Grooming your pet can be a good bonding time

Bringing home a new pet over a holiday has its pros and cons, but supposing you are waking up to a puppy tomorrow, one of the first things you may have to tackle is keeping your little pet clean.

Dogs aren't capable of keeping themselves pristine the way cats do, so usually their human family gives a hand with grooming. However, if you're the type of person who thinks that a bath is a good start, be warned: this may not be a great idea.

Yin Tan, owner of Yin Mobile Pets Grooming Service in the Klang Valley, has been a pet groomer since 2014, and is certified by the Malaysian Kennel Association, Malaysian Groomers Association, and International Society of Canine Cosmetologists, USA.

"Having a bath can be frightening, and as pets will be nervous about being in a new environment with new people, you need to wait until they've settled down," Tan advises. "How long that takes, depends on the dog. A sign they trust you is when they come when you call, and let you hug them and pick them up without crying or barking.

"Also, talk to your vet. If your pet has just had a vaccination or flea treatment, you may need to wait. So get good advice."

While suds are out, a brushing session is a great idea, according to Max Kek, a groomer since 2003 and now owner of Do Do Pet, an ethical pet supply shop and groomer in Subang Jaya, Selangor.

"When you first brush your pet, he will wriggle and you may still be learning, so it won't be easy," he smiles. "You should try, though, because this is where you are building a relationship."

A short-haired dog is simple to maintain. Buy a soft bristle brush, and lean it gently against your pet's flank. Then brush, following the coat. Brush the lower back and flank, the move forward, do the chest, and finish with the tummy.

It's like being petted, so your dog should love it. However, pawpits and tummies are often ticklish.

Also, if your dog is shy, he may be afraid of lying on his back. This is because dogs feel very vulnerable when in that position. So take it slow and if your dog is nervous, stop, praise and leave it till next time. When every experience is positive, your pet will learn to relax and trust you.

For playful pups, expect to have the brush bitten and the session turn into a wrestling match. Be gentle!

Long-haired dogs are more complicated because feathery coats can be thick, layered and need special care.

"You can't use a human comb as they're not tough enough," Kek points out. "You need a doggy comb. Prices start around RM20."

Remember when you were a kid and you squealed when your mum combed the knots out of your hair? Long-haired dogs are prone to tangles and it hurts to have them combed out, too.

Groom your pet gently, starting at the flank, just like brushing a short-haired pet. If there are small tangles, hold the fur above the tangle with your fingers, to minimise tugging.

While you groom, talk nicely to your dog. Make it a loving session aimed at bonding, not a chore.

You should be combing a long-haired dog every day, but even then, the occasional knot is inevitable.

"You can't ignore knots because they pull on the skin, leaving it red and painful," Kek warns. "They have to be dealt with. Comb it out if you can. But if it's a bad tangle, you may need to cut it out. If you've never seen it being done, then go to the groomer and get a lesson."

After a week or two, when you and your dog have bonded and there's trust between you, you can start to think about bathing your pet. Short-haired dogs are easy as they dry fast. Just be certain to use a very mild shampoo that preserves the skin and natural oils.

As long-haired pets may have difficult coats, do consult a groomer first to see if you need special gear. You don't actually need to sign up for a bath; you can book a consultation where you get a lesson in what needs to be done.

"I'm always happy to teach," Tan says. "We all are, I think." And Kek agrees.

For that first bath, make sure you are working at a height you're comfortable with and have all your gear ready. You don't want to be searching for a towel with soaked pup in your arms!

"When you wash your pet, always start with the back of the body, and go slowly," Tan cautions. "Your furbaby may be frightened. Soap gently, and rinse carefully.

"The head is the most sensitive part of the dog, so whatever you do, don't start there. You don't want to get soap in their eyes or nose. In fact, if you want, leave the face, and just wipe afterwards with a damp cloth."

When you're done, stand back. Dogs with a fresh, clean coat tend to be frisky and ready for a game. So be prepared for zoomies, lots of barking and a happy face. If they've had your vaccinations, go to the park and play a bit of fetch.

Merry Christmas!

Meghan Markle has already charmed the Queen's corgis, Harry reveals

Meghan Markle has already charmed the Queen's notoriously unfriendly corgis, Prince Harry has revealed. He laughed as he described the moment he introduced Miss Markle to the Queen, saying the dogs took to her straight away.

"I've spent the last 33 years being barked at - this one walks in, absolutely nothing," he said. "Just wagging tails - and I was just like, argh."

Miss Markle added: "Just laying on my feet during tea. It was very sweet."

The 36-year-old American confirmed that one of her other great loves, her rescue dog, had moved to London with her.

She said Guy, a five-year-old labrador-shepherd cross, had arrived in the UK from their former home in Toronto several weeks ago.

Her other dog, Bogart, a six-year-old beagle, had remained in Canada with close friends.

"I have two dogs that I've had for quite a long time, both my rescue pups," she said.

"And one is now staying with very close friends and my other, little Guy, is - yes he's in the UK, he's been here for a while. I think he's doing just fine."

Miss Markle has described the dogs as "my boys," and said they “mean the absolute world" to her. They have made repeated appearances on her Instagram account, where she advocates adopting dogs in need of a home with the hashdag #adoptdontshop.

It was American comedian and chat show host Ellen DeGeneres who convinced the actress to adopt Bogart - her first pet - after she bumped into her in a shelter.

"She turns around and comes and taps on the window glass and she yells 'Take the dog!' And so I brought him home. Because Ellen told me to," she has said.

It has been claimed that Miss Markle declared Kensington Palace as her place of residence in early summer when she signed the "Notice 3" form, which is the Customs paperwork for the dogs.

Pets have to to be micro-chipped, given a rabies vaccination and a blood test 30 days later to secure a move to the UK.

Choi Siwon Reportedly Attacked By His Own Pet Dog When He Was On Military Leave

Recently, the accident that the pet dog of Super Junior's Siwon causing death to a neighboring woman has been gathering much attention from public and media.

Due to the shocking accident, the singer was even asked to drop out of his new drama titled Revolutionary Love. It is reported that the heartthrob also decided to sit out from Super Junior's recent fan event, which took place on October 23 and 24 in Japan.

On October 24, according to a local outlet, one of Choi's colleagues revealed that the idol was even bitten by his own pet when he was on his military leave. He said: “Choi Siwon went on leave and when he returned, he had a band-aid on his nose. He said his dog had bitten him.”

During his military service, the Super Junior member was usually the host of police ambassador's concerts. However due to his facial injury caused by his dog, the idol was not able to participate the event for a month. After that, he had to make an apology to other colleagues for affecting the event's schedule. Moreover, during that time, Choi's position in performances was also changed from the center to the edge of the stage.

Handmade With Love – Bridal Accessories From New Zealand

Now I know of late we've been showcasing lots and lots of beautiful new bridalwear collections but today, we're all about adorable finishing touches for your wedding day ensemble.

Yes indeed, this feature is an indulgent look at the glorious new bridal accessories collection from the incomparable Missy Dress. From their gorgeous boutique and workshop in  From New Zealand, the small talented team creates all of their bridal accessories by hand.

Missy Dress offer extraordinary service and whether you're purchasing online or treating yourself to a dedicated appointment in the boutique, you'll be spoilt from start to finish. Missy Dress's collection includes the most beautiful hair vines, headbands, combs, pins, belts, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and even gorgeous gifts for bridesmaids.

We're always adding to our collection and these new designs are inspired by our wonderful brides.

As our veils are ever popular, we wanted to expand the choice we offered to our brides so we've added a few different edging options with a beautiful simply braided edge in Nyla and a more statement horsehair edge veil with Atlas .

We've also had a play with our lace placement and have created a few cut edge veils with lace around the train like Poppy. These appeal to brides who still want lace but don't want their veil to detract from their dress.

Our Juliet cap veil collection has also been expanded and these veils are so popular with 1920s and 1930s style dresses. One of our favourite new designs is Saffron, a two-comb drape veil in silk style tulle. We also offer the option to personalise your veil so you can have your initials and wedding date hand embroidered to any part of your veil to make it extra special.

Veils can be a bit tricky to understand at first so we've written a comprehensive guide to wedding veils, which you can find on our website, and we always recommend brides buy our lace and tulle samples as colours on screen can vary from real life!

For our boho style brides, we've expanded our vine collection with some really intricate pieces like Mila, Sadie and Lori (pictured in that order below). These hand wired pieces take hours to make but we think the effect is worth it.

We've also created Lorna with a little bit of sparkle and this piece can be woven through your tresses so you just get glimpses of sparkle – a lovely effect. The Ginger vine is more of a glamorous piece and looks beautiful pinned to the side for real wow factor.

Our new jewellery includes bracelets, statement necklaces, back drop necklaces and earrings. We're really excited about our lariat back drop necklaces and they look amazing with a backless dress or our Saffron drape veil.

Jewellery is a great way to add your something blue' without going overboard. We love these sweet flowers with a tiny Swarovski ‘something blue' crystal twinkling in the centre.”

Lots of our brides have requested a greater range of belt designs so we have created the Avani belt, the silver leaves are such a favourite with brides, and Rylee, which is a classic bridal combination of crystals and pearls. There are more to come so watch this space!

I think our favourite piece from the new collection has to be River, a lovely head chain design and we can't wait to see lots of lovely brides styling this in lots of different ways. However, we're adding new pieces to the collection all the time so there's lots get excited about!

Pet swap: are chickens really the new dogs?

Are you a dog person or a chicken person? It is, by some accounts, the question bouncing around the gardens and smallholdings of the UK as more established pets cry “fowl” over a chicken coup. No longer happy to employ poultry as egg suppliers, we are reportedly embracing them as pets, with names and roaming rights.

“I keep finding eggs in the cat basket!” says Lucy Deedes of her own avian interlopers, Mrs Rochester and Miss Bates. The hens live in Deedes' Sussex garden but enjoy coming inside (the kitchen is off-limits lest the birds endanger the council hygiene rating Deedes requires for her marmalade business.

Hen expert Kathy Shea Mormino, AKA the Chicken Chick, says in her new book, The Chicken Chick's Guide to Backyard Chickens, that new owners, like her, soon realise hens make good companions. “It was a shock to me when I started giving them names,” she told the LA Times. Deedes, 62, agrees: “If I'm lying in the garden on a sunny day they come and flop beside me and when the dog jumps in the car to go somewhere, I'll see the chickens standing there thinking, ‘shall we hop in, too?'” She does not walk her hens but did once incubate a rejected egg in her bra; she says it hatched while she queued at the post office. But are chickens really the new dogs? Britain's domestic fowl population has been a fairly stable 500,000 since 2010, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association's annual survey (about the same as guinea pigs, but no threat to our 8.5m dogs). But anecdotal evidence of warming relations is rife, and is expected to grow after the release of Pecking Order, a documentary set inside New Zealand's cutthroat show hen scene (think Crufts with clucks).

“A lot more of our members are treating them as pets, particularly those with young children,” says Pedro Moreira, chair of the Surrey Poultry Society. “They're very sociable animals and all have their own characters and routines.” He advises would-be hen-keepers to first consult neighbours and the council (they're classed as livestock and not always allowed in gardens) and to research coop size.

Deedes says her hens have passed peak egg production, but she has no plans to dispatch them. Meanwhile, her friends are getting chickens, too.

“One has a hen called Sir Cliff, because she looked like a shirt Cliff Richard once wore,” she says, before getting back to her marmalade.