Plastic Kennel

Bought Axel a plastic kennel yesterday. The kennel was a bargain buy. Retail price was RM202 but this pet store in Taman Megah was having a sale. So the price was reduced to RM138 and along with my membership accumulated points, I got it for only RM117!

I tried fitting the kennel and the metal cage(which Axel treats as his toilet) in my kitchen using the playpen as fencing. After a few re-arrangements, I finally managed to fit them in. Axel was crazy for the kennel...but for the wrong reasons. He saw it as his big chew toy. So he was chewing at the opening, the roof and anywhere else which he could clam his jaw on. As the kennel was heavy but not heavy enough, Axel was pushing it here and there, sometimes blocking the entrance of the metal cage. Not being able to get into his toilet would gave him the reason to do his "business" outside.. and being a reasonable "daddy", how could I punish him for that, right? Axel wouldn't even sleep in the kennel, preferring to doze off on the kitchen tiles instead.


So finally I gave up. I moved the kennel to my living room, and left a big area in the playpen for the metal cage. At least now Axel has a big area to move about and he can continue to sleep on the kitchen tiles. I used to just lock him up in the metal cage where he slept, pee'ed and poo'ed. I slowly developed this conscience that he might not be comfortable sleeping on the metal gaps; and the fact that he started to get smelly a day after his bath all the time.

The kennel now serves as his playing area instead of sleeping area. Looking at the bright side, I now have a large place to store his toys.

Kennel = RM117
Extra playpen = RM42
Reason to procrastinate from my studies* = priceless

*Note: I am actually taking leave from work to study for my exams.

Even the pug can do it

Yesterday was Axel's 4th Puppy Obedience class. "We" have learned how to heel, sit, stand, turnaround, turn right and turn left so far. I used "We" because I too, have to learn how to give the right instructions in order for Axel to understand.

Axel has not been doing well in class. The instructor commented that he has never seen such a hyper pug before ... as Axel couldn't sit still at all. He was either jumping up and down my legs or tugging the leash by his teeth. At one point when he actually followed the instruction, Arthur (I finally got his name right) the instructor said "see... even the pug can do it". That didn't sound flattering at all! My "son" is a dunce!!

Arthur kept saying that we should bring our dogs out more often. Apparently there are a few of Axel's classmates who were confined at home as well. The thing is.... how many parks out there allow us to bring our dogs for a walk? Worse still...I have to practically smuggle Axel in and out of my apartment. How I wish the new rule of permitting dogs to be kept in apartments will be approved soon.

At home, Axel is doing okay. It could be due to less distraction. Or it could be due to me having the rolled-up newspaper within my reach.