Each Furbaby is Unique

I am writing this on Mother's day - a Hallmark holiday that we never really celebrated in our family.  Apart from Birthdays, Christmas, Death Anniversaries, and Wedding anniversaries - we never really got into celebrating Father's and Mother's days.  We tried - but we felt it was Baduy when we did it so we just stopped.

My dad had been busy fixing up the new house that we are moving to.  He and Joel ( our dogs' nanny and all around guy in the house ) - they have been in the new house that we are transferring to for the past couple of days.  That leaves me with my fur babies: Midori, Char Siew and Brita.  They sleep most of the day - except for those moments when I open the door to let them take care of business.  It can be boring - and I've been thinking of something that will keep us occupied.   Then I had a brilliant idea --- why don't I have pictures taken with the puppies in our garden?   It would be a great token/remembrance for this house.

These are my favorite photos for this shoot   They actually show their different personalities.  I enjoyed the shoot but it can be frustrating sometimes because the dogs are not fully trained.   They don't always follow what I tell them to do.

Midori is my first born (or panganay in Filipino).  Cersei Lannister said that you never really love anything in this world more than how you love your first born.  Do I agree with this?  Secret :-) I am actually the first born child in our family.  I don't think I get preferential treatment from my parents but I agree that being the first born child has its privileges.  For example - I get to boss around my siblings when we were younger but other than that - I can't really say that I'm my mom or my dad's favorite child.   As for Cersei - we all know she's a crazy lady --- so I won't really pay too much attention to what she says.

Char Siew - my único hijo.  He is the middle and the only boy so he seems to have the issues of a middle child and the only boy.  I think he has always felt that adding Brita into the pack was a waste because - he should have been the youngest fur baby.  Now - apart from not being the youngest - he has to assert his masculinity and position in the pack by being the discipliner to Brita.  Oh - I wanted to take his photo in the garden but he has issues with wet grass.  He doesn't like getting his paws wet.  Blame it on his heritage - Shar Pei - are royalty's pets.  So it must be inculcated in their brain that they must always walk on the red carpet.

Brita is the youngest in the pack.  Everyone thinks she's the pretty one.  I must admit - she is beautiful.  If I had any chance of taking anyone of my babies to beauty pageants - Brita will be that dog.  She has a fighting chance to win it and bring home ribbons.  Apart from being pretty - she is also the healthiest in the pack.  Well - physically healthy.  Mentally?  Not sure - she has so many issues - we call her the crazy one. Being the youngest,  she gets bullied constantly by the other two dogs.  Midori and Char Siew asserts their position in the pack.  So Brita is in the bottom of the totem pole.  It's funny to see her as the tallest in the pack - but she follows all the commands of Midori and Char Siew. 

I don't really have any favorite fur baby.  I try to give them the kind of affection that I think they deserve.  Their different personalities really help in addressing my needs as their parent.  Yes - parents have needs too.  Sometimes I like cuddling - which Midori doesn't mind doing.   Char Siew gives me the attention that an intelligent dog gives to his human.  So being with him makes me proud of myself.  He makes me feel like I'm a good leader.  Brita?  Well --- I will show you in the next photo.  She is the crazy one --- so I get crazy with her - which I sometimes (very often) need to be.

My Big Girl is Easily Spooked

Brita, my German Shorthaired Pointer is easily spooked.  Things that frighten her (not an exhaustive list) - fireworks, thunder, any loud noise, her nanny yelling, a human wearing a hat, a human wearing a hoodie, when I wear formal clothes (tuxedo, suit), my camera, and the list just goes on.

We actually have many different theories on why she reacts negatively towards these things.  One theory is that she actually witnessed a burglary in her previous home that scarred her for life.  I have my own theory - I think that she is a distant relative of Scooby Doo.   I know - Scooby Doo is not a pointer (I think he's a greyhound).  But both of them are big dogs - and both of them get scared of every little thing.

Seriously speaking - I actually want to address her anxiety over these things.  I made her wear the Thundershirt - for loud noises.  It seems like that doesn't work well for her.  It works wonders with my beagle, Midori but not for Brita.   When there is a thunderstorm she hides under the couch - or behind the drapes.

I am still trying to figure out how to calm her down.  Maybe it's age?  I know that Midori had many issues when she was a puppy - but she just outgrew them eventually.

Do any of your furbabies have issues that you wish you can help with but can't?   Did you get to a happy ending eventually?

Midori Beagle, Happy Gotcha

Six years ago - for my birthday - I asked one of the queens to give me a puppy.  I sorta have a puppy back then - Macchiato - but he lives with in Marikina.  I wanted my own furry companion.  So - we all went looking for a beagle (a breed that I've always liked because of Snoopy).

Midori was a noisy beagle - which I knew could be a problem because we lived in a condominium.  But I guess - like with our relationships with potential human partners - we also act out irrationally with our animal partners.  So even if she was the noisiest of the bunch - but because she was pretty - I brought her home that day. 

Today - Midori is the real queen of our household.  She is the most demanding of my three dogs.  My Shar Pei, Char Siew,  actually developed this notion that he has to protect her.  This is why he doesn't let other dogs near us when we're out walking at the park.  The newest member of the pack, Brita the German Shorthaired Dog, follows Midori's every move.  Even if Brita is the taller dog - you would actually see her acting like Midori is the big sister.

My life changed - since that day that I got Midori.  Although it may actually be a cliche - I can attest to its truth - Dogs are indeed Man's best friend.  As she and I grow older together - the bond goes deeper.

Happy gotcha day my buddy Midori.  Here's to many more years of driving each other crazy.

Brita at Camp John Hay

Brita the German Shorthaired Pointer is a rare breed in this part of the world.  This is why people sometimes get confused when they see her.  They are wondering if she's a mix of lab and dalmatian.  Or maybe - she's a mini greyhound.  Whatever they think of her breed - everyone thinks she's a beautiful dog.

Last Christmas - since I had long breaks from work - I was able to take the dogs to outings around Baguio.  Brita and I typically go to the Teacher's Camp - but I thought I'd give her a treat and take her to the Starbucks at Camp John Hay.  She was very excited - but I realized that she has a little bit of separation anxiety.  I left her for a bit at the shed near the store - as I grabbed my drink and she kept barking.  Being a hound - she can be loud.

Brita is the biggest of my dogs.   It's not easy to control her - especially since she has not been through the same training as Midori and Char Siew.  She likes jumping on me - and admittedly - I like it when she does that - but not when I am in my work clothes and she has dirty paws from being outside the garden.

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I like this next photo - it shows you how big she is.  When she wants to lick my face she will use my chest or my arms as leverage so she can jump up and reach it.  It's an adorable gesture - but others who see it think that she's going to attack me.

Here's her photo at the shed.  It's where some of the Starbucks folks take a break - and when I left Brita with him - I just reminded him not to touch her.  It seems like they're ok ignoring each other.

This Bed is Mine

If there's any doubt in your mind on who the queen of this house is - I think this picture will remove that confusion.  I - Midori - am the queen of this house.  Everything in this house is my turf.  I only allow the humans - and the other furbabies ( i.e. Char Siew and Brita ) - to set foot on all of this territory.

NOTE:  A guest post of @MidoriBeagle

Char Siew Does not Like Getting His Paws Wet

Char Siew does not like water.  Giving him a bath is always a challenge for the dog nanny.  During the monsoon season - he sometimes refuses to go out even to take care of business.  In the city where we live in - there are days when the rain does not stop for days.  Last year - Char Siew had multiple episodes of constipation because he held it in till the sun started to shine or till he really can't take it anymore.

In this series of picture - you will see him - carefully avoiding the grass ( which was wet ) - so he jumps from concrete to the stone steps.   He will do anything to keep his paws from getting wet.

Brita the Bird Dog

Brita had been very excited lately.  It seems like there are so many birds in our garden all of a sudden.  Most of them stay up very high.  Some of them - the brave ones - perch on the lowly shrubs.  When that happens - Brita's keen sense alerts her and she starts barking at them.

In the afternoon - when it's not raining - we let all three dogs out into the garden.  Brita - being the great bird dog that the is - searches for her "prey".  So far she has not caught any bird - but she's very alert.

Look at her in this pic.  I think she spotted one of the big crows's nest.

German Shorthaired Pointer camouflaged

Furbabies Invasion

I don't know where I'm going to sleep tonight. Char Siew and Midori have taken over my bed. That's a California king Size bed. How are they able to fill up so much space?

My Furbabies

My Furbabies, originally uploaded by jumpnjoey16.

Brita is the German Shorthaired pointer.

Char Siew is the Chinese Shar Pei.

Midori is not Japanese - even if she has a Japanese name. She is a Beagle.

Little Char Siew

Harmony, originally uploaded by jumpnjoey16.

Looking at this photo,  I can't believe Char Siew was this tiny.

Please don't Step on the Grass

Char Siew, originally uploaded by jumpnjoey16.

Char Siew says: I don't care how beautiful the garden is. The grass is wet - and I don't want to get my paws wet.

Quick Trip to Camp John Hay

Daddy and I are going on a mini-roadtrip.  We are going to Camp John Hay.  It's one of our favorite places to hang out.  I like sniffing the floor in that park.

I wonder what we're waiting for?  I'm ready daddy.  Can we go now?

You can't see it in this pic - but I'm wearing my pretty pink collar.

Ah.  We're here at last!

Lovely day to sniff all these interesting scent.

That was tiring --- now time to hang out at the nearest Starbucks.

Happy Birthday Midori

Happy Birthday Char Siew

Frienemies

Char Siew and Brita are frienemies ( Friends and Enemies ).  They're like Serene and Blair from the Gossip Girl Series.  One moment - you will see them playing with each other.  The next moment - they're at each other's throats.  In this case - Char Siew will actually try to chew Brita's ears off.

Midori and her Sun Visor

The sun was just too bright - I had to improvise.  I used my ears as a sun visor.

NOTE: A guest post from Midori the Beagle

Char Siew is Meditating

Watching Char Siew still and in deep thought can be a peaceful exercise.  I often wonder what goes up there in his head?  Is it all just fun and play?   Does he feel sorry for bullying Brita?  Is he thankful that he is here in Baguio - living with pleasant weather all year round?

Dressed up Like my Dog

Stinky

Daddy - did you use cologne again?  You stink!

Blogger's note:  A guest post from Char Siew the Shar Pei.

Zoomies

Blogger's Note: A guest post by Midori the Beagle

Every afternoon,  Daddy ( or Grandpa or Grandma or Nanny ) - lets us out to run in our garden.  We run as fast as we can.  We sometimes run together - or we sometimes run alone.  Daddy tries to capture photos of us while we run.  He wasn't successful in the beginning because we just come out as blurs of fur in his photos.  This time - he got it right. 

To Brita fans - she just runs too fast for Daddy to get a good photo of her.  Daddy is still trying - and as soon as we get a good photo of her - we will post them for y'all to see.