21 Aug 2017

The founder of Flic K9 Services, a business that deals with breeding and training of dogs, Mr Ishmael Monwametsi said it is important to seek professional advice before one could own a dog and indicated that failure to take care of a dog is animal cruelty.

Speaking in an interview, Mr Monwametsi said stray dogs and those that loiter around in communities indicate that one is not taking good care of them.

He said dogs, like humans, learn conduct from home where they are groomed, which will determine whether they become brave, coward or caring.

Mr Monwametsi indicated that dogs are good animals in terms of protecting humans and property and therefore it is important to teach them to behave in such a way that they will not see every one as a suspect adding that a dog without a good character is a danger to the community.

He indicated that a well-trained dog can socialise well with everyone and can also distinguish between an individual who is a threat and just an ordinary individual, and that it must be able to be controlled by the handler.

He pleaded with dog owners and those intending to own dogs to seek professional advice on the kind of dogs they want and what they can do to the ones they already have in order to create safe and free communities especially for children.

On the other hand, Mr Monwametsi pleaded with dog handlers to know the capabilities, characters and skills of dogs they handle as this will help them manipulate them in terms of protection and entertainment.

He said at Flic K9 they train dogs to be obedient to their owners and those that handle them, to protect properties and people and perform certain exercises for dogs in order to stimulate their mental ability.

He said they also train dogs for security purposes including detecting substances, cellphones, copper and others, tracking and apprehending suspects.

In conclusion Mr Monwametsi pleaded with dog handlers to refrain from being intoxicated with alcohol while handling trained dogs as he indicated that a dog might misinterpret him or her.

He also pleaded with dog owners to feed them well so that they do not leave home. ENDS