I love my dogs. They're like one of the best domestic creatures God has ever created. I love animals in general, but dogs are the best in my opinion!!!! I've started caring for one in 2008, the one I could really call my own. Ever since then it was perfect. In this short span of being a dog aficionado, I can say that dogs are loyal and caring. Call me crazy, but whenever I go home and talk to them, they would listen and they would stay with you. They're always excited to see you and it never wavers. They lift troubles away effortlessly and they have much use. They walk with you, window-shop with you and protect you to some extent.
I know my experiences may not be that spectacular especially for hardcore animal lovers out there, but I'd like to think that they are priceless and they are mine. The urge to take care of a dog may come in a little bit too late for me, but there's no such thing as "too old" when the time is right. I knew I was ready, knew that there's so much love that I wanted to give and I've always been more interested in dogs. It really wasn't that hard to decide.
I've celebrated dog birthday parties, changed how my family and friends perceive dogs and most importantly, I became aware of ongoing work for dog and animal care. These dogs not only made me more mature, but got me more involved with the community. I've began joining community runs, pet clubs and I'm been thinking to be a volunteer in some non profit organization (if only I had the time). The important thing is, I'm building up that commitment outside my pack and I'm on the right track.
These dogs changed my life and they made me love life even more.
Meet my prince.
Name: Harvey Elizander
Breed: Jack Russell Terrier
DOB: August 13, 2008
Nature: Playful, Energetic, Adventurous, snobbish, really intelligent, clever, fast, agile and athletic
I got him as an Anniversary present from Mitch. We got him on November 1, 2008 in a place that I've never been...West Avenue in Quezon City. Anywhere beyond Greenhills is alien to me. I got him when the urge of owning a dog had been brewing for months. There were only two options, a beagle and a jack russell terrier.
Beagles, I reckon, are far easier to find. I already did house visits in some breeders and even did a house visit in a breeder within our village. They're really cute, adorable and friendly, but I really wanted to see a Jack Russell before I decide on anything. Basically I wanted a dog that's friendly, intelligent a and that's low maintenance. I am fully aware that I didn't have much experience in taking care of a dog, so I wanted a dog breed that doesn't need too much grooming, friendly and smart. Small to medium size is okay. Big breeds were not an option. And with the natural instinct of a carefree dog, I wanted a male.
Jack Russells were difficult to find at that time, but Mitch being the overall web expert than me, found a breeder on line and promised to go there soon. While watching Batman Begins, I was looking at Christian Bale but my mind was already drifting on the image of me with a dog. The urge had never been that bad. In between dull moments in the film, I was whispering to Mitch to schedule the trip with the breeder. Then Harvey Dent comes in the scene. Harvey, sounds nice. I knew the name of my dog even before I got him. And Harvey Dent, since he's a two face, would fit well with Jack Russells known for their spots.
On November 1, 2008, we drove the almost deserted EDSA en route to West Avenue. I was more nervous than excited. What if I won't build a certain connection with a dog, which is an important part of the selection process? What if the dog is horrible and we are back to square one? What if the puppy dies on me, I'd be such total failure. I'd be devastated if I come home empty handed.
And the timing couldn't be more insane. It was the time that I just had new work and my family is relocating to a new house. But everything's cool. And the transition was graceful.
Harvey became the apple of our eyes for so many years. It changed the way my family see dogs. He really became part of the family. They talk to him, scold him, laugh at him and to some extent celebrate with him. He had this major 1st birthday celebration complete with balloons, goodies, guests and dog guests. And every year just like a valued person, we still celebrate his birthday. We do great things for him because he is such a good dog. He makes us happy effortlessly.
Through the years, we've known his quirks and stressful behaviors but he's become more mature over time. He's consistent in being friendly and he never retaliates. He's always on the curious side. We applaud his grace in welcoming the two new dogs in the household. Despite his size, the two dogs look up to him and he allows them to play in his circle. There are times he would snob us if pay more attention to the puppies, but he'd know better eventually that he is our original prince.
Meet our adorable champion.
Meet our reliable senior.
He's the senior dog. We've had him since he was a puppy and we adopted him from a neighbor whose German Shepherd got affiliated with an askal. He was so cute back then. I think I was still in college as I couldn't remember exactly when we got him. I was in my dark ages then and had not realized my love for dogs at that time. Just like any normal puppy, he was so cute and we reared him. He's more of my aunt's dog than ours.
Just like being the most senior dog of the pack, my parents especially my dad, adores him. My dad never pets any of the other dogs, but with Buddy he would shed that strict persona. He would spend some time to play with him, pet him and coo him. It's funny to see him so affectionate with Buddy because he's never cooed any of the dogs. For my dad, he loves Buddy because of his serene function. Buddy is the dog who would guard the premises as if it's his. He's not aggressive, but any foreigner who steps in the other lot that's his to guard, you would definitely see he means business. Despite his age, he calmly watches out for any danger without a fuss. Also, he's not the typical alpha male. He loves the other dogs and tolerates them. One time, Ate Ne asked him where Harvey is and he out of nowhere led her under a small bush where Harvey was intensely doing his hunt. He's a reliable guard dog and a true family member from day 1.
I know my experiences may not be that spectacular especially for hardcore animal lovers out there, but I'd like to think that they are priceless and they are mine. The urge to take care of a dog may come in a little bit too late for me, but there's no such thing as "too old" when the time is right. I knew I was ready, knew that there's so much love that I wanted to give and I've always been more interested in dogs. It really wasn't that hard to decide.
I've celebrated dog birthday parties, changed how my family and friends perceive dogs and most importantly, I became aware of ongoing work for dog and animal care. These dogs not only made me more mature, but got me more involved with the community. I've began joining community runs, pet clubs and I'm been thinking to be a volunteer in some non profit organization (if only I had the time). The important thing is, I'm building up that commitment outside my pack and I'm on the right track.
These dogs changed my life and they made me love life even more.
Meet my prince.
Name: Harvey Elizander
Breed: Jack Russell Terrier
DOB: August 13, 2008
Nature: Playful, Energetic, Adventurous, snobbish, really intelligent, clever, fast, agile and athletic
I got him as an Anniversary present from Mitch. We got him on November 1, 2008 in a place that I've never been...West Avenue in Quezon City. Anywhere beyond Greenhills is alien to me. I got him when the urge of owning a dog had been brewing for months. There were only two options, a beagle and a jack russell terrier.
Beagles, I reckon, are far easier to find. I already did house visits in some breeders and even did a house visit in a breeder within our village. They're really cute, adorable and friendly, but I really wanted to see a Jack Russell before I decide on anything. Basically I wanted a dog that's friendly, intelligent a and that's low maintenance. I am fully aware that I didn't have much experience in taking care of a dog, so I wanted a dog breed that doesn't need too much grooming, friendly and smart. Small to medium size is okay. Big breeds were not an option. And with the natural instinct of a carefree dog, I wanted a male.
Jack Russells were difficult to find at that time, but Mitch being the overall web expert than me, found a breeder on line and promised to go there soon. While watching Batman Begins, I was looking at Christian Bale but my mind was already drifting on the image of me with a dog. The urge had never been that bad. In between dull moments in the film, I was whispering to Mitch to schedule the trip with the breeder. Then Harvey Dent comes in the scene. Harvey, sounds nice. I knew the name of my dog even before I got him. And Harvey Dent, since he's a two face, would fit well with Jack Russells known for their spots.
On November 1, 2008, we drove the almost deserted EDSA en route to West Avenue. I was more nervous than excited. What if I won't build a certain connection with a dog, which is an important part of the selection process? What if the dog is horrible and we are back to square one? What if the puppy dies on me, I'd be such total failure. I'd be devastated if I come home empty handed.
And the timing couldn't be more insane. It was the time that I just had new work and my family is relocating to a new house. But everything's cool. And the transition was graceful.
Harvey became the apple of our eyes for so many years. It changed the way my family see dogs. He really became part of the family. They talk to him, scold him, laugh at him and to some extent celebrate with him. He had this major 1st birthday celebration complete with balloons, goodies, guests and dog guests. And every year just like a valued person, we still celebrate his birthday. We do great things for him because he is such a good dog. He makes us happy effortlessly.
Through the years, we've known his quirks and stressful behaviors but he's become more mature over time. He's consistent in being friendly and he never retaliates. He's always on the curious side. We applaud his grace in welcoming the two new dogs in the household. Despite his size, the two dogs look up to him and he allows them to play in his circle. There are times he would snob us if pay more attention to the puppies, but he'd know better eventually that he is our original prince.
Meet our adorable champion.
Name: Chivas Regal
Breed: Pomeranian
DOB: August 11, 2011
Nature: Clean, isolated, snooty, choosy, cuddly, territorial, aggressive, feisty
Of all the dogs we have, Chivas is the most feisty and territorial.
Chivas Regal was a homecoming gift from Mitch when I arrived from a Hongkong Hiatus last April 2012. Chivas came from a breeder farm in Batangas, and being one of the smaller dogs in the group, he developed this certain fear and overprotectiveness of himself. According to Mitch, Pomeranians are overly territorial to the point of being aggressive. Chivas was just this small pomeranian over a huge pack, who's quiet and had to fight for food. He had only one friend, a small Shih-Tzu puppy. Mitch felt bad for the dog and decided to take it from his aunt.
I would have to admit though, Chivas is more of my sister's dog than my dog. Their personalities couldn't be anymore similar. My sister is fashionable and so girly and this Pomeranian doesn't want to go outdoors. Chivas likes to cuddle and melt you with his cute stare. He stays with you for hours. He doesn't belong to an active, friendly and outdoor breed.
Though I'm not a fan of furry toy dogs, I like Chivas enough. He gives me unconditional cuddle-time, which I couldn't do with the overly masculine-mature Harvey and the overly powerful Bruce. For TV cuddling time, Chivas is the perfect bet.
What's funny about him is he's more of a guard dog than the two outdoor dogs that I have. He barks if he doesn't know the person and if he doesn't LIKE the person no matter how often you introduce them. He hates our family driver and Mitch, which is sort of funny. Also with this dog, he surprised us with his athleticism and public temperament. We recently joined him in a village walkathon. He and my mom were partners. In public, Chivas observes and never initiates any interaction. He's just this regal pomeranian following his master's stride. During the race, my mom urged him to win and without any difficulties, he followed my mom's commands. Out of all the dogs, he won third place. We were surprised because he's the one who's most likely to throw a fit in engaging in physical activities especially in public. But he jogged without any complaints and he won. The difference with Harvey is that Harvey is pure energy and goes extremely extroverted in public until his energy gets the better of him. Chivas, he's more of a calm and collected dog in public and surrenders to his master. He is our unexpected champion.
Meet our gentle giant.
Name: Boston BRUCE Wayne Banner
Breed: Bullmastiff
DOB: June 11, 2012
Nature: Physical, super heavy, playful, sleeps all the time, shy, protective of master,
Meet the new kid on the block!
He's the youngest, but obviously he's the biggest dog of the trio group. We got him last September 8, 2012 on a gloomy Saturday morning in Marikina. He was 3 months old then, scared and fearful. Our huge monster dog Bingo, an adult Dalmatian, died after 13 years. We missed that dog and he owned the large lot which he guarded at night. With so many house break ins, we felt we needed another dog, a dog that could be a formidable guard dog. I searched for weeks and the breed Bullmastiff always comes up, if not the first but one of the top three best guard dogs out there. But for some reason, I never considered any other breed. I focused on the Bullmastiff.
I researched and I've come to find that Bullmastiffs are known to guard their masters and large estates. They're a mix of English Mastiff, an overly huge droopy dog that's oh-so kind, and an aggressive and physical bulldog. Despite their looks, size and capacity to guard, Bullmastiffs are the top choice for family dogs because they're not overly aggressive. They do not go for the kill but pin down opponents. They shield and observe rather than attack and destroy. They're also excellent with kids and family members. No nasty temperament if you rear him in a loving household.
Bullmastiffs also do not require much exercise, stimulation and large spaces. PERFECT. We already have a pure energy dog. Unlike Harvey who needs space to roam around and gets bored easily, Bruce is his opposite. Bruce masters the term "HANG AROUND." He has this nook and with nothing better to do, he sits there and observes the progress of the day. He sleeps a lot too, he eats a lot, farts a lot and he snores. Sometimes if he's too tired, you'll know that he's excited to see you, but don't expect him to jump and get up, it will always be a struggle with his size. He loves massive hugs, wrestling and kisses. But you have to prepare because he really weighs a lot. He does play around, but his energy level is low. It shoots up fast and it dies down fast. Probably because of his weigh. One round of play time and he's done. He goes to the cool corner, gulps lots of water and hangs around.
So it's proven that Bullmastiffs are adorable, cuddly and physical dog, but Bruce is a bit of a shy type. Dogs are fine to him, but he doesn't initiate interaction. He stays beside me all the time. Harvey, the ever Mr. Congeniality, relates with dogs so easily. Chivas, relates with dogs that HE likes. While Bruce on the other hand, stays beside me and stays away from dogs. He doesn't attack, he's not aggressive, but he's shy. In people, he wags his tail but when a person will pet him, he goes to my side and avoids that stranger's hand. He doesn't bark or retaliate, he's just unsure. So as an exercise, I do walk him around in public places without Harvey, whom he gets confidence from. From the last walk that we did last Sunday, I can say it was a pleasant experience. He looks at people, curious at what they do and moves on. He sees dogs, but he looks at me and knows that he has nothing to fear. When he met new friends, it takes time, but it's not hopeless. I can see a spark of friendliness there.
He's big. He's cuddly, he's smart and he will be a formidable guard dog.
Meet our reliable senior.
Name: Buddy
Breed: German Shepherd - Askal
DOB: Can't remember
Nature: Calm, Collected, reliable, sweet, protective
He's the senior dog. We've had him since he was a puppy and we adopted him from a neighbor whose German Shepherd got affiliated with an askal. He was so cute back then. I think I was still in college as I couldn't remember exactly when we got him. I was in my dark ages then and had not realized my love for dogs at that time. Just like any normal puppy, he was so cute and we reared him. He's more of my aunt's dog than ours.
Just like being the most senior dog of the pack, my parents especially my dad, adores him. My dad never pets any of the other dogs, but with Buddy he would shed that strict persona. He would spend some time to play with him, pet him and coo him. It's funny to see him so affectionate with Buddy because he's never cooed any of the dogs. For my dad, he loves Buddy because of his serene function. Buddy is the dog who would guard the premises as if it's his. He's not aggressive, but any foreigner who steps in the other lot that's his to guard, you would definitely see he means business. Despite his age, he calmly watches out for any danger without a fuss. Also, he's not the typical alpha male. He loves the other dogs and tolerates them. One time, Ate Ne asked him where Harvey is and he out of nowhere led her under a small bush where Harvey was intensely doing his hunt. He's a reliable guard dog and a true family member from day 1.
_____
I'm proud of my pack. They have different personalities and different strengths, but they do get along. They do play together a lot and hang around in the afternoon a lot. We just have to play around with their differences and maximize their strengths to create a harmonious group. We rely on Harvey to hunt and initiate play while we rely on Chivas to provide the antics and overall snooty protection. Bruce in the meantime will be their guard dog in the making and Buddy to provide balance and teach them 'calm.' They go to the veterinary clinic together and provide support to one another. They go to High Street, to the village park and to the marathons together. They sometimes eat and they do their "business" together. I couldn't ask for a more cooperative, smarter and playful bunch.
They make me and our family happy. Hence we've never regretted having them and we knew it was a good decision. Despite the challenges and difficulties, their lives are our responsibility (more of my responsibility) and I'm willing to take on that challenge. I think we've raised Buddy and Harvey well, and no doubt Chivas and Bruce will thrive to be the best of their breed.
***
Sept. 2013 we have adopted a cute, smart, funny and very courageous cross-breed named Pa-po!
One of our irresponsible neighbors got his dog knocked up and bearing a litter of puppies as a result. Obviously, he couldn't take care of all the dogs so he gave them away to complete strangers.
Ever since Buddy died this year, my father wanted to get another dog like him, a reliable cross breed mix. Buddy was my father's favorite.
I guess it was a perfect timing. We can accommodate one more dog and how can we say no to this cutie?
Meet Papo, now the youngest of the pack!
Wow, you are really committed to your dogs! I’m amazed at how you passionately talked about them; each and everything about them, as well as all their quirks and traits. They’re all very adorable, and I do hope they get along well. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteAgnes Chandler @ Kennel Bookings Online