Comments on: Formosan Dogs: The Next Trend since Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas

By: Betty

Betty — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:12:15 +0000

What a coincidence. We just adopted a Formosan Mountain Dog puppy from Rocket Dog Rescue, so I had to respond.

We’ve had Friday for 2 weeks now. She’s approximately 5-6 months and has a cream colored coat. She also loves other dogs and people, but is slightly shy. She’ll look at them and want to greet them but usually they have to make the first move. Well mannered, quick to learn, affectionate, playful, gentle but protective of her home. She’s quiet and rarely barks except for the first few minutes when she’s left home alone or when she hears certain sounds outside. I can’t figure out what triggers her bark since she ignores most outside noises…still seems random to me. Her bark is low.

She looks a lot like a lab puppy but with a FMD’s almond eyes, long legs and upwardly curled tail. I wonder if she has some lab in her. She’s a total sweetheart but sometimes a tad willful and stubborn. Her response to a command is often slightly hesitant, with a look like “Er, why? Oh, ok, I guess…”

She quickly bonded with me in her first two days with us. My husband is still second in her eyes, although the poor thing is working much harder than I am at winning her over. He gives her almost all of her walks and feeds her. She doesn’t greet him as enthusiastically as she greets me, but she still likes to keep an eye on him. She follows us around and keeps tabs on us when we’re at home. Her only issue is separation anxiety, which is as much our need to train her as our need to train ourselves.

She’s a wonderful dog. I’m Taiwanese, by the way, and am proud Taiwan has such wonderful native dogs but am very sad they are not appreciated in Taiwan. There is a myth about them in Taiwan, I think, that they are mean and dirty. My mother initially told me FMD’s were aggressive, but I knew she was misinformed. Between me and Friday, the Taiwanese are now the majority in my household.

By: Layne

Layne — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:28:51 +0000

Regarding the breed, Formosan or Taiwanese Mountain Dog. I have Slyder, a 1 yr/old male Formosan with a brindle coat. I’ve only had him a week today but he has integrated into my home very quickly. I also have two 8 yr/old cats and Roxie an 8 yr/old Beagle mix female. We didn’t think we could have another dog with because Roxie gets very possessive when we have another dog over night. We weren’t looking for another dog when we met Slyder on a dog walk. His foster mom was ill and I was asked to take him for a night. Long story short, he got along with Roxie and the cats, his foster mom needed more time, so we kept him a few more nights until we adopted him.
Slyder is my 19th dog in 50 years and I’ve had as many as 5 dogs at one time. I have never seen a dog as respectful and well mannered as the Formosan. The dogs have their own food bowls and he will not eat food from Roxie’s bowl. He waits until his bowl is filled. I haven’t seen any aggression or jealousy. He likes dogs, cats, children & adults. Very playful, smart, tenacious and an escape artist. Formosan love to run and are known to “bolt” when playing, can be stubborn about returning but they are loyal guard dogs and keep you in their line of sight. My dogs go to work with me so we’re 24/7 he rarely leaves my side and whimpers when he can’t be with me. They don’t bark a lot and the bark is not loud or alarming.
There’s nothing bad I can say about this breed. They have a variety of coats and that may be because they are common in Taiwan & not considered desirable so they are in large part street dogs and they bloodlines are blurred.
Prior to living with me Slyder was in fact a street dog in Taipei. He arrived in the US in March along with a half dozen other Formosans that were rescued in Taipei and brought to San Francisco for adoption. If you’re interested in getting a Formosan contact Rocket Dog Rescue, San Francisco, CA.

By: Breanna

Breanna — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:05:38 +0000

I have been living in Taiwan for a couple of years and have been volunteering with a group called Taichung PAWS for over a year and I had never heard of Formosans until volunteering.

I have now fallen in love with Formosans and own a Formosan mix myself. She is absolutely amazing (although she had some training before I adopted her). She is super loyal, doesn’t bark inside the apartment, is wonderful with people and children of ALL ages, if I let her off the leash she always comes back to me and so many other things!

The sad thing is, is that the Taiwanese themselves (most of them anyway) throw these dogs away like trash. The trend here is to BUY expensive brown poodles. My boyfriend and I took an adorable Formosan (possibly Border Collie mix) to an adoption event and one old Taiwanese man sneered and said “Nobody wants a tugou (Formosan) like him. You can find them ANYWHERE here!” After my boyfriend translated what the old man had said, I started sobbing. On a positive note, the Formosan/possible Border Collie mix is now happy in Canada…

I just wish the Taiwanese would see what a treasure they have in the Formosan. I’m really happy that these dogs have beautiful homes abroad, but they shouldn’t HAVE to be sent abroad because they are “unwanted” at home. They should be welcomed and appreciated with open arms in their native country as it should be. Luckily, there are wonderful people who do see the beauty and wonder in the Formosan and for that I am grateful.

By: Pam

Pam — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:06:54 +0000

We adopted our Formosan (Luna) at 4mths from ‘Walkin the Bark Rescue’ over 2 years ago. She was timid and terrified of everything (she came to us with cigarette burns all over her head, belly and back) We love this dog more than our children (lol) and I am always stopped and asked about her (she is so beautiful, such a sleek coat, those ears, her eyes….it goes on and on.) I do run her off leash at the local park and watching her run up and down the hills is a beautiful sight!. We are now seriously considering adopting another dog and will only consider another Tawainese Formosan….

Two years ago when we got Luna, these dogs were called “lab/shepard” mixes…And the only facts I could find about her were just a few pictures, everything else was in tawainese….and now it’s everywhere. I also understand that this breed will be considered “official” in 2012 which is based on 10 years of research by the “Dog Gods” with all the power.

By: tear stains

tear stains — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:38:12 +0000

As an avid dog lover, I just wanted to say thank you.

By: Marie & Becky

Marie & Becky — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:38:26 +0000

We welcomed Tai into our home just over a week ago. She too is a rescue from Taiwan. She is about 4 months old and like most dogs from Taiwan she has a very special story!

A little on Tai’s history:
She was found with her mother and litter mate along with a bunch of other dogs on a fenced acre lot. All of them were covered in bugs and maggots. Tai and her brother were the only 2 out of 40 dogs that survived!

She is the smartest dog we have owned for years! Ever willful and likes to push you to the end but if you stand firm she is quick to back down!

In the past week we have been asked so many times what kind of dog she is and people are just amazed by her story.

If you are ready to open your heart and home to one of these great animals go to http://www.savinggreatanimals.org

By: Wild Dingo

Wild Dingo — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:29:02 +0000

OMG! Juno looks so thin in that old post! I think we did a boo-boo and over-fed her in order to have Scott win her affection. she’s on an unending diet to get her bikini figure back. poor gal. oh well, at least cost of treats has gone down in our budget.

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:21:28 +0000

I still have nightmares from the time Sugar hunted a full grown deer in my backyard. Yep, Formosan dogs guarantee an adventure! There are some amazing dog rescue groups in the U.S. and Taiwan. Sugar came from Walkin’ the Bark Rescue (http://fosterdogblog.blogspot.com/) and Animal Rescue Team Taiwan (http://www.savedogs.org/english/). I thank the “goddess of the trailer park” that a wonderful Canadian couple rescued Sugar from Taiwan; and Judy, her foster mom, was willing to care for a shy dog in the U.S.. There’s comfort in knowing that someone will care for Sugar “just in case.” My contract says I must return Sugar to her foster mom in case I am incapacitated (although I think she would have to fight my folks for custody, these days). Sugar is a willful, motivated, intelligent, and sometimes wicked dog– and I love her, unconditionally.

btw, I still re-read your “Bad Dogs and the Women who Love Them” post:

http://www.wilddingo.com/2008/09/03/bad-dogs-and-the-women-who-love-them/).

It’s a classic, and guaranteed to lighten one’s mood.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:32:30 +0000

I just adopted a Formosan three weeks ago! Not sure if he is full Formosan, has the ears, the face, the build, his tails curves completely over his back. He is white. Absolutely goregeous dog. Finley was rescued from Taiwan about six months ago and was fostered here in the states until I adopted him. Great dog, highly intelligent…a bit willful, but a quick learner. Would love to hear from other owners of this breed.