Dubai: An Indian software engineer, who gave up a rewarding career to become a full-time dog behaviourist, reckons it was the best decision of his life.
Rajiv Saini, 46, who earned up Dh45,000 per month as project manager at a Dubai-based firm, said he quit his job last year to give full attention to his passion.
Master of the game
“I learnt about dog obedience, behaviour problem-solving techniques and other essential skills from the master of the game, Cesar Millan in 2013 when I specially went to California to sign up for his classes. The one-and-a-half-week course cost me $6,000. What I learnt from the man is priceless.”
- Rajeev Saini, dog trainer
And what was his family’s reaction when he switched careers ?
“Of course, they were very upset initially. However, they rallied behind me when I convinced them that money is essential for survival, not happiness,” said Saini who claims to have trained hundreds of dogs in the UAE over the years. “Human-cannine relationships are fraught with major challenges because of communication barriers. This is where I step in. My job is to teach people how to communicate with their pets in a language they understand. Dogs have three primary needs, exercise, discipline and affection. Canines understand commands so it is important to set the rules and boundaries in the beginning,” he said.
“Owners have to handle their dogs in a calm, but assertive manner. They should not shower too much love on pets, else they can become lazy and spoilt.”
Saini said every dog breed is programmed to behave in a certain manner. A typical training session lasts for an hour and a half. The pet owner is required to be present throughout the training. “If you want your dog to understand you, you need to understand him first and this can happen only if you learn to communicate with your pet,” he reasoned.
Personal experience
Saini said he took up dog training after his pet dog started behaving aggressively.
“Around the same time I came across a TV show featuring world famous dog whisperer Cesar Millan. I was very impressed by Cesar’s approach and decided to train under him. It was an enriching experience.
Saini’s clients said they have seen a marked difference in the behaviour of their pets.
One of them, Becky Fawcett, said she has benefited immensely from Saini’s classes.
“I was concerned about my one-year-old German Shepherd, Lucky, as he had serious behavioural issues. But a few sessions with Saini changed everything,” said the British expat.
