Do you have a list of outdoor places that you want to bring your furkid too? If your answer is YES, then this article is for you! Here is a list of outdoor essentials that we believe would be very useful for your adventure.
If you prefer a leash that is softer and more comfortable for your furkid, be sure to check out @Pawbulous’s cloth-based leash. Indulge in Pawbulous’s wide collection of fabrics and they even offer customization for that extra touch.
Alternatively, you can opt for biothane leashes for a more sturdy and strong grip on your pet. One of the best parts of having a biothane leash would definitely be the water and stain proof feature. It’s super easy to clean when it’s dirty. All you have to do is take a wet-wipe and wipe it down!
You guessed it, another essential item when bringing your pup out is some delicious TREATS! This item is a must for when you bring your furbabies out! Not only does it give your pup motivation to go on a walk, but it also helps you get its attention in case they’re distracted by other pups or hoomans.
Check out @Pawfurry’s treats that comes in convenient packs, which are easy for your pets to consume and are fuss-free.
Use the code pjxpf20 when you check out to receive 20% off your purchase.
3. Accessories
Here are some important accessories that you need to bring along for your pet’s adventure.
Poop Bags Poop-bags is a must-have in your bag as it is super important to clean after your furkid to keep the environment clean. One of our favourite poop bags is from @Woofy.Goofy, with its biodegradable feature, it can decompose by itself over the span of 6-12 months. There’s even a cute design on the bag itself!
Quote Pawjourr10 when you check out with Woofy Goofy today!
Poopbag Holders For easy access of the poop bags, a poop bag holder would be necessary. There’s many poop bags out in the market, however we really love Josiemamasews’s water proof poop bag holder. It protects the poop bags and it even has matching scrunchies for the creatives hoomums!
Water bottle You definitely cant miss this item out of your bag. A waterbottle is definitely an essential for a trip outside as it super important to keep your pet hydrated at all times! Even though, some pet-friendly places are open to provide our furkid with free water bowl, however it is always good to prepare yourself.
If you’re looking for a good water bottle, be sure to check this one out on Shopee!
Well, that’s all on the list of outdoor essentials that we believe you should bring out on your first trip! We hope that it has been useful and do check out all the local businesses that was featured. Keep your eyes peeled on Pawjourr’s website, for more coupons.
If there’s other essential items that you think we’ve missed out on, feel free to let us know in the comments below!
P.S: We will be releasing new Shopee coupons every month, so stay tuned for that 😉
There’s not a better and cuter companion in life than your furbaby. Doing activities with your doggo can not only strengthen your bond but also promote mental and physical stimulation for your doggo. There’s plenty of activities that you can do with your furbaby, to keep that tail wagging.
Bring your furbaby on a trip to Singapore’s largest wet park Wag and Wild! If your furkid loves the water, it will definitely be a treat for them to visit Wag and Wild and swim. Join them for a swim in the park, not only can you keep an eye on them but also have fun with them in the pool!
Information about Wag and Wild
Playtimes are based on 1-hour slots with a 15 minutes grace period to leave the park and it’s advisable to not feed your furbaby anything 3-4 hours prior to the session to prevent regurgitation. With these regulations in place, do plan your time wisely before heading down to Wag and Wild. Doggos will also need to be rinsed before entering the pool to maintain cleanliness.
Do take note that you will need to present a valid current annual vaccination or titer test record upon entry. There are allocated areas for the doggos to wash up, however, there are only changing stalls for the hoomans to change into a dry set of clothing.
Here are some useful things to pack into your bag, towels to dry your doggo and yourself, poop bags to clean up, a leash -> the dogs need to be leashed even in the pool, treats for your doggo, and some toys.
Conquer the waters at Wag and Wild with your furbaby today! ?
The opportunity to explore Singapore’s coastal areas in style is here! Dog Cruise Singapore can help you make it happen! Cruising on Royal Luxury Tall Ship Royal Albatross, is definitely an experience you and your furbaby will never forget! The ship will ship along the coast of Sentosa and enjoy the astonishingly beautiful and unobstructed views of the sea.
Dog Cruise Singapore has done a very good job in keeping your dog safe, by partnering with Sunny Chong Dog Training School to provide pre-screening for the dogs. The ship will also be properly clean before and after every event to ensure that hygiene will be maintained.
Discover your furbaby’s flexibility by doing yoga together! Doesn’t matter if you’re a yoga guru or a stay home person, enjoy some time with your doggo by doing yoga together. This is great not only for bonding with your doggo, but also for your mental and physical health.
The class at puppy yoga is split into 2 main portions, 35 minutes of yoga and 15 minutes of pure playtime with the dogs.
Enjoy 1 hour of total happiness and relaxation with your furkid by your side at Puppyyoga. ??♀️
Unsure of what to do with your dogoo? Treat them to a shopping spree and allow your pets to pick up what they want to get. Allow your pet to experience retail therapy too, which helps them to relax and have fun.
Try shopping at physical stores such as PolyPet, Catsmart, and many more. They offer a wide range of items that will surely satisfy your furkid’s needs and wants. ?
Even though pet cafes are hard to come by in Singapore, due to the high difficulty of obtaining a license. Nonetheless, there’s an article on the Top 5 pet-friendly restaurants that you can visit. Cafe hopping helps your doggo to socialize with other doggos in a safe and calm environment.
The hoomans can enjoy delicious food and rest while letting the doggos to play and solocise with one another.
Now, today, I want to talk about enthusiastic dog lovers/owners; not the ones that’s afraid.
So with the utmost respect, I say this on behalf of most dog owners, particularly owners that’s struggling or value dog training: don’t touch our dog without our permission.
1. Don’t bend down to stroke my dog. 2. Don’t call it over when it’s walking towards you and you’re walking in the opposite direction, standing outside a shop, or sitting at a table outside a cafe. Or doing sit stay exercise. OR ITS WEARING A “TRAINING” TAG. 3. Don’t stroke my dog when it’s sitting me waiting to cross the traffic light. 4. Don’t lean over and randomly stroke my dog when I’m walking by. 5. And don’t you even think about picking my dog up without asking.
What a miserable, stuck-up dude, you’re probably thinking I am. Talk about being possessive over his dog. Don’t touch then don’t touch lor.
No, I get it, all dogs are cute, they’re painfully cute and nobody likes being told they can’t stroke one (particularly children). Dogs/Puppies bring total joy to people’s lives; my Kobe, in particular, puts a smile on people’s face when they see him wagging his tail, and wanna lean against you for affection when you stood down to welcome him. Puppies and dogs are so powerful that they have the power to make you coo unabashedly out loud in the middle of the street when surrounded by total strangers. Puppies are great which is why (nearly) everyone wants to stroke them.
To you, dear dog obsessive, stroking a puppy seems normal yeah. why not? It’s also a complement saying your pooch is adorable what. But I’m here to break the bad news to you. When you stroke a dog without asking the owner’s permission or call it over to you, not only are you being disrespectful and incredibly rude, you’re potentially endangering yourself and the dog, and the owner.
Over the months of being a new Singapore Special / Mongrel dog owner, I’ve noticed there are 2 categories of enthusiastic dog lovers/ people:
1. People are dog owners and respect the importance of training. 2. People who just love dogs but have clearly never owned one (or did so without proper training).
The people who fall into the first category are the only ones who ask permission before meeting my dog and stroking it or even feeding treats.
The second category of people force themselves onto my dog and ignore my existence, and now I’m the invisible dog owner/walker. I tend to abruptly and unashamedly avoid the second category of people and return the favour by ignoring their existence.
If I hear someone coo my dog over to them as he’s walking on a leash, I will just carry on walking without stopping. Guess who’s labelled the rude one? Me.
Someone once said when I was training proper leash work on Kobe: “But I could see him (Kobe) looking at me, he was pulling at his leash to come over to me; he want to say hello to me. Yes, he does, but you know what else my Kobe was interested at and pulls at his leash to get to? Trash, birds, leaf… Oh, and every single person walking on the street.
I’m classified as stuck up because of my face, and rude because I don’t allow people who don’t ask permission to have access to my dog.
Part of that training includes not teaching my dogs to run up to EVERY strangers. Why? Because I am a responsible owners, I think for people that’s afraid of dogs, or due to religion.
Puppies love people, they want to meet everyone and everything because they love cuddles and play. If I allow my dog to run up to anyone once, I have to then justify allowing it to run up to everyone else.
The first time I ever took Kobe out after the circuit breaker, as a naïve new puppy owner, I was stopped 123456 times during a walk, but that’s ok, because people are concern about what happens to his missing limb, and also because we wanted Kobe to be friendly and not afraid of people, but then again, with that we also allow him to charge towards people/kids that’s afraid of dogs, then we become as “Owners that cannot control their dog”.
I’d never had a puppy on a lead before, but I boiled up with rage. I was utterly furious with the overt disrespect and invasiveness. It’s actually a miracle I didn’t punch this person; if it happened again I probably would. The first few weeks of a dog’s life are essential for puppy training and I was very positive and excited to embark this new experience with Kobe, but this random person had ruined my dog’s first associations with going out on a lead. I told that person that Kobe is on training on how to heel properly. “Nevermind la” “Let puppies be puppies la, why so strict” “Still so young don’t need training la” “You see you see, he want to come to say hello to me already!!”
Nobody would do this to a newborn baby. Nobody would run-up to a pram without acknowledging the mother, touch the baby or cuddle right: they’d be arrested for it. But dogs are public property, apparently, so it’s ok?
I’m not being a rude, tight-arsed or stuck up douche when I walk pass you with my dog ignoring your cooing, your tutting and attempts of getting his attention; I just want to be a responsible dog owner who trains my dog. Have you ever wonder if the dog you’re cooing might be actually aggressive? What if my dog bites you because your cooing is actually provoking him and making him anxious?
My dog’s life is my responsibility; he can’t give consent and he doesn’t know the world as well as I do, so it’s my job to keep him safe and protected. I don’t want him running up to random strangers, what if that person is scare and hit my dog as “self defence”, or my dog gets aggressive trying to defend himself and bite that person by accident?
The other day, I was at X dog cafe with a group of friends, Yes all the dogs are off leashed, running around and “enjoying” themselves.
Because its a weekend, that dog cafe was rowdy and filled with loud noise and commotion from big dogs and small dogs. I leash Kobe and walked to our table, and unleash him after he obey my commands. Well for people that met Kobe before, you know he is a sociable dog when it comes to strangers and other dogs. So he was mingling and running around wanting to make new friends with dogs and humans, but then again; due to his insecure nature, certain dogs makes him feel intimidated and he will become a little more anxious and wary.
So when I notice he was a bit “off”, I recall him back and put on the leash, because I am a responsible owner right? I don’t want my dog to be barking the cafe down, or terrorising other dogs while I’m sitting there enjoying my meal.
So as Kobe was sitting beside me with his leash on, someone approached him, X asked me if my dog is KOBE.SG, and I said “Yes! Hello nice to meet you too!” X asked me if X can pat Kobe, I was like sure, why not? Don’t want to be rude right, X asked permission, thats a rare one!
But X display signs of uncertainty, X hover the hand in front of Kobe’s face and not sure if X wants to pat him; I immediately told X that If you want to pat him, pat with confidence, because if you display uncertainty, he will be wary of you and gets anxious and defensive. But X did not adhere to my advise and continue hovering X’s hand in front of Kobe face, and I saw Kobe starting to snarl… Despite my nerves and a lifetime of people-pleasing tendencies, I finally broke my suppression, “Don’t touch my dogalready” calmly but sternly. And explain that he is gonna bite.
But…….. X did the predictable; which is ignoring my warning…. X is not the first one that takes my warning lightly.. Whats with people not adhering to warning? Do you think that I am joking when I say my dog is gonna bite you?
So after I told X off, X finally decided to move X’s hand forward and pat him, and this time I saw Kobe’s snarl and heard his low growl, shifty eyes and round forehead ready to lunge forward to the incoming hand, and I IMMEDIATELY YANK X’S HAND OFF, AND SAID “I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH HIM ALREADY, HE’S GONNA BITE YOU”
If I can be honest, I was pissed. Was I wrong to feel this way?
And there was a awkward silence after that incident and X decided to excuse themsleves, and despite whatever happen few seconds ago, X decided to crouched down and wave X’s hand in front of Kobe’s face to say byebye… A FEW TIMES… And this time I have to tighten Kobe’s collar and pull him towards me…
Why? I don’t get it.
And this is not the only thing.
Parents. IF you want to bring your kids out to meet some cute little cuddly dogs, please go to a dog cafe that you get to pat their in house dogs. Its for the safety of your child and other peoples’ dog.
Don’t bring your kids to a dog cafe or a dog run to pat random strangers dogs who you have no idea what their temperament and trigger points are.
I cannot emphasise this enough. When I was at X dog cafe, I told this kid off 3 times, not to touch Kobe, and she just doesn’t listen, I even told her that he will bite. And my last straw, I raise my voice a little and gave a final warning, and suddenly her parents which is just the next table, decided to speak up after me and told his kid “People already told you don touch already, why you still do that?”
C’mon Sir, shouldn’t you be already educating your kid before she reaches her hand over once again?
When I was at X dog run, there’s this girl that’s just running free around the dog park, chasing every dog and touching all the dogs thats passing her, what if she met an aggressive one? I don’t see her parents around.
She was chasing Kobe and screaming at the same time, making Kobe super scare, and finally Kobe ran towards me, she wants to reach her hand over to pat him, I said no, but she wants to do it, What am I suppose to do? Obviously I told her off, but honestly what else can I do beside telling her again and again not to touch my dog and explain why..
I had to finally asserted myself and it hadn’t been as painful as I thought it would. I hate not giving people what they want, especially when I’m more than capable of giving it to them (after all, I could have just let them pat Kobe right), but it wasn’t about doing something just because I could do it. It was about finally demanding your respect and attention to adhere to my request of not touching my dog due to safety reasons.
It was about finally taking ownership of my right to say no; it was about me acknowledging to myself that just because I can do something doesn’t mean I should, especially if I don’t want to, because I’m afraid of the consequences.
Dogs are cute, but they also need a lot of training and all good dog-owners take training seriously. Whatever training works for your dog, as long as it’s trained. If you really do love dogs, please start showing respect for other dog owners and acknowledge they are part of the equation, you don’t have to agree to what they think is best for their dog, but at least have the same level of respect because we all just want the best for our dog. Just as you wouldn’t walk up to a baby or toddler without acknowledging the parent, don’t walk up to a puppy without asking the dog owner first.
After all, not only is it inconvenient and detrimental for a dog owner who is possibly training a dog, it’s also wiser for you: you don’t know the nature of a dog. That cute little dog could be utterly terrified of people, they may cower, bark or even bite you. They may be aggressive or anxious, they may even be blind or deaf, so don’t force yourself onto a dog which can’t give consent, no matter how cute they are.
But if you ask me then yes, I will release my dog from training and you can touch my dog. But if you’re wary and scare, then please don’t request to touch my dog. Thank you.
This content was originally found on lombardvet.com, and the original article can be found here.
From puppy breath and snuggle seshes to silly selfies and watching them fall asleep right in their food bowls, puppies are, quite frankly, perfection. As veterinarians, however, we always want to make sure that anyone considering taking the puppy plunge understands that, along with all of the good stuff, taking care of puppies can be a lot of work. Not only that, but they are itty bitty balls of energy that require a lot of time and dedication.
It’s not that we don’t want you to enjoy your PuppyPalooza, but we hate when we see them get rehomed for being, well, puppies. But if you’re new to the game, you might not know what’s normal puppy behavior and what’s not. Along with a discussion on that below, we’ll share five puppy behaviors you want to nip in the bud…for your sake and your bitty ball of fur, too!
How can I tell if my puppy has behavior issues?
Your expectations and lifestyle define behavior issues. A behavior that is a problem in one household – such as getting on the furniture – may be welcomed in another. If your pup is practicing behavior that is not ideal in your circumstance, find a way to redirect that energy or reinforce an alternative behavior. Reach out to your veterinarian for help with this.
How much puppy biting is considered normal?
Mouthing and nipping behavior is normal in all puppies….so is peeing wherever they want, unfortunately! The critical question is, what do you want to consider normal in your household? In most situations, we want essentially no mouthing or nipping behavior long-term. The management of the mouthing habit in puppies is vital to a healthy relationship long-term and may be a matter of life and death in some dogs’ lives. Teaching a puppy bite inhibition (or having a soft mouth) is relatively straightforward in most situations. Many veterinarians have helpful handouts on this with guidelines on this process, so be sure to ask.
Why is teaching your puppy how to have a soft mouth so important?
Any dog has the potential to bite in certain situations; for example, if their tail gets closed in the door, if they have an injury out in the woods, or they get startled by a toddler. If a dog has learned bite inhibition as a puppy, they instinctively know how to “pull their punches.” Dogs with good bite inhibition will cause less damage in situations where they reflexively bite.
This bite inhibition is important from a human safety standpoint, but it can become a crucial factor if the dog needs to be rehomed at some point in life. The idea of rehoming your precious pup may be unthinkable right now, but sometimes life changes. A very happy dog with a quiet couple may not adjust well if a baby comes along. We need to set our dogs up for success as much as possible. Dogs that have poor bite inhibition will cause much more severe bites when scared or injured. A serious bite history can be a death sentence for a dog in rescue. It may seem silly to worry about those puppy nibbles, but having a soft mouth is a lesson every puppy needs!
Do all puppies have what’s considered to be a rebellious phase?
The adolescent phase can be a trial in just about any species. This is true for dogs as well. The adolescent phase starts around six months and can last until 2-3 years of age in some dogs. Dog adolescence is a time of testing boundaries, lots of hormonal changes, and often a bit of fear. This mix can lead to many challenges with training and behavior. Surviving the adolescent phase without too much stress can be done with a good training routine, a lot of enrichment, and patience.
How should I discipline my puppy for behaviors that I don’t want to continue?
Discipline or punishment is NEVER the answer. We need to cue and reinforce the behaviors we WANT to see in our pups. Dogs only continue behaviors that work. If we stop (inadvertently, in most cases) reinforcing unwanted behaviors, they will cease eventually. By redirecting to and reinforcing behaviors we want, this extinction of unwanted behaviors will often go away more quickly.
5 Puppy Behaviors to Nip in the Bud
“Good” versus “bad” dog behaviors are a bit of a gray area because, as we mentioned earlier, some behaviors are acceptable in certain families while others are not. There are some puppy behaviors that can be downright dangerous, however, and those are the ones that we want to nip in the bud. Perspectives on this may vary depending on the size and the breed of your puppy.
1. Jumping
Why do puppies and dogs jump on us? In most cases, they want attention and interaction. When we push them away or tell them “No” or “Off”, we’re fulfilling those desires, whether we like it or not. If we want to stop the jumping, we need to give them an alternative. Teach a default sit. This is a foundational behavior that has a million uses – this is just one of them.
When your pup jumps – ignore them. Turn your face or even your whole body away and stay silent until they have all four feet on the floor or even sit. In many cases, a dog with a default sit cue will eventually sit in an attempt to get attention. The MOMENT those feet or the bum hit the ground and stay there for more than a second or so, reinforce!!! (This is why we always need cookies in our pockets.) It’s not going to be pretty or perfect, but in many cases, this is all it takes. Don’t allow your dog to jump up on others, even if they say it is OK. Ask them to turn to the side and ignore the dog. For dogs with a longstanding jumping problem or those that are a bit more stubborn, additional steps may be helpful. Just check in with us or your trainer for some other techniques to build the habit you want. And remember: Punishment never works long-term and will damage your relationship with your pup!
2. Poor Leash Manners
Poor leash manners isn’t a life or death situation, per se, but it can actually be dangerous if your puppy grows into a huge dog and you’re just a tiny human! In general, having an impolite walker is more of a nuisance but, as you can imagine, as dogs get big, bigger, and possibly biggest, this could make for a perilous circumstance if your dog pulls you or, worse, gets off-leash to pursue another dog or a squirrel. Having good leash manners will also help if you are out to keep your dog from jumping up on others. Have your dog sit, you can even step on the leash to keep your dog from jumping up, this will keep them in place for you to either get in front of them to get their attention or to free up your hand so you can have treats ready.
3. Nipping/Mouthing
We’ve covered a bit of this in other topics, but the most dangerous behaviors in puppies are those that can or will affect your relationship long-term, if left unmanaged. The biggest of those would be nipping/mouthing behavior. Early management and intervention is the best thing we can do with any behavior concern. You absolutely cannot check-in enough. Please let us help with anything that comes up!
4. Guarding Behavior
It’s important to understand the difference between guarding and aggression. Guarding is when your dog feels the need to hide or protect what they have, the most common of which are toys and food. They may growl when a person or another pet is near. If left unchecked your dog could develop aggression (lunging and biting) and that is a lot harder to overcome, as it will take professional guidance and a lot of patience.
Avoid tug-o-war with dogs that have guarding behaviors. Have a lot of toys and treats when you are first working with them on guarding. They need to feel comfortable that you won’t take away their toys, and if you do, they need to know that they will get them back. Start off by having the toys close to you, try to stay in the same place, and move slowly. When they drop the toy, give them another toy or a treat, and then give them the toy back. Keep repeating with different toys until your dog becomes comfortable.
If you have another dog in the home, keep the other dog away as you are working with them one on one. Reward your dog when they are allowing the other dog to chew on a toy by either giving them rubs or yummy treats. The message is that they receive good things when their furry sibling is enjoying time with a toy. This is a similar technique to food guarding as well. You can feed them straight from your hand or place handfuls of food in the bowl once they finish and back away, have them wait, and add more food. Having them wait for your OK or release to eat teaches them good manners. If you ever suspect your dog has aggressive behavior, speak to your veterinarian about ways that they can help.
5. Barking
Dogs communicate with you by barking, and letting your puppy know that you are listening is an important part of training and behavior. Letting them know when to be quiet is also part of being a well-behaved dog. This doesn’t mean that you should never let your dog bark, but they should know when it is OK to bark and when it isn’t. Just like with kids, if you let them get away with it, they will continue to do it. You may become immune to the barking but this could be an issue down the road with family, friends, or neighbors.
How soon should I get my puppy into behavior training?
Behavior training such as basic obedience (sit, down, stay) is vital to developing a good line of communication for your puppy, as well as setting clear expectations. Behavior training should start as soon as your pup settles in at home. The much more important aspect of most early training programs is socialization. Any good puppy class will focus most of their time on environmental socialization. Training will also help you and your puppy bond.
The socialization period in puppies lasts from about 3 weeks to 3 months of age. This period is vital for creating a well-rounded and resilient dog. This means that early environmental socialization should be starting while the pup is still with their breeder or foster parent. Early socialization can take place in the form of noises, smells, and textures as well as gentle handling intended to produce very low levels of stress to the pup to help them develop healthy coping mechanisms. As puppies grow and begin entering their adoptive homes, it’s still important to continue this socialization. 70-80% of socialization should be environmental. That means that you should not spend most of your time introducing your pup to other dogs and people. Focus on the world and all the noise, texture, and movement that takes place there. Your payback will be a less fearful, more resilient pup!
The only things most veterinarians would consider truly abnormal behaviors are extreme fear and/or anxiety, signs of aggression (not just playing), or anything that may indicate a medical issue in your puppy such as lethargy, inappetence, circling behavior, pressing their head against a wall, or any sort of vomiting or diarrhea. There’s no way we could list every possible sign of a problem, so never hesitate to call your vet if you have concerns. We’d rather hear from you frequently than have you wait too long when something’s wrong!
Do you have a list of outdoor places that you want to bring your furkid too? If your answer is YES, this article is for you! Here is a list of outdoor essentials that we believe would be very useful for your adventure?️.
Leash
First on our list, would be leashes. It is very important to have a proper and sturdy leash for your furbaby, as most of the pet-friendly places required them to be leashed.
If you prefer a leash that is softer and more comfortable for your furkid, be sure to check out Pawbulous’s cloth-based leash. Indulge in Pawbulous’s wide collection of fabrics and they even offer customization for that extra touch.✨
Alternatively, you can opt for biothane leashes for a more sturdy and strong grip on your pet. One of the best parts of having a biothane leash would definitely be, the water and stain proof feature. It is super easy to clean, simply take a wet-wipe and wipe it down when it’s dirty.
Treats
Of course on the list would be treats! This item is a must for any furbaby! Treats are definitely critical for any adventures, they are useful to gain your furbaby’s attention especially when there’s distraction around.
Check out Pawfurry’s treats?, which come in convenient packs, thus making it easy for you to reward your furbaby without making a mess.
Use the code pjxpf20 when you check out to receive 20% off your purchase!?
Accessories
Here are some important accessories that you need to bring along for your pet’s adventure.
Poop bags
Poop-bags are a must-have in your bag as it is super important to clean after your furkid to keep the environment clean. One of our favourite poop bags is from Woofy Goofy, with its biodegradable feature, it can decompose by itself over the span of 6-12 months?. There’s even a cute design on the bag itself!
Quote Pawjourr10 when you check out with Woofy Goofy today!
Poop Bag Holder
For easy access to the poop bags, a poop bag holder would be necessary. There are many poop bags out in the market, however, we really love Josiemamasews’s waterproof poop bag holder. It protects the poop bags and it even has matching scrunchies for hoomums! ?
You definitely cant miss this item out of your bag. A water bottle is definitely essential for a trip outside as it is super important to keep your pet hydrated at all times! ? Even though some pet-friendly places are open to provide your furkid with a free water bowl, however, it is always good to prepare yourself.
If you’re looking for a good portable water bottle, be sure to check this water bottle out at Shopee!
That’s all on the list of outdoor essentials that we believe you should bring out on your first trip! We hope that it has been useful and do check out all the local businesses that were featured.
SINGAPORE (9 March 2021) – Bolstered by a year-on-year increase in demand for their fresh dog food, The Grateful Pet (formerly known as The Grateful Dog), a pet nutrition company founded in 2017 introduces two new ranges of ready-to-feed frozen food for canines packed with premium superfoods and nutritious ingredients, available either gently cooked or raw. Each meal is high in lean animal-based protein and boosted with functional Asian and Western superfoods.
Gently Cooked Dog Food Chicken Recipe
Targeted at modern pet owners who are on the go and want the best for their pets, the range of hassle-free meals takes out the guesswork involved in preparing fresh meals at home. All recipes are calibrated to be nutritionally balanced and complete for dogs according to AAFCO guidelines. Ready in under three minutes, pet owners simply need to feed the number of pouches based on their dog’s weight as the daily caloric requirements are already accounted for.
Meals are made with 100% natural whole foods
Flat packed for easy freezer storage, The Grateful Pet meals are made with 100% natural wholefoods, with each ingredient clearly labelled so that pet owners can feed their companions with an absolute ease of mind.
How did the company start
The Grateful Dog has since been renamed to The Grateful Pet.
Founded by two friends who are passionate animal lovers, what began as a simple search for home-prepared recipes for their dogs, Lucy and Clash, sent the pair on a personal quest to create the healthiest and most irresistible meals for their best friends to enjoy. This served as the catalyst for The Grateful Dog in 2017, a fresh dog food company established in Singapore offering gently cooked meals. In 2021, The Grateful Dog was renamed The Grateful Pet to reflect the company’s expanded nutritional offerings for both dogs and cats.
8 Flavors For You To Choose From
There is a total of 8 flavours to choose from
All ingredients are responsibly sourced from reputable human-grade suppliers and prepared on an AVS-certified premise to ensure the quality of each meal.
The Grateful Pet product range includes:
Gently cooked Dog Food (8 flavors) Each box contains 8 pouches of the same flavor x 250g (total 2kg). Prices start from $38/box. Salmon & Sardine, Grass-fed Beef, Cage-free Chicken, Cage-free Duck, Grass-fed Venison, Free-range Lamb, Wild Kangaroo, Crate-free Pork
Raw Dog Food (7 flavours)
Each box contains 8 pouches of the same flavor x 250g (total 2kg). Prices start from $39/box. Grass-fed Beef, Cage-free Chicken, Cage-free Duck, Grass-fed Venison, Free-range Lamb, Wild Kangaroo, Crate-free Pork
Feeding guide
As a way of giving back to the animal shelter community in Singapore, proceeds from each sale are donated through The Grateful Give Back—the company’s community outreach arm, to Causes for Animals Singapore.
Are your tails wagging already?
To learn more about The Grateful Pet and to place an order, visit https://thegratefulpet.sg or check out their store listing on Pawjourr here.
Pet owners can enjoy 10% off their first a la carte purchase with a discount code < DROOL >. The offer is valid till 3 June 2021. (EXPIRED)
Are you in a household where both pawrents work full time and the furbaby is mostly alone? Or perhaps are you considering getting a furbaby but are worried because all members of the household work full time? If you answered yes to any of the two questions then perhaps getting a dog sitter might be a good solution for you! I’d like to share with you my experience of getting a dog sitter and hopefully that would give you enough information to consider having one too.
When we welcomed Ollie to our home, I knew that a puppy would need lots of attention. I had a week of leave and I thought that was enough. Little did I know, after reading extensively, that is not enough. Though puppies spend a lot of time sleeping, they needed the human interaction as well. Without it, they might experience separation anxiety and perhaps face other emotions or psychological issues.
I was fortunate that my mother-in-law was able to come over every day for almost a month from 12-1 to look after Ollie when he was a puppy. However, I knew this was not a long term solution so I went online to see what I could do. That was when I stumbled on the site www.pawshake.com
Pawshake was a platform that allowed me to book a sitter. Most people, I realised much later, only booked a sitter when they needed someone to look after their furbabies when they were on vacation or over the weekend. It wasn’t common to get a daily sitter to look after the furkid.
I used that platform to find a sitter for Ollie on a daily basis (weekdays). The platform encourages you to meet the sitter before confirming the deal. This was useful as it allowed me to see how they interact with Ollie. In fact, this was a very important part of choosing a sitter as sometimes Ollie wasn’t as comfortable or might even bully the person who came over to look after him. All the instructions to how this can occur is in the site itself. Thus, I relied on the information online and found sitter for Ollie when he was 4 months old. The person I found was a student who was waiting to pursue her studies online. The cost ranges and different sitters have a different price. It ranges from $10-$30. As I wanted someone on a regular basis, I asked if I could get a small discount. The first sitter I had for Ollie was 19 years old and had several pets before. She charged $10/hr and that amounted to $200/month. My husband and I decided to go with her as we found that once Ollie met her, he was instantly connected to her.
Let me go to some details about what happened during her time with Ollie. As Ollie was still a puppy, she spent that time cuddling with him, playing with him and even teaching him how to pee and poo. We had a playpen for Ollie and so when she came she will release him from it and give him as much attention as she could. In fact, she even helped to potty train him during her time with him. In terms of safety, we gave the keys to her once we decided to get her help. We also informed her that we have a camera and always checked it when she was in the house. We locked the other doors when we left home. There must be some form of trust between the sitter and the pawrent for this arrangement to work. The sitter made a huge difference to Ollie’s growth. I leave my home at 6.40am daily while my husband would leave at 8. The sitter comes from 12.30-1.30. Once my husband leaves, Ollie will nap till the sitter comes. I would return home between 5.30-6 and Ollie would be napping until I returned. As Ollie knew someone would be there in the afternoon, he didn’t display any signs of separation anxiety. In fact, he is so used to the routine, even on weekends he would sleep till 12 then ask for attention and have a nap after. I’ve read a lot online about how sleep is important for canines.
Now, Ollie is 2years and 3 months. Do I still have a sitter for him? Yes I do!
The reality is, the sitter won’t be able to commit for the whole year. They too have different responsibilities at different times of the year. Normally I have a sitter that can commit at least 1-2months. It might also not be possible to always get a sitter for $10/hr. There were months where the sitter’s price would be $12-$20/hr. However, I didn’t not mind it as long as there was someone to walk him and play with him in the afternoon. In fact, I even made friends with some of the sitters and invite them over for Ollie’s birthday. Here is a picture of Summer who was Ollie’s sitter in 2019 with her husband at Ollie’s first birthday. Ollie absolutely loved all the attention from her.
In fact even over the weekends, if we needed help, we knew we could ask the sitter to come over and look after him! Thus, I would definitely encourage pawrents to get a sitter if they need help in looking after their furbabies. After all, a happy furbaby is a happy pawrent!
Ever wondered what the life of an assistance/guide dog was like? The Woof Agency had the chance to speak to Isabella, a visually impaired woman who lives her life with O’Hara, her guide dog.
Read on to learn about how the process of obtaining a guide dog, key distinctions between the various types of assistive dogs, and some do’s and don’ts when it comes to interacting with them!
Could you tell us more about your story with O’Hara?
When I was 6-years-old I started losing my eyesight to a rare genetic juvenile form of macular degeneration, called Stargardt’s Disease. This disease is progressive, so after a few years of having it it made me be considered blind. Throughout my life, I have taken classes for the blind called Orientation and Mobility. These lessons are taught by a professional, and helps teach blind individuals how to travel independently, and use a white mobility cane. This was very important because in order to work with a guide dog, an individual must be blind and also must have exceptional mobility skills (know how to travel by themselves). In 2018 I trained at the campus of Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown Heights, New York for 3 weeks to learn how to work with O’Hara as a team.
I had to go through an extensive and detailed application process, in order to be considered to receive a guide dog. O’Hara was not specifically trained for me. However, she was trained for 2 years prior to us meeting on how to lead someone who is blind and be their eyes. We ended up being a great match, and have been working together ever since.
What is Guiding Eyes?
Guiding Eyes for the Blind is a non-profit organization that has been training exceptional highly trained guide dogs (dogs trained to help lead the blind) since 1954. Through donations, volunteers, and word of mouth they are able to provide guide dogs to those with sight loss for free, despite the dog costing around USD$50,000 to breed, train, raise, and place with someone who is blind.
What is an assistance/service dog? What are the different types of assistance/service dogs?
A service dog is a type of assistance animal (not all assistance animals are service animals) that is specifically trained to perform tasks/work that directly mitigates the disability of someone who is disabled.
Comfort and emotional support are helpful to those who need them, but do not legally qualify as trained work or tasks. Therefore therapy dogs and emotional support animals are not legally considered service dogs, and do not have the same legal protections as a service dog.
What are the tasks of an assistance/service dog?
Trained tasks/work can include, but is not limited to: Guiding someone who is blind, alerting someone before a medical episode happens, retrieving medication or reminding someone to take the medications, interrupting self harmful behaviour, finding help for someone who has had a medical episode, etc. O’Hara is a guide dog, which is a type of service dog that is trained to help lead those who are blind. Her tasks include helping me get from point A to point B, finding door/chairs/locations for me, stopping at street crossings/any change in footing/steps/curbs, guiding me around obstacles, and essentially being my eyes.
How can a dog become an assistance/service dog?
Any breed of dog can be a service dog in the USA. The dog does not need to be professionally trained, but does need to be trained to meet the ADA’s (American’s with Disabilities Act) behavioural qualifications for a service dog. The dog needs to be house trained, temperament tested & and is not allowed to be/show aggression, know at least one task or be trained work that directly mitigates someone’s disability (cannot be comfort or support). They must be under the control of their handler at all times, and the handler must be classified as “disabled” by the ADA’s definition. It is very hard to become a service dog, and training typically takes one and a half, to two years before a dog is considered “fully trained.”
Not every dog is capable of becoming a service dog, due to it being so difficult. It should be noted that training & the handler being disabled is what makes a service dog a service dog, not a vest. In the USA a service dog is not required to wear a vest, harness, or anything “identifying” them as a service dog. It is the training that makes them what they are. A normal dog could wear a vest, and that does not make them a service dog. Service dogs are considered medical equipment by federal law, and are not legally pets.
Legally there are only two questions that can be asked in public, however they can only be asked if the answers are not obvious. The first question being “is that a service dog required because of a disability?” The handler would answer that with a yes, or a no. No further details may be asked about that question. For example, it cannot be asked what that persons disability is. The second question is “what tasks or work is the dog trained to perform?” The handler would give whatever answers applies to them.
The tasks or work may not be asked to be demonstrated. Because the USA does not have a registry or certification for service dogs, someone is not allowed to “see ID, or papers.” If the person says their dog is for comfort, calms them down when they get upset, or is for support that is not a service dog, and therefore they can be asked to leave.
No dogs are allowed to ride in shopping carts, even if it is a service dog. The dog must be under control at all times, and may not be causing a disruption in business such as excessive barking. If you want to interact with a service dog, it is always best to ask before doing so.
What are the dos & don’ts when people see a service dog in public?
If a handler says that it is not a good time, it is important to respect that and not take it personally. It is dangerous to the life of the handler, and the training of the dog to attempt to distract a service dog from working.
Examples of distraction include: petting without asking, talking to the dog without asking, making sounds at the dog like kiss noises, prolonged direct eye contact with the dog, feeding the dog, calling the dog’s name, whistling at the dog, or any form of attempting to get the dog’s attention.
Again, it is best to just ignore the dog and if you really want to interact it is essential to always ask first. The handler decides when the dog is not working, so even if the dog looks like it is just laying there it could be still performing its life saving job. It is equally important to note that service dogs get lots of time to play , and to just be a dog when they are not working. Thee dogs are not forced to become a service dog, nor are they forced to stay a service dog. These dogs LOVE working, and are happy doing it.
What are some misconceptions people have of service dogs?
Some misconceptions include:
Thinking service dogs are aggressive: In actual fact, they’re legally not allowed to be aggressive.
All types of assistive dogs are the same: This is false as well, as there are very different tests and procedures included and there are different requirements for each type of assistance animals.
Anyone can have a service dog: You need to not only have a disability, but also need to be considered “disabled” by the ADA’s definition.
Service dogs are pets/You only need ID’s to be considered service dogs: Not true, as you essentially need to have proper training in order to be classified as a service dog.
Additionally, not all service dogs are guide dogs, as there are many types of assistive dogs. It’s important to also note that stores are not allowed to deny a service dog access such as supermarkets or other commonly used places. However, they tend not to be allowed in more sterile locations such as hospital operating rooms or religious places of worship, based on the discretion of the person in charge.
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THE WOOF AGENCY would like to thank Isabella for sharing about her experiences with O’Hara & Guiding Eyes.
Enjoyed this article? Let us know what other stories you’d like to hear about in the comments below!
Cats are amazing, intelligent creatures. Their lifestyle reflects the predatory skills and behaviors needed to hunt food in the wild. A cat’s day includes the need to rest, stalk, chase, pounce, kill, play, eat, and groom among other things. When we don’t provide them opportunities to do these things, they get bored. Boredom can lead to a variety of problems such as destructive behaviors, aggression, anxiety, and more. We all want our cats to be living their best lives!
What Is Enrichment?
Cats must have opportunities to express their natural behaviors. An enriched environment should provide various types of scratching surfaces, outlets for predatory and prey behavior, safe places, and should respect all five of your cat’s senses which provides an environment in which an animal has variety, choice, and control over their daily activities.
Benefits of Enrichment?
Provides needed mental and physical stimulation
Decreases stress and boredom
Decreases unwanted behaviors
Improves overall quality of life
How Do You Provide Enrichment for Your Cat?
Food Based Enrichment
Food puzzles help to slow down eating, prevent boredom and obesity, and allow cats to eat more instinctively by allowing them to forage and “hunt” for their food. There are various food dispensing toys for cats that you can purchase, and you can even make your own. Start with an easy puzzle and work up to more difficult puzzles based on your individual cat’s preference.
Lunch paper bag/paper bag: put catnip, catnip covered toy mice, or treats inside. They can explore, pounce, and kill (destroy the bag) It’s a great hiding space and a fun toy all at the same time.
Paper towel roll puzzle toys: cut paper towel roll in half, fold in ends and cut a few small to large holes, place in treats. As cats begin to use these more, cut smaller holes to make it more fun for the cats!
Water bottles puzzle toys: Take empty water bottles, remove wrapper, cut a few small to large holes, can leave lid on or off for increasing difficulty for the puzzle toys
Sensory Enrichment
Scent signals are an important part of cat communication and exploration. Cats exposed to new odors are more active and exploratory. Catnip, silvervine, cat grasses, safe houseplants, toys with owner’s scent, and pheromones such as Feliway all help encourage exploration and play. Placing a small amount of a scent in paper ball toys, boxes, bags, etc. can provide sensory enrichment.
Visual: A few examples of visual enrichment include interactive cat toys, birdfeeders, cat videos on YouTube, blowing bubbles, and pinwheels. Remember, when playing these videos or letting your kitty watch birds only do so for short periods of time to avoid your cat from becoming frustrated.
Tabitha Kucera
Auditory: This can include reading a story to cats, playing bird and nature sounds, and playing music made specifically for cats. (Through a cat’s ear, iCalmCat).
Taste: Offer a variety of different flavored and textured treats
Touch: Many animals respond positively to things like petting and brushing. Along with the touch comes social interaction, which ensures that these social animals receive the attention they need. Make sure to identify the kind of touch the cat appreciates.
A great example of sensory enrichment that hits all their senses is placing delicious treats in a ball pit for your cats to forage around for.
Tabitha Kucera
Environmental Enrichment
Provide a variety of horizontal and vertical perches and hiding places. Cats will enjoy things like window perches, cat trees, and cat-friendly shelving. Incorporating safe hiding areas is also crucial and allows the cats to get away if needed. Hiding places can be cardboard boxes, tunnels, and paper bags. Cats also need to scratch, so provide various types of scratching surfaces. Scratching posts should be steady and a minimum of three feet to allow them to fully extend their body when scratching.
Social Interactions
All companion animals, including cats, benefit from positive, consistent interactions with their humans. Cats will experience less stress when allowed to choose whether or not to interact with you, rather than having interactions forced upon them. If the cat appears relaxed and wants to interact, it’s best to focus petting around the head and cheeks. When your cat moves away, don’t force further contact by following your cat or picking them up. Brushing and petting your cats before bed is a good example of how to provide them with positive, consistent, and predictable social interactions.
Outdoor Time
You can give your cat some safe time outdoors by building an outdoor enclosure (often called a catio) and/or walking your cat. Cats can be harness trained or can enjoy walks in a cat stroller.
Train Your Cat
Another form of enrichment can be clicker training your cat. Cats are intelligent and clicker training is a great way to mentally stimulate your cat and teach them new tricks!
There are many benefits to clicker training your cat, it boosts your cat’s confidence, encourages creativity and initiative, and helps strengthen the bond between you and your cat.
There is a common misconception that cats cannot be trained and if they can be trained, it is a lot more difficult than dogs. Both of those statements are false. When owners feel that their cats cannot be trained, they also believe cats behavioral problems cannot be resolved. This can often result in fatal consequences for cats; including euthanasia and relinquishment.
Cats can be taught everything including foundation behaviors (targeting, attention), positive husbandry behaviors (nail trims, brushing, and handling), and fun tricks (roll over, high five). Training can also be very effective in stopping and replacing unwanted behaviors.
Tabitha Kucera
In addition to the recommendations mentioned above, remember to always provide your cats with variety and choice and see what they like best. Lastly, the types of enrichment you can offer your cat is only limited by your imagination so have fun with it!
I was around 10 when I first met the love of my life. He was this round fluff ball, commonly known as a Quaker Parrot / Monk Parakeet. It’s been 13 years and not one day goes by without me telling him how cute he is.
Some people say you don’t know what true love is till you have a child. To me, Babu, my little green fluff ball, will always be the first living being that has taught me what true love means.
He’s always been my “favourite brother” much to my human brother’s chagrin. If I could describe to you the ways he has been a source of happiness and been my emotional support over the years, you’d say he deserves the title too.
In 2019, I was away from home for one semester for University. I’d call my family in the mornings just so that I could see him using his beak to gnaw the front camera on my mum’s phone.
When Babu was younger, on some mornings, he would climb up the sides of my bed sheet and softly bite my fingers to wake me up. There was so much of his mischief that I enabled which my grandmother would always nag me for. But he was my baby and as noted, my favourite sibling, so he could practically get away with anything.
Babu turns almost 13 this year. He is much older and he’s gotten very frail. But man, he still brings me so much joy and it makes me tear up when I think about the ways he has changed my life by just being in it.
Early last year when we all had to stay home during the Circuit Breaker, away from any kind of physical socialisation, he was my constant reminder that there are still beautiful things in this world and that love has the power to motivate you beyond what you think you can do.
I worked from home for almost half the year and it was not easy. Seeing no one but your computer screen, feeling trapped in a room and losing track of time is not something pleasant. I’ve definitely gotten better at this work-at-home thing but there were times that I felt burnt out or even just broke down because of the many changes that were happening around me – around us.
He’d come to my working space and sit behind my laptop and preen himself or just be a cute little ball of sunshine. Occasionally, he’d peek from behind the computer and oh god, the way he melts my heart, the way he makes me forget all my uncertainties and for that moment remind me that I have the cutest little parrot in the whole world.
How is it that someone so tiny, someone who can barely speak (yes, not all parrots speak ?), someone who poops in any place he wishes bring you so much joy which you can’t even describe? I’m in a Facebook group with thousands of other Quaker Parronts, I follow so many Quaker Parrot accounts and Birb memes on Instagram. I’m that corny.
All because of a green chicken. I don’t say it as often as I should but having Babu has been my greatest blessing and being his parront will always be one of my proudest moments in my life. I’m sure everyone who owns a pet would agree with me.
I don’t say it as often as I should but having Babu has been my greatest blessing and being his parront will always be one of my proudest moments in my life. The joy that he has brought me can’t be measured in any form. I’m sure everyone who owns a pet would agree with me.
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