Today was my happy weekend! As usual, my folks would bring me to fun places to run or swim. Today's destination was the park at Potong Pasir. Daddy would go joggin with me but strangely Mummy didn't want to join in. So she unleashed me to run after Daddy. As always, i loved terribly to do that. I ran and ran and ran and caught up with Daddy who was 500m away. When i finally reached the same pace with Daddy, i realised Mummy not around! Without hesitation, i turned back and searched for traces of Mummy. NO SIGN even i sniffed sniffed around to wait for her appearance. Gosh!! Where the hell mummy went?? The first brain signal sent was to find her. She might have fell down or something! I must go find my mummy! "Finding Mummy" mission activated!

I used my nose and traced back the trail i walked. (M: I took another shorter route to meet them up at half point but was walking la, they were running ma. Obviously they would be faster. To my surprise, i saw her took off at the opposite direction which Yida was taking and started sprinting! I'm like "Oh shit!" What the hell was she thinking? I shouted her name and she couldn't hear. So i ran and ran till breathless. As i breeze walked, i saw her reaching the starting point where it was so near a busy road. My heart skipped a beat.) Finally, i reached the starting point where Mummy and me started from. Mummy was still no where to be found. So i investigate the pathway which we came from. Still no sign of Mummy. Sigh. I'm getting nervous, where mummy went to???? Just when i got despaired, i turned back and saw Mummy. Yes! She was coming my way!!! I happily trotted towards her where i got a treat from her! Hee! Finally found my Mummy and Daddy came shortly behind her!

When Mummy got me, she said something like "You scare the hell out of me!" How can hell be coming out from Mummy? She must be joking big time! After my 'lost' family reunited, we continued my walk but with leash this time. I was damn shagged out by then. I ran big time today and had a tracking experience! How wonderful!

(M: She really scared the hell out of me, so near the busy road! Luckily, she was smart enough not to go beyond the line! I thought she was clever enough to go onto the path we came from. Won't be surprise if she waited for us at the car. Then again, i would never not jog with them ever. This was not the first time we off leash at the park. The only difference was me being a pig this time. Other time, she jogged with us on heel. I sweared i will never get lazy again. =x)

Labels: Daily

I have a friend.... hmm it's a complicated relationship. I used to play with her. Her name is Vodka, a Jack Russell Terrier. As days go by, she started to develop the habit of barking at passerby at the door (A habit which i still does to unfamiliar people crossing the floor). Then i dunno why, whenever i am about to cross her door, i started to bark too. It would then be a barking conversation to and fro. Of coz, Mummy tried stopping me by jerking the choke chain (M:I felt extremely bad to jerk so hard). It didn't work out very well as i still do the same when approaching her door.

Today as we were coming back from a brief walk, Vodka was already standing at her gate to bark loudly. I can't lose out to her of course. So i barked back since barking is such a contagious activity. Her owner assumed that we were quarrelling (M: A sign of anthropomorphism). This time instead of the usual jerking of choke chain, Mummy squatted down in front of me to block Vodka out of my vicinity. Then she insisted me on the sit position. The usual loud 'NO' you hear from most dog owners was not practised by Mummy for a long time which include this one. She used a long soothing tone with the word 'calm down' so it actually sounded like ccccccaaaallllllllmmmmmmm dddddoooooowwwwnnnnnn. Even when i barked, she still remained soft (M:WHy do you want to bark with the dog?). Seeing Mummy not that agitated/angry/nervous, why should I? So i learnt to calm down slowly, Mummy rubbed my chest in circular movements too. Only when i were calm and quiet then Mummy would allow me to walk a few steps closer to Vodka's door. (M: That was exactly what my dogter want to do where it was the source of barking.)

I guessed the barkings must have interest grandpa whom came out to take a look. So Mummy released me after i guai guai sit and calmed to Grandpa. (M: The transfer of focus from Vodka to her grandpa was obviously pointing where she wanna go next.) I ran as fast as i could to reach grandpa Hee! After which, then i rem about Vodka coz Mummy and Daddy were standing at their doorstep talking to her owner.

(M: I saw the cane in the owner's hands and i tried to discourage them from using it. Obviously, they just claim that she was only afraid of the cane but nothing else. Just when i putting my hand out for Vodka to sniff, her over excitedness gave me a nip. Hard enough to see a depression but no blood. I wasn't angry with Vodka, i'm worried for her. Their family is going to have an addition of a baby soon. I simply went back and told Yida's parent about the nip and how caning caused it. It seemed that they finally understood it i hope.)

PS from M: I am not sweet talking in anyhow. I was just trying to influence the dog about being calm and not trying to shout NO louder than her barks (which i did tried many times and obviously don't work). And my method is what i found to be the best working one for my dog. And if you think my dog is a super duper obedient dog, you might be wrong. But i can tell you she is one good dog when no guest is around and that's her only problem. She can at least be asked to sit and stay with distractions around. If my dog disobey i blame no one but myself.

Labels: Doggie language

Every time grandma sees Mummy, she will complain to her how naughty i am just because i didn't go to play pen automatically when the folks are going to work. Mummy reiterated many times that i does it everytime she asked me too. So today, before Mummy goes to work, grandma had to prove to her that i AM notti (which i'm not).

Grandma took the usual cookie, the one which i will always be given when my hoomans are going out, and said "MuFFIN, INSIDE!" I refused to move coz the tone of her voice sound menacing. After which she changed alot of tones but saying the same 'INSIDE'. From soft to loud, anger to begging. Seriously, i'm just a dog, believe or not, i can only associate a word with the same tone and understand what THAT particular word means. Mummy has been on a reading frenzy recently, Amazon was almost her homepage everyday. All she wanna do was to find a cross species language. Grandma was very unhappy about my behaviour and challenged Mummy to do it.

Mummy has been consistent in all her actions and tone for all commands. I have learnt many things in a short period of two weeks with her consistency. I learnt how to 'take it' and 'walk with her' with whatever she asked me to pick up! Aren't I smart? (M: Haha, only familiar things, haven't tried strange objects yet!) I learnt how to jump over her thigh and take a bow. Haha! I'm a smarty dog! So, without any difficulty, Mummy used the same tone and word to ask me to 'go inside' while pointing to my playpen. I happily galloped to my pee tray and sat down, waiting for my favourite cookies! Of coz, upon seeing that, Grandma confirmed my rebelliousness against her. But Mummy spoke up for me. She said her tone of asking me to go inside sound like i will be killed in the playpen. Grandma felt indignant over what she said and rebuke that she also tried using soft, pleasing tone to ask me to 'go inside'. Mummy immediately told her it would just make me more confused over what she wants.

Anyway, after Mummy ask me to 'go inside', she released me again. Next, she asked Grandma to try in a soft, high pitch, cheerful version of 'go inside', without further a do, i went in. See? It's not about me being rebellious, stubborn nor wilful. I'm just a dog trying very hard to understand you hoomans. And for God's sake, please try to be consistent in your language!

Labels: Doggie language

Labels: Birthday