Going Loco over Grooming

Can there actually be such a thing as too much grooming for your precious doggie? Apparently not to these owners, who humiliated their pups in extremely creative ways.

It ain't Leonardo...

Not sure what breed of dog this actually is - poodle? & look, we do believe it's the same poor Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle doggie with the same mistress...

Real support for the Olympics...

When colours get too much...

Punk to the extreme...

See more here & here, where photos were borrowed from.

Dangerous foods for doggies

Foods that you thought were sensible for your doggie may turn out to be harmful instead. Have a read at the list below (source: PetEducation) to learn more:

• Baby food - Can result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts.
• Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources - Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.
• Cat food - Generally too high in protein and fats.
• Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine - Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems.
• Citrus oil extracts - Can cause vomiting.
• Fat trimmings - Can cause pancreatitis.
• Grapes and raisins - Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys. There have been no problems associated with grape seed extract.
• Human vitamin supplements containing iron - Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.
• Liver in large amounts - Can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones.
• Macadamia nuts - Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.
• Milk and other dairy products - Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets.
• Mushrooms - Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.
• Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder) - Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anaemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions.
• Persimmons - Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis.
• Raw eggs - Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.
• Raw fish - Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.
• Salt in large amounts - May lead to electrolyte imbalances.
• Sugary foods - Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.
• Yeast dough - Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

Dog Mania Contest - Winners & Answers

Thanks for your entries and support to our Dog Mania Contest! Here are the 3 winners to our Dog Mania Contest, in no particular order:

• Jeni Lim and her dogs, Cola & Wawa
• Jojo Wong and her dog, Pepper
• Tan Wai Siang and his dog, Baby

Our Bone Tug toy will be on its way to you very soon! Also, you're entitled to SGD10 discount on your next purchase with Notti Paws.

And in case you were wondering, these are the answers, as accurate as we found them. (Please note that winners are picked based on these answers. Thanks to Squidoo, Nutri-Science and Diva Girl Parties & Stuff.)

1. Most dogs have about 100 different facial expressions, most of them made with their ears. However, a few breeds have only about 10 expressions. Which are they?
Bulldog & Pitbull

2. What dog breed gets its name because it strikes out with its front paws when fighting?
Boxer

3. Every known dog breed except two has a pink tongue. Which two breeds are the odd ones out?
Chow Chow & Sharpei

4. What is the smallest breed of dog recognized by the American Kennel Club?
Chihuahua

5. What is the largest breed of dog recognized by the American Kennel Club?
Irish Wolfhound

6. What dog breed does not bark?
Basenji

7. A dog's whiskers - found on the muzzle, above the eyes and below the jaws - are touch-sensitive hairs than actually sense minute changes in airflow. What is their technical name?
Vibrissae

8. What ingredient makes chocolate fatal for dogs' consumption?
Theobromine in cocoa

9. What is the smallest breed of dog used for hunting?
Daschund

10. How many times are dogs mentioned in the Bible?
Fourteen (14)

11. Do dogs favor one paw (left or right) over the other?
Yes

12. Can you name the 7 different groups/classes of dog?
Herding, Hound, Non-Sporting, Sporting, Terrier, Toy, Working - See here for more details

13. What feisty dog breed was bred to tirelessly hunt vermin both above and below ground?
Terrier

14. When puppies lose their "milk teeth", how many adult teeth do they get?
Forty-two (42)

15. Where are sweat glands on a dog found?
Between the paw pads

Dog Mania Contest

Think you know all about our favourite pals? Test your knowledge with our little Dog Mania Contest - now on till end October 08.

Simply email the answers to nottipaws@hotmail.com in chronological order. Get them right and get them quick... the first 3 winners will each win a Bone Tug toy and be entitled to Notti Paws discount worth SGD10!*

Ready? Begin!

1. Most dogs have about 100 different facial expressions, most of them made with their ears. However, a few breeds have only about 10 expressions. Which are they?

2. What dog breed gets its name because it strikes out with its front paws when fighting?

3. Every known dog breed except two has a pink tongue. Which two breeds are the odd ones out?

4. What is the smallest breed of dog recognized by the American Kennel Club?

5. What is the largest breed of dog recognized by the American Kennel Club?

6. What dog breed does not bark?

7. A dog's whiskers - found on the muzzle, above the eyes and below the jaws - are touch-sensitive hairs than actually sense minute changes in airflow. What is their technical name?

8. What ingredient makes chocolate fatal for dogs' consumption?

9. What is the smallest breed of dog used for hunting?

10. How many times are dogs mentioned in the Bible?

11. Do dogs favor one paw (left or right) over the other?

12. Can you name the 7 different groups/classes of dog?

13. What feisty dog breed was bred to tirelessly hunt vermin both above and below ground?

14. When puppies lose their "milk teeth", how many adult teeth do they get?

15. Where are sweat glands on a dog found?

*Note: Remember to tell us your doggie's name and breed for identification. =D

World's Smallest Dog

The smallest dog in terms of length is Heaven Sent Brandy, a female chihuahua who measured 15.2 cm (6 in) from the nose to the tip of the tail on January 31, 2005.

Brandy lives with her owner, Paulette Keller in Largo, Florida, USA.

Source: Guinness World Records

Doggie walks

Walks are always fun, but did you know it could cause stress to your doggie if obstacles aren't anticipated ahead of time?

For an always pleasant journey, consider these tips from the pro:

1. Obedience training
It is important that the when you walk a dog, they have been trained or are comfortable walking on a leash. Most are eager to just get outside and explore so obedience is essential to prevent mishaps. Having command over the doggie under all circumstances, especially when the situation turns critical, will ensure better safety for both owner and doggie.

2. How many walks a day
Walk a dog for short periods at a time, 15 minutes or half an hour. You can turn it into a one hour ordeal, but splitting it up into morning and afternoon or early night walks allows them to get their energy out at different times of the day rather than all at once, which could end up exhausting them.

3. Social skills for the dog
When you walk a dog you have to remember that a walk is a social experience for them in a sense. Depending on the dog’s obedience, allow them to greet other people and other dogs to build relationships. This will help their self-esteem and better their mood. However, do be mindful of doggies that have yet to get accustomed to strangers... forcing them to be friendly could stress them out.

4. Play & rest
Pepper your journey with short bursts of games for variety. For longer walks, doggies would feel recharged from a break to hydrate and snack, so remember to pack some fresh water an a biscuit or two.

Hope these tips will enable both you and your doggie to benefit more from your daily walks!

Fun Indoor Doggie Games

Here are some fun, quick ways you can play with your dog indoors from an expert article at Go-Pets.com.

Tug of war

Some people fear that a game of tug might make a dog aggressive or aggravate any possessive tendencies. However there is nothing wrong with the game, as long as you follow certain rules:

1. The toy you choose must be long enough to avoid accidental injury. Try our Bungee Tugs. Or thick rope with knots is good. Bone Tugs anyone?
2. The game should be played only with the tug toy. Teach your dog a command such as "drop it" or "leave it" before you start playing. Never try to pull anything away from the dog (it might appear like fun), use your command instead.
3. You must be in control of the game. You decide when to play - keep the toy out of sight in between games. To maintain alpha-dog atatus, you should win most of the time.

Hide and seek

Conceal toys or treats around the house and ask the dog to find them.

1. Start by hiding a toy under or behind something while your dog watches, then exclaim, "Where's your toy?" in an excited voice. Use a consistent hand signal for quicker learning.
2. Praise when your dog retrieves the toy. Once your doggie gets the rules of the game, have your dog stay in one room while you hide treats in another.
3. If your dog likes to use the nose, try hiding the treats inside shoes, under rugs, between couch cushions and places like that. Break up large treats so that you are not giving too many at one time.

Treats in a Shell

You can also try some brain teasers with your dog, such as the doggie-version shell game.

1. Find three identical cups.
2. Have your dog sit and stay, facing the boxes. Let your dog see you place a treat inside or underneath an overturned cup. Release your dog with a command "Find it!" to choose the cup the treat is in.
3. If your dog chooses the wrong cup, turn it up, show your dog it's empty and repeat command. Praise and reward your dog with the treat when your dog gets it right.
4. Eventually you can switch the cups around and have your doggie use the nose to locate.

A Breed Apart

Did you know there are more than 700 types of purebred doggies? And dogs are generally classified into seven different breeds:

• Toy - Chihuahua, Maltese, Pomeranian, Pug.


• Terrier - Miniature Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier.


• Hound - Basset Hound, Beagle, Bloodhound, Whippet.


• Herding - Border Collie, German Shepherd, Australian Cattle Dog, Sheepdog.


• Sporting - Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Weimaraner.


• Non-Sporting - Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Dalmatian, Chow Chow, Poodle.


• Working - Boxer, Bullmastiff, Saint Bernard, Great Dane, Rottweiler.

Photographing your dog

It's no secret that your little doggie is always hogging the limelight and your attention. What better way to spend some quality time together, learning subtle nuances of each other's moods and personalities, and create memories that last?

Digital cameras now are the way to go, especilly for amateur photographers like us. You get to see the reults, keep the good ones and delete the failed projects in a snap!

Here are some tips from the expert:

1. Candids
You know how quickly your doggie can move so always be prepared for a candid shot. These sometimes turn out to be the best photos - him/her trying to lick the lens or him/her yawning in the face of the camera... sleepy dogs sometimes look like they're smiling or even laughing in a still picture!.

If you have the option, setting your shutter speed for 1/125th of a second (at a minimum) can help ensure that you'll capture the moment when it happens.

2. Lighting
Natural light is the best and easiest to work with. Whether outdoors or near a big picture window, natural light can offer the warm, golden hues of sunrise and sunset or the soft, indirect light of an overcast day. Both lighting conditions remove the worry of harsh shadows and will give you the richest colors.

Red-Eye reduction helps by constricting the pupils, but can be annoying for your doggie. Try removing as far as possible to introduce lots of light and make do without flash. Or, conversely, try angling your pets gaze in a slightly different direction, away from the camera.

3. Composition
In good photographs, composition is key. Spend a little time thinking about the distance between the camera and your doggie, the angle of your camera and the scenery surrounding you.

a. Get closer: A good rule of thumb is to fill up your camera's frame (or viewfinder) with your subject. While you should get as close as possible, ensure that you have enough distance to focus properly. For most point and shoot cameras with auto-focus, you can't get more than 2 or 3 feet from your subject and still be in focus.

b. Dog's eye view: Perspective is everything when you're taking pictures. Getting on the same level as your dog can help your images tell an authentic or unique story.

c. Watch the scene: Get as far away from walls as possible, especially while indoors and using a flash, in order to avoid capturing harsh shadows. Avoid backgrounds with strong lines, patterns or distracting colours.

d. Two-thirds rule: One simple way to compose a good photograph and make it more visually interesting is to avoid centering your pooch in the middle of the frame. To do this, visualize a tic-tac-toe grid in your viewfinder, dividing the frame into thirds both horizontally and vertically. Try to place your pooch in one of the intersections away from the center. Similarly, avoid placing the horizon line in the center of your frame. Try for the top third or bottom third of the frame.

So get snapping! Notti Paws will be holding a photography contest soon so watch out for it - attractive prizes to be won!

What doggie would you be? We're a... Maltese?!

discover your dog breed @ quiz meme

To wear or not to wear, is that the question?

Here at Notti Paws, we believe every little doggie should be able to look their best for any occasion, because they are the light of our lives and clothes do maketh the dog too.

So the more important question is not whether they should wear clothes but how they should be clothed.

Safety & comfort are the top priorities, always. Make sure that the clothing fits properly, snug enough so a limb won't get caught where it doesn't belong, yet loose enough so it doesn't constrict.

To buy doggie apparel, always check the length of the back, circumference of the neck and girth of the chest of the item are suitable for your little one's stature. When in doubt, buying a bigger size is the better option (it can always be tailored later).

Understand your doggie's wardrobe functionality. For one, do you need to have him/her on the leash at all times? If so, a harness, collar or outfit with a leash hole has to be taken into consideration.

Are the clothes easily strapped on using velcro, snaps, zips and large buttons? Consider how easy or difficult the item is to put on and take off. If your doggie is caught or injured, will the coat be easy to remove quickly for medical purposes? Loosely-woven items can easily catch a toe or claw, potentially creating a problem.

Dogs parading in their Sunday Best should also never be left unattended. It would be disastrous if the clothing is caught on a fence/sharp edge and causes breathing difficulties. Or your dog could well decide to undress him/herself, resulting in chewing, damage or worse, choking.

And do take the weather into consideration for your doggie's comfort. Choose light fabrics for warm seasons (especially in Singapore's tropical climate) and waterproof him/her during monsoon periods. Just as shoes keep people's feet warm and dry, dog boots can do the same to ensure comfort for your doggie's daily walks.

Let your little one have a safe and comfortable time traipsing through his/her wardrobe all year round!