The breed and pedigree usually determine a canine’s worth

Ranchi, Dec. 14: From being status symbols to curbing thefts and robberies, canines have climbed the popularity charts in the capital, based on their pedigree.

Popular breeds are available in the local market — but at a price. Here, a German Shepherd costs anything between Rs 3,500 and Rs 6,000 while a Doberman is tagged at Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000.

The Labrador costs anything between Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000. The Golden Retriever can be yours for Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 while the Boxer and the Dalmatian can cost you from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7000.

The White Spits come anything between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500. The Cocker Spaniel costs between Rs 3,000 and 3,500 while for a Great Dane, one might have to shell out Rs 10,000.

Sanjay Raman, a dog-seller in the capital, said, “It is unfortunate that the Indian breeds are almost absent in the country. The Rampur Hound — rare Indian breed — and the Saluki are one of the best-sellers abroad but barring a few houses in Bangalore and Hyderabad, few were found in India.”

The capital does not have kennels and the canines are brought from Delhi, Bangalore, Calcutta, Mumbai and Pune.

Pintu, another dog-seller in the capital, said, “The prices depend on the breed and the pedigree, which is based on its lineage.”

About the most ferocious of dogs, Raman said, “The most ferocious is the Rottweiller. It has a short temper and is known to kill. There have been several cases where it has killed people. Ranchi has got just one Rottweiller. People who opt for it should take care not to make it lose its temper. The Doberman and bloodhound are also ferocious to some extent. The most friendly is the German Shepherd. Labradors are good sniffer dogs.”

“We have divided the dogs into three categories —Call Bell Dogs, which are small, Watch Dogs and Guard Dogs. The average life of a dog is 12 years. German Shepherds are the best sellers in the capital, till recently. But now the Labradors are taking over. Cross-breeds are to be avoided as their genes were not known. As a result, there is no idea about the kind of behaviour the dog is going to have,” he added. Pintu said, before buying a dog, one should be aware of its pedigree.

“People want the best of the breeds but are not ready to pay for it. Another problem is that the people here are not aware of the importance of vaccination. A dog has to be given medicine and regular supplements. It has to be cleaned four times a day and fed at least 250 gms of meat every day,” he said. The dogs also need adequate exercise. Raman said residents of the capital seldom pay attention to the dogs’ exercise. According to him, the dogs should be given regular workouts.

A German Shepherd needs to walk at least 3 to 4 km everyday. He stressed that training of dogs was also essential.

The Labrador and the Golden Retriever are the best when it comes to training.

“Every kennel has to be registered by the Kennel Club of India, Chennai. At present, there are no kennels in the capital. There is one in Jamshedpur, the Bihar Kennel Club, which is looked after by Tisco.

We are planning to open a kennel with the available facilities in Ranchi too,” said Raman.