I hand fed them the cheese balls I got them from Lagos (I learnt from my Dog-Handler friend that most dogs love it crazily), and they were all trying hard to out smart each other. You needed to see different tactics. Smart Maya realised that she has lesser problem competing with her colleagues when she crouches and sticks her jaws through the opening of the railings. I always made sure I give her a "doze" of the cheese balls after feeding others round, who were really trying to gain more height over each other. Maya effortlessly partook of the competition. They all enjoyed it.

I occasionally offered my hand for them to lick, after it got soiled with the cheese ball, owing to my hand being "baptized" with their saliva. It was soggy, but we all enjoyed the exercise. It was fun

Maya was crazy about the treat, the most. She licked my fingers even after dispossessing them of the cheese balls.
Hahahahahahaha. I kept on stepping back each time they exhausted the cheese balls, to unwrap another one for them. Maya remained on her her position, leaning on the railings as she anticipated my return tirelessly
That look on her face though.

It was really fun to watch them compete with one another in an healthy way. They were all very careful to make sure they don't hurt each other in the process. The precaution each of them took, was something that was obvious. Dogman really taught his dogs how to get along with each other well. Kudos to him. All along, Dogman was cleaning and washing their cages. Its about the only time of the day, that they are let our of the cage. So, they ceased the opportunity to burn down as much energy as possible within the time limit. They all are also raised in such a way that they don't defecate in their cages, until they are released early in the morning (I guess that's a form of potty training). So, they answer the call of nature, mostly on the balcony when released. So after washing each of dog's cage and sending them inside, he flushes the water out of the building into the balcony, and wash the balcony too. He washes the floor of the balcony and their cages every blessed morning he wakes up. It is the next thing he does after his prayers, no matter how tight his schedule might be.

I also learnt from Dogman that the faeces of the dogs should be disposed off properly, because they can support the growth of tick, and if care is not taken, the kennel could end up being tick infested

However, snakes were curbed to a reasonable extent, by the siting of a snake repelling plant,in front of the dog's building.

Dogman was done with tidying up they cages, and he beckoned on Maya. On hearing her name, Maya stood at the entrance of the door, and others stood behind her, waging their tails vigorously as they anticipated to hear their names. I wish I recorded this part. "Get inside", he ordered. Maya hurried into her cage, and he secured her inside it. "Ken! Get inside!". He hurried into his cage too. Bail and Captain were waging their tails happily, eager to run into their cages, but obviously waiting for an order before advancing. On hearing their names, they happily returned to their cages, and Dogman secured them. He then came to the balcony, and took care of it- packing the faeces first, before washing off the urine of the canines. We packed the "tools" we used, and went into the main building to freshen up, and prepare for the day. We went to see a client of Dogman before we proceeded to the wedding. I was happy when Dogman said "You will see one of Bail's sons in the house we are going to". I was happy and eager to partake of the adventure.
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To be continued

We set off for the client's house, and we arrived at the compounds gate in about 20mins. He pushed a call through to the elderly man, after we got tired of knocking at the gigantic gate (no be small thing o). Dogman orientated me, that I was going to stay in a corner of the house, out of sight to the canines, 'cause they are highly territorial and the elderly man doesn't like to be disturbed (he knows I'll be curious to want to explore with the dogs). A lady came to receive us at the gate, and we went inside. He showed me where to sit, and he advanced to the dogs' cages, to bring them out one by one for their bath. I complied with him for a while, but unexplainably, I found myself drifting away from my allocated zone. I was stubborn (I think curious is a more suitable word).
I peeped from a corner in the 4-plot compound, and saw him bathing a dog with a golden coat. I couldn't determine what breed it was because it was a distance from where I was, and the fur was wet, so its true form is quite difficult to ascertain. However, I suspected a Golden Retriever ('cause the ears were also not erect then) .
The dog saw me from a distance ( Dogman didn't), but didn't bark. His "pals" were growling, and the Rottweiler in the other cage was about to bark when Dogman intercepted him. "Keep quiet!", Dogman ordered (but still he didn't look towards my direction). Dogman was not in his party dress, he was in a casual attire. The gold-coated dog would stare at me briefly, and look away, as he stood motionlessly, receiving a wonderful bath. I approached slowly, but gradually...making sure I was as quiet as possible so the dogs don't bark (the trick I learnt from Dogman a night before)

On getting close, I discovered the dog was a male and he is an Alsatian. His name is one strange name like that, about 4 syllables, but it start with "Ben" something. Let's assume his name is Ben. Ben was barking when he was in the cage before he was brought out, but I have not heard his voice since he came out- maybe because he fears Dogman (canine hierarchy). I moved real close this time as the about 15m gap between us, was reduced to 2metres. Dogman looked back and saw me, so he signalled to be to return to my designated zone, but I went only to return. Ben looked deep into my eye as he was twitching his ears, and his tail was getting stiff, but I wasn't bother. I trusted Dogman's alpha position as the leader of the park. The other dogs look at me from their cages, were getting infuriated, but they were bottling it up, 'cause Dogman was really close to them.
Dogman needed to wash the head and neck region, so he had to remove the leash around the neck. I was expecting him to alert me prior, but I was shocked when he removed the leash fastened to Ben's neck, without informing me. I tactically moved backwards in an unnoticed manner James Bond -ly, as I ran out of site. I cannor coman go and die. He who fights and run, leaves to die another day

Ben stood still near Dogman... I was not sure if he was aware of the leash off him or not, bt I wasn't ready to find out. I withdrew and was peeping occasionally to know when the leash gets fastened to his neck again. As soon as Dogman attached the leash to his neck, I was back to my initial spot near them. Dogman laughed at my pussilanimous act, but me I no mind. Safety first.
Dogman went to chain Ben away from the cage, and brought out the next dog. The next dog was a male Rottweiler named Terry. He is Bail's son (Dogman's Rottweiler, my possessive canine friend). Terry had a stern look, so I didn't even bother to go near him. Rather, I approached Ben, who was alone to himself.

Ben stood briefly, and shook his body vigorously to expel some water trapped in his fur, and then retired to the ground. Each time I moved closer, he'll stand up, his ears get erect as they twitched to and fro, and his tail gets stiff as they get suspended in the air. Also his teeth were exposed as the skin covering the closed jaws moved slightly apart (but he restrained himself from barking, probably because I was silent). From my knowledge of canine communication, I know that is a red flag...keep off).
I retired to refire, so as to acquire the desire I admired . He returned to the ground each time I stepped away, and rose to his feet each time I approached.
I backed off, and decided to give it all it takes this time around , to get me close to him in a safe manner. So I stood still and maintained eye contact with him, an action to which he also reciprocated. I maintained eye contact as I drew closer at a pace of about 10cm (not up to the lenght of a plastic ruler) every 3mins while maintaining eye contact with him, and trying my possible best not to appear hostile to him. He erect ears twitched towards me and he put on a puzzled look that suggested his curiosity about my effrontery (a face he has never seen before). A car was shielding Ben and I from Dogman, so Terry and the other dog didn't bark.
Each time I drew closer, Ben will have all his senses on high alert and ready to launch an attack but after a reasonable duration of time of me remaining calm and silent, he'll let down his guard and reach for the floor before I attempt another step closer, and he put on his guard again (This action took place repeatedly, until I was able to reach range of about 1m to Ben).

I crouched to Ben's level, and we stared real deep into each other's eyes, and both of us remained silent. After about 2mins of the staring competition, I moved closer again within his reach, but with a precaution of pulling back swiftly if he attempts to launch an attack. He didn't make any attempt to attack, and I offered him the back of my palm. He didn't attempt to lick it either, so I wasn't sure about the status of my application for admission into his pack. I withdrew my hand and offered him the back of my palm again about 2 more times, but he ignored it.
Wanting to get it over with with Ben so I can have time for the other canines, I attempted to stroke his forehead as he was staring at me, but he raised his jaws and open them as my hand was about touch his head, so I pulled back to avoid my tender fingers from landing into the hungry jaws waiting to receive them. I looked into his eyes and tried to make a comparative analysis of the whole scenery, and discovered he wasn't attempting to launch at me, so I repeated the action again and patted his head as my other stroked his furs. He didn't lick me, instead he was sniffing me, sniffing different parts of my body: my hands, legs, stomach, crouch, etc. I was really scared when he was sniffing my crouch...I can"t afford to lose even one of them o.
I took just few shoots, but I will try to screenshoot some parts of the video I recorded

We became friends and our bond grew stronger as minutes passed.

I returned to Dogman, to watch him bathing Terry ( Rottweiler). He is a male, with a big body structure. The 3rd dog in the cage was barking at me, so I moved slightly to the side, out of his reach, but Terry was staring at me. Dogman needed to wash the neck region of Terry too, and he removed the leash without informing me prior (well I think this one was VERY deliberate). I sharperly withdrew to my original designated zone which was out of sight to dogs, and was wondering if the the was aware that he was free to roam about (guess he still thinks he is bounded psychologically). Dogman was done bathing him and he was able to deduce quickly that Terry was about to shake off some water trapped under his fur, so Dogman ran a few metres away from Terry so he doesn't get wet. It was a funny sight to behold, and I laughed real hard at him (it was my turn) . He who laughs last, laughs best . He went to chain Terry in another place away from the cage, but some distance to Ben. All along, Terry didn't bark, so it gave me hope of socialising with him

I repeated the whole process of coming within range without agitation with Terry, and I got close to him. But I was a little challenged with Terry 'cause he has a docked tail, and I couldn't get sufficient canine information, 'cause the tail is also key in the dog's expression. Terry however was laying down on the floor all through and didn't stand up. He was only staring into my eyes as I was approaching, and would look away when he let his guard down.
I came real close to him, within the grasp of his front legs, but I made sure his jaws couldn't get hold of me (because of how he was chained). We remained in the staring competition for a while (without him barking or snarling) , until he offered me his front left leg as he attempted to rest them on my right knee while crouching close to him. GBAM!!! I have hit the spot again. All along, Dogman was bathing the 3rd dog which is also a male.
I reached out for his leg and he drew it closer to his mouth, and I played along. He licked my hand, and that was it. I was accepted. He sat up, and I was stroking him, as he was licking me in return

I was really happy to be accepted into Terry's park. I felt like a "Gee". The process was comparatively shorter than Ben's, but Ben was easier to comprehend than Terry (through tail communication).
I was however happy that my risk was well calculated.

I decided to step up the bonding process but positioning him between my legs, and hugging him (not all dogs like this position, so you must run a pilot test with dogs before u try it with them). I remember my uncle's German Shepherd Dog/ Rottweiler hybrid doesn't like that position.
I took the process gradually, as I stood straight initially, and spreading my legs apart. I breached the gap between us, and moved closer gradually til I was sure he was okay with it. I bent down and stroked his fur. I later proceeded to his head, and then the front of his neck.

He was just feeling cool, and showed no sign of infuriation or discomfort, and I on the other end, didn't appear as a treat to him, so we were cool. We enjoyed the position as I recorded several videos and took few shots with my phone.
Dogman was done bathing the Alsation/ Basenji (Ekuke) hybrid (can't remember his name), and chained him inbetween Terry and Ben. All three dogs are males, but I learnt the Alsatian/ Ekuke hybrid is the most territorial of them all. He lacks size however. I tried to inquire if he was the oldest 'cause I had two curiosities: why get an Alsatian/Ekuke hyrid when you have a full breed Alsatian and full breed Rottweiler. Also, the oldest among d dogs could assume the alpha position in the canine pack. I was kind of confused when I discover that he was not the oldest.
Dogman proceeded to tidy up their cages and wash it (like he does in his kennel), and I decided to initiate the bonding process with the Alsatian /Ekuke hybrid. I honestly can't remember his name, but let's assume his name is Rex

Rex was not giving me face as he was just barking up and down. I didn't want to disturb the peace of the neighbourhood and most especially, his owner that is elderly. So, I couldn't make much progress with him.
I later found out from Dogman that he didn't like the place he was chained to, that's more reason he was barking real hard at anyone that approaches his direction. It got to a stage he barked at Dogman, before Dogman ordered him to keep quiet. He was chained between Terry and Ben.
I enjoyed my brief visit to the compound.

It was time for us to go, and Dogman went to change to his Owambe attire. I bidded my newly found canine friends goodbye, and off we went. We headed for the party, and we returned home (Dogman's house) in the evening (after branching at another client's house for a pre-wedding shoot after the wedding).
Upon our arrival to the house, I headed into the house to offload the items I brought out of the car, while Dogman headed for the kennel to check on his dogs and see how Missy and her puppies were doing. He released Missy for her to catch some air and stretch out her muscles on the balcony, while he really took his time to attend to the puppies.
I learnt from Dogman that a dam that newly littered gets stressed easily with the cumbersome task to breastfeeding her newly born puppies, the precaution of not trampling on them, and the provision of warmth to her puppies, which comes by natural instinct. Since the puppies haven't opened their eyes, she has to feed them interchangeably between her nipples, ensuring all the puppies get sufficient milk to atleast survive.

After my post on Sept 1, I got banned by a mod, for a reason I'm still yet to comprehend. I got unbanned today, but my morale has been murdered. I will however try to administer some CPR to my morale and resuscitate it
Let's see if I can still put down something tonight or tomorrow

My morale is still undergoing some kind of rehabilitation, but I will try my best to make it appealing.
Dogman went to Missy and took his time to hand feed the "new" puppies. I took my time to enjoy myself with my canine friends. Loyal Ken was just eyeing me, as his eyeballs were pleading for my gentle touch on his fur while standing tall from his cage (guess they also get jealous, but they were cool with their jealousy, unlike Bail ). Captain tagged along since she was chained close to Ken. She craved for my attention too, but Maya just kept on staring undistractedly she also sat quietly in her cage. When I approached her, she'll stand up and let out some echoing breaths as she attempts to play with my hands briefly, and then stand motionlessly for me to stroke her fur (I love her maturity).
But Bail, hmmmmmnn, still as jealous as she had always been, gave out discontinued deafening barks and I was forced to oblige to her invitation as I stroked her. Others peeped from their cages to watch me stroke Bail. I was tired, and decided to let Bail off her cage so she'll follow me to where I can sit, but she was too possessive to let me go. She blocked my exist (the only walk way for me was inbetween Ken's cage and Bail's). Bail kept on jumping at me and licking me. I had no choice but to stay. When my legs were complaining about the weight on them, I locked her up, and reached for a seat.
It was time for general dinner, but I was too exhausted to attend to their dinner, so Dogman did it single handedly, as I watched him from my sit. All the dogs concentrated on their dinners, except Bail that derived more satisfaction in staring into my eyes than eating her food.

Coman touch my rot like this

Tsongz:
Coman touch my rot like this

Hahahahahahaha. I'll love to take up the challenge, but you must be present sha, unless you give me a full assurance of footing my hospital bills to the last dime

Dinner was over as all the dogs were done with mastication. I had a last round of stroking individual dog's fur (except Missy of cause), and retired in the main building for the night, with the mattress offering receiving hands.
Reminiscing on how the events of the day unfolded while laying on my bed, I wished the fun could continue for days- how I played with Terry after he bragged at me from his cage. I wish I had the chance to release Ben and Terry from their restraints and see how rough or gentle they played. I was wondering if they'll both play with me at once, or ignore the "stranger-just- turn-friend" and play with each other.
I was seriously craving for the barks of the canines from the kennel, but I just couldn't hear anything. The deafening silence was killing.
My drift in thoughts, was entertained by the whistling breeze passing through the windows. My eyelids however, reciprocated to the "rhythm", and I soon found myself in the unrejectable hemisphere called DREAMLAND

August 28, 2016- Departure Day
It appears the "kiss of life" given to my morale, is helping out. Tag along with me.

People get woken up by the crows of male chickens, but I get woken up in Lagos by the hullabaloo created by the road traffic on the always busy roads close by. However on this fateful day, I was woken up by the religious dogs that let out a continuous burst of harmonious howls . Sharp, I woke into the day (as I do every Sunday morning in preparation for church) as I broke the bond between me and my welcoming mattress. I had the plans to go to the kennel and spend quality time my "Goons" before other people in the house wake up. I dashed into the bathroom to brush my teeth, and decided to take a stroll to the balcony of the house as I brushed every member of my " number 32": little did I know that Dogman had plans of his own. We exchanged salutation, and I saw him heading for the kennel. "Where are you going?" I inquired. "I am going to attend to Missy and her puppies" he responded. I knew the implication of that. My heart was shattered 'cause Missy will have to be released and I will have no other choice but to back off since I am an unknown face to her. She was pace to and fro the balcony as soon as she was released and the kennel's door was secure from within, behind her. She wasn't barking at me like she did 2days prior, but she still kept her distance from me. She'll occasionally stop while pacing, to look into my eyes briefly, before she takes her face off and continue with her parade.

I hurried to the cheese ball wrapper I had, and opened it. I put a piece in my left palm and approached Missy. She stopped briefly to examine the content in my hand. I moved it closer to her through the opening in the railing, but far enough from the reach of her teeth with pointed ends. Her curious nose got into action and her tongue succeeded the nose as it swung into action too after her test of smell was passed. She was careful not to bite my palm while picking the cheese ball She continued with her unsupervised parade after getting the content off my hand. She ignored me completely. I put another piece in my hand and expected her to come over...she was to serious with her parade to notice me. She kept on looking into her cage through the window at the balcony, to see what Dogman was doing. I stamped my feet on the floor to gain her attention before she approached me again. As soon as she disposed my palm of the cheese ball, I gave a prognosis that it was safe to pat her, but she fought bark aggressively as she let out a warning growl with the teeth slightly exposed as the flesh covering the joined jaws slowly shifted to the back. My hypothesis was wrong.
I decided to tease Missy with the pap Dogman made for her and kept in my possession. He had not instructed me to feed her yet since he was with the puppies. So I took a spoonful of pap and blew some air to it with my mouth for the temperature to drop. I moved it close to Missy's nose and she showed interest in it. She was staring at the spoon and her eyeballs followed the spoon to whatever direction it went. I offered her the spoon, and she consumed its content within a jiffy. I didn't try it again however.
Dogman was done with taking care of puppies in cage, and returned Missy to the cage. As he dished her pap in the cage, and released the other Knights in the building

The commodores were happy to see me, and were charging at the railings to get a feel of me (as Sharp guy, I no near dem at all , make dem no stain person). They exchanged pleasantries briefly with one another as they sniff themselves. They'll turned their faces towards me, as their inviting eyes were requesting for my gentle stroke. Standing motionless, they all stirred into my face as if it had treasure located in it.
I moved towards them and they rush towards my hand like a group of hungry fishlings running towards a ripple in a pond, in a bid to compete with each other as to who gets to touch me first. My joy knew no bounds. I stroked them interchangeably and they took turns changing positions. It was like a queue, each dog returning to the rear of the line after I left him/ her for the next one, except for Bail that jumped queue. While the queue was organised on my left side by the dogs themselves (like soldier ants without leader(s)), Bail was positioned standby at my right side, lick me other hand as if her life depended on it. Others in the house woke up and freshened up since the day had broken, but I was enjoying my moment with my canine friends.
I had spent almost an hour with my friends, but I had lost track of time while revelling with them- I realised time had gone when Dogman requested for the time and I had to go inside to have an idea of the time.

Dogman had to round up with tidying up the kennel and we also had to set out for our journey to Lagos in time, so as to beat traffic especially around Mowe.
The royal knights knew about the time Dogman calls them into their cages. In about the squeeze of a lemon, they all regrouped and maintained their position at the entrance of the kennel, expecting an invitation from Dogman, into their cages. They let down their jaw, stuck out their tongues and were waging their tails in anticipation of receiving their individual orders. "Get inside Bail" he shouted. Bail walked majestically into her cage as she took giant strides. He was about to give Maya her orders, but he ran eagerly into her cage upon hearing "Maya...", she didn't wait to hear the remaining of the sentence.
"Ken!" Dogman called out. Ken and Captain twitched their ears in irregular directions before running towards Dogman (Captain knows she'll be the next after Ken, so she didn't wait for her name to be called). Something remarkable happened...shortly after Ken eloped with Captain, he ran back towards me. Dogman called out to Ken again but Ken went towards the kennel door to answer to his name briefly, and ran back towards me. Dogman was somewhat disappointed. He had always been bragging about Ken's loyalty to him, to me. Now, Ken is wrecking his bragging rights.
Dogman came out of the kennel and looked into my face: he (Ken) is really liking you o, he is not even obeying me again. You can see he answered his name sha".
Dogman was trying to console himself. If you remember vividly, Dogman once said Ken was the most loyal dog he had ever owned, and that Ken will always answer him before answering me 'cause he is Ken's owner. Hahahahahahha

Ken ran towards me and I resumed stroking his fur. Dogman had to begged me to release Ken so he can cage him. I felt like a "Gee"
Yo mehn. Holla! Whollup nigga. Whollup whollup. Just whollup
I stepped some distance away from Ken, and Dogman ordered Ken into his cage. Ken obliged this time.
Dogman came to the balcony in anticipation of cleaning up the materials from their metabolic waste, but he wasn't too happy that they didn't defecate ...they only urinated. He said I must have really distracted the dogs that they forgot to answer the call of nature. His worry was that they'll mess up their cages. I felt bad a little sha.
Dogman washed the urine off the floor, and we tidied up as we packed and arranged all the items used

Just as we were about leaving the kennel, Missy's owner came over with his car he came to check on Missy's welfare. I was a little comforted when I said the younger brother to Missy's owner backing off from her. We both mainted a thousand miles from her. I asked "Does Missy not know your face?". His silence accompanied with a smile, indicates a clause to the response.
But being a cynophile, I was peeping from the outside of the kennel as her owner opened her cage to see her and her puppies. I took to my heels when she got out of her cage and her owner had difficulties getting her under control. It was more like she was dragging him. I sharperly scrambled for safety as I flew over the railings. She was apprehended, and put away.
After making sure all was well and all satisfaction ensured, her owner departed to his house. I headed or the main building and freshened up.
Off we went to Lagos, and this is a brief narration of my second visit to Dogbreath Kennel. Thanks for reading.

Nice write up. Great to see a fellow dog lover.
Expecting more.