The tale of Hulk and Sulk

There has been no looking back since Charlie and Cairo came into my life. And they have debunked myths and broken many stereotypes. Charlie is a three-year-old rottweiler and Cairo is a five-year-old golden retriever, who have been with me as grown up dogs, they both are adopted furry friends.

Charlie came first. He was that rottweiler bought as a status symbol who became too much to handle because of the high energy and training needs. He was left tied to the gate all day and all night. I came to know about him through a post on social media and soon enough, he was mine.

Cairo is a golden retriever who was abandoned at Cubbon Park. Some morning walkers took her into their custody and later she spent time at Anvis Pet Care, from where I adopted her.  

Charlie, being a rottweiler, has unknowingly earned the infamous tag of being an aggressive pet, but this fellow doesn't even know what it is to be aggressive. More often than not, I have to deal with people screaming and shouting when they see him because they think a rottweiler will rip one's face off. That said, his adoption wasn't a cakewalk, he needed to be dealt with a firm hand and consistent training.

On the other hand,  I have Cairo, she is a big ball of fuzz who is so eager to please everyone. You just have to say it once to her and she would have  learnt it. Anyone who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks, has not met Cairo.

She has the most dramatic eyes ever. If you talk to her in the same tone used for Charlie, she will consider it the end of the world. She needs to be spoken to with tender loving care, else you will have to deal with a sulking furry child all day! I call the duo 'Hulk and Sulk'.

Charlie has been with me for  two years and Cairo just completed a year. They
are the thickest of friends but the moment they are naughty, the will outbeat each other. There are times I look at them and feel jealous, what a life they have - eat, sleep, play - repeat. Though they are complete opposites of each other, their love for the other is too evident to ignore.

I have an 8 am to 5 pm job and people often ask me about who looks after the dogs  when I am at work. My answer is that they look after themselves.  It's a misconception that when one gets a dog, one needs to assign someone to 'look after' the dog.  Dogs needs their time and space too. After I am back, it's undivided attention.