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Monday, October 19, 2009

Milo the Good Little Boy

It's really funny the kind of things Life makes you learn about yourself. I would never have thought I would ever grow to love a dog. I never had a dog growing up and I always thought they were smelly and filthy creatures. I approached this whole dog business with some apprehension. What if it shitted all over the house? What if it brings home fleas?

And when Milo started jawing us, I was seriously concerned because I knew that Milo has a BIG DOG destiny. Everyone remarks on the size of his paws, and someone even said that his black snout portends a certain ferocity. I worried... I was still kind to the dog because we had brought him home and I felt that I needed to make him feel loved... but I worried.

But after Termite shared some small tips about dog language, I managed to bridge the communication gap somewhat. And Milo is now such a wonderful dog. He still jaws me occasionally, but he is so careful and gentle that I hardly feel his teeth. He responds to a softly whispered "Sit" and when he puts his paws into the Forbidden Area, all I need to do is to say in a lilting sing-song voice "No... no... Milo", and he will drop his paws back into the patio and look at me with his head cocked to the side.

I realise too that if he thinks I am angry with him before bedtime, he'll paw at the patio gate, whine and even bark a lot. My children used to do that too. They would be anxious and refuse to go to bed until they knew that I still loved them as much as before. So now, if I have been angry just before his bedtime, and he has shown he is sorry, I will put him on my lap and cuddle him for a while before I get up to close the patio gate for the night. Then he will lie down outside the gate and fall asleep quietly.

He is a dog that is so easy to love. I think I have the best doggie in the world... but of course, every doting dog owner will think that right?

9 comments:

Blur Ting said...

Welcome to the proud dog owners club!

termite said...

hey glad it helped. remember dogs are man's best friend. milo might have intimidating looking snout and what not but u know he will protect u to the end of the earth if he thinks you are in danger. in your last post u mention about inviting him into his doggy house, that is a good thing to do also.

jawing could be cause he is teething also. hehe u just need to remember to keep reinforcing what u have taught him, especially between now and till he is around 2yrs of age. cos once he gets to "teenage" years he might try to unlearn everything that u have taught him.

Petunia Lee said...

Ting - Yeah!

Termite - Ummm... what happens in teenage years and what do I do to have a well behaved dog?

Fresh Fry aka 福星 said...

i love your blog more and more! though of course, in the journey of pet-owing, there're bound to have stories of the pet being bad, but i guess tat's wat makes Life interesting.

termite said...

pet, well when he gets to teenage years, he might do the things that u have taught him not to. it really depends. every dog is different. just know that when he misbehaves u have to assert your alpha-ness over him and use very firm "no". but when he does the right thing, reinforce it with pats and praises like "good boy milo", but remember if he misbehave and after u have lectured him, always pat him again to let him know u still love him but he needs to behave thats all. u will do fine hehe. just takes getting use to having a pet. i am sure milo will turn out to be a fine dog when he grows up! btw are u thinking of neutering him once he is off age?

Petunia Lee said...

Ting - Thanks!

Petunia Lee said...

Termite - My dog is a spirited one... and he thinks I am a pushover.

Petunia Lee said...

Fry - There are good days and bad days! We've had 3 or 4 bad days in a row.

Petunia Lee said...

Fry - Bad days happen after 1 whole day where I make excuses for my dog's misbehavior.