I'm That Dog, Who Are You?

I'm that dog who was christened "Chester" by D soon after, simply because he thought i looked like a Chester  - a city name that D stumbled upon when he was surfing the net. Contrary to what others think, my name was not derived from the fact that i am brown and look like a hugeass chestnut, thank you.

I'm that dog, a 1.5kg 6-week-old puppy, who was bullied by the whole pack on the first day of puppy kindergarten, who ended up cowering behind a chair only to have my small paws crushed by the rollers when the lady sitting on the chair moved. I'm that dog who graduated puppy kindy with a blast! I'm that dog whom at the end of puppy kindy was 10kg and the biggest dog amongst all my toy breed classmates. I'm that dog who gladly became the alpha dog of the pack and taught the bullies never to pick on someone smaller because you never know when they'll grow bigger than you and bite you back in the ass.

I'm that dog who loved running free at Piney Lakes, jumping into the murky lake there, swimming with the ducks (sometimes i try to poke them with my snout, sorry), then having a good romp on the grass again while sunning my wet, wet fur. I'm that dog who had a best friend named Lesette back then. We'd spend evenings playing chase at the football field behind Murdoch till we're deadbeat. I'm that dog who once sneaked up on a kid there and stole his rubber action toy figurine but S eventually made me "drop" it by yanking my ear. 

I'm that dog who developed separation anxiety when i was young. I'm that dog who hated to see S change from her PJs to street clothes and would snarl at her feet, tug at her skirt and refused to let her go to school. I'm that dog who used to dig massive holes in the wall in the bid to escape and find my way to S whenever she was out. I'm that dog that S patiently reconditioned, day after day, week after week, to finally become a self-assured dog that knew in my heart that S would always return home to me, no matter what.

I'm that dog who had to be sent back to Singapore when i was 6 months old because S suddenly became very ill during summer '03 and no longer had the ability to keep me in Perth. I'm that dog who stayed in the filthy crate (that was soiled with my own urine and faeces) for 10 hours because Changi Freight Centre didn't allow S to pick me up as soon as i arrived. When S finally saw me, she broke down in tears but this wasn't the first time i've seen her cry so hard. I'm that dog who was so glad to see my mistress finally that even though i was worn out, managed to muster the last ounce of my strength to greet her with a feeble tail-tip wag.

I'm that dog who had to deal with Singapore's humidity, the lack of space to be a free spirit and people's attitude towards a big dog like me. I'm that dog whom every dog owner knew at Piney Lakes, whom every customer stopped to pat at City Farmers, but was suddenly transformed into a wretched creature shunned by people when i came to Singapore. I'm that dog who sometimes still think of Shadow, my racist Border Collie friend who only makes friends with his pure bred counterparts. I'm that dog that S uses to educate people especially children, to be respectful and caring towards all living beings. I'm that dog whom S points to when she notices people being wary of me, reassuring them at the top of her voice, "Won't bite one! He's good even with my 3-year old niece! He's a friendly dog! Come and pat him la!" I'm that dog that children in the neighbourhood call out to when they see S taking me for a walk. I recognise them all by smell but S always looks clueless and never ever remembers who they are. Perhaps it is because all children look alike to her just like how all Chinese look alike to Indians, all Indians look alike to Causasions...so on and so forth. Or perhaps, it is time for S to supplement gingko nuts into her diet.

I'm that dog who had to live without S while she did her final year back in Perth. I'm that dog who would sit outside her door and wonder when she'd walk out of the empty room. I'm that dog who would pounce on her and do my little lion dance to welcome her whenever she came back to Singapore. I'm the dog who would turn quiet and retreat into a corner whenever i see luggages being wheeled out into the living room. I'm that dog who would go back to being my destructive self when S was not around in Singapore. I'm that dog who would chew on the rosewood furniture, rummaged through the shelves and devoured 5 packs of Abalone-flavoured maggi mee and an entire pack of shark's fin at one go, just to relieve my frustration of being alone. I'm that dog who missed S and the fun we had in Australia. I'm that dog who's glad that S is back for good now.

I'm that dog who occasionally picks S up from work with her dad. I'm that dog who would race up and lunge straight at her, eyes gleaming with excitement. I'm that dog whom clients at the hospital would exclaim (whenever they saw me racing towards S), "Aiyoohhhhh Dr. S, your dog so happy to see you!" I'm that dog who would wander into the hospital with her, getting spooked by big german shepherds and slinking away quietly most of the time. I'm that dog whom S's colleagues refer to as "fat boy" but S would always vehemently insist that i have a thick undercoat. Yeah right.

I'm that dog who is ball-crazy. Ball ball ball ball ball, where's my ball? I'm that dog who can focus on a ball till the cow comes home. Ball ball ball ball ball, where's my ball? I'm that dog who never gets tired of playing fetch. I'm that dog who will work myself to death chasing a ball. 

I'm that dog who lives with 2 other cats - Tutti and Sophie. I'm that dog who feels threatened when Tutti approaches my foodbowl. I'm that dog who would gladly let Sophie have a drink from my waterbowl. I'm that dog who sleeps in an aircon room with S's parents. I'm that dog who never dares enter S's room without her permission. I'm that dog who has a fox terrier friend named Oreo next door who likes to hump my head. I'm that dog who incidentally had my first fight with Oreo the head-humper - need you ask why? I'm that dog who started my first jumpers class last Saturday and wants more next weekend (and next next weekend and next next next weekend)! I'm that dog who needs to go on a strict diet and fitness regime so that i can be in top form for more doggy sports! Woof!!!!!

I'm the dog who'd love to know if you'd pick a ball or a bone. I'm that dog who'd love to hear your lifestory. I'm that dog, who are you?