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