Mame and the Grandchildren: Raising a Family Dog in Bangkok

Our family moved to Bangkok two years ago, and Mame came with us from Shanghai as a puppy. She is a yellow Labrador with a loud bark and a very soft heart. Now she is two and a half, and she has become the centre of our home, especially for the grandchildren who visit on weekends.

At first the children were too excited and pulled at her ears, which made Mame nervous. We set simple rules: sit down to greet her, no grabbing, and always let her walk away if she wants space. Within a few months the youngest one was reading her a story every afternoon.

I sometimes worry that Mame misses the open space we had back home. In the evenings we walk her along the canal near our building, and she loves stopping to sniff everything. Watching the children learn to care for her has been one of the best parts of this move.