wildewillie89

Bravecto or Nexgard where we are seem to be the best bet. Spot ons have failed numerous times on dogs within our extended family so have to go the stronger stuff. Just watch closely for side effects - the vast majority of dogs tolerate them well. 

Not sure if you want to know about prevention or vaccines. There aren't any tick vaccines (which only protects against Lyme) as far as I am aware in Thailand. Prevention is a much better option anyway. 

Army isn't necessarily the easiest thing to get into in Thailand. I mean army official (where you get benefits), rather than conscription.

Would have to check if applicable to the Thai military, but other Thai officials can obviously get scholarships into Thai universities, but also can take time off work to further their studies overseas - Masters for example (whilst still being paid their salary). The salary I think just stays the same, rather than rises, until the individual returns. However, that all depends on what Ministry the official works in. If work in the Public Health or Education Ministry from memory they will pay you to study abroad, but Interior Ministry I think have changed and don't do that anymore. Not sure about military officials. 

It would be your adopted sons children that would benefit from him being in the Army (only if he stayed in it). Free health, 100% free government schooling, discounted Thai private education (30% I think) and free university for the duration of the Bachelor. Not to mention if his children wanted to be military it will be much easier if their dad is as separate quotas, well bonus scores anyway.

If leaving the Army I wouldn't be expecting to receive much. Sure, some people may stay in the health system by accident (I know of one), but all the other benefits you pay first, take receipt and get refunded. 

Is there actually a criteria to it? Seems people can write any sort of rubbish and they will be nominated. As long as they are always online, and always first to comment the exact same standard boring responses to the same old stories on TV. So incredibly juvenile/unhelpful comments on topics of corruption, road safety, renting, noise, Muslims, I had a shower with my wife (like they have never seen a naked woman before), I drink beer, bla bla ladyboy etc. 

The fact that not many people are interested in the competition and it is hard work for moderators says it all. Kill it. Flogging a dead horse. Or keep it running in the background for those who do see the forum as their family/friendship base. But don't try and make it something that it isn't. It is POTY of an expat forum where the vast majority of members couldn't give two stuffs, not a Nobel Prize.

I think people who have found members of some use have probably formed contact outside the forum. Even if those people were ever nominated they would never win as are not trying to keep themselves awake all night refreshing stories in the hope they make the first page. This forum gives a sense of the same desperation for likes you see with school girls and IG. 

Goes both ways. Our head of village used to be sat down on a chair in their front yard by his wife and she would continually scream and beat him with a bamboo stick for a good 20 minutes. All whilst the children watched on and any people who walked by. 

Usually the cause was him getting drunk and being flirty. She now has left him and he has a new wife. The same screaming but not much beating. 

From what I have seen 'educated' families will either remove the woman after she is hit the first time or go to the police. Even many non educated families will leave after being hit the first time (one of our cousins did). Our assistant head of village hit his wife once, she immediately went to talk to the Mrs family about what to do as she has no money if she leaves him. End result was they separated and he has to now give her half his salary - rather than her going to police where he will lose his job completely.  

On the other hand the Mrs and I once helped a girl who was running from a beating in the city. The Mrs said we will go to the police, she said they will not help, Mrs said her uncle is police so can help you. But still refused and was asked to be dropped within 100 metres of where he was. One minute she was saying he is going to kill me, the next she was refusing real police help and asked us to turn around to drop her off near him again. 

But yes, some serious gender issues in the country. Also lack of trust with police. A bit like men who are victims of domestic violence back home cant trust authorities to take them seriously. 

The Mrs did it in Korat last Friday. What they did say to the Mrs initially was that her ID card photo was not clear enough and she would need to go and get a new one to be able to get a passport. Luckily she could just use her government card photo. Something to make sure of before you go. 

Staff have no problems with Thai person leaving once measured and coming back later. If queue number has already gone through, they will just fit them in next. Saves waiting in the one room all day. 

1 hour ago, starky said:

I get it your fond of the breed. I can get very defensive about the APBT. Personally I don't want a large "natural" attack dog with a an aggressive personality that I couldn't leave around with a stranger . I want a well trained dog that is aggressive when required but also has the intelligence and temperament to nor want to attack everyone not familiar to them.

I completely agree and that is the dog that the vast majority of people want - especially in populated areas (suburbia) and low crime areas. It is the dog I too would also want if living in those environments or had lower level security needs. 

1 minute ago, starky said:

I said fearsome not fearless. The rest I can't bother arguing with its a dog. It can be socialised. As for true working dogs my dogs only eat and drink on command its hard to train but with time and patience doable. Saw too many dogs poisoned in thailand and mine are worth too much for that shit. As for the rest we will have to agree to disagree. All filas are tested at 1 year to not be fearsome of gun shots? All? Yeah righto mate.

I think from my previous comments on the thread regarding show lines it is pretty obvious the lines I am talking about. 

15 hours ago, starky said:

Yes all those traits are instinctive but if you haven't stayed on the property, haven't raised the dog and don't even have a perimeter yet what is this dog going to be protective of? The thieves have probably spent more time on the property than this muppet. I would also say that unless you are talking about your dog's specifically that every dogs second purpose is to hate everything is pure fallacy. You stop feeding your "attack" dog for 3 days then let me roll up with some water and chicken breast and we can test your hate everything theory.  You are extrapolating the pack theory with your own personal prejudices without a pack a dog will naturally find a new pack/ pack leader to bond with. I also question your breed theory I have worked with rotties, Akitas, cane corso, Alsatians and my background for the last 3 generations is the APBT apparently the most fearsome dog on the planet if you want to drink the kool aid. If you needed to work with 3 dogs and a year of research maybe you don't fully understand dog behaviour. 

The thread has already discussed having a fence before a dog (I also mentioned it, OP seems to be getting it). The dog will protect the land/stock. I think it was the Imperial War Museum that displayed accounts of Maremmas temporarily being used to replace Alsatians during the war as the Alsatians were being put down too easily guarding stock.

Guardian dogs work in pairs or small groups to begin with (thought that was obvious). They do not seek packs. Land, livestock (even penguins in Australia) or family come before joining packs of stray dogs. Any stray dog is either chased away or killed - not accepted. They couldn't have existed for the past 2,000 odd years by your thinking. *By the way the pack leader theory has been debunked how many times now by academics. The AVSAB discussed this 8 years ago re training in particular.  

Look up Filas or better yet go and observe some. They are one dog breed in the world different to all other breeds. They are not trained attack dogs, it is simply their nature (which is why it was the only breed permitted to not be disqualified for attacking show judges for so long). There are a few FB groups you can join for ease, but I suggest going out and actually observing/talking to people. Cane Corso trainers often get on the FB groups to ask how they will go with Filas. One recent person was someone who just moved to Venezuela who has a business training Malinois but wants a Fila for home/land protection. 

Your recommendation is to just go out and own dogs without prior experience of dogs with similar temperaments? Literally what every single dog expert argues against when talking independent thinking dogs (even your basic puppy school teacher). I do not get the Pitbull being fearless comment. Pitbulls are human friendly. They will lick an intruder to death unless they have had serious time spent on them/with their handler, completely different dogs. The London Magazine wrote about how the Soviet Army tried to train Caucasians when patrolling the Berlin Wall using aversive stimuli, but the dogs proved impervious to pain. A Fila at one year of age is tested not to be fearful of a gunshot 5 metres away. Although hard to verify (for obvious reasons), it is said the Israeli Defence Force use these dogs as they are naturally not scared of loud noises (guns/bombs) - even though the dog is banned in the country. The Brazilian Army did a 5 year study in 'extreme hostile jungle conditions' and found Alsatians to be more intelligent, but Filas scored higher in aggression, sensibility, temperament, energy, resistance, rusticity and strength.    

It was a UK singer (Stone) who bought a CO after receiving death threats. Already owned a Rottie...observation - they are nocturnal and have a temperament that makes a Rottie look shy. Completely different drives that need 'serious experience' to work with (as the GS training forums agree with). 

They will not be motivated by toys/food, so it takes a complete different methodology when  working with them - 'experience of dogs with similar drives'. Maybe instead of having silly debates, actually go and research their history and drive. *True working livestock guardians (2 years up) do not accept food from strangers, do not even drink water when off their land and go many weeks with limited food in the fields. Also designed not to be bathed for a lifetime and their nails even pop off or they bite them (as meant to survive with little human contact). However, do eat or bury the stillborn of livestock to try and hide the scent from predators. 

Slightly off topic, but anyway.

Up to 50k usd from memory to train herding dogs to get them up to government standards. To be fair though, handlers usually have zero intense working experience with many breeds due to specifically choosing the breeds best suited to the work/sport they participate in. Logical handlers will openly admit they only down play other working breeds as they haven't spent the time developing methods that are effective in terms of understanding their instincts so they fail miserably with them. Nor should they be spending time with them.

I think that sometimes causes confusion. People judge different dogs through the lens of the dogs they work with and know (usually modern breeds), rather than taking the time to properly research a dog's history and/or go out and observe them. The reason for that is the dogs are not popular Western dogs so indeed are hard to research/observe. However, they are becoming popular now as working dogs in the West as popularity has ruined the herding dogs. 

Personally, I would say for my dogs, regardless if they had the resources and 50k spent on them or not, would still be completely useless for personal protection in public (too aggressive). But for land/home protection, a different matter with just time spent on them. But look at their make up, one's sole purpose for thousands of years has been to naturally protect large areas without any training or even any human interaction (only display a nurturing side due to protecting livestock which they have transferred to young children/small women). The other's sole purpose is to hate and attack everything (including show judges, children, women, whatever - was eating a turtle the other morning) except his immediate family for hundreds of years. Such qualities are 100% instinctive, no train/command/reward system - independent thinking. Assess situation and act. However, qualities that are very dangerous if not understood by people (i.e many public situations and some private situations).  

But as Chrisinth says, there are certain dogs that require some real experience. Experience for me is a similar minded dog but much more manageable (either smaller or softer temperament). So for example, the GS forums tend to think owning a GS is NOT sufficient experience to own a Caucasian Shepherd as completely different temperament. I did time with 3 Maremmas, just to get that understanding of instincts before I moved to the naturally more aggressive Caucasian. The Fila is a whole new ball game, but everyone knows that is the one dog breed in the world different from all others. That took a good year of research, talking to people, visiting, and yes, already owning an aggressive breed, 

On 8/19/2018 at 2:06 AM, Damrongsak said:

The Dogo was off-limits

Wonder if the OP would be able to exercise it enough. Otherwise rather than intruders stealing goods, the dog would just destroy the goods. Many lines are deaf these days too so unless the dog actually saw/felt vibrations from the intruders...I imagine would be very vulnerable to the Thai sun. There is a club in Thailand from memory. 

1 hour ago, jvs said:

All depends where you are looking,not really hard to find a good dog.

It is not so difficult to train a suitable dog to engage but that opens a whole other can of worms.

Very uncertain scared dogs in a pack can be a very good deterrent and they are for free here in Thailand.

If good dogs means NOT letting anyone on the land at all then it is very hard as nearly all dogs will pee themselves if challenged.  Unless someone is spending big on acquisition (importing) and are professional re training, then the dog will be easily disposed of by people not scared of dogs/under the influence. Waste of money and time for most in my opinion as Thai don't mind harming/killing dogs just for barking let alone having an actual reason to. 

Scared dogs in packs are useful against scared people but not much else. Thai grandmas are even great at knowing how to drive away scared packs. Really depends on how much the intruders want the goods. From my experience within the village, those usually scared of dogs suddenly become much braver when they decide to do silly things under the influence.

There are naturally aggressive dogs that require no training, however, require a huge understanding of the dog to be safely kept. It is why the Thai police force are big on Filas now for personal home protection, as the standard Thai Bangkaew is no longer regarded as sufficient - minimal stopping power. Lines in Thai are hit and miss though. Some hit instincts at about 11 months (standard is 5), others as early as 2-3 months. Many are unstable due to being mixed.  In terms of the OP wanting German Shepherds, it was a while ago now but when I had a look it seemed to be more show lines in Thai. 

17 hours ago, jvs said:

The amount of so called guard dogs that will actually engage an intruder is very very low.People think they have a dog that will bite but very few do so without proper training.In the Op's case it sounds like the thieves know when the place is deserted and then come and take stuff.Not likely these people come with guns blazing and empty the whole place or show up when they know people are there.

What the OP needs is a few dogs that will make a lot of noise so they will alarm the workers wo are living on the site.A guard dog in a kennel is useless just like you can not protect your family with a gun if you are not at home!!!

You can use a combination of dogs and electronic devices or protect your investment and or family.There are other options but i think this will do for Henk Jan.

Yes...99.99% of dogs would not engage an intruder. Of that .01% that will, it is quite hard to near impossible these days to find working lines.

On 8/12/2018 at 6:58 PM, grollies said:

Anyway, we bought a S&W .38 on the advice of the local BIB.

 

Complete waste of 75k in my opinion but keeps wife happy.

Cousin has sold a few to some farang near us to keep their partners happy also. Mrs wanted one, but with kids I didn't. Got these instead.

The one in the video was 10 months at the time (matures at 2 years - so warning barks transition into body slams if need be). 7,000 were used to patrol the Berlin Wall. Now used in Russian prisons and to guard. If brought up in a family they will show their nurturing side more. Downside of that is they grade people on how cowardly they are. Cowards on rare occasions they ignore, but mostly chase away, non cowards they attack. We had friends visit once with their 3 year old. The dog (leashed) would let the mother (even though stranger) touch her child, but not let the father near it. Nurturing side of the dog (protecting the weakest). 

Issue I had with that was a few kidnappings of children near us by small women using their kids (cowards in the dogs eyes). So got the black one, probably the only breed in the world (proper lines) with real natural attack without warning socialisation will not prevent. Accepts family, mother/father/sister in law as spent time with them as puppy, but no one else (including women and children). Popular among Thai police these days (but after a few attacks on people during puppy hood they finally realise they are different and need to be fenced).  

Idea is the dog in the video is naturally nocturnal so works at night out of the sun. The other is from a hot climate so loves the heat of the day. The nocturnal breed is an independent thinker so patrols the borders, whereas the other naturally stays close to house/person - Velcro dog. If good lines will not generally accept food off strangers. Also surprisingly good at killing snakes. According to the Russians and National Geographic, the nocturnal one has stopping power of a .45 caliber bullet. The other I have seen news reports of one dog taking multiple bullets and living to drive off intruders so would be similar. 
 

Didn't a Thai guy just get charged for shooting people trying to steal his durians?

Buying a gun isn't hard for Thai people. Pay relevant officials and you will have one (even police and other officials have to pay unless they know them). But is that really the point? Buying a gun after going to a shooting range once? 

Shooting to wound? NYPD hit rate is 18%, but you (seems you haven't been around guns recently) reckon you can hit someone in the leg to wound them. Think you have been on the video games a bit too long. You are kidding yourself and will hit a completely innocent passerby or yourself...just as your wife and her daughters will.

German Shepherd will be useless unless you spend a lot of money training them. Many (not all) are show dog lines in Thai. There is one breed of dog that would stop thieves in Thai (regardless of what weapons they come with), but doesn't seem like you are capable of owning it or fencing the yard to have it. 

CCTV and hiring security would be your best bet. 

I would also like to know how avoiding chicken will help with ticks. Is the theory it causes too much inflammation so ticks may be attracted as the dog isn't in the fullest of health it possibly could be? If that is the case then you can counter that a bit by giving the dog fish. Only taking away chicken seems too good to be true in a place like Thailand (high tick population), and maybe it was just more timing - i.e. it was actively de-ticking and other processes that helped, taking away the chicken occurred at the same time so 'seemed' to be the solution.  

Like others have said, Bravecto. Or Nexgard. They are both super drugs. Just watch closely for side effects. Few groups trying to ban them in America, but in a place like Thailand the risk of side effects is so much lower than the risk of ticks. A big clean out of the house and taking the drugs should prevent any future infestations. 

Don't know much about it, but apparently guinea hens and other poultry are great for tick control if talking outside. Depending on the breed of dog, don't shave or trim it. Will take away its insulation for the hot sun and also you will be taking away the guard hairs to help prevent parasites like ticks. 

Could bring in a clause and give them citizenship on the basis of skilled work (and employ them) or something along those lines. If they have jobs back home though then why would they want it? You wouldn't give citizenship for the actual act of saving the kids though. They saved 13 kids, other people I am sure have spent decades dedicating their lives to thousands of vulnerable people within the country and haven't been recognised once for it. The rescuers probably identify those people as the real heroes as they have dedicated their full lives to a cause - rather than a part of their lives. I think people are getting a little caught up in the hype of it all. Come, do what you enjoy doing, and go home. If that is their hobby, then it isn't too different from a hobby surfer going out into rough waters and using his skills to save drowning kids is it? Should Thailand give citizenship to every surfer who does that? Happens quite often. 

The sister-in-law teaches at a private school in Korat. They only use the big coaches and will pay the police to drive in front.

Vans/buses are just the beginning of the troubles with Thai school trips. The trips are not at all beneficial (other than socially - just arrange a day out yourself with the kids friends). Trips are a means for the school to either make money, or get a day out. Teachers spend the day taking photos of themselves, no teaching or supervision occurs. 

As trips are usually things like going to the zoo, how hard is it to take your own kids there (even with a few of their friends). Or drive yourself behind the bus and tag along. I remember even back home parents would join the trip to help with supervision. 

A percentage of kids usually don't go anyway, so it isn't like your kid will be the only one who is missing out. Learning to cope with disappointment will probably be more beneficial (and obviously safer), than sending them on the trip on the school's terms.  

18 hours ago, Sheryl said:

The tourist visa is I think the root of your problem.

 

I'm not sure it has ever been possible to open a bank account with one.

 

Those of us with non-O visas or b visas and one year extensions of stay, have nto usually had much difficulty.

As far as I am aware (unless there were changes in the last few months), any foreigner can open a Thai Bangkok Bank account on a tourist visa with a government official as a referee (police, army, teacher, nurse etc etc). I had no difficulties opening an account with Bangkok Bank on a tourist visa (putting in the minimum amount to create the account). 

When at the bank not long ago a farang was having troubles. The Mrs told his wife the process and the bank teller (Bangkok Bank) said that would work. 

*One experience was a Bangkok Bank branch in Bangkok, the other in Chaiyaphum (Issan). 

**Edit: Krungthai bank required me to have a work permit, regardless if I had a official as a referee or a marriage visa. Not sure if that is a branch policy though. 

16 hours ago, glegolo said:

 I wish to add to this.... Here in Chaiyaphum I have myself helped like 5 or 6 falang-friends to get thai bank-accounts on Khrung Thai Bank. Khrunfs ri (ayutthaya Bank) Bangkok bank and Kasikorn Bank... ALL banks here without any exceptions, they demand to have proof of address, mostly the yellow book (tabien baan), but in one case even the driver license was OK.

 

So I have over time get myself tabien baan, thai ID-card, and driver licenses, and on top of that, I am married.

 

Without being nasty - But sometimes I wonder, over how helpless some people just are. "There are people who get things done - and there are people who must ask other people to get things done".... Which one are you?

 

glegolo

I got my Bangkok Bank account opened on a tourist visa, just needed a government official to sign it off. I was at Big C Bangkok Bank a few months ago and a farang was having difficulty, the Mrs told his wife to do that (most people know someone), and the teller said it would work also - like it did for me. From memory, I needed a work permit for KrungThai bank here. I don't have yellow book or Thai ID.

18 hours ago, mogandave said:

 

What’s wrong with having something because you like it?

 

Why is it okay to take something I like away because you don’t like it?

 

If someone feels safer and sleeps better at night because they have a weapon, why should it be taken from them?

I literally said liking guns (i.e. using them for sport), is a legitimate reason to own a gun. I never said I did not like guns either. I do like guns, I have been to ranges and I do see a use for them for certain rural jobs (e.g. farming) or people who participate in sport.

However, only those I would consider legitimate reasons of having a gun, not this notion of it will save my life. The use of them in a real life situation is ridiculous as the police stats and common sense shows. Those are stats where the gun is actually on the person, the situation generally has been in action for a while (not a total surprise) and the gun is ready to be discharged. A home invasion is the complete opposite of that, so a 18% (or 43%) hit rare will be significantly lower.  All these variables was why arming teachers was found to be such a ridiculous idea. For the rest of the arguments, people have been watching too many movies rather than actually experiencing/training for real life scenarios. 

No one would have issues with guns if people just said from the beginning 'I like guns'. If people locked their guns, went to the range, went home and locked them again. Absolutely no problems from anyone. It is when they think they have the capabilities of elite soldiers due to the fact they own a gun that people have problems. Why? As they are more likely to hit a neighbour than the person they are actually attempting to fire at, due to the hit rate being so low. 

1 hour ago, smotherb said:

I like having guns.

I think that is the point. You like guns. That is the main reason, any other reason is an afterthought as some people don't consider that a legitimate reason. I do consider it a reason if the gun is used legitimately for sport and locked away at all other times. All the rest will keep going in circles as the we see the science differently. I am looking at how the majority of people's bodies react to these types of situations (as the police hit rate stats/professional trainers view of those stats prove). Not to mention the planning, timing, layout of most houses in Thailand that would be hit by a home invasion. Unless personal, the only homes vulnerable are those without any deterrent (high fence, wall, dogs etc). Those vulnerable homes, a gun is utterly useless to someone if a home invasion occurs whilst they are in the shower for example, listening to music, or any other activity that makes noise/distraction, as no warning. Or simply if the intruders learn the routine of the person (as they often do even to steal fruit in Thailand). 

Like people have said, if someone needs a gun in the area they live it is better just to move. I could only ever see needing a gun in places where there are killings daily to weekly. Even my Mrs didn't feel the need to have a gun when walking around in a government uniform (prime target) in the insurgency down South where there are weekly killings. I am glad we finally got to the 'I like guns' though. 

11 hours ago, smotherb said:

I guess you have a limited imagination. There are many places to store weapons and magazines separately, yet away from children. Children are never too young to be told not to play with guns. And, yes, why don't you just carry it with you?  Of course, you can simply not have a gun and allow the intruders have their way. I don't have a gun here in Thailand, but I often wish I did.

If you are storing weapons and magazines separately, wouldn't that just add to the time to prepare a gun? The point of a gun in a real situation is you need it as fast as you can, and ideally even faster to compose yourself. The way this logic is being put forward is implying your average person has the speed/nerves of superman. Seeing as trained/experienced police officers who carry/familiarise themselves with guns on a daily basis don't come anywhere near this, I wonder what brings you to the conclusion that other people would be able to do this who go to gun ranges on a irregular basis. 

If you are 50 metres away outside, you would have to run into the house, get the gun, then run around to another part of the house to load the gun. Are we assuming the intruders are having a smoke break during this time? 

You cant carry it with you due to the simple fact it is illegal. Children are never too young not to be told? I completely agree with early education of children and guns, but as we all know, young children are not in full control of their faculties 100% of the time. Any specific examples of why you wish you had a gun here in Thailand? 

13 minutes ago, billd766 said:

What do you do with it in the night? Sleep with it under the pillow?

I have only ever known one friend who has done this, but he was a white living in South Africa. He thought how ridiculous is this and moved his family to Australia. 

My Thai friends usually carry it in a bag. My father-in-law carries it in a bag everywhere he goes other than our house (as I do not allow it since having kids). My first meeting of him was having to move his gun off the front seat so I could sit down. It is locked away when we go to his house. I have another friend who just bought a gun. He gives out loans and keeps the land papers and vehicles until the interest/loans are paid back. He just bought a gun (due to the danger of his side business), which he takes everywhere, including his car. His kids refuse to use car seats and never listen to him. Accident (road or gun) waiting to happen. 

I asked him about his training, which consisted of first firing the weapon when he bought it. He seems to think he is capable. People watch too many movies, or never experience real life situations, so have clouded judgements of their capabilities. Interestingly enough, the same Thai people told me I was crazy to go down to the insurgency in the South as they are too scared, but think they will have the composure and skill to be able to deal with a traumatic event using a gun. Amazing logic.

12 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Wear it in a shoulder holster, no chance of a child getting hold of it.

No need for a safe, just wear it. When you go outside, it's still with you.

I think that would be quite illegal here.