‘I give our dogs the best – even spa visits’
Wael Al Sayegh, Emirati writer, Dubai
"I've had pet dogs all my life. When we moved to a quiet neighbourhood, I wanted guard dogs. Our son was a few months old so I had to research breeds that were also family-friendly. I arranged for a South African breeder to fly two South African Mastiffs to the UAE. The bond was immediate. I named the dogs Shaka and Sheeba. Enthused, I set out to train them, but didn't realise how much professional help I would need.
"They are three years old, and have over-excelled at their task. They are excellent guard dogs. We monitor the interaction with our children - especially our twin baby daughters.
"Shaka and Sheeba are a part of my family and they perform their duty well. In return, I care for them and give them the best life - play dates with other canines and visits to spas. I'm sure if they could speak, they would tell you how much they love being part of the family."
‘I spend 12 hours a day with my six dogs’
Michael Ohman Sanjuan, 29, dog trainer, Dubai
"I have always been fond of dogs, even allowing them to sleep in my bed. I used to watch a dog trainer in the neighbourhood back in The Philippines. I was fascinated. By 11, I decided I wanted a pedigree dog. I started training Spike, my Dobermann, using basic commands. That's when I realised I wanted to work with dogs as a career.
"In Dubai I have six dogs including a Pekinese, a pug and this Dutch Shepherd, Olf. As a dog trainer, I spend more than 12 hours a day with pets. I take my dogs to my workplace, Doggies Palace - a professional dog-training school - where they play with other dogs and assist me in training. I strongly believe that even in Dubai where open spaces aren't easily available one can own a pet if it is trained, especially to deal with being left alone at home when the owners are at work."
'I’ve cried over the shoes they’ve mangled’
Louisa Wilkins, senior features writer, ANM, Dubai
"My lovely beasts, Maxi Priest and Shabba, are gentle playmates for my children Kaya, five, and Jack, three. They are also handy Hoovers, motivating running partners and foolproof house alarms. They love nothing more than a cuddle on the sofa and bounce around like they haven't seen us for years every time we return home. Despite turning their noses up at store-bought dog chews, they gnaw at anything else. Kaya has shed a few tears over beheaded Barbie dolls, while I've shed plenty over mangled stilettos.
"At first it was hard - they needed regular walks, and taking two puppies and two children out during summer is stressful to say the least. Now I can't imagine my family life without them."
‘Our eco-aware dog!’
Jennifer Petrie, sailing instructor, Dubai
"We didn't want another dog after our 12-year-old German Shepherd-Labrador, Habari, died. But within six months we realised that we couldn't do without one because we love dogs. So we got Lonyo, a German Shepherd, while we were in Scotland. An energetic and playful pet, he would bound along beaches and lush fields, even accompanying us on our frequent sailing trips.
"He's clever and really well trained - he has the British Kennel Club ‘Gold Standard' in obedience. Apart from fetching the morning paper, he can tell the difference between the TV and DVD remotes. He also picks plastic bottles or paper to the command, ‘Lonyo recycle', placing them in the designated bins."
‘Puppy helped me cope with grief’
Sara Raffaghello, 34, design editor, ANM, Dubai
"A year after my mother died we got Puppy, a mixed-breed, from K9 Friends. Though my husband wasn't keen on a pet, the minute we met her he, too, fell in love with her. Puppy arrived at a time when I wasn't up to socialising. She gave me focus, something to worry about and care for. We've had her for five years and we can't imagine being without her.
"We now have a baby boy and I wonder how they will get on. The other day I watched my son boxing his teddy bear, laughing his head off as the toy tossed about on the sofa. Puppy was about to join in but stopped and ran back to her bed. I think she might be in for a rough couple of years, despite being at an age (she's 56 in dog years) when she should be thinking about retiring."
‘Ukkie has a medical condition, but I took her home'
Jim Bolssens, 34, veterinarian, Sharjah
"Ukkie, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, was ten months old when she was brought to my practice for an examination before being taken to the pet shop. I diagnosed a heart murmur and damaged heart vessel. This meant she might not survive and would need intensive care. No one was ready to take on the responsibility. I felt that I could look after Ukkie. So I brought her home to my wife Liesbeth, our daughters Hannelore, six, and Alexia, three, and our cat, two turtles and fish. She became part of the family.
"She is almost a year old now and the kids love her. When Ukkie went missing a couple of months ago, the kids were terribly upset. Within an hour, we put up flyers, offering a reward. Luckily, a family in our neighbourhood found and returned our pet. Despite her condition, which requires constant medical care, we all love her, except the cat!"
