Good Canine Citizen

May 11, 2020

From not being able to take your dogs on a walk to dealing with their frequent mood swings to rescuing dogs and puppies during lockdown, there are multiple issues to deal with for animal lovers. Paramita Das, a canine trainer and behaviourist — trained by renowned dog trainer and behaviourist Shirin Merchant and John Rogerson, a pioneer in dog training — chats with The Telegraph over phone about her journey from corporate life to pursuing her passion for dogs and also shares solutions for various problems faced by dog owners during the pandemic. Dogs who are used to long walks and outdoor activities will miss going out now. Especially for younger dogs, they will have excess energy, which needs to be directed appropriately with indoor exercises that can provide mental stimulation like scenting games — Find It (with treats and toys), Hide and Seek, Retrieving and Fetch games. Also, training your dog to new commands and tricks, practising commands that your dog already knows but is doing it differently will also provide mental exercise to them. Have fun with your dog indoors and he/she will miss their walks less.