Conversations with my dog

Me: 'Morning , Rob, hope you had a good night. What did you do last night?

I love to greet Robbie in this manner, to start off our day.

Robbie: Woof! Woof! 'morning!

Me: Rob, was it the musang (civet cat) you smelled last evening? Leave that poor creature alone. It's his night out!

Robbie barked non-stop and very loudly last evening at the musang. We think he does not like the odour of the musang. The neighbours do not know what's up with 'that nuisance dog'. Gosh! they must be cursing US!

Me: My garden!! (in high pitch). Uuugh! It's like a trench. Why, Rob, why? Bad boy!

Robbie: Oh, Oh ! Double trouble for one night. (and he slinks away)

Robbie's big heavy paws are like the back hoe . He moves from patch to patch around the garden. I chase him round the garden in my attempt to 'chastise' him. But by now, I'm quite resigned to uprooted plants and a mucky garden.

Me: Now, why did you have to scoot out of the gate (the thousandth time!!) , AGAIN! I don't do marathons and it's crazy! You'll get us killed in this chase.

Robbie: Hey! a dog needs to exercise!

Robbie is 'rescued' from his 'Freedom Run' out from the house. He huffs and puffs and salivates and rushes to slurp up all the water in his bowl as soon as he gets home in a grand ride back in the passenger seat of the car. Well, what does the naughty boy get? - a smack or two and across the muzzle for having two agitated owners run after him.

Me: Do you remember your mummy? I mean your human mummy? She still loves you and wept buckets of tears when she watched the movie, ' Marley and Me'. She told me so!

Robbie: WOOF! WOOF! I know, she called me her perfect little angel!

When he was 5 months old.

Robbie came to us when he was one year old. Poor mummy had to give him up as she was moving into a condominium. Rules are rules for animals. He came to us as our former Alsatian, Ninja, had passed away. My husband and children fell for Robbie the minute they set eyes on him.

Me: What's this we hear? Has the lady been giving you dhall? Rob, never , never accept food from anyone except us! Dhall will only upset your system.

Robbie: But she loves me too! Woof!


Robbie has been sneaking frequently to the far corner of the garden. Our neighbour 'took pity' on him and left dhall on the garden ledge. Robbie will eat anything, if you allow him. My husband was not pleased, to say the least. 'That will spoil his sheen, his gloss and all. Oh, the dhall will give him the runs!' he exploded. I told the neighbour one day that it was not in our dog's diet and to refrain from feeding him ! That put an end to it.


Me: Your dear vet, Dr Dhillon says they've got it all WRONG ! How on earth can they say you're a Golden Retriever on your birth certificate ! You're a Labrador!

Robbie: WOOF! I'm Rob!

Robbie is just happy in his own skin. He doesn't dispute who he is. NEVER ! Only us around him!! Daily, he gets admirers at our front gate. Total strangers stop and call out his name for he's quite a celebrity now for leading us on many a wild, senseless chase. He rubs his body against the gate and waits to be patted and rubbed.

Me: Watch that left hind leg of yours! Is it giving you trouble? Getting on, eh?'

Robbie: WOOF! Not complaining. Am fit as a fiddle.

Robbie has a genetic hip problem. He had an operation before he came to us. Old? - not a day older than when he came to us! Friends compliment and say ' he's a handsome boy!' Well, come Christmas time , a red ribbon round his neck always makes him look like a 'Romeo'! My husband insists it's the pure canine food , regular visits to the vet and lots of LOVE from him that keeps Rob 'ageless'!!

Robbie: WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! (non -stop)

Robbie is now 10 years old. Yep, he's a SENIOR in our household. He was named Deep Purple and whelped on 23 September, 1999 in Segamat, Johore.

To all animal lovers, Robbie fills our lives with so much of his gentleness . He's big yet gentle. That does not get into his way of doing his' duty'. He's not about to let a total stranger inside our house till he is calmed. Oh yes, we get into a flap when he does not behave, but who's perfect?

When I started singing lessons and used to practice at the piano with my daughter, Robbie actually appreciated my voice. Know what? As I sang, he whipped his tail in the air like he was whipping a souffle , with thumps hitting the floor!

Every day, our four-legged friend teaches us the art of unconditional love. Yes, our world has been turned topsy turvy with him . Yet, he fills our lives with love and wonder.

'They never talk about themselves but LISTEN TO YOU while we talk about ourself and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation.'

- Jerome K. Jerome

Me: oops! I've opened my big mouth again!