A royal obsession

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They say that a dog is a man’s best friend. A blind man would definitely vouch for this — for him, a dog is his soulmate and without one, his life would be incomplete. Abhimanyu Senthil from Coimbatore has taken his love for these

four-legged creatures to the next level by breeding 14 Great Danes. The Great Dane — also called the German Mastiff, is known for its great size, well-formed muscular body and power. Back in the day, they belonged to royalty because of their size. Abhi shares with us his love for these dogs — about how he trains them and keeps them healthy; and what a dog lover should to do so that his dog stays loyal.
“I have always loved dogs, and now at 22, I have bred close to 18 different breeds of dogs, loving every moment that I shared with them,” says the dog lover. “My passion for Great Danes however is very recent; they are traditionally a King’s dogs. With their size and height, they can seem rather intimidating, but they are actually the most affectionate of animals. I have them in every colour — blue, fawn, brindle, black, harlequin - they are just stunning to look at”.
“Training these dogs is something that people should get right the first time around,” says Abhi. “A dog begins to listen and learn from when they are as young as two-months-old, right up to 11 months, which is considered to be the teens for a dog. And just like any youngster, you need to mould and shape — not punishing, but just teaching them to be disciplined.
Having 14 dogs is not easy. They might have a lot of place to run around and play, but it is important that they learn to be disciplined.”
About the health of these Danes, Abhi says, “We feed them a very balanced diet. It is not just meat and milk; we give them protein powder made by Amway, as well as a balanced course of meals. Every month, a vet comes in to check on them.”
A tip for the dog lover — never give your dog to a trainer. Abhi explains, “People do not need to appoint a trainer. People tend to neglect the dog once it crosses a certain age and hand it over to a trainer, don’t do that. A dog is like a human being and it likes to go out as well — take it out for a walk in the evening, same time everyday, and you will see how obedient the dog becomes.”
Are you thinking of teaching your dog some tricks? “Don’t just teach it to sit and stand. Dogs are capable of more. Remember a dog is a protector and will be there for you until they die, they are built that way,” says Abhi, in conclusion.