LITTLE ANGELS...

Little angels to make your life complete... SMS or WhatsApp 016 322 8816 or 012 790 1252 if you would like to have an angel in your life... And do check out the video - they are sooooo adorable!

SHOULD I GET A PUPPY?

 
I am getting rather concerned that there are a number of people who have purchased their puppy from a pet shop at a very young age, some even as young as 6 weeks of age.

Folks this is way too young for a puppy to be separated from its mother. It also means that the puppy was in the pet shop and all alone from an even younger age. This could mean a whole load of health and psychological problems for the pup...

And I hear that the pet shop people have told the new owners that these young puppies only need to be fed only twice a day. This is completely untrue. They need to be fed small meals up to 4 times a day or every 4-6 hours depending on the pup and the breed.

People, please do your homework before getting a puppy. And if you must get a pure breed puppy, do consider looking at the various rescue groups and organisations for your puppy. If not, go to a reputable breeder at the very least. A good breeder will not let you take the pup until it is about 10-12 weeks old. But never buy your pup from a pet shop because chances are that pup came from a puppy mill!

And what is more worrying is also what people are advising these new puppy owners. I am sorry but Cesar Milan's methods are outdated and detrimental to a dog's well being (I have attended his seminar in London a few years ago and had a VIP Q&A session with him - he knows nothing about dealing with problematic dogs. His shows are a huge success as a result of good videography and clever editing!)

A puppy that is so young and separated from its mother and it's litter mate, and has been in a harsh pet shop environment is most likely suffering from separation anxiety and stress. You need to deal with these issues in the right way, and not attempt the nonsensical pack leader mentality.
You need to make sure that your pup is comfortable and feels secure. Crate training is one of the best ways to do this contrary to the mind set of most people here who are anti crate training. You should also leave a hot water bottle to keep it warm at night and a clock wrapped in a towel to mimic the mother's heart beat.

I could go on and on about how to manage this, but the bottom line is, PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE BRINGING A PUPPY OR ANY DOG INTO YOUR HOME.
It is a lifetime commitment guys... and if you're not prepared to care for the pup for the next 10-15 years no matter what, please don't get one.

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Useful links:

http://beyondcesarmillan.weebly.com/dogs-in-danger.html

What? You have pure breed dogs? But you're an animal rescuer?!?!

Belle, my precocious Beagle!

Yes, I do have 2 pure breed dogs and no I do not classify myself as an animal rescuer. I just happen to be an animal lover that does the best I can with the resources that I have. 

Anyway, in recent times, there have been alot of people that have suddenly became animal activist of sorts. They are big into rescuing and re-homing and feeding the strays etc, which is really great in my opinion.  However, as a result of this "awakening", i.e. compassion for the strays and mixed breeds, there has also been a birth of people that are anti-pure breeds. 

Cleo, my gentle and sweet natured Labrador

While I am whole heartedly against the purchase of animals from pet shops and unethical breeders, I am not anti-pure breeds. I think alot of people have forgotten that there are breeders that are ethical and truly concerned about the well-being and happiness of their dogs and their off-spring.

Mishka and Teddy - my two demanding cats!

People also seem to have forgotten that pure bred dogs were bred for specific purposes, and have many traits that can fit specific needs of people and their families. For example, Labradors make one of the best service dogs due to their calm and gentle nature, and their ability to work long hours. Beagles are tough, sturdy dogs that come in a smaller package. They are great with elderly people (and children) that need a companion but are unable to care for a larger dog. 

Lucky - my most challenging dog ever...

I would always recommend adopting a dog or cat to those who are looking for or considering getting a pet. There are alot of pure breed dogs as there are mixed breed dogs that are available for adoption. If you purchase a dog or cat, it means that there is one less home for a rescued animal.

Rascal - the best guard dog you could ever ask for!

However, before deciding on a particular breed, regardless of whether your are adopting a dog/cat or buying one, it is important to ensure that you research the breed so that you know what you are getting yourself into. Each breed has been bred for a specific purpose, and you will need to know whether or not your lifestyle (and finances!) will be able to cater to the needs of that particular breed. Don't get a dog or cat purely because it is cute or beautiful, only to abandon it when you decide that it is too much trouble to look after it.  Please make sure that you are in for the long haul as getting an animal is at least a 10-15 year commitment.

Brownie - a sweet old lady that loves cuddles...

So this is just a gentle reminder to everyone to take a step back and stop being haters of pure breeds. Instead, start making a difference for all dogs regardless of breed, by not buying any animals from pet shops and unethical breeders. You can also improve animal welfare by educating your friends and family about unethical breeders and by promoting responsible pet ownership.

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Natasha Fernz is a proud "mom" to a Labrador, a Beagle, 3 mixed breed dogs and 2 local cats

~all of which were either adopted or rescued 

IS YOUR DOG TAGGED?

IN RECENT TIMES, there has been an alarming rate of posts on Facebook, Petfinder, Twitter etc about pet dogs that have gone missing or been found by concerned citizens.

Those that are more fortunate and internet savvy may be re-united. But a large number of animals are un-claimed because the owners do not know how to look for them, and the rescuers have no way of contacting the owners.

So I thought I would just highlight the importance of having dog-tags for your poochies. Make sure your dog has a collar with an ID tag and/or your local council license. This can help reunite your dog and you should your dog accidentally escape and is unable to find his way home.

The most important piece of information to include on the pet-id tag is your phone number. So where can you get these id tags? We got ours from Furrenz.com. There are quite a few styles available for a reasonable price. Service is efficient and delivery, prompt.

For more unique id tags, check out Furkids Forever. The tags sold here are one of a kind...

But at the end of the day, please make sure that you take extra care when opening gates especially if you have auto-gates to ensure that your beloved pets do not accidentally run out. Also check your fences periodically to ensure that there are no holes etc from which your pet can squeeze out. And also please be careful when walking your pets. Ensure that your harnesses and collars and leashes are secure.

IT ALL STARTS AT SCHOOL...

As I was walking Cleo & Lucky this morning, we ran into a whole bunch of school kids who were doing some kind of cross country running thing.

So all three of us stopped and waited patiently at the junction for all the kids to go past... There were hundreds of them. Cleo and Lucky behaved exceptionally well and just stood there watching the kids. The school kids however, were not nearly as well behaved as my fur-kids.

Almost every single one of them started to - get this - BARK!!! - when they saw us. I was quite horrified at their behaviour and told many of them to stop doing the nonsense that they were doing

If they were faced with dogs that were not as well behaved or strays, they may have put themselves in danger of being bitten by the dogs. Thankfully, my kids didn't flinch in the slightest bit with all the ruckus.

But what irked me most this morning, was not the behaviour of the school kids, but the behaviour of some of the teachers that were chaperoning the kids. One of the teachers who rode past on a motorcycle actually turned around to the children and started shouting and waving like a lunatic!

He shouted: Anjing kat depan! Anjing kat depan! Tepi! Tepi! Tepi! Nanti kena gigit! Tepi! Tepi! Anjing kat depan! Nanti kena gigit! (Dogs up ahead! Dogs up ahead! Move! Move! Move! You'll get bitten!)

This ridiculous behaviour of the teacher got the kids into a right frenzy and they literally all started to run helter-skelter, and scream and shout hysterically as they passed us!

I nearly had a heart attack right there and glared at this stupid teacher! Seriously if my dogs were easily spooked or not as well trained, they would have most probably gotten very excited and may have actually bitten some of the kids.

I feel that as an adult the last thing that teacher should have done was to make the kids panic! He should have told them to walk by calmly and quietly instead of scaring them like he did. And the worst part of this fiasco, was that he rode away after shouting at the kids, instead of staying there to ensure that the kids were safe from my two "ferocious" dogs!

This is probably why so many kids react so badly when they see dogs or when a dog approaches them. Their reaction can cause them to be seriously hurt.

I hope that parents and teachers will actually teach their kids to react the correct way when faced with an unknown dog. Here are some tips on how to prevent being attacked or bitten by a dog!

Avoiding dog attacks

The following tips may help you avoid being attacked by a dog:

• Don't stare dogs in the eyes - dogs often feel as though you're challenging them when you make direct eye contact with them, so this should be avoided to reduce the risk of attack.
• STAND STILL - or maintain a constant slow pace while BACKING out of the dog's territory if you are withdrawing. Do not turn away from the dog.
• Never try to outrun a dog as this will provoke the dog to chase you and this can end in an attack.
• Start by slowly distancing yourself from the dog if it begins to approach you. Get something between yourself and it - for instance if you're on a bike, place the bike between you and the dog; if there is a tree post or bench, ensure they are between yourself and the dog. Once behind the object you can speak softly and gently to calm the dog.
• Do not use part of your body - e.g. an arm - to distance yourself from the dog as the dog may snap at you, causing injury.
• Keep a safe distance between yourself and dogs being walked on a lead, and always ask the owner's permission before approaching any dog.
• Be aware of areas that dogs frequent and change your route to avoid dogs which are not on leads. 

 

What to do if a dog attacks you

• Call 999 (or ask somebody else to) as soon as it is possible to do so. 
• Do not use part of your body - e.g. an arm - to distance yourself from the dog as the dog may snap at you, causing injury.
• If you are attacked or knocked to the ground, take measures to protect your face, neck and head by curling up in a ball and putting your hands on the back of your neck. Try to be still and do not wave your arms around.

 

ATTACKED!

Belle and Rascal in their Thundershirts which saved them from getting bitten

This morning, while I was walking Rascal and Belle, we were suddenly attacked by a huge, black German Shepherd!

I had stopped to let the kids have a sniff and was watching Belle (cause she has a tendency to pick up and eat rubbish) when I suddenly felt Rascal's lead stiffen! I turned to look and I saw a massive, black fur ball hurtling at us from across the road!

Playing with a German Shepherd puppy!

Before I could even react, the dog - a German Shepherd - was upon us! He basically charged us and was for some reason determined to grab Belle. He kept charging Belle and would not let up!

As you can imagine it was quite a situation. To their credit, Rascal and Belle held their own ground. In part, due to Rascal constantly trying to bite the GSD and Belle also fighting back, the GSD did not manage to really grab Belle.

And thankfully they both had their Thundershirts on this morning, so that also gave them an extra layer of protection (I normally don't put the Thundershirts on them on their walks but because they just had a bath yesterday, and it had rained heavily in the morning, I put it on them to prevent them from getting wet and dirty!). Can you imagine if they didn't have their Thundershirts on? The GSD's teeth would probably have sunk into them especially Rascal as he hardly has any fur!

So what did I do? I basically yelled at the dog to try and get him to back off. At the same time I tried to put myself between him and my kids (which of course may not seem like a very clever thing to do in hind sight) because as far as I was concerned they were my babies and I wasn't going to let them get hurt.

I knew that I had to do something more or we would have all been finished. So I decided that I had to kick him because I had my hands full - one lead in each hand - and I knew I couldn't drop the leads cause my kids may run onto the road and into on-coming traffic.

So I kept wedging myself between the kids and this GSD, and as soon as I could I yanked both kids back and landed a solid kick into his chest! That startled him and then I yelled at him to go away! And thankfully he did. He ran back across the road and disappeared!

I just hope that he didn't attack any other dogs or anyone else for that matter.

I took the kids home quickly and looked them over thoroughly. Thankfully they were not hurt at all although they were a few small tears in their Thundershirt.

Working with a Rottweiler

The reason I am sharing this story is because I feel that everyone should know what to do if something like this ever happened to them. In this case, I had to fight the dog (because he was attacking my dogs and I had no other alternative) although I normally would never advocate fighting or challenging a dog.

Additionally, should you ever decide to challenge a dog that is attacking you, you need to be very confident yourself. If you panic or show fear, the attacking dog will be even braver!

Note that probably one of the reasons why I was able to get the dog off my kids was because I did not panic and I was not afraid of him. I have dealt with many dogs in my lifetime and I have dealt with many breeds that are deemed dangerous, and therefore have an advantage over the situation where most people would not have.

Fun time with a German Shepherd cross

In my other blog, I have written a few articles on Aggressive dogs and How to Prevent Dog Bites etc. Please do share these articles with your friends to prevent any untoward incidents.

With a Bull Mastiff - another "dangerous breed"

However, what I would like to highlight here is that this German Shepherd behaved the way that he did because his owner has never been able to control him.

We have seen him on our walks every now and then, and it's a constant battle between him and his owner. Additionally his owner is quite strange and in my opinion encourages his dog's bad behaviour.

Every time the dog sees any other dog, he would bark incessantly and lunge madly. The owner never seems to be able to control the dog, and sometimes I see the owner doing really weird things like squatting down and banging his shoe on the ground when the dog is in that heightened state. It has always seemed to me that he was goading the dog on.

I have wanted to speak to the guy for some time now, but of course I have never been able to because his dog is always in a crazed state! And whenever I do see them, I always have at least 2 of my kids with me and therefore cannot risk approaching them.

Douglas and I drove around the neighbourhood this afternoon in an attempt to locate this dog and his owner, but unfortunately we were unable to find them. I will definitely talk to this guy the next time I see him though. I dread to think what would happen to the poor dog if he did attack a person and caused injury or worse, if he attacked a child!

With an Anatolian Shephered Cross - a very powerful dog

So I just want to re-emphasise to all of you, who may be quick to judge and state that all dogs are bad or that certain breeds are killer dogs and should be banned, to understand that a dog's behaviour is usually shaped by humans. In my book, dogs are not born bad. They become bad because we make them bad.

BONES HAS FOUND HER FOREVER HOME

This is a quick update on Bones:

I have been meaning to post this for sometime now but just never got round to it for several reasons...Anyway, Bones was adopted at the end of November last year by a really nice family. They were undoubtedly very concerned about her history and went to great lengths to ensure that Bones would adapt well in their family.

They came to visit Bones prior to adopting her and spent a couple of hours just sitting down and waiting for her to warm up to them. Then they agreed to a couple of play sessions at their home to enable Bones to get used to their home, before we dropped Bones off with them as a new member of their family.

Anyway, here are some pictures of Bones with her new family...

Bones - checking out her new home

Bones - getting the grand tour from her new human sister

 

Bones playing with Benny - her new brother

Bones waiting in the bushes to ambush Benny

KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE THIS CHINESE NEW YEAR

It's Chinese New Year Eve today and many of us will be home with our families to usher in the new Dragon year. And of course, one of highlights of the Chinese New Year celebrations is fireworks!

While fireworks may be exhilarating for us humans, it can be quite terrifying for our pets, both cats and dogs alike. So folks, please ensure that your pets are safe tonight.

Put your cats in cages and cover the cages to give them a sense of security. 

Ensure that your dog is secured and has a safe place to "hide". If your dog is crate trained, put him in his crate before the fireworks start.  And give him a nice treat to chew on and keep him occupied. If you have a Thundershirt, put it on before the fireworks as well to help keep your dog calm.
 

It is important to secure your pets to prevent them from getting frightened and disoriented, which may cause them to try to find somewhere to hide and in that process either get lost or injure themselves.

And in the mean time Happy Chinese New Year folks.

CLICKER TRAINING WITH BONES

BONES HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY A LOVELY FAMILY

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 Please help us find a good home for Bones. She is a fantastic puppy who will make a loyal companion in return for a little love and affection.

Please call me at 016-3228816 or email cleopatrathelabrador@gmail.com to adopt her.

BONES NEEDS A HOME

BONES HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY A LOVELY FAMILY

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Please email me at cleopatrathelabrador@gmail.com if you can give Bones a loving home.

BONES IS STILL LOOKING FOR A FOREVER HOME

BONES HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY A LOVELY FAMILY

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Bones is still looking for a forever home. She has come a long way from when we first rescued her, and she really deserves a good family who will look after her and love her. Please email me at cleopatrathelabrador@gmail.com

PLEASE GIVE BONES A HOME

BONES HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY A LOVELY FAMILY

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Age: 3/4 months
Sex: Female
Breed: Mixed
Dewormed: Yes
Vaccinated: No (will be vaccinated soon)

If you would like to adopt Bones, please email Natasha at cleopatrathelabrador@gmail.com

BONES IS MUCH BETTER

So we picked Bones up a week ago, and we weren't sure if she would make it. She was severely malnourished and dehydrated, she had a massive maggot wound on her face, and her body temperature was well below normal. After round the clock care - 5 small meals of keeble, boiled chicken and yoghurt; hot water bottles and Oxyfresh, she is now starting to look and behave like a puppy should... YAY!!!

She went for a blood test on Friday and we'll be picking up the results this week. Hope she gets the all clear. 

Bones 13/9 (2 days after we picked her up)

Bones 16/9

Bones today 18/9 - not quite so bony now :)

Bones playing with Cleo

Her wound is also healing very nicely... :)