Doggone it, this dog, Yodha, has degrees!

Training is an important part of any dog’s life. However, ‘communicating’ with the dog can some times be a very difficult job. Mastering the skill of training a dog to its optimum level is city-based trainer, Mantravadi Chandra Shekhar, whose pet Yodha, recently got certified in an 

international sport called Protection Sports Association (PSA). 

PSA is a protection sport that originated in the USA. The sport includes a courage test, obedience test, a chase and attack after decoys, and other such exercises, which only well-trained dogs can perform. The three-year-old Belgian Malinois has been trained in services such as drugs, explosives detection, assault dogs, anti naxalite squad dogs etc.

Talking about how his journey as a trainer started, Chandra Shekhar says, “When I was a teenager I fell in love with the concept of ‘communicating’ with dogs. The fact that a dog can understand human language and follow someone’s instructions to the T fascinated him, and he wanted to take it up as a career.” Sharing how he got a Beagle home for the first time Chandra Shekhar shared that he trained the dog in such a way that he wouldn’t bark or run around the house. His grandfather did not come to know about the dog for six months. “One day I forgot to shut the door and my grandfather found out,” he says. 

Interestingly, Yodha is the son of Chandra Shekhar’s other pet, Czar, who was the first dog in India to get certified in PSA. “I used to watch YouTube videos to understand how to train dogs. I also attended a few workshops on the same. It was then that I realised that for more intensive training I needed to have a Belgian Malinois, a breed that is extremely talented, versatile and learns quickly,” Chandra Shekhar says, adding, “I started training Yodha since he was a puppy. Initially, I trained him in obedience, where I asked him to do the basic stuff such as sitting down, staying, fetching and waiting. Once he was done with the obedience training, I started training him in combat.”

Giving a peek into Yodha’s training, Chandra Shekhar shares, “Yodha has to do many tough physical as well as mental exercises, so as to react to any accident appropriately. For example, if I and Yodha are on the road and someone tries 

to attack me with a stick, the dog wouldn’t run away but will instead bite their arm and hold on to them tight. The attacker would also try to hurt the dog too, but he would stay in the game. Yodha would only let go on my command.”

Despite all the rough training, Yodha, just like any other dog, loves to play and spend time with Chandra Shekhar. “He loves to play and run. In fact, although there are many people around him, he loves to play with me. Spending time helps with bonding the dog and they naturally start feeling protective about you,” concludes Chandra Shekhar.