Posts from — April 2008

Training your dog to obey commands is an important part of pet ownership. When your dog is properly trained, it is much easier for you to communicate with him and this enhances your relationship. In addition to making him mind you, it may even help save your pet from harm or danger.

Dogs want your praise, so using positive reinforcement when training your dog or puppy is the best approach. Hitting or yelling rarely works, and besides who wants to hit or yell at their dog anyway?

The “down” or “lie down” command is one of the basic commands and should be one of the first things you teach your dog once he learns to sit on command. It is not hard to train a dog to obey commands and once you have done one command, it gets even easier as the process is basically the same for each. Here’s some steps you can use to teach your dog to lie down on command:

1. Get the dog to sit (you should have already trained him in this command)

2. Firmly give the “down” command while gently forcing his legs out in front (this will cause him to lie down).

3. Give your dog praise. Show him you are really happy with your voice and body language.

4. At first the dog will get right back up, but as time goes on you can lengthen the time the dog stays in the down position by waiting to give him praise.

5. Repeat three to five times at each session. Repetition is important but you don’t want to do too much at one time. If you really want to drill it in, you can have several sessions spaced out throughout the day.

There’s more rewards than meets the eye with training your dog. For one the dog gets used to listening to his name. He also will get used to doing things on your command. All in all, training strengthens your positions – you as leader and helps the dog feel secure. Spend a couple of minutes each day training your dog. This will help cement your friendship.

Lee Dobbins is a pet owner and writer for train-the-dog.com train the dog.com where you can learn more about training your dog and which breeds are easier to train.

A new puppy is always fun, especially when it’s a lovable chocolate Lab. One of the first things puppy gets, in most cases, is a new name. Giving your chocolate Lab a name can be a lot of fun. A name may just come to you with little effort, or you may labor to find precisely the right name.

Female chocolate Lab names can be comical, sweet (as in chocolate), or dignified. There are many choices, and many ways to make those choices. Below are some names and their meanings. You may find the exact name you want, or you may see a name that gives you an idea for your chocolate Lab name.

Whatever you call your female chocolate Lab, chances are good that she will grow into it, and it will soon be as normal as though no other name existed.

Female Chocolate Lab Names Chosen for Meaning

One way to name your female chocolate Lab is to think of names that have an appropriate meaning. The name may focus on your chocolate Lab’s color. It may call attention to the Lab temperament. And, if your chocolate Lab is a gun dog, the name’s meaning may hint at hunting. Here are 37 examples drawn from countries around the world.

1. Female Chocolate Lab Names Linked to the “Chocolate” Color:

When focusing a name on the chocolate Lab’s color, you can go with the brown hue or the sweetness of chocolate.

* Anoush – sweet, sweetness

* Blanda – sweet and friendly

* Brownie – brown

* Brune – brown

* Candy – sweet

* Carob – chocolaty-tasting carob tree pod

* Ceinlys – beautiful, sweet

* Chocolata – chocolate

* Cocoa – cocoa

* Dulciana – sweet

* Kamea – sweet darling

* Mandisa – sweet

* Sisel – sweet

* Truffles – as in chocolate truffles

2. Female Chocolate Lab Names Linked to the Lab Temperament

The chocolate Lab, although soft and delicious in appearance, has a boisterous, fun-loving temperament. When you consider female chocolate Lab names, you may want to focus on your chocolate Lab’s energetic, amusing personality.

* Babianne – fun-loving

* Buffy – clown

* Chaka – energy

* Cuckoo – silly

* Energizer – keeps going

* Escapade – adventure

* Eshe – energy

* Funny Girl – from the play

* Mahira – energy

* Quirky – fun-loving

* Reah – water-lover

* Ria – water-lover

* Umi – energy

* Venita – loving

* Venus – loving

* Wacky – crazy

* Zula – one that loves the country

3. Female Chocolate Lab Names Linked to Hunting

* Gunnerette – female gunner

* Huntress – female that hunts

* Kainda – hunter’s daughter

* Quicksilver – winged retriever

* Synergy – working together

* Winda –hunter

Miscellaneous Female Chocolate Lab Names

Female chocolate Lab names that are not linked to the dog’s color, temperament, or gun-dog abilities may still be the best for your puppy. At Next Day Pets, you can learn what dog names are currently in the top twenty. You can also do an alphabetical search there, looking at dog names that begin with a particular letter of the alphabet.

An Australian website, Bowwow is another good place to look for female chocolate Lab names. Bowwow lets you search in various ways, and gives you information about the name if you do a meaning search. For example, a search on “Fido” produced results showing that this name means faithful and loyal. Bowwow also showed that one US President owned a dog named Fido, and that this is a perfect name for a faithful companion.

Tips in Choosing Chocolate Lab Names

You will use the name you choose for your chocolate Lab many times every day. You will use it in a praising voice and in a scolding voice. Be sure you like the way it sounds. Be sure you like the shortened version, too, because nicknames will inevitably happen.

Your chocolate Lab will respond better to a name with only one or two syllables. Such a name will be easier for you to call, too. Steer clear of names that may sound like the commands you will be using with your chocolate Lab. “Fay” is too close to “Stay” for regular use. Your puppy may have trouble distinguishing between its name and the command.

Whatever name you give your chocolate Lab puppy, help her learn it by using it often and in a friendly tone of voice.

©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about lovable Labrador Retrievers at lovablelabradors.com. lovablelabradors.com. Anna has also posted additional information on that site about chocolate Labradors. If you ever wondered how to train a chocolate Lab to a litter box, pay Anna a visit now and read her article on the subject.

No other organ in your dog’s body contains such an intricate and complex mechanism in such a small structure as the eyes. A thorough examination of the eye can only be made by your veterinarian, but hopefully through our brief description given here, you will as at least know enough to spot a problem when it arises.

The first seen when examining your pet’s eyes are the upper and lower eyelids – specialized curtains to protect the eyes. Eyelids should be smooth and sharp. The eye margin or center of the lower lid should not turn in or turn out. Be sure the eyelids and hairs on the nose do not rub the eyeball. Sometimes these hairs can be distorted and misdirected and can irritate the eye. A smooth, pink tissue, called the conjunctiva, can be seen covering the inner surface of the lids.

The conjunction helps lubricate the eyeball and protect it from infection. The space between the eyelid conjunction and the eyeball conjunctiva is the conjunctiva sac. If the conjunctiva is red or swollen, or if there is a green or yellowish discharge, an inflammation of the tissue is present.

The cornea is the clear “front window” of the eye that bends the incoming light rays. The cornea can lose its clarity if it becomes inflamed or injured. Hairs and twigs can injure the cornea, especially in pop-eyed dogs. The sclera is the fibrous coat the gives the eyeball its ping-pong ball shape and dull white color. The sclera frequently takes on a yellow color, (jaundice) in dogs experiencing liver problems.

The iris controls the amount of light entering the back of the eye and gives your dog’s eye its color. The black hole in the center of the iris is the pupil. It dilates (gets larger), to let more light enter in dim light, and constricts (gets smaller) in bright light. Cataracts are white opacities that block the lights passage through the eye, and can be seen by shining a bright light into the pupil of the eye. A normal aging process called senile cataracts, or nuclear sclerosis, is caused by a rearrangement of the fibers and a loss of water in the older lens.

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can read articles about anything pets as well as shop for the latest joncopets.com/ dog crates and more for their best friend. Feel free to check out the site at joncopets.com joncopets.com

Most dogs will begin to be less active and will self-exercise less as they age. Some breeds are naturally more likely to gain weight and be couch dogs rather than active pets, so it is important to help them eat only the food they need, not all that they want. Some dogs are naturally able to regulate their food whereas other dogs simply eat until they can’t hold another bite. Understanding how your dog eats and how much they eat can help you determine how to best help them manage their weight or how to effectively help them lose weight.

To get your dog started on a lifestyle change and diet that is needed to help an already overweight dog start to get in shape consider the following:

· Cut out all snacks, treats and food items other than the actual dog food. This means no high carb or sugary treats, no extra little scraps from the table or even any dog cookies. High quality treats can be reintroduced to the diet on a very limited amount once the weight has been lost.

· Unless there is a reason why your dog must be on wet food switch to a high quality premium dry food only, but not necessarily a weight loss formula. Most dogs will lose weight even on regular kibble provided all the other aspects of the plan are followed. Ask your vet for recommendations for foods that would be beneficial to your particular dog. Switch the food slowly and gradually to avoid digestive problems. Don’t worry if the dog refuses to eat the dry, especially if it is a picky eater, it will eat when it gets hungry. If the dog does not eat for two days and you are exercising the dog as outlined contact your vet before proceeding with the food selection.

· Increase exercise – and this involves your participation. Most dogs, especially those that are overweight, simply do not exercise themselves. Putting them outside in the yard for an extra hour doesn’t count since they will likely take a leisurely stroll around the yard, find a comfortable spot and rest. You must make them keep moving. Take them on a leash for a walk around the block at least twice a day. Once they can do one block, increase to two and keep increasing the distance and the pace of the exercise. Start slow and gradually increase to avoid stressing both the dog and yourself!

· Increase play times. Try throwing a ball or a stick for the dog, or playing a game of tag or chase. Start slow, even just rolling the ball to get the dog involved. Lots of praise and attention during the game will help keep them motivated and engaged.

· Plan a regular “play date” for your dog with another dog if he or she is an only dog in your house. Running and playing with another dog is great exercise and gives you a chance to supervise and relax.

· Cut down on the dog food by a quarter to start. If you are normally feeding 1 cup twice a day feed ¾ of a cup twice a day. Never cut out a meal, simply cut down on each meal. It is recommended to feed two smaller meals rather than just one meal to keep blood sugar better regulated for the dog.

· Check your yard and house for hidden food items. Many dogs have learned to get into the garbage, get into cupboards and raid the treat boxes or even get into candy dishes left on the coffee table. Remove all sources of food from where the dog can access.

Keep on the plan for two weeks, decreasing each mean by one quarter and doubling a reasonable level of exercise. You should notice a slight weight loss in this period. You can either weigh the dog by using a standard bath scale or, for large breeds, simply use a measuring tape around the widest part of the their body. If you have followed the plan and are decreasing food, increasing exercise and cutting out all treats and do not notice even a slight decrease in weight after two weeks see your veterinarian immediately to rule out any medical problems.

Kelly Marshall is an author at Oh My Dog Supplies, an pet supply store featuring ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/dog-steps dog steps and ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/dog-car-seat-covers car seat covers for dogs. Her other popular articles include subjects such as ezinearticles.com/?Description-and-List-of-Popular-Designer-Dog-Breeds&id=432541 designer dog breeds and ezinearticles.com/?Different-Personalities-of-Small-Dog-Breeds&id=364461 different personalities of small dog breeds.

A shih tzu that displays a fit of coughing, sneezing or snorting and who may appear unable to breathe could actually have a very minor diagnosis of: Inspiratory Dyspnea. This is not Kennel Cough and should not be mistaken for it. This has to do with the physical structure of the shih tzu, and the incomplete closure of the nasopharnyx (above the soft palate). It is Inspiratory Dyspnea, commonly referred to as “reverse sneezing,” or a type of air hunger.

Swallowing will help stop the attack.

So how can I help my shih tzu swallow during these attacks?

The easiest way to make a dog swallow is place your thumb or fingers over the nostril openings and rub the throat area, and slightly open the mouth. This should cause a relief almost immediately. It is important that you understand whether or not the “reverse sneeze” is the problem and not something more serious. If closing the nostrils and swallowing corrects it, this is probably what it is.

Always report the problem to your vet and tell him what you did when the attack occurs to be absolutely sure the “reverse sneeze” is the proper diagnosis for your particular shih tzu.

If it happens when you are not home, don’t worry, they can and do recover without your assistance to help them swallow. If you do find this procedure helps your shih tzu, they may learn to run to you (when you are home)for help.

There are many serious health problems that can cause coughing, congestive heart failures, pulmonary disease, kennel cough etc., so make sure the cause of the cough is this inspiratory dyspnea and not something more serious by always reporting the problem to your vet for further evaluations.

Connie Limon publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Coupons for shih tzu puppies and other products are offered to subscribers. Updates of available puppies. Sign up at stainglassshihtzus.com stainglassshihtzus.com

There are many cat breeds out there. If you are like most people, you don’t know much about them. In order to help you to make a choice about breeds, here is some useful information.

Do you want a cat that can entertain himself and not get into mischief? Then don’t consider the Sphynx, the Rex, the British Angora and the Siamese. These cats are energetic and seem to be looking for trouble. For those who are looking for a cat to provide them with entertainment, these are a good choice. The Rex is a silly cat as it will attempt to amuse you.

There are other important features to consider as well. For example, if you want a long haired or a short haired cat. Those who do not have the time to groom the pet daily should not choose a long haired cat. Those who choose a long hair need to realize the commitment in taking care of that coat. If you do not, it can tangle and matt up and need to be shaven. And, it can pose a health risk too.

Vocal cats are often something that many people either consider or want nothing to do with. They can be quite noisy. Many cat owners do not have a problem with them, others realize that communicating with them is necessary and that in some cases, it isn’t the right choice.

Vocal/Noisy Cat Breeds:

Siamese

Burmese

Korat

Quiet Cat Breeds:

American Curl

Scottish Fold

Somali

Attitude is your next determining factor. Some cats enjoy being held and cuddled while others want nothing to do with humans at all. Some cats want the attention while others do not. Choosing which the right one for you is a much is.

Affectionate Breeds are great for children:

Snowshoe

Maine Coon

Ragdoll

Abyssinian

Tonkinese

Himalayan Persian

Reserved Breeds:

Nebelung

Russian Shorthair

Norwegian Forest Cat

Lastly, choose if you would like to go with a kitten or an abandoned older cat. Remember that kittens need to be trained but that adult cats can already be set in their ways. You can find many breeds of kittens to choose from at the local cat show and you can look for them at your local humane society as well. These cats need homes and these organizations are usually full to the brim with them.

I hope that you find this information useful and that it helps you find the perfect cat.

best-pet-health.info Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you information and news, tips and reviews to help your cat stay healthy and happy. Best-Pet-Health.info Best-Pet-Health.info

Copyright Best-Pet-Health.info All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

As loving cat owners we hate to think that our beloved pets are feeling unwell. That can be the first impression when your cat starts making hacking noises. Usually this is the first signs of the cat trying to get rid of a hairball.

If you see a blob of disgusting stuff on your floor, it is likely to be a hairball. Cats need to do this in order to remove hair from within their stomachs to keep them from getting sick.

What is it? It’s a mass of hair and probably some food from the inside of a cat’s body. When a cat grooms himself, he removes loose hair from throughout his body and it ends up in his stomach. Sometimes, the hair comes together and forms a ball in there. If he can not pass it, it is likely it won’t break down but will come up instead.

Most cats have trouble with removing hairballs. If the cat can not get them up, it can get into the intestines and cause a blockage. This is life threatening to the pet. If your cat seems to be constipated it may be a sign of a blockage. If the cat is lethargic and his coat is dull and unhealthy looking, this too may be a sign. Watch that he eats as he normally does. If not, you should call and take him to see the vet who will then find out if it is a hairball and then he’ll remove it.

You can prevent this type of problem yourself though. One of the best ways to do this is to groom the pet. The long haired cat need to be combed and brushed each day to remove excess hair. If you start to groom him when he is still young, he will learn to tolerate it. He may even look forward to being groomed. Some cats will bring their combs to their owners even. If he doesn’t like to be groomed, use a grooming glove instead.

If the cat still seems to have trouble with hairballs, you can add dietary aids to his diet. One of these is a dry cat food that can help to prevent hairballs. Don’t just buy the first bag of the formula that you find. Make sure it is still a good quality food for your pet, one that is high in protein and other nutrients. If your cat has a hairball, you can shop for the gel that can be added to the food which will help the hairball to pass. Make sure to talk to your vet before using one of these hairball remedies for long periods of time though.

You can try some of the more natural remedies as well but you should insure they are okay with your vet first. Some will actually cause your pet discomfort or will remove important nutrients from his body. These include such things as pumpkin, mineral oils and even butter. If your cat continues to have trouble with hairballs, talk to your vet about what you should do to improve this.

Niall Kennedy is a lifelong pet lover and has worked in several pet sanctuaries. Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you information about many aspects of best-pet-health.info cat health. You will also find great deals on medication for cats such as Frontline, Advantage and Revolution. Best-Pet-Health.info Best-Pet-Health.info

Copyright Best-Pet-Health.info All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

Knowing the proper diet for betta fish is important. An improper betta diet can lead to a sick betta fish. There is nothing that can stress a fish lover out more then a sick betta. So why not take the extra step towards your betta’s health and feed them properly.

Sure general betta pellets are ok; however betta fish can thrive on a diet of brine shrimp and blood worms. Most pet store chains have frozen foods for fish including brine shrimp and bloodworms.

Overfeeding can be a problem several ways. First betta fish don’t need to eat much to survive. Eating too much can be harmful. Also don’t let uneaten food fall to the bottom of the aquarium. Betta fish are not bottom feeders and will likely not eat off the gravel. Always feed them small amounts and be sure you have there attention before feeding so they will stay at the top of the aquarium waiting for the food. A good method is to drop food in front of the betta’s face. Try feeding them only a few brine shrimp or bloodworms at a time and no more then 15 per meal (I know that sounds impossible but do your best. Anyone who has seen brine shrimp or bloodworms will understand).

Finally keep the water in the aquarium crystal clear. Any signs of dirty water change it as soon as possible. Would you swim in a dirty cloudy swimming pool? Then why should your fish? Dirty water often has a lot of waste. Which is caused by rotting food from over feeding or waste from the betta it’s self. So please keep your betta in a nice clean aquarium. Then sit back and enjoy.

For a complete guide to betta fish check out my blog. careofbettafish.blogspot.com careofbettafish.blogspot.com

Seeing eye dogs who are also referred as assistance dogs are trained to guide the blind and the visually impaired around obstacles that they would come across in daily life activities. Although these highly training guide dogs are able to guide their masters around obstacles being color blind they are not able to tell the difference between different signs that they could come across. This issues is taken care off by the visually impaired person as they are given training for these issues in mobility classes.

In most countries Seeing Eye dogs are the only animals that are exempt from restrictions on animals in public places such as restaurants.

While there are several breeds that are suitable for Seeing Eye dog work breeds such as golden retrievers and German Shepard’s are some of the more popular choices.

Potential Seeing Eye dogs can be found from many different sources. There are numerous organizations around the world that breed and raise puppies that will all go on to be trained to be Seeing Eye dogs. Many families serve as foster families for puppies until they are ready to begin their guide dog training. There are also many Seeing Eye dogs that are found in animal shelters.

The first part of Seeing Eye dog training is the dog being desensitized to sights and sounds that it would run across in public interactions. A physical exam of the potential Seeing Eye dog is then performed to make sure that the dog is up to the often strenuous activities that this type of work can entail. If the dog passes the exam they are then allowed to begin the next phase of the training process.

Dogs that are being training to be seeing eye dogs are then put into harnesses and are then taught the proper way to maneuver people safely through obstacles such as going off of curbs and how to avoid their masters being struck by overhead objects. Some dogs are even taught additional skills during this time such as learning how to retrieve different items for their owner.

At the end of three months of individualized training a visually impaired student that has been approved for their own guide dog beings to work under the instruction of either a school or an individual instructor. Once this new team has passed the instructional process they are certified and ready to go out into the world. Follow ups are done by instructional facilities on an as needed basis.

Seeing eye dogs by law are allowed to accompany their owners in to all public areas allowing them to help their owner be a very functional member of society.

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for DogTeachers.com – a great site for dog training. Learn more about

Proper bedding for horses is extremely important. Their health and performance depends on them having the proper amount of rest.
Studies have shown that sleep can be divided into 2 stages, Slow Wave Seep (SWS) and Paradoxial Sleep (PS) .
Horses normally fall asleep while standing up and they enter SWS during which the muscles gradually relax.

If the horse is feeling comfortable in its environment it will lie down and drift further into SWS with further relaxation of the muscles.

The horse may then lie down flat to enter PS where the muscles are totally relaxed, that is, there is virtually no muscle tone.

An important point about sleep cycles is that the horse must lie down flat to complete a sleeping cycle that includes PS. If a horse cannot, or chooses not to lie down then it can rest in SWS but cannot achieve the total relaxation of PS.

Paradoxial sleep is sometimes termed the sleep of the body because of the general muscular relaxation.
SWS is known as the sleep of the mind.

And so with that in mind I started researching the different types of bedding for horses.
Here are the various types of horse bedding I have found.

Straw bedding especially wheat straw was used in virtually every stable some fifty years ago. Horses were mainly kept for hunting, competitions or belonged to riding schools. Some horses had “hay coughs”,now called Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and since the majority of horses were looked after by professional grooms, COPD meant nothing to the average horse owner.

Today’s the situation is so different. The growing trend to keep equines as pets and not only as work animals has spurred a growing trend to find new types of bedding.

Straw as Horse Bedding

Benefits

• If clean and dust free, it makes an excellent bed.

Disadvantages

• amount of waste material generated

• costly to dispose
• Heavy to cart to the muck heap
• Dangers of spores and dust

• May create respiratory problems for horse and humans

• horses often eat straw bedding.

Findings from other studies have shown that when given the choice of straw or wood shavings as a bedding type, horses spend more time on straw.

Horses appear to spend more time performing bedding-directed behaviours on straw and this seems to reduce boredom in stabled horses

The use of beddings other than straw may increase the risk of abnormal behaviours such as weaving.

Both straw and wood shavings are economical and easy to obtain.

Straw is generally warmer bedding than shavings because it traps air.

Sawdust as Horse Bedding

Benefits
• Readily available almost everywhere
• Relatively inexpensive

Disadvantages

• May irritate a horses lungs

• Can cause the “heaves” (a respiratory problem)
• Heavier to load and muck than straw, shavings or wood chips.

• Horses with respiratory problems should not use this type of bedding.

Peat moss has countless tiny air-filled cells that provide a comfortable cushion under the horses foot, making it a bedding recommended by veterinarians for convalescing horse’s with severe foot problems.
It naturally neutralizes, not covers up, but organically neutralizes, ammonia fumes.
Veterinarians have long recommended peat as a beneficial alternative stall bedding for horses suffering from COPD, commonly known as “heaves”.

Peat moss has long been recognized as one of the most effective natural filtration materials found in nature. The natural beneficial microbes, and the material’s outstanding absorbency trap and contain harmful urine and ammonia fumes.
Benefits

• Counters the build up of stall ammonia.
• No further need of special stall deodorizers.
• Generates less waste volume than shavings or straw, or pellets
• Requires less storage space.
• Small amount of daily waste generated
• Rapid break down time compared to wood products or straw
• Keeps a white horse from getting urine stains

Disadvantages

• The brown earthy colour makes the stalls look dark
• More expensive initially than sawdust or shavings

Hemp as Horse Bedding

Hemp has been cultivated in North America since the 17th century. For a number of years it was against the law to grow hemp, it is once again legal to grow hemp commercially in Canada .

The outside of the hemp stalks are harvested for use in the textile, composite and paper industries. The core of the stalk is used for animal bedding, garden mulch and building materials.

Queen Elizabeth of England,uses the European company “Hempcore”, producers of hemp bedding, as her equine product supplier.

HempChips, an Ontario based company, researched the wide spread use of hemp bedding in Europe and did stall trials and test marketing of the product in Ontario prior to launching HempChips at the Royal Winter Fair in 1998.

Benefits

• HempChips are dust extracted and cleaned of any impurities
• Ensure a clean stable environment
• Reduction in conditions that lead to respiratory problems in horses
• All natural – there few chemicals used to grow the hemp stalk and no chemicals used during processing.
• Highly absorbent – therefore you can use less
• Horses will not eat hemp stalks

Disadvantages
• High initial Cost of putting down the bedding
• Difficulty in locating local sellers.

Newsprint bedding is shredded newspaper/cardboard. It is ecologically conservative and very absorbent.

Benefits

• Soft and comfortable
• No Dust
• Horses usually will not eat it
• Horses are easier to clean after lying in newsprint as opposed to shavings
• Easy to store and transport in the small bales
• Good for places that are allowed to burn muck

Disadvantages
• Light weight can make the muck heap prone to blow around the yard in windy weather.
• Makes the stable look unkempt with the newsprint blowing all over the place

Branded Wood Pellet Products.
Wood pellets are compressed shavings (usually pine). They are treated to remove toxic substances and dust, and they expand when wet.

Benefits

• Some pellets clump so it’s easy to clean.
• Very Absorbant therefore you need to put down less
• Branded wood pellets are free of dust and toxic substances
• Greatly lowering the chance of respiratory problems
• Easy to sift through with pitch fork
• Mucking out is faster easier and less wasteful
• Reduction in the amount of waste thrown out
• Requires about 1/3rd the space of a traditional flake shaving bale.
• Comfortable, shock absorbing, and aesthetically pleasing.
• Stalls are drier and cleaner
• More Cost Effective in the long run
• Easier to use

Disadvantages

• Upfront cost is higher
• More difficult to find than sawdust or wood shavings

The Benefits of Rubber Matting are numerous. Just like us, horses and ponies feel the strain from standing on hard surfaces. If they slip, injury is also likely to be greater on concrete than on a softer surface.

Benefits

• Rubber matting provides a very comfortable standing surface
• Extra traction helps to reduce the risk of injury in the stable.
• Provides a much warmer, safer and more comfortable floor
• Reduces the quantity of bedding required.
• Different brands and differences in cost and quality.
• Good buffer between the horse and the floor.
• Extra cushioning alleviates pressure and stress of hock and knees.
• Less bedding need

Disadvantages of Rubber matting

• The cost of some stall matting is quite high

A good friend of mine uses the ComfortStall® System for her 2 box stalls. It is true that she goes a little overboard (to say the least) when it comes to caring for her horses. They not only have the Comfortstall® system for the floor of their box stalls but peat moss as bedding. To me this is the best type of sleep arrangement for any horse. By the way, the matting for the 2 stalls cost a total of 1500 $ cdn including installation.

Like any other bedding, the amount of material you will need depends on the type of horse being housed, how many hours the horse spends in the stall, weather conditions, and the size of the stall.

Also be aware that stabling is not natural for equines, so measures must be taken to ensure a healthy, comfortable and happy environment is created.

Having lived all of my life in a big city, moving to a horse ranch in the country was a dream come true. Far from the hustle and bustle to the peaceful life with horses.

I love the new life I have here in St. Lazare, Quebec.
Besides taking care of 9 horses, 2 crazy dogs, a pig…and lets not forget the cats.

My husband and I also have a graphic design studio. But I wanted something new, something different – something that would weave together: design – horses – and anecdotes about my new life.

Oh yeah…I also wanted to find a new income source. Something that I could do from home. No commuting to the city

So I started this website livingwithhorses.com www.livingwithhorses.com

I am continuously updating with information for the novice horse rider and the new horse ranch owner.
Lots of horsekeeping tips, and information on managing your horse boarding stable.

Visit us at livingwithhorses.com www.livingwithhorses.com