Remembering Dog Life columnist Harry Kalajian

Harry Kalajian, dog trainer, and columnist for the Boca Beacon since 2018, died Sunday, Sept. 14, after a brief illness.

Kalajian began training dogs professionally in 1986. In a 2023 column for the Beacon, he said he had learned his training through interactions with many English, French and American trainers, as well as some in Europe. “We should remember these dogs live in our environment, with our rules for their safety and others,” he wrote.

He moved to Englewood in 2012, and in 2014 opened Executive Dog Training. He had a following in Canada, where he started the Montreal Dog Trainers Network. Many trainers have followed his work, including Montreal trainer Sandra Dahan. She hired Kalajian because she had a difficult pit bull, Cricket, and needed help.

Kalajian was born in Syria on April 5, 1963, and moved to Canada when he was five years old. He spoke several languages, including Armenian and French.

His wife, Elizabeth, said that he worked in the clothing business before he started training dogs in his 20s. He married Elizabeth in 2014. He has two children in Canada, Michael and Levon Kalajian, and one grandchild.

“He was such a good person, father and husband. A good man,” said Elizabeth.

Elizabeth said that patience was a big part of his knowledge of dealing with so many different types of dogs. “He was just so good with animals and their behavior,” said Elizabeth. “He was very smart and so personable.” She said that he believed that “a dog has a purpose, to be protective and to be there and listen to the people who are in your house.”

Kalajian held dog training classes in town and at Critter Cottage. A number of his classes are on YouTube.

One issue that came up in columns and with owners was whether to let the dog on the couch. Elizabeth said that he believed it was hard to change a dog that is already in what Harry called the “I can do what I want mode.” She said there were rare cases that he was unable to take.

Elizabeth said that after they found out about his illness in May while they were in Canada, he came back to the U.S. “He loved the U.S.,” said Elizabeth. “The U.S. was his biggest dream ever.”

Funeral arrangements are private.

Dog tricks

In his regular columns for the Boca Beacon, Kalajian married common sense with an honest tone that always emphasized the rewards of a good dog, while being honest about their challenges:

• Constructive mental stimulation is better for your dog than a trip to the dog park. Take Fido for a walk, spend time with him and let him have an opportunity to sniff around. Remember, you bought the dog to keep you company and for you to spend time with it.

• Everything is in the tone.

• Don’t feed them from the table. They will get used to it and later always bother you.

• Treat training (bribery) should only be used for trick training.

• If you baby it, you are going to have a lot of problems.