How My Dogs React When It's Bathing Time

Most dogs hate to be bathed. Have you ever called your dog over -  with hose in hand - and it comes over to you? For me, I would have to put a leash around my dogs, and practically drag them over.

Max hates to be bathed. After pulling him over to the bathing spot and taking off the leash, the most of the hard work of bathing goes to keeping him from running away. On the few occasions when he  manages to escape, I had to chase him around to get him back. However, Jon does not loath bathing as much as Max. I still have to drag him over, but once he is already wet with water, he will stand stand still till the session is over.

If you own more than one dog, you might realise that the other dog/s will simply disappear from sight while you are attending to the one on hand. I always bath one dog for that day, and bath the other one the next day. So I can imagine the relief felt by either Jon or Max when they realise that they need not be bathed after witnessing the first bathing session. "Phew, Master forgot about me".

Max's first physical socialization encounter with dogs

I had always believed that Max never had an opportunity to socialise with other dogs, humans and environment when he was a puppy before I found him. He was merely 2 months old when I took him in. I guess he was separated from his mother at a very early stage of his life. At home here, he had to be taught a painful lesson on social hierarchy manners by Jon. Max does not know how to differentiate between hostile and friendly dogs. He will readily approach dogs which fiercely bark at us from their houses. Dog behaviorists say that a senior dog in the household would be the role model for the newly arrived younger dog, but this theory does not apply to Max and Jon. Jon is anti-social to all dogs. Over time, he has tolerated Max's presence, but will never play or interact with him. In effect, Max has not learnt anything about the canine world from Jon.

A month ago, I temporarily brought in a puppy home, which was one of six puppies born to Teri - a Wire-Haired Terrier. Being a male, this puppy was very dominant. I figured it would be enjoyable for him - and educational to Max - if they interacted with each other. It took less than ten minutes for them to warm up to each other. Initially, Max had no idea of how to begin, but the hyperactive puppy made the ice-breaking process easier.

It did not take much time for these two dogs to playfight.  The duration of sessions were not short. That is because the puppy had all the energy in him. There were occasions that Max avoided the puppy because he was exhausted.

The puppy was with us for one week until someone adopted him. On the first night when he was gone, Max was depressed and listless. For three days, he would come into the house and sniff at the cage, as if hoping the puppy would appear.

Nevertheless, it was an important event for Max, as it was his first physical contact with a dog.

Urge to lift legs to pee?

Max had been neutered when he was 5 months old.. It was difficult for me to decide when was the best time to do it. If it was done at too young an age, he might lose out on some of his physical developments; and also will not be able to grow intellectually into an adult dog. Hence, he is now at below-medium sized, and still behaves like a puppy. On the other hand, I don't want him to begin acquiring his leg-lifting instincts - especially when he sees Jon do it every day.

This morning while walking Max - only him - he was so indulged in sniffing a tree trunk. He later acted in a way what any other unneutered dog does before marking their territory. Max stood beside the tree (on his right) - almost touching it - and appeared to wanting to lift his right leg. He stood there for 3 seconds, and then left it and peed on the ground female-style.

Is it possible for neutered male dogs to still have the leg-lifting instinct in them?

Lavish of frogs during the raining season

For numerous mornings during this wet season, while searching for dog poo with a torch light in a vast garden at a client's place, I notice many frogs. Managed to put the them in a spotlight.

Witnessing of a dog being hunted down by Malaysian Malay boys.

On November 25, at 12am, I was awoken by sounds of motorbikes and my dogs barking. As I got up from my bed, my neighbours dog at the end of the cul-de-sac road where we stay were starting to bark furiously.

As I looked out the window on my left, I saw two motorbikes with 2 Malay boys on each of them. What I am subsequently describing is what you see on the CCTV images. You wont be able to see the motorbikes on the left because they are covered by the trees.

The first motorbike goes over to the right (where the dead-end road is), and turns back to the opposite direction. A lot of commotion in Malay language was being made. Then one of the boys walk over to the end road, and quickly runs back. At this point in time, I do not have any idea what they were up to. Neither could I see the end of the road because it was not lighted up enough by the lamp post for good visibility. After a lot of loud talking among them, another boy took a long stick and runs over to the dead -end road. 

It took a lot of squinting to notice a black dog running at the opposite row of houses to the opposite direction of the road. The boy with the stick gave chase, followed by another boy. As the dog sprinted to an open escape, the other two boys on the motorbike revved off to chase the dog, while their two friends got on the second motorbike.

I stood at the window for 5 minutes in disbelief at what I witnessed. I was waiting to hear any sound of the dog yelping. I have seen this dog before while walking my dogs in the morning. It is a female and she is very afraid of humans. As I was still peering out the window, I realised how well coordinated these 4 boys were. They were hell bent on not letting this dog escape. I wondered how much the dog had to suffer before reaching the road where I stayed, and how much longer she had to endure after that.

I went back to my bed hoping at least these Malay boys will get immediate karma. As they were not wearing any helmets, I was hoping they would get knocked by a car.

A long time ago, I have posted a blog entry about little Malay boys verbally abusing my dogs while I was walking pass their house. In fact, just last night, these two boys from this house were making "woofing" sounds. I just don't comprehend  why are Malays the only race who abuse dogs whenever they see these creatures on the streets. It is almost like an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They will taunt, stamp their feet to scare them, chase them( if they have a weapon), throw stones. This is in spite of them being so religious. And also in spite of the followers claiming that their religion does not condone violence. In fact, just about two weeks ago, the Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak, made a statement in the media reiterating that Islam does not condone violence. That statement was made in reference to violence towards other human beings. I get this feeling that the word "violence' and "non-violence" does not apply to animals.

I believe in karma, and I believe people like these four boys will get an emotional and physical treatment - either in their remaining existing lives, or in the afterlife.

P.S; This video clip can also be viewed on You Tube. The link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYlynBaHNE0

Ailurophobia - Fear of Cats

Phobia of certain types of creatures is common among some people. Just like any other type of phobias, we just have to respect that behaviour, and not make fun of the person who is having it. Some people just let that fear remain in them, while some try to overcome it - either due to some circumstances, or as a personal achievement. For me, I am afraid of rats and cockroaches. It is mainly because they are filthy. I will only touch them only when they are lifeless, and even then there has to be a protective layer between them and my hands ie tissue paper, plastic bag.

I have met people whose phobia of animals extend to the level of what I can describe as irrational fear. I had a female friend who actually shrieked and jumped sideways when a cat walked on its side of the pavement toward her from the opposite direction. Then there was this neighbour whose mother and children screamed when my friendly dog approached them. Well, it was my fault of not leashing him when I moved my car out, resulting in him running out.

However, there is one incident which overwhelms both these examples in terms of irrational fear. When you view the videos below, you will say it is a pampered girl crying for attention. I did not manage to capture a video of what actually initiated this behaviour, because the source of it had already walked away. Walked away? Let me explain:

I was at a Muslim restaurant in my neighbourhood having my lunch. I noticed a family had just arrived and got their table. I also noticed a kitten walking around. It was in between my table and theirs. It was more than 10 feet from behind their table.For no reason, the mother got up from her chair and chased away the kitten. I have been told that stray cats carry disease, so that was the first thought which came across my mind of why this woman was shooing the kitten away. What annoyed me was how persistent she was in chasing it while the kitten was already walking away. I quickly got ready my cellphone to record this incident, but just as the kitten disappeared, the daughter started crying. I mean really crying. Not one of crocodile tears. She had noticed the kitten. Ahhh...so the mother wanted to scare it away before the daughter saw it.

The rest of the story is described in the video. Nearly ten minutes later when I left the restaurant, the girl was still clinging to her mother.

Update on Teri's Pups - Week 4

This female pup is the smallest of the lot. And the most daring. By the way, the container was clean.