Prof Karolina Westlund said: “Play seems frivolous and not serious. It really isn’t. It may be the emotion that you should take the most seriously.” Social species (like dogs) have seven primal emotional systems in the brain; these systems ‘light up’ when the animal is experiencing certain emotions. Let’s talk about the Play system. This […]
The power of play, and the science behind it! Read More »
Sneaky cat Dear Patches, My doggy brain just cannot comprehend how our cat, Tenacious, operates. Sometimes, he sneaks up on me while I’m minding my own business – like peacefully chewing my toy – and then he pounces on me as if I’m giant prey. I get such a fright and then my heart starts
Ask Patches: sneaky cat and TV junkie Read More »
Holiday nightmare Dear Patches, What’s more interesting than finding travel bags on the bed? Getting inside and scrambling, kneading and unpacking the neatly folded clothing inside. I make sure that the softer fabrics are in one corner, knead the T-shirts into one heap and create a soft pillow for my kitty head. When Mom comes
Ask Patches: holiday nightmare and muddy games Read More »
Humans and four-legged friends are invited to strut their stuff at the seventh Paws on the Promenade – a dog walk fundraiser by the Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Khayelitsha, in partnership with Vondi’s Holistic Pet Nutrition. The dog walk will take place on Sunday, 13 April, at 08:30am. Starting at the Mouille Point lighthouse, the five-kilometer
Over 350 paws to walk the Sea Point promenade 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 »
Dogs love to smell and what better way to stimulate their olfactory senses than going on a sniffing safari or ‘sniffari’? Your dog will love you for it. A sniffari is normally done outside on a long walk in a relatively safe area. Here’s how you can start his experience. In the garden To
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Taking your dog with you on a camping trip is so exciting. You will have him with you all the time, and you can build a strong bond with him. And he will be happy because he is with the people he loves. Here are a few things that you need to do before the
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Rally dog is an exciting dog sport that was first recognised in South Africa in 2020. In a rally dog test, the handler and dog team navigate a course of 12 to 20 ‘test cards’ in consecutive order with the dog at heel position. At each card, the team is required to execute a coordinated
Rally dogs have more fun Read More »
In our country, we are truly blessed with beautiful natural surroundings, where we can take some time out. And if you’re looking for a fun and healthy way to spend some quality time with your dog, look no further than the many dog-walking venues available throughout the country. We are spoilt for choice – from
28 of South Africa’s great dog-walking venues Read More »
Here’s another game for you to play with your dog – find the treat! An alternative to playing hide-and-seek with Fido is to hide his favourite toy or a tasty treat for him to find. The game is very similar to hide-and-seek, with a few changes. How to play: Step 1 – Let him sniff
Play ‘find the treat’ with your dog Read More »
Before you start to teach your dog anything, there are a few things that you, as the owner, should know and understand. For some reason, many owners see their dogs as people who understand exactly what they are told and what are expected of them. Unfortunately, that is not true. Your dog might understand what
9 tips for easier pet teaching Read More »
Dogs can smell so much better than people can, and they use their olfactory sense to create images in their minds. Why not zone in on this sense and create a sniffing experience for your dog? There are so many ideas – all it takes is a bit of imagination. The sniffari is normally done
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