Aylwin Tan had always wanted a dog. One day, as his wife, Chan Meow Chin, was surfing the internet, she came across an Alaskan malamute puppy.
Captivated by the breed, they began searching for a breeder and, within a week, travelled from Selangor to Penang to meet with one.
“I didn’t see the puppy first – instead, I saw its father, and I was shocked,” Tan, 37, recalled in awe. “He was so huge and looked like a lion!”
That particular canine, as it turns out, weighed about 65kg.
But the couple were left charmed when they saw the male puppy, who was only six weeks old at the time and weighed less than 3kg.
They brought the pup home and named him Bailey – after the character of a beluga whale in “Finding Dory”, the sequel to Disney’s “Finding Nemo”.
“When we first saw a video of Alaskan malamutes howling, it reminded us of Bailey the beluga whale, who made a similar sound,” Tan explained with a laugh.
Today, the pooch is just over a year old and weighs well over 30kg. But despite his size, he is friendly and loving – and a big fan of cuddles!
“He is like tofu: soft! He thinks everyone is his friend, whether it’s a human, dog, bird, cat, or snail. He gets very curious and just wants to play with them,” Tan said.
While most dogs would bark at a cat to chase it away, it’s the opposite with Bailey: he does it to invite the cat to play with him instead.
The gentle giant also makes it a point to say hello to his doggie friends during his daily walks. “He knows which houses they live in, and he’ll stop at each one,” Tan added fondly.
If there’s one thing this big boy doesn’t like, it’s being left alone. In fact, when he spots his humans getting ready to go out, the clever canine will quickly jump into the car.
“He has a small fear of missing out, or FOMO,” Tan said with a laugh.
As such, the devoted fur parents ensure they spend a lot of time with Bailey, especially on weekends. Apart from dog parks and cafés, they have also brought him camping and to the beach.
Meanwhile, how do they keep his beautiful locks in such good condition? “We brush his fur every day, and send him to a groomer once a month,” Chan, also 37, revealed.
When it comes to food, Bailey enjoys a diet of kibble, boiled chicken breast, eggs, fruits, and even doggie cookies – all lovingly and beautifully prepared by his human mum.
Tan further describes his pooch as a “foodie” who will eat anything – including durian.
“When we first brought durian home, he didn’t know what it was,” he recalled. “So we allowed him to try some, and he loved it!”
So, how has the cuddly and charming canine changed their lives? “I never used to cook or bake, but since Bailey arrived, I have been doing both,” Chan revealed.
And Tan replied: “We now sleep earlier because Bailey usually goes to bed at about 9-10pm every night. I have also lost weight since taking him out for walks twice a day.
“Because of Bailey, we have a healthier lifestyle.”
Read more pet stories here, and follow Bailey on Instagram.
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