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!

Turning 3 months on 12th June!

Yes you saw the title of the post! 魚蛋 is turning 3 months old tomorrow!

As I mentioned from my previous post, I got 魚蛋 a new bowl (DOGIT GO SLOW ANTI-GULPING DISH). It work wonders! He takes his time to finish his food now, going slowly from segments to segments. Definitely prevented him from gulping his food down in seconds.

魚蛋 grew very attached to us. He would look around, checking if we are in line of sight while he have his meals. If he can't see us, he would leave his food and look for us. Unlike the first few weeks whereby he takes his meals as if it was his last meals, ignoring us and also getting very nervous when we get close to him where he starts gulping his food even faster - afraid that we would steal away his food. I guess he got starved or not given as much food when he was at the kennel.

But one problem is solved, a new one arises...

魚蛋 starts to run around the apartment every time he finishes his food which will also cause indigestion. I can only distract him by giving him a toy to chew and kept all the play toys like robe, soft toys etc which will get him to lay down. Sometimes it work, most of the time it doesn't... :(

By the way, 魚蛋 got his third vaccine last Wednesday. He will be able to go out after the 20th this month. Can't wait to bring him out to meet more people and socialize with more dogs.

魚蛋 gained 800 grams from the day we got him. From 1.05kg to 1.8kg+ yet the vet says his weight is still under the benchmark for his breed therefore we can feed him more.

I have let 魚蛋 roam free since 2 days ago around the house when we are asleep or away from home. Gotta let him explore his environment and make sure he learns where to potty when he is allow to roam.

See how much 魚蛋 has grown!

2 weeks with us

My ex-colleague's puppy of 8 months has just passed away last week. His puppy was at the vet for it's regular checkup and he was still fine, nothing was detected until a week later. I can imagine how he feels during this period of time. It passed away due to a internal tick infection. Not sure what is the actual cause of it but it sure sound serious. Hope his current dog can slowly make his sorrows subside.

Here are some updates on Yu Dan.

Have been training Yu Dan 15-20 minutes almost everyday. It is good to start at young age. At his age of 2 months and 2 weeks, he has learn how to sit, hands, down and wait for "OK" sign before he is allowed to consume his meals. Sometimes he just spaced out and ignored commands when you said it but execute it after a few seconds. Sometimes he ignored you completely. HAHA!

Good thing is that he does not bark when we are sleeping anymore as well as when we are away. He was given tough training! Totally ignored by us, not giving him any affection when he barks. :)

Talking about meals, Yu Dan is a fanatic when it comes to food. He will ignore what you are saying or if you are even looking at him. His eyes are just glued to the bowl you are holding while he runs and hops around but he only gets his food if he calms down. He also likes to gulp his food down within seconds like it's his last meal which is not good! Gulping of food will make their stomach bloated due to lots of air intakes that will cause indigestion which may lead to vomiting and gastric problems. Guess I would need to invest in a bowl that makes them eat slower.

For today's meals (before I get Yu Dan a new eating bowl tomorrow), I gave a slight push on Yu Dan to get him away from the bowl after every 2-3 mouths to stop him from gulping. Procedure, push - wait - OK. Four to five times in the process to slow his eating instead of him finishing his food in 3-5 seconds.

Bowls with special designs that have "compartments" can make dogs have their meals slower by obstructing them instead of having a plain bowl that allows their mouth to access the whole bowl.

I have also taught him how to stay outside places where I do not want him to be especially the kitchen. Kitchen is definitely out of bounds for him as it is dangerous for him to be there - knives, hot cooking oil/water etc when we are cooking. But sometimes he could not control himself cause he knows that his food are kept in the kitchen and he got the perception that when we enter the kitchen, there is a possibility of us preparing his food. He would tend to try his luck, stepping in bit by bit while we are not looking and quickly move back if we were to noticed and caught him in action.

Last Wednesday was Yu Dan's first bath after we brought him home. He was so skinny with his furs all damped. He was scared too! Have to distract him with treats during the bathing process.

Some pictures over the weekend.