Who Let The Dogs Out? Pointers For In Home Dog Training
April 22, 2008
Who let the dogs out?
Remember this song which gave birth to a rather popular phrase some years back? Perhaps, its fame can be traced to how it struck a cord on our collective subconscious. After all, not a few of us fear the warpath of dogs gone wild. Tattered items, shredded clothes, ruined furniture? unruly dogs spare nothing, it seems.
Those adorable canine creatures may appear as angels before our eyes, what with their wagging tails and hanging tongues, but many of us know what a bundle of bedlam they could really be.
Thankfully, dog house training has been perfected into a science in recent years. Dog house training seeks to instill discipline and good behavior upon our dogs through lessons that are carried out in a variety of ways. A dog owner can even choose between conducting dog house training himself, and enrolling his dog to a dog obedience training school.
In home dog training requires that the owner consider a few factors before proceeding.
Thats No Paris Hilton! An Overview of Dog Obedience Training Videos
April 21, 2008
Mention the word "video" and different people would come up with different ideas. Some would remember those home movies they made during special occasions spent with family and friends. Others would be reminded of Blockbuster take-homes once the movie they missed would be released in the said rental chain. Not a few would share a smirk with thoughts of Paris Hilton’s digital adventures. But it is rare that someone would associate the word "video" with dog obedience training.
The fact of the matter is that dog obedience training videos are effective means of teaching ourselves how to instruct our dogs to eventually rear them towards a better-behaved and well-disciplined life. Dog obedience training videos are excellent visual guides that could perfectly provide for us the step-by-step process of educating our canine buddies.
Training our dogs the fundamentals of obedience is a must in this day and age. It’s not as if we could hire a nanny for our pets, right? Somehow, our dogs should learn how to behave as good house companions. Tattered items, shredded carpets, furniture in ruins? even our canine buddy’s lovable charms won’t be able to compensate for the damage they are capable of doing.
Ten Tips for Cats Who are Forced to Relocate with Their Owners
April 20, 2008
For realistic tips for humans who are moving with cats, read Making the Big Move: How to transform relocation into a creative life transition and visit other relocation resources on this site.
1. If you sense your owner plans to move, be on your best behavior.
Revive those terminally cute poses you used to get yourself adopted. Let your owner sleep past 5 AM. Keep your paws out of your owner’s hair.
Use the litterbox religiously. If you must throw up, head for the bathroom and skip the windowsills.
You do not want your owner to entertain thoughts like, “I don’t want to ruin the beautiful floors in our new home,” or, “You know, it’s really hard to rent an apartment when you have a cat.”
2. Here’s a great game. Jump into an empty box, stick your head out and hold the pose while your owner runs around looking for a camera. As soon as she appears, finger on snap button, turn around and point your tail at the camera.
You’ll learn some new cuss words, guaranteed.
3. The arrival of the moving van is your cue to hide. You can have lots of fun with this one.
What is It About Horses and Young Girls?
April 19, 2008
In a world of computer games, the Internet and shopping malls, what is it about this four-legged farm animal that seems to capture the heart of most of them?
According to a recent study by the American Horse Council, 1.9 million Americans own horses — just over 4 million people are recreational riders and 3.6 million show horses. The horse industry has a $112.1 billion impact on the US gross domestic product: greater than the movie industry and the tobacco manufacturing industry.
Even with people mainly in cities, horses have really disappeared from daily life for most North Americans. And yet their appeal hasn’t faded.
I wonder why.
As a youngster, I was enthralled with horses. I read books about horses, took riding lessons and all of my drawings were of horses. It’s a girl thing mostly. I didn’t come from an equestrian background.
It does have benefits. You learn to control a large muscle-y animal which may prepare you for being married to another version of one. A horse weighs about half a ton. You can’t be shy around a horse. You learn to be confident and firm.
The 5 Things You Should Know Before Breeding Cats
April 19, 2008
The cat population is astronomical. Most experts agree that average cat owners should spay their cat, not breed. Still there are people who want to have a litter from their pet. But there’s a lot to think about before planning a feline family.
Here are five things you should know:
1. It takes time. You’ll have to clean the nest every day, for two months. You should keep an eye on the kittens and watch their development ? you won’t have time for a holiday.
2. It takes space. It’s not a good idea to breed if you have a 3-room apartment. Your family members should agree with your plan of having kittens. You can’t lock up these little balls of fur. They’ll go everywhere - in your partner’s study, in your baby’s bedroom, your kitchen, your bathroom.
3. It takes responsibility. Do you know beforehand that you will find a good home for your kittens? Some of your friends or relatives will say ‘Yes, lovely, I’ll take one of them’. But one or another may change his/her mind once the moment is near. Are you willing to keep the kitten that nobody wants?
Syrian vs. Dwarf Hamsters, What Should I Get For My Family?
April 18, 2008
As pets go hamsters are fairly easy to take care of. Hamsters require no walking, are not particularly dirty or stinky, they are small and don’t take up much space and are generally inexpensive. Hamsters are also fairly hearty animals and can be a very good pet for a child or a family with several children. There are however, two distinct choices when it comes to adopting a hamster for your family, and that is the dwarf hamster and the syrian hamster. I spoke with Ken Brocx, the founder of Hamsterific.com, an authoritative hamster and small pet website about this question and what his recommendations would be to someone considering adopting a hamster but not knowing exactly which route is best for his/her family.
Andy Markison: Thanks Ken for taking the time to speak to us. First of all, let’s assume a family with a young child or children (let’s assume around seven or eight years of age for this example) is considering adopting a hamster or hamsters for their home. Would you personally recommend either a dwarf hamster or a syrian hamster in this case?
Dog Crate Buyers Guide - How to Choose the Right Crate and Accessories
April 17, 2008
Why use a crate:
When used properly and not abused, crates are the fastest and most humane method of housebreaking dogs. Dogs are den animals that will instinctively seek out a small, cozy place to rest for shelter and security. Crates act on a dog’s instinct to keep its den clean and unsoiled. Keeping your dog in a crate teaches him to “hold it” until he can go in an appropriate place, which helps your puppy develop his bladder control. For older dogs, crates act as a “bedroom” where they can relax and escape the hustle and bustle of kids, other pets, and everyday family life. Also, it’s never too late to crate train! A crate can help break bad habits that improperly trained dogs may have developed over the years.
Plastic or metal?
Plastic kennels are good for travel, and are generally the only method of containment permitted by airlines. Metal wire dog crates are ideal for home use, however. They are generally roomier and more open. They’re also sturdier, so they will stand up to your pet’s movement/ activity and be able to last as your dog’s permanent bedroom.
What size?
Lower Your Veterinarian Costs And Increase the Longevity of Your Pets Lives
April 16, 2008
What does doing natural preventative care mean? I thought vaccinating, prevention medicines, and premium kibble was natural preventative care. Hardly.
Unfortunately the pharmaceutical companies and the pet food industry have really pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes -but the wool is coming off! People are frustrated with the way traditional care has let them down and are seeking alternatives to help them not only give their pets more quality of life but longer lives. It seems as though we barely get our pets to a “settled” place in our lives before they’re gone. It doesn’t have to be like this.
Please don’t misunderstand, mainstream care does have its place but it should not be the only choice people and their pets have. In fact, I think it’s the imbalanced lean towards allopathic medicine rather than including homeopathic and naturopathic and alternative therapies that is a big part of the problem. At some point where do we stop and say, what happened to "first do no harm"?
What Should I Make My Snake Cage From?
April 15, 2008
What kind of materials should you use when constructing a snake cage? Snakes come in many different sizes ? but usually only one shape. Even so, there are many different housing systems and styles for snakes. These depend on the adult size of the snake, how much room you have, the environment it normally inhabits and how much money you are willing to spend.
Aquarium tanks can be used for keeping snakes under 6 feet requiring a swimming pool or humidity. A screen top for ventilation for arid or desert snakes and a partially covered screen top raise the humidity for rainforest snakes. Viewing is unrestricted and the tank can be easily cleaned. It will not get scratched and temperatures are easy to maintain. They are cumbersome and can be difficult to move, especially big or fully-loaded ones. They need to be on a solid table or stand. If you do need to move them, put solid castors on the stand.
Plastic/Rubbermaid tubs are useful as breeding racks, during the quarantine period before to introducing a new animal to an established collection, as an emergency/isolation enclosure, feeding tub and for juvenile snakes. They are no good for arboreal species, as they cannot climb.
How To Adopt A Shelter Cat - Your New Cat Will Thank You For Reading This Article
April 14, 2008
If you are thinking of adding a feline to your family, consider adopting a cat from your local animal shelter or humane society. The animals have been carefully screened for adoptability and have usually been worked with to enhance sociability.
Unfortunately, many people think that only “bad” animals wind up in shelters. Actually, the opposite is true. People relinquish their pets to shelters when they are no longer able to care for them. Sometimes this is because the owner was unprepared for the responsibility that comes with caring for a pet.
If there is no indication of ‘reason for surrender’ on the cage at the shelter ask - a cat that has been given up because of bad behaviour may not be the best choice - no matter how cute she is.
Often, however, caring owners struggling with life-changes or trying to cope with family tragedy realize their pet would be better off with someone else. They bring them to the shelter because they know the animal will be well-cared for and placed in an excellent home.
