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Who's the fairest of all?
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The recently held dog show in the city had the pack obediently bearing the heat and dust. They bow-wowed PREMA MANMADHAN as MAHESH HARILAL faced them with his camera
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PHEW! THIS heat is killing. If you knew canine communication techniques, you could easily translate thus, the panting from the doggie community at Rajendra Maidan, Kochi, Sunday last. They came from Kolkata, Gorakhpur, Amritsar and Coimbatore. Some of them were NRDs (Non Resident Dogs which had just been imported by passionate dog show lovers) and that was the reason why the heat seemed killing. Out from the air-conditioned comfort of their rooms, they wither under the South Indian climate, they who are used to the Canadian snow-clad countryside, Siberian climes and Japanese comfort. In fact the Siberian Huskie, which came all the way from its present owner's home in Coimbatore, had to miss the All India All Breeds show at Kochi because of the `scorching heat.' In small air-conditioned white kennels, they waited for their turns patiently to display their degree of obedience and to show off their snipped tails and cropped ears.
One Doberman from Kochi came in bandaged ears, for they were cropped just a few days ago and had yet to heal. But `show experience' is important, so that they get used to being with other dogs, without fear or favour, and to tolerate prying eyes and stolen caresses of spectators, without reacting. To display the natural tendency of dogs and bitches to bite, scratch or bark is taboo at dog shows. Manners count, if the prize is to be won.
The American cocker spaniel, the only breed of its kind at the show, got up by the Cochin Kennel Club, was recently imported. So also was the German Shepherd that flew in from Amritsar. "It cost a nest egg and a single mating session could easily fetch the owners Rs. 30,000," said, Bijoy Varghese, convenor of the show. But the amount spent by dog lovers on these breeds is never for profit, it's a passion, he added.
The Great Danes that came from Chennai will vouch for this. "Breakfast is one litre curd and one litre milk. Lunch is around 40 chapattis each and dinner will be, say, 50 idlis," says the caretaker of this majestic biscuit coloured Marcus, just 20 months old. But then, he adds, the owner has a restaurant and that takes care of Marcus' food.
While some owners do not encourage cropping of ears and tails, it is often done for certain breeds like Boxers, Dobermans and some other breeds. "Bangalore used to be the favourite city where puppies had their ears all done up, but now, Kochi is the best place, where we have expert surgeons to do the job," said Mr. Varghese. The tails are snipped on day three after birth, when puppies squeal off their heads, but the latest technique is less painful, say dog owners. Nowadays, the rubber band that dentists use to pull back protruding teeth comes in handy. It is tied tightly around the infant puppy's tail at the place where it is to be snipped. After three or four days, as blood circulation ceases, that part drops off, say dog owners. Whether the puppy feels any pain or not is uncertain, according to them.
There are more than 160 breeds recognised by the Indian Kennel Club, that can take part in a show, including Indian breeds like the Rajapalayam and Chippiparai, but why is the dog show out of bounds for the common `naadan' dog, full of love for its master, but which cannot boast of a `five-generation certificate' from the Kennel Club?
"It's because the breed is not clear. The so-called `naadan' dog is a cross of several kinds of dogs. Unless the dog comes under the pure breeds recognised by the Kennel Club, they cannot participate in the show. Cross bred dogs, however sweet or ferocious, do not come under any breed," explained Mr Varghese.
Most imported breeds die early because they cannot acclimatise themselves to the Indian environment. They are not as disease-resistant either. But the craze for `firangi' dogs is rampant in Indian minds that can afford it, even if it means rearing them in air-conditioned rooms.
Rajendra Maidan proved very interesting for those who spent Rs. 10 each to have a peek at the numerous breeds, with their owners, wondering at the hobby that requires patience, cash and last but not least, a love for animals.
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