Recently with the release of the Channing Tatum starrer DOG in the USA the film distributors rejoiced because the film did great business and after Covid-19 it’s the best sign for the film industry but there was a cause for alarm amongst the dog lover communities across the world and its echoes have been heard in India too. They were worried people will rush to buy Belgian Malinois, a hunter dog that needs tremendous amount of socializing and training to become a family dog.
The pet lover communities cautioned about people who get inspired to get a dog after watching a film depicting a heartwarming man-dog relationship. They often get small pups home without research about the dog and their training and habitat requirements which leads to a lot of dog abandonment and trauma for the pets. Similarly, several people have opted for huskies as pets which are not at all suitable for our hot and humid Indian climate.
Randeep Hooda, actor, equestrian and a confirmed dog lover says, "A dog is not just a cute puppy you get to play around with for some time and then abandon or neglect it. They are as much a responsibility as the joy they give. What dog you get is totally your choice but one must understand that certain breeds are for a certain climate like St Bernard’s or huskies. Also the size of the dog can be determined by the space you have. In my opinion our desi Mongrel street dogs are best suited for the climate where ever you are and the easiest to look after. They truly are man’s best friend."
Adding to this Malaika Fernandes of Baubau.com, a dog training company says, “A few years ago there was an advertisement with a boxer breed dog (pug) and a baby and a large number of Indians went and bought boxer breed dogs not realising the tremendous health problems that accompany the dog in Indian climate. It led to many abandoning the distraught and traumatized pets or sending them to shelters which also scares the pets and leads to anxiety issues in the animal." She further adds there needs to be diligent research about the dog before people adopt dogs as pets.
Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin who are both making their respective feature directorial debuts with DOG spoke about the film in a statement that reads, “DOG is also a joyful celebration of the friendships we’ve both had with our dogs, and the great road trips we’ve had with each other. In our spare time we’re usually jumping in a truck to find strange and beautiful places and strange and beautiful people, and if not we’re probably watching our favourite classic road movies, like The Last Detail, Y Tu Mama Tambien, or Rain Man. In many ways, DOG is a love letter to our experiences on the road and the films that inspired us to make movies. For us, DOG is a deeply personal movie, but we hope it’s also a movie with genuine heart and humour that everyone can enjoy from start to finish. We hope you join us on the ride!”
Dog starring Channing Tatum will release in India on March 11, 2022.
