Is grooming puppies a very difficult task for you? Is your pup very fidgeting and energetic? Here are some tips that you can try on your pup!
Hoshi is an 8 months old tri-color shetland, we have been grooming Hoshi on our own, mainly because he is still a puppy. We have only brought him to the groomer once, and we absolutely loved the services provided and the cut.
The basic grooming routine ✂️ that we do for Hoshi consists of trimming his nails, shaving his paw pads and potty areas, brushing his teeth, and cleaning his ears. We usually take about 1 hour to do each item in the routine because Hoshi can’t stay still. Hoshi hates grooming especially brushing his teeth. We always have a very hard time trying to groom him, as he will try to move around and escape.
#Tip 1
Treats! ?
Have plenty of treats prepared to distract your doggo while you groom him/her. Other than distracting, you can use treats to rewards your doggo. Here are some of the treats that we use for Hoshi during grooming:
Chews
Purree
#Tip 2
Have more hands on deck! ??
After trying a lot of different methods to groom him on our own, we figured out that having more people on board makes the process a lot easier. So we tend to have 3 pairs of hands when we groom Hoshi –> Hoomum, Hoodad, and Hooaunt! Hoomum would hold Hoshi down, while Hooaunt would do the grooming and Hoodad will distract Hoshi by praising him and giving him treats.
#Tip3
Stagger grooming timings ⌛
For Hoshi, completing 1 item in the routine takes about 1 hour. To complete the whole routine in 1 night, would be impossible for both the hoomans and doggo. Thus, we would split the grooming into days, and it not only helped us to take a break but also let Hoshi be more comfortable with us grooming him. Another tip that you can use would be to groom your doggos when they are about to sleep ?️! We usually groom Hoshi right before his bedtime, so he’s tired and would not struggle as much!
That’s all for the tips! Do try them on your puppies and let me know if it works! If you have any tips, please do share them with me too 🙂 Hope this helps you, even if you didn’t manage to groom your doggo, don’t give up! ?
Follow @hoshi_sheltie on Instagram to follow us on our journey ?
Hi, my name is Sheryl I am the “hoosis” of WangWang, some may remember that WangWang was lost a few months back and this is my personal experience.
We see posters of missing dogs, cats, birds, etc around Singapore almost every day, I don’t know about you but truthfully I thought nothing of it and in my mind “This will never happen to Wang”. So from my experience losing WangWang was traumatic, to say the least.
Overestimating
Overestimated myself and WangWang, thinking that she would be fine in a crowd and I could handle her at the same time get food. Around 2pm September 15, in the coffeeshop WangWang got spooked and bolted harness and leash still on, tried calling her while running after her but her fight or flight, flight response was too strong. Almost heading to the main road, her leash got caught onto a pole, people were standing around watching her as she struggles out of her harness, and nope no one helped, either afraid or did not care. Now out of her harness, no collar no tag…
Asking for help
Knowing that I could not catch up, I immediately called Christine from Causes for Animals Singapore (CAS), WangWang’s shelter because I know that they are experienced in such situations, I informed my parents, posted an Instagram story all in the midst of me running around panicking looking for her. Around 4pm, CAS volunteers had printed out posters, posted an Instagram (IG) and Facebook post on a lost dog, along with many sharing the posts on IG.
6pm, people from Sunny Heights, Dawk_star (daycares Wang has been to), my neighbors, even people on IG that we never met before offered to help in the search (which I am so thankful for), contacted SPCA and Animal Communications (AC), basically doing everything we can to locate her but still nothing.
The frantic post I made.
WangWang came back!
1:45am, After hours and hours of searching, putting up posters, and driving around we decided to head Punggol as we received a few phone calls that people spotted a brown dog that looked like her, just then I receive a message saying that a brown dog was lying at the fitness corner with a picture.
2am, recognizing her immediately we rushed back calling my neighbor to try and secure her and it was emotional, I cried my mom cried, WangWang was not hurt but covered in mud and so happy to see us, she was lost for a total of 12 hours, the guy saw a post of a lost dog on IG because of the many people that shared. Also thankful that we got her back before the heavy rain that night!
My initial fear/Conclusion
My fear was that people might not care even if they have spotted her because she looks like an ordinary stray or that other strays in the area might attack her. No one wants to lose their pet so now a collar, tag, and harness is a must for me but if you do, contact any AWGs and an AC immediately for help, unfortunately, they did not reply to us till the next morning. Post on IG and FB, be thick skin and contact anyone you know because pride does not matter at this point. But if you do have the money to splurge a GPS would be the best.
But on a positive note, this proves that Singapore Specials are very intelligent too, the fact that she was able to possibly wait till dark to cross the junction from Seletar mall and find her way back to our usual spot and wait there for us.
Thanks for reading!
These are some websites you can visit for more info on if you lost your pet or if you have found one:
Hello again! Realized that I didn’t introduce myself in the first article, so here’s a brief introduction about us! I’m Deslyn, still studying and I have adopted Dusty from SOSD on 25th July 2019.
For students who are graduating and considering getting a pet (dog, but not excluding other pets), please give a thorough thought about it. 🙂
Let me begin by asking you a few questions. Why do you want a dog? Are you capable of owning one? What kind of behavioural traits or temperament dog are you looking for?
170819 Officially Adopted
I’ve always liked and wanted a dog and I decided to have one because I wanted it as a companion and wanted to experience something different in life. As mentioned, I adopted Dusty last year when I was 21 years old. The process of finding THAT dog was not fast and easy, it took many months and effort in finding and emailing before meeting up with it.
(1) What did I consider before making the decision?
As mentioned in my previous article, knowing when is the right time to get a dog is important.
At this age as young adults, we have yet to know what lies ahead of us. Personally, as a student who works pt, I have the extra time and cash to settle the dog before graduation. Also, I don’t travel much and won’t be out for long hours, so it’s not a concern about not having enough time for it now and in the future (as I have already know what I want to do).
With my family’s lifestyle and situation, I was looking for a low energy, independent, and grass trained dog. Which was why I adopted Dusty.
Resisting to follow on his walk
(2) What do I have to prepare before it comes over?
Getting my first dog, I was very panicky and clueless on what to prepare before he comes over: necessities and food.
Here are some of the necessities: bowl, collar/harness, leash, shampoo, and playpen. When getting a collar, harness and leash do make sure you get durable ones as you want to prevent your dog from escaping or from it breaking easily. For x1 of each item, it may cost between $100 (for acceptable and sturdy ones) to a few hundred depending on the brands.
Also, look up on what kind of diet you want to give your dog(of course, seek advice from your vet if necessary).
Here are some of the diets: kibble(dry), canned, home-cooked, raw, and freeze-dried. Whatever diet you choose for your dog, do your research on the good brands and the different nutrients required for your dog. Make sure what they consume is a well-balanced and nutritional meal.
For Dusty a medium-sized dog, it will cost me about $100 – $250 (depends on your dog’s size and the type of diet). It will definitely cost more including supplements and treats.
(Do take note of what other preparation is needed for each of the diets as well.)
For Dusty, he takes home-cooked food (~$100 excluding supplements and treats). In the beginning, I didn’t know the importance and thought it was okay to give him a single protein diet until @theroyaltail guided me on what is missing to make it a more nutritional and balanced meal. The meal prepping is tiring, it takes me about 4-6 hours to prepare 1 month’s worth of meal. From cutting/grinding about 11.5kg meat to weighing the daily portion needed of different proteins and keeping it in the fridge.
1 month’s worth
(3) What did I not expect after having a dog?
Having a dog is like having a toddler. Why?
Indeed, they do not need constant attention (depending on the dog’s age and needs) but they do need our help to get through their daily needs, mainly walks and mealtimes.
It seems like an easy and fast task but think about it, you are not doing this for days or weeks but years. There’s no off days or MCs, it’s a long-term and daily commitment of waking up early, meal prepping, walks, training, etc.
No matter how tired, sian, or lazy you feel before and after school/work you got to walk and feed it. You have to always plan ahead of time.
OTW to training
(4) What I want to tell people around my age who are considering getting a dog?
Responsibility, time, and money mentioned are important especially at our age. It’s where we learn to manage our time, finance, and independence.
We don’t want what lies ahead of us in the future makes us care less for them and we don’t want them to hinder us from what we want to do in the future. So know what you want and what you can cope with.
Don’t get a dog just because you want it and have the luxury of time in that phase of your life. And end up not doing and pushing all your dog’s daily necessary routines to your parents.
Money, if you don’t have a source of income (not from parents) or the capability to support yourself daily (not from parents), then reconsider your options. Don’t make the dog a burden to you and your family. Maybe it’s not the right time yet.
You can always consider volunteering or fostering, in which some shelters or AWG do provide the necessities for the dog. Not only can you get to experience what it’s like to have a dog but at the same time, you will know if you are up for this game for the next 10 years.
Graduated from Project Adore
To all youngsters and young adults, carefully think and consider your capabilities and your future before making this long-term commitment and promise.
If you think you are ready to get a dog, get prepared and all the best! If you think it’s not the right time, focus on what you need to do first, the right time will eventually come!
Thank you for reading this article and have a great day!
For all the pets who do not qualify for flying in-cabin, you will have no choice but to fly your pet as excess baggage in-cargo.
I have flown with pets in-cargo many times and always fly them as excess baggage with Singapore Airlines because it is the cheapest method so far.
Please note that when I am talking about in-cargo, I am specifically referring to your pet travelling on the same flight with you as checked/excess baggage. If your pet was not flying with you, but flying individually as a cargo, you will have to check with the airline/your agent for the exact details.
Flying with Nina and Yuzu
Upon arrival at the airport, you will need to bring the pet to your check-in counter, to handle check-in for your pet. Be sure to arrive in advance to give them ample time to handle everything.
I have flown several times, but only have the video of my travel with Yuzu and Nina. Yuzu flew directly from Shanghai to Singapore; while Nina flew from Chongqing to Singapore, with transit at Guangzhou. Every airport has a slightly different policy when it comes to pet travel, so please check with the airport you are flying out of, on what requirements they have.
Nina flew from Jiangbei Airport in Chonqing and the airport required double nets on the crate for safety.
As Jiangbei is a domestic airport, they only served short flights and does not allow for a water bottle.
Yuzu flew from Pudong Airport in Shanghai and the airport only requires the standard straps on the crate. I wrapped her crate with a layer of cotton blanket since she was flying in the winter, and I was worried it will get too cold.
After handling the check-in, we then handed over the dogs to the ground staff. I went through my standard security checks and boarded the plane.
When flying with Nina, we had a transit flight in Guangzhou, so after arrival in Baiyun Airport, I picked her up along with my luggage before checking in again for my second flight.
Give some food and water to replenish their energy, but be careful not to give too much in case they need to go to the toilet. It’ll make their trip miserable.
Also, if you transit time is longer, or if the next flight will be long, then be sure to let your pet out for a toilet break. But because the transit time and the second flight was short, I did not take her out.
And finally… HOME SWEET HOME!
For more information on the procedure for arrival in Singapore, please click here.
I’m sure that everyone misses travelling this year and just can’t wait to visit other countries again. However safety comes first, and we just gotta put the travel plans aside for now and save up for a trip!
But, this might be the perfect time to start preparing all the necessary documents, health check-ups and planning for the trip if you wish to bring your pet overseas for travelling when borders are open again!
Today I’m gonna share about how you can travel with your pet along with our personal experience (because I have travelled with pets way too many times).
First thing first, air travel is split by in-cabin and cargo for pets. In-cabin means your pet is flying with you inside the aircraft. Cargo means the pet will be in the luggage holding area. I’ll split the two forms of travel into two different posts as the post will get pretty long. To find out about flying in-cargo, please click here.
The flight with Mitsuko
I’m sure this is everyone’s preferred way of travelling with pets, to bring your pet into the cabin with you. But do note that there is quite a bit of restriction and costs for flying in-cabin, so do read the following information carefully.
I’ve only flown in-cabin once with this little cutie called Mitsuko. We flew from Shanghai, China to Jakarta, Indonesia; with a transit stop at Seoul, Korea.
Mistuko in Pudong Airport, Shanghai, as we are sorting out check in for me
It was really cool to fly with your pet in-cabin to be honest. I’ve always enjoyed flying, and having a little dog with me just made it even better. Plus, I was lucky to have been met with a really nice passenger beside me who absolutely loved Mitsuko.
P.S. So technically you are not supposed to bring your pet out from the carrier, they are expected to be kept inside the carrier at all times. But the passenger who sat beside me loved Mitsuko so much, she told me to bring her out and will warn me when an air stewardess was coming so we could hide Mitsuko under my blanket. I had a really nice chat with her throughout the flight as we spoke about Korea and Singapore.
So once we in the air, Mitsuko sat on my lap throughout the flight. In the very beginning, Mitsuko was really nervous and was shaking quite a bit. But she soon calmed down after 30 mins and was sleeping comfortably or moving around our seats the rest of the flight. I was able to feed her some treats on the flight, brought her to the toilet to pee, and she basically got to enjoy herself on the flight.
Then we landed in Seoul to transit to Jakarta. It was supposed to be a relatively tight schedule, but our flight got delayed so I could end up taking my own sweet time in Incheon Airport to shop and walk around with Mitsuko.
The first thing I did after arrival was to bring Mitsuko for a toilet break, then gave her some food as it was her usual mealtime. After her tea break, it was time to go shopping.
She was most nervous during take-off and landing, plus the crowded airport did not help. So it took her a good 10-15 mins to calm down and stick her head out from her carrier. I pushed her around on the trolley as I went around shopping, and she got so many compliments along the way!
Finally, it was time for our connecting flight to Jakarta, and Mitsuko and I went to security to get ready for flying. She had to go through a round of check, and all the security guards were so cute when they saw her. They crowded around her as we were doing security clearance to play with her haha. At this point, Mitsuko was comfortable and enjoyed all the pretty security guards pampering her lol!
It was pretty late by the time we were on the connecting flight, and I got pretty hungry by then. But the good news was there was no one sitting beside me, so I got both seats to myself and Mitsuko.
Once again, Mitsuko took a while to relax before enjoying herself on the flight.
On a side note, the dinner on Asiana Airlines is honestly really good.
Then we finally reached Jakarta and I handed her over to the mum. Didn’t take any photos here because I was busy sorting out the paperwork for her entry into the country. But anyways the procedure for this will differ for every country, so it will not be too helpful to share the experience in Jakarta.
If you know my dog Kobe and interact with him before, You know that he is a sweet boy that loves human and other dogs! Even thou he is missing a leg, always have a smile on his face, I still have many people thats afraid of him.
Have you ever just walking your dog and minding your own business, and from afar, you see X stops abruptly and find another alternative path; or X starts walk diagonally as they stare down your dog to avoid it.
Have you ever just exiting the lift with your dog, and you release some sort of invisible force repealing X thats about to enter the lift?
Have you ever just minding your business while walking your dog, and suddenly you hear someone screaming, you thought someone was in trouble, but oh, your dog is cause of it.
Have you ever just resting in public places, and your dog starts wagging its tail and smiling to X, and X deems your dog to be aggressive and scary?
Have you ever goes to a dog park where there’s couple of small doggos, the moment you off leash your dog, X picked up their dogs and leave the place soon after.
Have you ever just walking and keeping left side on the lane, and someone incoming using their phone without paying attention, and suddenly you release some sort of invisible force again, repealing X immediately, and X got angry and “TSK” at you, or worst, confront you and ask you to walk your dog properly.
Thats a sign of people suffering from Cynophobia develop the condition as a result of negative experience with a dog in the youth. Eg: Been chased or bitten by a dog, witness someone get terrified by a dog, or have grown up with someone who’s aversion to dogs become their own fear.
Cynophobia, pronounced (sy-no-phoia), is a phobia or a fear of dogs.
Oh, let’s not forget there a small fraction that just outright dislikes dogs.
Base on my own experiences above; and speaking as a dog owner, and an animal lover;
I think that depends on the situation:
A) the owner, and B) how the dog is behaving.
Certain dog owners will get mad at everything, but also there are dogs that behave badly or are new to the owner and haven’t been trained yet, so their owners will probably understand if you get upset.
For me, I will try my best to be respectful if I’m out with my dog and notice someone eyeing him with uncertainty. I will shorten the leash and have him close and give the person room to pass. I always keep my very socialized / trained dog on my side and sit as they passes with fear. By doing that; I let the person know ahead of time that my dog is a friendly one.
(That dog is a mongrel and omg he is looking at me, he is about to come and bite me)
While I respect their fear and I won’t try to force them to like dogs or be offended by it, in some cases I don’t understand. I often wonder if the person had a traumatic experience, or if they didn’t grow up with dogs and don’t know anything about them, or a certain breed thats stereotyped as aggressive.
My small little advise to you if you’re suffering from Cynophobia:
If you’re really afraid of my dog, I totally understand! I’ll make sure he doesn’t come up to you. But please, do not start screaming. There is no reason to scream. Although he is very friendly, I have train him to not having to greet everyone he meets while walking, so he’s not even going to come up to you. People do get scared sometimes and keep their distance. BUT if you start screaming when he is literally just standing there, chances are you will scare him just as much as you are scared, which is bad enough, and try to bolt, which is worse.
And if someone made my dog that uncomfortable I’ll be pissed off as all hell. He might not mind it, but I’m only human.
So if you’re scared of my dog, please politely say, “I am afraid of dogs” and back away a little bit. I will get the message and will move him away from you. If I notice you look scared, we will move away. I believe all dog owners are responsible for that, but of course, we also have a small fraction that feels that they are above all, and doesn’t give a damn about your fear, then I am sorry about your negative experience of dog owners like that.
Fear is something that alerts us to possible danger and helps keep us safe. It’s good to be aware of what scares us, and then choose to either be afraid of that thing forever, or learn about it and determine when you need to be afraid and when it’s really okay. Both options are valid.
Im coming to attack you with my cuteness
On the flip side, we also have people that over enthusiastic animal lover. Well, thank you for getting so excited seeing my dog in public, I’m fluttered. But your excitement might spook my dog too.
If we are resting and your kid decided to approach us and wants to pat my dog while making a lot of loud noises, please respect us that we might have to politely decline your kid’s enthusiasm and walk away, and often is because we know our dogs better than you, and we do not want to be accused that our dog is creating a problem.
The human-dog relationship is perhaps the hardest to define in the 21st century. It’s so contentious and filled with so much noise that we don’t even know what to believe anymore. I get it that we want to be progressive and not think of our dogs as property hence we don’t want to be called an owner. I get it that we want to acknowledge our dogs as living, sentient beings.
I grew up with dogs and never once we treated them like property. But we did respect how they are wired. We recognised that they have needs different from us, humans.
In recent times, I cringe inside when people refer Lady-Mae as my child. Or, if they refer to me as her Ma-ma. If you’re very observant, you’ll see my eyes doing a squint. I struggle with this definition a lot because to be seen as a parent and child relationship is almost as if I’m saying that she’s helpless and that she doesn’t know anything.
I struggle with it because firstly, the dog is only helpless from birth to week 5. By the time most dogs are in homes at 8 weeks old, they already know a lot about being a dog. Their mothers have taught them what it means to be a good dog. How hierarchy in a pack works and how they should behave.
When we think about a dog as a child, we end up having misconceptions of the dog world or can have unrealistic expectations. For me, Lady-Mae is my cross-species friend. Lady-Mae is my equal.
We are on an exchange programme for the duration of her life. I teach her things about the human world. In return, she teaches me things about the dog and the natural world.
The reason why we need to provide our dogs direction and guidance (leadership) is because they will respond in the way they are wired – the dog way. In order for them to learn appropriate behaviours that will suit our human world, it’s our responsibility as their handlers to teach them. In exchange, they give us insight into the natural world like how their view of dominance isn’t how we know it to be in ours.
Dogs live in a highly structured society. In a pack, there’s always a leader. Their leader is a calm and confident dog. Fairness is something that doesn’t apply to dog because they have no concept of favourites. Every dog within a pack knows where they stand and what they must do. E.g. the higher ranking dogs in a pack always eats first followed by the middle of the pack dogs and finally the followers. The reason why we can have a few high ranking dogs together is because they respect each other’s ability to lead and they give way to one another. There isn’t such a thing as ego in a dog. All these problems are a result of us, their humans.
Puppies know that if they misbehave, the older dogs within their pack will discipline them. That’s how they learn social skills. So, it’s highly inaccurate to say that our dogs are helpless. They know a lot more than we do about the dog world by the time they come to live with us. Our responsibility is to continue that education that their mothers began so that they will grow up to the be dog that they were born to be.
I find that when we define our dogs as our children, we place upon them the burden to fulfil some of our emotional needs that our dogs will never be able to replace. Also, we then begin to see tools that we can use for training as needs. E.g. Food, Toys, Affection. When we treat our dogs like children and provide these as a need instead of something that they have to earn, we end up with behaviour problem dogs.
We then forget that the leash is an extension of us and we tend to see our collars and leashes as accessories. The collar and the leash are powerful tools for us to help our dogs navigate our human world successfully.
Also, how can we explain why this same species is also trained to be protection, service, medical alert, bomb explosive detection, search and rescue etc dogs? I find this disparity baffling that just because my dog is a pet dog so it’s a kid? And all the other working dogs out there aren’t?
Why are we so much more ready to be a parent to a dog than to another human being? Is it because the dog is able to validate our need for significance that we disguise it as unconditional love? Is it because the dog is forever so-called dependent on us vs kids will grow to be independent?
Or is it that our misplaced hearts yearns for unconditional acceptance and that we’ve chosen Man’s Best Friend to do the job because they instinctually will return to us their love and devotion.
How did we end up being so messed up about nature? I don’t have answers. But here’s how I see the human-dog relationship.
Lady-Mae and I are like salt in each other’s lives. If you go out to buy an excellent piece of steak, you’ll come home and season the steak with salt. A good chef would not add pepper to the steak because pepper doesn’t bring out the flavours already present in that piece of meat. Pepper ADDS to the flavour. Salt, on the other hand, DRAWS out the flavours that are already present. This is why we pay so much for dry aged meat. It’s the work of salt in the meat being air dried over a period of time.
Similarly, in our human-dog relationship, we cannot change our dogs to be humans. Neither can we be dogs. If we use the same understanding we have about salt and steaks, we know that we can be like salt. We can be agents to help our dogs thrive in our complex human world by drawing out the best of them. Similarly, our dogs too, draw out the best of what’s already present in us.
People often associate with Kobe as a sweet loving boy, who is super friendly with strangers and other animals (Dogs or Cats). But what you guys don’t know is that this sweet loving boy, has a side of aggressiveness thats hard to tame. 9/10 times he snapped at me, often bleeds and leaves a scar. Some people advise that I should assert dominance, Some people advise that I should choose force-free / positive reinforcement.
Trust me, I did both and shed a fair share of blood during these process.
We count ourselves lucky because we are aware what triggers Kobe to turn aggressive. So we can manage or prevent any situations that causing him to behave aggressively. EG: Feeding time (Resource guarding); or when Kobe gets tired (Cranky)
For other owners, there are so many drawbacks in living with and loving aggressive dog. That may include manage feeding time, the arrival of visitors, or seeing other dogs. There’s the constant concern of an incident happening despite your best efforts at prevention. It may be impossible, or at least challenging, to join others for group walks, journeys to the park or to visit family over the holidays. But sometimes the worst part about having an aggressive dog is that other people don’t see the dog you love.
They don’t see the sweet dog who cuddles with you at night
I strongly believe that most dogs with aggression issues are lovely to be around in most situations, however badly they may behave in others. Many aggressive dogs are not at their best when out in public around strangers or other dogs, but are kind and lovable around the family, including small kids and even the cat. When you have a dog like that, it hurts when other people don’t see the good side of your dog, even though that’s what you see most of the time.
If you have an angel who is all too often an angel in disguise, what do you wish other people could see in your dog that you see every day?
I‘m thankful that people viewed Kobe as a dog that’s very approachable in public, with humans or other dogs. Today I decided to share this because having Kobe is not all rainbow and sunshines. People often react negatively when they see an aggressive dog. It’s hurtful.
Not all dogs are the same. Not all training works for all dogs at every situation faced. Training also depends on human’s lifestyle too. So why did I choose Choke Train old school training, instead of the hype R+ training for Kobe?
Well.. For what I understand. Treats do have their place in training your dog. And if your dog is food motivated, then you can see quick results using treats. But, and that’s a big BUT, treats won’t train your dog around major distractions. Say another dog that wants to play, or the grab food guy ringing the doorbell. Treats can be good for training your dog, but all in moderation. With a Positive Reinforcement Dog Training will be teaching your dog basic commands using treats to lure the behaviour.
There is no correction in Positive Reinforcement Dog Training (aka treat training). If the dog does not perform the command, you can continue to offer the treat or get a higher-value treat. Something tasty and more motivating. Which was I wanted because I never wanted to “abuse” my poor 3-legged dog. He have been through so much during his puppyhood. I just want to give him the best.
But Kobe is an insecure dog who is not treat/food motivated. So how am I supposed to make it work? A trainer advise me to be consistent, be confident! I did. But it still doesn’t work, what should I do? Kobe is zig-zagging his way with his then harness. Getting afraid of every single human that jogs pass him, or a bicycle, almost everything. People were afraid of him too? Wouldn’t you be scare seeing a dog so ‘out of control’? I tried putting a treat on his nose to redirect him, he don’t even bother to sniff it. Did I try? Yes.
So I decided to engage a trainer that uses Choke Chain for Behaviour Training. Did the training work for Kobe? Yes.
In less than 3 days. Kobe was heeling beside me. Sit down when I stop walking. Somehow magically, he was minding his own business while a bicycle passes us in lightning speed, he did not freak out! Did I get stares and comments from passerby? Yes.
“Why are you choking our poor dog? He only has 3 legs! Just let him do what he wants.”
“Why are you treating your dog like this? Its abusive!”
Kobe is happily walking beside me, enjoying the scenery and fresh air without feeling afraid. Choke chain was just a chain hanging on his neck. Its just dangling there. Oh well.. People judge from what they see.
There is a place for treats when training your dog. Treats are especially great for training a puppy.
I only use treat training when:
Potty training a puppy or dog
Treats are a great way to train young puppies (6 months and younger) basic commands. You can use treats to teach him to SIT, DOWN, COME, and do fun tricks such as PAW, BOOP!
Crate training
Occasional treats are great to reinforce any training commands, but should not be used as the only tool.
I believe that positive/treat training has become today’s popular method only because people are afraid to discipline their dogs! And somehow correcting your dog has been twisted into animal cruelty.
Please ask yourself, is it crueler to:
A) Never discipline your dog and allow him to misbehave and do as he pleases whenever he wants, pull on the leash whenever he sees a dog, bark at strangers, etc.
OR
B) Train your dog and correct your dog’s bad behavior one time with a good correction so he learns right from wrong the first time?
Choosing the right training method is very important to you and your dog. You as the owner need to be comfortable with your choice, but keep in mind what you expect from your dog.
Using treats can be fun for you and your dog, but remember that we all need discipline in our lives to be balanced.
Lady-Mae is my first Singapore Special. We adopted her in 2012. She is my seventh dog in my life. When I was growing up, we could have unlimited number of dogs as long as they weren’t a nuisance to the neighbours.
As an experienced dog owner and handler, I did something totally out of the ordinary when it came to choosing Lady-Mae. I went purely with my instincts. I didn’t research about owning a rescue dog, I just went ahead to get one. (If you’re a new dog owner, I highly suggest that you speak to many fellow Singapore Special owners. A variety of owners and not just one type of owner. It’ll give you a more realistic view of this dog. Please do not follow my example.)
As time went by and I got involved in the dog community, I realised that many people struggled with their Sg Special because either their dog wasn’t properly socialised or they did not get a suitable trainer. So here’s a list of 12 things that I think will help you to decide if the Singapore Special or SS is for you and if you’re up to the challenge.
1. They are the toughest dog to train, even harder than a husky: Most trainers will tell you the Husky is the hardest dog to train. Well, move aside Husky because the Singapore Special tops that list. Singapore Specials don’t care about anyone. They are not bred to want to listen to you. They are bred to solve problems on their own. They do not do well with a wishy-washy handler. Not being able to make a decision on the fly is going to make you be a weakling in the Singapore Special’s eyes. Once you’re seen as a weakling, they will exploit that. I often tell fellow owners that making a bad decision is better than not making one at all.
2. You’ll need to find a GOOD balance trainer: A good balance trainer means a trainer who knows how to use Positive Reinforcement and knows how to teach corrections in a fair and just manner. Singapore Specials are sensitive dogs. They do not do well with high aversive training and neither do they do well solely on Positive Reinforcements only.
3. Singapore Specials need a firm owner: Being firm these days is being labeled a dictator. On the contrary. Being firm means that when you say NO to your dog, be prepared to say NO another one thousand times before your dog will take you seriously.
4. Critical Learning Period For every dog, not just the Singapore Special, the critical learning period is from 3 to 5months. During this time, if a dog is intentionally socialized well to the environment, people, and the lifestyle of the owner, it will grow up to be a balanced dog. However, this is highly critical for the Singapore Special. Missing out on this window creates many of the behavioural issues that the dog will carry through its life. The only reason why the dog becomes good is because of good management. So be prepared to manage your dog but it doesn’t mean you will see the problem behaviour go away.
5. Socialising your dog is a crazy long list over a crazy long time: For many Singapore Specials, they find it hard to adapt to the urban lifestyle that we live and move in. They need to have POSITIVE experiences from the time they are rescued all the way until they have matured adults (4 to 5years old). Socialisation is not going to be a ONE-time affair. These dogs need the consistent positive experience. Socialization isn’t bringing a dog to a dog park and letting it do what it wants. Socialization is an intentional affair with a specific goal.
6. Knowing who you are is critical: Self-awareness is probably the one thing that most SS owners struggle with. So before you bring one home, know what makes you tick. Know how you make decisions, what needs you have so that you can make decisions. And be comfortable in your own skin. E.g. some people need TIME to make a decision. If that’s you, then be aware that if your dog reacts, you should already have a backup plan because there will not be time for you to deliberate. Your Singapore Special is going to know you before the first day is over. And it’s going to know what your weaknesses are and how it can exploit you. E.g. if you’re afraid that the dog will bark its lungs out and get a complaint from a neighbour, the Singapore Special is going to bark the heck of its lungs out because it’s going to push every weakness button. It wants to see which of our weaknesses it can exploit.
7. It needs leadership: Leadership has become a nasty and dirty word in the dog world today. It’s sad because Singapore Special needs a person who is able to provide them clarity. These dogs need someone to give them clear definitions of what is and what isn’t acceptable behaviour. And they need someone to give them clear guidance on how to achieve acceptable behaviour. Failure to provide this will result in a Singapore Special that is highly fearful, reactive, or aggressive.
8. The Singapore Special is wild at heart: I think too many people downplay this trait in the Singapore Special. They are very feral. Almost wolf-like. But they are dogs. They will be eager to please if you can provide leadership. You’ll never be able to domesticate the Singapore Special but it doesn’t mean they cannot be in a home. I always felt guilty for adopting Lady-Mae because I felt like I was caging her by adopting her. It took me 8 years to be able to say that my rescue dog is beginning to be more like a dog that has been carefully bred for centuries.
9. Singapore Specials need an outlet for problem-solving: Because these dogs have evolved to problem-solve daily, they need to be active participants in their training. One of the things that I do is WAIT for the dog to offer me a behaviour that I find acceptable. I don’t give it a command. This is what we call Free Shaping in dog training terminology. Eg. I will wait for the dog to calm down and not jump on me before putting the leash on. I will not tell the dog to sit etc. I will wait until the dog is calm and gives me eye contact before I reward the dog. Having fostered and helped so many dogs and families, Free shaping is highly integral for a Singapore Special. It keeps them engaged. It makes them think about what you want and that taps into their instincts to problem solve. Know how to work with their instincts not against it.
10. They need to roam free: Every Singapore Special yearns to be off the leash. It’s sad that many owners aren’t able to train their dogs to the point where their dogs can be off the lead and ignore people and dogs and just be engaged with their owners no matter what happens. So if you ever adopt one, be prepared to put aside EVERY free time you have and work with the dog until you can get here. Your dog will thank you daily.
11. They are purpose-driven: Singapore Specials are not the usual pet dog. If you’re looking for one, be prepared to go to a trainer who is adept at knowing how to train working breeds. They need a job. Some Sg Specials are really adept at obedience work. Some are great with tricks. Some are awesome with people, (yes there are some Sg Specials who are). And then, there are some who are like my dog, Lady-Mae who enjoys helping people and animals in distress. It’s going to take you at least a year or two before discovering that your dog’s purpose is. So be open minded, go try many activities. Lady-Mae and I have tried, Obedience Competition style training, Tricks, Pet therapy, Agility, Lure coursing. All these flopped terribly and miserably. My dog just stood there and looked at me like she was bored. Until we tried Nosework. Lady-Mae enjoys the search especially for an animal that’s in distress. She enjoys it so much that you can’t even lure her away with Mcnuggets!
12. They are resilient, have great perseverance, and are highly intelligent: Many times when I see descriptions of a Singapore Special up for adoption, nothing that is on that paragraph is what you’re really going to get. Singapore Special is a highly resilient dog, meaning it can withstand a lot of psychological challenges and it’s going to use that with you throughout its lifetime. The SS is also a dog with great perseverance hence they might look very stubborn. However, if you are able to persevere together with them, you will not only gain their love, loyalty, and devotion but their utmost respect. Lastly, the Singapore Special is highly intelligent. I think people do not give enough credit to this dog. Lady-Mae hasn’t ceased to surprise me every day with her ability to offer an innovative solution.
The Singapore Special requires us to put their needs way above ours for a very long time. Adopting one will consume you. It will take up a lot of your time, money, and energy daily for a good 3 to 4years before you’re able to see a highly reliable dog. That’s if you put in the work daily. I have not met a SS owner who said their adoption journey was easy.
Every SS owner will tell you how hard they worked to get where they are. I worked hard but I know of owners who had to work much harder than I did. If you are still up to adopt one, then, welcome to the club. You chose a dog that will not just change your life but it will force you to grow you in ways you never imagined.
Adopting a Singapore Special is not for the faint-hearted. It’s for people who are prepared to take on a self-development journey.
Wood shavings are the subject of many a passionate debate among guinea pig lovers in Singapore. Before we get into the contentious bits, let’s start with the cold, hard, facts. Wood shavings come in the following common varieties: aspen, cedar, pine, rubber, and a mixture of wood types. Some are safe, some are not.
Cedar and pine naturally contain phenols that smell great to humans but are harmful to the delicate respiratory systems of the beloved guinea pig. The consensus seems to be that cedar, whether heat treated or not, are toxic to guinea pigs. Thus, only heat treated or kiln dried pine shavings are safe options for guinea pig bedding. Aspen shavings, on the other hand, do not contain harmful phenols and is commonly marketed adjacent to small animal paper bedding in pet stores. No information currently exists on the safety levels of rubber tree shavings for guinea pigs, so steer clear to stay safe. In summary, only aspen or heat treated pine shavings are appropriate bedding types for guinea pigs.
Pro tip: Wooden hideys and chew toys should also only be made from guinea pig friendly, pesticide-free wood.
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Where can I get wood shavings in Singapore?
The easiest option would be to purchase it at your local pet store, but those shavings come in small bags and are often similar in pricing to small animal paper bedding.The more cost effective option would be to buy wood shavings from companies that sell bedding to horses. That being said, be prepared to buy a comparatively large amounts at one go. The Equine Sanctuary caters to small animal owners and are able to sell a minimum of approximately 18kg of compressed wood shavings at a time (a lot less than a horse owner would need). This is still a significant amount for guinea pigs and can last for a few weeks depending on the size of your enclosure. My favourite brand is Bluefrog as it is comprised of heat treated pine shavings that are absorbent and almost dust-free.
Factors to take into consideration when selecting wood shavings…
Do the shavings contain a mix of potentially dangerous wood types?
Are the shavings dusty?
Do I have an appropriate place to store the bedding?
Make sure the wood-shavings you select is indeed safe for guinea pigs as many brands contain a mixture of different types of wood. Many pet stores also sell wood pellets or compressed wood bedding products marketed for small animals. These tend to come from unknown wood-origins and break down into dust when they come into contact with liquids. This concept also applies to wood-based cat litter — steer clear. It goes without saying that sawdust is also an absolute no go.
Pro tip: Create an easy to clean “kitchen area” for hay to keep the rest of the guinea pig enclosure relatively hay-free.
I love using heat treated pine shavings as, in my opinion, they are immensely more absorbent, odour friendly, and cost effective than the bedding types we have explored thus far. That being said, guinea pigs “popcorn” and do “zoomies” when they are happy. This can kick up bedding, so ensure that the sides of your enclosure are high enough to contain their adorable antics. Build or purchase a C&C (cube and chloroplast) cage with a height of at least 20cm. You can try your hand at DIY-ing or contact The Modern Guinea with your preferred cage specifications.
Don’t skimp on the amount of wood shavings you provide, I would recommend a minimum depth of 10cm of bedding. Many youtube videos filmed overseas proclaim that with enough depth, wood shavings only need to be changed out once a week. However, in Singapore, no bedding is likely to stay clean without daily maintenance — remove soiled areas regularly and do a full change every 7-10 days.
Pro tip: Guinea pigs tend to pee and poop under their hideys, corners of their cage, and where they eat. Spot clean those areas daily!
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Another important consideration to make before choosing to go with wood shavings is whether you have adequate and appropriate indoor space to safely store wood shavings without it growing mold or harbouring insects. In most countries, buying in bulk is the way to go, but in Singapore, this increases the chances of mite infestations and fungal growth. I, unfortunately, learned this the hard way and now never buy more than a month’s worth of bedding or hay in one go. If you ever do face infestations, diatomaceous earth is a natural and effective way of deterring insects from multiplying. You can purchase diatomaceous earth locally at https://denutrients.com/ Please avoid letting your guinea pigs inhale diatomaceous earth.
Why do so many youtube videos feature guinea pigs overseas using sawdust and other “unsafe” bedding products?
Guinea pigs were first domesticated by the Incas 3000 years ago, but animal husbandry practices have continually evolved and improved as information becomes more readily available. We learn and adapt! Secondly, guinea pigs in Singapore tend to have weaker respiratory systems than their overseas counterparts, thus ensuring that their environment is relatively dust-free is paramount to keeping them healthy. I can only hypothesize that much like other common domestic animals in our compact city-state, our pets tend to have a narrow lineage and are consequently more genetically prone to certain illnesses.
Some guinea pig owners in Singapore argue that all wood shavings are harmful and can cause respiratory issues. Given that our local furry friends are prone to such issues, you may choose to be extra cautious. However, I am of the opinion that if you do your research and ensure that the wood shavings you select do follow the above criteria, you’re in the green.
Ammonia buildup on fleece can cause issues, pee pads run the risk of being ingested, all materials have their pros and cons. Needless to say, wood shavings have their flaws too — some guinea pigs may develop allergies or be extra sensitive to certain types of wood. Observe, adapt, and don’t be afraid to mix it up!
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I hope these articles help you and your guinea pigs find the perfect bedding combination. Stay tuned for the next article where I will cover a few more alternative bedding options before moving on to our next topic — Everything You Need to Know about Guinea Pigs in Singapore Part 3/6: Environment.
