Thread: Thais don't like dogs

I once lived in Krabi in a rented house.
The proprietor was an entrepreneur and his wife a school teacher.
They would ever so often pop in for a chat and a coffee.

When doing so they would invariably bring their 14 year old Labrador as they never left him in the house alone.
This labrador walked at a very slow pace and it didnt see well as it suffered from cataract. It seemed perfectly happy, though, and much cared for by both Poht and his wife Sommai.
I noticed that whenever he would call for the dog, he would use the words: Look Por. Daddy`s child.

I asked him, why do you call him like that?
"I shall tell you, pescator. This dog I love to bits and one of the reason is that when our son was still an infant, sleeping on a mat on the floor, a cobra slitherered inside his room unnoticed by us".
"Look Por gave an instant alarm by barking fiercely and we managed to chase the cobra outta there with a broom stick".

Phot and Sommai sure loved their dog.

Thais love dogs, they just don't do 'responsibility'.

^
congratulations on fitting "Thais" and "responsibly" in the same sentence.

I spent a lot of time in a small village east of Udon Thani from 2010-12. Pretty well all the local farmers had farm dogs. Most of the bitches were not spayed, so they had 2-3 litters per year. Most of the pups were sold to dog meat buyers, who raised the dogs and shipped them to Laos en-route to the Vietnamese dog food trade. I usually observed both cats and dogs to basically be ignored and left to fend for themselves. WE had one neighbour lady a few doors down the soi who took very good care of her small Collie Dogs. She was a retired English teacher. She was obviously more sophisticated than the local Thai Farm folk.

Farangs always had such an obsession with dogs, now the Thais are slowly jumping on the bandwagon. Personally I can't bother myself with a live-in cum dumpster already, let alone a dog...

Traditionally, Thais viewed dogs as very unclean animals, some of which served a purpose (guard dogs, hunting, etc). Although many Thai's owned dogs that they became quite fond of, they never let the dogs into their homes.

Today's Thais try very hard to emulate Westerners and part of that has become the fashionable trend of keeping small dogs indoors as live-in pets. Many older Thais still frown upon this when their grown children bring in their cute little dogs for a visit.

Still most Thais do not "humanize" their dogs the way many Westerners do. My Thai MIL had on old dog "Ap" for decades. This old dog outlived all of her numerous liters of pups. My MIL fed the dog boiled chicken and obviously cared for the dog.

Still, she made the dog stay outside and almost every night that would be dog fights under her house. The old dog had to fend for herself against all the other dogs.

I know of no Westerner who would have left their old dog out every night where she was certain to be attacked by other dogs.

After almost 25 years, the old dog got scared during a violent thunderstorm and took off one night. She was never seen again. My Thai MIL just accepted this as something that had to happen sooner or later. Quite different than the overly emotional response of most Westerner's who owned a dog for a quarter of a century!

RickThai

Originally Posted by Perota

I don't know how many time I've heard this nonsense.

I've never heard that nonsense.

My Thai family love dogs and treat them well but out in the village dogs tend to be treated as something you kick and throw food at.
I think I have a bit to do with how the family are with dogs as they have seen the loyalty and love a happy well cared for dog can give.
My old dog Rambo is coming on ten yes old now and no matter how long I leave for the moment I get out to the village he is by my side, and have a few pugs running around.

Originally Posted by RickThai

Traditionally, Thais viewed dogs as very unclean animals, some of which served a purpose (guard dogs, hunting, etc). Although many Thai's owned dogs that they became quite fond of, they never let the dogs into their homes.

In the old time back home in rural areas it was the same, everybody had dogs but dogs were never allowed in the house. Only cats, it may have something to do with them catching mices.

Originally Posted by RickThai

After almost 25 years, the old dog got scared during a violent thunderstorm and took off one night. She was never seen again. My Thai MIL just accepted this as something that had to happen sooner or later. Quite different than the overly emotional response of most Westerner's who owned a dog for a quarter of a century!

RickThai

Ah yes. Good old Buddhist fatalism. Great cover-all excuse for lack of accountability, responsibility, etc, etc. Must have been some dog to live 25 years, and then run off?
Probably hailed a taxi..

Thais seem to have 2 general rules for dogs; something to be kicked, tied to a tree, or thrown in a temple ground when the mange and festering sores get too 'ugly'.
Or carried around like a little emperor, to be fawned over, deferred to, and shown off like a designer handbag.

Originally Posted by Creepy White Guy

Farangs always had such an obsession with dogs, now the Thais are slowly jumping on the bandwagon

Now that's a provoking thought !

Maybe the Whites have gone overboard with their love for dogs, and the rest of the world was 'normal' all a long

Discuss

Originally Posted by kmart

Originally Posted by RickThai

After almost 25 years, the old dog got scared during a violent thunderstorm and took off one night. She was never seen again. My Thai MIL just accepted this as something that had to happen sooner or later. Quite different than the overly emotional response of most Westerner's who owned a dog for a quarter of a century!

RickThai

Ah yes. Good old Buddhist fatalism. Great cover-all excuse for lack of accountability, responsibility, etc, etc. Must have been some dog to live 25 years, and then run off?
Probably hailed a taxi..

Thais seem to have 2 general rules for dogs; something to be kicked, tied to a tree, or thrown in a temple ground when the mange and festering sores get too 'ugly'.
Or carried around like a little emperor, to be fawned over, deferred to, and shown off like a designer handbag.

How is the Westernized method of animal shelters a better way of dealing with dogs/cats? Once the animal gets too old or becomes an inconvenience, the owner drops it off at the shelter. It then stays there for some period of time (a week, a month, maybe 90 days) and then it is killed if it isn't adopted. Does that sound very accountable and responsible to you?

Perhaps you should study Buddhism some more, and then perhaps it would help you to understand the Thai mindset.

Santi,

RickThai

Originally Posted by RickThai

Perhaps you should study Buddhism some more, and then perhaps it would help you to understand the Thai mindset.

Agreed.

After 5 mins study you will understand their lack of accountability, compassion and intelligence.

Originally Posted by RickThai

Perhaps you should study Buddhism some more, and then perhaps it would help you to understand the Thai mindset.

Anyone who claims they understand the Thai mindset is talking out their ass.

Even Thais themselves don't understand that so-called 'mindset', Rick.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by RickThai

Perhaps you should study Buddhism some more, and then perhaps it would help you to understand the Thai mindset.

Anyone who claims they understand the Thai mindset is talking out their ass.

Even Thais themselves don't understand that so-called 'mindset', Rick.

Haha Boon, Correctamundo! The Thai's never cease to amaze. It is a learning experience for me though which is always welcome.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by RickThai

Perhaps you should study Buddhism some more, and then perhaps it would help you to understand the Thai mindset.

Anyone who claims they understand the Thai mindset is talking out their ass.

Even Thais themselves don't understand that so-called 'mindset', Rick.

Granted Thais, like every other nationality are individuals and not everybody follows the "mindset", but after 38 years of marriage to a Thai, a lot of Thai behavior has began to make sense to me.

Once you learn to observe the patterns, then you try and ascertain what motivators are behind the actions. Study their history and religion and then ask questions and study family, friend, and foe personal interactions. It is amazing how much of it begins to make sense.

Santi,

RickThai

Originally Posted by RickThai

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by RickThai

Perhaps you should study Buddhism some more, and then perhaps it would help you to understand the Thai mindset.

Anyone who claims they understand the Thai mindset is talking out their ass.

Even Thais themselves don't understand that so-called 'mindset', Rick.

Granted Thais, like every other nationality are individuals and not everybody follows the "mindset", but after 38 years of marriage to a Thai, a lot of Thai behavior has began to make sense to me.

Once you learn to observe the patterns, then you try and ascertain what motivators are behind the actions. Study their history and religion and then ask questions and study family, friend, and foe personal interactions. It is amazing how much of it begins to make sense.

Santi,

RickThai

Just be open minded and it comes naturally after a few years living here. It's just like speaking a foreign language. At the beginning it's a long, confusing process because you think in your mother tongue and you try to translate word for word and it doesn't always make sense. Then you start thinking in the new language and everything comes easy.

_

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by RickThai

Perhaps you should study Buddhism some more, and then perhaps it would help you to understand the Thai mindset.

Anyone who claims they understand the Thai mindset is talking out their ass.

Even Thais themselves don't understand that so-called 'mindset', Rick.

Yes, this a fair statement.

More of a management than an understanding.

Originally Posted by OckerRocker

Originally Posted by kmart

Animal shelters seem like a good system to me. -Unwanted animals are put down humanely before they become rabid menaces to people, other animals / livestock, and people driving vehicles.

Agreed

Me too. A bit like nursing homes in the west.

When you see how people in "developed" countries get rid of their old folks, how family solidarity has almost disappeared, the way Thais take care of animals is not that bad.