My first Publication CC May Edition for Web | Page 26

Dog Training
DOG TRAINING IN INDIA
AN INDUSTRY ON THE RISE
By: CC Editorial
he Indian Pet industry
is comprised of various
segments such as pet food,
accessories,
healthcare,
grooming, boarding and
training. Th e recent years have
seen a sudden growth in the number of
pet owners due to a rise in disposable
income as well as other factors such as
urbanization, small families and need for
companionship in old age. many dog trainers in the market, but our
country faces a dearth of good dog trainers
and training institutes.
Th e rise in pet numbers has led to
an accelerated demand for various
pet services. Of these, dog training is
emerging as a powerful segment within
the pet industry which is predicted to yield
profi ts in the future. Th e business is set to
be a lucrative prospect for those willing to
engage in it. However, if you’re looking to
become a dog trainer, you must be driven
by passion and acquire the right skill-set to
take on this challenging task. He goes on to add that the future of the
pet industry is bright but it is diffi cult to
fi nd qualifi ed dog trainers in our country.
Th is is primarily because no dog training
institute is available in India focusing
entirely on producing competent trainers.
Most dog handlers and trainers are self-
styled individuals running independent
businesses without any formal qualifi cation
to back them. Such trainers use unscientifi c
methods to train the dog which can prove
harmful for it in the long run.
T
Taking on the training task:
Working with our furry companions is a
thrilling as well as rewarding experience
and can change into a brilliant career
prospect for those willing to invest
adequate time and eff ort in this fi eld. Dog
training involves teaching our canine
friends about responding to specifi c
conditions in a particular manner. It is
indeed a demanding job but enables one
to train a dog for various functions such
as detection, protection, companionship,
therapy, entertainment and obedience.
Dog trainers are certifi ed coaches deemed
fi t for this role and train dogs so that they
can adjust to human contact and easily
adapt to living with humans. Th ere are
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Suresh Sherawat, celebrity dog trainer
from India says, “It is very important
to perform a background check of the
trainer before hiring him for the job.
Successful dog trainers have a wide and
varied experience working with dogs with
diff erent capabilities.”
In order to attain formal dog training
certifi cations one needs to get trained
in an institute located oversees which
is a daunting task considering the cost
involved and is not feasible for everybody.
What to look for in a dog trainer?
A dog trainer needs to be accustomed to the
diff erent training techniques used to train
diff erent breeds. Mumbai based trainer
Alistair Fernandes of Th e DogFather
Training Services Institute opines, “It is
imperative to have proper knowledge of
dog behavior as dogs respond diff erently
to training. Diff erent dogs and breeds take
diff erent time frames to learn depending
on their age and caliber.”
Creature Companion | May 2019 • Vol. XII • Issue 5 • Noida
A good dog trainer should be able to
incorporate multiple training techniques to
train a dog successfully. Apart from formal
training certifi cations, it is important for
dog owners to look for credentials and
verify any references given by the trainer.
Alistair goes on to add, “It is crucial for
pet owners to look up the trainer’s website
or page in addition to performing a
background check. Most trainers rely on
word-of-mouth or references to market
themselves. I recommend due diligence
on the part of pet trainers to see how
reliable these sources are. Th ey must make
adequate inquiries before appointing
anybody to train their pet.”