Q: When we go on walks in the park, my dog refuses to drink water from a bottle, even if I pour it into a small bowl. Is there anything I can do about it? A: I would not be too concerned about this, as long as your dog is drinking adequately at home and […]
Q & A: Staying hydrated Read More »
Let’s face it: all dogs are smart, and they all have a way to manipulate us to an extent and crawl into our hearts. Some dogs are just a little smarter than others. This is a tongue-in-cheek quiz to find out where your dog features on the ‘smart-o-metre’. Work through the questions and choose an
Quiz: how smart is your dog? Read More »
More and more people view their pets as part of the family, which is a really good thing. That’s where our pets belong, and that’s how they should be treated. But aren’t some people or companies crossing the line between pets being animals and humanising their food and even clothing? In this article, we look
Humanisation of pets – good or bad? Read More »
New neighbour Dear Patches, Almost a year ago, a friendly couple moved in next door to us in our complex. They are such marvellous people. It wasn’t long before I jumped over the wall that separates us and introduced myself. They quickly invited me in, and it wasn’t long before they offered me treats and
Ask Patches: New neighbour and ball frenzy Read More »
Q: If my dog is used to dry food, how can I switch him to a combination of dry and raw food, while still keeping his weight under control? A: Unfortunately, it is very difficult to regulate caloric and nutrient intake when feeding raw food alone, or even a combination of raw food and commercial
Q & A: Switching food Read More »
Mocking bird Dear Patches, For years now, Pollie, our African grey, has been mimicking everything everybody says, sings or whistles, as well as the telephone and the alarm. It is so annoying! And what’s even worse, is that he is so good at it, that I can’t distinguish between him and the real source of
Ask Patches: Mocking bird Read More »
We love our pets, and we would love it if they could live for as long as we do and grow old with us. But the sad reality is that they don’t. However, some animals live long past their life expectancies to create great memories. Let’s see what the average ages are of some types
Average ages of different pets Read More »
Tipping the scales Dear Patches, Here we go again. It’s the beginning of the year, and Mom is on a ‘let’s-lose-some-weight’ drive to get rid of all those festive season rolls she accumulated. I wish she would keep all that exercise to herself and not try to involve me as well. I’m talking morning and
Ask Patches: Tipping the scales Read More »
A dog who barks non-stop can be a challenge. His continuous barking could be a sign of a medical issue or as a result of boredom, but it can be very irritating for your neighbours, and very frustrating for you. Things could even escalate if the neighbours start seeking legal advice. Rather take action to
When your dog just won’t stop barking… Read More »
I dig it Dear Patches, Every year, usually during spring, my mom spends some time in the garden. She digs holes in the ground, places plants in the holes and then covers them with soil. It looks like so much fun, and I cannot help myself… I also want to play that game. So, when
Ask Patches – digging holes Read More »
Never get a pet because your child saw the animal in a movie and wants one. Get everyone involved but keep pet chores age appropriate
8 points to consider when getting a family pet Read More »
Baby gate disaster Dear Patches, The cats and I love to play chase in the house. Flash is the fastest and he always gets away from me, but he cheats! He will run from the kitchen to the lounge, through the dining room, down the hall and then over the baby gate at Mom’s room.
Ask Patches – baby gate disaster and bored bunny Read More »
