If there are horse whisperers who take a sympathetic view of the motives, needs, and desires of a horse, then Chandan Chakraborty, from Shyamnagar Bhulinagar, Dhanbad, is a dog whisperer.

“I was crazy about dogs ever since I was a child. My uncles kept dogs and I would instantly connect with them,” remembers Chakraborty, now a kennel owner.

But, over time, dogs became more like an obsession than an interest. “Wherever I saw a dog, I would try to understand him better and the animal would always reciprocate my keenness, which fuelled my interest,” Chakraborty adds.

Today Chakraborty is a proud owner of a kennel but mostly he is the proud owner of the “famous six” — three Pugs, a German Shepherd, a Spitz and a Pomeranian. Incidentally, the man has a soft corner for Labradors and German Shepherds — two breeds that he considers extremely intelligent.

“My first dog, who I brought home in 1987 was a crossbred, a mix between a Doberman and a Labrador. Usually people have reservations regarding crossbreeds but I believe with proper training every dog may shine,” the owner adds emphatically. And he should know as he is often invited out of India to train dogs.

In 1990, he launched the first proper kennel in Jharkhand right in his house. The next year his dogs participated in the first dog show, organised by the Burnpur Kennel Club and his babies were a roaring success. “It was a memorable show. My dogs outshone many and I was a proud man,” Chakraborty beams. And by the end of 1991 Chakraborty owned 25 dogs all of different breeds.

Driven by his thirst to be with pets Chandan first trained himself at the Commando Kennel Club, Secundrabad (Hyderabad), from 1997 to 2000. Ever since then, he has trained over 250 dogs, both inside and outside India. Incidentally, the dogs of the district police of Dhanbad are also trained under Chakraborty.

His trained Pugs and Labradors have also won him awards in the entire northern India.

A sound advice from a great trainer: The temperament of dogs depends on their keeper. Therefore before making a life-long commitment kindly read up on the breed. “One should read about a dog before keeping him as a pet and treat him accordingly,” says Chakraborty.

Labradors

They are large, energetic and outgoing. Their coats are short and smooth and may be black, yellow, or brown (called “chocolate”) in colour,in that order of frequency.

AS TOLD TO RESHAM MUKHERJEE