36. The Shih Tzu likes to grip women's legs

"Come in," I asked the 2 classmates of the dog owner to be present for the dog's annual vaccination. My consultation room of 80 sq ft would be crowded with 4 people but it would be good to make the veterinary visit interesting for the friends as well.

3 teenaged girls of around 18 years of age, wearing dull brown uniforms. Matching the colour as the brown of the Shih Tzu and contrasted with their sun tanned faces.

"Have you paper-trained the Shih Tzu?" I asked the lady owner.

"I was not able to catch him peeing," the girl said. "I shouted "Kenny, Naughty boy!. But he run away quickly!

"It is best not to shout when the puppy is starting to eliminate," I said. "He gets startled and stops peeing." Many owners do shout, but it may not work.

"I put newspaper over the urine spot," the girl said. "White vinegar:water does not seem to be effective in neutralising the urine smell. He pees onto the wall often. On the same spots."

"As this dog is a male and grown up, he is not having toilet training problems. He is urine marking to mark his territorial limits," I said. "He probably grips people's legs as well."

"Yes," the owner said. "He clings onto my legs and even when I walk away, he just get dragged. He goes for women's legs only."



"What happens? Do the women scream?"

"He also jumps and grips my leg," one friend laughed.

"My sister and I will pull him away but his grip is strong."

"Why don't you neuter him as this anti-social behaviour can be solved if he is neutered early."

"But he will be gay," the girl said. The new generation is much against neutering. So strict obedience training of male dogs must be done early. However, there will be female or other family members not able to control the male dog's dominating and sexual behaviour.