How our family dogs can teach us life-changing lessons
I would not have known about the existence of National Dog Day (on August 26), until my mother told me this year when I was visiting my family in Kolkata.
Knowing how proud I am of Phulki - a “desi” adopted by my family from the streets of Delhi who has now evolved into a trained therapy dog - Maa had saved the city’s edition of The Telegraph, which listed the many films that featured canine characters as protagonists. The piece captured my attention and piqued my curiosity enough to merit a Google search on this hitherto unheard of National Dog Day, and I learnt that it celebrates family dogs that save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort.
The celebration of this beautiful and potentially symbiotic relationship between humans and canine companions set me wondering anew why we persist in using the word dog (not to mention bitch) as a term of abuse and deem this culturally acceptable across the world.
I first heard the term "kutta kamina" after I moved to Delhi 17 years ago when the toddler son of my domestic help who had obviously heard it liberally used, decided to add it to his vocabulary. Middle class Bengali sensibilities outraged, I fell upon him asking him where he learnt those awful words to which he smiled angelically, clearly loving the attention he had just attracted. It is another matter that the little boy has now grown into a teenager who adores dogs, and accompanies his mother to our home to play with his best buddy Phulki, whenever he gets time between school and tuitions. I believe this term has not only been erased from his lexicon, he might take on anyone who uses it in his presence.
In Kolkata, where I grew up, the term "leri kutta" was used to describe street dogs and prima facie this appeared to be more a descriptive rather than an inherently abusive category.
But the embedded caste system in the taxonomy of dogs reared its head when folks in some quarters in Kolkata sent the feeler that since we are spending time, energy and resources, we may as well have adopted what in Bengali is called a "bhalo kukur" (literally good dog but read pedigree) rather than some creature we had picked up from a Delhi street side dhaba.
Again another matter that initial skeptics have been turned around now by the charms of Phulki and are now ready to advocate for "desis".
The National Dog Day and our own attitudes towards dogs in general, and "desis" in particular, prompted me to think about Phulki and the magic she has woven not just into our lives, but the lives of hundreds of others who she is touching due to her work as a trained therapy dog.
We - her human pack at home - are delighted to be given this opportunity to share her with those in whose lives she can make a difference, particularly children.
In a path breaking visit to MBCN school Noida, whose management boldly took a leap of faith in inviting Phulki in for therapeutic work, she displayed remarkable patience, compassion and love as she interacted with children with all forms of special needs for several hours at a stretch without any signs of stress.
In a moving tribute, the mother of an autistic child went on record to say that for the first time her son offered a greeting with no prompting and walked up to Phulki to say hello and hug her.
The 'Phulki therapy" was evidently so compelling that she is now contemplating keeping a dog at home as she feels this will make a big difference to her son’s life.
After the visit, the children have named a stuffed dog after Phulki as they eagerly await her next visit and the school has decided to integrate canine-assisted therapy into its formal curriculum.
Inspired by Phulki’s story, several pet parents, cutting across breeds, have contacted us to say that they too would like their dogs to play a role like this. This is indeed a positive indication and I believe the sentiment can be tapped to usher in changing attitudes to canine-assisted therapy.
Such therapy is now being increasingly used by psychologists in the West not just in schools with children who have special needs, but also in senior homes, hospitals and a variety of situations to positively impact mental health and emotional issues.
Clinical studies, including one conducted by the University of Florence, indicate that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and in this case canine-assisted therapy is particularly effective for teenagers while other studies demonstrate its role in improving cognitive, social and emotional functioning and more specifically in dealing with anxiety, depression, loss, grief and substance abuse.
Acceptance of the idea that our canine companions can play a therapeutic role in a variety of situations in India is of course only the beginning of the story. Contrary to popular perception in our country, canine therapy does not consist of walking into a school, home or corporate office with cute little pedigree puppies in tow for everyone to pat.
Reducing therapy work to frisky puppy play trivialises the whole concept and carries the possibility of increasing stress for the puppy that is still learning life skills. The evolution of a puppy into a therapy dog takes months of work with a dog behaviorist and pet families working in close tandem.
A team of psychologists, therapists, educators, pet parents, dog behaviorists and trainers, vets and volunteers have to be willing to come on board to translate the idea of canine-assisted therapy into a viable blueprint for action and record their observations through a series of pilot studies in the Indian context.
In Delhi, we have only just begun!
Pioneered and led by well-known dog behaviorist, Adnan Khan, who has personally trained Phulki from the time she was adopted, such a team has now been formed at Delhi’s K9 School India of which I am a member. This is both in my capacity as Phulki’s mother and as a trained social scientist to offer my time to co-design the pilot studies we are planning as a first step to observe and document this in the Indian context before scaling it up.
Indeed the K9 healers’ project is a pioneering attempt to do three things at the same time. First, to promote the idea of canine-assisted therapy and clarify what it means for the Indian public; second to fight breed specific prejudice by demonstrating that therapy dogs are not born, they are made and desis or Indies can step into this role with perfect grace; and third to initiate small pilot studies to systematically record the impact of such therapy over a fixed time period.
Envisaged as a series of systematic interventions which are customised and based on specific needs, at the core of the project are our canine ambassadors currently comprising two young dogs, both female, trained and nurtured from the time they were puppies. Neither of them are pedigree labradors seen as the first choice to be therapy dogs.
Breaking through stereotypes we work with Stella, the rescue Rottweiler, who is ever-calm and rock steady. Her best friend Phulki, the adopted Indie, is affectionate, playful and a huge hit with children with a range of special needs.
Stella and Phulki offer their services totally free of cost and right now work with children with a range of special needs, children in need of care and protection and in the future we envisage extending their work to children in conflict with the law.
But Stella and Phulki did not just happen. They were both adopted when a few months old and their potential recognised by trained eye of dog behaviorist Adnan Khan, founder and CEO of K9 School India.
Both got an opportunity to be raised in family homes like many other pets. Stella and Phulki were also exposed to a variety of situations where they interacted with both dogs and people in myriad contexts. They have worked with many potential dog handlers including ex-armymen from Nepal who were being posted in Afghanistan with the canine unit and each such opportunity was used to work on their temperament and social skills.
They have both undergone structured training and basic obedience under the watchful and loving guidance of Adnan Khan, and have accepted that some structures and boundaries in their own homes are also part of the game.
Since both are high-energy dogs, they are provided opportunities to “work out” through off leash and supervised playtime with other dogs, swimming and regular walks at least twice a day.
They are fully vaccinated, spayed, regularly groomed and dewormed. Stella and Phulki have been nurtured for months with care and affection and plenty of hard work to get to the point where they have. We were in no rush and stepped in only when we felt both the dogs were ready for this job. We also recognise this is work-in-progress and like parenting, it does not come with a manual. Every moment we learn, adapt, course correct and grow.
As I thank the universe for the gift of Phulki, I recognise that we have a long way to go if the spirit of National Dog Day is to be realised.
Celebrating these amazing beings also involves introspection about our own prejudices and biases, the way we see ourselves and our relationship with another species. It teaches us to open our hearts, accept our mistakes with grace and have the humility to acknowledge that our family dogs can teach us life-changing and life-affirming lessons.