Our pooches, our heroes!

MAY-JUN 2013

WRITTEN BY VARSHA VERMA

We love to read stories about our pooches…their adventures, love and companionship always makes an interesting read. More recently, we interacted with two authors of two lovely books on canines - The Stupendous Timetelling Superdog by Himanjali Sankar and Bambi, Chops and Wags by Ranjit Lal. Here's more from these pooch loving authors.

The plots…

Penned by Himanjali Sankar, The Stupendous Timetelling Superdog (published by Duckbill Books) is about a stupendous timetelling superdog, Rousseau, who belongs to Mrs Ghosh and her two daughters, Kaavya and Anya. It also features the Orange Marmaladies, the Original Timekeepers of the Universe, from the Black Hole of Time. A problem arose when the Orange Marmaladies wanted to watch the Miss Universe Contest on Earth and stuff like that.

While, Bambi, Chops and Wags by Ranjit Lal (published by Roli Books), is a heart-warming first-person narrative of the young author and his two sisters' love for their new dog and their life-long adoration for this new friend and member of the family. 

Inspirations behind the books…

Himanjali: An insane dog, a mid-life crisis and lots of good literature.

Ranjit: The dogs naturally…it's about the lives of the three dogs we kept, the antics they got up to, their personalities, good and bad habits and relationships with human members of the family.

Characters inspired from real life… 

Himanjali: My characters, their personalities and responses to situations, are derived from my own experiences with people and events. It is not that I consciously modelled my characters on people I know but yes, my editors, who are also my friends, were struck by the similarities between my daughters and the two girls in the book and Mrs Ghosh and me. And, yes, in the case of Rousseau, he is modelled on my own Labrador, also called Rousseau. Except that the real life Rousseau will not be able to tell you the time.

Ranjit: As I mentioned earlier, the characters are all in my family!

Target audience…

Himanjali: Reading levels vary widely so it gets tough to be sure sometimes, but I think children in the age group of 6 to 10 would simply love it.

Ranjit: I think my book would interest anybody above the age of 10 years.

On pets… 

Himanjali: My family in Kolkata always had dogs. When I was growing up, we had a Cocker Spaniel called Coco who was marginally less insane than Rousseau. I am friend with several street dogs these days. There is a beautiful dog with red fur and triangular ears and a whole lot of attitude who I am particularly fond of. Then there is Spotty Dog who loves to dig and Scout who hangs out with us quite often.

Ranjit: Though I don't have any dogs or pets now, I was blessed with pets earlier and that's what the book's all about!

Message to pet parents…

Himanjali: I would request our readers to please laugh loudly while reading this book or if that is not possible to at least smile widely. And most importantly, love all dogs and animals a whole lot because they are awesome.

Ranjit: Families must keep dogs provided they know this is a commitment that will last the life of the dog.

By HOOPD hoopaydayloans

‘Cat’ch her in the act

NOV-DEC 2009

WRITTEN BY VARSHA VERMA

If you observe your kitty closely, you can know exactly what she has on mind. Here are a few behaviours she displays and what they mean…

If you are blessed with a cat, you inherently know when she is happy to see you and when she is angry, fearful or upset. Here are a few common signals which tell you exactly how your kitty is feeling.

Watch her head… 

If your kitty rubs her head on your body, she is expressing love, wants to be caressed or simply relaxing.

Hear the ears… 

You must have seen that even when your cat is sleeping, the faintest sound pricks up her ears but she doesn’t react all the time. She reacts only if her mind detects a predator or a prey. Watch her ears closely to know more about her feelings.

If your kitty’s ears are upright and pointing forward, she is alert but nothing to worry, as she is relaxed as well. If her ears are pointing sideways, she’s attentive to what’s happening around but she is not relaxed and if you see her ears upright and pointing backwards…then she is actually disturbed and may turn aggressive.

Ears pointing back and flat against the head indicate that your kitty is scared but she may become aggressive. And if her ears are flattened sideways, she is in an aggressive mood…don’t go near her.

Eyes you can’t miss… 

If you see two cats staring at each other, it is threatening but if one of them breaks the eye contact, it means there is no dispute.

If you see your kitty’s dilated pupils, she is either fearful, aggressive, excited or in pain but if her pupils are narrow, she’s angry but self-assured.

Observe her eyelids also. If they half-closed or fluttering, she is sleepy and if she looks at you at this time, she is displaying trust in you.

Trailing tails… 

If your kitty’s tail is upright and quivering, she’s pleased to see you – she’s communicating friendliness and contentment. But, if her tail is upright and bristling, with hair on her back standing, then she’s probably upset about something…beware.

Also, a tail held half way up indicates that the cat is friendly but she is not confident of the person or cat who is approaching her.

If you have ever scolded you cat, you must have noticed that her tail is between her rear legs; sometimes curled inwards…she is submissive at this point.

And as you know these beauties have a lot of attitude too, so if you see tail hair upright with a little flick with just the end of the tail, she is acknowledging you but she has other better things to do than you!

Hissing and meows... 

If your kitty gives a hiss or a snarl with an open mouth, she is communicating defensive aggression. When your kitty meows, she is probably greeting you or requesting you for some favour.

Though all these are mere signals to show what your cat means, it is important to observe the whole body language of your kitty to know what’s exactly on her mind.

When it’s time to call a vet…

Your proud sweet feline is losing weight or is unusually lethargic…he is throwing up or is showing an abnormal behaviour…do not wait, call your vet immediately…your feline is probably sick. Here’s how to know if your kitty needs a professional care.

Kitties can’t talk but as a pet parent, you can analyse when your kitty needs a professional veterinary care. Here’s a list to make it easier for you to know when to call a vet:

• Hiding in a quiet, dark place
• Is lethargic, sleeping more than usual
• Yowling or crying
• Has become quiet all of a sudden
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Unusual aggressiveness
• Breathing problem
• Sneezing or coughing
• Has ticks or fleas
• Has ear mites
• Suffering from mange
• Has yellow skin
• Has bad breath
• Cannot digest anything, throwing up
• Has diarrhoea
• Loss of appetite
• Very thirsty or not drinking water
• Showing abnormal behaviour
• Does not react when you touch or pick her up
• Change in physical appearance
• Cannot move easily
• Lumps on the body
• Taking more time to heal wounds, blemishes, etc
• Has stopped grooming herself
• Discharge from any body opening
• Not urinating at all or blood in urine
• Excessive urination
• Excessive licking of genitals
• Litterbox issues – change in colour or consistency of poop

…there may be many more. You know your kitty best, observe her regularly and contact your vet immediately if you find any abnormalities. Remember, early detection of cat illness symptoms increases the likelihood that treatment will be successful, besides cutting down on the vet bills.

Love expressed

We all have different ways to convey our love to our dear ones. Here’s how our felines express love to their pet parents and how we can reciprocate, in a way they can understand.Each individual is different…so is the feline…her ability to express her affection would depend on her personality and of course her upbringing. But there are some ways in which your kitty will express her love for you…you need to look for the signs that she is affectionate. 

Happy to see you back: What does your kitty do when she hears you are home? Does she get excited on hearing your car or your footsteps? Does she dash to the door to see you? Then, be happy…your kitty loves you and has missed you and is glad you are back. 

Kitty kisses: Ever seen how your kitty looks at strangers or other cats? She stares at them, unblinking. But when your cat looks at you with slow eye blinks, she is actually giving you ‘kitty kisses’ – a sure shot sign of love. Simply give her the kitty kisses back and enjoy the bond of love. 

Grooming you: You must have seen two cats bonding with each other… When your kitty grooms you, she is sending the message that you are part of her feline family and she is caring for you. 

Tails up: When your kitty greets you with an upright tail or a question-mark shaped tail, she is showing affection and trust. 

I’m comfortable: When your kitty rolls over and exposes her belly to you, it means she trusts you and she’s comfortable showing her vulnerability to you. 

Kneading or rubbing you: Have you seen a kitten kneading her mother to stimulate milk flow? This is a sign of love and affection. When your kitty kneads against your body, she adores you. If this is accompanied with drooling… it is a true act of love! 

You are mine: Love sometimes means possession. When your cat rubs her face on you, she is actually marking her territory…making you ‘her’ property. When she rubs her face on your body, the glands on her face secrete pheromones, which is unique for each cat…hence signaling that ‘you are mine.’ 

Two’s company: If your cat loves your company, she would follow you everywhere. She will love to sit in the same room where you are. 

Time for gifts: When your kitty brings you a dead mouse or a bird, she is actually gifting you something she feels will please you. Do not scold her at this time; just take care to keep her indoors to discourage this behaviour. 

So, that’s how a cat expresses her love to you…it’s time you reciprocate her love…in ways she can understand. 

The caring touch: Nuzzle up to your kitty… she would love your touch every now and then. 

Pet her: Depending on your cat’s liking, pet stroke, scratch her gently under her chin, cheeks, back and behind her ears. 

Play with her: Bond with your kitty by playing with them with balls, paper bags, cat toys…anything that amuses her. 

Groom her: Though cats love to groom themselves, you can also bond with her by grooming her. Just introduce grooming sessions at an early age so that she gets used to it soon and looks forward to a great time with you. 

Do not tower her when expressing your love: Last but not the least, whenever you choose to pet your cat, sit or squat at her level. Never loom over her…it will make her nervous. 

Love is in the air…get the nip of it.

What’s normal? What's not?

JUL-AUG 2011

WRITTEN BY VARSHA VERMA

Find out about your cat’s behaviour.

• Sleepyheads: Cats love to sleep and will keep sleeping even if it is noisy.
• Scratching: It is a normal behaviour for a cat to scratch. In order to prevent this unwanted behaviour, train him right when he is a kitten.
• Cats eat frequently: Cats eat frequently, sometimes even a nibble. Frequent eating keeps their digestive condition in an optimal condition.
• Fasting for a day or two: Sometimes, a cat does not eat for a day or two – this is normal as long as they do not appear sick. If you have doubts, do consult your vet.
• Hiding litter: Cats are clean creatures and they do not like to show their litter. They cover and hide up their business. So, keep their litterboxes in a secluded place and change litter frequently.
• Not using litterbox: If your cat has suddenly stopped using his litterbox, it could be a sign of illness. Contact your vet immediately.

West Highland White Terrier

West Highland White Terrier:Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of all!

Elegant, smart, doe-eyed…meet the West Highland Terriers – the peppy, fun-loving, adorable companion.

White…like snow, beautiful…like snowhite, playful… like your child – the West Highland Terrier is certainly one of the best companions.

Westies’ legend…

It is believed that West Highland Terriers, or simply Westies, were bred from the white offspring of Cairn and Scottish Terriers to create a hunting terrier. They were also known as Roseneath Terriers. Dog lovers love them for their excellent hunting skills as well as companionship.

The Westie is a “large” small dog, descended from Cairn Terriers and originated from Scotland. Some sources credit Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm and his kin of Poltalloch, in the Argyll region of western Scotland, as an originator of this breed in the 1800s. Other sources credit the 8th Duke of Argyll (Chieftain of Clan Campbell) as an originator of the breed. This breed of dog is known for their spirited personality and distinctive white coat. Their white coat made them highly visible when hunting on the Scottish moors and easily distinguished them from their game (this was an extremely important factor because hunters sometimes mistook brown dogs for foxes, and shot them).

Sweet delights…

Small but hardy, the West Highland White Terrier is a perfect blend of strength and activity. Strongly built with straight back, powerful hindquarters and muscular legs; the Westie is a compact dog with lots of self-esteem. Their head is round and expression is piercing and curious. Even more striking are their widely set almond-shaped eyes, dark brown in colour, which impart an intelligent look to the breed. Small, erect ears on the top edge of the skull complete their inquisitive look. Their tail is relatively short and is covered with hard hair. And here’s the dog whose tail is not curled but carried gaily over the back.

They have a white coat with soft undercoat. The outer coat is about two inches long and is made of straight hard white hair. And as the name suggests, their colour is white. The height of males is around eleven inches and of females is ten inches. They weigh around 6.8-9.9 kgs.

Easy going chaps…

Westies are alert, courageous, intelligent and active dogs. They are fun-loving but wellbehaved. They are very friendly and make excellent pets. Just give them sufficient attention and they are yours…for life. They will become the most loyal and beloved pets. They love children, provided the children are well-behaved and give them their space. Besides, they are overtly friendly with strangers but once they sense danger, they will bark excessively, bringing out their guarding instincts.

Living with Westies…

If you are blessed with a Westie, then you will be happy to have a great family dog, who can live in an apartment as well. Don’t go by their cute and cuddly looks because they are not lap dogs. They are full of energy and curiosity. Give them lots of attention and activity, and then they will be happy. It is easy to train them, if handled in a firm and consistent way.

They love to play and run around. They enjoy chasing small animals and even like digging. So, take care that your Westie is well fenced in when he is out. Also, don’t let your Westie get bored or you will end up having holes in your garden or some other kind of mischief.

Groom me beautiful…

Even though Westies are clean and do not shed much but they still require their daily brushing to keep their tresses beautiful. It stimulates blood circulation, improves looks and reduces shedding. Also, clip his nails regularly and keep his ears and eyes clean.

Healthy beings…

Westie is a robust breed and they are healthy. But, problems like skin allergies, ear infection, hip dysplasia, etc. are also found in some Westies.

Truly golden!

A Golden Retriever is one of the most popular breeds. Charming looks, golden locks, friendly disposition, eager-to-please demeanor – a Golden Retriever has everything you can ask for in a family dog.

Amazing Golden Retrievers...

Friendly, kind and well-mannered dogs. They are intelligent and easy to train. Devoted to their pet parents, they are extremely good with children. A Golden Retriever is the most popular assistance dog, due to their detection and working abilities. They are trained for search and rescue, therapy dogs, hearing dogs, guide dogs for the blind, handicap assistance dogs, drug detection, etc. Their eagerness to learn makes them excel in agility too.

Beautiful and playful...

The golden lustrous coat of the Golden Retriever requires regular grooming. Prevention of matting in his dense undercoat is very important. Bred for retrieving waterfowl, the Golden maintains this trait – he loves a good game of fetch, is a natural swimmer and is happiest when he is actively involved with his family.

Mental and physical stimulation a must...

Be his pack leader and keep him occupied and happy. They can live in an apartment provided they have enough space to exercise indoors as well as outdoors.

Health issues...

They gain weight easily, so do not overfeed them. Get the diet chart prepared from your vet. Other problem may include hip dysplasia, skin allergies and congenital eye defects.

‘Golden’ Pictures

Golden Retrievers find their room in Hollywood. Air Bud (1997) had buddy having the skills of the basketball superstar Michael Jordan. Some of the sequels which enthralled were – Air Bud: Golden Receiver based on American football, Air Bud: World Pup had our Golden’s playing soccer. Not to forget Snow Buddies, Air Buddies and Space Buddies. You can also watch Shadow in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993).

.