LOL. Try reading some James Herriot(t) vet stories from the late 80's. There was a rich dowager's spoiled dog named Triki Woo (pekingese so she named it a chinese sounding name). Often uncomfortable because of a condition brought on by excess feeding/weight. Perhaps, this is what is making your parents dog "surly".
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Peter
'79 930, Odyssey kid carrier, Prius sacrificial lamb
Missing
997.1 GT3 RS
nil carborundum illegitimi