The Struggles of Socialising a Dog in Thailand

[Steiner]

Obviously socialising a pup is very important, both for their confidence and to prevent aggression.
Originally hailing from the UK I never found this an issue, people would smile and chat to you and stroke the pup, kids would go  into overdrive: 'mister what's your dogs name? Can I stroke him? What does he eat? Can I give him this?' etc...

 

All this makes it easy to socialise the pup, here however?

It feels like every man woman or child who sees your dog, pulls back, looks scared, makes a screaming noise, bursts into tears, runs, or all of the above!

Seriously; the pup is 4 months old, I live in a large gated moo baan with no soi dogs, so they should have no reason to be in a state of perpetual terror, yet every idiot has the same reaction.

2 nights ago as we rounded a corner, one woman actually dropped the shopping she was taking out of her car and started to run into her house before she realised it was but a slip of a thing.

He's a TRD, not as if he's a pit or some such nonsense.

Last week 3 grown women and 4 children took off screaming in broad daylight at the sight of a 4 month old pup and a 12 month old non-aggressive looking dog. 

When I run with them it's even worse, I've seen people throw their bike down and run for cover,  they are always on a lead, what is that about!

Of course this reaction then spooks the dogs making training and socialising much more difficult.

 

I took the pup to a main road near my house to familiarize him with people, Jesus you would have thought I was butt naked and carrying an AK47! They literally moved into shop doorways, onto the road, or froze on the spot, it was incredible.

 

Even when Thai's come to the house it's all pulling back and hands up high like he's a tiger, or cowering on the edge of the sofa if he comes to say hello.

 

I have never seen a people more afraid of everything, I think that's why there is so much violence here, cowardly and perpetually scared people are more likely to carry weapons and resort to violence.

 

Anyway, here's a pic of the monster in question wondering what he's done to scare so many people: PARENTAL ADVISORY: If you are Thai this image may make you pee your pants...

 

 

Edited October 22, 2016 by Steiner

[Oxx]

Think about people's experiences of dogs in Thailand.  It's hardly positive, with large numbers of street dogs, a substantial proportion of dogs carrying rabies, people deliberately choosing very aggressive dogs for "home protection".  Of course they're wary of dogs.

 

(Then there are the Thai Moslems whose religion teaches a pathological hatred of dogs.)

[Steiner]

4 minutes ago, Oxx said:

Think about people's experiences of dogs in Thailand.  It's hardly positive, with large numbers of street dogs, a substantial proportion of dogs carrying rabies, people deliberately choosing very aggressive dogs for "home protection".  Of course they're wary of dogs.

 

(Then there are the Thai Moslems whose religion teaches a pathological hatred of dogs.)

 

Seriously, did you look at the pic of the dog, how can that little guy actually scare them!

If it was a soi dog situation it would be different, however it's about as far from a soi dog situation as it gets.

Plus the dog is always on a lead, obviously not a stray, nor does it look frightening, to me anyway.

 

I think it's an inherent paranoia, where I live is gated, CCTV everywhere, mobile security guards have to scan their barcode every 10 minutes in every street, so there are always at lease 2 of them on the move in addition to the 3 security stations in the moo baan.  However even with all that the locals have bars on their windows and squeeze their cars into the driveway and lock their gates every night. What's the point?

One guy goes through a bizarre 10 minute ritual every night of squeezing his wife's car into their garden, which takes him a lot of back and forth, then his pick up, which barely fits in once her car is there. This is of course done with her flapping her hands around like a drowning seal.  Then he padlocks the gate shut.
Scared of his shadow!

[Strange]

1 hour ago, Steiner said:

Edited 1 hour ago by Steiner

 

Ear scratch incoming   

[Briggsy]

Ridgebacks are considered aggressive dogs in Thailand.

 

Thais only keep aggressive dogs on leads. (Otherwise why bother?)

 

Thais seeing you with i) a ridgeback ii) on a lead will therefore automatically assume the dog is a biter due to their previous experiences.

[Strange]

1 minute ago, Briggsy said:

Ridgebacks are considered aggressive dogs in Thailand.

 

Thais only keep aggressive dogs on leads. (Otherwise why bother?)

 

Thais seeing you with i) a ridgeback ii) on a lead will therefore automatically assume the dog is a biter due to their previous experiences.

 

I got a damn 10 kilo french bulldog and get the same childish nonsense as OP. Seriously. 

 

[Steiner]

6 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Ridgebacks are considered aggressive dogs in Thailand.

 

Thais only keep aggressive dogs on leads. (Otherwise why bother?)

 

Thais seeing you with i) a ridgeback ii) on a lead will therefore automatically assume the dog is a biter due to their previous experiences.

 

They did exactly the same thing with my other pup, and it is nothing like a ridgeback.

They wouldn't even have time to recognise it as a ridgeback from the distance some of them start their antics at.

[Steiner]

10 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Ridgebacks are considered aggressive dogs in Thailand.

 

Thais only keep aggressive dogs on leads. (Otherwise why bother?)

 

Thais seeing you with i) a ridgeback ii) on a lead will therefore automatically assume the dog is a biter due to their previous experiences.

 

And that doesn't explain how Thai's behave when they come to the house, no lead, dog peacefully playing or sleeping and when it comes near them it's all panic stations again.

Also most of the Thai's who come to the house, and who I've spoked to, aren't that savvy to know about dog breeds, to them it's just a dog.

Edited October 22, 2016 by Steiner

[Briggsy]

The size, the lead, the erect tail, the aggressive posture of a ridgeback. As a previous poster pointed out, all the danger signs are there in a country where rabies from dog bites are a reality. 

 

You may not appreciate other people's reactions but you need to consider they have no way of knowing, other than previous experience of other dogs on leads, whether your dog is a biter or not.

 

How often have you seen other dogs on leads in Thailand? In my soi, there is one dog walked on a lead, a large vicious Bang Kaew.

[Steiner]

25 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

The size, the lead, the erect tail, the aggressive posture of a ridgeback. As a previous poster pointed out, all the danger signs are there in a country where rabies from dog bites are a reality. 

 

You may not appreciate other people's reactions but you need to consider they have no way of knowing, other than previous experience of other dogs on leads, whether your dog is a biter or not.

 

How often have you seen other dogs on leads in Thailand? In my soi, there is one dog walked on a lead, a large vicious Bang Kaew.

 

He's 4 months old and 14 kilos, his nuts are the size of peas and his chest is as broad as a cat.

And again they did it with my other dog when she was a pup.

 

Everyone here walks their dogs on a lead, its the rules of my moo baan, everyone who lives here know it, every dog they see from lapdogs up is on a lead.

 

[swbaggies]

I have an 8 month old English bull terrier puppy and I get the same reaction.  Like another poster said  as my Thai isn't strong enough to say he is ok to stroke etc I believe it is My place to not put the Thai person in an uncomfortable position and I will cross over or walk into the road to give them space. 

As a puppy I do agree it is hard to socialise them which is unfortunate as it would lead to a better socialised grown dog.  

I walk him on a lead and when it absolutely peed down one time the other day a Muslim Thai gentleman invited me onto the porch with the pup out the rain and he said he doesn't like dogs as he is Muslim but didn't want us to get drenched. I did have to explain to him he wasn't a pit bull though lol

I do find it strange that thai people seem ok with so dogs who look and act ferel yet will avoid my well behaved leashes dog but like I said I believe as I chose to walk the dog and have one it's my place to be considerate to them and not vice versa. 

 

Edited October 22, 2016 by swbaggies

[mikebike]

If you want the pup to socialize in the same way as home why not stop complaining about the reality of the situation here and be proactive? Start or join a dog walking group. A tea time with people and pups who share the same goals? Lots of options just gonna take more effort on your part...

[Oxx]

1 hour ago, Steiner said:

 

Seriously, did you look at the pic of the dog, how can that little guy actually scare them!

 

Read what I wrote:  "Think about people's experiences of dogs in Thailand".

 

That experience is generally not good.

 

I too spend much of my time living in an upmarket moobaan.  Shortly after moving there my partner noticed a small, fluffy white dog loose.  It was after dark, and he was concerned.  The dog bit him, and we ended up paying for repeated anti-rabies injections (for him, not the dog).  The owner never apologised, or offered to pay the hospital bills.

 

My own dogs (and I have three of them) have been attacked more than once by other people's dogs just let out to roam freely (and, let's be honest, to shit in the street - a disgusting Thai practice).

 

So, even in the nicest areas, Thai dog owners are a menace, and their pets are almost as bad.

 

[chrisinth]

OP. I feel for you but I would have to put it down to your particular neighbours towards the reaction your pup is causing.

 

The reason I'm saying this is because I am also going through the walking and training of a pup, but in my case there are times when I wish people would back-off a little bit with regards to the pup, especially the kids. I walk with an 8yo Siberian (which is often mistaken for a Bang Kaew) and a 3 month German Shepherd who, as of yesterday just hit the 18 kilo mark!  The pup is non-aggressive to either dog or human, and I want to keep it that way, hence the socializing with the locals and the local dogs. But he is still going through the mouthing stage, which normally is now soft mouth but it does increase in power when it gets excited. My fear is that some of the kids will interpret a sign of affection as a bite. Times I have to be really attentive when people are near.

 

So, my experience seems to be 180 degrees to yours, hence the reference to the neighbours. I do get the odd person crossing the road, but not often and never any hysterics. Thai ridgebacks are beautiful, loyal and intelligent creatures and judging from your photo of your's, even in B+W, that is going to grow into something special......................  

[tutsiwarrior]

everywhere I've been in the 3rd world dogs are used as protection and are preferred to be aggresive for that purpose...folks never see them as 'pets'...although I useta like dogs when I lived in 'civilized' places now I'm as wary as everyone else, especially if the dog is not on a lead...

 

the pooch in the photo doesn't look particularly 'cuddly'...

[meatboy]

i to have a wolf dog,siberian husky 6yrs.old,live on a secured moo-ban,only 50houses and a few dogs.but not one resident or visitor has ever been concerned with him.every one loves him and everyone talks to him.we are out with ours morning and evening and we make sure he sawadee's all strangers and residents, who only ask DOES HE BITE ? no is the answer come and say hello which he does[the dog] in his doggy talk. they are amazed.

a 6yr.old boy living by us called him the wolf dog the first time he saw him[not frightened one bit]

and its cudles every time he see's him.

maybe the op is a little paranoid.

[Steiner]

Actually had some success at last, 3 kids were playing football in the park, 1 speaks a little English and likes to try to practice if he sees me. 

His buddies asked in Thai if they bite and what are their names, everyone said hello  and I spent an hour getting them used to the kids running around playing footy.
I have noticed a difference already, the pup is more receptive to people after that, pity it has been the exception not the rule!

 

Regular footy dates for the next couple of months then...

[Steiner]

On 10/22/2016 at 6:58 PM, tutsiwarrior said:

the pooch in the photo doesn't look particularly 'cuddly'...

 

Bizarre statement, I see way more of the 'cuddly' yappy lapdogs snapping at people than any other kind of dog.

[Steiner]

On 10/22/2016 at 3:15 PM, Oxx said:

My own dogs (and I have three of them) have been attacked more than once by other people's dogs just let out to roam freely (and, let's be honest, to shit in the street - a disgusting Thai practice).

 

So, even in the nicest areas, Thai dog owners are a menace, and their pets are almost as bad.

 

 

Ridiculous behaviour by locals who appear to have no issues with letting dogs out to shit anywhere that is not their house.
I once sacked a new employee for chirping into a conversation I was having with someone about Thai's rarely carrying a poo bag with them or cleaning up when they walk their dogs. She said "Oh you can't expect Thai people to lift that up."

After that little gem and the insight it gave into her personality,  she was gone the next day.

 

[swbaggies]

i was actually pointed at and laughed at by some locals for picking up after my 8 month old dog

[Steiner]

4 hours ago, swbaggies said:

i was actually pointed at and laughed at by some locals for picking up after my 8 month old dog

 

Had the same numerous times, someone actually stopped their car and took a pic once. 

Then again the country has zero social conscience, driving the largest gas guzzling car possible, driving 200 meters, wasting water, cutting exhausts/mufflers and cats off everything that moves, poor driving practices, ridiculous waste disposal.

For us having the awareness that what we do affects others social , must look like some crazy hippy sh1t to them...

 

[dick dasterdly]

There are many interesting points raised in this thread.

 

A poster said that Thais are wary of dogs on leads and assume they are aggressive - which makes sense as on the whole they pay no attention to soi dogs.

 

I'm lucky and live in a relatively isolated area close to a non-tourist beach, and its very rare to come across anyone frightened of dogs.  But if they are, I either put them on leads (when out on walks) or call them 'HERE' when at home.

 

As for dog crap, again I'm lucky not having to walk my dogs on the street.  It took me by suprise how quickly dog crap disappeared here, presumably due to the heat.  Fine for where I live, but a problem for those that have to walk their dogs in populated areas - in which case it obviously has to be cleaned up and disposed of at home.

 

Edit - Must add that although my dogs are all fine with people, they can turn into a pack when they spot another dog - even though 3 of them were soi dogs and so were previously dog socialised......  Entirely my fault obviously, but I'm working on it and slowly the problem is improving.

Edited October 27, 2016 by dick dasterdly

[swbaggies]

i have never understood where the soi dogs toilet goes as for the amount of strays i would assume there would be mountains of the stuff

[dick dasterdly]

Just now, swbaggies said:

i have never understood where the soi dogs toilet goes as for the amount of strays i would assume there would be mountains of the stuff

EXACTLY!   The only time I've seen dog crap is in my garden!

 

My assumption is that the heat gets rid of it within a few hours.

[swbaggies]

i dont want to go to much into a thread on different types of stools :)

but....

i know if my dog has done on in the corner of the garden for instance and ive not seen it, it does go hard and crusty but never thought it would dissapear completely... maybe your right

[overherebc]

On 10/27/2016 at 6:08 PM, swbaggies said:

i dont want to go to much into a thread on different types of stools :)

but....

i know if my dog has done on in the corner of the garden for instance and ive not seen it, it does go hard and crusty but never thought it would dissapear completely... maybe your right

 

When you think of the dry season you really don't want to start thinking about the load of soi dog poo that gets dropped on the streets in Bangkok, dries up into air borne powder and becomes a fair percentage of the air you are breathing.

Got two dogs and they poo in one corner of the garden and everyday it gets scooped and flushed in the garage toilet.

Back to the original point, one of the dogs is a big GSD and outside the house and on the beach she is always friendly to the female race but for some reason her hackles come up whenever she is approached by a Thai male.

I will leave that for others to explain.

[Bmouthboyo]

That is an absolutely beautiful dog! What is a TRD? Thai Ridgeback Doberman cross?

We have a boxer dog and get similar reactions. Always thought it strange given how used to and tolerant thais are of Soi dogs.

If you anywhere near Bangna he is welcome to play with our dog :)

[swbaggies]

As we are discussing dog pics :D. Here is mine

[villagefarang]

This is not the kind of thing you can push.  It takes time for people to become comfortable around dogs.  The kids in our village adjust quickly but adults often cling to their fears.  Just be patient and don't get too upset or be too dismissive of people who are afraid.  Here are a few of my well adjusted pets.

 

 

Edited November 5, 2016 by villagefarang

[rhythmworx]

Dress it in a pink fluffy coat and some other cringy stuff like a pair of furry dice hanging off its collar, they'll love it.