We finally bought a pet dog, but what should we call her? We
had to choose a name carefully because once the dog gets use to it we cannot
change and it has to be easy and simple. We went through different names like
Lezzy, Rosy, Tuffy, Tommy and such like. But Femy and I were against the names
ending with ‘Y’s. The name Eva came in to my mind as puppy had features like
pearl white fur, jet black eyes with Kajal (black eyeliner) and slim figure. The name was perfect as it matched her feminine appearance
and also for her mischievous side. Everybody
liked the name Eva and soon she also started responding to it. Once a puppy
starts responding to its name that mean it’s time to do the training. People
suggested me to hire a trainer, but I read on the internet that a trainer will
take thousands of Rupees only to teach how to roll and to salute. But what he
cannot teach is the bond and caring between the Master and the Dog. Such kind
of friendship is only achieved by maintaining a relationship beyond being just
a Master.
I have
seen people treat their pets like slaves, first they buy them and then they
curse them for being a liability. They always keep them tied to one place and
feed them on their fixed timings. Here in Bangalore I have see people keeping
their dog in cages and hit them with stick if they weep or bark to come out.
Such people don’t keep dogs because they love animals but because they want to show
others that they can afford to keep a dog. I don’t know about other countries
but here in India I have seen it and experienced it.
When we
had bought Eva, my relatives especially from my wife’s side started criticizing
our decision. One of them even had a Labrador but they started comparing Eva
with their one year old dog, they were not happy to see Eva as our pet. Then
one of my friend had bought a 2 month old Lab, it was a golden color male show
Labrador. I use to take Eva to his place and one day he said that Eva is not
real Labra, she is a hybrid dog. So I
searched the net and found that Eva was a pure American field Labrador. They
are bigger and have little longer mouth than the English Show Labradors which
are short, with longer ears and shorter mouth. I didn’t like the idea of
comparing ‘my dog and your dog’ but as the people and especially other dog owners
started to compete, and I had to jump in the competition regardless of my will.
But to compete I had train her. At first, she only responded
to her name and rest whatever I tell her goes from one ear and out from the other.
I read books and searched internet for tips on how to make a dog listen to you
and I found some clues, the most important was to find words on which she will react. It was obvious that she don’t know our
language. It’s like a Chinese guy talking to an English guy in his own language,
the response the English guy will give was the same what Eva gave. So I started with simple words like ‘Eva
Come’, ‘Eva GO’ ‘Eva Sit’ and she
responded to few. Then whenever I or Femy
use to enter the house she would come running with her rubber toy in her mouth
and shake her body to welcome us, we started calling it ‘Eva Dance’ and to our surprise when we say Eva dance she
will go running find her rubber Toy and start dancing.
But to make a beautiful dog, they
not only need training but also physical exercise. I took Eva to beaches of Alibaug
and made her run in sand and sea water, I gave her practice jumping and
fetching. I started to keep a check on her health and her height, she was
growing fast. I remember when she was
child she was unable to climb on the bed because of its height, she would
always bark for help. Same thing she did when she wanted to get down, one day I
and my friends were in a ‘Joint session’ at my place and Eva was sleeping on
the bed, the smoke made her uneasy so she wanted to get down. But she was
afraid to do so. My friend Devendra saw her standing at the edge of the bed;
she was looking down on the floor trying to figure out how to get down. Looking
at her spirit to jump Devendra started encouraging her, ‘yes Eva Jump, Jump,
jump’. We all were looking at her thinking whether she will jump or ask for
help. But she jumped and crashed face first on the floor but she was happy that
she did and started doing her famous Eva Dance. She understood what my friend
was trying to say, not because she understands English but because she was in
some sort of psychological connection with him. I have seen people calling my
dog and giving her command in English, because they think she understands the
language but this is a totally wrong idea. Eva builds a connection and tries to
understand what people are trying to her say through gestures, emotions and intensity
of the word and it doesn’t have to be English. I some time talk to her in Hindi
and she gives a proper response. Now for example if I want to tell her ‘no Eva stops
biting the shoe’ then I will just say ‘NO’ and shaking my head is disapproval
and she understands what I ‘am trying to say.
So all the dog’s lover out there I hope you find some
important tips on how to be a good dog owner, because dogs are always good
friends.
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| Eva enjoying at Kashid Beach, Alibaug |
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