When Kolkata Dog Tale announced their pet show earlier this year, response was excellent. “Entries poured in but it was a challenge maintaining Covid protocol,” said Debasish Bhattacharya, one of the organisers. “Most of all, the dogs needed exposure to shows as having spent more than a year indoors, many had no concept of roads or the world outside.”
The judges, Neelanjana Goshal and Prasenjit Chatterjee, both felt pet shows were a must in a year when registered shows had been cancelled due to the pandemic. No wonder, the organisers have already announced their upcoming show after the Pujas.
Here are some of the dogs that stole the show earlier this year —
Sholay stars
Abhishek Chakraborty’s first Boxer (in picture) is named Gabbar. “So when we got a female Boxer a few months later, it was only natural for us to name her Basanti, another character from the film Sholay,” smiled Abhishek, adding that their puppies might be named Jai and Veeru in future. But till then, Basanti is the boss. (She refused, in fact to get clicked, even though Gabbar readily obliged.) "I've had German Shepherd Dogs and Spitz before but nothing can match the energy of Boxers," Abhishek smiled.
Home away from home
Cera is officially Sambit Baul’s dog, having travelled with him from Hyderabad after the lockdown got called last year. “But she has got way more attached to my mother now. If she falls ill, Cera will cry and not budge from her side,” Sambit says. “If by chance, I have to relocate to Hyderabad after the pandemic, I don’t think I’ll be able to uproot Cera and take her with me.” The dog, a cross between a Labrador and Pomeranian, impressed visitors, meanwhile, by standing on two legs to “salute” them.
Mr Obedient
Koko, a Golden Retriever from Kharagpur, won the trophy in the obedience round for jumping over hurdles and even through rings of fire. “The secret to his stunning performance is practice,” said owner
Kiranpreet Dhillon. Trainer Shyam Karar said he kept his sessions fun and tried to keep Koko happy. “In return Koko completes his tasks to make us happy,” the trainer smiled, petting the champ.
Sweet hearts
What would a family of sweet-loving members name their Beagles? Why, Laddoo and Sandesh, of course! “Don’t worry, we only give the dogs sugar-free sandesh and that too, once in a blue moon,” assured Saikat Bose. Since the dogs were unable to leave the house during the lockdown, their family arranged for a treadmill for them. Laddoo, who is a year and a half, walks 3km on it a day while the five-month-old Sandesh walks 1.5km. “They find it fun,” smiled Bose.
Fur ball
Snigdha Biswas couldn’t comb her Shih Tzu Fluffy enough. “Fluffy is so friendly that
he’s going to everyone’s lap at this show. While’s that’s just fine, he’s returning to me with his hair all dishevelled,” laughed Snigdha, running her brush through his brown fur one more time.
Snow white
If one had to guess which dog in the show was named Snow, one would certainly not falter. “Bichon Frises are rare in our city and good quality ones are even rarer,” said Ashim Saha, who had got the 16-month old Snow from Ballygunge. Snow not only looked like an angel, but behaved like one too. He stood patiently on his grooming table while Saha used the blow dryer to touch up his coat.