Cat Training Tip #1 : Positive Reinforcement (A.K.A. FOOD)

Okay, so we all know a cat is nothing like a dog (besides the fact that the both of them are four-legged and furry), but did you know that it's also possible to train your cat? Yes, Yes, you can finally get Shadow to stop making the kitchen counter his hang-out spot.

Cats are not like dogs. They don't have this need to please their owners. So, you'll have to adjust your methods a bit for training your feline buddy. Cats need a lot of positive reinforcement, so yelling at them and spraying them with water all the time will not solve your problems. In fact, the yelling and water may actually encourage them to disobey you even more. So how in the world are you going to get your cat to stop jumping onto the counter or hopping up for a nap next to your very expensive glass ornaments? Easy...with food.


Yes! Ladies and Gentlemen, food is the answer to allll your problems. Okay, maybe not so. But rewarding your cat when he/she does something right as opposed to scolding your cat when he/she does something wrong can actually correct his/her behavior much faster.

So next time your cat hops onto the counter, don't yell or spray him/her. Get Shadow to hop off the counter, and the moment his feet lands onto the ground, reward him/her with a treat and ear-rubs.



Another way to discourage problems with your four-legged acrobat is to simply remove some things from the cat's reach. Blocking off tempting things and installing cabinet child-safe locks are probably the easiest things to do. Shadow won't be fishing in your secret snack cupboard or batting at your glass birds from Venice if he can't reach them. In fact, after a while or so, your cat will just loose interest in these places and you can probably get rid of all the blockades and locks.

Until next time, happy training~

Midweek Crossbreed: Meet the Designer Dog

Last week, we found out what a mixed-bred dog is and why it could be a better choice than a purebred dog.

Not mentioned in the previous post, however, is some of the downsides of getting a mixed-bred dog.While they are not big problems, you should always know what you are getting yourself into when you buy a dog.

One of the downsides of a mixed-bred dog is that you have no idea which parent it will take after. While mixed-breeds come a wider variety of colors, patterns, and sizes, predicting them can be quite hard. For example, a Poodle mix Great Dane really has a 50/50% chance of getting looks and temperament from either parent. A puppy that was supposed to grow to only 45 pounds may exceed 95 pounds! And suddenly, the non-shedding coat you hoped for starts to leave hairs everywhere!

Also, mixed-breed dogs are not allowed to compete in most conformation shows. Conformation results are based on comparing your dog to the breed standards. Because mixed-bred dogs vary so much from dog to dog, results are not always accurate. There are a few mixed-bred Conformation competitions, but none that are professional.

So. What's a person supposed to do? You want a dog, not really a purebred, but you want to know what you're getting. Well, have I got an answer for you!

And the name is the Designer Dog! What's a Designer Dog? Well, it's definitely not a poodle carrying a Fendi bag! 


Designer Dogs are just mixed-breed dogs in reality, the only difference is that they were carefully planned. Breeders take two breeds with traits that they like and crossbreed them, in hopes of the puppies getting the same traits. It takes many, many generations until each and every puppy has the traits they want, but there you go! A Designer Dog!

The Pros of a Designer Dog are like those of a mixed-bred dog, but you get to know exactly what you're getting, because the designer dog was carefully bred to have certain traits. However, Designer Dogs are still not recognized by professional Conformation shows. There are city-run shows especially for crossbreeds, but that means your puppy won't be able to compete in the Best of Breed.

But for normal dog owners, that's not a big problem is it? For those not in search of a future Dog Show champion, Designer Dogs are just a great way to get a mixed-bred but know what you're getting.

The biggest con of a Designer Dog, however, is that buying one will not help save a life. For every Designer Dog bought (and boy are they expensive!), a mixed-bred in a shelter looses a chance of a second home. So if predictability is what you're really looking for, look for an adult dog in shelters. With adult mixed-bred dogs, you're looking at what you're getting.

Adoptable dogs can be found using "PetFinder" at http://www.petfinder.com/index.html  or visiting your local shelter.

Midweek Crossbreed: Meet the Heinz 57s

They're everywhere! In the pet shops, streets, backyards and even barking at you from your neighbor's window! They're of all different shapes, sizes and colors. They're swimmers, jumpers, runners, and fetchers. And who are they? America's number one dog "breed" of course! The Mixed-bred dog!

These spotted, splotched, brindled, stripped dogs go by all sorts of names from All American to Heinz 57! They might not be "brand-name" but they sure do have a lot of charm!

The pros of these four-legged family members are endless! They are everything dog and more! Unlike a purebred dog, you won't have to settle for just the same old boring coat colors and body shapes! Mixed-bred dogs are full of surprises! They come in all shapes, sizes and colors so there's definitely one for you!

Unlike pure-blood dogs who are more likely to inherit genetic problems, mixed-breeds are much less likely. It is a proven fact that mixed-breeds are much healthier, meaning less stress on both you and your wallet! And to top it off, mixed-breed dogs tend to live longer than pure-bloods!

And to add even more icing to your cake, mixed-bred dogs are inexpensive! Since they seem to be everywhere, acquiring one is super easy! You won't have to pay thousands for a "champion-lined" pure-blood that might end up with a long list of health problems, instead, you can easily get a lovable, "champion-in-your-heart", healthy mixed-bred dog for a fraction of the price of a purebred!

The reason that mixed-bred dogs are cheaper than their pure-blood counterparts is simply because some breeders and dog associations see the bloodline as a "status symbol" and many of these mixed-breeds are usually accidental. Shelters are overflowing with these lovable dogs because there is a higher demand for "blood status".

We aren't Slytherins! We shouldn't be caring about the blood status of a dog! It's almost equivalent to judging someone because they are not pure Irish or pure French. Humans have long lost the ability to be "pure-blood", so why should we favor dogs that are? Mixed-bred dogs and pure-bred dogs are all four-legged family members begging to be loved, so why should one receive more simply because of their lineage?

However, despite my own views, I am not here to persuade you that a mixed-bred is better than a pure-bred. I am here to ask you to consider adopting a mixed-bred from a shelter and giving him/her a second chance. Purebreds are often bought way before their birth, but hundreds and thousands of mixed-breeds wait for a home in shelters. So for your next dog, please consider adopting a mixed-bred from a shelter.

Rare Dogs: The Norwegian Lundehund

These little dogs are best known for having 6 toes instead of 4 like normal dogs. Those extra toes aid the dogs in hunting puffins and their eggs on the rocky cliffs of Røst.

During World War II, these dogs were nearly wiped out when canine distemper struck their homes. After the war, another round of distemper left only 6 breedable dogs, 5 of which came from the same mother.

But thankfully, after a lot of careful breeding, there are now 1,500 to 2,000 of them in the world. There are less than 300 in the U.S.

The breed's biggest problem, however, is their digestive system. These little dogs are unable to extract the nutrients from the food they eat and the dog can actually starve no matter how much he eats. Due to this problem, the Norwegian Lundehunds have shorter life expectancy.

Due to its rarity, not much is known about these cute little dogs. But one thing is for certain, they are really flexible! Dogs of this breed are known to be able to bend their head backwards along their own spine!

Organic Way to Clean Dog Urine

The biggest problem with free-roaming four-legged family members is that they don't have to be at a toilet to pee. Regular cleaners contain chemicals that are toxic not only for pets, but also for humans. So how in the world are you going to get rid of that yellow pond that's soaking into your carpet right now? Well, here's an organic and safe way to get rid of pee stains in your carpets...

You'll Need: Plain white vinegar, warm tap water, rags, baking soda, 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution, organic dish soap

Step 1. Blot up as much pee as possible (assuming it's fresh)

Step 2. Soak the stain with a solution of plain white vinegar and warm water.

            -1:1 ratio, let it soak for 5 min. (vinegar takes out the smell and it's antibacterial)

Step 3. Blot up the vinegar and water using rags

Step 4. Pour a good amount of baking soda over the stain

Step 5. Mix 3% hydrogen peroxide with dish soap (dish soap can't contain petroleum products).

            -1 cup of peroxide to 1 teaspoon organic dish soap

Step 6. Sprinkle the peroxide and dish soap mixture over stain.

            -Do it slowly because peroxide can sometimes discolor things.

            -It would be a good idea to try on a corner first

Step 7. Wait for baking soda to dry completely and vacuum up

And Viola! No more awkward dark spot in your nice cream carpet.

Weird Stuff Our Dogs Do...and Why

So we love our dogs and our dogs love us. It's probably the only true unconditional love in the world, but even so, I think we all know that our canine buddies do some realllllllly weird things.

Well, in case you were wondering, there is actually logic behind all the weirdness  (As shocking as that is)

1. Eating Poo
   -Ok, so this one is pretttttty disgusting, and I was pretty shocked seeing Yuki (my sister's Shiba Inu) doing this. >.< It still creeps me out. But really, this was a "defensive" strategy for dogs eons ago...when they were still wolves. Feces (hehe, a fancy word for poop) were like a bright orange arrow showing predators where a wolf den was, and also where all the puppies were. So Mommy Wolf would actually eat the poop of her puppies to protect them. Yeah....human moms do a lot for us....but these four-legged ones sure do go above and beyond.
  -Another reason could simply be....the dog is bored. So toss a branch, throw a ball, give them one of those annoying Kong toys.
 Solution:  Clean up all poo lying around? It'll get rid of that minefield lying around your yard :)

2. Turning Around Before Sitting/Lying Down
  -I've watched my puppies with barely concealed amusement many times as I witness them become a small tornado of shedding fur. Never had I really thought about why they did, I just assumed it was a habit. Well, one day, I decided to look into it.
  -Before fluffy Petco beds prettier than our own and designer pet beds so much softer than our own, Fido had to make-do with the wide open. Turning around several times meant stamping down any grass that might annoyingly poke you in the stomach later and it also meant scaring away any pests. So I guess you could say turning around in a spot meant preparing it as the ultimate nap destination.
  -Another interesting thing is that turning around also helps regulate the temperature. So it's kind of like you turning over your pillow in the middle of the night to that cold, crisp underside. :)

3. Licking
  -As humans, I think we simply assume that licking is equivalent to doggy kisses. Well....that might not be the entire truth.
   -When puppies are first born, Mommy dog will lick them. Puppies will often lick adult dog muzzles to get them regurgitate (throw up) food for them.
  -When they become older, licking becomes an act of submission. Less dominate (those in lower classes) will lick those of more dominance to show submission...and basically ask for them not to beat them up. So a dog licking you might not be entirely a sign of love, but an acknowledgement that you are their boss and they respect you. There's got to be some love in that XD
  -BUT when dogs lick themselves, it doesn't mean that they worship themselves. Dog saliva helps clean wounds and it is a dog's instinct to lick whatever bugs them.
  -Other licking....might just be the dog is bored.
  -Or if you happen to be a Shiba Inu puppy named Yuki, you're trying to get your owner to pet you.

The Idea Behind The Name

Tricolor Luck, it's a catchy name but that's not all...

Tricolor is a cat breed known as the Japanese Bobtail. These cats are usually white with patches of any coloring, however, a tricolored cat -  such as a white, black, and tan one, is considered very good luck. 

Since this blog was created to create awareness for homeless pets and give them a higher chance of finding a home, I thought that a little tricolored luck would be helpful :)

Oh! And did you know that these cats are also the ones waving at you from an asian store counter? And the little kitty you find in Sanrio stores, also known as Hello Kitty?