In This Issue:
- HAPPY NEW YEAR from ABBA
- ABBA PET CELEBRITY
- TOP 5 NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
- SUMMER RECIPE IDEAS
- KEEP YOUR PET SAFE THIS SUMMER
- PET TRICKS
- PLAYTIME WITH PETS
- FUN OUTINGS WITH YOUR DOG
- JUST FOR A LAUGH
- DID YOU KNOW?
To all of our special friends (furry or otherwise)
We at Abba Kennels and Cattery would like to wish you a Happy New Year! We look forward to taking care of your special pets in 2013... and wish you all the best for the year ahead.
From the team at ABBA
SUMMER VIP SPECIALWhen booking your pet for a stay at ABBA, mention your VIP status and refer to one of the specials below to claim your freebie!
VIP Dogs - Receive 2 nights free bedtime treats for your dog when you check-in at ABBA on Facebook or mention this newsletter
VIP Cats - Receive 1 free playtime for your cat when you check-in at ABBA on Facebook or mention this newsletter
 And the winner is.... Kevin Bannister! (Misty)
Our Summer Facebook Celebrity prize is a FREE 2 night sleepover for Misty at a time of your choosing |
A bit about Kevin...
Kevin has been bringing his pets to ABBA for over 12 years. Wow Kevin! Thank you so much for being an amazing advocate of ABBA, we know you & Misty will enjoy the celebrity prize!
Do you want to be a winner?!
We love reading the feedback and comments on our Facebook page. To say thank you for your valued contribution to our online community we will be choosing one loyal follower each season as the winner of our Facebook celebrity award.
Guaranteed to be "amewsing"!!
Q. What breed are you?
A. Hi my name is Molly and I'm a Blue Abyssinian
Q. How old are you?
A. 16 years old which is 84 in human years
Q. What's your favourite food?
A. Iams is my favourite food but I love a slice or two of smoked salmon
Q. What about treats? Any favourites?
A. My favourite treat is a piece of ruby's (the dog) denture sticks
Q. What's your favourite hobby/pastime?
A. I love to chase the birds in the backyard, but at my age I never catch them.
Q. Do you like to play? What's your favourite toys?
A. There is a dog next door called Zoe who I love to stare at through the fence. She starts barking and then her owner comes out and tells her off!
Q. Do you have any special friends or sworn enemies?
A. My best friend is Ruby the dog now that I have her trained to do what I tell her.
Q. What's the naughtiest thing you've ever done?
A. The naughtiest thing I did was when we lived in Brisbane. I brought a live snake into the house and let it go Mum was not too happy.
Q. What's the funniest thing you've ever done?
A. The funniest thing I have done was during a dinner party mum was having. I brought a live mouse into the house! You should have seen everyone jump up on the chairs. They weren't laughing... but I was
Q. Do you do any tricks for your human? What are your best ones?
A. At my age I don't do tricks for them they should be doing them for me.
1. I shall feed my pet healthy food and treats
We've prepared some healthy Summer recipe ideas to get you started - click here
Is your pet overweight? Make 2013 the year your pet reaches their healthy weight. Pet obesity is associated with many medical problems such as osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, liver disease and increased surgical risk.
How Often should I take my pet to the Vet?
- If you want to keep your pet healthy and happy, you should visit your vet at least once a year.
- Regular health checks will help you find out early if there's any health concerns with your pet, plus your vet can keep an eye on your pets weight and condition - providing you with advice and tips on how to keep your pet in tip top shape.
- Pets age differently to humans. An annual check up is like us going to the doctor and dentist every 5–7 years! Just like humans, pets usually need more health care as they get older.
2. I shall keep my pet safe though Summer
View our list of Summer tips here to keep your pet safe through the hot Summer months
Is your pet microchipped? It's very important to ensure your pet is microchipped so that if your pet becomes lost, you can be contacted easily and reunited with your special friend.
Is the address on your microchip up to date? It's easy to update your details when you move or change your phone number. The easiest way to change the contact details attached to your pets microchip is to search http://www.petaddress.com.au/ using your pet's microchip number. Petaddress.com.au will redirect you to a database that lists your pet's microchip number so that you know who to contact directly. Some registries provide change of address forms on their websites that you are able to fill out.
3. I shall teach my pet some cool stuff this Summer
Teaching your pet tricks can be rewarding and lots of fun - so we've included some training tips to keep you busy!
SHARE WITH US! We'd love to see photos of your little smarty pants doing tricks! Post proof of your pets' impressive new talents on our Facebook page and share with our online community. Lets find the smartest pet of 2013!
4. I shall play with my pet every single day
Our Summer playtime idea - BUBBLES! We love bubbles and so will your pets!
Finding time for to play with your pet every day is essential. Your pet will thrive on the stimulation and it won't hurt you to take a few minutes to relax and have a laugh either!
5. I shall hang out with my pet once a week
Next time you're going out for a walk or a coffee consider some of the pet friendly places we've found...
No more excuses! We've compiled a list of great dog beaches and cafes across Melbourne for you.
Summer Doggie Treat - Fruit Cubes
Your Doggie will love you on a hot Summer's day.
Dogs love fruit! The next time you enjoy some fruit, offer your dog a piece and see what fruit they like.
Once you know what their favourite fruits are, puree the fruit, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. If your dog loves bananas, slice the bananas into chunky pieces and freeze.
*Stay away from grapes & sultanas as they can be toxic to your pet
Summer Kitty Treat - Tuna Crackers
Watch your Kitty gobble up the cookies.
Ingredients
170 grams of undrained tuna
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
1/3 cup water
Method
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
Measure all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix
thoroughly with your hands.
Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into treat sized pieces.
Place on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden.
Let cool.
KEEP YOUR PET SAFE THIS SUMMER
Snake bites, food poisoning and lodged grass seeds are just some of the awful things that vets will be treating pets for this Summer. We've compiled a list of 10 things to be aware of this Summer to keep your furry friend safe and sound.
1: Protect your pet from heat in your car
Don't leave your pet in the car during Summer. Cars heat up very quickly, even with the windows partially open.
2: Proper Outdoor Housing and Water
Do you leave your dog or cat outdoors? Make sure you keep them in a shaded area with adequate water. If they are tied up, make sure they won't get tangled up, injure themselves or restrict their movement. Heat strokes and other tragic injuries are preventable.
3: Protection from Over-Exertion
On hotter days, monitor your dog or cat's activities. Watch for signs of heat stress, excessive panting, disorientation, staring, an anxious expression or weakness. Bring your pet into a cool area, gradually lower your pets temperature by cooling down their belly and chest in cold water and call your vet.
4: Hot Asphalt and Feet Protection
In hot summer weather, hot roads and footpaths can burn your pet's paws - keep to the grass.
5: Water Safety
- Letting your dog drink seawater will make them sick. Salt and other minerals in salt water can damage your dog's coat, so rinse him off at the end of a day at the beach.
- Most dogs enjoy swimming, but some cannot swim. Never throw your dog into the water.
- Don't let your dog overdo it; swimming is very hard work and he may tire quickly. If swimming at the beach, be careful of strong tides.
- If you have your own pool, make sure your dog knows where the stairs or ladder are located. Be sure that pool covers are firmly in place; dogs have been known to slip in under the openings in the covers and drown. Never leave your dog unattended in water.
6: Safety in Travel
Always carry fresh water and a bowl for your dog and have regular stops to cater for natures callings.
7: Parasite Prevention
Heartworm disease, which is transmitted by a bite from an infected mosquito, can be fatal if not treated. Both dogs and cats are at increased risk of contracting heartworm during the summer.
8: Plan Ahead for Summer Holidays
If you're not taking your dog or cat with you on holiday, arrange for them to stay at ABBA with our caring and experienced staff. This will protect your pet from careless or irresponsible people that may not have the time to give your pet the care and attention they need to be happy and healthy. This is especially important during the hot days of Summer when a friend or family member may not have the understanding required to keep your pet safe and comfortable on those 40+ days. Ensuring your pet is looked after by professionals will give you peace of mind so you can relax and enjoy your holiday.
9. Keep your pets cool over Summer
- Dogs love to sit in the sun, but prolonged sun exposure can quickly lead to heat exhaustion and can cause skin cancers so it's important to provide them with a shaded area.
- Provide relief from the heat - fill a paddling pool with a couple of inches of water and leave this in a shady spot for your dog to sit in.
- Tossing a few ice cubes in your dog or cat's water bowl can help to keep their temperature down and provide some relief on a hot day.
- If you don't have air conditioning think about leaving a fan on during those really hot days in the height of summer.
- Try to exercise your dog in the early morning or the late evening to avoid the hottest part of the day.
- If you own a long haired dog, consider giving them a trim to help them cope better with the hotter summer months.
10. Protect your pets from snake bite
Once the warm days hit, snakes will be on the prowl for food and mates, it will be a very dangerous time for inquisitive animals.
Keep your property grass height low, clean up possible hiding places for snakes and keep your dogs on a lead if walking through bushlands or near long grass. A single bite from a snake can be deadly. If you think your pet may have been bitten by a snake, get your pet to a vet immediately.
TRICKS YOUR CAT CAN LEARN
Teach your cat to wave
Swiping at a morsel of food is natural behavior for a cat. Hold a treat in your hand. Place it in front of the cat's nose but just out of reach of the front paws.
Then, move it back and forth with your hands in a waving motion while telling your cat to "wave." As your cat reaches out for the food to and fro, it will appear as if kitty is waving. Once the motion mimics the waving behavior, be sure to praise your cat lavishly and give them that yummy treat which has been waving in front of them.
Teach your cat to shake
Cats will naturally try to use their paws to do things, so this is not a difficult trick to teach your kitty. With your cat sitting in front of you, touch their paw and say, "shake." As soon as they react and lift their paw, shake it and then use lots of vocal praise along, of course, with a yummy treat. Remember, as with all tricks, to be consistent and always repeat the command identically each time.
Teach your cat to sit-up
Start with your cat on a footstool or other raised area. Then, place your cat into sitting position. Hold a treat over kitty's head and say "sit-up." Do not give him the treat if the cat grabs at the treat without sitting up. Repeat the command again and again until the response you want is finally understood. When the trick is learned, give the treat right away and repeat the command several times so your cat will understand that sitting up and getting a treat go hand-in-paw.
Teach your cat to come
Try teaching this one at mealtime when your cat is already hungry. Say your kitty's name followed by the command, "come." If necessary, tap on their food bowl to get their attention. When they come, praise them over and over again and then give out the food as a treat for following your command. Eventually, your cat will associate the food with the command, "come," and then you will be well on your way to having an obedient kitty.
A TRICK YOUR DOG CAN LEARN
Teach your dog to go "Under the Bridge"
Stand with your legs apart so your dog can easily walk through. Lure him with a treat and praise your dog lavishly. Once he's got the hang of this, you can have him go back and forth weaving around your legs. This trick is really cute with small dogs! Once your dog has got the hang of it, try lining up several people in a row to go under the bridge.
Playtime is essential for your dog or cat, providing stimulation and one on one time for you and your pet. Games and activities are limited only by your imagination. Your dog or cat can be amused with many games like hide and seek, playing with a ball, fetch and many more.
Chasing bubbles
All you need is a small amount of detergent and a length of flexible wire shaped into a circle.
LETS GO TO THE BEACH!
Summer season: November 1 - March 31
These beaches are off-leash dog beaches, which means your dog can run and play without a leash, but must be under effective control at all times.
- St Kilda Beach Along Pier Road to the drainage channel at the northwest end of Pier Road.
- St Kilda Beach Between Brooks Jetty and the northern end of the car park towards St Kilda Marina.
- Sandridge Beach, Port Melbourne Between the rock groyne opposite Barak Road & the rock groyne opposite Cumberland Road.
- Port Melbourne Beach Between Lagoon Pier & northwest to Bay Street
- West Beach, St Kilda West
Two dog beaches during summer are early morning beaches
- Middle Park Beach Kerferd Road Pier to Langridge Street (5:30am-9:30am)
- Elwood Beach Between the rock groyne south of Point Ormond and the beach access ramp 35 metres south east of Normandy Road (5:30am-9:30am)
*All other beaches are off limits to dogs during the summer. Remember, dogs need to be under effective voice control and you still need to carry a leash. Don't forget to carry plastic bags so you can clean up after your pet.
LET'S GET COFFEE!
Dog-friendly cafés around Melbourne
Argos Loves Company 149 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Kew Nursery and Café Cnr High & Gladstone Sts, Kew
West Beach Bather Pavilion 330A Beaconsfield Pde, St Kilda
A guy is driving around and he sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog For Sale." He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard.
The guy goes into the backyard and sees a Labrador Retriever sitting there.
"You talk?" he asks.
"Yep," the Lab replies.
"So, what's your story?"
The Lab looks up and says, "Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told them about my gift, and in no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running.
"But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security wandering near suspicious characters and listening in.
"I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals. I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired."
The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.
"Ten dollars," the guy says.
"Ten dollars? This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?"
"Because he's a damn liar. He never did any of that stuff."
"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later"
Inspiration & Sources
http://www.schnauzers-rule.com
http://www.petside.com/article/tricks-almost-anyone-can-teach-their-cat
www.squarewheels.com/jokes/dogandcatjokes.html
www.ava.com.au/news/media-centre/hot-topics
http://kb.rspca.org.au/Why-is-it-important-to-ensure-my-pet-is-microchipped_500.html
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/11/30/3080523.htm
http://voices.yahoo.com/8-summer-safety-tips-dogs-cats-3261859.html?cat=53
http://www.petside.com/article/tricks-almost-anyone-can-teach-their-cat
http://www.ava.com.au/mediarelease/top-tips-hot-dogs-and-cool-cats-summer
http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/dogs_on_beaches.htm
Image Credits
http://www.funnypica.com/top-105-funniest-dogs-pictures/funny-dogs-funny-dog-picture-91-funnypica-com/
http://www.baby-cats.com/kitten-with-bubbles/
http://www.dogsdata.com/dogs-playing-with-bubbles.html
http://www.cutehomepets.com/top-ten-dogs-favorite-toys/
http://www.funnycatsite.com/archive/page4.htm
http://www.aplacetolovedogs.com/?s=pug+new+year&view=gallery
http://cheezburger.com/6562769920
http://www.aplacetolovedogs.com/