A Little Magic

Children and pets are meant for each other. They share the same playfulness, and naughtiness, of course; and both possess the language of innocence. Some dog lovers are of the opinion that no dog should be deprived of the company of children, for the bond that is shared between canine and child, especially when they grow up together, is akin to that between siblings — just without the sibling rivalry! Yet there could be so much more to be gained from a healthy relationship between a child and his or her pet, and it starts with putting things in the right perspective from the beginning.

More often than not, adults introduce pets into the household as playthings or companions for the children. But kids do have the ability to take a more active part in caring for the pet — apart from just playing with it. Our cover girl, actress Foo Fang Rong, shares with us her memories of taking care of her first dog, and how active dog ownership has helped to keep her grounded even from her days as a child star. We also put the spotlight on two primary school students who do not shun away from the heavy lifting when it comes to being a responsible young pet owner, and take it upon themselves to train their pets. And on the topic of training, we speak to loyal customers of obedience schools to find out what they seek. We also deep dive into the divergent training methodologies out there to give you a lowdown on the different principles behind each — so that you can decide what works best for you and your pet.

It is very much up to you to decide how your pet ownership journey will be, be it a cat, dog, bird or even a tortoise that you own. And the more active a part you play in taking care of them, the more richly rewarded you will be. We hope this issue will present lots of helpful tips and pointers to new and experienced pet owners alike, and inspire the building of meaningful relationships between pet and owner.