Table of Contents

• How To Travel With A Pet?
• How To Travel By Car?
• How To Travel By Train?
• How To Travel By Plane?

One of the most difficult and heartbreaking decisions you probably had to make as a pet parent was saying goodbye to his puppy eyes before leaving for a trip.

The dilemma faced by pet parents who want to explore the world is whether to leave their furry companion behind or take them along. Leaving them behind spoils the fun of traveling, but taking them along can sometimes be a hassle.

What if we say that we can help you solve this dilemma? With awareness and passion hitting the hospitality industry, there is a surge of pet-friendly conveyance and accommodations in recent years. We have some pet-friendly travel guidelines for every means of transportation that will help you explore the world with your favorite companion.

How To Travel With A Pet?

Who loves to leave a family member behind, especially when it is furry and adorable? Having a fur traveler along will only add up to the adventure.

While you look out for safe pet-friendly places to stay at your destination, you must also explore the mode of transportation to give them the best experience. Traveling with your fur baby isn’t easy. You have to find the most convenient and safe way to travel so that it doesn’t impact your pet’s health. We have listed down things you must remember while traveling with your pet, irrespective of whatever transport you opt for.

How To Travel By Car?

Nothing is better than a road trip in your vehicle. It is one of the most convenient ways to travel with your pet. Comfort and liberty to stop wherever you want are beyond words. But before you hit the road you must be sure that your pet doesn’t have motion sickness.

Before getting on the road, take your pet on drives to make them comfortable with traveling in a car. Watch out for how they respond while they are in the car and once you have reached home. Apart from this, remember the following points as well:

• For the safety of your furry co-passenger, get them a harness or carrier. This is like a seat belt for them, preventing them from hopping in the car and diverting you from the road.
• Remember the phrase “Less food, more water”. Before leaving, make sure that your buddy is fed well and is well hydrated. Carry some extra water bottles in case you or your pet feel thirsty.
• Never leave your pet in a locked car, especially during summer when the temperature is already high. This can lead to a heat stroke which can turn out to be life-threatening.

How To Travel By Train?

Trains have always been amusing, thanks to the suspense of traveling with a total stranger, and our Bollywood dream of meeting Aditya from Jab We Met.  Well, you might not find Aditya but can surely have a furry company all the way (plus, they are great people magnets)! The train is by far the most common and convenient option for long-route travel. While looking at the mesmerizing views, you can make some new friends on the go.

Indian Railways has already established some rules for you if you wish to take your cuddle buddy along. Keep them in mind when traveling with your pet to ensure their safety. The general guidelines include:

• They can only travel in AC First Class coach.
• They must be on a leash or in a carrier at all times.
• You must pay a minimal (prepaid) fee in order to take your pet along on a train ride. Consider this a ticket for your pet.
• Always carry water and food for them as railways don’t have any provision for that.

Prevent the hassle by booking an entire cabin or coupe for yourself. In case you have co-passengers you have to take their consent and submit it in the Parcel office. But remember, if your co-passengers are not comfortable or find your dog creating chaos, the authorities might ask you to deboard at the next station.

How To Travel By Plane?

You might not have even thought of bringing your beloved pets on a flight. However, it is possible to fly in India along with your pet. Pets are welcome on almost all flights, however, every airline has varying requirements. There is an age limit on travel. Pregnant dogs and dogs below the age of 8 weeks are not allowed to board the flight due to safety reasons. Here are some more points to keep in mind while traveling with a pet on a plane.

• Check with the Veteran if your pet is suitable for a flight. This is because some breeds aren’t suitable for air travel as it can cause them stress, breathing issues, anxiety, and even heat stroke.
• Look at the guidelines that are mentioned on the airline’s website to ensure smooth transit.
• Get them a carrier that is big enough for them to easily lay down, turn around, sit and stand in.
• While you book the flight, choose one with no layovers (if possible).

While you may be preferring cargo over in-cabin but in-cabin travels are safer for your pets. Cargo travel may give your dog an unpleasant experience which can later cause them health troubles. After your flight, if you notice any signs of distress, take them to the vet right away.

We can’t control your travel choice but we can make it better! Whatever means you choose, add products from Fur Ball Story’s ayurvedic range for a smooth journey.  Our products like Fev Pet for fever, Tick Free for ticks, Pacho Pet for digestion, Eczo Pet and Heal Pet for skin issues and injuries, will help you throughout the way.

Puppies – the word itself brings joy and happiness to us. Everyone just loves puppies, but pet                      parents often don’t realise that just loving puppies is not enough. It’s important that we understand          them so that we are able enough to care for them properly. We must be able to make the most of              this holy human and dog relationship. 

This article will give you an insight about the right way of raising a puppy and its benefits that you              will reap in the future.   

 

Table of Contents 

• The right age for getting a puppy 
• Bite inhibition & its importance 
• Teething & how to avoid it 
• How puppies learn 
• Socialization is crucial 

 

The Right Age for Getting a Puppy Home

We all love pups – they are cute little bundles of joy. But do you know what is the right age of separating a pup from the mother and getting him home? The most common opinion in India about this is 30 to 45 days. This is not just a common opinion but a common practice too. Most of the breeders try to get rid of the puppies ASAP. However, the right age of separating a pup from the mother is minimum 8 weeks, i.e., 2 months. The perfect age, as per us, is between 10 – 12 weeks. It is important for the puppy to spend this time with the siblings and the mother as it teaches them a lot of social skills. To top it, the mother’s milk helps in boosting immunity. During the said period, the first round of vaccination must also be completed.   

 

Bite Inhibition & Its Importance 

Bite Inhibition – sounds a bit too technical, but it’s not. Bite inhibition is the ability of a dog/puppy to understand different kinds of bites, i.e., play, love, and aggression. This ability is passed on to the puppy by the parents. The mother plays with them, scolds them and loves them as well – all of it using her mouth. This teaches the puppy the power of biting. Bite inhibition is one of the most important skills that a puppy needs to learn to become a good dogizen. Unfortunately, this skill can’t be taught at a later stage by a human. Hence, coming back to our first point: puppies should not be separated from the mothers before the completion of this learning. 

  

Teething & How to Avoid It 

Puppies love to BITE, at least that’s what all of us think. But that’s not the case. Puppy biting is called teething. It’s a phase that every puppy passes through. You must’ve observed that puppies love playing with everything they can find, and it becomes even better if it moves and is soft to chew. Naturally, your body becomes the first target, followed by sofa, slippers, and the like, because they have your odour. In simple terms, teething is an unavoidable natural process. As a matter of fact, one can make the most of it by teaching the pup some techniques that involves adequate usage of his teething drive. Use just one soft and small toy, possibly a rope, to play with the pup. As soon as he seems tired, take the toy out of his sight. Don’t let the puppy get hold of it easily, else it wouldn’t be a fun activity. The trick is to tease the pup with the toy and make it interesting. They usually find our hands interesting during this stage because we react when they bite us. This reaction is what drives them more towards biting us again and again. So, we must learn to not react in such situations. As a result, it will become uninteresting for the dog thereby making the toy more interesting. Remember, don’t tease him with the toy more than 3 – 4 times. Let him win in the process. This sense of achievement will make the pup more inclined towards teething on the toy instead of you.  

 

How Puppies Learn  

All dogs learn through muscle memory and conditioning. The result of any stimulus that is inflicted upon a dog can either be rewarding or painful. The consequence decides whether a pup will repeat the behaviour or not. 2 most common techniques to know here are Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning. These 2 methods combined will teach you the skill to master any kind of animal training. Remember, we often keep scolding our pups for things they do that we don’t like, but we hardly reward them for the things they do right. Such small rewards at the end of correct behaviour will enable the dog to only learn the right kind of behaviours. 

 

 

Socialization Is Crucial 

When we talk about puppy socialization, the first thought that comes to our mind is that of puppies and dogs playing with each-other. This is only partly true. Puppy socialization involves environmental socialization as well as socialization with humans of different age groups. A puppy can grasp the most till 8 months of age. If we positively attach maximum number of stimuli to a dog in this duration, we will succeed in conditioning him to a majority of things in his surroundings, such as different kinds of noise and odours.  

 

The adorable eyes of a puppy will plead in front of you for absolutely anything. They will look uber-cute running around and will melt your heart in seconds. But, don’t give in to the pupper-pressure. Take matters in your hands. Make them socialize with other puppies and humans, feed them well and learn their gestures. If you are training them to learn the way you want them to behave, it’s imperative for you to learn what they are trying to communicate as well. Be a good pet parent and make them an even better dogizen.   

 

   FAQ’s

 

     1.  How can I raise my puppy in the best possible way? 

 

• Start housetraining as soon as possible. 
• Keep things calm. 

• Establish a routine. 
• Establish general guidelines & train your puppy to follow them. 
• Create a private area for the puppy to relax in. 
• At least for the first few nights, stay in the same room to sleep. 
• Give them a nutritious, well-balanced dietog food. 

 

      2.  At what age are puppies the naughtiest? 

            The reality is that raising a sociable, well-behaved, and trouble-free adult dog requires patience,                  hard work, and active engagement from every member of the household. Unwanted behaviours                  including unnecessary barking, chewing on things, surfing the counter, house-soiling, and leaping              up frequently, start to happen at roughly 3 to 6 months of age. 

 

     3.  Which stage of a puppy is the hardest? 

 

            Adolescence (6 – 18 months) might be the most challenging stage in a puppy’s development. Your              adorable puppy is growing up and starting to produce hormones, which could cause behavioural                changes. 

 

      4.  What is the duration of puppy blues? 

 

             Puppy blues refer to the emotional stage where you start feeling sad, depressed, anxious and                       pressured after getting a puppy home. Generally, this happens because puppy parents tend to feel               overwhelmed as they feel the pressure from within, wanting to give the best life to the puppy and               raise him well.  

 

             According to anecdotal data, the three weeks immediately following the onset of puppy blues are                 typically when they are most severe. After then, symptoms could still be present but feel easier to               control. Usually, this happens within three months. ergergwergwergsregwerg

 

      5.   How long does it take for a puppy and owner to become close? 

 

             Puppies typically bond with their owners more quickly than adult dogs because they have fewer                   attachments to their histories with the previous owners. If you have purchased a puppy from a                     breeder, it typically takes 3–3 months to form a bond with your dog.            

 

       6.   What indicates that your dog has your trust? 

 

• In your presence, they exhibit comfortable and tranquil body language. 
• A relaxed, lolling tongue and a slightly open mouth. 
• Turning over to rub one’s stomach (this shows that they trust you and feel safe in your presence) 
• Face with a calm, relaxed look. 

• Eye blinking 
• Tail wagging in both directions. 
• A “bow” to welcome and promote play. 

 

      7.   What does nervousness in a dog look like? 

 

             Anxious actions while you’re away or as you get ready to depart, such as pacing, whining, or                         shivering, howling or barking too much. They may also display loving behaviour to attract your                   attention. You might also get to see dDestructive behaviours, especially near doors or windows,                   including chewing or digging. accidents involving urinating or defecating inside the home.  

Hi, I am Joyita Sethi! Some of you might have met me at Fur Ball Story, Gurugram since I manage the place and take care of all the dogs present there. What you don’t know is that I am also a professional groomer by education and practice. I have done a Grooming Course from California academy of animal aesthetics in association with Dog Care Singapore. Before joining Fur Ball Story, I also ran a grooming parlour of my own for over 3 years! I believe that important knowledge must always be parted to others so here I am giving you some tips on dog grooming at home.

Grooming tips for your dog during lockdown

Covid-19 came as a surprise for us, especially the part where we were told that due to lockdown, the possibility of going out is next to impossible. The month was March, the time when most of us get our dogs groomed and prepared for the coming summers but unfortunately the groomers were also now shut due to lockdown. Today it has been more than 50 days since lockdown, and most of the groomers are still shut. So here I am, trying to help you find the best ways to get your dog well-groomed at home!

Regular grooming keeps your dog clean, healthy, and comfortable. Many people prefer professional groomers; they can make dogs look great while using their professional expertise to keep them safe. However, during this lockdown when you can’t go anywhere, here are some tips to keep your dog feeling and looking great.

COMBING

For Long coat dogs (such as Shih-tzu, Lhasa Apso, Golden Retrievers)
Combing your dog’s coat daily or every other day will keep most mats at bay. Simply brushing, as most literature instructs, is not enough for dogs that can mat up: the brush will easily pass over at angles that a comb will get stuck on. A thorough combing should always be the first step of the grooming process.
Comb gently, be it with a brush or with a comb, as rough combing may result into unnecessary hair pulling which might hurt the dog.

Begin on the head and move down the body. Be careful under the belly, as it is a sensitive area, and don’t forget to comb the tail.

While you are combing, if you find a tangle, use a brush, and try to work out the tangle. Be mindful not to brush burn your dog from brushing for too long in the same spot. You can check by looking under the fur to see if the skin becomes red with irritation.
Avoid combing all together in case the dog has skin infection or allergy.

Short Coat Dogs

You can brush short-haired dogs with a brush or gloves.
Comb and brush medium- to long-coated dogs with more specialized tools like a steel comb, slicker, a pin brush.
Whatever you use, it must remove loose hair and distribute oils from the skin throughout the coat.

CLEANING THE EYES

Breeds like (Pekingese, Pugs, Pomeranians, Shihtzus, Lhasa Apso, etc.) those with large eyes that water a lot may need more maintenance in this area than others.
Depending on your dog, this step may be a simple matter of wiping or pulling eye debris away from the corners of the eyes.
Long-haired dogs may need special attention to make sure that all gunk is out of the coat, as they may get tear stains.
Use a cotton wool damped in warm water, to first moisten the gunk and then it can be gently pulled out using your fingers or even a steel comb with small teeth. You can also buy products made for removing “tear stains” from a pet supply store
A healthy eye should be clear and should not show any signs of irritation or unusual discharge.
Don’t try to trim hair away from the eyes yourself, as you might injure your pet. Ask your vet or groomer to do it for you.

CLEANING THE EARS

It’s normal for a clean ear to have some wax in it, but there shouldn’t be any smell to it, or any kind of itching If there is, a vet visit is recommended.
To clean your dog’s ears, apply some ear cleaning solution or just clean water, to a cotton round. (Not too much or it will drip into the ear while wiping, which may be harmful for the dog)
Wipe dirt and wax away from the inner ear, but don’t rub vigorously, as this might cause sores. Don’t push too far into the ear, either.
If your dog has drop ears like a cocker spaniel, wipe the inside of the ear flag as dirt collects there as well. The groomers rule of thumb is to clean only what you can see.

TRIMMING NAILS

Trimming a dog’s nails is something that shouldn’t be done at home because there are very high chances of cutting the blood vessels and this can lead to excessive bleeding which cannot be stopped easily.

Please do visit your vet or groomer if you feel that your dog’s nails need clipping. However, if you feel they have sharpened, you can certainly file them using a normal filer.

BATHING YOUR DOG

Bathing is a must for your dog in this season since the temperature is rising by the days, but there are certain things to be followed while doing it. You can bathe your dog at home once in 10-12 days in the summers.
In tick season, you can use an anti-tick shampoo, otherwise you can use a good quality shampoo available at your nearest pet store. Frequent use of tick shampoo can make your dog’s fur dull and coarse, so it’s best to alternate it with a normal shampoo.

Make sure to clean the abdomen part of your dog as well as pits of the front and hind legs. These areas are where the ticks hide the most. Also, cleaning the paws is a must while giving a bath since this is the part where the ticks climb from. But be careful while doing it as it may hurt the dog if not done gently with a soft brush or cloth. In some cases, dogs just don’t like their paws to be touched, so what you can do is use a water hose and apply fast running water under the paws.

When temperatures cross 40 degrees, you can keep your dog cool by sponging them with a wet towel once a day. Make sure the dog is fully dry post bath or else it can develop skin allergies if the skin is left moist. It is advisable that the dog doesn’t enter an air-conditioned room immediately after sponging or till still damp. Keep your dog well hydrated in the summers. Lots of water and curd once a day is a must and keeps the stomach cool.

Important Note: If you follow these tips, you may need not go out to a professional groomer unless the matting is too much to be sorted at home, or if you wish to have a proper hair cut for your dog. Please do not attempt to trim your dog’s hair at home as it might hurt the dog. Please don’t use scissors or human trimmers as well! You can use the above tips for basic care, but things such as hair cutting, matters should be left for the experts.

Hello human beings,
Hope you all are good, and all your pets are wagging their tails with joy.
As an advocate fighting for the legal rights of animals, I come across many people having misconceptions and misled views about pet ownership legality and the legal rights of care givers of stray dogs. Today I’d like to share a legal opinion to shed some light on these topics and hopefully clear such misconceptions.

As the number of people keeping dogs as household companions is increasing and as animal lovers are increasingly showing compassion for street dogs by feeding them and providing veterinary and other support, conflicts may sometimes occur between the care givers of dogs and Resident Welfare Association.

Our country endorses the virtues of ahimsa and non-violence. These doctrines have always enabled people to peacefully co-exist with animals. Moreover, the duty to show compassion to all living creatures is a Fundamental Duty cast by Article 51A of the constitution upon all citizens of this country; and the law of land protects the rights of non-humans.

All points of view deserve consideration, and everybody is equal in the eyes of law. The solution therefore lies in recognizing that, and teaching differing points of view, and differing lifestyles with respect. The guidelines issued by Animal Welfare Board of India aims at achieving the same.

As per the guidelines, pet owners rightly consider their pets as family members. A pet is akin to a perennial toddler and therefore deserves the same attention throughout its life as that reserved for a human toddler during infancy. However, pet owners are advised to ensure that their pets are not a source of nuisance to others. In doing so, they may, however, distinguish between reasonable and unreasonable, lawful and unlawful claims as to their pets being a source of nuisance; and no amount of pressure should lead to abandonment of a pet animal. Doing so, is a violation of law. Imagine the plight of a pet who has always lived inside a house and was dependent on its owner for food and shelter. And now, roaming on busy roads, alone, and in fear of being bitten or mauled by other stray dogs.

In our society most of the people (non-dog lovers) consider barking as a nuisance. However, barking is a natural form of expression for a dog and must and has to be tolerated in a society. However, continuous barking can disturb neighbours. Hence, in the AWBI guidelines, pet owners are advised to make every effort to keep their dogs quiet, particularly during night hours. But that doesn’t mean neighbours can force or pressure dog owners in any way to abandon the pets.

As per the guidelines, pet owners are also advised to ensure that their pets are healthy, vaccinated, and clean. Adequate healthcare and regular vaccinations need to be ensured. Sterilization is advised as our country has excessive dog population.

Leashing of pets in public places is also advisable. Leashing of dogs assures passer-by that they are safe and makes them more comfortable when walking in the vicinity of an owner with his pet dog on a leash. Leashing also ensures the safety of the pet from being run over by vehicles on streets, or worse shall, being the cause of accidents. Nowadays, people get their dogs trained for walking on leash and the dogs do so on the streets, but other passer-by may not feel comfortable and don’t know about the fact that the dog is trained to do so. Hence, conflicts arise. Even the canines used and trained by police and bomb squad never walk unleashed. However, RWA and other associations cannot insist on the use of muzzle. Please do remember, the law already provides for penalties for negligent pet owners, which the aggrieved party can avail of.

I come across multiple complaints against RWAs or other associations that dogs and their owners get debarred from using elevators etc. whereas as per the guidelines you cannot be debarred by these associations from the use of lifts or elevators for your dogs, pet owners are also advised to use alternate lifts or elevators if there is more than one working lifts in a building. Please bear in mind that even by obtaining consensus, or even if most of the residences and occupiers want it, RWA and other association cannot legally introduce any sort of ban on the keeping of pet dogs. They cannot insist that small sized dogs are acceptable and large sized dogs are not. They cannot cite dog barking as a valid and compelling reason for any proposed ban or restriction.

Further, in the guidelines it is also advised that pet owners either clean up when the pet defecates in public premises or participate in other solution for maintaining cleanliness. Such civic sense is the need of the hour in our country, and it is also courtesy to other users of public spaces. Pet owners are also advised to take the initiative to discuss with their RWA’s ways and means to dispose of pet excreta. For example, pet corners can be designated, in which pets can be trained or encouraged to relieve themselves; and a corner of the complex/park can be designated as area where pet excreta can be collected and deposited and composted, using sawdust, etc. Such behaviour may generate positivity and greater acceptability of pet dogs and even street dogs. However, it is clarified that it is for each residential community and complex to decide which method works best for them, and solutions cannot be imposed on anybody. I get multiple cases in which RWA imposed fines on pet owners and care givers for pet defecation in public premises, I want to make it very clear that it is illegal. There should be co-operation between RWA and pet owners.

If the residence or occupiers that have pets are not violating any municipal or other laws, it is not permissible for RWA or other association to object to their having pets as companions. The general body cannot frame bye laws or amend them in a manner that is at variance with the laws of the country. Even by complete majority, a general majority cannot adopt an illegality.