Chingu

"It's just a dog," if I had a dollar for every time I heard that phrase then I'd have Chingu's neuter and trainer paid for and then some.

So who/what is Chingu and how do you say that word? Well Chingu (say it like ching + goo) is my dog. His name means friend in Korean although I don't think you could use the word friendly to describe him. Although he's not a cuddle buddy and he's not really into people he's my friend and thats all that really matters to me. I prefer to describe him as, "not an emotional whore."

So I know I haven't updated in almost a year but during this year is when I got Chingu. When I first arrived in South Korea I swore no pets and after Abby I didn't really think I was ready. But then I saw a post online. A post with a picture of a beautiful dog that needed help. He was just so beautiful I was sure someone else with more resources and more space would take him but I offered up my home as a last resort. Well as it turns out my offer was the only offer. At the time I couldn't take him immediately and his foster home wasn't working out so he had to be taken to the shelter and wait til I could come meet him.

Let me tell you folks, going to a shelter to meet a dog is a huge mistake if you don't really want to take one home with you. You see all those sad sad dogs there and you want to give each of them a home.

Well I guess our first meeting foretold of things to come. When I very first met him he nipped at me (he was expressing his dislike of being chained back up to the tree). So my reaction was no way am I taking this guy home. But I figured I'd come all that way so I might as well try and walk him. So I did and he was so happy to go on a walk he kept turning back and 'smiling' at me. That was the end. That smile melted my heart and I knew he was mine.

After that Chingu was pretty good. There were a few more nipping incidents in the beginning but they were easily corrected and after he got over his fear and realized I was there to help him we became pretty close. Chingu has done a lot of good things for me and I believe we have a pretty deep bond.

Anyways 8 months and over 1000 miles walked later I returned home from South Korea with Chingu and about 50lbs lighter. Unfortunately Chingu didn't take the move so well and he bit Chris badly (7 weeks post bite and there is still a scab).

That bite was a real wake up call about how bad his fear-aggression was. It was even suggested by one vet that he be put down. Well in my opinion you don't just put down a dog without giving him a fighting chance. So instead we found a behaviorist, we found a trainer, and we found a different vet and right now Chingu is going through 'rehab'. So now this blog is about our journey together. I know Chingu will never be a dog that loves everyone and in some ways it makes me sad to think not everyone can know what a wonderful, sweet, loving soul exists inside Chingu but thats OK, because I know it.

I like to think Chingu isn't broken but instead just bent. So for the moment my travels have been suspended as Chingu and I work to get over his fear of people (particularly men) and we work through this thing. So therefore the purpose of this blog has changed too. This will be about our journey through Rehab and I hope to come out of this successful. So *fingers crossed* I hope this next year I've committed to bringing Chingu around will be one that finds a happier more secure dog at the end of it.