Posts from — September 2005

Experienced pet owners know that our animal companions definitely have minds of their own, and do not always share our opinions about what is best for them.

So you have bought your pet a cute little bed or sofa, and allocated a proper sleeping place for it, but you can practically guarantee that the pet will decide it would prefer to sleep on something else (usually something you need to use) and in a different place (usually a spot that makes it hardest for the family to move around and get things done).

However, it would be best if you could mark out a pet sleeping spot that is out of the way of high-traffic areas in the home, and where it is possible and convenient to keep the lights off at night to help your pet build and maintain its protective melatonin levels. The pet sleeping spot must be shaded from direct sun, sheltered from direct droughts, but cool and well ventilated.

No matter whether the pet sleeping area is used by day or night (more likely both), it should give easy access to drinking water and an appropriate spot for the pet to relieve. If your dog or cat is garden-trained, you may want to install a pet-flap. However, most dogs and cats adjust their toilet habits as they mature, so they do not need to be let out at night.

For nocturnal caged animals like hamsters and chinchillas, make sure the cages are kept in a quiet, cool sheltered spot by day so that the animals will not be disturbed by regular household bustle.

TangoPang is an animal lover. More Pet reads at howto-petadoption.com howto-petadoption.com. Click

If you’re like most people, there will come a time when it must be decided whether or not your home will have a pet. For many, this is an easy decision; a childhood with an animal may naturally precipitate adulthood with one as well. And if you are dog lover, then chances are there is a particular breed that holds a special place in your heart. But if you are just venturing into the world of dog ownership you may be wondering which breed is right for you and your family. One or two visits to a pet store may put you face to face with the golden retriever puppy; a face that is hard to ignore!

The golden retriever puppy is by far one of the most popular dogs on the market today. One look at its sweet little face and it’s not hard to see why. There is many a golden retriever owner that was suckered in by the “puppy appeal” of their pet. But puppies do grow; it’s important to know all that you can about the breed of dog before making any decisions.

Originally bred as hunting dogs, golden retrievers have a natural intelligence that lends it to all varieties of work including search and rescue and law enforcement. Its intellect combined with its genial nature has also made golden retrievers popular in the service industry – assisting people with a variety of handicaps.

Like their adult counterparts, the golden retriever puppy is playful, friendly and sweet. They are also extremely intelligent and easily trained. For all of these reasons, the golden retriever puppy makes a wonderful family dog.

Keep in mind, however, that the golden retriever puppy will grow to be a rather large dog. You should not commit to ownership of such an animal if you do not have considerable space – inside and out. Also, because the golden retriever is such a social dog, it is important that it be with a family that has the time and attention for this special dog.

Further, the golden retriever puppy – in addition to making the necessary and customary visits to the veterinarian – will also need to be groomed quite frequently. This particular breed sheds quite a bit; its fur needs constant maintenance. This is something to keep in mind as you consider the time you will have to devote to a golden retriever puppy.

For easy to understand, in depth information about golden retriever puppy visit our ezGuide 2 labradors.ezguide2.com Labradors.

Do you have a best friend? Is your best friend your dog? Dogs have earned the title “Man’s Best Friend” over the years, and many have lived up to that description. However, there are some dog owners who have thrown up your hands and gave up on your best friend all because of behavioral problems. Dogs used to be kept outside, maybe in the back yard. Some of our pets were even left to roam the neighborhood. Those pets usually found their way home when hungry or they found things to eat while roaming. Nowadays, most dogs are live-in pets. Dog owners are likely to feel more humane by letting their pets live indoors with them.

Many dog owners, however, have had to deal with the occasional disobedient or “bad” dog. Now, dogs have to be taught how to become a family member. They must learn to live by the family rules. As a live-in dog, it is no longer acceptable for your pet to display bad back yard type behavior. Dogs must learn the proper way to behave indoors.

There are various avenues in which to train your best friend. You can have your dog trained professionally in your own home or at a professional site. Many vets state that training at the home is desirable because that is where the problems occur. If your dog is trained elsewhere, it may not deal with the training in the same manner. He might view this training as not appropriate for your home environment. Vets believe that a gentle and consistent type of in-home training with positive reinforcement can be more effective in training your best friend.

Experts tell us that:

• Most dogs want to please their owners but they need to be taught how!

• Most dogs can be taught better manners in two to three weeks so that your home environment can be calm for both you and your best friend.

• Professional trainers can offer dog owners on and off lead training; and novices can adapt the same style of training for hands-on tactics.

• Dog trainers can assist with problems with all breeds, all ages, all types of problems—especially dog aggression.

There are two very important reward factors which can help with dog training, and which are used by novices and professional trainers: They are 1) food; and 2) retrieves. These are rewards which can be given to your best friend each he does anything that you are happy and pleased about: When your dog comes to you; when he sits and does not jump; when he is told to do something and he does this without too much hesitation.

Many vets highly recommend the retrieves as one of the best rewards. Retrieves can be any favorite toy of your dog—which could be an old worn house slipper, a rolled pair of socks, or an old toy. When using food or dog treats, use only small pieces of food that your dog enjoys. When dog owners use retrieves, let your dogs chase the article as a reward for a good deed. The dog will usually pick up the retrieve and bring it back to you. Don’t snatch the retrieve out of your dog’s mouth. As gently as possible, take the article from his mouth and give him plenty of verbal and physical praise. If your best friend holds onto the retrieve and seems to not want to let go, offer him a tasty piece of food or treat to trade for what is in his mouth—this should work every time!

Using the food and/or retrieve methods, dog owners should be able to teach their best fiends several obedience tricks after 7 to 10 days. At this time, your dog may be able to walk on a lead, retrieve, come when called, take a toilet break, sit, down, stay, heel, etc. Dog owners can teach their best friends household manners using humane treatment, and teach with positive reinforcement. Dog owners can talk to vets for further information; vets may be able to refer dog owners to other animal behaviour experts if your dog has a problem that you have given up on trying to change with your dog.

Author lives in Illinois; loves animals—especially cats, dogs; and is a home entrepreneur. To see more tidbits of information on cats and dogs, go to mysite.verizon.net/limoore/dogandcats mysite.verizon.net/limoore/dogandcats

Homemade dog treat recipes aren’t just for dogs. Many of these recipes include only all natural ingredients that humans may also find appealing. When you use homemade dog treat recipes to create treats for your dog you may find that you enjoy the tasty combinations that are included in the recipe. It may sound a little unusual to be sharing your dog’s treats but when you use homemade dog treat recipes you know exactly what goes into the treats and don’t have to worry that the ingredients will be harmful to you or unappealing.

Many homemade dog treat recipes call for ingredient combinations that include bananas, honey and peanut butter. These recipes are particularly appealing to humans. There are other homemade dog treat recipes that include ingredients such as meats and garlic that may not be appealing to humans. When you know exactly what goes into your homemade dog treats you can feel free to sample the products without fear that the treats will have an unusual or unexpected taste. The benefit of being able to taste your homemade dog treats gives you the ability to ensure that you really are providing your dog with treats that are both tasty and nutritious.

To find free

Introduction:

Maltese Terriers are pure white. If they have colour in them they are probably cross bred with something else which seems to be a very popular trend today.

They are classed as a small dog 2.5-5 kg in weight.

They were breed to hunt and love to dig.

They are very good with children and love attention.

FEEDING:

Dog are carnivores – meat eaters. It is possible to bring up a dog vegetarian but you must start from when it is a puppy and make sure it has a balanced diet.

We used to spend alot of money of can dog food, but it can be high in salt and bad for their teeth. Now we feed them a large bowl of dried dog food, with smacko’s cut up and mixed in. We also have a large bowl of water. This way the dogs can have access to the food whenever they want. We find they don’t overeat. They love treats from our table. Whenever we have chicken, steak, or roasts they love the scraps. If you trim your meat in food preparation don’t throw it in the bin, give it to the dogs. We even give them spaghetti and vegetables, so long as it has meat mixed in they will eat it.

Make sure to provide bones for their teeth and worm them regularly as per manufactors instructions.

Maltese bitches tend to come into season twice a year. It is recommended by breeders that you give the bitch a rest and not breed her all the time or she will lose condition.

PUPPIES:

There are few things in life as much fun and as playful as puppies. Cute, adorable and sometimes troublemakers.

Puppies are born quite small, but they are feeding machines. After a week they begin to open their eyes first with a small hole then slowly opening more and more. After two weeks they begin to change shape from ‘fat rats’ to a more dog like appearance. By five weeks they can be fully weaned and will do fine in a good home, but six to seven weeks is probably the more ideal time to introduce them into a new home. Some people would leave it longer, but for the sake of the new owner, the sooner the better so a young puppy can settle into the routine of a new home, the older the dog is,the harder it becomes to adapt.

HEALTH ISSUES:

It isn’t too hard to keep the average dog healthy.

Keep it regularly wormed, vacinated, provide good food, water and bones.

Like most small dogs Malteses due to their coat can be a home for fleas. To control this we recommend using frontline. In Queensland, Australia you have to beware of the paralysis tick and frontline takes care of that as well.

Also in Queensland heartworm can be a problem. Another problem most people miss is heat exhaustion. Due to the high temperatures we can experience in Qld. over 30 C degrees plusm, dogs with thick coats can literally overheat and die. In summer I recommend cutting the dogs coats quite short to avoid this. Max once overheated and we had to run a hose on him for 30 minutes and used a child’s syringe to make sure he swallowed some cool water. Prevention like most things with dogs is better than cure.

Like poodles, maltese often get brown muck in the corner of their eyes, if left there it will stain the surrounding fur. Regular cleaning, combing and brushing will avoid this and also keep their coats looking great.

BREEDING:

You can tell your bitch is in season when she starts to have blood in the vagina and it swells up in size. From the first sign of blood the cycle is 3 weeks long with the prime time mating is between the 11th and 15th days.

Once pregnant the gestation period is 63 to 64 days. About a week before the bitch is due make sure you have a bitching box where the new mother will feel is a safe place to have puppies. If you have your dogs outside most of the time, this is one of the times you need to bring her inside.

If you believe at anytime the bitch is having difficulties during labour ring your local vet for advice.
Try to be there when the bitch is having the puppies to assist. Ensure the sack is broken so the newborn puppies can breath, if the mother doesn’t do this herself. With Jess we found that once she had one or two puppies already she would be too busy with them to concentrate on another delivery. So we help out. The mother will normally stay close by her puppies for the first week.

Malteses tend to have litters between 3-5 puppies on average. Jess seems to have 4 every time. We have had a still born puppy which can be very sad, but it is one of things you must be prepared to accept if you choose to breed.

We breed as a hobby because children love to play with puppies. For us it is not a money making venture. One litter a year doesn’t really become a money earner. We sell the puppies up to $500. You can sell to your local pet shop who pay between $250-$300. By the time you vacinate, worm, the cost of feeding a dog and bitch for a year, the returns are not financial but for love.

For numerous photos and original site go to maltese-queensland.blogspot.com maltese-queensland.blogspot.com

If you have a dog, you should employ the techniques of basic dog training so
that you have a happy dog and a happy family. Some of the basic lessons that you should
teach your dog include:

Recall. You have to teach your dog to come when you call. This is
helpful so that you know your dog will come when you call if there is danger and is also the
basic lesson a dog needs to learn before you can do any agility or later
training.
Sit and Down. The dog needs to learn to respond to these two
commands in order to remain in place at the start line of a competition. It will also make
things easier when there are other dogs around so that you won’t have to deal with an
incident.
Potty training. This is a basic training lesson that you need to
teach your dog, whether it is large or small.
Barking. This may be a hard lesson to teach dogs that they only
bark when necessary. You have to teach them to bark on demand and one way to do this is
to get them excited about something and then give the dog a reward. You also have
to teach the dog to stop barking on your command and again rewards work well.
Controlling aggression. If your dog is aggressive, you have to
understand what iscausing the aggression. It may be territorial when other dogs are around or it
may be protective of you and your family. In this regard, you may not be able to
handle the training on your own, but have to seek professional help.

There are dog training books you can buy with all the techniques outlined
making it very easy for you to start using them. Socialization is one of the training areas
that will take you the longest amount of time. You have to desensitize the dog to new sights
and sounds, but if you present them as normal and non-threatening, your dog will not
have an adverse reaction.

yourdogtrainingguide.net/ Your Dog Training Guide
provides lots of information on yourdogtrainingguide.net/ dog obedience training and related topics.

Many of us feel overwhelmed by animal abuse, neglect and over population. The following methods have been helpful in the welfare of animals.

1.Leash Laws

Creating and enforcing leash laws is one of the easiest ways a city or township can begin reducing the number of unwanted animals. Many cities may have a leash law for dogs, but not one for cats, ferrets or domestic rabbits. In order to be successful, the leash law must be comprehensive and apply to all animals; dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits etc. There needs to be a stiff penalty for people who ignore the law. Having a leash law creates several benefits; it’s easy for animal rescue workers to determine which animals are strays, it prevents unplanned breeding, it keeps pets from roaming so they are not likely to be hit by cars, it prevents dogs from fighting, it reduces the number of cats killed by prey dogs or dog packs, it reduces the spread of disease such as Feline Aides and Leukemia, it helps keep public opinion favorable.

2. Humane Education

Humane Education is when caring individuals or groups talk to school age children and teenagers about animals and animal care. The ASPCA website has great information about how teachers can incorporate humane education into a classroom lesson. Ideally, humane education should start in early childhood and continue through adolescences. The Humane Association of Michigan website has information about their very active outreach program. If you don’t have a humane education program, consider starting one at your children’s school. It takes very little time and can be great fun.

3. Zoning Laws

When cities and counties establish zoning laws that regulate how many animals a single person or household can have, it helps prevent overpopulation. Many cities have a rule that a person can only have 4 to 5 pets in a single family home. Condominium associations typically allow up to 2 pets. Since many dogs and cat produce litters of 6-8 offspring, the homeowner is violating zoning law by allowing their animal(s) to breed.
Zoning laws help reduce the number of people who breed animals for profit.

For more free pet care or animal welfare tips, visit PetCareRCA.com PetCareRCA.com Kate Garvery is the founder and director of the Pet Care Resource Center of America. She is also a freelance writer and provides professional writing services for individuals and business owners kategarvey.net kategarvey.net Kate is the author of 3 non-fiction books and more than 40 non-fiction articles.

What is a pond with plants in it? Just another hole in the ground with water! Well, maybe it isn’t that bad, but you will find that by adding plants to your outdoor pond you can greatly help not only with the visual aspects of the pond, but also help your fish breed better and the pond keep itself healthy for your fish. Let’s take a look at how aquatic plants can help spruce up your outdoor pond.

* Different tropical fish like different types of aquatic plants. There are a large number which to choose from and it is important to pick types that your fish will enjoy and those that will help your pond. Most pet stores and tropical fish handbooks can give you an idea of what types of aquatic plants will work well in an outdoor environment. If your pond is large enough you may even want to consult with your local greenhouse which may have a selection of aquatic plants available.

* Aquatic plants serve many purposes in a pond. They not only provide a place for fish to hide, rest and breed, but they also help keep the Carbon Dioxide levels in the water regulated as well as help control algae production. Without aquatic plants you would need to use chemicals and other methods to control the environment.

* Freshwater ponds also benefit from having aquatic plants in them to control the environmental conditions of the water itself. Water lilies not only look beautiful, but they also provide a cool area for fish to hide out during particularly hot days. Many plants also attract bugs and other small insects to them which can provide a great secondary food resource for your tropical fish friends.

* If you are interested in trying to breed your fish, then adding some water-loving plants can also provide a habitat for your fish to breed and raise their young. Fish often lay eggs and want to do so in a place they think is safe. Plants provide the natural covering necessary to help in this process.

Finally, as with everything else in your pond, your aquatic plants will need periodic maintenance. Don’t let them overtake the entire pond – some are nice, too many can be deadly to your fish. Also, as plants die out over the course of nature be sure to remove them so they don’t add contamination to the pond as they decompose.

The Author, Graham Wardle, offers tips and advice about the hobby of keeping fish both indoors and outside at beta-tropical-and-pond-fish-news.blogspot.com beta-tropical-and-pond-fish-news.blogspot.com and also at tropicalpondandfreshwaterfishnews.blogspot.com tropicalpondandfreshwaterfishnews.blogspot.com

The Belgian Sheepdog, also commonly known as the Groenendael, is a Belgium breed that was bred for guarding sheep herds. They typically grow to be between 22 and 26 inches tall, and they usually weigh around 62 pounds when fully grown. Their fur coat is long and thick, and it has a dense undercoat used to protect it from cold weather. Black is the stereotypical coat color for this breed, however, it can also be found in black and white variations.

The temperament of this dog makes it more suitable for families with older children or households without any children. This is because the normal chasing games played by kids can trigger the protective instincts of this dog and lead to unpleasant and dangerous mishaps. They also should be the only pet in the household. If your Belgian Sheepdog has a extra-friendly personality then you may be able to socialize them enough that they will accept another pet.

To care for this breed you will need to brush their coat each day. You will also want to look for matting and tangles. These will need to be removed as soon as possible to prevent skin problems and further matting. This is a working breed so they will need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Early obedience training and consistency are also needed with this breed. This breed has several health issues that you will need to keep your eyes open for including: hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and eye problems.

Dog behavior, pet training and puppy breeder information all in one place online. The ultimate resource for dog owners. Learn expert dogbehavioronline.com/” target=”_blank dog training techniques, advice to help with dog behavior problems, a dog training forum as well as a directory of dog trainers and breeders all over the country to help you locate a professional near you. Learn about dogbehavioronline.com/crate_training.html” target=”_blank dog crate training, pet nutrition, dog obedience, housebreaking and more. Check out our dogbehavioronline.com/ebook.html” target=”_blank puppy house breaking ebook for more tips to help you raise an obedient pet and companion.

It has been said that one of the keys to success in business is for entrepreneurs to work in a field they enjoy or are passionate about because doing so ensures that an entrepreneur would enjoy what he is doing, which would make putting in the necessary work to ensure the success of the business not seem like work at all. This is true for most people because of the fact that people tend to work more or work harder when they enjoy what they are doing. For people who have a passion for animals, there are business opportunities that they can take advantage of that center around pets and pet care.

Among the different business opportunities that are open for animal lovers, perhaps the most lucrative opportunities and utmost fulfillment are those that involve providing pet services. This is because apart from the huge demand for such services, the interaction between those running the business, the pet owners, and their pets can give animal lovers a chance to very close to some of the most lovable and charming animals. One of these opportunities include starting up a pet sitting or pet day care services, which can be very lucrative given that there is a huge demand for such services, especially in urban areas. Another example of such a business opportunity is starting up a pet grooming service, which can also be very lucrative because such a service provides pet owners a convenient way to care for their pets. Other business opportunities that involve providing pet services include putting up an online pet supply store that also offer helpful information with regard to taking care of pets, putting up an animal boutique, and putting up a pet bakery.

Nowadays, animal lovers can do a job that they love. This is especially true with regard to businesses that aim to provide different pet services. This is because apart from the huge demand for various pet services like grooming and pet day care services, these kinds of businesses also allow business owners to interact with other animal lovers and with the animals they are passionate about and love.

Pets-source.com Pets provides detailed information on Pets, Pet Supply, Pet Services, Pet Health and more. Pets is affiliated with e-PetMemorials.com Pet Memorial Markers.