10 Things I Love & Learn From My Dog!

“Eat when you’re hungry; Sleep when you’re tired.” ~ Zen Teaching

Some of the greatest lessons one learns are learnt from the simplest of truths. Have you heard the above Zen teaching before? Simple isn’t it! And the most beautiful things that we fall in love with also similarly seem to come easily when we open our eyes to the beauty in simple things. Ever took a moment to watch birds or the sunset from your terrace?! And if you learn and love at the same time, it’s got to be with your DOG! 

Here are 10 things I love & learn from my dog:

1. Everyday is a New Beginning!
No matter if its rain or shine, every day for my dog is a brand new beginning. He struts to life with a zeal and enthusiasm that is infectious. 

2. Live in the Moment!
He lives in the moment. 
One moment, he gets disappointed that the bird he tried to catch flew away, 
one moment he is taken aback when I firmly command him to stay by my side when on a walk, 
one moment, he gets startled or fearful due to a loud noise.... 
and the very next moment he is back to his cheerful ways without a care in the world!

3. Lively, Spontaneous, Mischievous!
It’s as if he has taken the responsibility to keep life positive through his lively and mischievous acts. Spontaneity keeps him (and me!) interested in his next moves and playful grooves. There is never a dull moment. Such moments are utilized in recuperating and rejuvenating the body, mind and soul to get back to one’s mindless happy life!

4. Eat, Play, Love!
Ask any Lab owner and they will tell you what they’ve learnt about eating from their dog. And given a chance they play and expend all their energy (and so are fit and healthy). It’s the simplest rule when it comes to food and exercise!

5. Self-Belief!
Have you noticed how a small breed doggie could easily tame or subdue a much larger breed with his confidence? It’s an amazing lesson about self-belief. 

6. Look Cute When You’ve Goofed!
A funny lesson but works really well (practically speaking). Goofed up on something? simply roll your eyes, look cute and plead with love. Most hearts would melt even without a word being spoken. [This is as opposed to the defensive cloak many of us wear when caught on the wrong foot]

7. Explore New Possibilities!
He’s never afraid to put his wet nose to a new object. Given a chance he would take a bite too. How often one stops short of greatness simply by not treading unchartered paths!

8. Repetition begets Mastery!
We did this as children. How do we grow out of the ability to do something we love repeatedly? Imagine the results if we could relearn that! So just go find something you like and do it to your hearts content. 

9. Fun sometimes requires getting soiled!
He doesn’t need a swimming pool. A muddy puddle will do just fine. He could turn that into a most amazing pool of heavenly bliss. I learn to find joy in the simplest things in life.

10. Stand up for what you believe!
How often we hesitate to speak up for ourselves. I find no dog who would hesitate to bark up a riot to make his point clear!

And no post on my dog is complete without mentioning the one quality that got his kind closer to ours and teaches us to this day what makes us human: Loyalty and Trust. He trusts me completely and stays true to me in his every breath. Even though he may not say it in words, his every action speaks volumes.

I Love You dearly Buster! Thank you for making my life so much more full of joy. I dedicate this to every dog owner who would certainly vouch for these experiences with their own pooches. 

Cute Pooches, Cuter Gestures!!

One turns into an instant celebrity when he / she brings a dog into their homes. I remember the first day after bringing Buster (my cute Pug) home, when I returned from work. He was so delirious with excitement and joy he truly did not know what to do! He was running all round and in circles, shouting and yelping in joy with frequent kisses to my cheeks! It was amazing! This continues to this day!!

Couple of days back, I noticed a very usual gesture and I realized that I should write on these little cute things our dogs do that just makes us go weak in our knees and melt in love. These day's Buster comes to office with me. I get this hunch that he thinks likewise about me accompanying him! Anyways, toward the end of day he sits in my office and as I wrap up for the day he just seems to sit disinterested in the immediate surroundings, occupied in his own thoughts...I guess of saving the world and other significant ideas. The moment I am done he immediately gets up in excited anticipation of the drive back home. It could be the end of a call or shutting down the laptop, I just don't know...but every day he KNOWS even before I actually get to leave!

And the look on his face!!! :) :) Its almost like he's saying, "A'rite! So let's get goin'"!!As I thought about this I recall many similar gestures and events with my pooch.

• Buster is blissfully unaware that he is a pug and he may be talking to 'bigger' dogs like German Shepherds and Labs, especially when we are at Petspace. Somehow he has picked up that we or rather 'he' owns the place and has undertaken the responsibility of keeping the dogs in line, ensuring that they wait for their turn to eat, to be petted etc. Of course, the turn is a simple rule "after him" :)
• He can eat! Yes! Ask even the Lab owners and they will tell you this. He can eat. It doesn’t matter if he just finished his 'lunch'. You offer him and he shall take it as if he was never fed for days! These guys are the cutest foodies in town. He even knows his dinner time and will scratch on the door till his dinner is served. And yes...he is one dog who only drinks water from a cup just like humans without spilling!!
• He loves to trouble Misty, my Cat. She is a princess who sits in all majesty....until Buster gets bored with the usual games. Then he is on to her and would trouble her unless she climbs on to a higher ground (read table tops or shelves!). There is a reason why God didn't give dogs the ability to climb like cats...
                                      
• Now a days he has become such a lazy pug (what with the rains), he is all tucked in his bed and he is so lazy to get up and welcome people that he just lies there wagging his tail or making cute noises.

And I can go on and on and on.... I am sure that you would have splendid moments with your own dogs and his / her cute gestures too. Feel free to share 'em.

Amazing & Amusing Dog Tales!!!

"Laughter is the best Medicine" they say. This one is dedicated to all those lovely pooches and is a collection of some Amazing Dog stories and a few Amazing Stories of dogs!

How it came about was - while talking with a friend I heard a couple of bizarre stories of dogs from her life. It just got me thinking and I saw the doggie club at Petspace assume a new color schema. Presenting some of the finest...:)
[Note: All pics have been taken from the net to protect the identity of our pet guests ;) ]
Read on...!

The Hermit: (This one from the friend)
There was this dog that would on each Friday morning come up to the owner and take a rudraksha garland (rosary) and actually keep twirling it in his mouth giving the illusion of doing prayers!!








The Companion (Again from a friend)
The owner was a compulsive drinker and many a night he would lose his ground and grounding and fall just before he reached his home. His dog would actually come pull him to a 'safe' corner and sit by his side till he woke up from his stupor!


Now for some tales from closer home (Petspace)


The Shrewd:
We were trying to train a German Shepherd. The deal was to shake hands with the person he was meeting and greeting. We rewarded him with his favorite goodies. Within a while he caught on. He would do it accurately...and WHENEVER HE wanted the goody treat, he would shake hands with me and ask for the treat by pointing to where the packet was kept! :)



The Dude!
I mean with due respects, we know that when a doggie decides to sit lazily (which is rare) he just sits tight. So here was this amazing 'dude' who couldn't care less for the worries of the world and the only thing that got him to his feet would be the presence of a female in the yard! Suddenly we would discover the latent athlete in the making! Lol!!






The Leader!

My cute pug, when he is with me, BELIEVES that pugs in general and he in particular RULE the world. He would immediately start bossing over and acting as the quasi supervisor of Petspace! My able assistant, I love the coochy and his leadership!




The Follower!
There are these wonder-struck cuties that arrive at Petspace and who for some reason turn into fanatic followers of mine. The simplest way to get them into their kennels at night is to simply walk around (they would be at my heels), walk into the kennels and then walk out leaving them inside. That cute look saying, "You got me" that they wear whenever I do this is so SWEET I can barely leave!!! :)





The Roller!
Give a lab some mud, dirt and add a little water to the mixture. Boy! Do they love to ROLL in the mud. I have had these nice white and bright puppies turn into unrecognizable brown babies in minutes. If not for their eyes it would practically be impossible for even their owners to identify them. Luckily, these chaps love water and so the bath! The unending sequence: Whiteness - roll in the mud - turn brown - bath & more play in water - Shine white and bright again!!






The Nibblers!
All pups bite when they are teething. We know this. Some dogs, even huge and grown ones, simply believe that they are still cute koochies who are teething eternally! Sometimes it is startling when a big dog takes my hand in his mouth, even though I realize that it is just an affectionate nibble!!

The Rockers!
I'd heard of a Japanese dog that had a preference for music. I have seen my fair share and I totally agree that there is a bunch of Rock music fans out there in the dog world. Give him his bone and some metal to go with and you have a happy, rocking dog!




The Movers!
Yeah! We pay 'em packers and movers to do a similar job. But when your little stuff gets relocated and sometimes to secure, unfound locations it can get really interesting. How often have you had your dog move or take some object and put it among his toys or in some nondescript corner of your house. The vast area in Petspace gives them ample space to play hide and let us seek!! :)


and...



The Shakers!
From tugging at our furniture to rocking us when they greet us with glee, our pets sure do know the way to shake a leg! Of course, the funny part is that they don't seem to care if the leg is yours! I have a dog and a cat who scratch at my door and actually insist that I let them in!


This is just part-I of this series. Maybe next time I'll present specific anecdotes with names of each of these adorable darlings that make our lives so beautiful in such inspiring ways as written above (and more...)
Do feel free to share your own stories and experiences...

BIRTHDAY CHOCOLATE!!!

AND ON THE EIGHTH DAY GOD CREATED CHOCOLATE.... ~ Daniel L. Worona

Quite literally in this case as Chocolate's birthday is indeed EIGHTH March! :)

Chocolate's fifth birthday was celebrated here at Petspace. In attendance were his doggie and human friends and...yummy yummy food not to mention music and FUN. A loving Mom, Rachana baked the Birthday cake as well as took care of all the arrangements along with dad Anurag. It was really sweet to see the family and the love that spilled over and filled Petspace and my heart too. My most hearty wishes and love to Chocolate.

About an year ago, Rachana brought in a most beautiful Golden Retriever with a lovely bronze-gold coat to Petspace. I was even more thrilled to know that he was named Chocolate! As if it was required to feel the irresistible love and attraction to this cutie.

It’s always a pleasure to interact with Chocolate. Like all Golden's go, he is very friendly and affectionate with humans. He is such a 'cuddle-bear' wanting to be petted all the time. He has learnt that he can melt any human's heart to do his bidding by demonstrating his routine of - sit, offering his right paw, his left paw and even standing on his two feet!!!. When he came here for the first time he was not so comfortable with other dogs. That has now changed considerably. Do you know how common it is for people to bring in dogs that (as they put it) 'think they are humans and look with wonderment at the other dogs'!! Well....that's not a stretch, certainly that’s how Chocolate looks and behaves with other dogs:). He is content watching the dogs at play and only when a desirable female come along he moves from his perch!

Interestingly, I came across another quote that went:

THE 12-STEP CHOCOHOLICS PROGRAM: Never be more than 12 steps away from Chocolate!

~ Daniel L. Worona
Lemma 11.9: You can never be more than 12 steps away from Chocolate!

~ Hema :)

Doggie Boarding tips

At times, it is heart wrenching to see the plight of pet owners having to drop their furry companion off at a boarding facility. I have myself gone through these emotions and I fully understand what they are going through . A pleasurable boarding experience is the result of the owner and the boarding staff working in the interest of the pet. I get asked a lot about the preparations that needs to be made before you drop your pet off and what to expect in a boarding.

• If your dog has never been boarded before, consider few hours of day care as well as at least one overnight boarding prior to the actual stay. This acclimatises the dog to the new environment and the staff. It also gives an opportunity to the owner to give any feedback to the staff and vice versa.
• Get your dog used to other dogs, people, new environments, travelling in a car/vehicle and most importantly eating independently (At Petspace we do hand-feed the dogs that do not eat on their own, but some dogs look for their owners to hand feed them).
• Ensure that all his immunizations are current and that he is not suffering from any contagious disease.
• Get your dog on an anti-tick/flea treatment as a preventive. Tick collars and spot-on applicators are effective.
• Get your dog dewormed regularly.
• Bring any familiar clothing/object that smells of home.
• If your dog gets anxious seeing you pack, bring the dog in before the suitcases come out! The less stressed the dog is, he will adjust faster.
• Let the staff know in case your dog has any abnormal fears (water, birds etc), allergies (wheat, milk etc) or has any medical condition (such as epilepsy, hip dysplasia etc).
• Arrive as early as possible in the day, so the pet has enough outside time to make new friends before “lights out”.
• Dogs sense and reflect our feelings; don’t allow a family member to stage an emotional farewell. Keep your good-byes short and happy. Most dogs view their boarding stay as a vacation.
• While at boarding, eating habits of dogs may change – some eat a lot, while some may reduce their food intake. Some dogs tend to gain weight while some tend to lose weight running around with other dogs having a great time.
• It would be best if the dog is kept on the same diet as at home.
• Some dogs do not eat for the first day in a new environment.
• Most dogs sleep a lot for the first couple of days after they return home.
• Your dog will be very excited when you pick him up. Do not feed him for a couple hours as excessive food and water consumption may cause issues as the dog is in a very excited state.

As always, feel free to call us at 9900020364 for any suggestions or information.

Infectious Tracheobronchitis (Kennel Cough)

Today I’m gonna write about Kennel Cough…an infection that has been prevalent at times in our city. Read on to know some more about the symptoms, causes and possible resolutions to this common disease.
Kennel Cough is a fairly common ailment in dogs and is mostly seen in spring and summer. A talk with the vets confirms that the virus is “in the air” in Bangalore. If your dog does develop kennel cough, don’t panic! The way this illness operates is analogous to the common cold that we humans sometimes catch. Although kennel cough can sound terrible, most of the time it is not a serious condition.

What is Kennel Cough?

Kennel Cough is caused by an airborne virus (parainfluenza) or bacteria called Bordetella which is highly contagious. Transmission of both the Parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bacteria occurs primarily by dog to dog contact or contact with aerosolized droplets (airborne transmission). The Bordetella bacteria resides in almost every dog, however a good immune system keeps the bacteria under control. A low immune system or stress can trigger bordetella to take hold and causes infection. Anytime your dog is in the vicinity of an infected dog, there is a potential for infection. The incubation period is 4-10 days, meaning your dog will not display signs of illness for 4-10 days following exposure to the virus. However, after the infection has been resolved, the affected animal will continue to shed the bacteria for 6 to 14 weeks and can spread the disease to other susceptible animals during that time.

People tend to associate it with dogs that have been in a boarding kennel. But your dog need not be in a kennel to catch the cough. The healthier the dog the best chance he has of getting rid of the disease fast, or not getting it at all. That is why the best thing is to build your dog’s immune system with a healthy diet. This is also the reason for not every dog in the kennel (or house) getting infected if there is an outbreak.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptom is a dry hacking cough. Your dog will start coughing a lot, with a sound that seems as if he has something stuck in his throat. He will usually cough up phlegm after rounds of cough. As long as the colour of the phlegm is light and he seems to be in good spirits, the disease will probably take its course and go away in about 10 days with good care. A watery nasal discharge may also be present. With mild cases, dogs continue to eat and be alert and active. If the dog still shows the symptoms of kennel cough after 3 weeks and if he becomes weak or has dark phlegm, then he will need to be treated immediately, as he has probably developed a secondary bacterial infection which could be fatal if left untreated.

What precautions do we take at Petspace?

• Kennels have very good ventilation and are disinfected with germicide daily.
• Any dog that is found having the symptoms is quarantined immediately.
• Food/water bowls are kept separate for each dog, in their kennel.
• No common water bowls or balls or toys in the play areas.
• If the owner so chooses, there is an option of not socializing the dog, but is given adequate time out in the open alone.

Please feel free to contact us on advice or inputs regarding Kennel Cough: info@Petspace.in

Ceaseless Caesar & Tireless Cyrus!!

“Who said the search is still on for an unending source of energy? Haven’t you met children or puppies!!”


Yep! There is the quote for this post. And it isn’t from some famous, long gone philanthropist. It’s from a simple doggone woman staring speechlessly at two mischievous pups running amok: Me!

I’ve cultivated this rare skill of feeling the temperament of a dog even as he walks in for the first time. There it was! I knew there was something in him when Caesar the 3 month old Beagle strutted into Petspace. And yet, for the first day he was quiet. My sixth sense foretold me of the storm that comes after the calm. I waited for the entire day. Nothing happened.

The next day a cute little 3 month old Golden Retriever, Cyrus, joined the party. He looked and felt like a walking, running Teddy Bear! I could just forget myself as I stood cuddling him and pampering him with love. The minute he entered the play area, Caesar started troubling him like he was an old pal who just had to be harassed!

The first day went with Cyrus playing the underdog. May be he was just too taken in by the excitement in Caesar to even react. I guess the long hours of the night made for some quite resolve and planning from his side. The next day onwards started this non-stop play between the two pups! They would just go on and on and on…

At some point I thought, maybe I should play the referee and induce a little break time between rounds. What does a woman do, when she looks into the eyes of a cute little Beagle with the most precious eyes, like he was wearing kajal! Believe me, every one remarked on this feature of Caesar. Besides, I have not met anyone and I certainly am not the one who could look at a Teddy Bear and feel even an iota of strictness or firmness.

And so, for the 10 days of their stay, we were witness to the longest ever bouts of unstoppable play. As the self-appointed Ref, I concluded that the ‘game was the winner’ at the end.

Watch the video clips of the two of them at it on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/petspace.in

I’m sure it gives some clue of how CUTE they could be if you held them in your hands and looked them in the eye… phew! There I go…weak in my knees at the very thought!!! :)

Of Cats & Dogs!!

“Dogs come when called. Cats take a message and get back to you.”
A Very Happy New Year to All!! :)

The run up to the New Year at Petspace was quite a nice play of coincidence. It rained ‘cats & dogs’ as we neared the big NY day. And we had cats & dogs boarded too! I’ve written a lot about dogs so will write about cats in this post.

Being a dog and cat owner myself it just felt nice to connect with these amazing beings filled with so much love. Recently, I came across these ‘Cat Laws’ and one of them read: Curiosity never killed anything except maybe a few hours. Watching Wally, a (Siberian looking) Persian kitty walking around exploring my office at Petspace made me agree with that law totally.

He walked with an ease and fluidity of movement that only cats could possess. He looked at the curtain drapes and with the alacrity of a seasoned gymnast used it with finesse to sit on my desk looking into my eyes and purring his messages softly. Even as I sat mesmerized he took a walk around as if inspecting the place and being satisfied with what he saw made himself comfortable allowing my calls to him be recorded in the ‘answering machine’ inside his mind!

I’m sure you’ve seen the movie ‘Cats & Dogs’ and the hilarious spoof of the wondrous Bond & other Secret Agent movies with new 4 legged characters. While dogs shower us with their attention and love I do believe there is great merit in owning a cat. Just remember that a) To a Cat, “No” means “Not while I am looking!” and b) Anything not nailed down is a Cat Toy & c) After dark all cats are leopards (Native American proverb) :)

Hmm! And what can I say about those many dogs that made my New Year ever more special. The calmness and peace of cats is matched by the excitement and verve of the dog family. They ushered in the new year at Petspace with their trademark barks and wags! It is at once an overwhelming and exulting feeling to watch 15 or so dogs running to greet you every time you walk up to them. No wonder Aldous Huxley explained the popularity of dogs thus: ‘To every dog his owner is Napolean’.

While Bangalore welcomed NY2012 with rains like cats and dogs, I welcomed it with them :)

Sitting with Buster and Misty I also realized that it’s true what they say: “Dogs believe they are human; Cats know they are Divine”. Well, whether you have one of these ‘humans’ or ‘Divine’ in your home, here’s wishing you ALL a very, very HAPPY NEW YEAR! Haffun! :)