Update

So I re-read my first post about Bozo and I am still shaking my head and laughing at myself!
a. why was I so obsessed about the food bit 
b. the top dog thing – I knew it would sort itself out in time (smug smile)
c. the post itself while also put out to amuse, was embarrassingly a tad too long!

Just an update about Bozo as he is now (those of you who are reading this presumably want to be updated):
Have abandoned my attempt at calling him Bonjour (even the name tag fell out eventually). Here are the reasons why:
a. it was sounding pretentious – should have called him Namaste perhaps..
b. No one (including me) could pronounce it quite right – especially at the vets, when everyone was struggling to hold him down, the attending vet screaming ‘down Bonjoor down” wasn’t eliciting any results)
c. Kennel time, unaccompanied quarantine time, certifications etc – anyone handling him without appropriate explanation from me.. you get the picture.
So good old Bozo it is, could be any other dog’s name in a list, but whatever.
Probably only the association with his original name will remain in his love for baguettes, no matter how stale, truly.

So Bozo, or Bozkins as he is affectionately referred to, is now a grown up, lithe, aerodynamic two year old Golden Retriever, who still launches into anyone who cares to give him a whistle. He packs a punch at a flying mass of 30kilos– if you are lucky he wouldn’t have gathered much speed. It’s just his way of saying hello. Greet him and relax. You are his guest after all.


Communication:
I am happy to say he completely and attentively listens, has a well developed vocabulary, and is pretty much docile after his first Hello. He can understand (and distinguish from afar before you) Bengali conversations, english, smattering of hindi. Even bahasa and kannada. Ok that’s stretching it. Just croon to him in any language, he will understand you.

He is trained. Yes, he is.
By a cousin who rolled on the floor and allowed his ears to be chewed in greeting.
By the Quarantine personnel in Singapore, and now he will shit only when the grass tickles his bum. (gone are the days when we could just leave the newspaper in a corner (ok, all over) the verandah for his reading pleasure)
Sit, Shake, Jabey(lets Go)?, khabey (want to eat?), Get your collar etc are passé

He has trained us. Yes, he has.
To give him his food, in three courses. Too long a story, but net net, three courses.
To get the room temperature Just Right.
To steer us to where he wants to go, mostly.

He can understand complex communication:
Veiled threats: Abar? ABAR? (Again u are doing that? AGAIN?)
Open threats: Agey kheye nao tar por nichey jabo /Na khele nichey niye jabo na (I will not take you outside unless you finish your food)
Closed ended statements: Stay kore good doggy hobe (self explanatory perhaps?)
Encouragement: Good doggy korey nao (I have walked you enough now, kindly select a spot)
Pls to note: he can distinguish between the different usages of ‘good doggy’ (significant look)
Of late of course, Bokey dao (Scold/Bark at him/it/nothing in particular) doesn’t seem to be working every time– he is mulling over whether we want him to befriend or be one up against, other dogs. We are working on this.

Favourite Occupation:
The only non-negotiable in the two years so far has been: exercise, exercise and more exercise. He is happiest when he is chasing the ball, and bringing it back to just beyond arm’s reach. Can do this endlessly.
2nd favourite occupation: humping legs – only and immediately after returning from a walk. Heaven help the walker wearing shorts.
Rolling on laundry: he isn’t too choosy about whether washed or unwashed – the damper, the better though. And towels, in any form – aaaaahhhhhhh!

Medication
Hopefully, this section will be of help to other dog owners, and hopefully we will not be adding too much to it.
(PS: there is absolutely nothing that works its magic like Homeopathy)
Kennel cough or something very much like it: Vitamin C: 4 tabs a day, Steam thrice a day. By end of the next day the coughing had stopped, and he sneezed out a lot of snot (I don’t know who was more surprised with that, him or me)
Nosebleed – last year – happened only once, presumably dehydration: Arnica – seems to be his constitutional medicine
Loosies: Nux Vomica
And once I was horrified to see him pee almost red/ deep orange: Again, presumably dehydration and no infection, because this worked: Half cup Chicken soup fed every half hour, loo break every other half hour, till colour back to normal. It took a day. Back up: Resurce powder – didn’t have to use it. Spice up the broth to elicit interest if required. Arnica every hour.

Ok that’s it for me now. Will post pics once I sort them out.
Woof woof!