The Golden Retriever has
its roots in Scotland. In the mid-18th
century, wildfowl hunting was very
popular among the wealthy. In Scotland,
a dog was needed that could retrieve
from water and land because the land
was covered in ponds and rivers. Early
Retrievers were crossed with the best of
Water Spaniels, giving rise to what we
now know as the Golden Retriever.
Temperament: The temperament of
the Golden Retriever is a hallmark of
the breed, and is described as “kindly,
friendly and confident”. They are not
“one man dogs” and are generally equally
amiable with both strangers and those
familiar to them. Their trusting, gentle
disposition makes them poor guard dogs.
Any form of unprovoked aggression
towards either people, dogs or other
animals, whether in the show ring or
community, is considered unacceptable
in a Golden Retriever and is not in
keeping with the character of the breed.
Nor should a Golden Retriever be unduly
timid or nervous. The Golden Retriever
is calm, intelligent and biddable, with an
exceptional eagerness to please.
Golden Retrievers are also noted for
their intelligence. The breed ranks 4th
in
Stanley Coren’s The Intelligence of Dogs,
following the Border Collie, Poodle, and
German Shepherd, as one of the brightest
dogs ranked on the basis of obedience-
command trainability.
Health: The average life span for a
Golden Retriever is approximately 11
years. Golden Retrievers are susceptible
to specific ailments. A responsible
Cover Story

One of the prettiest dog breeds around,
the Cocker Spaniel is a water dog breed
and has an inherent love for it, but it
would be wise to introduce it to the idea
first before letting it dive into the water
right away.
Cocker Spaniels belong to two breeds of
the Spaniel dog type: American Cocker
Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel, both
of which are commonly called ‘Cocker
Spaniels’ in their countries of origin. In
the early 20th
century, Cocker Spaniels
also included small hunting Spaniels.
History: While their origins are
unknown, “Spaynels” are mentioned in
14th
century writings. It is commonly
assumed that they originated in Spain,
and Edward of Norwich, 2nd
Duke of
York, in his 15th
century work, The
Master of Game, introduces them as
“another kind of Hound there is that
be called Hounds for the Hawk and
Spaniels”.
In 1801, Sydenham Edwards wrote in
Cynographia Britannica that the “Land
Spaniel” is divided into two categories:
Hawking, Springing/Springer and the
Cocking/Cocker Spaniel. During the 19th
century, a Cocker Spaniel was a type of
small Field Spaniel.
Appearance: The male English
Cocker Spaniel is a medium sized dog,
measuring approximately 15 to 17 inches
tall and weighing 13-16 kg. The female
Cocker is 12 to 15 inches tall and weighs
12 to 15 kg.
The major difference between the English
and American varieties is that the
American is smaller, with a shorter back,
a domed head and a shorter muzzle,
while the English variety is taller, with a
narrower head and chest. The appearance
of the English Cocker Spaniel is strong
and slender, with a longer face compared
to the American Cocker Spaniel. The
most prominent feature of the Cocker is
its ears, which are long enough to reach
its nose, when brought forward.
Temperament: Cocker Spaniels are loyal,
companionable, and adore being around
the family. As well as being affectionate,
they’re particularly good with young
children, which is why they make
excellent family dogs.
They also make
good gun dogs
because of their willingness
to work and the fact that their
original hunting instincts are never
very far below the surface.
Health: Issues common to Cockers
include ear infections and a variety of
eye problems. Although Cocker Spaniel
ears are beautiful, their pendulous design
hinders sufficient air from entering their
ear canal. Due to this, Spaniels are prone
to ear infection.
In serious cases, and especially if left
untreated, ear infections can result
in eventual deafness. Therefore, it’s
imperative for Cocker owners to give
high priority to cleaning their dogs’
ears on a regular basis in order to fight
infection and excess bacteria.
Cocker Spaniel3

Cover Story
The Poodle was originally bred to be a
water retriever—a working dog bred to
jump into water and fetch waterfowl for
hunters. In German, the term, pudelin,
means to splash in the water. You may
notice that certain parts of a Poodle’s
body are left free from fur; this makes
these areas of the dog lighter when in
the water. Therefore, the breed is literally
“designed” to be a water dog.
Originally bred as a type of water dog,
the Poodle is skilful in many dog sports,
including agility, obedience, tracking,
and even herding. Poodles have taken
top honours in many conformation
shows, including “Best in Show” at the
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in
1991 (Ch Whisperwind On A Carousel)
and 2002 (Ch Surrey Spice Girl), and at
the World Dog Show in 2007 (Smash)
and 2010 (Smash).
History: The Poodle is believed to have
originated in Germany, where it was
known as the Pudelhund. The word
Pudel is derived from the German verb
meaning “to splash about”. The breed
was standardised in France, where it was
commonly used as a water retriever.
The European mainland had known the
Poodle long before it was brought to
England. Drawings by German artist,
Albrecht Dürer, established a popular
image of the breed in the 15th
and 16th
centuries.
Appearance: The Poodle is a very active,
intelligent and elegant dog, squarely
built, and well proportioned. To ensure
the desirable squarely built appearance,
the length of the body, measured from
the breastbone to the point of the rump,
approximates the height from the highest
point of the shoulders to the ground.
The eyes of the Poodle should be very
dark, oval in shape, and have an alert and
intelligent expression. The ears should
fold over close to the head, set at, or
slightly below, eye level. The coat should
be of naturally curly texture, dense
much more of your time and energy.
The Poodle owner must constantly be
thinking up new games and challenges to
keep his dog interested.
Health: The most common serious
health issues of Poodles are Addison’s
disease, gastric dilatation volvulus
(GDV), thyroid issues, tracheal collapse,
epilepsy, sebaceous adenitis, juvenile
renal disease, hip dysplasia and cancer.
Poodle4
throughout, although many registered
show dogs sport a lion cut or a shaven
look.
Temperament: Poodles generally have
delightful temperaments. They are
intelligent, learn tricks quickly, and love
showing off what they can do. Poodles
are lively and playful. While some dogs
may be content with a few minutes of
attention a day, Poodles typically demand

It is easy to mistake this small dog breed
for a fox because it looks like one, with its
oval brown eyes and pointy, upright ears.
The Schipperke was bred in Flanders,
Belgium, by a canal boat captain named
Renssens. It was named Schipperke,
which means “little captain”. This small
fur ball has a very strong affinity for
water and is considered a good guard dog
as well.
History: Schipperkes were first
recognised as a formal breed in the
1880s, their standard being written in
1889. Much of what is known of their
origin and early history comes from
Chasse et Pêche (French for “Hunting
towards the rear of the dog. Schipperkes
also have longer fur on their hind legs,
called culottes.
Dogs of this breed usually weigh 3 to
9 kg. Puppies are born with tails of
different lengths. In Canada and the
United States, the tail is usually docked
the day after birth. In countries that
ban docking, Schipperkes display their
natural tails, which vary in type.
Temperament: The Schipperke is a
quick, energetic little dog. It is high
spirited, alert and self confident.
This breed is very devoted and loyal,
especially with children. It really bonds
with its master. Pet cats will be happily
accepted and it is usually good with
other dogs. The Schipperke is very smart,
curious and mischievous. These dogs
do exceptionally well on boats. Among
the Schipperke’s best characteristics is
the ability to defend its home against
intruders—backing down from nobody,
notwithstanding size.
The Schipperke is an active and tireless
breed. To be happy and mentally
stable, they need to be taken on daily
walks or jogs. They also enjoy playing
and running. This breed is very active
indoors and will get a lot of its exercise
running around your house. It will
greatly enjoy running free off its lead in a
safely fenced in yard or park.
This breed is very clean and pretty much
takes care of its own grooming, but
to keep the medium length double
coat in top condition, comb and
brush regularly with a firm bristle
brush. They shed very little until the
coat “blows”, which can be as often
as three times a year.
Health: The Schipperke has no
aggressive health problems,
and individuals often reach
the old age of 17 or 18 years.
Nonetheless, inactivity, lack of
exercise and over feeding are very
harmful for this breed, and can lead to
joint and skeletal problems and tooth,
heart, lung or digestive conditions.
and Fishing”) magazine, articles of
which were translated into English and
published by the English magazine, The
Stockkeeper.
Appearance: The Schipperke’s small,
pointed ears are erect atop the head.
They are double coated, with a soft, fluffy
undercoat that is covered by a rougher
and longer outer coat. One of the breed
characteristics is a long ruff that goes
around the neck and then trails down
5 Schipperke

instinct of wanting to please. Its keen
sense of working as a team makes it a
relatively easy dog to train and discipline.
Due to its high intelligence and quizzical
nature, it has the reputation of being the
clown of the Spaniel family and will do
ordinary things in extraordinary ways to
Spaniels were developed. The father of the
breed, Justin McCarthy from Dublin, left
no breeding records. All manner of dogs
have been suggested including Poodle,
Portuguese Water Dog, Barbet, Generic
Old Water Dog, the now-extinct English
Water Spaniel, as well as, the Northern
Better known for its
stylish mop-like
mane and unique
looks, the Irish
Water Spaniel
is a rare find.
With only a
small known
number living
in America, this
breed is likely found
paddling in cool bodies of
water. This playful canine was born
with a rudder-like tail that contributes to
its excellent water retrieving skills. The
Irish Water Spaniel not only makes a great
poolside companion but also a wonderful
family pet.
The Irish Water Spaniel is the oldest of the
Spaniel breeds.
History: Although the current breed
stock is Irish, the origin of the breed is
a native Irish breed for over 1,000 years.
It is believed in Irish folklore to be the
descendant of the Dobhar-chú, an Irish
mythical creature. It is probable that
more than one ancient breed of Spaniel
has gone into its makeup. It is not known
from which other dog breeds Irish Water
and Southern Water Spaniels, but whether
Irish Water Spaniels are antecedents,
descendants, or mixtures of these breeds
is a matter of speculation. The modern
breed, as we know it, was developed in
Ireland in the 1830s.
Appearance: The Irish Water Spaniel
is a sturdy, cobby dog native to Ireland.
The coat, consisting of dense curls, sheds
very little. The colour is liver/puce and
has a very definite purple hue, unlike the
colour of any other known breed. The non
shedding characteristic of the coat means
that people allergic to dogs may have
less of an allergic reaction to Irish Water
Spaniels.
Temperament: Like most dogs of the
Sporting group, the Irish Water Spaniel
is an active, willing and energetic
companion. Because it has been bred from
stock used to fetch game and return it
to hand without a fuss, it has the natural
achieve that which is asked of it.
Health: Irish Water Spaniels are prone
to hip dysplasia, cataracts, follicular
dysplasia, hypothyroidism, allergies,
entropion, paronychia, distichiasis,
megaesophagus, epilepsy, vaccination
sensitivity and drug sensitivity.
Generations of this breed have grown to love the water. The
Siberian Husky is a medium size, dense coat working dog
breed that originated in north East Siberia. The breed belongs
to the Spitz genetic family. It is recognisable by its thickly
furred double coat, sickle tail, erect triangular ears, and
distinctive markings.
Huskies are an active, energetic, and resilient breed,
whose ancestors came from the extremely cold and harsh
environment of the Siberian Arctic.
History: The Siberian Husky, Samoyed, and Alaskan
Malamute are all breeds directly descended from the original
“sled dog”. Recent DNA analysis confirms that this is one of
the oldest breeds of dog. The term “husky” is a corruption
of the nickname “Esky”, once applied to the Eskimos and
subsequently to their dogs.
Breeds descending from the Eskimo dog or Qimmiq were once
found throughout the Northern Hemisphere from Siberia to
Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Labrador and Baffin Island.
Siberian Husky7
Cover Story
Irish Water Spaniel6

Appearance: The Siberian Husky’s
coat is thicker than most other dog
breeds, comprising two layers: a dense
undercoat and a longer topcoat of
short, straight guard hairs. It protects
the dogs effectively against harsh Arctic
winters, but the coat also reflects heat
in the summer. It is able to withstand
temperatures as low as -50 to -60 °C.
The breed standard indicates that the
males of the breed are ideally between
21 and 23.5 inches tall at the withers,
weighing between 20 and 27 kg. Females
are smaller, growing to between 20 to 22
inches tall at the withers, and weighing
between 16 to 23 kg.
Temperament: The Siberian Husky
has been described as a behavioural
representative of the domestic dog’s
forebear, the wolf, exhibiting a wide
range of its ancestor’s behaviour. They
are known to howl rather than bark. If
the dog is well trained when it’s young,
it can make a great family pet. The
frequency of kennelled Siberian Huskies,
especially for racing purposes, is rather
high, as attributed through the history
of the breed in North America. They are
affectionate with people of all ages.
Health: Huskies, with proper care, have
a typical lifespan ranging from 12 to
15 years. Health issues in the breed are
mainly genetic, such as seizures and
defects of the eye (juvenile cataracts,
corneal dystrophy, canine glaucoma
and progressive retinal atrophy) and
congenital laryngeal paralysis. Hip
dysplasia is not often found in this breed;
however, as with many medium or large
canines, it can occur.
same colour as the darkest part of the
coat, or darker. The eyes are expressive
and set fairly wide apart. They should be
hazel, chestnut or dark brown in colour,
depending on the coat colour. The ears
are set at medium height on the skull,
and are triangular.
The Spanish Water Dog is a medium
sized dog. Males are from 17 to 20 inches
tall, with females standing at 16 to 18
inches. Males weigh between 18 to 22 kg,
with females weighing from 14 to 18 kg.
Temperament: The SWD is diligent,
loyal, affectionate and intelligent. They
possess keen natural herding and
guarding instincts, leading them to
become the “self appointed” guardians
Spanish Water Dog8The cute, medium sized Spanish Water
Dog (SWD) or Perro de Agua Español is
known for its woolly and curly coat. This
breed requires minimal grooming and
is very robust and energetic in nature.
These dogs were originally bred in the
main wetlands of the Iberian Peninsula
and trained to work with fishermen,
which is why they love water.
History: There are many different
theories as to the breed’s origin and
history. Records suggest Water Dogs have
been around the main wetlands of the
Iberian Peninsula since ancient times.
Portuguese and Spanish Water Dogs are
related and have a common ancestor.
Appearance: The SWD is a medium size,
athletic, robust dog that is slightly longer
than tall. Their tails are usually docked in
the US, but undocked tails are not a fault
in conformation showing if the dog was
bred in a non docking country.
The head should be strong and carried
with elegance. The skull is flat and the
top is parallel with the top of the muzzle.
The nose, eye rims and paw pads are the
of their homes. SWDs thrive on work
and play. Their athleticism and extremely
hard working disposition leads them to
excel at any number of tasks. They can
be wary with strangers, and early and
continuing socialisation with a variety
of people and other animals is essential
for a well adjusted, social dog. Good
socialisation at an early age greatly helps
them cohabit with small children.
Health: The breed’s life expectancy is
thought to be about 14 years. Recent
health testing has uncovered issues such
as hip dysplasia, progressive retinal
atrophy, hypothyroidism, Addison’s
disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency,
allergies, cataracts, congenital
hypothyroidism with goitre (CHG),
distichia, and cherry eye.

Teaching your Dog to love the Water
Floatation devices and canine lifejackets can be used to encourage your
pup to go near the water
Pairing a hesitant dog with an experienced swimming pooch in a playful
outing can help encourage the former
Even if your dog doesn’t belong to one of the water loving breeds,
you should still note that it’s possible to teach any dog to love the
water. With long haired breeds, this can be a hassle since it can
Cover Story
result in grooming issues, but any dog that has had a positive
experience when introduced to water will most likely be willing
to swim with you. Just make sure to coax your dog into the water
rather than forcing him to join you—and never, never toss him
in. You may also choose to get your dogs water floatation devices
like life jackets.
First, it is important to realise puppies should not be encouraged
to get into any kind of water body, especially if they are younger
than four months. Very young puppies should never be in water,
as they cannot regulate their body temperature and can inhale
water, resulting in the likelihood of developing pneumonia.
Puppies older than four months should be encouraged to wade
into the water but only to their comfort level. This is perfect if
you have a pond, beach or lake nearby, where you can allow the
puppy to play along the shore.
Gradually, as the puppy or dog becomes more comfortable and
confident, they will wade out further. Most dogs prefer to be
able to walk out into deeper water, so avoid pools or other areas
where there is a sudden drop off. Dog floatation devices, similar
to human lifejackets can be used, but you can also simply support
your dog by forming a cradle with your arms and helping it
stay buoyant. After a trip or two, experimenting with the leg
movement of swimming, your puppy or dog, if it is a natural
water dog, will be off and swimming on his own. Dogs under one
year of age should be carefully monitored in the water, as they
may become tired and need assistance.
Dog breeds that don’t enjoy the water may need a bit more
encouragement. Offer treats and praise as they gradually move
into deeper water. Play along the edge of the water and encourage
but don’t force the dog into deeper areas. If the dog refuses to go
any deeper, do not push or pull the dog forward, as this is likely
to result in the dog panicking and possibly scratching or biting
the handler.
Never throw the dog into a pool or body of water to get them
to swim. Not only will this terrify the dog but it will absolutely
mean that it will never go into water voluntarily again. In
addition, your dog may no longer respond to your calls to “come”,
since it resulted in trauma for them.
Sometimes, pairing a hesitant dog with an experienced
swimming pooch in a playful outing can help. Often, in playing
with the other dog the non-swimming dog overcomes its fears
and will splash around and play in the water, even swimming
in some situations. Ample praise and rewards for going into the
water, even with another dog, will also help reinforce this as a
desired behaviour.
Monitor your dog in the water and watch for signs of fatigue
or exhaustion. If your dog is tired or has been swimming a lot,
take it out of the water and have him relax for a while before
heading back out again. Most dogs don’t monitor their own
energy levels and some dogs can be at risk of drowning if they
become overtired in the water. It is also very important to know
the area where your dog is swimming, especially if there is a
tide or a current. Never allow your dog to swim in areas that are
potentially dangerous due to the tide or current, or because of
pollution or other conditions in the water.

The Alaskan Malamute is known as a
sled dog but it also loves the water. This
big, powerful dog was bred to pull sleds
in harsh terrain and brutal climates.
Appearance: The Alaskan Malamute is
the largest of the Arctic dogs. This thick,
well built dog is solid, with a plumed
tail that is held over the back. The head
is wide, with erect ears. The eyes are of
medium size, dark brown small, and
almond in shape and are obliquely
placed in the skull. The dog holds an
image of a wolf but with a proud, sweet
expression. Dark eyes are preferred; blue
eyes are a fault according to the written
standard. The feet are large, of the
snowshoe type, with tough pads.
History: The Alaskan Malamute
is a Nordic sled dog descended
from the Arctic wolf. Its name
play safely. If its canine instincts are met,
it matures into a dignified and mellow
adult dog. They are very friendly and,
therefore, are not suitable as guard dogs.
Alaskan Malamutes are happiest living
outdoors as long as they receive enough
companionship, but they also enjoy living
indoors where their human “pack” lives.
Health: The most commonly reported
health problems of Alaskan Malamutes
are musculoskeletal (hip dysplasia), and
hereditary cataracts. There are additional
health issues including varied seizure
disorders found in young puppies, as
well as, adults, epilepsy, congenital heart
problems, kidney problems and skin
disorders.
Other health issues in Malamutes
are inherited polyneuropathy,
chondrodysplasia, heart defects, and
eye problems (particularly cataract and
progressive retinal atrophy).
loyal and trustworthy. Its huge body tends
to move rather slowly. They rarely bark,
but are protective and brave when they
need to be. When an intruder is caught,
they are more likely to hold them at bay,
either by trapping them in a corner or
placing themselves in between the burglar
and the family rather than launch an
all-out attack. They are smart enough
to know who is a threat to the pack and
who is not. Any dog, other animal, child,
or visitor, who has no evil intention, will
receive a friendly welcome.
Health: Newfoundlands are prone to hip
dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and cystinuria
(a hereditary defect that forms calculi
stones in the bladder). Another genetic
problem is subvalvular aortic stenosis
(SAS), a common heart defect in the breed
involving defective heart valves. SAS can
cause sudden death at an early age. The
breed has an average lifespan of 10 years.
comes from Mahlemuts, an Alaskan tribe
that raised and cared for these beautiful
snow dogs. Originally employed 2,000
to 3,000 years ago by these Mahlemuit
Eskimos of Alaska, these highly
valued dogs were their only forms of
transportation. These dogs have strength
and endurance with a will to work. They
pulled not only light travelling sleds, but
they also hauled heavy loads of food and
supplies for the Arctic people. Packs of
Alaskan Malamutes have participated in
many polar expeditions, for which they
are particularly well adapted due to their
tenacity, sense of direction and excellent
sense of smell.
Temperament: The Alaskan Malamute
is extremely loyal, intelligent, sweet,
and most affectionate toward its
master. The breed is great with
children, who are old enough to
Alaskan Malamute
10
9
Newfoundland
Newfoundlands excel in water related
activities due to their innate swimming
abilities, webbed feet, and water resistant
coats. Unfortunately, their coats also make
them prone to overheating in tropical
countries.
History: The Newfoundland may be a
descendant of the Viking “bear dog” or
nomadic Indian dogs. Some also believe
the Newfoundland is a close relative of
the Labrador. This theory is based on the
similarities between the two breeds and
the fact that the coast of Newfoundland
and Labrador are very close to each other.
Appearance: The Newfoundland
is a strong, massive dog.
The head is broad and
heavy with a slightly
arched crown. The neck
and back are strong. The wide muzzle is
about as broad as it is deep, and rather
short. The stop is moderate. The nose is
generally black except on bronze coloured
dogs, which have brown noses. The teeth
meet in a level or scissors bite. The deep
set, dark brown eyes are relatively small
and spaced wide apart. The triangular
shaped ears have rounded tips and are
relatively small. The legs are well muscled,
straight and parallel. The cat-like feet are
webbed.
Temperament: The Newfoundland
is a dog with an outstanding, sweet
temperament, and is courageous,
generous, peaceable and intelligent.
A calm, patient dog that
is mild with guests and
obedient with its master,
the breed is devoted,

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T
he German Shepherd dog (GSD),
also known as Alsatian, is a breed
of large sized dog that originated
in Germany. German Shepherds are a
relatively new breed of dog, with their
origin dating to 1899. As part of the
Herding Group, German Shepherds are
working dogs developed originally for
herding and guarding sheep. Because of
their strength, intelligence and abilities
in obedience training, they are often
employed in police and military roles
around the world. German Shepherds
currently account for 4.6 percent of
all dogs registered with the American
Kennel Club (AKC). Due to their
loyal and protective nature, German
Shepherds are one of the most popular
breeds in the world.
History
In Europe during the 1800s, attempts
were made to standardise breeds.
Dogs were bred to preserve traits that
assisted in their job of herding sheep
and protecting flocks from predators. In
Germany, this was practised within local
communities, where shepherds selected
and bred dogs that they believed had the
necessary traits for herding sheep, such
as intelligence, speed, strength, and keen
sense of smell. The results were dogs
that were able to perform admirably in
their task, but that differed significantly,
both in appearance and ability, from one
locality to another.
Breed Profile
GERMAN
SHEPHERD DOG
■ Rutaksha Rawat
The GSD is strong,
intelligent, valiant,
fiercely loyal towards his
family, and gets along
with other pets, as well
as children, making it the
ideal family dog
To combat these differences, the Phylax
Society was formed in 1891, with the
intention of creating standardised
dog breeds in Germany. The society
disbanded after only three years due to
ongoing internal conflicts regarding the
traits in dogs that were to be promoted;
some members believed dogs should be
bred solely for working purposes, while
others believed dogs should be bred also
for appearance. While unsuccessful in
their goal, the Phylax Society inspired
people to pursue standardising dog
breeds independently.
Max von Stephanitz, an ex-cavalry
captain and student of the Berlin
Veterinary College, was one such ex-
member. He believed strongly that dogs
should be bred for working. In 1899,
he attended a dog show where he was
shown a dog named Hektor Linksrhein.
Hektor was the result of few generations
of selective breeding and fulfilled what
Stephanitz believed a working
dog should be. He was pleased
with the strength of the dog
and was so taken by the
animal’s intelligence, loyalty,
and beauty that he purchased
him immediately. After
purchasing the dog he
changed the latter’s
name to Horand
von Grafrath and
founded the
Verein für
Deutsche
Schäferhunde (Society for
the German Shepherd
Dog). Horand was declared to be the first
German Shepherd Dog and was the first
dog added to the society’s breed register.
Horand became the centre point of
breeding programmes and was bred
with dogs belonging to other society
members that displayed desirable traits.
Although fathering many pups, Horand’s
most successful offspring was Hektor
von Schwaben. Hektor was inbred
with another of Horand’s offspring and
produced Beowulf, who later fathered a
total of 84 pups.
In the original German Shepherd
studbook, Zuchtbuch fur Deutsche
Schaferhunde (SZ), within the two pages
of entries from SZ No. 41 to SZ No. 76,
there are four Wolf crosses. Beowulf’s
progeny were also inbred and it is from
his pups that all German Shepherds draw
a genetic link. It is believed the society
accomplished its goal mostly due to
Stephanitz’s strong, uncompromising
leadership and he is, therefore, credited
with being the creator of the German
Shepherd Dog.
The breed was named Deutscher
Schäferhund by Stephanitz, literally
translating to ‘German Shepherd Dog’.
At the time, all other herding dogs in
Germany were referred to by this name;
they thus became known as Altdeutsche
Schäferhunde or Old German Shepherd
Dogs.
Modern Breed
The modern German
Shepherd is criticised
for straying away
from Stephanitz’s
original
ideology
for the

Breed Profile
breed; that German Shepherds should be
bred primarily as working dogs, and that
breeding should be strictly controlled to
eliminate defects quickly. Critics believe
that careless breeding has promoted
disease and other defects. Under the
breeding programmes overseen by
Stephanitz, defects were quickly bred
out; however, in modern times without
regulation on breeding, genetic problems
such as colour paling, hip dysplasia,
monorchidism, weakness of temperament,
and missing teeth are common, as well as,
bent or folded ears, which never fully turn
up upon reaching adulthood.
Popularity
When the UK Kennel first accepted
registrations for the breed in 1919,
54 dogs were registered, and by 1926,
this number had grown to over 8,000.
The breed first gained international
recognition at the decline of World War
I, after returning soldiers spoke highly
of the breed, and animal actors Rin Tin
Tin and Strongheart popularised the
breed further. The first German Shepherd
Dog registered in the United States was
called Queen of Switzerland; however,
her offspring suffered from defects as the
result of poor breeding, which caused
the breed to suffer a decline in popularity
during the late 1920s.
Popularity increased again after the
German Shepherd, Sieger Pfeffer
von Bern, became the 1937 and 1938
Grand Victor in AKC dog shows,
only to suffer another decline at the
conclusion of World War II, due to
anti-German sentiment at the time. As
time progressed, the GSD’s popularity
increased gradually until 1993, when it
became the third most popular breed in
the United States. The German Shepherd
Dog’s physique is very well suited to
athletic competition. They commonly
compete in shows and competitions such
as agility trials.
Appearance
German Shepherds are large dogs,
generally between 22 and 26 inches at the
withers, with an ideal height of 25 inches,
according to Kennel Club standards.
Weight is 30 to 40 kg for males and 22
to 32 kg for females. They have a domed
forehead, a long square cut muzzle and
a black nose. The jaws are strong, with
a scissor-like bite. The eyes are medium
sized and brown, with a lively, intelligent,
and self assured look. The ears are large
and stand erect, open at the front and
parallel, but they are often pulled back
during movement. They have a long
neck, which is raised when excited and
lowered when moving at a fast pace. The
tail is bushy and reaches the hock.
German Shepherds come in a variety of
colours, the most common of which are
tan/black and red/black. Most colour
varieties have black masks and black
body markings, which can range from
a classic ‘saddle’ to an overall ‘blanket’.
Rarer colour variations include the
sable, all-black, all-white, liver, and
blue varieties. The all black and sable
varieties are acceptable according to
most standards; however, the blue and
liver are considered serious faults and
the all-white is grounds for instant
disqualification in some standards.
German Shepherds sport a double coat.
The outer coat, which sheds all year
round, is close and dense with a thick
undercoat. The coat is accepted in two
variants; medium and long. The long hair
gene is recessive, making the long hair
Group: Herding
Origin: Germany
Height: 22-26 inches
Weight: 22 to 40 kg
General Appearance: Tall, hairy,
lion-like
Colours: Tan/black & red/black
Activity Level: High
Grooming Level: High
Intelligence: High
Affinity with Children: High
Affinity with other Pets: High
Trainability: High
Apartment Living: Preferably not
Maintenance Level: Medium
Disposition: Fiercely loyal, extremely
loving and protective
Original Purpose: Herding
Lifespan: 10-11 years
Ideal for: Homes with gardens, yards
or lawns
THE GSD
AT A GLANCE

learn and an eagerness to have a purpose.
They are curious, which makes them
excellent guard dogs and suitable for
search missions. They can become over
protective of their family and territory,
especially if not socialised correctly. They
are not inclined to become immediate
friends with strangers. German
Shepherds are highly intelligent and
obedient.
German Shepherds were bred specifically
for their intelligence, a trait for which
they are now famous. In his book The
Intelligence of Dogs, author Stanley Coren
ranked the breed third for intelligence,
behind Border Collies and Poodles. He
found that they had the ability to learn
simple tasks after only five repetitions
and obeyed the first command given
95 percent of the time. Coupled with
their strength, this trait makes the breed
desirable as police, guard, and search
and rescue dogs, as they are able to learn
various tasks and interpret instructions
more quickly and better than other large
breeds.
Not to be left alone in the house too long,
German Shepherds crave interaction and
involvement. They are fiercely protective
of their homes and families — sometimes
known to ‘herd’ children — and they get
along with other pets. Standoffish and
detached with strangers or those outside
the family unit, they have been known to
“over-guard” or bark protectively.
German Shepherds have great instincts
and fertile minds. Lots of activity and
exercise will make them happy, but
tracking, obedience and agility games —
or any task-oriented activity — will make
them even happier. A bored or neglected
German Shepherd may resort to chewing
furniture, digging up flowers and other
modes of mischief.
The benefits of a German Shepherd —
loyalty, protectiveness and eagerness,
to name a few — come from careful
obedience training and authority.
Everyone in the household must be
prepared to show “authority” and earn
the dog’s respect with a firm but loving
Controversy surrounding the Show GSD
The Kennel Club, UK, is currently embroiled in a dispute with German Shepherd
breed clubs about the issue of soundness in the show strain breed of the GSD. The
show strains have been bred with an extremely sloping topline (back) that causes
poor gait in the hind legs. Working pedigree lines, such as those in common use as
service dogs, generally retain the traditional straight back of the breed. The debate
was catalysed when the issue was raised in the BBC documentary, Pedigree Dogs
Exposed (2008), which said that critics of the breed describe it as “half dog, half frog”
due to the formation of the hind legs.
The Kennel Club’s position is that the issue of soundness is not a simple difference
of opinion; it is the fundamental issue of the breed’s essential conformation and
movement. The Kennel Club has decided to retrain judges to penalise dogs suffering
these problems. It is also insisting on more testing for haemophilia and hip dysplasia,
other common problems with the breed.
Everyone in the
household must be
prepared to show
‘authority’ and earn
the dog’s respect
with a firm but
loving touch. They
do not respond to
negativity or anger.
Once achieved,
this respect may
need to be earned
again and again
variety rarer. Treatment of the long hair
variation differs across standards; they
are accepted under the German and UK
Kennel Clubs but are considered a fault
by the AKC.
Temperament
German Shepherds are highly active
dogs and are marked by a willingness to

Breed Profile
touch. They do not respond to negativity
or anger. Once achieved, this respect may
need to be earned again and again.
Shepherds don’t need to be bathed very
often, but they tend to shed in great
quantities. Brush them daily, outside
if possible. Like any large dog, they
can handle apartment living quite well
but need daily walks and, if possible,
vigorous exercise to stay sharp.
Use as Working Dog
German Shepherds are a very popular
selection for use as working dogs. They
dogs
found
that 45
percent were affected by degenerative
spinal stenosis, although the sample
studied was small. The Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals, USA, found
that 19.1 percent of German Shepherds
are affected by hip dysplasia. Due to
the large and open nature of their
ears, Shepherds are also prone to ear
infections. German Shepherds, like all
large bodied dogs, are prone to bloat.
According to a recent survey in the
UK, the median life span of German
Shepherds is 10.95 years, which is normal
for a dog of their size. Degenerative
myelopathy, a neurological disease,
occurs with enough regularity specifically
in the breed to suggest that the breed is
predisposed to it. Additionally, German
Shepherd Dogs have a higher than
normal incidence of Von Willebrand
Disease, a common inherited bleeding
disorder.
In Popular Culture
German Shepherds have been featured in
a wide range of media. Strongheart, the
German Shepherd, was one of the earliest
canine film stars and was followed by Rin
Tin Tin, who is now acclaimed as being
the most famous German Shepherd of all
times. Both have stars on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame.
Batman’s dog, Ace the Bat-Hound,
appeared in the Batman comic books,
initially in 1955, through 1964. Rex, a
German Shepherd is the eponymous
police dog character of the Austrian
television drama, Inspector Rex.
The animated movie, All Dogs Go To
Heaven, stars a German Shepherd named
Charlie Barkin. The 2007 Hollywood
movie I am Legend starring Will Smith
as a virologist shows a German Shepherd
Dog as the only companion of the
protagonist in a deserted New York City,
where a lethal strain of virus has spread
and wiped out the human population.
search and rescue, cadaver searching,
narcotics detection, explosives detection,
accelerant detection, and mine detection,
among others. They are suited for these
lines of work because of their keen
sense of smell and their ability to work
regardless of distractions.
At one time the GSD was the breed
chosen almost exclusively to be used as
a guide dog for the visually impaired.
In recent years, Labradors and Golden
Retrievers have been more widely used
for this work, although there are still
German Shepherds being trained. A
versatile breed, they excel in this field
are especially well known for their police
work, being used for tracking criminals,
patrolling troubled areas, and detection
and holding of suspects. Additionally,
thousands of German Shepherds have
been used by the military. Usually
trained for scout duty, they are used to
warn soldiers to the presence of enemies
or of booby traps or other hazards.
German Shepherds have also been
trained by military groups to parachute
from aircrafts.
The German Shepherd Dog is one of the
most widely used breeds in a wide variety
of scent work roles. These include
due to their strong sense of duty, their
mental abilities, their fearlessness, and
their attachment to their owner.
German Shepherd Dogs are used for
herding and tending sheep grazing in
meadows next to gardens and crop
fields. They are expected to patrol
the boundaries to keep sheep from
trespassing and damaging the crops.
In Germany and other places, these
skills are tested in utility dog trials also
known as Herdengebrauchshund (HGH)
herding utility dog trials.
Health
Many common ailments of the German
Shepherd are a result of the
inbreeding practised early in
the breed’s life. One such
common ailment is hip
and elbow dysplasia,
which may lead to the
dog experiencing
pain in later life,
and may cause
arthritis. A study
by the University
of Zurich on
police working

W
hen I moved to Mumbai in
2007, the last thing on my
mind was cats. I went there
to work as a journalist for an Indian
newspaper, to watch Bollywood films and
to party. But it was street cats that ended
up dominating much of my time.
After being in Mumbai for a few days,
I came down with food poisoning.
Recovering on a day off, I went for a
walk. Passing through the dusty ground
floor of my apartment block, I spotted
a cardboard box, peered inside and was
astonished to see three newborn black
and white kittens.
I rang up an animal welfare NGO
assuming they would send someone to
rescue them, as would happen if I had
rung the RSPCA or Cats Protection in the
UK. But the man who answered my call
only spoke Hindi and slammed the phone
down. I pointed out the kittens to the
watchmen, but they looked through me.
I asked my colleagues on the newspaper
and was told there was no organisation
that could rehome or rescue them and no
one would want to adopt them.
No one knew who the mother cat was
either, till I asked the rubbish collector,
an angry-looking woman with wrinkled
skin, who wore a scarf round her head.
“That’s the mother,” she said in Hindi,
throwing an ugly tabby cat that looked
like she had been a stray her whole life,
inside the cardboard box.
She disinterestedly licked the kittens.
I couldn’t believe the three clean kittens
could be the offspring of such a dirty cat.
Soon I discovered that stray cats were
on every street corner and were roaming
around every apartment block. They
were producing litters everywhere and
no one bothered to get them sterilised.
There was the odd Indian animal welfare
MY BATTLE
TO SAVE MUMBAI’S STRAY KITTENS PART I
Canton’s struggle to help
out a stray cat and her
kittens turns into a long
term commitment to the
stray cats of Mumbai city
■ Naomi Canton
Feline

charity at the time, but their focus was
on dogs, not cats, and all they did was
sterilise them; they had no facilities for
rescuing or rehoming. Few people kept
pets in those days and if they did, they
were pedigree dogs.
So, realising that no one else was going to
do anything, I started to feed the mother
cat. She soon worked out I was a food
source, so she hung around and looked
after her kittens.
I kept the kittens in the box downstairs.
But then the monsoon rains came and I
had to move them under the staircase. I
put newspapers down and created a little
home for them.
Before long they started jumping out
of the box and racing up and down the
communal corridor and playing around
the rubbish bin. Some building work
was taking place and there were piles of
cement around, which the kittens started
using as cat litter.
Quickly, I started to gain enemies.
The residents of the society started
harassing me and complained about me
to the management. “Stop feeding those
cats; you are creating a smell and a mess,”
one said. “I really appreciate what you
are doing, but this is India, not the UK or
USA. These cats are a nuisance. Get rid of
them or I will,” said another. Before long,
a man had offered to drown the kittens in
the sea, another to abandon them at the
fish market.
Before long, I was forced to dismantle
their makeshift home under the stairs.
The mother moved her kittens into the
electricity cupboard, a mess of tangled
up wires. I was also told I had to stop
feeding them. So the mother cat started
dragging in a dead rat or bird each day
and the kittens would reluctantly eat it
raw. I admired the mother cat for her
survival skills. But the kittens looked
really depressed and stayed in the
electricity cupboard all day. I couldn’t
bear to watch that so I caved in and
started feeding them again.
Soon, one of the kittens, the runt of
the litter, looked very ill. I took him to
the vet, who said: “His stomach is full
of worms; there is nothing we can do.”
Yet, to me he seemed so full of life and
personality. I took him into my flat for
the night, hoping the rest would help. I
forgot to tell the maid, who came every
day to clean. I got home from work and
found him lying outside my flat in the
rubbish bin, still alive and too scared to
venture anywhere. But that was where
the maid had thought he belonged. A
few days later, I came home from work
and found him lying dead on the ground.
Then, in front of me the mother cat
came over and ate him. I was so upset I
couldn’t control myself from crying. A
neighbour walked past and reiterated:
“Those cats will have to go.” I ignored the
harassment and continued to feed them.
Then I had to travel to London for a
week, so I bought a load of cat food and
gave it to a young boy in the Society so

Feline
he could feed them. When I got back,
the white kitten with black patches was
bravely pulling himself around on his
front legs — his rear legs were paralysed.
I was shocked. I asked the boy what had
happened and he refused to say. Another
child told me that a group of kids had
been playing with the kittens, using them
as tennis balls and one had thrown up
the now-paralysed kitten in the air.
I rang the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit
Hospital for Animals in Parel and they
sent an ambulance to collect him. Every
night after work I went to visit him. He
was kept in a small metal cage in a room
packed with other cats, all meowing
constantly. My kitten was so excited to
smell me each night, knowing I came
from his “family”. A week later I had a
phone call to inform me he was dead.
I named the single remaining kitten in
the electricity cupboard Domino, after
the board game. I continued to feed
her and the mother and at night would
spend an hour or so throwing balls of
scrunched up newspaper for Domino to
catch. It was a cathartic antidote to the
stresses of city life.
“The residents
of the Society
started harassing
me and complained
against me to the
management. ‘Stop
feeding those cats;
you are creating a
smell and a mess,’
one said. ‘I really
appreciate what
you are doing, but
this is India, not the
UK or USA’”
Naomi Canton worked as a journalist
in Mumbai for three and a half years. In
2008, she started a Facebook group called
Bombay Cat Club to help people rescue and
adopt Mumbai stray cats
alicia’sTOON
One day I got home from work and
Domino was missing.
I asked the watchman and he repeated
the words, “Shooting” with a grin. I
nearly fainted thinking she had been shot
dead and then I understood he meant
filming. I lived fairly close to a film
studio. This happened a few times and
each time, Domino would reappear in
the apartment block several hours after
disappearing. Each time the watchman
looked happy: I suspected he was taking
a bribe. Soon, I went marching across to
the studio to tell them to stop taking her.
There were various film, TV and Ad
shows being shot in different areas. No
one admitted they had taken Domino.
One Ad man told me that even if
someone had taken her, they would never
own up as it was illegal, as they were
meant to get permission from the Animal
Welfare Board of India to use cats in
a film but they often used strays to get
round it. “A horror film was being shot
here all week and I suspect your cat may
have been used in that as they like having
cats in horror.
Some days later the mother and
remaining kitten started vomiting. I took
the kitten to a vet. “You will have to take
her inside your flat, otherwise she will
be killed,” he said. I had never planned
to adopt a cat as my stay in India was
temporary and I was living on the sixth
floor. But determined that she would
not die, I carried her straight up to my
apartment.
She got out of the plastic basket and
tiptoed round my house, marvelling at
the clean floors that she had never seen
before, having grown up around rubbish.
Before long, she had collapsed into a
deep sleep. When she woke up, I took
her downstairs to her mother, lifted the
cover off her basket, so she could get out
and return to live with her mother, if she
wanted to. She got up, leaned forward,
rubbed noses with her mother then sat
down back down inside and waited, as
though she was saying she didn’t want to
go back. So I took her upstairs and she
stayed in my flat. The next day the stray
cat mother left the Society —never to
return.
Domino, meanwhile, became my best
friend. In fact, it soon became pretty
obvious that I had not rescued her, rather
she had rescued me.

Magazine Partner
A Pet Care Magazine

Exotic Dogs
disposition, and is notable for its springy
gait, a characteristic that distinguishes
the breed from all others. The Havanese
is considered an ideal family pet and a
true companion dog. They are highly
adaptable to almost any environment,
and their only desire is to be with their
human companions. Due to their strong
social needs, Havanese will not thrive in
an environment where they are isolated
for several hours each day.
The Havanese’s popularity in the show
ring has grown quickly, and they are also
in high demand as family pets.
History
Political events like the French, Cuban
and Russian revolutions led to the
total elimination of the old bloodlines
of the Havanese from Cuba. After the
revolution in 1959, the Havanese became
almost extinct in Cuba with the exodus
of many wealthy Cubans to the United
States. Luckily, they smuggled their
Havanese along: a special group of 11
canines imported to the USA prevented
the breed from becoming obsolete. Their
descendants have survived and comprise
the modern breed.
The Havanese was officially recognised
in 1995 by the American Kennel Club
(AKC) as a toy breed.
Appearance
While a toy breed, the Havanese is sturdy
and not overly delicate. Most weigh 4.5
to 7.3 kg and stand 8.5 to 11.5 inches tall
at the withers. Its body, from point of
shoulder to point of buttocks, is slightly
longer than the height at the withers,
giving the dog the appearance of being
slightly longer than tall. The length of the
body results from the long ribcage, not
the loins.
A unique aspect of the breed is the
topline, which rises just slightly from
withers to croup (rump), creating a
topline that is straight but not level.
Known for their flashy, lively gait, when
on the move, their strong rear drive and
slightly shorter upper arm produce a
springy motion rather than a far reaching
one. The angle of the topline does not
change while moving at a natural gait.
T
he Havanese, a breed of Bichon
type, is the national dog of Cuba,
developed from the now extinct
Blanquito de la Habana (little white dog
of Havana). The Blanquito descended
from the also now extinct Bichon
Tenerife. It is believed that the Blanquito
was eventually cross bred with other
Bichon types, including the Poodle, to
create what is now known to us as the
Havanese.
The Havanese is small in size and sturdy
in structure, with a tail carried over its
back and ears that drop and fold. The
coat is abundant, long and silky, and
comes in all colours. The Havanese has
a spirited personality and a curious
THE HAVANESE
The National Dog of Cuba
The toy breed is the perfect lap dog without being
overly delicate
The Havanese
has a spirited
personality and a
curious disposition,
and is notable for
its springy gait,
a characteristic
that distinguishes
the breed from all
others
■ Neeta Godambe

A pet care magazine publish by rutaksha rawat

A pet care magazine publish by rutaksha rawat

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