Cute Hush Puppy dog!

Small, short-legged, scent hound…the Basset Hound is known for both his sense of smell and long hanging ears that sweep the ground!

What’s in a name: The name Basset is derived from French word bas which means ‘low.’ Bassets do have very short legs that keep them low to the ground. Originally bred for tracking hare and rabbit.

Historical connections: Basset Hounds came into the limelight as a popular dog breed during the time of Emperor Napoleon III in France. Famous French sculptor Emmanuel Fremiet, who is known widely for his sculpture of Joan of Arc in Paris, exhibited the emperor’s Basset Hounds at Paris Salon in the year 1853. After a decade, the breed gained global recognition.

For once, wrinkles are cool: Their hanging skin structure gives them a wrinkled and sad but cute look.

Ears… not just for listening: The long trailing ears of Basset Hounds are more than the hearing purpose. This breed with powerful nose uses his floppy ears, which usher on the floor while sniffing, to trap the scent of the thing or object he is tracking after.

Nose… best in the town: Being a breed bred for hunting, Basset Hounds boast of their strong scent power. Even in the indoors, these hound dogs are famous for their ability to detect any eatable items abandoned recklessly somewhere around. Hunters take the advantage of this breed’s sniffing competence to lead them to the direction where lie the objects of their interest.

Don’t go by their size: These dwarf dogs are extremely tall for their stature. They can reach things on tables which other dogs of their size cannot.

United colours of Bassets: Coat colours of Basset Hounds are varied from one country to another. But their common and usual colour is a tricolour of black, tan and white or bicolour of tan and white. Popular tan coloured coat of the breed can have colour variations from reddish brown and red to lemon. But the combination of lemon and white is quite a rare colour.

Excellent pets: They love people and are extremely good with children. They are loyal to their pet parents and hate to be alone.

Love to talk: They love to talk…howl, bark, whine…they use different sounds to express.

Take care of the ears: Their ears need to be clean and dry to avoid infections and ear mites. Their long ears can also fall into the food bowl; puppies can trip over them and bite their ears. Hence, give special attention to their ears while grooming.

Give attention to the eyes: Bassets have droopy eyes and can collect dirt and mucous. Wipe them with a clean damp cloth every day.

Sitting pretty on a logo: The logo of Hush Puppies brand of shoes features a Basset Hound named Jason.

Popular Bassets: Right from Emperor Napoleon and Queen Alexandra upto US President George Washington were blessed with Basset Hounds. The US President was gifted a Basset Hound for his hunting expeditions.

As they were bred to hunt in packs they are very social and gentle.

Famous Bassets 
Be it in TV series, music videos, advertisements, magazines… Basset Hounds have made widely acclaimed global reputation. Elvis Presley’s famous song Hound Dog was dedicated to a Basset Hound named Sherlock. The classic TV series Lassie featured a Basset named Pokey who was a close friend of Lassie, a long-haired Collie. Time magazine in 1928 carried a Basset Hound on its front cover on the occasion of the 52nd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show held at Madison Square Garden, Manhattan. Some of the famous Basset Hounds in movies are Lafayette in The Aristocrats; Toby in Great Mouse Detective; Buster in Toy Story 2 & 3, to name a few!

True Terriers!

Energetic, intelligent, athletic, fearless…a Jack Russell Terrier never tires easily…these little bundles of energy are suited to different dog sports such as flyball or agility.

Popular Jack Russell Terriers…

Born hunter: Jack Russell Terriers were bred to hunt down foxes which escaped and hid underground during hunt.

Pooch in the iconic HMV logo: You all must have seen the logo of HMV (His Master’s Voice), wherein a dog is looking and listening to a phonograph. Well, that dog is Nipper, a Jack Russell Terrier.

First pooch to travel to both North and South Poles: In 1982, Bothy, a Jack Russell, owned by explorers Ranulph and Ginny Fiennes, became the first dog to travel to both the north and south poles.

The saviour pooch: George, a Jack Russell, saved five children from pit bulls attack at a carnival in New Zealand. He was posthumously awarded the PDSA Gold Medal in 2009. People in Manaia, New Zealand pay tribute to him at his statue built in his memory.

Pics courtesy: Sue Anne Wilson

Paw stars: Whether it is Bear, Gene Hackman’s pet in the 1995 movie Crimson Tide or Max, who played the role of Milo, Jim Carrey’s (Stanley Ipkiss) only friend in the 1994 movie The Mask, Jack Russell Terriers know how to rule our hearts. Other famous movies featuring Jack Russells include Mr Accident (2000), Hotel for Dogs (2009), Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009) and Beginners (2010).

More recently, Uggie, another Jack Russell Terrier, featured in two blockbusters – Water for Elephants and The Artist. The campaign ‘Consider Uggie’ was launched in December 2011 on Facebook for Uggie to receive a real or an honorary Oscar nomination. However, Uggie received a special mention at the Prix Lumière Awards in France and the Palm Dog Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

The pooch in the book: Published by Scholastic, Jack Russell: Dog Detective is a series of adventures of a Jack Russell dog and his friends. This book is authored by Darrell and Sally Odgers.

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Strange facts about Jack Russell

Pics courtesy: Sue Anne Wilson

Some unusual things revolve around Jack Russell which we have not paid much attention! Let’s find them out.

• Jack Russell boasts of amazing agility as this small breed can jump five feet high fences easily.
• Having bred with hunting instinct, Jack Russell chases his prey even beneath the ground by digging. His thick waterproof coat helps him in this task.
• A female Jack Russell named Tillie paints with her paws and claw strokes. She conducted 17 solo painting exhibitions at Milan, Amsterdam, Brussels and Bermuda and sold more than 100 paintings.
• The National Geographic Channel documented a Jack Russell called Tokkolas who nurtured a lion cub and a cheetah cub as mother.

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Some quick facts...

Size: 10-15 inches
Colour: White with black and/or tan markings
Coat: Smooth, rough or combination of both (broken coat)
Bred for: Fox hunting
Demanaour: Friendly and outgoing behaviour
Life with Jack Russell: True companions
Exercise: Regular exercise a must
Grooming: Very little and easy to groom
Apartment life: Fine, if exercised properly

New Year’s resolutions of a pet parent

The old year, for better or worse, is gone… the New Year has arrived. Here’s our chance to start fresh, to have another shot at success...at glory...at just accomplishing what we resolve to.

We all love our doggies…we pamper them and try to give them the best, but sometimes we forget to take care of their basic needs...we are either too busy or ignorant about some of their requirements.

Bruno

As a pet parent, here are some of the New Year’s resolutions I would like to take for the love of my pet:

• No matter how much I love my sleep, I will get up in the morning and take Jimmy out for his daily walk.
  
• I will be careful not to leave anything around that seems harmless to me but can be harmful to my doggy. In short, I will pet proof my home now.
  
• My friend Jimmy is a Pomeranian but there are many facts about him that I still do not know. I will try to read more about the Poms and be a better pet parent (though I think I am a fairly food pet parent!).
  
• Even thogh I love to groom my pet, I sometimes just let Jimmy have his way due to dearth of time. But now, I will groom him everyday.
  
• Though I never leave Jimmy alone, still I will put an identification tag around his neck, just in case he decides to explore the streets alone.
  
• I will teach a new trick to Jimmy, which can be fun for both of us.
  
• I will spend atleast one hour of unadulterated fun time with Jimmy.
  
• I dread visiting a doctor but still I will take my Jimmy for his regular check-ups to his vet.
  
• I will make a resolution not to give him table scraps, which are not good for his health.
  
• I will feed a stray animal everyday. After all, they also need our love and care to live in this world…and not to forget, they guide our housing societies in return of nothing.

New Year’s resolutions of Jimmy, my canine friend

• I’ll remember that the ‘oh so tempting’ dustbin contains things to throw and is not a plaything.
  
• Before entering the home, I will shake off rainwater off my coat and clean my paws on the doormat.
  
• I will not look at my pet parents with adorable eyes when they are eating that delicious kebab cake.
  
• I will not chew the ever-delicious crayons or pens.
  
• On a drive, I will not insist on having the car windows rolled down.
  
• I will remember not to pull on the leash even if I see my beautiful Jane passing by.
  
• I will not run out every time the gate opens (though I would love to!).

Committed to love, committed to your pooch!!!

January 

New Year resolutions

This new year (and all those that will follow), let’s resolve to be as committed to our pooches as they are to us. Since they depend on us for all their needs, it is our responsibility to take care of them in the best possible way. Well, it’s a small price we pay for their unconditional love and care!!!

February 

Valentine pooch

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate all your loved ones and pooches definitely need to be pampered and loved on this special day. Make the day special for him – take him to a garden – let him romp and play, buy him a gift he loves (a treat or a toy), take him out for a ride – in fact, do whatever you think will raise his spirits high!

March

Colourful ‘Holi’ pooch

Holi is the festival of colours but we all know, colours can be harmful to our pooches. So, how can we celebrate this festival? Well, you can add colours to the life of a pooch in need– that little dog on your street who keeps looking for food in the garbage cans or the big dog that sleeps under your car. Get them vaccinated and sterilized, give them food and clean water – simply bring out the compassion in you!

April 

Begin anew

With April comes Baisakhi, beginning of a new solar year, and new harvest season…a day to rejoice! If you wish to bring home a pooch, why not do it now! If you already are blessed with a pooch, spend some quality time with him, pamper him or simply love him.

May

Vacation pooch

Since May marks the beginning of the summer vacations for kids, it is the best time to plan a vacation from the busy and sometimes mundane life. Look for a pet-friendly place and bring home beautiful memories of the precious family time spent together!

June

Summer ‘n’ shine pooch

Summers can be too harsh on the pooches. Take good care of them, give them plenty of water to drink, provide them a cool place to stay, do not exercise them in sunny hours, watch out for symptoms of heat stroke…our responsible pet parents do know how to take care of our pooches!!!

July 

Tick-free pooch

With rains come the dreadful ticks and fleas problems. Keep your pooch dry, groom him regularly, remove any ticks you find, consult your veterinarian for an effective ticks and fleas treatments.

August 

Best bro pooch

Raksha Bandhan is the festival of siblings. Encourage your children to develop a loving bond with your pooch. Let them treat their pets as their siblings. This love and compassion will go a long way in building your kids as responsible and loving individuals.

September 

Canine heroes

The world cannot forget the tragedy of 9/11 (2001) and the role our canine heroes played in rescuing the victims.

Yes, dogs are our best friends and time and again, they prove it all along. Love your dog and cherish the bond you share.

October 

Festive pooch

October is the festive month – songs & dance at the famous Navratras & Diwali. Have a dancing twosome pair – you and your pooch and enjoy the festival of lights with care.

November

Celebrating pooch

The last two months of the calendar are filled with a lot of occasions to celebrate – Id, Christmas, New Year, etc. Let your buddy enjoy to his fill, just take care of what he’s eating and pet proof your home at this time as well. Do not leave anything harmful in their reach – the decorations, lights, candles – all need to be put at a safe distance. Enjoy the festivals together, let the spirits be high!

December 

Cold but comfy pooch

Your pooches need a lot of care in winter season. Keep them warm, use a dog coat if required. Give them a nice cozy place to sit and sleep. Take care of their food and keep them safe away from chilly winds. Play some indoor games with him, chill out inside homes when the temperature dips!

A-Z of pooch love and care

Agility

A mentally-stimulating dog sport in which a dog handler directs a dog through an obstacle course. A perfect showcase of man-canine co-ordination through voice, body and movement!

Bed

Your pooch’s bed is his personal space – get him a warm, cosy bed according to his size with washable covers. Keep his bed clean and put it in sunlight from time to time to deodorise it. Gift him a comfy lil’ space of his own!

Chewing

Pups love to chew to explore new tastes. They sometimes chew to relieve pain and discomfort due to teething. At times, they just chew out of boredom, anxiety or stress. Poor nutrition can also make him chew. So, give him a well-balanced diet and invest in some good chew toys for him.

Deworming

It is very important to deworm your pooch from time to time, not just for puppies but also for adult dogs as well. Puppies should be dewormed at the age of three weeks. Consult your vet and get a deworming schedule designed for your beloved pooch. A must for dog care!

Eating habits

Develop healthy eating habits in your pooch right from the start. Feed him a well-balanced nutritious diet as prescribed by your vet. Feed him dog food only; do not give him table scraps. Let him eat right – today and all tomorrows!

Food bowl

Choose a food bowl according to your pooch’s size, breed and health condition. Metallic bowls are preferred over plastic bowl as plastic bowls can harbour bacteria. An elevated bowl will be a good idea for large dogs and those suffering from back problems. And you thought your pooch’s food bowl is just a bowl!

Grooming

We all know the benefits of grooming – it makes them look good and keeps them healthy. The ideal grooming routine should include brushing, bathing, conditioning the coat, drying, nail clipping, cleaning eyes and ears, etc. The frequency of bath would depend on your pooch’s breed and his living conditions. So, spruce up your pooch today!

Home

Dog proof your home to avoid dangerous situations for your pooch. Stack away all medicines, keep poisonous plants at bay and all those electrical cords far away. Give your pooch a nice cosy place to rest and never leave him alone outside. Your home is his haven – make it one for him!

Inflammations and infections

Dog ear inflammations and infections are common ear problems to watch out for.

Jumping

This is one of the common problems pet parents face. Discourage your dog when he jumps to welcome you. Fold your arms and look away. Do not look at him, touch him or talk to him. Simply ignore him. He will get the message that you do not like his behaviour. Next time, when he welcomes you without jumping on you, reward him with treat or praise.

Kibble

Dry dog food or kibble is balanced and complete with all nutrients good for feeding your dog daily.

Leash walking

Whenever you take your dog out, put him on a leash as this curious boy can wander around, chasing things which may or may not be within his reach. So, walk him on a leash! Make sure his leash is long, so he can sniff to his heart’s content.

Mental stimulation

A pooch needs to be mentally stimulated to be happy. Give him toys to play, take him out for walks, let him exercise or romp in the garden. Love him, pamper him, and keep boredom at bay!

Noise

Your pooch is very sensitive to noise; keep him away from loud noise.

Obesity

Like us, pooches too can become obese, which in turn can cause various health problems. Consult your pet and get a proper diet and exercise plan for him. Keep him in shape!!!

Play time

Pooches love to play games like fetch, hide and seek Frisbee, etc. A wonderful way for you to exercise and bond with him too!

Quality time

You are the centre of the world for your pooch, spend good quality time with him – groom him, take him out for walks, play with him or just be with him….

Routine vet check-up

Prevention is always better than cure. Take your pet for routine vet check-ups to diagnose any problems beforehand.

Spay/neuter

Spay/neuter your pet unless you wish to breed from him/her. It not only prevents from unwanted pregnancies but also is good for their health and behaviour.

Training

A well-trained pooch is a delight for all. Training should start right when the pup enters your home. Obedience training is a must for all pet pooches.U

Unconditional love

When you have a pooch or more in life, you are blessed with their unconditional love, they are there with you, no matter when and what happens. Bask in this love as this is precious!

Vaccination

The wonders of vaccination cannot be undermined. It can protect our pooches from several life-threatening diseases like canine distemper, hepatitis, rabies, etc. Consult your vet for the proper vaccination schedule for your pet.

Woof

One of the ways for our pooches to express themselves is through their woofs. But you can tell the difference between a woof and incessant barking. In case your pooch barks non-stop, consult his vet to find the underlying problem.

Xtreme loyalty

Dogs are loyal beings; their loyalty has been tried and tested over the time. It’s time we need to reciprocate their loyalty too – never ever think of abandoning your pet, try to figure out a solution for your problem. Love him and be loyal to him!

Yummy treats

Use delicious mouth-watering treats as a reward for your pooch; but never overdo them. They should not be a substitute for food and should be accounted for the total calorie intake of your pooch to avoid excess calories.

Zest of life

Pooches are your best friends; they add value to your life…making it more meaningful and putting a zest in your life. Woof! Welcome to another year with the love(s) of your life!!!

Tips for working pet parents

You are working… should this be the reason to deter you from being blessed with the love and companionship of a pooch? No! Here’s how you can have a mutually satisfying, rewarding relationship with your pooch and how he can adjust in the 9 to 5 groove.

• 
  Right reason: Adopt for the right reasons. Do not adopt if you only find the Vodafone Pug cute because a pup becomes a family member and requires time, attention and love.
• Warm welcome: Take consent of all family members. All members should be willing to welcome your new bundle of joy.
• Right breed: Consult a veterinarian/breeder for the right breed for you. Ensure you have time and commitment to take care of health, training, grooming, exercise needs and most importantly spending quality time with your canine baby. Do keep into account the energy level and requirement of the breed with your activity levels.
• Basic training: Train your pooch from Day 1. A well-behaved trained dog is a pleasure to be around.
• Age matters: A two months old puppy needs constant care in terms of food, cuddles and housetraining in comparison to a pup who is older. If you have somebody at home who can take care of the pup, will be great.
• No leash, no collar please: Please do not tie your dog or leave him in the garden/garage/guard room/balcony at home. Let him be free and comfortable in your home with you.
• Attending nature’s call: Before you leave for work and as soon as you are back, first attend to your dog specially his exercise and nature’s call needs. If you have help at home – who can do it, walk him will be nice. You can also keep newspapers in a shallow pan where he can relieve himself. This is important because this way, even if the pooch uses this space for relieving himself once in a while, your house would not be dirty.
• Dog proof his space: In order to keep your dog safe and also to ensure he does not hurt himself in separation anxiety, remove harmful things from his space. Give him things he would need – his comfortable bed, his toys, and of course plenty of clean drinking water and his regular food.
• Take help: If possible, you can have a help or a walker who can take your pooch out for his walk, when you are away. Ensure he is a reliable person and he takes him out on a leash.
• Spend quality time: Whenever you are at home, try to spend good quality time with him. Train him, play with him, groom him, take him out for a walk … do what two of you like!
• Make him comfortable: Depending on the weather ensure the pooch is comfortable, also if the pooch is at home alone – leaving the radio on for him is a great way.
• Toys: Toys to stimulate him and keep him busy are good. You could buy a Kong which can be filled with yummy treats to keep his boredom at bay.

When one is not enough!

Once you are bitten by the pooch love, you can only ask for more! But handling two or more pets might not be easy…here’s how to maintain a harmonious relationship in a multi-dog household.

• 
  Match the genes: Before you bring home another dog, always research and see if the two are compatible as far as their breeds are concerned. Consult your vet or breeder for advice.
• Give them time to adjust: Unless your pooches are comfortable in each other’s company, never leave them alone.
• You are the boss: Let every pooch know that you are the alpha member of the pack and they all need to follow your rules.
• Early socialisation: Each dog should be socialised at an early age so that they do not get intimidated with other dogs or people.
• Maintain the pack order: Dogs establish their own pack order. In this case, do not praise the beta dog just because you feel sorry for him or it might turn him aggressive and nasty. Do not let him break the pack order by trying to sleep in the alpha dog’s bed. Maintain the pack order, maintain the peace.
• Peace at meals: Always feed your dogs in separate closed places to avoid food aggression among them. This will ensure that each dog gets the nutrition he deserves.
• Treats supervised: All special treats and new chew toys should be given in your presence, until they are through otherwise they may end up fighting for more.
• l Basic training – a must: Every dog likes to go out for his walk but taking them out together sometimes leaves us a handful of nerves – too much excitement and frenzy can cause conflicts. In order to avoid situations like these, it is imperative that you provide basic training to all your pooches. By using, Sit, Stay and Wait commands you can avoid such situations.
• Never feed from your plate: Sometimes, dogs fight for the tidbits you give them while you are eating. It is a wrong practice, stop it immediately.
• Read the body language: Whenever you see one dog showing aggressive behavior towards others, for example, strutting, staring, etc., interrupt and say ‘Knock it off.’ When all are calm, praise them or give them a treat.
• Remove the bone of contention: Despite all your efforts, if you see your dogs fighting over a particular toy or food, remove it immediately. Let them calm down and then praise them or give them a treat.
• Designated place to rest: Give each dog his own individual space to rest and sleep. Give them their own beds and do not let them sleep on each other’s bed.
• Spay or neuter: It is a known fact that spayed or neutered dogs are less aggressive and easier to maintain.
• Individual quality time for each: Give individual time to each dog - play with him, take him out, make him feel important... after all, they are there to love and to be loved in return.