RAVING is Barking about: Fun tricks!

I am jumping straight to the topic.
Tricks. Nothing more satisfying to have your dog perform a trick you have taught.

Trevor knows a grand total of 7 tricks.
Gets a little boring after a while for him, so much so that when he sees you with tricks, he will perform all 7 tricks at once to get that treat. It is insanely hilarious, but I see where this is going. ...

So this week, we are covering the topic of your dog's Education! And I will be starting off with the fun bit.

Sit, Roll over, playing dead, dancing on hind legs, "say please", hand shake and stay..... Basics.
Anywhere on the net you will find guides, pictures and ideas on what you  can train your pooch. There are even step by step guides on how you should go about teaching your dog.

But, nothing will beat videos. I think going online , especially on Youtube, you will find a good number of tricks very worthy of teaching to your pet. And when you do so, you will see the effort and patience put in by the owners. It is very admirable.

For that, I strongly recommend this one.
Whisky from Singapore! The owner had 3 miniature Schnauzers  and Whisky is the leader of the pack.. The owner is now into synchronized tricks with all her dogs at once, which is even more difficult than with just one dog.

The owner's documentation of her work is also very commendable.
Just watch the videos she has online and you will know what I mean.

Liking the speed? And the variety of tricks you have seen? Admirable. 

If you do like his video, check out other videos by the owner as well and you will be amazed at the work she has done and the effort to all her three dogs. 

Inspired me to do more with my Trevor. 

MAD is Barking about: DRY..WET...BARF....

This week's topic is a bit of a tricky one coz we can talk about it till the cows (or in this case Dogs) come home and we will still be left with an epic debate! So The Barking Ladies take on this topic is.....to each his own! Yup all 3 of us have differing views on this...

STARK highlighted Weird food that dogs eat and my god were there some really weird food like Durian, Cantaloupe, Wasabi and Milk?! Agreed that we should allow our pooches luxuries like this from time to time but make sure everything is in moderation to ensure that you have a healthy pet. Could Weird food be the reason why STARK's tri breed concoctions look like pure breds?!

RAVING pointed out the pros and cons of Dry food and Wet food as well as how we can use a combination of both types of food to strike a balance. Between us 3, I'm the one without a dog and so this doggy food debate is one that I have researched to death as I only want to provide the best care for my lovely Boxer.

MAD's additional pointers:

- When it comes to convenience and affordability, Dry food wins hands down

- A lot of the time, the size of your dog may determine the type of food it would eat. For example, a large dog might have trouble meeting its energy needs on canned food alone whereas a small dog should do just fine on canned food

- Senior dogs, small dogs and dogs with dental problems find it easier to chew on soft canned food

- Dry food helps strengthen a dog's jaw muscles and satisfies its natural instinct to chew

- Some Dry food may be sprayed with animal fat to make it more appetizing but this is unnecessary and unhealthy so always check the label before you purchase it

- Overweight dogs can get leaner if they are on a wet food diet as it makes them feel full for a longer period of time. However, a high-protein dry food could also do the trick!

Another diet that is fast gaining popularity is the Raw Food diet. This diet was first proposed by Ian Billinghurst in 1993 and it places emphasis on raw meat, bones, fruits and vegetables. He calls it BARF which stands for Bones And Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.

Advantages of BARF:

- Healthier skin

- Cleaner teeth

- Shinier coats

- Increased energy levels

- Smaller stools


Disadvantages of BARF:

- Higher chance of bones to choke your dog, break teeth or cause an internal puncture

- Dog and human is exposed to bacteria in raw meat

- Unbalanced raw diet might damage a dog's health if given for an extended period of time

Dry food, wet food or BARF?? Too confused to choose? Well I think the best way to go is a mixture of all three diets. It provides variety in your dog's diet, keeps your pet guessing on what it's going to have for its next meal and it enables you to be a responsible owner who plays an active role in ensuring you have a healthy dog!

Always remember to check the label when buying your dog's food to ensure there are no unnecessary additives or fillers. Remember that moderation is key in ensuring a healthy dog and coupled with the right amount of exercise you will be the proud owner of a happy and healthy dog!!

STARK is Barking about: Weird things doggies eat

Now we all know that apart from the proverbial wet food and dry food that our dogs consume, they do on occasion also consume some edible "alternatives" as well. Here's a list of weird things that I've seen dogs eat.... perhaps you might find something that your beloved 4-legged friend loves as well.

1) Fruits
It's a long list:
- Durian (strange yet this is the king of fruits afterall)
- Blueberries (guess they like the high antioxidant levels it offers)
- Apples (it must keep the doctor away?)
- Pears (apparently the Korean or Chinese types as it's crunchy, juicy and sweet)
- Oranges/ Nectarines
- Cantaloupe/ Honeydew

2) French Fries (apparently only MacDonalds)
I've personally seen this myself where a little puppy polished almost all of the fries, it would seem that they particularly like the soft ones.

3) Grass
Apparently not so unusual as dogs eat grass to settle their upset tummy; so the next time you see your pooch chowing down on grass; they merely have a tummy ache.

4) Vegetables
- Sweet Potato
- Cucumber
- Corn
- Peas
- Asparagus

5) Peanut Butter
This seems a bit strange as wouldn't it stick all over their mouth and teeth? But it seems to be a fan favourite with most dogs.

6) Spicy things
- Wasabi (perhaps the pooch had a nasal blockage?)
- Chilli pepper (I tried this with my pooch; she kept on sneezing till the heat from the chilli wore off)

7) Drinks
- Soft drinks
- Lime Juice
- Milk (I always associated this with cats rather than dogs)

8) Cheese
I'm unsure if there are specific types which are more popular but it seems doggies really love this.

I haven't even touched on the absolutely strange non-edible things which dogs have swallowed like rocks/pebbles, needles, glass, keys or coins, etc butthe edible list can be added to. I am sure there would be some of you out there going, "Oh my, but those things are bad for your dogs." For better or for worse, let's just make sure that our pooch lives a good life.

So I say, if they like a certain thing; let's not deny them that! For those of you who have put your dog on a strict diet, perhaps you might let your dog try something new for a change?!?

RAVING is Barking about: The Wet food vs Dry food debate

Once upon a time, long ago, dogs lived in a land where they lived on Raw food, mainly meat. Food that was uncooked, the closest to nature and the best type of food there is for them. Raw meat was good for them because nature had designed for dogs to gnaw at the food with their sharp and pointy teeth. They had short intestines as well, which suited them well as carnivores. They were very happy.

One day, Humans invaded their land. Humans wanted to eat meat too. They introduced cooking to make the meat delicious and good. They cooked them in all sorts of ways, made sausages, patties for burgers, rendangs and salami. They learnt to cure meat, preserve and even canned the meats for them to eat in the future. Soon, there was not enough meat to go around for both Humans and Dogs.

Humans decided that Dogs should not have they Raw food anymore, because after all, what did they know? The Humans decided to cheat the Dogs. They ate the meat, but gave the dogs the leftovers. The heart of the beast, liver, kidneys and the bones. Humans ground these parts into powder and mixed them with milk, cheese, bread and flour. They made them into little biscuits and fed it to the dogs.

Dogs had no choice and they ate what they could. But the food, now man-made, made them fat and unhealthy. Dogs had to do something! They chose the route of evolution and they lived happily ever after.

But anyway, Wet food and Dry food theory. Are you torn between the 2 or are you balancing between them? Let's list out some pros and cons, but you will see from them that I am a fine example of balancing in between.

Dry food: Some says its cheap and good. It does the most basic part of the job which is keeping your pet full. But you need to know what goes in the food you give your pets.

• Always look at the ingredients that goes into the dry food you buy. Make that that the ingedrient are things you will actually eat. 
• Always look at the proportion of what goes in as well because it is just as important. No point buying something that is full of grain and little meat right? You can decipher the proportion by looking and how it is listed on the side of the bag. It should be listed by proportion with the largest amount at the top. 
• The method that the food is dried is also important. The method determines the percentage of water content or moisture in the bag. This is comparing between dry foods, which has 10% of water content vs semi dry food, which has 35% and canned foods, which has 60%. Naturally, the more moisture there is in the food, the more your pet will feel full after feeding, but this also means that the faster it will be hungry. 
• Because of the water content, we tend to think that it looks too little and feed our pets what we think is a fair amount. But the matter of fact is, when it drinks water, the food will bloat up in its stomach and become too much for it. Too much food and you dog becomes too fat. Your fault. 
• A general rule of thumb for me is to not buy dog food from the supermarkets. Its like buying instant noodles for yourself and having it everyday thinking its healthy. Enough said.   

Wet foods: They can come in many forms, such as in cans, or you can try cooking for your pet. 

• I love cooking for my pet. No salt, sugar, pepper. Very simple sense of the word. Cooking = make raw food cooked. 
• And when I do that, always a dribble of EVOL, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, at the end after you get the food off the stove. Olive oil is a wonder for its coat, makes it extra soft and silky. 
• What I hate about wet food feeding is the stain it leaves on the coat especially in the mouth area. Or the smell that wet food leaves on the coat. Especially after feeding fish. 
• Another thing about wet food I hate is this. If I cook, you eat, pet or human, its the same. But like it or not, your pet will eat only when it wants to eat and leaving food out in the open is a bad idea because of the bacteria it breeds. 
• But one this is a must, leave your food out so that it will cool off before feeding your dog. Too hot for you means its too hot for your dog. 
• And how can you forget the smell when it farts after wet food. 

 Its a never ending cycle really. Enough said.

MAD is Barking about: Dog Runs and more....

As we can see from Stark and RAVING's posts, Singapore is very far from being a dog friendly place as there are limited places for our pooches to roam about and be their usual doggy selfs.
Let's see what other places we have in our concrete jungle that allows us to bond with our furry friends.
1. Bishan Park Dog Run (AMK ave 2)

Like Raving pointed out, there is a dog friendly restaurant there where you can hang with your pet after the dog run. This dog run is quite popular as it is in a central location and there is a car park nearby making this park very accessible.

2. West Coast Park Dog Run ( Location is quite self explanatory. Parallel to West Coast Highway. Largest dog run in SG)

Convenient location for dog owners in the West. Quite a peaceful and tranquil place and cool place for dog owners to meet up on the weekends.

3. Katong Park Dog Run (Junction of Fort Road and Meyer Road)
Dog owners in Katong bring their pooches to this small fenced dog run that has some agility facilities.

4. Jurong Lake Dog Run ( Off Yuan Chin road)

Apparently it's not well sign posted, car park is a long way off and not the easiest place to get to. Let's just be thankful it's at least an option!

5. Pet Mover's Dog Run (Pasir Ris Farmway. Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat & Sun 9.30am-8pm)

This is privately run and even has a wading pool and a cafe. This place is quite popular as dog owners can shop at the Pets Megamart that has an extensive range of pet products.

6. Animal Resort Off Leash Park (81 Seletar West Farmway 5)

This is a little known place as it is quite inaccessible so do not even attempt to get there without a car. This animal resort which houses chickens, geese, horses etc, also has a dog run area with agility facilities.

7. K9 Kulture (100 Turf Club Road)

This is a doggy day care complete with boarding, training facilities, swimming and a cafe. It's swimming facilities are pretty cool and I chose the below pic from their website coz it features a Boxer!! (Yes I'm biased like that..deal with it!)

This week The Barking Ladies have shown you places that you can bring your pooch to in Singapore. It may not be much but it is still a massive improvement compared to 10 years ago. Hope more dog runs emerge over the next few years so that dog owners will have many delightful options to choose from!

If we have missed out on any places then please feel free to drop us a note to let us know!

STARK is Barking about: Public Places vs Your Pooch

As I was researching about the potential places that dogs would be allowed at, the discovery I've made is that Singapore is not as loving to dogs as they are in other countries. I'm sure this trend will eventually change but for now, let's take a looks at what we have to work with.

1. Sentosa Beach
There you can enjoy the sun, sand and water with your pooch, however do remember to keep them leashed.

2. Changi Airport
Now this is slightly controversial. Why? Officially there is no rule that says dogs are allowed but when you ask the personnel that work there, they will tell you that small dogs who can be carried or fit into a bag are okay! I've also personally witnessed people carrying their little pooches around the airport.

3. Vivocity (but with some restrictions)
Dogs in carriers can access all parts of the mall, however those on a leash are not as free but have to take a prescribed route. The kicker? You and your pet must be going to the pet shop there. On the plus side, you can walk your dog on the promenade and Waterfrront broadwalk but they must be leashed.

4. Singapore Botanical Gardens
Great place to bring your pooch but there are a few out of bound areas to take note of, such as Rain Forest, National Orchid Garden, Evolution Garden and Jacob Ballas Children's Garden.

For a country where dog ownership has increased drastically, there aren't many options for the dogs as yet. For those who own smaller sized dogs, there are more options as those dogs can be carried around and in many places, so long as your pooch is not scaring away other customers, both you and your pet can stay.

I am certain this list can be added to, for pooch lovers who have successfully brought your dogs to public places and lived to tell the tale, we wanna hear from you as well!

RAVING is Barking about: Dog friendly Restaurants

Thinking about where to bring your pooch? This week, we will be giving you ideas on where you can bring your doggie to for the weekend or your day out. 


I will be starting the ball rolling with the most basic of things - Restaurants and food places! 


Generally, its difficult to find a place where you can bring your dog out where there can be food. It has to do with some license thing with the NEA where you need a certain license to allow the same place t have dogs. Sometimes, I think its overboard because our pooches are not stray and responsible pet owners like us know what we should do to keep the place clean for you and for me! But this is the reason why most coffee shops, hawkers centers, east coast park and places like that don't allow dogs. But then again, this could be because of halal places? Not sure. 

Ok, here we go- my top 8 choices! (There are only 8 because they are so difficult to find!)  


1. Tanjong beach club 
Clean beaches, sun bed, sea and sand. Paired with alcohol and good food. Beautiful place for you to bring your dog. Generally in Sentosa, you need to leash your dog and they cannot go free. But in Tanjong Beach, its quite safe to let your dog go leash-less. 
Particularly love the Sangria and the steak fries. Super sexy. 


Address: 120 Tanjong Beach Walk
Tel: +65 6270 1355


2. Bishan Park - The Canopy @ Aramsa 
There is dog run nearby this restaurant and it is no wonder all the dog lovers know about this place. Great food - especially brunch on the weekends is AMAZING. Dogs need to be leashed. 


Address: 1382 Ang Mo Kio Ave. 1 
Tel +65 6556 1533


3. Urban Pooch @ Balestier 
Food, Grooming, Day care, shopping. Just about anything you need for you and your doggie. 
Check out their website. http://urbanpooch.com.sg/index.html


Address: 530 Balestier Road #01-07, Monville Mansion



4. The Bark Cafe 
Where the Changi Chapel is, this place is tucked away in a little corner of Changi with the serenity of the chapel overflowing into the restaurant. I remember the food to be quite good. Its supposed to be a dog friendly place, but in singapore, dog friendly is just allowing your dogs to be sitting quietly under the table. 
That works, in a weird way. 


Address: 1000 Upper Changi Road North, Singapore
Tel: +65 6545 4118


5. Food for Thought @ Botantic Gardens 
Back when this place was in North Bridge road, this was a hit for food lovers because they served some amazing, fresh sandwiches which is very clean on the palette. Have yet to check it out but seems like since they moved to Botanical Gardens, they have seriously expanded! 


Address: 1 Cluny Road, #B1-00 Singapore Botanic Gardens,Singapore
Tel: +65 6338 4848 


6. Spruce
You know, when you have brunch somewhere else and when you have brunch at Spruce, the feeling, satisfaction and content, is just different. Good to know that it is a dog friendly place too. Good thing that most of the seats are outdoors, you there is ample place for dogs to hang around there as well. 


Address: 320 Tanglin Road, Phoenix Park, Singapore
Tel: +65 6836 5528 


7. Jones the Grocer @ Dempsey 
Somehow, you knew Dempsey was going to make it to this list didn't you? 
Chill out place for a nice beer in the afternoon and some good cured meats and sausages. Excellent way to spend a nice, sunny afternoon. 


Address: 9 Dempsey Road, #01-12 Dempsey Hill, Singapore
Tel: +65 6476 1512 


8. The Playground @ East Coast 
This is the best place in the world. Feel like a coffee? 2 choices, Old Town White Coffee and Starbucks. Feel like mussels? or some Western food? Brusselsprouts and 1 Twenty Six. Prata? Mr Teh Tarik. The whole place is dog friendly. 


Address: Its where the old Big Splash used to be. Go figure. 


Any one got stuff to add?  

MAD is Barking about: DOGS UNDER THE COVERS WITH YOU

So we've seen STARK's and RAVING's take on dogs sleeping with their owners and it makes you think - Is it right or wrong for a dog to be sharing a bed with you?

There are some who think it is ok for a dog to share your bed as it is family after all and yet there are others who think that dogs cause allergy attacks or disrupt your sleep if they shared your bed.  I think this concept of sleeping with an animal is something that is cultivated from young via cartoons, movies etc. You know the scene where the little girl is tucked into bed with her loyal dog either at her feet or right beside her? If you don't know that scene then you've had a very sad childhood...so help you God!

Anyways I came across this pic which totally put things in perspective for me:




At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer as to whether your pooch should be on or off your bed. We just have to apply some common sense. If you are prone to allergy attacks then there should be NO PETS in your bed. If you have OCD and you can't stand dog hair on your bed, pillows or up your nose then DON'T sleep with your dog. If your dog has separation anxiety, it is not advisable for your dog to sleep with you as it is going to make it more dependent on you and more anxious and stressed when you are away from it. If you don't have a well balanced dog where it has a bit of an attitude problem or if it doesn't respect you or see you as a pack leader then absolutely do not let it on your bed as it can get very territorial. It will see YOUR bed as its own territory and if you encroach on its space then you could be in for a nasty bite! If your other half doesn't like the dog in bed and you don't want to wreck your marriage or relationship, then DON'T SLEEP WITH YOUR DOG!

On the other hand, if you suffer from high blood pressure then the answer to your problem may be to cuddle up with your pooch! Many studies have shown that stroking dogs or even being close to them has a calming effect on humans which successfully lowers blood pressure. If you are single and sometimes feel lonely, your dog can take those blues away! If you let your dog sleep with your children then you can rest assured that your kids are safe and sound and you can have a peaceful night's sleep. If you have a well balanced dog then cuddling up with your pet is only going to strengthen the bond further!

So as you can see, there are pros and cons to cuddling up with your dog but those PROs and CONs are dependent on you! You should know your dog best so you get to decide where it sleeps. It is never the BED that causes problems in dogs, it is the lack of awareness on the part of the owner that manifests undesirable behaviour in dogs.

With that said, we can put this matter to rest... To sleep or not to sleep with your dog, it's a question only YOU can answer truthfully!

STARK is Barking about: To sleep or not to sleep... with your dogs

Hellooo again, I'm sure all of you read Raving's blog about how sleeping with your dogs could affect your love life/ relationship. Today I'll be talking about whether it's a good idea to sleep with your dogs especially if it comes with the possibility of causing allergies for you, your famiy and even your dog.

Yup, the allergies can go both ways. Just as your cute little doggie can cause you to cough, sneeze and wheeze; any innate health issues you have (big or small), can also be passed on to your dog and cause them to do the same. Many people think that the allergies are caused by being exposed to the dog's fur but that's not true, what you are allergic to is what's on their fur.

Therefore the flakes from their skin, saliva and even urine all contain allergens which can easily spread from place to place in your home. So when your dog is licking your face or your fingers, try and imagine where else that saliva has been or what else that tongue might have licked. (It's quite an icky thought!) When walking your dog, as everyone should do, their fur also collects pollens, spores or any outdoor allergens which can become airborne and cause their human owners to develop allergies.

Here are some top tips to keeping the allergies at bay which everyone should adopt:

1. Avoid hugging and kissing pets if you are allergic to them.

2. Remove litter boxes from direct contact with allergy sufferers. Look for "low-dust" or "dust free" brands of litter.

3. Wash hands after handling or touching a pet.

4. Consider placing plastic covers on the couch or other upholstered furniture (which may harbor pet allergens) where the pet sleeps or rests.

5. Wash your pet weekly. Recent studies have indicated that some significant reduction in the amount of pet allergens occurs with weekly washing of dogs and cats. A number of shampoo products are available in pet stores that may neutralize or inactivate allergens present on the skin of cats and dogs.

6. A non-allergic individual should brush the pet regularly, outside of the home.

7. Speak with your pet's veterinarian to get a well balanced diet for your pet. This change in diet may help to minimize hair loss for the pet and this can reduce dander indoors.

8. Use a double or micro-filter bag in the vacuum to augment the filtration of the vacuum cleaner and, in turn, reduce the amount of pet allergen present in carpeting that leaks back into the room air.

9. A number of chemical solutions, like tanic acid, are available that may remove allergens present in carpeting. However, removing carpeting and rugs is the best way to reduce exposure.

10. Finally, look into allergy shots (immunotherapy) from your allergist/immunologist to reduce the unnecessary suffering associated with having a pet in the home.

RAVING is Barking about: sleeping with your pets and how it destroys relationships

How many of you out there can put your hands up and say:" I do not sleep with my pet at night?" 


I can't. 


Have you ever wondered what are the effects it will have on you and your partner? You health? Your well being? - This week, we will be exploring all the various problems sleeping with your dog can cause you. 


Surely, as a pet lover / owner, you have heard of, or read reports and articles on the topic. Couples sleeping with your dog - Good or bad for you? 


I sleep with Trevor most of the time. But admittedly, I started to wonder if this is the best solution for my partner and I. 


Trevor is small so he does not really take up too much space on the bed, but he loves to sleep on the covers which turns out to be quite the problem for us. My partner and I often quarrel over who is taking more space on the bed and how that is affecting our sleep at night, who is taking most of the covers at night, complaining of backaches when we wake up because we had a bad night sleeping with the dog between us; neither of us wanting to admit it is the dog that's causing all this trouble. 

Not to mention the issues of intimacy, which could be an issue for some couples if the dog is in the room, let alone on the BED! I'm sorry, it just weird to have sex knowing you are being watched. Dog or not. 

All you have to do is just a simple google search and you will find a million and one articles and forum comments on couples who are sleeping with their dogs. The good the bad and the ugly. 

For some people, it can really help to cement the bond between couples- its as if its your child, naturally you would like it to be with you all the time. At the same time, just like children should learn to be independent of their parents, dogs also need their own space to grow and not be too dependent on their owners. When do you draw the line and say enough is enough? Heard of Separation Anxiety in Dogs? Do you think your choice to sleep with him on the bed is breeding his behavior? 

For others, one owner could have more love and involvement in the dog's day to day that its relationship could be better with one owner than the other. Perfect breeding grounds for this emotion, which is a reputable relationship killer - Jealousy. If you have been in a relationship before, you would know what the effects are. Imagine you are in that situation. And to add fuel to the fire, you invite your dog to the bed that you share in matrimony with your partner. Brilliant recipe for disaster.  

I guess, does the dog want to sleep with you, or do you want to sleep with your dog beside you. Are you dependent on your dog? For comfort? For company? Or is your dog dependent on you? 

The conclusion is from most marriage consultants and professionals is, DON'T sleep with your dog on your bed. 

Even till today, Trevor still sleeps with us on the bed, but not too frequently any more. 
He's grown up and we need our sleep too. 

MAD is Barking about: DOGGY FASHIONISTAS!!

We've seen dogs in ridiculously cute Halloween costumes and pampered pooches decked out in bling bling and strollers!! Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse....

Along comes the "Dye-me-Crazy" fad!!!

Check out these pics and try not to fall of your chair!

Psychedelic Poodle

Flamingo Husky anyone??

The "I've-got-coloured-fungi-growing-out-of-my-coat" look

The latest craze in China:

Golden Retrievers made to look like Tigers

Chow Chows made to look like Pandas

 

Yep that really is a Chow Chow!! The blue black tongue gives it away!

For those who like the 1 or 2 tone look:

 Just in time for this post, I managed to snap a pic of an adorable Bichon Frise with dyed paws at Pet Lovers Centre at Nex Mall!!!

If this post had spawned any thoughts or ideas then make sure you go to a groomer who has experience in coloring dogs. Don't try to be a genius and use Human dye on a dog as your pooch would be standing at the gates of heaven before you can even say "Woah...what happened there?)

Those of you who are up in arms after seeing the above pics and are lamenting as to how this is cruelty to animals and what not...relax.. Put the guns down and take a chill pill! The dyes used on the dogs are non-toxic and they wash out after a few washes. It's no biggy...in fact you don't see people around you causing a ruckus when you get a fugly haircut or a botched dye job right??

So live and let live peeps..

STARK is Barking about: Bling Bling dogs & their ultra posh mode of transportation

So, are you one of those who go "ga-ga" over the variety of bling-bling that is available for your dogs? The dog and dog owner evolution has resulted in both these trends being embraced by dog lovers the world over... I'm waiting to see more and more dogs decked out like those below here in Singapore.

Or you could be one of those who absolutely love "baby-ing" your pooch? I've seen a few doggie prams here in Singapore and they all look sooooo adorable.

Whatever floats your boat but I can't wait to see what people are going to come up with next... but I'm sure it'll astound me! :)

RAVING is barking about: Unbelievable costumes...

A friend had sent me a collage of such cute and adorable pictures and I thought I would share them. When Halloween comes around, these could be good ideas to use. Better start preparing them now! 


Enjoy! 

 Horse dog? 

 Giraffe dog..

 Bison!

Spider!

 Spider dog..

 Pitcock!

 Ghost dogsters! 

The fish ate the dog who is drinking water... 

Only one word to describe this picture! - HOT!

Think he belongs in MIB..

I am inside the iPhone. I am outside the iPhone. I am the iPhone. 

Dress like your dog day..

 When the Lion Roars, it goes "woof!" 

 Cross breed? 

Yoda I am..

Breakfast at Tiffany's

MAD is Barking about: SKC Championship Show March 2012

Before I start giving my 2 cents worth on the recently held Dog show in Singapore, I thought I'd show you what my dream dog looks like. Since Stark and Raving showed you their good looking dogs, here's a picture of the breed that I'm obsessed with:

I'm absolutely MAD about the BOXER.. A big dog that is animated, goofy, energetic, loving and intelligent! It has a dignified air about it and yet can be an absolute clown. If I had my way, I'd be the proud owner of 2 Boxers but this is Singapore and there are HDB rules to follow so I'm going to have to put my dream dog on the back burner for now.....😠


Back to the SKC Championship Show held in March at Joo Chiat Community Centre. It was judged by Mrs Carmen Haller from Canada and Mr Paul Wilkes from Australia. The venue was tiny..it was literally the size of 2 badminton courts! There were about 70 dogs that signed up for  the show and I was really looking forward to seeing some interesting breeds.


There were the usual breeds - Golden retrievers, Beagles, Huskies, Shetland Sheepdogs, Schnauzers

One thing that was quite obvious was that it seemed like the entire Shetland Sheepdog population in Singapore turned up for the show!! There were only about 10 million of them there and it's almost as if the Sheltie was the mascot for the show! Here's a pic if you want to know what a Sheltie looks like:

There was one dog that stole the show in my opinion. Just when I thought the Sheltie madness was never going to end, along comes this BLACK BEAUTY in all it's glory...with a dignified strut and a long flowing coat that was lovingly sprayed with mink oil just minutes before it entered the arena. It was none other than the incredible AFGHAN HOUND!! No picture can do justice to this beautiful breed but here is a pic showcasing the dog and its confident and well dressed handler!

On the whole the show was interesting but a little disappointing due to the small venue. Apart from that, it was good to see many different breeds in all shapes and sizes. Dog shows as a whole help to bring dog lovers together and it was evident that everyone there were passionate about dogs. It was a nice atmosphere and it felt somewhat satisfying to be amongst people who shared the same passion as you. Everyone was friendly and approachable EXCEPT FOR ONE WOMAN.....


This woman came to watch the show and she brought along her 2 dogs - a pair of Italian Greyhounds. Here's what an Italian Greyhound looks like:

As you can see from the pic, the Italian Greyhound is a slender, fine-boned little dog. It is a gentle dog and is sensitive to the tone of one's voice so it needs to reside in a peaceful environment in order for it to be in a calm submissive state. It is a playful, affectionate and well mannered dog and it generally has a stereotype that it is timid.


Here's what the woman's IGs looked like:

The pair of Italian Greyhounds at the SKC show was anything but timid! It had the gumption and spunk to be sniffing the butts of dogs that were 5 times as big as them, and it was very friendly with strangers. I was at the show with my Better Half who is also a dog lover and upon seeing the Greyhounds he approached the owner to ask if he could pet them. The owner seemed to not hear him so he asked her again and this time instead of answering him she purposely turns around to ensure that her butt is facing us! It's the Greyhounds misfortune that their owner is an uncouth idiotic woman who is not able to display basic courtesy and respect. Clearly she was holed up in a cave when our government was going on and on about the Courtesy Campaign!


Dog shows are meant to be a conducive environment for dog lovers to meet and interact and more importantly get up close and personal with different breeds. They are normally more than happy to share stories about their dogs, characteristics of the breed and also where they got the breed from. The woman at the SKC show was such a let down because she had a pair of beautiful IGs but because of her rotten attitude, she did absolutely NOTHING to raise awareness about Italian Greyhounds!

Shame on you Italian Greyhound Woman!! YOU'VE BEEN BARKED AT!!!!