let’s groom a happy fun-in-the-sun pooch

Summers have set in… time for a dip in the pool, romp on a beach or just a simple long walk. Before you take your dog out, be aware that dogs too need protection for their skin, coat, eyes and ears from summer hazards. Here’s how to groom your pooch in summers.

Varsha Verma with Rocky

A well-groomed dog not only looks great, but also keeps his skin, coat, eyes and ears safe from summer hazards. Here’s how to groom your pooch in summers:

Summer cut: If you have a long-haired dog, you can think of a summer cut. It will prevent knots and mats and make him look cool and stylish too. But do not shave your dog down to the skin as it can lead to sunburns. Besides, dog coats help in keeping warm in winters and cool in summers. It also protects him from harmful UV rays.

Check him thoroughly: Check your dog’s ears, eyes, coat, skin and paw pads regularly as they can attract ticks and fleas. Clean them properly using a soft cloth.

Brush him regularly: Brushing your dog’s coat help reduce shedding and keeping his coat soft and shiny.

Trim the nails: It is important to trim your dog’s nails on a regular basis as long nails may break, causing pain or injury.

Bathing is fun: We all love to bathe and dogs are no different. Bathe him when he looks dirty or smells. Use cool or lukewarm water. Avoid eyes and ears, rinse well and towel dry him after the bath. However, it is advised not to bathe him too often as it may strip away essential oil, leading to dry itchy skin.

Sunscreen for your dog: If you think your dog gets sunburned easily, make him wear summer clothes or use a dog-friendly sunscreen on his nose, paws, etc. Prevention is better than cure: Ask your vet on preventive measures for ticks and fleas as they can cause serious health issues to both you and your dog.

Keep him hydrated: Make cool drinking water accessible to your dog at all times. Keep 2-3 bowls of water at different places so that your pooch remembers to drink water.

Schedule an appointment with a pet groomer: It’s time to pamper your pooch with a grooming session. It will not only make him look great but also reduce problems associated with summers.

Other useful tips: Keep your dog in shade at all times. Never leave him alone in the car, even for short durations as temperature inside the car soars too high and he might get a heat stroke. Take him out only when the temperature is low outside.

Check for warning signs: If your pooch has problems in breathing or is panting or drooling excessively, he might be overheated. Other warning signals include weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and an elevated heart rate. Try to cool him down and contact your vet immediately.

Happy and safe summers!

Happy Fur Year!

The year is coming to an end but there’s still a lot of fun awaiting us. Christmas and New Year are the perfect time to celebrate our love for our pooches.–by Varsha Verma

New Year is a new beginning, for us and for our furry friends as well. It’s time to rejoice the happy moments spent together and look forward to another year of love and  happiness. While you enjoy a New Year party with your friends and family, do not forget to involve your pooch in the festivities. Here’s how you can make it a Happy Fur Year too!

1Be a couch potato: For few of us, we enjoy partying all night, while a few just like to be couch potatoes and enjoy some interesting movies or just watch TV. If you happen to be one of the latter, just cuddle up with your pooch and enjoy some movies together. You can even watch a few dog movies.

2 Call over some dog-friendly people: If you like to party, call over some dog-friendly people and if they are dog owners too, then it is an icing on the cake. Let them bring their pets along and have a pawrty all night!!!

3 Bake his favourite treat: Take out some time to bake his favourite treat. You are sure that your pooch will keep you company throughout the process and savour the delicacies.

4 A dog calendar this year: Personalised calendars are very much in vogue. Create your own calendar with your doggy pictures, get it printed and let it sit pretty on your desk. You will love to look into those soulful eyes any time of the day!

5 Time for new training: You can always teach a new trick to an old dog. New Year is a perfect time for new training. Teach him a new trick; he will be pleased to see you pleased.

6 Get regular with their walks: With hectic schedules, sometimes it becomes difficult for us to regularly take out our furry friends for their walks. Ensure that they are properly exercised to avoid behavioural issues.

7 Be careful while buying treats: Sometimes, we do not bother to look into the contents of dog treats. We just buy what we like. This New Year, let’s become health-conscious for our dogs. Check the contents of the treat. You can even feed them raw vegetables like carrots, cucumber and tomatoes. Find which one your dog likes. These are healthy options for your dogs.

8 Give him a well-balanced nutritious diet: Your pet needs a well-balanced diet. Talk to your vet to find the right diet for your pet.

9. Be regular with vaccinations: Never ignore your pet’s vaccinations and regular vet visits. Remember, prevention is always better than cure. If you notice something peculiar about your pet, take him to a vet immediately.

10 Reinforce positive behaviour at all times: Reward your pet when he behaves properly; pet him, give him a treat or just hug him. He will get the hint — he has to behave in a particular manner to win that attention.

11 Gift him your commitment: As pets get old, it becomes difficult to take care of him. But, this is the time when your pet wants you by his side. So, gift him your commitment for life and you will never regret it.

12 Cuddle him, pet him every day: You are the world to your dog. Take time everyday to spend some quality time with him. Cuddle him and pet him — let him know you love him.

Pets & KIds

Taking care of pets during festive time

Towards a perfectly safe Diwali!

As pet parents, we want our pooches to be a part of our celebrations. But, Diwali is one festival that our dogs dread. Every Diwali, there are numerous cases of dogs either hurt or burnt. Let’s make Diwali safe for our pooches.

–by Varsha Verma

 Diwali is a celebration of good over evil, light over darkness. It is a pleasure to see beautiful lighting adorning the buildings and houses within. The environment is euphoric – various delicacies, lovely clothes, exchange of gifts and sweets- and of course everything done to welcome Goddess Lakshmi to our homes. We all look forward to this occasion. One thing that spoils the festival is noisy crackers. They are not just a nuisance to us but more for our canine friends, who have an acute sense of hearing.

untitled-17How crackers affect our furry friends?

Animals are terrified of fireworks. They become stressed on hearing loud noises. They tremble, drool, bark, howl and try to hide or get out of the house. They refuse to eat and may even lose bladder or bowel control. Sometimes, while trying to escape from home, they may accidentally get hurt as well. Incidents of dog abuse are still prevalent; just out of mere fun, some children and sadists tie crackers to the strays. This burns them severely and results in various behavioural issues in these poor animals.

 How to make Diwali safe for dogs?

Create awareness: Prevention is always better than cure. Ask your neighbours and friends not to use loud crackers as they are harmful to both humans and dogs.

Desensitise the dog: Start preparing your dog for Diwali. Expose him to low levels of noise and then gradually increase the intensity. Make sure not to expose him to very high levels, as this may harm his hearing ability.

Exercise him before crackers time: Take your dog out for his daily exercise an hour before the fireworks, so that he is tired and less anxious.

Feed him early: A hungry dog will be more anxious. So, feed him well before the fireworks start.

Do not take him out when crackers are on: Keep your dog inside the home, with the doors and windows properly closed so that he cannot run out. Leave a TV or radio on.

Make him comfortable: Give him things he like – treats, toys, his bed, etc.

Do not disturb him: If your pooch hides under the bed or any of his hiding places, let him be there.

Do not cajole him: Do not soothe or comfort your dog, it will only increase the problem. Be in control and be cheerful.

Consult your vet: If you have a senior dog or a nervous dog, talk to your vet before Diwali, who can recommend a light sedative for him.

Put a name tag on his collar: Do not forget to put a name tag on his collar, so that in case he runs out, you can still find him.

Give shelter to strays: If possible, give shelter to strays in your neighbourhood, who would also be very stressed due to loud noises. Give them food and water and in case you see any of them injured, call for an ambulance.

Last but not the least: Be with your pet. Your presence is a great assurance that they are safe.

Jennifer Winget & her life with pooches

Jennifer Winget has stolen many hearts through her mesmerising looks and acting prowess on the small screen. Little do people know that this young lady’s heart is stolen by Breezer, her pet dog.

Beautiful actress Jennifer Winget has appeared in many Indian TV shows like Kkusum, Kahin to Hoga, Saraswatichandra, to name a few. She won the Indian Television Academy Awards for Best Actress Critics for her leading role in the Star Plus romantic series Saraswatichandra. Eastern Eye placed her at 21st position on its list of World’s Sexiest Asian Women for 2012. Much has been written about this young lass but there’s more.

My first pet….

“As a child I remember how I always wanted a pet but mum never let me have one. She was afraid of dogs and still is but now with my Labrador, Breezer that has changed. He is the child she loves the most now and gets along with him excellently,” shares Jennifer.

What makes my day?

Every pet has a unique quality or antic, which just melts our hearts. On asking Jennifer, she replies sweetly, “ He makes the cutest face when he wants a chewy to eat. He looks at me and tilts his head a little bit. It’s the cutest face I have ever seen.”

Life with my pooch…

“I enjoy driving with Breezer and simply hate leaving Breezer behind every time I go to shoot. I guess I am the one with separation anxiety when it comes to him. He is six now and unlike most dogs, thoroughly enjoys a drive, popping his head out, with the wind on his face. Though neither of the two of us are early risers, an occasional Sunday early morning is marked for me to take him on a nice long drive followed by his walk,” she tells.

What I love about my pooch?

“Definitely his eyes. He speaks straight to my heart with them. I believe that there is just so much unconditional love that dogs, or any other animal for that matter, can give you for the little that we give them in return. You get a glimpse of this love through their eyes, like a doorway to their soul and they’ll always let you in,” tells Jennifer with a twinkle in her eyes.

What my pooch loves about me?

“I, no matter how naughty he’s been, I will always melt with one of his characteristic puppy-dog looks and also that I let him snuggle on the bed and sleep with me,” tells Jennifer.

Vacations together…

“The two of us have both been on a sabbatical this past year and have been enjoying a relaxing time away at my new holiday home in Goa. He loves it there and I was surprised how easily he made himself at home. The beach is in close proximity so he enjoys his long runs, chasing the waves. What he couldn’t get enough of, though, was swimming in the pool on the property. Every time we got him out, he couldn’t wait to jump right back in,” shares Jennifer.

Taking care of pet’s needs…

As a responsible pet parent, Jennifer makes it a point to take care of his pet’s exercise, nutrition and other needs. “Though I’m not as disciplined as I should be with myself when it comes to the right nutrition and exercise, but with Breezer, I’m like an over-cautious, nit-picky mom. As he grows older, I’ve grown even more careful and make sure he eats and exercises better than I do. Labs tend to get overweight with age and touchwood with regular vet checks and routine exercise, Breezer’s weight is ideal. He’s been prescribed a certain supplement for his bones and he surprisingly laps it all up along with his regular food, like a good boy. I try to play with him in my garden as much as I can; it’s a stress buster for me too,” replies Jennifer.

Most difficult thing about being a pet parent…

Being a pet parent is not easy…a pet is like a family member, who needs your love, time and care. “I know Breezer loathes it when I leave him for a couple of days during outdoor shoots. He lives with my mum on those days; but misses me. Once I was preparing to leave for a few days, he understood from all the packing that I wasn’t going to be home with him that night. That sad look on his face is now etched in my mind because just as we were loading the luggage in the car and he came down with me to see me off, he ran and sat in the boot of the car and refused to get out. My heart breaks every time I have to leave him,” tells Jennifer.

On a concluding note…

“To me, Breezer is family, my most prized and cherished member. We’ve been through great memories and hard times together and though my emotions have their highs and lows, his love for me is unconditional and consistent. It’s the one thing that comes, rest assured, when anything else isn’t going your way,” concludes Jennifer.

Home alone? 11 Ways to keep your pooch busy

His pleading eyes and ‘Don’t go’ look makes you go weak in the knees and you feel guilty for leaving him alone. But you can make it stimulating for your pooch. Let’s see how.

Your heart really melts when you see-off your pooch while going out for work or otherwise. First of all, desensitise your dog to your absence in home by gradually increasing the time he is left alone. If he shows symptoms of separation anxiety, deal with it, before you leave him alone for long intervals. Once he is accustomed to being left alone, you can look for ways to keep him busy when you are away. Here are 11 ways to keep your pooch busy and mentally-stimulated:

1. Let him watch outside Open the curtains of a window from where your pooch can see outside. He will have fun watching people, dogs or vehicles moving around. Be sure that the window door is secured properly so that he cannot venture out.

2. Turn on the radio/TV When you are alone at home, you probably like to switch on radio/TV to have company. You can do the same for your pooch. The sights and sounds from TV can stimulate his brain and give him the feeling of not being alone.

3. Give him a Kong toy A stuffed Kong toy with your pooch’s favourite treat will keep him occupied for hours. You can also freeze it so that it is much more engrossing for a longer time.

4. Toys to keep him busy You will be amazed to find the dog accessories at the pet shop near you. Buy dog puzzles or dog toys which can keep him mentally stimulated and of course busy.

5. Rotate the toys Do not forget to rotate toys…so that he does not get bored. Just make sure you do not keep his favourite one away as it can add to his stress.

6. Build a dog digging box Dogs love to dig…you can create a digging box in the open area of your home. You can even hide their toys in it. Let them dig and find out the reward.

7. Treasure hunt What’s valuable for your pooch, besides you of course? Well, food and treats. So, hide her kibble at places where your pet can reach. He can sniff around to find his treasure.

8. Chewing delights Dental chews will prevent your pooch from chewing household items as well as keep with teeth clean and freshen his breath. So, leave a few dental chews for him.

9. Bring him a companion Two is company…you can even think of adopting or bringing home another pet, depending upon your dog’s temperament.

10. How about a friend In case you do not wish to bring home another pet, you can ask your friend/neighbour or a petsitter to petsit him. If that friend is also a pet parent, you can call the pet as well. Your pooch will surely love it.

11. Make use of doggy daycares In case you do not wish to leave your pet alone and he is well socialised, you can put him in a doggy day care, where he will be well taken care of and he will have friends for company.