A good massage

I'm busy busy! Sorry! In the absence of a proper post, here's a picture of a lovely Shiba Inu getting a scritch. She's really getting into it!

More anthropmorphism

Staying on the theme of projecting human emotions and desires onto dogs, I saw a news feature recently about a concert for dogs in Australia, and surfing for dogs in the US.

I'm the first to admit that dogs (and indeed many other animals) have more complex emotional lives than we humans tend to acknowledge, and they can certainly enjoy play. However, I think the concept of animals enjoying live music is fundamentally flawed. Putting on a concert for dogs is probably akin to speaking Japanese to a German and expecting to get a response. Dogs experience the world primarily through their nose, and while their sense of hearing is excellent, it is attuned to hearing prey rustling in the undergrowth or predators approaching, not the strains of violins. There is no evidence to suggest that dogs have ever created 'music' for themselves, so there is no reason to believe that such messages are meaningful for them.

As regards the surfing, this is marginally less questionable in that dogs often do enjoy playing in water and they generally like physical activity. However, it's doubtful that dogs enjoy the challenge of staying upright and keeping their balance on a slippery board. Animals generally don't like standing on slippery surfaces, something which is attested by watching any dog's reaction to being placed on the metal table at the vet's or by observing how any dog will choose to lie down on a rug rather than a hard floor (unless it's very hot, possibly). Dogs like to run and jump; they often find it difficult to stay in one spot unless they are dozing, so trying to stand still on a moving board is probably not most pooches' idea of fun.

If none of this convinces you that surfing for dogs is a dodgy idea, just click on the link above and watch the dogs' expressions. Joy? I think not.

Anthropomorphism

These three sausage dogs are taken out to Harajuku in Tokyo every Saturday afternoon by their owner, specifically for the purpose of showing them off to passers by, who gush about how cute they are and take their photo. It's very common in Japan to see dogs dressed up in 'clothes', often more human-like than these red coats. Often dogs have bows in their hair and "skirts" round their middle. I've seen white dogs in Japan with their fur dyed pink.

Maybe these dogs don't mind the coats, but the sunglasses are almost certainly annoying.

I don't often take photos of dressed-up dogs because I don't want to encourage the owners. I'd really prefer to give the owners a good telling off for degrading their dog and treating it like a fashion accessory.

Bo

I guess it's good for the public to think about the benefits of having a dog, and President Obama's little pooch is pretty cute, but nonetheless, I was disappointed that they didn't get a shelter dog.

When a pure-bred dog, especially an unusual breed, appears in the public eye through a film or through a celebrity owning one, the popularity of that breed tends to go up. The knock on effect of this is another story, but think what a positive step it would be rescue mutts suddenly became a must-have pet. Shelters would see lots of lovely, deserving animals go to good homes, and unscrupulous breeders would lose out.

The story goes that one of the Obama kids has an allergy to dog hair. Portuguese water dogs are, then, a good compromise and I don't suppose there are many Portuguese water dogs sitting in shelters....yet.

Fluffball

I'm away for a couple of days, so here's a photo of a fluffy little puppy my boyfriend and I spotted in Tokyo last year.

Oldies

I didn't mention in my previous post that the dog I adopted from the dog home was 10 years old. My second dog was 12 when I adopted him.

Many people want a puppy or young dog, but old dogs offer so many advantages. Puppies demand a lot from their owners. They need to be trained, walked, played with and generally socialized. Great if you don't work or if you have kids.

But the reality is that a lot of people don't have the time, energy or know-how to train a young dog. Not everyone lives near a park where an energetic young dog can run around. This is where old dogs are so great. They generally need less exercise - they're often happy with regular short walks. They don't need constant stimulation. They're often happy to left at home snoozing for a few hours and they won't pee the floor or chew the furniture. Most old dogs have already learned their manners, and they're happy to curl up near you if you're at home or trot gently along beside you on walks.

If you want the company of a furry body, but don't have the time for long hikes and training sessions, consider rescuing an older dog. They are often overlooked in dog homes and it's a great shame, because they usually make wonderful companions. They're no bother at all and they will live in gratitude to you for turning their lives around. No dog deserves to be in a dog home when they're old.

Do an oldie a favour and take one home. Click on the link to Oldies Club on the right for a list of lovely older canines. You can even foster one if you don't want to commit to full ownership. 

Life with a dog

Our family had pets when I was growing up, but I didn't get my own dog until I was 30. Throughout my twenties, I'd been pretty happy, but when I was about 27, things changed. I became stressed and unhappy, was drowning myself in work, suffering from insomnia and drinking too much.

One hot summer afternoon, I set off for the dog pound with the aim of getting a small, female dog. I came home that day with a big, black hairy male dog, beside whom the furniture shrank to doll's house proportions.

Within a week he'd shat in seven different places on the carpet, knocked over drinks, vomited lavishly on the bed, tried to bite the vet, and snarled at every dog we passed in the park. His tail was full of burrs and twigs, but he wouldn't let me brush it. I wondered how I would deal with the shame of returning him to the dog home.

Within a few weeks, however, he began to settle down. He'd greet me happily when I came home, and would walk calmly beside me. Gradually, he grew to trust me enough to let me brush his tail, and eventually was allowed off the lead in the park.

At first, he'd stay so close behind me that his cold nose would bump again my calves. He'd wait outside shops, staring fixedly at the door till I returned. At home he'd follow me to the toilet, pushing his head against my knees so I could rub his ears while I peed. If I shut the door on him, I'd hear his wet nose snuffling along the floor under the gap.

The routine of walking him in the middle of the day made me get work and it's place in my life back into perspective, the fresh air made me less pasty, and I met people in the park who gradually became fixtures in my life, making me feel part of a community of dog lovers.

Before long, I was cured of my ills and completely content.

Apologies

Oh! I'm so sorry about the lack of posts here. A year! In the last year, I've moved from one continent to another, changed my job and starting studying. It's a drastic lifestyle change. I have far less money and far less stress. I'm very happy, not least because my new boss has a dog. A failed guide dog. What could be better?

Anyway, I vow to be a better person and maintain this blog properly from now on. In the meantime, here's a nice picture to atone for my sins.