In a first, the Calcutta Canine Club dog show was held in New Town. The championship that’s usually held in Science City was held at NKDA’s football club in AD Block and participants and organisers alike seemed pleased with the move.
“Our dates clash with an industrial trade fair that’s also held at Science City. The venue would get too crowded, the space was constricted and there would be problems parking and hailing cabs to go home,” said secretary of Calcutta Canine Club Shib Sankar Chatterjee.
So it was over to New Town, where they found the park larger and facilities better. “We’ve already booked the ground a second time for our upcoming show between December 12 and 15,” he said.
An Alaskan Malamute stares at the camera. Brinda Sarkar
Tress talk
Sundari, the Shih Tzu, was snoozing but woke up at the aroma of Rhishita Kundu’s biriyani. “She loves the chicken in biriyani, although she’s allowed very little,” said Rhishita, tearing a small piece to offer her.
Sundari’s silky fur drew much attention and Rhishita confessed that grooming her took way longer than managing her own tresses. The dog’s pampering ritual involves a bath, drying with both a pet blower and a human hair dryer, and a meticulous grooming session twice or thrice a week. “It takes eight hours every time,” said the girl taking her banking exams.
But while most dog groomers are male, Swarupa Mazumder was seen giving finishing touches to another Shih Tzu, Resham’s, hair. “I’ve been doing this job for five years now. The female touch is good for such artistic work,” she said, returning to the canine resident of One Rajarhat.
Pan India
The show had attracted hopefuls from across the country. Loki and Charles, both Jack Russel Terriers, had come from Madurai and took home trophies that were taller than themselves! “This is the best possible family dog, especially for those living in flats. It’s becoming popular in south India of late,” said Ramanan Muthusamy who had got them. “Jack Russels are so expressive that I feel they’re half human.”
A mother-son duo of German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) had come from Assam. “I have nine GSDs, three Belgian Melanois, and a Golden Retriever,” said Nayan Jyoti Das. “Not only do I train them locally, but trainer Tapabrata Bhattacharya comes over from Calcutta once a month for advanced sessions.
Bhattacharya, his trainer, noted that GSDs were almost back to their pre-pandemic popularity now and Saptadeep Pal, a dog behaviourist, was glad to agree. “I have other breeds too, as pets and clients, but GSDs are so intelligent that they’ll make even a poor handler seem like a genius,” he smiled, stroking Alita, an uncommon black GSD.
Breeds big ’n’ small
There was an Alaskan Malamute Simba, big and strong, and a Whippet Chili, slender and dainty. A Pug named Auri was a favourite among kids who stopped to pet and click pictures with her. “Pugs remain popular, but their numbers have dwindled in our city as their puppies are difficult to keep alive. Sometimes the mother doesn’t feed them, so we have to hand-feed them,” said Rajdip Ghosh. “I do breed them, but I love them too much to give away. I end up keeping most of the puppies.”
Nitya Bangur had got a beautiful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a breed she said she wants to promote in the city. “I first came across this breed while watching the Disney film Lady and the Tramp. But there were none of them to bring home and I had to make do with their stuffed toys,” said the lady who has now become a registered breeder of the same. “It’s a magnificent breed, good with kids and the elderly, and deserves widespread recognition and love,” said Nitya.