Posts tagged: pet

Nov 11 2009

How To Pick The Right Dog Cage

A good dog cage can function as the dog’s very own room in your home, an area unique to him alone. Selecting a dog cage that is right for your pet is a significant decision that calls for some thoughtful consideration. You need to find a dog cage that will give your pet enough room to sit down or stand, and allow them to stretch out when they decide.

However, if your dog’s cage is too large, one section of the cage might be used as a bathroom. Dogs, like most animals, do not like to be around their waste and it will cause them feel uncomfortable. If the cage is too small the dog can’t move around and will again feel uncomfortable.

The ideal choice of dog cage are usually made of wire, which permits a good air flow and allows the dog to look where he is. If your dog has a barking problem when he is left in his dog cage then a cage cover may be necessary. You can simply use a large towel, or you can purchase a cage cover separately. If you purchase a dog cage that has a plastic tray you can pull out, any necessary clean ups are easily done.

Your kitchen is usually a suitable location to maintain your dog’s cage, if you are having problem deciding. Because dog’s are social, having them close to an area where you are present while they are in their cage is going to make them feel more comfortable in their brand new room. Often times, especially with puppies, dogs will bark at night in their cage. This can mean either that they need to use the bathroom and want to go out, or that they are lonely and need attention. Putting an additional cage or simply having one in your bedroom is a good thing to do because it allows them to be near you all night and let you know when they have to use the bathroom.

A dog cage is not that expensive, but the size of the dog will ultimately determine this. Crates and cages run around fifty dollars at the lower end, but can range all the way up to 150 dollars or more. When you are training your puppy, the dog cage will make the process a whole lot easier.

The expense of fixing furniture and other things commonly destroyed by dogs will allow you to actually save money in the long run. You can find dog cages at pet stores, kennels, catalogs or there are many great websites to visit on the internet.

Mike writes numerous articles on pet dog cages and about the safety aspects of dog cages to keep your pet safe whilst traveling.

Sep 02 2009

Get GPS Microchip ID For Your Pet Dogs

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.

Jul 01 2009

When Will My Puppy Become An Adult?

by Jim Navary

“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.

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Apr 04 2009

Dog grooming is significant for every pet.

by John Smith

If you have a pet then you will be responsible for taking care of him and one of the most important aspects of health & care is dog grooming. All grooming needs quality dog grooming tools such as, combs, brushes and clippers that can be found at all pet supplies stores.

If you take your pet to a qualified dog grooming service center which is a good option it can at times be extremely costly. It is not something which cannot be done at home i.e., it is possible only if you have the time as well as the equipment. The foremost thing is that you should be exceptionally patient with your dog throughout the dog grooming session and remember to reward him once it is completed so that you don’t face any trouble the next time around.

The second important thing is purchasing the correct pet supplies to make possible grooming at home. The different kinds of pet supplies that you will require for grooming includes: – Bathing accessories: This will mostly include hair dryers, shampoo, conditioner and towels. Clippers: This will consist of pet grooming tools like turbo clippers, clipper kits, combs, trimmers etc. Others: This can include an array of pet grooming tools like nail grinders, Furminator de-shedding tools, Styptic powder, Matbreaker dematting tool, dematting combs, dematting rake, flea comb, area slicker brushes, undercoat rake, etc. Dental toothpaste: this is an often-overlooked necessity when buying pet supplies. Dental problems in cats and dogs are one of the most expensive veterinarian costs during a pet’s life.

Dog grooming is important for all pets but more for dogs with a lot of hair. Dogs like German Shepherds have double coat and experience a lot of hair fall and hence should be groomed regularly. Some of the important parts of the body that need to be cleaned and groomed include the skin and ears and it is a must to clip the nails for dogs.

Cleaning the ears of dogs is an important part of dog grooming as they get a lot of infections through their ears. Dogs with droopy ears are extremely vulnerable to different kinds of ear problems and infections caused by ear mites, waxy ears, and fungus. You must check the ears of your dog once every week and clean them as well. Another essential part of dog grooming is clipping nails by using a nail trimmer like Little Pals Nail Trimmer and this is frequently done for dogs, as their nails can grow abnormally large. Even though they will in no way hurt you with their nails but are quite capable of scratching you while playing. You must clip nails once every 3 weeks.

The one thing that nearly all pets hate and dogs even more is bathing. Except for the Retrievers nearly all dogs hate taking a bath. Nevertheless bathing is besides a crucial part of dog grooming. Before you give your pet a nice bath, make certain that you have the basic pet supplies like shampoo, conditioner and so on.

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Feb 03 2009

Yorkie 101: The History Of The Yorkshire Terrier

by Susan Bailey

If you took a trip back in time to 1870, you probably would have a hard time recognizing a Yorkshire Terrier. In about one hundred thirty years, the breed has gone through tremendous changes in their looks and in their functions. But the Yorkshire Terrier has adapted to the great changes that the Industrial Revolution brought to the economy and to family life. Yorkies back then weighed about thirty pounds and came in more colors than just blue and tan.

Back in the 1870’s, word was getting around about the great pups from a sire named Huddersfield Ben, who was born in 1865. Huddersfield Ben was considered an ideal dog – a champion ratter as well as being friendly and handsome. Any dog that resembled Huddersfield Ben had to have been from Yorkshire, where Ben lived. Yorkshire dog breeders kept their breeding methods secret so they could be assured of buyers. His puppies eventually became known as Yorkshire Terriers.

The ancestors from Scotland were called, appropriately enough, the Scottish Terrier and the Clydesdale (or Clyde) Terrier (which is now an extinct breed). It is thought the also extinct Scottish breed the Paisley Terrier made a significant genetic contribution to the origins of today’s Yorkshire Terrier. Scottish weavers became suddenly unemployed during the Industrial Revolution and moved south to the rough English county of Yorkshire in order to find work. They brought all of their families with them – including their dogs.

The Scottish dogs then inevitably wooed the blushing English roses of the local canine population. It is thought those breeds were the Black and Tan English Terrier (also now extinct), the Skye Terrier and the Waterside Terrier (which is – you guessed it – also extinct). According to the majority of Yorkshire Terrier information sources, the founding father of the breed, Huddersfield Ben, was born in Yorkshire in 1865. He became one of the most admired dogs of his day.

As time went on, the need for big working dogs decreased. People were living in smaller homes and needed smaller dogs they could physically control easily. The Yorkshire Terrier filled this niche admirably. They were a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Not only did they make great guard dogs, but were affectionate and did not need a lot of exercise. They were introduced to America in 1872.

Over the last century, Yorkshire Terriers have become ever smaller. The original Yorkies were about thirty pounds and came in several colors. Today’s show Yorkies are not to exceed seven pounds and must be steel blue and tan (and have those colors in specific proportions).

Just one hundred years after Huddersfield Ben’s birth, the breed standard listed the weight of a Yorkie to be “no more than seven pounds”. The current trend is to breed them even smaller. Who knows how small the Yorkshire Terrier will be by 2065?

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Jan 27 2009

When Cats Are Aggressive

by Virginia Sutherland

Cats are usually considered relatively calm and peaceful animals. Many assume that a cat will be loving and docile, playful and independent, in other words, acting like a cat, if they are just given good food, clean water and a safe place to rest.

While many cats are just that, the truth is that cats can have as many different personality traits as a human. Some cats prefer to spend their life on the couch in a zen kind of way, other cats are constantly on the go, bouncing off the walls,high strung and energetic. Some cats are very independent and may not want to be cuddled while yet others can cuddle for hours, purring contentedly.

The one personality trait that does not go over very well is when the cat has aggressive tendencies. With dogs it can be more acceptable since dogs have the reputation of protection, but an aggressive cat is not something most people are looking for.

Aggressive cats can be quite dangerous. Although cats don’t have the ability to do as much damage as some other animals can, cats are agile and quick and can inflict great pain in a quick moment and then disappear. An aggressive cat around young children and babies is a highly dangerous situation, because babies don’t know how to defend themselves against an attack from a cat. An attack from an aggressive cat, for example, can permanently scar a child’s face.

Some cats are aggressive by nature, but other cats become aggressive after dealing with abusive owners or other unfortunate situations. It’s no wonder that a cat dealing with a sadistic owner would become aggressive, no matter what its natural demeanor once was. Some people refer to aggressive cats as “feral,” but this isn’t entirely accurate because an aggressive cat might be quite domesticated in terms of using a litter box and eating from a bowl. By the same token, not every undomesticated cat is aggressive.

So what should you do if your cat is aggressive? You may be able to work out some of the issues with your cat by demonstrating tenderness and making the cat feel as comfortable around you as possible. You should also make sure that your cat has ample opportunity for getting plenty of exercise, because if your cat is starved for some activity it may culminate into aggressive behavior.

Now, there may be some cats that are just aggressive by nature, or may be aggressive around children. (No doubt have been hurt by a child in the past) and it may not be something that can be trained away. In the case of your cat being aggressive towards your children or babies, finding your cat a new home without children may be an option to consider.

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Jan 23 2009

How To Choose The Right Dog Food

by Rice Amire

It is universally known that a dog is man’s best friend and is the most popular pet to own. Generally accepted as a great pet for their cuteness, playfulness, and loyalty these animals are ideal for those seeking a new friend and guardian.

That is the reason why there are lots of dog lovers and enthusiasts these days. Most of those who have pet dogs provide their canine companions with the best that they can return the love, concern and loyalty that pet dogs give them. Providing them with good quality and healthy dog food is just one of the few.

For anyone who cares for their dog, they know that a healthy diet of dog food is essential in keeping their dog in tip top shape. Feeding their dog “human food” and leftovers is not something that should be done on the regular.

Today, there are many brands of dog food on the market. There are many varieties and dog specific choices and before choosing the dog food for your particular dog, it is important to know which one best suits your dog.

A good way to sort through the many different varieties of dog food is to create a dog food comparison chart.

Although it takes a little extra time to create in the beginning, dog food comparison charts are worth it in the long run. While creating this chart, you’ll begin to familiarize yourself with the different types of dog food and soon you’ll know what is best for your dog. Creating a dog food comparison chart begins by understanding what types of vitamins and minerals are in each dog food through look at the labels on the packaging of the dog food.

Things to list on your dog food comparison chart include the quality of the ingredients, the price of the dog food, and brand of dog food.

Some brands cost more because they contain more nourishment for your canine friend. However, always remember that being expensive does not necessarily mean that it is good for your dog.

Doing your research is very important in choosing the right dog food because you may be able to find that two types of dog food may look different in packaging and marketing but the ingredients and quality are similar and one may cost cheaper than the other.

This is why it is important to do your researching when choosing dog food and creating a dog food comparison makes a great investment.

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Jan 21 2009

Truth About Shih Tzu Breeding

by Rebecca Simpson

There are many things to consider once you begin to think about Shih Tzu breeding. One of the key things that many people who breed dogs of any breed fail to think about is their purpose for breeding dogs. Many puppy mills are created and ran in order to receive a profit and they care about nothing else.

When profit is the bottom line, the Shih Tzu care is often neglected. It is vital to make sure that you are in it for the right reasons, even though the dollar amount you can make is pretty flashy.

If you truly love getting involved with Shih Tzu care and want to help others receive healthy and loved puppies, then you may be on the right path. Sharing your passion and love with others is an excellent reason to get involved with Shih Tzu breeding. When starting out, in order to ease into things, you will want to start out with just one pair of adult Shih Tzu’s in order to be able to place all of your focus and attention on them.

When thinking about breeding your dogs, you should consider Shih Tzu care. Are you able to testify that you truly know the medical and emotional background of your breeding pair?

It cannot be stressed enough that you must have an extensive knowledge of what this breed is prone to.

It is vital that you discuss with your vet that you intend on breeding this pair and let him or her check them over for health concerns. Your vet may be able to point out problems that could arise with breeding that you were not already aware of. Hopefully, with the right steps in the beginning and by taking your time, you will be able to breed healthy and loveable Shih Tzu’s.

Know that you are ready to begin with Shih Tzu breeding; you want to create a safe environment for your dogs to breed and live during the entire process. It is generally best with this breed to keep them indoors and this is what you will find many other people who breed them doing. While under your care you must make sure that the adult dogs remain healthy by giving them proper diets and even possibly vitamins that your vet may suggest.

Once your female Shih Tzu has produced pups, her care does not end there. She still requires healing time both for her mental and physical health. Puppy mills will often turn right around and try to breed that female right away. This is not safe for her or her future pups. Just as humans need time to recover, so do dogs. Understand that Shih Tzu breeding is an emotional journey and do not be alarmed if you notice your female acting distant or protective of her pups. The best thing you can do to prepare yourself is to read as much Shih Tzu information as possible.

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Jan 15 2009

Biting Puppy Syndrome Is A Problem

by G D Williams

Dogs are known to be man’s best friend, you as the owner of the dog, are responsible for training your dog, if you want him to live up to being mans best friend. when you take home that cute little dog it has a loving and boisterous nature. What he needs is discipline and that is you come into play.

Altogether dogs are normally the most adorable of pets, inherently loyal, fun loving, comforting and always amusing. Nonetheless, you have to face the fact that dogs are 3 years old standing in terms of discipline. That is why a training program early is crucial. Dogs utterly love their owners affection and like to please them. It is up to you to make your puppy recognise what is required of him in the way he behaves. In their view, life is in a continuous state of fun. They have no idea what is good or bad behaviour, unless you let them know what is. One of the most everyday dog behavior problems you will have stop is the biting pup syndrome.

Puppies enjoy chewing on everything, as any dog owner can confirm. The biting puppy may have an enjoyable session with your favourite slippers, a book or a tasty bone. He should certainly be able to enjoy his bone, but you have got to provide behavioural guidance that steers him away from your slippers or your current reading material. He does not see there is a difference, unless you let him know. If you just let him do his thing, he may soon be an irreverent biting pup, with the whole world in his approved list of biting behaviour. If you’re an irresponsible dog owner, you have no one to blame but yourself when he graduates to biting you, your children or your next door neighbour whenever it pleases him. The biting puppy, unchecked, will become a biting dog, landing you and him in a whole lot of trouble.

Just like children, dogs need behavioral guidance. Getting a biting puppy to understand the limitations is really quite easy. Where do you draw the line? Biting food items and bones is a good rule of thumb. Anything else is a deal breaker. If you allow him to bite an old, worn out pair of carpet slippers, you’re giving him a license to bite and chew up a assortment of household items. He cannot distinguish between things which are OK to bite and those which are not.

Puppies that are teething are likely to be biting puppies. However, you might think its cute with the decimation role he played the day before, but you have to put your foot down. Dogs only understand the rules if they are absolute. Correct or not is Right. The punishment must as well fit the crime. In the case of inanimate objects, a paper rolled up with a sharp noise report, will get your message across.

You must keep in reserve the most severe punishment for offenses involving your pup biting a human being. No matter how fun loving, or with no malice, a pup should be dissuaded from the idea that biting a person is acceptable. Let’s say that your son decided to share some pieces of fat from their plate with your pup. He is for certain willing to share in this tasty morsel, inadvertently biting him. While your pet meant no harm, if you were to let this go unpunished, you are giving him a green light for a behavior that spells problems down the road.

In order to cut off immediately and unequivocally puppy biting behavior, you will have to come down on him hard. A strong blow to the nose, the removal of the food and a dog version of time out is what we have to impose. Slip on his leash and give him a taste of isolation on his own, along with a “bad dog.” This is the language and action that he can understand. He knows that his conduct resulted in a punishment, the loss of the desired item and isolation from his family.

With this strategy, you can quickly and easily train your biting puppy out of its bad habits. By the time your pet is 6 months old, you will have a small dog that knows its limitations!

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Jan 15 2009

7 Reasons Why Pet Rats Rock

by Catherine Smith

1. Rats are very intelligent animals. They will often find ways to outsmart people who set traps, by taking the food without getting caught. Pet rats can be trained to come when called and do heaps of tricks.

2. Rats are very friendly and tend to love people and even other larger animals, like dogs. My little rat Summer loves to snuggle up with Charlie the dog. Rats like to sit on peoples’ shoulders and chatter into their ears.

3. Rats are ticklish. If you tickle their bellies they will laugh a very high pitched laugh that can be picked up by the equipment people use to listen to bats. How cute!

4. Rats are adorable. I love wild rats too, but pet rats come in all kinds of colours. You can even get Dumbo rats that have adorable large ears and silky rats that have the softest fur. Average brown rats have intelligent looking eyes and very cute faces.

5. Rats are not picky eaters. They like to try a bit of everything and always like to sample a little of your leftovers. Thinking up their meals is fun, as they can have their cereal/block as a base and more exciting things as a side dish.

6. Rats love to hoard things. When they find an attractive piece of fluff or paper. They will carry it in their mouths and hop back to their homes like a little kangaroo.

7. Rats are very sociable. They love to play both with humans and with other rats. It is important to get more than one rat (of the same sex), so that they can snuggle together at night in their ratty hammock and play together in the day. They will still bond with you just as much.

Look at all those reasons to love rats. Perhaps you should give them a chance after all?

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