Pets Corner

Is Your Cat Behaving Badly?

2009-03-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

If your cat is anything like mine then he or she loves to scratch at all kinds of things, things that you really do not want to see scratched up. Cats are one of the most amazing and wonderful pets to own but they can wreak havoc if you let them. You need to learn some techniques to keep the cats from their bad behavior.

Male cats tend to be the most trouble some of the species because they are the ones that are prone to spray. Spraying is one of the most terrible of all cat behaviors. This is a process of literally peeing on anything and everything. They spew urine out behind them in order to mark what they feel is their territory. The best way to treat this behavior is before it starts. The younger that you get your cat neutered the less likely he is to spray as he gets older. People are getting their cats fixed as early as 12 weeks.

If you are worried about getting your cat fixed this young talk to your vet and do some good research online. This is the age that the SPCA is getting this done on the cats that have take in. This is the best way to nip bad cat behavior in the bud, especially spraying.

Of course the most common cat problem of all is scratching. If your cat is scratching the furniture and you, any you have tried just about everything else you should give nail caps a try. These are little tiny caps that go over the end of the nails. They glue on like Press on Nails and they do not hurt your cat in any way. They do not even interfere with the claws ability withdraw into the paw. They are the perfect and painless way to keep your cat from doing any damage with his or her claws. Of course these are only for indoor cats.

About The Author
Dana Goldberg is the owner of Cat Center - all you would ever want to know about cats. In-depth information on all cat breeds, including history, personality, behavious, and more. http://www.catcenter.co.uk.

Pet Insurance – What's The Point?

2009-01-02T12:03:00.001-08:00

A survey published by Mintel recently revealed that 1 in 3 pets need an unplanned visit to the vet every year. So the odds that you'll be making a claim on your pet insurance are higher than the chances of you claiming on your home & contents policy or your motor insurance.

The word "unplanned" is key here. We don't mean routine treatments such as vaccinations or worming, you won't find a pet insurance policy that covers preventative treatments. Nor you will you able to get cover for ‘elective treatments', like neutering for example. Basically, the common reasons for visiting the vet cannot be insured against.

As I'm sure you're aware, it's the unplanned visits that are the expensive ones! Animal care has progressed a lot in recent years, and all kinds of maladies can be treated, at a horrendous cost. Emergency care is always expensive, and if your cat gets run over, you could be looking at a bill of £700 or more. A series of X-rays could cost £400, and you don't want to know how much a MRI scan could set you back – oh go on then - £1,000! If Dickens the Daschund breaks a leg then it can be treated – but how much will it cost? It could be close to £1,500 - that's a lot of money!

Now we've established that most reasons for a visit to the vet cannot be covered by insurance, so what is included?

Well, pet insurance plans come in 3 main guises:

The value of the claim for each condition or event is capped;

The total annual payout cannot exceed a set amount;

The payout per condition is limited and ceases to cover your pet after twelve months of treatment. This is the cheapest option.

Virtually all pet insurance policies will pay out if your pet dies. As with other types of insurance, you will have to pay an excess if you make a claim, usually £50 -£100.

The cost of the policy depends on which type of policy you want, how much excess you are prepared to pay, the kind of pet you have, its breed (rare breeds are more expensive), its age and even your post-code can make a difference to the premium (vets cost more in Chelsea). It's difficult to estimate because of all the variables, but an industry estimate suggests premiums from £30 - £200 per year for a cat and £50 - £500 for a dog.

The cheapest insurance is directed at young pets, and seeing as most pets can be insured from 8 weeks old and you can then continue insurance for its lifespan, that's the best way to go. If your pet is already 8 or 9 years old when you decide to get it insured, it may be difficult to get worthwhile cover. This is mainly because the exclusions will list existing health conditions, and at that age, it is likely that your pet will have some known conditions. In any case, at that age a new policy will be more costly.

There are a few ways to lower the premiums - some insurers will discount insurance if your pet has an identity chip, and if you are insuring more than one pet, you will be able to get a quantity discount. These are widely available for your second and subsequent insured pets.

To get the cheapest premiums, browse the Internet for deals. The Internet is a great place for cheap insurance of all kinds - your home, your car or pet, your holiday – all just a click away.

About The Author
Michael Challiner works as the editor of Brokers Online ( http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk ) who offer critical illness insurance (http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/critical-illness-cover/ ) and pet insurance ( http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/pet-insurance/ )

Collectors Of Wildlife Figurines Will Often Be A Reflection Of The Animal They Collect

2008-12-29T11:48:00.000-08:00

A passionate collector can depict a sense of what makes them who they are by simply surrounding themselves with an animal that display's the same attributes in the wild.

Wildlife Figurines are being sought after by a large cross section of society and one has to wonder what makes collecting wildlife figurines such a popular past time. It could be assumed that people feel a sense of emptiness when they think of how quickly the habitat of the earth's wildlife is diminishing, or they feel in awe of an animal or birds unique presence in the wild. Either way they feel an attachment and decide to surround themselves with wildlife figurines, art, sculptures, decor and so on. So if this is the case, then how does one choose the animal? Well I believe in most cases they don't, the animal chooses them.

It's obvious to me that the material used to make a wildlife figurine does not seem to matter as much as the actual animal itself. When people come to our site searching for wildlife figurines, rarely do they search for the form or material along with the animal, and I think it's because people are what they collect.

Eagles display authority in the air, and are seen this way, so a collector of eagle figurines may have a deep sense of gratitude towards authority or be an authoritarian themselves. The eagle is also known as the American eagle in North America and so a collector of American eagle figurines may feel a deep sense of patriotism.

A Dolphin has intellect and some people will see them this way, along with a sense of playfulness and willingness to swim with people. Collectors of dolphin figurines may themselves be playful or easy to get along with or admire intelligence.

Elephants display a strong desire to stay within their groups and have a strong family sense. They also mourn their losses, so a collector of elephant figurines may see family as their biggest priority in life and admire the elephant for doing the same.

The animal kingdom and it's constituents display a large variety of characteristics, some unique, some shared, and some beyond civilized human capabilities, yet a collector of wildlife figurines should always be able to connect to something that gives them inspiration, harmony and a sense of self purpose.

Lion figurines, Giraffe figurines, Swan figurines, Wolf figurines, Owl and Moose figurines and are some of the other more popular wildlife figurines available at [url:www.wildfigurines.com]Wild Figurines[/url], but we also sell bear figurines, horse figurines, duck figurines, tiger figurines and so on. The number of available animals, birds and sea creatures is at 66 and growing so there is bound to be an animal to suit everyone's inspirational and spiritual needs.

About The Author
Article written by Dean Whittingham, owner of www.wildfigurines.com.
Contact: info@wildfigurines.com

Setting Up An Enclosure For A Snake

2008-06-06T04:49:00.001-07:00

Maybe they're not exactly cuddly, but snakes make interesting pets. Regardless of the type of snake, from nice little corn snakes up to monster Burmese pythons, there are some principles that apply to setting up a cage or enclosure for a pet snake. One of the most important aspects is to make sure the enclosure is absolutely escape-proof.

Snakes are known to have Houdini tendencies when it comes to staying confined. Aquariums make good enclosures for snakes, but the lids have to fit tightly and be clipped on. Some owners make belts to attach around the enclosure for more security. Any doors or openings in the cage need to fit tightly or the snake will push against it trying to get out. Remember, most of them are pretty slim, so they don't need that big of an opening to slip out.

The size of the enclosure should reflect the size of the snake. Many babies are insecure in a large cage and even have trouble finding their food. It's usually advisable to put young snakes in smaller enclosures. To choose a size of cage for an adult snake, first measure the length of the snake. Get an enclosure with a perimeter that measures twice the length of the snake. For instance, a three foot long snake would do OK in an enclosure 12 by 24 inches.

The exception to the above rule is arboreal, or tree-dwelling, snakes. These need a taller enclosure with lots of branches for climbing.

A snake enclosure needs a material to cover the bottom, called a substrate. Newspaper can line the bottom of the enclosure, and makes a cheap surface that absorbs moisture and is easy to change when soiled. There are also special types of carpeting available at the pet store to use as a substrate. If you have two that fit, you can use one while washing the other.

Temperature is very important in a snake enclosure. Snakes are cold-blooded animals, and have to keep warm from outside sources. Ideally, a pet snake's cage will provide several choices in temperature so the animal can regulate its body heat. This is done by heating one end of the enclosure only. Heating methods include heating pads under half of the enclosure or heat lamps. If using a light, it will need to be off during the night hours.

Thermometers should be used to monitor the inside temperature. Requirements vary from one species to another. A pet store product called a "hot rock" is widely discouraged because it has a tendency to burn pet snakes. Using a heat lamp or infrared heating panel is a far better way to provide the snake with heat. Some snakes have specific humidity requirements, too. A hygrometer can be used to monitor humidity. Misting the enclosure from time to time can help keep it more humid when necessary.

The snake will need a water bowl. Ideally it should not tip easily. For most varieties of snake, it should be large enough to take a soak once in awhile. Keeping it only about a third full helps avoid soaking the substrate. Pottery and wide based pet food dishes work well for water bowls.

A final necessity in the enclosure is a place for the snake to hide. This can be as simple as a plastic dish with a hole cut in the side. Having two, one on each end of the enclosure, gives the snake a choice. Setting up a nice enclosure takes a little time and money, but will ensure your snake has comfort and security.

About The Author
Gary Ruplinger is the owner of Boatips, a site providing great information about pet snakes. To learn more about setting up a snake habitat, visit us at http://www.boatips.com/snakehabitatsetup/ and check out our boa constrictors page at http://www.boatips.com/boaconstrictors/.

Looking After Your Dog Part One - Personalized Dog Collars

2008-05-07T09:20:00.000-07:00

It is imperative that you purchase a personalized dog collar with an engraved metal plate, bearing the dog name and your contact number. This could save you a great deal of hassle if your dog were to go astray. If someone finds your wandering dog, he or she may contact you, thereby enabling an easy retrieval.

Most pet supplies stores don't charge a great deal extra for a personalized dog collar. You simply need to choose a durable dog collar and then have your contact information engraved on a metal plate, with the plate being firmly fixed onto the collar. No matter what style or material you choose for the collar, it is highly essential that you go in for a personalized dog collar.

Earlier, dog owners used to make do with engraved rabies tags, which listed the contact info of the dog's veterinarian. This practice could suffice if the wandering dog were found by a concerned citizen during the working hours of the vet. However, the vet's office isn't supposed to be open at all hours. Therefore, a personalized dog collar with the dog owner's contact info is far better than the archaic method of using rabies tags.

Though not realized often, another significant advantage of a personalized dog collar is that your dog won't experience extreme insecurity in case he does end up far from home. This is primarily because it will be comforted by people who call out his name, engraved on the personalized dog collar. Your dog won't feel as if he has wandered into a completely unknown and hostile territory. This will pacify your dog until you bring it back home.

Some people are frequent movers and often change their dwelling place. During the chaotic and arduous task of moving away to a new home, pet owners typically forget to have a renewed collar, which bears the updated contact information. Such slip-ups might result in your dog being lost. You must ensure that you regularly update the contact info by ordering a new personalized dog collar.

About The Author
Niall Kennedy is a lifelong dog lover and has worked in several pet sanctuaries. Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you information about many aspects of dog health and happiness. You will also find great deals on medication for dogs such as Frontline, Advantage and Revolution. http://www.Best-Pet-Health.info. http://www.dognewscenter.com - Dog Article Directory – Submit Your Articles Now
Copyright Best-Pet-Health.info. All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

Can I Put My Pet In My Will?

2008-04-19T08:10:00.001-07:00

Boca Raton, FLA --- Have you ever wondered what to do with your pet if you suddenly passed away? Who is going to take care of it? What if it gets sick and needs medical attention? Who is going to pay the medical bills? Who is going to pay for routine shots? These are many questions you may ask yourself in thinking about this confusing topic.

Stated in an article on www.animallaw.info, the Uniform Trust Act of 2000 does not allow you to will property to an animal per se, but it allows you to set up a trust for the continuing care of your pet. The Act itself is an example of the increased recognition of animal interests.

As of right now, there are roughly thirty-one states that now recognize pet trusts. These trusts allow for the owner to name a pet as a beneficiary and to name a trustee to take care of the pet.

Make plans for your pet.

According to an article written by Eileen Ambrose of The Baltimore Sun, it is important that people make plans for what will happen to their pet. And whether they end up creating a pet trust, setting money aside in a will for care or use some other means, the issues owners face will be similar. For instance, pet owners need to find a caretaker and someone to manage the money left behind for the pet's benefit. Usually the same person handles both roles. Look for someone who is responsible, capable of handling money and likes animals.

Other suggestions in the article encourage you to:

• Name one or two backups in case the trustee cannot fulfill the job.

•Make sure there is enough money to cover pet expenses.

• Write a care plan, basically a memo detailing the veterinarian's name.

• Include in the care plan the pet's routine, medications, likes and dislikes.

Drafting a Trust

You will want to include specific information in the trust.

• The name and address of a trustee and an alternate trustee.

• The name and address of the caregiver and an alternate caregiver. (It may be beneficial to name the same person as the trustee and the caregiver)

• Detailed information on the identity of your pet. (microchip or papers)

• The standard living and care you wish for your pet.

• A detailed description of the property that will fund the trust.

• Information on how the remainder of the trust should be distributed once your pet dies.

• Instructions on the final disposition of your pet's body.

According to an article by Richard Willing of USA Today, the average amount left to pets is about $25,000. It was also stated in the article that according to a 2000 survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association that Americans own roughly 68 million dogs and 73 million cats. The impulse to protect them after one's demise has always been strong and, for some, overwhelming.

Copyright 2006 Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp.

About The Author
Pete Glocker is employed in the Education and Charitable Services Department at Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp. ("DMCC"), a 501c(3) non-profit charitable organization located in Boca Raton, Florida. Pete graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a BA in Multimedia Journalism and was a web producer Intern for Tribune Interactive products Sun-Sentinel.com and SouthFlorida.com. DMCC provides free financial education, personal budget counseling, and debt management plans to consumers across the United States. Debt management plans offered by DMCC help consumers relieve the stress of excessive debt by reducing credit card interest rates, consolidating and lowering monthly payments, and stopping collection calls and late fees. DMCC financial counselors can be reached for free education materials, budget counseling and debt management plan quotes by calling 800-863-9011 or by visiting http://www.dmcccorp.org. Pete Glocker can be reached by email at pete@dmcccorp.org.

Horse Training: Train A Horse For Tomorrow

2008-04-09T12:22:00.000-07:00

Ever hear something and you thought to yourself, "Now that's profound!"

The statement was "Always train for tomorrow!"

I've heard it said many a time but for some reason it really hit me.

Sometimes that happens. You can hear something over and over but there's that one day when it makes a big impact.

I wonder why that is?

Where did I hear it? From Sam Burrell.

I'm finishing up with Sam Burrell who is our featured trainer for the January Super Stars Of Horse Training.

Sam is one of our favorites we feature in our horse training videos at: http://www.SuperStarsOfHorseTraining.com

And that one gold nugget of wisdom and many others are part of his golden chest of knowledge he willingly shared.

Anyway, what he meant by it was this.

Don't ask too much from your horse. Get even a tiny try or understanding from your horse.

Let him sleep on it for "tomorrow."

When you come back the next day and work with him you'd swear he was up all night studyin'and practicing it.

How true.

About The Author
Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author of several best selling horse training and horse care books. He is also well known for finding, interviewing, and filming expert horse trainers and making their expertise available to horse owners who want to learn different horse training tips and secrets and how to solve behaviorial issues with horses. For information visit his website at www.SuperStarsofHorseTraining.com.

Finding The Right Veterinarian For Your Labrador Retrievers

2008-04-07T14:49:00.001-07:00

One of the most difficult things the owner of a Labrador Retriever must do is chose the right veterinarian. With a little work upfront, you will be able to find a veterinarian that you will be comfortable with, and one that will be able to serve all of your Labradors long term needs.

One of the best ways to find a good veterinarian is to start by asking your family members and friends whom themselves own pets. Neighbors, groomers, and your fellow co-workers are other good sources. You can also search your local yellow pages under dog hospitals, veterinarians, and animal clinics. An excellent online source is located at www.pets911.com (punch in your zip code and it will locate veterinarians in your area).

Now that you have a potential list of vets, your selection process can begin.

Give each veterinarian a call and explain that you are looking for a new veterinarian for your Labrador Retriever, and you would like to meet with them to ask a few questions and to see their facility.

Typical questions and what to look for:

Fee and Services – some veterinarians are higher priced then others. Don't be hesitant to ask about prices.

? What methods of payment do they take?
? Do they accept a pet insurance plan?
? Is full payment expected on the day of visit?
? Are there discounts for multi-pet households?
? What is the range of services that the veterinarian provides (x-rays, blood test, heartworm test, etc)?

Office Hours

? What are regular office hours?
? Who will take over if the veterinarian is on vacation or out sick?

Emergency Care for your Labrador

? What should I do if the veterinarian is closed and my Labrador Retriever gets hurt or is sick?
? In case of an accident that requires an overnight stay, will someone be with my Labrador Retriever non-stop?

Observe the Staff

Observe the interaction with the veterinarian and with the other staff. Are they courteous and caring?

Facility

? Is the facility clean and well kept?
? How many veterinarians are in the practice?
? Are appointments required?
? Are the animals in separate cages?

The last thing you might want to do is to check with the Veterinarian Medical Board to check if any complaints have been filed against the practice.

Once you have finished making your visits with the veterinarians on your list, you should have a clear picture on what veterinarian you would like to use. If for some reason your first choice doesn't work out, you can always switch veterinarians to your next choice on your list.

By utilizing the above guidelines, you will be able to match the right veterinarian to what you are looking for, and to serving all of your Labrador Retrievers needs.

About The Author
Fay Fernandez is an experienced pet owner and creator of All About Labradors
All About Labradors provides quality Labrador articles, stories, Labrador product reviews and lots more. If you find this article useful, please visit allaboutlabradors.blogspot.com.

Saltwater Fish Tanks-- Ease Of Keeping Saltwater Fish At Home

2008-04-03T16:00:00.000-07:00

Having a collection of striking fish in your living room that are normally only found in the ocean provides serenity and is a great attraction for family and friends visiting your home. Although it may seem difficult to maintain or expensive to setup, having saltwater fish differs little from a normal tank.

One of the first steps in having a saltwater fish tank in your home is a review of your finances to determine that you have enough money to start and maintain your tank.Approximate start-up costs for a saltwater fish tank are around $500 (USD), which doesn't include the cost of fish or the upkeep.

The next step is to determine where your tank is going to be located and what type and size of tank you are going to purchase.Some tanks are small enough to sit on a table, while others come with their own stands.Particularly large tanks may require structural support so that the floor can bear the additional weight. When choosing the location for your tank, keep in mind its accessibility in regards to cleaning and maintenance.You must also select whether to have a glass or acrylic tank.Glass is easier to clean, but you can drill holes in acrylic tanks that allow filtration to occur out of sight underneath the tank.

After purchasing your tank you must buy other needed equipment such as a filter, air pump, and heater.You also need to choose a bed for the tank and a saltwater mixture which will create the best conditions for your fish.

Once you have purchased all your items except your fish, assemble your tank and test it out to make sure it runs properly.Once you're certain it works okay, continue to let cycle, making adjustments to get the tank to its optimal level for the fish you are going to purchase.Once this is done, it's time to take a trip to select your fish. The ocean, where saltwater fish live, is the largest of all the water bodies. It's home to millions of species – playful, colourful, savage and awe inspiring, and many of these varieties are appropriate and available for saltwater tanks. When you bring your fish home, keep the fish in the bag and place it in the tank.This will allow the fish to adjust to the temperature in your tank.After a few hours, add one-fourth cup of tank water to the bag to let the fish adjust slowly to the water, and within an hour, repeat this step four times.After that you can put the fish directly into the tank or hold it in a quarantine tank for a few days or weeks until you certain it is healthy and able to thrive in your tank water.This is highly recommended if you are adding this fish to a tank already housing other fish, as one sick fish can kill all the others in your tank.

Having a saltwater fish tank not only adds beauty but is also quite easy to do.Once you have purchased all your equipment, tested it out, bought your fish and attuned it to your tank, it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ease of keeping saltwater fish in your home and what they add to it.If you are looking for more information then please feel free to visit our site at http://www.saltwater-fishtank.com

About The Author
Ashley Barnard
Saltwater Fish Tanks Ease of keeping saltwater fish at home could not be simpler i have been keeping salt water fish now for 2 years and they really do make great pets. for more information please visit our site at http://www.saltwater-fishtank.com

Gymnastic to Increase Your Horse's Flexibility

2008-04-01T14:55:00.001-07:00

This exercise from eventing coach Jim Wofford's book Gymnastics: Systematic Training for Jumping Horses will help you increase your horse's gymnastic ability, balance and flexibility using cavalletti poles.

Editor's Note: This technique is one of 23 gymnastics designed to improve your horse's jumping skills that Wofford describes in his illustrated book, Gymnastics: Systematic Training for Jumping Horses.

After you have warmed your horse up at the walk, trot and canter, then trot into the exercise marked A in the sketch at right. Cavalletti set at this distance (4 ft., 6 in. apart) will produce a working trot for most horses.

These exercises are all designed for horses with some jumping experience. If your horse is extremely green he probably should not be attempting this exercise yet. However, if he is slightly inexperienced or is an experienced jumper but has not done much work over cavalletti you can pull the first and the third poles in towards the center line of the arena. This will produce a 9 ft. (2.7 m) distance between two poles. Horses find this exercise easier and will soon become stable and regular at the trot, which is always your goal. You can then put the four poles together and work in both directions over four of them on the ground. After you have established your horse's balance and rhythm here you can proceed to the curved poles in B.

At the posting trot, proceed on a circle in either direction through B. Keep your horse's direction adjusted so that the length of his step on the curve feels the same as it did over A.

Once you and your horse have become adept at this you can then start to enter, for example, closer to the 3 ft (90 cm) end of the poles where the distance is shorter and then let the horse angle away from the center of the circle. This will cause your horse to go from a working trot to a medium trot or possibly, if your angle becomes too great, even take a couple of steps of extended trot. If your horse takes two steps between the poles or breaks into a canter, you have probably asked too much flexibility from him. Aim closer to the 3 ft (90 cm) end of the curve, and enter B again at the posting trot.

Alternatively, you can enter from the outside of B, where the rails are farther apart. This will cause your horse to take quite a large step at first. Angle in towards the 3 ft (90 cm) distance between the last two poles. This will bring your horse back to a working trot or even a slightly collected trot. Having worked in both directions over B, including being able to angle both ways, you can then proceed to C.

The poles positioned at C, set at 5 ft. (1.5 m) apart, will produce the sensation of extended trot, and you may find that your horse cannot reach enough in his fourth step to get out over the last pole without "chipping in" an additional step. Simply remove the last pole and continue. You will find that, after a couple of days' work over cavalletti, your horse gets the message and you can replace the fourth pole. You should work in both directions over the 5 ft (1.5 m) poles at C until your horse can maintain his regularity and length of step. After a short break proceed to D.

These four rails on the ground, set at 4 ft. (1.2 m) apart, will produce a collected trot. Although these exercises can be ridden either posting or sitting, you should definitely use rising trot until your horse becomes adjusted to them. Again, work both ways through D until your horse is relaxed and steady in his balance and rhythm. He should be able to deal with the rails without any interruption in the flow of his movement, changing only the length of his step to adapt to the various distances that you have put in his path.

After another break you can now link these four elements together in order to produce various transitions that will be of great benefit in teaching your horse to be flexible. For example, enter A on the right hand in a working trot, where the rails are 4 ft., 6 in. (1.35 m) apart. As you leave A, turn right in such a fashion that you produce an arc through B which causes your horse to change the length of his step from working to collected trot. In other words, you would enter exercise B from the outside in. This will put your horse in a slightly collected frame. Proceed directly then to C, which will produce an extended trot. After the extended trot at C, turn right and enter the shorter cavalletti at D.

If your horse has difficulty with this you can do A, B and C as I have described and then in posting trot circle (or repeat a circle until your horse has settled down to working trot), turn and enter D, thus producing a collected trot. If you have successfully done this, walk, reward your horse and let him relax and consider his effort while you plan your next series of repetitions through these exercises. When you resume the posting trot, work in both directions and vary the relationship between the exercises to improve and confirm your horse's flexibility.

Take a moment to remind yourself of your horse's bad habits. If your horse tends to rush at the trot, he will not need too many applications of C. He should come from outside in rather than from inside out at B, as this will cause him to continually re-balance and collect his step rather than rushing forward. If, on the other hand, your horse is choppy-strided or lazy, a bit more emphasis on C and a few more repetitions at B, going from inside out, will teach him to lengthen his step.

The total amount of exercise over these rails in any one period should not exceed 45 minutes, including the periods of rest between exercises. These exercises will fit comfortably in a 75 ft. x 150 ft. (22.8 m x 45.7 m) arena.

Be sure to check out Jim Wofford's new column "Cross Country with Jim Wofford" in the May 2006 issue of Practical Horseman as he tackles the question: "What makes a great event horse?"

Wofford has represented the U.S. in eventing at three Olympics and two World Championships

About The Author
Shannon Margolis
Owner / Marketing Coordinator
www.horsegalore.com
View their website at: http://www.horsegalore.com

Dog Training The Gentle Way – The Sit Command

2008-03-08T07:44:00.001-08:00

Dog Training using positive reinforcement techniques is the gentle and humane way to teach your dog the rules. You will be fostering a loving relationship with your dog instead of intimidating and scaring your dog into submission. In this article you will learn the basic steps to teach your puppy or adult dog to sit.

1. Put a leash on your dog so they cannot wonder off while you are working with them.

2. Put some treats in a closed fist so they can smell them but not see them. If your dog sees the treat each time he will learn to only obey when you have food in your hands.

3. With your finger draw an invisible line from the dog's nose between the eyes to the top of the head as you say sit. The head will move back to follow your hand and therefore push the bottom down to the ground.

4. As soon as the dog's bottom touches the ground, say "Good Sit" and give them a treat and praise them excitedly.

Below are some Dog Training Tips for successfully training your dog to sit.

1. Keep your bait hand low. While moving your hand over the dogs head, make sure that your hand is not too high or the dog will jump to reach the treats. Your hand should only be a couple of inches over the dogs head.

2. Do not force the dog. Resist the urge to push the dog's bottom down if they are having a hard time learning how to sit. Just be patient and keep trying to slowly draw a line over their head with the treat and they will learn.

3. The dog will need to be weaned off the treats. During the first week use the treats heavily. During the second week start mixing the treats up giving every other time or every third time while continually using praise and excitement. After about 3 weeks treats will no longer be needed and you will be the only reward your dog will need.

4. Even after you wean off the treats, continue to use the sit hand signal as well as your voice. The benefit of using hand signals and voice commands simultaneously is so when you are in a situation where you cannot use your voice to give your dog some direction, such as talking on the phone, you can give your dog a quiet hand signal without disrupting your phone call.

5. Label your commands. When giving your dog a training command, label the action, not the dog. When your dog sits, tell them good sit, not good dog. Your dog will learn the command faster because they hear the command word again and they are praised for the specific command.

6. Keep training sessions short. If you are training a puppy, keep your training sessions under 10 minutes. It is best to have several short training sessions per day so that your dog will not get distracted.

7. Be consistent. Everyone in the family should be involved with training your dog. Children as well as adults should learn the commands so the dog sees ALL humans as dominate and therefore listens and obeys everyone equally.

About The Author
Jennifer Ivey is a positive reinforcement http://dogtrainingbehavior.blogspot.com who writes articles on many dog related topics. Read more of Jennifer's articles at http://www.bestdogarticles.com.

Horse Training: Does Your Horse Have The Feel?

2008-03-04T06:25:00.001-08:00

A while back I worked with horse trainer Aaron Mills while making horse training videos for http://www.SuperStarsOfHorseTraining.com

Aaron often used the term "baggage."

By that he meant, if you go to touch your horse's head does he flinch and move it away quickly nearly every time?

Baggage.

If you try to saddle him does he move off and not let you?

Baggage.

Later I hosted a horse training teleseminar with Aaron.

During this informative session, Aaron again talked about baggage.

We talked about how to work through it and to get the horse to trust that the baggage is not going to harm him.

We discussed the horse we filmed and how he did it.

Aaron transformed the horse from a "Don't touch or saddle me" scardey cat to an "Okay... you win...go ahead and saddle me - just be careful" horse.

How'd he do it?

As you watch the video it becomes painfully clear how patient you gotta be when you train a horse.

Another obvious thing is how much work it takes.

The next obvious thing is how often the horse does exactly as Aaron wants, then a few minutes later he doesn't.

That's just something you have to work though. That's where the patience thing comes in because you cannot realisticaly expect the horse to do what you ask every time once he's figured it out.

It takes repetitions.

You have to work through it because there's baggage.

You gotta go slow. You gotta look for the littlest cooperation and reward it.

When the video was done, Aaron had the horse following him like a shadow and was able to put the saddle on him and the horse accepted it and stood still with it on.

What a wonderful exercise it was to watch.

Here's a horse who's nature it is to flee and not trust yet Aaron had the horse following him and trusting him.

I don't care how many times I've seen it or done it, it's awesome to watch and exhilirating to accomplish.

About The Author
Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author of several best selling horse training and horse care books. He is also well known for finding, interviewing, and filming expert horse trainers and making their expertise available to horse owners who want to learn different horse training tips and secrets and how to solve behaviorial issues with horses. For information visit his website at www.SuperStarsofHorseTraining.com.

Tips On How To Groom Your Cat

2008-02-27T12:15:00.000-08:00

Before we begin to give you additional information on this topic, take a moment to think about what you already know.

Cats are basically very tidy creatures. They are in the habit of grooming themselves by licking every part of their body clean with their tongue.

This habit of tongue-bathing has several benefits to your pet cat:

- promotes better circulation of the blood
- gets rid of dead skin cells
- removes excess/dead hair on their coat
- tones their muscles
- keeps the fur soft and clean

Although your feline friends groom on their own, you should still do your part in keeping your cat clean and well-groomed.

Here are several ways to keep your cat well-groomed:

1. Brushing

Depending on the breed, your cat can either have long or short hair. Make sure that you brush your cat's coat well enough to promote proper grooming.

-For cats with short hair, use a brush with soft bristles so that the skin will not be scratched or hurt in the grooming process.

Use soft, gentle strokes while brushing. This should make them purr in pleasure and you will have an easier job of grooming your pet cat.

After brushing the coat with a comb, you can finish the job by wiping the fur with a dry, soft and clean piece of cloth. This should maintain the shine on your cat's coat.

-As compared to cats with shorter hair, long-haired cats would require more brushing time.

For this, use a comb with wide-teeth that is specially designed for cats. This should initially remove the knots and tangles on their fur.

Afterwards, you can use a fine-toothed comb to work the smaller knots on the fur and eliminate the more stubborn knots.

Do not forget to brush the hair around the face with a smaller comb or a toothbrush.

Avoid the eye and whisker area when brushing.

Brushing your cats fur on a regular basis will help keep their coat shiny and healthy, and will also give the owner and the pet some bonding time together.

2. Bathing

Cats do not often require bathing because they basically take good care of themselves when it comes to grooming.

However, there are some cases wherein you need to give them a bath no matter how you – and your pet – dread the chore.

You need to bath your cat if the coat has excessive dirt.

Sometimes, a substance that can possibly poison them sticks on the fur and it is vital to give them a bath in this case.

Another instance where you need to bath your cat is in case of fleas, ticks and lice clinging to their skin.

3. Cleaning the eyes and ears.

For the eyes and ears which are the most sensitive areas in your cat's body, there are solutions that you may use.

Choose one which is specifically designed to prevent cats with light-colored eyes to develop stains.

For the ears, cats collect a considerable amount or wax so you have to take care of it when grooming.

Removing this would maintain your cat's health and help prevent infections.

There are also cat wipes that you can use for the ears, eyes and teeth.

4. Keeping the paws clean.

Cats are in the habit of scratching surfaces so it is better to keep them away from the furniture items in the house. It would also help if you keep those paws clean and trim their nails.

You can go to a pet store and buy a nail trimmer specially designed for cats.

Ask your veterinarian for the proper way to trim your cats nails so as not to hurt them in the process.

If you find that your cat exhibits a not-so-healthy clawing habit, you may go for the option of declawing your cat.

This is a surgical procedure where the nails are permanently removed so that it will not grow back.

However, you should still ask your vets advice if you want to go for declawing because with this, cats will lose a natural defense mechanism.

A better and kinder option is to regularly trim the cat's nails, have them use a wooden post for scratching, or crate-training to prevent them from clawing at your most-treasured possessions.

By following these tips and making time in your busy schedule to groom your cat, you would have a healthy and happy cat and be a happy owner as well.

About The Author
Ken Charnely is webmaster at two of Internet's popular article directories. For more articles on this topic and for free content for your website visit http://www.articleteller.com/ and http://www.contentwow.com/

Dog obedience training

2008-02-19T05:38:00.001-08:00

Which dog owner won't feel proud of his disciplined dog? Reversely, who won't feel ashamed of an unruly dog? It is very important for your dog to be absolutely obedient to commands of his owner. You can't expect your dog to be obedient by birth or nature. You have to take pains to make him understand obey your commands.

Obedience training to your dog can be imparted in many ways - two of the more popular methods are typically carrot and stick methods. First method heavily depends on the stick or punishment approach. Second method deals with the reward system for the dog.

Leash and collar method of dog obedience training has survived for a long time now. It is primitive but still mostly followed. The premises of this training method are based here - leash will be the mode of communication with the dog. Dog must understand the commands, and if not obeyed to, leash should be put to action. Using leash alone is not sufficient - dog must be made aware of the good and bad behavior. Once tracked on the path to bad behavior, dog can be punished with the leash.

Reward system doesn't believe in punishing the dog. It follows psychological approach to deal with dog training. Dog is made to know the good parts of behavior and rewarded for the same. His ugly behavior is neglected in the form of psychological treatment. The trainer or owner walks away from the dog immediately after the show of bad behavior. Dog is an intelligent animal to understand the difference between the bad and good behavior.

Whatever technique is used for dog obedience training, it is important to know that the training must be consistent. Dogs get easily confused due to double standards employed. If you expect your dog never to jump on the bed, never let or invite him on the bed. Ensure that your dog never reaches the bed.

Obedience training starts on the fundamental issues like sitting, standing, walking, listening to your commands & following those, sitting in the car, etc.

The dog owner can easily impart obedience training. You may find alternates to this by getting your dog enrolled with some obedience classes or dog instructor. Evaluate all the training techniques, methods, equipment, infrastructure, experience, etc before taking the final decision on outside help. Remember, the most ideal way will be yourself to be the instructor. Your dog will love it.

About The Author
Ted Belfour is the founder of http://www.house-training-puppy.info and http://www.training-a-puppy.info websites providing information on dog training.
tedbelfour@yahoo.ca

How To Get Rid Of Fleas

2008-02-15T14:45:00.001-08:00

If you own a pet you will have fleas in the house from time to time. In some cases you may become infested with fleas. We have had as many as four cats at our house and we have been infested with fleas a few times. We only have two cats now so it is not as bad, but we still have to use the process I am about to tell you about.

You really don't have any control if your pet goes out of your yard, but you will need to spray your own yard about two times during the summer months with a good flea insecticide. If you kill all the fleas in your house with out killing the little pest in the yard you will continue to have a problem inside.

One of the main reasons a house will become infested with fleas is, after you vaccum your house and put the vaccum away, every flea that was in the vaccum bag will crawl right back out of the vaccum cleaner and into the house and start multiplying.

The way to stop this is to take the bag out, spray some flea insecticide in the bag and tape the hole of the bag up. Then spray the insecticide around the house. If you will repeat this process every two or three days for two weeks you will not be infested with fleas any more.

You can resume your normal schedule of vaccuming after you clear up the infestation, but you will still need to tape the vaccum bag up just in case you pet brings a couple of fleas in from outside.

About The Author
Clint Pollard is the webmaster of http://ncave.com/sites/germanshepherd.html.

How To Find A Puggle Dog

2008-02-05T05:02:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know what a " Puggle " is, a puggle is a mix-breed dog in which a pug dog is bred with a beagle.

Puggles have been the biggest rage in Hollywood as well as dog breed lovers alike.

Many ask where to find a good puggle dog and we have some good puggle answers. Puggles belong to the family of mixed breed dogs known as Designer Dogs and are often very expensive if bought at a pet shop. The problem with just buying these dogs from a pet shop is that there are many great mixed breed dogs that can easily be found at your local animal shelter or humane society.

I recently inquired about finding such dogs at a local shelter and they will even take down a wish-list of the type of dog you would like, so when your puggle shows up (or any other dog for that matter), you will be promptly notified. This is definitely a very humane method that gets overlooked often. Many upon many dog lovers have found their best companion from a animal shelter in which they would have been doomed for sure.

If you need a puggle puppy for sale quicker, check the paper, check the pet stores, check specific breeders of puggles but always remember to learn about their genetic history first.

A common problem that often exist is that people who are not commonly breeders will try to mate a pug and beagle without knowing anything about dog breeding and with little dog breed information. What often ends up happening as a result, the puggle will often have genetic disorders and problems as they get older. Another thing that many unskilled dog breeders overlook is temperment testing and finding the right mix to come out right. Puggle dogs are great animals and like any great animal they should be bred with respect and dignity.

It may seem like a contridiction in terms jumping from a animal shelter view to a qualified breeder view, but it all depends on the needs of the buyer. I personally would never want to see a love capable dog be put to sleep, however you do want a healthy dog that will be with you quite a long time. It is a catch 22 I guess.

Puggle breeders are often very trained breeders who take pride in breeding a very nice puppy. Much controversy has been brought up from purebred owners in claims that puggles are simply a mutt. This is somewhat true however Puggle dogs can be well bred like any other dog plus have less of a tendency to be inbred due to overbreeding. This makes a smarter dog with less emotional problems often times.

One thing is for certain though, puggle puppies are cute! Puggle puppies are sooo incredibley cute that they touch the hearts of all they come in counter with.

About The Author
Gage Killian
Pet Enthusiast, Web Designer
http://www.caninefacts.com
http://www.puggleluv.com
http://www.bpuggley.info

Finding A Dog Breeder

2008-02-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

If you're in the market for a purebred dog, you'll need to find a breeder from which to purchase the animal. This can often be as easy as opening the classified advertising section of your local newspaper, but you'll want to be sure that the breeder you've chosen is reputable. There are several ways to help ensure that the breeder you've found knows his stuff and is reliable, professional, and trustworthy.

Ask for References

Any good breeder will be able to provide you references of clients he has worked with in the past. These will be people who have purchased a puppy or utilized stud services and will be happy to share their experiences with you. Choosing a breeder that was used by someone you know is a good choice as well. If your friend or family member was happy with the service and treatment he or she received from the breeder, the odds are good that you will be as well.

Prepare to be Asked Questions

A good breeder will have as many questions for you as you have for him, perhaps more. Good breeders work to ensure that the dogs they breed are placed with the correct people. They may ask whether you have children, what size home or yard you have, and numerous other questions to help them let you know whether the dog you're seeking is right for you and your family. A breeder that doesn't ask these types of questions may be looking just for the money from the sale of the dog and is probably not the sort of breeder you want to do business with. A good breeder always has the best interest of both the dog and the clients in mind.

Guarantees

A good breeder will have had the puppies checked for potential health risks before ever selling the animal. Some problems, however, simply are not detectable until later in life. If you purchase a golden retriever pup, for example, and six months later discover that it has hip dysplasia (a genetic defect in the animals hip joints, it is often nearly undetectable until the animal is several months old), a good breeder will issue a refund to you, no questions asked. Genetic defects like this are avoided by the use of selective breeding (hip dysplasia in dogs has between a 25% and 85% chance that it is genetic in origin), but sometimes a pup will display the disorder even if there is no trace of it in either parent's history.

Other Sources

Aside from looking in the newspaper of on the internet for a dog breeder, breeders can be found through veterinarian's offices, pet supply stores, and at dog shows. Dog shows are a very good choice since the breeders that attend these events are often showing one of their dogs or are there to see the performance of one that they bred and sold in the past.

About The Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.doghealth411.com/ for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog travel.

Allergies – Dogs May Suffer Too

2008-01-28T15:21:00.000-08:00

Many people don't realize that their dogs, just like human beings, can suffer from allergies. In fact, about twenty percent of the dogs in the United States alone suffer from one allergy or another, with flea allergy dermatitis being the most common form of allergies in dogs. Other types include atopic dermatitis, food allergies, and inhalant allergies.

Signs and symptoms of dog allergies may vary but are often marked by persistent itching and discoloration of the skin (most common in skin allergies), coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and mucus discharge (most common in inhalant allergies), and nausea, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea (common to food allergies and other ailments.)

Over-the-counter preparations and treatments for common dog allergies exist and may be purchased at any good pet supply store, but care should be taken when choosing such treatments. Consultation with a vet is the best first course of action for several reasons. First of all, what you think is an allergic reaction may actually be signs of a more serious ailment and a vet should be the one to determine whether that is the case. Secondly, if the allergy is severe enough, over-the-counter treatments may not be sufficient to treat the symptoms and a prescription strength treatment may be required. There is also the chance that the dog does not have an allergy at all. The last thing you want to do is medicate your pet unnecessarily.

If you do think your dog has some type of allergy, consult your vet. The doctor will be able to perform tests to determine whether an allergic condition exists, how severe it is, and what the proper treatment will be. If the dog has an allergy to certain foods, it will be imperative to restrict the animal's diet to eliminate those items that cause a reaction. The vet's testing methods can help to determine whether this type of allergy exists as well. If the dog has flea allergy dermatitis (an allergic reaction to the saliva of fleas, rather than to the insects themselves), an extreme flea prevention regimen will be recommended.

Just like humans, dogs that suffer from various allergies can live comfortably with them if they are detected and treated properly. It is important to keep in mind that this is not a time to "play doctor" by attempting to diagnose and treat a possible allergic condition yourself. Only your veterinarian is qualified to determine whether your dog is suffering from allergies and what course of action to take.

About The Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.doghealth411.com/ for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog travel.

How Long Will My Cat Live?

2008-01-26T13:25:00.000-08:00

The answer to that depends upon several factors.

The care that you give your cat, the quality of the food that your cat eats, the kind of lifestyle that your cat lives. All these things play their part in the chances of your cat enjoying a long life.

Veterinary medicine has made some great advances in recent years, and this is one of the reasons the average age of domestic cats is increasing. A well cared for cat that is kept indoors and is fed a good nutritional diet, would be expected to live for about 15 years.

Some cats do live to 20 plus years and there are records of a few cats reaching over 30 years. These sort of ages for a cat are very much the exception however.

The genetic make up of a cat can be a factor in determining its life span. Some breeds of cat appear to be more resilient than others. Selective breeding can have the effect that some breeds are genetically prone to ailments which shorten their life expectancy. Mixed breeds, the typical moggie or mouser, is usually more vigorous in its genetic make up and may expect to live slightly longer than a pure breed cat.

Cats that are kept strictly as indoor only cats stand a better chance of living to a ripe old age than cats that are allowed outside. The reasons for this are many. Outdoor cats face danger from traffic, from being attacked by other cats or by other animals. They run increased risk of being accidentally poisoned by pesticides or deliberately poisoned by malicious humans. Outdoor cats are also at risk from catching feline diseases particularly from the feral cat population.

The are many things to consider in deciding to keep your cat as an indoor only cat or an outdoor-indoor cat, life expectancy is only one of them.

Overfeeding your cat is a good way to shorten its life. An overfed cat stands more chance of health problems than a cat that is weight controlled. Diabetes, arthritis, breathing difficulties, heart and liver disease can all result as a consequence of overfeeding. All of these conditions may mean your little pet not living a long and healthy feline life. Your veterinarian can advise on the best diet for your cat.

Exercise too, is important for your cat's health and in maintaining its weight. Healthy cats mostly exercise themselves of course, but the playtime you enjoy with your cat can contribute to keeping kitty healthy. Elderly cats particularly benefit from gentle play-exercise.

Regular visits to the vets for routine checks will give your cat the best chance to live a long life, and to live that life healthily. Many life shortening problems can be tackled successfully if detected early.

Neutered or spayed cats often enjoy a slightly longer life than unaltered felines. This is particularly so for male cats as an unaltered male will often receive injuries defending his territory. There are many other good reasons for spaying and neutering of course, aside from extending the life of your cat.

About The Author
Larry Chamberlain
If you have a pet related web site and you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and live link to http://www.best-cat-art.com. Cat art posters, art prints, cat calendars and cat collectibles. Great cat gifts for yourself or your cat loving friends.

Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) In Dogs

2008-01-22T05:15:00.000-08:00

The canine distemper virus (CDV) causes a highly contagious disease in dogs known as distemper. Dogs who contract distemper suffer damage to their gastrointestinal, central nervous and respiratory systems. Distemper is incurable and often fatal.

Puppies between the ages of three and six months are most susceptible to the disease, although older dogs and other carnivorous mammals can also contract distemper. At one time, distemper was the leading cause of death among puppies that had not been vaccinated. Since the distemper vaccine was created in the early 60s, incidents of distemper and distemper related deaths have dropped considerably.

CDV is transmitted via airborne viral particles that dogs inhale. Infected dogs also shed the virus through bodily secretions and excretions. In this manner it is easy for an infected dog to cause the infection of another dog.

Distemper causes a multitude of symptoms that include various respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms to central nervous system disorders. In fact, dogs that die as a result of distemper actually die from central nervous complications caused by the disease or from secondary bacterial infections.

Diagnosing distemper is difficult for a veterinarian to diagnose as blood tests are not helpful in detecting the presence of CDV. Successful diagnosis often relies on the ruling out of comparative disorders whose symptoms can often suggest the presence of CDV.

Because there is no cure for distemper, treatment for the disease is supportive and a vet will attempt to treat the symptoms as best as possible. A clean, warm, and draft free environment should be created and maintained to ensure the dog is as comfortable as possible. The eyes and nose should be kept free of discharge, and medication to treat diarrhea should be administered. Dogs suffering from distemper must be given plenty of fluids to help reduce fever and prevent dehydration. Other symptoms are treated as they appear if possible.

Like any viral disease, prevention is a much better and more successful option than treatment and the best option is vaccination during the early weeks of life. The distemper vaccination creates a long lasting immunity to the virus, but it is not permanent. Annual inoculations are recommended to maintain the dog's immunity to distemper. Most puppies are given vaccinations that include distemper vaccine along with vaccines for several other diseases.

About The Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.doghealth411.com/ for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog travel.

How to Find a Certified Dog Trainer

2008-01-12T13:32:00.001-08:00

Are you in the market for a dog trainer? Do you want your dog to learn from a top notch certified dog trainer? You may have dreams of seeing your dog in professional dog competitions and shows. Therefore, you need to have your dog trained by a certified dog trainer to ensure the best results.

Why should you hire a certified dog trainer instead of a basic dog trainer? A certified dog trainer is one that takes their dog training career seriously enough to become certified. You can feel comfortable in the fact that they have met high dog training standards and passed certification exams and tests. You don't want a fly-by-night dog trainer, but a certified dog trainer that is in it for the long haul.

How do you find a certified dog trainer? There are numerous dog trainers available in the market place today. Dog trainers range in age, skill level, and experience. Your neighbor might tell you that they are a dog trainer because they have read a few books on the subject and taught their dog to fetch the newspaper. This is not sufficient dog training experience.

You should consult a variety of resources. Try asking your dog breeder, groomer, and veterinarian. They can direct you to local dog training schools that have certified dog trainers on their faculty. Various pet supply stores have dog training programs that train and certify their dog trainers. Example pet supply stores include PETCO.

However, research what they mean by "certification". Is the certification by PETCO standards only or by a universal certification? Find out what the requirements are for their certified dog trainers. Only then can you determine if their dog trainers will supply the skill level and experience you desire.

You need to find a dog trainer that has had comprehensive training and can proudly demonstrate that they are a certified dog trainer. Be aware, though, that there are many "certified dog training" schools and home correspondence courses available. Not all of these schools are credible nor do they provide proper instruction. You need to find a dog trainer that has certification as described by the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers.

The Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers is a well respected organization that provides testing and certification services for dog trainers. They administer specific dog training tests in various states around the country approximately twice per year. These intensive tests root out the professional dog trainer from the average dog trainer. Check out their website at: http://www.ccpdt.org/.

The Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers also provides a listing of certified dog trainers. You can search through this listing to find a certified dog trainer in your area. This roster of certified dog trainers comprises certified dog trainers all over the world. The certified dog trainer list will give you their contact information including name, city, phone number, and e-mail address. Another great feature is that they list the date the dog trainer became certified. This will let you know how many years they have been in the dog training business. Peruse the list at: http://ccpdt.org/rstr/index.html.

Certified pet trainers do not only need to pass a certification exam and testing, they must also continue their education through workshops, conferences, and other means. When selecting a certified dog trainer ask them about the extent of their continuing education. You want a certified dog trainer that continues to hone their craft. They should actively learning about various dog training methods. This demonstrates that they are committed to providing the best dog training.

A certified dog trainer should have at least three to five years of dog training experience. This is especially true if they charge higher fees. You can take the plunge with a newly certified dog trainer if cost is an issue. Newly certified dog trainers may charge lower rates in order to establish a list of clients and garner experience. "Master" certified dog trainers are those that have twenty to thirty years of experience. They may have great skill and in depth background experience, but may come at a higher price.

You have the beginning knowledge regarding finding a certified dog trainer. Spend time searching resources available through your dog breeder, veterinarian, and pet supply store. Scour the book store, library, and Internet for detailed information. You can find a certified dog trainer in your area as well.

You wouldn't go to an unlicensed doctor would you? So why would go to a trainer that is not certified? Certified dog trainers are out there and ready to help you and your pooch learn valuable skills. They are committed to your dog, their career, and learning everything they can about becoming a top notch dog trainer. Who knows, your certified dog trainer may help your dog win the Westminster dog show. Not only would your dog be trained well and achieve glory, but the expense would be well worth it.

About The Author
Katie Brandt, a lifelong dog lover, owns http://www.dog-breeds-infosite.com which is the ultimate dog lover's resource. Research dog breeds & get free tips on dog training, dog supplies, dog health, dog school, dog grooming, dog books, and dog care.

Dental Care For Dogs

2008-01-04T05:02:00.001-08:00

Some people don't realize that dental hygiene is as important for dogs as it is for human beings. Just like in people, dogs' teeth can gather plaque after eating. When plaque builds up and hardens it becomes a coarse brown substance called tartar. As tartar accumulates it can work its way under the gums and cause painful infections and gum disease. This goes on in the mouths of dogs just like it does in people. You brush your teeth every day, probably three times. What does your dog do?

Teeth Brushing for Doggies

Veterinarians recommend that dog owners brush their dog's teeth at least twice a week to keep the buildup of tartar at a minimum. Most pet supply stores carry specially designed toothbrushes and toothpaste just for dogs. Remember that a dog's sense of taste and smell is far more acute than that of a human and the zesty, tingly, mint taste of toothpastes for people will be extremely awful to a dog. Try brushing Rover's teeth with Crest just once and it will likely be the last time he lets you anywhere near him with a toothbrush. Use the specially designed doggie toothpaste.

Dental Chew

Some people don't have the time or patience to brush their dogs' teeth on a regular basis. If you're one of these, you'll want to care for Chopper's choppers in another way. A dog's natural tendency to chew is a built-in dental care mechanism. Dog biscuits break into small chunks when chewed and rub against the teeth, providing a cleaning service. There's no substitute for brushing your dog's teeth, but if you can't do that, make sure he gets some sort of crunchy dog biscuit on a regular basis.

Mouth Diseases in Dogs

Dogs that do not receive proper dental care and do not have access to crunchy teeth cleaning foods run the risk of several types of mouth disease. These can be as mild as gingivitis (a gum disease that results in swollen, inflamed gums) and as serious as a bacterial infection that can spread through the dog's bloodstream causing damage to vital organs. You owe it to yourself and your dog to take care of his teeth.

Doggie Dentistry

Dental services are available for dogs, just like they are for people. A dog's teeth can be filled, capped, and extracted if necessary, just like a human's. The best course of action, however, is to avoid the need for such services by properly caring for your dog's teeth. If you can avoid unnecessary pain and discomfort for your furry friend, you should do so. Preventative doggie dental care can save you money as well. Doggie dental procedures can be quite costly.

About The Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.doghealth411.com/ for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog travel.

Clicks Instead Of 'Good Boy' For Dog Training

2007-12-31T07:21:00.001-08:00

The first major improvement in dog training since choke chains and spiked collars, click and treat has quickly establishing itself in becoming a big hit in the world of dog training. Currently, there are over 10,000 trainers who are using this training method everyday.

One advantage to using this form of training at home is it's easy to learn for both the dog and his trainer!

Originally used to train marine mammals, click and treat breaks down the process into two separate steps, information and motivation. The click is the information, the treat is the motivation. While other trainers still work on these two steps, they try to teach them all at once, which can confuse the animal and slow down results.

Most trainers will verbally praise a dog for good behavior, while at the same time motivating the dog to repeat his actions. This can be a good method, however it takes longer for the dog to understand which behaviors and actions caused the praise from the trainer.

With the click and treat method, the processes are easily taught. In normal training, a person would say "good boy" when a welcomed action occurs and proceed with giving a treat. The clicker becomes a substitute for verbal praise and can actually catch the "good boy" behavior quicker than saying it, letting the dog know exactly which behavior he is being rewarded for.

Another way to look at click and treat training is viewing it as a secondary reinforcement, while food, water, physical affection and play (things the dog wants) become primary reinforcement. When you take a dog for a walk, the leash works as a secondary reinforcement. It is obvious to the dog that the leash is not taking him for a walk; the owner is, however, it triggers a reaction in the dog, telling him that the leash will let him know where he will go and where he will not. And if he reacts to the leash with good behavior, his reward will be a nice leisurely walk.

Click and treat works the same way. When a dog hears the clicker, he will know that he performed a good behavior and as long as he keeps hearing a click, there is a treat coming his way. So, the clicker works as a secondary reinforcement, teaching him boundaries and appropriate behavior.

A couple advantages of the click and treat method include;

1) Faster response than verbal praise. The clicker can identify the exact behavior at the time it happens.

2) It takes the place of treats. While motivating the dog to hear clicks, it will also teach him to work without the expectations of having treats given to him each time he does something good.

3) If the trainer is working at a distance from the dog, the clicker will still work, without having to be right next him.

Are you ready to try clicker training?

The first thing you'll need to do is go to your favorite pet supply store and invest in a clicker. The clicker is nothing fancy and should just cost you under five dollars. While you're there grab some pocket treats, little bits of dried liver work well.

A good method to use when getting started with click and treat is to stand in front of the animal. Click the clicker and give a treat. Continue doing this for 20-30 minutes, or until the dog becomes startled by the sound of the click. This will familiarize him to the clicking sound, while teaching him that every time he hears it, he has done something good. After he gets the hang of it, begin by adding commands, such as "sit" and "stay."

Click and treat has proven to be a simple, yet consistent training method with quick results. So for the trainers out there who are looking for a new and innovative way to motivate and praise their animals, get out there, buy a clicker and... click!

About The Author
Ann Doyle is an avid dog lover, and has been for years. Visit her blog at http://www.abetterdog.com.

Planning for a Pet Friendly Holiday

2007-12-29T08:23:00.000-08:00

These days many holiday venues will happily allow you to bring your pet along - a move that has been welcomed by many loving pet owners and their four-legged charges. In Australia these venues tend to be Bed and Breakfasts, self-contained cottages or apartments, Farm Stays and are likely to be located outside of the capital cities and ideal for a driving holiday. In other countries such as the USA and much of Europe they can also include many motels and hotels, often located in major cities and towns.

In fact, pet friendly holidaying is becoming a very popular travel alternative. You'll save on boarding costs and enjoy a holiday with all members of your family. Many even allow you to have your pet inside with you, if this is the arrangement that you have at home.

There are some wonderful resources that make the task of finding a pet friendly holiday venue as easy as possible, and these days the Internet means that you can even picture the venue before you get there. Select a few venues that appeal then contact each one to see what they mean by pet friendly. Once you have found a suitable holiday venue try to book ahead - quality venues often find themselves booked up weeks, even months in advance.

If you plan to hire a car for the journey, many rental car companies will allow you to take your pet. You can protect the seats with a blanket or purpose built commercial product. The general rule is that you must return the car in the condition you found it, or cover the costs of cleaning or even dry cleaning.

Important Considerations

Because you're taking your pet with you there are a few extra considerations:

1. Most venues will require you to bring your pets food and water bowls, and bedding

2. Make sure that your pet is restrained in a crate or quality car harness. This is for the safety of your pet, your passengers and yourself. Protection for your upholstery is a wise move

3. Pack plenty of food for your pet, especially if your chosen holiday venue is in a remote location - a supermarket can be quite a drive away

4. Make sure your pet is collared, with current registration and contact information. If you have a mobile telephone it can be very useful to have this on the tag itself. I mean, what's the point of having only your home number listed if you won't be there?

5. There will usually be plenty of opportunity to have your dog off-leash, however do not take this as a rule. Make sure you have your leash with you at all times. You may not need it, but it's better to be safe than sorry!

6. Just like us, some pets simply do not travel well. They can become car sick, or even distressed. If this may be the case, speak to your vet about car sickness medications

7. Most venues will provide you with a brochure and map, so make sure this is kept within easy reach

8. It is wise, and often required to have your pet wormed and flea-treated. If there are likely to be ticks in the area, make sure to take preventative measures and have a tick removal tool handy at all times.

9. Finally, if your dog likes a swim, throw a few doggy towels in the back of the car.

Holiday Time

Hooray, it's time to go! The car is packed and it's time to hit the open road. You're taking your pet, so there are a few things to think about. Most are simply common sense:

1. Pets and hot cars don't mix! Too many pets die each year because they are locked in hot cars, even in winter! The solution is so simple: try not to ever leave your pet in the car by itself, but if you have to, make sure to park in the shade, leave the windows open a little for fresh air, and keep it brief

2. Remember - being able to bring your pet along is a privilege, not a right! If you wish to be welcomed back a second time, and encourage the venue to remain pet-friendly, make sure to follow the rules. They're usually pretty simple: if you are able to have your pet inside, this usually means keeping your pets off the furnishings (including beds). Many venues will also require that you collect and dispose of droppings prior to departure.

3. Finally, if there are other animals on the property, such as horses, sheep or cattle, your dog will need to be under strict voice control, possibly leashed in certain areas.

About The Author
Gerry Neustatl is the co-founder of Pets Playground, a comprehensive internet resource for Australian pet owners looking for pet friendly holiday venues and other holiday options, service providers and retailers.
Email: enquiries@petsplayground.com.au
Web: http://petsplayground.com.au

Bird Feeder Basics

2007-12-23T06:50:00.000-08:00

Bird Feeders

The fastest way to a bird's heart is definitely through their stomach. Put up a backyard bird feeder and birds will certainly come to feed in your yard. Where you live determines what you'll see because of differences in birds' range and habitat preferences. As words spread about your feeder, the kinds of birds and the size of crowd will increase. Even if you live in the city where it seems pigeons and house sparrows are the only birds on earth, you'll get surprise visitors that find your food or stop in on migration.

Bird Feeder Basics

When you shop for bird feeders, you'll find your choices are almost limitless. You may wonder how to decide what to buy. Here are some hints.

Ease of use - The most important factor in choosing a feeder is how easy it is to use - for both the owner and the birds. You want a feeder that's easy to fill and that holds a reasonable amount of seed. If you are just getting started, look for a feeder that displays seed in full view because birds are attracted by the sight of food and by the sight of other birds eating. An open tray is great for starters.

Make sure your bird feeder has plenty of room for birds to eat without protrusions or decorations getting in the way. Birds also like a feeder with a raised ledge or perch that they can grasp while eating.

Size - When birds come to a bird feeder, they want food, and they wait it fast. Choose a main tray feeder that's big enough for at least a dozen birds to eat at once. Supplement that with hopper- and tube-type bird feeders. Domed feeders are great for small birds like chickadees. Feeders inside wire cages give small birds a place to eat and peace without competition from starlings or other larger birds. Once you have one or two large bird feeder you can add as many smaller feeders as you like.

Quality - Make sure your bird feeder is well made. A sturdy, simple, but beautiful feeder costs more than you'd think. Expect to pay $30 - $75 for a feeder that will last for years.

Tray (Platform) Feeders

A must have for any backyard is a simple wooden tray feeder. It's big, it's easy to fill, and it accommodates several birds. The other feeders pick up the overflow and they can be stocked with treats. Cardinals, finches, jays, grosbeaks, bluebirds, blackbirds, nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, and buntings all prefer an open tray feeder. The only birds reluctant to us a tray feeder mounted on a post are ground-feeding birds. A very low tray on stumped legs will accommodate these birds, which include native sparrows, quail, towhees, and doves. You can put any kind of seed in a tray except for small Niger, lettuce, and grass seeds, which are prone to blow away or get wasted. Platform feeders are also good places to put out doughnuts, bread crumbs and fruit.

Platform feeders with a roof are often called fly-through feeders. One problem with tray feeders is that plenty of seed gets kicked to the ground. Adding raised edges to a platform feeder transforms it into tray feeder.

Tray feeders can be hung. A popular hanging model, the Droll Yankees X-l Seed saver is protected by a dome to keep seed dry and prevent squirrels from raiding. This feeder works especially well as a mealworm feeder.

Hopper Feeders Hopper-style bird feeders with plastic or glass enclosures that dole out seed as they're needed, are an efficient choice because seed is used as needed and large amounts aren't exposed to wet or snowy weather, or kicked out by scratching birds. Many birds, including chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, cardinals, jays, and woodpeckers, eat eagerly at a hopper feeder. Make sure the tray of a hopper-style bird feeder has enough room for more than two or three birds to gather and eat, and check to see if the feeder will be easy to clean if seed spoils in bad weather. Be especially careful if you mount your hopper feeder permanently in the garden. If the hopper or frame blocks the tray, the feeder may be very hard to clean.

Hopper feeders are not always rectangular. They can be many-sided or tubular, resembling a gazebo, lantern, or silo, and may be called by those names. A popular round hopper design is the Sky Cafe by Arundale, a hanging feeder made entirely of clear polycarbonate. The hopper and feeding platform are protected by a large, steeply sloped hood designed to detour squirrels. The idea of a large dome above a feeder to protect it from squirrels is incorporated in a number of feeder designs, including Droll Yankees' Big Top.

One of the most significant innovations in hopper feeders has been the "squirrel-proof" models created by Heritage Farms, such as The Absolute II. Birds must sit on a rail to reach the seed tray. The rail has a counterweight that can be adjusted so that a squirrel's weight or that of a jay or blackbird will cause the shield to lower in front of the tray.

Wire-Mesh Feeders

Perfect for holding shelled peanuts wire-mesh feeders are fun to watch. Blue jays, woodpeckers, and chickadees can cling to the mesh and pick seeds out one at a time. Squirrels can pick seeds too, but one seed at a time can be painfully slow. Wire-mesh feeders work equally well dispensing black oil sunflower seeds and most other larger seeds. Small, round millet grains pour through the openings and are not a good choice for these feeders.

Most commercial wire-mesh feeders are tubular, but some are shaped like hoppers and may be attached to a platform where birds can perch to feed, rather than having to cling to the mesh.

Mesh bags, often called thistle socks, are also available for dispensing Niger seed. Refillable socks made of fabric and disposable ones made of plastic are available. Squirrels or rain can quickly ruin thistle socks, so hang them in a protected place.

Window Feeders

Years ago, before the fancy screens and storm windows, many people simply scattered a handful of crumbs or seeds for the birds on their windowsills. You can mount a simple shallow tray feeder on the outside of a window, mounting it like a window box (but higher and closer to the pane). You can use wooden or metal brackets that attach below the sill or on the sill. Perfect for kids and indoor cats - many window feeders attach with suction cups. Typically made of clear plastic, models by Aspects, Duncraft and K-Feeders are among those available.

The most popular window feeders are made by Coveside and the Birding Company. A one-way mirror allows the feeding activity to be observed while keeping the birds from being disturbed. The feeders need to be placed in a sunny spot for the one-way mirror to work. The feeder can be cleaned and food replaced from inside the house.

Tube Feeders

Simple tube feeders are a perfect example of form matching function. They're self-contained, so seed stays dry; they hold a good quantity of seed, so they don't need refilling too often; and they can accommodate several birds at one time. Not all tube feeders are created equal though. You should invest a few extra dollars in the more expensive feeders such as Duncraft or Droll Yankees. The tube itself is sturdier, the feeding holes are designed better so there's less spillage or feeds as birds eat, and the heavier metal used on top and bottom makes the feeder much more stable. Being heavier they don't swing as easily in the wind scattering seed on the ground.

Tube feeders are welcomed by goldfinches, purple finches, pine siskins, chickadees, and house finches, who seem to know they can eat in peace there without being disturbed by the bigger birds. The size of the hole (port) determines whether you have a feeder that should be filled with Niger, birdseed mix or sunflower seeds.

There are two styles of tube feeders. One is designed with small feeding ports for the tiny Niger seeds; the other has larger ports for such seeds as black oil sunflower, safflower, or mixed seed.

Not all tube feeders are cylinders. There are tube feeders with three, four, or more sides. It is the idea of feeding ports built into the elongated seed container that makes a feeder a tube feeder.

The Droll Yankees A6 Tube Feeder is still a top seller. Droll Yankee feeders have a lifetime guarantee. Other variations include Perky Pet's Upside-Down Thistle Feeder. Perches are placed above the feeding ports so that seed can be accessed only by finches that can feed upside down, a design that excludes house finches.

Two or three tubes are sometimes ganged together, as the Opus TopFlight Triple Tube Feeder. With a total of 12 ports, it can feed more birds than a single tube, and it also has the option of being filled with a different seed type in each tube.

Most tube feeders are made of transparent plastic, but Vari-Craft makes particularly attractive tube feeders of white PVC. Ports are made of a hard plastic. A squirrel-proof model is available with stainless steel ports.

Most tube feeders can be fitted with round trays underneath that catch spillage from birds like finches, which are notoriously messy eaters. The tray serves double duty as a small platform feeder for such birds as cardinals and doves, which benefit from the slung seed.

Tube feeders are sometimes placed inside a wire-mesh cage for protection from squirrels. Cages also keep large birds like grackles from perching on a tray and reaching up to the feeder ports.

Nectar Feeders

Sweet sugar water, or nectar, is a huge draw for hummingbirds. Put up a nectar feeder and you're practically guaranteed to get hummers. The birds search for red and deep orange-red flowers, andanything that color will bring them in for a closer look. Your nectar feeder may also attract other birds with a sweet tooth, including orioles, house finches, and woodpeckers. In the wild these birds would satisfy that craving with real nectar from flowers, or a sip of sugary tree sap or fruit juice. The sugar boost gives them quick calories and the energy needed to live.

As with other bird feeders, look for a nectar feeder that's easy to fill and easy to clean. Make sure you can remove the base to clean out the feeding holes. Bee guards of gridded plastic over the feeder openings are a necessity unless you like to watch constant battles between wasps and hummingbirds.

Suet Feeders

Suet feeders are not nearly as complex as some seed feeders. They can be as simple as a mesh sack - the kind often used for onions and potatoes. Toss a chunk of raw suet in an empty mesh sack and hang it on a tree trunk or from a branch or pole.

A popular way of presenting suet is in homemade suet logs. Perches are not necessary and if used will attract grackles and starlings. Woodpeckers and small clinging birds can get a grip on the rough wood. Stuffed with suet, these logs have woodpeckers as regular visitors. Standing dead trees can be drilled and filled like giant suet logs. If meant to attract woodpeckers, a suet feeder is likely to be found most quickly if it is attached initially to a tree trunk. Once the woodpeckers have found it, the feeder can be moved to other spots and the birds will follow.

Suet cages are sometimes combined with bird feeders. Health Manufacturing makes a beautiful redwood hopper feeder with suet cages at either end, the Classic Suet 'n Seed Feeder. Woodlink makes a similar model with a copper roof.

About The Author
Louise Desmarteau is the Owner of http://www.BirdShopper.com, an online e-tailer offering the highest quality wild bird feeders and birdhouses on the market today. BirdShopper's staff is very knowledgeable and can assist you with any questions you might have in selecting the product(s) that are right for you. Visit BirdShopper today.

Bat Ejection Techniques – Country Survival Course #27

2007-12-21T09:54:00.001-08:00

People lie! They lie about the bliss of rural relocation. They lie about the size of fish they catch. They lie about being there for you. But, mostly, they lie about bats! Such a silly thing, yet no one can admit the ugly truth. "Bats only come into your house. It never happens to me," friends say. Liars!

Evidence to the contrary exists. Bat visitations have occurred regularly in all three of my country homes. Each was a different style house, in a different town with different surroundings. No way am I the only person this is happening to! I'll believe the annual summer bat inundation isn't a part of normal life when butter is fat free and Smucky's Electric gets back to me with that wiring estimate they promised just prior to the Mammoth die off.

One of my sisters in particular gets a kick out of telling people I am a witch attracting bats to my home like anorexics migrating to the Cannes Film Festival. She does it to be ornery – a competitive sport in my family. Of course, I could get even by pointing out right here in my very public essay that she is my OLDER sister by a DECADE. However, I am too peaceable and well centered for such adolescent behavior. Besides, you are here to learn another fine country skill – the Bat Ejection Technique (BET).

Lesson 1 – Why BET

Rural dwellers should all master BETs. Realtors will never admit to the Coloptera inundation plaguing the West. Property values would tumble! Amidst all this denial, a seamy cover-up has formed. Copies of Bat Removal for Dummies are burned at country BBQs and members of the Society of the Dead Elk deliver bat traps to farms under cover of darkness.

As my town's resident City Idiot, I chose to break ranks. If Cidiots are not taught to deal properly with winged rodentia, both will suffer. Bats will be ‘baseballed' into walls with brooms. If not, Cidiot homes will overflow with wiggling blankets of screeching critters. Folks will be driven back to the burbs in droves. Quite selfishly - I need newbies to stay in the country. Please don't leave me alone out here! Take notes.

Lesson 2 - History of the BET

For whatever reasons bats enter homes in pairs. My hypothesis is; one holds the dog door open while the other flies through and vise versa. Attempts to document this behavior have been hampered by the presence of innumerable dogs kissing my eyes shut when I stake out the laundry room floor. Nonetheless, like bats to Noah's ark, they arrive by twos.

Throughout history Novice Bat Ejectors dispelled unwanted intruders with the pacifistic Zero Interference Technique (ZIT). For a true ZIT open all windows and doors and cower on the floor waiting for the bats to fly back out. I researched the effectiveness of this method at my first country home. There are three problems with this technique:

Bats never leave as easily as they enter. A person could learn Arabic before the ZIT clears matters up.

Heat leaves houses quite quickly resulting in cold ZITs.

Bats tend to turn up in the middle of the night. Sleep deprivation is a direct side effect of ZITs.

Lesson 3 – Modernization

Athletic newbies frequently combine the open window/door approach of a ZIT with a more proactive approach. They jump around with a blanket in an attempt to herd bats outside. This is the Comforter Herding Ejection Technique (CHET). A good CHET take two people. Even then CHETs are hard.

Bats do not know they shouldn't fly around the blanket.

The technique is rendered totally ineffective when your husband, who is suppose to hold the opposite side of the blanket, does a "stop, drop and roll" every time he spots a bat from thirty yards away.

At night neighbors can see you, but not the bat. So there you are running amuck in your PJs. The doors and windows are wide open as you spiraling over furniture with your flag-like fabric in tow. Meanwhile your underwear-clad man is having what is apparently some version of repeating epileptic seizures. And you, you cold-hearted witch, you just keep on dancing.

Lesson 4 – BET Evolution

Bat invasion number three of year number two was a turning point for me. For some bizarre reason I was washing the morning dishes. We must have been out of coffee. Obviously I was not quick-witted enough to get out of dish duty. Suddenly, I heard the high-pitched chatter of a bat straight over my head.

The space over my cabinets is where all my gigantic jelly-making kettles are poised. Grabbing the step stool, I hovered near and listened. Something was in my stoneware – dark, like a cave, the crafty little bugger. Please, don't let it get airborne. I have to go to town this morning, I thought. There was no time for the traditional CHET dance.

My cerebral light bulb clicked on. Hey, It's easier to catch bats when they aren't moving. A Nobel Prize for would be mine. Apparently washing dishes has some net value after all. I slid a plate over the stoneware rim and took my captive out side.

Plate removed, an upside-down shake and plop. The bat was on the ground. I watched for a moment making sure my son's devil cat did not turn up. Finally, the bat orientated itself and flew off with chatter. Dam, I'm good, I mused. Then I turned and took two steps towards the door. Gasp! Leap! Curse!

Something bad hit my bare foot. Reflexes took over. I went for a field goal. Another bat had been in the jar. Curse! Hebbie Jebies! Will I never learn? Twos, always twos! Scratches, tiny claws on my foot - it was all to early. First dishes, then this.

The traumatized bat landed several feet away. It took a good five minutes before the winged menace recovered enough to fly off. Headed for town, I left a note for my son. "Finish the dishes."

Lesson 5 – BET Mastery

I learned two things that morning. First, generic dish soap sucks. Second, a motionless bat is the best bat to catch. Chasing them in flight is a fool's game. In retrospect Samuel, my Great Pyrenees, had attempted to point this out earlier that spring.

Hearing one of the midnight riots, I ordered all my dogs out. There was no need to look for the cause. I knew by then what the combination of barking and a synchronized chase meant at 1 a.m. Ho hum, more bats in the house. The other dogs complied. Sam however stood there looking sleepy, stubborn, sad and guilty.

Anyone who owns a Pyrenees knows this is their natural state. Just as I demanded, "Samuel, go!" I spotted the diminutive little wing sticking out from under his massive front paw. Here Mom, a motionless bat is the best bat to catch. He is a genius!

BET Summary

Grab a teacup or the aquarium net and a saucer

Wait for a landing

Cup/net over the Bat

Saucer or magazine carefully slid under

Out the door it goes

Hee Haw! With practice you'll be back in bed before the underwear-clad epileptic knows your gone. You can BET on it.

About The Author
Zoologist turned satirist Nola L. Kelsey is the author of the scathingly wicked satire Bitch Unleashed: The Harsh Realities of Goin' Country. She is also the coauthor of the twisted political workbook Keeping the Masses Down. Kelsey's newsletter, Nomadic Muse, is tracking her escape from South Dakota normality to her life as a shoestring backpacker in SE Asia. Excerpts from Bitch Unleashed and subscriptions to Nomadic Muse are available on her web site, http://www.NolaKelsey.com .

Prevent Feline UTI With a Canned Cat Food Diet (Part II)

2007-12-15T12:02:00.001-08:00

Last week I wrote about the benefits of transitioning your cat to a raw food diet to stop feline urinary tract infections. As I also noted, some cats just won't eat raw food. Part II gives you information about the more common diet alternative - canned cat food.

Many experts recommend you feed your kitty canned food almost exclusively to keep feline urinary tract infections from recurring. More moisture in kitty's diet means better flushing capability by urinating more often, in larger amounts. Crystals can be flushed out of the cat when they are too small to do damage. This is critical to prevent cat urinary tract infections from happening again.

Since cats don't lap up water like other animals, the moisture content in canned foods will offset this. Raw food (raw meat) diets also provide most of the moisture content cats need to stay healthy.

There are many different types of cat food you can purchase. It can be confusing. However, with a little bit of knowledge, you can easily determine what is best to feed kitty to keep cat urinary tract infections from happening again.

But don't go rushing out and purchase tuna in spring water for kitty! There are several key ingredients you need to look for in canned cat food to prevent a feline UTI. Not just any kind will keep your cat's urinary tract healthy.

Let's go over them in a little bit of detail.

Meat or meat by-products?

When assessing the best canned cat food for your kitty, the first ingredient should always be meat. Not meat by-products, and not chicken meal, or similar ingredients. Cats are pure carnivores, and they must have a very high protein diet to stay healthy. By-products are junk for a cat.

Look for chicken, beef, lamb, turkey and duck. Many experts believe fish contributes to feline urinary tract infections, so it's best to avoid the seafood choices you'll find.

Rice and wheat:

These are fine, as long as they are high quality brown rice and wheat. However, if one of these is listed first, I'd put that can back on the shelf and would continue my search.

DL-Methionine:

DL-Methionine is an ingredient in both dry and canned cat foods. It's an amino acid that helps restore the urine pH balance back to 6.0 – 6.8. Read the fine print to see if it's an ingredient. If you don't see DL-Methionine listed, don't worry. You can add it to your cat's food in powdered form.

Magnesium:

Magnesium is believed to contribute to crystal formation in a cat's urinary tract infection. Look for canned cat food that lists the level. The magnesium level should not be higher than 0.1%, and no less than .025% in any cat food you purchase.

Cranberries and blueberries:

Although cats are carnivores, berries are a great ingredient to promote good urinary tract health. High quality canned cat food should contain either one of these, or both.

Vegetables:

I know I stated cats are carnivores. If vegetables are listed, and they're far down the list, that's fine. Typically you'll find carrots, peas, squash and corn.

Armed with this knowledge, you're now able to hit the pet food stores and easily analyze the label information on different kinds of canned cat food. Remember, anytime you're thinking about changing your cat's diet, please consult with your vet on the best way to make this transition. Cats are not partial to changes, and a radical diet transformation done overnight is not good for your cat.

If you'd like to read Part I, please contact me at my website.

Good luck in your search for high quality canned cat food that will keep those pesky feline UTIs from happening again!

About The Author
Nancy E. Wigal stopped the cat urine odor problem at her home, and kept the kitty that caused it. "18 Ways to Stop Cat Urine Odor Problems" saves you money, time and frustration by solving your cat urine odor problem - permanently.
http://www.stopcaturineodor.com

Grooming Your Dog the Right Way

2007-12-13T06:49:00.001-08:00

Good grooming habits should start in the early stages of your puppies' life. At this age they can be trained to sit or stand, and the grooming becomes a part of their normal routine. All dogs need regular grooming and inspection, whether done by the owner, veterinarian, or groomer.

A basic home grooming kit should include a flexible pin brush, a fine and coarse tooth comb, and a knobby glove. A long coated dog should be brushed and combed several times per week, but even a short coated dog should be brushed or rubbed down at least once a week to ensure that the skin and coat remain healthy and vibrant.

Dogs may shed hairs continuously, particularly in dry winter household heat. You may notice dullness to the hair before the shedded tufts begin to immerge, but with regular grooming, tangles, matting, and irritated skin can be avoided, not to mention the tumbleweeds of pet hair around your home.

Dog hair grows and dies just as human hair does, and almost all breeds shed at least twice a year due to changes in day lengths, which triggers a hormonal change in your little one. Regular bathing with shampoos that contain vitamins and minerals can help to remove this loose hair, and keep your dogs hair healthy and vibrant. But remember frequent baths, more than once a month can dry out the natural oils in the skin leading to itching, scratching, and sores.

If you bathe your dog frequently, use aloe-based shampoos and coat conditioners to help maintain coat oils and skin health. When using shampoos, keep in mind that all shampoos are coal-tar based soaps. The benefits are in the additives, such as aloe, B-vitamins, etc… Pricy brands aren't always a good gage of quality so please be sure to read the label.

When bathing, use only warm water; soak your little one to the skin, lather, then rinse thoroughly to prevent dull, sticky coat and dry skin. Repeat this process with a conditioner, and always take care to keep water and soap out of the eyes and ears.

Grooming is also essential for healthy skin by making the owner aware of any problems that may be developing. Flea allergies can cause severe skin problems, so daily examinations during the flea seasons are a must. Fleas are usually carried into the home unknowingly by humans on our clothes and shoes, so even indoor pets run the risk of getting fleas. If you choose to use the services of a groomer, ask your veterinarian, local dog club, kennel, friends, etc… for recommendations. Call and or visit groomers and check out their facilities, ask about their practices and requirements, some require examinations, and observe their treatment of other dogs. Be as particular as you would for your own hair.

Using a groomer is highly recommended, but home grooming is still necessary and it greatly increases the bond you form with your special friend. We hope this short article has been of help to you.

About The Author
Brent Jones and his partner Randy Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed the website http://joncopets.com/ on the site, customers can read articles about anything pets as well as shop for the latest trendy items for their best friend. Feel free to check out the site at http://joncopets.com/.

Don't Skimp On Tools For Your New Dog!

2007-12-11T14:24:00.000-08:00

So today is the big day, your new dog or puppy is coming to his new home! Getting a new dog means you'll need a few more accessories to go with him. In order to properly care for your new pet, you'll have to abide by certain local laws and make some additional purchases. Some of these items are necessities; some just make life with your new dog more convenient.

The necessities; Most of the truly necessary items for dog care are obvious. If you've got a dog you'll need bowls for the dog's food and water. Mid size to large dogs have a habit of moving their food bowl around the room as they eat. Buying heavy weighted bowls will avoid the noise and frustration of having to hunt for the bowl at feeding time. I have large German Shepard that likes to carry his bowl over to me whenever he's ready to eat! A sturdy plastic bowl with a rubber lining on the bottom can be useful as well. The rubber on the bottom keeps the bowl from sliding around as Fido enjoys his dinner.

Unless you have a fenced in backyard, you'll be needing a leash and collar for walks. Even if your yard is fenced in, you may want these anyway for training purposes. These can be as simple or as elaborate as you would like, but of course, you'll want to take the size and strength of your dog into account when selecting them. The collar can (and should) be adorned with a license tag or at least an ID tag that provides your name and contact information in case your dog is lost.

If you live in a city environment, you'll need to purchase that miracle of modern doggie convenience the "pooper scooper." Most cities have laws against owners simply allowing their dogs to "foul the footpath" or leave little all over the city park. In some cities, there is a hefty fine for such crappy behavior.

Optional; There are literally thousands of optional items available for people to purchase for use with their dogs. Some of these items, like the gravity refillable water dishes and food bowls, serve a very useful purpose; others – the dog bandana comes to mind – serve no real purpose and are just plain fun.

One item that some owners do find very useful, especially those that live in a hot climate, are "doggie booties." While they may seem like a relatively useless item, they do a good job of protecting the sensitive pads of a dog's feet from rough terrain, rocky areas, and hot pavement. Stepping on hot sticky asphalt can be very painful for your dog. Those in cooler climates may not understand, but in some places, particularly the desert environments of cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque, the summer pavement can literally become hot enough to fry an egg. You wouldn't walk barefoot on such a surface and neither should your dog.

So before you bring Fido home, make sure you have all the accessories you need to make his and your life easier.

About The Author
Waylon Harvey shares more of his dog knowledge at his informative site, http://www.just-dog.com/.

Green Iguana Lizard Information

2007-12-09T07:29:00.001-08:00

Housing

Normally, adult Iguanas can grow to 5-6 feet and thus should be housed in a larger cage. Tall cages or optimal for this type of lizard as they are tree-dwelling and consequently would prefer to be as high from the ground as possible. It is very important to sterilize all branches that will be placed in the enclosure with a mild bleach solution. The relative humidity level of the enclosure should be kept at approximately 70-75%, and this can be obtained by misting the enclosure a couple times daily. Although many people feel that their Iguana could safely roam around the house, the opposite is generally true. Not only do you run the risk of your lizard knocking over it's heat lamp and starting a fire, it is also common for large amounts of damage to be done to furniture, carpet, wiring, etc.

Heating

Reptiles in general are Ectothermic which means that they do not produce their own body heat. Thus, reptiles must be given a combination of both warmer and cooler areas in their enclosure. This will allow them to choose their own temperature. Proper heating is vital to a lizards survival, as it allows for a healthy immune system and proper digestion.

Lighting

"Full Spectrum Lighting" is vital to a lizards survival. When selecting a light source ensure that it provides ample UVB rays. For Iguanas this is particularly necessary. The most optimal lightin conditions would provide natural sunlight to the Iguanas. This however is normally not practical as even a standard window can filter out the beneficial UVB rays.

About The Author
The Lizard Lounge is a resource for the captive care of lizards. They provide comprehensive care sheets, articles and photos for all species of lizards.
lizards@the-lizard-lounge.com

How Inspiring Dog Tales Can Be

2007-12-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

There could be no better way of inspiring people than to use some of the inspiring dog tales. In this way, people will realize how dogs are so important in a man's life and how reliable dogs can be especially if they are well trained.

In reality, dogs are marvelous canine mammals because they are endowed with remarkable senses and skills. They can almost do anything especially if they are properly trained to do such a thing.

In fact, dogs are considered to be intelligent species. Anecdotal facts implied that dogs have a rationally high rate of intelligence.

Dog intelligence refers to the ability of the dog to do certain things that cannot be done by other animals. Dogs have the innate ability to think, learn some tricks, and the ability to solve some problems like rescuing a person who is in danger.

This dog intelligence is, in fact, the main reason why people are fond of reading some inspiring dog tales. They used to think that these canine mammals are only animals and are not capable of thinking what to do in case somebody is in trouble. Now that a lot of inspiring dog tales have emerged to prove the reality of a dog's intelligence, many people now believe how dogs can really be reliable enough to trust our lives to them.

Take for example the guide dogs. These dogs are trained to help other people who have impairments such as visual and hearing.

Learning a lot of skills to be able to take such great responsibility takes a certain amount of intelligence just to obtain the skills. Moreover, there are dogs that were able to serve their masters even up to the time that they need to rescue them from imminent danger.

An example of this is the tale of the two guide dogs that rescued their masters as they were trapped inside the building of the World Trade Center Towers during the September 11 attack.

This is an inspiring tale of two guide dogs that remarkably guided their masters out from the fury of the blazed trade center and were able to save their lives.

Another great example is about a black and white English Pointer who had been donating blood for almost 11 years of his dog life. The donated blood is to be used on dogs that were seriously injured and need blood transfusion.

These inspiring dog tales will not only touch the hearts of the most dog lovers but everybody who realizes that dogs know how to help others too.

About The Author
Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier, visit his Dog Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners Handbook - it's Dog Gone Good! http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare/.

What Type Of Food Should You Really Feed Your Cat?

2007-12-05T14:38:00.000-08:00

What should you feed your cat to make sure he or she will have the necessary nutrition? What is the ideal mix of food to help your cat live to the limit of it's life span?

Tp answer these questions, one should look at the diet of a feline in it's natural habitat. In the wild, a cat eats almost exclusively animal tissue. However, they would normally eat the entire body of the animal,

including it's stomach contents, which has many nutrients that are simply lacking in an animals muscle tissue.

Another question many cat owners have is: Is fresh meat the best possible food for cats? Not necessarily. Fresh meat will not provide a balanced diet for a cat, as they are extremely protein dense while being very low in vital nutrients such as calcium.

Alternately, some cat owners have asked, "Is it O.K. to feed my cat an exclusively vegetarian diet?" The answer to that question is a clear cut no. Cats cannot produce the nutrients it needs from an exclusively vegetarian diet in the same way that humans can.

Being a highly specialized hunter, it has simply lost that ability during the course of it's evolution.

Major skin problems are often the result of a deficiency in certain essential fatty acids which can be found in animal flesh alone.

Another problem is that a deficiency of the amino acid taurine, a vital building block for proteins in the body, which can cause both blindness and heart failure. Cats are simply born carnivores.

Is it o.k. to give a cat only dry food? According to petshub, the answer is yes, providing that you ensure that fresh water is available at all times.

Dry food is generally more convenient, hygienic, and affordable than canned or fresh food. It also exercises the teeth and reduces the buildup of tartar, which can grow into a severe problem in cats that are fed a soft and mushy diet.

For more information about proper cat nutrition go to http://www.premium-cat-food.com/

About The Author
A. M. Wilmot is a writer and researcher in the field of human and pet health. For more information visit http://www.premium-cat-food.com/ or http://www.dog-food-nutrition.info/

A Puppy for Christmas

2007-11-23T06:13:00.000-08:00

So you want to buy the kids a puppy for Christmas. Sounds like a great idea, may even teach the kids responsibility by caring for the puppy.

We could put it in a box and put a large bow around it, pop in a few air holes - what a great surprise for the kids, Christmas morning.

Wrong! This is a very bad idea. Think about things from the puppy's point of view. It is a living creature with needs. Young puppies are only babies afterall. This could be its first night away from its mother and littermates - and you want to shove it in a box for over 12 hours. You will be opening a very soggy package in the morning.

Maybe you won't wrap the puppy in a box, but is it still a good idea to have the puppies' first day at home, on Christmas day? Will you have time to care for the puppy while rushing around? Are you going out to the relatives or are they coming to your place? All the commotion of Xmas Day could be quite upsetting to a baby puppy.

Puppies first day in his new home needs to be a peaceful occasion. You will need to introduce the puppy to his new environment and start the housetraining routine. While you may have bought the puppy for the children to learn responsibility, there will be very few children that are capable of carrying out this task. Are you prepared to see to the puppies needs if the children are not capable of carrying out these chores?

A puppy that is loved and cared for make great companions. Those that are bought on a whim often end up in the pound as their new owners have no idea how to raise them.

Please don't purchase a puppy as a Christmas present. Get your new puppy before or after the holiday period. A reputable breeder will not allow you to take a puppy home for Xmas day.

A puppy is for life. A week or two either side of Christmas day will make the world of difference to the puppy's start in life without the safety and security of its mother and littermates, and you will be able to spend important time with him.

http://www.avontipoodles.com"Avonti Standard Poodles

About The Author
Angela Heyburn
Passionate about the standard poodle breed. Breeder and exhibitor of black and white standard poodles
avonti@bigpond.com

Vaccination And Its Important Role In A Dog's Life

2007-11-19T06:10:00.001-08:00

Active immunization is the introduction into the body of killed or satisfied microorganisms or their products for the purpose of stimulating the body's defense mechanism. This concept is also applicable to other species like the dogs.

Before, the area of veterinary medicine has not yet realized the potential benefits of vaccinations. Until recently, veterinary experts have formulated certain solutions so as to combat the alarming increase of death in digs, in which, most of the causes are viral infection.

With the inception of vaccinations, many dogs were saved from probable death brought about by many diseases like leptospirosis, hepatitis, upper respiratory infections, and parvovirus.

Like humans, dogs need vaccinations too even at an early age. That is why it is important to immunize puppies so that they will survive until they are fully grown up.

Basically, puppies get their immunity from their mother's milk, which is also the same as that of human beings. However, these immunities tend to lose its effects by the time the puppies are already 6 to 20 weeks old. So, it is during this time that they have to be immunized.

Hence, in order to protect the puppies against infectious diseases, it is best to give them their shots and should be re-immunized after 3 to 4 weeks. In this way, the puppies will be able to endure any infectious disease that may come their way.

Rabies and Immunization

Rabies is an acute and almost invariably fatal disease communicated to man through the saliva of a rabid animal, usually dogs, foxes, squirrels, and bats.

Dogs, fortunately, always present evidence of the disease before becoming infective. The etiologic agent is an ultramicroscopic virus present in the saliva and the central nervous system.

The course of rabies in dogs is characterized by an incubation period of 20 to 30 days. This is followed by a period of excitement, when the animal becomes vicious. The excitement stage may be evident at all or may be entirely absent. Paralysis then develops, first involving the hind legs and thereafter becoming general. Death occurs within 10 days following the first symptom.

Alternatively, the effects of rabies in human beings can be very fatal as it is with dogs. Hence, in order to avoid these problems, it is best to have your dogs vaccinated with anti-rabies shots.

Consequently, rabies vaccines can be given during the 16th to the 26th week of the puppies. This requires a follow up shot one year after for total protection.

On the other hand, dog owners should take note that not all vaccinations will generate adverse effects on their dogs. So, it is best to always observe your dogs every after vaccination. When certain reactions occur like vomiting, facial swelling, or trembling, it is best to discuss these matters immediately to your veterinarian.

Moreover, certain precautions should also be made when the age of the dogs are taken into consideration. For some guides regarding this matter, here are some tips:

1. The age of puppies

It is best to consider the puppies age before subjecting them to their shots.

For puppies that are 4 to 20 weeks old, their first shots should be given during their 6th to 8th weeks of age. The last shots shall be given on the 14th to 16th week of age. These date apply to all primary vaccines.

For rabies, puppies should be 16 to 26 weeks old.

2. For dogs that are 20 weeks old up to 2 years old

During this age, dogs should have received their booster shots already. This is essential so as to lengthen the immunity of the vaccines in the dog's system. At this stage, additional vaccines are recommended for added protection such as vaccines against bordetella and other newer vaccines.

3. For dogs that are older than 2 years

By this time, the dogs should have been through with their booster shots. What comes next is the annual revaccination. These kinds of vaccines are still recommended so as to lengthen their protection against certain diseases.

The bottom line is that vaccinations are extremely important to your dog's life. Like the way it functions in human beings, vaccines are needed in order to protect the dogs from imminent risk of acquiring diseases brought about by viruses.

With dog vaccines, you can be assured that your dog will be at its peak of health for a longer period of time, free from any life-threatening diseases. Indeed, with vaccines every life is lengthened.

About The Author
Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier, visit his Dog Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners Handbook - it's Dog Gone Good! http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare/.

Dog Behavior Training - Dog Aggression Toward Its Owners

2007-11-18T05:03:00.001-08:00

A dog that growls at and/or bites its owner does so for some reason, even if the behavior appears to be "unreasonable" to the owner. If your dog displays aggressive behavior towards you, for the safety and welfare of you, your family and your dog, it's important to find out why as quickly as possible.

Call your vet right away and schedule an appointment for a complete medical examination. Talk with your vet about testing your dogs hormonal balance, neurophysiologic functions and allergies. The test results may reveal the underlying cause. This has been especially helpful in dogs that have mood swings.

When growling or biting has erupted as a consequence of scolding or punishment for behavior such as chewing, jumping, general unruliness, or overprotection of food, these problems must be dealt with swiftly and firmly to correct the aggression it is initiating.

As the dogs owner, you must understand that your dog growls or bites at you as a result of defensive feelings. Even the dog that growls when ordered off the couch is reacting defensively, as it feels its dominance status has been threatened.

If scolding and punishment provoke aggression, your dog is reacting to a perceived threat to its physical safety. In either of these situations, your own threatening behavior may be producing negative results.

If the results of a medical examination show no signs of a medical condition that would be causing this behavior, you will have to examine your own behavior closely to determine what you are doing to make your dog feel threatened.

If you can't hire the services of a professional, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Secrets Of A Professional Dog Trainer by Adam Katz for indepth instructions on dog behavior training. This ebook is available on my blog. http://dog-behavior-training.blogspot.com/

About The Author
Heather Colman loves to spend quality time with her dog Gibson. She has worked closely with various professional dog trainers in the past 2 years to work through many of the behavior problems generated by Gibson's previous owner. Visit Heather's blog for more tips on dog behavior training. http://dog-behavior-training.blogspot.com/
This article is Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no changes are made, all links stay live and this entire resource box is included.

How To Fight Fleas

2007-11-10T03:31:00.000-08:00

The natural way:

• Vacuum your home frequently and seal vacuum bags before disposing.

• Wash the bedding of your dog weekly in warm soapy water. This is where fleas usually breed.

• Bathing your pet weekly with a mild dog shampoo prevents flea invasion.

• Use cedar shampoo for your dog, and put cedar oil in their sleeping mats. Cedar will repel fleas and other insects.

• Fleas are attracted to dry skin, so to avoid it, give your dog Linatone oil mixed with its food. Excessive shampooing should be avoided.

• A mixture of brewer's yeast and garlic, available in powder or tablet form can be given in small doses to your pet. This creates a certain odor in pets, and fleas are surely to avoid them.

• Fresh or dried pennyroyal leaves is a natural flea repellent. Use this in carpets to avoid the abundance of fleas in the home. Do not use it if you have small children around, as this could be toxic.

• A mixture of 60 ml of lavender oil with 2.8 liters of rock salt can also be placed in areas where dogs usually come in contact with and this solution could also be used to wash your dog.

• Planting marigolds in the yard is helpful too, it repels certain types of bugs as well as fleas.

• Boiled lemon or orange peel in water can be used as a dip for dogs and can be used too to soak in dog bedding for a few hours, then washed with warm soapy water.

• Lukewarm water with little shampoo and detergent is a good way to prevent fleas. A dog's body may be dipped into the solution for fifteen minutes and then rinsed. This only works if flea infestation is light.

The natural way of treating fleas is effective only if the level of flea infestation is average to very few. This method usually is recommended for prevention only.

Different commercially available products with chemical contents:

• Advantage. Active ingredient is imidacloprid. This is a flea poison, from Bayer. It is in a liquid form and applied to the skin, at the back of the dog, and works for about a month. This works by upsetting the nervous system of fleas when they come in contact with the liquid. This product is fast acting and is not absorbed into the internal organs and bloodstream of the dog.

Studies indicate that this product is highly toxic to fleas and other insects as well. A dog will be free from fleas in just a couple of days.

Ingredients are: imidacloprid -- a chloronicotinyl nitroguanidine integrated from the nitromethylene class of a compound. This joins the nicotinyl receptor sites of insects, thus upsetting normal nerve transmission which causes death.

A set of two vials costs 15-20 dollars.

• Frontline. This product is very similar to Advantage, but is not water soluble, so alcohol is needed to wash it off. This can safely be used in pups, dogs, cats and kittens.

Efficiency in repelling lasts up to four months.

Active ingredients include: Fipronil 5-amino -1- (2, 6-dichloro-4 [trifluoromethyl]phenyl) -4- (1,R,S)- (trifluoromethyl0sulfinyl) -1H-pryazole-3-carbonitrile 0.29% inert ingredients 99.71%.

Fipronil works as a nervous transmission interruptor, which causes quick death to fleas and ticks. It is proven to kills 96% of fleas for the first two hours and 100% within 24 hours. Ticks die sooner than they attach themselves to the host. Fipronil is from the new phenylpyrazole class.

Very effective and can be considered safe, so long as dogs are not allergic to fipronil.

• Knockout. Performs like Frontline and is as effective, but can only be used in dogs. Active ingredients: Pyriproxyfen: 21[1-methyl-2-(phenoxyphenoxy)ethyoxy] pyridine....0.05% cyclopropanecarboxylate 2.00% inert ingredients 97.95% Also has NYLAR, which is flea growth regulator.

• Biospot. This is for topical application and kills up to 75 percent of fleas, eggs, and ticks. It also is a good repellant of mosquitoes and works for about a month. Temporarily, at times, it turns white hair to yellow. This can not be used in cats and contains permethrins and IGR.

• Proban (cythioate) and Prospot (Fenthion). While not to be used in cats, they are widely used in dogs. This is absorbed by the bloodstream and fleas die due to the poison that is present in the blood. For it to work, it requires the bitting of fleas. There are certain conditions to be considered though. You are injecting a small dose of poison into your dog's body and side effects are not known. Then this does not help if a dog has flea allergy, and can not risk to be bitten.

Generally fleas abound during the summer months, when it is their breeding season. These commercial products can greatly help in fighting heavy flea infestation and needed where severe invasion occurs. However, it is always best to consult with your veterinarian as the choice of flea control will greatly depend on your life style.

About The Author
Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier, visit his Dog Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners Handbook - it's Dog Gone Good! http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare/.

Affenpinscher - The Monkey Dog

2007-11-09T04:48:00.001-08:00

The Affenpinscher is a small 7 to 8 pound dog that usually does not exceed around 10 inches in height. The Affenpinscher has bushy eyebrows and shaggy hair and most often is considered looks somewhat like a monkey. Although this certainly is a dog, you might consider that sometimes it is a monkey by the way that it acts.

Affenpinscher's look like terriers but they're actually part of the pinscher-schnauzer subgroup. The common color of an often answer is black, although the AKC will allow them to be other colors such as gray, silver, and a combination of black and tan but Black is always preferred.

Are that they are very playful and lightly they get along generally speaking with other dogs and pads that they can become excitable around small children so they're not necessarily recommended as a family pet in that way at time off and pictures can be territorial when it comes to their food so you might want to take this into consideration as well that being said often pinscher certainly can be a fun pet to own and can provide hours of entertainment

The breed can date itself back to the 17th century and the European origin in fact its name is a combination between the German word for monkey and terrier. Originally the breed was a little bit larger than it is now standing about 12 to 13 inches in height but it had similar colors. Its original purpose was as a router working very hard to to remove rodents from places such as kitchens and staples.

About The Author
Tim Shank
Ever wonder what your dog is thinking? Visit our Dog Blog http://www.doggylog.com/ or our Dog Site http://www.deardoggy.com/ to find out. We also have more information about the Affenpinscher breed in our dog breeds section http://www.deardoggy.com/dog_breeds/affenpinscher/

Adopting A Dog – Puppy Or Adult?

2007-11-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

Everyone is surely going to get excited when trying to adopt a dog. Truly a man's best friend, you can rely on your pet dog in giving you company, cuddling up together and some can even guard your house. You need to review your personal lifestyle and needs when adopting a dog. It is a major decision whether or not you would choose to have a puppy or an adult as a pet. Before deciding on which dog to adopt, here is some useful information that might help you decide.

On Puppies

* Bringing up a puppy is an advantage because this means that you would guide its growth and well being. You would have the chance to raise it up according to what you want. This means you can ensure that it is properly nurtured with the right dog food, ensure that necessary dog shots are given and prevent heartworm at this early stage. Having your puppy personally trained is also a plus since you can teach him exactly what you want.

* You should adopt a puppy when it is at least 10 weeks old. Puppies need a lot of time to be cared for by their mothers. This is a crucial stage for them. They somehow gain a psychological advantage for both puppy and for the mother dog as well.

* A puppy can easily adjust to new surroundings as compared to an adult dog. Although most puppies may cause minimal to major damage to your personal stuff while they are in the stage of teething. They need to be housebroken and house training needs a lot of time, effort and patience from the owner.

* There is no assurance of what a puppy would look like when it gets old; especially it is a mixed breed. Also, his temperament might change too when he grows up.

* Most pet owners love how puppies can be entertaining. They are very cute and adorable pets that is a hit for both children and grown ups. Puppies can be easily regarded as one of the family.

On adult dog

* You would have less of a fuss taking care of an adult dog. They already have this established behavior that you can easily adopt too. By being with the dog more often, you would have more or less an idea of what its temperament is.

* You need to get as much information that you can when adopting an adult dog. Take note of its habits and mood swings. You can acquire these valuable data from the previous owners of the dog. Some adult dogs may have some behavior issues. It is important to take note of them.

* It may take some time and effort for an adult dog to be completely comfortable with a new owner.

* Take note that you need to introduce an adult dog to your children and other household members. This would help the dog be familiar with them and helps them refrain from biting or barking thinking that they maybe strangers.

* Adult dog may not need your full attention unlike puppies need and would require lesser trips to the veterinary.

* For a fully grown dog physique and behavior is basically not a variable anymore. What you see is basically what you get.

* Most dogs are housebroken already so they would cause lesser damage to your belongings and don't wake up at night like most puppies do. They have over grown the impulse of chewing things he has his eyes on.

* An older dog can easily adapt to other pets, like other dogs or cats, if you have a group of them at your household.

Adopting a dog is not an easy task and choosing which one to adopt can be a little tricky too. Everyone loves sweet looking puppies, but not everyone can stand up to the tiresome house training. Though most would appreciate the bonding shared with them. Adult dogs need no great amount of guidance but can still turn out to be a lovable pet. Whichever you think is the right pet for you, just keep in mind that taking care of them needs a lot of time and effort. In return, they would always keep you company and has ready smile with an excited wag of tail waiting for you everyday.

About The Author
Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier, visit his Dog Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners Handbook - it's Dog Gone Good! http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare/.

Dog Agility Equipment: Where do I begin?

2007-10-30T13:15:00.001-07:00

There is such a wide selection of dog agility equipment, where do I begin? There are several factors to consider when making your agility equipment purchases. Two major factors are your goals and your dog.

Are your goals to develop a deeper bonding with your dog by taking agility classes together, having fun, and seeing how far you and your dog can progress with agility skills? Do you have a timid dog and want to develop confidence in him? Or do you have a high drive dog and want to help him burn energy in a controlled manner? Do you want to do agility as a just for fun activity or are you setting your sights on making it to the nationals and becoming an agility instructor? All the previous factors are important to consider when purchasing your equipment.

An agility course has contact equipment, jumps, weaves, tunnels, closed tunnel, and possibly a pause table (depending on your agility venue). It would be wonderful have a full course of agility equipment in your backyard, but its not necessary to learn the sport. Contact equipment consists of dog-walks, A-frames, and teeters. It is a good idea to have at least one contact obstacle. Many people select to purchase a teeter because the motion often causes a dog hesitation. If you can't fit a regulation piece of equipment in your yard, consider an 8' dog-walk instead of a 12' or even select from mini-contact equipment that is available to train your dog on.

Jumps. You can never have enough single jumps, but you also might think about a double jump or triple jump. If you cannot purchase a double or triple jump, you can place two or three single jumps together to practice. Eight single jumps give you lots of drills and exercises to practice and interchange.

Tunnels, chutes, and tables are variations to add to your course. Tire jumps are very popular to have in backyard training. Pause tables are essential in our agility training program. They are our center and focal point for developing our directional commands and building distance.

Weaves, critical for having at home. The type of weave to purchase depends on your method of teaching. Is your agility class using weave chutes, angled weaves, or straight lined weaves. If your instructor is teaching a specific method, than its easiest to purchase the same type of weaves. We have trained five different agility dogs, each with a different method and in the end they all have nice weaves.

There are a variety of training aids that can help you develop the behavior you want from your dog on the equipment. Buja boards are excellent for timid dogs that need to build confidence slowly. Contact trainers are great for back chaining your contact behavior, and they are smaller so you can bring them indoors for winter training also.

About The Author
Brad Carlson is a dog trainer at Agility by Carlson. For more training details, visit our website at http://www.carlson-agility.com/.

Hummingbird Feeders: Sheltering Nature's Lovely Creatures

2007-10-28T15:06:00.001-07:00

Even before manufacturers took advantage of the growing popularity of feeding hummingbirds, the first hummingbird feeders were typically constructed out of laboratory apparatuses. These were constructed primarily to attract the birds that would normally fly around a garden. To these, the response of the manufacturers is to market and create sugar-water feeders. Many of which are uniquely created thus giving logic to the high cost of each feeder. But most are mass-produced to provide such equipments to the larger public.

Like with most things in the market, hummingbird feeders come in literally all forms of shapes, sizes and designs. The ideal feeders are those that can be cleaned easily and hangs readily. These must also be sturdy and must have limited number of parts that can be separated or broken. Majority of hummingbird feeders comes with both glass and plastic reservoirs.

Glasses have longer lifespan and may be cleansed easily but may shatter when dropped. Plastics on the other hand are relatively cheaper than that of the glass reservoirs but discoloration is notable.

Small feeders typically have only a port for feeding while larger feeders have three or more. Many of which may provide perches for hummingbirds to rest upon while feeding.

The most common mistake among novice feeders is the buying of overly sized hummingbird feeders. This is wrong since the water-sugar solution easily stales even before the arrival of the birds.

One hummingbird feeder may not be enough for the birds in a moderately sized garden. It is best to place two or if possible, several hummingbird feeders throughout the garden. Chances are, the dominant birds would not defend all locations. This may welcome larger number of birds in your place. Logically, it is a good idea to put these hummingbird feeders in locations where you may observe the birds feeding. After all, the sugar solution we give is just a bonus the birds get for dropping by in our places. They, at all rate, can survive even without our help.

Most hummingbirds are gone during winter. This is because they migrate to the tropical regions. If in any case a bird visits you during this season, it is likely that it is genetically inferior and cannot travel. To provide shelter for such birds, some enthusiasts prefer to leave the hummingbird feeders outside their homes, offering both food and sanctuary for the lovely creatures. The sugar-water solution in the hummingbird feeder must still be changed daily.

When choosing a hummingbird feeder, most experts recommend those that are red in color. Though there so little scientific research to support the claim that hummingbirds are especially attracted to red, most feeders seem to appear in shades of red. Plus the common practice of dying the water sugar solution with red. Choose a hummingbird feeder that has excellent protection over ants.

It is also good to restrain from buying a yellow-colored feeders. This is to avoid the bees and wasps from being attracted to the feeder. Look also for feeders that have built-in perches and those that are small. Only when you have determined how thick your visitation of these birds is, may you only start using bigger feeders. This principle will prevent the nectar solution from spoilage.

Hummingbirds are truly marvelous to look at especially with their aerial display. This probably is reason enough why most enthusiasts go crazy over feeding hummingbirds.

About The Author
Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides hummingbird feeder resources on http://www.your-hummingbird-feeder.info.

Horse Training: What Rearing Really Is

2007-10-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried to get your horse to go somewhere (like through a door or in a trailer) and he rears as he approaches?

In this case, the rearing is a symptom of a problem.

The horse is showing resistance and fear - plus a lack of respect for the handler's direction.

To solve this, you must do groundwork away from the spooky object.

You'll want to do exercises that will get him to expand his comfort level AND get his feet moving forward.

We want the horse to learn to move his feet forward (not up) when he feels his life is threatened.

Now when the horse rears, DO NOT pull down on his head.

Why?

Because it could make him rear even higher and perhaps fall backwards. He could even pull you back and land on you.

Plus, the horse will have experienced BIG TIME trauma - and man oh man...that will be hard to fix.

If the horse rears, get away from him moving to his side.

One BIG secret is to be ready for him to do it. Think ahead of him.

If he starts to spring up, pull his head around and move his hindquarters.

Why?

Because if you're a horse, it's pretty dang hard to rear up when your hindquarters are moving and your head is turned.

When he sees he can't rear, he'll even- tually learn to go forward when feeling troubled.

He will discover it's not so bad to move his feet forward and that he'll be okay.

He likely won't learn to move forward the first few times you draw his head around and move his hindquarters...but he'll get it eventualy.

Just keep at it until he does - stay consistent.

If you've ever ridden a horse that rears, you'd know it can be scary and dangerous.

You should know how to prevent it.

In some horse training videos from http://www.SuperStarsOfHorseTraining.com, there are a couple trainers. To learn more about how they train their horses, be sure to read about them.

About The Author
Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author of several best selling horse training and horse care books. He is also well known for finding, interviewing, and filming expert horse trainers and making their expertise available to horse owners who want to learn different horse training tips and secrets and how to solve behaviorial issues with horses. For information visit his website at www.SuperStarsofHorseTraining.com.

Is Your Dog Fat?

2007-10-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

Obesity is one of the greatest health concerns facing dogs. You can and should do something about it. Overweight dogs may live shorter and less healthy lives and your enjoyment of their unconditional love and companionship may be shortened because of it.

Extra pounds place an excess burden on bones and joints and can make arthritis problems worse. Overweight dogs are less able to exercise and play comfortably and their breathing may be labored. Their bodies may be less able to resist infections, and they may be at greater risk for problems during surgery and anesthesia.

Potential health problems include:

Joint or Locomotion Difficulties. Extra pounds add stress to joints, bones, ligaments and muscles. Conditions such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, spinal disc disease and ruptures of joint ligaments may be caused or aggravated by obesity.
Heart and Respiratory Disease. Excess fat tissue in the chest cavity and around the muscles of the heart can decrease the efficiency of the heart and lungs. Your dog's heart and lungs have to work harder to provide adequate oxygen and circulation.
Diabetes. Just as in humans, diabetes is much more common in obese dogs.
Liver Disease. Obese dogs are prone to liver disease.
Heat Intolerance. The insulating properties of excessive fat make it harder for obese dogs to tolerate heat and they feel uncomfortable.
Skin Problems. Obese dogs may have trouble grooming because the rolls of skin built up by fat deposits can often harbor dirt, bacteria and other harmful organisms.
Gastrointestinal Disorders. Inflammation of the pancreas is frequently found in obese dogs. It is painful and can be life threatening.

How Dogs Become Overweight?

Dogs most always become overweight from lack of good exercise and from eating more food than they require. Food calories, which aren't burned during their daily activities, are stored as fat.

Overeating can result from greediness, boredom, or overfeeding. Feeding leftovers or giving frequent snacks or treats often contributes to excess weight problems.

Over-fed puppies tend to become overweight dogs. They also have a greater risk of developing orthopedic problems. Properly feed puppies will be less likely to suffer from weight problems later in life.

Occasionally, metabolic disorders can cause a dog to become overweight. But overfeeding and under exercising are much more common causes of excess weight. If your veterinarian suspects that a metabolic disorder is causing your dog to gain weight, he or she will test for that disorder and treat it accordingly.

How Can I Tell if My Dog is Overweight?

A quick check to determine whether your dog is overweight is to feel his ribs with the flat palm of your hand. If you have difficulty feeling his ribs, then your dog probably needs to lose weight.

Helping Your Dog Lose Weight.

Weight loss for most dogs involves increased exercise and eating food with fewer calories. It's generally easier to feed normal amounts of a low-calorie dog food than to feed much smaller amounts of his/her regular dog food. In addition, your dog will not feel as hungry when fed a normal amount of food

Dieting for Dogs.

Your vet will help set a weight goal for your dog and will recommend how much food he should eat each day. A special diet may also be prescribed. The food choice should be designed to satisfy your dog's appetite and provide him all the vitamins and minerals he needs while at the same time helping him to lose weight.

Your dog may need a gradual transition from the old to the new diet. So, you would feed him increasing amounts of the new diet while decreasing the amounts of the previous diet each day over several days until the transition is complete.

To help keep your dog from begging, feed him before your family eats, and keep him out of the room during your meal. It is also a good idea to feed overweight dogs at the same time as other pets to help prevent food stealing from their slimmer companions. Always provide plenty of clean, fresh drinking water.

Regular exercise, such as walks or runs, is good for most dogs because it increases the number of calories they burn. If your dog is old or in poor health, check with your vet before increasing exercise.

The time period your dog will require to lose weight depends upon how much weight he is required to lose. Your dog may need 8 to 14 weeks or longer to reach his target weight.

What Type of Dog Food is Good for Weight Control?

A dieting dog has special nutritional needs. His diet should be balanced with a proper ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates. The diet should also provide a normal volume of food to satisfy his hunger and the food should also provide quality nutrients.

Weight loss plans don't need to include high levels of fiber. Fiber is not necessary for weight loss in pets, and in large amounts, it may have side effects such as increased feces and lack of interest in the food because of its poor taste.

We recommend Canine Zone – a revolutionary weight loss dog food based on Dr. Barry Sears' Zone Diet. Millions of people all over the world have improved their health and have lost weight on Dr. Barry Sears' Zone Diet. Now you can get your dog in "The Zone". Canine Zone is based on the Zone's 30-30-40 ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates. This revolutionary new dog food will help your dog achieve a balance so his or her body can operate at its maximum efficiency while shedding unwanted pounds.

Always consult with your vet before you start a weight loss program for your dog.

About The Author
Bev Storer is a writer and researcher in the field of nutrition and nutritional supplements. To learn more about Canine Zone, go to http://www.dog-food-zone.com or e-mail her directly at info@dog-food-zone.com.

Getting a New Dog? How To Chose One

2007-10-14T14:09:00.001-07:00

Choosing a new dog might seem to be a very simple and one way task, but there are indeed a lot a factors to consider. And when one embarks on it, it could be quite confusing and exhausting. With proper information at hand, choosing a dog can be a lot of fun. The main point to consider is finding the kind of dog that would fit and complement you, the owner.

Among the things that will have to be considered and discussed before getting a new dog are:

1. Who will have the primary responsibility of caring for and training the dog?

2. The expenses to be incurred for food, dog care, and the rest of the dog's needs like supplies, bed, crate, among otherthings.

3. The veterinarian that you will choose for your new dog.

Different breeds of dogs fit different peoples's lifestyle. There are dogs that are suited for the elderly, dogs for people with active lifestyles, and dogs for families with children.

Would you get a puppy or a grown up dog? Taking care of a puppy would require more attention and more trips to the vet, while getting an older dog will mean extra effort in establishing a bond between master and pet.

The breed of the dog is also a very important factor to consider. Temparament, activities, and other needs of a dog are sometimes influenced by its breed.

If its a pure breed dog that you want, your local kennel club is the best source of information. It should have access to reputable area breeders. A veterinarian can also provide reliable information where to find breeders for your dog of choice.

If its a hunting dog that you want, I would suggest the sporting breeds like the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever. Breeds of these nature are easy to train and are good with children, but they require an active lifestyle.

For experienced owners, recommended dogs are those from the AKC's working group like the Siberian Husky, the Rottweiler, the Akita, the Bullmastiff, and the Giant Schnauzer. Hip dysplasia is common among these breeds, to be sure to get this type of dog from a reputable breeder.

Small dogs are ideal for apartment dwellers and people with older children. Dogs in this group include the Pug, the Shih Tzu, the Pomeranian, and the Maltese. These small dogs still require training and a fair amount of exercise. These small dogs are very popular today.

People who have a farm and work livestock may want to consider dogs from the herding group like the Border Collie, the Australian Shepherd, the German Shepherd, and the Shetland Sheepdog. The Border Collie is a very intelligent dog that requires a lot of exercise, both physical and mental. If you want to spend a lot of active time with a dog, you might choose a dog like this.

Adoption is also a very good option, since there is such a huge dog population. Assistance in this area can be obtained from your local humane society or dog rescue organization.

When choosing a dog, do take your time. It could be a very enlightening and enjoyable adventure. Do some research, or better yet, talk to dog owners, groomers, breeders, and veterinarians. They have first hand information and they can give you sound advice from their experience. This will help ensure that the dog of your choice will fit into your lifestyle and you'll have the chance to enjoy your dog more.

About The Author
Donnis Barron is the author and webmaster of Dogs and More! and other niche websites. For more information, please visit
http://www.wizchamp.com or send email to donnis@wizchamp.com

Feeding the Older Dog

2007-10-12T06:51:00.000-07:00

Dog Food for the Older Dog

What changes do you need to make to your dog feeding regime as your dog gets older?

The changes you make to your dog feeding regime, and when you make them will vary depending on the age of your dog, and the breed of your dog.

It is considered that the larger and giant breeds of dog age earlier than the smaller and toy breeds of dog.

Your objective in managing the nutrition of the older dog is to enhance his quality of life, delay further ageing changes, and to extend his life whilst maintaining his optimal weight.

You are also trying to slow down the onset of disease and improve immune function.

Older dogs will generally be less active than younger dogs so as a rule will require a less energy dense dog food, unless of course the dog's appetite is reduced for some reason.

Continuing to feed a dog the same amount of food with less exercise will inevitably result in obesity, a problem all too common in many dogs today.

In the old dog obesity can be a bigger problem than in the young dog as there may also be concurrent arthritis and organ problems which will be made worse.

A keen eye is needed to assess the energy needs of your dog as it ages, so be aware and switch brands if your dog's weight shows marked changes as it ages.

For the older dog a good quality animal protein based on meat, fish eggs, milk or cheese is better than cereal protein.

A balance needs to be struck between providing too much protein which may be a problem for dogs with renal failure (a common problem in older dogs), and providing too little.

As ageing dogs tend to have less muscle and bone they will have less of a tissue protein reserve and need a certain level of protein in their diet to avoid a negative nitrogen balance.

Your veterinarian is the best person to monitor your ageing dog's renal function and advise the appropriate level of protein in his diet.

When your dog's protein intake is low due to inappetance, this can be increased by heating the food to increase palatability and release more aromas, and by feeding smaller more frequent meals and by supplementing with vitamins.

Carbohydrates are mainly provided by cereals and legumes in the diet, and these are a cheap source of energy.

Care should be taken with the sugar content of some of these foods

Fats are essential in the diet to provide a vehicle for fat soluble vitamins, and are essential for the health of old dogs.

However too much may result in obesity, so again moderation is the rule.

Fibre has a role too in the elderly dog as many are predisposed to constipation.

Adding fibre in the form of wheat bran or cooked vegetables two or three times a week will help to keep your elderly dog regular!

Most dog foods will have more than adequate levels of calcium and phosphorus for the older dog.

There may be a case for reduced levels of phosphorus and salt in the diet.

Some supplementation of zinc and vitamins may be helpful in the older dog, particularly the vitamin B complex.

The main food types for the older dog are - dry, semi-moist or canned.

Diet changes should be made slowly to prevent tummy upsets and diarrhoea.

Be sure to have plenty of water available for your dog, particularly if fed a dried food, and also if kidney and liver disease is a problem.

Reduced appetite in older dogs may be helped by feeding them 2 or more times per day with smaller portions so that they get their full daily requirement.

There are many commercial senior dog food diets now available.

It will pay you to thoroughly examine the different types to increase the life span and vitality of your older dog.

About The Author
Leonard Mutch is a dog owner and trainer. Read more about dog food and dog nutrition on his web site at: http://www.tastydogfood.com

Horse Training: Does Your Horse Have The Feel?

2007-10-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

There's an old horse training saying. It says "your horse should have the feel."

Basically, that means if you're leading your horse with the lead rope, does he follow you with virtually no tugging on that lead rope?

As part of the breaking process a horse is taught to lead. That's a natural part of how to train a horse when you're a horse trainer.

when he does, the goal is to have him step in sync (and stop) with you.

When you step, the lead rope has almost no "pull" on it.

That's the goal (in leading, anyway).

When your horse "feels" that pressure from the lead rope, he should move. Thus, he has the feel.

If you've ever seen someone leading their horse and they're tugging and pulling, the horse obviously doesn't have the feel.

Little does that person know he's teaching his horse to not lead with him.

So how do you get a good lead with the horse?

There are lots of ways.

I'll try to describe one of my favorite horse training videos that shows Paul Esh doing this.

When filming Paul Esh for http://www.SuperStarsOfHorseTraining.com, we caught him doing it like this:

You're standing beside your horse at approximately the neck area. You're on his left hand side.

You hold the lead rope in your right hand and point forward. (That's an alert to the horse that something's about to happen).

Then with your left hand you twirl the end of the lead rope and lightly tap him with it.

More 'n likely, that'll get his atten- tion and cause him to move.

So you'll point, take a step, and tap him with the rope.

Walk a little ways. Stop.

Wait a few moments and let him soak it in.

Do it again.

You'll find as you repeat this you soon won't have to tap him with the rope. He'll see you point and he'll know to step.

And not too long after that, you won't have to point and step because he'll know your body language and what he needs to do.

Ultimately, he'll have the "feel."

Before you do this with your horse, it is assumed you know him well enough that you're confident you can lead him close to you and he won't jump on you.

If you're not at that stage yet, better teach him to respect your space first. (That's also one Paul taught in our Super Stars of Horse Training filming)

About The Author
Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author of several best selling horse training and horse care books. He is also well known for finding, interviewing, and filming expert horse trainers and making their expertise available to horse owners who want to learn different horse training tips and secrets and how to solve behaviorial issues with horses. For information visit his website at www.SuperStarsofHorseTraining.com.

A Brief History Of Seeing Eye Dogs

2007-10-04T15:20:00.001-07:00

No one knows when the concept of using assistance animals for the blind first came into being. It is suggested that dogs have been used in such a capacity in various cultures for a very long time. It is known, however, that there was no formal guide dog program in existence until after the First World War.

Why German Shepherds?

Many people have probably wondered why guide dogs and Seeing Eye dogs are so often German Shepherds. The reason is actually twofold. First of all the German Shepherd has a strong sense of loyalty to its owner, giving it a natural tendency to be protective. Having a very protective dog as a companion is an obvious asset for someone who may otherwise be easily attacked by less then scrupulous individuals. The other reason is far simpler; the first guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired were trained in Germany to provided assistance for those blinded in the war.

After the end of World War I the nation of Germany was devastated by financial depression. Many private businesses failed and the Potsdam, Germany school that trained the guide dogs for the blind was one of them.

The Beginning

An American woman named Dorothy Eustis had heard about the program and decided it was a very worthwhile endeavor. Because she owned a company that was training German Shepherds as working dogs, she decided she might try to train guide dogs for the blind. She did not start this right away, however. In fact she was still considering the possibilities when she penned a story for The Saturday Evening Post about the potential for guide dogs for the blind.

A Nashville man named Morris Frank had heard the story and decided to write to Ms. Eustis and ask her to train a dog for him. She did and Mr. Frank became known as the first blind person to use a guide dog.

As part of an arrangement he'd made with Ms. Eustis, Mr. Frank started training guide dogs in the United States. The foundation that Mr. Frank started was dubbed "The Seeing Eye" and the so-called Seeing Eye dog was effectively born.

Today guide dogs are trained to assist people with many different disabilities. There are Hearing Ear dogs to assist the deaf and other dogs that assist the physically disabled. All of the people who have benefited from the use of a guide dog, however, owe their thanks to Mr. Morris Frank of Nashville, Tennessee.

About The Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.doghealth411.com/ for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog travel.

Fancy Dog Collars, Designer Clothing, Dog Beds - Essentials for Anyone Who Wants to Adopt a New Pet

2007-10-02T04:35:00.001-07:00

The day you bring a new puppy or dog into your home is a red letter day indeed. It may be an exhausting one for you. It certainly will be for him. This is also one of the most critical moments in your relationship, because first impressions are indelibly marked on the animal mind. It is vital to establish from the beginning an atmosphere of security, affection, and mutual confidence. In short, the goal is to make your dog feel at home.

Your puppy will come to you with no worldly goods at all, so you must provide him with his first essential possessions;

- A bed, slightly larger than your dog

- A blanket, again slightly larger than needed

- A water bowl, (stainless steel or earthenware, but not glazed pottery, which contains lead that is poisonous to dogs)

- A light puppy collar with an identification tag, leather is best, flat for short-haired breeds, round for long haired

- A leather leash with a strong clip fastener

- A comb and brush, the canine kind, (suitable to his breed)

- A squeaky toy

- A chewing toy of rawhide or a nylon or both

- A hard rubber ball (Big enough so that he cannot swallow it, but light enough for him to carry around in his mouth)

- Finally, and most important of all, a name

Feel free to check out http://joncopets.com/ for more articles and product information.

About The Author
Brent Jones and his partner Randy Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed the website http://joncopets.com/ on the site, customers can read articles about anything pets as well as shop for the latest trendy items for their best friend. Feel free to check out the site at http://joncopets.com/.

Checklist for Choosing a Holiday Boarding Kennel or Cattery

2007-09-26T07:03:00.001-07:00

There's nothing worse than going away on your hard-earned vacation with the worry that your pet might not be safe, secure, fed properly or exercised adequately in your absence

Holiday boarding can be an excellent solution for looking after your pet while you are away. There are lots to choose from offering a range of different options, from standard accommodation to luxury suites. Prices vary dramatically, and are not necessarily the best indicator of quality.

Ten Steps for Selecting a Holiday Boarding Kennel or Cattery

This simple checklist should help you find the facility that's right for your pet:

1. Visit the boarding kennel or cattery before making a decision. You should be able to visit the facility without an appointment during operating hours. If you are required to visit by appointment only, one must question what the facilities are like when you are not there!

2. Does it smell? This could be an indicator of insufficient hygiene

3. Is there ready access to a vet in case of emergency? Hopefully this will not be required, but it's better to be safe than sorry!

4. Does the facility have a perimeter fence? You don't want your dog escaping in your absence

5. Are staff suitably qualified in pet care?

6. Can the facility cater for your pet's dietary requirements?

7. Is medication readily available, if required?

8. What are the hidden charges? For example, some facilities will charge extra fees for playtime, administration of medication or grooming services

9. Are there suitable facilities for exercise and entertainment of animals?

10. Is the facility accredited by a recognised authority, such as PIAA (in Australia)? This is not required, but such authorities set set minimum standards that member facilities must comply with. This includes enclosure size, meals, hygiene etc.

Many Boarding Kennels and Catteries can also provide a convenient pickup and delivery service. If your chosen facility doesn't, there are specialised Animal Taxis that can arrange this service for you.

With your pet happy and secure in a safe environment you can now set about enjoying your holiday.

About The Author
Gerry Neustatl is the co-founder of Pets Playground, a comprehensive internet resource for Australian pet owners looking for pet friendly holiday venues and other holiday options, service providers and retailers.
Email: enquiries@petsplayground.com.au
Web: http://petsplayground.com.au

How To Help The Displaced Pets Of Hurricane Katrina

2007-09-24T06:42:00.001-07:00

The temporary shelters are filled and the pets left behind by victims of Hurricane Katrina are turning up in shelters and Humane Societies across the South.

Many rescuers have stopped trying to find the dogs and cats, and have opted to just leave food and water for the unlucky thousands of animals trying to survive.

The Atlanta Humane Society is currently housing pets that belong to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in the Atlanta area and is offering free medical assistance to any evacuee pet in need.

The Arizona Humane Society is in New Orleans trying to help provide for the pets left behind.

"It's very dire," Kim Noetzel told Reuters News Service. Noetzel is the marketing director for the Arizona Humane Society and the organization is doing everything it can to help the displaced dogs and cats affected by Hurricane Katrina.

We all can help too.

The Atlanta Humane society is accepting donations for its relief efforts on its website, www.atlantahumane.org.

PetSmart Charities Rescue is providing specially designed vehicles to transport dogs and cats from hurricane-ravaged areas into safety. Over 150 animals have been saved by the rescue effort from one of the largest pet store chains in the country.

Those who want to help PetSmart's efforts can maketax-deductable donations by calling 1-800-423-PETS or visiting www.petsmartcharities.org.

Petfinder.com has set up a database to help reunite pets left behind by the disaster as well as try to find home for pets without one. The database, according to the website, features the following:
A place where displaced hurricane victims post the locations of their pets so that rescuers can go in and save them.
Rescuers post the descriptions and photos of pets they find.
Volunteers post their offers of foster care for displaced pets.

Petfinder.com also has an area where those who want to help can make a donation to help support the Petfinder.com Foundation Disaster Fund.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, an estimated 30,000 pets have been left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. Helping websites like www.katrinafoundpets.com, can help reunite loved ones with the furry friends they had to leave behind.

About The Author
Hannah Chastain works for DoggieDeliveries.com, a company known for gourmet dog treats and dog gift baskets. For more information on Doggie Deliveries, visit http://www.doggiedeliveries.com.
hannah@doggiedeliveries.com

Choosing A Responsible Breeder

2007-09-18T12:35:00.001-07:00

It is an exciting time when you get to bring home a new puppy. He quickly becomes part of your family and you create a bond with lots of cuddling, trips outside and walks in the park. If buying from a breeder, you will want to be sure you choose a responsible breeder versus a backyard breeder (those who are only breeding for financial benefits).

When shopping for your new dog, there are things you need to expect from your breeder as well as some things the breeder will expect from you. If you have found a responsible breeder—which can be done through references—he or she may come across as a very nosey person. This is okay, considering that the nosier breeder, the better!

From a responsible breeder you can expect to be asked such things as your work schedule, who lives in the house with you, what your yard layout is like and the kind of friends you have that may be visiting you in your home. Although these seem like personal questions, the breeder cares what kind of home their puppy may be going to. A breeder who asks no questions and is just looking for the sale won't be able to offer you the same quality and breed of puppies as the responsible breeder will.

Another perk to buying a puppy from a responsible breeder is that you will be told the lineage that the puppy came from. In other words, you'll be privy to the father's as well as the mother's heritage, and will be given the papers to prove it. This can be an important aspect of buying a puppy because personalities, as well as health issues, are generally hereditary, and it's nice to be certain that your puppy is from good stock. Most of the time, a backyard breeder or pet store simply won't offer this type of information. In addition, pet store puppies usually come from a puppy mill—a relative breeding farm—and they are sold on a first come, first serve basis. Questions aren't asked of the buyer and no attention is paid to the puppy's welfare.

A responsible breeder will also expect the buyer to have questions and concerns of their own. A buyer should not be afraid to ask questions about this new life you will be taking into your home. Here are a few things you should ask your breeder about as well as some expectations that you should have:

• Is there a signed veterinary health certificate, plus a written health guarantee from the breeder, including one against congenital defects?

• Are ACVO eye screening and OFA or Penn Hip certificates completed, to avoid any future problems with the puppies?

• Does the breeder have a written contract available for you to sign, specifying the rights of the seller and also the breeder's rights?

• Is all health information available and up to date?

• Can the breeder provide AKC or CKC registration papers on the puppy?

• What is the lineage of the puppies? A responsible breeder should be able to tell you lineage from generations back, as well as giving you a family tree of the puppy.

Responsible breeders will be able to help you find the puppy that is right for you and will be happy to give you tips on raising and caring for your new bundle of joy. As long as you find a responsible breeder, it's a sure thing that you'll find the perfect puppy.

About The Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.doghealth411.com/ for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog travel.

What you Need to Know about Cat Food

2007-09-16T15:36:00.001-07:00

Cat Food Info #1 Cats Need Protein in their Cat Food

The cat food you feed to your cat should always be rich in protein. This generally should come from meat, poultry or fish. Many cat food brands advertise chicken, beef, and tuna flavored cat food because they know that cats need protein and cat owners are looking for quality cat food. However, you need to make sure the cat food you buy has a sufficient amount of cat food regardless of what flavor it is.

Cat Food Info #2 Cat Food with Taurine

Also check the cat food you typically buy for an amino acid called taurine. This particular amino acid is very important in the overall health of your cat, and your cat will eat as much food as it has to in order to supplement this particular amino acid. So, if you are buying cheap cat food that does not have the proper nutrients your cat will eat a lot. If you buy a nutrient rich cat food then your cat will eat little and save you more money while still getting proper nutrition.

Cat Food Info #3 Canned Cat Food or Dry Cat Food?

Many people do not know whether they should buy canned or dry cat food, or whether it even matters. Because of this, many people simply buy the cat food that is most affordable or convenient for them. This is actually a mistake. Cats should be fed a mixture of cat food. The dry cat food should be given for free feeding, especially if you are away on vacation or out for the day. Canned cat food should be supplemented at other times as well because it has water in the food and significantly more protein than the carbohydrate rich dry cat food. Not to mention the same food over and over might bore your cat and cause him to stop eating that cat food altogether.

Cat Food Info #4 Avoid Cat Food Fillers

Cats need to eat a cat food that is rich in protein, so make sure the amount of fillers is kept to a minimum. Carbohydrates are not essential for a cat's existence, so don't buy cat food that is full of them. Instead, read labels and buy cat food that is not filled with fillers and other byproducts.

About The Author
Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.catfoodcenter.info a blog focusing on the Cat Food, resources and articles. This site provides detailed information on Cat Food. For more info on Cat Food visit: http://www.catfoodcenter.info.

Kennel Cough In Dogs

2007-09-14T16:05:00.001-07:00

The condition commonly known as "Kennel Cough" is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases that dogs can contract. The disease is not serious in most cases, however, and often resolves itself after one to two weeks. The accepted medical term for kennel cough is tracheobronchitis, indicating a form of bronchitis that affects the dog's trachea.

Kennel cough can be caused by several airborne bacteria and viruses. It is generally accepted that most cases of kennel cough are caused by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica but it has also been associated with the canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine parainfluenza. It is the general consensus of the veterinary medical community that in order to cause the illness, an animal must be virtually bombarded by multiple versions of these pathogens at one time. For this reason it is dogs that spend a lot of time around other dogs that are most at risk for the disease. Dogs that participate in dog shows or spend a lot of time in kennels are the highest risks for kennel cough.

The primary symptom of kennel cough is a dry, spasmodic cough which is caused by the inflammation of the dog's trachea and bronchi. Coughing spells will often result in the dog coughing up a white and foamy discharge. Some dogs will also develop conjunctivitis – an inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids. Nasal discharge may also be present. In effect, the dog appears to have a very nasty cold or flu. As stated above, the disease is rarely serious and almost never life-threatening. Still, if you have seen any of these symptoms or have reason to believe that your dog has or has been exposed to kennel cough, you should consult your vet immediately.

Your vet will be able to diagnose kennel cough with a physical examination and medical history. The cough associated with the ailment is very characteristic and a simple massage of the dog's throat can usually cause it to cough on cue. In some cases, such as if the dog is depressed or feverish or expelling a yellow or green discharge, the doctor may require additional diagnostic tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) and laboratory testing of microorganisms in the dog's airway. These tests will help the doctor rule out other infectious diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, or canine distemper.

Immunization can help prevent kennel cough and is recommended. When kenneling your dog or traveling it may be required before your dog will be admitted. Effective immunization can be difficult, however, because the disease can be caused by so many different pathogens. Active prevention on your part can be accomplished by not allowing your dog's toys or water and food bowls to be accessed by unfamiliar dogs. If participating in dog shows make sure that the area is well ventilated to assist with the expulsion of airborne pathogens.

Kennel cough is treated with antibiotics in most cases. Antibiotics will help prevent any secondary illnesses from developing while the dog gets over its case of kennel cough.

About The Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.doghealth411.com/ for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog travel.

Have An Easier Time Training Your Dog

2007-09-10T13:16:00.001-07:00

Raising up is a dog is a hard task. The only consolation that you'll have when raising up a dog is that it's not as hard when you raised or will raise up kids.

Dogs may be a little rough around the edges when you start training them. But when they get trained, a small amount of dog burdens will be lifted away from your shoulders. Imagine that you will no longer have to step on dog poop all of a sudden or have your dog occupy your couch.

However to get your dog trained well it will need a little effort from you as well. As the saying goes, "It takes two to tango." The better you are at training your dog, the better attitude your dog will have. Here are some tips that you can do to make the training effective.

If you live with a family or lots of other people, chances are there will be one person with most of the burden of training the dog. This person might be the one who bought the dog or the person who got forced to train the dog. It is suggestible though to make kids train the dog. This is because kids have a higher pitched voice and are more animated making dogs react more. A child training the dog will also make the dog feel less abused or imposed because of their size.

Having the right attitude when you are training your dog will also be helpful. Don't think of training the dog as a chore, because if you do you will feel bored. Naturally when you feel bored, you and your dog will not enjoy. Prevent it from happening, because when it does happen you will be spending less time training. Try to enjoy and have fun, that's what your relationship with the dog should be anyway.

If you are tired or cranky, train at a later time. Relax first, if you train the dog when you are tired, you will only become more irritated when things don't go right. When the dog is having trouble with something new; try to go back to something the dog has already mastered. This will make the dog feel not so bad.

Don't give up immediately when things are not going your way. Just think about the dog learning something from a different language. If you are learning how to read a book in Chinese, you'll also have a hard time right?

If you're at the point of giving up, just think about the benefits of all things once the dog has been properly trained.

About The Author
Michael Colucci is a technical writer for http://www.free-dog-training.org and http://www.edogstoday.com.

House Training Dogs Successfully

2007-09-06T14:55:00.001-07:00

You could House train your dog easily if you had the time to watch your puppy 24 hours a day. But as you can't watch them around the clock, don't expect to train them all at once. Training can take up to about 6 months. Puppies are growing and developing quickly at this stage. They eat more food and burn up lots of energy and consequently need to ‘go' more often.

The most important issue in house training dogs should be teaching him to control his bowel. When he is still a puppy, he has not yet developed bladder control.

House training dogs is hard when you are not home. Your puppy needs a lot of attention. You should first confine your puppy in a puppy-proof room with paper spread all over the floor. Put his water bowls and food right next to it. The papers you have set on the floor may be dragged and chewed around his little den, but its important and helpful in teaching your puppy where to eliminate his waste properly. There will be no reason for him to defecate elsewhere. Your puppy will ‘go' on the paper, and you need to clean it up when you arrive home. This may be an additional job for you, but patience is all it takes. Don't worry because later on, he will move past this stage.

Paper training is very useful and a proven technique in training dogs. In this way, no matter where the dog relieves himself, he will still eliminate on the paper because he has no choice. Little by little, you will see some changes. Gradually reduce the amount paper you have set on the ground. Start to move the paper outside the house. Of course, as your puppy has become used to using the paper he will look for it. Once the paper has been moved to outside the house, your training is near its end. Move the paper about an inch per day.

Occasionally, you may discover that he has had ‘accidents' inside the house again. Don't be discouraged. This happens. What you need to do is repeat the training. But understand that it will not be as hard as the first time. House training your dog is key for both your dog and your sanity and sanitation.

About The Author
Simon Oliver has an interest in Recreational Activities & Hobbies. To find out how you can get more information on successfully training your dog please visit this http://www.boxer-dog-guide.com site.

Have Fun With Your Little Kitten

2007-09-04T06:42:00.000-07:00

Often, owners are frightened by their playfully aggressive cats and kittens because they look quite dangerous. Every housecat has a little tiger within it. So, the instinct to hunt is strong in all cats. So, as an owner of a pet cat or kitten, it's not possible to ignore its basic need to hunt.

Though you may have confined your little tiger within four walls and provided it with the finest foods, you can't take the jungle out of the cat. So, as an owner of a pet cat or kitten, it's not possible to ignore its basic need to hunt. Fortunately for you, the act of hunting is more important than the actual prey. So, you can easily substitute the live prey with an inanimate toy.

Often, owners are frightened by their playfully aggressive cats and kittens because they look quite dangerous. They are startled by the constant need of the kittens to silently ambush feet and ankles as they pass by, surprising, upsetting, and sometimes, even hurting, the victim. And in some cases, the cat owners inadvertently encourage this trait by playing with the kittens. But as the kitten grows into a cat, bigger and stronger, these playful pounces and bites can puncture the skin.

So, the solution is to direct the cat's playful but predatory energies toward toys. However, the easiest and best solution is to get another cat or kitten of the same sex and approximately the same age and activity level as a playmate. Though there will be two kittens to take care of, which means more effort and time, you'll save your home from a lot of wear and tear. However, if it's impossible to get another pet, then you should provide your feline with scheduled sessions of controlled aerobic exercise, i.e. play therapy.

Interactive Play Sessions

The interactive play sessions should be scheduled for the times of the day when your kitten is at its most rambunctious. Ideally there should be two or three well spaced out sessions during a days. And, the length of each session depends on how athletic the kitten is. So, each session can be between 10 and 20 minutes.

If you don't really want to exert yourself, you can use a fishing pole-type toy that enables the pet owner to control the cat's activity level while remaining inactive. And the sessions shouldn't stop till the cat is exhausted. While, playing, you should build up the kitten's confidence and enthusiasm by allowing plenty of "captures". But, once the session is over, the fishing pole toys should be carefully stored out of the cat's reach, for the kitten may otherwise continue to hunt for it, long after you've left the room.

Solo Play Sessions

There might be times, when you're not around, that your kitten would feel like playing. In such situations, to avoid damage to your furniture, you should leave some toys lying around. However in such circumstances, it's important to have a variety of safe, interesting toys to keep the kitten occupied. Also, make sure that the toys don't have any parts that can be torn off and swallowed, or long strings that your cat might get entangled in.

Also, like people, cats can get bored with the same toys. So, be sure to rotate the toys to keep the kitten interested.

Playful Attack Sessions

Playful attacks are not accompanied by any hissing and growling. And the natural human reaction to such attacks is to swat at the cat. However, physical punishment might cause your cat either to fear you or engage in even rougher play. But, if the attack can be anticipated, a blast of air from a compressed air can, a squirt from a water gun, or a sudden sound, like an alarm or a shaker is an effective deterrent. However, timing is everything. If the reaction comes a second or two after the incident, the deterrent will not be connected with the attack, in the cat's mind.

The best deterrent is one's voice. So, a loud and shrill "Eek", followed by a sharp "No!" is quite effective, with some cats. Then you should ignore the cat for the next ten minutes. However, don't lecture or scold the cat or pick it up. If possible put it in a separate room for some time. This way, the kitten will learn to inhibit its biting.

About The Author
Mary Majorda of California has lived along with kittens since as long as she can remember. She got her 1st kitten at the age of 2 as a birthday gift from her dad and since then she hasn't parted from cats and kittens. Besides having a family of a husband, 2 kids and 4 kittens, her love for them has pursued her to become a vet. Her favorite site about kittens is http://www.cutelittlekittens.com.

Potty Trained Puppy

2007-09-02T13:48:00.001-07:00

Oh, isn't she just the cutest thing you have ever seen? That brand new little puppy you received as a Christmas present is the best gift you have ever received. You are so excited and you just can't wait to…Wait a minute! What's that smell? You have got to be kidding me! And so it begins.

A lot of new owners find that puppy house training is one of the most frustrating things they face. House training your puppy DOES take a little work, but it doesn't have to be frustrating. The fact is that potty training your puppy can be a relatively easy experience.

The first thing you need to do when you are potty training your puppy is to find the puppy her own place. It may be a dog crate or it may be a small bathroom. The important thing is that the puppy has a place where she sleeps and spends time. This special place will become the puppies "den" and dogs don't like going to the bathroom in their den.

You should make sure she sleeps in its den at night because it can be very confusing to a puppy when she sleeps in a different place all the time. Every morning, you should take her straight outside. That way, the puppy will learn she needs to go outside to do her business and the puppy house training will go a lot smoother.

One of the more popular methods of potty training your puppy is called the "crate method." You get a large crate and you put the puppy's pillow and toys in it. You make it as comfortable as possible for the new puppy. This will become the puppies den and she will not go to the bathroom in it unless she just can't wait.

That brings us to the question of how often a new puppy should be taken outside. Typically, when you first start house breaking your puppy, she should be taken outside approximately every 45 minutes. Not only does this make sure she gets to go potty regularly but it also teaches her that she is supposed to do her business outside.

When a puppy has an accident in the house, you need to scold her and take her outside immediately. When the puppy goes to the bathroom outside, you need to praise her and give her lots of love. This will teach the puppy what is acceptable and what is not acceptable.

Here are five important tips to remember when you are trying to house break your puppy…

1. You should always praise your puppy when she does what she is supposed to do.

2. Give your puppy a treat when she goes to the bathroom outside.

3. You should scold your puppy if she makes a mistake in the house but you need to do it immediately. It can cause more harm than good if you scold the puppy later. She won't understand why she is being scolded.

4. Take the puppy outside at least every 45 minutes. You should give her a command to "Go potty!" or something to that effect. She will learn what she needs to do when you give her that command.

5. Thoroughly clean any area where the puppy has made a mistake. The odor will attract her back to the same spot and she will do it again. Non-ammonia products tend to work best.

Patience is very important when you are house breaking your puppy. There will be accidents; they just can't be avoided. The key is consistency. Take the puppy out regularly. Praise her when she is good. Scold her when she is bad. Some puppies can learn very quickly and some puppies take a little longer. Either way, you will become best friends and you will enjoy a long, happy, accident-free time with your potty trained puppy!

About The Author
Chris W. Sutton, Easy Puppy Training, http://www.ezpuppytraining.com - Want to know how to train your puppy? Visit our Puppy Training website for a free course on "Welcoming Your New Puppy Home and Puppy Training".

Doggone Adorable: Dog Halloween Costumes

2007-08-31T07:59:00.001-07:00

Dogs love to have fun and now they can join in on the good times by wearing their own pet Halloween costume. Take a look at some of these great costumes available online. Most costumes come in small, medium, large, with some in X-tra large.

==>Buycostumes.com >> $9 - $19

Star Wars Characters: Darth Vader, Princess Leia, and Yoda – now your pooch can get in on all the light saber action of Star Wars. The Yoda outfit will have you yapping with laughter.

Zorro – he's cool, dashing, and ready to save all the ladies in distress.

Wonder Woman – don't mess with this lady, boys--she'll use her superpowers to send you to the pound.

==>Petco.com >> $11 - $16

Dracula – your dog will be a cute little blood sucker in this outfit, with its black and red cape, also includes authentic looking Dracula hair.

Frankenstein – other dogs will turn green with envy when they see your little monster strutting around in this outfit.

Pink Princess – she already knows she's a princess, but she gets to show it off in this pretty pink dress and matching fairy tale hat.

==>DrsFosterSmith.com >> $12

50s Poodle Skirt – she'll be bopping around the clock in this adorable pink poodle skirt with black and white striped top.

Rock Star – this white glam jumpsuit will conjure up fond memories of the Elvis Vegas era--for cool dogs who love the limelight.

Superman – faster than a speeding car, able to leap tall fences in a single bound, look—it's superdog!

==>Amazon.com / Pet Friendzy >> $8 - $15

Muscles Bound Hound – time to show eveyone that pumping iron isn't just a human sport--costume comes with built in plush barbells.

Pup Royale – for dogs who are a step above the "common folk"--regal red cape with spotted trim--and of course, a hat to give it the crowning touch.

Lil' Scarecrow – fresh out of the cornfield, this little outfit is sure to scare up some doggie treats.

==>Glamourdog.com >> $16 - $44

Bumble Bee – they'll be buzzing about how cute your dog looks in this honey of an outfit.

Prisoner – your little rascal will be a model prisoner in this black and white homage to inmate couture.

Pirate – the scull and crossbones says it all—don't mess with this sea going ruffian.

Lady Bug – you're bound for some good luck with this cute little lady bug scampering about your home.

Cheer Leader – three cheers for this C. U. T. E. dog costume.

Football Player – sporty dogs will get a kick out of this fun outfit—throw him a doggie treat and watch him run for a touchdown.

About The Author
© Donna Monday
Brownies, Cheesecake, Fudge and more . . .
http://www.best-brownie-recipes.com

Even Lassie Had Her Moments

2007-08-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

Lassie! Now THERE'S a dog! If you said SIT, Lassie would sit. If you said FETCH, Lassie would fetch. If you said PLAY DEAD, Lassie would just about quit breathing. Why, you could just imagine Lassie bringing you dinner each night, couldn't you? Now THAT was a well-trained dog!!! Guess what? Lassie wasn't born that way; she had to go through puppy training!

Puppy training is very important if you want a well-behaved dog! You have to start training them when they are young and you have to be consistent. Baby dogs are just like baby people; they don't know how to do anything when they are just starting out. You have to teach them and you have to be patient.

There are lots of new things your puppy needs to learn but three of the most important things are it's name, the word "no" and the word "good dog." Those words are the words you are going to be using constantly during your puppy training period.

The puppy name is how the new puppy learns to identify itself. She has to know when you are talking to her. She has to know when you are calling her. She has to know her name!

You will be using the word "no" during your puppy training to let the dog know that she is doing something wrong. If you continually use different words to let the dog know she is doing something she is not supposed to do, you will have one very confused puppy. You have to be consistent in what you say so the new puppy will understand what it is you are trying to say.

The same thing goes for the words "good dog." You will want to say that to your new puppy every time she does something right. Your new puppy wants to please you and you need to let her know when she does.

Don't just scold your dog all the time and forget to tell her when she has done something right. The two things go hand-in-hand with your puppy training and you MUST be consistent. Tell her "no" when she has done something wrong and tell her "good dog" when she has done something right.

About The Author
Chris W. Sutton, Easy Puppy Training, http://www.ezpuppytraining.com - Want to know how to train your puppy? Visit our Puppy Training website for a free course on "Welcoming Your New Puppy Home and Puppy Training".

Danger to Your Rabbitry - PAWS Legislation

2007-08-25T06:32:00.001-07:00

Many of us have heard some of the horror stories of puppy mills. News programs describe the unsanitary conditions, the uncontrolled breeding and the poor condition of the animals. Congress has responded by introducing a billed called the Pet Animal Welfare Statue of 2005. This bill is an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act. It's in the Senate as bill S1139 and in the House as HR2669. Currently this bill is in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry's Subcommittee on Research, Nutrition and General Legislation. Its most recent hearing on this bill was held on November 8.

On the surface one would think that this bill is a good thing. However, after taking a closer look clearly this bill is designed to do more than regulate the poor conditions of puppy mills. In fact this bill reaches breeders of all types including hobby breeders. Rabbits are included in this legislation, and if you are a rabbit breeder you should take note of this bill.

Current Animal Welfare Act Regulations

Currently the sale of pets for anything other than food or fiber is a regulated activity. The sale of pets directly to owners is however exempted from those regulations. As a rabbit breeder if you sell your rabbits as pets directly to a consumer you are not under the current legislation and are therefore not required to obtain a USDA license. This is called the retail exemption. There is some gray area regarding the sale of your stock to a breeder or selling as a show animal. Under current legislation it is likely that those sales would fall under the same rules as a pet sale. Breeders that choose to sell directly to pet stores do fall under the guidelines of current legislation and are required to obtain a license from the USDA.

What Changes Does PAWs Make?

Under new legislation the retail exemption described above is removed. The proposed licensing threshold for all species except for dogs and cats is sales of $500. The limit for dog and cat sales is 25 animals. This alone shows a huge disparity in this bill. It is not uncommon to see pure bred dogs for sale in news papers for $300 and up. Meaning a dog breeder could have sales of $7500 just at $300 per animal, while rabbit breeders would be limited to $500. Considering that good quality show rabbits will often sell for over $100 that would limit most breeders to just one or two litters.

The problem becomes the USDA regulations that accompany not only obtaining, but in keeping the license. There are over 80 pages of regulations related to obtaining the USDA license. An inspection is required for the license. Currently, the USDA is understaffed, and complaints are often received concerning, inconsistent application of the regulations by the various inspectors.

Some of the regulations would make it virtually impossible for the rabbit breeder to keep breeding. For example, under USDA regulations someone over the age of 18 must be present at your facility for unannounced inspections between the hours of 7am – 7pm Monday thru Friday. Imagine having to pay a staff to be present when you're not. Add that to the fact that rabbit breeders rarely show a net profit and you can already see a portion of the problems this legislation will cause for rabbit breeders.

I think most of us have treated our rabbits for various ailments without taking them to a veterinarian. We have either talked to other local breeders, or visited rabbit forums and found the answer for the problems our stock has had. I have yet to have any complications from any treatment my rabbits have received. Can you imagine the cost of having to take those animals to a vet, better yet imagine the cost of having the vet come to your facility every time an animal is ill? Under USDA regulations that is exactly what you would be required to do. You would have to have a formal agreement with a veterinarian to come to your facilities to not only treat but also monitor your rabbits. I have taken rabbits to the vet as necessary, but not with every problem.

A USDA license would make your rabbitry a retail establishment. This means that you may be required to get zoning approval by your local government. Depending on where you live this might not even be possible. Certainly, if you live in most residential communities, you would be forced out of breeding. Some breeders may try to go "underground", but the USDA plans to require all animals under its legislation to be required to be in its National Animal Identification System by 2009. It will track every animal for birth to death making it virtually impossible to sell even if underground.

As you can see already this legislation would cause an abundance of paper work. We keep very good records of everything that happens in our rabbitry, however the additional requirements for USDA licensing would require us to either devote more time to what is just a hobby, or hire someone to do the extra work. Again, how many of rabbit breeders actually make money?

Of course the USDA has certain facility requirements as well. Your rabbitry would have to be waterproof, which would virtually eliminate barns with dirt floors, barns with unfinished or wood walls, and housing of rabbits outside. Stainless steel sinks and grooming tables may become necessary. Again this may be cost prohibitive for many breeders. USDA requirements state that your facilities must be such that they can be hosed out and sanitized.

Transportation of regulated animals is also effected. Your transportation must be commercially inspected and you must carry commercial insurance on that vehicle. So much for traveling to the rabbit shows!

Who Supports Paws

Who is the one of the biggest supporter of this legislation? PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Here are a few of PETA's thoughts on rabbits. Rabbits should have food in front of them 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Maybe they don't understand that having an overweight rabbit is unhealthy for the rabbit. Nest boxes should remain in the rabbit cage until the kits are 4 weeks old. Maybe they haven't had to deal with the eye infections that can occur as a result of this practice. Wire floors are cruel to rabbits. Maybe they haven't seen how quickly unsanitary a cage can become when it has a solid floor.

Don't be fooled by PETA's name, there intent is to abolish pet ownership all together. Here's a quote from Ingrid Netwkirk, director of PETA, "Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal situation brought about by human manipulation." Here's another quote, "You don't have to own squirrels and starlings to get enjoyment from them ... One day, we would like an end to pet shops and the breeding of animals."

What Can You Do?

I know many of you may be like me. I vote in nearly every election, I often read about things that are happening politically, but I rarely take action outside of voting. If you are a rabbit breeder, you need to step out of that comfort zone, or that hobby or business that you run may be greatly impacted to the point that you can now longer breed rabbits.

As a minimum please email the members of the senate subcommittee. You can go to this site and near the bottom of the page is a link http://saova.org/1139.html that will generate an email to all of the committee members. Please be sure to include a polite message describing your opposition to the bill. Be sure to include you name and mailing address in the email. Or you may call the Agriculture Committee at 202-224-2035 or the AG Subcommittee at 202-224-5270. You can also visit www.vote-smart.org to contact your local representatives.

It is important that you take action quickly as the subcommittee has already had its hearing on the matter. Because of the misconception that this bill is only to eliminate puppy mills, should this legislation get out of committee there is a good chance that it will pass in congress. Working together we can keep our hobby and passion for rabbits a viable opportunity for all.

About The Author
Rob Usakowski is owner of Three Little Ladies Rabbitry which is run by his wife Cathie and their three daughters. Visit their site www.threelittleladiesrabbitry.com for lots of rabbit raising information for both pet owners and breeders alike.

Companion Animals and Their Unique Place in Society--Part 4

2007-08-21T09:05:00.001-07:00

The Bible and The Chronicles of Narnia talk about companion animals

What the Bible says about the role of animals in our lives

In Genesis chapter 1, God made man in His own image, and then gave man dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and all the earth and every creeping thing on it. Dominion means "control" or "sovereignty," but what exactly God meant by it is open to some interpretation. We do know that humans did not eat animal flesh until after the Flood. Noah was instructed to take on the ark two of every unclean animal and seven of every clean animal. Why did Noah need extras of the clean animals? Some were for burnt offerings on an altar Noah built after the ark came to rest. But God also told Noah, "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs." (Genesis 9:3)

Think about it. When Noah and his family disembarked from the ark, the earth was a wasteland. There were no crops, nor wild plants to be harvested for food. It was a matter of survival—eat the animals or starve. What the Bible does not tell us is whether Noah's family and their descendants were supposed to continue eating animals even after their crops were established.

Over the history of civilization, many societies have had to depend upon the hunting of animals for their survival—Stone Age people, before cultivation was learned; the Native Americans, who had to follow the seasonal food supply; white pioneers, who settled in places where no crops had been planted; Eskimos, who live in an environment too harsh for agriculture. Anyone who accepts that man is made in God's image, and that God has given man dominion over animals, should be able to accept that human survival takes priority over animal survival. But whether it is appropriate for people, here in the prosperous West, to eat animals as a matter of choice, no one can claim to know for certain. As human survival becomes easier over time, we can afford to elevate the status of our animals, especially our companion animals.

The talking animals of Narnia

C.S. Lewis is one of the most popular and readable theologians ever. Both children and adults enjoy his Chronicles of Narnia, an imaginative illustration of Christianity. I am going to assume that my readers either have read the series, or, at the least, have enough familiarity with it that not a lot of background information is needed here. (If you haven't—I recommend it!)

In The Silver Chair, earthlings Jill and Eustace, with their Narnian companion Puddleglum, are the guests of some seemingly hospitable but (unbeknownst to our heroes) scheming giants who have been employed by the evil White Witch to sidetrack them from their mission of freeing Prince Rilian from her bondage.

As the protagonists enjoy their lunch in blissful ignorance, they overhear one of the giants boast about how he killed a Talking Stag for the meal. Jill, who is in Narnia for the first time, at first does not realize the full meaning of this. But both Eustace, who has been to Narnia before and has had a life-changing encounter with Aslan, and Puddleglum, who is Narnian-born, understand the significance of the murder of a Talking Animal for food. They are horrified and lose their appetite. And Puddleglum says, "We've brought the anger of Aslan on us."

Conclusion

God gave us dominion over animals. But sovereignty and control do not imply thoughtless use and abuse. Many people, in good conscience, exercise the choice of eating animals caught or raised for that purpose. My conviction is that there is a crucial difference between animals considered "food" animals and those considered "companion" animals. While our peasant or pioneer ancestors may have kept a cow for milking and ultimately, when Bessie or Duchess waxed too old to be a valued producer, she ended up on the dinner table, those people generally had fewer choices about what to eat than do 21st-century Americans.

The argument that humans need to eat animal products does not hold either Biblically or an evolutionarily. As we have seen, humans did not eat animals until after the Flood—perhaps 1,000 years. If the Bible is to be taken literally, people in those days typically lived for hundreds of years. And if humans did in fact descend from other primates, we are not meat-eaters, because humans are not equipped with either the teeth and jaw structure or the digestive system of meat-eating species. People eat meat for one of two reasons—they have nothing else to eat, or they simply want to.

The alternative argument that a horse that has outlived its usefulness "might as well" be eaten doesn't work, either. Beloved pets are given respectful burials, not unlike humans, except in the rare cases where the alternative is starvation. (Every student has heard of the Donner Party.)

"We've brought the anger of Aslan on us." That pretty much summarizes the idea of using companion animals for food.

About The Author
Lisa J. Lehr is a freelance writer with a specialty in business and marketing communications. She holds a biology degree and has worked in a variety of fields, including the pharmaceutical industry and teaching, and has a particular interest in both animals and Biblical tradition. She is also a graduate of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI), America's leading course on copywriting. Contact Lisa J. Lehr Copywriting www.ljlcopywriting.com, Lisa@ljlcopywriting.com for help with your business writing needs.

This article ©Lisa J. Lehr 2005.

Leptospirosis In Dogs

2007-08-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can affect a dog's blood, liver, and kidneys. The bacteria that cause the illness are carried primarily by rats and other rodents, but dogs that are infected with the disease can infect other dogs as well. Ingestion of the urine of an infected animal is the most common means of transmission, but the bacteria can be contracted through damaged or thin skin as well.

Leptospirosis is an odd disease that can often show no signs or symptoms at all. In these cases the bacteria are eventually defeated by the dog's natural defenses. Other times, and more often, however, the disease can be life threatening to the infected dog. The three main forms of the disease are hemorrhagic (infection in the blood, causing bleeding), renal (infecting the kidneys), and icteric (infecting the liver).

Hemorrhagic Leptospirosis tends to start with a high fever, loss of appetite, and general lethargy. Small hemorrhages start to occur in the mouth and eyes and the dog may develop extreme bloody vomiting and diarrhea. This form of the disease is often fatal.

Icteric Leptospirosis will often start the same way as the hemorrhagic form; with fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. The mouth and whites of the eyes will take on a yellow appearance, similar to victims of jaundice. In some cases the dog's skin may also appear yellow and jaundiced.

Renal Leptospirosis also starts with fever, appetite loss, and lethargic depression, but eventually leads to kidney failure.

All three forms of the disease are treatable and curable and all three forms can be potentially fatal. Often dogs that survive renal Leptospirosis will have chronic kidney disease for the rest of their lives.

Treatment is accomplished with the use of antibiotics and, if the disease is caught early enough, is generally successful. Cases of Leptospirosis in North America are fairly rare, thanks to the development of a vaccine. Puppies are inoculated for the disease as early as six weeks of age and receive annual renewal shots to maintain their immunity.

Vaccination and clean, hygienic conditions are the best way to avoid Leptospirosis in dogs. If the animal is not able to come into contact with disease carrying rats and their urine, the dog is unlikely to become infected, even if unvaccinated. The leptospirosis vaccine is the most likely of all dog vaccinations to cause an adverse reaction in the dog. This reaction is generally mild and most often includes lethargy, loss of appetite, and depression. These effects last only a few days and afterward the dog is fine and, more importantly, protected from the disease.

Leptospirosis is one of the nastier diseases a dog can get and no one wants to see his or her pet suffer with this illness. Fortunately, thanks to the existence of a good vaccine, few dogs have to endure this life threatening illness in today's day and age.

About The Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.doghealth411.com/ for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog travel.

Free Dog Training Tips: Easy Steps to Leading the Pack

2007-08-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

Be a leader, a dog will follow.

Hum, what does that mean?! Simply put, if you lead the pack, your dog will follow you to the ends of the earth. Some basic and easy adjustments in your dog training routine can result in huge changes in dog behavior. The simple truth is...dog behavior is a result of human behavior. That is, your dog reacts to you. If you take the time to teach your dog appropriate behavior, and you are consistent in reinforcing it, your dog will work so hard to please you. One key to changing and reinforcing new dog behavior is using positive dog training methods. This article introduces some basics in beginning to get some respect from your dog.

Dogs are pack animals, and they want a leader to tell them what to do and what dog behavior is appropriate. If you don't step up as leader, your dog, no matter how big or small or cute and fluffy, will take over as leader (not just of other dogs, but of you, your spouse, your kids, the cats, and anything else that moves and breathes). This is not the ideal situation, as you can see from the following example.

The Franks are a real family where the dog runs the house. King didn't want the role of leader, but no human stepped up as leader so he felt he had to. His "pack" consisted of dad, mom, and two kids. Being leader was a big job--keeping track of the pack, teaching them the rules (which King made up), and enforcing the rules was a 24-hour job. He successfully taught the family to stay away from his food and toys (growling and snapping when they got too close), not to disturb him if he was napping in main traffic areas like the middle of the kitchen floor, that certain pieces of furniture were his and his alone, and that he decided who got to come into the house. The young boy became a playmate whom he could nip and jump on; the older child and the parents were there to care for him. Any infractions of these "rules" were quickly and severely disciplined by King with growling, biting, snapping, baring teeth.

If King's household is like what you experience in your family, we've got some gentle and positive dog training tips to help you take back your leadership role.

Put these simple steps into your dog's daily life and watch the dog behavior changes. Each of these steps shows your dog that YOU are the leader. Let's start simple, with 3 very basic and easy (for you) new dog training ideas. Once you've mastered these, in the next article, I'll introduce several more.

1. Show me your tummy!

Make it a positive experience for your dog to roll over for that yummy tummy rub. This submissive posture indicates a deferment to your leadership.

2. Praise, praise praise!

Praise for being a good dog. Any dog behavior you like and want to keep, praise it and give a small treat occasionally. This focus on what you want is much more successful than a focus on what you don't want. No free treats or praise for the dominant dog. If your dog wants to be petted, have him sit first! Everyone wins and the dog is learning manners at the same time.

3. Get out of the way!

A leader gets respect. For Scout, that means no lying in high traffic areas (hallways, middle of living room or kitchen), no sitting on your feet, and no refusing to move out of the way. Gently scoot your feet in the direction you want to go while using excited tones and waving your hands to get him up and moving.

For a dog, trying to live with everyone "just getting along" does not work. Dogs live in packs with hierarchies, not democracies. Remember, no human leadership means Fifi will take over and set the rules. It's time for you to step into the leader position. If you do, you will notice positive changes in your dog's behavior right away. You and your dog will begin working as a team.

Be the leader--your dog will love you for it and you'll be surprised how hard he'll work to please you.

Get started using these 3 tips and check back in a few weeks for the next set of easy dog training steps for outstanding dog behavior!

About The Author
O'Neal Hendrix is a premier professional dog trainer in Atlanta, GA. For many years, she has "worked miracles" with dogs and their owners. Check out her dog blog (http://www.dog-supplies-dog-accessories.com) for her advice on everything dog!

Aquarium Tank Basics

2007-08-13T12:18:00.000-07:00

Any new aquarium tank should first be given a thorough test to ensure that it is watertight. If after 12 hours there are no leaks, it may be emptied and placed in its final position.

Now all is ready to set up the aquarium, for this work we shall require various items such as sand, rocks etc. These will be death with in order. For making a bottom soil, you need, first of all some sand, the most suitable is called 1/16th grade and it is about the size of the average pin-head:

The gravel to be used must also be graded; that is, the gram must be of uniform size. Sand and gravel's sold in aquarium supply stores are always graded, but if you buy elsewhere they may nor be. Gravel grains 2-5mm work best.

If you use nothing, but sand, it must be well washed-in buckets, under running water until no more dirt or foam comes to the surface - and spared out on the bottom of the tank in a layer running from 3- 6cm thick sloping upwards from front to back. If you decide to mix the sand with gravel to make at least a layer 6cm deep on top of the subgravel filter since less than this amount reduces the filtering capacity of the tank.

Your tank is the basic element, and is of the most important in building an aquarium. The size of the tank depends on the number and size of fish you plan to have in it. That is why proper planning is quite essential when you want to set up aquarium.

But then it is important to make it as big as you can afford. By all means avoid a globe tank as much as possible. Rectangle shape is always good because of various reasons you will discover later.

Option 1: You can buy ready made glass tanks already sealed professionally set up aquarium tank at any aquarium store.

Option 2: Buy ready-made plastic models through distributors or mould-extrusion manufacturers and put your aquarium tank together yourself. Below are the tools you need and the steps you need to take to set up completely new aquarium tank:

Tools:
Sheet of glass (4mm to 12mm)
Silicone sealant (clear and transparent)
Silicone gun or (syringe)
Dulling stove
Tape rule
Sheet of paper, ruler, pencil and eraser
napkin (x2)
newspaper
hand glove (rubber type)
methylated spirit
blade
knife
toilet soap and soap case
masking tape
flat bench (made with plywood)
1/4 flash
water and siphon hose
buckets (x2)
polythese sheet about the size of the table

Other than that, I'll give you my 12 essential aquarium tips below is a great start on your way to having a beautiful aquarium full of happy and health fish that you can be proud of:

1. Location of the tank in a spot which is draft free and has a moderate amount of light for 8 to 10 hours. This will ensure the safety of the tank and the inhabitants.

2. Location of the aquarium tank where water spillage a day will do no damage, at a height convenient for working, and in a place where it will not have to be moved.

3. Proper sand gravel (not too large, not too fine).

4. Conditioned water - free of chlorine, dirt, excess hardness, excess acidity, or excess alkalinity. Hard, acidic, dirty water is not suitable for an aquarium. It will make life uncomfortable for fish and leads to constant fish death.

5. Availability of plants properly place is highly essential.

6. Proper, even temperature for the fish species.

7. Decoration and furnishing if you desire them.

8. Aeration to supply additional oxygen.

9. Filtration to remove excesses waste products.

10. Fish which will live peacefully together.

11. Food to keep them health.

12. Kits and utensils to make maintenance easy.

About The Author
Nathan Miller
For more great aquarium related articles and resources check out http://fishtanks.aquariumspot.com

The Domesticated Alpaca

2007-08-11T07:16:00.001-07:00

One mammal reared mainly for their wool is the Alpaca. Alpacas are a domesticated mammal that's derived from the family of camels. Genetics has determined that Alpacas are descendants of Vicunas. Alpaca are found in the highlands and parts of Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Green grasses are the main sources for food and water for hydration.

Alpaca is one of the four species of fiber producing animals reared in South America. The other three are Ilama, guanaco and vicuna. Among these alpaca and Ilama are the domestic animals whereas vicuna and guanaco stray around. The former two are reared because they produce wool. Alpaca provides good amount and quality of wool whereas vicuna has a soft and fine coat. The hair obtained from the Alpaca in the early 19th century were as long as 12 inches but these days the length has decreased and is almost the half of it. Besides, white, brown, and black, the fleeces of alpaca are grey and fawn in color. The yarn produced from mixing all these colors is ginger colored, which is further dyed in black.

Incas initially raised the Alpaca for good quality wool but due to hybridization of the Alpaca and the Ilama, the quality of wool was dramatically reduced. These wools were later exported to Europe since it was discovered that alpaca cloth can be made out of the wool. Currently, raising alpaca is practiced highly in Canada, USA, and other such nations. It is seen as one of the growing industries in these nations.

Alpacas appears similar in shape and size to sheep. They are a little taller, height with a high erect neck and a better shaped head. Just like sheep they are domesticated in large flocks. Alpacas have a peculiar habit of spitting like their counterparts Ilamas.

Alpaca is also the term used by textile industry for wool derived from Peruvian alpaca and the type of fabric made from alpaca fiber. The latter is more frequently used. These days this alpaca fiber is made from mohair, English wool and Icelandic sheep wool. The traders differentiate between these two types of fibers, although buyers fail to identify the original alpaca.

About The Author
John Alaga is the proprietor of Alpaca Watch, Inc. your online source for everythihng about these fine animals. Find all that you need at: www.alpacawatch.com

Are You Ready To Breed Your Yorkshire Terrier?

2007-08-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

The reported sales for Yorkshire Terriers is phenomenal. Over the past few years, the popularity of this breed as a family pet and as the dog to breed has seen tremendous growth. In fact, the requests for adorable Yorkie puppies is greater than the supply. This fact has many Yorkie owners wondering if they should look into the possibility of breeding their pet.

While breeding Yorkshire Terriers is a worthy goal, it is not for everybody or every dog. There are many things that should be considered before making the decision to breed your Yorkshire Terrier, the least of which regards whether or not you have the time and space to devote to breeding the energetic Yorkshire Terrier.

Many experts reserve the right to breed dogs to the professional breeder, and they will discourage anyone who has a idea to breed Yorkies from doing so. Though this may sound manipulative, there are good reasons why they discourage casual breeding. While I believe that there are many people who should not even consider breeding their Yorkie, I also feel that there are many intelligent people that can incorporate breeding into their lifestyle responsibly. To find out which category you fall into, consider the following points.

Pedigreed and registered doesn't equal breeding material

Yes, a pedigree and registration are requirements before breeding any purebred dog, but their presence does not mean that you have a Yorkie worthy of breeding. Let me explain. The AKC and other registry organizations certify pedigrees and registrations that guarantee the authenticity of your pet as a purebred Yorkie; they do not certify quality. What this means is that an AKC registered Yorkie can have certain traits that are undesirable for breeding such as congenital health defects which are not discernable to the eye and undesirable behavioral traits, which can become more pronounced in the dog's offspring.

Even breeders that possess dogs with Yorkie bloodlines of the highest quality do not breed all of their puppies. In fact, only a very select few ever get used for breeding. The ones that do are carefully evaluated for health quality, behavioral traits and breed standards in an attempt to continually improve the quality of the Yorkie breed. Randomly breeding registered Yorkies does the exact opposite, often resulting in sickly and below-standard puppies.

Breeding Yorkies is not an income opportunity

Breeding Yorkies for monetary gain is not a good reason to pursue breeding this exceptional breed. First, finding a bitch and sire of high enough quality to breed can be an expensive undertaking. Caring for your breeders and puppies until they are old enough to be sold can also be very expensive.

Think about it this way. The average Yorkshire Terrier litter is from one to four puppies. Now, you may be able to sell these puppies for $1,000 to $1,500, but Yorkies require veterinary attention and breeder care for the first three months of their life. Add on to this the cost of a possible Cesarean section and the fact that you cannot whelp more than one litter per dam per year, and you may find yourself in the hole rather than coming out ahead.

Time and dedication

It is estimated that the average breeder spends 120 hours per month caring for their Yorkies and pups. This 120 hours cannot be scheduled around other obligations; other obligations must be scheduled around your puppies. The small size of Yorkie puppies make them extremely susceptible to hypoglycemia and instant death during the first three months of life if they are not cared for properly. So, having a litter of Yorkies pretty much takes a considerable chunk of time and independence from your life.

And it doesn't end when they are three months old. A good breeder will carefully screen and interview all potential buyers to ensure that their puppies get placed in only the best homes. They will also offer support to the puppy's new family to make sure that they are properly prepared to care for the Yorkie, and they will stay available to help out any purchasers in need, even if it means accepting the puppy or full-grown Yorkie back into their home if problems arise.

If you are still not deterred after considering all of these breeding realities, you may just have what it takes to successfully breed Yorkshire Terriers. The next step is to find out all you can about Yorkies and how to breed them. The AKC is a great place to start. Good luck!

About The Author
Rose Lenk
Learn the 7 things you need to know about Yorkshire Terriers at http://www.goodyorkie.com

Frequently Asked Dog Training Questions:

2007-08-07T06:46:00.000-07:00

1. Why do dogs eat their poop?

One reason dogs eat their poop is because it just plain taste good. Another reason is it could be a vitamin deficiency. One other reason for the poop eating is that it is an instinctual behavior in the wild to eat the poop to keep other predators from tracking their movements. Some solutions for stopping poop eating are: You can put meat tenderizer on their food and it is supposed to make the poop taste bad once it goes through the body. Check to make sure your dog food is nutritous enough and they are getting everything they need in their diet. The best and most effective way is to clean up after your dog immediately.

2. How do I get my dogs to stop barking?

Dogs bark as a form of communication. Dogs will also bark out of boredom. Dogs that are not with their pack [you are their pack] will bark to get the packs attention to let them know they are lonely. Dogs will bark to alert that there is a person walking by or another dog in their territory it is a natural form of communication. If you remove the stimulant then there is no need to bark at it. The best way to stop nuisance barking is to exercise/socialize your dog. If the dog is with their pack then they is no need to get the packs attention. Dogs also bark when they are excited it is their natural way of communication.

3. How do I get my dog to stop chewing up the furniture?

If you have a puppy it is probably teething and in some pain. The chewing is satiating to them and can possibly be soothing their gums. You can give them a cold carrot to chew on, make sure you give it to them outside it can get quite messy. You can also freeze chicken broth in ice cube trays for them to have to help relieve some of the discomfort. You can also use Bitter Apple spray to detour them from chewing. Mature dogs usually chew out of boredom and stress. Exercise is the best way to release the stress. You can turn there attention on to something else that is more exciting then your dinning room table leg.

4. How do I get my dog to stop nipping and play-biting?

One way is to yelp very loud and startle the puppy. If the puppy was playing with another puppy and it bite to hard then the puppy would yelp to let them know it hurt. If the play stops as a result of biting too hard then the puppy will learn from being shunned away that biting stops the play time. Another solution for play biting is to have a toy and redirect the attention on to something else. You can also change the dogs environment take them outside for a walk is very helpful.

5. How do I stop my dog from potting in the house?

Once a dog start using the bathroom in the house the only method that works is PREVENTION. Every time your dog uses the bathroom in the house it takes 10 consecutively times using the bathroom outside that teaches it outside is where to go potty. So if you get to 9 times outside and then they have a mistake inside you have to start all over again. You must look at your dog/puppy as a 9 month old crawling baby with out a diaper on. Surely you would not let a 9 month old baby loose in your house with out a diaper on.

About The Author
Susie Aga
Atlanta Dog Trainer
www.atlantadogtrainer.com
770-754-9178

Susie Aga is a Certified Canine Behavior & Training Specialist who received her certification from Triple Crown Academy, a world leader in pet education. She has 20 years experience and is recommended by over 35 Veterinarians in the Metro Atlanta Area. Susie was chosen by Turner Broadcasting to be their featured Pet Expert.

You can find her on their web site: www.tbs.tv/stories/story/0,,34516

Intestinal Parasites In Dogs

2007-07-30T12:40:00.001-07:00

Dogs (and cats) often fall victim to several common intestinal parasites known as worms. There are a large number of different types of intestinal worms, but dogs are most commonly affected by tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. These parasites live in the digestive tract (most commonly in the intestines) where they feed on nutrients, robbing the dog of the nutrition it takes in. Worm infestations can cause a variety of undesirable symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and a generally poor appearance.

How do Dogs Get Worms?

There are a number of ways that a dog can wind up with an infestation of any of these types of intestinal parasites. An animal infested with any of these types of worms may pass the worms' eggs in its feces. This is a strong argument for picking up after your pet as often as possible and not allowing your dog to eat feces (something dogs will do) whenever you can. Tapeworm eggs can be spread by fleas. Fleas eat the eggs (quite a delicacy to a flea) and then pass them to a dog when biting it. Some roundworms will lie dormant in the body of a pregnant dog and activate just before it gives birth. The activated worms make their way into the intestines of the unborn puppies where they will thrive after the pups are born.

Detecting Worms in Dogs

Worm infestations can be difficult to detect. While some worms may be passed in the feces, betraying their presence, it is uncommon. If a dog is displaying symptoms that may indicate the presence of worms, a vet should be consulted. A stool sample will be examined for the presence of worm eggs (these are microscopic) and a medication called a "wormer" will be prescribed. Stool samples are often collected as part of a routine dog physical examination in order to check for the presence of worms. In the case of tapeworms, discarded tapeworm segments may be visible in the dog's feces or attached to the fur around the anus or under the tail. To the naked eye these may look like small bits of white rice.

Treating Dogs for Worms

When a dog is found to have an infestation of worms, it should be prescribed a wormer immediately by a vet. Depending on the severity of the infestation, the type of worms, and the likelihood of re-infestation, the treatment may need to be repeated one or several times. There are over-the-counter wormers available, but most vets do not recommend them because they are necessarily weaker and may not kill all types of worms and their eggs.

Intestinal worms can cause numerous health problems for dogs, up to and including death in extreme cases. Taking measures to prevent infestation, detect it as quickly as possible, and treat it accordingly can help keep your dog safe from these harmful parasites.

About The Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.doghealth411.com/ for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog travel.

Dog Whispering: Origins Of A Phrase And A Philosophy

2007-07-24T08:22:00.001-07:00

What Is Dog Whispering?

Dog whispering is more than a matter of talking nicely to your dog.

It's about understanding your dog by reading and interpreting its body language. In turn, you communicate your response to your dog through your body language and actions. From an outside perspective, the calm yet firm way of the whisperer gives the impression that he or she has a bond with the animal that is more natural, or even mystical.

That Movie

The phrase itself is a borrowing from "horse whisperer," which became popular after Nicholas Evans' 1995 novel of the same name was made into a Hollywood movie starring Robert Redford in 1998. The story centers on a real life horse trainer, Irishman Daniel Sullivan. In the early 1800s, Sullivan gained notoriety all over England with his uncanny ability to train and rehabilitate problem horses. He kept his techniques mostly secret and passed them down to his prodigy Willis J. Powell, who took the knowledge overseas to the Americas. There it was passed down again and again in the same way until this secretive method was ultimately revealed more openly.

The idea of "whispering" as a form of training and especially rehabilitating problem horses began to be applied in a wider sense, not only to cattle and livestock, but also to domesticated pets, especially dogs. Dog whispering, like horse whispering, places a heavy investment in understanding the dog by studying their behavior, and responding to them with calm and firm guidance in turn.

That Guy

The best known dog whisperer today is Cesar Millan, who gained fame with his television series, The Dog Whisperer, on the National Geographic Channel. Originally from Mexico, Millan came to the United States in the 1990s. Knowing he had a proven ability to communicate with dogs in a healthy, productive, and humane way, he set out to help dog owners do the same.

Millan's techniques emphasize the importance of establishing yourself as a confident and dependable leader, and his philosophy revolves around the principles of "exercise, discipline and affection."

Nothing Too New

Even though Millan popularized the "Dog Whisperer" tag, and "dog whispering" has become a very hot topic in dog obedience training, the method and techniques it refers to are not necessarily new, nor are they unique to Cesar Millan. Though it should be said that Millan is a genuinely intuitive and caring dog trainer (or "rehabilitator," as he calls himself), and he offers a great deal to troubled dogs – and troubled trainers.

Dog whispering as a dog training philosophy has been around for as long as there have been owners and trainers who deeply understand and respect these animals on their terms and "in their language." It simply occurred under different names.

Either way, those who embrace this philosophy all have one thing in common: they treat dogs neither as humans on four legs or as personal servants at our command, but as dogs.

About The Author
Martin Olliver has over 12 years experience in dog training and is a proud member of the Kingdom of Pets team (http://www.kingdomofpets.com). For more great articles on dog training, including "Dog Whispering: 2 Common Misconceptions," visit: http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/articles/dog_whispering.php.

Veterinarians: How to Get Your Clients to Provide More and Better Care for Their Pets…Without Making Them Think All You Want Is Money

2007-07-22T05:05:00.001-07:00

Today's veterinary healthcare providers face a dilemma: how to get your clients to provide more and better care for their pets without making them think all you want is money. Here are some ways you can do just that (and a bonus: you'll get more new clients, too!).

America is a nation of animal lovers. We provide homes for pets in numbers unrivaled by any other society on earth. And you, the veterinary healthcare provider, who have devoted your life to the well-being of animals, do what you do for the love of animals—not for the love of money.

Yet, as you know from your daily practice, many—if not most—pets are undertreated.

Maybe you're reluctant to recommend additional treatment, for fear your clients will think you just want their money. The truth is, pet owners would spend more on pet care… if their vets told them what they needed to do…and if you could convince them that it's their pets' well-being you care about most.

The key? Vets who establish the best relationships with their clients will get the most business from existing clients…and the most new clients. And those relationships begin with communication.

The human-animal bond is extremely important in our society.

Most households in America have at least one pet, and these pets are cherished members of the family.

Consider these figures from the AAHA's 2004 Pet Owner Survey of US and Canadian pet owners:

? 94% think their pet has humanlike personality traits.

? 93 % would risk their own life for their pet.

? 87% include pets in their holiday celebrations.

? 84% consider themselves Mom or Dad to the pet.

? 82% think of their pets at least once a day when they're away.

? 80% said "companionship" is the major reason for having a pet.

? 78% greet their pet at the door before they greet their spouse.

? 72% say affection is their pet's most endearing trait.

? 67% of pet-containing households recognize pet birthdays.

? 65% have sung or danced with their pet.

? 62% sign letters or cards as being from their pets as well as themselves.

? 57% would rather have a pet than a person with them if stranded on a deserted island.

? 55% have an emergency preparedness plan that includes their pet.

? 43% of pets (not including fish and snakes) share beds with their people.

? 36% say their pet enjoys watching TV.

? 33% talk to their pets on the phone or through the answering machine.

? 25% say they brush their pet's teeth.

? 24% of dog owners sometimes dress their pets.

? 18% have attended a birthday party for someone else's pet.

Not only that…we are increasingly becoming a culture of animal lovers. American pets enjoy a better quality of life each year. Consider that:

? Spaying and neutering have reached an all-time high—82%, up from 75% just ten years ago.

? Those who provide daily exercise for their pet is now at 80%, up from only 68% in 1995.

? Dogs and cats have largely moved indoors, and 39% of pet owners say they have at least one piece of furniture reserved for their pet.

? Those who dress their pets is up from 21%, with most saying they do so to protect their pets from the weather…but also "for fun" on holidays.

? The concept of "no-kill" shelters—only recently considered unrealistic—is quickly gaining in popularity.

Yes…we love to love our pets.

But…you don't want to take advantage of our love for our pets!

Understandably, with each care recommendation you make comes the implication that the client must spend money.

Emphasize that prevention is the best way to go. Remind pet owners they can help pets live longer, healthier, happier lives by bringing in their pets for regular physical exams, vaccinations, and dental care.

Some pet owners might consider euthanizing a pet because they're not aware of the options available. You can put yourself on their team by suggesting ways they can save money—e.g., mail order drugs or generics; home care.

Don't pre-judge clients' willingness to comply…or ability to pay. Some hints…

? Start by assuming that pet owners want the best care for their pets.

? Keep educational materials and resources available; use them to reinforce recommendations you've made.

? Schedule the next appointment before the client leaves.

? Here's a big opportunity to increase client satisfaction: make follow-up phone calls. Studies show that most pet owners want follow-up calls…but only a little over half get them!

? Remember: these are quality of care goals, not financial goals.

Pets are big business! Pets are the new status symbols; a well cared-for pet is a sign of achievement.

Many vets believe obesity is the greatest health issue facing America's pets. Do you? Here's a worthy challenge to overcome: people buy ordinary pet food because it's cheaper…and it's "good enough."

Offer premium quality pet foods for sale at your practice, and suggest clients buy some along with the services they're purchasing.

Here again, emphasize that prevention is the key.

Other trends represent increased opportunity…

We have more pets per household then ever before. Consider these exciting trends:

? Pets are living longer than ever before. This is a self-perpetuating cycle: pets receive better care…therefore live longer…and older pets require specialized care.

? People are more likely than they used to be to adopt older pets…therefore animal shelters and rescue organizations are more likely to keep these pets available for adoption rather than euthanize them.

? No-kill shelters are also likely to keep available for adoption pets with other special needs…and people are more willing to adopt these than ever before.

The final frontier of opportunity: cats. A growing percentage of pets in America are cats; there are now more cats than dogs in America. Yet, cats are less likely than dogs to get annual care.

And with Americans having busier lifestyles, with fewer (human) children in the family and most people away during the day, this is a trend with no end in sight.

…Which represents an opportunity to put more emphasis on regular cat care.

Bottom line: connect with owner, who connects with the pet.

Your job is to help the owner keep the pet healthy and happy. Encourage the understanding that it's good to establish the relationship before something catastrophic happens.

This will keep your clients bringing their pets to you for regular, preventive care.

It will also establish your reputation as being a vet who cares…and by word-of-mouth advertising from healthy patients and happy clients, your business will grow.

Here are some of the ways you can keep in touch with your clients:
Brochures
Case studies
E-mail campaigns
Instruction manuals
News releases
Newsletters (internal and external)
Sales letters
Trade magazine articles
Web content
White papers
…More

About The Author
Lisa J. Lehr is a freelance writer with a specialty in business and marketing communications. She holds a biology degree and has worked in a variety of fields, including the pharmaceutical industry and teaching, and has a particular interest in animals. She is also a graduate of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI), America's leading course on copywriting. Contact Lisa J. Lehr Copywriting www.ljlcopywriting.com, Lisa@ljlcopywriting.com for help with your business writing needs.
This article ©Lisa J. Lehr 2005.

Aquarium Aeration Basics

2007-07-20T06:59:00.001-07:00

As we all know rivers and lakes are the natural habits for fish and other marine life. Rivers and lakes have large surface area which makes maximum provision of oxygen for fish survival possible. On the other hand an aquarium is not like river or lake, it has a smaller surface area and there is limited movement of habitats.

This makes the provision of alternative means of oxygen for fish to breathe important. This artificial process of providing oxygen is called aeration. It's a simple process of re-oxygenating the water in aquarium tank.

The Aquarium Aerating System:

An aquarium aerating aystem made up of a series of materials that increases the supply of air (thereby increasing oxygen concentration) they are:
the air pump
t-pieces
rubber tubing
clamp or regulator
diffusers or airstone

Air pumps come in different shapes and sizes but the most popular ones are tecax air pump from Taiwan together with 'dyna free, and the dragon' another popular one is super 555 from India though cheaper, but not as rugged. Occasionally available are the more expensive whisper and rens air pumps from Uk and rance respectively. Always place air pumps above the water level hooked to a non-vibrating material.

You can accomplish aeration in your aquarium tank by using the above listed aeration materials.

For small tanks all you need is to attach a simple aquarium air pump to airstone by means of a rubber air tube. The system will be blowing air into the water which causes motion in aquarium tank and thus provide the necessary oxygen your fish needs to breathe in the aquarium.

Sometimes people complain that the airpumps are too loud. A tricks to keep the air pump quiet is to insulate it's vibrations by placing the air pump on a large sponge.

I have even heard of some people who have buried the pump in cat litter with a air tube running to the surface from the air inlet... but you don't have to go to that extent. A large sponge should do the trick.

About The Author
Nathan Miller
For more great aquarium related articles and resources check out http://www.aquariumspot.com.

Ten Commandments Camping With Dogs

2007-07-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

In the U.S. alone, more than 30 million people each year take their pets with them while camping. Yet, when we first started RVing with our dogs, we were unable to find much written on the subject. Sure, there were the occasional articles in magazines that reminded us to use pet ID tags, bring plenty of water, and take their favorite toy. But in terms of providing genuine support or bottom–line information, there was nothing out there. Since it was something that we felt was badly needed, we decided to write this article.

While there are numerous issues to consider while camping with dogs, these are some of the most important.

1. Make Sure that Your Dog Can't Get Lost

It's one thing if your dog gets free in your neighborhood. It's another when you're at a rest stop, nine hundred miles from home. Either train your dog to come when called or make absolutely sure that they're on a leash at all times.

2. Get All of their Vaccinations Up to Date

If your dog gets into an altercation with another animal (or a person), the central issue will become their rabies shots. If you stay at a campground that has a demanding pet policy, you'll need to verify your dog's vaccination records. If you cross into Canada, you'll have to confirm that your dogs have had their shots. You get the idea.

3. Make Your Dogs Easy to Identify

If your dog does get lost (unfortunately, it happens all the time), the ability to easily identify them will become critical. For permanent identification purposes, consider tattoos or microchips. At a minimum, make sure they wear tags that show their name, your current phone number, and the date of their last rabies vaccination.

4. Clean Up After Your Dog

The biggest complaint about dogs has nothing to do with their bark, their bite, or their behavior. If you pick up after your dog, you'll be helping dog owners everywhere.

5. Learn How to Provide First Aid to Your Dog

If a medical crisis occurs while at home, you drive to your local veterinarian. But if you're heading down a dark highway in a strange town, it will seem like a bad dream. Although there are ways to get help while on the road, it always takes more time. In the meantime, your ability to provide competent first aid could save your dog's life.

6. Involve Your Dog in Everything You Do

If you really want your dogs to have a good time, include them in your activities. Take them with you on long walks. Buy a cheap plastic wading pool and let them play in the water. Throw a ball. Cook them up a hamburger. If you do stuff like that, they'll do cartwheels the next time you decide to take them camping.

7. Call the Campgrounds Before You Go

Even if a park claims they're pet–friendly, always call ahead to confirm their policy regarding your dogs. We've arrived at parks (with our two German Shepard dogs) after a long day on the road only to discover that "pet–friendly" meant dogs weighing under 20 pounds.

8. Plan Ahead for the Unexpected

Have a plan (for your dogs) in case of a flat tire, a serious accident, or a fire in your RV. Start with a few extra leashes, a pet carrier, and an extra fire extinguisher. Then have a fire drill to identify potential problems.

9. Learn About Your Camping Environment

The U.S. is a huge country with a vast assortment of dangerous wildlife, treacherous plants, unpredictable weather conditions, and demanding environmental challenges. If you don't know what you're doing, you might inadvertently be putting yourself and your dog in danger.

10. Recognize and Respect the Views of Others

While some of us can't imagine traveling without dogs, others can't image traveling with them. If you keep your dog under control and clean up after them, you won't give others much to grumble about.

Happy Camping with Rover!

About The Author
Julee Meltzer
The authors of Camping & RVing with your pets are avid pet lovers and campers. They are full-time RVers, who RV in a Class A with 2 large dogs and 3 cats, at last count! Jack and Julee Meltzer have traveled over 100,000 miles with 5 cats and 2 dogs in a Class B and Class A RV. They have stayed in campgrounds, public lands, state and Federal Parks, and the occasional Walmart parking lot. Subscribe at http://www.petsrv.com and receive by email their free handy checklist "What to Bring When Camping with Your Dog" Contact Julee Meltzer at julee@desertwindspress.com or julee@petsrv.com. Desert Winds Press LLC specializes in books about the outdoors and RVing.

Your Dogs Nutrition 101

2007-07-16T05:04:00.001-07:00

Dogs have specific nutritional needs, but most pet owners do not realize that all dogs and most pet foods are not alike. Many commercial dog food brands are lacking in key nutrients, so reading the labels is a must. Price and brand names are not good gages of quality when it comes to food.

Dogs are carnivorous so they need meat and protein, along with carbohydrates, vitamins, fat, minerals, and water. The manufacturers have choices as to the types and amounts of proteins, minerals, and vitamins that they put into their products. Higher levels of animal protein like chicken, lamb, and beef are needed by active dogs, while proteins found in plants or grains such as corn, soy, wheat, and rice are sufficient for less active dogs.

Puppy foods generally contain more protein than adult or maintenance foods. What you are looking for is a food that has two animal proteins in the first three ingredients listing. This is a good rule of thumb that applies to all dogs and breeds, not just puppies.

Carbohydrates are important buy only in small amounts. You should avoid foods that contain soy, because altogether soy is high in protein, it is also a carbohydrate that slows down digestion and prevents other vitamins and minerals in the food from being absorbed.

Vitamins come in two types, water soluble, and fat soluble. Vitamins B and C are water soluble, while vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat soluble. The B and C vitamins are lost through urination and need to be included in every meal, while vitamins A, D, E and K are stored up in the fatty tissues of the body and liver.

The type of dog food is important, because of digestion time. Raw foods, such as meat, vegetables, and even fruit are the easiest foods to digest, and usually in about 4 ½ hours. Semi moist processed dog foods take longer, usually around 9 hours to pass through the stomach, and dry dog foods take up to 16 hours before the dog is receiving energy from the food.

For more information, please consult your veterinarian, as they are the best judge of your dog's individual needs. But it is up to us, the pet owners to care for our four legged friends by continuing to read those labels!

About The Author
Brent Jones and his partner Randy Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed the website http://joncopets.com/ on the site, customers can read articles about anything pets as well as shop for the latest trendy items for their best friend. Feel free to check out the site at http://joncopets.com/.

Simple And Effective Solutions For Aquarium Algae

2007-07-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

Eradication of encrusting algae could be done simply by periodically scraping the sides of the aquarium or scrubbing the rocks.

For those with plastic plants and a completely white gravel bed, the situation could be more tasking as it would be necessary to bleach the rocks to remove all traces of algae.

However, if you do this, do make sure that you rinse the gravel thoroughly afterwards. Bleach is highly toxic, and even small amounts can have a drastic effect on the aquarium fish.

Since the primary cause of green algae is too much light. The fist step in the treatment schedule should be light reduction then partial water changes and an adequate stocking with natural aquarium plants. A final treatment with an algae remedy should ensure that the problem is eradicated and is at least kept at bay for some time.

One of the factors mentioned above is the use of natural aquatic plants as a means of algae control. This is really more effective than many people think.

For a start, luxuriant plant growth will filter out some of the light keeping algae in check. In addition plants absorb a large variety of chemicals from the water, thereby starving algae of some of their essential nutrients e.g. nitrates (not nitrites).

Surprising as though it may seem, an adequate plant stocking level is approximately 50 small plants per square root of available space.

The treatment I mentioned is the use of an algaecide. I must stress the word "use:" it is very different to "abuse"!

Yet despite this difference, I know that some people will still persist in pouring the chemical remedy into their aquarium and expect the problem to disappear overnight, even though they have done absolutely nothing to alter the conditions in the tank that brought about the problem in the first place.

The conditions I stated above have to be adhering to for any lasting effect to occur! Now that we know how to curb the menace of the green algae, in another article I shall discuss it's ugly "sister" brown algae (the brown encrusting algae whose case is the reverse of green algae).

About The Author
Nathan Miller
For more great aquarium related articles and resources check out http://proteinskimmers.aquariumspot.com.

Heatstroke: Are Your Dogs at Risk?

2007-07-12T08:39:00.000-07:00

It is not uncommon to hear about someone who left their dog in a parked car, even for just a few minutes, and came back to find them suffering from heatstroke or already dead.

If temperatures are about 70-80ºF a car can heat up to 100ºF within minutes. If the temperature is 85ºF and the windows are slightly open the temperature inside can reach 102ºF in ten minutes and in 30 minutes it can reach 120ºF.
On hot and humid days the temperature inside a car parked in the sun can increase more than 30ºF each minute. That quickly becomes lethal since at 110ºF a dog is in danger of heatstroke.
The best thing you can do is leave your dog at home when you go out on errands. Even if you don't plan on leaving your dog in the car, there is always the risk that your car's air conditioning will fail and you and your dog end up driving around in an oven on wheels.

Fresh, cool water and shade are the two most important things for a dog that spends a lot of time outdoors. Dogs dehydrate very quickly and their water bowls need to be refilled several times a day with cool, fresh water.

Another thing you can do is provide a little pool for your dog or let him run through the sprinklers. Some dogs love to cool off with the hose. If you provide a pool, be sure to empty it and refill it often to prevent mosquito larvae from growing.

If your dog is left outside during the day, be sure to provide plenty of shade. Even if your yard is shaded naturally it is important to set up some kind of shelter from the heat. Set it up in the shade of a tree, for example, and make sure that the shelter is large enough so that air can pass through it freely.

Your dog's footpads are very sensitive to the heat. Hot pavement can cause severe burns. Avoid walking your dog on hot pavement and cool his paws in cool water when you get home from a walk.

Some dog breeds have more problems in the heat than others. Boston Terriers, Pugs, Boxers and other dogs with pushed up snouts have a tougher time in hot weather than others. They will need extra care to make sure they keep comfortable and safe from the heat.

There are other breeds that just aren't meant to live in areas that reach higher temperatures. These include the St. Bernard, Alaskan Malamute, Huskie, Old English Sheepdog, Newfoundland and any other breed that has a dense, heavy coat.

A visit to the groomer for a nice, short haircut can help these dogs keep comfortable in warmer weather. Other dogs that would feel better with a short summer haircut include dogs with a double coat, such as the Chow and Collie.

If you think your dog has heatstroke, get him or her to the vet immediately. Use cool water, not ice water, to cool your dog. Be careful not to use very cold water as that will cause constriction of the blood vessels and slow down cooling.

Signs of heatstroke include, among other things, a body temperature of 104-110ºF, excessive panting, dark or bright red tongue, seizures, bloody diarrhea or vomiting, coma, and death.

If the dog's temperature is 103ºF or lower, do not aid cooling as some animals can get hypothermic. But if your dog is cooled off and seems okay, do not assume everything is fine.

Internal organs can be negatively affected by a rise in body temperature and blood tests and a vet exam are needed to assess any damage. There is a fatal blood problem called DIC that can result from heatstroke.
To best help your dog handle the heat this summer, keep him at home and NOT in a hot car. Make sure he has a steady supply of cool, fresh water and shade, provide him with air conditioning or a wading pool to keep cool in, decrease his amount of exertion, and exercise him and do any dog training in the cooler times of the day. Following these simple steps will ensure that your dog has a happy, healthy summer.

Copyright 2006 Carol Stack

About The Author
Carol Stack has been working with dogs for more than three decades. She and her daughter, Christy, have created a web site especially for dog lovers, http://www.christysdogportal.com

Cat Litter Box Location Strategies

2007-07-10T12:21:00.001-07:00

Just like in real estate where location is crucial, so it is for your cat's litter boxes.

Here's some ideas and tips on how to effectively locate them for good cat litter box habits.

When you think about cat litter box placement, imagine if it's a place where you'd like to do your business. We humans generally cherish a quiet and private location. Your cat isn't much different. She'd like her cat litter boxes placed where she can feel safe while voiding. When animals eliminate, this is a vulnerable time for them, and if your cat doesn't feel safe and comfortable, she'll find her own location to fulfill this need.

Depending upon the cat's age and mobility, an ideal litter box location is someplace where humans don't tread constantly. Take a look around your house and think about this as you ponder locations. Some ideal places are your basement, rarely-used bathrooms, and larger closets.

If you have a room that doesn't get much traffic and won't let the odors waft all through the house, then set up a litter box in that location.

If a family member's bedroom will work (assuming that person won't be jarred awake at 3 AM when kitty is busy digging a hole to China to bury her output!), use that as well.

Many cats prefer to have a cat litter box near their favorite "hang outs." This way, they don't have to go far when nature calls.

The most desirable location will be quiet, somewhat secluded, and afford kitty the luxury of time and the feeling of safety to properly eliminate in her cat litter box.

Sometimes your cat will decide a location for you. In my home, my kitty Scout prefers the cat litter box in the exercise room in lieu of the one in the basement (which would be my first choice) and another in a nook off the kitchen.

But she doesn't like those locations as well, so it's critical that I keep that cat litter box up to her standards - clean, no deposits left over from her brother JJ, and leaving the door open - even when I'm using the exercise bike or the cross trainer! If I forget any of these things, she lets me in the most direct way possible - by not using a litter box when she needs to eliminate.

If there was ever a case where cats have staffers and hired help, I'm living proof! So take a hint from your cat...try to accomodate her preferred location for successful, consistent cat litter box usage.

About The Author
Nancy E. Wigal
Nancy solved the cat urine odor problem in her home, and kept the cat that caused it. Read "18 Ways to Stop Cat Urine Odor Problems" to discover your solution.
http://www.stopcaturineodor.com

Protecting Our Dogs

2007-06-18T14:14:00.001-07:00

People seem to marvel at small dogs wearing clothing. They are just so cute you want to hug them! Not only are they cute but clothing can be functional too! Short haired dogs benefit from sweaters or coats in cold weather. Long haired dogs that live in the house really benefit from a rain slicker in wet weather keeping the wet dog smell down.

Hunting dogs benefit from leather boots to protect their feet from sharp rocks. Rubber boots help protect the feet from tracking mud into the house. Insulated boots help with the frost factor in some of the areas that have lots of freezing weather. Antifreeze chemicals used in deicing streets in cold weather states hurt dogs paws, the animals may start licking them and end up ingesting the toxins. Ingested antifreeze toxins can shut down your dogs kidneys. To prevent this, it is necessary to wash the dogs" paws in warm water immediately.

An Article in the Moscow News

"Dogs need to go for daily walks-and because Moscow's sub-zero temperatures and sidewalks may be covered in ice or harmful chemicals to melt it, warm clothing and even shoes for dogs become not only practical but also humane."

"In temperatures of minus 15 degrees Celsius or below, it is imperative to put coats on dogs." Said Valeria Shishmaryova, a veterinarian at the Movet Clinic in western Moscow. When the weather is not that cold, Shishmaryova said, dog owners should take two factors into account: breed and age.

Because of the companionship, entertainment and unconditional love dogs give us it stands that we humans are willing to care for mans best friend by spending millions to protect, dress and entertain them.

About The Author
Judith K Burns lives on a small horse ranch where she breeds and trains horses. She has three constant companions Libby (Border collie), Red and Wendy (Aussies). Libby is a retired Search and Rescue dog. Judi and three of her horses are certified and active in Mounted Search and Rescue. Judi also sells on-line dog apparel.
www.primpmypet.com

Useful Steps On Deceiving Your Pets To Take Pet Meds

2007-06-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

All pets depend on their owners with everything they need. Their owners usually give even the basic things to them. These include foods, shelter and pet medications.

Pet owners who greatly know about pet meds are likely to distinguish the symptoms when something is not right with their pet. In addition, they typically know the best thing to do when such thing arises. Having at least a little knowledge about pet meds can already give calmness to you and your four-legged best friend.

Your choice vet is actually your good source of information when it comes to pet medications. Feel free to ask him or her questions about pet meds. Knowing the correct pet medication can clear up any sore and painful illness so your pet will active again.

There are also pet med home remedies. You can use these home remedies for simple problems such as ear infections or an irritated eyes. In addition, caring your pet's skin is as easy as watching his or her diet.

When it comes to health care for people, precautionary medicine is important. If possible know the pet medications suitable for your pet and please ensure to get them on a habitual manner.

Oral pet medication is also advisable as long as you have it prescribed by your pet's veterinarian. A spoon of sugar may be worthy attempt in making your pet to swallow a required medication, but here is a more effective trick to help the pill go down.

1. Offer your pet a treat without medicines to stimulate his or her desire for food.

2. Think of the following for dog treats, a small piece of hotdog, cheese or peanut butter.

3. Give cats a bunch of butter; offer horses' granule with molasses.

4. Make use of similar treat to cover the pill.

5. Break the medication into tiny parts if possible, and put it completely inside the hotdog, cheese, peanut butter or bunch of butter.

6. Chop up the medicines for your pet horses, and mix it to the granules with many molasses to hold the blend together.

7. Make it sure that the food if big enough to wrap the medicine or the piece of medicine. However do not make treats that are too big because there will be a tendency that your pet might find out about it and drop it out.

However, whether you have fulfilled these steps, it is still important that you and your vet check your pet to make sure medications are doing the right things. If the medicine prescribed by your vet seem not to work at all, have your pet re-examined.

There are vets who do not like to give out prescription script because of the possibility of being drug dependent. It is necessary to talk with your vet about it. Surely, he or she can provide you and your pet with suggestion on what to do when medicines are not functioning well to your pet.

Just follow whatever your vet told you to do and you can be sure that in no less than a week your pet will be healed completely.

In this way, be ready to see you pet as achieve as he/she was before. Lastly, check out your pet's health every now and then to avoid bigger problems.

About The Author
John Rivers is the owner of Pet Meds. All you need to know about pets. You will also learn where where to buy ped meds online. http://www.easypetmeds.info.

Mans Best Freind

2007-06-14T13:31:00.001-07:00

Dogs are a major American pet status. Every year billions of dollars are spent on dog items, dog health, comfort, and entertainment. There are even stories out there of owners that have put their health care second to their dog's health care…

In today's world some couples have opted not to have children but have taken on the responsibility of a pet as a surrogate child. A few years ago, pets weren't as important to their owners as they are now, People now think of them as children. They dress them up: celebrate their birthdays; all these things indicate how elevated a place our animals take in our lives.

Older people are living longer and may; have lost their life mate but they have the companionship and entertainment of a dog or cat.

Pets can be quite entertaining as I can attest to. One summer in Montana where we have no TV, we spent untold hours watching our dogs roll a ball that dispensed food. Not lonely was the toy a source of food and entertainment, but exercise. Our dogs were constantly on the move trying to get their goodies.

Dogs are being used for the eyes and ears of their owner and now also for sniffing out cancer. Some dogs are used with law enforcement and go home with the officer to be part of their family. Search and rescue dogs live with their handlers and love going places and having people talk to them and pet them. In some situations, dog owners who take their dogs on the water are opting for wet suits that help keep the dog afloat as well as protecting from hypothermia.

So it stands "Dog is Mans Best Friend" and we humans are willing to spend millions, to protect, dress and entertain them.

About The Author
Judith K Burns lives on a small horse ranch where she breeds and trains horses. She has three constant companions Libby (Border collie), Red and Wendy (Aussies). Libby is a retired Search and Rescue dog. Judi and three of her horses are certified and active in Mounted Search and Rescue. Judi also sells on-line dog apparel.
www.primpmypet.com

Fun Dog Activities

2007-06-12T12:50:00.001-07:00

All dog breeds were developed for a purpose. Some breeds were developed to herd sheep, some to hunt game, and some to pull sleds. Dogs, like humans, enjoy having a purpose in life. Dogs like to lead a structured life and be able to associate with their owners in activities and be given the opportunity to please their owner. The following is a short list of fun activities that you may want to consider for your dog.

Dog Agility is a sport in which a handler must control and direct his dog around an obstacle course within a set period of time. Dogs must be controlled off-leash using only voice and body language commands. The handler runs beside the dog and directs the dog through the obstacle course with precision and speed – trying to accumulate the minimum number of faults (both missed obstacles and time faults). Obstacles include: A-frames, elevated dog walks, teeter-totters, tunnels, jumps (such as hurdles and tires), weave poles (like a slalom), pause tables (where the dog must lie down for a fixed time), and other obstacles. In order to be fair, there are usually classes of competition to group dogs of similar size and experience. Therefore there will be several winners at a competition. Dogs and handlers need to be very well trained and seem to enjoy this sport immensely. There are a number of organizations involved in agility performance around the world who sanction clubs to allow them to host agility competitions. In the US, some of these organizations include: the American Kennel Club (AKC), the United Kennel Club (UKC), the United States Dog Agility Association, and the North American Dog Agility Council. Elsewhere in the world: the Kennel Club (in the UK), the Agility Association of Canada and the FCI (World Canine Organization) are all involved.

Obedience is a skill that ranges from mastering everyday commands that all dogs should know to competitive exercises that require significant training and aptitude to excel. You may start out teaching your puppy and young dog the basic obedience commands and find that you and your dog have an aptitude for obedience skills that you would like to take to a higher level. In competitive obedience the dog and handler team must perform prescribed activities off leash and in a carefully defined way. If the dog has the aptitude and training it will gain skills to allow it to advance through the ranks from Novice to Open (intermediate) to Utility (advanced) competitions. At each level the requirements become more difficult and the number of exercises to be performed get longer. Exercises are all done off leash using voice and body language commands and include such activities as: having the dog stay while you walk away; follow the handler in the heel position through complex patterns; come on command; sit and lie down for fixed periods of time while the handler is out of the dog's sight; retrieve items over a high jump; and find a scented object amongst a group of identical non-scented objects. Dogs can earn obedience titles in obedience championships. Purebred dogs can compete in obedience trials sanctioned by the AKC, while the UKC recognizes other purebred dog competitions. As well, there are mixed breed competitions sanctioned by the Mixed Breed Dog Club of America and other organizations. In Canada, the Canadian Kennel Club sanctions obedience trials and awards titles.

Lure coursing is a sport for sighthounds that involves chasing a manually or mechanically operated artificial lure across a field in a "coursing" pattern. The competition is usually restricted to pure-bred sighthounds including: Afghan Hounds, Basenjis, Borzois, Greyhounds, Ibizan Hounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Italian Greyhounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Salukis, Scottish Deerhounds, and Whippets. The operator keeps the lure or "prey" just in front of the chasing sighthounds until they have completed the course. The course must have a minimum number of turns and is usually 600 to 1000 yards long. The hounds love to play this sport and puppies can be introduced to the sport through lure coursing practice sessions. Competitions usually consist of two runs for each dog breed for dogs that have been pre-certified or qualified. In the US, the American Sighthound Field Association or the AKC can "certify" that dogs have been trained and are eligible to enter their sanctioned competitions. In Canada, the Canadian Kennel Club sanctions lure coursing but excludes the Italian Greyhound because they consider it a toy dog.

Tracking can be learned by all dog breeds because all dogs use their noses to identify things and explore the world. Training can be started as early as 10 to 12 weeks of age as all puppies love to use their noses to sniff out a trail. As with all training, positive rewards (treats, praise etc,) and re-enforcement work best. The AKC sanctions tracking tests and events in the US. This vigorous non-competitive outdoor sport allows dogs to demonstrate their ability to recognize and follow human scents. In Canada, the CKC sponsors tracking events and you can check their website for a list of nearby events.

Field Trials are regularly held for Basset Hounds, Beagles and Dachshunds to demonstrate their ability to find and track game. Similarily Field Trials and Hunting Trials are held almost every weekend across the country for: the Pointing Breeds, the Retrievers, and Spaniels to allow them to compete and demonstrate their hunting abilities under a strict set of conditions. If you are an owner of a hunting dog puppy, you will want to look into many of the organized activities designed for your dog. Check out the AKC or CKC websites for a list of contacts and field trials in your area.

Other Fun Activites that you might wish to explore include flyball, frisbee, herding and drafting competitions.

About The Author
Mike Mathews is a contributing writer and editor for the popular dog breed site: http://www.dog-breed-facts.com/. He provides informative, real-world advice and tips on dog breeds, dog health, dog grooming and more. As well be sure to check out his free report on Dog Training

Correcting Your Puppy From Chewing

2007-06-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Puppies have a physical need to chew! It all has to do with the teething process. Just like a human baby, puppies have a great need to mouth and chew. This begins around three months of age. During this time, if your puppy doesn't have somthing to chew on, he will look for something. A puppy can entertain himself for hours if he has something to knaw on.

Instead of waiting on a huge problem to start, control your puppy's impulse by doing these:

1. Always know where your pup is and what he is doing. Treat him like a baby.

2. Make sure that all socks, shoes, books, electrical cors, etc. are picked up off the floor. Put valueables away temporarily.

3. If you have to leave him, upt him in his crate.

4. Make sure that what you have in his crate is allowed to be chewed. Use a meat scented nylon bone as his chewie.

5. Put your scent on his chew bone before you leave him alone. He can then smell your scent and be comforted by it.

6. Start preventing him from chewing by grabbing the scruff of his nec and gently shaking him whenever he is chewing a forbidden item. In nature, this is what his mother would do.

7. Make sure your pup gets plenty of exercise. This will help your pup from getting bored and starting destructive behavior.

8. If you have to take an object from your pup, do so gently and praise him when he gives it to you.
Puppies must chew, so keep a close eye on the little fellows and provide them with all their needs. So many times we lose a shoe or a coffee table leg because we have neglected to do the steps above. Just try over and over until he gets it right. Actually, another deterent is to slap a newspaper down beside the puppy when he begins to chew. They hate the noise and will associate it with a no no.

There are so many different ways to cope with your puppy's chewing. Have plenty of patience and provide him with all the neccessary toys he needs to keep him occupied and away from your things.

About The Author
Mary Reid lives in South Carolina. She has done research on all types of dog related supplies and natural dog food diets. At the time of this writing she owns two beautiful Labrador Retrievers, one black and one chocolate. You can find more articles at her webpage http://www.all-natural-pet-and-more.com. She also has a great site on Organic Food, Skincare and Supplements found at http://www.yourorganicchoices.com.

American Paint Horse

2007-06-04T12:52:00.001-07:00

The American Paint Horse is a breed of horses which are known for having a percentage of white hair over skin combined with another color. This color pattern is one of the most important characteristics of this breed. The American Paint Horse Association is one of the largest breed register centers in the US.

Every American Paint Horse has white hair combined with some other color found in horses. This includes brown, black, tan, or gray. American Paint horses are related to the American Quarter Horse, and share the same ancestors. The markings on these horses can be anywhere on its body. Like the Quarter Horse, American Paint Horses are known for their speed and athletic qualities.

Strict requirements are necessary in order to register these horses. Both the sire and dam have to be registered in the APHA and the club for Thoroughbreds. At least one of the parents of the horse being registered must be an American Paint Horse. It is also important that the horse being registered have white fur over skin which is another color. These horses have an excellent temperament, and make great pets.

The American Paint Horse should have a body shape which is the same as the American Quarter Horse. They should be heavy but not very tall, and their center of gravity should be low. They should also be very muscular with a powerful back legs. They should also be able to run extremely fast and maneuver quickly. The American Paint Horse is one of the most popular breeds of horses in the United States today.

Despite this, these horses are susceptible to getting lethal white syndrome, a genetic disease. Some foals are born with a pure white color and do not have a functioning colon. As of this writing, no effective treatments have been found for this disease, and the foal usually dies within two weeks. The death is a very painful process, and they are typically put down once symptoms have been found. The coat color alone is not an indicator that a horse has this disease.

This disease has become well known among American Paint Horse breeders, and many of them have encountered this disease first hand. While it was thought at one time that overos carried this disease, recent research has shown that not all overos carry this disorder, and tobianos and quarter horses may carry it also. Despite these conditions, American Paint Horses are highly prized.

About The Author
Michael Colucci is an experienced horse competitor and writes articles for http://www.horsegathering.com - A free site that includes horse articles, horse and tack marketplace, event calendar and a horse discussion forum.

Close Encounter of the Elk Kind

2007-05-29T13:50:00.001-07:00

For the last 10 years a generous part of my time has been associated with domestic elk, the furry, four-legged kind we raise on the farm not the two legged ones that hang out with their friends at the lodge on Main Street in town. While most men dream of associating with elk, especially that elusive world class bull, I would say that it's not something that most women would find very appealing. However, my husband and I decided to get involved in raising domestic elk along with our friends who live five minutes away and own the elk ranch where we board our animals. It's been quite a ride. I've learned a lot about elk, some things funny, some tragic and heartbreaking, and some just downright amazing. One thing is for sure, it's never dull.

For the most part elk are pretty easy to get along with as long as you don't corner them, you stay a safe distance from the bulls during the breeding season and as long as you never, never try to come between a cow and her calf unless you either are extremely quick at getting to and climbing an 8-foot fence, or armed with something to defend yourself when she comes after you, and she will! Cow elk are extremely good at hiding their offspring in the trees and tall grass, in fact there have been many times that we have searched and searched for babies in pens that we thought were sparsely vegetated and where they would be easy to find. Right. Lesson number one, never underestimate the protective instincts of a new mother. When you do eventually locate the little one, mama is also extremely good at defending him. She will come at you with both front feet striking at lightening speed making you think twice about trying to tag, weigh, vaccinate or ever touch her calf again.

There are several dogs that live on the farm. The old heeler cross learned years ago that if she ever thought about crossing the elk fence for any reason, it was a VERY BAD IDEA! She found herself on the wrong side of that 8-foot fence one day and barely escaped with her life by beating the cows (female elk) to the fence and climbing up and over as fast as her legs could carry her. She never did that again. The Border collie has been discouraged from the day she arrived on the farm not to go near the fence and she is smart enough to heed the warnings. But the new pup, a miniature Australian shepherd named Ace, was a different story. Ace being just a pup was very curious and loved to race up and down the fence "playing" with one of the bottle raised elk heifers who would run with him on her side of the fence. It was really entertaining to watch them and Ace thought this was great fun.

This Spring this heifer, along with the two other bottle raised cows, gave birth to a bouncing baby calf. She doted on her baby and for the first several days would not even bring him out of hiding. Early one morning, just about sunrise, the dogs had been let out as was the usual routine. They had only been outside a short time when their owners heard a terrible ruckus coming from the elk pen across the driveway. It seems Ace must have been chasing a rabbit or prairie dog and somehow gotten under the fence and in with the elk cows and their babies. Not a good scenario. Two of the cows spotted him and ran him down striking him with those deadly front feet with every intention of killing him. In the mean time his owner hearing all this from the house and realizing what was happening came running out yelling and trying to climb the fence to somehow chase the cows back and rescue the pup. His efforts startled the cows and gave Ace the chance to get to his feet and tear off down the fence trying desperately to find the hole in the fence where he had gotten in. He found the hole narrowly escaping being stomped to death by the cows who were once again in hot pursuit. Ace had escaped with his life but was badly beaten. His left hind leg had been severely damaged and would require surgery to pin together the left distal femoral bone which was fractured. Ace was very lucky not to have sustained any other internal injuries though and his prognosis was good. His owners were sent home with specific instructions for his recovery process and drugs (Rimadyl) for the pain.

This is where the amazing things I have learned about elk come in to play. Each year there would inevitably be one or more elk calves that would end up with broken legs, be it from stepping in a prairie dog hole or being stepped on by a cow, etc. Through experience in trying different methods to help them, and I might add without much success, we have discovered that if just left alone the legs would heal on their own. Lesson number two, elk have the incredible ability to heal their own broken bones, torn ligaments and damaged cartilage, etc. I would not have believed this had I not seen it time and time again with my own eyes. And not only do they heal but they heal so well that months later you would not even be able to tell which calves in the herd had broken their legs. The fact is that elk are the only animals whose bodies produce calcium. Not only that but their chemical makeup is so incredible that the bulls are able to produce huge antlers every year in a matter of just a few months. The antler is made up of 40 key compounds including glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, IGF-1, collagen, amino acids, Omega fatty acids, and much more. Research has shown that these compounds make an excellent supplement for joint problems, arthritis, performance enhancement, and overall general health maintenance. And when the antlers are in the soft or "velvet" stage is when they have the most nutrients. Eastern cultures have used velvet antler for centuries as a staple in their daily diets for all sorts of ailments and for overall energy and well being.

Ace, as well as all the other dogs on the ranch, has been taking freeze-dried elk velvet antler since he was little. His owners did not like giving him the Rimadyl since NSAIDs (non steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs) can cause serious side effects, even death in some cases. So Ace's daily dose of velvet antler was increased instead. He never really showed any signs of being in pain and his recovery has been incredible, just two months after his surgery he is chasing balls again with the Border collie and his x-rays show that the joint is nearly completely healed. And he now stays a respectable distance from the elk fence. Ace's story is just one of many where we have seen great results using elk velvet antler. Elk truly are amazing animals, if you don't believe me just ask Ace.
For more information about elk velvet antler as an all natural joint, arthritis, and overall health supplement for dogs go to http://www.bonusvelvetantler.com

About The Author
Shelley Rossi has been involved with all facets of the domestic elk industry since 1995. She served as administrator of the Colorado Elk Breeders Association for 4 years. She recently became part of Bonus velvet antler, Inc., a new company that produces and markets an all natural joint supplement for dogs made exclusively from elk velvet antler. The company also sells all natural chew treats for dogs. Visit the web site at http://www.bonusvelvetantler.com.

The Importance of Using a Crate

2007-05-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

You have just brought home your precious new puppy. There is no more pressing task for you than to see to it that your puppy eliminates where you feel he needs to. Puppies should always have a designated area to eliminate. As a matter of fact, most puppies who have not been trained correctly in elimination are usually abandoned in the first year because their owners cannot put up with the constant mess.

There are natural instincts in dogs which make house training a fairly simple process. Puppies that are taught the process of elimination correctly tend to keep their "den areas" clean. This is why crate training is so vital in training the new pup.When dogs eliminate they leave scent chemicals called pheromones in their waste. When dogs smell this scent it causes a reflex to eliminate in the same spot.

Some people think crate training is barbaric, however, dogs are den animals. They feel most secure in a den enclosure. This is why a lot of dogs will lie under the table or beds. By using a crate, you are providing your dog with his own safe den and they will try hard to keep it clean. A puppy should not be left in the crate for longer than 3 hours. Anymore time and he will not be able to hold himself. This also creates a regular schedule for elimination.
There are other benefits to using a crate too. Crates are great for transporting your puppy by car. They help to keep him safe from sudden stops and swerves. Crates prevent young pups from getting into too much mischief! We all know how it feels to find the little one chewing on our favorite shoes or coffee table legs. Crates are great to house your pup when staying at hotels or friends homes.

There will always be times when you can have your eye on your pup. Having a crate helps greatly in these situations and provides your puppy with a spot that he will always be comfortable and safe. Find a good pet supply company that offers a variety of crates in different shapes and sizes and be sure to match the crate to the dog, (size).

About The Author
Mary Reid lives in South Carolina. She has done research on all types of dog related supplies and natural dog food diets. At the time of this writing she owns two beautiful Labrador Retrievers, one black and one chocolate. You can find more articles at her webpage http://www.all-natural-pet-and-more.com. She also has a great site on Organic Food, Skincare and Supplements found at http://www.yourorganicchoices.com.

A Perfect Bed for Your Pet Dog

2007-05-25T06:41:00.001-07:00

Did you ever find your dog circling round and round or pawing at his sleeping place before he lies down? He does so to flatten the area to make it more comfortable to sleep in. Dogs spend about 14 hours a day sleeping, therefore a cozy, nice-sized bed is an absolute necessity. A good dog bed is not only a napping spot for your dog, but it is also an excellent place to banish him when he is misbehaving.

Dog beds can be as bespoke as your own bed and bedding. Just slacken your imagination and you will find dog beds in many colors, sizes, shapes and materials. They can be chosen according to the size of your dog or color and décor of your interiors. Here are some tips to help you buy a perfect bed for your dog.

First, you should decide where in your home would you place the dog bed. The placement typically, depends on your dog's habits, he may enjoy sleeping at the foot or side of your bed or he may like to sleep in the family room, and the actual amount of space you have for the bed.

The next important consideration is the size of the dog bed. Choose one that will fit him as an adult. If you have a Doberman, you will require a large, heavily padded bed, but for a Chihuahua, a small, thinly padded bed will just be fine. An ideal bed will be one that will fit in his crate or doghouse. It will make his "home" more comfortable.

The bed should provide maximum comfort to your pooch. Cedar filled dog bed is considered to be idyllic because cedar repels fleas, which in long run will make your dog less itchy as well as less stressed. Make sure that the cedar bed is refillable. The bedcover should be removable and washable. Ensure the bed is made of sturdy materials that can't be ripped or consumed by your dog.

If your pet is old, arthritic or ill, go for a heated dog bed. Thermo-beds are not only easy to wash, as they have poly fiber filling, they also maintain the warmth that matches the body temperature and hence, they can be used all the year round.

Nowadays, designer dog beds such as Violet Ribbon Dog Bed have become very popular. Select one that matches with the hues of your home. Big cushions, fluffy pillows, rugs and cuddlers are essential accessories that will keep your dog comfortable.

Once you have bought the dog bed, take it home and have your dog stretch out in it on his side. If your dog hangs off the side of the bed even just a bit, return the bed immediately for a bigger size.

About The Author
Anubha Shyam also writes at http://www.blogcharm.com/TheLoveGuru, http://www.blogcharm.com/BollywoodSizzlers.