Dogs undergo training in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Jan. 19: Shantanu Lenka (20) brought home a German Shepard pup a year ago. He took all possible measures to take care of the pup initially. However, he started having problems with the pup, as it grew older and mischievous. Realising that teaching his dog ‘right etiquettes’ is a must, Lenka hired a professional trainer for his pet.

Many individuals like Lenka have a tough time training their pets. There are a number of trainers who have come to the rescue of animal lovers in the Millennium City. Be it general training, which includes commands such as ‘sit, speak and stay’, or advanced training, individuals can opt for any of the programmes for their pet dogs.

“I came to know about a professional trainer through a common friend. With only a training of two months, my dog has started to obey commands and follow instructions,” said Lenka.

“We train the animals to follow the basic commands of their masters. One can also go for the advanced training, which includes fetching things such as newspapers, bottles and other items,” said a trainer Kailash Sahoo.

But one has to pay a heavy price for hiring the expertise of these trainers who charge around Rs 1,000 to 1,500 for 10 classes in a month. Despite this, many people in the city are ready to pay for the right kind of training for their dogs.

“We always want our pet dogs to follow our commands for which training is a must. Similarly, for those who are keeping a dog for the first time, it is necessary for the them to know their dogs’ behaviour and diet pattern,” said another dog lover Jintendra Mohanty.

Mohanty, who is the owner of a Labrador, feels proud when his dog obeys his instruction, which also delights his children and neighbours. Moreover, these days many residents are also breeding dogs as it has turned out to be a profitable business.“I had a German Shepard and it gave birth to eight pups. Initially, looking after them was a big challenge, as I had to go to my office. Later, I decided to sell the pups at Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,000, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me,” Mohanty added.

Apart from the basic training, the trainers also come handy as they provide necessary information to the owners regarding vaccinations, diet and behaviour patterns of different breeds of dogs.