Saturday, October 30, 2021

4 Tips To Throwing Soccer Watch Party

 

Photo by Vick Bufano on Unsplash


It's soccer season, and for most of us, that means watching the premier league unfold. While it's great to enjoy the game on your own or in a bar, there is nothing like getting together with a few friends and watching the game in the comfort of your home own. So, why not make it a celebration, and throw a watch party.  


A watch party gathers people at one place to view an event such as a sports match or a movie together in real-time. Watch parties can also be virtual when friends and family connect online using video chat software such as Zoom or Google Hangouts.


It can be a great way to share good food, drinks and keep up to date with sports news (https://sportnews.in/) while enjoying the game with your close friends and family. So, if you're thinking about throwing a watch party, here are a few tips that can help you get started: 


Get Snacks 

Food is one of the best parts of a watch party. Since it's a social event, there should be a lot of different types of foods that should be served. For example, some parties offer finger foods, while others might make hot foods like chicken wings or even order a pizza or take out. Of course, it all depends on the type of food you want at your party, and how many people will attend. 


And if you're a good cook, there are a lot of different recipes online that would be great for your party if you're interested in trying them out. 


Drinks

There are a lot of great drinks available that you could have on your watch party list, but it's important to remember to have a variety. Not everyone will want alcohol, and some may even have to drive home after the party is finished. So having soft drinks, alcohol, and water, and hot drinks could be an excellent option for your watch party


Decorations

For a watch party, you don't have to go all out with decorations. You can keep it simple and still get what you need. Of course, you can decorate your home in the colors of your favorite team. Or in the colors of the two teams that are going head to head for that match. This could make your party more fun if you have friends cheering for the opposing team and bringing a little liveliness to your event. 


Watch Party Games 

What is a great party without party games? There are so many different types of party games that you can have at your event. Whether it's drinking games, betting games, or even little dares, a party game can put an extra layer of investment in the match you are watching and make you want to cheer even louder for your team. 


In addition to this, while you're waiting for the match to begin, you can play trivia games to see who amongst you and your friends and family are the real sports fans. A whole host of other party games can be modified to make the laughs keep going at your watch party. 


So, if you're throwing a party this season, these tips should get you started. 


A Sunny Day Out To Pumpkin Fair

HOT AND SUNNY....  Though it is autumn now, there are some days which the sun comes out happily shining upon us.  And on this Sunny Sunday, we took the opportunity to visit a pumpkin fair.  Not really a big maze as I expected, just a smaller one where we can just walk around and take pictures and then go home.  LOL.... Well, for the kid, it is his first time so the purpose is to take some fall pictures, and that was it.... Anyway, I don't think the little fella knows what we were doing.... let the adults lead! 
At the entrance.... $4 per person.... 
So this place is called Queens... and the small prince sat there instead.... 
Too tiny to notice!
Pumpkins here, there and everywhere.....
A tent for people to carve the pumpkins....
And of course, all the rides which we did not take...
Malaysians have sun phobia...
I kept looking for sheds to go!
Small maze....
We were there earlier before the crowd.... 
By noon, there were more people....
Pumpkins here and there..... 
Best time to take lots of pictures.... 
We took lots and when the crowd thickens, we prepared to leave.... 
Yeah, a buffalo ride before we called it a day!

Thursday, October 28, 2021

How To Prepare Your Home for the Winter

 

Image credit 

As the cold winter months approach, many people wonder how to prepare their homes for an extended period of inactivity. This article will discuss making your home less susceptible to damage caused by harsh weather conditions and other factors that could lead to costly repairs.

Check on Your HVAC System

Checking the HVAC system is a must-do before winter. If you’re still using the old furnace from your parents’ house, it’s better to have them come and look at it or even replace it. The last thing you want during an unexpected cold snap is for your HVAC system to go down.

There are a lot of signs you can look for to determine if your HVAC system is ready for winter or not. First, make sure that you change and clean all the filters as this will help with airflow throughout the home during heating mode. Second, check on any leaks around doors and windows because even small ones over time could lead to big problems such as mould growth in places where there shouldn’t be any, like behind walls and under floors; dampness encourages mold growth. Contact DUCTZ of North Alexandria & Central Fairfax to fix these issues immediately before they become worse than what they already may be.

Third, make sure that the vents are clear of any debris, which can also cause problems with both air distribution and performance. Fourth, check on your ducts to ensure you seal them properly because if they aren’t, then it means you will be wasting energy by heating all those cold spots in addition to having potential issues like mold growth down the road.

Work on Your Drainage and Plumbing System

Your drainage and plumbing system should be fully functional as the winter months approach. A good time to work on your drainage and plumbing system is in the fall before there’s a chance of freezing weather.

Begin by keeping areas clear where water can drain freely. For example, check that leaves or other debris don’t block them during rainfall if you have gutters. Then clean out any accumulated mushy material from around downspouts; this will help divert rainwater away from the foundation of your home instead of allowing it to collect near entry points for moisture and cold air.

Clear these drains regularly throughout autumn, so you don’t need to do an emergency repair at some point when heavy rains arrive earlier than expected. If possible, increase the ground slope away from your home to allow water to drain freely.

Ensure Your Heaters Are Fully Functional

Ensure that your heaters are fully functional before winter. You should also check for any other appliances and devices in the home which you need to use during colder weather, such as humidifiers and dehumidifiers.

If you live with children or pets, ensure their room temperature is not too low at nighttime, so they do not get sick due to a cold climate. Also, ensure there are plenty of blankets available throughout the house just in case one gets cold. Finally, if you have a wood fireplace, make sure it is in working order and well maintained to avoid any accidents such as house fires during the winter months.

Mind Your Energy Bills

Minding your energy bills is important because you can save a considerable amount of money if you are careful with your energy usage.  There are many ways to help reduce the cost associated with heating and cooling your home, but one of the most effective ways is by ensuring that your home is well insulated.

Many people are surprised to hear that most home heating and cooling gets lost through the ceilings, floors, and walls. This means that making sure you have the proper insulation in your attic or crawl space can be very beneficial from an energy efficiency perspective.

In addition to this, it’s essential for homeowners with older air conditioning units (or no AC at all) to ensure you seal your windows and doors as well as the gaps around electrical outlets where wires run throughout their homes.  Not only will these minor changes help reduce your monthly energy bill, but they can also significantly improve comfort levels inside your home during hot summer days!

Inspect Your Lawn

As the days get colder and shorter, it’s time to start thinking about getting your lawn ready for winter. The key is to give it enough water before temperatures drop below freezing so that the grass won’t dry out and die off over the cold months ahead. It would help if you also were mindful of how much you mow because cutting too short can further stress the grass during these final weeks of chilly weather. Finally, if possible, try leaving an extra inch on top so that when snow does hit, there will be enough insulation to help the lawn survive until spring.

In addition to taking care of your grass, you should also look at any trees in your yard. Falling leaves can be a nuisance, but they are also beneficial because trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen as part of the photosynthesis process. When you rake up those fallen leaves in preparation for winter, make sure to compost them or else dispose of them properly so that the nutrients don’t end up polluting your lawn’s groundwater supply over time.

Check Your Gutters

Checking gutters is a must-do during the winter if you want to prevent water damage. If your gutters are not clean, often ice will build up, which can cause damage to your roof and foundation. You should check them at least twice a year, but it’s best to have them cleaned out by professionals once or more per year, depending on how many rainfalls.

Gutters are the tiny channels that carry away rainwater from your roof, and it’s essential to keep them clean. If you find any debris or dirt, carefully remove it and then rinse out with a hosepipe before letting them drain again. This will prevent soggy soil underneath, which can cause mold growth and damage the foundations of your home.

Conclusion

Winter is coming, and it’s time to prepare your home for the cold weather. This article will guide you through some tips on how to get ready before it gets too cold outside.


Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Common Mistakes that Nearly Every New Start-up Makes

Starting a company is not easy to say the least. After all, there are so many things that you need to think about and there are also many decisions to be made. The pressure can easily lead to poor decisions too. If you want to stop this from happening to your business, then these are the top mistakes you need to avoid making.

Skipping out on the Planning Phase

Planning may well be a tedious process, but if you do not have a solid plan, then you will end up struggling overall. You may not have any idea about what potential your idea has, and where you need to be financially in order to further your business. If you want to help yourself then plan out everything you can. Ideally, you would have a business plan, a marketing plan and a financial plan. If you can write down objectives for the above three points, then you will already be putting yourself on the path to success. If you need some help here, don’t overlook hiring a developer for a startup purposes.

Source: Pexels (CC0 License)

Setting Goals that are Not Measurable

Goals can give you a lot of direction when you start your business. They also help to keep you on track when it comes to the day to day decisions you make. If you want to help yourself then you need to set SMART goals. You need goals that are measurable as well as ones that have specific steps outlined so that you can accomplish them as you go. This will help you greatly, and it will also help you to avoid straying too far from the path.

Undervaluing Your Company

If you don’t have much confidence in yourself or if you have a fear of failure then this can cause you to under-price or even over-price your services and your products. This is a very dangerous path for you to take because it will undermine the value that you bring to the table. It may even cause frustration, which is the last thing that you want. If you want to help yourself then you need to identify the best possible entry point for what you are selling. Use your competitors and your base value as a benchmark, and then go from there. Remember, undervaluing your products may get you a lot of sales, but you will have to put in double the work just to make a profit and this is the last thing that you need.

Avoiding Tech

Sure, new tech can be costly, and it can also put a serious dent in your budget if you are a start-up. If you avoid tech though then you may find that it costs you more in the future. If you can, you need to be investing in tech, if it is going to give you a good ROI. If you follow this rule then you will soon find that you can continue growing your business while you make money and this will really work in your favour, not to mention that it will also help you to stand out from the crowd.

 

 

Good Food At San Jose

ROUTINE LIFE NOW.... No running here and there, mostly in the house and going out during weekends, that is my kind of life here in San Jose.  

There is nothing much going on here, except the weather now is cold, I am having good restful sleep at night. perhaps due to the energy all used up during the day.  Taking care of an active baby is no joke for a retiree like me, despite the used-up battery, my pains and creaking diminishes when I see and hear the baby's smiles and laughter... Tiring but satisfying.... I want to know when my weary bones give up on me... LOL... so far, they are still intact and creaks only when I sit too long on the floor.... no more spring chicken like my son and daughter in law who can spring up easily!  Gone are the days.....

Most days I cook... on and off, my son and his wife would take over the wok...

My son's special Penang fried koay teow....
Using shrimps, chinese sausage and eggs....
Too bad no spring onions on that day...
Messy at the sides.... LOL...
Other than that, very wok taste... 
especially with the added sambal with the noodles!
On another day, my daughter in law cook nestum prawns....
Yeah, more presentable and impressive too!
Our dinner on one fine evening....
Yummy, right?
Sometimes we just survived on simple set like this.... 
And this.... 
At times they picked these up at one of the dim sum shops...
LOL... 
And for lunch, mostly noodles I cook at home.... 
Empowered by minced meat....
Simple meals on normal days....
Yes, I am really a very good girl now...
At least for another few months...
LOL.. 

Friday, October 22, 2021

Plants And Kiwi Cherries

FALL IS HERE... sometimes it is cold till I have to wear long sleeves and pants, but today is sunny.  I am still surviving with short sleeves and shorts at this moment.  LOL.... 

We have a very small mini size area and the soil is very fertile.  During the summer, they were very productive, I mean the plants, not the humans.  :)  Every now and then, these need to be plucked, I like the cherry tomatoes, they are very sweet even when eaten raw.  Oh, I forgot to take the cilipadi pictures, too bad... they are pretty dried up by now.  Buying cilipadi (hot chillies) in the malls is not cheap and during this season, we have to pluck them and put them in the freezer.  The plants will go into "hibernation" during the cold season..... 

Sometimes I eat them raw and most times, I just add to the vegetables I cook.... 
For flavor.... LOL...
Capsicum and they come in odd shapes....
See..... short and stubby.....
Butt shape too!
This one is most normal..... 
Oh, we did not plant these.....
They are Kiwi Cherries....
I think they are seasonal.... 
Very small kiwis like grapes....
Taste nice and sweet....
First time eating them and they don't come in cheap...
For a packet of less than 20, it cost around $3.99
The next time we went, they were not sold anymore.... 

Moving To A New City? Don't Make These Mistakes


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Moving to a new city can be exciting and comes with its benefits. Not only will you interact with new people and forge meaningful relationships, but you’ll also get a fresh start in life. Moreover, a change in scenery can be good for your mental health. Despite these benefits, certain mistakes can make your relocation process more stressful. What’s worse, you might lose your money or belongings, a situation you don’t want to experience. Are you moving soon? Here are some mistakes to avoid. 

  1. Failing to prepare an inventory list

One mistake to avoid is failing to prepare an inventory list. Your inventory list lets you keep track of your boxes, delicate items, products, and items as you plan your relocation. That way, you can quickly determine if your belongings are intact. Moreover, it helps you get the proper estimate for your items, making it easier to get the best insurance package. That said, you might end up losing valuable belongings or get a costly insurance deal if you don’t create a list. 

Fortunately, creating one isn’t difficult once you know what to do. You can start by making a video or audio recording of your belongings. As a tip, record how much you paid for each item to determine its value. You can also draft a written document using an existing list from your insurance company and take pictures of your things for easy identification. By all means, make copies of your inventory list for backup in case the original gets missing. 

  1. Not researching moving companies 

Many people usually settle for the first moving companies they contact, only to discover that they had a bad deal. It's dangerous to trust a moving company without making your checks, as you can quickly be scammed. Moreover, inexperienced removalists can damage your fragile belongings, causing you additional costs. Therefore, it's prudent to research your options to be sure of their credibility. 

That said, you'd want to be sure that your movers are insured and licensed and look out for red flags. For instance, you can cut ties with companies that demand a cash deposit before offering their services. Moreover, you can be sure that they aren't professionals if they aren’t prompt or can’t answer your questions adequately. Additionally, you can research the most affordable furniture removalists in your area and read their reviews to make an informed decision. 

  1. Not getting an insurance package

Moving can be pretty risky, as your fragile belongings can be damaged in the process. Moreover, items can get missing, and although it may be unintentional, it is still costly. Therefore, not having a contingency plan to cater for these circumstances can hurt your finances in the long run. That said, it’s prudent to get a moving insurance package that you can rely on should the unexpected happen. 

To shop for the best insurance package, you can conduct thorough research of various providers and compare packages to make the best decision. By all means, leverage online reviews as they give you a fair idea of the companies' services. 


Thursday, October 21, 2021

What Are The Keys To A Life Of Travel?

 You only get one life in this world. So you should spend your time doing what you love. And if you’ve always been a keen explorer, then that means you should try to travel as much as possible. Alas, this is one of those things that’s easier to want than it is to do. However, it’s important to remember that you can get anything in this world if you want it badly enough. Just that thought alone will take you far! In this blog, we’re going to look at some actionable tips that’ll have you on your way towards travelling as much as possible.


Pexels - CC0 Licence


A Gung Ho Attitude


A gung ho attitude will be essential! You’ll be presented with many opportunities to travel throughout your life. How much you travel will depend on your readiness to say yes to those opportunities. It’s often easy to reject a traveling experience because of logistics, energy, or whatever else, but if you can find it within you to dig deep and say yes to any and all opportunities that come your way, then you’ll end up with plenty of stories later in life. It pays to have an “eh, why not?” attitude.


Flexible Working


One of the reasons why people don’t travel as much as they’d like to is because they have to work. Often, it’s not even about the money factor -- it’s a matter of having to be in the office. One way to get around this issue, and to make it possible to travel as much as you’d like, is to get a flexible working arrangement. There are a couple of ways to do this. You can talk to your boss about remote working, or you can start your own online business. Those options will mean you can work from anywhere. If you want to travel, then you’ll be able to do it!


Make It Easy


There’s no avoiding the fact that travel can be quite exhausting, however. It’s fun to plan a trip and discover things on the go, but it’s not something that you can do all the time. If you want to spend more of your time overseas, then look at making things easy. One way to do this is to look for apartments units for sale in the country of your choosing. If you have an overseas home, then you’ll be able to travel much more easily, since you’ll know that you have somewhere to stay, know where the supermarkets are, things like that. It’ll all be fluid.


Top Priority


Finally, remember that your life reflects what you prioritize. If you prioritize money, then you’ll end up wealthy. If you prioritize travel, then you’ll end up traveling. If you’re going to see as much of the world as possible, then you’ll need to consciously work on getting out into the world. There’ll be times when you feel like you’d rather just lie on the couch, but that’s not the right approach. There’s a world waiting for you!


Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Homecooked Meals In San Jose

TRAVELING MADE EASY.... is happening now in Malaysia, no need to apply for police permit or getting My Travel Pass approval.  Good or not good?  As for me, at the endof the day, we, the people have to take our own precaution, we have to face risks if we want to go out freely and at the same time, life just have to go on.  The virus is definitely now here to stay... 

Over here, I also try not to go out unnecessarily, the numbers here are low, just a few hundreds but we do not actually know the real figures, right?  So it is like in Malaysia, "sendiri jaga diri"..... 

So most days I prepare my own breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Breakfast as usual is very simple, followed by lunch, mostly noodles or leftover food from previous day and dinner, I try to have one or two dishes done by then.  Juggling an active baby who sleeps one hour nap in between, there is not much time to do what I want to do.  LOL... With this routine, my blog is often left neglected and for my readers, please forgive me if I have not run over to yours.  I will definitely try to keep mine alive... LOL... 

Breakfast... keeping healthy at times.... 
Kim Chi pancake...
Not so healthy at times too....
Noodles for lunch... 
An odd combination at times for dinner.... 
And sometimes too much for the three of us.... 
Definitely there will be some leftover for tomorrow's meal.... 

What NOT To Do When You're Involved In A Car Accident

There’s a whole lot of information out there about what you should do after a car accident, hence why we all understand the need to gather evidence, contact our insurers, and so on. However, with each accident leaving us vulnerable and shaken, it’s all too easy to forget these essential pointers and make additional mistakes to boot.


Unfortunately, these moments directly after an accident are the most crucial when it comes to seeking compensation, ensuring speedy recovery, and generally keeping our names out of the mud. Hence, no matter how emotionally hard-hitting an accident might be, it’s essential to keep your head about you at least enough to avoid these often fatal mistakes.


Image Source: CC0 License


Leaving without exchanging details


Most of us want to put accidents behind you as soon as possible. Obviously, that’s not an option if you’ve been involved in a major incident, but individuals involved in scrapes or bumps may be tempted to skip all the insurance stuff and just get going. Unfortunately, fleeing the scene of an accident is considered a crime in many states, and certainly won’t help you if things go to court. What’s more, taking the other driver’s number or word that they’re going to contribute towards repair is no guarantee of anything, leaving you open to being out of pocket even if they were at fault. Instead, you must take the time to exchange details, and contact your insurers on the scene to get the ball rolling and keep everything moving down official channels.


Admitting fault


If you fear that you’re to blame for an accident, it’s tempting to apologize and fess up, but this is another thing you need to avoid. After all, at this stage, anything you say can be used against you, and even the best car accident attorney will have difficulty defending someone who held their hands up straight away. Even if you don’t think that you’re saying anything wrong, you should especially avoid saying sorry in any respect or equally pointing the finger at the other driver. Instead, remain neutral, speak to the other party only as much as necessary, and most certainly never suggest that your driving was to blame.


Omitting emergency services


You might assume that it’s not necessary to contact emergency services if no one’s visibly injured. However, even a small crash is a crime scene, and seeking physical assessments and thorough police reporting ensures the documentation that you’re going to need should this ever go to court. Certainly, a clean bill of health after the accident will put the other party’s future claims of whiplash to bed without question, while accurate police reporting can help to ensure adequate accounts/photographs are taken of things exactly as they happened, rather than how the other party’s attorney may choose to paint them. 


It can be difficult to tick all the boxes when your hands are still shaking after an accident, but trust us, avoiding these mistakes is the best thing you could do to keep your name, and your finances, clear in the long run. 



Monday, October 18, 2021

7 Puppy Training Myths You Should Know As A New Owner

Statista data indicates that dogs are the most widely owned pet type across the US, with more than 63 million households owning at least one dog in 2019/20. Dog ownership comes with training since your dog must be well adjusted enough to function normally in society. However, there are numerous contrasting beliefs on the best ways to train a dog, giving rise to some persistent but false myths about dog training. Here are some of the biggest dog training myths you should know about and avoid when training your new puppy. 


  1. Some dog breeds are untrainable


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Border Collies and Poodles are commonly touted as the most intelligent dog breeds in the world. However, beagles and bloodhounds, ranked among the ten least intelligent dog breeds, are beloved members of countless police and customs departments. Consequently, every dog is trainable regardless of its breed, although many have behavioral quirks that make them behave differently than others. However, remember that not all dogs can learn and master all you teach them, just like humans. Therefore, your dog's failure at learning a particular trick is not necessarily proof that it is untrainable. Finally, it would be best to remember that your puppy is an individual even though it belongs to a breed known for particular traits.


  1. Certain dogs learn faster through physical punishment


This myth is one of the most harmful and widely believed misconceptions regarding dog training. Some trainers use shock collars and other types of physical punishment to correct undesirable behavior in dogs, insisting that this approach is harmless because it doesn't hurt the dogs that much. However, harming a dog transcends physical pain since you can damage them emotionally and mentally, creating a worse problem instead of fixing a basic one. Although dogs learn through many methods besides being rewarded, online dog trainers like www.puppytrainedright.com and other experts emphasize the benefit of positive reinforcement over negative reinforcement when training your pup. Research reveals that negative reinforcement in dog training can lead to aggression and fear and may be even less effective. Therefore, prioritize the positive reinforcement approach when teaching your pup to change old habits or adopt new behaviors.


  1. You can't teach an old dog new tricks


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The myth of an old dog's incapacity for learning new tricks is so pervasive that it is an adage. However, many dog trainers agree that age plays a minimal role in dog training, so old dogs can still learn new things. Your dog's behavior can be influenced by certain developmental stages that impact their behavior as adults, and there are things that your senior dog might not be able to do due to health limitations. Also, breaking bad habits in older dogs might be more challenging and require more time, but they can still learn new things. Older dogs are sometimes easier to train than puppies because they can focus better. Numerous adopted shelter dogs are living proof that new dogs can learn new things, so never shy away from buying or adopting a canine due to concerns over their age and capacity for learning.


  1. Dominance over your dog is key


This myth of dominating your dog likely came about due to a misunderstanding of how wolf packs work. In addition, many people misunderstand the relationship between dogs and wolves. To begin with, dogs are not wolves, and even wolves themselves have been proven not to act this way in nature. Even though a pack of wolves or wild dogs has leaders, they are not dominant dictators. Instead, the pack leader status typically rotates within a specific group and in particular situations. The idea that a human should be the pack leader is wrong since there is no data to support the concept of dominance overlapping between species. Consequently, you don't need to dominate your dog for training to be successful. You can have fun while training your dog instead of intimidating them all the time, and they will still respect you.


  1. Training is for problematic dogs only


Many owners ignore formal dog training until their dogs bark excessively, jump on people, tug too hard on their leashes, and exhibit other seemingly problematic behaviors. However, all of these things are everyday things that dogs do, so owners are training their canines to go against their inclinations. Therefore, most training is naturally focused on changing bad behavior, which is fine. However, training transcends behavior modification, so your pup doesn't have to do something terrible before you train it. Therefore, you can teach it a new sport or fun tricks to build a stronger bond and improve its response in particular situations.


  1. Training is once and for all


It isn't uncommon for many dog owners to assume that dog training is a single, formal period when your pup learns everything it needs to behave well throughout its life. However, except for basic behaviors that become habits, many things your dog learns need to be regularly refreshed to maintain their good behavior. Therefore, keep showing your dog the behaviors you appreciate to keep them motivated to perform them instead of being complacent. Also, you do not always need treats to ensure that your dog exhibits acceptable behavior. For instance, if you want your dog to remain on the floor instead of jumping at visitors, insist that guests pet it briefly upon arrival as reinforcement for its excellent behavior. 


  1. You should rub your dog’s nose in poop or pee after potty accidents


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You don't need to disrespect your canine by putting its nose in its "accidents" when potty training it for various reasons. For starters, dogs can't process that you are rubbing their noses in their mess because you don't want them to do their business indoors. Also, they can't feel guilty or ashamed and can't grasp the idea of delayed punishment. Therefore, rubbing your dog's nose in its mess may even make house training harder since it may end up hiding in the home to poop or pee due to not wanting to be punished. Instead, give your pup enough opportunities to go outside to relieve themselves and reward them anytime they eliminate outdoors to reinforce this positive behavior.





Lunar New Year 2024 Before And After

TODAY IS THE SIXTH DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR.... And this is the day when I am now free to blog a few lines to activate back my blog after a lon...