Growing puppies must have the right amount of food each day. While packaging labels provide general guidelines, this may not be specific enough to truly meet the needs of your puppy.

Worried that increasing your puppy’s food intake could cause him to gain weight? This is a valid concern, as extra weight is responsible for health problems in many animals. It is important to make sure that your puppy is getting additional exercise when his food intake increases.

It is critical to avoid having an obese dog by feeding your puppy the right amount. If your puppy is getting overweight or is overfed, start reducing his calories each day until his weight reaches an ideal amount.

A puppy at a healthy weight is less likely to get sick then overweight and underweight puppies. Being at a weight that is too high or two low weakens the puppy’s immune system.

You should also check your puppy’s temperature two or three times each week. This will alert you if he is getting a fever. A dog’s temperature should be between 99.5 and 102.5 degrees.

Do you know how to take a dog’s temperature? Simply lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly or mineral oil before sliding it into the rectum. Not too far – about half-way will do it.

The thermometer will only need to stay in the rectum for three minutes. If your puppy’s temperature is higher than it should be, be sure to take him to the vet right away!

Make absolutely certain that you purchase a rectal thermometer for this purpose! An oral thermometer is likely to give you a false reading and make you think your puppy is sick when he is not. Now have fun getting your puppy off to a healthy start!

Get more educational articles created by this very author regarding subject matters such as unfinished hardwood flooring and discount hardwood floor.

Seattle Slew died on May 7, 2002 at the age of 28. One of only 11 winners of horse racing’s prestigious ‘Triple Crown’ he is by default considered among the all time greats in thoroughbred racing. Of the eleven horses to win the Triple Crown, he is the only one to do so with an undefeated record. He was also notable due to his humble beginnings, and is the only Triple Crown winner to have been purchased at public auction. He retired to stud in’78 and sired over 100 stakes race winners including’84 Kentucky Derby champion, Swale. Slew’s offspring have earned a combined $76 million dollars at the race track. Slew wasn’t the most majestic looking creature by the lofty standards of race horses, but was possessed with the heart, toughness and courage of a professional prizefighter.

The Seattle Slew story began very modestly at a public auction in Lexington, Kentucky. The Keeneland Summer Yearling sale wasn’t supposed to be the marketplace of champions, and the idea that this particular horse would ever amount to anything other than a farmhand was downright laughable. He was somewhat clumsy looking due to a front right forefoot splay and had a shuffling gait at trot. Slew wasn’t a beautifully majestic creature like his Triple Crown winning predecessor, Secretariat. Slew was borderline ugly. So ungainly a creature was he that he was given the less than inspiring nickname “Baby Huey” by the Keeneland staff. He was purchased by two couples (Karen and Mickey Taylor and Jim and Sally Hill) for $17,500. What wasn’t apparent at the yearling sale was the intangibles that make up a championship thoroughbred–poise under pressure, love of competition, toughness, heart and desire. His owners had unwittingly stumbled onto an equine Muhammad Ali, and his competitive fire quickly became apparent to his trainers and jockeys. His first race came at Belmont Park in’76, and he entered–and won–three races as a two year old giving a glimpse as to what like ahead.

Slew quickly became a horse to watch as a three year old as he won three Derby prep races including the Wood Memorial. In the Derby, Slew got off to a terrible start as he stumbled out of the gate. He recovered from the miscue and essentially bulled his way through a pack of horses to lead at the 1/4 mile pole. Slew would win the Derby by a length and 3 quarters. He took another tough victory at the Preakness before clinching the Triple Crown with a 4 length victory in the Belmont Stakes.

Slew ran in a few races as a 4 year old but in the pre-Breeders’ Cup days there wasn’t as many opportunities for an older horse. He retired to stud in’78, where he sired champions such as the aforementioned Swale and’92 Belmont Champ AP Indy.

Slew may not have earned the appreciation he deserved in his prime, coming so closely on the heels of the charismatic’73 Triple Crown winner Secretariat–arguably the greatest thoroughbred race horse in history. The jockeys that rode him, however, understood fully what a special animal they were dealing with. Jockey Angel Cordero gave Seattle Slew this lofty praise: “If I had a chance to take any horse in the world, if someone said your life is depending on riding one horse to win, I would take (Slew). I rode 44,000 horses, but he was special, he was different. He was muscled, like a wrestler. He ran different than any other horse. It was like he came from another planet.”

After his death in 2002, Slew was buried at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, Kentucky under a statue in his image.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

In today’s world, human life has been entwined with technology. Technology takes care of everything. This world of technology makes it possible for people to meet their needs. While some employ technology to satisfy their personal needs, some want to find means to satisfy their loved ones needs. The private space of human beings have been started to be inhabited by pets too. Pets sometimes substitute human company itself, making them the loved ones. This has caused the concern of the pet lovers as concerning with their safety and security. Well, technology comes to their help too, in the avatar of GPS microchip.

A GPS tracking system works in conjunction with the orbiting satellites which transmit signals to the GPS receivers, thereby pointing the exact location of the objects. The receivers pick up the message directly from the satellites in space. This data is processed by way of complex geometrical calculations which in the end would yield the location of the object accurately.

GPS is a short form of Global Positioning System, which is a method using signals sent out by satellites in orbit to be received by GPS stations to find the perfect location at that time. The signals or message transmitted from space, which are received by GPS stations or receivers and calculate the exact location through geometrical calculations of data.

Pet lovers can get a GPS microchip installed in their pets from their nearby vet. The system will not hurt your pocket as it comes at an affordable price. The procedure will not inflict any pain to the pets. Besides, the GPS unit will last as long as twenty five good years. Thus you are spared from the pain of constantly updating or servicing the equipment.

Microchips work on RFID (radio frequency identification) technology with no requirement of battery and/or power supply. Every microchip would have the owner’s information scribed in the form of codes along with pet’s details such as name, breed and color, etc.

One has to be out of the misconception that a microchip works on a GPS system. A microchip is far different from a GPS system. A GPS system is an active tracking unit enabling you to track your pets even when you are away from it, even from another corner of the world. You can learn about your pet from Boston to Bangkok. A microchip is passive equipment which is more or less a short-range reflector, requiring the physical presence of the pet owner.

Another thing of note here is that the primary objective of something like a GPS-enabled dog collar is to be able to track your pet while a microchip on your dog works more as an ID chip. So, for instance, if your dog is lost and then found, with a microchip, you can go ahead and verify that that’s your dog.

Hence, before running to your vet, make yourself clear what kind of technological solutions you are looking for your dog’s security. And this would make you take an informed decision and you will be happy in the end.

Microchips do not solve the problem. A Pet GPS tracker will find your pet in minutes Learn why our system is better at http://www.LoveMyPetsGPS.com.

The purpose of this article is really so that I can discuss building materials which are necessary for building a chicken coop. Bear in mind that the materials will primarily determine how much the chicken coop is going to cost, so of course it’s crucial that you can make well informed decisions with regards the materials.

Many individuals do have a tendency to think you need a lot of expensive materials to successfully build a chicken coop, however this is not the case at all. Chicken coops can be made from a variety of different materials including such things as an old shed, scrap lumber, PVC pipes, 50 gallon barrels, or other recycled materials you may have around the house already.

In most cases timber is the most commonly used material although it’s also probably the most expensive, which means you’ll need to decide for yourself whether or not it’s the best choice. However, if you intend building a chicken coop capable of lasting many years, then it may be worthwhile for you to consider investing your money in a good quality wooden coop.

You also need to bear in mind that you can get numerous varieties of timber and of course the prices can vary tremendously. This will of course have a huge influence on the decision you make.

On the other hand, if you only require a small chicken coop, then there’s a good chance that could manage to build one from recycled timber only. One way in which to acquire some scrap timber is simply for you to ask around, although if you choose to go down this road, you’ll need to be prepared to pull out nails and remove screws before you use the timber. You also need to acknowledge the fact that your timber may not match up and as such, the end result may not be what you were hoping for so before you get started, you need to pay careful consideration to this.

Believe it or not; if you’re willing to shop around when it comes to purchasing the building materials, you can end up saving yourself about half of what you would have paid had you purchased the materials from the very first store you went into.

What I’m trying to say is; don’t just rush out and purchase all the materials you think you may need, but rather give it careful consideration, bearing in mind that it’s of the utmost importance that you have an understanding regarding the various materials you intend using. Remember, you may well find yourself running into problems once you start building so it’s always better to make sure you have everything figured out before you begin.

Cat owners love their pets a great deal. Their love is easily proven by the little things they do for their pets. One of these little things is cleaning their litter everyday. Another is putting up with the stench of that litter. Silica cat litter has appeared on the scene like an answer to a cat owner’s prayer! Just an inch high layer of the new silica cat litter is sufficient to dry out the cat’s waste and make it absolutely bone dry and completely odorless! Waste removal is now as simple as scooping up some hard, dry pieces of the cat’s feces and disposing of it. This is as pleasant as it can ever get!

You need to use very little silica cat litter. For a single cat, you’ll need to lay out one inch of the litter in the box, and this will last for two to four weeks. This saves you the bother of refreshing the cat litter every few days and in some cases everyday. This particular silver lining does have its attendant cloud! The fear is that silica is harmful to your cat’s health and well-being.

Silica is rather like powdered glass. It can be quite rough on your pet’s paws. Not only the bruising it may cause, you should also be aware of the danger that your pet cat may swallow the silica when it cleans its paws. This can have extreme repercussions if taken in large quantities. Even in trace quantities, the silica is likely to accumulate in the cat’s intestines over a sufficient period, which is just as damaging to the cat’s health.

You may be happy that you now have to refresh the cat’s litter box just once or twice a month. But did you know that pet experts and pet lovers alike are very critical about this very point. Keeping the litter for so long is inviting bacterial, fungal and microbial infections. These infections may affect your cat, and spread to pets and people as well.

There is no doubt that silica cat litter is superior to the other cat litters available now. Its odor-killing quality alone is sufficient to make it the numero uno cat litter. The application cost is so very low, that even cost conscious pet owners have no reservations in using it. The daily chore of fishing around the litter box for the cat’s droppings is now, no, not pleasant but, simple and bearable. You are spared the sight (and obnoxious smell, phew!) of stomach-turning slimy stuff. You just pick out some ’stones’ from the litter and carry it off for disposal. Then the chore of refreshing the litter box has been erased from your daily task list. Once or twice a month is like… freedom!

The opponents of silica cat litter say that the cost effectiveness is as good as that of traditional cat litters if computed over a month’s usage. You use less silica cat litter, but this is offset by its high retail price. The second criticism is that the silica litter ‘absorbs’ the liquids from the cat’s waste matter, and traps it within itself. This cannot be removed every day. With the ordinary clumping variety you can remove the entire waste.

Lastly, the cat can be harmed by the silica particles, either by getting bruised or by licking it up. The middle path being the best path you may want to try out a mixed litter, with silica absorbing all that awfully foul odor, and the ordinary clumping to take care of all the criticisms against silica cat litter.

In conclusion, the health concerns regarding silica cat litter really put it at a disadvantage. You’ll not risk your precious pet’s health just like that! The mixed variety seems to be the best bet for most cat owners. This variety is more comfortable for your pet too!

Super panda fans, you wont a better chance to see real pandas than in Beijing!

Each day, enthusiastic visitors from across the globe brave far distances to come the Beijing Zoo for a look at this clumsy, adorable, and precious animal that China regards its national treasure.

The zoo was opened in 1908, just a few years before the Qing dynasty ended. It was Chinas first zoo ever. It now houses a collection of 500 species with over 6,000 animals. There are rare species such as golden monkeys, Siberian tigers, precious birds, and of course, giant pandas.

The panda is truly the zoos big star!

Some say the only thing in this world that is cuter than a panda is a panda wrestling with another panda! They are clumsy, with fuzzy hair and chubby legs, so they are so funny that you just cant stop laughing. One will bearhug another from behind, push, and they will roll around like a big meat ball. Sometimes when they are tired, they will lie on their chest, and stretch out their legs. Youll be wondering if these pandas are on their beach vacation, especially when you notice their amusing circles around their eyes look like sunglasses!

Pandas in the Beijing Zoo just love climbing trees. When the weather is hot, they will find a shady spot up in the tree and tap a nap. No, food wont be enough to get us down!

Pandas are vegetarian, and their favorite food is bamboo leaves. Here in the Beijing Zoo, pandas only east a special Jianzhu bamboo from Sichuan province, the only place in China to find the plant. However, as interesting as it might sound, pandas were actually a carnivorous animal one million years ago, and they had a diet similar to that of tigers. The reason for the change is still unknown.

The zoo allows panda lovers to donate money for the protection of this rare species in China. Today, only about 1,000 pandas still survive. The Chinese consider pandas a national treasure because pandas roamed the earth several millions of years ago, and few species from that time survive till this day. That is why people call it a living fossil. No wonder the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) chooses panda as its symbol.

And there have been a few of occasions when the Chinese government gave a panda to a foreign country as a token of friendship. So feel lucky if youve ever had a chance to see the Chinese pandas in San Diego or Berlin.

You are allowed to take photos in the zoo, but remember to keep your flash off, for pandas are very shy.

If you have a little cash to spend, there are all kinds of panda gifts for you to bring home. A baby panda toy runs 50 to 60 RMB (about $10), a panda theme T-shirt goes for about 70 RMB, and a key chain with cute panda image sells for just 10 RMB.

“When is a puppy fully grown?”

That is probably not a question that is foremost in your thoughts when you bring a new puppy into your life. That precious little face, those huge soulful eyes, and that cute wiggle in his walk are what come to mind when thinking about your new puppy. But eventually, as your puppy gets older and probably somewhat destructive, you may find yourself wishing that he would grow out of some of those youthful traits and begin acting more like an adult. By the time he’s chewed your third pair of designer shoes you’ll probably begin to wonder…

“When will my puppy be fully grown?”

Although there are some similarities between early development stages of puppies and human babies, the process is considerably quicker for canines.

Your newborn puppy will develop rapidly during his first three weeks . He opens his eyes, takes his first steps, and begins to act like a tiny dog. During this early stage he will not really be aware of the world beyond his “mom” and his brothers and sisters.

Sometime around the third or fourth week, your puppy’s senses of sight, smell, and hearing develop rapidly. Soon, he will discover that there is more to his world than just his canine family. His relationship with his human family will begin to take shape. This is a very important stage in the development of your puppy’s personality and future behavior. Take care to avoid stressful or traumatic experiences as they may have an adverse impact on how your dog will behave as an adult.

Your puppy will begin learning proper pack “etiquette” during the fifth through seventh weeks. If he begins to bite inappropriately or play too rough, his mother will correct him. These early lessons provide some of the social skills he will need as he interacts with humans and other dogs.

During the first three months of his life your puppy will experience many new things. Whenever possible, try to make these learning experiences positive. In doing so you are much less likely to encounter behavioral problems as he approaches adulthood.

Your puppy enters the “toddler” stage of development at around three months. He wants to act more independently more independence and explores the world as he sees fit, not at the prompting of his mother or his human family. Shoes, furniture, books, and just about anything within reach will fascinate him. He will also learn what they taste like as he begins teething. This is a good time to begin very basic obedience training and establish your role as pack leader.

Your puppy will reach adolescence at around six to eight months, well on his way toward adulthood. Although the transition from adolescent to adult varies, depending upon the breed (or mix of breeds), you can be pretty sure that he has reached adulthood by the time his second birthday rolls around.

That’s when your puppy is fully grown.

Most fish lovers are aware that breeding betta fish can be entertaining and a rewarding event but it will take a little time, plus some input from you to be a success. The initial thing is to carry out some research, particularly if you are investigating breed specified types of betta.

There are several sorts, but mostly the pet stockiest are going to trade only 1 or 2 sorts. The most sensible thing to carry out if you are planning on breeding bettas, is to look up a reputable breeder in your area. The fish you get from these stockiest are going to be healthier than those obtained from pet stores, which ought to mean they are more than likely to be simpler to breed and ultimately they are going to be fitter.

Once you have sought out a respectable breeder it is time to condition your aquariums and obtain your fish. You are going to want to purchase a couple number of males and females which should ensure you make at minimum one breeding pair.

Some fish do not get along although they might be male and female of the exact same species so it is important not to guess that just because you place them in the same aquarium, that they will mate. You will wish to keep them apart, not just the males, but females from males as this promotes your betta to be in the best of health possible before they breed.

To guarantee that your beta are fit to breed and healthy, feed them good quality food and make sure that the tanks you are keeping them in are designed to provide them the greatest comfort. The fish will finally show signals of preparing to mate – first determined when males start to construct bubble nests.

It is a valid thought to have bigger leafy plants that stay close to the surface of the aquarium as these are the most preferred conditions for this species of fish. The females will begin to show signs of getting larger, and when these conditions are met, place the female in with the male – in some colors, you will actually be in a position to see the eggs.

Once you are putting breeding betta fish in the same tank, anticipate the female to get a little beaten, because males are unbelievably hostile so it is essential to keep your eye on the pair. If it does not come along after a day or so that breeding has came about or it is obvious the couple are not compatible, remove the female and provide her a a couple of days respite. You can try again with the aforementioned pair or a completely different duo after this rest period.

If the breeding betta fish are successful, you will see the male hugging the female and she will free her eggs. Once the mating procedure is finished and the male starts to move the eggs into the bubble nest he has created, you can safely remove the female, as the male bettas are the ones that look after their young. Inside only a few days, the young will hatch and you will have a different generation to enjoy.

With the recent popularity of cat training, more and more people are looking into teaching their cats how to use a toilet. Just so we’re clear here, I’m not talking about litter box training. I’m referring to a proper toilet that you or I would use! Do a quick search on youtube and you’ll see that this is indeed possible.

It isn’t easy though. Teaching a cat how to use a litter box is relatively straightforward. Training your kitty to use a human toilet, on the other hand, is quite difficult. There are a few options you can use if this is something you think your cat can do.

The most popular method involves an apparatus that is specifically designed to help cats urinate into toilets. These kits are available online and at some pet stores. It’s recommended that you only use these kits with kittens though. A full grown cat may be too heavy for this product. Read the instructions carefully.

The other method that you might want to consider is a bit different. It’s cheaper and doesn’t require any aftermarket items. There is only really one criteria if you want to give this method a go. Your cat needs to be extremely comfortable with the idea of using a litter box.

The first thing you want to do is place the litter box near the toilet. Let your cat get used to the idea of doing his business close to the toilet. Don’t overlook this step! It’s very important to get your cat associating his litter box with the toilet.

Now that we’ve got your cat peeing beside the toilet, let’s make it a bit more challenging for him. The goal here is to get your kitty doing his business at the same height as the toilet bowl. I’ve found that placing the litter box on a chair next to the toilet accomplishes this goal nicely. Let the kitty get used to this setup. It will probably take a couple weeks.

The next part seems kind of silly but don’t overlook this. You need to place the litter box on the toilet bowl. When your cat eventually gets used to this, remove the litter box. Now watch in amazement as your cat gets himself up on to the toilet and does his business.

As you go about teaching your cat these methods, please keep one thing in mind. Whether you’re using a kit or not, the most important thing you’ll need is patience. This will take a serious amount of time and dedication. It’s definitely possible to have a toilet trained cat. Work hard and in not too long you won’t have to buy kitty litter ever again.

Throughout the middle ages, Bohemia lay at the centre of European power, and at one time the kingdom ruled over lands from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Mediterranean in the south. The demands on horses were great. The breeding of top quality horses was paramount since quite often the rider’s life or even the nation’s future might depend on it.

Stories of courageous and agile Kinsky horses have become legend. With stamina and character they are widely thought to be one of the world’s best horses.

The Percheron Horse Society of France was founded in 1883, to safeguard the breeding of pure stock and from this small district of La Perche. Pure-bred breeding stock has been exported all over the world with each nation except USSR, having an official Breed Association to ensure the preservation of the pure-bred Percheron, and so the Percheron Horse remains genetically pure with registered animals.

Introduction of the Percheron into England came about at the conclusion of the First World War. Many farmers serving with the British Forces in France became familiar with the Percheron and impressed with its docility, activity and power and ability to work both in mud and on hard surfaces. At the conclusion of activities the Percheron was imported to England as a general workhorse and large numbers were to be seen working through out the arable counties of East Anglia and the Fens in particular and they quickly spread to other parts of the country.

The three speeds of the Paso Fino Gait are: Slow – FINO – the movement of the legs is very fast, however the steps are short and rapid. Therefore there seems to be a great deal of energy and activity, but a very slow forward movement.

Moderate – PASO CORTO – With the speed of a working trot, this gait covers the ground more as the steps are larger than the Fino movement.

In 1838 the original Kinsky studbook was joined by a sport horse studbook with great importance being placed upon temperament, stamina and agility. The same studbook is in use today.

In recent years pure bred Percheron’s have performed well in Heavy Horse Driving Trials and during the “Route de Poisson” where distances of up to 17Km are covered at a trot. Percheron horses crossed with lighter breeds are known to make good riding horses for Hacking and Hunting.