Big dog and the city

They love a good run, licking ice-cream cones and guarding the home. In a city of shrinking spaces, owners tell Ayesha Nair and Shradha Sukumaran us why they'd never trade on their life with a big dog

'Big dogs are gentler, robust, friendlier'

Nawab and Chance got their names, in filmi style, from director Sudhir Mishra's titles. When both were born at his house, Sudhir was working on two projects Chance Pe Dance and The Nawab, The Nautch Girl and The John's Company. The projects fell through, but the names stuck.

The two four-year-old Dalmatians, Sudhir says, have individual personalities. "Nawab is complicated, a dreamer and moody. Chance is a fun person; he does what he wants and is possessive."

The director's love beams through, for them and the other nine dogs in this Madh Island family. Mishra used to live with the Dalmatians in a Bandra flat, but decided to gift them space and moved to Madh. "I've always liked big dogs they're gentler, robust, friendly, wrestle with me and help me exercise. The little ones tend to snap," he says. Nawab even swims out to the sea and catches eels. Out of consideration to non-dog lovers, Sudhir has only trained the dogs not to snap and given them a toilet education. "I don't believe in trainers. You have to be a little strict, but they're not show dogs."

'He's an office-goer'
It's ironic. Ace cinematographer Ashok Mehta's German Shepherd Lancer is camera shy. Otherwise devoted to Ashok, he scoots away, refuses to pose with his master and lets out angry howls at the camera's flash.

Six-year-old Lancer has the run of the place at the cinematographer's three-storeyed bungalow office. Every morning he comes in with Ashok and goes back to the Versova apartment in the evening. "He's an office-goer," says Ashok, chuckling.

Lancer came after Ashok's two Afghan hounds, Kali and Rio, passed away. They too were incredibly close to Ashok, even receiving him at the airport whenever he returned home. "They were so elegant, but had the power to kill a leopard. I've always liked big dogs they suit a man. Little dogs, they look nice on people like Rekha!" After the hounds died, Ashok didn't want another dog, but was given Lancer as 'guru dakshina' by an assistant.

However Lancer does like being behind the camera. When he was younger and Ashok was shooting at Mehboob Studios, he would want to sit in the trolley with his master during trolley shots. "I allowed that. But when I had to do a crane shot, he wanted to sit with me. I had to leave him behind!"

'We have a big dog for security reasons'
Shadow, the 11 month-old Neapolitan Mastiff, and Prince, the two-year-old Labrador, greet visitors at Meesha Bakhru's bungalow with a round of barks. Even though Prince is the older of the two, Shadow towers over him.
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Meesha says, "We decided to have a big dog (the Neapolitan Mastiff) for security reasons, since we live in a bungalow. But I decided to keep a Labrador as we had one before and they're very playful." Even though they need a diet of the best quality dog food and regular walks, Meesha says she wouldn't have it any other way.

Shadow commands respect and dogs, including Prince, are a little frightened of him. Meesha says, "Other dogs don't mess around when Shadow is in the lane." But he is unaffected by it all. "People are scared of a big dog. But Shadow is well trained and listens to my father the master of the house," clarifies Meesha.u00a0

'Shops shut down when Max ran out'
At their Vashi bungalow, the Tulis have three Great Danes Max, the seven-year-old, and Dolce and Gabbana, seven months old. The younger dogs get their name from a brand conscious owner. Simrat Tuli says, "We needed a companion for Max, but due to a mix up, we were given a male. Once the female arrived, I couldn't let the male go. So now, we have three dogs."

The Tulis have had both small and big dogs and prefer the latter. Simrat does admit that people get scared when they see three Great Danes out for a walk, but clears that point by stating, "They are very gentle. Once Max ran out of the house and shops shut down. A pani puri wala left his thela and ran, while college kids also cleared the way. But he quietly sat outside the Shiv Sena party office." The three of them love a houseful of people and are good with each other. "I have to wear my night clothes and come meet them as they pounce on me and dirty my clothes. I have also come out a little bruised after playing with them," laughs Simrat. She describes their personality as Max the saint, Gabbana the attention-seeker and Dolce the smart cookie.

'They eat kulfis together'
Fifa, regal and quiet, perks up at the sound of a cat. Don is the proverbial bad boy. Like a restless Marlon Brando, he reacts to "Stellllaaaa! Stellllaaa!" when his walker Dhanney yells it out. Stella is Don's German Shepherd girlfriend from the beach.

Shehzad Merchant's two big dogs are bound only by their easy acceptance of people. Fifa, named after the football body because as a pup she would roll over at a touch, is a nine-year-old German Shepherd. Frisky four-year-old Don was named Dawn, but the other name took over, as did his mischievous side. "German Shepherds are so versatile," says Shehzad, "Don is a Himalayan sheep dog, with traces of a Tibetan mastiff and Border Collie in him." Don was a gift, but Shehzad picked up Fifa because he wanted a German Shepherd after the TV series K-9. Fifa looks out for the more excitable Don.

Shehzad admits big dogs frighten people away, but many also pat the two. They go for runs at Versova beach and eat kulfis at sundown. "Stella is the only one Don will share his ice-cream with," says Shehzad.

'Rex is friendly and obedient'
A loud bark ensues when we enter Uttamesh Mehta's house. It isn't courtesy Rex, the two-year-old Great Dane, but Freddie the Pug. "I think dogs should suit your personality. When we walk on the road, people look at us," says Uttamesh, explaining his choice of a big dog. And Rex does look stunning indeed. However, Uttamesh is quick to admit, "Taking care of a smaller dog would have been easier, but I love Rex."

Explaining Rex's diet, Uttamesh says that he is fed a combination of dog and home food along with a run in the park twice a day. Rex also spends time with his neighbour Cash, a five-year-old St Bernard. But Rex has to keep his distance as Cash can get a little ferocious and dominating.

Uttamesh says, "Rex is friendly and obedient, but still people do get scared of him. He loves people at home and has to have me around, especially to walk him." As if to prove a point, Rex nuzzles up to Uttamesh, while Freddie finds a space close to his favourite Rex.

'He is jealous of my daughter'
Nine-time medal winner and champion dog, six-year old Dalmatian, Oscar gives you a once over sniff and then lets you take a seat. He was a Valentine's Day present from Sachin Nerurkar to his wife, Neeta. Sachin knew that he wanted to gift a big dog, but wasn't sure which one.

His then three-year-old daughter Sneh was fond of the film 101 Dalmatians and after extensive research, Oscar was brought home. "Oscar is a family member. When Sneh was small, she used to ride on his back. Now that she is older he does not allow her," says Sachin. Others in his Thane complex were a little afraid of a big dog, but after six years, children pet and play with Oscar. He is good with other dogs as well and friendly with Great Danes.

Since Oscar competes, he is provided with the highest quality canine food and the best training. Sachin points out that his walk is more like the trot of a horse that the walk of a dog. But that doesn't stop him from being jealous.

"He gets jealous when I greet Sneh before him," laughs Sachin. Sachin now plans to bring home a Rottweiler in addition to the Dalmatian at home, but is awaiting his wife's approval.

'He hides when he does something bad'
Scott knows whom he doesn't like. The garbage picker, other canines, the cold cuts store man and bulky men with hockey sticks. These elicit Scott's growls. To others, strangers or family, this four-year-old Great Dane is serene, despite his size.

"We checked on the internet and decided to have a Great Dane because small dogs bark so much. These are docile and loving, but people are wary of its size," says owner Joel. His mother Juliana says she cured Scott of chewing on furniture by giving him old pillows and soft toys to gnaw at. "His favourite is a bunny rabbit," she says. Today he isn't allowed on the sofas of their Amboli bungalow. "He hides when he's caught doing something bad," says Joel.

Juliane says her husband and three boys help with Scott, or he could be a handful. The big dog has a big breakfast: eight eggs, milk and chapattis. With dog food, chicken, rice, beef forming the rest of his diet, keeping him is expensive, but he's more than family.

"Once at Christmas, he ate up an entire marzipan cake we left on the table," says Juliane. "On his birthday, we gift him a family pack of ice-cream," tells an indulgent Joel.u00a0u00a0

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