Quote: Ramachandran Subramanian

Will, I don't understand the intent of your comment.Even assuming that they held a seminar, they wont have an audience.

My intent was that India is a county that is beautiful, and a trainer holding a seminar there would be lucky to get to visit it.

Will, sorry if I gave the wrong impression, I was thinking maybe you knew some one who was willing to come to India to give a seminar.

Now that I re read my comment, it sounds unfriendly. That was not my intent.

Sorry about that.

OK. Here is my personal OPINION on why obedience is rare.


There are two types of dogs that live in India. The city dogs and the village dogs. The village dog is usually a mutt that chooses it's master. It hangs around a village house and the family feeds it with food that they cant eat etc. It gets whacked if it does some thing it is not supposed to. It is never called by a name, it does not have a leash or a collar. It has no access to a vet. It is allowed to get into fights with other dogs. It is free to run away if it wants. It Learns through it's mistakes if it lives long enough. If it is lucky, it just hangs around and follows it's master to the field and back. Looks over his master's children while they play, walk to school etc.. Over time it comes to think of it's master's home as it's own and offers a degree of protection and the master grows fond of it. It lives for 10-12 years unless run over by a lorry or some thing like that.

As horrible as it sounds these dogs have a much better life than the next type of dog. The City Dog . The Pure bred dogs that are owned by moneyed people (The growing upper middle class). These people usually have very busy lives and very little time. Not to mention very little space. In cities 95% of the people live in apartment complexes. Or houses with almost zero space around them. They have a few hours a day to spare which they spend watching TV.

As we all know, it is tough to train a dog, it is very easy to buy a dog. It takes just money to buy a dog. But it takes time, space, money, equipment and hard work to train a dog. Plus we have to keep at it for years and years.

Again my opinion, but I think most City-Moneyed-Indians love the idea of having a dog rather than the dog itself. In my neighbourhood, I can count atleast 4 owners who got dogs after seeing mine and I dont see them anymore. I get regular comments like "I am thinking of giving my dog to you" (As if I am running a dog sanctuary and I should accept it because they are giving e some thing they paid good money for).

If you talk to any Indian who owns a purebred dog most probably they will talk about how Tall he is or how much he eats or how mad he gets when some one touches his food or how much he paid for the puppy.

If you ask the people who complain about the lack of good breeders "What do you plan to do with that dog that is bred better than the one you have now?" You will know what I am talking about. It is an image/status thing.

Village people dont care about obedience. Moneyed people love obedience because they can show off but are shocked to know that they can't buy obedience.

My vet has given me many opportunities to train other people's dogs. I refuse to do that. I always say I will teach the owners what I know, for FREE. Not even one person has turned up yet.


I know it is abig rant, but I needed to vent.

PS: Sorry again Will for my snark sounding reply. that was not my intent.

"My vet has given me many opportunities to train other people's dogs. I refuse to do that. I always say I will teach the owners what I know, for FREE. Not even one person has turned up yet."

Yup.

Sigh

Actual time and effort! Horrors! ..... Plenty of those people here too.



And so I gather too that there isn't that much of an in-between financial class or group (like a large middle class)?

There is a growing lower middleclass. But these people dont have the time and space for themselves, leave alone a dog. India used to have super rich , followed by upper middle class,followed by lower middle class(where my dad/mom used to be), and dirt poor.


Now there is growth in the lower middle class. People are moving up from dirt poor to lower middle class.

Thank you for the fascinating information.

What is the "breed" or look of the village dogs? I bet some of those are really smart.

Yes most of them are very smart, but they have an independent streak. It is needed to survive in semi wild conditions. You dont get the kind of crazy engagement you get from a doberman. Ofcourse there will be a small percentage on both sides that defy the norm, but I am talking about an average.

You can see many examples of how the street dogs look like.
This wacky mongrel show is held in my city every january.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si3tZYnX8ww

Thank you so much for all of your information. I can feel the frustration in your words.

If you don't mind a few more questions, are there many vets around? I sounds like few have the interest in preventative care and those who have a use for the veterinarians would be doing so as a means to protect their investment. I can imagine that would be quite frustrating for the veterinarians.

Also, what kind of pet food is available? We in the USA are very lucky to have hundreds of options for pet food, from dirt cheap and barely healthy to very expensive with exotic animal proteins for those dogs that need them. The fact that most of our populations views dogs as a surrogate (or additional) child creates a market for pet care that is is sometimes quoted as being larger than what we spend on children (pet food is included in the numbers, while food for children is not).

From what you describe, it sounds like most wouldn't spend much on quality food, as cheap food will do, but does that mean that with little market for it at all your options are severely limited?

Such variety!
It must be hard to pass by if you see homeless young pups on the street.
Saw a show on TV about similar "wild city dogs" in Detroit, Michigan. I guess after the automakers collapsed tons of folks moved off and abandoned their dogs.
Sounded like there were just thousands of dogs living by their wits within the city parks and run down housing.

In the cities ,there are lots of good vets and lot of people take their dogs to the vet and get them looked at. 95% of the people have their dogs on regular vaccines etc. (again city folks).

There is also some choice for pet food (in the cities) Pedigree, Iams, Eukanuba, Pro pet, Royal Canin etc.

You see people spend a sizable amount of money on their dogs (In cities again) because it is easy to do. Very difficult to train the dog because it takes time and sustained effort.

People who own purebred dogs love their dogs but dont love them enough to train them. They love them enough to just spend money on them, not time.

I for one dont feed my dog any kibble . I cook my own food every day twice a day. Mostly yogurt , chicken , lamb, liver, lungs, (raw meaty bones), eggs, chicken wings (not the spicy kind) , mutton, veggies and ofcourse rice.