In This Issue:
- HELLO FROM ABBA
- SPRING VIP MEMBER SPECIAL
- MELBOURNE CUP DAY
- ABBA FACEBOOK CELEBRITY
- DOGGY DAYCARE AT ABBA
- WHY DO CATS MEOW?
- HOW TO MAKE YOUR DOG STOP JUMPING ON PEOPLE
- PET RECIPES
- JUST FOR A GIGGLE
To all of our special friends (furry or otherwise), we at Abba Kennels and Cattery would like to say - Happy Spring!
Have you started planning your Christmas holidays yet? We look forward to the fun we’ll have taking care of your furry friends whilst you’re away. Don’t forget to make your Christmas booking so you don’t miss out! Book now, spaces are filling fast!
With the weather already starting to warm up, your pets want to play outside and will get bored and into mischief if not occupied when you're at work. Keep you and your pets happy this Spring and drop them off at ABBA during work hours. They can socialise with other dogs, exercise and have fun with their friends at daycare with our experienced carers.
From the team at ABBA
When booking your pet in for a stay at ABBA, mention your VIP status or check in at ABBA on Facebook and refer to one of the specials below!
DOGGY SPECIAL - Receive one FREE daycare for your pet at the time of your choosing for your dog, until the 30th November, 2015
FELINE SPECIAL - Receive two "One on One" play sessions FREE for your cat, until the 30th November, 2015
Don’t forget that Melbourne Cup weekend is creeping up! Please give us a call as soon as possible to book in your pet! Remember to check and make sure all vaccinations are up to date well before your check in date.
And the winner is...
Gillian! (Bella & Sam)
Congratulations Gillian, our Spring Facebook Celebrity prize is a FREE 2 night sleepover for Bella and Sam at a time of your choosing.
A BIT ABOUT Bella and Sam
Q. What is your name?
B. Hi my name is Bella.
S. Hi my name is Sam. I was named after a dog in a book that my Mummy used to read to my human Sister when she was smaller than me!
Q. How old are you and what is your breed?
B. I am 4 years old and possibly but not likely a Jack Russell x Pomeranian.
S. I was born in about August 2004 making me a grand old age of 11 and doesn’t my body know it, with a creak and grind here and there!
Q. What's your favourite food?
B. I love everything food and non food, even Dad’s tablets that get dropped on the floor and make me vomit!! Yes, I am one of THOSE dogs who you see on TV vet programs, the ones that have to have an operation because of what they have eaten!! Touch wood and my Mum thanks god that we haven’t had THAT visit!!!
S. Sausages! Did anyone say sausages? I am quite partial to one or three!
Q. What about treats? Any favourites?
B. Anything really but I do like a bit of chocolate but DOGGY chocolate of course, not the human stuff, that may taste nice but let me tell you doggy pals that stuff just ain’t good for you!!!
S. All treats in all shapes and forms are my favourite!!!
Q. What's your favourite hobby/pastime?
B. I love to look out of the window and bark at anything that may go past, even leaves that fall off trees or even the occasional non visible item that may just happen to catch my attention!!!
S. My couch is where I like to spend most of my time but my doggy sister constantly barks in my ear!! What is wrong with her? Doesn’t she know there is nothing like a good old snooze?!!
Q. Do you like to play? What's your favourite toys?
B. Balls!!! In any shape or form! Even my Mum’s supersized Gym Ball is fair game to me, just can’t get me Chops round it though, funny that!!
S. Did you know that you can get those Squeaky toy sounds on a mobile phone? Well I didn’t either until Dad discovered one day that you could and teased me with it!! Oh I do love a Squeaky toy!!
Q. Do you have any friends or sworn enemies?
B. THE BIRDS, those birds drive me crazy man... they tick me off, always in my garden and pooping on Mum’s washing, Mum gets really mad! I do my best to chase them away but… they keep coming back!!!
S. My good friend is Puss the Burmese Cat, she is slightly older than me. We were both born in the same year and go way back to when I was a puppy, we used to hang out on the couch together. Bella my doggy sister could be my enemy, she is just a pain!! You know what I mean! younger sisters and always wanting to join in and play!! Ain’t no old dog got time for that!!!!
Q. What's the naughtiest thing you've ever done?
B. One day I was really naughty… but truly it wasn’t my fault!!! I really needed to pee… you know when you are just so desperate you can’t hold on!!! No one was around to let me out… and… well I did a wee on Mum and Dad’s bed, but in my defence I did it on the doona, I mean at least you can wash that right? Mum wasn’t very impressed… but I really needed to go!!!
S. I love it when my Nan and Pop come to stay, they always bring us treats! But there was this one time when Nan and Pop came over and the family decided to have Fish and Chips for dinner… Oooo the smell!!! Pop left his plate on the table and went to the cupboard for some salt… I am so sorry I just couldn’t resist the fish, it was so tempting, poor Pop never got any fish that night!!! I promise I won’t ever steal fish off a plate again!!! Ba ha ha until the next time!!!
Q. What's the funniest thing you've ever done?
B. I don’t really do fun!!! I just do crazy Ba ha ha, running round in circles outside as fast as I can in and out the plants looking to see who will chase me!
S. Does anyone else have good dreams? Where you swear you were born to be a greyhound chasing all the rabbits round and round, I get great exercise when I am sleeping with the amount of sleep chasing I do!! Mum often wakes me up because she is in fits of laughter watching me!! Whats with that? I love a good dream run!!!
Q. Do you do any tricks for your human? What are your best ones?
B. Tricks !! I love tricks, I can catch a small ball in my paws… in fact the Australian Cricket team should hire me!!!!
S. My doggy sister Bella is the “TRICK MASTER”, Me? Well just a simple paw will do, just enough to show my Humans that I love them!!
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.
Did you know that your furry friend(s) could have fun every week at ABBA?
In Spring many pet owners want to have some much needed “time out” after the freezing Winter we’ve just had. Our pets also enjoy Springtime, want to have fun, enjoy doggie company and play outside.
Your friends at ABBA love spending time with your pet and will make sure they are happy and enjoy some quality time with other furry friends.
Book your dog in to spend a day or two a week at ABBA - drop your pet off before 9 and pickup at 5 (or arrange pickups), your dog will thank you for the playtimes and extra attention during the day. Call us to book!
Cats communicate through smell, touch, body language, and through some very complex facial expressions.
The way cats communicate has drastically changed due to the effects of domestication. Meowing does not form a part of the natural language in cats.
Cats make different sounds for different purposes like chattering when they spot a prey, hissing to warn of intruders or when petrified and caterwauls for mating.
Meowing is a language designed by cats only for humans. Cats are capable of making 30 different sounds, which also includes more than 19 variations of meow.
So Why Do Cats Meow?
Meowing is usually done between a mother cat and her kittens. A kitten makes a small and tiny meow to attract attention and receive care from their mother. As they grow up the tiny mews and meows disappear. They only meow when they are between humans. It is very difficult for us humans to pick up the scents cat leave on our belongings or to even pick up the body language a cat tries to portray. A meow is the only way a cat can make you do things, which she wants you to do. It is a language developed to communicate with humans. The meow language surely works on humans. A soft meowing cat is so cute that you would not want to refuse his demands. Scientists have even discovered that over time cats have refined their communication skills to manipulate humans.
Cats meow at people when they want to get something done from you. It is an attention grabbing tool designed to work most times. The meow can be of various types with different meanings and purposes. The sound can be demanding and usually loud. Meows can sometimes be soft to show affection. Since a domesticated cat is dependent on you, meowing is the only technique that works.
HOW TO STOP YOUR DOG JUMPING ON PEOPLE
Does Your Puppy Or Dog Jump On You When You Come Home?
Can you not get through the door without him clobbering you with love and attention? What about when you are holding a piece of food?
Does he perform dolphin-like leaps to get that morsel from your hand? Even worse, does he do this when he meets a stranger on the street or a guest in your house?
While his intentions may be (mostly) good, this type of jumping isn’t just annoying, it’s dangerous. Dogs that jump on people can cause all sorts of problems.
- Injury due to the dog’s nails
- Knocking over small children, seniors or injured persons
- Scaring people
- Grabbing body parts with their mouth
- Stealing foods/items that may be hazardous to the dog
- Ruining clothes
These are just a few examples of what can happen when a dog is constantly jumping.
Why Dogs Jump
With the exception of dogs with fear or aggression issues, there is a simple reason why your dog jumps up on people – to get something he wants! When you get home from work, he wants attention. When you have a sandwich in your hand, he wants a piece. When you have a toy in your hand, he wants the toy. When a guest is coming through the door, it’s exciting and he wants to greet them!
Basically, your dog has learned that jumping is how to get everything he wants. Whether he has been practicing this behavior for years, or he has just figured out this “trick,” it can be hard to get them to stop once they have learned it works because dogs are opportunists. In other words, they repeat behaviors that work!
How Do You Stop The Jumping?
While the root cause of jumping is simple, the problem is not something that can be solved instantaneously, but rather requires a methodical and consistent approach. Dogs jumping on people is actually one of the most common problems dog owners complain of.
1. Don’t allow him to get what he wants when he does jump (stop reinforcing the behaviour).
2. Teach him an alternative behavior instead of jumping.
The most common alternative behaviour is a “sit”. Train your dog to sit for greetings, attention, for his food bowl, his toy or treat – pretty much anything that he wants.
The key here is that if your dog wants something, he sits, not jumps. He can’t possibly do both at once!
Doggie Pupcakes
Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 1 banana
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1/3 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/3 cup 1-minute oats
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180.
Line cupcake tin with paper liners.
Combine the egg, banana, carrots, peanut butter, oil, honey, and vanilla in one bowl.
Mix the flour, baking soda, and oats in another bowl.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients together.
Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake at 180 for 15-20 minutes.
Frost with creamy peanut butter (optional).
Crunchy Tuna Cat Treats
Ingredients:
- 1 (142 grams) can tuna, no salt added and packed in water, drained
- 1 cup oat flour *
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 heaping tablespoon dried catnip
Method:
*To make your own oat flour simply grind old-fashioned oats in a spice grinder until it is transformed into a light powder. There you have it — oat flour!
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 180. Line a baking sheet with baking paper and set aside.
In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment, combine drained tuna, oat flour, egg, olive oil and catnip. Blend until mixture is smooth. It will be thick but pliable and not terribly sticky.
Roll dough into 1/2 teaspoon balls and place on prepared baking paper. Use a skewer to press an X-shape into each cookie ball.
Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until they are dried on top and slightly browned. Allow to cool completely before offering to your kitty.
Place treats in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to seven days.
Makes about 3 dozen treats
A nursery school teacher was delivering a station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past them. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian.
The children fell to discussing the dog's duties.
"They use him to keep crowds back," said one youngster.
"No, he's just for good luck," said another.
A third child brought the argument to a close.
"They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrant."
Inspiration & Sources
http://www.catsincare.com/why-do-cats-meow-at-humans/
http://iheartdogs.com/
http://jenwoodhouse.com/homemade-pupcakes/
http://www.designsponge.com/
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/jokes.htm
Image Credits
http://weheartit.com/
http://barkpost.com/dog-flowers/
http://www.sodoggonefunny.com/
http://www.catsincare.com/why-do-cats-meow-at-humans/
http://buzzsharer.com/
http://srta-pepis.tumblr.com/
http://jenwoodhouse.com/homemade-pupcakes/
http://www.designsponge.com/
http://www.msah.com/pet-fire-safety/
https://www.harrythehirer.com.au/