Sun 29th Jan: Guards dogs in demand

We'll be back next Sunday

I really hope nobody turned up at Whiskers N Paws today hoping to see the puppies because they would have found the store closed for Chinese New Year.  Many puppies are available and in need of homes of course, and we'll be back next Sunday to show them all off.  Thanks to all the foster parents who have posted photos and a short write-up on our Hong Kong Dog Rescue (HKDR) Facebook page, and please let me know if you are interested in meeting any of these babies with a view to adoption before next weekend.

I have been getting quite a lot of enquiries for puppies as guard dogs, and it seems the police have been advising Sai Kung residents (and probably elsewhere) that the best burglar deterrent is a dog. While this is true, my head has been in my hands looking at the requests for purebreed puppies which will be left in the garden full time and expected to do their job protecting the household.  There is so much wrong with this, and I've been busy over the past couple of days explaining why from both the dog and human point of view, but to keep it short if you want a dog to protect you then keep it inside, and preferably in the bedroom.   It's very easy to poison dogs that are left outside, and that's not even taking into account the sad life that a dog leads when its whole life is solitary and without any mental or physical stimulation.  If you have a dog, or dogs, in the house and living as part of the family then they will naturally act as guards and bark if there is an intruder.

However there are dogs that would be happy to live outside and also provide an excellent alarm system, but these are not the labradors and beagles that I've been asked for, and even any of the super-friendly pups that are currently waiting for homes.  The best guard dogs are those that are naturally suspicious and will bark at anyone coming close to the house.   As long as there is more than one so they have at least some companionship, timid dogs are really the best solution, and they are totally undemanding in terms of needing attention and walks etc.  I have quite a few of these "mistakes" and would be happy to recommend them to anyone who wants a great guard dog.