Anna the dog

[ootai]

Took my 2 boys for a walk/ride today seems like something or someone interesting has passed by here.
We get some strange looks when we go out an about with the boys riding in the sidecar.

[Mendip]

Do you get those same looks when you're out and about on your own as well ootai?

Is it me or has she put some weight on? probably less nervous energy and being able to relax

I don't know about you mate but Anna is looking distinctly portly at the moment... she seems to have adapted to the easy life remarkably well.



In fact she's not alone... these lockdowns haven't been kind on the family and as we were getting ready for school this morning I mentioned to the daughter that things are gonna change. More gym and swimming and less food, and puddings are out... almost.

The pool has finally warmed up to my 27 degree threshold so tomorrow we will start with Anna's first swimming lesson... part of the Mendip household induction course.

But of course there's always room for the occasional treat... here they were this morning patiently waiting for their morning chews that someone very kindly sent us!

[Headworx]

..as we were getting ready for school this morning I mentioned to the daughter that things are gonna change. More gym and swimming and less food, and puddings are out...

You're a good Dad, getting your nipper laughing and smiling before having to face the grind of a day at school. Did you pay-up that silver King she won on the Cricket yet, or are you holding out for a double-or-nothing opportunity that doesn't involve England and winning?

[Mendip]

^ Thanks, I do my best.

The strangest thing... she forgot all about that bet and also I borrowed 120 Baht off her this week to pick up a couple of bottles of Leo on the way back from school... and she's forgotten about that as well!

These small victories pick me up.

[ootai]

Do you get those same looks when you're out and about on your own as well ootai?

Ha, Ha a smartarse that's all I need to make my day. I actually never get the opportunity to go by myself the dogs jump into the sidecar if they see me putting on my boots.

^ Thanks, I do my best.

The strangest thing... she forgot all about that bet and also I borrowed 120 Baht off her this week to pick up a couple of bottles of Leo on the way back from school... and she's forgotten about that as well!

These small victories pick me up.

Keep patting yourself on the back you miserable Pommie bastard, I am starting to be swayed to others opinions that you really are a tight arse.
Cheating your daughter, really?

[Headworx]

^Ouch!

[Stumpy]

Keep patting yourself on the back you miserable Pommie bastard, I am starting to be swayed to others opinions that you really are a tight arse.
Cheating your daughter, really?

Yeah ootai, I think we are really starting to see the bigger picture here. Note to self, "Never lend money to Mendy" and if I ever should happen his way, I am not sure I could drink a Leo with him knowing he nicked money from his daughter to buy them....

[Headworx]

^Without wanting to stir the pot, when betting with poms always put the monies in an envelope up-front and have a trusted person hold it then hand it to the winner. Been burnt by these welshers too many times to ever do it any other way, they simply cannot be trusted.

[Mendip]

This has all gone a bit OTT!

I'm only trying to teach my daughter some valuable life lessons!

[malmomike77]

I don't know about you mate but Anna is looking distinctly portly at the moment... she seems to have adapted to the easy life remarkably well.

well she's earned a bit of Anna time and its great to see she'll get to enjoy life now and have a pack to play with. a few laps of the pool daily will whip her into shape, just cut out the leoyadongdoughnuts

[katie23]

@ootai - very nice dogs! What breed are they?

Question: are labradors very friendly, even to atrangers? I've recentlt encountered a family of labradors (the owners transferred recently) and they don't bark at me. One of the labs (the big blonde one), now wags her tail when I approach them & I was able to touch her snout this morning. Previous mornings, I just greet them from outside & let them smell me from afar. I pass by their house/ apartment during my morning walks.

Other dogs (usually the small ones) bark fiercely whenever I pass by. I also pass by some huskies, they usually allow me to photograph them - they're very chill.




^the huskies + a Japanese spitz(?)

Those are not my dogs. They're dogs that I see during my walks.

[Stumpy]

Question: are labradors very friendly, even to atrangers? I've recentlt encountered a family of labradors (the owners transferred recently) and they don't bark at me. One of the labs (the big blonde one), now wags her tail when I approach them & I was able to touch her snout this morning

Katie,. I have had Labs in both US and here. In fact quite a few. They are an extremely friendly breed. In fact a top 5 in dogs that are great with owners, great with kids and quickly learn and understand commands. They are in general great family dogs.

[Mendip]

Katie, I think Labradors are generally thought to be friendly but as with any dog, a bad owner can ruin them.

Our Maya is allegedly half Lab... her mum who I never saw was allegedly a pedigree 'Labrador', although I very much doubt she was registered at the Kennel Club. But all said and done Maya (along with Dan and Coco) is a dog I would absolutely trust with strangers, whatever the circumstances. She's had a few stern reprimands due to behaviour and never a hint of aggression. None of the others have ever bitten but the 'street' guys wouldn't let a stranger take liberties. I can see that the Lab character in Maya runs strong.

well she's earned a bit of Anna time and its great to see she'll get to enjoy life now and have a pack to play with. a few laps of the pool daily will whip her into shape, just cut out the leoyadongdoughnuts

I agree Mike... it really is wonderful to watch Anna settle in and gradually become comfortable with her new life. She's not ready to play with the other guys yet and she still has issues with Max and Maya, but every day things are more relaxed and harmonious. It is only a matter of time I think until she will be running around with Maya, Coco and Yogi in the evenings... they are the usual suspects in the going metal playing stakes.

The other day she sat with me on the 'outside' sofa and I turned on the ceiling fan... and she looked up petrified, jumped down and ran off. It reminded me that this is all new to her and I think she's adapting remarkably fast. Until a week ago she'd never even slept indoors, and now you can't keep her off one of the 'dogs' chair in the workshop, which is right under a fan.

I bonded very closely with her a few years ago when I helped her with her puppies and that bond has endured over the years. I remember when she nipped a neighbour's builder on the ankle when he came too close to her litter (which cost me a box of Leo) but she has never shown any aggression to me, my daughter, the gardener or even the wife. But it is only me and the daughter who she lets give her a real cudge now and again!

I love her to bits and am so glad we brought her in. I would say my bond to Anna is equally as strong as Coco's and even Dan's. Hopefully without sounding too weird, it's a shame she ain't a human really.

Anyway, as they say, 'you can take the dog off the street, but you can't ... etc etc'

Despite Anna's chair being under a fan during the day, she usually slinks off to find a quiet spot in the garden during the afternoons. It's starting to hot up in Korat.

[hallelujah]

Where does your love of dogs come from, Mendy?

I'm a dog-lover too and I got that from my grandad, who used to always have a little westie when I was a kid.

Eventually, he got too old and couldn't look after her anymore, but he used to love taking her out on the park and getting a bit of peace and quiet away from my gran!

I guess it's a similar story Chez Mendy!

[Mendip]

Where does your love of dogs come from, Mendy?

I don't know mate but I just love 'em all.

We had dogs when I was a kid and it's just gone from there.

Also, living in Isaan I just find dogs better company than humans.

Maybe living as a gypsy for so long freelancing in oil and gas I just love the opportunity to keep a few dogs as pets now?

And at the end of the day, you need some company at night!

[Reg Dingle]

Where does your love of dogs come from, Mendy?

As the strange hairy kid with terrible hygiene at school, the other kids gave Mendy a wide berth.

His mum tied a pork chop round his neck, so the dogs would play with him.

[Mendip]

^ It worked, I've got loads of friends now.

I don't reckon you should visit Mr Dingleberry, I reckon these guys would suss you out immediately!

[HuangLao]

With all due respect Mendy, Far too many mutts in your company.
FFS, get a couple of cats to balance it out.....

[headhunter]

[QUOTE=hallelujah;4360041]Where does your love of dogs come from, Mendy?

I'm a dog-lover too and I got that from my grandad, who used to always have a little westie when I was a kid.

Eventually, he got too old and couldn't look after her anymore, but he used to love taking her out on the park and getting a bit of peace and quiet away from my gran!
this is a story i must tell. as a 14yr.old i lived with my mum and uncle,he was a dog man and a gun man.one day my uncle came home with a red setter and i rearly took to him he was named RED,i used to go out with them on hunting trips,pheasants,rabits,woodcock and pigeons and a twelve bore shotgun.RED used to wait for me every day when coming home from school,he was my best freind.then one day [1961] i came home to find out that my uncle had sold RED,to say i was heart broken was an understatement.2yrs had gone by so was my uncle who i never forgave.then one day i was playing a welsh y.m.c.a. cup match [football] down in bridgend,when i noticed a red setter dog running round the park,at half time i went to look at the dog as i got close to the dog a bloke came up and shouted at the dog and kicked him,YES IT WAS RED,he reconised me and jumped up to kiss me,but the bloke shouted at me to leave him alone and continued to hit the dog,them days at a 17old i was known as a nutter,yes i could use my head to nutt anyone who wanted to fight.i grabbed this bloke and gave him an almighty head butt which made me dizzy.the bloke came back to me with a bobby and i had to go to the local cop shop,i had to go to the magistrate court,when i told them the story why i asaulted this bloke i was put on probation and the dog was taken away,i never saw RED again but now after 60yrs.i still get a tear in my eyes when i think of him.for over 20yrs i became a greyhound trainer and owner and to this day i can remember them all,when you do lose one of them it hurts more so since i have lived in thailand,i still grief over SAM,almost every day,as i have photo's of him around the house and his esting place is right in front of where i sit on my computor,next month will be a sad day as feb 28th 2018 is when SAM passed away.
since living here this is not a safe place to have a dog,as there is so much danger never mind how much care you take to keep them safe.i do take my hat off to mendip for what he does and my wife also who loves dogs aswell.
HH DOG LOVER,LOVE ME LOVE My DOG.

[DrWilly]

Jesus. Do you want to buy a paragraph?

[katie23]

^lol. I did read headhunter's long post. I admire his love & dedication to his dogs.

@mendip & @stumpy - thanks for the answers. I think this new labrador family is my first close encounter with labs, as I've only seen them from afar. I was surprised at their friendliness and that they didn't bark at me (a stranger), though I know that labs are usually friendly.

My dogs now are soi/ mixed dogs. They're very good barkers and aren't stranger friendly. They've never bitten anyone, but then they're mostly within the confines of our property. I wouldn't risk petting them as strangers.

I think the love for dogs start when you're young. My family started having dogs when I was a kid and it continued until my early 20s. Then my parents rested from having dogs (and adopted cats). Now that my mom my mom is widowed & usually alone in the house, I'm glad that she has dogs for company. "My" dogs are really her dogs, since I can't have pets in my apartment. I walk, feed & bathe the dogs when I'm at mom's house. My mom can't bathe them anymore as she has back & knee issues.

This is "my" male dog. At 7.5 years, he's showing signs of aging.


This is him inspecting a car, which he later "blessed".

[Bonecollector]

Great thread, thanks again Mendip!

Thanks for all the contributing stories, some great reads.

I would love to have dogs but right now it is not the right situation for them to be happy. Can't wait for the day though and we have always said we would take a few strays as we come across them.

[Mendip]

^^^^ Interesting story HH, thanks. I guess these are the things that shape us as adults.

^^^ Katie, 7.5 isn't so old... our Dan is almost 15.5 now and is really showing her age. In between sleeps she hobbles around bossing the other dogs and still enjoys life.

^ It's a pleasure Bonecollector. I find taking in these dogs very rewarding... it can be hard work at times but the rewards are worth it. Please keep this thread in mind when the time is right for you to get dogs as I regularly find a litter that needs homing. Although of course wherever you are in Thailand there's no shortage of dogs needing a home.


This morning as I had a coffee I watched Yogi digging a hole by the pond...



He became distracted by something else and Coco and Maya turned up to continue his work...



And then Anna turned up... some (unseen by me) communications must have taken place and Coco and Maya rapidly departed... and then Anna lay in the freshly dug hole. She's smart.



And not a bad spot to idle away the morning. It's still relatively cool at 9am but we have 35 degrees forecast today at which point the dogs will head in to the workshop where I'll leave the ceiling fans on for them.



As I was leaving to get about the day I and looked back to see Anna the centre of attention. The other dogs seem to gravitate towards Anna... she has a calm assurance about her which they seem to like. A new pack leader in the making? This is probably why there is friction with Max... he's currently in the process of taking over from Dan as leader now that she's just too old and frail to keep control.

[ootai]

@ootai - very nice dogs! What breed are they?

Question: are labradors very friendly, even to atrangers?

katie all I can say is have a guess and you might be right. I would call them "bitsa's" as in they are a bit of this and a bit of that all mixed together.

We had the mother and I don't have a clue what she was just a Thai village dog and I have no idea who the father might be. I have never seen any male dog around the village here that stands out as obviously their father.
Mendip when he came to vivit thought they looked like they have some "Bangkaew" in them and if you look at images of that "breed" on the net then there is a lot of similarity. The summary of their disposition and attributes given in the Wiki summary are very accurate for these 2 dogs so I would not argue with Mendip's assessment.
That being said we also have their brother and he is quite a bit different looking to these 2.

As for labradors, back in Australia I had a black lab and she was very friendly. They all seem to be that way inclined as others have said here. They are IMHO also very smart dogs.

[ootai]

Just because i haven't got enough material to start and sustain a whole new thread I thought I might as well pollute Mendip's thread with my pictures.
The pups are mobile now with their eyes open and it is quite comical to watch them exploring, bumping into things, falling down etc.

And no they are not my feet!