Selfless Souls
One of the pioneers of dog training in India, Shirin Merchant is the only Asian to gain accreditation from the prestigious Kennel Club of England Accreditation Scheme for Trainers. In the trade for over 16 years, Merchant, based in Mumbai, is the brain behind Canine for Care, the very first organisation in India to train dogs for search-rescue missions and as companions to assist differently-abled people.
Q: You are not a typical dog trainer. You are a world-renowned, new-age consultant who is one of India’s few if only, qualified practising canine behaviour counselors. You help dogs (and the people who live with them) live happier lives. In the 20 or so years that you have been in business, you have seen it all – over 6,000 dogs with breeds ranging from the feisty Pomeranian to the shy Samoyed – including angry dogs, sad dogs, naughty dogs, and thousands more dog owners, some of them plain bonkers. How did you start?
As a young child, I always knew I wanted to work with animals. I just never knew how to make that dream come true as the only option for a career in India with animals was to become a veterinarian. I completed my B.Sc. in Zoology and Animal Biology from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai in 1999. I always loved animals, having grown up in a home where there were always dogs around. Twenty years ago, I met John Rogerson, one of the world’s leading animal behaviourists, and trained under him. He inspired me to take up training as a profession, and I went on to be the youngest member of The Northern Centre for Animal Behavior, England, and The Pet Behavior Institute, England. Today, I am Rogerson’s associate.
Q: At a time when there were barely any women in the trade, you took up dog training as a career option. What inspired you to join such an offbeat and unconventional career?
When I started working in the field of canine behaviour, I had no idea that I was a pioneer, I just enjoyed my work and I am passionate about making a change in a dog's life. Like I mentioned earlier, as a kid, I grew up around dog lovers. My family had one when we lived in Pune (I now have eight). But the turning point came 16 years ago, when John Rogerson, one of the world’s best canine trainers and behaviourists did a workshop in Mumbai. I was one of the few girls attending it and won the Best Handler award there. John suggested I visit England for further training as there were no training schools in India. I studied at the Northern Centre for Animal Behaviour and The Pet Behaviour Institute in England for four years. When I came back and started working, I was just 20. Trainers around me were all men mostly in their 50s, who looked down upon me. There were a lot of people who scoffed at my ideas or mocked my choice of work and even laughed at dog training being a lowly profession. But I let my work do the talking- 25 years later, those very people have changed their opinions and are now acknowledging this career as a smart choice for any dog lover.
Q: Your ‘Canines Can Care’ foundation is a year short of completing 20. What are its biggest milestones?
I started ‘Canines Can Care’ when I got back from England. The training scenario was lagging by ages. There were a lot of notions to be broken — from the mindsets to old-fashioned training methods like using choke chains, and trainers taking pets away from their owners to train them. We began by introducing ‘reward-based training’. We taught our assist dogs to respond to 50 commands like — covering a person with a blanket, switching on lights, opening and closing doors, and even dialing an emergency number. I remember this one dog named Magic, who we trained to assist an eight-year-old boy with a spinal cord disability. If he collapsed, Magic was trained to put his nose between the legs and the chest, leverage himself, and push the boy back up. In case the boy fell, Magic was trained to run and get his mother or the nearest person around. We were also actively involved in the Bhuj earthquake rescues in 2002. We are now taking our dogs to corporate training sessions on communication, and leadership skills. We are among the only three organisations in the world that do this. Over the past 25 years, there have been many moments that are milestones, from pioneering the concept of assistance dogs and civilian search and rescue dogs in India to starting India's first magazine for dog lovers and conceptualising trainer and behaviour courses for dog lovers. I have done Tedx talks and been a speaker at prestigious events in America, Sri Lanka, and India. But all of these milestones are nothing compared to when a pet parent calls or messages to say their dog is happier and their problems are sorted. For me, those instances are the milestones I hold dear.
Q: How much time do you need to put into training a canine? What qualities does one need to train a dog?
No two dogs are the same. But basic training for a pup less than six months old can be accomplished in two to three months. Search and rescue training as well as assistance training can take up to two years. As far as qualities go — all you need is love. Knowledge can be gained.
Q: What’s the most satisfying part of your vocation? Have you had any bad experiences?
The best part of the job is to see my clients laugh or cry with joy when they see the change in their pet post-training. Also, when I see gratitude in the dogs’ eyes when they succeed in understanding and solving a problem is a reward. I remember a hyperactive one, also called Magic, who would drive people nuts. I trained him and gave him to a paraplegic girl, who had lost her parents in a terrible accident. Magic became a pillar of strength to her. Dogs, like humans, need a purpose in life. My worst experiences have not been with dogs but with their owners and their attitudes. Although I have come across some quirky ones too — like the guy who wanted me to train his dog to push his mother-in-law from the balcony, a Mastiff who bit only pretty women on their bums, and a Parsi lady’s dog who barked only at dark-skinned people.
Q: What is your message to those who wish to take on a new challenge in life?
I can only hope for a kinder country, whether it is kindness towards each other or animals. I do have a Therapy Dog team and we often visit old age homes, schools, and colleges to help spread joy and education. A message to individuals who wish to take on a new challenge in life - Just having a dream is no longer enough to make it come true. You must have grit, and dedication, put in tons of hard work, and be ready for some failures in life to make that dream a reality. Don't ever think any success will come your way easily - it takes effort and sacrifice.
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