Dags

[Gandalf]

I don't have any dog pictures with me, but we had a pet dog for many years. He was a really funky and cool golden retriever called Buster (too many dogs get called Buster). We had many wild adventures in the woods when I was growing up and we had great fun going on long walks. When I left for Korea he was still vibrant and full of life, but the last time I saw him he had got really old and it was quite upsetting seeing him limp around like an old man. A year or so ago my mum told me that he had had some kind of seizure and the vet recommended putting him down. I know dogs get old, but I felt kind of guilty having abandoned him. I was the only one who took him on walks and had fun with him really. It was great seeing him again because he recognised me immediately, I was half thinking I would be a stranger. But no, he had the same old reactions but was just much slower.

I wouldn't mind getting another dog at some point, but I live on the 8th floor and have no garden. There just isn't the space for a proper dog to run around or get out to stretch his legs. It wouldn't be fair. Also there is the risk that he might get eaten. Haha, just joking on that part. Koreans don't seem to have proper dogs and by that I mean big, strong dogs. They have these genetically engineered mutants that look a little bit like rats instead. If you stood on one it would be crushed.

Maybe when I got old and retreat to the countryside I will get a new one and we can get old together then. I find dogs to be better company than a lot of people.

Miles, you happen to be in the land of one of the greatest breeds of dogs of all-time. I may be biased because I own two . In the south of the country, there is an island called Jin, and the dog that hails from the island is called Jindo-Gae. Remarkable breed. It is a national treasure. Exporting them is actually illegal although in Koreatown in Los Angeles, which is near where I grew up, they are relatively common. Jindos are a guy's dog if you will: cunning, feril, vicious but sociable. Although Koreans would hate this comparison, it is like a smaller version of an Akita. If I lived in Korea, I would take a day trip to the island of Jin. Try to go.

That is true. They are pretty impressive dogs. I've lived for several years in a satellite of Seoul and have only ever known one family who owned a Jindo. They used to tie it up and it seldom ever got off of its chain. I have no idea what became of him. Most of the Koreans I see in my daily life have these horrid little rats and they are often dyed bizarre colours and have ribbons in their hair. It is supposed to be cute, but just looks freaky. Most Koreans in the city live in high rise boxes, so the ability to own a good dog is really very restricted. I'm sure there are more Jindo's owned in the countryside and in the south like you mentioned, but I have rarely seen any on my travels. I've never been to Jindo (do means island so all Korean island names end with the word do).