Groceries and electronics aren’t the only things that can be ordered at the click of a button — even a golden retriever can arrive at your doorstep in a flash.
‘Rent-a-dog’ is the hottest new business on the block. A small but growing number of entrepreneurs in Delhi are now lending out pedigree dogs to customers who want to soak up their unrequited love and adoration, but without the responsibility of walking, bathing or feeding them.
In three years, Naresh has had 15 ‘sessions’ with Coco. The Shih Tzu Is His ‘Dog Therapist’
“It has changed my life completely. All my friends have met Koko. I have taken her to my office. We play, hug and often spend evenings together,” says Naresh, who runs an IT services company in the city. At the end of the session, he bids goodbye to Koko and begins the rest of his day with renewed energy.
But it was not just the companions that made Avni want to see Coco again and again. The sessions have taken away her fear of dogs, and she has learned to connect with them on an emotional level.
He hires Coco from FurballStory, a pet company that houses four dogs at a farmhouse-cum-pet cafe in Gurugram. Along with Coco, two Golden Retrievers and a German Shepherd from FurballStory have traveled the length and breadth of Delhi-NCR carrying with them the promise of fleeting happiness.
Pet Medicine: A Growing Industry
Individual dog therapy, however, can be just as expensive as hiring a charming Mumbai therapist with three master’s degrees and a Ph.D.
to take Cherish X, is a Delhi based company that provides birthday party decoration services, bouquets and personalized gifts. It also offers ‘Play Dates with Dogs’, which cost Rs 3,700 for two hours of “playtime” with “two therapy dogs” in the comfort of home.
Meanwhile, Fur Ball Story began its foray into the space in 2016 with free sessions in schools.
Animesh Katiyar, CEO, FurballStory, says, “With initiatives like this, we aim to inculcate animal sensitivity in children to make them more empathetic.”
The pet company has since expanded its scope and charges between Rs 2,000-5,000 for two to four-hour therapy sessions. However, it continues to offer free sessions in schools.
“In urban places like Gurgaon, people come from other cities leaving behind their families and pets. We want to create one more inspiration in their lives to feel the unconditional love,” says Katiyar. He insists that FurballStory is much more than a pet rental service and provides much more than mindless entertainment for humans deprived of affection.
There is some merit in Katiyar’s argument. FurBallStory’s rental dogs aren’t just well-groomed pedigrees that are fun to play with—they’re trained animals that are experienced at their jobs.
All four of the dogs at Katiyar have been carefully hand-selected and properly trained to interact with humans, enjoy their company and most importantly, avoid snapping or biting. The selection process is so rigorous that even the parents of the dogs undergo a ‘temperament test’.
Screening gives a better understanding of whether or not a dog can become a pet sitter.
“There are no proper regulations in India, so we follow the Hong Kong stylesheet for therapy dogs and train them accordingly,” says Katiyar.
Dog therapy is gaining a foothold in Gujarat as well. Qi to Happiness Foundation, an Ahmedabad-based pet company, does not rent out its dogs. Instead, it allows customers to see its three golden retrievers directly on the farm as part of the foundation’s ‘Comfort Dog Program’.
“Many families, friends and individuals come to our foundation to take advantage of our Comfort Dog program,” says Ruwab Khemchandani, director of the Qi to Happiness Foundation. She has noticed a marked change in the demeanor of clients after one session with the dogs.
“Dog therapy has many wins. It can even change a person’s posture! By interacting and walking with a dog, a person can see improvements in motor skills,” she says.
lack of rules
However, the jury is still out on how ‘efficient’ and ‘ethical’ this practice is. Activists are concerned that in some places, pet therapy involves sleeping dogs in cramped and windowless rooms, surprisingly indifferent to human touch.
“On the face of it, pet therapy appears to be a great way to help people connect with animals. However, there is always the fear that it will become a money-making business,” says an NGO for animals in New Delhi. , says Neighborhood Woof’s Ayesha Christian.
That said, she’s not “completely averse” to the idea of pet therapy. Like Katiyar, she points out that the business needs “tighter regulation”, which is currently absent in India.
“For starters, it’s important not to generalize dogs. They’re not all the same, and they can’t all make the cut. But in the spirit of making money, attention can quickly shift to cosmetic appearances rather than actual investigation, says Christian.
It’s not easy being a dog therapist
Therapy dogs have their fair share of stressful moments, and days are necessary for their schedules. But who is advocating for them?
Whether it’s breaking glass, a ringing of the doorbell or a loud noise in the house, a sudden trigger can make a dog feel uncomfortable around him. Therapy dogs undergo intense training in order not to lose their temper in such situations.
Katiyar recalls instances where children provoked his dogs by holding their tails and gouging their eyes. However, the dogs remained calm, and their handlers always actively controlled the situation.
FurBallStory makes sure that its dogs are never left alone with a customer. A certified handler is always available to keep the animal under control.
“Dogs who are not very tolerant of humans can start to develop intestinal issues, chronic skin infections and withdrawal behaviors due to stress,” warns Shireen Merchant, a canine behaviorist based in Mumbai. “If an unaccustomed dog begins to live outside providing these services, it can become irritable over time and display extreme stress,” says Merchant.
Katiyar, who is extremely passionate about dogs, recalls when he came across companies that did not care about the welfare of their service animals.
“We also broke ties with another pet therapy service because they only focus on providing the dogs with recourse for fun without any element of developing a relationship with those animals,” he says.
FurballStory and the Qi to Happiness Foundation engage in “continuous training” to keep the dog’s behavior under control. Their team of behaviorists and handlers makes sure the dogs are comfortable and eating well.
Both Khemchandani and Katiyar recommend visiting their farmhouse to meet the dogs.
“An important thing to note is whether the animal is enjoying itself. We can’t get carried away without caring for them,” says Merchant, as she stresses the importance of choosing dogs with the stamina to tolerate human company. talks about.
Khemchandani says that her golden retrievers also have “days off” from work, depending on their mood and level of enthusiasm for that day.
Experts working with stray animals ThePrint spoke to also questioned the imperative need to use pedigree dogs as therapy animals.
“Our street dogs are the easiest to care for and the best at these things. As Indian dogs, their immunity is remarkably better than that of pedigree dogs, and they are far more adapted to the environment,” says Ayesha Christian.
Most pet therapy and pet cafe posters show fancy looking dogs with shiny fur, bright eyes and a large build. An online poster from a pet cafe called Bark Street in Noida, reads like this: “Come with your German Shepherd and get 20 per cent off on your total bill,” an emphasis on expensive playdates with foreigners from upper-class circles. Breeds the urge to give.
But it’s the allure of a well-crafted pedigree that keeps customers coming back for more seasons. In today’s Instagram-perfect world, a companion, even a temporary four-legged best friend, has to look good.
