Friday 16 May 2014

Dogowners and Doppelgangers

Owners who look like their pets. Why is this? The short answer is Familiarity (according to psychologists).

Tim Leung with bulldog, Oxford at Stanley Plaza. Photo: Antony Dickson

The "dog whisperer" (story below) talks a lot of sense. Pet owners should understand that looking after pets is similar to looking after two-year old kids.

Other look-alike or doppelganger or perceptions posts:

The Pot Calling the Kettle Ugly

The Pot Calling the Kettle Cute

Stand Out Face

Avatar Doppelganger Caricature


HK Doppelganger 2

HK Doppelganger 1


Disclaimer: As mentioned in About HK Doppelgangers, no offence is intended, and any resemblances are entirely due to one’s own perceptions shaped by experience and exposure to life’s wonderful social diversity.


Reference

Dog whisperer shows Hong Kong pet lovers why he's leader of the pack (SCMP)

TV's Cesar Millan tells Hongkongers that owners often need more training than their pets
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 11 May, 2014, 4:58am
Christy Choi christy.choi@scmp.com

Cesar Millan

As a celebrated "dog whisperer", Cesar Millan knows a thing or two about animal behaviour. But often it's the owner he needs to teach.

According to him, Hongkongers who say dogs are too much of a handful for their hectic lifestyles are only making excuses.

"[Saying] 'I'm busy or it's hectic' - it's just an excuse to not be there for someone," Millan told hundreds of dog-lovers at Stanley Plaza yesterday.

The 44-year-old dog trainer to the stars is in town to promote and film two episodes of his reality TV show. He will also perform at the AsiaWorld-Expo tonight.

Between 2010 and 2012, almost 20,000 abandoned and wild dogs were put down in Hong Kong, with many others left in kennels and shelters. But Millan denied that the city's pace and lack of space made it unsuitable for dogs.

Isabelle Ho with Molly. Photo: Antony Dickson"Someone who abandons their dog is likely to abandon their families as well. The difference is, the family can drive away, but the dog can't. It's left there." Owner responsibility is a strong theme in his reality TV shows Dog Whisperer and Cesar to the Rescue.

But owners need to be more than just responsible. Balanced dogs, Millan says, require strong 'pack leadership' from owners, in the form of exercise, discipline and affection. Most people give too much affection, and not enough exercise and discipline.

"My clients went to Harvard, but they don't know how to walk a Chihuahua. They're smart, but they don't understand nature."

He pointed to a teenage girl who was clutching her terrier protectively as it was introduced to a bulldog several times its size.

"See what she did there?" he asked, as the terrier yapped. The terrier would not naturally be afraid of the larger dog, but it had become aggressive after picking up on its owner's fear, he said. "The dog acts that way because they want to protect the human, because the human is scared."

He picked up another dog which had become alarmed by the crowd. "The best thing to do is give him a massage. Don't let him hold the experience. Change the experience."

Millan's demeanour calmed the dog instantly.

One fan, Jack Hoi, 58, a retired civil servant, admitted to having "some problems at home" with his mini-pinscher, Mickey.

Hoi said he watched Millan's YouTube show every night. "I love his philosophy on how to teach the owner," he said.
 




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