ST. ROCCO'S KENNEL - DIY Doggie Bed

A Dog for Life - Not Just for Christmas

As the Holiday Season approaches, campaigns against giving pets as a Christmas present start emerging, with posters trying to reach out directly to your emotions.

These campaigns are often part of the efforts made by dog shelters like ourselves, and other animal or environmental NGOs. So, when one of our volunteers stumbled upon this particular post on Facebook, she was pretty shocked. However, her shock soon turned to relief when she realised what the writer of the post was up to.

The post was written by a member of RUBS PUPPY LOVE (a group on Facebook where people can make posts related to animals), asking for “A free puppy to give as a Christmas gift – preferably with a pedigree”. It was no surprise that this post started getting a few negative comments with people asking whether “she bumped her head”, and others advising her to “get a soft toy” instead! Yet after a few minutes, the author went on to say the following “I just wrote the post to raise awareness of how ridiculous it sounds!!!!!”

Well, congratulations – you’ve definitely succeeded! This simple post was attention grabbing and managed to deliver a very powerful message!

On this note, we would like to take this opportunity to ask for a favour this festive season. On behalf of our beloved pups, other dog sanctuaries as well as all animal lovers out there, we would like to urge you to think twice before giving a dog as a Christmas Present.

And just like every other cliché, awareness campaign, here’s yet another emotional poster, directed right towards your heart!

Neutering Your Dog

If you have been considering neutering or spaying your dog, you have come to the right place. Below you will find all the positives and negatives you will need to know before neutering or spaying your male/female dog.

WHEN SHOULD I NEUTER MY DOG?

A very important consideration when it comes to neutering and spaying dogs is when is the best age to do it.  While the traditional age for neutering is six to nine months, puppies as young as eight weeks old can be neutered as long as they’re healthy. Dogs can be neutered as adults as well, although there’s a slightly higher risk of post-operative complications in older dogs, dogs that are overweight or dogs that have health problems. It is best you talk to your veterinarian about what's best for your dog.

As you can see, the advantages of spaying or neutering your dog outweigh the disadvantages however it is up to the owner to decide. If your dog has any of the following behavioral problems, it is recommended to neuter him:

• Excessive marking
• Aggression towards other dogs
• Aggression towards other people
• Stubborn, resistant, hard to control and hard to train
• Paying more attention to other dogs rather than you

How to test your dog's IQ.

This is the test which can reveal if your dog is a genius – or as silly as you think.  Some dogs can herd sheep, rescue people, sniff out drugs for police, but some can’t even seem to master “sit and stay”. Intelligence may vary in many different ways. Perhaps, your dog may never master how to fetch, but do they know that it’s time to take a walk whenever you pick up the leash?

You will need

• A leash
• 3 Cups of the same size and color
• Treats
• A Stopwatch
• A towel
• Scoring System

Dogs are rewarded  2 points every time they do something that displays intelligence,  or by completing the task quickly.

A medium response will earn them 1 point.

If they don’t manage to do it, they’re not given any points. However, if they take very long, they get a 0.5.

This is a great way for dog owners to have some fun with their dog, together with a good laugh ..

First challenge

Get a towel and put it over their heads and see how long it takes for them to get it off.

If the dog manages to complete the task within:

0-20 seconds - 2 points - Intelligent Dog

21-60 seconds - 1 point - Average Dog

60 - 120 seconds - 0.5 points - Below Average Dog

120+ seconds - 0 points

Second Challenge

Take some of your dog’s favourite treats and put them under the towel. Then, time how long it takes for your dog to find them. The same point scheme above applies to this:

0-20 seconds - 2 points - Intelligent Dog

21-60 seconds - 1 point - Average Dog

60 - 120 seconds - 0.5 points - Below Average Dog

120+ seconds - 0 points

Third Challenge

Place treats under a cup in front of your dog and get the dog out of the room for about 30 seconds. If the dog comes back and chooses the right cup, this is a sign that they are intelligent and they should be awarded by 2 points.

You may point at the treat to help them remember but they will only get a point for this.

Once again we apply the same point system as above.

Fourth Challenge

Take out their leash and if they get excited they get 2 points.

Excitement is show if the dog jumps or wags its tail.

They get one point for wagging their tail.

They will get 0 points if they show no interest and ignore you.

The Results

0-2 – You have a great dog who will follow you anywhere, but truth be told, he may not be the brightest one around.

3-5 Your dog is great! They have an average intelligence. Pretty good!

5+ Your dog is one bright champ! Congratulations! (OR he just really likes food) 

Where to Go For a Walk

Dogs tend to get bored with a routine just as much as we do, and simply spending a long time sleeping and being lazy affects their health negatively. Hence, taking your pup for a walk would be killing two birds with one stone.

All dogs require their daily dose of exercise and the best way to do so is to take your dog for a walk. This way, you would not only get your pooch off of its, er … tail … but you would also get a fresh breath of air yourself.

There are so many options out there where you and your loyal buddy can go for a walk.

TA’ QALI DOG PARK

Spread over an area of 1000 square metres, the Ta’ Qali Dog Park provides an ideal location for dogs to roam freely while still being supervised by their owners. The park is surrounded by a fence, so dog owners need not worry about their fellow buddy running away.

Dogs can exercise as well as mingle in this environment, as long as their owners get to follow the rules at the park. Click on the link below to access the Ta’ Qali Dog Park Rules:

https://environment.gov.mt/en/Pages/PARKS/Dog-Park.aspx

MARSASCALA FAMILY PARK

As the name implies, this park is not mainly targeted to dog owners. Nonetheless you can be assured that Fido would still enjoy a walk in this park. The Marsascala Family Park has a designated area where dogs can roam freely. Although it is not as large as the Dog Park in Ta’ Qali, this area has an obstacle course where you and your dog could have a blast.

WALKING ON LEASH

The Ta’ Qali Dog Park and the Marsascala Family Park are the only two currently existing parks where dogs can run freely. Nonetheless, dogs and their owners can still enjoy the outdoors on a stroll while on leash. There are numerous areas where you can take your dog for a walk.

CanineMalta.com has developed a map with areas where people can take their dogs for a walk. You can access this map by clicking this link:

http://caninemalta.com/index.php/canine-zones/walking-and-off-leash-places

Remember, these are not off leash zones! Better yet, this website also allows users to give their contribution by suggesting locations which are not currently on the map. All you have to do is get in touch with Canine Malta and you may be one step closer to giving dogs another place where to plat.  

Note: Dogs should be walked on leash at all times when in a public place, and owners are obliged to clean up after their dogs.

DOG FRIENDLY BEACHES

The idea of going on a walk does not sound as appealing during the hot summer months. This is more so since the summer heat is particularly harsh on our fury friends, who face the heat on their bare feet. For this reason, a nice swim would help to freshen up.

Here’s a list of Dog Friendly Beaches in Malta:

•                    Bahar ic-Caghaq behind the Splash and Fun park,

•                    Marsaxlokk at Il-Maghluq

•                    Marsaxlokk at Xatt is-Sajjieda

•                    Sliema near the Old Chalet

•                    L-Ahrax Tal-Mellieha near the camping site

•                    Marsalforn in the Ta' Xwejni area.

•                    il-Bajja ta' l-Imgiebah in Selmun

•                    Torri l-Abjad in Mellieha

•                    Tigne Point in Sliema

•                    Dahlet ix-Xmajjar at l-Ahrax tal-Mellieha

•                    Zonqor Point in Marsascala

•                    Torri l-Abjad and the bays around the boathouses

•                    Rinella in Kalkara

•                    Zebbug bay in Gozo

Now that you’re well informed, grab that leash, and hit the road. Oh, and don’t forget the doggy-waste bag!

DIY Healthy Home-made Dog Food - Part 2

CHICKEN CASSEROLE (SERVES 4)

Chicken is a good source of protein, and the vegetables promote better digestion and also create a tasty mix.

INGREDIENTS

4 chicken breasts

1/2 cup of green beans, chopped

1/2 cup of carrots, chopped

1/2 cup of broccoli, chopped

1/2 cup rolled oats.

4 cups of low-salt chicken broth

Tip: Making use of green beans will help your dog feel full

DIRECTIONS

Remove the extra fat from the chicken breast and then cut the chicken into small bite-sized chunks. Cook the chicken in a non-stick pan over a medium heat until the chicken is no longer pink. Then, add the chicken together with the vegetables, rolled oats and chicken broth into a large pot and cook again on medium heat until the carrots are tender. This should take around 15 minutes. Allow to cool before serving to your dog. Store in the fridge for up to five days.

DOGGIE CHILI (SERVES 4)

This recipe includes chicken breast and vegetables as together they create a healthy and tasty mix.

INGREDIENTS

4 chicken breasts

1 cup of kidney beans, drained

1 cup of black beans, drained

1 cup of carrots, diced

1/2 cup of tomato paste

4 cups of chicken broth

DIRECTIONS

Remove the excess fat and dice the chicken breast into small pieces. Then cook the chicken in a non-stick pan over medium to high heat until no longer pink. Add the chicken, beans, carrots, tomato paste and chicken into a large pot and then cook for approximately 10 minutes over medium heat. Allow the mixture to cool before serving and store the leftovers in the fridge for up to five days.

BEEF STEW

This recipe includes meat for protein, vegetables for vitamins and gravy for flavour. This is a good alternative is your dog loves wet dog food.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound of beef stew meat

1 small sweet potato

1/2 cup of carrots, diced

1/2 cup of green beans, diced

1/2 cup of flour

1/2 cup of water or organic vegetable oil

1 tablespoon of vegetable oil for frying

DIRECTIONS

Cook the sweet potato for 5 to 8 minutes until it is firm but tender in a frying pan. Then slice the beef stew into small portions and cook while adding in a tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes or until it is well-done. Remove the portions from the pan but keep the broth. Heat the drippings over medium-low heat and slowly add in the flour and water into the dripping while beating to create a thick gravy. Dice the sweet potato and add the meat, carrots and green beans into the gravy and then stir to coat. Cook the carrots for about 10 minutes until they are tender. Serve this when cool and store the remaining in the fridge for up to five days.

Tip: You can buy pre-made gravy to save you time.

FROZEN YOGHURT POPS

This recipe includes fruit juice and carrots which adds the much needed vitamins to your dog’s diet while the yoghurt provides calcium and protein. Make use of non-fat yogurt as it is much healthier alternative especially if the dog is overweight.

INGREDIENTS

6 oz. container of plain, non-fat frozen yoghurt

1 cup of no-sugar added fruit juice

1/2 cup of carrots, minced

DIRECTIONS

Add the yoghurt, fruit juice and carrots into a medium-sized bowl and stir until the ingredients have blended well together. Pour the mixture into the ice cube trays using a spoon. Then freeze until the ingredients have frozen.