Pet friendly establishments

Published: Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Mar 30, 2015, 08.03 PM IST

Bengaluru has been and still is a lovely city for dogs. It's getting more dog friendly by the day. Several pet-friendly restaurants and resorts are cropping up in and around Bengaluru. Other establishments are also opening their doors to dogs. But do we know how to use these effectively to the advantage of our dogs? Yes, it can be done and if done right, it can be a good source of mental stimulation for dogs. But it can also be stressful and taxing on dogs if not done well. Let's examine this.

To visit a restaurant or coffee shop, your dog needs to be socially suave. A non-social dog cannot be put in socially taxing situations without having unexpected outcomes. If your dog is not socially adept, it could be because he just is not a social dog or it could be because he has not been socialised well with people. If it's the former, then there is nothing much one can do other than respect his need for space and give it to him. If it's the latter, then first start with a socialisation program and then consider restaurants.

Plan your outing for a time that is least likely to be crowded. Needless to say, you avoid Friday and Saturday evenings. It's almost always too crowded and invariably someone is bound to get irked by the mere presence of your pet. Establishments find themselves drawn into this conflict between patrons and more often than not, pets lose. So it's best to avoid such confrontations and go when it's relatively empty and relaxed. Keep it nice and easy.

Well-socialised dogs too can find restaurants a bit too exciting or stressful. When that happens, dogs are likely to pee or poop. Be prepared. Before entering any establishment, make sure you have walked your dog and given him a chance to relieve himself. Take further precautions by carrying poop bags, in case of accidents.

The best thing for a dog to do in a restaurant is to relax under the table. So it's a good idea to carry a cotton blanket to lay out under the table for your dog to relax on. Carry the dog's water bowl and put that down next to the dog with water. Your lunch may last a while. In this scorching summer, dehydration is a real risk all our dogs face when they step out. An uncomfortable dog is a restless dog, resulting in undesirable behaviours. Focus on keeping the dog comfortable when he is out with you.

Keep these visits short and sweet. Don't drag it out. And don't combine it with socialisation. Restaurants are NOT places to socialise dogs with other dogs. That has to happen in a calmer environment. I find it best to avoid restaurants when there are other dogs around and return when it's calmer. The mix of yummy smelling food, new place, other dogs, new people etc. can be far too much for a dog.

And last but not the least, we as the lucky pet parents who have access to these facilities need to shoulder the responsibility of keeping them pet friendly. That means recognising and respecting the establishments for the courtesy they are extending to our furry friends. They understand how much our dogs mean to us, and for that we need to thank them. Their establishments do reserve the right of entry, which they have been very generous to extend to our dogs. So let's give them a little cheer and aid them in any way possible. 

Changing Behaviour

Published: Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Mar 23, 2015, 08.26 PM IST

What is often perceived as "behavioural issues" with dog is just the tip of an iceberg. "Training" away such behaviours is like chipping away just the tip.

What's under it and how it all will manifest might then come as a shock. It's important to first assess what is causing the behaviour. But getting a full idea of what is going on is the challenge.

Look at the whole issue like layers of the soil and some toxic leak under the layers. If the leak is close to the surface, then it spreads intensely and in a small radius. It is easy to spot, to quickly get to the bottom of it all and eradicate the problem. But if the leak is deep down, then the spread is very wide, like a large cone, it's sparsely distributed. It will give rise to small, seemingly unrelated problems in such vastly different areas that seeing the link between them all and tracing the source is extremely difficult.

It's the same with behavioural issues. There are at least three layers to consider - environmental stressors, entrenched habits and health. Close to the surface are occasional stressors in the environment. Repeated stressors of this kind could manifest in some "behavioural issue". If identified early, the stressors can be removed or avoided and the problems just go away. Eg: Escape the Diwali stress and your dog is very unlikely to show odd behaviour during or after the festivities. Finding alternative walk paths can make walks a lot more pleasant. Putting a sign outside that says "Please don't ring the doorbell" and asking guests to call you instead takes away the loud-shrill-doorbell-stressor.

If you are struggling with identifying the stressor or having removed the stressor did not have the expected results, it's perhaps a problem at a layer deeper - habits. These have wide consequences. Removing the stressor does not work because that's no more the root cause. The root cause is now a habit that has been cultivated by repeated exposure to the stressor. It has moved further into the dog's mind and has consequences beyond the presence of a stressor.

Eg: Repeated exposure to stressful walks could have resulted in erratic walking habits. Habits are broken by taking away the opportunity to engage in the habit for three weeks. It's not about training. It's about an alternative lifestyle for a month where the dog does not get an opportunity to engage in the habit. You know your lifestyle best. So grab a pen and paper and start writing - list down all situations where your dog displays the habit. Identify ways to modify or avoid each situation. Behaviourists often have a collection of ideas that they can share. But eventually, the solution will be uniquely yours and owned by you.

The trickiest is the deepest layer - health. If a dog is in constant pain or in poor mental condition, then all bets are off. No training or management can ensure predictable behaviour. Understanding the link between the ailment and behavioural issues is difficult. But if you are seeing several seemingly unrelated behavioural issues despite having made an entire lifestyle change to remove all the identified stressors, then you can bet that this has something to do with physical or mental health. Both most likely fixable if identified precisely and in time. But by the time we get there, it can do so much damage to the dog, the family, relationships and life in general that sometimes it seems irreparable. That's only because we have not had a handle on what is the root cause. But trust me when I say that as a behaviourist, all I do is to help clients identify the source of the problem. Clients are surprisingly capable of handling the situation entirely on their own and my services immediately become unnecessary to them. It's doable. 

INDog breed study

Published: Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Mar 16, 2015, 10.03 PM IST

Tiggy entertaining Mishka on mommy's silk saree

My education involves breed studies. Basically, each of us are given 12 breeds to research. I was rather disappointed with my list. I barely recognised four breeds on it. So I cheered up when I got to add INDog to my list and make it a set of 13 breeds, or that's what I thought.

As I started studying INDog, I realised that they come in a few different varieties. I was able to identify at least three and two common mixes.

The first is a sight hound. My own Tigger seems to be this variety. These dogs are deep chested, long hind legs, narrow long faces and a slight curve in the back. They are hyper alert and built for speed.

The second seem to be farm dogs. They have rectangular bodies and the more characteristic curves in their tails. They are multipurpose dogs and are quite responsive to people. They are often calm, collected and tolerant dogs.

The third I have heard people from Nepal talk of and seen a few in Leh. They are bigger, bulkier, furrier, have mastiff-like traits and show guard dog tendencies. Guard dogs are often fantastic at taking responsibility for the household and can become intense guarders.

The two mixes I noticed are both of farm INDogs. One's a mix with some kind of a retriever. These often have floppy ears, soft coat and the flat face of a retriever. The other's a mix with some shepherd. They are furry, pointy ears, agile and alert.

Identifying the underlying breeds helps explain several behaviours and plan activities that excite the breed type. Not that every member of the breed variety will behave the same way or that mixes are easy to identify. But this is a starting point.

Farm dogs make for great urban family dogs. But guard dogs and sight hound - not so much. Farm dogs are not built for speed or agility and should not be over exercised. They love company and don't do so well alone or in a backyard. They will enjoy interactive puzzles and games with people.

When guard dogs are put in situations where they see a need to guard, their instincts take over and they guard. So if you identify your dog to be a guarding breed of some kind, don't leave your dog at home with strangers and disappear. Basically, don't let a guard dog guard. He will do his job a bit too well! If you have a sight hound on the other hand, you can be sure that the city is going to be very stressful. You need to actively seek out calm spaces for the dog and some space to gallop. She's built for speed and needs to run fast. But for very short durations and in the direction the dog wants, not on a leash or chasing a ball.

Dogs with retriever in them are likely to be perceptive of people. They love finding and retrieving. Games of hide and seek with objects of value thrill them to bits. Shepherds are herders and need to have lightning fast reflexes. Like most farm dogs, they guard too. They make great assets in estates and farms. In a home, extra care needs to be given to their mental stimulation and calm spaces for them to walk in.

So, while we don't have to be breed conscious, it's good to be breed cognizant. It can help identify why your dog wants to do something and take a more understanding approach towards your dog.

Tiggy sporting new silk collar.
Collars are important on INDogs in India to avoid getting mistaken for a free ranging dog

Dog parks are like Holi

Published : Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Mar 9, 2015, 08.26 PM IST

It's Holi! I hear children gathering. Over the sounds of buckets filling up with water, I hear the more enthusiastic of the kids discuss how they are going to drench each other in coloured water. Some have brought little pails and jugs. Others have fancy water pistols. "It's Holi!" they scream and start playing their high energy game.

The excitement kept mounting. I was wondering if it would, and it did - one kid bursts out crying. From what I had overheard, one kid instigated bullying, then a little mob gathered and a shy one got picked on. As if on cue when the kid started crying, more members joined the mob. While this was happening I also heard some of the more cautious ones calling it quits and leaving. In fact, the most cautious kids had opted out right at the start when they heard the plans for the game. The sounds of the crying kid brought adults into the scene. As they tried to do damage control, tensions rose. Two adults argued about what to do with the shy kid while another one was sternly setting boundaries to the instigator. The kids were getting more agitated by it all. And there it was. A shrill cry of a kid at a distance. Hurried footsteps. All seemed okay. But play was to end. All shy kids were removed from the scene. The mob dwindled. It was done. Just like that. In minutes. I thought about it and could not contain a chuckle. Now where have I seen this before?
Young ones of all species have a very similar social dynamic if left to interact unsupervised. Energies rise. An instigator invariably emerges and finds a shy one to pick on. A small mob gathers. Others who do not want to be part of this style of play just opt out. Adults invariably intervene at this point, adding to the stress. Eventually, the adults decide to break it up.


I think about the kids and wonder what would have happened if this game had to happen in a locked room and the calmer and cautious kids could not leave. What if adults never intervened and the shy kids did not get taken away? What would this have done to all the reluctant participants?


If you are ever in or near a dog park, observe the dogs. Especially when tensions rise. You will see these roles. Which one would your dog be? The shy one? The instigator? The mobster? The reluctant participant?


Identifying and removing the instigator is not only a tall ask, but also an inadequate response to the situation. When fights break out, the first to leave must be the shy dogs. Right on their heels must be the cautious participants who do not want to join the mob. That would leave behind just the instigator and the mob. If they are allowed to continue, they are likely to identify one of their own to pick on. It's just the way mobs work. If you defuse the mob, who's left?


Mobs can be avoided if playmates are paired well, play groups limited to two and playtime is about exploring together - exploring each other's walk routes, bus depots, parking lots or even the lovely cross-country trails just an hour outside the city. Exploring keeps hyperactive minds busy, engaged and helps with social bonding. It's like us watching movies with friends.

Dog parks are like Holi play. Perhaps okay for one day in a year, if supervised, session kept short and the shy, cautious and reluctant ones removed as energy escalates.

The Terrible Teens

Mar 03 2015 : Mirror (Bangalore)

"They are not dangerous. They are teenagers!“ This line just keeps replaying itself in my mind as I wind up my classes in North Carolina to return to Bengaluru.

Teenagers can be a handful, irrespective of the species.But when we don't recognise that with dogs, it can result in a lot of unnecessary unpleasantness and even abandonment of the dog. Avoid all the unpleasantness by equipping yourself with the right tools and knowledge.

The teenage period of a dog is from 12 to 18 months.During this period, expect your teen to be a teen hormonal and emotional. Don't be surprised if an ecstatic puppy suddenly flips and starts sulking for no apparent reason. Expect plenty of drama. All boundaries will be tested. The immaturity of a puppy in the body of an adult. Challenging? I know! But it will pass.

Teenage gets easier if your dog has the necessary good habits well before he hits that phase. Six to twelve months is a great time to start preparing your pup.

First up bite inhibition. Your puppy should have had the opportunity to learn this from his mother and siblings.If he has not had ample opportunity to learn that, make it your priority. Trying to teach this to a teenager can be potentially dangerous to people and the dog.

Entering teen months with a dog that does not know how to walk well on a loose leash is another source of great stress.It's a vicious cycle that companion dogs and guardians get into. A dog walking poorly on a leash results in owners pulling the dog more. That causes the dogs to pull more.This quickly spirals down to a battle of strength. While such battles may be good for upper body workout, they are terrible for dog-people relationships. It's also very damaging to the neck of a dog, having a ripple effect on the entire body and behaviour of the dog. Invest in comfortable, good quality equipment and do some rapid, intense intervention to learn the right technique of walking a dog. Habits need at least three weeks to change. So go ahead, pencil that in right now in your calendar and get cracking on it. You will thank yourself for having done that.

Environmental and social exposure given to your dog before teenage will determine how well he handles himself in the different situations he finds himself in. If he has been in these situations during his puppyhood and taught himself how to cope, then he is more likely to carry over some of that learning to his teenage and to exhibit more predictable behaviour. Common situations that dogs need to learn to cope with are greeting visitors, being around other dogs, being around children in the family, car rides etc. During walks, the dog needs to have learnt how to pass people, other dogs on leash, street dogs, cows, traffic and other common distractions.

Once you have prepared well for the teen period, then sit tight, tell yourself that the roller coaster ride starts now. Find other experienced pet parents to be able to vent to on those frustrating days. Keep a behaviourist's number handy. If you weather it, you are in for a life of unconditional unadulterated love that everyone deserves to experience at least once in their life. If you prepare well, that experience is just a teen away.