What is a dog Army? It’s a collection unconditional love. For an example of this, lock your dog and anyone that says they love you, in the trunk of your car for twenty minutes. Open the trunk and then tell me which one is glad to see you? A year ago in June I wrote “It’s A Dog’s Life” in which I explained the therapeutic value of having dogs. Would that mean that the more dogs one has the longer you’ll live?
My dog army is made up of eighteen assorted breeds of dogs, a few as old as ten years plus and some younger. We just had 3 Dachshund and 5 Spitz puppies leave for new homes last week. But I never count them as new recruits in the Army as we only keep them for 10 weeks after they are born. Three months ago it was Shih Tzu puppies.
Last month my eldest dog passed to that dog heaven we’ve all told kids about. His name was Smarty, he was a Spitz and was about 12 years old (our years). He was a bit arthritic and was blind in one eye for his last year. The Vet came every few months and told me he was not going to last. Smarty decided he didn’t want to hear that and squeezed another year of life just to spite the Vet.
So the dog Army was one man short, until a week ago. Our Daughter, who I gave two Black Labradors to a while ago, and she had decided she likes Lab’s (Who Doesn’t?) and bought a Chocolate Lab puppy. And named her Hershey for all the obvious reasons, after a week she thought; “This dog is going to be huge”. Since it was too small to live on the farm, and too big to live in her apartment in town. So off to her Daddies house she goes and asked if we would take the puppy?
We told her we would but that name had to go, my wife Mayang named her Coco as in a cup of coco not coconut. So I’m busy teaching her to go up and down stairs, and relieve herself outside. These are the things I do well but I don’t hold a candle to Cesar of “Dog Whisperers” fame. (He is good!) If anyone read an article I wrote a year or two ago about our Shih Tzu Goldie leaping off the roof patio, well last Tuesday it happened again, only this time it was Coco the new Labrador pup. It was just before supper when we heard a thud in the front yard. When Mayang investigated, here came Coco limping into the house and upset as hell, as were we. I’ll provide an update later.
Now why do I have so many dogs on a 1000 square meters of land? My mother and father had dogs when I was a boy, and we loved them very much. After I left home I went without a dog for the next 40 years due to my life at sea. It’s true I had a few times on land for short periods, but I knew I’d be leaving again and that seemed unfair to any dog I might have.
Okay; what about the ten years in Puerto Rico? Well that was a life style choice. Bachelor, Club Owner and playboy of the western world, but I did have an African Gray Parrot in my bars. The parrot was bi-lingual of course. When I left the Island I had twenty people who wanted to buy the bird. But I gave it for free to the one I knew who loved the bird, and would give it the best life. I’m a Nobel kind of guy!
Do I know every dog’s name? Well yes I do, and I take timeout every day to play and talk to them rain or shine. My dog Army has grown in ranks in some strange ways. I had a friend years ago who moved to an apartment and gave me two full grown and quite old German Sheppard’s; they lived with me for five years until they passed on, of old age. When my friend Rich passed a few weeks ago his wife asked me to care for his Black Lab named Brittney who now is on the farm living a most contented life and has the love of my Son-in-law Chris and the Sanguyo family. Two years ago I gave them Mandy another Black Lab, who loves farm life.
I normally just can’t say no to a dog that needs a home. Oh yes I also have some mixed breeds (Heinz 57’s) whom are a pleasure to be around, the truth is, that all dogs are equal in my eyes.
I’d not call any of my dogs “Watch Dogs” I think doorbell is a more acceptable term as you’ll never miss someone knocking on the gate no matter where you are in the house.
So now that I’ve explained My Dog Army, I’m going to grab a cold beer and go and see if I can teach them to march. It will be difficult, not because the dogs aren’t smart enough, or that I’ll be drinking beer, it’s the fact that I was a Sailor, and everyone knows the Navy never could march!
The Coco the Flying Labrador update, she’s fine and has taken to chewing all of Mayang shoes. This is going to be an exciting time in my life!
Hi Paul, I had the honor of meeting most of your army last year, hopefully I’ll get to meet the rest in a few weeks.
My nephew Lito has 3 dogs living at my home in Pita, I named them Wyatt, Doc and Kate. Back here in Texas we have Lea, out Golden Retriever/Lab mix. If and when we make the “Big Move”, Lea will definitely come with us. Can you hook me up with a good vet?
Mike;
I’m going to see my vet today, Coco the Flying Labrador is feeling sick and has no energy, so when a 3 month old Lab does that, she’s sick! I think it’s the sudden shifts in temperatures we’ve been having with all this rain. I report back tomorrow. And Yes we can find you a good vet here!
I knew there was another reason why I liked you -besides your wry wit. You ARE a dog person too!
Kay;
I went to the dogs years ago. I find it impossible to get angry at any dog, as all they are doing is what dogs do. They truly are friends and they always agree with me!
All the good ones are! (lol) Cat’s are for Liberals.
Those facebook comments confuse me!
cats R for Dog Food !
See what I mean!!!!
so nice,,,,, i love dg too.
Linda;
Thank you, everyone should!
Hey Paul,
There has always been some debate as to which animal is smarter, a dog or a cat.
I had a dog once that needed surgery. After the surgery, the Vet put a Victorian Collar on the dog so she wouldn’t bite the stitches. (a victorian collar is one of those cone shaped/megaphone things that go around the head and neck) Anyway, one day while walking the dog, somebody started laughing at the dog because she looked so silly. The dog got so embarrased she hung her head down and put her tail between her legs.
She was showing emotion! A cat wouldn’t do that. Only an intelligent animal can show emotions. With cats, the lights are on, but nobody is home.
Hudson;
There is a cat in the house named Na-ning, she was fixed as a kitten in 1995, so she is 40 pounds of pure lazy, and do the math 16 years old. The vet thinks it is impossible for a cat in the Philippines to live that long, until I explained that he performed the operation on her way back then. The dogs pay the cat no heed, except for Coco the Flying Labrador who’s but a puppy, but she’ll learn that it’s best to leave Na-ning alone. I always have. She is left over from when my daughters moved out long ago and neither wanted to take the cat.
I agree with you as to which is smarter, but to live 16 years without ever having done a thing in life but eat and sleep, what a great democrat she’s become.
Hi Paul – I have also gone to the dogs in more ways than one. I love dogs but my wife Marilou has only in the last 2 years got around to my way of thinking. It has taken me 27 years to convince her that dogs and recipe’s is a no no. Since we got our little askal or should I say rascal it has made a total change in how we live as she dominates the household in so much as when we leave the house we have to bribe her with a doggy treat to keep the peace. Her space in the pantry is full of chews, bacon strips, dentu sticks and rawhide bones.
I could just imagine the monthly cost if we had your army of K9’s so I’m afraid one is sufficient for us. She is at the table when the cooking starts and never missed a trick when a snack is served.
As you mentioned the welcome we get on our return pays for the treat investment over and over again.
Because I walk her around the Barangay every morning I have got to meet most all of my neighbours and the kids who all know her name. I also know all of her canine friends good and bad who live and wander the neighbourhood. I will say to her if you don’t behave I’ll just let you run around with them and you can fend for yourself that usually brings her to heel pretty sharpish.
I must confess if all else fails at least I have one friend in the Philippines provided the pantry is never bare.
Regards.
Jim.
Hi Jim;
I loved you story about your best friend, the change of outlook a dog gives us is priceless. Whether yo have one dog or a hundred and one, what they give to you is the same, a sence of well being, and the ability to smile. I never intended to have this many dogs, it just worked out that way, There is not one I could part with.
I am going to correct a mistake I made a few years ago with a 120 pound Black Lab I had, I started walking him after he was grown and everyone feared him, yet he was a gentle giant, now I’m taking Coco the Brown Lab a few times a week while she’s small, so when she is grown the purok will already know how sweet she is.
oh..so sorry to hear you loose Smarty..i had a maltese male..Max,he has been died 5 years now i mis him so much he was 17 when die i got tear in my eye now,i brought some of his hair to the phils with me..i hope your other dog gets well soon..
Harry;
I know how it feels to loose a dog you are close to, but Smarty lived a long and happy life, and passed quickly with no pain.
Coco the Flying Labrador is still at the vet, and we’ll know more tomorrow. I’ll post as soon as I can any news. Thank you very much for your concern. When you’re in the Philippines if you want another puppy, I don’t sell them but will let them go with someone who’ll love them…
Paul,
Good Post! Dogs really are mans best friend. But have you taught any of them to drink a SMG along with you lol. They are an extension of there owner, so do any of them look like you hahaha. Take care and be safe in the dog kingdom.
Papa Duck;
I had two of the Spitz a brother and sister who would sit beside my under the mango tree while I was having a beer with friends, if we set the beer on the ground they would knock it over and start drinking the beer as it flowed out. None of the other dogs had any taste for beer but those two loved it. I had to put a stop to that as knew it was not good for them, and I wasn’t going to foot the bill for their habit also.
Coco the Flying Labrador medical update;
Early Monday morning we took Coco to the hospital and she was extremely dehydrated do to a stomach infection and had to spend the night, the Vet said was caused by the sudden shifts in the weather, I took that info with a grain of salt. But she is on an IV of dextrose and other medicines. We’ll go down there later today and hope for the best, she’s only been with us for a couple of weeks, but has already found a special place in our hearts for her. I’ll keep you informed!
Hey Paul,
Maybe it wasn’t the change in weather that made Coco sick. It could have been the rain. I dont think that Labradors are waterproof. haha I am suggesting this because you see people here cover their heads and frantically run from the rain because some believe you will get sick if you get wet.
Tom;
Coco is due to come home from the hospital today, it’s sad to say but her well being was now a result of money. The vet asked the first day how much the puppy cost, I asked why that mattered? And she told me the hospital/medicine would cost more than the dog cost. I asked if I looked indigent, and couldn’t pay?
Make my pet well! I didn’t like, but I understood her question. I’ll make nice with the vet today when I pick up Coco the Flying Labrador.
BTW: Labradors are simi-waterproof, they have a high degree of lanolin in their hair and semi- webbed feet. But the vet is sticking with her weather theory, which is okay with me so long as Coco is better. The money? I’ll eat less tenderloin this month.
Hi Paul,
Nice topic.
What I nor my asawa can figure out is why do so many people keep these big and small really mean dogs in cages or chained up on short leads? Many here have huge dogs in cages or tied up on short lines that growl and bare thier teeth as though if they did get loose someone is going to be bitten for sure. We walk our now 6 month old pup ever day and average of 75 minutes. By the eay he has never one time barked at any of these dogs. And we had him “fixed” 3 weeks ago. Why do they call it “fixed” anyhow ? We see maybe only 3 other poeple in this whole town ever walk their dogs.
I am trying to figure out what are these people so afraid of and or what have they done to someone to be that scared that they have to have these killer dogs ? They ceratainly are not pets.
We don’t live in what you and I would call the inner city so I just don’t get it. Hopefully you or someone out there has some answers.
This is just plain abuse to keep these animals in such small cages, and to never walk them. Dogs are made to walk and hunt as you know.
Have a great day…………………
Charlie – part of their nastiness is probably because they are cooped up in a cage or chained up. Do they have organised ‘dog fights’ like the illegal ones that have been going on here in the west with Pit Bull Terriers etc. Those are vicious dogs. Maybe the owners should be caged up for a while then they would know how it feels.
Marjorie;
I heard pit bull owners swear that they are a sweet calm dog, which I know to be true, until they turn on you. If you want the dog because of it’s good nature, get a Labrador. I like the thought of caging the owners, that would work!
Hi Marjorie,
They don’t have dog fights in the Philippines that I am aware of. Not around here anyhow unless they are underground. Perhaps Paul or someone could better answer that part of the question for you. The dogs we see here are not typically what they use for fighting I don’t believe. One main reason they bark so much is that for them it is exercise and about all they get. How you can keep these dogs in a 4 foot square cage or on a 4-6 foot chain all the time is beyond me. Cages are fine for training such as house breaking or as Paul uses them for the ones in heat, puppies, and so forth. That is the right thing to do. But not as a life style for the dogs. We see this big Dobermans, and similar dogs in these 4 foot x 4 foot cages and it is so sad.
I was hoping someone would know what is the rationale in the thinking of these owners. Are they that afraid of something or somebody ? My wife is from this province, what I call a country/river girl, and she doesn’t understand it. I suppose I can still call her a girl though she is well past that stage so to speak. Opps, I hope she isn’t watching me type this. I dare not tell her age that is for sure. But she could vote at least twice if that gives you a hint. Paul if we had a property the size of yours I am guessing we would have another dog for sure and other critters. How do you keep your dogs out of your fish pond ?
I wish more people would watch the “Dog Whisperer”. He is truly an amazing person.
I have been around dogs and horses most of my life and can appreciate his ability to communicate with them.
We just had a dog killed in front of our house Sunday. It was running loose as a lot of them also do. I cannot blame the driver except that he did not even stop. It was injuerd very badly and we called the polis not knowing who’s dog it was. They did come actually quite quickly and just minutes after the owner showed up. The dog in my opinion should have been put out of it’s misery immediately but the owner would not allow that so he put it on a sack and carried it home. That I suppose is a personal choice just like humans being kept alive on life support and so on. But this dog was beyond any chance of survival, broken back/spine, internal bleeding, external bleeding, just really bad. I am all for saving a dogs life but there is a time. Like Paul I think the people that keep the dogs in these cages should be caged and I hope this neighbor learned a lesson about letting his dogs run loose. A hard way to learn, hopefully not a wasted lesson.
I hope you and your four footed friends have a great day,
PS: Golden Retrievers make great pets to. I just had to throw that in Paul.
We offer a reduced price on stud service with ours, though he has been fixed. I still haven’t figured out what they “fixed”.
PS: Paul, if you want to make a consolidated shipment to Washington D.C., we can arrange for a fair sized contribution.
Charlie;
As for the age of your young lady, just say Jack Benny and plus or minus.
I’ve never seen or heard of dog fights here.
I know why the driver keep going, if he had stopped, 20 people would have all been claiming the the dog as their own and all would have demanded to be paid damages, this I’ve seen happen over and over again.
I only had one dog that I had to chain, Crazy Louie. His owner before me used to mistreat him, when he died Louie came to live with me. We showed him a happy last six years of his life, But my wife and I were the only two humans he liked. So if we had visitors I had to chain Louie until they left. I loved that crazy dog.
You are right Paul, the kids said it was a white guy that hit the dog. Like you said they’d all have their hand out to claim it was their dog. Good thing he didn’t stop as the crowd was already gathering. Sad, but true. How one would want to profit from the injury or death of that poor critter is beyond me. But then again the world is full of ambulance chasing lawyers.
Charlie;
It’s the way it is, I would have drove on also, because believe it or not, there is a leash law in most parts of the Philippines. Which should, I REPEAT SHOULD, make the dog owner libel for damages to the car. When caribou fly!
Charlie;
My dogs free range around my house, and are restrained only when out walking with me. We do have a couple of pens under the water tank, to separate a dog that might be in heat, or for a mother with new born pups. But in both cases it’s temporary and we let them have a run twice a day while on “Dog House” duty. I agree with you one hundred percent about dogs being chained up all day. It’s not right! If the dog is vicious than you should not have that dog around. I think about all my families kids and my granddaughter, and would never put them in harms way.
Paul – so what do you do with all the dog poop?
Don;
Once a week I FedEx it to Washington.
I thought I saw Pelosi nibble on something durring one session of congress!
Pita Mike;
I receive a lot of thank you, notes from Nancy, she states that they help her make better decisions.
paul
is there a natural home remedy you use on your dogs for fleas and ticks?
Maria;
I’ve yet to see a flea on one of my dogs, but ticks abound, the ticks decrease during the rainy season I’ve noticed, I’ll assume they are not good swimmers. But Hart’s Flea and Tick collars and a bath with a good anti-pest shampoo seems to work well.
LOL! Oh no, I’m not letting you get away with politicizing dog/cat ownership, here, no way! Cats are definitely republicans; laying around their kingdoms with a misconceived sense of entitlement as underlings slave to keep them living in the fashion to which they are accustomed, that plush, “what have you done for me lately” attitude on their well-manicured faces. Meanwhile, the working-class dogs, who put all before themselves – “people before self-gratification” – are happy with a few scraps and simple acknowledgement, don’t need or want to have it all. Essentially, true socialists!(insert “big grin” emoticon here)
So, know that I’ve p’d-off half the members, here, lets just say that dogs are the greatest of creatures on earth! I’ve had a dog – a border collie x spaniel – that twice saved my life and could out-think any cat & a few humans, and I’ve had one or two dogs that were dumber than dirt, but every last one has been a great buddy to have around. Now, in defense of cats; nothing makes a better car-waxing shammy, chimney sweeper, & mouse-catcher; a real multi-purpose tool when needed. Now, a dolphin could give a dog competition, but they’re not easy to make house-broken, they can’t bark, the leash slips off easily & they seem to die quickly, leaving a terrible smell. Horses & cows are too messy and birds, well they’re just weird!
I had 5 dogs when I lived in Davao, 4 Filipinos & 1 foreigner(had blue eyes). Each had an area to guard at night & only one became a neighbour’s Kaon/Kain (meal). Their presence transformed my wife’s family into dog-lovers & my brother-in-law, George, took care of each to the last of their days. I’m looking forward to building up an army of my own when I return – think I’ll pass on the little camouflage jackets – so if someone tells you that some part of Samal island has gone to the dogs, you’ll know where to find me!
So, here’s to Fluffy – the Dolphy of the dog world – Coco, & the rest of the gang!
Mike;
Are you sure you don’t have birds? Because you sure did open a can of worms with you liberal cats vice conservative dog theory.
You forgot another great pet, the the pig, they are a clean animal, highly intelligent and can be domesticated quite easily. Plus the fact that bacon tastes great!
Hi Paul.
We too have our small army, nowhere near the scale of yours of course. It stared last year when I thought I would be going away for a few days at a time. We were living in Talipanan Beach in Puerto Galera at the time and had a large house and big garden. I wanted a dog for Michelle, my partner. Like you better to call them a door chime than a watch dog !! Well we put the word out that we wanted a puppy and the family came up with one. You would swear that he was a lab but no he’s an askal but there is some lab blood in there somewhere. He is Bobby on account he has a bob tail. We had spoken with a friend about a pup as ell and he turned up with one. I never like having 1 dog. They need company when we go out so we took that pup as well. A visit to a pt shop to bu a few treats and there were 2 pups. Absolutely gorgeous. Well we took one of them, hell 3 is no worse than 2 eh!! We got home and our friend had another one!! Soon after that a big box with another pup found it’s way to us and so our team was complete. 5 pups; 3 boys and 2 girls although they are collectively known as “the boys’. Well they all became great play mates, quickly learnt how to escape the garden and run free around the areas. Anyway time came for us to head back to Manila and we could not have 5 dogs with us in the city. My brother in law took 2 and a friend took 1 and so we had Bobby and Peachy the lively bitch. Well Bobby didn’t like life in Pasay. All these other dogs. all wanting to fight and of course the Alpha male, Thunder. Well the daily fights soon toughened Bobby up and as he grew he muscled up and thunder pushed his luck too far one day and Bobby fought back. Bobby was Alpha male now!!! We moved to Imus in Cavite and Bobby and Peachy came with us and soon Peachy was pregnant and she had 7 pups. 1 didn’t revive so we were a house with Bobby, mum and 6 pups. It took just a couple of wees before they were romping around. We found homes for the 1 bitch 2 boys and kept 3 boys with us. 1 is soon to go to a new home and so we are settled again with Bobby and 2 of his boys as our ‘pack’. Everybody wants to buy Bobby but nobody will go near him. He looks fantastic, look so aggressive when he starts but is as soft as anything. Barks like mad if anyone comes near and in that sense is a perfect ‘door chime’ but woe betide anyone who ever breaks into our house.
Michelle was not a ‘pet’ person before she met me. Her family always had dogs but only in the normal filipiono way, Outside and on a rope or in a box. She has learnt the joy of a real pet and she loves our boys as much as I do. We went away for a few days and Bobby had to be tied up in a box in Pasay. He howled the entire time we were away, crying in a way that all the neighbours said chilled their souls. Michelle got back a few days before me. The trike dropped her off at the end of the road and Bobby went mad with excitement. He became happy again. When I returned Bobby was ok again. His ‘master’ was home, or more accurately his neck scratcher was home. We are looking for a new house now and No1 priority is a place which is good for our boys. I can’t imagine being without them now and I’m pleased to say nether can Michelle.
All the best
Cemlyn
Ps. There is a page dedicated to ‘our boys’ on our web site. The site is ‘work in progress’ but you can see my little army there.
http://www.inthephilippinesun.com
Cemlyn;
That’s how it starts, one dog begets another and when you’re done the begot’s outnumber where you started. As I said above I never planned on 18 dogs, but it’s where I arrived. I have the land and the means for all the dogs to live a comfortable and happy life. And the greatest doorbells a man could have. On your next move I hope you’ll have room for more buddies to move in with you!
Hi paul well my family have had dogs right from wwhen i was born i have had a few myself but being in the services doesnt really make it that easy,i used to have a miniture daschuand and we would leave him during the day when my wife and i went to work ,a neighbour heard him crying so let him out and he followed her across the road to another neighbour ,in a hurry she jumped in her car reversed out not seeing him and he was left parralized my wife was devastated as i bought him for her 18 birthday sadly he was put down now no one touches my animals he was a great little companion travelled all over australia with us and because of some idiots misguided dogooding he is dead it took me a while to get another but even when i had to leave her with my parents when i came home on leave all i had to do was whistle at the gate and out she wouldcome going crazy ,a dog is not just a pet it becomes part of your life and embedds itself in you it never judges you never tells you off and is always there with a waging tail no matter how shitty you feel a friend for life alwys ready to chase that ball or stick ,always on gaurd against intruders and prepared to give it all to protect you and your family a truer and braver friend you will not find they are truly mans best friend
chris
Hi Chris;
Pure breed or mixed local dogs, if they are with you, they are with you for life. I’m sorry to hear about them having to put your buddy down, that is truly a sad day. Now that I’m retired
and can spend all the time I want with my Army, I am a contented guy. I hire a family member to stay at my house whenever we take a trip, not so much to watch my house but more to feed and care for my buddies. It’s always good to hear from a true dog lover!
Hi Paul T: My late mother had a bull terrier, just like Gen. George Patton in the Philippines. The dog loved everybody except for my mother’s evangelical minister. The minister turned out to be a crook! The dog knew best!
Roselyn;
I strongly feel the Bull Terrier is a beautiful dog in it’s own way. The fact that it knew the minister was not a good person does not surprise me at all, they are smarter than we think they are.
Wow, your spitz patrol are cool.
Davaostart,
The Dona of that group lives inside, her name is Mini (Separate pictures on face Book). She has acted as a surrogate mother to every puppy we have ever had. She turns 10 this year. The big one in the picture is her son, he’s the house alpha his name is Moto-San. Great dogs.
Paul,
You should get a sign fitted on your front gate “Welcome to the Dog House”,LoL.
Chas;
Bienvenida de la Casa de Pero! It just sound classy in Spanish. (lol) He Latin will work!
Chas;
Latin:
Gratissimus ad canis domus. (Loose translation)
Paul;
Yeah, i prefer the Spanish version, has a nice ring to it,lol.
Chas;
I thought you might! (lol)
Coco the Flying Labrador Medical Update;
Yesterday afternoon she came home from the hospital full of puppy-ness, it was like she’d never been ill at all, she has to return next week for a check-up, and she takes her pill (wrapped in a piece of bacon) every morning. Running and playing, and straight back to chewing Mayang’s shoes So I guess life is back to normal, and I like it that way. To all of you who were concerned ,both on LiP and FaceBook. I thank you for that! (new photos of her return are on Face Book)
Paul,
Sure wish we lived closer by! My boys need a dog! Do you think any of yours would like to ride a bus to Cauayan? We tried the ask around and see what you get. That has not worked so far. We are still looking for a Labrador or something similar. One that is nice with children and can be a good door bell at night also.
I had all sorts of dogs as a child. I really enjoyed my boxer (Dutches) when I had her. But when we moved to town we had to give her away. She loved the neighbors lawn mower tires and would not allow them to mow their grass.
Glad to here that Coco the Flying Labrador is back in good spirits!
Steve;
I only have one dog in heat, and she is still too young to mate. All my puppies are down the road this month. First of the year we’ll breed Coco the flying lab, and if you want one come and get it. I’ll let you know. I’ve never met a bad tempered Lab, I know they are all great with kids.
Paul,
I do not know my schedule as far as home time goes right now. But I will keep in touch. I would not mind a trip to that area again!
Steve;
That I understand, I have no idea what I’ll be in the next twenty minutes. But keep it in mind.
Dogs are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!
I like dogs better than most people!
Cheryll Ann;
I’ve yet to have a dog ask to borrow money from me, or judge me for how I live. They truly are the best!