Keshu is a rather unique-looking dog, being part Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Poodle, and part “cat” owing to his many characteristics that can only be summed-up as feline.
At the grand old age of 11, Keshu is slowly showing signs of ageing. “The fur at the top of his head has turned silver but the doctor says it’s due to anxiety. We cannot leave him alone,” says Priya.
Despite his wiry and truly unmanageable fur that sticks out at all corners of his face and body, Priya sees only a “petite muscular hunk” whenever she looks at Keshu.
According to her, Keshu has a wonderful temperament as well. “He is the sweetest when it comes to us. He has never once bitten any of us even when he’s in pain.”
Despite his small size, Keshu is as fearless as they come. “He once barked at a golden retriever ferociously and tried to push that gentle giant away by pulling out a chunk of its fur.”
Priya is also convinced that the only reason Keshu drinks plenty of water is so he can mark his territory on a wider scale. But despite his dominant nature, Keshu is an “introvert” she says, when guests drop by.
“He barks but does not bite. And once we carry him, say his name and feed him treats, he’s ok. Although after he accepts the treats, he continues barking for a while just to show how brave he is before finally calming down.”
Priya says that among everyone in the family, Keshu loves her sister the most. “He just adores her. When we say, ‘Thibah’ka loves you’, he gets super excited and whines and cries and starts howling.”
He also loves being the centre of attraction. “He loves being carried and scratches our legs to indicate he’s right there behind us when we turn our backs to him.”
A peace-loving dog, Keshu is quick to break up any kind of fight whether verbally or physically, even if Priya and her family members are just fooling around. “He will come in our midst and protect us despite how tiny he is.’
Keshu is also particular about his food and demands variety in his diet. “He can fast for up to two days if we give him the same food. He’s also a small eater and has this weird ritual of playing with his food first before settling down to eating.”
As fearless as he is, Keshu is terrified of thunder, lightning and rain and visibly shivers in fright when the weather turns bad. But when it’s hot and bright, you can find him sunning himself outside, happily soaking up the warmth of the sun.
Despite his age, Keshu is still alert and intelligent and knows how to “sit”, “shake hand”, lift his paws when he hears “up” and “lay down”.
“On a serious note, Keshu knows when I am sad. He knows when I go missing in the house, comes looking for me, checks on me and sits beside me till I feel a little better,” Priya says.
“It is a ‘must’ to greet him in the morning, because the night is very long for him. If we don’t, he starts whining and cries and barks. And when we do greet him, he bows and stretches,” Priya, says, adding that she can’t imagine life without the quirky Keshu.
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