Wondering how to read your dog? MuMMy has been holding on to the book below and stalking me with her eyes. I guessed she had some kind of achievement from doing that.



M: I got frustrated reading the book initially coz it's so ambiguous in certain points. But as you proceed, it started to make some sense. It's a book with LOTs of pictures!

Labels: Doggie language

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