Session #3-2 What Living with Pets Reveals (Part 2)

Continuing from last time, we welcomed guest Mr. Sekine, himself a pet owner and host of the new program "Pet Kingdom: Wanda Land " (airing Sundays, 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM, ABC/TV Asahi Network) which began on October 5th. He discussed what is necessary for a society where humans and pets coexist with Think Pet Project member Rei Nagi.

Training is essential for living with pets long-term

Nagi: Golden Retrievers are strong and mischievous, and I remember finding training difficult. How was it with Ryu-kun?

Sekine: It was incredibly tough at first because Iio-kun had spoiled him. Especially during walks, he'd go wild, completely ignoring the pressure on his collar. The force he pulled on the leash even stretched my wedding ring into an oval shape. He had a ferocity like Takeshi Takeuchi (laughs).

Nagi: That's terrifying (laughs). How did you go about training such a Ryle?

Sekine: I felt I needed proper knowledge, so I hired a trainer and learned everything from scratch. It was more like owner training than dog training. I learned the correct way to give commands, the timing, how to walk him properly, and so on.

Nagi: Since pet owners bear the responsibility for a dog's entire life, both the dog and the owner need to grow together, right? Did the training go smoothly?

 

Sekine: When we first got him, Lyle was already 7 months old (Note: We started training when he was nearly 2), so it was challenging in some ways. My wife is the eldest child, so she's good at giving commands. Conversely, I'm the youngest child, so I tended to spoil him, thinking, "If you're okay with it, that's fine." Consequently, there was a world of difference between how Lyle behaved toward my wife and how he behaved toward me. He'd be perfectly calm when walking with my wife, but he'd go wild when walking with me. For a while, neighbors genuinely thought we had two Golden Retrievers. There were times I felt like giving up, but I kept at it with a sense of mission—that the owner has to guide him. Things improved significantly over time. Golden Retrievers are naturally friendly and have great patience. They're also food-motivated, so they'll listen to their owner to get treats, making them relatively easy to train. Once he got used to it, things went smoothly from there.

Nagi: There are truly countless methods and philosophies for training, and it's hard to say what's absolutely right. But no matter how cute and precious they are, not training them isn't just unfortunate for the owner—it's unfortunate for the dog too. If they were trained, there would be so many more places you could go together, so many more things they could do. You're just squandering that potential yourself.

Sekine: Absolutely. I believe pet obesity is a form of abuse. Animals are creatures that constantly crave food, right? But that doesn't mean you should keep feeding them without considering the quantity. It's only natural they'll get sick. You must strictly adhere to not giving more than a set number of grams and adjusting the amount as they age. Ryu's weight has stayed consistently around 30 kilograms. Of course, I want Ryu to live as long as possible, and training is essential for spending happy times with your pet.

Through our program, we also want to solve pet owners' concerns

Nagi: At our ThinkPet Project, we're exploring what kind of support we can provide as a business to create a society that's kind to both people and pets. Mr. Sekine, you seem incredibly knowledgeable as a pet owner. What do you think we must do to realize a society where humans and pets coexist?

Sekine: In Europe and America, some countries ban pet sales in stores or require licenses to own pets. Japan lacks such restrictions, so people sometimes end up getting pets on impulse. But fundamentally, when you take in an animal, you need the resolve to say, "I'm taking responsibility for this animal's entire life." It involves the life of a living creature, so it's not something to decide lightly. I'm not saying retail sales are inherently bad. Ideally, I think it would be great to have a system where, even if not a full license, people could get a pet only after completing a week-long lecture. Some might solidify their resolve through the training, while others might realize midway, "This isn't for me," and decide against it. But considering the animal's future, choosing to give up isn't necessarily a bad thing for either the person or the dog. Furthermore, it would be even better if there were a system offering several follow-up lectures after the pet is brought home. Surprisingly, proper knowledge of commands and common sense like not letting them walk outside off-leash—you might never learn these things unless someone teaches you.

 

Nagi: The off-leash issue frequently comes up in our team discussions too.

Sekine: As a dog owner myself, I can look at a dog walking off-leash and judge, "That dog is well-trained, so it's fine." But people who don't own dogs can't tell that, so they feel uneasy. There's also a complete lack of consideration for people who are afraid of dogs or for small children. I believe a society of coexistence can only be built by thinking about people in different situations than ourselves.

Nagi: I agree. While the joy of pet ownership is undeniable, I want to actively promote the importance of training and work towards realizing a coexistence society that includes everyone, not just pet owners.

Sekine: I also hope to convey these messages through the new program. There are so many things you only realize after getting a pet, and so many worries, right? So, I want to make a show that not only highlights the joy and cuteness of pets but also helps solve pet owners' problems, contributing even a little to a society where people and pets can live more comfortably together.