O U R   R E C E N T   A R R I V A L

We were looking for a dog as a companion, not only for us but for our English Springer Spaniel. We had previously had another two dogs, both sisters and Cocker Poodles. In terms of temperament and maintenance, they were excellent. They passed away several years ago. Going by experience, we wanted a dog with low shedding and low dander, as one of the kids has allergies. Our search for the correct type of dog took over a year. We consulted books, the Internet, vets, and even doctors. Finally, after consulting with our vet, we ordered a Labradoodle from a recommended breeder in Australia. Xi'an (pronounced "Shee-aun") arrived in Singapore on 23 January 2004 and was promptly cleared by customs and immigration. His microchip was scanned and verified by the inspectors. There were no problems and the dog seemed in good shape when we brought him out of his crate. The dog is named after China's first capital, Xi'an, located in Shaanxi Province. We had just returned from this region of China, and were greatly impressed by the majesty and history of the city, the beginning of the Silk Road. Xi'an seemed a good name for the Labradoodle. The Labradoole fitted in without any problems, and has proved to be an ideal dog. He gets along fine with everyone, enjoys playing with other dogs, and has grown from a puppy to a near-adult in a few short months. Right now he is all legs and gangly, but with time he will start to flesh out and be more proportionate.

Here's Xi'an and Anjinsan, our 8 year-old English Springer Spaniel. The Springer was also imported from Australia and is a lovable, kind companion to us as well as to the new arrival.  Xi'an has just had a dip in the pool and so looks more poodle-like. This sequence of swimming pictures was taken when Xi'an was six months.

In the picture is my goddaugther in the pool who was instrumental in getting Xi'an familiar with the concept of swimming. In the pool with her is her dog Shona, a three year-old Golden Retriever. Not by coincidence, Shona is also from Australia. Behind are Xi'an and Anjinsan waiting for their turn in the pool. The Retriever is a really good swimmer and manages to keep the top of her head and his back dry while swimming. This obviously is quite a feat. Xi'an has learnt to swim the same stroke, that is the dog-paddle!

Xi'an on his third day in Singapore. He has a beautiful infectious grin on his face all the time! He spent his first few days exploring and sniffing, doing all the things that puppies do in a new environment. Xi'an arrived toilet trained, and we are grateful for that.. In this picture, he's three months old.

It only took 15 minutes to get the Labradoodle swimming. For a dog who had never seen a pool before, he eagerly learnt how to swim and was soon paddling confidently around the whole pool by himself without any assistance. There was no choking, ingestion of water, or mad splashing.