Dear Dylan
Andy White
Dog behaviourist
Dear Dylan, Swampy Rules, KO
When my wife first brought Swampy home, I must admit that I was a little under-whelmed. After all, Lhasa Apsos are not the most practical breed for my lifestyle. They require incessant grooming, trimming and detangling, they are not particularly waterproof, and physically, they are a little fragile. In other words, they are much better suited to town life than the rumbustuous outdoor world of Dylan and Ice. However, despite her high maintenance (my wife’s department) she is a game girl (Swampy, that is), and this feisty nature of hers (ditto) has won me over. Her attitude has not only given me endless amusement but is also proving very useful with many of the dogs she meets at the day care centre.
When they first arrive, most of the dogs are very excited. On the one hand this is good to see, but on the other it can very quickly lead to problems and I have to work hard to keep the pack as calm as possible every time a new member joins.
At the moment, Swampy is not really interested in trying to calm or control the pack, and normally leaves this job to Dylan and Ice who, at times, have helped me considerably with one or two of our more lively guests. However, when it comes to her personal space she is a complete diva, and woe betide any dog, from terrier to Rottweiler, if they approach her in an excitable or unruly manner.
At the ripe old age of six months, Princess Swampy must be approached calmly and with due deference and politeness. Of course, many dogs have not met a Tibetan Terror before, and have no idea what will happen if they enthusiastically jump all over this fluffy ball impersonating a dog. They will, in fact, be greeted by a belligerent Swampy holding her ground and snarling and growling like a mother bear protecting her cubs. This so startles most of the new arrivals that they change immediately from boisterous to calmly curious, at which point I am sure that Swampy is telling them to come back when they have learned better manners. Dylan and Ice have got so used to her ways that they normally leave her to it and only take notice if she is getting into trouble.
Even with dogs she knows well, she will insist on her proper greeting. One of her best pals (Buster) – a really lovely terrier / Labrador cross who is about seven months old and without a nasty bone in his body – has really high energy and gets himself into trouble every time they meet. He and Swampy spend most of the day chasing and rolling each other like something out of a Tom and Jerry cartoon, and he is beside himself with excitement every time they meet. But poor Buster cannot understand why they can’t just pick up from where they left off. He simply does not get the Tibetan Princess ritual at all. With her unwavering demand for proper etiquette and his boundless energy, their initial greeting can take up to an hour.
From my point of view, of course, not only is this hilarious it also means that there are two dogs fewer to worry about.
On an entirely different note, perhaps somebody can answer this question: why do some humans go to the trouble of cleaning up after their dog, only to leave brightly coloured plastic bags all over the place?
If you need any help with your dog, phone Andy White on 01206 385260
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