My DogSpot

Pet Pride 034: Shadow play

2011-11-27T12:38:00.001+07:00

The weather is nice this morning - the sky is blue, the sun's out, but not too hot, and, there's a gentle breeze. Feels like summer, my favourite time of the year. I enjoy my morning walks in this kind of weather :)

My shadow - super cool!

I don't like it that much when it is the rainy season. I like splashing in the puddles and walking in the rain. But when the water goes up in our neighbourhood and leaves wet pavements and muddy sections in some parts, that's when I get uneasy. I do not mind getting wet and muddy but my mum gets upset when she sees our (Max and mine) muddy prints on the floor :(

How about you, what is your favourite time of the year?

Pet Pride 033: Joe, aka, Negro Bandido

2011-11-18T13:52:00.001+07:00

Mum's feeling nostalgic today and look what she found from digging through her digital picture albums -

Me at about 2months. Isn't it embarrassing to see your puppy photos? *cringe*

No matter how much I begged her to not post it today but she went on her merry way, anyway. Humans...*arf*

She told me that they - mum and dad - used to call me negro bandido (the black bandit) because of that black mask-like fur covering my face, except the eyes. Their Spanish visitors thought so, too. Do you think I really looked like a black bandit?

Cute bouncing puppy

2011-11-16T10:23:00.001+07:00

This short video clip made me smile:

Cuteness overload!The baby and the puppy are just too cute for words, lol.In the beginning I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, the over-excited dog just wants to have her ball back...What do you think?

Joe says he can jump higher than that... especially when he is very excited to see his dad coming home from work! He added he is willing to teach the puppy how to make it or how to successfully jump on the bed on a first try, lol.

Pet Pride 032: Dogspector McJoe on duty

2011-11-11T17:23:00.001+07:00

This is Joe's day job. Nothing comes in without him inspecting it first.

Two paws up. Everything A-OK and approved by Dogspector McJoe.

I came home from the Post Office with this box of goodies that I bought online. It was filled with shopping purchases from an online shopping site. Joe immediately went to work, sniffing the box for a few minutes. Only after Dogspector McJoe was satisfied and gave his pawprint of approval was I able to open the box! Good job, Joe!

By the way, Dogspector McJoe insisted I pixelise his face for security purposes, lol.

Driving with Joe

2011-10-22T20:59:00.000+07:00

It's been a while since my dogs have been out for a drive with us. Max especially loves being in a car and sticking his nose out of the car window to feel the wind. Joe, however, was the opposite. He wasn't "car-trained" unlike Max and it was a challenge to keep him at the back seat.

Joe before the incident.

But just two weeks ago, the last time we all went out for a leisurely drive, we were surprised that Joe was sat still in his side of the backseat and was looking contentedly out the window. He has learned to behave! But out-of-the-blue, we heard a loud thud behind us and after the sound came a pair of motorcycles with laughing boys and zooming past us. Joe became nervous and started barking. A few minutes later, a uniformed traffic policeman came out of nowhere and motioned us to pull over. My husband and I were alarmed... when a foreigner in Cambodia is stopped by a local policeman it doesn't exactly give you a positive feeling. We were thinking whether what traffic rule did we violate? Is driving with dogs against the Cambodian traffic law? Did we hit someone or something unknowingly? We were already poised to call our Car insurance agent to help us deal with the situation. In Cambodia, insurance agents are the go-to guys, they are very helpful especially when you encounter problems. They're the ones who talk to the people concerned, and not the car owner him/herself. So anyway, when we pulled over, our fears were unfounded. The policeman asked us whether we wanted to lodge a complaint against the youngsters who crashed our back bumper. We told him no and thanked him for his concern and, in turn, he responded curtly and motioned us to go on our merry way. Not long after we started driving again, Joe finally calmed down and went back to sightseeing.

It was reported that the number of car-owners that secure car insurance is increasing. Whilst it could be attributed to the affordable and free insurance quotes offered by the companies, it is also evident that there is a change in behaviour as more and more Cambodians have seen the benefits they could get from having their cars insured.

Pet Pride 031: Joe, then and now

2011-10-02T16:11:00.001+07:00

Joe and his dad two years ago...

and now.. taken just last Monday...

Joe is no longer a puppy!

Pet Pride 030: Yo, you. Mah name is Joe!

2011-09-18T13:14:00.001+07:00

Hiya, guys!I'm back :DMy mum's bro came to visit las week and took many photos of me. I think he thinks I'm a good photography subject. *arf-arf*


What do you think, guys? Can I be on a cover of a pet magazine?

Mum calls me Ra-fur-el Nadal sometimes. You know, after that great Spanish tennis player!

Pet Pride 029: Breaking news - a standoff!

2011-08-28T23:23:00.001+07:00

Uh-oh, looks like we have a situation here. Someone is in deep, deep trouble.

This actually happened two Sundays ago.

Joe was caught red-handed with a slab of pork chop in his mouth. It was our dinner! A standoff ensued. Joe, a two-year old mutt, refused to release the piece of meat despite the demands of his dad. He was coaxed and bribed but the dog stood to his ground.

The photo doesn't show the "Pool of Drool" on the floor very well. lol.

We had to scramble to find something to distract him. His dog chew? Didn't work. A piece of his favourite chocolate candy! At the sound of the rustling plastic wrapper he immediately loosened his grip, surrendered the meat peacefully and in orderly fashion to the waiting hands of my husband, thus, ending the standoff that lasted for 15minutes. Without losing a beat Joe then approached me albeit sheepishly to claim his treat. Hahahaha.

No one was harmed, just so you all know. Joe was only reprimanded and he admitted to the media that he was remorseful for what happened. He also apologised to his dad for delaying dinner and to his mum for causing a bit of excitement and extra work/time to make another dinner.

Oh, well. All's well that ends well.

For this week's Pet Pride here at MyDogspot, this is the mum reporting. Over and out.

Pet Pride 028: This time it's Max

2011-08-20T17:07:00.000+07:00

I was rummaging through the pictures stored in my external drive and look what I found ---

... a very young Max! She's about 2-3months when this picture was taken, and she was already showing a liking for dark beer!

Pet Pride 027: The Adventures of the Invisible Dog Joe!

2011-08-14T16:17:00.000+07:00

I eez invizible.

... especially when no one eez looking!

Joe's Mum here. This is one of my favourite photos of Joe when he was about two-three months old. He likes to pretend he is the Invisible Dog whenever he sees me toting the camera.

Pet Pride 026: I see you, Mum.

2011-08-07T18:37:00.001+07:00

I see you, too, luv.

Pet Pride 025: Sitting on whose toes?

2011-07-31T14:49:00.001+07:00

Joe: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it… Hmmm… is it just me, or, am I sitting on something? I’m not comfy…

Mum: Aheerrrmmm…. Excuse me, Joe, you might want to haul your fat behind off my toes…

Pet Pride 024: Supervisor Joe

2011-07-23T15:54:00.001+07:00

Joe: Uhmmm, Dad… I think you missed a spot up there. No, higher… higher. Yeah, that’s it. Good job, Dad.

Dad: Hmmmmm….

That’s Joe looking on while his Dad is pulling out dead or overgrown vines in the veranda garden. He is the supervisor, making sure and pointing out so that his Dad didn’t miss anything.

Pet Pride 023: Joe and his bed, part 2

2011-07-17T15:28:00.001+07:00

Yo, yo, yo! We missed last week’s meme fun, sorry folks. I had issues with my digi-cam, apparently the memory card was infected by a virus and refused to download the photos to my lappie. Glad it was already fixed and we are back!!

Here is what Joe’s been doing:

I gave him this yellow plastic bottle to get busy with while I was in the kitchen preparing our lunch. He was playing with it enthusiastically, chewing and play-pushing dragging that thing with his mouth from the living room where his bed was up to the kitchen where I was.

I turned my back to continue with the food preparation and he ran away with the bottle back to the living room. A few minutes later, I suddenly realised that it was quiet. I left the kitchen to investigate, and there he was… I caught this little bugger almost snoozing with his toy just within his grasp!

Pet Pride 022: Disarming smile

2011-07-02T19:14:00.001+07:00

How could you not be in love with this dog? This kind of smile totally leaves his mum disarmed!

Pet Pride 021: Ticklish

2011-06-25T20:11:00.001+07:00

This is the Mum writing… about how it was in our household on a Saturday afternoon.

With the husband busy working on the computer, I let Max and Joe out for a quick whiff of fresh and air and a bit of stretching of muscles. We immediately went inside as the heat was really unbearable. Max quietly went straight to her usual spot, away from us as she is forever sulking. Joe, on the other hand, joined me on the floor while I was arranging my postcards in my album (it’s a hobby!). Of course, I didn’t finish a thing - Joe wanted to play!

Oh, and how could I not resist? He kept on pawing my hand and won’t stop till I put my hand under his armpit, or to his chest, or tummy, and scratch and rub it to his heart’s content. See, that’s my hand under his armpit. He likes being tickled a lot, just look at that face! He has such a nice, shiny and soft brown fur as well so I don’t really mind.

I did a bit of editing on the photo – played with the saturation levels till I achieved this (almost, harhar) Warhol-esque effect.I liked it. Don’t you?

Pet Pride 020: ZOMBIE-DOGS!

2011-06-18T15:53:00.001+07:00

Here’s a photo of these terrible two, wonder what made them look zombie-like?

Ohhhh-kaaaay...

No more happy dog chews from now on!

Pet Pride 019: Inseparable

2011-06-11T20:35:00.001+07:00

The past two weeks, Max was in the limelight. Joe got a bit jealous and so we are posting a photo of him this week.

Joe’s bed is too small for him now but he still likes to use it. And he is never away or never without his tennis ball beside him. Oh my, he has grown a lot right before my eyes. He will be two years old in August. He is no longer a puppy that I can carry around in my arms. He doesn’t like it anymore :(

Pet Pride 018: Sunbathing diva

2011-06-04T22:47:00.001+07:00

Yes, that is exactly what she is…

… When not sulking or moping in one corner of the house, you can find Max out there in our veranda enjoying the sun and the breeze.

Pet Pride 017: Homesick Max

2011-05-29T13:16:00.001+07:00

Max is missing our old house.

Cheer up, Maxie. You will get used to our new house soon enough. For sure, you will like it here.

***
NB: This photo also appeared in my other blog, Inside Cambodia.

Pet Pride 016: Listening well

2011-05-07T14:35:00.001+07:00

When dad is talking, everyone is listening. Joe (left) and Max are all ears. They don’t want to miss the magic word.

What’s that, again, Dad? Did you just say it’s time for a WALK?

Pet Pride 015: Jealousy

2011-04-30T13:22:00.001+07:00

Looks like Joe is jealous of Miss Iggy, aka, Miss Igorota.

Miss Iggy is a traveling doll from the mountains of Northern Philippines. She arrived in Phnom Penh in 2008 and she has been traveling with me since then. When I took Miss Iggy out of her case for a photo walk session weeks ago, Joe was kind of upset that a doll is stealing away his mum’s affection from him. And look at his face – that’s when I think he realised he couldn’t come with us for the photo walk.

If you’d like to know more about Miss Iggy and her travels all over the world, please visit her website – Postcards from Miss Igorota.

Pet Pride 014: Joe at play

2011-04-24T17:15:00.001+07:00

It's always fun to watch Joe play. He doesn't need any expensive toys or what-nots. This afternoon, he got a white pebble from our cactus plant and started chewing it. I was afraid he might swallow it, but after an hour or so, I saw bits and pieces of the pebble on the floor.

Pet Pride 014: Lazy bones

2011-04-16T18:33:00.001+07:00

Hiiiiii! We’re back again!
After a long hiatus, we are joining the Pet Pride and Camera Critters fun. We always make sure we come back whenever we can.

And for our comeback entry, here’s our lazy missy, Max…

She never moved to another spot despite the sunlight hitting her eye. She just squinted! I thought how lazy could this Max get, but then again, I remembered seeing her outside sunbathing in our veranda. She probably likes the sunshine! Awww, my dog is a sun-worshipper :)

This is also my entry to Camera Critters.

Pet Pride 013: Sleeping in

2011-02-20T13:44:00.001+07:00

Hello, little sunshine. Wakey-wakey….

I guess someone doesn’t want to get up yet.

Pet Pride 012: Affectionate Joe

2011-02-06T20:29:00.001+07:00

Sure, honey :)

Pet pride 011: support

2011-01-30T15:11:00.001+07:00

Finally, we are back online again.
We got so busy at the end of the year, thus, the lack of posts in our Dogspot.

Before the new year rolled in, we had a major house cleaning. My mum is quite supertitious about welcoming the new year with a clean house. So we were dusting and mopping every corner and nook of the house, fixed broken lights, and so on… you get the picture. Since my dad and mum don’t speak the Khmer language well, they took a photo of the broken ceiling lights and brought it to the shop to tell the sellers what we wanted. But anyhow, my dad climbed up a high ladder and asked mum to support it. Of course, I am a helpful dog so I went to help as well… my dad took a photo of us, to his amusement.

Mum loved me even more when she saw me standing on my hind legs and with my front legs and paws stretched up to support her. She gave me extra treats that day :)

from our humble dogspot to yours…

2011-01-02T13:28:00.001+07:00

Max and Joe would like to send their wishes to you, dear furry friends…

Thank you for being with us in 2010.

May 2011 be our best year ever!

Pet Pride and Camera Critters 010: D'oh!!!!!

2010-09-04T16:24:00.002+07:00

Me: Oh nooooo... Jooooooooooeeeee!

Joe: I didn't do it.... Nobody saw me do it!!!

Pet Pride and Camera Critters 009: Side view

2010-08-29T15:07:00.002+07:00

Max: Mum, can you take a picture of my profile?

Me: Sure, Maxie.

Max: Errrm, mum....

Me: Yes, Maxie. Don't you like it?

Max: I want a close up, mum, for the Pet Pride and Camera Critters meme.

Me: Oh dear me! Yes, of course, sweetie...

Me: How's that, Maxie?

Max: Uhmm, that's more like it, mum. But didn't you just crop it?

Me: Errrmmmm....

Pet Pride and Camera Critters 008: Dog-tired

2010-08-22T16:27:00.002+07:00

Poor Joe, after spending hours playing (with his) football and tennis (ball), he just crashed. Didn't want to wake him up for a photo shoot...

Sleep tight, Joe. Dream sweet dreams.

Pet Pride and Camera Critters 007

2010-08-14T20:01:00.001+07:00

Max came to me one day and complained why Joe is hogging the blogspot these days. Max, I explained to her, it is because you turn away when I take your photo. Joe is not camera-shy, you know. He loves the camera so I love taking his photos. And you... you walk away... that's why.

Okay, mum, Max told me. I'll sit here and pose for you. Make sure you get my best profile.

Sure, dear. Here you go...

And that explains why Max has her portrait here today.

Pet Pride and Camera Critters 005

2010-08-07T17:29:00.002+07:00

Welcome to this week's edition of Pet Pride and Camera Critters.

Today we are going to share with you one of Joe's secrets in increasing his flexibilty by doing Joe-ga stretch... it is simply Joe's version of a yoga stretch.

Okay, furry friends, roll out your mats out or what-have-yous and let's do the Joe-ga....

Lie down on one side ... put your hands in front of you, and, with your flexed toes .....

.... s - t - r - e - e - e - e - e - e - e - e - e - e - e - e - e - t -c -h!

Wordless Wednesday 026: Mmmmm... Ice-cream!

2010-08-04T13:58:00.000+07:00

*Robo-Max's eyes lit*

Mmmmm... Have ice cream... Will eat... over and out...

Pet Pride 004 and Camera Critters

2010-08-01T20:49:00.002+07:00

Okay, this the Mum speaking. Sorry we are late for this week's photo meme, folks. You see, I was looking for Max and Joe for a long time wondering where they've gone. The house was quiet and they weren't in their usual corners. Exasperated, I opened the door, inhaled the fresh air but still thinking about the cause of the strange silence inside the house. I turned to my right, and voila - there they were, in the hallowed spot where the right to occupy it is always a contest between the two.

Are they sharing or jostling?

It is so unlike them to be quiet in one spot together.

I think both wants to go out.

Wordless Wednesday 025: Locked out

2010-07-28T14:50:00.003+07:00

Handed down a two hour detention out in the veranda for chewing my shoes...

... but only after five minutes or so into detention...

Ken we come in nao, pleeeze, Mum?

A Repost: Remembering Moe

2010-07-27T13:34:00.000+07:00

While I am enjoying a lazy Sunday today, I came across old pictures of our pet dogs. One particular picture brought back a sad memory.

You see, after Max and before Lily and Joe... there was Moe.

In 2007, we acquired a lovely mutt and we named her Moe. As you all know, there are no proper pet stores here in Phnom Penh and the only places we know were, errrm, shady. But still, against our better judgment, we went ahead and bought from one of these shady pet sellers anyway.

Moe was a cute fur-ball with ears almost as big as her face. She was a very small puppy she occupied half of my fisherman's hat. Before taking her home, we went to the vet's clinic first so she'd be given all the necessary shots.

Upon reaching our house, we immediately gave her a thorough wash -- gaah, how she smelled -- and took off fleas from her coat. She was given a helluva shampooing and rinsing, and after a good toweling, she was ready to be shown off to then a younger Max.

When Max saw her, her maternal instincts instantly kicked in. Max fussed over Moe and she wouldn't let her get out of her sight. My husband and I love our dogs to bits and we made for ourselves a little family, with Max, the motherly dog, and Moe, the fuzzy, little one.

Due to an in-born abnormality in her intestines, Moe died just two months after we got her... just long enough for us, especially me, to be attached to her. Although she was in great pain, she was very quiet and loved sleeping in/on my arms. When we brought her to the vet, the prognosis wasn't good and, although we opted for a surgery, we were already told of her chances of surviving. She was too young for such an operation. She died at the clinic, just hours after surgery. It hurt me so bad it felt like being heartbroken. I could not bring myself to write about her and her untimely demise back then, so we just bought a tree we call Moe tree in her memory. The tree bears fragrant white flowers and it gives us great delight as we remember her time with us. We miss you, Moe.

May this post serve as a warning to others who are looking to buy pets. Don't buy from the pet shops you see on the road, but if you do, take them immediately to a vet for a general check up and for necessary vaccinations.

Pet Pride 003 and Camera Critters

2010-07-25T13:24:00.001+07:00

We are on our third week here at Pet Pride and we're also joining Camera Critters for the first time today!

Last night we all had a night out - the dogs had fun!
Today, Joe isn't feeling well he is nursing a hang over (tee-hee-hee) while Max is in her usual "princess-y" self.

No pictures, puh-lease!

Pet Pride 002

2010-07-18T14:42:00.002+07:00

So Max is grumpy these days... she's in heat. Can I say that? hihihi. Anyways, the husband had to get Joe occupied, otherwise, he'll be constantly hounding Max. Here they are, Joe sampling on the husband's hand.

Joe: Yummmmmmm! Dees ees bettah dan my usual treats, Dad!

We are backkk. Agen.

2010-07-11T14:45:00.002+07:00

After a century, I finally relented to Max and Joe's urgings to update their blog.

Max is now four years old and becoming grumpier day by day, while Joe will turn one in August and he's so full of energy my husband and I couldn't keep up with him.

I found this cool site for pets called Pet Pride and decided to enter Max and Joe. Upon their request, I am posting this photo as our first entry to Pet Pride. This was taken last year, after our trip to the vet's clinic for Max and Joe's booster shots:

Look who has the longer tongue between the two!

Max is a half-breed Keeshond while Joe is a certified mongrel. They're sat at the backseat of the car waiting to be let out. On the way to the clinic, Max was quiet and contented with looking out the window, while Joe was the restless one, moving from one side to the other, barking at whatever new things he saw along the way. Yes, they do fight for the best seat in the car as well.

Wordless Wednesday 024: Playtime!

2010-05-12T15:00:00.000+07:00

Eyyy, dat is me ball! Gimme back me ball!

Wordless Wednesday 023: Walking in the light

2010-04-27T18:34:00.004+07:00

Me: Who wants to go for a walk?!?!?!?

Max and Joe: Did you just say "WALK"???!????

Wordless Wednesday 022: Burying the hatchet

2010-04-14T11:56:00.001+07:00

Joe: Yo, yo, Maxeee. I ees want to make peaaaaace now!

Max: ... Gah! How I hate it when Dad makes me do this...

Wordless Wednesday 021: Wanna play with me?

2010-04-06T20:59:00.002+07:00

I ees lookin' for me playmate...

Wordless Wednesday 020: I wanna go!

2010-03-17T14:19:00.001+07:00

I'm baaaaaaaaack!

For more Wordless entries, please visit the main site.

Wordless Wednesday 019: Uh-oh!

2010-03-02T10:12:00.001+07:00

D'oh!

More Wordless entries are found here.

Wordless Wednesday 018: Waiting

2010-02-10T11:54:00.000+07:00

... for Mum and Dad.

Wordless Wednesday 017: Joe, joe, joe

2010-01-20T13:33:00.004+07:00

Joe: Ar wee der yet? Ar wee der yet? Ar wee der yet? Ar wee der yet? Ar wee der yet? Ar wee der yet? Ar wee der yet? Ar wee der yet? Ar wee der yet? Ar wee der yet?

*big grin*

More Wordless Wednesday entries here.

Wordless Wednesday 016: Curious Joe

2009-12-15T17:05:00.001+07:00

Visit other Wordless entries here.

Mellow Yellow Monday 002: Max and the gasoline boy

2009-12-14T09:49:00.003+07:00

Okay, we are back for this week's Mellow Yellow Monday. Today we feature Max. Photo was taken in one of our weekend drives out of the city.

Max is keeping an eye on the gasoline boy.

Ey, yu! Look at me eyes. No ripping us off, okay? I ar watching yu.

Mellow Yellow 001: Yellow stairs

2009-11-30T09:38:00.003+07:00

Here come's Joe...

What a fitting entry for our debut here at Mellow Yellow Monday. That's Joe trying to go down our yellow stairs. He was scared at that time when I took the photo, but now that he is older (at 4months) and bigger, he just zooms up and down without the slightest hesitation, even racing against Max. Good boy, Joe!

Wordless Wednesday 015: How much is that doggy on the window?

2009-11-03T12:59:00.002+07:00

Arf! Arf!

Wordless Wednesday 0014: Camera-shy

2009-09-09T09:07:00.004+07:00

My dear friends, I'd like you to meet the newest family member. He is Jo---

Joe... where are you?
Come out and show your face...
We are waiting...

Ahh, he's still a bit shy.
He'll be more comfortable in front of the camera next time, so do come back and say hi :)

I love Sundays!

2009-07-19T14:35:00.002+07:00

Mum and dad played with me today. And how I love it! I hope we do this more often.

Wordless Wednesday 0013: Poor Max!

2009-06-10T10:18:00.002+07:00

Mum and Dad are very busy at work, even extending up to weekends. We have not gone out for my favorite long drives because of that, and now, my nails are longer and screaming for attention. This is how I look every morning before Dad goes to work. Nobody seemed to notice :(

Visit other Wordless entries here.

Max is back!

2009-05-13T11:26:00.004+07:00

Great news, indeed! This is Max talking.
Actually I didn't go away but my mum and dad did. I was sad to see them leave but at the same time I welcomed the care and attention given to me by our landlord. They cared for me so well that 10days went by unnoticed.

So here's my dad and me. We went to our favorite weekend getaway in Kep. The guest-house where we stayed in was a beautiful bungalow in the middle of a lush vegetation on the hillside. He had this crazy idea to go hiking with me, a city dog!

We passed along an area with lots of durian trees. It was a nice sight, and a scary one, at the same time. Looking at the spiky durian fruits hanging perilously on the branches was a terrifying sight I had goosebumps! Imagine that falling and impaling me... acckk! Plus, I was so terrified of snakes, insects and ants, red ants, lurking in the grass, trees and leaves. I dreaded walking on red ants and provoke them into attacking me with their ferocious bites. I had to stop and shake my nerves off several times. Haha. Luckily, I survived the one-hour hike.

Happy now that mum and dad are here. Looking forward to more adventures together with them.

Dear Cats and Dogs*

2009-03-11T17:08:00.002+07:00

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs and Cats : The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king size bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here. You don't.
(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture.
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they (1) eat less, (2) don't ask for money all the time, (3) are easier to train, (4) normally come when called, (5) never ask to drive the car, (6) don't hang out with drug-using people; (7) don't smoke or drink, (8) don't want to wear your clothes, (9) don't have to buy the latest fashions, (10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and (11) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children ...

***
From an email.

Wordless Wednesday #012: Happy-head

2009-02-17T20:37:00.001+07:00

... Bleh! Today is my day out!

Visit other Wordless entries here.

Wordless Wednesday #011: I like...

2009-02-10T15:09:00.003+07:00

... munching on this crisply leaf.

Wordless Wednesday #0010: This is how I go around...

2009-02-03T18:03:00.002+07:00

See other wordless entries here.

Wordless Wednesday #0009 : I are da bos hir

2009-01-27T17:31:00.002+07:00

.... jazz so you kno (nuffing personal)...

This is for the Tuesday-Wednesday edition of Wordless Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday #0008: Smooching with Miss Igorota*

2009-01-20T14:49:00.002+07:00

Sharing the luuuuurve!

My entry for this week's Tuesday-Wednesday edition. Check out other Wordless entries.

*Know more about Miss Igorota at Postcards from Miss Igorota.

Wordless Wednesday #0007: Sun-worshipper

2009-01-13T21:26:00.001+07:00

This is for the Tuesday-Wednesday edition of Wordless Wednesday.

Dogs Chase Efficiently, But Cats Skulk Counterintuitively

2009-01-10T11:53:00.003+07:00

Here's an interesting story about dog-cat differences from the Science Daily:

Dogs Chase Efficiently, But Cats Skulk Counterintuitively

ScienceDaily (Dec. 4, 2008) — A Duke University study suggests that evolution can behave as differently as dogs and cats. While the dogs depend on an energy-efficient style of four-footed running over long distances to catch their prey, cats seem to have evolved a profoundly inefficient gait, tailor-made to creep up on a mouse or bird in slow motion.

"It is usually assumed that efficiency is what matters in evolution," said Daniel Schmitt, a Duke associate professor of evolutionary anthropology. "We've found that's too simple a way of looking at evolution, because there are some animals that need to operate at high energy cost and low efficiency."

Namely cats.

In a report published online Nov. 26 in the research journal Public Library of Science (PLoS), Schmitt and two former Duke co-researchers followed up on a scientific hunch by measuring and videotaping how six housecats moved along a 6 yard-long runway in pursuit of food treats or feline toys.

Long-distance chase predators like dogs can reduce their muscular work needed to move forward by as much as 70 percent by allowing their body to rise and fall and exchanging potential and kinetic energy with each step. In contrast, the maximum for cats is about 37 percent and much lower than that in a stalking posture, the report found.

"An important implication of these results is the possibility of a tradeoff between stealthy walking and economy of locomotion," the three researchers wrote in PLoS. "These data show a previously unrecognized mechanical relationship in which crouched postures are associated with changes in footfall pattern, which are in turn related
to reduced mechanical energy recovery."

In other words, they found that when cats slink close to the ground they walk in a way that "the movements of their front and back ends cancel each other out," Schmitt said. While that's not good for energy efficiency "the total movement of their bodies is going to be even and they'll be flowing along," he added

"If they're creeping, they're going to put this foot down, and then that foot down and then that one in an even fashion. We think it has to do with stability and caution, Schmitt said."

Walking humans recover as much energy as dogs, said Schmitt, who studies gaits of various mammals. "Our centers of mass rise and fall when we walk. And when we do that, humans and other animals exchange potential and kinetic energy. It's an evolutionary miracle in my view.

"But cats need to creep up on their prey. Most scientists think that energetic efficiency is the currency of natural selection. Here we've shown that some animals make compromises when they have to choose between competing demands."

The study was supported by the National Science Foundation. Kristin Bishop, a former postdoctoral researcher at Duke, was the lead researcher and first author. Another author was Anita Pai, a former Duke undergraduate who is now a medical student at Vanderbilt University.

Duke University (2008, December 4). Dogs Chase Efficiently, But Cats Skulk Counterintuitively. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 10, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/12/081203184533.htm

Wordless Wednesday #0006: Dog-tired

2009-01-06T17:37:00.002+07:00

My entry for the Tuesday-Wednesday edition of Wordless Wednesday.

Greetings from sunny Phom Penh

2008-12-24T15:32:00.000+07:00

... from all of us - Max, Mum and Dad, and Miss Igorota.

Wordless Wednesday #0005: I've got a headache...

2008-12-24T12:00:00.003+07:00

For today's edition of Wordless Wednesday. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Wordless Wednesday #0004: Wheel-barrow?

2008-12-16T11:54:00.002+07:00

Max's favorite position in the car. Taken in one of our weekend drives out of Phnom Penh. More Wordless entries here.

Wordless Wednesday #0003: My favorite spot

2008-12-09T10:31:00.000+07:00

And this is her favorite position, go figure how it's like *lol*.

More wordless here.

Wordless Wednesday #0002: My favorite picture

2008-12-02T10:17:00.000+07:00

More wordless here.

Wordless Wednesday #0001: Oh well, hello there!

2008-11-26T10:37:00.008+07:00

Yay!! My first Wordless entry.
Max, ever curious, very friendly Keeshond.

Medical test

2008-11-11T08:14:00.000+07:00

Because I want you to get checked out to make sure you're healthy and will be around longer...

Stare into the cat's eye's for ten seconds...

Then...

scroll down...

slowly...

Now... stare into the puppy's eyes for ten seconds...

and now...

... scroll down...

Your CAT SCAN and

LAB TESTS are now complete!

Sorry I couldn't resist!

*from an email sent by a friend :)

How to tell if your feet stink...

2008-11-10T16:06:00.001+07:00

... scroll down....

... down...

... down....

... and....

Why us, dogs, hate Halloween

2008-10-31T14:05:00.006+07:00

More Halloween dogs photo can be found in this site.

Furry Friday #0010: I've lost my top set...

2008-10-31T13:10:00.002+07:00

... and I can't smile without it!

Max, at 4months old

Furry Friday #009: Scary Max

2008-10-10T09:13:00.000+07:00

Plastic surgery for dogs?

2008-10-05T16:26:00.003+07:00

We were away for a long time doing things and we sort of negleted Max's site. Now that we're back, I'd like to continue posting items about dogs. I was searching the net today for some cool dog stuffs when I stumbled upon this piece of news from my regular source of weird dog news and it's about dog face-lift. Apparently, a Brazilian pet plastic surgeon recommends a face-lift for a dog or even a mammary lift for sagging dugs after having babies. Now, is that weird or what?

A face-lift for a dog? Brazilian vet does it all
'Good symmetry is very important'

By MEI-LING HOPGOOD
COX NEWS SERVICE

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Is Fido in need of a face-lift?

Go see Edgado Brito, who is advancing the practice of pet plastic surgery in a land with a worldwide reputation for making people beautiful by any means.

Brazilians have long been known for their penchant for cosmetic surgery, and Brito has been adapting those techniques for use on animals.

"Plastic surgery is good for dogs!" said Brito, 45, a Doberman breeder who has worked as a veterinarian for 20 years.

He can make protruding ears droop and uses Metacril to straighten bent ears. He uses Botox to fix inverted eyelashes. He has even tightened the mammillae of a couple of female dogs, whose owners wanted to show them after they had given birth.

Click here to continue.

Furry Friday 008: S-l-u-u-u-u-r-p!

2008-09-26T14:44:00.002+07:00

We're back for the Furry Friday fun this week!!

Furry Friday #007: Queen Max

2008-09-04T13:39:00.003+07:00

I'd like to think Max makes attempts to talk to me through a lot of ways - grunting, sneezing, winking, or tapping my knees. It amuses me so much that I sometimes find myself talking to her in return. I hope my neighbors won't see this as a sign that I am slowly losing my sanity *lol*.

Max is just over two years old and so full of life. She takes her morning and evening walks regularly with Rob and I taking turns to walk her. She rarely goes out of the house to play with other dogs so she's a bit unsettled whenever there are other dogs around. But whenever she's out, she does socialize. But there are other dogs around that are nasty and gang up on her and that's when Rob picks her up and carries her around - and how she loves it! With her nose up in the air, she acts as if she's the queen.

And, she hates the paparazzi!

Furry Friday #006: Max in play mode

2008-08-22T12:30:00.002+07:00

Max loves to play. This is her play-mode position and she'll chase you with the hope of being chased in return.

Furry Friday #005:

2008-08-15T09:11:00.000+07:00

Not now, Max, I'm tired.

Furry Friday #004: Sleeping Beauty

2008-08-08T09:21:00.003+07:00

In 2006, I was assigned to the coastal town of Kep and the whole family relocated. We stayed in a guesthouse on a hill with a sweeping view of the Bokor mountain and the Gulf of Thailand. Almost every day, after lunchtime, we all retreated to our hammocks on the mini-patio. The breath-taking view and the refreshing sea breeze lulled us to sleep, Max included.

Furry Friday #003: Huh??

2008-08-01T08:27:00.000+07:00

Are you talking to me?

Come join the fun, leave a comment so we can come visit you. Happy Furry Friday!

How Many Dogs Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb?

2008-07-29T11:15:00.000+07:00

Have you ever wondered what pets do when there is no one else in the house? Here's one:

Golden Retriever:The sun is shining, the day is young, we have our whole lives ahead of us and you're inside worrying about a light bulb?

Border Collie:
Just one!?! And I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code!

Dachshund:
I can't even reach the stupid lamp!

Toy Poodle:
I'll just blow in the border collie's ear and he'll do it! By the time he's finished rewiring my house, my nails will be dry!

Rottweiler:
Go ahead. Make me!

Shi-tzu:
Puh-leese dah-ling, let the servants.......

Labrador:
Oh me, me, pleeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Can I?

Irish Setter:
Huh?

Malamute:
Let the border Collie do it. You can feed me while he's busy.

Cocker Spaniel:
Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

Doberman Pinscher:
While it's dark, I'm going to sleep on the couch.

Boxer:
Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark......

Jack Russell Terrier:
I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture

Irish Wolfhound:
Can somebody else do it? I've got his hangover....

Mastiff:
Mastiff's are NOT afraid of the dark.

Basset Hound:
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!

Chihuahua:
Yo quiero taco bulb.

Pointer:
I see it, there it is, it's right there...

Greyhound:
It isn't moving. Who cares?

Australian Shepherd:
Put all the light bulbs in a little circle.

Old English Sheepdog:
Light bulb? LIGHT BULB? That thing I just ate was a light bulb?

German Shepherd:
Alright, everyone stop where you are! Who busted the light? I SAID, "STOP WHERE YOU ARE!!!"

Hound Dog:
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!

Cat:
Pets do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So the question is: How long will it be before I can expect light?

(Author Unknown)

***

Quite good, isn't it? You can get more pet dog jokes and stories at Carl's Rott'N Pages.

Picture sources:
Dachshund - http://www.dogslife.com.au/breeds?cid=7745&pid=145638
Alaskan Malamute - http://www.justdogbreeds.com/alaskan-malamute.html
Chihuahua - http://www.dog-breeds-explained.info/Chihuahua.html
Jack Russell Terrier - http://www.agilitybits.co.uk/breeds/jrt/jrt.html
Old English sheep dog - http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/5761/nikoncampics113zf3.jpg
Cat - http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2288952155_f3f615ee1f.jpg?v=0

You may also click the picture and it leads you to the source.

Furry Friday 002: Dog for sale

2008-07-25T09:42:00.005+07:00

... beach included!

Max, at 4-5months old

Keeshonds are often referred to as the smiling Dutchman because of their origin and their perpetual good-natured grin. Isn't it evident in the picture?

If you'd like to join in the Furry Friday Fun, please see the side bar for details.
Kindly leave a comment if you're playing so others can visit you. Thanks.

Max, the cross-breed Keeshond

2008-07-21T18:38:00.009+07:00

As mentioned in previous posts, Max is not a pure-breed Keeshond. However, she does possess several characteristics of her breed. So what is exactly a Keeshond?

Keeshonds are originally from Netherlands and is closely related to the German spitzes. It was known as German spitz in the old times but had been re-named as Keeshond after the Dutch patriot Cornelis "Kees" de Gyselaer, the leader of the Dutch rebellion against the House of Orange in the 18th century. The Keeshonds then became the symbol of the commoners against aristocracy.

Here are bits of information about the Keeshond, from Just Dog Breeds:

Keeshond Temperament
Affectionate, loving, and good natured, the Keeshond is a dog that loves to be around his human family. These dogs thrive on attention and love, and enjoy getting involved in the family fun and activities. Some can be quite demanding in terms of the affection and attention that they require, and without it can become bored and start barking a lot. Spirited and happy, the Keeshond is a sociable creature, and is very friendly towards just about everyone. He will bark to raise an alarm, which can make him a fairly effective watchdog, but he is too friendly to qualify as a guard dog. Known as the 'smiling Dutchman' because of the way that he bares his teeth in a cheerful, grinning fashion, this dog makes for a great family pet and companion. The Keeshond is fine for inexperienced dog owners as well as for the more experienced, but he can have a willful and independent streak - although training using positive methods should not prove too much of a problem.

The Keeshond is an intelligent breed, and is quick to learn obedience commands. These dogs get on very well with children, and most will be fine around strangers. Early socialization is important in order to reduce the risk of increased timidity in some Keeshonds, and a peaceful environment is essential as these dogs are very sensitive and have very powerful hearing. When it comes to other pets, the Keeshond tends to get along well with them, which means that he is ideal for families that already have pets in the household. The Keeshond's eagerness to please his owner along with his intelligence and learning rate means that he will usually do well in terms of obedience training.

Keeshond Appearance
The Keeshond is a medium sized dog, with a very distinctive appearance and a sturdy build. The double coat of the Keeshond is dense, straight, and long, and these dogs have a beautiful, regal looking ruff of dense hair around the neck. His small ears stand erect on his head, adding to his alert expression. The coloring of the coat is a beautiful, rich gray, with black and cream, and he has a luxurious pluming tail that cascades over his back. The weight of the Keeshond is around 35 pounds for females, and between 40-45 pounds for males. The height of these dogs is around 17-18 inches.

Furry Friday 001

2008-07-18T10:29:00.000+07:00

Welcome to the first week of Furry Friday Fun and my Wordless Wednesday entry too! For the first entry, here's a photo of Max when she was around 6months old.

One day after her morning walk, she spotted this white flower lying on the footpath. She ran to where it was and curiously sniffed and sniffed the flower and turned to my husband and I who were following her closely. I suddenly thought she liked the flower so I picked it up and pinned it to her leash. I think she loved it, she even posed for the camera.

Don't you think she's lovely?

To know more of Furry Friday Fun, please click here.

Sticky Post: Furry Friday - The Beginning

2008-07-18T09:44:00.002+07:00

My husband and I love to babble about our pet Keeshond, Max. We have stories of her in our other blogs accompanied by her photos. We, my husband and I, both decided that along with the creation of her own blog, we also created a photo meme dedicated to all animals out there - furry or no furry, with or without tails. We call it Furry Friday and it starts today.

The rules: There aren't really any rules to go by, except that:

- you post a photo of your choice of animal (they can be your pet/s) every Friday
- it can be any kind of photo - fun, crazy, etc., but please, no photos depicting violence, abuse or pornography
- the photos must be taken by you or any member of your family
- you may also include a story to accompany your photo
- leave a comment here so others can visit you
- and lastly, you may grab the Furry Friday logo and display it in your blog to link back to this site

That's all we ask, folks. The idea behind this photo meme is to show off our furry friends and have fun! So come join us here.

Max in Kep

2008-07-17T13:26:00.003+07:00

In late 2006, my husband, Max and I moved to the coastal town of Kep due to my new job assignment and what a mad, roller-coaster experience it turned out to be! I would like to share with you one of our experiences. It appeared in our other blogs and since the post mentioned something about Max, I decided to re-post it here. Read on.

***

Reigning in Kep

After two weeks of workshop/project meeting in Phnom Penh and field visits to the pilot sites, I am now back in Kep... and we (R, Max and I) were welcomed by a heavy downpour. And it just wont stop raining!!

For a researcher based in the province, this means delay in planned activities. Rain brings difficulty in doing our work. For one, the soil in Kep, as in the countryside, is reddish and clay-ey. When its raining, the road is virtually un-passable... sticky, slippery, and will bury your vehicle (and you) if youre stubborn enough to go on. Our shoes and flip-flops get coated with the sticky soil, and hardens like cement when it dries up, making them impossible to wear again.

(Its still raining...)

With only a motorcycle (R says its not even a motorcycle, its merely a scooter!) as our means of transportation, we could get sick easily. Sore throat, cold, cough, fever, flu, etc. – name it - we may be unfortunate targets of all these. And not to mention the constant wet clothes syndrome, now, you picture that while we smell it :P.

Riding home from work (school for R, office for me, and chicken-chasing for Max) means dodging frogs, dogs, and all sorts of bugs. You can see the frogs and dogs by the reflection of the headlamp, haha, from their eyes (red-eyed frogs, can you believe it?). Bugs cant be avoided – they just hit you when you least expect it. One word of advise, shut your mouth while driving at night, or you might end up scraping bits of them off your teeth when you finally get home! Well, there are also bugs which target your eyes – but you cant close your eyes when youre driving, right? So what to do, any suggestions? Should I open my mouth so the bugs avoid my eyes, or should I close my mouth and open my eyes?

There is a positive side to riding at night, we see free lightshows courtesy of the yellow fireflies :D . There is no electricity yet in Kep, (although rumors abound about its imminent arrival), and the fireflies light our way to the guesthouse. Whether the fireflies remain when the electricity finally arrives, that remains to be seen.

We came home today in the afternoon and saw a mob of schoolchildren trying to coax a monkey out of an isolated roadside tree. The monkey looked terrified, and so did Max when the crowd turned to look at her. Shes a monkey-colored dog. She gave an alarmed glance as if to say -please hit the gas!.

Oh, about Max. She goes with us to work, of course. We could not bear to leave her alone, lest we come home and find puppies everywhere. So shes side-saddled between me and R. She doesnt get motion-sickness at all, in fact, she likes it. She huddles behind R when it rains (its still raining), and puts her nose in the breeze when its sunny. And how she jumps at the sight of boy-dogs. Sigh. Yes, our Max is now a teenager. We dont allow her out without a chaperone. Villagers find Max highly amusing (funny face?) because shes tame and approachable. Unlike other dogs I know. Shes a good ice-breaker wherever we go. No she doesnt break the ice literally (I havent taught her karate chops), but she gets everyone talking.

(Its still raining...)
Well be spending the next few days visiting the target villages, all the people should be in when we go around because... it will still be RAINING!!!

Wednesdays and Saturdays are internet days. We go either to Kampot town or Kampong Trach (a district of Kampot) to read and reply to emails, and to update blogs as well. Dont ask me how far these places are from where we are staying, well find out – when it STOPS RAINING!!!

Now its stopped raining, thank heavens. But what to do at 9pm in Kep?

Generators provide some electricity here. Where we are staying, it is turned on at 5:45pm (dusk), and turned off at 5:45am (dawn). So to have a cup of hot coffee, Max gets R up at around 5:30am to turn the electric kettle on (the water boils in about 15mins). Later than that and he misses his usual morning caffeine fix. Of course he can get coffee at the restaurant, but hes still enjoying his new little coffee filter, the same kind the Vietnamese use. While me? Im still snoring, under the sheets, at 7am.

At night, theres not much to do. No tv, no radio, no nothing. We amuse ourselves by counting how many times R gets bitten by mozzies, and then connecting the dots. Or counting how many back flips can Max perform after sitting on ants. We also like to watch the spectacular sunsets and then count the tiny lights from the fishing boats catching squid in the sea. We eat the very same squid in the local restaurant the next day.

Here are some of our friendly neighbors:

The hotel crowd in the restaurant changes everyday. From the unwashed backpackers that dont want to leave, to French snobs who walk out after 20mins, falling from the backs of their motos as they leave!!! Oh what a lovely day that was. The guesthouse staff couldn’t hide the smiles on their faces. Even the moto driver couldnt suppress a giggle. I can still picture them now.

(Its started raining again.)

Just for a little atmosphere..... I can hear a quiet Bob Dylan coming from somewhere close, mixed in with the calls of frogs and crickets and the sound of raindrops hitting huge leaves. Theres a small lizard on the wall next to the bed, and a huge one over the outside of the door catching flies over the light. The mozzies are biting nicely (thank you) and Max is finally sleeping. I better go get some sleep now, for tomorrow, all three of us will brave the sunshine, hardyhar, and go to Kampong Trach to connect to the outside world.

Wordless Wednesday 001

2008-07-16T11:10:00.005+07:00

Hello... this is Max's first entry to Tails Tuesday and Wordless Wednesday. She's actually appeared here many times and, because we have lots of amusing stories about her and she loves her photos taken, we thought it's about time she has her own blog.

Max, a half-breed Keeshond, at 10mths old.

Come join the Wordless fun here.

How we got Max

2008-07-16T10:18:00.000+07:00

This post was written two years ago in our other blog. I just thought of re-posting it here to let everyone know how Max came into our house. Here goes:

We have a new addition to the household.

She arrived here about 2 weeks ago, we found her hanging around the traffic lights at Sihanouk and Monivong, smiling at the passers by.

Meet Max.

Spitz or Keeshond, we're not quite sure.

First job..... bath time, we can tell where she's been.

She knows what's coming.....

"uh-oh" *sigh*

Then we needed to lay down a few "guidelines",

Ok.
1) 10pm curfew.
2) No dating without a chaperone.
3) Do NOT raid the milk in the fridge.

"Yeahh, whatever you say pal."

Welcome to My Dog Spot

2008-07-14T09:22:00.002+07:00

My Dog Spot is an account of Max, a cross-breed Keeshond, of her life and adventures in the Kingdom of Cambodia. This is a pet blog that contains pictures and stories about Max, and a photo-meme called Furry Friday. This blog also also includes news, tips, information and all things dog!

Come read about her life and view her pictures.

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2008-06-09T13:11:00.000+07:00

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