Thais Always Tease My Dog

[blakegeee]

I have a sweet little Shitzhu with a great temperament and personality. It must be one of the greatest dogs I have ever had. We adopted her from a friend over 6 months ago when he had to leave Thailand but he had obviously trained her very well. She basically never barks unless I really wind her up wrestling or something. She always tries to please us and she loves people, and thinks dogs are disgusting. She clearly has no idea that she is a ...

Anyways, my issue is how Thais love to tease her. Different people each do it in different ways although I will explain a few of the more common things. I try to not let her eat people food as much as possible because she does seem to put on weight quickly if we are not careful. I know I can't stop it from happening completely as the Thais are often too darn quick with giving her food, so I just say "no thank you" if I can possibly get the chance. But the Thais that know she isn't allowed will just tease her with the food. Putting it up to their own mouth and making hmm hmm, aloi sounds, then pretending to offer it to her over and over. I understand that they simply don't regard animals the same we westerners do but its gets to me over time. I was taught not to tease animals when I was less than 5 years old. I already feel like I am being so anal (compared to a Thai) about my dog that I don't usual bother asking them "please don't tease her too"...

It is also very common for people to see her and think she is so "narak!" Then they call her and oddly swing their hand into her face as if they are going to smack her on the tip of the nose, although they don't usually actually contact her. They think its cute or funny to see her react I guess. It just seems like such an odd thing to do to an animal that they seem to like. Pretending to hit her???

Its another pet-peeve of mine for people (almost always only Thais) to grab her by her front legs to lift her up. She isn't particularly muscular and I can't imagine why her little front legs would be built strong enough to support the hanging weight of her body especially when they do it quickly and actually swing her by her legs. She is quite calm and never shows any pain reaction or anything but if she thinks that they are going to do it, than she drops on the floor making it difficult to get ahold of her. Its actually funny because she generally loves attention but this is her reaction to the people that maul her the most. Again, I tell people you can not pick her up by the legs but sometimes I am just too late. I try to explain it would be like me picking you up by your fingers. They smile and obviously don't get it.

Sometimes when I ask people politely not to give her food, they just smile and continue. I repeat myself and explain why, "she is on a diet" (as if I should have to explain why all the time), and they finish giving her the food and say, "its ok, just a little bit, thats all". Grrr!

Me and my wife even have fights about her. I like to bring her many places because she always behaves well, is very calm and she is therefore welcome nearly everywhere we go with few exceptions (Tesco, etc). When I get annoyed at people teasing her or feeding her against my wishes, she always says, "Why don't you leave her at home than!". The dog loves going out and seeing people, and going places. She is a people-person and I know she doesn't like sitting at home alone. Why should I punish her because other people don't understand how to treat a dog. Although she gets teased, etc, I still think its better for her to be out than at home alone. I guess what I am wondering, is how other people handle it. I am sure that I am not the only one to experience this.

Sorry for the long rant. I am sure more will come to me too once I hear others responses to this.

[Thongkorn]

Its a good thing , They never play with there food

[MaiDong]

Its a good thing , They never play with there food

What on earth are you referring to??

Edited February 22, 2010 by MaiDong

[MaiDong]

Anyway, blakegeee, you just have to accept that many Thais don't regard pet dogs/cats etc as living beings, more as toys and face-enlargement devices...

[Thongkorn]

Its a good thing , They never play with there food

What on earth are you referring to??

Have you never had dog fried rice, dog in a basket, you have never lived

[GungaDin]

Its a good thing , They never play with there food

What on earth are you referring to??

Have you never had dog fried rice, dog in a basket, you have never lived

I would leave your keyboard alone until you can think of something constructive to add to the OP's topic.

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Maidong is correct. He only left out "decoration"

The average Thai has no concept of taking care of animals, even vets aren't to be trusted.

The OP is to be commended for socialising his dog, few people bother here.

[isanbirder]

The first step is to teach the dog never to accept food from anyone except you and your family. You can do this by getting two or three people she doesn't know to offer her bits of chicken coated with hot cayenne pepper. She'll soon learn! (If anyone knows a kinder way, I'd be glad to know)

Yes, it's nice for the dog to be friendly with strangers, but you have to work out whether it is worth it or not. From your account, it's not. My own dog, a GSX, is also too friendly with strangers, but because he is big, they don't take too many liberties with him. He's even friendly with people who I know eat dogmeat.

Edited February 23, 2010 by isanbirder

[kjun12]

Everything you say is true. I'd like to kick their asses some time. Thai people are just not civilized in their relation to animals.

[phetaroi]

I think some of the posts you've gotten are sort of insulting to Thai people. But then again, Thai people ought to respect your wishes about your pet. On the other hand, not all of us feel comfortable with people who bring their pets everywhere. Several of the Japanese women in our condo have a dog similar to yours. Noisy, feisty, acts like they will bite when I walk past. To be honest, a bit of a nuisance. However, when I have parrots (had before moving here and will have again soon) I imagine some people find them a bit of a nuisance, also. So you give a little, take a little.

I guess it comes down to a corollary sort of like "Let the buyer beware." If you are going to choose to bring your pet into public places, you probably won't be able to control the public reaction.

[robblok]

Get a Bangkaew surely Thais wont feed it or play with it .

But on a different note your wife does have a point, if you dont take it to strange places with strange people you cant control the outcome.

I let my dogs walk free a lot here in the village and it seems to calm them down, but my dogs sleep in the house because they would bark to things happening outside for sure.

[HS Mauberley]

Thai people are just not civilized in their relation to animals.

As most of us come from nations which happily tolerate industrial farming - and the horrors which go with that - on huge scales, I'd be a little wary about who I point my fingers at. Thais - not all, and I'm not even sure most - are just a little more honest in their relationships with animals.

[GungaDin]

^^^^ We're not discussing industrial or factory farming here or in the West, this is about pets in Thailand.

[neverdie]

Sorry I shouldnt laugh, but I will anyway. You seem a tad overprotective of the little pint sized rat like dog. Perhaps you should get yourself a big CRANKY dog & you will find thais will leave it the heck alone & then you can find something else to fight with your wife about.

I hope you arnt one of those people that brings your little dogs to restuarants .

[Nienke]

I always think if you can't control the people increased the control over your dog. For example, leave her on the lead if you are in a place where people tend to give her snacks, pet her in way you see is affecting her in not a good way, or are lifting her up inappropriately.

If she is walking loose and something like that happens you can call her to you (you need to train her on immediate response) or put her demonstratively on the lead and keep her with you.

As already suggested you can also train her not to take food from strangers, or 'leave it' on command.

As for lifting up small dogs and pups at their front paws, that can really be harmful. We have collar (sp.??) bones attached to our arms, simply put. The collar bones from dogs are very underdeveloped. The front paws are attached and kept in place by muscles. Therefore it is possible to hurt a dog when lifting it up without supporting the body.

And maybe in sometimes but definitely not always it is better to leave her home.

[blakegeee]

I think some of the posts you've gotten are sort of insulting to Thai people. But then again, Thai people ought to respect your wishes about your pet. On the other hand, not all of us feel comfortable with people who bring their pets everywhere. Several of the Japanese women in our condo have a dog similar to yours. Noisy, feisty, acts like they will bite when I walk past. To be honest, a bit of a nuisance. However, when I have parrots (had before moving here and will have again soon) I imagine some people find them a bit of a nuisance, also. So you give a little, take a little.

I guess it comes down to a corollary sort of like "Let the buyer beware." If you are going to choose to bring your pet into public places, you probably won't be able to control the public reaction.

As with all things, there are no absolutes. Not all Thais do these things, and the occasional farang even do. But at least 90% of the time, it is Thai people doing this.

If the Japanese women in your condo have " Noisy, feisty, acts like they will bite when I walk past. To be honest, a bit of a nuisance" kind of dogs, than they do not have a dog "similar to mine" at all. As stated, she loves people, nearly never barks unless I personally wind her up, and is very calm and not aggressive in any way.

The point being, I guess I do just have to accept that this is life in Thailand for me and my dog. She is quite obedient already but I could maybe work on it a bit more to control her away from others more. I just feels so awkward when people are calling her, she wants to go see them, but I am calling her back. But that seems to be the only solution. As stated, if I want to bring her out in public than I have to accept the reaction of the public. I can not control them so I have to control her.

Thanks for the information everybody. I look forward to reading about how others handle it.

[blakegeee]

Sorry I shouldnt laugh, but I will anyway. You seem a tad overprotective of the little pint sized rat like dog. Perhaps you should get yourself a big CRANKY dog & you will find thais will leave it the heck alone & then you can find something else to fight with your wife about.

I hope you arnt one of those people that brings your little dogs to restuarants .

So in which point do you find I am being over-protective, in people picking her up in a way that physical damages her as someone has pointed out, or by stopping several people a day giving her food that is extremely unhealthy for dogs and causing her to be overweight?

Or I guess the real issue that you have made clear is your personal ones. You just want to call a name at me as you have my dog for it being a small breed. Thanks for your "input"?! Its very enlightening but expected on this forum. This is actually pretty good to have only one post from your kind in all these responses.

[Nienke]

The point being, I guess I do just have to accept that this is life in Thailand for me and my dog. She is quite obedient already but I could maybe work on it a bit more to control her away from others more. I just feels so awkward when people are calling her, she wants to go see them, but I am calling her back. But that seems to be the only solution. As stated, if I want to bring her out in public than I have to accept the reaction of the public. I can not control them so I have to control her.

You can always go with her to the people that call her. If she is on the lead you can control her better. You can also carry treats with you that you can give the people who then can give it to your dog.

If people want to lift her up you can show them how the appropriate way is PROVIDED that your dog wants to be lifted. When you think its enough you walk away with your dog following you on the lead.

Dogs, just like people, have their personal space. Not all dogs like it when people come too close, start touching/petting them or lifting them up. Why so many people think that dogs (and their owners) just should tolerate everything that comes up in the human mind is a riddle to me.

[neverdie]

Sorry I shouldnt laugh, but I will anyway. You seem a tad overprotective of the little pint sized rat like dog. Perhaps you should get yourself a big CRANKY dog & you will find thais will leave it the heck alone & then you can find something else to fight with your wife about.

I hope you arnt one of those people that brings your little dogs to restuarants .

So in which point do you find I am being over-protective, in people picking her up in a way that physical damages her as someone has pointed out, or by stopping several people a day giving her food that is extremely unhealthy for dogs and causing her to be overweight?

Or I guess the real issue that you have made clear is your personal ones. You just want to call a name at me as you have my dog for it being a small breed. Thanks for your "input"?! Its very enlightening but expected on this forum. This is actually pretty good to have only one post from your kind in all these responses.

I only suggested you & I quote "seem a tad overprotective" and quite clearly I must have struck a nerve by doing so. I am betting your wife or someone close has stated this before. Or perhaps your one of these people that takes your dog into restuarants.

Im glad I didnt do what you suggested and call you a 'name', no doubt I would of been burned at the stake for that. Anyway, don't let me hold you up, I am sure the littleone needs a cuddle or its jumper and trousers changed.

[bina]

husband (thai) does same to our three. he annoys them, teases them, provokes them, then sends them to their beds to wait. however the three have learned to live with and deal with it... btw, the pepper on food trick doesnt work. mine wont take food from husband anymore cause he does that to them, but they will take food from me (naughty i know). nienke has the best suggestions and your wife is probalby correct >> if u cant control the environment then control the dog... bring her own doggy treats, keep her on lead, keep her on your hands away from others, or just grin and bare it for the most part apart from the lfting by front legs. my israeli ex father in law ruined my boxer bitch for agility because he thought it would be cute to lift a young boxer pup up by her front legs and throw her in tot he air (same s he would do to my kids/his grandkids)... pulled her leg out of joint and she had soft tissue damage that woudl reoccurr ..

most thai that i meet here think its a little wierd if not down right disgusting that our dogs lay all over our sofas/chairs/beds.

[isanbirder]

husband (thai) does same to our three. he annoys them, teases them, provokes them, then sends them to their beds to wait. however the three have learned to live with and deal with it... btw, the pepper on food trick doesnt work. mine wont take food from husband anymore cause he does that to them, but they will take food from me (naughty i know). nienke has the best suggestions and your wife is probalby correct >> if u cant control the environment then control the dog... bring her own doggy treats, keep her on lead, keep her on your hands away from others, or just grin and bare it for the most part apart from the lfting by front legs. my israeli ex father in law ruined my boxer bitch for agility because he thought it would be cute to lift a young boxer pup up by her front legs and throw her in tot he air (same s he would do to my kids/his grandkids)... pulled her leg out of joint and she had soft tissue damage that woudl reoccurr ..

most thai that i meet here think its a little wierd if not down right disgusting that our dogs lay all over our sofas/chairs/beds.

Your husband does what to them, Bina? Sorry if I don't understand whether you mean picks them up by the front legs, or tries the pepper on food trick on them. I've never tried it, just heard about it. Does anything work (it's easy to stop them taking food from a stranger if you're there, but sometimes you may not be)?

[bina]

teases them....... until they are all barking and yapping and chasing eachother and barking at him... its a daily routine already for when che comes home from work.. he sits and watches tv and starts with them... two have mustaches and beards so he pulls at them; the third he just pretends to pull at the dog's 'bear' (its a smooth coated jack rat terrier)... he gets the all wound up and crazy.

the food with pepper /or/garlic he also does. they wont take food from his hands but wait politely for him to put food in the bowl as he got them a few times with the hot chilis on chicken trick... but from anyone else, they eat from our hands...

and it was my (now dead) hungarian/israeli stupid ex father in law who picked up my boxer pup and swung her by her front legs before i could yell at him. of course i yelled, he dropped her as she ran limping and screaming off while my now ex husband let it happen and my ex father in law (are u following?) thought i was an hysterical american.. needless to say, our relationship of father in law and daughter in law remained at about the same level as we quarelled about child rearing methods as well although by my third chid and second dog, id relaxed abit about the child/being spoiled by grandparents thing, and he -the father in alw- never came to my house and my boxers never went to his house so solved that problem.

now im remarried to thai husband and ex father in law is dead anyhow so .... now u wished u never asked?? )

teh dogs have learned that when theyve had enough they just go away from what's bothering them... avoidance actions like laying flat down on front feet so cant be lifted is an other passive aggresive way of dealing , or slinking behind the sofa or jumping to lick a face..

[isanbirder]

Thanks, bina!