Live in the Philippines

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It’s A Dogs Life

Animals / by

I’m drowning in Shih-Tzu, Dachshunds, Spitz and some Heinz 57 type dogs. It all started when I was a wee lad in Boston, My Aunt Helen showed up at our house one day with three French Poodles and said she was being transferred to Panama, and couldn’t take the dogs. My four brothers and I had for years requested a dog, and were turned down, but my Father’s younger sister shows up and the rules change. We now have three dogs. Me and my four brothers look at each other and all at once say “POODLES”, but, Dad we wanted a real dog!”” It took time, but five boys can change prissy little sissy dogs into real dogs quickly. The three dogs were pure and had excellent pedigrees. So my mother started breeding them and making a bit of cash with them. We all made her promise never to give them a Show Cut, and to leave them looking like dogs. She did! Poodles can be tough little dogs, if given a chance.

Flash forward a few decades after being dogless for all the time I spent at sea, and my wife had a Philippine Local Sooner, that she kept at her brother’s house, could it live with us, the lady and our girls with the pretty brown eyes asked, and remembering my Dad, I agreed. I took the dog to the vet and made sure she was fit and her shots were up to date, and the love affair begins. She, by her own decision became my dog, if one can really own a pet. She passed when she was fourteen years old.

Then it started, after we built the house and had a well protected yard, I got this Black Lab puppy, and named him Smudge, as that’s what he looked like against our white tile floor. He stayed in the house until he reached 120 pounds and moved to the yard. My eldest daughter got married and her husband gave her a little white Spitz puppy she named Smarty (he’s 10 now), which was fine until my granddaughter was born, I won the dog, My friend passed away and his wife brought his something or other dog named Louie, and he was just nuts enough to fit right in. Then it was 2 half Sheppard/Doberman puppies, named Fraulein & Marisol, Think I’m done? I’ve not made a dent. My friend brings up two very old German Sheppard’s (Named Killer and Doom) what a joke for names, after one prolonged bark, they both had to nap. So over the years they came, lived a well cared for life, and I grieved every time one passed.

So we’re at 2010 and I’ve still got dogs, but now it’s 4 Shih-Tzu’s 5 Dachshunds and 6 Spitz and a 3 mixtures of the above, (I can’t watch em’ every minute). At this time we now have new puppies, 2 pure Shih-Tzu, and 1 Dachshunds and 2 mixtures from the above list. And 5 Spitz, the 3 pure breeds will be sold, (Change 1,mod 2, we are keeping the 3 pure puppies I’ve just been informed) the others will be given away to friends and neighbors. (They have all found homes now, and I’m not attacked by a puppy Army in the morning anymore, I miss it!)

So far all the people I gave puppies to have cared for them very well, I won’t give one until it’s had all its shots, and been de-wormed. When you give puppies and its shot records, and then tell them it’s a valuable breed, I’ve found it lives longer and are better treated than most.

Did I tell you about the cat? This is an equal pet zone. The girls begged me for the kitten in 1998, again it went to the vet and she had its shots and was neutered. The girls are gone, one married and the other in Singapore, but Na-Ning the 35 pound cat is still here and by heaven will outlive me, and she’s twelve in my years.

To sum it up, in the last couple of months I’ve been reading about suicide, depression, and other such subjects here on LIP. I further read, on another web site that pets will increase your life span, your sense of well being, and provide you with unconditional love, plus reduce heart disease. That’s a lot of good stuff!

Yesterday, I sat by the fish pond watching the fish swim (colorful Carp) and the local birds would stop by for a drink from the waterfall, I was listening to the water cascade, and rubbing a lot of dogs heads. I’ll tell you the truth, I’m a very contented man, and the cold beer was good too.

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Comments

  1. I never heard of the Shih Tzu in Australia and don’t know why they are so uncommon there, but we have one here and they are the sweetest natured dogs imaginable. I think we’ll get another but I don’t think I’ll try to match your collection Paul … well maybe one day if I buy some acreage in the provinces.

    By the way and apologies for being so off-topic but does anyone know why Pomeranians are so expensive here compared to other toy breeds?

    • Hi Ken;
      Shih Tzu are from Japan where small dogs are popular, so I’ve been told, I’ve no information on Pomeranians, except I think they are cute. The Shih Tzu look like they were moving at 60 mph and ran their face into a wall.

      • Shih Tzu are from China, and are pets of the royal household.

        Tzu Tsi had a solid black shih tzu she particularly loved, because it bit people she hated. He was a solid black named Hai ling or Sea Otter.

  2. Paul
    Your place has gone to the Dogs.
    What do you do as far as dog food there and is it expensive?

    • Hi Neal;
      We buy a couple of large bags of dry dog food every month, anything we boil we save the water, pasta, vegetables, and alike. Plus scraps from all meals, and least we forget rice. Mix it all together with a large can of wet dog food and they go nuts.

  3. Australia has a LOT of shih tzu – I know many many shih tzu breeders n Australia. My first Black and white shih tzu was purchased in Australia.

    A well bred Pomeranian costs a lot compared to a badly bred one, because POms are little and only have 1 or 2 pups.

    You can breed a dog maybe 4 times in its life.

    Well reputable breeders anyway…

  4. Neal if you mean dog food in PI, we have the BEST brands available.

    And whoever gets to Shangrila Mall should drop by the BOWOW SHOP – the TOP dog foods are available there.

    My old shih tzu Ruby will only eat Ziwi Peak – costs like PHP 1800 for 1 kilo or 2.2lbs. And it’s only available there.

    Acana, Orijen, Go Natural, Canidae, etc are readily available in the Philippines.

    I keep telling everyone NOT to buy dog foods found in groceries OMG disgusting, probably as bad as the $6.99 a large bag of Dog Food, found in Walmart.

    • C Ann
      You have got to be loaded to be buying that big dollar food for your Dog.
      I dont think that would be affordable as my old 120lb Lab would chow down a 40lb bag of Iams in no time.

      • Neal;
        Since I have some Shih Tzu’s, I’ll tell you, “They don’t eat like a Lab” P1800 per kilo would be P55, 800 per month for a Lab. Good thing you’re selling the house [lol].

        • Paul
          I know feeding the old dog”Maxwell Miller Lite” would be expensive there in RP.
          But I did some basic calculations of C. Ann’s figures and 1800 per kilo =2.2 lbs that is equal to 20.00$ per pound, I can buy some dam good steak for a lot less $$ than that.. Somebody must be either smoking crack or flunked out it math.

      • Neal..If I had dogs like C.Ann’s beautifull dogs I would feed them the very best money could buy.If you have not took a trip to her website and looked at all her dogs she has on it..you need to..never seen such pretty dogs..They even have their own house with in her house!They look very spoiled and loved.

              • WOW
                At first I thought by feeding her dogs that big $ food she was just some crazy Cat Lady type person but only for dogs.
                But after checking out her web site she seems to be a dedicated and serious breeder with a passion for them type Dogs.

        • Dan;
          I think, I’d be wise not let my dogs see that web site, as I might have a dog insurrection on my hands. I’ve got mine snowed into thinking they live the good life. [lol]

        • Hi Dan – I have been to Cheryll Ann’s house and see her dogs and her facilities for her dogs. Everything is certainly 1st class all the way. Cheryll loves those dogs as if they were her own children. It’s amazing.

          • Bob, if you and Feyma are free on June 12 and 13 – there is a dog show those 2 days (4 shows) at Victoria Plaza.

            You may wanna take a look at all the breeds being shown.

            Stars at like 11am there will be a break around 2 I think then will go on till maybe 5 or 6pm.

      • Shih tzu are little people in fur coats, LOL!

        And you don’t wanna know my dog food bill, LOL LOL! I don’t just feed dog food, I also feed human food cooked especially for the dogs, LOL! Toppings on dog food.

        You know what they say dogs make your lives whole – well they don’t make my life whole – they are my life. But they are MY HOBBY – NOT my living.

        Neil – yeah go to Costco you can get like $7 a lb steak, hehehe.

        Paul – labs aren’t too bad, we used to have a great dane, LOL LOL! You should have seen him eat, LOL!

        • Cheryll Ann;
          I’ll admit it’s been a very interesting exchange (and sometimes funny) over the subject of the love of dogs. But it’s the love of the dog that remains most important, big or small, pure breed or just a mutt with a good heart. Your website showed me that “You love your dogs!”

      • Neil – I am a crazy lady and I hate Iams as they are owned by Proctor and Gamble that does animal testing.

        http://www.pandgkills.com/main.html

        Iams is also not a human grade dog food.
        Not saying you should not feed that as dogs seem to like Iams and Eukanuba but just telling you about P & G (oh sure I use their other products – pretty hypocrytical I know) But i have always felt that companies that sell dog foods etc should not do cruel animal testing.

        We had a great dane for 9 years he ate super premium dog food. And its BAGS and BAGS of food a month.

        before that we had St Bernards and Great Danes, pets only NEVER bred from and never shown.

        Right now I love
        http://www.championpetfoods.com and that is the food most my dogs eat. Ingredients are human grade and it’s made in Canada.

  5. Great story Paul…..I left 3 cats back in Michigan…sigh. I miss them and I have been told that they miss me. Tipper is 12 and weights 20 lbs. Midnight is 8 and Baby is a yearling.

    • Edward;
      Cats are fun, especially when the new puppies decide they want to mess with her. She has never hurt one, but she lets her annoyance be known.

  6. Senior.
    Looks like your yardboy has his hands full when it comes to cleaning the yard. You do have a yardboy right? 🙂
    Only sad thing about moving to the PI is leaving my baby Max. He’s a small dog 132lb rotti/lab mix and the sweetest personality. He’ll be eight around the time we go so my son ill take him. Talk about cats like your kids I said yes to two brothers when they were in the 6th grade. Kids are grown gone finished college and working and those darn cats are still alive and well 14yrs. I think they hit the lotto on life spans I’m tired of cleaning out litter boxes and hairballs. Wife won’t touch them. 🙁
    Paul when I get settled I’ll see about getting a couple of pups from you if you have a litter?

    • Bruce;
      You’re talking to the yard boy! I make my rounds at first light, as I’m smart enough not to walk in the dark, Land Mines! I also cut the grass every week now that we have it. A couple of puppies, you can bet on that, I’ll give you pick of the litter.

      • Senior,
        I thought you said that you were retired and that you did everything on your time.
        or was that just for other agencies. Guess your still on the clock when it comes to the HONEY DUES and REQUESTS from the commander and chief. 🙂
        Some things never change!!!

        Have you built a dog house yet in preperation for the rainy season??

        • Hi Bruce;
          You know that you are never retired from “Honey Do’s”. I have two covered areas for the dogs during the rainy season, one is behind the Man Cave, and the other is my car port. And then there is my dog Smarty who just walks around wet, as he seems to like it!

  7. Hi Paul

    We are dog free at the moment. When the collie in the picture passed on we decided we would do some travelling. Little did we know then that the Philippines but be one of our destinations.

    I go next door to get my doggie fix lol.

    After growing up with two Rough collies my youngest found out he was allergic to them, so if he wants a dog it will have to be a poodle or similar.

    Marjorie

    • Marjorie;
      Collie’s are a beautiful dog, most Americans in my advanced age group grew up with Timmy and Lassie on TV, so we have a natural love for the breed. Me I was stuck with Poodles, but I fell in love with the three of them anyway. Wish my Aunt had Collie’s

  9. Hi Paul – Now you’ve done it. I’m really home sick! Just finished about 36 hours of travel back to the land of the BIG PX, and I miss my dogs. Seems they knew “Mommy & Daddy” were going on a trip. They spent most of the last two weeks prior to our departure hanging (truly) around us and on us.

    Our little female “mix” jumped up on my lap, laid there and fell asleep the day before we departed. First time ever for that – this is the same dog that took a month to “adjust” to my presence.

    Looking forward to the return trip, and being jumped on by the Australian Shepherd and the little “mix” lady. I’ll have to make sure I work out while away – they’ll need a lot of play time!

    BTW, best not let anyone from certain regions to the north of you hear about your abundance in pets. One or two might “disappear”!
    😉

    • Paul;
      My wife will go to the market, 10 minutes prior to her return all the dogs start yapping and get excited. I walk to the gate, and open it, they have never been wrong. Enjoy the States, Do you still speak the language?

      • I’m in the “non-Hispanic,” “non-German,” “non-[insert alternative]” part of “Southern” Ohio!

        I’m getting better at understanding them. 😆

        • Have the family watch your dogs on the day of your return, I wager they [the dogs I mean] will know you’re on the way home.
          I spent a summer on Cape Cod with my family, while waiting on a ship in 1994; I couldn’t understand a word they were saying.

  10. Like you said before, an alien would think that dogs are the masters 🙂

    What do you get if you cross a bulldog and shih tzu – nevermind…

    We had a great poodle growing up, rescued from the pound – he was standard size, never had his tail docked, and we left him somewhat shaggy. Awesome ball fetcher, would play until your arm wore off, which could be quite a while with teenage boys.

  11. Hi Gary;
    That’s what I was saying; a poodle around young boys will turn in to one heck of a dog. All ours had docked tails but no Pom-pom sissy cuts.

  12. Geez, Paul, and my neighbours in Davao were shocked that I had 5 dogs when I was there!

  13. I have to admit. I am taking a like to Louie. I think it is the damned hat. Does he have a flowered shirt to go with the hat?……..lol

  14. Hi Paul,

    That “fat old cat” could live to 20 years old. I hope you are prepared! One of our Siamese made it to 19. Loved the story and the comments!