My Dog and Me – Business Daily

Cynthia Ryan, a dog lover who owns a dog.Ryan currently has eight dogs that are a great mix of rescue, pedigree, and mixed breeds, including a Kenyan Shepherd.

A festive carnival for furry lovers, the Shaggy Dog Show was held a few weeks ago.

This year’s event was the first I’ve attended and I was able to see furs, paws, dog owners, trainers and animals traversing the vast grounds of Gongong Racecourse. It was just a gathering of enthusiasts.

More than just an event, it was also a large classroom where pet owners could sit in the front seat and see what proper pet ownership looks like.

Boerboel’s owner stood the furthest out of the entire fanfare, but with a slow-breathing monster at his feet, as if he needed his own space.

With jaws that could easily secure a car and a body that bobbed up and down like a living mountain, the brown South African Boerboel was a marvel for its size.

The dog’s name is Thabo and the owner is Maxwell Kering, one of the owners of the Kering Boerboels Kennels.

“Everyone who owns a Boerboel is drawn to the same things that originally drew me to this particular breed,” he says.

“The first is their intimidating size, how loyal they are to their owners, and their protective reputation, which comes as a state of their nature.”

“We got this particular breed from Lenana Boerboels, owner of one of the few remaining kennels that has a true purebred,” he adds.

He laments that Kenya’s market is flooded with substandard dogs because of the many inbreeding. “I bought mine for Sh120,000,” he says. This is the standard price for a pedigree Boerboel dog.

“A sabo weighs 65 kilograms and costs very little to groom. But his food punches my pocket,” he says.

Sabo the dog and Max Kelling are on their way to the 2022 Dogtoberfest.Photo | Pool

“Sabo eats about 1.8 kg of dog biscuits every day. I have five other dogs of the same breed, which means I have to buy five bags of dog food every two months. The specific bags of dog food I use run about Sh4,200 each.”

For those looking to own a Boerboel, Maxwell has some pointers from his experience spending eight months with Thabo and his pack.

“It’s a dominant breed, so it has to be equally dominant. It needs to be socially trained with people and children or it can become a very aggressive dog.” “You need to give them lots of space to run around, burn off their energy and be expressive. They’re not caged or kenneled dogs,” he says. warns you. “Boerboels are not apartment dogs.”

On Dominance, he advises that it’s all about setting proper boundaries so your dog can’t do whatever he pleases.

“Sabo has to wait until I tell him to eat before eating. Spending time with him every day to train him, and also taking long walks as often as possible. ” he says.

“This particular breed is not for first-time owners. Before selling your dog to anyone, you need to evaluate if you have the space and if you can afford such a large dog.” I have.”

He sells puppies for Sh70,000-Sh90,000. The kennel is in Eldoret, but he is in Nairobi for his dog show. “Black breeds are more popular in the market,” he says.

Also Read: How to Pick the Perfect Dog

Dog lover Cynthia Ryan, who was also on the show, now has eight dogs of mixed breeds, including Rescue, Pedigree, and a Kenyan Shepherd (Bosco).

When I met her, she was waiting for her car to take the dog home.

Dog trainer Ronald Ndolo and his dog Billy. Mr. Ndolo has earned Gold status in his training scheme for the Kennel club’s Good Citizen Dog. He actively participates in Labrador Retriever Club training and the East African Kennel Club Show.Photo | Pool

She has the largest pack on the show, a total of 7 dogs. Ryan said he only adopted dogs rescued from the Kenya Animal Conservation Association (KSPCA).

Dog shows are run by KSPCA and partners.

“Billy is 10,” she says. “He had been at KSPCA for over three years without anyone adopting him until we rescued him. He won his 3rd best rescue dog award. ”

Ryan enjoys training his dog. “We take them to the East African Kennel Club every Wednesday and do some more agility training, some more water retrieval training. We enter the Citizen competition, where the most successful dogs are awarded a gold or silver medal,” she says.

“The biggest hurdle to maintaining such a large herd, especially for larger breeds, is the cost of feeding,” she says.

“They eat kibble and eat as much as 14 kilograms a week,” she says.

“This is what I added to the grated vegetable and meat stew that I’m adding as a supplement to commercial foods.”

Thabo watching Dogtoberfest 2022 at Nairobi’s Waterfront Karen.Photo | Pool

A veterinarian fee will also be charged. “The last vet bill was Sh30,000,” he says.

Her pack is distinctive not because of its size, but because of the two largest breeds.

They are a mixed breed of South African Boerboel, Rhodesian Ridgeback and Great Dane, she says, born purely by chance.

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“I had two neighbors whose dogs weren’t spayed, but they started mating with each other. Now they have two large dogs,” she says.

Ryan adds that the best thing about owning a dog is that it offers unconditional love.

“They are always happy to see you. They live in the moment, they love to play and they bring a lot of joy. It gives reason, teaches young people responsibility, and most importantly adds a lot of positivity to their lives,” she says.

She doesn’t have a clear favorite. People usually think that their favorite is someone they spend a lot of time with, but most of the time that’s not the case.

“It’s usually the ones that are poorer, clingy, and require more attention compared to others. I much prefer the independent ones,” she says.

“I could have rescued more if I could, but I want to maintain a certain lifestyle that I can afford for these, so getting more would cost me even more than it does now. Handing over KSPCA puppies to new owners I may adopt him before, but if I have any more dogs, I think I’m done.”

All her dogs are sprayed and neutered. “If she has a hybrid, she doesn’t need to breed another breed from the pack,” she advises.

Most of the Kenyan purebreds are interbred, which makes them prone to hip and joint problems and watery eyes.

“I hate to say this, but men don’t want to be spayed because there is misinformation that neutering makes them less aggressive and defensive. I would like to have them spayed or neutered.They are developed through training and there is no avoiding neutering,” she adds.

In recent years, taxes on imported dog food have doubled prices, forcing dog owners to reassess the way they feed their dogs.

“Most of the dog food in Kenya is pure carbohydrates and has less protein, which dogs need more. If the packs were smaller, they would probably make their own food,” she says.

Her car was already parked, and everyone huddled behind the Rover when the door opened and she heard her name.

Billy sits up front as Herd’s senior, and Mbagati Herd has been known to exit the show quietly.

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