Rosemarie Tang
From training tigers in Thailand and working with camels in India to founding the first dog-training school in Southeast Asia, animal trainer and behavior counselor Rosemarie Tang has done it all. Tang talks to Joanna Lam about the best ways to communicate with our furry friends.
HK Magazine: What makes you like to work with animals, particularly dogs, so much?
Rosemarie Tang: Basically, I grew up as a “wild child.” I used to live to Kam Tin in the New Territories when I was a kid, and there were around 30 to 40 dogs in the neighborhood. So I grew up with them! My parents are both animal lovers, and we used to have five dogs in the house.
HK: Do you feel like there’s a special connection between you and animals?
RT: I wouldn’t say I have a special sixth sense that helps me talk in animal languages or anything. But I can usually understand them better by addressing their needs attentively, such as finding out the reason the dog is barking furiously instead of just trying to make it quiet.
HK: What is the most satisfying part of training animals and counseling them?
RT: I would say the most satisfying part is the bond that I help to build between the pet owner and the pet. Most of the time when pet owners come to me for help, they are really frustrated and fed up with their pets’ negative behavior. It usually takes a relatively long period of time to improve the relationship, but it is a very enjoyable experience.
HK: What are the common mistakes that are made by pet owners that potentially contribute to the poor relationship between the pet owners and pets?
RT: One common mistake is that pet owners often overly humanize their pets and expect too much from them. As a result, pet owners often become more frustrated and less patient with their pets. It is also very easy for pet owners to overlook the good behavior of their pets and instead mainly focus on their negative performance. In fact, since dogs learn from experience, it is very important to acknowledge your dog’s positive behavior and give compliments or rewards to them.
HK: Tell us the most challenging experience in animal training so far.
RT: I will have to mention the Guinness World Record-breaking attempt when I had to teach the largest dog obedience lesson, which involved 354 dogs and their handlers. It was a rather difficult task but it was a very fun and unforgettable experience! And big thanks to my co-trainer Martin Ely—I wouldn’t have been able to achieve that without him!
HK: We often hear that some pet owners abuse and abandon their pets. Do you think that’s because they don’t know how to develop a good relationship with them or simply don’t have time?
RT: It is easy to blame it on the hectic lifestyle and stressful working culture in Hong Kong, but pet owners shouldn’t make that an excuse for not spending time with their pets or even giving them up casually.