Happy Puppers

06/05/2024

Vote for your favourite outfit!

Though it’s not natural for dogs to wear clothing, a lot of pet parents do want to occasionally dress up their dogs.

While I believe it’s totally harmless to put on some clothing or accessory occasionally, it is important that the dog don’t get stressed in the process.

The key to making it enjoyable for your dog to wear something is very simple - build positive associations, make it a fun process, ensure it’s a good fit and does not cause physical discomfort.

Though most of the times it’s for fun, sometimes accessories can have a utilitarian role.

[dog clothing, dogs, anthropomorphism, companion dogs, pet parent]

Do you clothe your dogs?

23/04/2024

When Vanilla was about 4 months old, she met her first friend Ceasar - a handsome golden retriever puppy about almost the same age as vanilla.

They met almost every weekend to play and said a hello to each other on every walk. Ceasar had even run away from@home once and turned up at our doorstep!

Today, this sweet boi crossed the rainbow bridge and we still in disbelief. We met him just two days ago and he was his usual goofy self. We will miss him so much.

Run free Ceasar!!

09/04/2024

Her Highness Vanilla is everyone’s Secret-keeper 🤣

Interpersonal skills?

28/03/2024

Throwback to our first road trip to Himachal in 2019.
not only experienced snow but also enjoyed rafting in Kullu, camel ride in Pushkar and sunset sail in Mumbai.

While so many people travel with their dogs these days, this trip was do special for us. It was my first long drive to North India. It was just my mom and I with the dogs.

27/03/2024

05/03/2024

A weekend well spent!

Coco and I were so honoured to be at the wonderful event organised by Rotary Bangalore as a part of their Mental Health Initiative program. We spoke about how dogs can help heal, how they can be a part of therapy and how dogs can be identified and trained to be Therapy dogs.

Coco worked his charm on the crowd and was such a good boi man throughout! So proud of him.

Thank you Rota

Do you want to know more about therapy dogs? Do you have a dog who you think can be a good therapy dog? DM us right away!

26/02/2024

After 7 years of being Vanilla’s human, we started a new journey at the International Advanced Scent Detection Course.

So much learning. So much fun. So much inspiration watching everyone working with their dogs!

I saw a side of my dog that I had never imagined. She has never been a difficult dog to manage but I have never really “trained” her. To be honest, I never believed I could train her.

On the course, I saw what an amazing working dog she can be! I realised what a wonderful team we can be! We haven’t reached our destination but Vanilla and I have started off on a beautiful journey together!

Thank you .dogtraining for being the guiding star in our lives and helping me believe in myself and my dog ❤️

13/01/2024

They say experience is the best teacher. But what about learning from over 25 years of experience of the best teacher? Priceless!
dogtraining talked us through some of the most challenging cases over the last 6 days. Lessons on dogs, humans, psychological, physiology, humility, kindness… the list is endless!

And learning alongside some of the best dog behaviourists is the icing on the cake!

Shirin, I can’t think of words to thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge. You continue to inspire me to become a better version of myself. You are my rock!

13/01/2024

Posted • .dogtraining 3 things in life are always certain ➡️ Death, Taxes and Puppies turning your world upside down 😂🐶

My 5 day online course will turn you into a puppy pro, learning key techniques to train any puppy into a well behaved member of the family

On completing the course, students will also receive a soft copy of their certification from me.

Sessions will be live on ZOOM from 14th to 18th Jan.

Swipe for details // DM, WhatsApp or email to register!

30/12/2023

Do you know that puzzles can help dogs in more than one way?

Puzzles:
- Provide mental stimulation
- Reduces boredom
- Helps the dog calm down
- Slows down eating
- Builds confidence
- Teaches problem solving
- Provides a fun and easy way to bond
- Keeps the brain active

Has your furry companion experienced the joy of solving puzzles yet?

DM us today for a puzzle session

28/12/2023

We Woof veggies! Do you know that including veggies is good for your dog’s health?

have one or more veggies almost everyday.

How many of these veggies do you include in your doggy’s diet?

Drop a ❤️ if you would like us to share some recipes that you can enjoy with your furry companion

Got a veggie recipe that your fur ball loves? Share it in the comments

27/12/2023

Throwback to our first road trip to Manali with the dogs - 2 dogs, two women, one of which is a senior citizen.

From our first train journey together, to making new friends, to surreal experiences in the snow, to rafting in the chilling waters of River Beas, to going crazy in the deserts of Pushkar, to sailing into the Sunset in Mumbai, it was such a memorable trip. So full of adventures and experiences and learning.

First time I drove so many kms all by myself, in the rain, in the mountains, in the snow and in the dark.

Today when I look back, I can’t but feel so blessed that the doggos and my mom were so accommodating.

This was a trip that changed my perspective so much and the final push I needed to say goodbye to my corporate job forever - my moment!

Considering as a career? Sign up for the upcoming Professional Canine Trainer course by nine other than .dogtraining in Jan 2024.

15/12/2023

Today at the kids had their fun-filled Winter Carnival… loads of stalls with variety of yummy snacks!

Luna,Lola and Maya decided to be a part of the event and were such good girls! The pups did not for once jump on anyone or try to go for the food that was literally all around.

So proud of the these young doggos. They are on their way to becoming Therapy dogs and really good ones at that 😊

I truly wish more schools become pet friendly and include pets as a part of the kids’ learning.

03/10/2023

Meet Rocky. He is a sweet indie dog who is friendly with humans.

He has a backyard to run around but hardly gets out of the gate because of his reactivity towards other dogs.

While we work on helping him learn to ignore other dogs, a smart dog like him needs some mental stimulation too!

Rocky explored puzzles for the first time today and is a natural problem solver.

Do you have a dog that needs mental stimulation? Puzzles are great to keep them busy and get their brain working!

DM us today to book a puzzle session!

02/10/2023

Meet Juno, an adorable 4 month old puppy who is extremely nervous and sound-sensitive.

He is so scared that he refuses to step out of the door and runs to hide before the bed at the slightest noise or sight of a stranger. He is also showing signs of resource guarding.

We started working with Juno and the first step is to build trust. Join us on our journey with Juno as we help him become a more confident puppy, explore the world around and grow into a happy dog.

28/09/2023

Humbled and truly blessed to be in the same frame as .dogtraining and sharing the success of such an amazing and challenging project.

I have not only learnt about dogs and dog training from her but so many valuable life lessons. Anyone who has attended her courses will agree with me on this 😊

Shirin, I can never thank you enough. You are the best teacher, mentor, friend, philosopher and guide one can ever ask for! I am truly indebted to you!

27/09/2023

Such a proud moment to witness .dogtraining being awarded for her amazing work. Braking stereotypes and succeeding in things where many have tried and failed before, she truly is a pioneer.

What a joy it was to see the room full of people in awe of her work!

Thank you Shirin. You are such an inspiration!

05/09/2023

Checkout the vibrant collar and leash are donning!

These super-soft comfortable fabric martingale collars are from

We love how soft it is both on the dog’s neck as well as our hand. Head to their page and give their collection a look.

15/08/2023

Little Alpha went vegetable shopping with his hooman today.

As a part of our puppy training course, we try to take the puppies to different places and expose them to variety of people, smells and sounds.

Socialisation is also getting them to be comfortable with the things that they may come across later in their life.

It’s a tiny step you can take now towards ensuring they have a happy and stress-free life.

Got a puppy home? DM is today to raise a well-behaved happy dog.

27/07/2023

Throwback to our visit to during our trip in 2021

This is my second visit to without and I am miss them so much!

The dogs had so many new experiences and we look forward to many more.

Knowing that my dogs and I can manage any situation that may arise gives me the confidence to take them places and THAT comes from working with the dog as a team.

Never underestimate the power of building a solid relationship with your dog.

23/04/2023

Short of words to express the gratitude I feel as I complete the Advanced Canine Behaviour Course Level 3

In 2018 when I went to crying about my dogs never did I imagine continuing my journey in learning about dogs and their behaviour let alone work with them. Thank you Shirin for getting me started on this journey.

Thank you Shirin for ALWAYS being there. For reminding us to be kind, not just to animals and others around us but even to ourselves. You have been a guiding light even in the darkest of times.

So honoured and blessed to get to learn from you. You continue to inspire me everyday.

21/02/2023

We were so happy and pleasantly surprised when the dogs were allowed inside the birth home of Mahatma Gandhiji.

The security person had just one thing to say when we asked about dogs being allowed - “Mahatmaji was so kind and compassionate to everyone and every being. How can we not respect his values. Please get the dogs but make sure they don’t trouble anyone”.

I was speechless. I wish more people thought this way.

20/02/2023

Our Gujrat trip ended on a high note. Literally.

13/02/2023

While we mostly travel in car, we still choose the local transportation at times.

While a car might be quiet, an auto might be loud. While you can roll up the windows in your car, while in an auto, the dogs will be exposed to various noises (sometimes louder than what is comfortable for their sensitive ears).

It helps to get them familiar and as comfortable as possible to different experiences. Specially as a pup.

Got home a young pup? Don’t wait for him to be fully vaccinated. Hop into an auto, get on a bike, let him experience the sounds, the wind, the movement of vehicles, etc from the safety of your arms.

Got an older pup who gets stressed with noises or travel? We will be happy to help you make the journeys more comfortable for your furry friend. DM us today for a consult.

08/02/2023

One of the most important things to teach our dogs is to do nothing and simply relax.

This is a crucial skill for our dogs(and us) whether we are at home, on the road or may be at an event.

A dog that’s jumpy all the time not only becomes difficult to manage but also doesn’t get the much needed rest.

We have been working with for a while now and getting them to relax while we go about other things.

Are you struggling with a hyper active doggo that just doesn’t relax? Dm us for a consult.

08/12/2022

3 years ago, today, these little nuggets were born and brought so much joy into our lives.

Watching these young ones grow up with their parents taught me so much.

They inspired us to set up the Enrichment center that so many puppies now enjoy. Observing them helped me become a better trainer. Taking care of them taught me patience.

Sleepless nights. Hours of simply watching them sleep. Being in awe of everything they did. I cherish every moment I spent with these bundles of fur before they joined their forever families.

Can’t be more grateful for all the love and joy. Happy 3rd Birthday puppies!

08/09/2022

After being on the road for close to 19 hours to reach crashed as soon we checked in.

I am so proud of them for handling the long travel so well. But this has taken us years of practice to get here.

Training is not just about commands. We need to start helping our pup to ease into our lifestyle and training is just a way for us to learn to communicate with each other.

Struggling to get your furry companion to adjust to your routine/lifestyle? DM us. We will be happy to help you.

25/08/2022

Throwback Thursday! The time we spent in beautiful Kashmir.

It’s more than a year that we travelled from Kanyakumari to Kashmir with the dogs and we can’t wait to do the trip again.

24/08/2022

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINER COURSE
When I conceptualised India's first Professional Dog Trainer Course in 2005 I had no idea how it would grow. The first batch had only 4 students.
Decades later, I am proud to state that the Shirin Merchant Institute is the largest network of professional dog trainers in India.
The credit all goes to the passionate professionals who have carved out a career in a field they love and believed in themselves.
People often ask me what qualifications they need to join my course. My answer? A genuine love for dogs. The knowledge I will instill in you.
So if you truly love dogs and want to change the trajectory of your life, email me today at info@shirinmerchant
For all you know, a new career could be around the corner for you.

24/08/2022

Aren’t doggos the best listeners ever???

❤️ if you agree

Found this picture in the archive where is reading to the doggos 🐶