Two years after Kylie Yap brought Kiro home, she decided her Shetland sheepdog needed a friend. So Kylie and her brother went back to Kiro’s breeder in search of a puppy playmate, and that’s where they found Koko.
“My brother picked her out of the litter because she didn’t have a white line down her forehead that most Shelties have,” Kylie tells FMT. “Koko’s quite unique in that sense.”
Koko and Kiro soon became inseparable, sharing a common fear of other dogs and preferring each other’s company. Koko was definitely the alpha, while Kiro was like her misbehaving child – never mind that Kiro was the older one.
“Koko quickly took charge of both of them. Kiro was such a sassy dog, but Koko kept her in check,” Kylie recalls fondly.
Sadly Kiro passed away last year at age 11, leaving a more subdued Koko. “She’s getting better, though,” Kylie says of Koko’s quieter demeanor. “We have other dogs in the family to keep her company, so I hope she doesn’t miss Kiro too much.”
Koko, now nine, is very obedient and listens to directions with or without treats, although “food speeds up the process”, Kylie says with a laugh.
Indeed, Koko has learnt to recognise the word – just a mention of “food” will set her tail wagging at lightning speed.
“The girl is the opposite of fussy – she will eat anything. But now that she’s old, we have to give her softer foods because it’s harder for her to chew.”
Koko especially loves fruit, her favourite being blueberries. Kylie makes sure to sneak her a few every so often.
Koko spends most of her day curled up on the marble floor, where it’s nice and cool, waiting to be cuddled by anyone nearby. She especially goes mad for Kylie’s hugs.
“Whenever I watch TV, she’ll hop up onto the couch and wait for me to give her some love,” Kylie laughs.
And since Koko recently lost her best friend, Kylie makes sure the pooch receives as much love and attention as she wants, because she’s worth it.
“She is the most well-behaved dog. I never have to ask her anything more than twice as she’s so attentive.”
Kylie adds that Koko’s sweet nature makes people feel at ease around her, especially those who may be intimidated by dogs. Koko is extremely friendly and is ready to play with anyone, even strangers.
“She loves when people come to the house. While most dogs get very suspicious, after the initial few barks she will wait patiently at the door for them to come in,” Kylie says.
“Once they’ve sat down, she will sit near their feet as if to say, ‘Come and pet me please’!”
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.