Thursday, September 18, 2014

Mama and Party Pooch

Pet Parent Anne De Guzman and Pet Diesel Madison wearing reusable Pet Party Hat by Baby Moon!

Monday, September 15, 2014

Poor or Pampered

Is your pooch poor or pampered?

Is your pooch caged or chained the whole day? That is a sign or a sorry dog.

Do they eat their fill and have two types of treats and three kinds of toys? They have a favorite blanky and a plush pillowed bed? Then that means they are pampered.

What is your pooch?

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Dressing the Dogs

Photo credits: Hello Miss Dar Photography!

Remember when dressing your dog, to dress them responsibly. Do not over do it and make sure the total weight they carry of clothes + accessories will only be 20 to 30% of the weight of the pet.

Have a great day!

Monday, September 8, 2014

Petiquette for Yaya




·         Yaya is the colloquial term for house maid or nurse maid. A more politically correct term is kasambahay. It literally translates to those who live with us at home.

Just because we left our babies to our Kasambahay doesn’t mean we relinquish all responsibilities. If you find out from the law, if the dog bites somebody the person liable is the owner not the minder. It is the owner’s job to make sure the dog is behaved through education or proper classes. If you are a bit iffy on your pet’s behavior, better keep them in the house.

Now, picture yourself so busy that you have no time to take pooch out to walk. You ask Yaya to take them for a walk. First and foremost, Yaya should be prepared and willing to take your dog out. Some yayas are scared of dogs. Before selecting our Kasambahay, we ask them if they like dogs. They even come to the house to see the dog before accepting the job. It is important for all to get along. Now, yaya is happy to take your pooch to the park for you. Show her the proper commands. If you can, give her a test run with you. Sometimes, it is your dog who freaks out when there is a change of routine. A test run with yaya is in order.
Next, prepare the things yaya will need. Your dogs need leash, water and poopie kit.  Sometimes, I give yaya a treat to bribe pooch in case he turns belligerent. Don’t forget the poopie kit and enforce this on yaya. Most villages and park have fines for owners not cleaning up after them. Tell yaya to bring plastic and newspaper all the time.

Lastly, enforce a time schedule on yaya. As harsh as it sounds, you must do this. At times, our yayas take a side trip to meet their friends in the village taking your babies with them. I had a yaya once and she took my baby for three hour walks. They leave at 2pm and come back five to half-past five. When my dog comes home, he runs under the table and sleeps in exhaustion. They didn’t do much walking but my yaya tended to talk a lot and flirt a lot. She can go sit with other yayas for hours leaving my baby to wait with her. The heat outside was getting to my dog. When I realized this, I asked them to just take an hour and no more.
Now, make sure your yayas understand the why’s of petiquette. Petiquette may be for a good mannered pet owner but it also helps us avoid getting into trouble. That goes for your yayas as well. Forearm them with knowledge and you will be at ease when they go out for walks.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Gift Giving 101 for Cats



So, what do you give as gifts for pets in a party? It is not as easy as selecting something in the department store. First, let us know the reason for the party. Cats are much simpler to give gifts to than dogs.


First birthday: Congratulations, it’s a kitten. Kittens are a bit different than puppies. For one thing, they are just an innocent bundle of joy!
What best to give: Balls, blankets, treats, gift certificates, books.

Second birthday and up: Cats are more or less more consistent than dogs. It would not matter to then what age they are. They know they are gown up cats and demand to be treated so. By this age, the have taken to a specific brand of cat food and treats. It is hard for them to try new food items and not all cats eat fruits.
What best to give: scratching post, toy mouse, laser toys, extra blankets or old clean towels.

Blessings and milestones: Most cats hardly achieve milestones because they are secretive. They don’t usually let their pet parent know what they have accomplished, good or bad. When the pet parent do catch them in the act, a party is in order.
What best to give: congratulatory card, books, gift certificates, unique pet gadgets.

Celebrating adoption (newly adopted kitten): It’s a baby! It’s a kitten! It’s a bal of love! So, like a puppy adoption, it is like a baby shower. Show them love by giving necessities.
What best to give: scratching post, bowls, unique pet gadgets, blankets, treats, toys.

Celebrating adoption (older, rescued cat):  Celebrating rescue adoption is celebrating commitment. There are problems in adopting rescue especially if the pet has suffered trauma. Congratulate and pat the pet owner’s back by coming to the celebration.
What best to give: congratulatory card, unique pet gadgets, blanket, books, toys. Ask if they have bed and cat food. It’s lovely to aid the adopters too.

What not to give: As in any pet, Don’t give pet food unless you know the dietary restrictions of the pet. Don’t give clothes if you don’t know the size or preference of the pet and pet owner. Consider the views of the pet owner before giving clothes.
Never give mixed message items. Even if you know the diet of the pet, giving them “diet” food shouts you are affirming their pet is overweight. Giving things like deodorizing sprays and air freshener says you think they smell bad.
Never give items from a dead pet like their old bed, old toys, old bowls. A pet knows this and might take offense.
Don’t give very expensive things unless you are very close to the pet owner. Items like jewelry, expensive carriers, strollers and such are a bit too much for party gifts.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Think Before Getting a Pet




Before you get yourself or the family a pet, have you thought of it thoroughly? There are many things to consider and not just the financial.
·         Approval of the family. This comes especially if you do not live alone. You must consider that some of them might have allergies. Also, they might not like having a pet underfoot. Make sure everyone is on the same page.

  • If living in a rented property, will the owner of the building approve of a pet in the premise? Especially for apartments, some buildings do not allow pets in the building.
  • Do you have disposable income? Disposable means that money will never come back to you. This money goes to dog/cat/rabbit food, pet care products and annual shots. Even the carrots they eat will take up cost. Don’t forget that your consumption of water and cleaning products will also increase.
  • Emergency money. Consider that having a pet is like having a child. There will be accidents and sickness. We must prepare for an emergency.
  • Time. Pets demand time. Domesticate pets need the attention of the pet parent. Do you have the time to spare? If not you, then yaya(helper)? Does yaya have enough time to do her chores plus take care of the pet/s?
  • Patience. Do you have what it takes to be a pet parent and not a pet owner? As stated earlier, domesticated pets become more dependent on human emotions. At times they want your attention by being bad. At times they just want to wreak havoc. Do you have the patience and understanding to love them as they are and dole out discipline if needed?

Remember this: having a pet is a responsibility not a right. Their love is a grace given, not to be taken as a brand of ownership.

Photo credits: Bridget Shih Tzu Owner and Photographer: Greggie Mercado.

Blog Description

This is a blog on pet fashion, lifestyle and the changing pet trends in the Philippines.