Heartiest Congratulations!

Chong Mae Ryn has always been a high achiever! Her past academic excellence boast of straight As in PMR (7) and SPM (11)

Having attained high distinctions for all 4 subjects of the Monash University Foundation Year Examination last year, she is granted full sponsorship to pursue a Degree in Engineering at the National University of Australia!!

Daddy Chong Seen Yew's perseverance darting forth n back to procure the full scholarship of rm500,000 from JPA has paid off! One Great Papa He Is! ya?!!

Syabas to 1Malaysia!, my niece will be on her way to Australia on 07/02/10! and, for the first time, celebrating Chinese New Year away from home. Mummy Tuinny, please don't flood Malaysia with your TEARS!! Aha.....we do not wish for a wet new year. On a happier note, your daughter is on her journey to a greater height of SUCCESS!

Well, Rynee, here's wishing u the best of everything in life!

Love from Auntie Leena, Uncle Ng, Al-Wyn & Ca-Ryn!! .............muaks! muaks!

Where to potong ...oops! sorry, cut, I mean.....

My unforgettable experience was with a shih tzu, Bobo, which has since been adopted by my sis-in-law, Kim ..3 yrs?..4 yrs? ago! I remember vividly, it being the first dog I groomed for $$$$! Nails clipping on his earlier visits had always been such a commotion (he kicked, howled, bit), that his previous owner, Mdm Sin, decided to pop into his throat a sleeping pill before sending him to my shop!

With a "Please help me get the long (indeed very long, quick extended, too) nails cut at whatever cost!" and a "No one can ever get to do it!", she left. My brother, Seng, happened to be around. Bobo looked at us, ready to launch an attack, groggy (effects of the pill) though it may be!

No way this fella gonna sleep... get me the clipper... hold him tight lest I'll be bitten!" said Seng. What he did next was terrifying ..... snip! snip! snip! amidst Bobo's shrilly cries and ferocious protest and oblivious of my cries too, for him to halt!! Within seconds (though it seemed a lifetime), he had all the nails cut closed to the pads!!... and timely too.... I was losing my grasp on Bobo ... he was far too strong for me! Blood oozed with each cut staining the floor and my brand new tee-shirt (which cost more than what I charged Mdm Sin)! My hands were coloured by the potassium permanganate administered to stop the profuse bleeding!

"Traumatic for the dog? Well, he acted traumatised anyway.. thus it makes no difference! Sometimes, you need to be cruel to be kind. He will be exposed to more injury with nails as long as they were!" explained my brother.

To Mdm Sin, I related the whole scenario and was apologetic. However, her never ending "thank you" made me wonder if I should agree with my brother's drastic action..... What say you?

Incidentally, since I am on this topic, let me share my personal nail experience .....

It was my day off on a Monday. I checked into this newly opened salon operated by my customer for a pedicure. Honestly, I have past the age of vanity but was there for moral support. I've always envied people with long nails because I've never had long nails all my life. My weak nails (when wet, can even be bent backwards!) chipped off easily, so when the manicurist suggested the gel extensions, I fell for it!

Throughout the session, I was attended to by 4 manicurists. My initial allocation of 2 hrs for a pedicure, dragged to 7 hrs in all, and was slapped with ..phew...a whopping bill!

The following day, at my pet shop, I kept flaunting my nails and demonstrating the colour changing from peach (body temperature) to pink (wet my hand, place it before the air-conditioner to cool it) ! Two days later, a nail extension came off and another and another .........! Could it have been due to rough handling with dogs, ...drumming the table with the finger nails ....? What about the toe nails coming off as well? I don't groom with my feet?! Anyway, to make up, the proprietor suggested another session .....

Ignoring all advices, I clipped off the nails till the raw nail beds surfaced! I flinched each time I slipped my hands into my jean's pockets, reaching for one thing or another ....or rummaging through my handbag .....

Tokens of Appreciation!

Well, I am so glad to see the delighted faces of owners when presented the mugs with faces of their MUTTS (ha..ha,merely jesting) looking... smiling...staring back at them! Oh!...squealed some of them...."When was this shot taken! How cute..bla..bla...?" Gosh! need I say further? Of course, the time when they sent their dogs in for grooming, dude!! Will probably post more mugs of those taken of owners n pets together... with owners consent!

Some even requested for more!...but of course, the extras ..... on their bill!

By the way, if you are someone who happen to know my daughter, please don't tell her that I have conveniently posted her up there .....ssh....ssh... t.. h..anks!

Welcome To Poochville!

Spare the cane & spoil the DOG?

This morning's talk show on air brought back memories of my childhood and that of my children's.

While chatting over the phone with Al-Wyn, my son, I casually mentioned that I may be touching on this topic. He was quick to respond with "Hey, mom! Save us (speaking on behalf of his sis, Ca-Ryn, as well) the embarrassment!" From this, it is obvious my children were not spared the ......."belt"!

My 4 siblings and I were never spared, not only the cane, but broomstick, hose, belt and whatever mum could lay hands on, in anger!! I resented those beatings and thought mum was abusive! I realised now bringing up 5 children with an age difference of a year or 2 from one another can be hellish! The only way to break fights....."STOP IT!" followed by raining whack...whack...whack!!

"Mummy..Mummy...ko ko do me...." wailed then 5 year old, Ca-ryn. To 10 year old Al-Wyn, I bellowed! " How many times have I warned you not to tease your sis, huh?" Hence, with my children, very well ....ahem... disciplined though they may be, the occasional "Turn Your Back" and whacks on the bottom were unavoidable!!

My canine children receive no different treatment. When positive approaches fail, pain (the last resort) is inflicted! I always believe that action speaks louder than words! One whip saves all the shouting of QUIET! QUIET!.....!! I hardly cane my pooches but when I do, with one whip, I make sure they won't ever ask for it! My "QUIET!" never fails to send silence across the room as far as my 2 legged and 4 legged children are concerned!

PLEASE..... Free ur pooch from MATS!

"I don't want her bald...not with Chinese New Year around the corner!" so said the owner.

Well, I told her she's fortunate it's a schnauzer she owns, as, for pet grooming, almost the entire top part of the body is clean shaved, so there won't be much left to be de-matted!! "What?! Clean shaved?! No..no..no.. When my friend (who has left the country) passed her to me,the coat was this long and I like it that way!. I tried with all stuff recommended by pet shops to no avail... the knots got worse by the day.....I merely want the coat de-matted!"

I almost retorted....YOU KIDDING? I'll be able to work wonders given a MAGIC WAND!!! Man, pet shop operators would be laughing all the way to the bank if they chanced upon any product that can de-mat densely knotted balls of hair just by APPLYING!!!

Imagine having adopted this poor thing for 2 years and never had it properly GROOMED! How can anyone in the right frame of mind allow their dogs to be covered up with mats? Can first time owners be excused for subjecting their pets to such abuse...mistreat...? I chose not to use the word neglect as it seems too mild a term!

I hate the innocent expression they wear while questioning if what lies before their very eyes are matted fur?! Even if they can't see, surely feeling, touching, tells it all!!..... I'm even more annoyed when they claim ignorance of pet-care simultaneously blaming their maids (supposedly smarter?) for not caring for their OWN pets!!

Told the owner it's IMPOSSIBLE to have her dog de-matted as it will be in agony when we pull and tug her coat!! (As if the owner has never experienced wincing as she comb her own matted hair!)

Showed her, pictures of pet-groomed schnauzers (since she claimed not to have seen any...would u believe?). "U sure that's how they're suppose to look like? Hm..hm.. "
Thought the owners would be impressed with the result......"Y botak ?" exclaimed the hubby. "Rather cute but......." said his wife. It was only then that I realised their genuine ignorance of pet clips, grooming...

Apparently, they were saddled with this pooch, so I offered to put it up for adoption or better still secure a buyer for them. The hubby hesitated..... "no-la...... my friend......"

Well, doggy (name with-held), pray hard that mom and dad ACCEPT "d new look" otherwise you'll be back to the UNKEMPT state and will have to endure all the pulling of tangled hair.....

As for the couple (learned people, they are) , I wonder how long they'll hold on to the poor thing out of "obligation"..... it may be for a decade!!... ARE THEY AWARE OF IT????I believe their friend would rather his dog be adopted by someone else who can shower her with love and attention! Whereas in this case, they probably only ensure their maid see to the needs of water and food of the poor thing!!

As they walked out of the shop, with doggy trotting along, led by the maid,....I bet , then will be the last I see of their backs!!!!

Crusty (dob:17/03/06)....destined to be Mine!!

I thought my kennel was puppy safe when I allowed Crusty, then, about 4 months old to roam freely within the area. My thunderous reprimand of NO never fails to halt his action of toying and chewing latches of cages lined along the wall.

One Sunday,when I was most busy with heavy bookings of grooming, Crusty howled in pain, triggering deafening barking by all the other dogs! Crusty's mouth was stuck to the latch of a cage! My helper's thoughtless immediate reaction of pulling Crusty, aggravated his PAIN!!

By the time I dashed from the grooming room, he was already in a pool of blood and defecation!! I couldn't see how the latch was stuck and how Crusty could be freed... I cried and attempted to remove the screws of the panel of the cage but couldn't as the rusted screws wouldn't budge. With Crusty still in excruciating pain, I left him for the office to summon help by phoning a friend to saw off the cage!!

It was chaotic. Dogs waiting to be groomed.. customers turning up to collect their dogs... customers waiting for advice of intended purchases....

It was heart-wrenching watching Crusty's eyes pleading for help. "He bites!!" shouted my helper and moved away from him! So what?...Someone will have to act...and who else, but Me!

I pressed my face against his to stop him from struggling to break free. I coaxed him amidst the deafening barks (animal instinct told him he was in good hands... he relaxed with blood still oozing) and gently prised open his mouth, while Ah Boy, a customer who by then joined in the commotion, looked into his mouth. The L-shaped latch hooked through Crusty's lower jaw!! "Leena,thrust his mouth to the right!" and in an instant HE WAS FREED!!!!

I hugged him and cried! So relief, I was!!!

I took him home that night and arranged for Dr Yeoh to make a house call. His jaw was so swollen! Crusty was given a jab and a course of antibiotics! He had a jaw, that of a horn bill, lopsided though!!

I couldn't sell him because of his disfigured jaw so I started training him. Then, came a couple who wanted a trained dog for their family. By then, Crusty was already 15 months old(June 07). I demonstrated the come, down, sit, stay commands to perfection. So impressed, they were, that they paid for him right-away! I watched him left with a heavy heart. I consoled myself .... I have too many other dogs fighting for my attention... Crusty will be better off with the sole love of his new owners!

Months later, on the eve of Chinese New Year, his owner called up. "Leena, would you want Johnny (given a new name) back? Since I'm pregnant now, Johnny is cared for by my father-in-law. My father-in-law has just been admitted into the hospital for ?? stitches for bites launched by Johnny! My husband wants him sent to the SPCA!"

Golden retriever?..attacks??? Crusty has a habit of mouth-grasping arms ... I guess an act initiated by slaps from my maid for being too playful?? But, to really sink his teeth into the flesh?? I wouldn't believe it!

I sent him to my sis in KL. Her family adored him, yet a little wee bit fearful in case he bites!!

Nov 08, Crusty was sent back to me!! He had raped my sis's German shepherd and had a litter of 5 cross-bred pups!! My sis was infuriated!

My rotty succumbed to mammary tumor on 01/10/08, so welcoming Crusty home was timely.

April 09, started training him to beg (ask nicely) for food, play dead...

It's the "TREATS" that does the "TRICKS"!!!

My children kept pestering me to blog.....to share my views and experiences on the upbringing of my four legged kids!! There's just too much to talk about that I don't know where to start! Whatever I'm writing is not intended to be offensive, so if you should take it personally then too bad, this blog is not for YOU....SORRY!

Incidentally, I'm running Poochville Pet Centre in Lebuhraya Peel, Penang. Time and again, I have customers telling me their dogs are stupid....do not respond to even the simplest command, bla bla bla. I'm always quick to remind them that there are no stupid dogs .... only (excuse me) STUPID OWNERS!... owners who do not really bother to spend time educating their pooches yet complaining about them. Yelling SIT SIT SIT SIT to a pup or dog which has not been taught is not going to make them sit....so this is where the treats work miraculously...

YOYO, photo by courtesy of Yen

"Your dog performs when given treats only one...." WOULD ANYONE WORK FOR FREE ... WITHOUT A SALARY??? We expect rewards (pay) for effort we put in ... the doggies' rewards for its performance??..TREATS!! LUCKY is the owner who has dogs performing only for her affectionate hugs and kisses like the social workers working FREE for the charitable bodies!

Healthy puppies craved for simply anything edible, so I suggest using their staple food which normally would be kibbles as treats. Use alternative treats only when their attention wane.

Watch my shih tzu CRUNCHY sneezing, counting etc, american cocker spaniel CUDDLES nodding its head when asked if she wants food and golden retriever CRUSTY playing dead etc when I post them on the YouTube.

I'll start off with Crusty.