The central government has banned the import of dogs into the country for breeding and other commercial purposes and the decision has left many dog-lovers upset.
The government believes the move will prevent dogs built for cooler climates from being forced to live in Indian conditions. It also feels dogs will no longer be imported and forced to breed repeatedly. But genuine dog-lovers miss their chance of living with or even interacting with exotic breeds at shows.
In the final installment of this column we look up three furry four-leggeds who have crossed continents to be amidst us.
English Setter
Picture by Shubham Paul
About the breed: The English Setter is a medium-sized dog, usually white with flecks of different colours, and has long silky fringes behind the legs, under the belly and on the tail.
This breed was developed to help guide hunters towards birds. Since the game’s scent would be airborne, the dogs were required to run with their heads up instead of trying to follow foot scent. Once they found their target, they would freeze or “set” at a point rather than give chase. The hunter would then go throw a net over the birds.
Owner: Satyabrata Bose
Locality: Baguiati
Imported from: The US in 2013
Name: Tigen Raven Rez (Tigen)
Gender: Male
Age: Six-and-a-half years
How he came: “Before Tigen there were no English Setters in India and I wanted to introduce the breed here,” says Bose. Tigen’s father was the 2012 US Dog of the Year and mother a US champion.
Special care: Since there were no English Setters in India before him, Bose had no one to consult for advice. “So I read up extensively on their care, training and grooming,” he says. “Like my other dogs, he eats packaged dry food with chicken and always stays in an air-conditioned environment. His handler makes him run and play with balls at a field near near City Centre 2.”
Achievements: “Tigen is an Indian champion, Indian grand champion and international champion, meaning he has won four Federation Cynologique Internationale’s (FCI) world dog shows in India. Before coming to me he was already US grand champion,” says Bose. In India, Tigen has participated in shows at Ooty, Chennai and Jamshedpur besides Calcutta.
Offspring: “In 2015, I had chosen and made full payment for a female English Setter to be imported from Brazil. But after this law, her transfer is stuck,” laments Bose. “I’ve been trying to get the Kennel Club of India to speak to the authorities and allow her to come through since the deal was sealed before the law was enforced,” says Bose.
Lhasa Apso
About the breed: Lhasa Apsos originated in Tibet over 4,000 years ago and is one of the world’s oldest breeds. “Apso” in Tibetan means “bearded”, referring to the dog’s beard-like flowing hair.
Buddhist Monks would use Lhasas to guard the interiors of their monasteries, particularly those in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. The huge Tibetan Mastiffs guarded the gates of monasteries but the little Lhasas, with their keen sense of hearing, were more suited for the interiors.
The monks believed that the souls of the departed lamas would rest in the Lhasas before they took rebirth and so Lhasas were never sold in Tibet. They could only be gifted. The first pair of Lhasas in the US had been gifted by the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, in 1933.
Owner: Prasenjit Chatterjee
Block: BA
Name: Ind. Ch. Dilemma Thierry Mugler at Atmajitas (Ferro)
Imported from: Croatia in 2015
Gender: Male
Age: Nearly 2 years
How he came: Chatterjee found out about Ferro from social networking sites and breeder agencies facilitated his flight to India. His father was Int. Ch. Khalila Krug Grande and mother was CH. Choix Chic in the City.
Special care: Ferro stays in Chatterjee’s farm house in Bankura where he gets space to run about as well as a cleaner environment.
Achievements: Ferro has won 17 Best of Breed (BoB) titles out of just seven shows. He has won multiple line-ups (meaning one of the eight finalists in a show) and was the unbeaten Lhasa in India in the 2015-16 show season.
Offspring: Ferro hasn’t been mated yet as Chatterjee feels there aren’t any quality female Lhasas in India. And after the ban, he won’t be able to import a mate for him either. “I don’t want to deprive Ferro. If there isn’t a change in the law in the next year or so I shall send him back to Croatia where he can find a suitable mate. I’ll tell myself that I’ve sent my son to hostel for his own good.”
Golden Retriever
About the breed: One of the most popular breeds in the world, the Golden Retriever was developed in Scotland in the mid-19th century. Wild fowl hunting was a popular sport then and since the land had marshes and rivers, the shot birds would fall on both terrains. None of the existing dogs at the time were adept at retrieving game from both surfaces and so Golden Retrievers were bred to fit the bill.
Even today the large-sized breed loves water. It has a double coat — a dense inner one to keep it warm and an outer coat that lies flat against its body. They shed copiously and require regular grooming.
Golden Retrievers are popular disability assistance dogs — they act as eyes for the blind and ears for the deaf.
Owner: Satyabrata Bose
Locality: Baguiati
Name: Lana Gold Sky the Limit
Imported from: The US in 2007
Gender: Male
Age: 11 years
How he came: Bose imported him after learning out his impeccable pedigree. His father Lana Gold Reveu Rez was a world champion and mother American champion.
Special care: Sky’s coat — thick, flowing and of a rich brown shade — takes a lot of effort to maintain. Like Bose’s other dogs, Sky uses oils, shampoos and creams imported from Australia. There is a full-time attendant looking after the dogs too.
Achievements: Sky became India’s grand champion in 2009. “Grand champion means he won 20 BoB, two Best in Show titles and 10 line-ups,” says Bose.
Offspring: Sky has been mated many times and has sired more than 100 puppies which were sold.
On the law: “The law will deprive genuine dog-lovers like me. What’s wrong with introducing new breeds to India? We love them like our children. We don’t stay in ACs round the clock, for instance, but make sure they do.”
• Concluded
