Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue#62 2016 i Pets

Jingle bells, jingle bells … we can’t believe that Christmas is just around the corner! Here in the PETS office, we’ve been preparing for the last few months, trying to get everything ready for one of our favourite times of the year. I can’t wait to take a few weeks break and spend some time with Berry and Danger, my two gorgeous dogs, as well as our new baby of the non-furry variety! When it comes to Christmas, we always include our pets in our celebrations. They have presents under the tree and come with us to visit our extended families and spread some Christmas cheer. Sometimes, Danger and Berry will even have cute little Christmas outfits to wear on this festive day (as long as it’s not too hot,…

Verdell’s Dixie, Sunny and Holly sure do look like they’re well-behaved doggies. “There were three in the bed and the little one said …” We love this pic of Helen’s gorgeous pooches. Zoe’s Maple truly has a darling face. Carissa’s Cuddles is a beautiful Burmese. We love this photo of Alison’s Hunter backpacking with her — how cute! Stanley’s Ginger likes to sleep in the morning — and w e can’t blame him! We do, too! Ally’s Bobby had a tough start to life but has well and truly landed on his feet in the home he’s in now. Who can resist a happy Pug face? Not us, and certainly not Jaime, Monty’s owner. Great pic! Laura’s Pixi and Peaches are clearly fans of all animal friends, whether furry or…

With summer well and truly here, it’s important to remember you should never leave your pets alone in your car. Temperatures inside a vehicle can reach more than double the outside temperature. In fact, dogs can overheat even when you’re parked in the shade with your windows down. It can take only six minutes for a dog to die in a hot car and heat stroke is an emergency that’s best treated by a vet. If you see an animal suffering in a vehicle this summer, please contact your local RSPCA immediately. For more information, visit justsixminutes.com.au…

I JUST CAME TO SEE YOUR DOG Author: Kaz Dalton Publisher: Kaz Dalton RRP: $29.95 Available: Now, from kazdalton.com Big dogs, small dogs, fat dogs, thin dogs … author Kaz Dalton loves all things canine and isn’t afraid to share it in her debut release, I Just Came To See Your Dog. This is the perfect book for the younger animal lover in your life (although we have to admit — it certainly gave us adults a laugh or two). Accompanying the author’s strong rhymes are a series of gorgeous full-colour illustrations depicting all manner of dogs engaged in a host of doggy activities. Make sure you get yours today — you and the dog lovers in your life will not regret it. ZEN DOGS Photographer: Alex Cearns Publisher: HarperCollins…

Puppy Tales editor Kerry Martin has plenty of tips to help you capture the perfect shot of your pet. Kerry was the winner of the 2015 AIPP Australian Pet/Animal Photographer of the Year Award from the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers, so you can rest assured she knows what she’s talking about. • Think Christmassy. “What can you add to your photo for max Christmas cuteness with your pet?” she says. Santa hats, Christmas bandanas, fake mistletoe (not the real stuff as it’s toxic to dogs) and antlers are all good ideas to get you started. • Location, location, location. “Is there somewhere special you can visit to use as the background for your photos? Maybe a Christmas tree farm or the best Christmas light display in your…

MAJOR DOG’S RASCAL DUMMY Treat your dog this Christmas with Major Dog’s Rascal Dummy. This go-anywhere toy will be a delightful present for your dog on Christmas morning — your pooch will be begging to go to the beach to play fetch straight away. Or for those not too keen on water, this toy can be enjoyed continuously at the local park. Designed for our smaller canine pals but enjoyed by our larger doggy friends as well, the Rascal Dummy is easy to throw and easy to carry, perfect for you and your best furry friend. majordog.com.au CHRISTMAS GIFT PACK — CAT Spoil your kitty rotten this Christmas with a Christmas Gift Pack — Cat, available now from IdPet. This personalised pack is a great place to put all your…

Do you have a dog and cat that don’t get along? Dr Jo says it’s time to start again and begin introducing the animals as if for the first time. Keep them separate by the use of a lead, crates, carry cases and space within the home, and create positive associations by giving each animal what they love (food, praise, pats) when the other animal is present. • When the cat dislikes the dog: “Allow the cat to sit high and watch the dog’s movements, get to know their noises and their scents. If nothing bad happens to the cat, they will begin to accept the dog. Never let the dog chase the cat,” Dr Jo says. • When the dog dislikes the cat: “If this is a fearful situation,…

Pets in the Park operates due to the dedication of volunteers and donations of basic pet supplies. However, this does not cover all the costs of the equipment and medications required to keep pets happy and healthy. You can help PITP continue its vital work in the homeless pet owner community by donating. All donations are 100 per cent tax deductible. PITP runs fundraising events nationally throughout the year. Check out PITP’s website (petsinthepark.org.au) or follow PITP’s Facebook page (facebook.com/petsinthepark.au) to find out when the next event is near you.…

CURIOUS KITTEN Q: Dear Dr Jo, I have a four-year-old Ragdoll, Pinecone, but she still acts like a kitten! One of her favourite activities is to try to destroy the Christmas decorations, and I was wondering if there is anything we should particularly look out for when it comes to her safety? Mia, via email A: Hi Mia. Many cats are just big kittens at heart and remain that way for years. Enjoy it while it lasts, but yes, there are many things to look out for when she destroys things. The gut of a cat is very effective at trying to pass foreign non-food substances through it, and one of the biggest issues I see are linear foreign bodies in their bellies. Pieces of ribbon, string, tree decorations, even…

SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 97…

1. Entry into the competition implies full acceptance of all conditions of entry, including the instructions on how to enter. 2. Entry is open to all residents of Australia and New Zealand. Employees and immediate families of the promoter, associated companies and agencies associated with this promotion are ineligible to enter. 3. Entries close with last mail and email onJanuary 12, 2017, unless stated otherwise.The entries will be judged by thePETSeditorial team and the winner(s) will be selected on January 26, 2017. The winners will be notified by mail, email or telephone. 4. Write the competition name on the front of the envelope and send to PETS magazine, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 or email your entry to pets@universalmagazines.com.au 5. Prize(s) will be delivered to winners within four (4)…

The festive season is around the corner and the joy of giving a beloved pet as a gift can be very tempting, as we all know what joy and unconditional love they bring. It is best to make sure the family that you are thinking of giving a new kitten to is consulted first as a pet is a long-term commitment. We want to ensure that our babies stay with their new families for their complete lives. All our kittens are desexed before leaving us and we offer ongoing support to our families. If you would like a pet from this registered breeder with more than 14 years’ experience, email vera@raveraragdolls.com or visit the website, raveraragdolls.com, today.…

PET FIRST AID KIT Keep your pet prepared for any emergency with the Pet First Aid Kit, available now from Creature Clinic. This kit comes complete with all the essentials you need to assist your pet in a time of need, including a syringe, antibiotic ointment, thermometer, disposable gloves, bandages, iodine, saline, thermal blanket and tick remover. Best of all, it also comes with a handy pet first aid manual that provides simple step-by-step instructions to help you work out what you should do in case of a pet emergency, all created by industry expert Dr Joanna Paul. How great is that? The Pet First Aid Kit is available now from Creature Clinic’s website for $69.95. For more information, visit creatureclinic.com. PETS has three Pet First Aid Kits to give…

Nigella the Pug ( facebook.com/  nigellathepug), a celebrity Pug in the making, reveals her five favourite Christmas activities: 1) Santa Paws Photos. There are a few options available now if you want to indulge in this fun activity with your pet. Animal shelters, rescue organisations and animal welfare charities give your pet a chance to get a photo with the jolly fat man in the red suit. You get a great photo of your pet with Santa, and you also get to make a donation to support less fortunate animals. 2) Moonlight Cinema. Some Moonlight Cinemas will let you take your well-behaved dog with you to watch a movie under the stars. 3) Christmas picnic with friends. Nigella loves going to Sirius Cove in Mosman so that she and…

No matter how carefully we might live our lives, accidents and emergencies can happen. When a child grazes their knee, we clean it up and put on a Band-Aid. If we suspect a broken arm, we keep it as still as possible and get to the hospital. We treat burns with cool running water, and we perform CPCR on someone who has stopped breathing while we await the paramedics. Most of us have a fair idea of how to handle these situations — when it comes to humans, that is. Something about a furry body, four legs and a wagging tail makes us panic and draw a blank when it comes to dealing with an emergency. This is totally understandable, because dogs are not people. I’ve met many who think…

MOST TRICKS PERFORMED BY A DOG IN ONE MINUTE Smurf and Sarah Humphreys Hertfordshire, UK The most tricks performed by a dog in one minute is 32, achieved by Smurf and his owner Sarah Humphreys (both UK) in Hertfordshire, UK, on August 7, 2015. Smurf and his owner Sarah performed 32 tricks in the space of a minute to earn themselves a place in the Guinness World Records 2017 Edition. They are the first to ever set this record, beating the minimum requirement of 25 tricks. Sarah has had Smurf since he was 14 weeks old and became aware of his capabilities from the moment he came into her life. Smurf would learn tricks very quickly, so Sarah had to keep creating new activities to stimulate him. Seven years on,…

POOR POOCH BEHAVIOUR Q: Dear Dr Kate, my puppy keeps peeing in all the wrong places, like on tyres and on all my dad’s stuff. He is also very hard to control when walking; he always tries to pull away. We are finding it hard to solve these problems. Is there some way we can train him to pee in the right places and slow down a little when walking him? Sanja, via email A: Hello Sanja. Yes, you can definitely teach your puppy to pee in the right place. Your puppy might be peeing on your dad’s things to mask your dad’s scent. This is an instinctual territorial behaviour. Also, going to the toilet is a rewarding behaviour no matter where your puppy pees because he feels relieved and…

There is something about sleek, athletic dogs which always commands the attention of passers by, and watching a German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) strut its stuff is truly amazing. The agile GSP belongs to the gundogs group and is the quintessential working dog. Known as a hunt, point and retrieve breed, it was trained to work alongside hunters in the field to serve and help. While the GSP is still used in this capacity in some parts of the world, it is widely considered an outstanding family dog and makes a wonderful companion for those suited to the needs of this breed. ENERGY PLUS As its name suggests, the German Shorthaired Pointer originated in Germany in the 19th century and is said to have developed into the almost ideal gundog by…

DIRTY DOG DOORMAT We are so excited about this new product, brought to Australia by our friends at Bowhouse. The Dirty Dog Doormat is here! This fabulous mat sits at your door and soaks up most of the mud and dirt that our four-legged friends can bring inside. Made from a super-absorbent material, this mat dries five times faster than ordinary doormats and has the added benefit of a plush texture, making it appealing for the fussiest doggy toes (and human ones, too!). For more information, visit bowhouse.com.au BLUE PLANET CLASSIC AQUARIUMS Blowfish, Goldfish, Angelfish, Rainbowfish, Clownfish — holy Hatchetfish, there’s a fish for everyone. Choosing is half the fun. Blue Planet Classic Aquariums are a great Christmas gift idea. Young ones in the family will be mesmerised by the…

WRITE TO PETS! Do you have an amazing pet story or a hilarious animal joke to share? How about some feedback on one of our articles? Or did you recently get a new pet? PETS would love to hear from each and every one of you (and your furry buddies). Drop us a line at Paws for thought/PETS, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 or email pets@universalmagazines.com.au with “Paws for thought” as the subject heading. Letters, poems, photos, collages and drawings are also welcome. Be as creative as you like! PETS LOVE Dear Lauren, I love your PETS magazines. They have every little bit of info about every single pet you could imagine. Plus the posters! They are the best — they are super cute and they actually suit…

Do you love your pet? Tell us a warm and fuzzy tale about the special bond you share with your best pal for a chance to win a really cool prize. TO ENTER: All you have to do is tell us in 400 words or less why your pet is so special and include a few clear, sharp photographs (1MB or larger) of your friend. Please also include your contact number and mailing address. Send your entries to Pet Tales/PETS, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 or email your entries to pets@universalmagazines.com.au Please read the terms and conditions on page 97 before entering. Good luck!…

CHRISTMAS ACTIVITY #1: CREATE YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS CARD With Christmas Day fast approaching, many of us get to work creating and writing Christmas cards to send greetings to friends and loved ones all over the world. Instead of buying a boring old card from the shops this year, why not create a unique and memorable card featuring your pet? Kerry Martin, editor of Puppy Tales (puppytales.com.au), says creating your own cards with your gorgeous pet allows you to be creative and, of course, to spend time with them. “You could take photos just of your pets or include the family — either way it’s going to be a very special Christmas card,” she says. “The cards you have created are personal, something that your friends and family will love to…

It’s been shown over and over that the bond between pets and their owners is immense, as are the benefits, which include increased social, emotional and physical health. Our companion animals help lower blood pressure and lessen anxiety, as well as offer comfort and companionship, especially to those struggling with homelessness. Jai* has struggled for many years with homelessness and resulting depression, anxiety, panic attacks and general fear of being around loud noise and crowds. She leads a very isolated life and counts on her little canine companion, Bella, to brave the world each day. “When I first became homeless, Bella was and still is my sanctuary, my refuge, a place of safety and calm,” says Jai. Many others like Jai also treasure their companion animals, often depending on them…

Wondering what to give your four-legged friend this Christmas? Well, KONG has a huge range of paw-some gifts for your dog or cat. I’ve put together my top five KONG gift ideas to help you choose the right pressie for your cuddly companion. FOR THE POOCHES 1. KONG Classic. This has been the gold standard of dog toys for more than 40 years. It is a tough-chew toy that comes in many sizes and strengths and caters for puppies, regular chewers and also dogs with very powerful jaws. You can stuff a KONG Classic with pretty much anything that is safe for your dog to eat. If you place a stuffed KONG in the freezer overnight, this will give your dog a delicious frozen treat the next day. 2. KONG…

LOOKING FOR A NEW PET BUT NOT SURE WHAT TO GET? Whether you’re after something furry, fuzzy, slippery, scaly or slimy, PETS takes the hard work out of choosing your new family member. KIDS AND PETS Most of the critters we feature are family-friendly, though it’s important to remember children should be supervised when playing with any animal whether it’s a dog, cat, bird, bunny or reptile. Keep an eye out for our “At a glance” boxes, where we rate the care and maintenance, grooming and exercise requirements of different breeds and creatures on a scale from one to five:…

The two breeds may sound similar, but the German Wirehaired Pointer is a totally separate breed to the German Shorthaired Pointer. The GWP is bigger and heavier than the GSP, and not as square in shape. The most obvious difference between the two breeds is the coat, which is the GWP’s most distinctive feature. This dog’s coat is so dense that it protects against cold, even in icy water. Naturally, it is more difficult to maintain and needs to be brushed at least twice a week. It may also need stripping from time to time and sheds heavily in summer. Like the GSP, the GWP is a very energetic dog and needs to be kept well exercised and stimulated. It is extremely agile both on land and in water, due…