We catch up with media personality Jay-Jay Feeney to find out about her dog Kanye, who she shares with former husband, Dom Harvey.
TW: What breed is your dog?
JJF: He is a Sydney Silky. Dom said I could have a dog for my 40th birthday! We bought him from a breeder on Trademe for about $900. He is a purebred but we didn’t get papers with him, so he was a bit cheaper than official purebreds. The breeders named him Benji, but Dom immediately changed his name to Kanye. It’s quite embarrassing now, but at least we didn’t call him Diddy!
TW: How old is he?
He is 11. He was born February 13, 2014. We picked him up when he was 7 weeks old. He was my dog, but he and Dom are obsessed with each other, so now that we have separated, he lives with Dom. I see him every day though and he stays with me when Dom is away or at the gym, because Kanye hates being alone.
TW: What is his personality like?
He used to be so fun and playful, but he is a lot more chill in his old age. He is usually quiet and only barks when he wants to go to the toilet, or if someone comes to the door. He is a Terrier though, so if another dog passes him, he is likely to go nuts in their face! He’s very brave for a tiny little thing. He’s quite a diva. If he doesn’t want to do something, he won’t do it. He doesn’t do what he’s told unless you put on your grumpy voice. He’s quite funny really.
TW: Do they have any particular tricks or talents?
He is AMAZING with a ball. The bigger the ball, the better. Like, put a Swiss ball in front of him and he will go crazy with excitement. People often take videos and photos of him at the park because of his ball skills. You can kick a ball far away, and he will always nose it right back to your feet. He’s very good at guiding it, and he’s quick. He recently discovered a 5kg medicine ball, and he’s obsessed with it. It’s a bit more work than your average tennis ball though!
TW: Any not so good traits?
He sulks when he doesn’t get his own way, which is cute too. He will hide under the bed so you can’t get to him. He hates getting wet. So, when it’s raining, he refuses to go outside to the toilet. You have to carry him and plant him down, but he will just make a run for shelter.
He hates being alone, so we have to take him everywhere with us, or find someone to look after him, even if it’s just for a couple of hours. It’s a bit ridiculous. He’s really fussy with food, so he won’t eat anything new. In fact, he hates his dog biscuits and only eats them when he’s desperate. He prefers boiled chicken breast or steak. We have created a monster.
TW: What are some of their favourite places to go, and things to do?
He hates the water, but he loves running along the beach, and in long grass. He loves sniffing everything he walks past. He’s lucky he lives across from Victoria Park so Dom takes him over there to run amok every day.
TW: What are some of the best things about having a dog?
Absolute devotion. He worships us. Well, he worships Dom more, but I still get love when Dom is not there! He’s so warm and cute and funny. And he’s calming when I’ve had a rough day. I love it when he snuggles in. He’s a great conversation starter. I’ve had more chats with strangers than I expected to.
TW: What are you working on at the moment that you can share with The Wag?
I left radio 10 months ago and started a Podcast company with Dom called PodLab. We rent studios to people and businesses to record their podcasts and we help with the full production of podcasts, including ideation and content, when needed. It’s so much fun and I am loving watching the podcast industry grow in New Zealand. It’s an exciting medium, and it’s going to take over the world!
