Introducing My Singapore Special, A Unique Canine Companion
Singapore Specials — that’s what we affectionately call the mongrels in Singapore. They truly live up to their name as they come in a remarkable array of temperaments, colors, and sizes.
My dog, Lele, is a tri-colored Singapore Special. Lele is her nickname, although it is very commonly used. Her full name in Chinese is actually Jia Le, which means ‘home’ and ‘joy.’ She has indeed brought a lot of joy to our family. Lele is comical and expressive, often surprising us with her funny antics, cute facial expressions, and even verbal cues.
Lele is a very kindhearted dog. She used to live with two bunnies and had many friends. She also had darker fur colour, but as she aged, it became lighter.
Since she was young, Lele has been very afraid of thunderstorms and rain. If she had a supernatural power, it would be the ability to predict the weather. That’s why we playfully nicknamed her the ‘weather forecast.’
Many Singapore Specials share Lele’s fear of thunderstorms, a trait that may be inherited from their mothers who were strays in the wild.
During storms, Lele becomes frightened, shivering and losing all sense of logic. She scratches and seeks shelter in various places, including hiding in the toilets. Despite trying various methods to comfort her, such as hugging her or providing a kennel for her to hide, none proved effective except for music. We discovered that playing music helps Lele calm her nerves during thunderstorms.
Since then, every time a storm approaches, Lele notifies me, and then with the help of music, she manages her fear and finds solace. It still surprises me every time this happens.
I thought the monsoon season was coming to an end. However, heavy rain suddenly poured down during our walks in the past few days. I’m very proud to see my dog managing her fear and able to relax when the rain comes.
If you’re reading from another country.. I just want to ask, what do you call the mongrels in your country? Do they exhibit the same fear for thunder or any other weathers? What would your dog’s supernatural talent be?
I’ve been a volunteer for more than a decade. Perhaps some day I will share more about the things we did for the welfare of animals.
If you’re keen to see more of Lele, you can follow her on Instagram @lele.chua
Until my next time, please always have faith, never stop dreaming and keep shining.
I appreciate you and your time. 💚
Thank you for reading.
