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The Tonkinese
We have in the last two
years begun breeding first generation Tonkinese. These little
characters have certainly captured our hearts. We started the Tonks
as a change from the Burmese, which are still our main breeders.
Consider the slight
aloofness, intelligence and loyal dedication of the Siamese, then
put it with the 'bossy', gregarious, 'look at me' persona of the
Burmese and you have this wonderful, confident, outgoing loyal
character that is the Tonk. They are often referred to as the
'dog-cats'. They love people, as do the Burmese and often will come
and sit with you when you have company and join in the conversation.
They are fond of sleeping around necks and think nothing of trying
to steal from dinner plates. Closed doors, also, seem to pose little
problem for the innovative Tonkinese, they'll just hang on till the
handle opens! Take your dog for a walk and look behind you as
there'll be a Tonk following. Put a Tonk on a harness and teach it
to walk with you and the dog and when you get to the park, throw
them both a ball and they'll both run to retrieve it. When your door
bell goes, don’t be surprised if your Tonk goes to the door to help
you greet your visitors. Give a Tonk to a 'pet-friendly' child and
the Tonk will love being dressed up and be a wonderful companion to
the child. Tonkinese are never far away from you, they just love the
company of humans. Sometimes they can make very good house pets for
the aged or disabled. They can also be real show-offs, climbing onto
tops of doors and leaping onto you when you least expect it. But
beware, they don’t like boredom and if they have little to occupy
themselves or too little human company they can become naughty and
mischievous. Treat them as you would your children. If you think
they are going to be left for more than a few hours a day it’s best
to get two or one of them and a Burmese or Siamese. You will
certainly be owned by the Tonkinese, it is never the other way
around. The Tonk will always think that you only need him as a
companion and will, to this end, sit on your paper or in front of
your face when you are watching 'Coronation Street'. The car can
also be a haven for the Tonkinese. It can be the first into the car
for a family outing. Train it to be kept on a harness and the car
journeys will be a delight to it.
When you take on a Tonk,
you take on a whole new era of fun and loving. ENJOY!
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