The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : The pet obeys the right master Pet obeys the right master

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 08, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

The pet obeys the right master Pet obeys the right master

P. Oppili

Police gave up on it, but Tyson wins prize in obedience test The dog had attacked the trainer on two occasions, and he was afraid to handle it anymore.

CHENNAI: Six months ago when M. Rajendra Prasad bought Tyson, a four-year-old Dobermann, at an auction, many thought he would regret his decision.

For, the police had given up on the dog. But Mr. Prasad proved the sceptics wrong and Tyson won the second prize in the obedience test at the Madras Canine Club's annual Championship Dog Show, which began at the University Union Grounds, Chetput, on Saturday.

Mr. Prasad said apparently there was some problem between the handler and the dog. Tyson had attacked the handler on at least two occasions and he was afraid to handle it anymore.

The second handler also refused go near Tyson, fearing attack. A veterinarian in the Madras Veterinary College certified that the dog was suffering from a psychological disorder and induced aggression and was unfit for active police work.

Sathish Babu, Director, Vaman's Dog Training Institute, said Tyson created problems owing to the poor understanding between the handler and the dog. Building bondage with the pet was the most important aspect of canine rearing, he said. The owner of the pet should stand by the animal whenever it needed him. It would extend the same kind of protection to its owner, he said.

Mr. Rajendra Prasad, a resident of Pallippattu in Tiruvallur district, said that on the day when the Dobermann was bought at the auction, he took it home and that night he slept next to the dog. There was absolutely no problem, he said.

At the obedience tests on Saturday, the judge gave commands, which Tyson obeyed in near accurate manner. In fact, during practice Tyson even obeyed the commands of the trainer's son, aged only about three years.

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