pets – Growing With Nemit

Fur Baby Meeting Human Baby | Caesar Met Nemit – Blog Series (Part – 8)

Neha Sharma — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 14:03:39 +0000

My Fur Baby (Caesar) meeting My Human Baby (Nemit)

Hello friends, today’s post is about my babies, Caesar & Nemit, and their special bond. We visited my mom’s house when Nemit was a month old, and that’s when Caesar met him for the first time. But their meeting was more of a disaster. The moment Caesar saw the baby in my hands, he got aggressive and started barking. This was not a good sign.

Though we were already doubtful, we had no idea Caesar would react this way. That meeting failed because we didn’t think it through. We should have known that Caesar would be confused and unhappy to see a baby with his parents, who were meeting him after 2 months. It seemed that seeing his mother holding & protecting a little human was too much for him.

Honestly, I got really scared that day, thinking what if Caesar would never accept Nemit as a part of his pack. I couldn’t let that happen because both my babies were precious to me.

Now it was my responsibility to let Caesar know that I still loved him, and he was still my baby.

You may read the other parts of this Blog Series –

When Caesar Met Nemit for the Second Time

We used the next two months to bond with Caesar without bringing the baby into the scene. It helped in calming him down a bit. And now it was time to bring him back home & introduce him to Nemit for the second time.

This was Caesar’s second homecoming in April 2016, and this month he completed 1 year with us.

Caesar’s second homecoming

We let Caesar settle in and take in the new smells. And most of the time, we kept Nemit out of his sight. He could smell and hear him, and that made him curious to know the baby better. Luckily, the waiting time worked wonders for both of them.

Now, Caesar was adjusting to the sound of the baby’s cries & Nemit was also getting used to hearing the barks. These sounds were not startling them anymore, which was a good sign. And the best part, caesar now had his parents by his side all the time, just like the earlier days. That helped in reducing his anxiety.

My Family!

Initially, we had created boundaries at home. The master bedroom where the baby spent most of his time was off-limit to Caesar. He was also kept away from the baby’s cot & rocker. Caesar didn’t mind that as he had the rest of the house, his parents gave him the attention he missed.

Gradually, we lifted some boundaries, now Caesar could enter the room & he was allowed to sniff the baby; licking was a strict no. But we still kept a close watch on his behavior when he was around the baby. Surprisingly, now he was calmer and seemed happy too. It was the happiest moment for us!

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The Special Bond of Love

We had to create the boundaries once again when Nemit started crawling. These boundaries were for both of them; we wanted them to respect each other’s personal space. Nemit had his playroom with a floor bed and barricades at the door. It didn’t take Caesar much time to understand that he should not enter the room.

They both would watch each other from a distance, Nemit would sometimes smile at him, and I am sure Caesar liked that.

After a month or so, we removed the barricade, but now Caesar understood not to cross the invisible boundary. I could sense that he had developed feelings for Nemit by now. He would never leave his side even when Nemit was sleeping.

Always together!

Soon, Nemit was ready to come out of the room and explore the house. I had tears in my eyes when I saw Nemit playing with Caesar sitting near him and Caesar allowing him to touch his face and legs. Where did all the aggression go?

It just took 6 months after Caesar met Nemit for the first time to build a beautiful bond of love. Caesar had accepted Nemit as part of his pack.

I was the happiest to see both my babies bonding together. Those were the best days of my life.

Sharing some of the beautiful moments below

Evening walks are the best!

Meal Time – Sharing is Caring!

Play Time – We are buddies!

Celebrations

Cake is everyone’s favorite!

I miss those days!

Had a perfect Mom life

I am doing a blog series this month in memory of our fur baby, #My_Son_Caesar.

You may read the other parts of the series here, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 & Part 7.

Since this is the month of #MyFriendAlexa by Blogchatter, I will be linking all my posts to their website. Do check out the new reloaded Blogchatter website to discover some amazing blogs, bloggers, and campaigns.

The post Fur Baby Meeting Human Baby | Caesar Met Nemit – Blog Series (Part – 8) appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

My Husband Became a Pet Parent! – Blog Series (Part – 7)

Neha Sharma — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 03:30:36 +0000

My Husband Became a Pet Parent Too!

Hello friends, today’s post is dedicated to my amazing husband, Sumit, for being a wonderful pet parent. There was a time when he told me that he doesn’t like dogs and has never had a pet before. But he never stopped me from bringing our fur baby home. And then one day, I saw him cuddling and playing with him. Well, I knew he would get there but never thought he would develop fatherly feelings for Caesar this soon. I still remember that day when he said, “He’s not just your son; I am his father too.”

That day my husband became a pet parent from being a pet owner. I know he will not like to hear thanks for being a father, but I really want to tell him that he did great. He was there when Caesar needed a parent!

You may read the other parts of this Blog Series –

Being a Pet Parent

In my whole life, I have never met a person who doesn’t like dogs. They may be afraid of them but definitely have a soft corner for these furry beings. So, when I realized that my husband doesn’t feel anything about dogs, I was perplexed. His feelings were neutral.

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Well, I believe since he had never experienced that before, he was unaware of his feelings for fur babies. I didn’t force him to love Caesar. But over time, I could see his heart-melting. He loved watching Caesar jumping around & doing silly stunts. Somehow I sensed that Sumit is going to be a wonderful father. And, it was not just for Caesar!

Cutest Father-Son Duo – Pet Owner to being a Pet Parent

It was getting too exhausting for me to tend to Caesar’s needs during my last trimester. Sumit tried to take care of everything, from getting up early morning and taking Caesar for his walk. Then coming back from the office (which was just 15 mins away) during lunchtime to take him for his afternoon walk. And, then again, making sure to reach home on time in the evening to take him to the park because Caesar enjoyed playing with his doggy buddies.

Caesar with his buddies

Caesar loved sitting in Sumit’s lap during car rides. Whenever we tried putting him in the backseat, he would jump on his shoulders & irritate him so that he would take him in his lap. That was so cute!

Caesar’s way of doing things!

But the most adorable moments were the ones where Sumit tried to teach tricks to Caesar. But Caesar just won’t listen to him. I always felt Caesar did that on purpose to tease Sumit. Oh God, I miss all of that.

Dogs have this amazing power of taking away all your stress and filling your life with happiness. That’s what Caesar was doing to us.

It was December 2015, my 8th month of pregnancy, when we had to send Caesar to my mom’s house for a few months.

Sumit’s parenting got tested when Nemit joined the scene, and we brought Caesar back home in April 2016. We missed Caesar a lot during the last 4 months. But we were too busy with a newborn that we could never express that to him or each other.

Daddy with Kids

Nothing much changed in the routine, but now Sumit had a human baby joining him and Caesar for their walks. And that was my Me Time during the day.

It was a treat to eyes watching them together having fun. Sumit, who had no feelings for dogs, was now raising one as his own son!

I am doing a blog series this month in memory of our fur baby, #My_Son_Caesar.

You may read the other parts of the series here, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 & Part 6.

Click on the below link to read the next part

Fur Baby Meeting Human Baby! – Blog Series (Last Part – 8)

The post My Husband Became a Pet Parent! – Blog Series (Part – 7) appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Traveling with Caesar | Weekend Getaway – Blog Series (Part-6)

Neha Sharma — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 08:52:16 +0000

Traveling With Caesar

Weekend Getaway – Noida to Jaipur

Hello friends, I hope you all are doing good. Today, I will write about Caesar’s first road trip with us, a weekend getaway from Noida to Jaipur. Though it was his first travel experience, we didn’t expect him to go wild & us going mad. We had our moments of panic, doubt, shock & embarrassment. Simply because we were not prepared for the unexpected, you can easily avoid all of that just by preparing well in advance. We had no idea what traveling with caesar would feel like.

I admit it was not a perfect trip, but it is still our most memorable trip with Caesar.

You may read the other parts of this Blog Series –

Traveling with Caesar – Road Trip

October 2015 – We had all the reasons to celebrate. It was my hubby’s birthday month. Caesar had completed 6 months with us. And I was in my second trimester, which was going well.

And, for me, a perfect celebration is the one which involves travel and family.

So, we planned a weekend getaway to Jaipur. I wanted this trip to be memorable for all of us, including Caesar. I was thinking all I have to take care of was booking the right cab and perfect accommodation. Well, I was wrong!

I didn’t consider the other potential issues Caesar might face during the long-distance travel by car.

Book the right cab. Make sure your pet gets a comfortable seat at the back but not the boot space.

Caesar was quite used to traveling by car. But he preferred the front seat & we didn’t mind that. No, not the driver’s seat, though.

This image belongs to www.growingwithnemit.com, and reuse is strictly not permitted.

However, this became an issue when we had to make Caesar sit in the back seat.

He was uncomfortable & unhappy!

The safe place for a dog in the car is at the back seat. Better to crate train your pet.

We somehow managed to keep him cool for the first couple of hours on the road. But soon, he started showing signs of anxiety. And we were not sure if he was just feeling anxious sitting at the back, or was he feeling unwell.

We took several breaks; we gave him his favorite treats, we kept talking to him; basically, we tried everything to calm him down. This worked but only for a while.

Don’t get irritated with your dog’s behavior. Try to understand what’s bothering him.

By the time we had covered the half distance, I was already thinking of going back home. And then, Sumit came up with an idea. He decided to sit at the back with Caesar. Surprisingly, it worked!

This image belongs to www.growingwithnemit.com, and reuse is strictly not permitted.

Make the seat cozy & comfortable by putting sheets & blankets. Keep your pet’s favorite toy near him. And, if nothing works, try sitting with him.

I have shared some tips to prepare for the first road trip with a dog!

Traveling with Caesar – Pet-friendly Resort

We had booked Lohagarh Fort Resort & Spa, which is located near the Jaipur-Delhi highway. The best thing about this resort was the spacious rooms and big open lawns. That’s what we needed for our weekend stay.

Book a dog-friendly hotel/resort, confirm that they allow the pet inside the room.

This image belongs to www.growingwithnemit.com, and reuse is strictly not permitted.

Some hotels and resorts mention ‘pet-friendly’ on their websites, but if you go through their policy or rules & regulations page, you may notice several restrictions on having a pet.

It is always better to research a bit before finalizing the hotel. You would not like to stay away from your fur baby while on vacation!

Caesar at Lohagarh Fort Resort

It was a big relief for us when we reached the resort after a challenging time on the road. The moment we entered the resort, we were greeted by some smiling faces who were quite happy to see Caesar. I loved the way they were giving attention to him.

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After a quick check-in, we took a look around the resort. Their property is impressive with big beautiful green gardens and beach style pool area. Caesar’s continuously wagging tail was proof that he approved it.

Our cottage with a private garden & outdoor tub was splendid!

Pet-proof the room to be sure there is nothing that can hurt your pet.

As soon as we entered the room, Caesar started running from one corner to the other to express his joy. Our first task was to pet-proof the area, so we checked the room for anything that could be dangerous for Caesar.

Our Cottage at Lohagarh Farm Resort

Now, it was time to relax!

We went to the resort pool area, ordered some food, and spent the afternoon chilling around. Caesar took a long nap under the tree.

Fast forward to that embarrassing yet funny moment. It was time for Caesar’s evening walk, and he needed a bathroom break. But we forgot to ask the hotel staff about that part. Now, Caesar was getting desperate & could not wait any longer. And, he relieved himself right in the middle of the lawn.

Not just that, now his body movements were tensed; he needed to poop.

First thing, ask the hotel management where to take your dog to pee & poo.

Some hotels need you to take your dog outside the property & others just want you to clean up the mess. But you should know!

Clearly, we forgot to ask, and it was already too late to do anything. Well, what could we do?

We were quite skilled at scooping the poop!!!

I have shared some tips for booking a pet-friendly resort!

That moment of shock – Traveling with Caesar.

It was the DJ night, and the music was loud, so we thought of leaving Caesar in the room with his favorite chew toy. But we got the shock of our life when Sumit got a call from the resort staff on his phone.

“Sir, your dog is unattended & roaming on the lawn outside your cottage.”

We were confused because Caesar was inside the room. How could he be there?

Well, we had left the back door open for him to walk in the garden. But there was no way he could come outside.

Don’t leave your dog unattended inside the room. It’s good to crate train your dog before the trip.

A team of 3 staff members checked every part of the room & garden to figure out how a dog could make his way out.

“Ma’am, this has never happened before. We are really sorry about this.” I have no idea why they were apologizing to us.

After a while, they all left still clueless.

“What if there’s a secret passage that Caesar might have found?” All kinds of thought were running in my mind.

There was only one way to find out what happened. We again left Caesar inside the room and waited outside.

After a few minutes, we saw him jumping out from the sidewall of the garden.

Well, he was being Caesar!

We are not leaving you, Caesar!

The next morning was beautiful. We thought Caesar would enjoy some time outside the room soaking up the sun. So, we tied him to the chair and went to call my Mil & Bil from their room. But then we decided to go for breakfast first, so Sumit went back to bring Caesar along.

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And then he got another shock when he saw a guard pulling his gun towards Caesar while Caesar was barking & trying to jump on a lady standing nearby.

Invest time in training your pet. This will go a long way.

Well, he was not attacking her. This was his wild way of making friends. But I know this was wrong.

And, it was my fault that I could not train him well. He had no idea how to behave around other humans in the absence of his family members.

Sumit shouted from behind at the guard to put his gun down. And, Caesar came running to him.

That lady was terrified by this incidence. Sumit apologized to her, but she was threatening to call the police. Soon, the resort management joined the scenario and calmed the lady.

If your pet is not well trained & gets hyperactive, it’s sensible to keep him on a leash when in public.

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They didn’t say anything to us, just requested us to keep Caesar on a leash.

Well, he was on a leash, but this time he managed to remove his collar & break free. More than anyone else, it was me who was feeling terrible & shameful for what Caesar did.

I am his mother, and he was my responsibility!

This realization struck me only later that it was not Caesar’s fault, nor was he misbehaving. He was afraid that we might leave him once again.

I am doing a blog series this month in memory of our fur baby, #My_Son_Caesar.

You may read the other parts of the series here, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 & Part 5.

Click on the below link to read the next part

My Husband Became a Pet Parent! – Blog Series (Part – 7)

The post Traveling with Caesar | Weekend Getaway – Blog Series (Part-6) appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Caesar’s First from the First Year | Why We Left him? – Blog Series (Part-4)

Neha Sharma — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 18:33:29 +0000

Caesar’s First from his First Year

Hello friends, in the last post, I shared about Caesar’s health issues & how we came out of that difficult phase. In today’s post, I want to write about all of Caesar’s first from the first year with us. Our good time started in May 2015, and the way it was going, I thought nothing could go wrong then.

But by the end of the year, we had to make some tough decisions that involved keeping Caesar away from us. What happened that we had to make such a cruel decision? Read this post till the end to know the reason.

You may read Part 1 of the series here – In memory of our fur baby, Caesar!

Part 2 of the series here – How we met our fur baby, Caesar?

And Part 3 here – Caesar’s First Month & Health Issues!

But before moving onto the sad part, I want to share some of the beautiful moments from 2015. Here are Caesar’s first memorable moments –

May 2015 – It was a month of travels & meet-ups

Caesar’s First outing to India Gate

The first 15 days were exhausting for both Caesar and me. So, as soon as we got the green signal from his doctor, we planned a family picnic at India Gate, Delhi. It was a refreshing break for us.

Visited Dadi House – Long Drive

It didn’t take us long to plan another outing for Caesar since we soon realized he loved traveling just like his mom & dad. So, the next week we visited Dadi’s house to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Caesar was meeting Dadi for the first time, but surprisingly, he was quite comfortable around her. It’s true that dogs can sense our feelings & emotions for them. He loved running around Dadi, and Dadi used to spoil him with his favorite treats.

1st Month Celebration

Then came 15th May, Caesar had completed one month with us. We used to cut a cake every month to celebrate our wedding date, but this time we had one more reason to rejoice. So, we cut a cake with Caesar though he didn’t get to eat it. But he was happy!

First Bath

Caesar got his first bath after 40 days of coming home. It was a new experience for both of us. He had no idea what was about to happen to him. And, I had no idea how to handle an afraid pup. As soon as I poured the first mug of water on his body, he shrieked and ran out of the bathroom. I ran after him, almost surviving the great fall on the slippery floor.

After giving him a pep talk for a few minutes, I realized this would take a thoughtful strategy if I don’t want to develop a fear of bathing in him. Well, it worked!

How he got his first bath may not sound the right way, but we both had a fun time 😀

I took him in my lap, talked to him, comforted him, showed him his toys floating in the water & then splashed little water on him. I could tell he was enjoying & that was my cue.

Found a nice article on How to Bathe a Nervous Dog. Check it out!

June 2015 – Name & Collar, Toddlerhood, Good News, a Month away from Caesar

Caesar was now teething; he was soon to enter the toddler stage. And, he was getting naughtier by each passing day. Caesar loved running around, playing & chewing whatever he could find. His favorite pastime, just like any other pup, was chewing slippers. And his favorite toy was a 2L empty bottle of Sprite.

This month we finally named him. His chaachu had suggested the name ‘Caesar,’ which we liked instantly. And, then we got him his first collar, which he never liked wearing.

My cutie baby

In the first week of June, we got to know that we were pregnant. I was excited that Caesar would soon be a big brother now. But I was worried too, thinking about how he would accept the new baby since he himself was too young.

You may also read – My Roller Coaster Pregnancy Story!

I guess he had already sensed it & he was not happy about it. His behavior changed, or was it me? I don’t remember exactly, but I was getting irritated at every little thing. And Caesar was doing everything to get my attention.

And then came the day when we had to leave for London for a month, leaving Caesar with his Nani. We thought it would be good for all of us. But I didn’t think about Caesar, just left him when he was craving for my attention the most!

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July/Aug/Sep 2015 – Video Calls, Reunion & Good Times

The third month of my first trimester was not that good even though I had all the reasons to be happy. I missed Caesar, and the video calls were the only way to communicate with him now. I was so sick for the whole month that I spent all my time in bed. The only thing that would give me happy vibes was hubby returning from the office and watching Caesar’s funny antics on the phone.

This image belongs to www.growingwithnemit.com, and reuse is strictly not permitted.

Month-end we were back home; Caesar looked different. He was bigger and naughtier. But I noticed that he was now better at communicating his needs. He had big, beautiful, expressive eyes; I loved how he moved them when I used to talk to him as if he was trying to understand everything.

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The next three months were amazing. My second trimester was smooth. Caesar helped me cope up with the pregnancy anxiety; he would always stay close to me. It seemed he knew I needed him more than anything else.

Caesar was turning out to be a handsome dog; he was curious, playful & empathetic.

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Oct 2015 – Caesar’s First Road Trip to Jaipur

It was hubby’s birthday, and I planned a surprise family trip to Jaipur. But this time, we were not leaving Caesar behind. I looked for the best dog-friendly resort to make the stay comfortable for Caesar. I will share about this trip in the next part.

Dec 2015 – I had to keep Caesar away from me

In my last trimester of pregnancy, things became difficult since I was going through emotional turmoil due to changing hormones. I could not give enough time to tend to Caesar’s needs.

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We could not prepare & train him in time for the new phase. Caesar was not ready; I could sense his anxiety. He was getting hyperactive & more demanding of my attention. But I couldn’t do anything to help him. To avoid any mishaps, we had to take this difficult decision to keep Caesar away for a few months at mom’s house.

I left him alone once again when he needed me. We know this was not the right decision & we definitely could have done better at training him when there was time. I wish I could go back in time!

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If you are also in a similar situation like us, where you have a young dog and expecting a baby, then more than anything else, focus on training your dog. If you can’t do it yourself, hire a professional.

You have to prepare your dog for the new situation, start as early as possible, don’t leave it for later.

Your fur baby can sense the change but can’t adjust to it without your help. He may be anxious & afraid and may behave in a completely different manner, but you have to understand him.

And, please don’t keep him away from you! He needs you the most at this time.

I am doing a blog series this month in memory of our fur baby, #My_Son_Caesar.

You may read the other parts of the series here, Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3

Click on the below link to read the next part

How to Prepare for a Road Trip with your Dog? – Blog Series (Part-5)

The post Caesar’s First from the First Year | Why We Left him? – Blog Series (Part-4) appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Raising a Pup | Caesar’s First Month & Health Issues – Blog Series (Part-3)

Neha Sharma — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 09:22:29 +0000

Raising a Pup, Caesar’s First Month

Hello friends, I want to thank each of you who visited the blog last week & left their comments on our posts. In today’s post, I will be writing about Caesar’s first month with us & his health issues. We brought him home on 15 April 2015; his owner had told us that he was 2 months old. But that poor little thing didn’t look like even a day older than a month. Raising a pup is just like raising a human baby. But with Caesar, it was like raising a premature baby.

You may read Part 1 of the series here – In memory of our fur baby, Caesar!

You may read Part 2 of the series here – How we met our fur baby, Caesar?

After paying the owner, we took the pup to a nearby Animal Hospital to ensure that the baby was doing fine. The doctor just looked at him & declared the puppy was healthy. We were relieved & happy, but not for long.

When we reached home, we realized something was not right with him. He was not able to stand & walk properly; even the way he was sitting seemed weird. We had no idea what was happening with him. At first, we thought maybe it was because of the change of place, but then he started gagging.

For a moment, it felt like we were going to lose him!

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We didn’t waste time & immediately took him to a private vet clinic, where the doctor told us how bad his condition was. He explained how the next 15 days would be crucial & if his health didn’t improve, no one could save him.

He gave some medicines & instructed us on how to take care of him. Like, keeping him warm & hydrated, not to take him outside. He was not to be given a bath & he should not be left alone. Also, how to introduce semi-solid food & how to give him medicines. We noted down everything!

Caesar’s first 15 days, raising a pup.

The first few days were challenging. It was a struggle to put medicines in his mouth; I had to push the pills deep into his throat & every time, it seemed like he would choke. Feeding him was another struggle. I used to feed him every 2 hours using a syringe for semi-solids & a milk bottle for liquids. But he would vomit out everything after some time.

Caesar sleeping on my pillow
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He used to sleep the whole day, and sometimes I had to feed him in his half-dead state. Those were the terrifying days; I would check up on him every few minutes to see if he was breathing or not. Also, he used to cry at night, so we shifted our bed to the floor to give him company. And, every morning, I would find him snuggling near my pillow.

I knew he wanted to be with me; he wanted me to be his mommy.

In my heart, I could feel the love growing more and more each day for that little pup. I have never felt those feelings before, but I soon realized that I was experiencing the emotions of a mother.

“Mother is a verb. It’s something you do. Not just who you are.” – Cheryl Lacey Donovan

After a week, his health started improving; his appetite was back & he was gaining weight. He was now recognizing my voice and would follow me everywhere, even to the bathroom. It was nothing short of a miracle to see him grow.

Caesar’s doctor was quite surprised to see the improvement in his health. He told us that our baby is now out of danger. We had to continue the treatment for another 15 days to get him ready for his first vaccination.

Caesar after 15 days
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We had not yet decided a name for our fur baby, so we used to call him ‘Baby.’

Many people want to bring a puppy home just because they are cute & fun. But what they don’t realize is that raising a pup needs love, care, attention, patience & energy just like raising a human baby. And when this realization struck, in most cases, that poor dog ends up being abused or abandoned.

I am doing a blog series this month in memory of our fur baby, #My_Son_Caesar.

Part 1 – In Memory of our fur baby, our dog Caesar!

Part 2 – How We Met Our Fur Baby? Did we Adopt or Buy?

Click on the below link to read the next part

Caesar’s First from the First Year | Why We Left him? – Blog Series (Part-4)

The post Raising a Pup | Caesar’s First Month & Health Issues – Blog Series (Part-3) appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

How We Met Our Fur Baby? Did we Adopt or Buy? – Blog Series (Part – 2)

Neha Sharma — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 19:21:53 +0000

How We Met Our Fur Baby?

Hello friends, in this post, I am writing about how we met our fur baby. That day we went in search of a perfect pup. It took us some time to realize our mistake, but today I want to share our learnings with you and hope to spread awareness.

This post is part two of the blog series I am doing in memory of our fur baby, Caesar.

It was April 2015, just two months after our marriage, when I told my husband that we should get a dog. He already knew how much I loved animals, and somehow he anticipated this was coming. But before adding a new member to the family, we had to ask & convince everyone, especially my brother-in-law (BIL), who is still terrified of dogs. And, of course, my mother-in-law (MIL) since she was never in favor of getting a pet.

That was the weekend, and we were at my in-law’s place. It was a perfect day to bring up this conversation. We started with my BIL since we had the least hope that he would join the gang, but the moment he heard that we are thinking of getting a puppy, he was all cool & excited about it. Well, that was easy and totally unexpected; we took it as a sign.

Now, the next task was to convince my MIL; at first, she seemed upset, but my BIL joining our side made her give in. Yay! we are getting a puppy.

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Though I claimed I love animals, I had no idea how the breeders exploit animals to earn some bucks. And I am so ashamed for being ignorant at that time.

Since we had no idea about the breeders’ unethical and ill practices and zero awareness about pet adoption, we went on with our search for a perfect pup.

We searched for breeders around Delhi, asked friends for recommendations, and visited many pet shops & kennels to find that perfect breed. I specifically wanted a labrador. The hunt went on for a few hours, but soon we started losing hope. Most of the pups we saw looked sad & in such poor condition. And the price that the owners were asking was unbelievably high & totally out of our budget.

We were thinking of going back home just when a friend of my BIL called & told him about a labrador pup available in our budget. We were literally jumping in excitement & immediately agreed to get him without even looking at him. But the moment I saw the pup, my heart sank.

Caesar – This image belongs to www.growingwithnemit.com, and reuse is strictly not permitted

He was the weakest of all the pups we had seen that day. He looked sick & miserable & he was so tiny that he fit in my hand. Moreover, he didn’t look like a labrador at all.

The owner told us that the pup’s mother had died; all his siblings had already found a home, and because he was the last born, nobody chose him. She even told us that he would die soon if she could not find a home for him.

I don’t know if that girl was telling the truth or playing with our emotions, but she succeeded in convincing us.

The moment I took him in my hands, I fell in love with that pup. Even though I knew the risk, I wanted him to come home with us. So, this is how we met our fur baby! #My_Son_Caesar

We paid 8k to the owner/breeder to buy that pup.

That is the mistake we humans make that makes the life of animals hell in the hands of breeders. We say that we love animals, but we are equally responsible for these voiceless beings’ plight in reality.

What if we had ADOPTED instead of BUYING?

A poor soul spending his days inside a cage at a shelter would have got a home.

What if the dog lovers decide to adopt pets from a genuine pet owner or an animal shelter and ditch buying? Maybe this could help in eliminating the puppy mills & backyard breeders.

And, if we really love dogs, which breed they are should not bother us.

SAVE A LIFE!

ADOPT, DON’T SHOP!

I found a thought-provoking article by Peta – There’s no such thing as a ‘Responsible Breeder.’ I have linked the article, do give it a read if you are considering buying a pet.

I am doing a blog series this month in memory of our fur baby, #My_Son_Caesar.

Part 1 – In Memory of our fur baby, our dog Caesar!

Click on the below link to read the next part

Raising a Pup | Caesar’s First Month & Health Issues – Blog Series (Part-3)

The post How We Met Our Fur Baby? Did we Adopt or Buy? – Blog Series (Part – 2) appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

In Memory of our fur baby, our dog Caesar – Blog Series (Part 1)

Neha Sharma — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 21:25:08 +0000

In Memory of our fur baby, Caesar

Hello friends, I am starting a blog series in memory of our fur baby, Caesar. This post is really special and close to my heart. I have been quite emotional since the last few days when I decided to write about our first child, our fur baby, our dog Caesar who is no more with us. He left us alone in this troubled world on March 25, 2018.

He had just turned 3 & made his first road trip with us, and we were already planning another one for the next month. But everything changed in just a blink of an eye. It felt as if I had lost a part of me that day.

I have not talked about Caesar with anyone except family because I still don’t feel ready. Somewhere in my heart, I have this huge guilt that his death is my fault. Being a mother, I feel he was my responsibility, and I should have saved him no matter what.

How could a mother let her child die in her hands? This question still haunts me.

I hope to gather some strength by the end of this blog series to write about that unfortunate day when we lost Caesar. Pet parents will be able to understand my pain. But for others, I want to request to read the post with an open heart.

And, please don’t judge me, I am not yet ready to face the judgement.

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This whole month, I want to write about Caesar starting from the day we brought him home to his last day with us. I hope that would help liberate the grief that’s deep-seated in my heart & help me heal. And, I could once again tell my baby that I am sorry. I still remember you, miss you, love you and want you to come back to Mumma, this time I will do better. Please, forgive me!

I wanted to write this long back in July when Richa & Priya started an Instagram page, Letter Unread, for people to share & talk about the stories of loss, love, and healing. I tried to write many times but couldn’t do it. A voice inside me keeps saying that I deserve this pain.

I know I deserve it, but I really can’t bear this pain anymore.

I want to talk about Caesar with people without feeling any guilt. And, I want to tell the world what an intelligent, smart, crazy & lovable pup he was.

If he were with us right now, he would be lying on my slippers pretending to be asleep but keeping a watch on me with half-closed eyes. And the moment I would get up from the bed, he would follow me everywhere, excitedly wagging his tail to give me company. Or maybe for a treat or just for a pat on his forehead. Umm, let’s just stick with giving me company.

I am doing a blog series this month in memory of our fur baby, #My_Son_Caesar.

Click on the below link to read the next part

How We Met Our Fur Baby? Did we Adopt or Buy? – Blog Series (Part – 2)

The post In Memory of our fur baby, our dog Caesar – Blog Series (Part 1) appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

7 tips to stop your dog from chasing the cat

Neha Sharma — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 10:47:12 +0000

Dog chasing the Cat? How to stop this?

Nobody wants to deal with their dog chasing the cat, especially if the cat is clearly not enjoying it! This can be frustrating for you as well as for your cat.

Consequently, it’s a good idea to follow these tips to help stop the behavior. In most cases, all it takes is some solid training and exercise to get your dog to behave.

Why should you stop your dog from chasing the cat?

In most cases, the dog is having fun and is trying to get the cat to play along. However, being chased around on a near constant basis can be stressful for your cat and annoying for you.

This kind of behavior can also be the result of a dog that is under-stimulated and seeking some fun.

Finding a resolution to keep your dog from chasing the cat can take work. But, in the end, it can result in having a dog that is better trained, better exercised and a cat that is happier and more relaxed.

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1- Control the environment

The first step is to take control of the environment. This can include removing the offending dog from the scene. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean getting rid of your dog. It just means placing the dog in another area where it can calm down.

You can consider it a timeout that gives your dog a chance to relax and forget about chasing the cat.

2- Make good introductions

One of the best ways to prevent this type of behavior is to make sure your cat and dog were introduced in a calm, slow way.

With the right kind of introduction, there will be less excitement that can lead to your dog taking interest in chasing the cat.

3- Be prepared

Situations can be typically playful in nature, but in some cases, they can escalate into a fight. As a result, it’s important to be prepared to resolve the issue quickly.

Ideally, you should be able to stop the situation before it escalates that far, for the safety of your pets. Make sure you are armed with distractions, and the ability to separate them at any moment.

4- Work on dog training

Since the dog is the offending member in this situation, it’s important to work on training your dog. This is going to take a lot of patience, and a decent amount of time. However, it’s sure to pay off in the end. As you’ll have a happier, more peaceful household for yourself and your pets.

While it might seem complicated, this mostly will include rewarding the dog for the kinds of behaviors you want to see.

5- Acclimate your cat

There are some things you can do to help your cat with being more comfortable around your dog. One of the best ways to do this is by allowing them to have a space the dog can’t get to. Things like cat trees and cat shelves can be an excellent solution.

In addition, some treats for your cat during calm times together can’t hurt the situation either.

6- Use rewards

Another important tip to keep in mind is that positive reinforcement is far more appropriate than punishing your dog. There is a reason that the dog has fixated on chasing the cat, and resolving that can help to stop the problem behavior.

Using rewards, fun activities and other methods can show your dog that it’s fun to behave in the way you want them to. In turn, that makes the dog want to engage in positive behaviors rather than spending time chasing the cat.

With patience and care, this can be highly effective.

7- Exercise your dog

As earlier mentioned, it’s likely that your dog is just trying to get some exercise and fun where it might otherwise be lacking. Because of that, helping them to get more productive exercise can allow them to relax more easily when they’re at home.

Going on more walks, playing outdoor games like fetch or frisbee, or even training them to do new tricks can be great ways to allow the dog more stimulation in positive ways.

As a result, the dog will be less interested in chasing the cat, and you’ll have a home that is far more calm, happy and filled with harmony.

Conclusion

Overall, the most important aspect is to stay calm when you start working with your pets. If you follow these tips and remain patient, you’ll find that your dog picks up other interests and forgets about cat-chasing completely.

If you find that trying out these tips doesn‘t work for you, you can get the help of a professional dog trainer. Or even take your dog to a class. These kinds of activities can provide some training methods and tips that you may not have known about before.

This guest post is submitted by Chloe, who is a lover of all things cute and furry, with three cats and two dogs taking up most of her free time. When she does have time to blog, she likes to write about anything and everything to do with pets and pet care. You will find some very interesting information about how to care for your fur babies on her blog, kittywise.com.

Do you have pets? I would like to know about them. Tell me in the comments below.

Featured Image Source – Google

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