Our Partners- Red Paws Spa, New Delhi

Red Paws Pet Spa, located in chic Haus Khas village, New Delhi is the latest hangout for all the fashionista pooches whose parents know the importance of good grooming!
They are our newest partners and we are so proud of their venture. The company is run by Sakshi and Sadhwi Sondhi.  Sadhwi is a trained dog groomer from London, whereas Sakshi has a degree in Business from Australia and takes care of the spa management.

Read more about the girls behind the brand in an interview with HUFT:

HUFT: Tell us about the Red paws spa- when did you start and what was your inspiration?

Red paws Pet Spa:

Red- the inspiration behind Red Paws Spa

Our main inspiration for all our endeavors is our dog Red who was an amazing companion. 

We started RPS in September this year as we saw the lack of awareness of dog grooming in Delhi. Not all dog owners are aware that their dog is in need of regular grooming sessions. We wanted to change the perception and educated all dog owners.

HUFT: What services do you offer at RPS?

Red paws Pet Spa:

Full Service Bath:This package is packed with the basic essentials your pooch will need to look dashing, fresh and amazing. Recommended for pet owners whose dogs do not require much grooming. i.e very short haired coats

Full Service Style:This package is for dogs that have medium to long haired coats. Our groomer will provide breed specific hairstyles according to the Kennel Club U.K. These styles are followed by groomers world wide, the most famous being a full groomed standard poodle!

HUFT: What makes Red Paws Spa special?

Red Paws Pet Spa:

Sadhwi at work

At Red Paws Pet Spa, we treat your dogs as our own as we both are genuine dog lovers. Also most importantly part of our profits go towards our own NGO - Red Paws Rescue which helps rescue and rehome stray and abandoned puppies/dogs.

HUFT: Tell us about your dogs.

Red Paws Pet Spa:
We have got 3 dogs - Nikki, Phoebex and Zoey. Nikki is a rescued beagle adopted by our family when she was 5 years old! She is adorable, loves cake and playing with Zoey. Phoebex is a Labrador Retriever born in our house to our inspiration and our very first dog Red who passed away a year back. Phoebex just loves to sleep and sleep and sleep. Zoey is our very own adopted Indian puppy who joined our family when we found her strolling in the middle of the street as a month old puppy. She is a bundle of energy and she is often called Hurricane Zoey as she leaves a trail of destruction after her play time!!  

HUFT: Tell us about Red Paws Rescue.

Red Paws Pet Spa:

Red Paws Rescue is a registered non - profit charity aimed at the rescue and rehabilitation of stray and abandoned dogs in New Delhi started by Sadhwi. The aims and purposes of Red Paws Rescue include finding homes for Indian dogs and pups and placing abandoned pets into loving homes. RPR is closely associated with several animal shelters throughout the country and we assist in providing them with food, medicines and awareness regarding their work.

HUFT: What's your favourite HUFT product?

Sadhwi and Sakshi

Red Paws Pet Spa:

HUFT is a very cool, fashionable and chic brand. One of our favourite products is the Oh La La Collar. The products show that a lot of thought and passion has gone into creating each and every unique product. We are glad to be partnered with such an amazing company!

For all of our Delhi friends and customers- do visit Red Paws Spa with your pooches! 

Address: 29A haus Khas Village, First Floor, New Delhi-16

Website: http://www.redpawsonline.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RedPawsPetSpa

Our partners- PAWS the pet store, Banglore

In 2008- Heads Up For Tails was established as an online store for pet accessories! As a tiny, home run business, I was anxiously waiting for orders. Just a few weeks later, the phone rang- It was Sandeep from Paws, The Pet store in Banglore. "Send me 10 of everything you have", he said. "We love your collection and want to stock it at PAWS!". While I danced in joy, with my first big order- that was also the start of a special partnership that has grown into a solid friendship over the past few years as Paws and Heads Up For Tails have worked closely together! 

We'd love to tell you more about our special and oldest partners through an email interview with Sandeep and Ridhima from Paws, The Pet Store, Banglore.

Read on :)

Ridhima

HUFT: Tell us about Paws- when did you start and what was your inspiration?

PAWS:
Our passion for animals and wanting to spend every minute with our dogs was our inspiration to launch PAWS. In the beginning of 2008 when Bangalore had very little available in fun, funky and functional products for cats and dogs, we knew that on the other side of the world pooches were being showered with the latest fashion, hilarious toys and coolest cribs, we knew we had to get some of it for our dogs. But not stopping there, we wanted to share the love and offer these same products to your furry kids too.
As animal lovers, we understood that pet owners desired the very best for their four-legged friends.
A spacious, friendly environment where pets are encouraged to browse along with their owners, PAWS is a beautifully designed store!

Sandeep with Oreo

As busy working Bangaloreans we sought -and rarely found - the professional yet loving care we needed for our pets cookie and pudding. we started paws in june ‘08 to provide others the exact and affectionate service we always wanted for our pets.
PAWS offers a wide array of upscale merchandise for dogs, cats and pet lovers worldwide. This includes designer collars and leashes, chic pet beds and cozy blankets, stylish pet apparel, unique toys and treats, sleek pet carriers, fabulous feeding bowls and grooming accessories, as well as heartwarming gifts for all animal lovers. No matter whom you are shopping for — dog, cat or pet owner — you'll find something special at PAWS.

HUFT: How do you and Ridhima divide up the work and responsibilities.

PAWS:

I look after Retail, Wholesale, Ordering, Stock management and Window display, while Ridhima is in charge of Online sales, Web Marketing, Facebook, Emails, P R  and Customer relations. We make a good team!

HUFT: What makes PAWS special?

PAWS:

Being a family business PAWS knows its individual customers, their pets and their special needs and will go the extra mile to provide assistance and quality service.

Freya

HUFT: Tell us about your pets.

PAWS:

Oreo is a wire hair dachshund. She's always around at the store to greet customers!

Cookie, a cocker spaniel -  who we sadly just lost. She was the inspiration behind PAWS.

Pudding is a labrador

Freya is our african grey parrot

Oreo

HUFT: What's your favourite place to take your dog out in Banglore?

PAWS:

To the restaurant. A lot of restaurants in bangalore are open to the fact of people bringing their pet along for a meal. One of the restaurants we love going to is Sunny's. 

HUFT: What words of wisdom do you have for first time pet owners?

PAWS:

Never buy on impulse and really think through the decision to get a pet. A pet is a lifetime commitment and will rely on its guardian for all of its needs.

The average life span of a pet is anywhere from ten to fifteen years or more and a puppy is a living creature you cannot "try on for size". Be prepared to make a commitment to the care and well being of your dog from puppyhood to old age.

HUFT: What are your best selling products?

PAWS:

Our unique range of collars and leashes. and beds and our vast collection of grooming products like perfumes and toys as well.  

HUFT - Share how Paws is special to its customers.

PAWS:

It's how Paws- the pet store has become a must visit destination for anyone coming from out of town. Every wife, girlfriend , brother- sister sends them over with a list of products they have to pick up for their four - legged companions. Every time we see a customer like that it brings us such joy; it makes us realise that we've not only managed to impact our local market but people all over the world. 

HUFT: What's your favourite HUFT product?

PAWS:

The colourful vibrant range of dog collars !

HUFT: What are your thoughts on HUFT? :)

PAWS:

It has changed the way our dogs dress and look like. It has allowed doggies to have a comfortable soft place to rest every night and more over it has given owners the ability to look after their pets just like their would look after for their own family. 

Paws is a beautiful store, based in Banglore, and a must visit if you're in the city!

Here's their address: 

PAWS the pet store, No.10 , K 2nd street , Markham Road , Ashoknagar , Bangalore 560025

Help your pet cope with fireworks

Most dogs react negatively to loud noises and fireworks. And understandably so- everything at night normally looks, sounds and smells familiar. And then suddenly, there are loud bangs, flashes of light and strange aromas for no reason at all. 


Here are a few tips for keeping your pet secure during Diwali fireworks:

Most dogs are scared of fireworks

• Make sure your pet always has a secure place to hide whenever they feel insecure. This could be under furniture etc. Make this place of comfort accessible to them. Pets feel great comfort in retiring to a familiar den which makes them feel safe.
• Walk dogs as much as possible during the day, and keep them indoors at night during fireworks time.
• At night- close windows and doors, and play soft music to muffle the sound of the fireworks.
• Make sure your pet is always in a safe, secure environment. A lot of dogs tend to run away during this time of the year in fright. It's always safer to have your pet micro-chipped or atleast have a tag with their name and your number engraved. 
• If your pet shows signs of fear- ignore that behaviour so that your pet realizes that there's nothing really to worry about.
• Consider feeding your dog slightly earlier in the day, so that if they do become stressed with the loud firework noises in the evening, their eating won't be affected.
• Don't get angry or upset with your pet at this time. After all- they are experiencing a normal fear reaction, and getting upset with them will only stress them out more.
• Distract your pet- with toys or the nicest chewy you can find!
• Do note that a frightened pet can show signs of aggression- and so do not allow children and other pets to pester the frightened animal.
• Try not to react to the sound of fireworks yourself. If you jump, shout or tense up when you hear fireworks- you may make your pet's fear worse as your body language will convey that there is something to be afraid of.
• Avoid leaving your pet alone. Remember that a frightened dog is not rational.
• And remember- do provide some comfort and cuddles if your pet needs it!

Have a Happy and Safe Diwali :)

The Animal people by Cara Tejpal

Most often the animal people are born - In moments when the stars align and some cosmic magic seeps into the womb of an unsuspecting woman.  A rare few are made – their lives molded by the firm hands of fate.

These people are not easily distinguishable at first glance but if you look carefully you will see the signs.  A woman with immaculate make up but stray fur on freshly washed jeans. A teenage boy with boxes of cerelac stacked high on the kitchen counter. A child who saves her lunch for a hungrier belly. An old man who drags his aching limbs to chemist after chemist to procure elusive medicines for another.

Religious, atheist or agnostic they will concur that the universe sends the needy to their doorsteps. Strange occurrences and unnerving coincidences that cant be justified by chance.

I was born an animal person.  Absorbed by the creatures around me from the time I opened my eyes. My earliest memories are a hazy cocktail of following the neighbor’s cat and cuddling stray puppies.  By the time I was twelve the ‘coincidences’ has begun and they grew more and more uncanny over the years. I would leave the house in the morning and find a kitten mewling pitifully on the doorstep, return late at night to see a lost dog waiting patiently on the porch, step out to speak on the phone and trip over an injured bird. For long I thought this was unique to me but as I met other animal people they shared similar experiences. A friend remembers stopping at the gas station so the auto driver could refuel and then witnessing a little Indian puppy climb in to the backseat and settle down a top her bag as she watched with her mouth hanging open. (She found him a lovely home.) Another animal person went to a hotel for a fete and when she was leaving had a dog follow her and jump into the car with her. (She kept her) As I met more animal people, I heard stranger and stranger stories.

The animal people shelter a secret – they carry within them a profound sadness.  Deep as the ocean, it threatens to drown them as they struggle to stay afloat.  Outsiders do not understand it – “you’re blessed” they say, the unconditional love of countless animals a romantic idea in their heads. We rarely speak about the ocean, but perhaps today I shall tell you.  The ocean of melancholy comprises of our failures, guilt and grief.  Every Animal person has held a body and felt it go limp and cold as one final breath escapes in to the universe. Witnessed more cruelty than they feel they could possibly bear and felt the harsh wrench of giving away an animal to another home. Worse, they always feel that they aren’t doing enough.

Two years ago, another secret of the animal people revealed itself to me.  On a blistering summer day we chanced upon a sack of puppies. Six golden Labrador puppies, dumped on the side of the road, unattended for two days and a night till someone heard them whimper. By the time I got them home they were so dehydrated they couldn’t stand.  Dull, lifeless, we bathed them gently in tepid water and hugged them close as sharp needles injected glucose in to their tiny frames. We held tight to hope and for six days gave them everything we had and more. Maybe just maybe – at least one would pull through. This isn’t a fairy tale. None survived.  One by one, I buried each spot of sunshine in a corner of the garden. On the sixth night, the lone survivor coughed up a long trail of blood. I called the doctor and stroked the puppy’s soft golden fur as under the vet’s gentle hands she found peace. The days that followed were surreal, I felt dazed, ironically as if I had had a heat stroke. And then there was another rescue call, another animal on my doorstep.  I hastily patched up my tattered heart and got to work.

Here’s the thing – though the ocean is deep and the currents are strong, the Animal people are tireless swimmers.

Cat Nappers by Aakriti Sethi

Being an ardent ‘dog person’ I hadn’t really shown much interest in cats. It’s only when Simba and Johnny my two rescued and adopted kittens purred into my life that I could actually get to know the feline species as well as their canine counterparts. 

It was the summery month of June when I saw a naughty dog bullying two kittens. I distracted the doggy hoping the kittens would flee but surprisingly they came by my side and let out a doleful ‘meow’ looking at me with their glassy eyes. The next thing I knew, I was with them at home watching them play. They are quite energetic and active at play but their appetite for sleep is commendable. Cats can sleep for long hours in a day at different places and various positions, and much to my amazement they mostly like to cuddle up with me or each other. 

Sadly, cats have very unduly been subjected to superstitions which make their lives tougher because of the condemnation by most people. They are also known to be sly and unfriendly. But my perception changed when I was sitting and sulking after a rough day. Simba and Johnny immediately sensed something was wrong and fussed around me a lot. One licked my toes while the other insisted on sitting on my lap and licking off any tear that rolled down my cheek. That is exactly what your dog would have done! Just like dogs they too are happy when I return home. They wait for me to come back home and meow at me and rub against my legs to welcome me. But unlike dogs, cats are finicky about cleanliness. The times they are not snoring, they are cleaning and grooming themselves and each other.

But the major difference that I could spot between the canine and feline is that dogs are the obedient lot at all times but cats are moody. They respond to their names only if they approve of the name given to them, they wouldn’t just sit or sleep anywhere especially not on the bare floor. They do listen to ‘No’ though only when they feel they should. Nevertheless they love you if they live with you and they show their affection with cuddles and licks every day. Be it Dogs or Cats, it’s the bond with your pets that makes all the difference :)

 

Doggies Home Alone

There were times when people lived in mansions, enjoyed backyards and had humane working hours. Those were the times when their dogs too enjoyed these luxuries, chasing birds and squirrels, barking at cats who sat high up on a tree branch; and when tired they enjoyed quality time with their families. Doggy Heaven! 

Well, let’s snap out and picture our own city lives. We live in smaller apartments, backyards and lawns seem to be historic extravagances and work occupies us round the clock. So, in such a scenario what do our canine friends do? They sit at home all alone, with lesser space to run around, spend lesser time with us hence leading to separation anxiety. 

Come to think about it, we have working hours of a minimum eight hours, commuting time in today’s mind boggling traffic adds another two hours to that. Sometimes social obligations, craving to watch a film, a coffee with a long lost friend or dinner with relatives who taunt you of not having time for them adds a couple more hours to our busy schedule. The brunt of this is borne by our pooches back home.

Since the good old days will not come back and there is no escaping the work pressure, let us discuss some tips on leaving our dogs at home when we are out for long hours.

1.     For the love of our dogs we should set our alarm to an hour early. Spending time with our dogs first thing in the morning is the best way to kick-start our day. A brisk walk and some play not only will keep us and our dogs healthy but will also exhaust our dogs and they would like to come back home and sleep for a couple of hours.

2.     Toys and chewys work great to occupy them.

3.     Keeping out a fresh bowl of water is a must before we leave.

4.     Do try hiding a few treats around, dogs love the treasure hunt.

5.     Another trick is to leave the radio on with a low volume; a dog will feel less lonely with a sense of voices of people around.

6.     Getting a dog walker or a volunteer to come in at one time to check on the dog and take him out for a walk is quite necessary. Usually our house maid or help is the best option; the dog knows the person well and not all of us can afford professional trainers and walkers.

7.     Also, it is better to leave the dog in a space where he spends most of his time or is comfortable in, the bigger room in the house maybe. Make sure you do away with any sort of wires which are a great attraction to chew off!

Try these few tips and make your pooches happier dogs :)

Let the reason be Love!

Love, it is said is unconditional. Shakespeare dubbed it blind and enough has been said about the purity of emotions that are experienced in a loving relationship with any person, animal or thing. In case of dogs and the much-celebrated love between owner and pet, can we say the same principles apply? Especially in the context of desi, ‘stray’ dogs?

Hero

Tanya Palta thinks so. The Delhi-based writer and editor is a self-proclaimed (and rightly so!) expert of desi canine breeds, having raised ten dogs in her home. As she happily rattles off the names of her brood (from the oldest, 14-years old Cheeta to the 3-years old Hero and Poli), Tanya also shares how she developed a strong bond with the stray dogs around her house after their first pet, a golden Labrador came into their lives. She became a die-hard dog lover and that involved feeding dogs in the vicinity of her house and eventually adopting dogs that she particularly bonded with or who were abandoned/hurt.

Poli, Tanya's Handsome Indian beauty

Siddharth and Shagun, a young couple based in Dehradun also share similar experiences, having taken in eight, of which one passed away but the others are now over a year old. Siddharth and Shagun were returning home on New Year’s Eve in 2010 when they rescued the little fur balls who were about 2-3 weeks old. Winters in Dehradun are freezing and that night was unforgiving as rain lashed down, slowly filling the dry gutter where the pups lived. 

Tanya, Siddharth, Shagun and many other people who have raised desi dogs understand that the discrimination against the Indian breeds is just another reflection of a society that is obsessed with status, money and class. Siddarth and Shagun share that the Indian breeds have stronger immunity than pedigrees while Tanya talks about how her brood is incredibly adaptable, very responsive to housetraining, gentle and responsive. Much more, she affirms than the pedigree dogs.

While it remains true that the important place pets hold in the lives of us folks should not be measured on parameters such as status or class, another contrasting truth that must be probed is whether our affection, as pet-lovers extends only to the fancy breeds, or do we love all dogs- desi or pedigree- for the wonderful blessing they are...