Chiangmai toy dogs

Wait a minute. Is that a dog?

Maybe it's me, or maybe I'm just not in with the pocket pup circles back home but I've been oblivious to miniature canines.

Thais love their dogs, and nowhere is it more evident than in Chiangmai.

Toy dogs are all the rage and you'll see them everywhere.

But when does a toy dog cease being a toy? You'll see people constantly playing with them; tossing them around, stuffing them in bags for transport, and of course dressing them up like a Barbie doll. But it's all part of owning a dog, isn't it?

For the most part, toy dogs are very well behaved here, never straying far from the hand that feeds them. Leashes are a rarity and most of them are street smart.

Unfortunately, there are a large number of street dogs in Chiangmai. They tend to be the "larger dogs", which we back home would consider a mid-sized dog. Many appear to be homeless although you do see people leaving food and water on the streets for them at night.

Many have battle wounds and some are in pretty bad shape but none are starving.

Temples are great refuges for stray dogs. Although they may not be considered stray. The monks do feed them and each temple has their usual assortment of dogs. They come and go as they please and nobody seems to care much if one goes missing.

A well pampered poodle. Not a rare sight in Chiangmai.

Dog shrine at a temple.