The Journey Behind India’s Most Trusted Canine Training & Behaviour Rehab Academy
Every transformation movement begins with one person who refuses to look away from a problem.
For National Canine Academy India, that person is Saptadeep Pal – a behaviourist, trainer, competitor, and canine educator whose early life, struggles and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped one of India’s most respected dog-training organisations.
This is the story behind the mission.
A Childhood Built on Movement and Dogs
Saptadeep grew up across India – Kolkata, Surat, and several cities in between – constantly adapting to new cultures, new environments and new beginnings.
Amidst all the shifting, one constant remained: dogs.
His first long-term companion was an indie puppy named Leon, inspired by Kings of Leon.
Leon became the anchor in a childhood full of movement- the friend who taught him loyalty, empathy, communication and the quiet emotional intelligence that later shaped his approach as a dog behaviourist in India.
In Surat, as a teenager, he led a community initiative encouraging residents to adopt and integrate community dogs as security assets – years before “indie adoption” became a movement.
These early experiences laid the foundation for leadership, responsibility and an instinctive understanding of canine behaviour.
The turning point came with a Rottweiler aggression case that would redefine his life.
A family was falling apart – the child was afraid, the parents constantly stressed, and the dog’s unpredictability had created a home filled with tension.
What began as “training a dog” became something far deeper.
As structure returned, the child developed confidence and leadership.
As boundaries were established, the parents stopped fighting.
As clarity was restored, the home healed.
And in that moment, he understood:
Dog training is not about dogs alone.
It is human therapy.
It is emotional rehabilitation.
It is relationship repair.
This single case became the compass that would later shape National Canine Academy India’s philosophy, programs and mission.
The Hard Years That Forged the System
The early years were tough.
There was no industry guidance, no formal support structure, and no financial safety net.
Most people didn’t believe aggression rehabilitation was even possible.
In Eastern India, aggression cases were avoided by trainers – considered too dangerous, unpredictable and complex.
But those were the dogs Saptadeep chose to work with.
He took the bites.
He took the injuries.
He faced pressure from home:
“Why risk your life?”
“Leave the aggressive ones.”
But he stayed.
Because he knew families were suffering.
And dogs were being misunderstood.
These years forced him to build what India lacked – scientific, test-proven behaviour protocols, safety systems, and rehabilitation frameworks now used widely across the Indian dog-training community.
Learning From the World’s Best
To refine his skill and elevate standards in India, he trained under some of the world’s top canine experts:
Mark Connolly – handler clarity, communication & control
Helmut Raiser – legendary working-dog sport philosophy
Jay Jack – emotional literacy, balanced training, humane structure
Ivan Balabanov – precision, drive theory, competitive sport science
These global influences shaped the backbone of National Canine Academy India’s modern methodology – a blend of structure, empathy, behavioural science and leadership tailored to the Indian household.
National Media Recognition – Press & Media
As his expertise grew, national English media began turning to him for guidance.
The Telegraph (T2) – India’s leading English daily, repeatedly featured and quoted him:
“Homeschool your pup: Expert shares some dos and don’ts” — guiding new puppy owners across Kolkata
“Tips to keep pets healthy and happy” — insights on canine stress, anxiety & behaviour during lockdown
“Aggression worry about hungry dogs” — expert views on stray dog behaviour during the pandemic
“Dog show checks into New Town” — commentary on canine temperament, GSD resurgence & training norms
These weren’t promotional appearances.
They cemented him as a nationally-recognised authority in dog behaviour, training and rehabilitation — strengthening NCA India’s E-E-A-T credibility in the public domain.
Milestones That Redefined Indian Dog Training
Earned PSA-PDC title (USA) with Alita, an Indian-bred GSD
Won India’s first RSV-BH titles with Alita and Herkules Von Der Keilhaue
Achieved KCI Companion Dog (CD) with Alita
Achieved KCI C7 obedience title with Herkules
Trained & mentored an owner-handled dog to win a C7 title
These accomplishments represent more than competition wins.
They prove that world-class canine training can be achieved in India, with Indian dogs and Indian handlers.
The Cases That Shaped Him
1. The 5-Foot Warrior vs the 50-Kg Shepherd
A woman with physical disabilities.
A 50-kg GSD named Casper.
A world telling her she couldn’t handle him.
He taught her – thirty times if needed.
Never once losing patience.
She didn’t just learn to handle her dog.
She reclaimed her confidence, identity and power.
2. The Family Who Almost Gave Up on Sherlock
A reactive GSD… unpredictable lunges… a family losing hope.
Four weeks of Board & Train later, their daughter asked:
“Has Saptadeep uncle swapped him with another dog?”
He hadn’t.
He had simply rebuilt the balance — in both the dog and the home.
3. The Spitz Everyone Had Given Up On
Multiple trainers said:
“Adult dogs can’t be trained.”
“Spitzes are like this.”
“Just neuter him.”
But structure and clarity changed everything.
The dog transformed – proving that no dog is beyond hope.
The Vision Behind National Canine Academy India
National Canine Academy India wasn’t created to “train dogs.”
It was built to give: Families clarity, Dogs fairness,
& India – a world-class canine behaviour and training system.
After transforming over 12,000 dogs, the mission remains unchanged:
No family should feel helpless with their dog.
No dog should be given up on.
Today, programs like:
TTDO (Train The Dog Owner)
TYD120 Hybrid Program
Board & Train: Behaviour Rehab & Transformation
are built on behavioural science, leadership, structure and emotional literacy – designed for the Indian dog and the Indian home.
And this is only the beginning.
Saptadeep’s long-term vision is to raise India’s dog-training standard to global levels – making responsible dog ownership, behavioural literacy and canine education accessible across the country.