Our Canine Ambassador

In Nigeria we have found that the majority of people do not have pets.  Any contact they have had with a dog has probably been with a barking guard dog behind a fence.  I have yet to see a random cat or dog just wandering around.  Our dog, Yogi, is a 40 kg (78lb) black Labrador Retriever.  He's a big guy.  But he is a really sweet dog.  He is older so he's relaxed and doesn't get too fussed about anything.  When we started walking him here people would cross the street to get out of his way.  Most people are extremely afraid of dogs.  But Yogi in his own goofy way is winning people over, especially the staff that work at our apartment complex.  Most of the gate guards are more relaxed around him and a few even pat him on the head.  They talk to him and are impressed by his "sit" and "shake" tricks.  It's really fun to see them realize that he isn't going to hurt them and is a friendly dog.  Most of the children that live here are also enjoying having him around.  As you can see from the photo, Yogi has a small fan club.  I think we are known as the people who live with Yogi.

However, every time someone comes to the apartment to fix something I have to put him in a back room and close the doors just so they will enter the apartment.  Yogi has been a very good sport about this, usually just continuing his nap in the bedroom.  For example, last Friday two men came to do the annual maintenance on the air conditioning units.  There is a unit in each room so at one point I had to move him between rooms so they could finish the last one.  They never actually heard or saw Yogi.  This morning when we were out for a walk they same maintenance guys were working at another apartment.  I saw them outside and said good morning...they just stared at Yogi.  We went around the corner and I caught one of the guys looking around the corner at him.  Maybe they assume he is a big guard dog but nothing could be further from the truth!


ps.  Coming from Scotland Yogi is adjusting to the heat/humidity just like the rest of us.  I am amazed that he still has hair with all of the shedding he is doing.  (Seriously the tile floors are a light beige color and show everything.  An hour after I sweep they are covered in black hair again.)  But he is doing good, even going out on the patio to lay in the sunshine, just like he used to in Houston, and comes back in only when he is completely shattered from the heat.