Jamshedpur: Tata Steel Canines win top honours in Chennai

Jamshedpur, Sep 16: It was a day out for dogs as they exhibited their skills at the Madras Canine Club’s All Breeds Championship Dog Shows held in Chennai and won top honours. Two canines, Beauty and CJ from Tata Steel Kennel, Jamshedpur won all India ‘Best Dog’ and ‘Reserve Dog’ awards from Kennel Club of India at Chennai.

Jamshedpur Kennel Club general secretary Sudipto Sarkar informed that Tata Steel dogs have received the honours in the category of obedient dogs in the competition. He went on to inform that getting this title is a tough task. More than 200 dogs take part in about 20 dog shows organized across the country. Only a few dogs reached the top ten in this championship. Among them, Tata Steel’s dogs won top honours.

Addressing a press meet at Tata Steel Kennel, Jamshedpur premises Sarkar informed that it is not easy to prepare the dogs for the competition. This requires regular training and care. However, even 10 minutes of regular care every day is enough for them.

On the occasion, Abhay Kant Singh, incharge, Tata Steel Kennel, said that they currently have a total of 25 canines consisting of mostly trained Belgian, German Shepherds. They are now focussing on Indian breeds by adding dogs of Rajapalayam breed.

“Canines from the kennel form the Tata Steel Dog Squad. They not only assist in company’s activities but also lend help in district administration’s initiatives in investigation during incidents of crime like murder or robbery. The Tata Steel Dog Squad has proved invaluable in protecting assets in sensitive areas of the company and also immensely aided local administration in crime related tracking duty. The canines go through a well-modulated agility and obedience training, twice a day, at the special training ground,” said Singh.

The Tata Steel Kennel came to life when it raised a Dog squad in May 1969 by acquiring four pups from the Tata Motors (then Telco) Kennel. Tata Steel established a temporary kennel at 3, Hulang Road, Kaiser Bungalow before a permanent Kennel was built in 1971 on a 6 ½ acre plot of land, east of the Jubilee Park.  S K Roy of Bihar Police was the first trainer. Pre-training commences from the age of two months and fully trained canines begin regular dog squad tasks from 18 months onwards. The Tata Steel Kennel takes pride in providing best in class training, handling and other facilities for the canines which includes a zero tolerance to physical hurt of any sort, daily grooming, 24-hour cleanliness procedures, general and specialist veterinary check-ups and scientific diet.