Woofwalkies

Doggiessssss

2011-12-27T17:44:00.000+08:00

:(

2011-08-05T06:42:00.002+08:00

Lost my phone yet again.

Apologies if you have not been able to contact me the past 2-3 days. I am now back with the same line: 98546972. :)

:)

2010-11-16T02:59:00.000+08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates.....

Just a note to say that we're booked up for the period of 22-30th December. Please call for dates other than these, though!

I remember

2010-06-11T05:58:00.000+08:00

saying some time ago that each dog I care for takes a piece of my heart with them. Well, I found a quote which completes that thought.

It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and love as they are.

- Cheryl Zuccaro

2010-06-05T00:08:00.000+08:00

Do you greet each other with excitement, overlook each other’s flaws and easily forgive bad behavior? If it’s your pet, the answer is probably yes. But your spouse? Probably not.

In an article on PsychCentral, clinical psychologist Suzanne B. Phillips of Long Island University explores what our relationships with pets can teach us about our relationship with a spouse or romantic partner.

“What is interesting in my work with couples is that although couples may vehemently disagree on most topics, they usually both soften in manner and tone to agree that the dog, cat, bird or horse is great,” Dr. Phillips writes.

She argues that we all have much to learn from the way we love our pets. People often describe pets as undemanding and giving unconditional love, when the reality is that pets require a lot of time and attention, special foods and care. They throw up on rugs, pee in the house and steal food from countertops. Yet we accept their flaws because we love them so much.

Dr. Phillips suggests we can all learn how to improve our human relationships by focusing on how we interact with our pets. Among her suggestions:

Greetings: Even on bad days, we greet our pets with a happy, animated hello, and usually a pat on the head or a hug. Do you greet your spouse that way?

Holding grudges: Even when our pets annoy us by wrecking the furniture or soiling the floor, we don’t stay mad at them.

Assuming the best: When our pets make mistakes, we don’t take it personally and are quick to forgive. We give them the benefit of the doubt. Yet when our spouse does something wrong, we often react with anger and blame.

“The old expression ‘you get what you give’ may apply here,” writes Dr. Phillips. “Maybe you give something very positive to your pet that invites the unconditional love and connection that makes you feel so good. Maybe it has potential to enhance your relationship.”

Credits: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/what-pets-can-teach-us-about-marriage/?src=me&ref=general

2010-04-18T05:24:00.000+08:00

Cale passed away (about Saturday local time). She was sweet, quiet, and great with people she met. And yes, those eyes of hers alone warranted extra treats. :)

I couldn't help being teary to learn about this, even though she's not my dog. I guess that's in a way one sad yet wonderful thing about a pet sitter - all the dogs that come into my life take a little piece of my heart with them.

I wonder if our hearts could ever be like a dog's, infinite and encompassing - with enough love to go round, and enough space to accept everyone.

Forgive us for the inconvenience,

2010-01-11T05:31:00.000+08:00

but we won't be able to take in any doggies from about the 7th to the 12th of March. Hope everyone and their pooches had a great New Year's!

Pet shop owners to attend classes

2009-12-01T04:27:00.000+08:00

From Jan 2010, pet shop owners are required to attend a compulsory pet care and management course.
Shop owners will learn about regulatory requirements, animal care and management, occupational health and safety, and business ethics and management.
The course will be conducted by Temasek Polytechnic and is supported by the Pet Enterprises and Traders Association and the Workforce Development Agency.
Training for the different pet retail sectors will be phased in, starting with those which sell dogs, cats and small mammals like rabbits and hamsters, Madam Ho Geok Ho, member of Parliament for the West Coast constituency announced on Sunday.
This new regulation comes on the heels of a call for increased regulation of pet grooming shops in Singapore.
A few months back, a Maltese terrier had died during routine grooming. A post-mortem on his dog located bleeding in the head, possibly from being struck.
Seven complaints of pets dying during grooming sessions were reported in the past year, the SPCA told The New Paper.
Under the Animals and Birds Act, any person found guilty of committing an act of animal cruelty can be fined up to $10,000 or jailed up to 12 months, or both.

In my humble opinion, not only should the pet shop owners be going for this training, but ALL staff who may work in the pet shop. After all, most owners aren't even in their own shops half the time, and even if they are they're not usually the ones responsible for caring and cleaning the pets in the store.

Also, I never knew there was a Pet Enterprises and Traders Association here in Singapore! When will they have a Society for Professional Pet Carers or something?!

Quarantine for certain countries lifted

2009-12-01T04:22:00.000+08:00

FROM next January, dogs and cats imported from 10 areas with low rabies rates will no longer need quarantine.
These are: Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States' territories of Guam and Hawaii.
Currently, only pets from rabies-free countries Australia, Britain, Ireland and New Zealand do not need to be housed for at least 30 days in the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority's (AVA) Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station.
From next year, those from the rest of the United States will also have their quarantine period shortened to 10 days.
But they need to have lived in the low-risk areas for at least six months, be vaccinated against rabies and shown to have antibodies in their blood before being sent here - all new requirements.
Announcing the changes at an AVA roadshow on responsible pet ownership yesterday, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of National Development, said: "With these risk-management measures in place, let me assure you that this waiver will not compromise Singapore's rabies-free status."
Singapore has been rabies-free since 1953. Spread via the saliva of infected animals, the viral disease kills all that it infects, unless they were vaccinated.
From January next year, the AVA will require operators of pet retail shops to attend a compulsory course on pet care and management at Temasek Polytechnic. This is meant to enhance the standards of pet shops here, Dr Maliki said.

This is good news!

I believe quarantine is really for the good of the country, but the quarantine conditions here are appalling and I'm happy that the pets coming from more countries will be spared the experience there.

We are still around :)

2009-04-25T22:57:00.001+08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts, but I'm handicapped without a camera and entries would seem really sad without some photos of the cuties to go with them.

A lamb in a sweater

2008-09-30T17:56:00.000+08:00

sounds like an oxymoron. But here goes:

A little girl & her pug

2008-09-30T17:51:00.000+08:00

Isn't this just cute?!

Photo credits: Taken from missbossy on flickr.com.

A bulldog and 2 rascals

2008-09-07T15:22:00.001+08:00

When you think of the name Bruno, you think of a big, macho man with bulging biceps, and then you think of this:

Yep, that fits the description alright! Bruno always happens to be falling asleep when I attempt to photograph him, haha... I was gonna take a photo of him playing with the pillow but he fell alseep while still bitingly firmly onto it!

He's a really sociable dog who gets all excited when he sees kids. It may be hard to imagine bulldogs doing this, but he wiggles his whole body when excited and then leans on you.

Next up, the 2 rascals!

Here's Chilli...

... here's Pepper...

And now, Chilli & Pepper!

These two make a lively pair, especially Chilli, who has all the gungho of a terrier! She's a real tomboy who can play endless rounds of fetch. If you hang onto the ball and refuse to throw it till she sits and salutes you, it's really cute to see how impatient she gets, ha. And the record speed at which she vacuums (yes, vacuum, not eat) her food is amazing - Dad has timed it at an average of about 7 seconds! She then runs to look for her brother to see if she can help vacuum his share too. Pepper is the manja half of the pair, and would much rather lie on your lap for pats than play ball. He's an overgrown Mini Schnauzer so he's much taller than average and it's really cute to see him walk with his long legs. On a sidenote, Dad and I marvel at how he can raise his leg at a 180 degree angle to pee, it looks like he flattens himself against the wall. Haha, really!

*Photos of Chilli and Pepper courtesy of their owners. ^_^

2 dogs and a cat

2008-09-06T20:03:00.000+08:00

A few pets I pet sit and walk regularly...

Who's that cat at the window?

It's Yoshi, the cat with velvety fur, heheheh....

Preening...

Meant to catch him from a low angle but he kinda swayed towards the camera like this and stuck out his tongue afterwards!

Perfect cat pose.

Orion, who wags his tail when I come by but refuses to get up until I've given him some hugs and kisses.

I like how he always looks sleepy.

Focusing on his treat while on the Wait command...

... and I grab the chance to get a portrait of him. Heh. He gets compliments on his pretty ears all the time. :)

Say hi to Fuji! A scruffy little Silky Terrier whose face brings a smile to yours!

This 1.5 year old boy is always in the mood to play...

... and here he is disturbing my dad writing his diary entry.

Even while cuddling he still wants to play. Sometimes, when I've not seen him for awhile he'll come jumping for attention and whining with his toy still in his mouth. He thinks of nothing but playing, even with his leash on walks!

Overdue update

2008-08-23T20:04:00.000+08:00

Sorry for the tardy updates, it's not very convenient when one is technology estranged. Anyway I'll update properly soon.... in the meantime, isn't this the cutest thing ever?!

Check out CuteOverload for more unbearable cuteness!

Ed and Milla!

2008-07-11T18:31:00.000+08:00

We had Ed and Milla over a while ago, and just before that, Kelle. Pity I didn't have the super camera with me while Kelle was with us or I'd surely have snapped plenty more photos. Sorry Kelle, I promise to take you the next time round!

But in the meantime, some photos of Ed and Milla! Hee.

Look out! Here comes the cuddly monster!

Lying on the grass waiting for me to finish snapping...

Trying to ignore me...

At his favourite resting spot. He simply has to lean against something when he naps. Heh.

Cute scrunched-up face!
Faraway look in his eye... prolly thinking of his Mum and Dad...
Argh, just his paws holding onto his toy made such a cute picture!

Yeah, that's right. I'm gonna play with my toy while I sleep.

Ahhhhhh......... can't stand it! Too cute!

My favourite bit of Ed, his paws... Hee.

Next up, we have Milla, a tiny Maltese who hails from Norway! Even when she stands she doesn't reach even half my half!

What a princessy pose!

She decided to watch the door in case her Mum or Dad appeared. Look carefully, do you notice the bling bling on her collar? Heheh.
Looking pretty!
She saw someone at the door... my dad. Hahaha...

Beauty rest on the sofa...

She turned away because I was annoying her with my camera.

Let's all coo at those dainty paws!

UPDATES!!!

2008-07-06T19:08:00.001+08:00

Some pages have been updated, please take a look at these pages:

Pet Boarding
Pet Sitting & Dog Walking
Basic Grooming

Also, my line is back up. So 81827428!

Oooooooohhhhhhhh

2008-05-20T18:00:00.000+08:00

Imagine, if I had one of these, I could whiz around in it for dog-walking and fetch small-medium dogs to and fro.

MY PHONE GOT STOLEN,

2008-05-14T16:35:00.001+08:00

so if you would like to make any enquiries, please either email us at woofwalkies@gmail.com or contact my dad Luke at (+65) 98504972!

Also, will update this blog soon!

Link us!

2008-04-23T15:53:00.001+08:00

Made a banner - yes, I know it looks childish - for my woofwalkies website. If you could, and if it doesn't look too out of place on your site, do add it to your links!

Here's the link for your convenience, just copy and paste:

Taj and Ed...

2008-03-28T14:59:00.000+08:00

Dad carrying cuddly Ed...

For some reason she rejected the offer a fresh doggie biscuit...

... and went to sleep instead.

Taj Episode 2 - The Judge!

2008-03-21T18:08:00.001+08:00

Taj pretty much knows she'll be coming over to stay when Dad goes over and starts packing her stuff. She'll sit beside the big plastic bag and inspect it each time Dad places something inside, as if she has a checklist, ha. Then she'll kinda guard it till it's time to leave. Taj is really good with travelling in cars, and since it's a short distance we usually let her stand for the ride (er, also lets the driver have less to complain about, lol).

She'll stand on all fours and lean against my dad's arm.

Oh! Look at those imploring eyes! Taj's expressive eyes are the reason why she gets so many treats, ha! She likes to throw sidelong glances at us, and glance upwards rather than bring her head up. It looks kinda disapproving sometimes, like she's reproaching us!

Taj and her lamb toy. Poor lamb... but oh wait, no, I think she has another bear who's worse off. Hehehe. Sometimes when she bothers us too much for food while we're eating Dad will tell her "Taj, go SLEEP!" and she'll go straight to her bed and lay down. Good gal!

Hugs from the lamb.

Today an invader kept going after Taj so she decided to stay on the sofa for safety with head up on the armrest so that she wouldn't get kisses from him.

The invader! Ed!!!!!! A 1.5 years old Cocker Spaniel whose hair looks like a judge's wig and is all cuddly and lively! Only one decent picture of him so far, sorry, since like most dogs, he chooses to move at the VERY LAST MINUTE! Ha!

Toby,

2008-03-21T17:48:00.000+08:00

or in my elderly neighbour's Hokkien terms - To-bi (knife-rice). As a 6 month-old Labrador puppy, he's really a BIG bundle of energy who really can't sit still! Always walking around and trying to steal our slippers. It's like, you get up to take away something he's stolen from his mouth, then just as you sit down you see he's gotten something else again! Hahaha! But I like the way he's constantly knocking into something, including dad and myself! He'll block the doorway as we're walking out and instead of turning around to move he'll walk backwards cause he wants to have his eyes firmly on us in case we've brought some goodies from the kitchen aka "Food Centre".

Look at him all serene and restful now... but don't be fooled! I only managed to take a measly 2 photos of him cause I couldn't get any shot taken without blurring from his movements!

Really cute how he tries his best to curl up into a tiny ball. His leg will slip and he'll pull it back with his front paws. :D

Haha. My old Ah Ma neighbour asked about his name, when I told her "Toby" she went "Huh? To-bi ah? Ah neh eh mia?" ("Huh? To--bi? What name is that?"). Later I learnt that To in Hokkien means Knife and Bi means uncooked rice. LOL!

Xiao Bai the Lamb-dog!

2008-03-21T17:32:00.000+08:00

This is Xiao Bai! His dad's a mongrel and his mum's a poodle (Xiao Bai's Daddy, if you're reading this, I finally found out what's 贵富狗!, haha). He's quite a special dog who really cannot bear to be away from his humans. And he recognises his owners names, as well as words like Daddy and Mummy. So whenever he gets a bit jittery I'll call out his owners' names and he'll calm down, or get distracted with looking for them.

Apparently, he doesn't like males - dogs or humans. Haha. When we first met him, he was just a little shy with me, but barked anxiously at my father. But look at them, hangin' out together with no more space for ME. Hmph.

PAWTITUDE!!! Doesn't he look like a lamb stuffed toy?

Now he REALLY looks like a toy here.

One more pretty irrelevant thing to add here, when Xiao Bai poos, he looks EXACTLY like a lamb that's just been born - complete with long, gangly legs in that wobbly posture! Would have taken a picture but it seems a tad inappropriate to disturb doggies while they're crapping. Haha.

Taj Episode 1 - Attack of the puppy!

2008-03-21T17:09:00.001+08:00

About two weeks ago, Taj (the Beagle) came by for a few days. Much to her dismay, her previously tranquil stays with us was broken by the arrival of........ RUFFY!

Lying beside Dad in his cool tee.

Cute muzzle power!

Ruffy's got long hair like me! Hehe. Great thing about him is he doesn't object to how you handle him. You could cradle him, or carry him with his head resting on your shoulder like a baby!

Okay. Sometimes we take down the dry laundry and place it on one of the armchairs. Taj loves to jump up, kinda mess it up so it's more comfy and then proceed to take a nap there!

Taj was most annoyed with Ruffy for constantly badgering her into playing. But after a day, she finally gave in and started some game with Ruffy. Pretty much one of the rare times I get to see her run. Well, except when I have a treat at hand. Lol.

Photo cum Updates entry!

2008-03-21T17:01:00.000+08:00

Reminiscing...

2008-02-27T18:23:00.000+08:00

Pretty much a photo entry on dogs (and two cats) I really miss now!

Mini Huskies?

2008-02-26T13:51:00.000+08:00

Going through some forums and market pages of pet adoption ads and ads offering stud services for breeding, I came across a few headlined "Mini Husky". At firstI got a shock, thinking if this was a new trend like all those teacup chihuahuas and what naught. Looking at some pictures I realised they were really referring to the Alaskan Klee Kai, a pretty rare breed resulting from a mixture of Siberian Husky, Alaskan Husky, America Eskimo Dog and Schipperke blood, and bred to produce a handier sized Alaskan Husky. But well, they look like smaller versions of Siberian Huskies so I guess therefore the misnomer.

Isn't the face so much like a Malamute, though?

Photo taken from http://alaskaminihusky.com/ourdogs.htm.

Prince the Husky!

2008-02-09T14:04:00.001+08:00

Dad and I had some handsome company for the Chinese New Year holidays...

Shaky shot, so had to make this photo of Prince and Dad look arty instead. Ha!

Prince looks real scary here, but he was really just eager to make friends with my neighbours and get a good sniff of the air cause the recess area is pretty windy...

Likes to snooze on the settee and doesn't really care if we keep asking him to play, ha!

Eh! Sleep so much still dare to yawn!

Real good boy who toilets once he's outside, doesn't bark and only whines when he can't get to make friends with the people around. :D And his fur is soooo nice to sleep on la!

Took a walk

2008-01-04T17:14:00.000+08:00

with Weijie and Farhana at East Coast Part about 2 months back, and came across this lovely Husky puppy lounging on a deck chair. His owner was an Uncle having beer with his kakis at the nearby Lagoon food centre. He didn't really seem to bother much about us stroking his soft puppy fur and screeching SO CUTE SO CUTE at him...

Belated post...

2008-01-02T20:43:00.000+08:00

for Taj...

So photos first, updates a little while more!

Pa and Taj enjoying the breeze...

Taj lazing in her bed...

Ruffy!

Ruffy's always ka-chaoing me.

Rufffyyyyyyyyyyyyy

2007-12-29T13:23:00.000+08:00

is here for a week+!

Dad and I have been utterly consumed by this puppy for the past 3 days. Non-stop petting, playing and sayang with this 6-month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He's almost completely potty-trained, except for that bad habit that ALOT of dogs seem to have - shitting AND walking at the same time! Why do they do that? They can't seem to focus on excretion! Haha.

Ruffy lets us do pretty much whatever we want to him. Make him wear clothes, annoy him by holding onto his tail, overturning him so we can cradle him like a baby... Till now I've not heard him bark, he doesn't whine when we leave the house and doesn't get up to mischief when no one's looking.

Rachel

2007-12-05T14:38:00.000+08:00

went home on Saturday... :(

Sneaking up onto the sofa when no one's looking...

But, look who's back for a short stay!

What's been going on...

2007-12-03T19:04:00.000+08:00

Our current boarder is Rachel… a sweet and mellow (but sometimes grumpy, haha) Rottweiler. Most of my neighbours and children have responded well to her, and now don’t hesitate to give her a nice pet if we meet. Her head is getting glossier! The 7-11 sales lady even went “Rottweiler ah? Eeyer, so CUUUTE!” - the first I’ve heard for a Rottie. Nice. :)

*ahem*Some of my neighbours, however, were simply born for the theatre, I swear. They react dramatically to Rach, e.g. jumping back in horror when we exit the elevator, allowing their primary school kids to scream their head off when all Rach is doing is taking a pee, and make remarks as we walk past. The worst of the lot has to be owners with smaller, tenacious (not to mention awfully appy) dogs, who allow their pet to run, barking, towards Rachel (and by extension, me). Well, they aren’t aggressive enough to pick a fight, but they cause a commotion which turns all eyes on us and Rachie, being the Rottie, automatically looks like the baddie (Rachie the Baddie… hey! Rhymes! WHATEVERRRRR…..). MY POINT BEING… I wish people would be a bit more sensitive. Most of my neighbours definitely had their reservations, but once their kids started petting Rachel without suffering the loss of limbs or anything, they relaxed and realised Rachie wasn’t gonna do nobody harm. So for the minority who *think* Rachel will attack their beloved Chihuahua for no reason, I’ve got a few words for you.

Just because your pet might be a seemingly harmless Cavalier who’s small enough to pick up with one hand doesn’t mean its yapping and cute “pretend menace” are any less annoying. What if there was someone who was afraid of dogs? Doesn’t matter what size the dog is, it’s still gonna scare that person. Rachel is leashed not because of her breed, but out of consideration for others. The leash means I can quickly bring her closer to me should we pass people who display fear as we approach, or when I meet my Malay neighbours, out of respect for them (and they’re really friendly with Rach). The leash lets her know that I’m not about to let her go chasing the cats. The leash means I can hold her back when she gets a bit too inqusitive (kaypoh, haha) with new friends. I’m not suggesting you give Rach a big hug the next time you see us, but please, do not make a fuss! We do not enter the lift if there are other passengers (or let others take it first), unless they invite me in anyway. We try to avoid elderly people who might get nervous seeing dogs. We stand a distance away from the lift door as people exit. We clean up after doing our business (Ok, I clean up after Rachel does her business). We do our best to stay out of your way and I hardly see how we might have inconvenienced you or affected your life.

Please try to be a little more polite the next time you see us and have an urge to make some comment.

Pet Sitting

2007-12-03T18:16:00.000+08:00

Pet Sitting (House Visits)

For Cats, Dogs & Small Animals.
You may require pet sitting if:

~ You'll be away and need someone to feed and and play with your cat.
~ Pooch toilets outdoors but there's no one home to take her out for a midday poo.
~ You work long hours and may not be back in time to feed/walk pooch.
~ You'd like pooch to have some company while you're at work.

Pet Sitting for Dogs (ad-hoc):

Each 30-minute session includes a 20-minute poo-walk, playtime, feeding and clearing toilet area (if pooch toilets indoors). We'd be glad to do a bit of general housekeeping, collect the mail or water your plants.

Fees: From $15/visit depending on location and how often.

For cats:

30-minute sessions once or twice a day which includes replacing the kitty litter or scooping out poop from the litter box, playtime in the house and feeding. Also general housekeeping if required.

Fees: From $12/visit depending on location and how often.

Locations: Kembangan, Marine Parade, Tanjong Rhu, Mountbatten, Joo Chiat, Dunman, Haig Rd, Koon Seng, Telok Kurau, Frankel, Siglap (and other places along East Coast Road to Upper East Coast Road).

If there are other smaller animals like rabbits and hamsters in your house we would be happy to check on them too at no extra charge.

We'll give pooch a wipe-down (using Earthbath Wipes) after walks.
We can also throw in a bath at an extra $10.

Payment:
Fees to be paid before commencement of pet sitting.
Cash or cheque.

Dog Boarding

2007-12-03T18:00:00.005+08:00

Planning for a holiday but worried about leaving your pet behind? Leave pooch with us!

Your pooch will be taken out for walks at least thrice a day, or more if he/she has been trained to poo outdoors. If pooch is staying for 5 days or more, we'll include a bath (baths are usually once a week and also on the day before pooch goes home so he'll be all huggable when you meet!). Basic grooming is included - daily brushing, general inspection of fur for fleas or ticks, cleaning of ears and eyes, and trimming of nails when required. We'll provide the bathing needs, nail cutter, towels and things like cotton buds, etc. Owners must provide the food for their furkids (we have found that a sudden change in diet added to a change in environment may easily cause soft stools, vomiting or diarrhoea)

Generally, we'll get an understanding of how pooch's lifestyle is with you, and try to keep it consistent. Do inform us of any routines you might have, like giving commands to your furkid before she gets her meals. Also, pooch's smaller rodent (hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs) and rabbit friends may stay at no extra charge. :D

Fees: $35/day.
Regardless of size and age.
Add $5/day for dogs which require home-cooked food and/or BARF preparation.

Notes

~ Boarding is only for dogs
~ Puppies should be at least 5 months old and fully vaccinated. Puppies or dogs less than 5 months old and/or without full vaccinations must opt for Exclusive Boarding.
~ All vaccinations must be up to date - please leave us with your dog's vaccination card
~ Dogs should be on some form of flea/tick control, whether natural or chemical.
~ 2nd dog of the same owner stays for 20% less ($28)
~ Fees are charged by day, regardless of timing.

We try to place just two dogs at a time, up to a maximum of 3 dogs if there are short overlaps (a day or two).

Before booking pooch's stay

All new dogs must stay with us for 1 night prior to any boarding. If there are available slots for your boarding dates, then it would be advisable for you to visit our place with your dog, and leave your dog with us overnight. Dates will be arranged according to our schedule. This is for us to make sure that we can handle your dog (particularly for bigger breeds), let us know how he may react with other dogs and also gives your dog a chance to get used to us and the new environment before he is left here for a longer period. This 1 night stay will not be charged.

Exclusive boarding

You should consider exclusive boarding for your dog if:

- she is a puppy less than 5 months or a dog without full vaccinations
- he is not sociable with other dogs, or you're not quite sure how he'll fare with others dogs without you around (and if 'picky' is a word you use to describe him)
- he is very dominant and although he gets along with other dogs on neutral ground (e.g. the park), will not tolerate the presence of other canines in his territory.
- she gets easily anxious or insecure and will start "acting out" when you're not around. The presence of other dogs may add to the anxiety.
- You simply prefer your dog to be the only baby - just like at home :)

For dogs which are aggressive to dogs and/or strangers, it is crucial that you be honest with yourself and with us. We will not accept unsociable dogs even if the owner permits us to crate/cage them for the safety of other dogs, because that defeats the purpose of choosing home boarding. Exclusive boarding is definitely pricier, but it will give everyone a peace of mind and your dog will have free roam of the house without the stress of being caged up all day. If you consider your dog to be "picky", please err on the safe side.

Fees:
$60/day.
Regardless of size and age.
Add $5/day for dogs which require home-cooked food and/or BARF preparation.
~ Maximum stay of 14 days.

Payment:
Upon pick-up of your pooch at the end of her stay.
Payment may be in cash or cheque.

Contact

2007-12-03T17:46:00.000+08:00

Elizabeth
woofwalkies@gmail.com
+65 98546972

FAQs

2007-12-03T16:50:00.003+08:00

*Why Home Boarding?*

Why home boarding, and not kennel boarding?
Why does it seem to be pricier?

To answer these…

~ Your dog will not be confined in a kennel or cage. Pet kennels might provide your dog with slightly more movement space for an extra fee, but imagine being cooped up for days! I think pooch would rather spend time following me around the house or socialising with a playmate. :)
~ Basic grooming will be provided for your pooch at no additional charge. That includes daily brushing, cleaning ears, eyes, nail clipping and baths if necessary.
~ Pooch will get his required exercise and ample opportunities to play. Play sessions at home with me or another dog, a walk downstairs or a swim at the beach will help to meet her exercise demands.
~ Special needs are accommodated. Maybe your pet has a specific diet or medication to be given. Perhaps pooch is now a senior dog and may need extra care and patience. We also prepare home-cooked food for a small fee.
~ Pooch will definitely be sad for the first day or two in a new environment, but in a home where they are not confined and where there may be other dogs they can mix freely with, they'll make new friends and adjust quicker, reducing the anxiety from your absence.
~ The commotion and noise levels in kennels may stress your pets, and the changes in routine (i.e. feeding and limited walking times, having to toilet on concrete in a cage instead of grass, etc.) would further upset them. At Woofwalkies we do our best to follow your pet's lifestyle with you.

*Why the (almost) flat fee?*

Why aren't there different rates for dogs of different sizes, ages and needs?
My dog is tiny/not that active and doesn't need much exercise, could you charge less?

Because each dog is an individual it would be unfair to "penalise" any dog for a certain characteristic or inclination that may be inherent in its breed. Some high energy-level dogs may require plenty of exercise which translates to more playtime and/or longer walks. Other dogs may not require as much activity but need constant supervision and interaction to keep them from getting up to mischief. Small dogs can practically exercise themselves within the apartment, but they demand alot of attention and playtime which is a workout for us too! Some bigger dogs need to be taken out for daily, lengthier poo-walks, yet when they get home all they want to do is lie down and snooze till dinner.

We do not impose extra charges for dogs which are under medication or require extra care either. If your pet came to us with a light wound just give us detailed information and we'll clean and change the bandage/gauze according to your instructions.

Most importantly, your pets will get lots of attention and interaction from their human caregivers at Woofwalkies!

*Pooch is on a home-cooked diet*

For pets on a home-cooked diet, please be sure to provide a portion of the raw food for his stay with us with instructions on how you usually prepare it. When that has been used up, we'll buy the rest of the food for cooking and you could reimburse us when you pooch goes home (we'll present the receipts to you, but where receipts are not given like in wet markets you will have to please forgive us).

*When pooch arrives at Woofwalkies*

On the way to us, try not to act like anything's out of the ordinary. Your pet might (actually, will definitely) pick up on your anxiety and that will add to the dread later. When you arrive at our place, try to look happy and talk to your pet in a cheery tone. Play with him a little but don't make too much fuss or he'll think something's wrong. When you leave, just say goodbye like you usually do when you leave for work. As difficult as this may be (especially for lady owners, hehe), try not to tear in front of pooch, they are very sensitive to their human companion's feelings and it will affect them!

Cancellation Policy...

We understand that work schedules change and there may be unforeseen circumstances, therefore we generally do not impose cancellation fees for last minute withdrawals. Once you confirm the boarding dates with us, that slot is reserved for you. As such, please do your best to inform us of any cancellations in advance! Other clients may have been turned away and others may still require boarding. Please help us keep it this way!

*Why are walks important for dogs?*
Dogs require regular walks not just for exercise or bodily functions but for their peace of mind too! A compound or garden may provide sufficient space for them to stretch their legs and enjoy a game of fetch, but nothing beats a nice romp in the park or at the beach for a mood booster! Depending on the breed and energy level of your dog, pooch may need anything from a short walk round the block to a good 30 minute run at the park.
Walks are an outlet for all that energy in your pooch, which helps reduce problems like chronic barking or destructive behaviour in general.
For dogs who don't get out much, a walk gives them a opportunity to accustom themselves to the outside environment and get used to other dogs, make new human friends, learn to leave cats alone, understand that children don't have to be scary, and learn that loud noises are ok. ^_^

Dog Walking

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Dog Walking
You may require regular dog walking if:

~ You work long hours and may not always have the energy or time to bring pooch out for a daily walk.
~ Pooch is a high-energy dog who needs more than a poo-walk to keep him satisfied.
~ You want pooch to have at least one dedicated walk a day.
~ You'd like company for pooch in addition to the above.

35-minute session of pure brisk walking. Feeding included.

Fees: From $20 depending on location.

Locations:
Kembangan
Marine Parade: Amber Gardens to Mandarin Gardens
Katong: Joo Chiat area to Koon Seng area.
Telok Kurau: East Coast Road to around East Shore Hospital.
Siglap: From Frankel area to Siglap area.

We'll give pooch a wipe-down (using Earthbath Wipes) after walks.
We can also throw in a bath at an extra $10.

Payment:

Weekly payment at the end of each week. E.g. Payment is due on Friday if walks are from Mondays to Fridays.
Payment may be in cash, bank transfer or cheque.

Doggy Packing List

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*Food
Kindly try to pack your pet's food in airtight containers or ziplocks.

*Eye and Ear Cleansing Solutions

You may have been using a certain brand or pooch may have been prescribed something specific by the vet, so it'll be good if you pack it in, otherwise we shall use one of our choice.

*Pooch's bed and toys
Pooch could sleep on the floor, couch or even on the bed. But it might be more comforting for him to curl up in a familiar space with his favourite toy. Also, if the above mentioned spots have been restricted to pooch at home, you might prefer to keep it consistent.

*Collar and Leash

But of course! We can't let pooch out on her own! Preferably, the collar should have a tag with pooch's name and your contact number on it. Please ensure that the leash is in decent condition, especially retractable ones! While with us, pooch will wear an additional tag bearing Woofwalkies' contact number for additional safety.

*Flea and tick control

If you haven't administered an anti-flea/tick product for your pet, please pack a tube in and we'll do it for you on the day that he arrives. If pooch isn't on any product, we'll apply Frontline for him free of charge for the first time. Subsequently it will be $15 per application. This is important when there is more than one dog together in close proximity, and also since pooch will be running on grassy areas and investigating shrubs and bushes. We appreciate alternatives to chemical applications - as long as you provide a method of tick/flea protection that has proven effective for you, we'll be glad to use it too.

*Important information

Bring along a copy of your pet's health/vaccination card, as well as your vet's name card and a contact number for emergencies (friend, family member residing in Singapore).

*Others

Include what you think might make pooch's stay more comfy. Treats, chew toys, blankets or even an old T-shirt of yours. For dogs which take separation very poorly, perhaps record a CD with you speaking so we can play it to pooch if she seems to be looking low. :D

Disclaimer & Copyright

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~The content, writing style and all photos of this blog are the property of the author. Please do not reproduce in any way without permission. Any views expressed in this blog are entirely personal and without malice.~

About

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Welcome to Woofwalkies!

I'm Elizabeth, the owner of Woofwalkies and your dog's main carer during his/her stay with us. :)

Woofwalkies Home Boarding was started in late 2005 as a loving alternative to kennels, which were then one of the few available options for pet owners who needed to travel, other than imposing on friends or relatives. Regular Dog Walking was then introduced to help reduce the hassle of having to rush home or worry about pooch desperately needing the loo.

We have taken care of many different breeds of various sizes, from the Chihuahua to the Great Dane and the Rottie. Let your pooch have a holiday with us while you have a peace of mind on your vacation! :)

References upon request.