Dog days

Seventeen-month-old Piano (below) was brought from Germany when she was four months old. The price she was bought at, hasn’t been revealed but German Shepherds can cost anywhere between 1,500 to 1,50,0000 euros depending on the pedigree, in Germany. What we know is that the cost of maintaining Piano is a lot. Rs 4,000 is spent on her food (branded) every month, and the cost of her medication can go upto Rs 10,000 a year.

But her owner Priyanka Rahut says that Piano is an investment. “When she mates, her kids will be sold at a higher price, and from that money, I can again invest in her,” says Rahut. Rahut flew down Piano along with her other dog Aragon, who was also brought from Germany, from Kolkata to participate in the 9th Indian Siger Show — a German Shepherd competitive show which is held all over the world. According to a source, all German Shepherds come to India through Petshipping, a German company, at a cost of 700 to 1000 euros per dog.

Though not anywhere close to the Annual German Shepherd dog show held in Germany, which attracts the participation of over 2,000 dogs and an audience of over 8,000 people every year, the dog show held at Andheri Sports Complex on Saturday by the Mumbai Canine Club saw over 120 dogs participate from all over the country and it was attended by several German breeders.