Dog cafe @ Serangoon - Sun Ray Cafe

We went to check out Sun Ray Cafe which is located at Serangoon, past Nexx shopping mall, among all the bungalows. Finding a place to park is a hassle.

They have 2 units, one for pets and the other no pets allowed. The pets section seems crowded but the non-pets section was empty, probably just that night that we visited, not sure about the rest of their operating days.

There was quite a number of dogs inside. The moment we entered the cafe, something doesn't seems right. Their entrance is made of sliding glass doors which has no baby gates or something like a double entry, we have to make sure other dogs doesn't run out when we were entering while squeezing through the pack of dogs that came to welcome YuDan and us.

Service was quite bad as it took 20 minutes for us to place our orders, they have only 1 service staff handling the area of 6 tables including us. The rest of the staffs are at the non-pet section stationing at the coffee counter, kitchen, food runner etc. As the service is slow, leaks are not attended too.

Our food came and to our surprise, the dish looks presentable, akin to semi fine dining. I like the lamb that I ordered. :)

Then, while having our dinner, my worry when we first entered the cafe actually happened. One table was leaving and did not close the sliding door. Resulted in two other dogs running out of the cafe, luckily their owners have good agility and reacted fast enough to hold their dogs back.

Price is on the higher side. $90+ for 2 pax of dinner set and YuDan's food ($6).

We left Sun Ray Cafe and headed to Paw Pet-radise as there wasn't much space for dogs to play around.

Dog cafe @ Balestier - Paw Pet-radise

Our aim is to find a place which we feel most comfortable with and also an ideal play place for YuDan. We will be going cafés to cafés just to recce and check things out. 

We have been patronizing one in Balestier for a couple of times, 4 times now in a month. Although the interior wasn't  heavily spent on, it does feel warming and a good place to chill in. You will be greeted by lots of dogs when you enter. We were amazed. The number of dogs are more than humans! They have a few resident furkids in the premises. A good place for YuDan to socialize...

BUT...

YuDan is so afraid all the time and stick to us wherever we go or stayed beneath our chairs to take cover. The dogs there are too friendly and wanted to play with YuDan. They were huge for him too! A few golden retrievers, huskies, schnauzers etc. We will have to walk away from the table to the center of the room where the rest of the dogs are and he will have to follow us there for shielding. That's where he is open to the rest of dogs instead of hiding under chairs. 

Overall price is more or less same as Doggystyle Cafe or maybe slightly lower. YuDan's Shepard pie.

Nice community and good number of dogs every time we went. Guess they have their pool of regulars who stay nearby that goes almost everyday. 

Service is not bad. They are prompt with leaks that the dogs did indoor. 

They just need to answer their mobile phone if they put it as their contact ways when people call to check on their operating hours or any other queries.

Other that that, it would be the place that we will be visiting weekly or biweekly for now till we find a place which is worth going to compared to this place.

Nex shopping mall @ Serangoon - Doggie Playground / Doggystyle Cafe

Paid a visit to Nex shopping mall at Serangoon, the only shopping mall that allows dogs in its premises but only through certain paths and lifts up to the open air dog playground. Brought YuDan there to try the obstacles.

We were there during late evening on the weekday therefore there wasn't any dogs around which is quite good, good way to introduce YuDan to the place and obstacles instead of being swarmed by dogs. 

Yudan's afraid of the tunnel and failed to jump over the raised bars on the ground but went over the inclined ramp a few times.

After which,we went to the doggy cafe right beside the playground. We were the only customers in there and also the first time YuDan having cooked food. Meatballs!!!

Price is a bit higher than expected comparing the quality served. I meant the human food.

Overall, nothing particular about the cafe. Maybe I'm wrong due to the late evening and also on a weekday.

Hort park / Labrador park

My wife have been searching for new places for YuDan and she came across the Hort Park. 

We have never went there before therefore we are also quite excited to explore the place. 

To our surprise, the place is neat and clean. A great place to take your dog for a walk there. It's a tag small though, finished slow walking the park in 20-30mins. 

If you want to take a longer walk with your dog, the route links to another park which we didn't explore. The map seems too large on the board and we are afraid that the return trip back to the car park will be too tiring if we were to venture further. 

We saw a playground there and wanted to let YuDan experience the feel of sand. Entirely new to him, he went around sniffing the the sand. With a moisted nose, the sand was all around his nose and muffler. Not sure if he eaten the sand, have to let him experience the sand more so we can bring him to Sentosa in the future. 

Pirate at the playground. 

When we are about to leave Hort park, we decided to visit Labrador park which is also nearby, a 5-10mins drive and it's along the south coast of Singapore. The place is a lot much bigger, walking the whole park might take hours I think so we only explored a segment of the map. 

We saw many people fishing there when it's not allowed to. Might be dangerous for pets if their fishing hooks dropped on the ground and they did not pick it up. 

Walking further along the coast line, the breeze is very cooling and the sunset along the horizon is magnificent when you sit on the bench and watch the sunset. Saw a few other dogs too. Over all not a bad place to go with your dog. Just need to be careful with what's on the ground. 

Dogs meet up session

Had a dogs meet up session last Sunday.

YuDan have another new friend! Skippy!

Skippy is a Jack Russell, 11 years old. Very muscular still!

Wife says that YuDan showed Skippy and Dasher around the house, into each room, toilet and kitchen which is quite cute.

I got home late therefore my wife have been hosting her friends and the dogs. Before I got home, my wife texted my mobile to hurry me. Skippy and Dasher have been fighting over YuDan. Skippy wanted YuDan's attention but YuDan did not reciprocate. Dasher barks Skippy to protect YuDan and they started to bark, chase and slight fight while YuDan sat one corner watching the whole drama.

Seems like Dasher weigh YuDan heavily huh? Best friend? Haha.

When I got home, I was welcomed by the three dogs. A pleasant sight to wish for everyday.

To my noticed, Skippy nails were very long and his owner wanted me to cut for him but I guess better not as I'm not a professional groomer nor I'm Skippy's owner to know his temperament, don't want to get bitten by Skippy. :)

Skippy was also whining non-stop when I came home, as if he was talking or singing to YuDan but he was ignored. Wife says he has been whining the whole time. Owner says he likes to talk to people hehe.

Slowly reintroduce the dogs again and they began playing a bit. Gave them treats for good behaviour.

No whining, no barks.

Trick before treats! =]

Rolling for Dasher.
Throw and catch the treats for Skippy.
Holding/balancing treats on nose for YuDan.

And they left home barking at each other along the corridor while waiting for the lift down. :x

Change of food / Arrival of items

I have changed YuDan's food gradually since last week since his food was running low, from Addiction Salmon Bleu to TimberWolf Ocean Blue which is much more premium when it comes to ingredients as well as pricing.

At first, I wanted to get Timberwolf Wilderness for YuDan which consist of Elk (young kangaroo) & lamb instead of Salmon again but there was no stock with the supplier. I hope he will finish the new packet of  Ocean Blue. I can feel that he's getting sick of salmon! Haha!

Anyway, some information that I read and learn about food ingredients which I'm glad to share with everyone.

Do take note of their first five ingredients and the first will be the main ingredient. Any ingredients that mentioned meal (salmon meal, chicken meal etc) consist of any part of the animal. Example, chicken meal means everything from the chicken including liver, intestines, heart etc. Moreover, I read that only chicken meal consist of even their heads, legs, claws etc. Whereas the rest are just internal organs.

Next, a much better kibble will have their first ingredient as a food, not as a meal.
Lamb = lamb, not lamb meal
Salmon = salmon, not salmon meal
etc

First 5 ingredients

Addiction Salmon Bleu for puppies : Salmon Meal, Potatoes, Chicken Fat (Free from Chicken Protein and naturally preserved with Mixed Tocopherols - a source of Vitamin E), Whole Smoked Salmon, Dried Blueberries...

Timberwolf Ocean Blue : Herring, Ocean Fish Meal, Salmon, Herring meal, Russet Potatoes...

I didn't read up much about food in the past for the start as my main objective is to seek for no grains, no soy, no wheat, no artificial preservation and no food coloring. That made me settled down on Addiction.

Right now, I'm contented with my choice as Timberwolf Ocean Blue consisted of 4 fishes as their first 5 ingredients compared to just 1 salmon meal by Addiction Salmon Bleu. Furthermore, Timberwolf have herbs in their kibbles which is so fragrant! I was surprised when I opened up the pack.

It is very hard to make a decision from all the brands out there in the market. Got to read up more for the interest of your pouch.

Family's Effort / Online Shopping / Grooming

First, I need to touch on family members effort which is the hardest to put them to execution when having a puppy.

Our parents are chinese educated (difficulty with the pronunciation when saying out the commands in english) with traditional/old fashioned mindset and their perception of dog differs from us.

1) Dogs doesn't need to train. Last time we also never train our dogs.
2) They will survive or think of way to survive cause they are smart
3) Why can't do this? Why can't do that? 
4) You have to do what my dad (which is my grandpa) did, it works!
5) Etc etc...

I have tried to explain to them the rational behind my actions, why and what I needed to do as well as them to follow the same, at least the basics. It's very tiring on me to retrain YuDan again and again as they will bombard YuDan with random commands of their own even with a list prepared for them, long sentences which confused him and lastly creating then allowing him his bad behavior which makes me the devil when it comes to disciplining. Whenever YuDan did wrong, he will run to my wife for shielding, she's his angel too...

Well, I guess it can't be helped. To me, it seems that their actions are more like strangers who saw a cute puppy and ran up to pet on the puppy, not considering what behaviors/habits/fears will be caused upon the puppy. The only option for me is to constantly reminding them of their actions.

Therefore, family's effort is important. It is crucial that every member in the family is on the same understanding that it is important to synchronize the training method taught to the puppy in order not to confuse them.

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Ever since we got back from Hong Kong, I have plans to change YuDan's pee tray location to the toilet in order to toilet-train him instead of doing in the living room and also too dependent, looking out for pee tray (that's his target) if he have the urge to release his bowels when we left him with our parents.

Just 3 days ago, I did the shifting, right to the toilet instead of slowly moving the pee tray into the toilet. I'm mentally prepared to do lots of cleaning up in the process before he get used to poo in the toilet. It took 2 days for him to do it correctly but with the pee tray inside the toilet. Eventually, I will have to remove the pee tray to see if he really knows he has to poo in the toilet.

Removed the play pen cause YuDan doesn't use it other than drinking from the clamped water bottle on the grills.

Did some online purchases.

1) Nail clipper cum grinder
2) Shaver
3) 3 clothes
4) 3 sets of shoes
5) 2 sets of water dispenser to be place at our parents' houses
6) Taller food bowl
7) Bed
8) 2 carrier bags

Will take quite awhile for all of them to reach, some flew by air and some by sea due to the freight charges according to weight.

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Yudan went for his second grooming! He's much better compared to the first time during grooming but he whined non-stop the moment he was put into the cage when an owner came in with two golden retrievers wanting to just trim their nails and paw furs. Got happy and run around the groomers after the golden retrievers left. What a naughty boy. HAH!

Got him a new toy from iKea

Back from Hong Kong / New Shoes

Have left 魚蛋 with my in-law and spent two nights there with him before we leave for Hong Kong. We did that because we need to slowly introduce a new environment to him, at the same time observe how our family members cope with 魚蛋 so that it won't be too stressful for him. Just like when we left for Australia leaving 魚蛋 with my parents.

Pictures of 魚蛋 when we are about to leave. My in-laws told me that 魚蛋 waited at the door for 2 days for us to return, he probably thought we only left for awhile, like we went to work.

 

As always, we did not forget 魚蛋 whenever we are out of town. We got him a new harness, shoes, toys as well as treats. :)

 

Error uploading his video here, please head to his facebook :D

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=149155781956165

魚蛋 got puzzled when he first wore his shoes and his actions were so funny, like he can't feel his legs! He got used to it after awhile and I brought him down for a walk, so in future, he won't loathe the shoes as wearing the shoes will mean going outdoors.

After we got back from Hong Kong and collected 魚蛋 from our in-laws, we brought him to a baby shower and there, 魚蛋 found 2 acquaintances! I meant acquaintances because we were there only for a short time and at the same time, the black labradoodle was so aggressive that he kept bullying the other white poodle. That was 魚蛋's second interaction with dogs other than with Dasher. 

The black labradoodle growled at 魚蛋 when 魚蛋 wanted to make friends with him, that made 魚蛋 stepped back a few steps and sat down, acting cute. After which, 魚蛋 lay down infront of him trying to get his attention. Haha!

 

魚蛋 learned the wrong behavior from the labradoodle. He growled at me when I was trying to wipe of the treats that stick on the fur on his hands while he was biting the treats in his mouth. I corrected his behavior immediately, hope he will not do that again.

Since I'm touching on 魚蛋's behavior, when we got back from Hong Kong, 魚蛋 starts to bark when he heard strangers outside the door which he can't see them behind closed doors or when he sees people that he is familiar with that just got home, like my dad. Every time it happens, it happened to fast which is hard for me to catch him in the action to correct his behavior. I have only managed to catch and correct him once out of six times. After which, no barking for now. Luckily... 

By the way, 魚蛋 is still in the processing of changing teeth. We found his gum bleeding when we are brushing his teeth before we bring him over to my parents place for dinner. 魚蛋 dropped his third teeth (we only managed to find three of them, the rest might end up in the vacuum cleaner!) during our dinner time. 

 

We didn't bring 魚蛋's pee tray to my parents place, was hoping that he could do it in the toilet. The moment we reached, I brought 魚蛋 to the toilet and told him to poo poo in there. He didn't do it. We were ready to clear up the mess if he couldn't find his pee tray and do it anywhere in the house. To my surprise, 魚蛋 will look at me, wanting me to follow him to the toilet where he poo poo in it. Pee'd three times and poo'd once, all in the toilet!
 
My parents and in-laws are always pleased that 魚蛋 is a well tamed dog - does not chew on shoes, bite on wires, poo poo at the right place but seeks loving care very much (character of a maltipoo). Probably for now, no one knows how he will grow into in the near future.

Back from Australia / Change of teeth

We are back from Australia!

After all, We did not leave 魚蛋 with our neighbor after visiting their home to see if 魚蛋 is suitable to stay over at their place and chatted with them on their working schedules and such.

Sadly it does not seems feasible. Due to their long working hours, out from home at 8am and reaching home at 8pm daily and also with their house nicely renovated, they will be confining 魚蛋 in the play pen which will be quite disastrous as 魚蛋, being a maltipoo likes to run about the house. 

Confining him will make him angry that leads to peeing and pooing inside the play pen in order for him to get a chance to be out of the play pen. The play pen is also getting smaller for him to be confine in. Therefore, he will be soaked in his own pee and poo if we left him with our neighbor.

To us, it is more of not troubling them if 魚蛋 were to stink since day 1 and last for 10 days. Also being confined for 10 days would be quite sad for him, might lead to depression.

My mom who is afraid of dogs decided to take him in for that 10 days. Haha. She begins to like 魚蛋 while we are away. :)

Nearing to our last few days of our trip, my mom texted me saying 魚蛋 has loss his appetite, doesn't want to finish his food. Got us worried there.

When we came back, his appetite hasn't got better. Suddenly, we found out what's going on!

My wife stepped on a sharp objected somewhat like a "stone" in the room. She thought it might be some dirt that got into the apartment and picked up check on it. To our surprise, It was a tooth! 

Checked 魚蛋's mouth and realized some of his teeth are gone and small red openings are seen in his gum.

Now 魚蛋 is feeding on softened kibbles so his gum won't ache that much. To our relieve, he is back on his usual glutton.

魚蛋 is now  4 months 10 days old, weighing 3.3kg. For people who has puppies around this age and has loss of appetite please do check their gums if they are changing teeth.

Will be leaving for Hong Kong for 5 days this coming Sunday and 魚蛋 will be left in my in-laws's place.

We will miss him badly! :(

Things we bought for 魚蛋 in Australia:

Things that he destroyed!

   


  

  

Grooming and a new friend!

Have been bringing 魚蛋 for walks around the neighborhood as well as to the playground after his quarantine window is over. He's been enjoying the walks a lot. Very curious with people who walked past him and also the various sound distraction around him - voices of people, cars and bikes, mrt etc.

Brought him to the groomers at sunset way last Wednesday for the first time. He was so nervous and kept whining for us while be stood behind the counter looking at him. There was a golden retriever roaming around the shop but 魚蛋 did not give him any attention, just like when we brought him to the vet for his jabs. He needs to learn how to socialize with other dogs or even notice other bigger/ferocious dogs for his own safety. 

 Which is why we have planned to meet up with our friend's westie named Dasher over the weekend.

魚蛋 irritated Dasher in the beginning for quite sometime as he did not socialize with any other dogs before,
魚蛋 kept going for Dasher's tail, biting his tail like how he bite his Ikea's soft toy. Few times things almost got heated up. This is when I should step in and correct his behavior. 

I guess 魚蛋 is afraid (he should be!) of Dasher in terms of age and size. Dasher's at 3 years old, weighing 7.2kg versus 魚蛋 at 4 months+ , weighing 2.8kg. 

After awhile, they started to play chase which is fun to watch. 魚蛋 will squeeze in between small gaps which Dasher could not enter. Making shout outs to Dasher as he couldn't enter - YELP, YELP, yelp... the sound gets softer and softer! It was cute! :)

 
Today we went shopping with 魚蛋 at Holland Village's Pet Lovers Centre! Got him a new toy (rubber ball) and a packet of treats(peanut butter with strawberry and blueberry). After which, we had a tough time looking for places that allow pets while we have our dinner. Went asking a few cafe/restaurant whether it's possible but to no avail.

I thought Holland Village is a place for pets? Maybe it was? Or never has been? I only know that Haagen Dazs allows pet outdoors, not sure about the rest.

Nonetheless, we are glad that the coffee shop beside Pets Lover Centre doesn't mind pets outdoor so we ended up having zhi char.

There's one lady who was working there came talking to us after she saw 魚蛋 and show us pictures of her dog and cat living under one roof. She said her dog was adopted from the streets after seeing it getting abused and the cat left it's owner living 2 floors above her for 2 years. From that, I knew her love for animals is tremendous.

She even took a chair and put it in-between us for 魚蛋 to sit on it. That's very nice of her! :)

While sitting on the chair, 魚蛋 tried to climb on us twice and sniff the food on the table. First experience for him again!

  
Today's 魚蛋 5th bath before we hand him to our neighbor this coming Sunday as we are flying off to Australia on Monday for 10 days. Bathing him and doing the basic grooming got easier and faster, practice makes perfect.

I'm getting quite good in brushing him too! xD

 

Haze haze go away!

Singapore have been hit by the forest burning from Indonesia again..., the haze was so thick yesterday and PSI was reaching as high as 155. Breathing was difficult and visual was impaired.

Due to the haze, I have let 魚蛋 sleep in our room for the first time. We left the door opened slightly with a small gap using a door stopper so he can go out to poo/drink water and then come in.

He was so glad that he could enter room that he brings all his toys in from the living room. One by one, running back and forth as fast as he could - afraid we might just close the door and leave him outside as usual.

Upon waking up, the door stopper was gone, found right beside the bed frame. I guess he just bite or play with it while he was bored when we were asleep.

Oh and he likes aircon room especially with all his thick furs. Have to start looking for a groomer once his quarantine is up this coming Wednesday.


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While we were cooking during the evening, we heard a bark and we saw 魚蛋 running away from the entrance door and hid behind the couch. That was cute though, no idea why he got so timid. So we went out to check what's going on. Our neighbor came out with his dog. 

We didn't know they have a dog! Got to make good rapport with them so we can help each other out if either of us goes for a holiday in the future.

After dinner, I stepped out to the corridor to throw the trash. I stood by the entrance to see if I need to close the door but as far as I know, 魚蛋 wouldn't dare to step out of the house, even after walking him along the corridors twice. So I left the door open and started walking to throw the trash in the center corridor.

To my surprise, 魚蛋 came out and walked beside me! Guess the 2 walks with treats is not a bad way to introduce the environment to him. :)

Can't wait to see how he fair during the dog meet up session! 
 

 

Roaming free!

魚蛋 has been roaming freely within the living room like I have mentioned in my previous post. 

He have been quite a mischief. Whenever we are insight, he will poo and pee on the correct place to make us praise him but whenever we left the house or sleep, he will do otherwise. he just want attention.

For the past few days after letting him to roam free, whenever we go to bed, he will quietly let it be. As we work in the night life industry, our waking time will be in the evening. Therefore, whenever it comes to the evening, he will give our bedroom door a few scratching sound. i think he has got used to our living habit, giving us wake up calls, waking us up.

Today, we off the aircon early and left the door opened to our bedroom for him. Due to the height of the bed frame, after sleeping beside our bed, he would shift himself away to the distance so he can see us, which is outside the common toilet.

My parents-law said he is very loyal to us which I think otherwise. I think that he is just a puppy and needed another source of comfort. Cause whenever I called him or asked him to do anything he doesn't reciprocate. loL!

Anyway, that's just my other side of thought. He seems quite loyal at times. 

Also, he doesn't like us dress up for work. Whenever we dressed up for work, he would jump on us, bite our pants, pee and poo instantly wherever in order to delay us as we need to clear his waste away. Very naughty but whenever I sees him, my heart melts.

I have also arranged with friends who have dogs for a meetup next week, Sunday, as 魚蛋 quarantine is due next coming Wednesday. Good to let him socialize and correct his behavior whenever. I foresee 魚蛋 to be afraid during the socializing as he is kind of a timid guy. He's still afraid of jumping up and down the sofas, walking along the corridor etc.

Actually it is how we introduce the new environment to him. We got a part to play. I have walked the corridor with him this week twice. At first, he hesitated and was afraid. Treats work wonders especially for him! He's a glutton to begin with. Without noticing, he's in the middle of the entire corridor. Haha.

I have to be prepared that he will be overwhelmed by friend's dogs next Sunday. Maybe 4-5 dogs excluding him might be a tag too much for him to handle but no choice, it is also part of our friend's meet up. Hmm probably will start with introducing just 1 dog to him.

We shall see!