The Three Mus’cat’eers
It still amazes me how life is able to turn around and help you find a path when you feel like you’re lost. Lost, is what we felt when our almost ten-year-old Great Dane – Boxer mix was taken from us. Our normally loud and exciting household had fallen silent and sad amidst the palpable lack of doggy barks and things being knocked over by an extremely exuberant tail. But, life decided we needed help being pulled out of that dreariness, and decided to do that by way of a stray, scraggly, and ginger kitten. Meelo (as she would soon be christened) just decided to waltz into our garden and balcony and simply point blank refused to leave. No amount of shooing and chasing did any good as she remained stoic and defiant. She was going nowhere. After several trips to the vet, lots of baths, and several bouts of feeding her, she was practically our new pet. I say practically because to this day, she will randomly get the urge to step outside our home and walk around the neighborhood. But, no matter how long she’s away, or how far she might wander off, she always finds her way back to us. Since her kittenhood, where she spent her days playing with my sister and myself, sleeping in our room, and getting pets and cuddles from us, she has now grown attached to our mum and dad and has effectively made herself, their pet. Wherever in my house my mum maybe, be it cooking, cleaning or even praying, you will be sure to find Meelo, regally by her side. Did we stop there? Did life decide that Meelo was a good enough replacement for our dog Skibo? Of course not. Skibo was massive and had an equally massive heart and presence. So we needed more cats. And these ‘more cats’ came to us in the form of loud mewling from our ceiling. As it turned out, a mother kitty (possibly Meelo’s mum as they have similar colored fur) had somehow made her way into the gap between our roof and ceiling and had littered four tiny kittens. After some rescue work, and one of them managing to fall out of the ceiling, we now had a whole litter full of them. All four were similar in size to small rats and could all easily be carried in one hand. They were immediately christened by me as follows. Soon after being rescued, their biological mother bailed and my sister dutifully took on the role of ‘mum’ and spent the next few weeks feeding them, cleaning them, and making sure they were kept warm. There were moments when each of the kitties had breathing issues and needed extra warmth and special care in their feeding but they all managed to pull through with the unfortunate exception of MooShu. The little guy succumbed to the absence of motherly warmth and nutrition and was unable to make it. This left us with the Spice Sisters and Ash. A mischievous trio in every sense of the word to the point where we realized there were too many of them for us to handle. So we looked to give them up via adoption. Allie gained some interest and she left the trio much to Ash and Cindy’s dismay because, during the span of 6 months, the three of them had gotten quite close. So realizing that we didn’t want to separate the siblings a second time, and promising to make playdates between Ash, Cindy, and Allie, we decided that Ash and Cindy would be taken care of by us. And thus, the previously ‘empty’ house, left petless by Skibo’s passing, now had three new rays of sunshine running (or mostly lounging) about. The Three Mus’cat’eers. Meelo, as usual still keeps herself mostly to herself, preferring my parents’ company to mine or my sister’s, while Ash and Cindy due to their fear of, and lack of exposure to the outside world, prefer to limit themselves to our room. The three of them love each other and have grown very close, spending most evenings chasing each other up and down trees in the garden, swiping at each other’s tails, and playfully rolling over and over each other. Ash and Cindy are especially inseparable being siblings of the same litter and can rarely be seen apart.
THE BEST DOG CARRIERS
Many times, you may want to travel and find it necessary to take your dog with you. In other instances, you may simply want to explore a tricky neighborhood and have the need to carry your dog along. Also, it could be that your infirmed dog needs a visit to the pet. Whatever it is, a dog carrier comes in handy as a useful addition to your canine supplies. You know, something mobile that offers safety and comfortability for your furry friend. There are various dog carriers on the market. Some are wearable dog carriers and front and backpack carriers, while some are wheeled dog carriers. They can be comfortable for the tiniest toy poodles or short-legged dachshunds. Here, we list the best dog carriers you can get on the market. Before making your purchases, ensure you have your dog’s right size and weight. There we go! Petami Premium Dog Backpack This portable, easy on-the-go dog carrier has a soft-sided frame made with polyester material, durable to endure scratching from the dog. More than this, It has mesh openings that allow for ventilation. From the zipped top entry, you can easily reach the dog. There are side pockets where you can store: a leash, snacks, water, treats, and all. This product also offers adjustable straps to lessen the burden on the shoulder and keep the backpack stable. This feature also helps to keep your dog safe. The better news? It is airline-approved and generally great for outdoor experiences. It comes in different sizes and colors. The 4 Sides Expendable Dog Carrier The 4 Sides Expendable Pet Carrier was made with safety, comfort, and stability. Its unique features are numerous. There is a practical lateral entrance for the dog. This expandable carrier has breathable mesh almost on all sides for easy ventilation. It has durable hooks that won’t give easily. It has double zippers and a small zipper window. This expandable, folding dog carrier is suitable for travel or outdoor purposes. It has car seat buckles where you can fasten it to a car seat. There’s a compartment for a big water bottle and three handy pockets that can house a leash, snacks, treats, and trash. It provides comfort for the dog and the dog owner. The carry handle is comfortable, and so is the padded shoulder hold. This super product has a removable and washable pad made of a soft, fluffy exterior. What more? It is airline-approved, and can comfortably sit on a travel suitcase. Astronaut Capsule Dog Carrier This space capsule-styled dog carrier has a transparent window that allows your dog to enjoy the weather and scenery. For ventilation, there are extra 12 big holes and mesh around the bag. It comes with dimensions 13″ LX8″ WX15″ H, which is fit for a 10 pounds dog. This dog carrier is made of high-quality scratch and water-resistant soft leather. There’s extra thick padding for back and shoulder straps to ensure comfort during long walks. The extra chest buckles provide additional support for the carrier. It can be placed at the front or back. The Astronaut Capsule is a total package – breathable, portable and comfortable! Zampa Puppy Pop Up This amazing dog carrier offers a lot of excitement in one product. There’s a portable playpen for the dog. It is spacious and foldable. It’s great for indoor and outdoor experiences. It can be flumped in the garden or taken to campsites. There are two mesh doors and windows on all the sides with a totally mesh roof that is detachable. Also, It comes with a holder for a water bottle and exterior side pockets to keep treaty surprises for your dog. There are guarded seams and reinforced corners to ensure your dog’s safety. There are four metal spikes to give balance for outdoor use. No assembly or set-up is required, and it folds flat for your convenience. The Zampa Puppy Pop Up comes in various colors and sizes. Pet Life Dog Carrier This super-quality carrier is expandable from both sides, opening into a roomy extension. The crafted roof ventilation design ensures that it is breathable and keeps your dog from overheating. This product is ideal for seamless dog transport. The Ruff Life carrier on wheels takes the burden off your shoulder. The removable wheel is 360-degree rotational and allows for a smooth and effortless movement in any direction. It is airline-approved and can fit under the cabin chair or travel suitcase. Other unique features of the Ruff Life Dog Carrier are removable plush bedding, padded shoulder strap, extra storage compartments, and a trolley. This masterfully crafted dog carrier tote is made of high-quality pristine grade nylon material, making it lightweight. The thick wireframe also ensures that it does not sag when expanded. Amazon Basics Two-door Dog Carrier This product is suitable for a small breed dog. Its 23-inch, 2-door model allows pets to be loaded quickly. The Amazon Basics Dog Carrier is durable plastic with a steel-wire front door. The top door has a handle and latches to open to the left or right for convenience. This fantastic design is multipurpose in that it offers strength, security, visibility, and ventilation on both sides, top, and back. Also, it comes with extra screws that are useful in attaching the top and bottom for extra security. It is an amazing buy. Conclusion From history to recent times, dogs are Excellent friends to humans, and this role relationship has not been better emphasized than in this century, where dog love has become a priority for many. Dogs are intelligent and prove to be a very helpful company to be around in many instances and situations. However, Humans also need to provide their pets with the same loyalty by ensuring their care even when traveling. All of the carriers reviewed in this article are among the very best that dog owners can trust for comfort and durability. These bags are very strong, have enough air space for dogs, and are very
Dog products I have been very pleased with that came from Amazon
Dog poop bags Earth Rated Product (RED) Edition Amazon: Click Here It can be a frustrating task to buy the right poop bags for your dog when there are countless options out there. But those additional qualities that come with these products are what make Did you ever think buying poop bags from the Earth Rated Store also gives you a chance to give back to society? Earth Rated has partnered with Red along with other iconic brands to fight global health emergencies. When you buy from their limited edition of Earth Rated (Red) Edition, they will donate $1.75 to the Global Fund, for a total of $100,000. you buy them. Yingdelai Dog Poop Bag Amazon: Click Here One step towards protecting the environment is to replace plastic with other degradable products. A biodegradable non-plastic poop bag that does not harm the environment is the Yingdelai Dog Poop Bag. Yindelai’s bag is made of vegetable-based ingredients and decomposes within 18 months. The fresh-scented poop bags come with a dispenser and has received thousands of positive reviews and numerous 5-stars on Amazon. With 540 bags in total, you can use this super value package for close to six months. Earth Rated (RED) Edition Yingdelai Dog Poop Bag Price 11.99 $ 18.04 $ Dispenser No (Can be bought separately) Yes Material Plastic Vegetable-based ingredients Scented No Fresh Scented Number of Bags 270 540 Size 9×13 9×13.5 Pooper Scooper GoGo Stik ST Pooper Scooper and Dootie Rake Amazon: Click Here The GoGo stick, unlike any other traditional pooper scooper, is a stick to which you can insert a poop bag of any style or size. If you are looking for something that takes up less space and is easy to use, then the GoGo stick is just for you. You can even avoid the hassle of washing it after every use. It is lightweight and can be carried around easily and even hung anywhere for storage. You can use it with the Dootie Rake for convenience or you can just simply use the Gogo Stick without the rake as well. This is a great alternative to the usual pooper scoopers as it is very easy to use and handy. Arm & Hammer Swivel Bin & Rake Pooper Scooper Amazon: Click Here The Arm and Hammer Swivel Bin and Rake from Pet make looks similar to any other pooper scoopers in the market, but this specific one comes with a huge capacity and can be used multiple times. The swivel bins are easy to use and the Arm & Hammer baking soda-activated waste bags that come with it helps to keep it clean. However, if you want to reduce waste and do not want to use the poop bags, you can use the swivel bins directly and just wash them after. GoGo Stik ST Pooper Scooper and Dootie Rake Arm & Hammer Swivel Bin & Rake Pooper Scooper Price 39.95 $ 15.98 $ Material Aluminum, HDPE, ABS, Silicone Plastic Bin No bin. The poop bag needs to be inserted into the stick Swivel bin to easily clean up poop multiple times. Size 37 inches (height) 32 inches (height) Dog Carrier Doggyhut TOBI Large Pet Bike Trailer. Amazon: Click here If your dog is feeling lazy to get outdoors and walk, why not take her out for a ride. The Doggyhut TOBI Pet Bike Trailer comes in three colors and has amazing safety features such as the reflectors, safety flag, and adjustable safety leash. There are numerous dog bike trailers out there in the market, however getting one that is strong and reliable ensures the safety of your dog while you are on the road. Doggyhut’s Bike Trailer comes with a one-year warranty and has a vinyl layer that can block the wind. It can be folded flat and is not a hassle to carry around. Taking your dog for a bike ride is definitely going to be an exciting experience for you and your dog. K&H Pet Products Travel Safety Carrier Amazon: Click Here An easy-to-use pet travel carrier is a must-have for every pet owner. This carrier from K&H Pet Products is for anyone who wants to keep things quick and easy. Your pets will receive a view with the mesh window and it allows for easy access with its multiple openings. The small size of this carrier makes it fit into the front seat of any car. Your dog will be comfortable and cozy in this lightweight travel carrier. K&H Pet Products Travel Safety Carrier for Pets Retrospec Rover Waggin’ Pet Bike Trailer Doggyhut TOBI Large Pet Bike Trailer Price 69.99 $ 169.99 $ 144.99 $ Waterproof No water resistant waterproof Size 24 X 19 X 17 Inches 30 x 19 x 17 inches 53 x 29.5 x 35.5 inches Compatible for a Car Seat Yes No Yes
Brave Yorkie Survives Fierce Dog Attack
“25th December 2017 remains evergreen in my memory,” Prue Ruga said amidst muffled breaths. It was a sunny day. The weather was excellent, and it was time for Daisy’s daily training session. She wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world, not even Christmas. Daisy, her cute little Yorkie, was a darling to her. She enjoyed heeling, and her devoted owner, Prue, was always ready to take her out for her favorite sport. “I searched for her harnesses, but they were nowhere to be found. Then, I resorted to connecting the leash on her collar, even though I had been warned never to take such risks. That was my greatest regret,” Prue moaned tearfully. Prue and little Daisy walked smoothly across the road, keeping to the sidewalk. Seeing them lovingly walk side by side with each other was enjoyable. It pleased Prue that Daisy, although a pint-sized Yorkie pup, was endowed with an array of great personalities. Daisy always used defensive behaviors by either growling, snapping, or lunging whenever anything posed a threat to her master and would never return from a fight. “I shouldn’t have let her feel like the master of the house,” Prue continued. “She was only trying to protect me.” While the duo was seriously engrossed in their training session, something unusual happened. Prue had spotted a dog. It was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The dog looked nervous. It looked like it had probably escaped from its master or something. There was this ferocious look in the dodog’syes that made PrPrue’seg shiver non-stop. She noticed that the dog had taken to studying her intently. It moved a bit closer and whelped, giving her a menacing look. It all happened in a split second. The dog charged at them, and Prue backed away in apprehension. “en, my worst nightmare came true. Daisy suddenly pulled away, right from her collar, in a bid to save me. The dog sank its teeth straight into her front paws. I practically went numb.” “little Daisy jerked back in severe pain. She flew off the curb and was hit by the left wheel of a moving carriage. She sprawled across the road, lifeless. A few people had gathered at the scene, thus prompting the dog to take to its heels. He was, however, rounded up and found out to be owned by one Mr. Jenkins, a rogue who was not taking care of his animals. The dog was infected with rabies and had indeed become rabid. He was eventually put to sleep forever, never to see the light of another day. Mr. Jenkins was also held responsible for all Daisy’s medication. That avenged his dog’s brutality towards the Yorkie. Daisy survived, though she was in grievous pain for a long time. She was administered the anti-rabies vaccine almost immediately after the bite, and her paws were carefully tended. Luckily, not much damage was done to her fragile bones by the carriage. “M” only wish right now is that you walk again. I hope you forgive me,” “rue whispered, her Yorkie curled in her arms. Daisy’s courageous eyes shone in delight. She started limping after a few months and is getting ready to heel again.
Leash Training a New Puppy
By: Asar Yousuf Leash Training your Puppy may seem like a mountainous task on the first try. However, knowing what to do can make it another simple-to-perform task. See all you need to know about successfully making your new Puppy comfortable with the leash Choose the suitable harness and leash Before you consider leash training your Puppy, you need to settle for the appropriate collar, harness, or leash. Get a cozy-fitting harness for really young puppies, preferably something not too loose or tight. Afterward, go for a leash that is about four or six feet long and attach it to the Puppy. The harness must be light with a simple, non-cumbersome leash for the Puppy. Then allow the Puppy to play around with the leash. This move will help the Puppy become familiar with the leash. You should practice the leash walk – initially taking short steps within the house. Implementing this step ensures a happy, friendly relationship between your Puppy and you. Your pup may not be willing to put on the harness, and this isn’t strange. While putting the saddle on the Puppy, you could play with it, and give it a toy or special treats to distract it. Introduce your dog to the leash Introduce your dog to the leash at a tender age. Puppies are easier to train at this age. Some dog owners, in error, think they could bypass leash training the Puppy. After all, the Puppy is all good. But as the Puppy grows older, they begin to slowly but surely exhibit bad behaviors. And gradually grow out of control. To avoid that, leash training the Puppy is important. You could teach a cue using a simple, easily understood word or sound like a cluck of the tongue. The purpose is for the Puppy, with the leash on, to walk with you and vice versa. The Puppy already knows its name by this time and is responsive to simple commands such as Sit, Stand, Come, Wait, etc. You can go ahead with this and let the dog follow you for short distances within the house. Each time the Puppy does that, reward it with a treat. You might also discover that some puppies will rather bite on their leash. The solution is the same. Offer treats or toys to wade them off the leash. Leash training the Puppy will make their legs longer, their muscles stronger, and naturally increase their pace. Apply the “heel” factor Simply put, this is making your puppy walk at your heel or beside you. Training your Puppy to be at your heel can be challenging. But it’s a lot easier if the Puppy has been taught some simple commands prior. Start this training at home first with fewer distractions than outside. In getting a dog to be obedient and responsive, you need a lot of patience and consistency. To achieve making your dog walk closely beside your heel, you also need to be able to listen closely. Now, you don’t want your puppy winding or snaking around as you walk. If it does this, stop walking and stand firm. Then you can call the pop with a cue you have already taught it and reward your pup with a tasty treat. Repeat this process until little Puppy gets used to walking beside you. As a matter of fact, choose a side meant for the Puppy to walk and maintain. If it strays, trick the pup back to its own side of the walk for discipline purposes. Never hold the leash with your hand on the side of the dog. If the Puppy is on the right side, secure the leash with your left hand and use the other hand to give treats as you walk on. Each time you take a walk with your Puppy, use the heel factor. You may want to increase the gap between treats to instill good behavior in your Puppy. This is because you don’t want to train your Puppy into believing that it can exhibit bad behavior in order to get treats from you. Fend off Pulling and Lunging Ordinarily, you would expect that after taking the Puppy through the “heel” factor routine, it shouldn’t pull, lounge, or even bark repeatedly at things or people anymore. But puppies being what they are, with a short attention span, get excited by the sight, smell, and sound around them. This calls for you to keep them focused on you. You can give them a tasty treat or their favorite toy or even play with them. And when they come back, get up and go in the opposite direction to ensure they follow you and stop pulling or lunging. Also, you can achieve better control of your Puppy by using a short leash with some tiny bit of slack. Most times, puppies don’t pull or lunge without reason. They may see other dogs like them, strangers, a fascinating sight, or anything at all. Walking in the other direction and waiting until the excitement disappears whenever this happens. You don’t want to harm the dog by yanking off or even yelling. This will destroy the friendship you have built over time. You also don’t want to risk allowing him to think that pulling or lunging is a good attitude, so you may not give him a treat; remind your Puppy of the cues taught previously. If your Puppy pulls or lunges unchecked, and you try to keep pace with it, you’ll be erroneously teaching your pup that it’s OK to pull or lunge. Instead, you can improvise by doing some add-ons like direction, turning around, and giving commands like Sit down and stay, Stop, etc. This will keep the Puppy engaged and heighten the communication between you two. Take it Outside Yes, your Puppy has been schooled on walking on a leash, heeling, managing pulling, barking, lunging, etc. It’s time to explore varied environments other than your yard or court. You can take your dog to
How to potty train a new puppy – All you need to know
Cuddling with puppies is one of the most beautiful feelings in the world. That feeling of a fulfilled, satisfied, happy and healthy is so adorable that you can’t stop having them. According to my personal experiences, there’s no reason anyone wouldn’t like to have a pet dog instead of home hygiene. Yeah, bro, you are not alone in this issue that they poop anywhere and eat them too. Right? But learning how to train them at the right time is the wisest step you would take if you really wish to have one. If you are also researching that one perfect article or blog, where you get all the necessary information in a short and summarized article, which is reader-friendly, you have landed to the right place. I would not give you knowledge and tips that are already provided on the internet. Instead, today I m going to share my own genuine and tried methods with Vini (my pet) by the time when she was just 12 weeks . It was obvious that she didn’t know any rules and pooped in my room accidentally. Not intentionally, just she wasn’t taught these disciplines and regulations before. I wiped off her feces for the first two days but obviously, it wasn’t possible always. Training needed to be done as soon as possible. How my state of mind works I kept a towel in her place and made her pee and poop there a few times. What the basic nature of Vini was that now whenever she wanted to pee and poop, smelling the pooped towel she got the vibes and she herself start reaching over there and then after did the potty over that towel only then after. This was the very basic nature of my puppy that I caught up with Very easily making them a habit and proper schedule is the very essence that every pet owner must know. Dogs have a very excellent sense of smell, seeing, and hearing. The quicker you convey the idea that there is an approved place to potty that is off-limits, the quicker you’ll be able to put this messy confusion behind you. A good thing is that dogs can hold their bladders depending on their age. Let me tell you a quick rule which is applied to all the dogs within seven months. The months in which the puppy is +1 is the number of hours for which that puppy can hold its bladder. Exciting, isn’t it? You would discover more facts once you have a pet. observe and supervise daily events and set a schedule and monitor them according to your convenience. It’s easy, trust me. All you need is to create a loving and affectionate bond with your pet. With the idea of keeping the pooped towel, I made Vinni’s particular place. This was just a schedule, discipline also needs to be taught that pooping and peeing isn’t allowed in the home. When you come to know the schedule that when doing the puppy poop during the day, take the puppy outside the house at that time. Make sure, you are not going to play with your pet outside, so stand bored ( no talking, no activity nothing ) so that the puppy gets the fact that this is a potty break and not the playtime. Then he will not be diverted because if it happens so, then your pet would not poop that time and when you get back him to the house, he would poop later . Following is the time when you should take your pet for a poop walk – After they wake up Before sleep After eating After exercise and playing NOTE – if accidentally, the puppy potty inside the house, make a hard tone to say NO and then take him outside the house. So that the puppy gets the point that inside pooping is totally restricted and outside pooping is allowed and is praised for him. That was how I trained my vini🤝 spend more time inside the house with your dog and less outside so that he understands that inside his house and then he won’t soil his own house. # set alarms at night according to the bladder holding capacity of the pet so that you don’t get the pee smell early morning. # control the diet of your pet as it may lead them to constipation and there may be blood in their poop after it. Also, even if your puppy is already trained, still keep them in practice as puppies are young and may tend to forget easily. It was all how I maintained Vinni’s hygiene and spent the most relaxing and comfortable moments of my day with her. She is no more with me but making her even a part of my life changed my mindset totally. She made me believe that love really exists today also. Pets make us learn the most important things in life – Friendship, love, loyalty, and affection. My friends, you should definitely have one, they are really pure souls. Hope my experiences helped you out! Frequently asked questions by the pet owners – How long does the puppy potty training take Answer – it depends on the age, your methods, and your care. Generally, it takes about 2-3 months. Should I clean the private area of my pet after pooping and peeing? Answer – yes, maintaining hygiene is a must. Why does my dog eat his own feces? Answer – he may do it when he feels that he needs some kind of vitamin or he might do this when he has “messed up” by pooping in the house and doesn’t want to get scolded for that. The only solution is clean the poop immediately or take your pet away from that place once he has done pooping. Why does my pet urinate and drink a lot suddenly? Answer – your pet may be pregnant or may be suffering from some disease
The Best Collars for Your Dog
With so many collars available online and offline, it may be difficult to find the best ones. However, not to worry, as some excellent dogs stand out from the crowd. These collars are extremely comfy, strong, and great for all dog sizes. ECOFRIENDLY SOFT POLYESTER COLLAR This is a soft China-made dog collar that offers comfort to pets. It is made of nylon or polyester material. It comes with an adjustable belt, suitable for both puppies and big dogs. It is padded, reflective, stocked, and features breakaway jewelry. It offers full collar support to pets. The soft polyester dog collar can be used in any season. It comes in different sizes, such as XS, S, M, and L. OUMI CUSTOM STAINLESS STEEL COLLAR This is another suitable collar for dogs. The stainless steel collar is made of 18k Gold. This beautifies your pet in addition to the comfort it offers. It features a sustainability, reflection, and breakaway jewel.Despite being made of steel, the OUMI custom collar is lightweight, making it an excellent option for dogs of different sizes. The collar comes in different sizes, such as S, M, L, and XL. FASHIONABLE DOG PLAID COLLAR This is a floral-patterned collar with an adjustable belt that is suitable for dogs. Made of soft leather material, the collar offers comfort to dogs, allowing free movement of the collar. It is lightweight, so it is not a burden on the pet, even if it is a puppy. It comes in different sizes suitable for all dogs.
My Dog Story
All my life, I have had dogs. Our dog matriarch was Diana; a lovely pure Rottweiler breed that was bought sometime in 1998. Diana was a powerful and faithful dog to the core. I still remember memories of her and how she usually barked to wane off strangers. Diana was posthumously named by my father, after Princess Diana of the British royal family. I don’t know where animals go when they die, but I keep hoping every day that Diana is at peace wherever she is. Well, this story is about Queen, my dog; a super brilliant brindle Boerboel. Queen is named after a dog of ours that died sometime in 2014, and funnily enough, asides from the fact that they are of different breed (the first Queen was a descendant of Diana. She was a Rottweiler breed), they have similar traits and attributes. I want to believe the name aligned in some sort of way. My dog Queen was adopted in September 2020 as a two-month-old puppy. Before then, we did not have dogs for about a year. Her arrival was emotional for us all and we did our best to make her feel at home. Weeks later, I had to travel back to the school from which I did not have plans of staying away for so long, unfortunately, I was away for a whole year! On returning, I became a stranger to Queen. The humiliation and embarrassment were something I did not really foresee, but then again, it was understandable. Dogs do not have as much cognition as humans. Queen was all grown up and kept barking incessantly at me. It was really awkward, and emotionally destabilizing, and pushed me to tears a couple of times. “Queen! Queen! It’s me. Remember?” I’d say while trying to offer her food, but she was not budging enough to even take a glance at me. She did not care that I was being friendly. All she thought – I presume – was that I was a stranger who was not supposed to be in the space as her “owners,” at the time. Did I stop trying? No. I kept coming closer and tried everything possible to pet her into at least, not barking when I passed. A few days later, I was in the kitchen chopping some vegetables when my peripheral vision caught a glimpse of an animal-like structure hanging around the door. I swiftly looked, and to my greatest surprise (read as fright), Queen was standing there. With her hazel eyes, camouflage skin, and stallion build, she gazed at me. I saw her ear move and her countenance got mean like she was ready for an attack. “Mummy!”, I screamed under my breath. I was scared that, if I shouted loudly, she would perceive me as a threat. I kept murmuring “mummy!” until she (Queen) came closer and began to sniff me. I stood still while following her every sniff with my eyes, set to run if things went beyond “sniffing.” Guess what? We became friends that day, and ever since, we have been buddies. Literally, I consider Queen to be my baby And I guess she loves me just as much because she never stays a minute without being close to me, once I’m around. You can imagine my excitement when I realized my baby (Queen) was going to have puppies! Wheeeeeew! She was taken for breeding on the second week of October 2021. It was really stress at the time, to find a male brindle Boerboel to do the job. Well, we finally found one; a slight variation in their tone though. Expectantly, I ensured Queen felt safe and secure during the period, as I kept monitoring her every move. I have been present while our dogs littered. It was not a new experience, but it felt surreal that one more time, I was going to witness our dog litter, let alone it being Queen. Usually, dogs begin to nest about a week before their EDD and even before then, in most cases. Our compound is spacious and has some sandy portions, like the flower pots at strategic corners. We also have a large garden seated pretty in the middle of the compound. Our dogs nested by digging sand, thereby creating shallow holes. They dug as many as six holes, at different corners. Queen did not nest, or maybe she did but I was skeptical to notice. I will tell you why. I had Queen stay indoors for her first six weeks. Later on, I was advised to let her stay outside so she could nest. But it was the Christmas season, and Queen was not having all the banger sound that filled the air. Whenever she heard the sound, she ran to enter inside and stay close to me. Other times, she would run to the guest room and dwell in one of the sofas there. Eight weeks in, we knew her delivery was going to be anytime soon, so we started making preparations. My mother noticed Queen was not nesting, so she helped her nest in the veranda, by placing some neat rags at the edge and luring Queen to stay there. Little did we know Queen had other plans. One faithful evening, people would blow bangers and knockouts in celebration of the Christmas festive. Queen, as usual, was not having it and kept running towards the door, in order to enter inside. But my mother asked we kept the door locked so Queen did not come inside. At this point, there was a mucus secretion from Queen’s vulva. That was a sign of labor. I was really concerned and internally questioned the worst that could happen if Queen was let to come in. So just like Queen, I had plans too. Fortunately for me, my mother went upstairs. Queen was still scuffing at the door when I rushed to open up for her to come in. It literally took less than ten seconds
My love-hate relationship with Kylo
By Jhudiel Ando Among all the animals in the world, dogs are the ones I find the cutest. When I was an 8-year-old kid, I wanted to adopt one. I remember asking my mama for a dog and her response is always, “are you willing to clean a dog’s poop?” or telling us that “You guys are still a baby and dogs have rabies”. My mom got a lot of excuses for everything I say. I can’t blame her because she’s a mother and Mothers don’t want something bad to happen to their kids. She was too protective of us. I remember my sister and I went to a friend’s house, they had a lot of puppies. It was my first time holding a puppy and letting them drink milk. As you can see from the photo, I didn’t hold the puppy as happy as others seem because I felt scared and guilty for my mother too. This photo was uploaded by my sister’s friend on Facebook and my mother has seen it & got mad at it. It was supposed to be a secret that we went out and play with these puppies. I ended up being emotional and defending myself that I was fine after I played with the puppies. I may find dogs cute, but I’m scared of them. Maybe because growing up, I was already told that dogs are scary because they have rabies. I remember I was walking on the street when I was a kid and I’m having a hard passing the neighbor’s gate because a dog was barking loudly. It was kinda embarrassing because kids were laughing at me since I can’t pass to that gate. Even when I go to my friends’ houses, my friends witnessed how terrified I looked when dogs try to lick my feet. I’ll just stay still in the corner and not try to run since I know they’ll chase me. Moving forward, it was May 2019 when Kylo came into our lives. We didn’t adopt a dog, but it was given to us by my sister’s workmate. My family was happy and excited about having him except for me. Everything was unexpected. My mother has no objections about it; probably because she’s not hands-on with us anymore since we’re already old. Kylo is pretty small when we first have him. He is a dachshund. He’s lively and playful. He likes biting, licking, barking, and running. I think my description was funny since most dogs are like that. Anyway, this dog is too energetic that sometimes I can’t match my energy with him. Even though he’s kinda small, he pulled through the small but terrible kind of vibe since seeing big dogs on the street, he will start a fight with them. Even though he’s that small, I wasn’t able to hold him. I don’t know I’m just too scared. I barely go down to the living room because of him. Every time I went out or arrived home, I kept on chatting on the family’s group chat saying, “Hold Kylo pls, let me in.” indicating they need to hold the dog first before I enter the house. This kind of set-up lasts for a year. I was also busy with my school so I don’t have time to get to know him and besides, I’m still afraid of him. However, deep inside I wish to have a good relationship with my dog like what I have seen in the movies. Owners and dogs are clingy with each other. However, there’s a part of me not wanting to be attached to a dog. I have seen Marshmello’s Happier music video and made me cry into tears. I am the type of person who got easily attached and can’t move on quickly. My friend once told me, that my dog doesn’t deserve the small percentage of love & effort I’m giving to him. Dogs don’t have someone else aside from their owner. That slaps me into a realization that why not give me a chance to get to know Kylo more. Fast forward to the lockdown because of the pandemic, I can’t go out so I’m just at home. So I tried to face my fears and started playing with him. At first, I find it uncomfortable when he’s licking my hand haha maybe because I’m not used to it. As months go by, I started caressing and talking to him every morning. There was a time that he barely touches his dog food on the pot, I started feeding him, and he finishes all the food in the bowl. So my father would assign to me in feeding him. Sometimes it pissed me off because he’s getting too used to it and that makes him a spoiled dog. My relationship with my dog is not like the other people’s stories in that they’re very close. I’m hostile towards my dog, but I like it when every time I enter the house, he’s there waiting for us. I used to hate it but I’m loving it now. I can say the pandemic made us closer together. It’s a blessing in disguise indeed. When I’m alone in the living room, I talked and shared my problems with him. I know Kylo won’t give me a piece of advice back. I just enjoy having him there makes me feel I’m not alone. After lockdown, my siblings and I brought Kylo to the park so he could run and play freely there. It was tiring but fun. Hanging out with him in the park feels like I’m still a kid again. Chasing him as if he’s a criminal haha. I also love how he gets thirsty after playing, I find it satisfying seeing him finish the whole cup of water as if he’ll lose his breath. As you can see in the photos, he’s very playful that we can’t get a proper photo together. Looking back to archived Instagram stories that
Potty Training a New Puppy
“Training a puppy is like raising a child. Every single interaction is a training opportunity” — Ian Dunbar. Few things are more exciting in the world now than having a puppy in the house. Puppies have this sweet air of loveliness around them that make them appealing to people. In fact, they have so much caught the public fancy today, and this fancy has earned them the right to proper care and housebreaking. After all, no one is willing to go through the pain of mopping a soiled room in the house simply because their darling puppy went rogue. Hence, it becomes necessary that puppies should be psychologically trained to maintain good hygiene through potty training. A number of factors must be considered to successfully potty train a new puppy: the most important being the understanding of its psychology and behavioural changes. Other factors include the age of the puppy; its environment, exposure, and one’s level of patience. In order to potty-train a new puppy, the puppy has to be understood and listened to; its behaviour must be studied and taught to adapt to changes in its environment. Because puppies are just like babies, sometimes misbehaving and careless, one needs to exercise great patience in handling them. This patience in potty-training requires using the right methods to keep them clean. If they are trained right, they behave right; if they are trained wrongly, they behave wrongly — that is how their hardwired brains work. Some tips to ensure correct training of a puppy include having a consistent training routine, feeding the puppy a proper diet, and also employing tested-and-trusted methods of training — the use of a crate, puppy pads and, above all, one’s emotional intelligence. The idea behind using a crate for potty training is that dogs are clean animals and are driven by stimuli to find a cleared space to defecate when they are pressed. The puppy has two basic behavioural patterns that can be used in potty training: one is a possibility not to defecate or urinate in a small place; the other is to ease itself at special known spots. It is simply teaching a pet puppy to adapt to living in a custom location — like a potty or a cage. No puppy will naturally come to love the crate. They are in fact ‘domestic-wild’ animals, and their natural instinct, when pressed to poo, is to go out into the wild. As a result, they could become claustrophobic, fearing the security, when first introduced to them. The initial discomfort from being kept away can result in increased feelings of security and safety after repeated exposure to the crate. Subsequently, long-term crate security may lead to emotional and behavioural drops over time. However, this is only a necessary phase of adaptation to a new environment, and this strange effect eventually fades after some days. Because dogs are naturally alert, they also begin to relate their behaviours — feeding, irritability, excretion — to the comfort of the crate. It is also important to keep a puppy in only one crate to bring about a change in their psychology as it relates to emptying their bowels. A new puppy that has been kept in a crate, say for about 2-3 months, will learn to treat the crate as a personal haven, and will not want to soil it. This will teach the puppy to learn to use its creativity to call out for attention, either by wincing or hitting its paws on the floor so that it can be helped outside to ease itself. It then becomes important that to make crate training effective, pet keepers must be quick to attend to the needs of the puppy — otherwise, the puppy will be trained to do the reverse of what it is being taught. In addition, the crate size must be moderately large to contain the puppy conveniently. If it is made too big, the puppy might think it would be fine to ease itself at a corner of the crate anytime it feels pressed. The use of disposable pee pads could also be a close substitute for the crate. To keep a puppy comfortable before disposing of its mess, one can employ the use of moisture absorbent pads which are usually laid flat on the ground. The goal behind this method is to create an indoor bathroom for the puppy to ease itself. For new puppies which have little learning history, this will prove to be a Herculean task for petkeepers. If a puppy’s instinct is going to be trained to use an outdoor bathroom, it must first start cultivating this habit indoors, and that is where pee pads come into play. The choice of pee pads is influenced by their texture, flexibility and ability to hold water. One could opt for tissue papers or towels, but store-bought kinds are most suitable since they are easy to wash and dry after use by the puppy. Some types are scented and the foul smell from faeces is easily washed off after laundry. Because puppies are instinctive to smell, pee pads must be washed immediately before a second or third usage. This will prevent them from being drawn to their mess and will train them to use only a clean pad. This will also help take away the urge in some puppies to feast on their own mess. If pad laundry is left unchecked, this method of potty training will prove to be ineffective. Another duty required to enforce this method is to closely monitor a new puppy. Like newborn babies, its creativity is still in the embryonic stage, and so it might not be able to signal clearly when it needs to empty its bowels. After playing, drinking or eating, it is advisable to place it on a pad 15 minutes after in expectation of the puppy easing itself. Above all, consistency is key, and this needs to be repeated till the puppy learns to give signs