My Dining Area

Sleepy

Kitchen for Axel

All this while, Axel would be caged up whenever I go out of my apartment.  I have tried letting him out before but he would get all panicky and made a lot of noise. As my apartment doesn't allow us to keep pets, I would need for Axel to be very quiet.

So I never changed the routine of having him in his cage when I need to leave my apartment. However I did feel guilty for leaving him in that cage for a long period of time every day.

Recently I conducted the experiment again to see whether he would get used to a bigger space when he is alone. I used a baby gate to cordon my kitchen's area up. His cage has always been in that area. I let the cage's door opened and then I left, but loitered around outside for a while to make sure that he didn't cook up a storm. It worked! He didn't make any noise. Hooray! When I got back, he was waiting patiently for me behind the baby gate.

So now, Axel has the kitchen area all for himself. I threw in some toys for him too... in case he got bored of sleeping.

Manja nye

Sleeping Fatty

Happy Belated Birthday, Axel

Axel turned 4 years old (human years) 3 days ago. I was too swarmed with work to do a post on that day.. and I forgot to get him special treats. :-( Baaaaaad daddy!

Anyway, I gave him a bigger portion of his usual morning and evening meals.

Happy Belated Birthday, Axel!

 

Avoderm Natural

Axel the pug used to have some problems with his skin some time ago. After trying various brands of dog food, I came across this brand called Avoderm Natural. Actually this brand was introduced to Gan's mom and sister by a petshop when they were dogsitting Axel during that time. The petshop recommended Avoderm Natural Vegetarian Adult Dog Food to help with Axel's skin.



I was rather uncomfortable with feeding my dog (a carnivore) vegetarian. You see, I am very much a "carnivorous" person and couldn't imagine going on fulltime vegetarian.

When I got Axel back, I still would like to try this brand to see whether it makes a difference to his skin condition. However as I did not want Axel to be fully on a vegetarian diet, I mixed it with Avoderm Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Adult Dog Food.

I will buy a 2kg pack of each and mix them together. 2 packs will usually lasts about 3 weeks - 1 month. So these have been Axel's food since then.



I have to say that Axel's skin condition improved tremendously since switching to this product. In fact when I brought him out for all these pug meetings, many have complimented his nice coat. So I am really thankful to Avoderm. (FYI, I am not paid in anyway by this brand. Am just sharing the experience).

Recently when I went outstation, I boarded him at this nice petshop that we always go to. The boarding place fed him some other brands - mixture of NutriEdge and ANF. When I took him back, Axel refused to take his Avoderm. I guessed it must be that after having full meat diet at the boarding place, he didn't like the taste of semi-vegetarian anymore.

Anyhow, he adjusted himself and started to eat them again. Well a pug will always be a pug.. they can't be choosy about food for long.

Anyway I am now thinking to switch him back to full meat products, but definitely staying with Avoderm. Probably fully lamb and rice or maybe we will try the trout variety. Lets see how much the trout variety costs. Lamb or trout, I am sure Axel will still prefer them than the vegetarian one.

Poochie Poochie Pet Centre

Finding a good boarding place for Axel has always been a headache for me. At times I know I can depend on Gan's family to help take care of him whenever I need to go overseas, but I also get "pai seh" to disrupt their daily routine whenever Axel is there.

Disrupt their daily routine here means that they will be vacuuming much more when the fur shedder is there, and waking up much earlier than usual with the 5am automatic alarm a.k.a Axel the pug.

I have tried a few boarding places and researched a few, but none which enticed me to be a regular customer... until recently. I guess as all pet lovers would know, your pets are as precious to you as an offspring to a parent. So you will want to be sure that when you place your precious at a boarding place, they are being well taken care of.

I found that in this shop called "Poochie Poochie Pet Centre". I have to admit the name is a bit funny but it's from the word "Pooch", okay?


This shop is rather new and simple, very much a shoplot with some rooms, product shelves and enclosures. They do grooming, provide boarding and sell various pet products and home bred puppies.


I guess most petshops are alike in terms of the things that they sell. What distinct them apart is the level of service and the relationship fostered with the customers. I have to say that these are the things that Poochie Poochie Pet Centre is able to provide me. When you talk to the couple (Anne & Keith) who owns the place, you will know straight away that they are genuine pet lovers.

I have been boarding Axel there for a few times now. He was very much let to roam free within the shop. I think he may have made some friends there as well. The icing on top of the cake is that the boarding fee is very reasonable and does not cause you to bleed.




If you would like to check them out, here's the information:
Poochie Poochie Pet Centre
No.39, Ground Floor,
Jalan Puteri 2/3,
Bandar Puteri Puchong,
47100 Puchong, Selangor.
Tel: 03-80635061

What's that sound?

What is he thinking?

Don't Touch My Stuff!

Axel hurt his leg

My poor little boy (Axel the pug) hurt his left hind leg falling off the couch yesterday evening. He cried like I never heard him before and when I lifted him up and put him back on the floor, I noticed he couldn't move his left hind leg. I panicked thinking that it must have been broken! I was so worried and as it was a Sunday evening, all the vets were already closed. I called a few friends asking whether they have any emergency vet numbers. Either the vet was too far away or they didn't answer the phone. I was really panicking like crazy then.

After a while, Axel regained the control of his left hind leg and I could see him walking on his fours. Phew... that gave me a bit of relief. However he seemed to be limping a little bit on that leg. As I couldn't get hold of any vets and Axel seemed to be okay, I thought I would only send him to the vet today after work.

This morning when I woke up, I wasn't greeted by the usual excited Axel. In contrast, he was very lethargic and was even refusing food. I panicked again! After feeding him a piece or two of his dog food, he started eating again. Then I noticed that he was shaking a little... and I know I couldn't wait for tonight to send him to the vet. I called my boss and told him I needed to take half a day EL. I wondered whether my boss has ever heard "sending my dog to the vet" as an EL's reason.

So we waited until 10am and I sent Axel to Saint Angel Animal Clinic, his usual vet. Dr Ding who treated him kept commenting how "round" Axel is. I told him what happened and he inspected Axel's legs. He found nothing wrong and said that it could be due to muscle sprain. So he prescribed some pain killers, asked me to monitor him for a few days and sent us home.

I accompanied Axel for a while at home and then I went off to work. I tell you, I now understand the feelings that parents feel when their kids are sick or hurt. There was this worry hanging on my head throughout the day.

When I came back, Axel was still lethargic. I gave him some food which he reluctantly took, and administered the pain killer. He is now sitting by my side, looking miserable. I hope my little boy will get well soon. Looking at him now made me feel so guilty and sad. :-(

AnimalCare - help save the animals

AnimalCare is a community project supported by the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association, for the purpose of relieving the suffering of animals and providing for their wellbeing.

With the plight of strays in mind, AnimalCare aims to sponsor the spaying and neutering of strays, rescue & re-home of strays, as well as to organise education programs to promote the needs of animals.

As we have heard so much about the suffering of strays in this country, perhaps it's time we get involved and help out.

Click here to know how.

Message from Axel: Please help...

Grounded

Axel is a naughty boy today. He pee-pee'ed in his carrier bag for no apparent reason.

Grounded in his kennel until further notice.

Boarding at Pets4U

I collected Axel back from the boarding place yesterday. I boarded him at Pets4U located in Bandar Puteri, Puchong.

I first got to know about this place from the Petster magazine, Malaysian No.1 FREE Pet Lifestyle Magazine. This magazine is available in most of the pet stores and I think it's a good avenue for pet business owners to advertise their services and products.

Before I flew off to Bangkok, I actually went over to Pets4U to check the place out. It's a 1 unit shop lot and is kept really clean. I asked to see the boarding area and it's basically the back room with cages stacked on each other. Oh well... I have checked a few of such boarding services and they looked the same, except for the one at St Angel Animal Medical Center where cages are built-in and made of stainless steel.

I wanted to try Pets4U as they looked friendlier from their advertisement. The boarding rate for an adult pug is RM20 per night and food is provided. They will provide the same food that you feed your dog if they have that brand of food. Axel takes Avoderm and Pets4U do carry that brand. I have also asked whether the dogs are brought out from their cages now and then. The shop owner told me they do let the dogs loose within the shop.

Dropping Axel off the day before I flew off felt really awful. It felt like a parent abandoning a child under the care of strangers. The shop owners have their own dogs in the shop. When we walked in, these dogs started to bark at us (or rather at Axel). I have to admit that it didn't feel very welcoming. I was asked to fill up a form and Axel was taken out from his carrier bag and put straight into a cage. He must have felt very confused, my poor boy.

I then left the shop with a heavy heart and could only hope for the best while I was enjoying myself in the Land of Smiles.

I came back on Sunday. I really love Bangkok and I am sure I will be going there again.

Anyway back to Axel. Before I went over to Pets4U to collect him, I have asked for them to do a basic grooming on him. When I reached the shop, the shop owner's white schnauzer was there. This guy must be the alpha male type cause when I got in and put Axel's carrier bag down, he was like inspecting the carrier bag in and out.

Then the lady went to take Axel out from his cage. As I was walking over to Axel, this white terror charged at Axel and practically pounced on him!! I shrieked thinking that he had bitten Axel but after careful inspection, thank goodness Axel was alright.

They had to confine the schnauzer so that I can put Axel into his carrier bag. This got me wondering, do they really let boarding dogs out of the cages to roam within the shop when their resident dog is so aggressive?

I paid up RM130 (for 5 nights boarding and RM30 for the basic grooming) and left the place feeling not "song". I mean would you feel nice after seeing your "baby" being pounced at?

After leaving the place, I brought him to St Angel for his yearly health check and vaccination. Then I brought him home. Axel seems to be very tired after that, perhaps from the vaccination.

Anyhow I couldn't shake off the thought of Axel being bullied at the boarding place. Perhaps I should research on others in case I need to board him again. You have any recommendation?

Not easy to be a single "parent"

I am going for a holiday this Thursday. Yessss... I am pretty excited over it, but at the same time feeling worried too. Why you may ask...

Well, my "son" loh. I need to put him in some dog boarding place this time around. It has been such a long time since I last put him into one, and I have to say I am worried.

I am worried Axel will get very stressed up being around strangers. I am worried Axel will be frightened by other loud dogs. I am worried Axel is not being treated well.

Sigh... there are so many things to worry about, at times I wonder whether I should just cancel my trip.

He used to go to his "nanny's" when I go outstation but I recently heard that there were complaints about Axel's fur dirtying their new home. So I thought I better not put them in a difficult situation by asking the favor.

I guess Axel and I just need to get used to this, as I am not sure how frequent I will need to travel in my new job.

It's really not easy to be a single "parent". Not easy being the "child" of the single "parent" too... Well, maybe just my case la. Poor Axel...

Sticky except ...

I read somewhere before that one of the pugs' traits is being "sticky". They are bred for companionship, therefore they need to be near people all the time.

Axel is no different. When I am at home, he would follow me everywhere and I must be within the radius that he could see me. If I go into my room or toilet and close the door, he would patiently sit in front of the door and wait for me to come out.

So in short... Axel is always sticking around me... except for one situation....


His bathing time!!!

When he sees all the signs of me wanting to give him a bath, he would stay far away from me, hiding in the "security" of his kennel.


I always try to respect his delusion of that "security" and so I don't just go and pull him out. Instead I would use the secret weapon to lure him out... treats!! Yeah, that's another trait of pugs... their weakness for food! Hehehe.

Keeping a pug occupied

I was cleaning Axel's fold above his nose with some tissue paper when a small piece of it got stuck there. See Axel's reaction to it.

This gave me a new idea on how to keep Axel occupied the next time. Muahahaha...

Axel loves Porky

Well, sort of...

Daddy, I need a bath

I have been a very bad and lazy daddy. Axel hasn't had his bath (not that he is complaining) for 2 weeks already and his nails need trimming. Thank goodness tomorrow is a public holiday... Axel is going to feel and smell brand new!