Dr Jo's blog

but I still feel like a winner!

Just watching the stars prepare for the Oscars and thinking how lucky I am to be sitting at home with a cat on my lap and a dog at my feet.

…Unlike the stars who, not only have to excel at whatever art they choose (acting, presenting, singing, modelling) but have to think about their appearance every moment of the day. After all, in these ‘valued’ professions, it’s not only being able to perform at the job but it’s about showing that you are controlled (ie. no chocolate, false smiles) and always looking acceptable by today’s standards (AU size 8 and below!).

Well, guess what – my pets don’t care. They don’t care when I have a bad hair day. They don’t care that I put on a few kilos or lose some. And I have even more benefits living with pets – I am healthier (less chance of cardiovascular disease), I have kids who are more popular with their peers; I am less stressed.

So no I won’t be watching Oscar night except for a sneak peak at the red carpet (always hopeful that someone’s outfit will be covered in dog/cat hair!). I’ll be walking my dog. I’ll be answering my cats’ meows. And in their eyes I’m the winner – every year

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So you think you have pet problems…

Now’s your chance to come along and discuss them. For now, it’s only for those of you in Sydney or willing to come here (everyone else will get a chance in time I hope, if this one goes well). I have just organised (well my friend Cameron from Family Activities) has organised a new event.

I will be talking at Bankstown Sports Centre on April 20th from 6-9pm. Everything you have ever wanted to know about your pet’s behaviour – come and ask me. When you register you will get a chance to tell me exactly what you’d like to know. It should be fun. I will get to meet lots of you and we can all talk pets together.

More here

You can also let me know here is there is any particular topics you are keen to find out more about.

Look forward to seeing you soon. Please pass on to any mates you think might enjoy it.

Jo

Other events here

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Valentine’s Day. Does it fill you with dread? What will you buy? Will you receive a card? Does anyone want to be your Valentine?

If you are like one fifth of the people around the world, you would rather share your Valentine’s Day with your pet than with a human partner. Aussies even more so, with one quarter of us opting for furry fun on Feb 14th.

Truly the first in furry lovers must be Turkey where one half of Turkish people intend to spend time with their pets this Sunday. India and Japan are not far behind.

And where should you go if you really would like some attention from that special HUMAN in your life? Answer = France. Only one in ten French people opted for the pet. A nation of Romantics.

Well I’m spending my Valentine’s Day at the Melbourne Pet & Animal Expo… how romantic is that (say hello if you’re there). Where will you be on Valentine’s Day and who will you be with?

Valentine Puppy Chilli

More about Valentine’s Day & pets

More about pets ‘n’ people

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I’m starting to create a video channel… would be interested to know if:
(i) you are interested in watching videos (or would blog readers rather stick to reading?)
(ii) what you would like to see on it (a) pets? (b) me? (c) what topics?

Video is daunting. For someone who is used to doing radio, I’m thinking maybe I have a face for radio! And we all know what video killed!!

Sneak pic of Jo's video

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I do a lot of work on radio, generally answering pet behaviour questions from the listeners. I also present at lots of pet events, taking questions from the public. Typically the same questions are asked, with a different breed, situation or severity- toileting issues, noise and aggression feature heavily for both cats and dogs.

Occasionally there is a question that stumps me.

Friends and colleagues always ask about the curly questions, the ones I can’t answer. How do I cope? Do I feel embarrassed? Does it make me feel like I know nothing? (As an aside, I believe the “imposter” feeling is common in professionals, people who have qualifications and experience but still feel like they are about to be found out knowing absolutely nothing!)

I genuinely don’t mind not knowing the answer to a question. Of course I would hate this to happen with every question that was asked of me in a Q&A session (then I really would feel like an imposter). The occasional question and its unknown response, however, doesn’t make me flinch. Nobody can know everything.

I use this experience as a learning curve. I go away, do my research and answer them later or I empower the questioner to do the same by referring them on to a different expert or source of information. Instead of being the imposter, I am the continual learner.

So go on… ask me anything!

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Tweet up?

Dog owners know what social catalysts dogs are. We walk our dogs and we talk to people, people who we might not normally even look at. Sometimes we even divulge the most intimate details of our lives, safe in the knowledge that the listener must be a caring, sharing kinda person cos they’re a dog lover.

The internet has brought a different means of communication. Take Twitter. I speak to dog and pet lovers from all over the world now. We share knowledge, tips, joys and sorrows. We post pics of our pets and sometimes we even become our pets, talking as our pampered pussycat or pooch.

Twitter on occasion spills out into real life and mutual followers actually meet. Like North Shore Coffee Mornings (#nscm), a group of Sydney people who meet to chat over coffee every week. I went this week and met so many interesting people (roll call).

Got me thinking… I wonder if the pet community are also meeting up in real life. Is this something you would like to do?  Are there any dog walking groups formed out of Twitter or other social media networks? Is it impossible to do with cats? If you are already doing this, please let us know where.

Jo’s website

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Life’s a circus and I’m the juggler.

Ever wonder what you’d do if you didn’t have pets? And if you also have two legged little creatures, how would it be if they weren’t around? I’ve found myself wondering just that over these summer holidays as I juggle work and life (never a balance).

Who’s going where with who? – seems to be the never ending topic. Who needs picked up? Who’s got time to take the dog for a walk? Has anyone remembered to make that appointment to get the cats vaccinated? What do you mean our youngest child has to come to work with me?!

Then you have an evening when the cats are all asleep, eldest son has taken dog for a walk, younger sons staying with friends. The house is peaceful – and… it’s boring! Bring back the chaos. Bring back the noise.

So while I complain about trying to fit everything in and give everyone enough attention – and who’s giving me attention, I wouldn’t swap it. Just got to perfect that juggling

Check out my website.

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