I don't know exactly how it happened but I have some suspicions about why it is that my dog isn't terribly interested in other creatures. She likes humans (especially me) but she isn't all excited and jumping up and down and licking you excited like other dogs will be.
When it comes to other dogs she mostly just wants them to stay away but at least at first, she is mildly interested in them. She will never attack another dog, and is also completely incapable of defending herself against another dog should it attack her. She isn't really a people-loving dog, nor is she a dog-loving-dog. For the most part, she will be ok with you touching her as long as you don't linger for too long.
That's Nadi in the background with the long ears and the one closer to the camera is Charlie. Charlie is a full-breed Shih-Tzu and Nadi is mixed. I do not know what Nadi is mixed with because I never met her father. I don't think she ever did either. But if you get close to them at the same time you can definitely notice the difference because Nadi is a bit more bulky and Charlie seems to have almost a bird-like physique with lighter bones and very little in the way of mass.
They are both pretty good dogs though with the general consensus being that Nadi is more intelligent. This may or may not be the case but Nadi is more obedient. If you call Nadi's name she will come to you whereas Charlie is a liability if she is ever on the ground. Nadi knows certain very useful commands like "up top" (get on this chair and stay there), "stay", "come here", and one of the most important ones "STOP" ...which will freezer her in her tracks no matter what she is doing.
The last one has become more necessary as her eyesight continues to fade because while walking she cannot see the dangers such as oncoming cars and motorbikes.
lately, Nadi's stomach has been revolting against various food things and I have to be very careful with what I feed her. She will throw up almost anything that has any sort of spice to it and even things that have any sort of sauce. Her tummy has lived a life of great protection and even though she really does want to have whatever I happen to be eating I have to refuse to give it to her. But I have a pack of very mild treats that I keep on hand at all times and really, she doesn't know what I am eating on the table so I just pass down a small piece of a dog treat every now and then and she is none the wiser about the ruse.
She is a very curious dog though still and she is also adorably protective of me. The other day I stopped in the lobby to pick up a giant bottle of drinking water that they have for the residents to buy and while we were in the elevator up to our room she stood next to that thing, refusing to fully look at it, and growling at it.
I love that she wants to protect me or gets jealous about a new roommate. I didn't ever really encourage this sort of behavior but it may just be something that comes with the territory as she gets older and more stuck in her ways. This is something I can relate to because for me as well, I tend to not like new things or people and am quite stuck in my ways as well. Change is something that people and animals have less interest in as they get older I guess.
Today,
I am going to take her down to the beach and depending on how many of the mall cops that are down there enforcing their rather silly rules, she may get to have a bit of a run in the sand. We only have about 3 more weeks of weather where the sand wont be the temperature of the surface of the sun, so I'm gonna try to get a few beach runs in before that time comes.
I have a rule on the sand: If it hurts my feet to stand on it, it's hurting hers as well and I think that is a good rule for doggies and hot ground is concerned.
Off we go!
