Posts from — April 2007

For many people keeping an aquarium is an expensive hobby. With the wealth of information freely available on the internet it does not have to be this way any longer.

Starting with the aquarium itself is the best place to cut costs. Cheap aquariums can be obtained from a range of sources. Second hand tanks are plentiful in a number of size.

When it comes to gravel, many aquarium substrates at your local pet shop will also be sold from landscape suppliers at a fraction of the cost. River gravel is especially suitable because of it’s rounded edges and low solubility.

The place to buy aquarium products these days is certainly online. Most fish keepers will be amazed at the price difference between the online retailers and traditional fish shops.

When setting up the aquarium it is best not to pay for additives to help spawn biological filtration. These bacterial starter cultures are not mandatory for a successful fish tank. Follow a water cycling process using small quantities of hardy fish. Alternately you can add tiny amounts of ammonia to the water as a replacement for fish waste.

The

Having a cat can be fun. Cat care can be a little bit of work, not much though. Cats are independent. Here are a few tips on cat care that will help insure your cat to be as healthy as they can be.

• The first tip is that you should get you cat or kitten to the vet as soon as you get them. The vet can check the cat over and make sure there is nothing wrong with the cat. In addition, your cat will get the shots they need.

• Make sure you have your cat spayed or neutered. Having your cat spayed or neutered will do two things. It will help your cat live longer and control the cat population.

• Use a spray bottle when your cat is being bad. NEVER hit your cat if they are bad. Spray the cat or kitten with water and say “bad” or “no.” Make sure you do not spray them too much also. Spraying them too much can cause a cat to be aggressive to you.

• Get a cat box and kitty litter. Changing the kitty litter once, a week is good. Clean out the waste everyday if you are changing the kitty litter once a week.

• This really is not a tip but it will toss it in here as one. Give the cat or kitten love. The more love you give the cat or kitten, the more you will receive back from the cat or kitten.

• If the cat is going to be an indoor cat, have them de-clawed. Having the cat de-clawed saves, you time spraying the cat when they claw on you furniture and other stuff in your home.

These are just some tips to get you started with you new cat or kitten. Give the cat or kitten a cute name and have fun with him/her.

Still wanting to learn more about cats? Cat giving you problems? If you want to learn more about cat care please visit caring-for-a-cat.blogspot.com/” target=”_blank Cat Care

Why is it that my neighbor can’t seem to figure out that when he locked his untrained puppy and goes off to work all day that the dog does nothing to bark, bark and bark. What an idiot, a neighbor I mean, not that the dog. I don’t blame the little puppy, how is he supposed to know better? He barks out of loneliness, out of frustration, out of anxiety, and out of fear. Occasionally he barks to protect his territory, pitiful as it is with its leftover poop, a water bowl turned over, and a single ratty chew toy the dog outgrew the first week it was brought to the house. I wonder if this moron has ever heard of dog-training books? I know I’m about ready to clue him in.

When your fat freak of a self gets home, you enter your house—to the barking—and take your sweet time (to eat) before retrieving your supposedly beloved pet. Then you take the were animal off and sequester it into some room or he is once again all alone. Instead of paying an idiot and doing the dog a great disservice you could be reading one of the many EASY-to-comprehend dog-training books, and teach that beautiful little animal how to cope with daily life.

He is after all just a baby. You could be surfing amazon.com or powells.com or another of the hundreds of Internet bookshops for dog-training books. They number in the thousands. That will show you how to condition your dog not to bark at every living being and every leaf that happens to fall from a tree. No, you fat ignoramus, amazon.com is not a place to find amazons to amuse you, and powells.com is not a play on words for closet masochists. This is about the dog, not you. If it were we would be talking to the dog—who clearly has a great deal more sense than you apparently do.

In fact, you could read at least one of the thousands of general and specific dog-training books to understand WHY your poor little puppy needs to be treated. HOW you can keep him from chewing furniture (so you don’t have an excuse anymore for why you lock him away outside so he won’t bother you but the neighbors instead). We need to get up and go to work too. The constant barking doesn’t do anyone any good. If you can’t handle owning a dog then maybe you should find a more hospitable home for it.

We chose to be dog-less. You have made a choice…now take some damned responsibility for it. By some dog-training books and read them, put them into action. You may even be well served by some damned human-training books. The problem lies with you, not the dog.

Morgan Hamilton offers his findings and insights regarding pets. You can get interesting and informative information here at petsnewsonline.com/pets–animals/pet-news/the-best-dog-training-books.html Dog Training Books

The time always comes when two-legged beings must leave their pet or pets behind as they venture out into the world. The adventures may be trips, vacations, or a long-hours shift at wok that mean pets can’t go, too. So how long is too long for a pet to be left alone? What can a person do to be sure a pet doesn’t suffer ill effects?

When my husband and I took a long trip in our ancient, but still moving, motor home, we took our two cats with us. But one of them did not adjust to traveling well; and we decided, after two trips close by and the one over 2,000 miles one way, that if we traveled any more, she couldn’t go. Since G.G. couldn’t go, then Funny Face needed to stay with her because the two don’t like to be separated. The two cats can manage quite well on their own at home with automatic water containers and feeders, a clean litter box, and no outside access. However, unexpected things can and usually do happen. Therefore, we always had someone who knew the cats check on them at least twice a week or more.

What difference does making arrangements for pets left for long periods make? Let’s look at some of the problems that might arise if pets are alone and unsupervised.

Pets left alone longer than normal can cause stress or behavior problems. Cats and dogs left inside have been know to become destructive or to eat indoor plants, actions not usual. The destructive behavior not only results in a mess awaiting owners to return, but may become a regular type of behavior. Eating house plants often leads to poisoning. Pets may revert to less socially accepted behavior, too, as a result. Injury, heat stroke, or illness due to tick or snake bites are dangers awaiting pets left outside for a lengthy time.

Even if automatic waterers and feeders are in place, they could clog or malfunction, leaving an animal without water or food.

Therefore no animal should be left without human supervision longer than an hour or two longer than what the owner would be gone normally. Someone should check on the animal regularly, give some attention, make sure water and food are sufficient, and allow the pet to feel as if not abandoned. If no one is available that can be trusted and who knows the pet, consider placing the dog, cat, or whatever in a boarding facility that you have inspected and know is reputable.

Taking on a pet is a commitment a person makes for the lifetime of the animal’s life. Therefore extra time and effort is needed when the owner must leave the pet for extended periods of time.

Vivian Gilbert Zabel, an author on Writing.Com/ Writing.Com/ , has two books available through Amazon.com and most book stores, Hidden Lies and Other Stories and Walking the Earth: Life’s Perspectives in Poetry. This article has been submitted in affiliation with PetLovers.Com/ PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for

If you’ve never met a Yorkshire Terrier, then you’ve missed out on one of life’s more entertaining experiences. These inquisitive little dogs are absolutely adorable. They usually top out at about 7 pounds, with some weighing a little more, and some a little less.

However; the only thing tiny about them is their structure. Their loyalty, personality, and courage will often top that of a 110 pound dog. Yorkies are exceptionally smart, and in spite of their small size, make excellent watch dogs. They must see a 100 pound image when they look in a mirror, because they’ll seldom back down from anything. Their determination to protect their owner could indeed get them in a heap of trouble if they’re not careful.

Your home is in good hands when there is a Yorki on board. The slightest noise awakens them and they’re immediately ready to pursue the “invader”.’

The origination of the Yorkshire Terrier is not entirely certain, but they are believed to have originated somewhere in England. They are part of the terrier group and it is believed they were used to hunts rats and other vermin–and yes, sometimes they like to dig.

Because Yorkies are tenacious little characters, they are sometimes accused of being difficult to train, but with perserverance and consistency, training should not be much of a problem. The earlier the training starts, the better. Yorkies need to know early in life what is and what is not acceptable behavior. They’ re like small children, and will try to get away with as much as possible.

Yorkie puppies start out as adorable little fluffy black and tan furballs that mature into beautiful steel blue and tan adults with long silky coats. These beautiful coats however, take regular ongoing maintenance.

Many owners that have a Yorkie for companionship, and who don’t intend to show the dog , opt to keep their dog in a shorter cut to alleviate some of this maintenance. This is an option that you may want to consider also unless you’re willing to commit to considerable time maintaining your Yorkie.

Yorkie’s are a very adaptable dog, and fit in well with a variety of different types of families from apartment tenants to country dwellers with large fenced in yards. They are extremely loyal to their owners and aim to please. They are very energetic, but are certainly not opposed to curling up in your lap for some love and personal attention.

Due to their small size they do better with older children if they’re going to be around children at all. Because of the Yorkie’s “big” attitude, we often forget that they’re a small dog. Care must be taken when placing a Yorkie on a couch or bed or anyplace up off the floor. They will not hesitate to jump off and could quite possibly break a leg in doing so. A Yorkie may not be the perfect dog, but what they lack in some areas, they make up in personality, and are currently ranked in the top ten of most popular breeds.

By Connie Tersigni and Cari Haus. Connie sells accessories for Yorkies or Yorkshire Terriers from her website, milliondollarmutts.com/ milliondollarmutts.com/, and Cari is webmaster for the site.

It is thought, by some, that the foundation American Quarter Horse stock has at its roots Arabian, Turk, and Barb breeds. Others believe that the breed began with the acquisition of Chickasaw horses which were likely of Spanish extraction. Their history seems to begin around 1690, when horses exported from England were bred with native horses in America. The result of this cross was a small, stocky horse which was extremely fast in the quarter-mile sprint which the colonists loved to participate in during their off-time. Even when pitted against Thoroughbreds, this little horse came in first more often than not. Thus, the horse became known as the Quarter Horse.

In the 1800s, when the pioneers began to move west, they wanted a horse that could endure the rigors and was always willing to work. Their horse of choice was the Quarter Horse. They quickly found that the breed was excellent to use when working with cattle. Cattlemen soon preferred this animal because it seemed to know ahead of time what the cattle would do, and naturally moved to direct the herd where the cowboys wanted them to go. Even after the automobile was invented, Quarter Horses were still used almost exclusively on many ranches.

In 1940, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) was formed. From that year until the present, Quarter Horse breeders have worked diligently to perfect the bloodlines. The Association has set forth strict guidelines with regard to registration of American Quarter Horses. AQHs are allowed to have limited white markings on their faces, and below their knees. If there are white patches or spots anywhere else on the horse, it is considered to not be a true Quarter Horse.

The AQHA recognizes 13 colors as acceptable for the breed. The most dominant color is sorrel, which is a reddish-brown. The other colors are bay, black, brown, buckskin, dun, gray, grullo, palomino, red roan, and blue roan. What is called a gray is what most of us perceive as white. But, there are no “white” Quarter Horses.

There are two main body types which are acceptable for registration as Quarter Horses. The “stock” type, which is shorter, more compact, stockier, and well-muscled, yet agile. The “running” type is lighter and is bred and trained for sprinting.

Because this breed is very versatile, bloodlines are built with specific tasks in mind when producing the offspring. For AQH’s shown “at halter”, the line is bred to have a heavier body appearance, because these horses are incredibly muscled. For horses used as “reiners” and “cutters”, the build is usually smaller and the horses possess cat-like, quicker movement and powerful hindquarters. Those bred for Western pleasure riding have a level “topline” and smoother gaits. Those which will be used for racing have longer legs and a leaner body build and those bred as show hunters have a similar build to the runners, but their bloodlines will include traits which are suited to horses used for hunting purposes. The whole Quarter Horse breed possesses speed, stamina, power, and an inherent willingness to please.

This horse is usually 14 to 16 hands (56 to 64 inches, or 142.24 to 162.56 centimeters) at the shoulder. The weight can vary drastically, depending on the purpose for which the horse was bred.

The American Quarter Horse is the most popular breed in the United States. And there are approximately 3.7 million registered American Quarter Horses worldwide, making it one of the most populous breeds in modern history.

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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to horse-guides.com/ Horses
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Ringworm is an infectious skin disease spread by fungi called Dermatophytes. It spreads itself by forming ring-like pattern on skin with a circular rash that is inflamed at the edges and clean at the center.

Though, ringworm is a curable disease it should never be taken lightly or ignored. If left untreated it will spread and can become chronic. As soon as you notice symptoms like itching, burning, dryness, or circular flaky rashes on the skin, consult your family doctor for immediate treatment.

The regular treatment for ringworm usually takes 2-4 weeks depending on its intensity. The most common treatment methods include applying topical anti fungal creams like miconazole or cloritmazole on affected areas. These creams and many anti-ringworm ointments are readily available.

Since creams may not be applied to affected area such as toenails or scalp, oral medication along with ointments developed especially for these body parts may be prescribed. Scalp ringworms are major cause of hair loss and require aggressive treatment.

If ringworm resists regular treatment, consult a skin specialist. She may advise you to take oral medication along with special ointments to control or stop the growth of fungi. Oral medications are usually accompanied by side effects too that include gastrointestinal upset, abnormal liver functioning, decreased clotting ability of blood. If you are taking any medication for ulcer or GERD treatment, you must inform your doctor in advance since they may interfere with this therapy.

e-ringworm.com Ring Worms provides detailed information about ring worm, human ring worm and more. Ring Worms is affiliated with i-dryskin.com Dry Skin Lotion.

The Australian Cattle Dog, also commonly referred to as the Queensland Heeler, the Blue Heeler, and the Hall’s Heeler, is an Australian working dog. It is a short and stocky dog that grows to be about 20 inches tall and will weigh about 45 pounds when fully grown. It has a double coat. Its undercoat is dense and its top coat is smooth, straight and compact which makes it water resistant. The common health problems that affect this breed include deafness, eye problems, and hip dysplasia.

Characteristics, behavior and training of the Australian Cattle Dog

This breed is very protective and bold. They make a great family dog, however, they tend to be aggressive towards strange children. This is because they may interpret the games that children play as a potential threat to their herd, their family. They are also suitable to use as watch dogs, guard dogs, and working dogs.

Routine health care and grooming for the Australian Cattle Dog

To care for this breed you will need to brush their fur coat once a week. Make sure that you remove any debris from their coat when you find it to avoid potential skin problems. They are an active breed that need vigorous exercise at least twice a day. Their temperament can be a bit stubborn at times so you will need to train this dog to be obedient, because it is not going to come naturally to this dog. If cared for properly this breed should live between 12 and 15 years.

dogbehavioronline.com/ Dog behavior advice, pet training and puppy breeder information all in one place online. The ultimate resource for dog owners. Learn expert dog training tips, advice to help with dogbehavioronline.com/behavior_problems.html puppy 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 crate training, pet nutrition, dog obedience, housebreaking and more. Check out our dogbehavioronline.com/ebook.html crate training ebook for more tips to help you raise an obedient pet and companion.

They are man’s “best friend”, but like your real friends, dogs also have annoying habits that you normally despise. But because you love them, you suffer for it until you can’t take anymore. Just as we all try to talk to our human friends about their bad habits, it is also vital that we do the same for our pets. This is not impossible since dogs are proven to be intelligent animals. Experience also proves that they can pick up and understand instructions with proper training. In fact, training your human friends to ditch their bad habits is harder than training your pets.

Dogs are naturally diggers. It might be some part of their genes that make them such enthusiastic diggers. It is amusing to watch them dig and bury whatever they like. But, it is equally irritating when your pets leave unsightly clumps of dirt on your manicured lawn. Other than the cartoon tradition of burying bones, there are other reasons why your pets dig. These reasons also differ depending on their breed and age. Younger and more “macho” breeds like Great Danes or Rottweilers dig because of pent-up and excess energy. If this is the case, frequent exercise, walks, and training release these energies. Your pets are likely to be too exhausted to think of digging and your lawn efforts are not wasted. However, if your mutt is of the breeding age, the most likely reason behind its digging is a female. Your pet is probably digging to reach the next door bitch. Having your pet neutered is the only solution. However, there are cases when your pets dig because they just want to. In cases like this, your best bet is to train your dog not to dig by spraying the grass with non-toxic repellants. You can set aside a portion of the yard in which your pets can dig as much as they want. Remember to find them a spot in your backyard and not on your front lawn.

Other than lawn-digging, destructive chewing is a common problem of most pet owners. There are three reasons why mutts engage in this activity: attention, boredom, and teething. Neglecting your pets’ play time but chasing them when they got hold of your shoes are common scenarios. Scenarios like these teach them that chewing stuff is a way to frolic with you. Bored pets also have strong inclinations to be chewers. Teething is also a likely cause of chewing problems especially with younger pets. A way to stop your pets’ chewing habits is to spend time with them through playing. Provide dogs with chewable toys and play catch. They will soon understand that these chew toys are the only things they are allowed to chew.

These problems are easily prevented if you make it clear to your dogs that you expect obedience from them. There are dog training camps for unruly pets and lots of articles in the internet for personal dog training. Dogs are not problems at all if you cultivate obedience in them.

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What a joy it is to be walking through a park or open field these days. The trees! The blue sky! The scenery! THE POOP? Oh yah! You know what I mean!

While urban sprawl continues to expand, the actual space we have to roam freely in the woods gets smaller and smaller. Many of us still love to enjoy the outdoors and feel a certain kinship with the outdoors. We love to bring along our dogs for a romp in the park or a game of Frisbee. And then it happens! We step in an unsightly mess of.. DOG POOPY!!

Nothing stops a person in their tracks quicker than that!

I especially love it when my little boy has been in the park and tracks home this wonderful scent right into my living room floor. I can only imagine the bacteria which is being spread across American homes when they drag in the crap with them. Leave it to the mommies of America to clean up their carpets, the crusted and caked shoes, and wherever else the trail leads.

I am ANGRY about the selfish dog owners who don’t “Curb their dog”, as we say in New York! I’m a dog owner, and my dog poops between 2-4 times a day, and we have a plastic bag ready to go at all times! The grocery store provides FREE ones when you buy groceries! There is no excuse!

Yes, it’s disgusting! Yes, it’s warm and mushy and stinky! (I always make sure there are no holes in the bag first of course! If there are leaves around, I also pick those up first to protect me from any leakage!) But…SO WHAT! IT’s YOUR DOG. And if you don’t pick it up, someone else is going to experience your dog’s CRAP and it ain’t going to be pretty then either! Think about it… people have toilets, but dogs only have.. YOU!

My husband and I live in Baldwin Park in Orlando Florida. It’s a beautiful community with million dollar homes, beautiful town homes, a down town area, and unfortunately, a few selfish dog owners. We’ve spotted one young woman with two large dogs including a German Shephard, who lets the dog off the leash to play every day. We’ve approached her a few times about picking up the CRAP after her dog and her excuse is really great… “I only had one bag”. Then my husband said: “but you have TWO DOGS”. We later watched her dog walker who also didn’t pay any attention after the dogs left two enormous piles behind.

We’ve complained to the home owners association and we’ve complained to the rental offices. We are requesting that a fine be enforced for any dog owner who doesn’t clean up after their dog. We also want to have signs put up and plastic bags available so there is no excuse for “only having one bag”.

I suggest to those of us who are angry enough to do something about it to REVOLT! If the traditional way of politely asking people to clean up doesn’t work, or getting the community to add signs and bags doesn’t work, then I suggest we follow the unsuspecting dog owners home and later deliver a package that they WON”T forget!!

After all, it is theirs… and as good citizens we don’t want people to forget packages that they left behind! Once that starts happening, the people who left the packages behind will either complain to management, try to retaliate but will never find out who did it, and ultimately, know that people are watching and start cleaning up after their pets.

So watch out people! A revolt is coming and if you’re one of the few guilty people out there, we’re going to retaliate so you learn to clean up after your pet!

Just be sure and watch your step when you come out your front door!

Mary Gardner is a dog owner who carries 2 plastic bags every time she takes her dog for a walk. She is trying to spread the word, that every dog owner takes responsibility for their own POOP!