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Operation canine
Her eight-month-old labrador, Buddy, is a constant source of embarrassment. He refuses to walk straight. He constantly pulls against the leash during the walks. He starts running after passersby. She has tried all the commands - sit, stand, don’t, say hello. Done a lot of cajoling and sometimes tried to make-do with a small ‘thap’ as well. But, Buddy refuses to budge. Over to dog trainers, no longer does Aarohi need to bother about her pet’s behaviour. He would do the needful, make Buddy walk straight, say a nice hello lifting his left paw, all this and lot more. Even as it sounds easy, it sure isn’t. As an unknown author puts it, the first rule in dog training is to be smarter than the dog! Dog trainers that we speak to swear by their passion and patience - the two ‘must have’ for dog trainers. Hang on, till they reveal more. “Training a dog is a far difficult job than making a kid learn manners,” says Ranbir Bawa from Mohali who has been training dogs for almost 11 year now. The first breed he trained was a labrador, after that he has trained the ferocious, the stubborn, the nice and coy breeds. “Some breeds are quick with learning, while some take a longer time. It, however, depends at which age people send their dog for training,” he shares. Dogs shouldn’t be trained too early as they have tender motor and socialisation skills. “The right time to train a dog is when he is between three to six months old. Once they have crossed this age you might not be able to teach them anything as they develop their own behaviour,” adds Ranbir. Volatire are aggressive and difficult to train as compared to Labradors. To tame an animal one needs to first understand the nature, the age and requirements of the breed. And mind you it comes through training. Can doctors operate without going through the heavy-duty course study? “This answers your question,” smiles Bawa, who did an extensive three-year course on dog training before he decided to take it up as a profession. Ditto for Sonu, another dog trainer, also the president of dog lovers association, who trains dogs for shows as well as otherwise. His first student was his own pet Sheena, a Labrador. “It turned me into a full time dog trainer. And you bet it wasn’t easy, especially when I cannot afford and dare to lose my patience at any cost,” laughs Sonu. “Training is an unpredictable job for I wouldn’t know how a dog will react. They might give in to my commands, dismiss it or vehemently oppose it,” he says. Sonu trains 8-10 dogs in a day and he has clients who want him to give personal attention to their pet. “They invite me over to their place. I train the pet within a given period.” Shiv Kaushal, Limca Book record-holder, who has been training dogs from the age of 13, has some simple fundas. “To begin with, if the soul of the trainer and the dog is not one it is next to impossible to train any breed,” says Shiv. He adds, “Three kinds of dogs are very easy to train - friendly, greedy and broad-minded. Three kinds learn a little slower - fussy, shy and coward while two kinds are impossible to train - aggressive and stubborn; something close to human behaviour.” Coming to the customised training that Shiv offers as per the demand of the client. “There are 26 general lessons in obedience, followed by specialised courses if required. We train dogs in car duty, drug detection, dead body detection, guard duty, personal, industrial and house training,” says Shiv. Whatever you say, everything boils down to the pet. Naturally! “Some dogs take more time to learn, maybe two weeks,” offers Sonu. “I entice them with eggs, chicken and reward them with a good spa or dip in the pool.” Nods Bawa, “Pet-owners should understand that training is not enough, the same should be followed at home as well, like sticking to the diet, not keeping them in leash.” Didn’t we mention…successful dog training is all about being smart. jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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Son shine
All of 12, Manik Kohli has carved a niche for himself in the world of music even before stepping into his teens. Already a master of percussion and musical instruments, he is affectionately hailed as chhote ustad, a title he earned due to his sheer talent. Acclaimed classical guitar player Sanjeev Kohli seems to have passed on his musical genius to his son Manik while teaching drums at a workshop. “I was literally taken aback as I saw three-and-a-half-year old Manik playing the drums to perfection with a mastery over rhythm. This utterly surprised as well as elated me. Call it a coincidence, Manik too started learning from my mentor and guru Pushpa Verma. She is sure he will grow up to be a music director. Manik is now under the tutelage of Pandit Anil,” says the proud father.
A student of Class VII at DPS, Manik has a command over all percussion instruments like tabla, drums, congos, octopad as also on the keyboard, guitar, mouth-organ, besides vocal music. Equally good at studies and sports, Manik is an example for fellow students and young artistes. “My mother, Asha Kohli, and musician father Sanjeev Kohli, are my mentors,” says Manik. His journey started at the age of five when Manik appeared on the Kaka Nikki Times show on ETC Punjabi channel as a celebrity child, and then on Alpha TV show Assin Haan Kamal De. Besides winning top positions in talent hunt competitions in the city, Manik secured the top position in the tricity for the National Bal Shree award. Influenced by his father’s blend of western and Indian classical music, Manik aims to continue the fusion and become a music director in times to come. |
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Magical drops
Rainy hits n
Pyar hua ikrar hua hai (Shree 420) n
Zindagi bhar nahi bhulegi vo barsaat ki raat
(Barsaat Ki Raat) n Rimjhim gire sawan sulag sulag jaye man
(Manzil) n Kate nahin kat te
(Mr India) n Dil hai chota sa (Roja) n
Rimjhim Rimjhim Rumjhum Rumjhum (1942 A Love Story) n
Laga laga laga re ishq rog (Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya)
Pyar hua ikrar hua hai”…the popular Hindi number transports you back to the scene where Raj Kapoor and Nargis are romancing under a big, black umbrella in the rain. In fact, there are many love songs that are shot in the backdrop of rain. So is there any connection between love and rain?
“Of course there is,” comes an emphatic reply from newly wed Rashmeet from Sector 38. “A bit of rain is the perfect excuse for us to go for a long drive, roll down the windows and experience the ecstasy that tiny raindrops create as they hit you,” she shares. Just this week on their way back from office, rain made Rashmeet and her husband Sahil take a detour to as far as Kasauli to have tea together at a humble tea stall. “I don’t know what makes it, but rains do inspire us to sneak out of the chaos of the world,” says Sahil. Gaurav Chahal, who does modelling whenever his private job allows, is another ardent fan of driving in rain, albeit on his bike. “The moment it rains, I just zoom away on my bike to the nearby hills with my girlfriend,” he shares. And mind you his girl is a daredevil too and loves to drive in heavy rain. “After summers, Monsoon is a refreshing change that everyone welcomes in his or her own way,” he smiles. Agrees Harjit Chugh from Sector 8, who has been teaching music for 24 years. “A fresh drizzle is such a welcome relief from the dry heat of May and June. It’s traditionally celebrated with setting up swings and singing folk songs that celebrate love,” she shares. “Music is an expression of emotion, especially love. No wonder our actors break into a romantic song or dance with rain,” she adds. “Even the classical raga Megh Malhar sounds great in Monsoon rather than in the heat of June,” she says. “Rains heightens the feeling of being lonely that leads one to crave for the company of a loved one,” says Sadhna Setia, a homemaker from Phase 9 Mohali. “Though my hands are full with bringing up two kids, yet the pitter-patter of rain still transports me into the world of dreams,” she adds. For Naveen Sharma, rains stand for nostalgia and rejuvenation. “Monsoon does have the strength to banish stress and bring joy to life,” she shares. And what’s the psychology behind all this? “The very sound of rain, greenery and mitti ki khushboo appeals to our senses in more ways than one, which is probably the reason why one longs for love,” says Punita Vadhera, city-based psychologist. mona@tribunemail.com
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Monsoon memories
Monsoon doesn’t promise anything, it’s a reward in itself. When I think of Monsoon, it reminds me of my days in Mussoorie five years back. It was raining heavily since morning. There was nobody at home and I was sitting near the window with a cup of coffee, gazing at the lush green hills of Mussoorie. Suddenly my phone rang and it was my friend Himanshu. We decided to do something exciting and within five minutes Cynosure (my group’s name) was at my place. We decided to go on the terrace and get ourselves drenched. The town was looking so green and clean from the terrace. After three hours of rain dance we all were tired and hungry. I made noodles for all of us along with tea. We chatted for long after that. Vaibhav Jindal, Chandigarh Heaven’s lap
Far away from college lectures and the city, we seven friends were somewhere in heaven’s lap - Morni Hills. That day was wonderful. Cool wind, drizzle, clouds floating in air, tall pine trees and the narrow road were a delight. Slowly, the drizzle gave way to dense fog. The hot month of July had suddenly turned into a chilling December! We enjoyed piping hot tea with the lake right in front of us and clicked photos with our cell phones. The memory of this short trip will never fade away. It was an awesome lifetime
experience. Priyanka Bhatia, Chandigarh Paradise on earth
My cherished memory was in June 2005. I was on my way to our ancestral home in Deolali near Nashik, Maharashtra, for the first time with my mother-in-law. It was drizzling when we started our journey from Mumbai. On the way, passing through the Karjat Ghats in very heavy rain, it was difficult for the driver to manouevre and we had to wait for the rain to subside. But it was worth it. I got off to enjoy the weather and was awe-struck by the beauty of the place. Lush green mountains stood on one side, with seasonal waterfalls flowing across the small roadway down into the deep valley. White misty clouds floating down below made me feel as if I was walking on them. Every time I think of that day my spirit is rejuvenated. Niti
Chandra, Chandigarh Fun together
How can I forget the first Sunday of the last Monsoon! There was nobody on the floor of our three-storey building, where I live with my uncles, aunts and cousins. It was so dark and cloudy. Soon, my cousin entered and we both went out to enjoy the rain, yearning for a heavy downpour. Later, we were given permission to go out for a drive along with other cousins. We all had a gala time eating out and chatting the whole day. Isha
Gulati, Chandigarh
Lifestyle invites responses on the following issue from the readers: What role do siblings play in your life? Please e-mail the responses in around 200 words to
lifestyletribune@gmail.com or post along with your photo and contact number to ‘Relatively Speaking’, Lifestyle, The Tribune, Sector 29,
Chandigarh. The best few responses will be published. |
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Red alert
Red is known to increase the compatibility of women to men and has also been shown to enhance performance in sport. But this is the first time German researchers have found that it works with men too as women find men more sexy when they are dressed in red than any other colour. "Red is typically thought of as a sexy colour for women only," said lead researcher Andrew Elliot at the University of Rochester and University of Munich. "Our findings suggest that the link between red and sex also applies to men," he was quoted by the Telegraph as saying. For their study, the researchers asked a team of 25 men and 32 women to briefly look at a black-and-white photo of a man in a polo shirt, surrounded by a red or white background. Using a nine-point scale, they answered three questions such as how attractive person is, how pleasant is the person to look at and whether they want to meet the person in this picture. Women who looked at a man surrounded by red or white rated the man surrounded by red a little over one point higher on a nine-point scale of attractiveness, a statistically significant bump. But, it had no effect on men. Another experiment featured a man in a colour photo, dressed in either a red or a green shirt. A pool of 55 women rated the man in red as significantly more attractive - on average, nearly one point higher on the same nine-point scale. They also thought he was more desirable would want to have romance with him. Although red means different things in different cultures, the finding of women (but not men) drawn to men in red was consistent across countries. Women in a follow-up study perceived men wearing red T-shirts to be significantly more likely to be high in status than men wearing blue T-shirts, in addition to the men in red seeming more generally and sexually attractive. — PTI
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Renee Writes I am 17 and have joined a new vocational course in Dehradun. I grew up in Punjab and it feels that I don’t belong to this new place. I find it difficult to relate to my classmates and people around. I do not feel accepted by the peer group either. Each time I see a fellow student smiling at me I feel he or she is making fun of me. I cannot concentrate on my work at all. I want to leave the course but I feel my parents will be disappointed. My mother wants me to have this great career. It will really dash her hopes if I leave now. How can I adjust to my environment? Aarti Sharma, Amritsar Please hang on, you cannot allow cultural differences to get the better of you. So what if you were brought up in Punjab? People are the same all over the world. The human being always reacts in a similar fashion in similar situations, no matter where you are born and brought up. Cultural differences only matter on the outside. What makes you think people are making fun of you? This is perhaps your own insecurity. Just ignore it. Reach out to your colleagues. I am sure someone will respond to you. Just stick on there, finish your course, get a good job and do your mother proud. God will definitely help you if you learn to help yourself. Equal rights
I am 34-year-old married woman and have two children, a boy and a girl. My husband is very protective towards my daughter but really different when it comes to my son. He is very harsh on him, wants him to become macho. He is not allowed to cry and even encouraged to bully everyone, use foul language, and generally pick up fights with others to prove that he’s a man. On the other hand my daughter must wear traditional clothes, not be seen with boys and although she is only nine, she has to be conscious of her image. I don’t like it. I want to give them a normal healthy childhood, not one full of strange ideas of girls and boys being different from each other. I don’t know how to handle the situation. Please help. Anamika Mehta,
Panchkula Why are you being a loser? After all they are your children as much as his and you are both supposed to have an equal say in how to bring them up. The issue here does not seem to be only about raising kids, I feel the issue is also about your relationship with your husband. You have to consider that your husband must have been brought up in this fashion and he is only trying to do what he thinks is best according to him. Remember bullies are the biggest cowards. It is because they fear to face the truth that they push other people around. The best thing you can do in the situation is to make some mental affirmations. “Dear God both my kinds should be treated equally and with love”. Keep trying in a roundabout way to tell your husband to show love to children and forget about trying to teach ways. Tell him a loving father is the best way to be. Heal yourself
I am 32-year-old woman who has just been through a divorce. I have a three-year-old daughter. Ever since she was born he started telling me he didn’t want to be with me. At that time of course, I was shattered but somehow pulled myself together. It was hard as from a loving devoted husband, he turned into a complete stranger. He even found a girlfriend. Somehow I felt the situation was too much to deal with and we settled for a mutual separation. He then came to me saying he was sorry and he wanted me back, and feeling that he was genuine I went back. Then he started his old abusive way again until I thought divorce was the only answer. I gave him a very favourable divorce settlement and now that he is married again, I feel I have been cheated. Poorvi Shah,
Panchkula What are you supposed to do in a situation like this except heal some of your wounded pride? Your husband’s emotional problems are obvious. He can’t bear the attention shifting from himself. Just think of it as good riddance and move on. You married the wrong man, count yourself lucky. Imagine spending your whole life in the same pattern and then at age 60 looking back and saying I wish had lived my life otherwise. Yours is a common example of emotional immaturity. Experiences like this make us believe that love is a gamble. But well that’s the way life is . No one knows what’s waiting round the corner. You have much to look forward to. |
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Have you ever broken up with someone romantically and had to face them in the office the next day? Nothing could be more awkward, but an expert suggests ways you can avoid the sticky situation. Michelle Moore, the president of a public relations firm in Columbus, Ohio, works with her divorced husband of 10 years, but doesn't mind it. "We actually make a great team professionally," she says. "My ex appreciates my creativity and public relations skills. I appreciate his design talents and branding instincts," she added. Working with an ex requires a great amount of common sense and maturity. Moore advises against badmouthing an ex or expressing your emotions in public. She suggests praising an ex in front of people, it will help you behave and feel better around him or her. Doing what your are good at is a good idea, instead of fretting about your ex partner. Also, never exchange personal messages on your work computer or phone. "If you have a direct reporting relationship to your ex, you might consider coming clean to that person's superior," says Rosemarie Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder.com. But the scenario is tougher if your ex is also your business partner. Linda Kerns, a Philadelphia divorce lawyer, says that couples who double as business partners need to have the same checks and balances that corporations use. Both parties should have equal access to a company's financial records, at the very least. "It's natural that when you start a new business you're not thinking about this. But relationships don't always work out," Kerns added. — ANI
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Struck by luck
Random surf across the channels will bring to you random faces standing behind the dais, platform, buzzer or whatever…guessing and winning lakhs! One day, one guess, one lucky scratch or even a lucky bath…one chance in life and it changes.
And the change is less idealistic and more material, in form of a luxury car, a date with your favourite Bollywood star or even a seven-digit increase in your bank statement. There is nothing more exciting than being a lucky winner. No raking your brains, no working labouriously or competing with the rest of the world. It's sheer luck, sometimes at your mercy. And how does it feel to be a lucky winner? "A top of the world feeling. For us, this is a huge win. We used to think that it only happens with people who have 'connections', but it's a big thing for common people like us," says Mandeep Kaur, who got lucky with the purchase of Lux soap, as she won a ticket to London to meet Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. However, Mandeep has decided to give the golden ticket to her in-laws, Kulwant Singh and Gurbax Kaur, who express their excitement with controlled giggles. "Going to London is a lifetime opportunity as they have never stepped out of the village. Before this our family's only prized possession was the 21-inch plasma TV set (not won in some scratch scheme though). Now, everybody in Hoshiarpur calls us the Luxwale winners," shares Mandeep. Well, lets just say, luck favours the Lux owner! Another example of hit-and-trial win is Disha Dhar, a class XII student from Panchkula. To win Rs 30,000 in an activity organised by the 94.3 My FM, all she had to do was guess. "Guess a certain amount of money they had enclosed in a box. I just had to send an SMS," she says. Some effort that takes! Anyways, for someone who has never won even a candy worth Re 1, winning a good amount of money means something, "It sure does. You don't expect such things to happen actually. I used to rubbish the idea but then now things have changed." She plans to spend the money in leisure. "Maybe next time I will win more," her hopes are on a high too. And when you are the chosen one, luck may grant you anything, such as a stylish modular flat in a prime location. That's how Ludhiana-based Naushad describes his win as, having just collected the key to his grand new house in Mohali. "It's was just scratch and win," he says. Well, for some of us, even that seems like the toughest job in this world! "I just bought a box of paint and scratched. I never thought I would win a flat," he adds. While most people believe dreams never come true, these lucky winners tell a different story. So, did you get lucky today? nehawalia@tribunemail.com |
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Foreign Impressions
First impressions
After the chaos of New Delhi where I landed, Chandigarh comes across as planned, organised and relatively safer city. What brings you here?
I am studying trading and management back home. In order to become a successful manger, one needs to adjust and adapt to different cultures. So, I am here in the city that's totally new to me and working on a project on HIV AIDS with other foreign interns and locals from AIESEC. Highs and lows
Unlike most of India where people drive like maniacs, Chandigarh is very civilised. But still be it rickshaw-pullers or vendors, they generally try to fleece you, sometimes charging as much as thrice the normal price. Food fundas
I find Indian food spicy, so I am living largely on fast food. There is no place that I am aware that offers Moroccan food. I tried so-called Moroccan tea at one of the joints, but sorry to say it wasn't Moroccan at all. Contrasts and comparisons
Casablanca is one whole city with no division. So Chandigarh with its sectors is something new to me. Also, Casablanca is the financial hub, while Chandigarh has much more to offer - green parks, I got to know that Asia's biggest Cactus garden is in the tricity, which is good to know. For a city even more 'beautiful'
I have experienced that at the time of trouble, there is hardly any assistance available to foreign tourists. I was caught in one, but when cops came to help they couldn't understand English. I had to catch hold of a passerby to get myself translated. I wish there is some assistance available somewhere. mona@tribunemail.com |
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Microchef is India's First CE0035 certified microwave pressure cooker. This innovative kitchen appliance maximises the use of microwave oven, preserves the nutrients that are otherwise lost using an open vessel in the microwave oven helps in cooking meals faster by saving up to 40 per cent more energy and time. "Launching TTK Microchef on a platform like HomeShop18 enabled us to reach out to the entire country. This exclusive range available only on HomeShop18 nationally promises to make cooking a wholesome meal a much easier and faster experience," says Chandru Kalro, executive VP - Marketing, TTK Prestige Limited. — TNS
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No wardrobe is complete without exciting accessories. Come and check Esprit's latest accessories that will complement your look, whether it's classic or casual. This Fall Holiday Esprit brings back the trend of classic accessories translating it into bold and edgy personal style statement. Whether your style is chic and classy, grunge or funky, Esprit brings a refreshing must-have range of bags, shoes, belts and scarves to spruce up any outfit!! Esprit bags come in exciting new styles and shapes that give you a sense of timeless high-street fashion. Ranging from large totes, duffels and small bags with unique patterns and tassels, Esprit's globally sourced, eclectic collection of bags come in the shades of red, grey and refreshing clean basic colors like white and black. Team it up with basic casuals or make work fun with the functional yet trendy handbags from Esprit. Esprit belts is the perfect way to introduce a chic pop of color, texture or bling to any outfit. This waist-wringing item is one of few accessories that can take any outfit up a notch, from fine to fantastic. Wear it along nice long tops, dresses or your regular jeans. Esprit belts have unique designs like buckles for bows, snaps and the usual leather wrap-around for stretchy elastics. They come in exciting shades like brown, white and black. Esprit accessories starts from Rs 590 onwards. — TNS
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Seagram's Blenders Pride Fashion Tour (BPFT) is back! The 6th edition of this much-awaited fashion extravaganza begins on August 7 in the city. Leading Designers Nikhil Shantanu, Neeta Lulla, Raghavendra Rathore, Mandira Wirk, Rahul Gunjan and Asmita Marwah will be showcasing their collections at Hotel Mountview. Bollywood actors Neetu Chandra will walking for designer Neeta Lulla and Jacqueline Fernandez will be walking for Designer Mandira
Wirk. — TNS
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The former Miss India, who did films like Virasat, Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye, Haseena Maan Jaayegi and Taj Mahal, left Bollywood after getting married to Dr Sonu Ahluwalia. She is currently settled in Los Angeles. The actor, who runs her own casting agency has join hands with LA casting and will help the company set up shop in India."We are set to launch a software in India that will see us team up with modeling or acting agencies and provide the bios of talented young professionals on it. People who are looking to cast Indian models or actors in Hollywood or even Indian productions have a professional helping tool to select the talent from a pool," Pooja said in a statement. Her company had acquired Sylvester Stallone and Denise Richards for Sajid Nadiadwala's Kambaqt Ishq last year.— PTI
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Bollywood actor Dia Mirza feels that there is too much hype around size zero in entertainment world. The 28-year-old star, however, says that it is more important to be fit than having a zero figure. "There is so much hype around size zero. Media has a role to play in it. I believe in being fit and I don't like starving myself to look thin," the actor said. Dia, who herself is a size zero, feels that it is difficult to maintain such figure in the long run. "I feel that Indian men like slim girls but it is more important to be fit than to look thin. I remember when my first film Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein released many people told me that I looked chubby but they also tell me that I looked my best in that film," Dia said. The actor said that despite her thin frame she likes to indulge herself with junk food once in a week. — PTI
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"Whenever it pours, she is out there on her 14th floor Lokhandwala apartment balcony, letting go of inhibitions and dancing like crazy. Luckily for Neetu, so nobody can spot her carefree moves even with binoculars," said the source. — IANS
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Aarohi Puru Sharma, a homemaker from Sector-44, has given up her evening walks. Nothing to do with knee or joint pains; neither does she fall in the lethargic lot. Off late though, she detests evening walks. And the reason is pretty amusing for us, albeit not for her.
Want to impress your ladylove? Then dress yourself in red, as a new study has claimed women find the colour more appealing.
Hamza El Hamazaoui, 19, from Casablanca, Morocco, is on a two-month visit to the city. Aiming to be a manager, Hamza is here to interact and adapt to new people and a new culture. Getting along with people from varied backgrounds, he believes, is an essential skill to survive in this world.
HomeShop18, India's premier shopping channel presents yet another product exclusively designed for its ever-growing consumer base. TTK
Prestige, a household name in India, has launched a first of its kind microwave pressure cooker, which will be available only on HomeShop18. TTK Microchef - Microwave pressure cooker is priced at Rs 1,345.
Actor Pooja Batra, who left Bollywood after marriage, has joined hands with a Hollywood casting company to look for new talent from India. The actor will head the India operations of LA Casting, a Los Angeles based company, whose casting credits include films like 500 Days Of Summer, Our Family Wedding, Bob Sinclar's What a Wonderful World music video and Celine Dion's Taking Chances world tour video.
The Mumbai monsoon makes travelling extremely tough and tiring, but actor Neetu Chandra loves to dance in the rain. According to a source, Neetu hates to travel in the rains because she feels they make her feel dull, but she loves dancing on her house balcony whenever it pours in Mumbai.