Show Notes
- Animals Care e.V.
- Dogorama App
- Hundelieb App (Apple App Store)
- Anzahl der Haustiere in deutschen Haushalten nach Tierarten in den Jahren 2000 bis 2021 (statista)
- Dog Training by Kikopup (Manuel's favorite dog training channel)
- Is it harmful to attach a leash to your dog’s neck? (Dogmantics)
- Hunderegister Berlin
- TASSO e.V.
- Having a dog in Germany (All About Berlin)
- Moving to the EU with Pets (Perpetual)
Transcript
Thank you to Goose for proof-reading this transcript.
Jae:
[0:09] How's Tofu doing?
Manuel:
[0:10] Tofu is doing fantastic. His full name is Tofu Friedrich. Because the day the the day I picked him up, my girlfriend wasn't there, and we hadn't kind of previously discussed what we would name our dog. And then I met, like, a neighbor or like, a friend ... like my neighbor's friend. And he was like, "You should give him some good old German name. He kind of looks like he could need a German name. He should be Friedrich." And I was like, "That's funny. Let's just call him Friedrich." Then Johanna comes home and she's like, "Friedrich? What are you talking about? He's white. And I always kind of wanted to name a dog, Tofu, so his name is going to be Tofu." And so Friedrich was relegated to the second name ... middle name. So it's Tofu Friedrich.
Jae:
[0:54] ... Middle name. Tofu fits him as well and also fits, I mean, the author's personality too. You guys are both vegans.
Manuel:
[1:06] Right. I kind of felt like that's too much on the nose, right? Like, I kind of, I ...
Jae:
[1:10] But I thought it was cute. Like it was, like, the perfect ...
Manuel:
[1:11] I hope it's cute, right? I don't want to be the kind of vegan who ... that's all they talk about and they constantly try to evangelize. What's the word? Evangelic ... Evangelize.
Jae:
[1:21] Kind of basically just, yeah, convince everybody.
Manuel:
[1:23] Yes. Right. I don't want to be that person and like, naming your dog, Tofu as a reminder that you should not eat meat. But it's really not meant that way. It's just he's white, and it's good ... Like, in terms of dog names, two syllables is good. I feel like most dogs have two-syllable names ... for a reason - because they can process it with their tiny little brains. You know, they're like: Oh! I understand those two syllables. That's me!
Jae:
[1:44] ... Two or one. Yeah.
[1:51] Anything longer than that, then you might as well have a child.
Manuel:
[1:55] Exactly. Exactly. Save those names for a child.
Jae:
[1:59] Yes. And I also like it, too, because it's not like a human name ... but it's still very playful, you know. And it's also very welcoming, too, because Tofu is a very, like calm, like just very ... Yeah, just a calm ...
Manuel:
[2:04] ... Right.
Jae:
[2:14] Honestly, just an angel child of a dog.
Manuel:
[2:16] That's right. See, in Poland you would never name a dog with a name that you would also give to a human. That's just not a thing. Like, they always name their dogs things that you don't name humans. In Germany, many people name their dogs whatever. Like our previous foster dog - that we didn't adopt but that spent some time with us - was named, Luna. And that is a name that you could give to a child as well. And I'm not saying that's wrong, I'm just saying it's kind of nice to have it a little bit separated.
Jae:
[2:52] Yeah, it's better than Susan or ...
Manuel:
[2:55] Right. Hannelore! Wolfgang!
Jae:
[2:57] And yeah, people have dogs that I'm just like: Hmm. So, like, what was the process for you guys getting this dog?
Fostering and Adopting a Dog
[3:08] It was a foster?
Manuel:
[3:11] Right. So I was never ... like, I really wanted a pet when I was a child. But then when I grew up, I kind of realized that having a pet also means responsibility and stuff like that, and kind of means that you can't do everything quite the same way, necessarily, as before.
[3:30] For example, I love cycling through Berlin, as you know, and Tofu hasn't yet learned to cycle with me, although it's on my list to teach him to kind of run along. You know, run, run alongside the bicycle so I can just go places. But anyway, Joanna, my partner, she really, really, really wanted and needed a dog. She had a dog before in her life. And and she's just a dog person all the way. And we so we did a thing where we fostered a dog twice. And this is actually a system that I would really recommend for anyone who wants to get a dog. I don't know if it's quite the same with cats - I don't think it works that way. But if you want a dog but you're not 100% sure, or even if you are 100% sure ... Like, first of all, obviously me being an animal rights activist or whatever, obviously I don't think you should buy a dog that was bred, I think you should adopt, because lots of dogs are in shelters and are being put down because the shelters are overcrowded. And obviously there are dogs that are that are more difficult sometimes, but not necessarily. Like you said, Tofu is an absolute angel of a dog. Like you couldn't ask for a more easygoing and easy-to-handle dog.
Jae:
[4:57] He doesn't even bark, y'all. He's like, so good.
Manuel:
[4:58] He doesn't even bark. Well, he does. There's one exception - he will bark at the vacuum cleaner. But that's, like, literally the only thing that will get him to bark ... is the vacuum.
Jae:
[5:04] Vacuum ...
Manuel:
[5:10] But ... so the thing is, if you just ... Oh, shit, someone's ... someone's moving my mouse! Oh, my God, someone's using my mouse! I left my mouse downstairs and someone's moving it.
Jae:
[5:21] Oh, I was like .... That's scary!
Manuel:
[5:23] Yeah, very scary! Let me turn off Bluetooth.
Jae:
[5:26] [Inaudible] was security.
Manuel:
[5:27] Yes. I even thought about turning it off, but I was like: No one's going to move this mouse. Why would they move this mouse? So ... the thing about, like, adopting a dog and ... sight unseen, basically, or based on pictures, is that you don't really know if you'll vibe with the dog, and what what the dog is actually like, and stuff. And so the organization that we worked with, that we got to know, is called Animals Care, which ... By the way, there's like a million organizations called Animals Care in all kinds of different spellings. So sometimes it's Animals' - kind of the genitive version, like the Animals' - and then the what's it called? Apostrophe - Care, like you're caring for the animals. Then sometimes the apostrophe will be between the L and the S, so it's the Animal's Care. And then in our case it's just Animals Care, so plural: Animals Care. I don't know ... I don't recommend, if you're like, starting a new organization to help animals, just don't call it Animals [/Animal's/Animals'] Care. It's ... there's too many and it's too ambiguous. Right. But the Animals Care ...
Jae:
[6:36] That's the one thing ... Who's caring for who?
Manuel:
[6:38] Exactly. Should it be it be named Humans Care anyway, since we're the ones caring? Like I don't think the animals care that much. They just want help! Anyway ...
[6:50] So, Animals Care is the the organization in Berlin. It's very small. It's not like... 'Organization' is too big of a word. It's basically a couple who devotes all of their free time to doing this, and they have a few volunteers that they work with, and they have a ...
[7:06] ... a shelter that they work with in Hungary, where there's lots of street dogs and - I don't know - other other dogs ending up in this shelter for one reason or another, and they don't have enough space. And so this organization basically goes there about once per month every two months, and brings dogs to Berlin. But they only bring as many dogs as they have foster families. So you can basically sign up to be a foster family. And then the way it works is, you get one of those dogs and you keep the dog for anywhere between two weeks and a few months, maximum. And during that time, first of all, you kind of get to know the dog and it takes two weeks for the dog to even, kind of, relax and show what they're really like. And then you figure out: Okay, you know, does the dog have any quirks? Are they okay with children? Are they okay around other dogs? Are they okay around cats, all those things. Then you, the foster family, kind of write a description and you take some pictures. Then the organization puts all of that up on the internet, and then people who want to adopt a dog can apply, essentially, or say: Hey, we we are interested in this dog. Then the organization connects those people that are interested with the foster family. They meet. The people who want to adopt can get to know the dog ...
[8:27] ... do a walk through the park with the dog, and decide: Do I really think this is the dog for me? The foster family gets to make the decision, like who would be the best fit? Like, which family do we feel like is the best home for this dog? And then those two entities get connected and there's a ... you know, an official contract being made between the organization and the family that adopts the dog. And then the dog goes to their forever family. And this system is really good, I feel like, because it just ... it reduces the chances of ... it's a huge problem, apparently, where people adopt a dog, and then change their mind and give the dog back. And I think this system is making it less likely that this will happen. And also, if you are like us, where you're like: We kind of really want a dog, but we're not quite sure if we're ready and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. You can just start fostering and you can just have a dog for a few weeks at a time - care for the dog, help make it happen that this dog gets adopted - but you're not signing up to care for the dog for the entire rest of their life. And here's the crucial part: as a foster family, you always have the first right of adoption. So, even if you are already 100% sure that you want to adopt a dog forever, you should still foster, because if the dog is perfect, you can say:
[9:52] We want to adopt the dog. So, this is what we did with Tofu. We just said, "This is the dog that we want to keep." And so, that was the end of it. We didn't have to compete with anybody else who also wants this perfect dog, and so it's just a great system. And if you want to adopt a dog, I would go to an organization that, has a similar system. And I will link to Animals Care - with no apostrophe - which we had really good experiences with.
Jae:
[10:20] I love that. And I completely agree with adopting. Don't shop. Adopt. I really like that. And those systems are just, I think, just, better generally, especially as, like you said, it kind of is like a trial period where ... because I think a lot of times what ends up happening with, like, adoption, like you go to, like, an animal shelter here [in the US] in like, let's say Austin, for example, and you want to adopt a dog but you don't really know if it's right for you. There's no really ... there's no big, like, test period where you can, like, take the dog to your place and see how it is. You maybe have like a temporary ... like you can play with the dog there, but once you adopt the dog, it's your dog. So most people ... and, like you mentioned, will just return the dog or just really, like, give it away again. And that just keeps this process going. And yeah, I just it's ... it's a lot more stress on the dog as well. I don't know if people realize that too. I mean, think about a child moving from home to home to home. Same thing for a dog. I actually ...
Manuel:
[11:28] Right. I mean, it's not quite the same, because I do think that dogs live very much in the present and they are ... like I don't think Tofu stresses much about his time in the shelter anymore. Whereas, right ... whereas the child I think, you know, if you keep on changing families, that really kind of traumatizes you potentially. But it is true that all of this is stressful for a dog. And tofu was super stressed out when he first arrived, and now he's just happy. A happy camper.
Jae:
[11:58] For sure. Yeah.
Groups and Apps to Hang Out with Dogs
[12:01] I would also recommend, like as well as like Animals Care or any organization, you can also look at Facebook groups. I temporarily had ... like, kind of fostered a dog for like, maybe like a week or so. And I found that through, like, a Facebook group. So there's always Facebook groups where people either find a dog or they're trying to foster a dog as well, which could be an option.
Manuel:
[12:25] That's a good point. There's ... yeah, I don't I don't ... I'm not on Facebook anymore, which ... Interestingly, I'm in Mexico right now and apparently Facebook is a huge thing here still, like every everything happens on Facebook. Most people know Easy German from Facebook, for example, which was a surprise to me. But there's actually social media apps specifically for these things. So there's one app called Dogorama. It is basically a social media app for people that already have a dog, and you can make other dog-owning friends, so that you can talk about your dog 24/7 without annoying your non-dog-owning friends, or you can go to the park together, and stuff like that. Or you know, sometimes there's, like, things that are relevant to dog owners. If there's, like, poison in some park that was found or whatever, you can find it there. And there's another app called Hundelieb, which is a social media app for people that can't have a dog - and we'll talk about some reasons why this might be the case - but who really want to spend time with dogs, and you can sign up, basically, and say: Hey, I can't have a dog but I need to spend, and want to spend, time with a dog, so I'm willing to take your dog out for a walk, or care for your dog if you're going away for the weekend. And that is a godsend for us now as well because ...
[13:53] ... as easy breezy as Tofu is, like we can't really leave him alone for extended periods of time. So if, for some reason, we both need to go to a place where we can't bring a dog, we can find help through this app.
Jae:
[14:05] That is really cool. I need to be on that app. I like watching dogs.
The Dogs (and Cats) (and Other Animals) of Germany
Manuel:
[14:11] So we jumped right into the whole 'me having a dog' topic. What's your impression of Berlin as far as dogs go? It's a pretty, like, dog-owner-y city, right? Like, lots of people have dogs.
Jae:
[14:27] A lot of people have dogs in Berlin. I like it. I always get confused. Like there's always a question of, like ... I mean, because Berlin houses a lot of flats and buildings and people aren't necessarily in a lot of houses, so when there's like a big dog, like, I don't ever know how well or how spacious Berlin is for those bigger dogs. But I will say that Berlin is a essentially dog-friendly city. You even see a lot of dogs - which is something you don't see in America a lot - a lot of unleashed dogs. So dogs just, you know, just roaming around or whatnot. And for the most part, I've found dogs to be very friendly. They don't come up to you and, like, pet you, or, like, allow you to pet them as much as, like, American dogs would be, but I've essentially liked the vibe there when it comes to when you see dogs, especially at the parks. The parks are the best place to go if you just want to just sit and just dog watch.
Manuel:
[15:31] Right. That's something that surprises me sometimes in other countries where people will literally come right up to the dog and start petting the dog without asking for permission. Like in Germany, it's very much expected that you ask before you get close to the dog, not just as a form of courtesy, but also, you never know how a dog reacts. Like ... yes ... not every dock is a Tofu ...
Jae:
[15:53] ... That dog can bite.
Manuel:
[15:57] ... that will just be very happy in either case. And you should always ask, and then very slowly approach the animal. In terms of animals, like, there is a statistic that I just pulled up, and maybe I can quiz you on this. So, how many millions of cats do you think live in German households?
Jae:
[16:26] How many millions of cats are ...
Manuel:
[16:27] So there's 82, 83 million people in Germany just as a reference. How many cats, do you think, are there?
Jae:
[16:36] Ooh! Well, cats breed a lot, so there's 82 ... Maybe at least 40 million?
Manuel:
[16:42] 40 million! That's ... that's too high. There's 16.7 million cats. But, I mean, these are cats that live in households. So normally ... I mean, I don't really know how cats breeding ... Are they usually sterilized? I don't know, but ...
Jae:
[16:59] No, because, I mean, there's a lot of like, you know, cats that just end up leaving their houses and stuff. Are there a lot of like ... I don't see it as that often, but are there a lot of stray cats, would you say? Yeah.
Manuel:
[17:09] I don't think so, no. I think most cats live in households. And sometimes there's this kind of arrangement where the cat can come and go as they please, but they do still belong to a specific household and that's where they go to eat, kind of thing. How many dogs, do you think, there are?
Jae:
[17:25] How many dogs ... And they were like [inaudible] 4 million ... I would say maybe 10 to 20 million dogs. Maybe 10 million.
Manuel:
[17:33] Yes, 10.3 million dogs in Germany, which to me seemed really high. Then there's like 5 million Kleintiere - I don't even know what that means. Like, I guess like, uh ... Like mice and stuff. And, uh ...
Jae:
[17:50] Oh, like a ...
Manuel:
[17:51] You know, what was the other animal that kids often want?
Jae:
[17:55] Like a ferret, or a hamster. A guinea pig, rabbits.
Manuel:
[17:57] Guinea pigs, and stuff. Hamsters, guinea pigs, those kinds of ... Yeah. Then 3.1 million birds, 2.3 million aquariums, and 1 million terrariums ... people holding snakes and stuff.
Jae:
[18:12] This is a random thing, but did you hear about the aquarium that bursted in Berlin?
Manuel:
[18:16] Oh, my God. Yeah, That was a disaster. There was this giant, giant, giant aquarium with, like, billions of liters of water, or whatever it was, that was somehow connected to sea life. Like, it wasn't technically theirs, but it was right next to it in a hotel, like in the middle of a hotel. And there was like an elevator going through it so you could see the fish from from within the elevator. And the thing just exploded - in the middle of the night, luckily, so no human was killed. But, like, hundreds of animals were killed and - just sad. Yeah.
Jae:
[18:52] Fish.
Manuel:
[18:55] But yeah, so I agree. I think ... I think Berlin is a city where lots of people have dogs. And like you said, you know, a lot of people live in apartments. I think it really depends on the animal. Like, I was also very worried about having a dog. Since we don't live in a giant apartment, we just live in a regular-sized apartment. But our dog isn't huge, and this living arrangement is much, much better than the shelter, so it's definitely an upgrade. And the most important thing is that the dog gets like 90 minutes to 2 hours of, like, exercise outside every day, right? If you can do that, then they're fine. But I do think the question - Are you ready for a dog? Can you actually have a dog? Should you have a dog - is an important question to ask.
Are You Ready For a Dog?
Jae:[19:48] Yes. And I want to also just make sure you all remember that a dog needs 90 [minutes] to 2 hours every day and it does not take winters off. So just keep that in mind.
Manuel:
[19:59] But that's actually one of the, like, huge upsides for me personally, where it's ... I'm such a workaholic and stuff and I ... I'm very prone to forgetting to take breaks or to go outside. And, like, there have been many days where I just didn't leave the house because I would just get up, start working, and then stop working, go back to bed, you know. And that's just not possible. when you have a dog. Like the dog will force you to go out and take a break. And that's great. I think that's really healthy.
Jae:
[20:28] Yeah, that's very true. That's very true. Okay, so the topics that you want to, once you get a dog ...
Manuel:
[20:35] Well, before you get a dog like ... This ... this whole question ... Like a good organization will also screen you, and interview you, and stuff. Like I think it's also really important to really make sure everybody who's involved is ready for a dog. Like, allergies are something that you need to consider and check, like: Is anybody allergic? Is everybody okay with the responsibilities and changes potential changes in lifestyle? Like, I really think no one should get a dog as, like, a Christmas present or like, kind of impromptu: Yes, this dog is cute. Let's adopt him. Like you should think about it long and hard, and kind of make a plan. And then something else you need to take into account before you adopt a dog, is ...
[21:24] ... the monetary situation, because there are costs associated. There's obviously food that you need to provide, but there's also some other things that we'll get into. And maybe the most important - and maybe the trickiest - for some people is, you need to get permission from your landlord. If you are renting, if you don't own a place, you cannot just bring an animal into the place. I think with, like, small animals that you don't necessarily need permission, but with a dog or a cat, you definitely need the permission from your landlord. In our case, it was surprisingly easy. I basically sent an email and said: We want to adopt this dog, and they sent back an email asking for the race of the dog and height and a photo. And we sent those things and they sent a permission for specifically this dog to live in our apartment. But I know from many people that some landlords will, for whatever reason, just say: No. And I think legally they can ... like they can just say, "I don't want any animals of this size living in my building."
Jae:
[22:38] Yeah, that's understandable. That's the same as it is here in America. You have to either pay a high fee, or some places are just facilities ... are just like no dogs or no cats allowed. And I mean, of course, there's people who kind of just go against that. But I just recommend ... Like I am a rebel, I love breaking the rules. But when it comes to housing situation, that's something you just don't want to play around with because they can kick you out. And housing is already hard to do ...
[23:11] ... there. Some other things that I would, like, think about before getting a dog, which I had to think about, is like: Yes, a dog seems great, and yes, you will always ... you could always have someone, you know, to watch your dog. But if you're a person who likes to go out, or likes to travel, and you won't be there with the dog most of the time, that's a big, big, big question of like: Is a dog worth it for you, necessarily?
Manuel:
[24:18] ... their own psychological problems ... that's a twist!
Jae:
[24:19] ... anxiety. Yes. So whenever I left, it got super ... Yes, I know. So it was like, whenever I left, it would get very, very, very, very anxious. And I felt so bad for, like, going to work or whatnot, I ended up, you know, like the foster family that I got it from. They ended up keeping the dog and that was great. And they had it. But like, that was something that like, was just ... for me, like, it was just my emotional support animal that I was then having to, you know, be the emotional support human for that dog. And you can't be both. Someone needs to be ...
Manuel:
[24:50] Yes. That's hilarious. Yeah, that is. But ...
Jae:
[24:53] Yes. Someone needs to be secure in this relationship.
Manuel:
[24:56] But it's a really good point. I mean, it is not like ... I mean, a dog will give you a lot, like they will give you everything they have, but it's not like they're something that you can consume and that you can get, and, like, they will make you feel great and they don't need anything in return. Like it's a creature, it's an animal, and it's a bilateral relationship. So it's a really good point. Yeah.
Jae:
[25:20] Yes. Exactly, Exactly. But I mean, like, if all those things check out and you're ready to get a dog, what do you do now?
Manuel:
[25:30] Right. So we're very dog-focused on this episode. I am ... That's obviously what I've recently become an expert on. I think it's a ... somewhat similar with cats. I think some things are a little bit easier with cats. I think most things are a little bit easier with cats, for whatever reason. But, basically, once you have a dog, the first thing that you need to do - or one of the first things that you need to do ... Well, let's let's try to go in order. Like I think the really first thing that you need to do is buy some stuff.
Stuff You Need to Buy Once You Have a Dog
[26:02] So you obviously need, like, a leash. And - you mentioned this before - like, Germany is somewhat chill about taking the leash off in many parks, and stuff like that. But technically in most parks, there ... you are supposed to keep your dog on a leash. And definitely, like, in public transport or when you're just walking through the city, you need to have your dog on a leash. So you need ... you need that. And something that I have learned is that you should definitely not put the leash on your dog's collar unless ... yeah, unless they're, like, so incredibly well trained that they will never, ever pull whatsoever, then it's fine.Jae:
[26:36] Please don't do that. Yeah.
Manuel:
[26:43] But if they pull, they are hurting themselves and they don't have, kind of, the human rationality where they say: Oh, this hurts, I will stop. Like, they just compartmentalize and if they see something that they want to chase, they'll chase it, even if they're literally cutting off their own circulation. So ...
Jae:
[27:01] I feel every time I see a dog ... like an owner ... with, like, their leash on their collar, I'm like ... I know that was, like, the old school way of doing things, but, like, in the 21st century, we have those body collars, you know.
Manuel:
[27:14] Right. That's what you need to get. And I will ... I can link ... Like I ... There's so much good content on YouTube in terms of dog training and stuff like that. And the way to make your dog not pull on the leash, is not to make him hurt, or to scare him, or, like, pull rapidly. It's training ... like you need to train, and it takes some time, but through positive reinforcement you need to train your dog to not do that, and then you'll be fine. But until you are at that point, you just need to have, like, a full body thing, where the dog is not hurting when they're pulling. Then you also need to get food, obviously, and, like, a little ... what are they called? What do dogs eat out of? It's not a plate humans eat from ... A dog bowl, right. Dog bowl.
Jae:
[28:03] A dog bowl.
Manuel:
[28:06] We ... obviously our dog is ridiculously spoiled, so he doesn't just have a dog bowl. He has, like, a dog bar that is made out of wood and is elevated so he doesn't have to lower his head too far.
Jae:
[28:14] Ooh!
[28:19] Oh, he's fancy! ... Only the best for Tofu!
Manuel:
[28:20] It's ridiculous. It is completely ... Only ... only the best for Tofu. He also ... Now, like, he's starting to have, like, a range of different collars, like he has an avocado collar. Now he also has a dinosaur collar.
Jae:
[28:35] Aw, it is so cute!
Manuel:
[28:36] It is. Yeah. It's turning into a whole thing. But I think those are the basics. Some other stuff you might need ... Forgetting now ...
Jae:
[28:47] Like a kennel for them, like for transportation, or if you want to like ...
Manuel:
[28:52] Right? Yeah.
Jae:
[28:53] ... like sometimes you need to dog-proof your house, so anything that a dog can get into. Definitely getting some, like, things for sockets, or like ...
Manuel:
[29:04] Right. Well, you know, sockets are fine. Like they're not children and they won't put their finger into the socket. But you do need a muzzle, even if the dog doesn't bite, if you're ever planning on any train rides, for example ... Like we had, we have a muzzle that we've never put on the dog, but we travel with the muzzle just in case that we're on a train and someone, like, says: Hey, you need to put on the muzzle. Yeah, you should have it, even if you don't really need it. And then there's just like tons of, like, useful stuff that you don't necessarily need, but that's just really useful. Like, for example, there's these little mats that stick onto glass or tile, and that you can put peanut butter on if you want to, like, clean the dog, but the dog hates water. You can put some peanut butter ... Or you need to, like, do anything to the dog, like, you need to ... Whatever you need to do to the dog that the dog doesn't want you to do, you can put some peanut butter and place it on the wall, and it will distract the dog. Stuff like that. Obviously toys are good, like a dog ... I don't think a dog needs as many toys as most children have. I think most children don't need as many toys as they have.
Jae:
[30:13] ... toys as they have.
Manuel:
[30:15] But like, the dog should have a toy, I think. Stuff like that. A brush, you know, the basics, but ...
Jae:
[30:24] What about ... like, is there any type of, like, medicine that you keep around for your dog just in case?
Manuel:
[30:28] Right? Yeah. So that's probably the next thing. So the dog that we adopted actually had a ... or has a disease. That is very common in dogs, especially when they're coming from, like, shelters and stuff. In German, it's called Herzwürmer. In English, it is called heartworm. That's the common name - dog heartworm. And it is a disease that is treatable, but it takes time. So yeah, basically we we need to treat the dog with like a ... with a medicine that he has to take every day. And the other thing that, even if the dog is healthy ... that you need to get, is something against ticks, because the dog will bring home lots of ticks otherwise, if you don't have something that you basically put either, like a special collar that you put around the neck, or something that you put on the fur, like, every month. But that's basically it.
Jae:
[31:33] Yeah. Speaking of ticks, like, what about, like, any bathing stuff? How often do you guys wash Tofu? Or do you guys take him to, like, a spa or something? A groomers. Groomers.
Manuel:
[31:39] Uh, so. Well, not at that level yet. It's interesting. Groomers aren't that big of a thing, as in other countries. I know in Argentina, it's huge, in the US as well. And generally speaking, most dogs don't need to be washed or bathed unless, like something terrible happens, essentially, which, depending on the dog, it can ... something terrible can happen regularly.
Jae:
[32:03] Pretty smelly.
Manuel:
[32:07] Right. And depending on where you go for the walks and stuff.
Jae:
[32:08] Yeah.
Manuel:
[32:10] But generally speaking, like, dogs clean themselves. We cleaned Tofu once when he arrived because he was just not in good condition. And then once when he decided to roll around in some other dog's shit.
Jae:
[32:28] Oh, no!
Manuel:
[32:29] So that was the moment where we're like: Okay, it's time for you ... it's time for another shower, which he did not enjoy but, I mean, that's what you get. But yeah, it's not ... not a regular thing. Like, you don't have to do it every week or anything, or even every month.
Finding a Vet
[32:44] But you then also need to like, find a vet. Like you ... even if the dog is fine, like the time will come when you need to go to a vet for for some reason. We were lucky to find one around the corner. That's really cool and really awesome and nice. The prices for, like, the things that vets do - I didn't know this - are essentially standardized, so it's not like one vet will undercut the other vet in price, it's just like standard prices, which just this year, or just last year, have gone up quite a bit. So that's something to consider. Like going to the vet for small things is expensive. If it's a big thing, if you know your dog gets seriously sick, that stuff adds up so that ... that can get expensive. So then in Berlin specifically ... It's different from state to state, but in Berlin you need to register your dog.Registering Your Dog in Berlin
[33:39] And this costs around €20. And then Berlin sends you a tag that you need to put on the collar ... collar. By the way, I have problems pronouncing the word, collar.Jae:
[33:52] Collar. It's like ... Like you're calling a person: Coll-or.
Manuel:
[33:53] Collar. Collar. Caller ... but not: Caller, but collar, collar, collar.
Jae:
[34:01] Collar. Yep. Just like that: Collar.
Manuel:
[34:03] It's interesting because it's close to the word, caller. Like the phone caller. And also color. Color ... the color. Yeah.
Jae:
[34:07] Yes, exactly. Color, color. Collar.
Manuel:
[34:11] English! English, man! You can learn it for decades and still struggle!
Jae:
[34:17] Stay with Jeremy!
Manuel:
[34:21] So yeah, the registration is, like, they send you a thing and and it has a number on it. And then obviously there is a tax. Hundesteuer Does this exist in the US? Do you have to pay taxes on your dog?
Jae:
[34:38] No, we don't.
Manuel:
[34:40] Okay. Yeah. So, I mean ... I mean, I think it's fair because, like, dogs are a strain on the city in a way.
Jae:
[34:42] ... Germans and their taxes! Woo-hoo!
Manuel:
[34:52] Right? Like you're ... obviously we're picking up all the poop and stuff. Like we're not ... like the dog isn't causing any additional dirt, but still, like that poop then goes into a bag and goes into a garbage can, and those garbage cans need to be emptied, and like, there's, you know, stuff. It does affect the city if there's lots of dogs. So I think it's fair for the city to ask for taxes. The thing is, I don't know exactly how high this tax is. I think it's around ... I think it depends on the on the breed or the race. Like I think ... or maybe not. I'm actually not sure. I think it's around €200 a year. The reason I don't know, is that if you adopt a dog from, like, a shelter, like if if the dog is a a rescue dog, then you ... the first five years are free, which is great.
Jae:
[35:45] That's really a great incentive to adopt.
Manuel:
[35:47] Yeah. Good incentive. And I think, yeah ... So I don't have to deal with that for another five years, and then we'll see how much it is.
Insurance
[35:57] So then you also definitely need insurance. Some people get health insurance for their dogs. We're not doing that. But ...Jae:
[36:05] What is the benefit in the ... like, what are the costs and benefits of getting health insurance for a dog?
Manuel:
[36:11] Well, just if like, like I already mentioned, like, vet bills can get very expensive if your dog, for example, has cancer and you want ... I don't even know, like, how you treat cancer in a dog. Like, as you can tell, I'm very new to all of this as well. But I just know, like, sometimes dogs need operations and stuff, or surgery or whatever, and that shit gets expensive, and you can insure against that. And so you can start paying when the dog is healthy. And then if that happens, the insurance will cover those costs. We're not doing that. We're just hoping for Tofu to, you know ... because he's getting his exercise, he's on a good diet, so hopefully he doesn't get sick.
Jae:
[36:52] He stays healthy. Yes.
Manuel:
[36:53] But the insurance that you do need to get, no matter what, is Haftpflichtversicherung, which is liability insurance, and this is something that, for one reason or another, is very specifically in Germany, like, important. Like, for some reason in the US, that's not quite as much of a thing, but as a human being, as a person, you need to get liability insurance, where if you break something, your liability insurance covers the cost for the third party that you broke the thing. And you could say like: Okay, well, if I break your phone, I'll just pay the phone out of pocket. But the idea is that if you, you know, if you have an accident or you do something where now the other person is in the wheelchair, like that's going to go into the millions and you're not going to be able to pay for that. And so that's what that insurance covers. It covers everything from: I dropped your phone and now you have to get a new one, to: I caused an accident and this person now needs rehabilitation for the rest of their life. And yeah, you don't need to specifically get one for your dog, your ... Or maybe you do? Like you need liability insurance so that if your dog breaks something that is covered ... and, yeah, I think, yeah, it's actually not included in in our liability insurance. It's like a separate contract specifically for the dog.
Jae:
[38:20] Yeah. And it's only ... It seems it's only mandatory in Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Tüb ...
Manuel:
[38:30] Tübingen. Yeah, yeah, it's ... Okay, yeah, it's only obligatory in those states, but you should really do it, no matter what. Because you never know, like ...
Jae:
[38:38] Yeah, it sounds like ... Yeah. Even, it covers getting another dog pregnant!
Manuel:
[38:44] Right, Right. Those things happen. I mean, our dog is castrated, so that's not going to happen. But dogs also, like, sometimes bite other dogs, and then that could get expensive. Like, you know, all of those things could happen. So definitely get it. It's not ... it's not expensive either. It's like a few euros a month.
Jae:
[39:03] Yeah, that's what it seems like, like €5 or something.
Manuel:
[39:06] Right. Then, talking about things that could go wrong, like, dogs can get lost, obviously.
If Your Dog Gets Lost
[39:17] And so there's different things. Like our dog is chipped, so it has like a ... By the way, how do you address the dog? Is it a he, or is it an it? This is another thing that I'm struggling with in the English language.Jae:
[39:28] I mean, it's your choice, I like to say, like: he or she.
Manuel:
[39:36] What if the dog is, like, gender fluid and hasn't decided? I'm just kidding.
Jae:
[39:42] Honestly, I thought about that, too. Then you could say: they or it. But I mean, I would prefer it as more like an object, you know? But even, like, a butterfly would be called an it, wouldn't it?
Manuel:
[39:54] What? Because they don't really have personality. Maybe it's connected to personality. If your dog doesn't have any personality, it's in it.
Jae:
[39:58] No. Yeah, well, yes, I mean, it's also - this a side tangent - but we humanize dogs. So I think that's also why we do he/him, or like, she/hers, because there's a human aspect to that dog. It's like a child.
Manuel:
[40:12] I feel like so many, like, dog experts and dog owners are going to listen to this and just roll. Like, just be like, what are you talking about? You have no idea what you're talking about! Please stop!
Jae:
[40:23] Look, we are novices. Just ... You guys are more than welcome to come on the show and teach us things.
Manuel:
[40:29] Right? This is not a dog podcast yet, although we could turn it into one if you asked us to. Anyway ...
Jae:
[40:37] Everyone is Moving to Berlin. Parentheses: (With dogs) ... All the dogs are ...
Manuel:
[40:41] Yeah. All the Dogs are Moving to Berlin ... So, I mean, dogs sometimes get lost, and so our dog has a chip and with a number, so ...
Jae:
[40:52] Is it an AirTag?
Manuel:
[40:53] No, so the AirTag doesn't help you? Some people do it, but the AirTag, like, only works if there's lots of other people around, and also, like, the object needs to be somewhat stationary. And dogs, when they run away, like they don't necessarily run towards people. They run into, like, a park, or a forest, or whatever. And the AirTag isn't really going to help you there.
[41:15] But yeah, so the chip ... Somebody like a vet can can scan the chip and then you have the number, but you should not rely on that. So you should ... Obviously there's the tag that Berlin gives you that also has a number, so that's good. But then I think it's a big process for Berlin to basically ... Like it's not a service that they offer where it's like: Okay, I found a dog, please, here's the number, give me the owner's data. I don't know if they even legally ... It's very complicated. And so there is a organization called TASSO, that's basically like ... just like, an association that people founded, where they will send you a tag with a number. And you register, and as part of the registration, you basically agree, like, if someone calls and says, "I have this number," they will give out the email address or phone number or they will contact you directly and say your dog has been found. And so just to make that process easier, if that ever happens, you know, someone ... And then obviously on top of that, you should just also put your own phone number on the collar. And so, yeah, we have all that. We have both of our phone numbers on the ... on the thing that the dog wears when we're outside, and it has the TASSO thing, where they ... And they also have like a photo of the dog and stuff, so, basically, if the dog ever gets lost, hopefully people will be able to connect him to us.
[42:44] Yes, I can hear your excitement about all of this information!
Jae:
[42:49] I'm just like: Yes, yes, yes, yes. Uh huh.
Manuel:
[42:50] Yes. So finally, I mean, then also I already mentioned this, but please pick up the poop. Like, before I owned a dog ...
💩
[43:00] ... I hated dog shit. And I still hate it. And you should ...Jae:
[43:04] It sucks when it's on a goddamn bike lane. I've seen that before.
Manuel:
[43:07] It sucks everywhere. It sucks everywhere. Like, it's just ... it's ... Yeah. When I see people just, like, letting their dogs poop, and then they just leave, it's just ... it's just no way to live, Like we're not in the Middle Ages. Like, you need to pick up that poop. And if you get caught without, like, poop bags on you by the Ordnungsamt, which apparently happens. Like, sometimes they check you. Like, if you're just walking around with your dog and the Ordnungsamt is there - they're checking cars, or whatever, that are parked - they might might ask you, like: Show us your poop bags! And if you can't show them your poop bags, you have to pay a fine. So ... But that should not be the motivation. The motivation should be: Keep your city clean, please.
Jae:
[43:48] Yes, exactly. And if you have trouble with your dog, and not pooping where they should be pooping, you could get a dog trainer.
Dog Trainers
[44:01] I'm just reading right now about like dog trainers and stuff like that. I'll send something to you, Manuel, to provide a list of certified dog trainers in Berlin.Manuel:
[44:12] Yeah, dog trainer is great, but also, like, there's so much good stuff on YouTube and if you have some time, like, you can ... you can try, yourself, before you hire someone. Yeah. One last thing that I also learned from some of these channels, like, first of all, like, look into the park situation near where you live, because it's like ... we're lucky that we have quite a few different green space options around where we live.
Parks
[44:37] And in general, Berlin is pretty good about having parks everywhere.Jae:
[44:40] Yeah. Very good.
Manuel:
[44:42] And something that I learned is that these these spaces where dogs can run around freely, like there's one in Mauerpark, there's one on Tempelhofer Feld, and stuff. Like they're great, and we've done it. And it's fun because you can take your dog off the leash, even if they don't necessarily ... like, if you don't trust them in some other environment, you know. But so many people say that it's super risky, because all of these dogs coming together without a leash ... like, a lot of accidents happen and dogs ... like, you know, either through rough play, or because there's this one aggressive dog that really shouldn't be there ...
Jae:
[45:16] Oh, yeah.
Manuel:
[45:22] But then, like in general, if you're not 100% sure that your dog is suitable for these places, I would avoid them. At least in the beginning.
Jae:
[45:33] That is a good point. Never thought about that. A question I have for you. So you guys, like you are vegan, totally vegan, but Tofu ...
Vegan Dog Food and Ethical Considerations
[45:41] Does Tofu eat meat, or is it possible for dogs to become vegan?Manuel:
[45:48] Controversial topic. Controversial topic. So I have read about this a little bit and talked to people a little bit, and I think there's no one fit. Like, I do think every human being can become a vegan and live a happy and healthy life, as long as you make sure to take your B12 and stuff like that. Like I really don't think there's a debate there. I know some people disagree, but I don't think humans need meat. I think the science, when it comes to dogs, is a little bit less clear. But I think that most dogs can live a very healthy and good life on a vegan diet. And there are companies that make vegan food for dogs. And yes, we are in the process of transitioning Tofu. Tofu is very easy breezy, like, he'll eat anything and he's just happy. And, like, we have these like snacks that are made out of carrots, and he sucks them up and loves them, so ... But it might not be the same for all dogs. We're transitioning him very slowly, where we're basically mixing in this vegan food and making the ratio higher and higher. And we plan at some point in the next few months to, like, give him 100% vegan food in the morning and at night.
[47:06] But we would still use meat-based treats to train and reward him. Like we're not going to be as strict as we are with ourselves in terms of that. Like, I think obviously dogs love meat, and it's a great, great motivator in terms of training and stuff like that. And I do think that that's important. And yeah, I think there's a balance to be struck. And I think if you don't ... if you're not ... if you don't agree or you don't believe that a dog can survive without meat, then maybe you could still do what we do, where it's like 50% meat and 50% a plant-based dog food option. I don't think that the dog needs to eat 100% meat all the time.
Jae:
[47:52] You know, that's a really good thing. Like I said, if anything, it's just about being mindful of what your dog is eating, and, you know, taking care of your dog.
Manuel:
[48:00] Right. And my personal opinion ... I mean, if we're going there, anybody who's still listening, I hope I hope we're at the point where I can give my personal opinion without getting, like, hate comments. But I ... I believe that all animals have a similar right to life. I don't think that a dog is a superior race and has ... Like I don't think it's justified to kill a cow so that the dog can eat meat. Like, I don't really believe that that's .ethical. And I also kind of believe that, like, we shouldn't breed dogs at all. Like we should adopt, and sterilize the dogs that are there. And I do think ... I mean, humans and dogs living together is a beautiful, beautiful thing. And we provide, I think, a lot of ... things to each other. But I think the fact that we are breeding dogs while there are so many dogs suffering, and other animals suffering, and living in the streets and being put down, this is not a good situation. So I think, adopt a dog, save a dog from being put down in the shelter, and then try to be mindful of the other animals that are basically being used to sustain that animal and yourself. That's my personal position.
Jae:
[49:19] I like that position, especially when it comes like the whole breeding dogs, kind of thing. Because I think you see a lot of times these dogs are bred, and I think sometimes even inbred, and there's just a lot of just, like, discrepancies when it comes to people who are breeding them and how they're taking care of these animals, so like that ... a lot of times they view animals like your iPhone or like just another product, you know, so they're not given the type of care they need to, and then they end up going into the adoption centers anyways. So I always just say: Just be mindful of anything. One more topic I wanted to talk about is: What if you already have a pet and you're moving to Germany or Berlin or the EU?
Bringing a Dog to Germany
[50:07] Neither one of us actually has all that experience with it. But I did some, like, little research, and apparently when moving to Germany with animals, you have to classify which type of animal you're moving. There's either commercial animals, which is more for business, and there's also non-commercial, which most of the people probably be, which is more personal reasons. I don't think if you're moving for work, that doesn't count as business, it will be like, this dog is for the business, that makes sense.[50:41] And then once you do get to the EU, you will need a pet passport. And also, it has to be identified by either a tattoo or a microchip. And if you're moving from outside of the EU, you also need a health certificate with proof of a valid rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before entry. And this will suffice in place of a pet passport, apparently. And then also, I'm not going to list it all out, but just be aware of the dog-breed restrictions as well. And then also just be aware of traveling with the dog. Like, I can already tell you right now, traveling from Texas to Berlin is already a strain on my body. I can only imagine how crazy that could be for a dog, too. So just really keep that in mind when you have have pets, because they're going to be ... probably, if they're big pet, they're going to be just kenneled up for those 10 to 13 hours, you know, and then whatever delays. So just always be mindful of that, too, if you're moving a dog from wherever you are, to Berlin.
Manuel:
[51:53] Totally. Those are really good points. And we're going to list those links that you found, that have a lot of information, even things that we didn't get to on this episode. And I totally agree. Like, think about all the things that you are going to do with your life, and the life you want to live, before you ... before you either get a dog or animal, or before you move to Berlin with your dog, and kind of consider all the factors. Because, in terms of traveling and stuff, it does change things. It makes things more complicated. But depending on ... on what you want, it can 100% be worth it.