PERROBOX Goodies!

The Furry Tales dogs are so fortunate and loved. Olive and Lucy had the privilege of reviewing their PERROBOX surprises recently.

Olive and Lucy waiting for permission to get at ’em!

PERROBOX handpicks toys, healthy and wholesome treats and other goodies, and delivers a personalized subscription box to your pooch at a small fee. Who doesn’t love getting surprises in the mail right??

Lucy got a PERROBOX for small dogs and Olive got a large dog one. We love the simple and natural packaging!

Olive went straight for the beef rib stick amongst all the other yummy treats she was given (Oven-Baked Dental Care Treats, Zeal Free Range Naturals Venison Shanks) and even ignored her Petstages stuffing-free lion!

I smell a beef rib stick somewhere in here!

Found it!!

Lucy on the other hand ignored most of the treats (Merrick Powerbites, Bark-Kwa and beef rib) and dug out the Kong squeaky ball. Lucy loves toys and couldn’t wait to play with it.

I spot a toy in here!!

Okay, she couldn’t resist The Barkery’s Bark-Kwa either! Mama can I have this?

Overall, we find PERROBOX good value for money (40-50% off individual retail prices). The boxes had at least three treats, a chew stick and a toy each (and Lucy’s box also had a cute doggy bowl), and it will save us from having to run to a pet store to stock up on them for at least a few weeks. The treats were healthy and showed the use-by and expiry dates. We were also pleased to learn that 10% of PERROBOX subscription procceeds every month go directly to an animal shelter. By subscribing to their newsletter, you will be able to find out which charities benefit from your purchases.

I’m not sharing these with any of the other dogs. Mine. All mine.

Happy doggies.

If you would like to order your own subscription box filled with at least 4-6 healthy treats and toys, PERROBOX is having an AWESOME deal on Groupon at the moment (til 14 June) – 50% off their regular subscription prices!!

The deal:
Subscription for small dog for $14.90 instead of $29.90
Subscription for medium dog for $17.40 instead of $34.90
Subscription for large dog for $18.40 instead of $36.90

Go get a PERROBOX now, seriously, at those prices it’s a no-brainer.

If you prefer normal pricing, head to www.perrobox.com and decide if you would like a monthly, bi-monthly or yearly subscription and choose your box based on your pooch’s size. If your dog has diet restrictions or any allergies, PERROBOXtakes note of it in your subscriptions so that is one worry that can be ticked off the list. Your first box is delivered within three days of your order and subsequently delivered on the first week of every month with no delivery fee! (In Singapore only.)

PS. Lucy loves her ball so much that she slept with it in her mouth, and also kept it very close to her nose so nobody would be able to take it away from her.

Mommy, I’m tired from playing. Zzz…

 

 

Picnic-ing with Hot Dogs!

The Furry Tales visited a very scenic spot in Bukit Batok for a picnic, otherwise known as Singapore’s Little Guilin. It was a perfect day – slightly overcast weather, yummy food, beautiful view and our (hot) dogs ran their hearts out!

A beautiful day for a picnic!

Cooling off in the water after playing hard!

Our dogs also got to test out some really cool stuff from Tiny Krew, a retailer and distributor of premium pet products. For one, they got their own hand-crafted tipi tent (which they had to share). Besides outdoor fun, the tipi can be used as a cozy den area for indoor sleeping (and we could also see it being used as a play area for children and other small animals!).

Sharing is caring. We all like to cozy up. (Growler Goods tipi from Tiny Krew)

Before getting wild and dirty, the dogs modeled their new collars, leashes and poo bags! They loved showing off their fashionable and chi-chi side almost as much as the humans enjoyed shopping for them.

Snazzy collars, matching leashes and stylish poop bag holders!

What we like about the Waggo collars and leashes is the fact that they are made from recycled plastic bottles! That’s pretty cool, right? And their fun prints really make our dogs look good. The stylish eco-friendly Business Buddy (haha) poop bag holders also come in many prints, which made choosing one for each dog a challenge – we want them all!

Doesn’t Muddy look dapper in polka dots?

Little Guilin is a great place for us to bring our dogs because there is plenty of space for them to run around in, and we humans had shady trees to relax under. Some water-loving dogs (ahemmm Kafka and Lucy…) jumped into the brown water to swim, without permission, we might add!

Lucy is ready to take herself for a walk, complete with her Business Buddy poop bag holder!

While the rest of our dogs had a little dip of their paws in the pond, Kafka and Lucy went for a real swim!

We all had an amazing time, we will be back for sure! (Parking is easy at the HDB flats along Bukit Batok St 52.) The dogs were conked out for the rest of the day after their showers, along with the humans.

Oh, and we teamed up with Tiny Krew to bring you an attractive 25% discount off all their Jax & Bones, Waggo and Growler Goods products for the month of July (quote “TFT25” at checkout). We think Tiny Krew’s toys and accessories make great presents for fellow dog-owners or as a special treat for our own pooches, so get shopping! (See further terms and conditions below.)

Here are some more pictures of our outing.

Muddy got muddy by rolling in the wet grass!

Kafka and Lulu chilling under a tree.

Having the time of their lives! Ah, young love…

It was peaceful once the dogs got tired.

And a video to sum up the dogs’ cool runnnings!

Terms and Conditions of “TFT25” code:
1. No minimum purchase required.
2. Discount will be applied at checkout.
3. Not valid with other promotions and sale items.
4. Valid storewide except the following brands: ohpopdog, AGnix, Smart Pet Care.
5. Not valid on the following bundles: Starter Kits, Adopted Charity Packs.
6. Valid until 31 July 2015.

Princess Lucy’s Fan Pack by Rao Canine

Rao Canine online store has another great offer for you this week. They’ve put together a pink package for Princess Lucy’s fans.

A true princess.

Lucy’s favourite colour is pink black and white, but Lucy’s mama loves pink so Rao Canine put together a basket of pink treats and toys for her.

I be blend right in with my pink ears!

Save $9.30 when you buy this Pretty in Pink bundle! What’s in the bundle:

• Wellness Petite Treats Chicken, Cherries & Spearmint, $7.90

These bite-sized soft treats are the perfect size for use as training rewards. Although it is meant for small dogs, it’s also great for big dogs because they are able to quickly eat it during training. It comes in 4 tasty flavours and even the humans want to eat it. The soft treats can be broken into half if you are worried about giving your little one too many.

• Real Meat All Natural Venison Jerky Treats, $9.50

Real Meat All Natural Jerky Treats are made from 95% meat. Sourced from the finest free range grass fed meats with no added hormones or antibiotics, Real Meat is a healthy choice for your dog.

• Cloudstar Buddy Biscuits Soft & Chewy Sweet Potato, $15.50

For dogs that love to eat their veggies, Cloudstar has a soft & chewy sweet potato treat. We love soft treats because they don’t crumble as much and they can be broken into smaller pieces.

• KONG ZoomGroom, $13.00

ZoomGroom is a fantastic brush that can be use for daily grooming or while shampooing your doggie. To be honest, the dogs don’t care about the hair that it picks up like a magnet. All they are in for is the therapeutic massage the rubber bristles give them when you brush them.

• Safemade: SafeChew Gimme Octopus, $12.50

Safemade toys is a great way to keep your dogs entertained. You can stuff treats in it and let your puppy chew it or toss it like a ball. It is also oven and freezer safe which means you can bake the snacks right in the toy. You can also fill it with fruit and yoghurt to make a cool snack on a hot day.

• Petz Route Strawberry toy with rattle, $6.00

Lucy’s absolute favourite is the pink strawberry. Throughout the photo taking, her mouth kept creeping nearer the strawberry and sometimes nibbled on it like a baby’s pacifier. Instead of a squeaker, this toy comes with a rattle.

• KONG Dodo, $19.90

The KONG Dodo is there because Lucy loves stuffed toys and it is so darned cute.

The total value of this bundle is $84.30 but for a limited time, you can get it at only $75.00 (savings of $9.30)! This offer is valid till the end of July!

Lucy a.k.a. Toy Monster enjoys 10% off ShopYbf

Contributed by Sisi Soh
Lucy is a toy monster. She has a big box full of toys and still, I can’t crinkle a packet of anything or bring home a plastic bag without her thinking it’s a new toy for her. If I bring her along with me when I tutor preschoolers at their homes, I have to get the children to hide their stuffed animals because Lucy goes right for them. Every night, Lucy sits by my bed or the sofa and waits for me to ask what she wants. Once I do, she rushes out to her toy box and picks out something to bring to me to play with her.

Mama? Play? NOW?

Lucky for her, Christmas came really early this year! She received a parcel in the mail and in it were some really cool surprises from ShopYbf. She received the cutest doggy iPad  (iPaw), a rockstar guitar and a cute polka dot fishbone. We also got a tin of Sunday Pets Free Ranger Happy Lamb dog food and a yummy BURP chew stick. Thank you so much! The house was filled with the “wonderful” sounds of squeaking all day long that day.

She loved all of them but the iPaw was the biggest hit. She hasn’t seen much of her friends this week so she was busy face-timing them. We also enjoyed working side by side on the couch together. Her on her iPaw and me on my iPad.

Lucy replying to her 1079 emails!

ShopYbf (which stands for “Your Best Friend”) is a Singapore-based online store, selling good quality and affordable merchandize not just for our pets, but for us owners as well. We love their customizable tote bags which we can’t wait to receive.

Just for our TFT readers, ShopYbf is giving a cool 10% off their products up til 31 July 2015. So go to www.shopybf.com and quote “TFT10” to enjoy it. Do note that the discount code won’t be applicable to food/treats or promotional items on the store.

Mine, all mine!

Muddy’s Diet: Holistic Select Grain Free Dog Food! ($10 coupon inside)

Contributed by Tanya Rongkavilit
Muddy has gone through two massive 11.8kg bags of Holistic Select GRAIN FREE Adult & Puppy Health Salmon and Anchovy & Sardine Meal Recipe (kibble). I’ll first go through the quantitative aspects this food then Muddy will give his qualitative review later on.

Holistic Select believes that total body health begins with the digestive health. Their pet recipes contain a Unique Digestive Health Support System (digestive enzymes and digestive botanicals as well as pre- and probiotics), in addition to vegetables, fruits, proteins, whole grains and omega fatty acids. The main ingredients include: salmon, anchovy & sardine meal, potatoes, peas, dried ground potatoes, canola oil, menhaden fish meal, tomato pomace, flaxseed, pea fibre and pumpkin.

Salmon is the main protein source, which is supported by anchovy and sardine meal. This kibble recipe uses potatoes and peas (instead of grain filler) and canola oil provides omega 3 fatty acids (instead of  animal fat).  It has been scientifically proven that this balance of fish and potato is ideal for treating dogs with sensitive stomachs. (Source: Best Puppy Food Brands)

Muddy with his favorite kibble

We have seen two major improvements in Muddy after switching to Holistic Select Grain Free. Firstly, he has always had a sensitive stomach. The slightest change in diet or even just one wrong treat could trigger a massive diarrhea session. On average, Muddy gets diarrhea about once a month and we’ve always had to be on alert when it came to what he ate and what other people gave him. Surprisingly, since he started on Holistic Select Grain Free, we have not had a single diarrhea incident. His stool is now always solid and dark in color.

My old food used to make me poop too much!

The other noticeable improvement is his eagerness to eat his kibble. Muddy is a picky dog when it comes to kibble. We always had to mix it with either cooked food or canned food. But with Holistic Select Grain Free, he eats them as is and really enjoys it. That gives us such comfort!

We have also seen other good things that have come out from switching to this kibble. His skin and fur is really healthy now and Muddy has been receiving compliments all over town. It’s shiny, soft and silky.

My fur is so shiny I can be in a hair commercial!

He also used to fart like an old man and now it has stopped completely (sorry to embarrass you, Muddy, but it’s useful information)! Another observation is how he doesn’t stink even after two weeks of not showering! Not that I usually wait that long in between baths, but sometimes I do forget because I decide to shower him according to how he smells.

The only thing to keep an eye on is that we think Muddy has gained a bit of weight – perhaps because it’s grain free and his body is able to absorb more of the nutrients present. We are still adjusting the amount to find the perfect balance. But all in all we are super duper happy with Holistic Select Grain Free and won’t be changing anytime soon!

It spells Muddy right? Cos its for me?

I’ll just eat the M for Muddy

You can order Holistic Select GRAIN FREE Adult & Puppy Health Salmon and Anchovy & Sardine Meal Recipe from Rao Canine. From now till End of June, get $10 off each large bag of Holistic Select Dog Food  and $5 off each small bag of Holistic Select Dog Food ordered from Rao Canine. Use coupon code muddy10 for large bags and muddy5 for small bags.

Truly Pawsitive Boarding!

Contributed by Sisi Soh
Last month, I was away in Japan for over two weeks and got Alan from Pawsitive Mind to look after Lucy. Alan specializes in home boarding (boarding at the dog’s own home) because he believes they cope and do better when they are in a familiar environment. Lucy and I both suffer from separation anxiety. She had run away from my friend’s house once while I was away and I was petrified she’d do it again. So I was pleased about leaving her in the comfort of home. Alan also had his two border collies with him so Lucy had lots of canine companions to play with as well.

Lucy chilling with Alan’s two dogs, Hyper and Junior

Most of my previous trips were spent checking my phone for updates, or talking to her picture (hey, I know you do it too, stop judging!). Alan was so efficient in his Lucy updates that I hardly worried about her. He sent me videos and photos of her almost every day and it looked like she was having a good time. I had also left him strict instructions on her million and one allergies, and to shower her with extra TLC. Lucy got lots of cuddles and love when I was away.

My happy girl being carried by Alan.

Lucy also has skin problems that require daily care and Alan went the extra mile by sending me pictures and videos of her having medication applied, and updated me frequently on the condition of her skin.

Mama, you should go away more often!

The best part about Lucy boarding with Alan was the “boot camp” she got as a result. Positive dog trainer Alan was familiar with Lucy’s behavioral problems (barking at the door and growling at over-excited dogs) and he worked with her extensively on these issues while I was away. When I got back, he told me how to continue with the training. It’s still a work in progress but it was good to see the improvements she made. Lucy usually growls a little bit during the initial greeting with her friends because she doesn’t like it when dogs get excited, but Alan worked with her on this, so when I took Lucy to meet the TFT crew after I returned, I was surprised to hear no growls at all! Awesome work!

With Alan, I also didn’t worry about Lucy getting lax in her manners. Usually, when it’s just me that leaves the country and she is left behind with my boyfriend, I come home to a naughty Lucy that has forgotten her rules and boundaries, such as not rushing out the door, waiting for he food and walks calmly, etc. Alan is strict with his own dogs about these basic rules so I knew Lucy would be in excellent hands.

Only seated and calm dogs get to have their leashes put on to go for a walk.

Calmest dog gets fed first.

Pawsitive Minds is also good about returning your home to you in the same condition as you left it. The house was vacuumed and mopped and sheets and towels were laundered.

I highly recommend Alan from Pawsitive if you’re ever away and in need of boarding for your pooch. It is the first time I have traveled with such peace of mind since having Lucy.

If you make your booking with Alan by end of September 2015 and quote “TheFurryTales”, you enjoy 10% off boarding and dog walking services! You won’t regret it!

Alan mobile: 94897602
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pawsitivemindsg
Email: pawsitivemind@gmail.com

Give the Dog a Bowl!

Contributed by Sisi Soh
Do you have a long-eared dog? If you do, you’ll know what a pain it is to have their ears get into their water bowls and drip water everywhere.

Are you also tired of your dog looking like this every meal time?

I don’t know whether to be happy or sad that it’s dinner time, mama.

I am! Lucy is raw fed so I have to be extra particular about hygiene and cleanliness. So when she eats, she has to wear this furry headband to keep her ears away from her face. She hates it and so do I. It also makes me feel bad asking people to feed her when I am away because of this extra step of having to put it on and clean her face after.

Petiscount came to our rescue and gave us a bowl meant for long-eared dogs. It is 19 x 12cm and can hold about 500ml of water. It is ferplast, non toxic, hygienically safe and environmentally friendly. It is also anti-slip and super easy to wash.

Lucy and her new bowl

The first time Lucy ate from it, I was so happy. Her ears went plop over each side of the bowl, not touching the food at all. Thank you, Petiscount! =)

Lucy’s ears don’t touch the inside of the bowl.

No mess!

If you would like to order a bowl too, head to Petiscount’s Facebook page or e-mail them your order at petiscount@gmail.com

They are also on carousel@petiscount. Stay tuned for their upcoming website.

Their usual price is S$7.90 but if you quote “TFT”, you can get it for $6.90. Only for the month of April. I’m not sure about Lucy, but I definitely love it!

Training with Para4Pets Collar & Leash and KONG Toys

Contributed by Vivien Chin
For this post, we have a sweet deal for you. Para4Pets is offering our readers 25% off all purchases, from now till the end of April! Quote “The Furry Tales” when you make your purchase with Para4Pets by Edna and to apply the discount.

Last weekend, The Furry Tales were at the Pet Expo. We had a great time meeting old friends and making new ones. Kafka entered the Obedience Trial at the Intermediate level. Unfortunately, he did not do so well. He seemed to be under the weather and got rather distracted in the ring. He was looking for Lucy his girlfriend. Dum dum dum…. we have to have that “talk” soon. We didn’t do as well as we’d hoped, but at least he looked good! Thank you Para4Pets by Edna for the beautiful collar and leash so that he can look handsome! And thank you to KONG Singapore for his training toys so that he can be happy!

Kafka looking dapper in his Para4Pets collar and leash.

Are you ready? Forward…

Taking the first step forward!

Kafka doing heelwork.

Kafka following closely.

I be the tallest boy in class! Kafka in the sit-stay exercise.

Behind the scenes practice: gimme the ball!

Para4Pets makes bespoke paracord collars and leashes for your furry ones. Kafka had a set sponsored by Para4Pets. The leash was thin and light which is great for training. When you are in the Novice and higher classes, your dog is to heel off the lead. Having a light leash makes the transition from heeling with leash to heeling without leash easier. A thin lead is hard on your hands if you have to bring a 43kg dog around on his regular walks. I suggest ordering a thicker one for that purpose. It’s not advisable to let your dog drag a leash with a loop handle. Serious injury can occur if its leg gets caught in the loop while it’s running. You may order one without a loop handle if you would like to let your dog drag his leash around during training.

For a limited time, Para4Pets is offering our readers 25% off all purchases! It’s a great bargain! Make your order now!

Para4Pets leash. Looks good on Kafka!

Apart from the collar and leash, we were fortunate to also have our toys sponsored. Toys are a great way to reward your dog for good work done. Some dogs love to chase, and fetch and tug. Kafka’s favourite toy is a ball with a rope attached to it. Amongst his toys, he has a KONG Funster ball in X-Small size. He likes a ball that is not too big and fits nicely in his mouth. The X-Small KONG Funsters ball is 2.5″ while the small size is 4″. Four inches is a little too big for training. You want something that can be easy grasped in one hand.

KONG Funsters Ball.

Kong Tugger Knot

Kafka focusing on the “shoulder”.

Watch my “shoulder”.

One way to teach focused heeling in an obedience routine is to place a toy at your “shoulder”, (a nicer term for armpit). This teaches them to look up and not downward.

Wait for it…. wait for it…

The KONG Funster Ball is not just an ordinary ball. It is a fabric ball with a rope attached to it. The rope is rather important. It allows you to throw the ball farther, manipulate the ball, tug at the ball and turn it into a game of tug. Balls without ropes have the potential to get lodge in the dog’s throat. With the rope, you are able to, god forbid, pull the ball out when it gets stuck in your dog’s mouth. This happens, especially, with large, high-drive, dogs and tennis balls. You don’t have to worry so much if the ball is large and your dog is the sort who doesn’t have a sense of urgency.

Enjoying his reward after some work.

Kafka and his KONG Funsters Ball.

Other than a ball, Kafka loves his tug toys. The KONG Tugger Knot is soft yet tough enough even for a German Shepherd. It is made of knotted rope covered by a plush toy exterior. It comes in small, medium and large sizes. The medium sized KONG Frog Tugger Knot was just right for Kafka. It’s big enough for him to clamp his deadly fangs down on and small enough for his mama to manipulate. Large sized Tugger Knots are great just for fun but the smaller sizes are better for training.

Kafka tugging on his KONG Tugger Knots.

NOM NOM NOM!

After placing the toy at your “shoulder”, you can start moving it away so that your dog does not depend too much on the toy for its focal point. I held the toy in my right hand and whenever he looked up to my “shoulder” aka armpit, I rewarded him with the KONG Tugger Knot. In the photo below, I was petting Kafka’s chin with my left hand because he looked so cute.

Kafka must still look up even when the toy is in my other hand.

You have to be fit to keep up with a German Shepherd. I was tired out just playing tug with him.

Kafka the land shark!

Kafka giving me a workout.

In the obedience trials, your hand should not be disturbing the dog. Conventionally, your hand is placed at your side or on the left side of your tummy. The toy was in my right hand, sometimes by my side and sometimes behind me. Kafka still had too look up or at my left hand.

 

The last exercise of the training sessions are the sit-stays and down-stays. That’s best taught when your dog is not bursting with excitement. They need self-control and patience during those exercises.

Lucy tries her hand (or mouth) at training Kafka too. She’s doing quite well, I must admit.

Kaffy, heel!

I be walking my dog.

Check out our future post for an upcoming deal for KONG toys!

A big thank you to our fantastic sponsors:

Para4Pets by Edna for the beautiful collar and leash,

KONG Singapore for the fun toys, and

Omgoing for the super comfy and awesome yoga tights.

What a Furrific Party!

A few weeks ago, one of The Furry Tales’ best pals, Lady-Mae, got spooked by fireworks at Sentosa and broke free from her collar (and gave her mama a fractured rib in her panic). She was missing for four long days. We almost thought we’d lost her for good. Thankfully, she was found, and in one piece!

To celebrate her reunion with her friends, we threw a party! (Hey, any excuse for one, right?)

Steamboat for the humans.

Our guest of honor, Lady-Mae, with her mama, Charissa.

Hats – check! Pupcakes – check!

Online doggie treats store, FURRIFIC, generously sponsored eight porkie cakes for our party!

Almost looks too good to give to the dogs.

The porkie cakes smelled so delicious (and looked really yummy even for the huamans), the dogs could barely contain themselves while we snapped photos. Who could blame them when we found out what was in them – fresh minced pork, potato, carrot, french beans, rosemary, goji berry, parmesan cheese and parsley! Sounds better than our own steamboat food for humans.

If you smile, you get some yummy pupcakes!

Our dogs LOVE the pupcakes! We tried to get them to eat daintily so there would be no mess, but it must have been too tasty because all of them gobbled them up in one to two bites. Even fussy eaters wolfed it down. For the entire evening thereafter, they took turns hanging around the balcony, sniffing the table and floor, hoping for any remnant crumbs. Guess we’ll just have to find another reason to throw a party again soon!

Please mama, now?

Leto couldn’t wait. She snatched the whole cupcake from her mama.

Gone in two seconds.

Lulu with her mama, Vivien.

Olive waits for her mama to say “okay!”

Junior and Hyper share a porkie cake

Thank you, Furrific, for feeding our dogs with your awesome porkie cakes! We’ll be sure to get cakes from you the next time we throw a TFT & friends party.

*If you would like to make any orders with them, visit http://www.furrific-sg.com/ and type in “TFT5” in their coupon box for a 5% discount off any item!

Special thanks also to Barkery and the many aunties and uncles at the Bukit Merah/Tiong Bahru markets who were so glad to hear about Lady-Mae’s return that they gave Charissa some treats and provided vegetables for our steamboat! Unexpected generosity really makes the heart sing.

Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun. (L-R: Olive, Junior, Leto, Hyper, Lulu, Lucy and the guest of honor (who should have been in the middle), LADY-MAE.)