From 20 rules, they are down to just one for Crackle. His endearing ways have made the Bhargava family dote on their handsome canine
They welcomed him home with a Tika and a thali 14 months ago. And the special welcome for the special someone proved just right. Now Crackle the golden retriever is a very important member of the Bhargava family. Says Salil Bhargava, CEO, Founder, Healyos.com, “My daughter Zoya was scared of dogs. I wanted her to overcome the fear so we did some research and decided on getting a golden retriever. Now she is not afraid of any dog.”
Salil grew up with a dog in the house and wanted Zoya and son Vivaan to enjoy the company of a pet. Wife Rupal Sancheti Bhargava was never into dogs till Crackle happened. “Now I can’t imagine life without him. Just a day or two after Crackle came home, Vivaan hurt himself really bad and was crying loudly. Crackle was so very upset looking at him… it tugged at our hearts. Crackle was just meant to be for us,” she says.
Initially scared of getting into the car, Crackle’s fear was eliminated by the family on his first birthday when they pushed him in the car and took him for a trek. He loved the trek and now, if he sees the car door open, he jumps in. Two people have to work really hard to get him out.
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Given the fact that golden retrievers are used for therapy was a blessing for the family. Says Salil, “I lost my mother sometime after Crackle came home and having him around made it much easier for the kids.” Crackle knows Salil is the boss of the house followed by Rupal, Zoya and then Vivaan. “He listens to Salil much to Zoya’s chargain. And he treats Vivaan like a kid jumping all over him and playing with him. He sleeps in the kids room.”
Crackle begins his mornings with a walk to the bus stop to drop Zoya and Vivaan. Then he hangs around Salil’s office getting royally pampered till the children return. For fun, Crackle takes all the kids toys he can find. “We thought it was teething but he is 14 months old so we know he just likes to chew. We had so many rules set for him in the early days. Im easier with the rules and now we are down to just one- he isn’t allowed in the kitchen,” grins Rupal who is working in the wellness space and runs Little Tribes for kids.
A real baby when it comes to food, sometimes Crackle has to be hand-fed. “I get the house to be quiet when I feed him and Salil tells me Crackle doesn’t really need it to be quiet. The transition to being a pet parent was just so smooth for me that I do everything for him like a kid. He is endearing so you can’t say no. And the most interesting thing is that I’ve never heard him growl!”
That’s one crackling family dog!
Uma Karve Chakranarayan is editor and publisher of Tell Tail, Pune’s only petzine and partner, Petsworld, a pet food and accessories store. She’s fond of animals and is parent to two mixed breed dogs and a Guinea pig. She also looks after homeless dogs in her area.’Furholics’ appears every Saturday on Pune365.
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