Pets Breeding Basic

Dogs have inherent wild characteristics, often being aggressive and barking unnecessarily. Some dog owners are frustrated with the situation and frequently smack their dog or banish it to the backyard. However, treating pets in such a way conjures an image of terror in their minds, and they start fearing their owner. All this can be avoided in the first place through proper dog training.

Dog training refers to training your dog to be obedient, adhering to all your commands in a jovial manner. A dog is a man's faithful companion – that saying can only be true with proper dog training.

Dog training can be accomplished at your residence, in dog training classes, or with the aid of a private trainer. It's a slow and steady process and expecting instant results is akin to being unrealistic. Dog training requires a collar, leash, an awful lot of patience, and a tender attitude towards your dog. Training needs to be a fun-filled, exhilarating experience for your dog. You should mingle training exercises with intermittent treats and praises when your dog behaves in the desired way. This way you could easily train your dog for the common commands, such as sit, stay and come.

A crucial aspect of dog training is to instill good eating habits. Fix up a few time slots in the day when you would feed your dog. This way it won't have to beg at the dining table or meander around for leftovers. Your dog should be trained not to pull the leash while on a casual stroll. A simple yank of the leash followed by a proper voice command is enough to accomplish the same. The dog should also be trained to stand still, since this allows an easy examination by a veterinarian and a trouble-free grooming session with a dog groomer.

You might face a few problems while training your dog. The ease of dog training depends largely on the nature of the dog, which varies from one of docility to one of obstinacy. While some dogs respond to tenderness and coaxing, others may not even heed to a firm command. Some are quick learners while others grasp things quite slowly. If you are faced with a hapless situation training your dog, you may consult a professional dog trainer. However, it is recommended that you carry out a preliminary research prior to choosing a particular trainer for your dog.

Niall Kennedy is a lifelong dog lover and has worked in several pet sanctuaries. Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you dog training supplies. http://www.Best-Pet-Health.info. Dog News Center - Dog Article Directory - Submit Your Articles Now

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.

You Must Be The Alpha Dog

First, let's take a look at what a "pack mentality" means. Dogs are born into packs – in the wild, packs are the essential social order. Unlike humans, who use a variety of political processes to determine leadership and rank, dogs sort out their social order by dominance and power. In a wolf pack, there is a Top Dog – a clear leader who is the dominant, Alpha male. He's the Big Dog, with pride of place at the dinner table (well, if wolves had a dinner table!), first in mating, first in decision making for the pack.

Whether you realize it or not, your dog views your household as his own personal wolf pack. The pack mentality is so engrained in your dog's psyche that he will either view you as a leader - or a follower - depending on your actions. If you are to have a well-trained dog, you must establish that you are the leader, and he is the follower. Your dog has to know in his heart that you are the Alpha Dog, the Head Honcho, the Big Dog, the Top Dog – call it whatever you want, but your dog needs to know you're in charge.

Dogs are a little like children in one respect – they're looking for someone else to be the leader – they want rules and regulations because that makes their role in the pack more clear-cut and understandable. It's scary being the leader – if you're not up to it, your dog may assume the role – because someone has to be in charge!

If that's what's happened at your house, you need to re-establish your position as the Top Dog, or "Leader of the Pack." But here's an important note: being the leader of the pack has absolutely nothing to do with harsh punishment. It has everything to do with consistency and setting limits.

A simple rule to remember (and one people have great difficulty keeping in mind) is that you are the leader, not your dog.

1. You Go Through The Door First Even something as straightforward as who walks through the door first can reinforce your position as "dominant dog." Leaders lead. Followers follow. If you allow your dog to charge through the door ahead of you, he perceives that as asserting his dominance over you. Put your dog on the leash, and make sure you're the first one through the door.

2. You Eat Before Your Dog Who gets fed first in your house – you or your dog? In a wolf pack, the leader eats first, and when he is done, the rest of the pack can dine. Do you feed your dog first because he pesters you when you're cooking your dinner, and it's simply more convenient to have him quiet and out of the way when you're eating?

Food is a powerful motivator that can be used to clearly demonstrate who is the ruler of the roost at your house. In no way, shape or form am I suggesting that you withhold food from your dog – that's cruel and unusual punishment any way you look at it. What I am suggesting is that you control the timing of the food – you should eat first, your dog second, after you're done with your meal.

3. Don't Walk Around Your Dog

Does your dog lie on the floor and expect you to walk around him? In the wild, dominant dogs lie wherever they want, and dogs lower in the social order go around so they don't disturb the Big Dog. If you walk around your dog, he will assume this to be an act of submission on your part; therefore he must be the leader, not you.

If your dog is lying in the middle of the hallway, or right in front of your easy chair, make him move. If he's on the couch and you want to lie down, make him move. Don't step over him. Just gently nudge him and make him get out of your way. You're the Big Dog, remember?

4. You Determine When Your Dog Gets Attention

Even asking for attention or affection can be seen as an act of dominance from your dog's point of view. Dogs that demand attention are asserting dominance, so if your dog gets pushy, ignore him. When you're ready to give him attention or affection or pet or play with him, ask him to sit first. Don't run after him just so you can pet him. Make him come to you when you're ready to give him attention, or play with him. And when you play with a toy, make sure that you end up with possession of the toy, and then put the toy away when you're done. (Note: I'm not talking about his favorite toys that you leave in his crate. I'm talking about play toys that the two of you use for games.)

5. Don't Let Your Dog Sleep In Your Bed

This is a tough one for a lot of people, but when you let your dog share your bed, at best you're making him an equal to you. He should have his own bed, either a dog pad or his crate that he feels comfortable in – you can even put the dog pad next to your bed if that makes both of you happier – but don't let him take over the sleeping arrangements. Before you know it, he'll be trying to make you sleep on the floor!

Again, reinforcing or retraining your dog to recognize you as the Head Honcho has absolutely nothing to do with harsh discipline. These are changes you can make that will change the way your dog thinks about you. And making even small changes like these can have an enormous impact on the way your dog views the social hierarchy in your home – all without a harsh word being spoken!

Charlie Lafave, author, "Dog Training Secrets!" To transform your stubborn, misbehaving dog into a loyal, well-behaving "best friend" who obeys your every command and is the envy of the neighborhood, visit: http://tinyurl.com/6u2cj

"On Trust" & "Paid For" for are one of the oldest dog tricks that afford as much entertainment as anything a dog can do since the early 1900s. It is not the easiest trick to be taught but can be elaborated on and presented in several different forms to impress most people.

To teach this trick call your dog to you, allowing him to stand up or sit down, as he desires, and hold his head steady with on hand, while you balance a piece of treat on his nose.

Say to him, "On trust, on trust," steadying and restraining his head from moving with one hand and holding up a threatening finger with the other and repeating the words, "On trust, on trust".

After which, release his head, saying "paid for," and give him a little chuck under the chin, that will cause him to toss the treat up and catch it. Of course, in his earlier attempts he will not be able to catch the treat, but he should be allowed to eat the treat after it land on the floor.

Continuous repetition of this training will produce efficiency. Over time you should stop restraining his head with your hand and allow him to balance the treat on his nose until you give him the words "Paid for."

He can also be taught also to hold the treat between his teeth and not to swallow it until told to do so. This trick can be made more impressive by holding a conversation with your dog. For instance, you might say: "Buddy, old man, here is a very yummy piece of treat, but it is 'on trust.'"

Slightly emphasize the word "trust" and then go on and say: "I am glad you dislike to eat things on trust, but this I have just learned has been 'paid for,'" emphasizing the words "paid for."

Your dog can also be taught to toss the treat on hearing a certain number. To teach this, balance it on his nose and hold his head while you count plainly and deliberately, one, two, three, and then chuck him under the chin. Until he has had a great deal of practice he will toss it up as promptly at one, two, four, as he will at one, two, three, but he must be drilled until he will not toss it until he hears "three," and it will make it easier for him if you slightly emphasize the "THREE" word.

In time you can use many combinations of figures and he will wait until he hears the emphasized "three." In working him do not make him wait too long before you say "three," and allow him to eat the treat.

"Trust" and "Paid For" dog tricks are considerably difficult to master and requires plenty of patience from you. Remember, do not punish your dog if he can't master the trick, and rather blame yourself for being a lousy teacher. :-) In any case, enjoy training and have lots of fun along the way.

Moses Chia is the webmaster of DogsObedienceTraining.com. He provides more helpful information on dog obedience training, dog training book reviews and dog illness symptoms interpretation that you can learn in the comfort of your home on his website. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

One of the reasons I strongly encourage horse owners to train their own horses rather than ship them away to a professional trainer is familiarity. Quite simply, an unfamiliar party will not understand your horse nearly as well as you, and this understanding of a horse is the backbone of any successful training plan.

This is not to suggest that all horse trainers are clueless individuals that bumble along hoping to do something right, because most professional trainers will take the time to understand a horse before ever thinking about saddling him and training him to ride. But all too often an impatient or inexperienced "trainer" will misread a horse's problem or intention and react incorrectly due to his lack of understanding. Too many of these incidents can prolong the training process (thereby costing you money) and potentially mentally scar your horse for life.

Far too many head-shy horses can be attributed to inexperienced or abusive past trainers and/or owners who lacked an understanding of the horse they were working with. Once a horse has developed this mistrust or fear of people it can take a good while to reassure the horse that another cuff is not waiting around the corner. And who can blame the horse? If every past exposure with a dog resulted in the dog biting you, chances are you would be very wary, if not outright panicked, by future exposures to canines.

To correct an improper action it is first important to understand the motivation that lies behind it. For example, let's say that you are training a young filly to walk alongside you to your left. Suddenly without permission the filly slams against your side, but being that she's still young it doesn't do much more than get your attention. What would you do?

1. Ignore the behavior – no harm was done after all.

2. Jab your elbow into the filly's shoulder and growl at her to remind her to respect your space.

3. Take a moment to detect the reason why the filly brushed against you.

If you selected the first option, you chose wrong. Although your heart is in the right place in your willingness to "write off" a seemingly harmless action, eventually if you ignore these things they can compound to worse problems. Your filly won't always be so small and light!

If you selected the second option you might have reacted correctly if the filly was gently asked to respect your space previously and elected to ignore the request out of defiance. In such a scenario you would need to reinforce your authority lest she view herself as being the alpha leader amongst you.

But what if the filly stepped against you because the wind was carrying along a plastic bag that startled her? In such a case if you discipline your horse you do her a huge disservice because she's not trying to be defiant or challenge your authority – she's scared and she wanted your reassurance! If you start cuffing your filly for violating your personal space she will be like a deer caught in a car's headlights; the bag to her left and the handler to her right are scaring her and she'll either bolt or become paralyzed.

Had you understood the root of her concern you could have forgiven the invasion of your space and instead showed your filly the plastic bag was nothing to be concerned about. Such reassurances would have put her mind at ease, allow her to regain focus on the task at hand and hopefully become desensitized towards future encounters with plastic bags.

A trainer that believed in the "one size fits all" philosophy would probably have chosen option two in the above scenario since at face value that would be the correct reaction, but without understanding the horse or the motivation behind her action his "correction" would have further compounded the problem. It is essential a handler take the time to understand a horse's behavior before attempting to correct it since one size most definitely does not fit all. And who would better understand your horse than you?

In addition the training process does not have to be the stressful battle of wills that most of us initially believe it to be. Taken slowly, both the horse and the owner can actually look forward to advancing along the lesson plan. As the owner and horse work together, each will develop an even better understanding of the other's mannerisms, personality and expectations… and with understanding comes success.

Jeffrey Rolo, owner of AlphaHorse and an experienced horse trainer and breeder, is the author of the above article. You will find many other informational articles dealing with horse training and care as well as games and other horse fun on his website: http://www.alphahorse.com

One of the first dog obedience commands you will teach is training your dog to sit and stay.

This is an important command for you and your dog to master. It will clearly define you as the dominant one in the owner-dog relationship, and will provide a solid foundation for more advanced training later on.

You can start training your dog to sit and stay at around three months of age. Some general things to keep in mind when you first start out:

• Keep the training sessions short, ten minutes is fine initially.

• Make the training fun, don't make it feel like a chore, to you and your dog.

• Sessions should be full of praise and positive reinforcement (more about this later).

• Be repetitive, practice over and over until it clicks with your dog.

Training Your Dog To Sit

The first step in the process is getting your dog to sit on command. There are three training techniques I use with my dogs, depending on their age and temperament.

1. For young puppies I like this method. When you see your puppy about to sit, or in the act of sitting, just say "Sit" in a firm tone. When your puppy sits praise him. In your dogs eyes this technique builds an association with your verbal command "sit", and the act of sitting. Most puppies make this connection very quickly.

2. For older puppies or dogs this method works every time. With your dog standing in front of you, grab a tasty treat and guide it over his nose, then continue up over his head. Hold the treat a couple of centimeters above your dog while performing this motion. It will cause your puppy to follow the treat up with his nose, and at the same time plant his behind on the ground. You should say the command "Sit" as your dog is getting into the sit position. Praise and reward your dog as soon as he sits. After a while you will only need the verbal command, not the treat.

3. You need a collar and leash for this next technique, which is best suited to bigger dog breeds. Stand next to your dog, both of you facing the same way. Hold the leash straight up tight, directly above your dogs collar. At the same time push down on your dogs back and say "sit". As soon as your dog sits, reward and praise him. Within no time you can stop pushing him down, then stop holding the leash up tight. All your dog will require is your verbal "sit" command.

The "Stay" part of the Sit and Stay is our next step. Since we have already trained our dog to sit on command, I prefer to use a "release" or "away" command, instead of "stay". This is because when I tell my dog to sit, I really mean sit and stay, until I tell you to do something else. The release command I use is "off you go".

The process goes like this. Tell your dog to sit, he'll stay in the sit position, then break or release this sit command by saying "off you go". You should use your dog's name then your release command to start with, which will cause your dog to come to you. When he gets to you praise and reward him. After a while you will only need to use your release command, your dog will understand that he is free to go. If your dog breaks the sit command before you issue the release command, say "no!" and put him back in the sit position and start again.

Over time you can increase the time and distance between getting your dog to sit and then releasing him from it. You may even want to add some distractions, or do your training in different locations. When your dog holds his sit position even when a cat cruises by, you know he is ready to move on to more advanced obedience training commands.

If you understand and apply these methods you should achieve the desired result. It may take a bit of patience and plenty of repetition, but you will get there.

Chris Smith is a dedicated dog owner and creator of http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com

Find out the best way to obedience train your dog at home. The latest cutting edge and proven techniques.

Entertaining your American Pit Bull Terrier with dog agility training is an excellent activity that can be fun for both you and your Pit. It is something that both of you can do together that will strengthen the dog-owner bond.

Pit Bull agility training is one of the more advanced types of dog training, but it is certainly quite enjoyable. Dog agility is an activity that has become very popular in England, Australia, and the United STates. It consists of a main event with multiple dog courses set up to compete in. All of the courses contain roughly 26 obstacles. In order for your dog to win, he must finish the course without any faults in the fastest time. This is an activity that certainly takes patience and a lot of practice.

Many of the obstacles that are included agility courses need extensive training in order to master. There are two basic types of courses, jumping courses and agility courses. Jumping courses are full of obstacles which your dog must clear, such as jumps which your dog has to make it over without knocking down, and weaves which your dog must stay in until the very end. In dog agility courses there are contact points on the obstacles which your dog must touch with his paws.

Dog clubs do not allow puppies under the age of one year to participate in agility exercises. A great many agility enthusiasts actually own their own equipment so that they can begin training with their dog at a much earlier time. Jax is a company which makes training obstacles in case you are interested in doing this.

Much of your dog's agility training must be done before you enter the very first show and your dog should have no trouble running the entire course. It is an extremely exciting and challenging activity and can certainly improve the bond between you and your best friend.

To learn all about raising an American Pitbull Terrier and training Pitbulls, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.

Canine Diabetes: A Serious Dog Disease That is Completely Manageable

Canine diabetes is a serious disease that causes there to be too much glucose in the blood. If your pet has any of the signs, a dog health exam will help you find out with certainty. Canine diabetes symptoms usually include the following:

- drinking excessive amounts of water
- frequent urination
- weight gain (or weight loss in some cases)
- increased lethargy during the day

A simple blood test can tell the vet if the glucose counts look suspicious. You should have a full physical exam done on your dog annually, even if he seems perfectly healthy. Be sure to ask your vet to include a full blood work-up, to rule out diabetes (as well as many other diseases). It's well worth the added cost!

If your pet has been diagnosed with canine diabetes, don't panic. While it is a 'special needs' issue that will influence many daily decisions, it is a manageable disease in dogs. You just have to learn some simple steps and stick to a schedule.

The first goal after a canine diabetes diagnosis is to get the glucose levels down to a normal (or only slightly elevated) level. This will not require thorough dog health exams like the original blood test. The vet can draw some blood and test the levels fairly quickly, with minimal cost to you.

Canine diabetes means someone must administer insulin injections (in most cases). They are easy to do and will quickly become routine. One person in the family should be responsible for the shots, but everyone should know how to give them (age teen and up) in case of a dog health emergency. I highly recommend posting a printout of how to give the injection to your pet in every room in your house, just in case.

In our house, where we have a diabetic dog, we made a canine diabetes "Dog Health Cheat Sheet" for potential problems, like these:

- too much insulin is accidentally injected
- the needle breaks off while in the dog
- there's a seizure (not common, but can happen occasionally)

The cheat sheet includes the vet's emergency number and some basic actions to take in each scenario. We made several copies to be posted all over the house, but especially by the phone, the fridge (where the insulin is kept), and the bed (where our dog hangs out a lot).

The other goal with canine diabetes is to maintain the glucose level (with your vet's help). It is crucial to take your pet periodically to the vet for a whole day (8-hour period at least) so they can check blood sugar levels throughout the day. Just as in humans, blood sugar levels fluctuate in your pet throughout the day. Having your vet monitor and take several blood readings during a longer stretch of time helps ensure that your diabetes treatments are actually working as intended.

It's a little more work to care for diabetic dogs, no doubt about it. But our pets are family members and we love them dearly. Right? They give us their devotion, protection, and love, so the least we can do in return is give them proper health care, especially if they have problems like canine diabetes. Going the extra mile for them will help them live happier lives with less pain and more enjoyment. Can there be a nobler goal?

John Schwartz is a freelance writer, webmaster, and dog lover. He has written many published articles on subjects that include shopping for dog supplies, improving pet health, and good dog training practices. Please visit my dog supplies website at http://www.puppies-dogs-supplies.com for more dog and puppy tips.

House training is the first thing your new puppy must learn. The toileting process a puppy learns in the first few months as a member of your household will last a lifetime so it's important to do it right the first time. House training issues are the number one reason why dogs are taken to animal shelters so let's begin.

It's important to understand that your puppy probably won't be completely trained until he's about 6 months old. That's because young puppies lack the bladder and bowel control that they need to be reliably left alone for long periods of time.

It is also important for you to be available to supervise your new puppy but we all know that life happens. If you can't be available for a period of time, confine your puppy to a small puppy-proof room. The entire floor should be covered with newspaper or some absorbent, disposable material. At first, your puppy will go everywhere in the room. As he gets older he will favor one area. Slowly reduce the area covered in papers until the puppy eventually goes only on the toilet papers. The floor in the puppy-proof room should not resemble other floor areas in the house like carpet or hardwood. Once your puppy is used to eliminating on a particular surface, he will want to eliminate on that type of surface.

If you want to train your puppy to use only papers, your task is complete. Most owners prefer for their dogs to eliminate outside so the puppy-proof room should only be used when you aren't home to supervise. If your puppy spends time in a crate, which he should at first, you can place papers in one area in the crate for your puppy to use. Dogs are naturally very clean animals and they will do their best no to soil their bed area. This really helps your puppy develop self control.

For puppies who are to be outdoor trained, take the puppy to his designated toilet area every 45 minutes. When your puppy does his business in his designated area, lavish praise on him. Don't be afraid to look like a fool when providing this praise. He is learning the most important lesson in living in your household so go overboard with praise.

Put your puppy on a consistent feeding schedule so you can anticipate his needs. While he does need free access to clean, fresh drinking water, don't give him unrestricted access to food. Likewise, until he is fully trained, do not give him the run of the house. One thing that will greatly aid in this process is putting a collar and long lead on your puppy and tying the other end of the lead around your waist. Your puppy will like being close to you and he won't have the opportunity to make many mistakes.

That doesn't mean that mistakes won't happen. When they do, don't punish or reprimand him. He won't understand the reason for the punishment and he might become nervous or agitated. He might even think he is being punished for eliminating at all. This could set your training back rather than moving it forward.

The main thing you need for house training your puppy is patience and a good sense of humor. Be calm and relaxed while being consistent in your schedule and your puppy will be relaxed and calm while learning what he needs to learn to become a well adjusted member of the family.

While you and your puppy are bonding during this training time, you can start to introduce other commands like sit, come, stay, down. See my other articles on these individual commands and be sure to sign up for my newsletter at:

http://dogsrule.hickorypublishing.com/?page_id=34.

Cathy Perkins is a dog lover who is allowed to live with her two dogs, Tillie and Pierrot, in the beautiful foothills of North Carolina.

Upper Respiratory Infections and Influenza

Ferrets are very susceptible to problems that are related to stress and introduction to a new environment. They are prone to upper respiratory infections and influenza and can catch these diseases through human contact. If your ferret is sneezing, pay close attention to the color of mucus and check to see if it's eyes are clear because certain types of litter can cause sneezing. We recommend using a Ferret Specific Litter which are generally made from recycled paper and is available in pellet form and is dust free. If the discharge is yellow or green, treat with an antibiotic for the infection (we recommend Clavamox, Cefa-Drops or Baytril).

Prolapsed Rectum

When ferrets experience a prolapsed rectum, one or two things generally cause it. There may not be enough water in their diet – the food should really be wet down (one part food to four parts water). We do not recommend feeding any cat food or canned diet. Another reason is a bacterial or viral infection that will cause the ferret to have a runny stool and cause them to strain. Besides wetting down the food, we recommend using an antibiotic (Clavamox, Cefa-Drops or Baytril). This will prevent any infection to the exposed area. Dosage should be .25 cc every 12 hours. You will also want to keep the area clean and apply Preparation H to soothe it.

Ear Mites

Ear Mites in ferrets are treatable. You will need some Tresaderm. Before using the Tresaderm you will need to apply an Ear Cleaner for Ferrets to get rid of the wax. Put some of the cleaner in the ear and massage. Let it sit for a minute. The ferret will probably shake his head and the wax will come out. Use a Q-tip to gently clean the rest of the wax out. A ferret's ear canal is L-shaped so you don't have to worry about hitting the eardrum, just the vertical part of the canal. After the wax is cleaned out put the eardrops in. Clean every day for a week to 10 days.

ECE

Green slime, or ECE as it is sometimes referred to, is still somewhat of a mystery. Much is still unknown about how the virus is spread. Any situation that brings ferrets together seems to have the potential for spread of the disease. It may also be transmitted by clothing or human contact. Aggressive treatment should begin at the first signs of green diarrhea.Treat with Pedialyte and an antibiotic (we recommend Clavamox, Cefa-Drops or Baytril) to fight off any secondary infection. Feed a soft diet of moistened Ferret Food with chicken baby food since sometimes they have difficulty swallowing due to the formation of ulcers. A high-calorie vitamin supplement such as Marshall Furo-Vite, 8 in 1 Vita-Sol or Ensure is recommended. For persistent diarrhea, keeping the ferret hydrated, feeding a soft food diet, and a high-calorie supplement are all very important.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is hard to treat because it is a symptom of many different illnesses. Something as simple as indulging in too many treats can cause diarrhea. Left untreated, diarrhea can become life-threatening if your ferret loses fluids, becomes dehydrated and is not absorbing food.

Changes in the environment, stress, diet or water supply can cause diarrhea. Make sure to have your ferret on a high-quality diet, such as Marshall Premium Ferret Diet, and stick with it. Don't switch brands. Some ferrets have a hard time adjusting to a change in water. If you are traveling, take a supply of water from home with you.

Treatment for diarrhea can vary. For internal parasites, treatment can be as easy as taking a stool sample to your vet and getting an antibiotic prescribed. We recommend Clavamox, Cefa-Drops or Baytril. Treat with Pedialyte to keep your ferret from becoming dehydrated. If your ferret's appetite decreases or stops, feed a soft diet of moistened Ferret Food with chicken baby food since sometimes they have difficulty swallowing. A high-calorie vitamin supplement such as Marshall Furo-Vite, 8 in 1 Vita-Sol or Ensure is recommended. For persistent diarrhea, keeping the ferret hydrated, feeding a soft food diet, and a high-calorie supplement are all very important.

If diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours, take the ferret and a sample of the poop to the vet. The vet can determine the problem or at least rule out diseases your ferret doesn't have. Treatment can be as simple as a dose of Pepto Bismol, Kaopectate or Pepcid AC, an antibiotic and/or something to help replace the lost electrolytes. Keeping the ferret hydrated, feeding a soft food diet, and a high-calorie supplement are all very important. Your vet will prescribe a treatment plan right for your ferret.

Examining your ferret's poop can be a great way to monitor the health of your ferret. The color and texture of your ferret's poop can give you an indication of what is going on with your ferret. Green poop usually means the food is passing through the digestive tract too fast. It does not have enough time to break down. You see this with illnesses such as ECE. Black-tarry poop usually means gastric bleeding and is associated with gastric ulcers. The black color is from digestion of blood. Ribbon-like poop usually is a sign of an obstruction. Seedy poop is usually a sign of malaborsorption or maldigestion. The seeds are undigested fat and starch. Bloody poop is a big warning sign that there is blood in the bowel, rectum or GI tract.

Matthew Humphries - http://www.ferret.com

The objects in the environment that cause this type of allergies are called allergens. Some examples of these allergens are the following:

· Pollen from the surrounding flowering plants
· Dusts that have accumulated in several areas in the house
· Mites and similar tiny creatures that survive and live on dust
· Molds, fungi, and other similar low forms of plants. The spores from these can be inhaled by the pets

The pets, upon exposure to the above allergens will show several symptoms. Among dogs, the major symptoms are:

· Unstoppable itching in the face and in the feet
· Other itching and irritation in several parts of the body
· Occurrence of sores and discharges
· Loss of hair

Among cats, the symptoms of inhalant allergies are:

· Unspecific itching
· Intolerable itching in the face, neck, and thighs
· Inflammation and sores in different parts of the body
· Loss of hair

When the above symptoms are displayed, especially on certain seasons, such as spring and summer, the dog or cat is most likely affected by a pollen allergy. To accurately determine the occurrence of inhalant allergies, the pet should be taken to the vet. The vet will carry out a skin test to find out if, indeed, the dog or cat is suffering from an inhalant allergies. Some vets also conduct blood tests, but the results of this type of test are often times uncertain.

The best treatment is prevention or further worsening of the allergy. That is, the source of the allergens should be removed. Sometimes, this is easy if the allergens are the dusts and the mites that live in them. A good cleaning is all that a pet owner needs to do. But sometimes, removing the allergen could be difficult. That is, taking away the flowering plant may not be feasible.

Thus, owners resort to other treatments. Two of these allergy treatments are:

· Anti-itch medicines – These medicines suppresses the production of histamines. These can be taken orally or gently rubbed on the irritated area.

· Allergy shots – These can make the pets less sensitive to the presence of allergens. Vets can provide these allergy shots.

Not all cats and dogs suffer allergies when exposed to pollen and other inhaled allergens. The reason for this is their heredity. While other pets have genetic characteristics that predisposes them to have allergies.

Peter Garant's pet medicine concentrates on cat and dog medicine

So, you've got yourself a pregnant cat.

Was it a stray that adopted you? You heard a plaintive meowing, opened your back door and there she was. You won her confidence, gave her some scraps and a drink of water, spent some time petting her and then left her to it. Next day she's back. And before too many days have passed you decide that as she has no collar, no address tag, that you have got yourself a cute new companion.

As well as not having an address tag, she also didn't have a sign reading "I am a pregnant cat".

Or perhaps you've had your cat since she was a little bundle of kitten fur. She was always going to be a strictly indoor cat, no need at all to have her spayed, she was never ever going outside, she would never be a pregnant cat. But...

...she did get out, and she is pregnant!

What do you do now? Take your pregnant cat along to your veterinarian, she will need to be examined, and your vet will confirm if she is indeed pregnant.

Do you let the pregnancy continue? Before you answer to yourself "Why yes of course!" there are some important considerations to think hard about. Your pregnant cat could produce a litter of maybe four or five kittens, are you going to keep them all? "No", you may say, "but I'm sure that I'll find good homes for them." Do not be so sure, every year tens of thousands of cats are put down, simply because there are not the good homes for them. If you ask one of your friends if they would like a kitten, they may agree if they have seen the cute little mites, but are they going to care for it long term? How long before the novelty wears off, and that kitten ends up another feral cat?

If your friend really does want a kitten they can adopt one from a shelter.

What is the age of your pregnant cat? If under a year, or older than eight years, your cat will not have an easy time with birthing, and the possibility of deformed kittens is increased. Your veterinarian may advise abortion for this reason alone.

Be aware of how much commitment caring for a house full of new kittens is, it will take much of your time and attention. How do other members of your family feel about it, you will need to take everyone's view into consideration. You will need a special safe place for your cat and her kittens where they will be safely separated from other cats, other pets and young children.

Okay, you have made the decision that your pregnant cat is to give birth. Or perhaps your veterinarian has advised that it is too late in the pregnancy to consider abortion.

During the later stages of pregnancy feed your cat small meals frequently, remember that her abdomen is full of little ones and she will not be able to handle a full meal in one go. She will need plenty of water.

Seek advice about kitten care and remember also that mother cats need a special diet, one that is high in nutrients.

Naturally, as soon as possible after birth you will have your cat spayed to prevent the same thing happening again. You will won't you.

About The Author

Larry Chamberlain is a lifelong cat lover and webmaster of www.best-cat-art.com: Cat art posters, art prints, cat calendars and cat collectibles. Great cat gifts for yourself or your cat loving friends.

Larry@best-cat-art.com

The trick of "sitting up" is easily taught to small dogs, but should try not be included in a big dog's education, as it is difficult for them to preserve their balance.

The training of sitting up is one of the first tricks to teach and forms the groundwork for many other dog tricks. To train a dog to sit up, prepare some treats as a reward, and set your dog on his haunches in a corner, so that he cannot fall either backward or sideways and has very little or no space to lose balance.

Keep him from pitching forward by holding one hand under his chin and with the other hand hold the treat above his nose and keep repeating distinctly and deliberately say, "sit up." Do not make him sit up too long at any one time, but repeat the lesson frequently and reward him often with plentiful of praise and treats.

During his first lesson he will require considerable assistance from your hand to prevent him from pitching forward, but as he gets control of the balancing muscles and understands what you want, he will depend less and less upon your hand to keep him in position and you can gradually render him less assistance until you will only have to keep one hand in position two or three inches from his neck or chin, so as to be ready to prevent him pitching forward; later on you can withdraw this hand entirely and simply hold the treat just above the level of his head.

By constant practice he will sit up well after you set him up; then he should be set up against the wall, so as to afford him a support for his back only, and after he has been well schooled at this and can keep his position easily, practice him against chair legs, cushions or other objects that afford him less and less assistance, until finally he learns to preserve his balance and sits up without anything to lean against.

During all these lessons the words "sit up" have been impressed upon his mind by frequent repetition, and now comes the final lesson to teach him to sit up as soon as he hears the words, and the chances are, if he has been diligently drilled, it will be necessary only to call him out in the room, show him a treat, hold it up a suitable distance from the floor, say "sit up" and he will do so, when he should be given the treat while still in position.

The only necessity to perfection is to practice him several times a day until he will sit up at the word and without being shown a reward; that can be given him after he has obeyed.

You have now a foundation for many other tricks. He can be taught to beg by moving your hand up and down just in front of his paws, which he will move in unison with yours. He can also be taught to salute by bringing one paw up to the side of his head, or to hold a wooden pipe in his mouth, or to wear a cap on his head or other articles of wearing apparel.

In teaching a dog to submit to being dressed up, do not attempt to get him to wear too many things at once; try him at first with a cap and after he becomes accustomed to that you can put on a coat and gradually accustom him to the other clothing articles.

Enjoy teaching your dog the "sit up" trick and most importantly have fun along the way!

Moses Chia is the webmaster of DogsObedienceTraining.com. He provides more helpful information on dog obedience training, dog training book reviews and dog illness symptoms interpretation that you can learn in the comfort of your home on his website. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

Buy dog toys like you are buying toys for your kids – always put safety first. Dog toys need not necessarily be expensive, nor should they be cute. Dogs do not care how expensive or how cute a toy is. What they need is something safe, interesting and durable. Dogs basically carry around their toys to areas they feel comfortable playing in. They bite and chew these toys, and very squeaky toys tend to scare them off. If you are to purchase a dog toy, just make sure that it is practical, safe and entertaining for your pet.

The size of the dog toy matters a lot. And because dogs chew and bite, it is necessary to make sure that the toy is not too big to hinder your pet from carrying it from one place to another (nor is it too small to get stuck in its mouth or throat).

Durable toys are the best. Dog toys that easily get torn apart pose great risk of injuring the gums, getting stuck on teeth, and give opportunity to cases of accidental swallowing and choking.

The variety of dog toys lining market shelves include both hard and soft rubber balls, dental health toys, rope, fetch toys, talking toys, rubber rings and the puffy and furry ones. They come in assorted sizes and shapes that your pet dogs will love. Whatever dog toys you prefer to buy should not in any way present a health hazard to your pet. If you truly love your dogs, put their safety as your top priority.

Dog Toys provides detailed information on Dog Toys, Wholesale Dog Toys, Dog Chew Toys, Plush Dog Toys and more. Dog Toys is affiliated with Homemade Dog Treats.

"Fleas are a nuisance" – that's what people would most probably describe these little pesky creatures. However, fleas can be more than just a nuisance to their host. They can in fact cause some medical problems which include:

Flea Bite dermatitis which are caused by the saliva of the fleas. When flea bites, it excretes its saliva to prevent clotting of its victim's blood and some people and some animals suffer allergic reactions to the flea saliva resulting in flea bite dermatitis. These may causes intense itch and inflammation and hair loss in cats and dogs, which are often seen as bald patches especially near the rear.

Fleas also cause tapeworm Infestation: These worms appear as tiny white rice grains that are usually seen stuck on the hairs near the anus of your pets. Although tapeworm doesn't usually cause serious disease in pets, they are disgusting. People can also become infected with tapeworm if they accidentally ingest an infected flea.

Fleas are blood-sucking insects and in heavy infestation, anemia may results and in young pups and kittens, fleas can cause anemia to the point of death.

Hence "How To Get Rid Of Flea" is a billion dollar question as pet owners alone spend close to a billion dollars each and every year on flea control.

Why is flea control such a difficult task that many have even deemed impossible?

Here's the list of the reasons why people have failed in their attempts to control fleas:

1. Very often, people tend to believe that flea is only a pet's problem and hence they focus on treating their pets in the hope that the problem will be solved totally disregarding the surrounding environment. At least this would mean less work for them by simply treating the cat or dog instead of treating the whole house which is indeed a daunting task to many.

2. There are many flea treatment products available in the market. The lack of understanding and confusion as to which is the best to use for their own needs have often lead to less than satisfactory results obtained. Fleas have evolved through the years and they have gained resistance to a number of chemicals. Many products currently sold in the market are not effective anymore due to the resistance build up by the fleas against them. Unaware of this, people tend to simply pick the cheapest and most economical one from any supermarket or pet store, only to be disappointed when it did not help at all.

3. A lack of understanding of the flea's life cycle has also contributed to a low success rate in flea control. Fleas exist in different life stages in their entire life cycle and getting rid of just the adult fleas would not solve the problem at all. Adult fleas only represent a small percentage of the total flea population. The rest of them >98% are in the eggs, larvae and cocoon form and ignoring these will simply means that your flea problem would be never-ending as the whole flea life cycle will be repeated over and over again.

4. Lastly, people lack diligence in their efforts to control fleas. The very instance when no more fleas are detected, they often feel contended and all work is stopped almost instantly. They see no need for repeated treatment in the days or months to come and guess what? The tiny pest will be back in no time and much to their exasperation, the whole flea control process has to be repeated all over again. Diligence is of utmost importance when dealing with fleas!

To succeed in getting rid of fleas, it all boils down to diligently following an integrated plan whereby you need to treat both your pets and the premises at the same time.

Treat your pets.

The first instance when people detected the presence of fleas is usually on their pets. Many anti-flea products are available in the market for flea treatment on pets. These include flea combs, shampoos, sprays, topical spot-on and oral medications. Choose one that is suitable for your pet and when in doubt, always consult your vet for a recommendation.

Treat your house

This is the most tedious part of flea control and the part that people would fail most of the time. The whole house would need to be treated including frequent vacuuming of floor and furniture surfaces, together with a regular schedule of washing pet bedding and furniture coverings to remove the immature stages (egg, larva, and cocoon). For heavy infestation, the use of flea bombs or flea foggers may be needed which helps to cover a more extensive area.

Treat your garden or yards.

If you find fleas within your house, chances are that the gardens and yards would be infected as well and treatment of these areas need to be carried out as well as part of your flea control plan. Products specifically used for outdoor flea treatment are available and these include the use of Diatomaceous earth (DE) and Nematodes. Both are natural products, which helps in killing off fleas but non-toxic to other insects and birds.

The Need to REPEAT at regular time interval.

Lastly, treatment needs to be repeated at regular interval to see a more lasting effect. Re-treatment of your pets, house, gardens & yards are needed after several months initially and then perhaps at a 6 months interval and eventually only once a year treatment may be necessary to maintain a flea free home.

It is very important to decide whether to keep your horse with you or choosing a nearby stable that would accommodate your horse. It all depends upon the size of your property and the amount of money that you can spend. If you think that it is difficult for you to keep the horse on your land, you can find a suitable stable maintained by professionals to keep your horse. However, this would cost money, and your horse would be away from you.

If you decide to keep your horse on your property and are ready to invest on the facility for your horse, a few things should be kept in mind.

Your horse would require a huge amount of space to roam. Make sure you have large grounds for your horse.

Be prepared for a regular maintenance of the stable, once it is built. Unhealthy and dirty stables can lead to diseases in your horse. Make sure you have proper arrangements and equipment to clean the stable on a regular basis.

The food storages should be extremely clean. Remember it is very important to keep food clean to avoid diseases. Adequate supply of water should be arranged. Storage tanks should be installed to avoid lack of water.

The surrounds of the facility should be properly fenced to avoid other animals from entering the premises of your beloved horse. It would further protect your horse from going beyond the boundary and could save him from possible dangers. You should also have an indoor riding area to practice during winters. Make special arrangements for winter season. It is important to keep your horse warm in order to derive the best output in terms of performance.

The stable should be free from parasites. It should not contain sharp edges, which might hurt the horse. It should be well protected from rains and dust storms, or any other from of dangerous conditions for that matter. Cleaning should be done on a daily basis. Dust and moulds should be removed as soon as encountered in the stable. The stable should be cleaned from urine and faeces. These are sources of ammonia, which is not good for health. Install proper drainage systems in the facility.

Make sure that you install proper ventilation systems. Fresh air is an important thing to keep your horse healthy. The facility should be well ventilated.

Bedding should be warm and free from dust. Dust can be irritating for your horse and can cause diseases including diseases of the skin. The horse should enjoy the bedding rather than getting irritated. It should provide adequate cushion and support to the horse. A number of synthetic beddings are available in the market.

Darkness has a bad impact on the behavior! The stable should be well equipped with lighting sources. Never keep the horse in darkness. This would have a great impact on the behavior of the horse. He might get aggressive and develop bad habits.

In a nutshell: keep the stable clean, well ventilated, fenced, drained and bright.

To learn more about "horse care" visit: http://www.horsecareinformation.com

Before you decide to give your dog canine arthritis medicine you should understand what arthritis is and why medication will ease your dog's symptoms.

Arthritis in dogs is just like in humans, it is when a joint becomes inflamed. It can be very painful, swell and become hard to move. Dogs can have different types of arthritis also. Before just giving your dog any type of medication you find at the store, you should have your veterinarian check your dog for signs of arthritis.

Canine arthritis medicine will not make the arthritis go away. There are no cures for arthritis. In severe cases, surgery can be an alternative. But, many medications will relive the pain and swelling associated with arthritis. After your veterinarian has diagnosed your dog with canine arthritis it would be best to find out what medicines he thinks would be best for the type of arthritis you dog is suffering with.

There are many different types of pain killers and anti inflammatory medications that are great in helping your dog. With these medicines your dog will be able to play again and even enjoy life more.

The main thing to remember is that you do not want your best friend suffering with pain if he doesn't have to. He will not be happy and can become worse without the medication. The pain from arthritis will have him lying around and then his joints can become stiffer. He needs to exercise and that is very hard to do, if he is in severe pain.

Luckily, its an ailment that can be treated with treatments such as Arthramine which helps repair the damaged tissue.

Niall Kennedy
http://www.pet-medication-supplies.net Pet Medication Supplies can help you get the best possible protection for your pet. Advantix, Arthramine, Cosequin, Frontline, Heartgard - find the best deals in pet medication for flea and tick control, arthritis and lyme disease. Upto 50% discount everyday on brand names.

Big time symphonists turn their attention to the sounds of thunder, but a lyrical composer listens to bird sounds like that of canaries. I have a flutist friend who keeps canaries in a spare room in his home.

His canaries are called border canaries, the singing kind, all yellow in color. It is only the males that sing with songs as memorable as stashed-away kisses. Not only that, my friend plays his music with his canaries, for they listen and imitate him and sometimes perch on his flute.

Canaries live about ten to fourteen years and can reproduce twice a year. My flutist friend's canaries, now about twenty in number, descended from two canaries, since just a few years back.

He says their daily upkeep doesn't cost much and they are clean birds. Still, the most important thing a bird lover can do is to keep his canary cages or the room used as aviary sparkling clean. Canaries, as all birds, are more susceptible to diseases in a dirty environment.

Direct exposure to sun, too much outside noise, polluted air, sudden temperature changes, bad diet, lack of exercise can make canaries seriously ill. Canaries should never be exposed to damp and drafty conditions since they can develop asthma and rheumatism. Should a canary become ill, the best bet is to consult a veterinarian.

These birds are accident prone, also. Bookshelves, wastebaskets, couches and big upholstered armchairs can serve as death-traps. Canaries are known to fly into mirrors and windows and sustain concussions and broken limbs, too. If a spare room is to be made into an aviary, the furniture should consist of simple tables without drawers and wooden chairs.

Canaries have a light skeleton as they can fly and dart across a room, and they need large cages and space to fly. As most birds, they have a very high rate of metabolism that burns up energy during flight.

What a canary eats is important for its health. The seeds have to be fresh and drinking water clean. Canaries drink the water they bathe in. So, the saucers they bathe in should contain the same quality of water in their water bottles. Non-carbonated mineral water is best. Tap water, if chlorinated, is not good for any bird.

A proper diet for a canary consists of birdseed mixture, organic fruits and vegetable greens, spray millet, cuttlebone or mineral stone, and once in a while, sprouts, fresh twigs, and hard-boiled egg yolk with low-fat cottage cheese. Pesticide sprayed greens, fruit pits, and the skin of an avocado act like poisons for a canary.

The eyes of a canary work independently of each other, and through the use of its eyes, a canary orients itself to its environs. The vision of a canary draws almost a full circle of 320 degrees.

Canaries also possess an acute hearing. The structure of a canary's ear is akin to that of mammal, but without a flap. Otherwise, how else would the bird imitate a flute?

It is fun to watch canaries in their daily life. They preen themselves, and out of friendship, each other. In addition, the courting birds dance and feed each other. When the birds are relaxed and happy, they sit on one leg and may puff their plumage.

When a canary sleeps, it partially buries its head in its back and fluffs up its feathers. Canaries sleep through the night and are awake at daytime, but a relaxed and non-threatened bird may take short naps during daytime.

Male canaries may sing as they fly over what they consider to be their territory. They also sing while attracting the female. The female may sing too; although the female bird has the necessary organs for singing, its voice is so soft that it is not heard.

When two canaries threaten each other, they raise their beaks and flap their wings. In general, however, canaries in a colony live peacefully together.

All birds hate to be seized, especially because human fingers hurt their feathers. If a canary escapes from its cage, it is better to cajole it back rather than to try grasping it.

Keeping a single male canary alone in a cage is not fair to the bird, no matter how good a care its owner might give him. A pair of canaries and a very large cage is the least you can do, if you want canaries in your life.

This article has been submitted by Joy Cagil in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums. Joy Cagil's education is in linguistics and foreign languages. She is an animal lover.

Why paint your cat? After all cats are beautiful creatures if you want to appreciate the appearance of a feline, you look at the cat not at a painting.

Some of the reasons that you may want to paint your cat are:

To capture your pet at a particular age, in a particular pose, in a particular place. To have a permanent reminder of your companion when she has moved on to feline afterlife. To give as a gift to a fellow cat lover.

So you figure how hard can it be to turn out a pleasing semblance of your moggy? You are no Van Gough, but you know how to handle a paint brush. You have all the materials that you need in order to paint your cat, the paints, brushes, stuff for cleaning, you even have a home made easel. Boy, it sure is going to be fun to paint your cat.

There she is, curled up asleep by the window, a look of cat contentment upon her face and the sunlight giving her coat an extra gloss. What a magnificent painting of your cat you are going to produce. Quietly you set everything up, you have your canvas propped on your easel and your paintbrush in hand. You turn to face your subject, and...

She's gone. Your little darling had been snoozing in that spot for most of the morning and now that you are ready to produce your masterpiece, she decides that someplace else is where she needs to be! Well, she is not going to get away with it, you have decided to paint your cat, and that is just what you are going to do.

You search for her. Eventually you find your feline subject siting at the top of the stairs without a care in the world. Scooping her up, you carry her back to the sunlit window so she may cooperate with you and resume her pose. But cats don't cooperate. She paces up and down, and you know that the only thing stopping her from making a bolt is the fact that you are betwixt her and the door. The fact that you want to paint your cat is of no importance, the only thing that is of any concern to your cat is what she wants!

You consider for a moment the possibility of restraining her, like Guliver lashed to the ground by the little people. No chance, no chance whatsoever. So what to do? Of all the creatures on this earth the cat is the last one to be told what to do.

You conclude that the only thing that you can do to paint your cat, is to forget about producing a detailed precise painting. You will paint your feelings about your cat. This will not be a long drawn out process, get it on the canvass, let your subconscious communicate the essence of the feline! Looking at your cat and not your canvass, you start to paint. Rapidly you slash with your brush, you don't worry about the colors that you use corresponding exactly to those of you cat, it is the feelings that they represent that is important.

Meanwhile, your cat looks on bemused.

At last you are finished. Time to inspect your art work, you turn and look and your jaw drops. Well it could be some kind of animal, those lines in purple do seem to represent a tail. And that is an eye, no mistake about that, but whatever eye it is, it's not your cat's eye!

Ah well! At least you tried to paint your cat. Don't think of it as a failure, after all you did produce something, and who knows, your cat at least, may have enjoyed the experience! Meanwhile, your cat has resumed its perfect pose, asleep by the window.

About The Author

Larry Chamberlain is a lifelong cat lover and webmaster of http://www.best-cat-art.com - Cat art posters, art prints, cat calendars and cat collectibles. Great cat gifts for yourself or your cat loving friends; Larry@best-cat-art.com

When Columbus landed on an island that is present day Cuba, he wrote to the King of Spain about a small dog he had encountered. The domesticated dog he had written about was the "Techichi" and was possibly the ancestor of the modern day Chihuahuha. The Aztecs and Toltecs regarded the Techichi as sacred. It was considered as a connection to the deities as well as the voyage of the dead to the afterlife.

The Chihuahua that we know has been rumored to have its origins in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Most artifacts and stone carvings are in and around Mexico City. The first Chi to be registered by the American Kennel Club was Midget in 1905. The popularity of the breed has grown steadily over the years.

Chihuahuas are found in two varieties, the smooth coated and longhaired. By AKC standards, the dog should be compact, graceful and alert. It should have a "saucy" expression and a courage and temperament often associated with the terrier breeds. A Chihuahua should be well balanced and weigh no more than six pounds. Any weight over this will automatically disqualify the dog from show.

A Chihuahua's head should have and "apple" shape and its eyes are to be large but not protruding. The ears should be large and "bat-like," standing erect when the dog is alert. The muzzle is moderately short and pointed. Its bite should be even. Nose color depends on the color of the dog. The neck should be slightly arched and join lean, sloping shoulders. The shoulders need to be broad and set over straight forelegs.

The body should be a little longer than its height with an even topline, or back. A Chihuahua's tail is fairly long and carried like a sickle or in a loop over its back.

Chihuahuas area feisty breed who give little thought to the size of their opponent. They are fiercely protective of their owners and often bond to only one or two people. They often prefer other Chis, as opposed to other breeds, for company.

As with any breed, a new owner has to consider several things.

When it comes to food, Chis are not normally finicky unless an owner makes them so. Feed them puppy food until they are at least six months old, preferably to one year of age. Feed adult dogs mini kibble. Try to keep table scraps to a bare minimum.

Chihuahuas are a hardy breed, living sometimes to eighteen years or more. They make an excellent companion dog, exuding courage, a sense of humor and loyalty.

They need a great deal of contact with their humans. If petted, touched and loved, they will return the favor ten-fold. If not given the attention they crave, they will use attention-getting tricks such as lightly pawing their owner's hand.

Chis are ideal for single people, the elderly, handicapped and shut-ins. They will keep a person constant company, with added love and affection. Chihuahuas are also ideal for city or apartment dwellers due to their compact size.

Chihuahuas are a wonderful breed for the right person. Given the proper care and attention, they will offer many years of loyalty.

Nikola lives and writes in Oklahoma. She is active in her local Volunteers in Policing and Citizen's Police Academy Alumni. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking and spending time with her two dogs. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.

Most people own or have owned pets at one time of their lives. These pets become more than just pets and eventually take the place as friends for most people. However, like any living thing, they will eventually pass away. When this happens you should not let them die alone but honor them for the companionship they have given you.

There are many ways to honor your lost friend. From urns to pictures you can find an abundance of ways to always remember and cherish your pet. We are going to try to help you find the best way for you to show your late friend respect.

Some people choose to get urns for their pets. These are exactly like the urns you would get for your friends and family. Once you have your pet cremated you can keep their ashes in a decorative urn with a tag that says their name so you can always remember your friend.

Urns come in many shapes and sizes. You can get the classic boxes and vases that are used to hold your ashes or you can get more personalized ones. With some of the nicer urns you can attach a photo of your lost loved one. This helps people visualize what your pet once looked like.

Another good way to keep the memory of your pet alive is through a picture. A good picture of your pet in a nice frame can be put most anywhere and well help keep the memories alive.

Remember, just because your pet is dead doesn't mean he is gone. The memories of your pet will always be with you in your heart and will stay there throughout your life. By honoring your pet you are helping to keep the memory fresh for you and letting others know of the love you share with your friend.

The ocean has a natural way of regulating, filtering and supporting sea life. Millions of undersea fish and plants survive based on the oceans ability to take care of itself. That is not the case with salt water fish tanks that are found in zoos, aquariums and even homes. Tropical fish saltwater setup tank maintenance chores are important to keep aquatic life healthy and happy in these fish tanks.

The first fish saltwater setup tank task is to select a synthetic salt mix that closely resembles the composition of natural seawater. You should start out with water that is very pure. You do not want any chlorine or other chemicals to be in the water. Some choose to fill the tank with bottled water. Others may choose to have natural water tested for bacteria or harmful chemicals. Those using tap water should have the water filtered to remove chlorine and other chemicals before using it in the salt water tank.

Once you have the water chosen, you will want to add in the salt. Some fish saltwater setup tank mixes include typical sea salt from the grocery store. Others will use a special mixture from the pet store. The most important thing to remember is that the minerals included in the salt should be resilient unless you want to replace the water and minerals regularly. The presence of several major and minor elements and compounds, in appropriate proportion, is necessary for the healthy survival of the marine fish.

The nitrogen cycle is an important step in the fish saltwater setup tank tasks. It may take up to 6 weeks for the water to go through the nitrogen cycle whereby bacteria is grown which will change fish waste into harmless chemicals. You should only add one or two fish to start the nitrogen process. Damsels are tolerant to a wide range of water conditions and are great to use for aquariums during this process.

You will want to keep an eye on the water level. The fresh water will evaporate so it is fine to replace it with clean freshwater. Saltwater fish tanks will have to have about half of its water replaced monthly. Replace the water removed with new water that matches the tank water's pH, temperature and salinity.

Fish saltwater setup tank tasks also include cleaning or replacing your filters regularly. You should check them frequently at first then over time you will determine what interval is best suited for your fish tank.

Saltwater fish tanks are a lot of fun to own and take care off. The fish saltwater setup tank chores can be tough at the beginning but after awhile it will become easier to maintain.

Owning a horse is a huge responsibility. Just like owning any pet, you should put a great deal of thought and consideration before you decide to purchase an equine. Since most individuals will have to house horses off their property, you should first consider finding a suitable stable before you purchase a horse. Also, consider your wants and needs. If you or your stable has limited space, you might not want to consider a sizable draft horse like a Clydesdale. However, if you are in need of a large horse to do a great deal of work pulling wagons, you should consider breeds other than Shetlands. There are a great number of breeds, each with a different pro and con. After carefully reviewing each breed, you are sure to find the exact type of horse to fit your needs and your lifestyle.

Ask yourself what you are looking for in a horse. Do you want a horse that you can show? Do you want a horse for work purposes? Do you want a horse to jump or ride competitively? Do you want a horse to race? Do you want a horse to ride on trails or one that is compatible with children? After you determine why you want a horse (and the answer should be better than "just because"), you can set out determining what breed is best for you. Keep in mind, even though the breed might fit everything you want, each horse will have a different personality. Before you run out and buy the first horse in your desired breed, take a careful look at the specific horse in question.

If you are interesting in showing a horse for its beauty and grace, an Arabian horse is probably your best bet. These beautiful creatures are well-liked on the show circuit and enjoy being fussed and fawned over. For those daring riders who want a horse for jump training, the strong-legged Thoroughbred may be the perfect fit. These gentle giants are rugged enough to withstand the abuse of jumping, but are agile enough to soar over the highest gates. If you would rather have a rough-and-tumble horse perfect for uneven trail rides, the American Quarter Horse should be your top pick. These famous horses are often used in competitive Western riding events, including the heart-pumping barrel racing. American Quarter Horses are perfect for the intense training required for competitive racing, but also have the sure-footed step necessary for making the quick turns and negotiating rocky terrain. A Tennessee Walking Horse or Mountain Horse is the perfect fit for the horse owners who want to go on quiet rides. The gentle gait of these beautiful creatures gives these horses the best ride over even terrain. Finally, if you are looking a horse for a child, consider a smaller breed like the Icelandic. The shorter stature better fits the proportion of a child, and their smooth gait and easy-going attitude will prevent much bumping and jostling.

Whatever your choice of breed, carefully consider its pros and cons. Even though you may have your heart set on one specific breed, if it will not meet your needs, you should carefully rethink your choice. A horse is a huge responsibility and you cannot simply return the magnificent creature because you did not seriously research all your options and hastily chose a horse that will not fit into your lifestyle.

To find more information about selecting a horse, just log on to the Internet and visit locations such as www.ahorsesite.com/dir/typesofhorses to do a thorough search.

© Copyright 2005 by Lynn Walls. All rights reserved.

Looking for information about horses? Go to http://www.ahorsesite.com A Horse Site is an excellent horse information directory and resource Site. Provides a consolidated listing of the best Horse sites in one easy to navigate location.

When you bring your Pit Bull puppy home, it is important that you provide him with the things he needs. You will probably purchase a kennel, food and accessories, toys, etc. To ensure he is comfortable and help give him a sense of security, you should also purchase or provide him with a bed. Your Pit Bull will probably prefer sleeping with you, but that is not always a good idea. You shouldn't give a new pet free reign of the house, for both obvious reasons, and for your pet's safety. Most puppies are not fully housebroken for quite some time, and no one wants to wake up in a wet or smelly bed. It is much better to provide your Pit Bull with a bed, maybe even in your room if that makes you both happier.

Before purchasing your Pit Bull's new bed, you should think about the best type of bed for him. One big thing to take into consideration is how big you think he will be when he is full grown. You will want to try to get a bed that will be big enough for him when he is an adult, so you don't have to spend money on a new one every time he hits a growth spurt. Your veterinarian can help with trying to figure out how large your Pit Bull may be. A bed that isn't big enough won't be comfortable for him, and he will most likely not sleep in it, choosing to sleep somewhere else in the house, probably your bed. Purchasing a bed that is considerably too large will likely make your Pit Bull feel insecure, and again, he will probably find another place to sleep in.

The bed should consist of materials that are able to hold up to your dog. It should also be hard for your Pit Bull to chew and shred into pieces, as eating the bedding material will likely cause him digestion problems. You should try to train him not to chew his bed, and provide him toys instead. The cover should be easy to remove, because you will likely want to launder it every couple of weeks.

If your Pit Bull is a puppy, you will likely have to teach him where he is supposed to sleep. It is important to develop a routine and stick to it. One thing that will help is keeping the bed in the same place all the time, your room may be the best place as Pit Bulls tend to crave a lot of attention from their owners. Much the same with children, putting your Pit Bull to bed each night at around the same time will help him adjust.

Try not to place your Pit Bull's bed in a noisy, high traffic area. Keep in mind, that like you, your Pit Bull will most likely sleep better in a quiet room with little light. Puppies more so than adults, tend to have security issues, so placing the bed in your room may help him accept it better.

Do some research and shop around so you can buy the best bed for your Pit Bull that you can afford. It should be considered an investment, as any other furniture purchase. You should consider your Pit Bull's own individual needs and try to accommodate him.

To learn all about Pitbull dogs and training a Pitbull, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.

Every year hundreds of thousands of dogs are put to sleep in the United States. These are shelter dogs. Dogs that ran away from home, dogs that were dropped off at the shelter because their owners didn't want them, and dogs that were taken from neglecting owners.

This is a tragedy. What a horrible way to treat who we call "Man's Best Friend". I believe that most of this needless death could be avoided through a few responsible practices on the part of dog owners.

The main and number one reason that we have so many euthanized dogs every year is due to poor breeding practices. To put it simply, there are far too many unwanted dogs born to far too many irresponsible dog owners.

In my years working with dogs I have come across many dog owners who want to breed their dogs. I often ask them why they want to breed and the answers, in my opinion, are crazy.

"Well, I want my kids to be able to witness the miracle of birth." I have heard this one a number of times. This is one of the worst reasons you can have to breed a dog. If your main desire is education then buy a book about animal reproduction. Rent a documentary about animal breeding, don't bring more animals into the world. Bringing an entire litter into the world just so your kids can see a birth is irresponsible. What often happens to the poor puppies is that they are given away to friends and neighbors or out in front of the local Wal-Mart. The potential owners are never pre-qualified to determine if they would be a good dog owner. The net result is often a new dog owner who is completely unprepared for a puppy. How many of these puppies end up at the shelter when their owners decide they can't handle a puppy? There are no accurate statistics but the hundreds of thousands of dogs in shelters are a testament to this practice.

"I think it is only fair to allow my dog to have a litter. She is such a sweet dog she should have the chance to be a mother." Ahhhhh! I scream inside every time I hear this phrase. Just because you have a sweet, female dog doesn't mean that you should allow her to have puppies. Your dog doesn't have a ticking biological clock urging her to be a mom. Sure, instinct kicks in when she goes into heat but if you spay your dog she won't come into heat. Besides, as the human owner with a better and more elevated level of judgment, you should be the one who determines if she should be a mom, not her.

I am a huge advocate of responsible breeding practices. I support dog owners and dog breeders who breed dogs in order to improve their chosen breed. That is to say, breeders who recognize a fine representative of a breed and breed that dog with another fine specimen in order to theoretically improve the breed. These breeders then responsibly screen potential owners to make sure that their puppies will be raised by good dog owners.

The consequences of poor breeding are ugly. Please, don't breed your dog for the wrong reasons.

More and more people are jumping on the "pet-care bandwagon" which is a testament to the amount of money Americans are spending on their millions of pets.

I'm committed to helping pet-lovers have great experiences with their pet-care providers – so, I'll share some things that you should be aware of that differentiate professional pet-care providers from hobbyists. Hobbyists think that pet-care is an easy way to make a few bucks. Professionals are in business for the long-haul and realize that making money is not easy.

Here are 11 concepts to keep in mind when researching pet-care providers.

1. Professionals have a back-up plan. Because they consider themselves business owners, they have procedures and plans in place to accommodate all the pets in their care – even if they get a flat tire, have a personal emergency, or catch the flu. As you interview pet-care providers make sure you understand, and are comfortable with their 'back-up' plans.

2. Professionals are prepared. Any pet-care business owner has had their share of 'emergencies.' These range in scope from dealing with a deceased pet to dealing with keys that don't work. Make sure your pet-care provider has a process for dealing with any issues that may come up.

3. Professionals never overbook. Find out how many visits your pet-care provider makes on an average day – then do the math. Ask your pet-sitter to be realistic about how many trips they can make each day in order to ensure your pet is getting visited for the length of time you've contracted. No pet-sitter starts out wanting to short-change their clients, but sometimes during busy seasons, in an effort to serve all the clients who make requests, they may be forced to shorten visits. If you are booking for visits during busy times, be aware of this.

4. Professionals recognize their value. It's tough to make a living in this business, and many pet-sitters start out with the goal of helping as many pets as possible. However, the cost of running the business often can run a great pet-sitter out of business if they are not charging enough for the value they provide.

5. Professionals use a contract. In order to protect you as well as the business, pet-care professionals have a contract that details their responsibilities while you're gone. It's important to spend time reading the document and ensuring that both you and your pet-care provider are clear on what's expected, and, what's NOT expected. I've heard of pet-sitters who trim nails, clip fur and provide 'extras.' This is great, as long as you expect your dog to be trimmed when you return home.

6.Professionals put the well-being of the pet above all else. As a pet-care business owner, my goal is that when you come home your pet is happy and healthy. For that reason, we do not remove dogs from their home, let them roam free or transport them in packs. Even if it's something you would do!

7.Professionals have their business in order. Ensure that your pet-care provider has the appropriate insurance and business license required to provide service in your area. I recently heard a story about a person who had to cut their vacation short, because the friend who was caring for their house left the water running over night and flooded the finished basement – where the kitties lived! Luckily the kitties were okay, but the clean up was expensive a the destruction was fairly extensive.

8.Professionals spend time educating themselves on topics related to business and pet-care. A pet-care business owner should be up-to-date on pet-care first aid as well as issues affecting business owners in their jurisdiction.

9. Professionals are easy to talk to and are happy to communicate with you – even when you have a less than great experience. They are in business for the long-haul and are committed to addressing your needs and concerns.

10. Professionals provide real-life references. They have a list of testimonials in their marketing materials and are happy to provide you with names and contact information of happy customers.

11. Professionals take pride in their profession! They never bad-mouth other pet-care professionals either by name or association.

Whether you've just added a new puppy to your home and need someone to provide midday walks and potty breaks, or you're planning your first trip since adopting your kitten, keep these tips in mind as you interview professional pet-care providers.

Peggie Arvidson-Dailey is the owner of Peggie's Pet Services (one of her region's BEST Pet-Care companies selected by The Washingtonian Magazine. She's also the Pets in the City Columnist for The Del Ray Sun and an engaging and lively speaker on topics related to the love affair between dogs and their humans. She's an advocate for happy and healthy homes for all species and is eager to assist in creating them. If you want a monthly dose of tips and golden nuggets of information on living with and caring for your pet throughout his life, be sure to subscribe to "The Care of Pets" e-zine at http://www.peggiespets.com. If you're a pet-care business owner interested in taking your business to the next level, be sure to visit http://www.petcareuniversity.com.

If you want to use this article in your publication be sure to include the entire author's box with live links to all web-information!

If you want an aquarium that's easy to maintain and a popular choice with most households, then a freshwater aquarium is what you're looking for. It can be used to house freshwater fish and plant life. You can choose between a glass or an acrylic tank for your freshwater aquarium. Glass tanks are heavy and need to be housed on a sturdy base. Acrylic tanks are much lighter and come in a wider range of styles.

Freshwater aquariums generally have a capacity of between 30 and 60 gallons. You need to have an inlet, pumps, a filtration system and an outlet. It's very important to keep the water cycling through a filtration system in order to maintain the fine ecological balance of your aquarium. The pump is used to keep the water circulating. You can use normal tap water when you fill up your tank initially, or to top it up, but it's important to make sure it's of good quality or has been filtered first.

When you're deciding on a filtration system for your freshwater aquarium, there are three main types to choose from. These are:

Usually, a mechanical filtration system is used to remove particulate matter from the aquarium. Many mechanical filters also contain activated carbon, which functions as a biological filter. The chemicals in your freshwater aquarium need to be kept in balance, so zeolites are used to remove ammonia, and water hardness is reduced by ion exchange resins. A biological filter also recycles nitrogen, which is an essential requirement for keeping your fish alive. It's also a good idea to have an air pump, which increases the circulation of oxygen and its concentration.

When you're first setting up your freshwater aquarium, it's a good idea to buy healthy, young freshwater fish. If you want to add more mature fish later, that's fine as long as your system has had time to stabilize. You might also like to cheer up your aquarium with some plants. They add a touch of beauty, but also help with the ecological balance in the aquarium. Some popular plants include:

Take the time to set up your aquarium correctly, and you'll have a lot more success.

Spot is a long time member of your beloved family. Because Spot is a close member of the family, he needs to have the best kind of food and the have the best health as you could actually provide him. Unfortunately, not all kinds of food for pets are the same. There are those that promise health and there are those that actually deliver them. Fortunately, the AAFCO is on the lookout for those that misuse or abuse terms and words found in product labels on pet foods.

The following are tips and ways to make sure that your pet get to eat what they so long deserve. They are family and it's good to discriminate what they eat:

It is best that you read and re-read any and all labels found on the product of pet foods. It is not enough to just read them though, one should also try – as much as possible – to understand what a particular product description means. When a product label reads chicken-cat food, this description basically means that the food in the can consists ninety five percent of chicken. However, if the product label reads as cat-food-with-chicken, this description basically means that the food in the can contains three percent chicken. The chicken description does not end there though, there are product labels that read: with a flavor of chicken. This description basically means that the pet food contains no chicken. What it does have is the taste of chicken as well as its flavor.

As much as it is possible, try to read carefully all the ingredients found on the product label of the pet food. It is a must that manufacturers list down all the ingredients used into making the food. Plus, this should not be merely a list though. The specific weight of each ingredient must also be indicated. The dominant ingredient in the pet food is usually listed as the first one.

Also, try to avoid those pet food products that merely indicate meat. The best kind of pet food must have a specific kind of meat in them and this kind of meat must be present and described in the label --- be it beef, chicken, salmon or lamb. Also, those kinds of meat that usually contain bones, organs, tendons of animals are usually those that are the surplus of slaughterhouses. It is best that these kind of meats be avoided and not be given to your pets as these are merely byproducts. Usually this term is used to actually mean reject-foods. These are the kinds of food that are the product of a process that has left the food overcooked and usually are extremely processed. This is not widely known to the general public.

It is best that you look for the food that indicates that any tests done on animals on the pet food product has been done using procedures authorized by the AAFCO. This ensures that adequate testing on the food has been done.

If your pet is currently undergoing a special health problem, or if your pet is pregnant, diabetic or has allergies, it is best that you find and purchase the pet food that is just as right and appropriate to what they are similarly going through. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that are highly specialized for pets in all forms and sizes, be it that the pets are lactating, mature or have hair balls.

If you find out that the pet food you are to purchase is about to expire in a few days or so, it basically means that the food has been long sitting on the shelf. As much as possible, get foods that are still somewhat fresh off the shelf, so to speak.

If you are to introduce a new food to your pet, do it slowly but surely. Try mixing a little bit of the new food with the old one your pet may be used to eating. Continue to do this for three days or more. Be observant as to how your pet is taking it. Is he having an allergy? Is he scratching? Do you see any reactions that are not normal?

In summary, your pet is only as healthy as the food you give them. So give them the best so that he or she can live optimally.

Linda Robins is an author and website publisher on health and natural healing topics. Stop by and visit for tips on pets and the latest articles and news on their care. http://www.happy-pets-info.com

Shih Tzu belong to people. They do not belong exclusively to the show dog world. Shih Tzu were bred for centuries to be affectionate companions for people and they certainly excel and do a fantastic job at doing just that. All Shih Tzu are by their very nature, constant close companions for their owners.

A show dog must conform to certain breed standards, such as height, weight, and conformation as well as temperament. A companion Shih Tzu may have minor imperfections when compared to the AKC standards for a show dog Shih Tzu, but be wonderful in all other respects. Many times the differences between a top show dog who has met all the AKC standard requirements for a show dog and a companion dog are not readily apparent to most people. Flaws that are slight may only be detected by the trained eye of a show dog breeder or a show judge. Being a companion dog, regardless of small size, large size, or in between size, in no way diminishes a Shih Tzu's value as a loving member of the family. Although Shih Tzu show dogs are bred mainly for their good looks, the real purpose of a Shih Tzu is to be an an affectionate companion for people. Shih Tzus were bred to be companion animals centuries before dog shows and any kind of kennel club ever existed.

If you decide you want a show dog, be prepared to pay more for it than you would pay for a pet-quality companion. Also remember that just because the parents are champion show dogs, there is no guarantee the puppy will turn out to be a champion too. Very young puppies are difficult to evaluate their exact worth as a show dog. A show dog breeder will have to keep that puppy around 3 to 6 months to be able to evaluate accurately whether or not that particular puppy is show dog material. If you decide you want a show quality Shih Tzu be prepared to purchase an older than 8 weeks old Shih Tzu puppy. And the best advice would be to purchase an adult Shih Tzu that already has been successful in the show ring. Even the most beautiful and what seems to be the most correct 8 week old Shih Tzu puppy can change as it grows up and may never reach the show potential you hoped for or was true of its parents and ancestors. If you purchase a show dog "prospect," you are "guessing" that the Shih Tzu will attain a the attributes necessary to meet the standards of a Shih Tzu show dog. A lot of changes can take place between puppyhood and adulthood. When you buy an adult show dog Shih Tzu you know exactly what you are getting.

Full AKC registration allows for participation in AKC competitions and events and the ability to register future offspring of the Shih Tzu with the AKC. Most breeders charge anywhere from $200 to $500 more for a full AKC registration.

Limited AKC registration does not allow breeding and limits AKC competitions. Usually a limited AKC registration requires spaying or neutering your Shih Tzu by the age of 6 months. A limited AKC registration is also sometimes called a "pet registration." It is usually anywhere from $200 to $500 cheaper to purchase a Shih Tzu puppy with a limited AKC registration.

Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

One we must regrettably share with our children for they most certainly will find out on their own.

PREFACE:

We hope they learn from our foibles stemming from ignorance, apathy and politics. It is, but for our egos, that we have not yet come close to resolving this society's issues of animal abuse and neglect towards the animals of which we share this planet. The noblest of efforts have little affects when unaccompanied by true results.

The Legacy We Leave Them

We followed the large national groups. For 25 years they promised to solve these problems, if only we would send them money. We did. Nearly $2 Billion each year. In turn, they spent 90 cents from every dollar on high salaries, new cars, luxury items and still ask for more. The ultimate goals were not as important as their individual agendas and egos that keep them in business. Our own apathy was killing all these animals.

We hated other animal protection organizations, never spoke to them, but readily spoke ''about'' them. Never shared ideas. For political reasons we were confident it was ''for our own good"./ Therefore we have no comprehensive program to present to the public or bring to the schools. Our noble attempts quelled by politics ignorance and greed. But our egos were left in tact. Now, sadly we must leave it all to you.

Remember these things: Work Together. Do Not separate your ideas. Yours may or may not be better than others. Without communication, how will you know? Take One Step AT A Time. Be organized and focus. For decades we've shoved thousands of problems and possible solutions to the public. No unity or clear plan. Too confusing. We looked stupid. We have but few accomplishments.

POLITICS: IT is in every aspect of our lives. It is the largest hurdle to overcome if we hope to save the animals. Don't let your goals be compromised by ego, emotions, envy or anger like we did. Your egos and feelings may get hurt. BIG DEAL!!! The animals continue to die. Move on. THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!! But certainly more adult than we could handle. Politics has no place here. It must be taught through humane education in schools.

The animal problems have plagued us for years and we've turned a blind eye to the fact it's OUR problem to solve. Do not allow the large animal protection groups to continue unchecked. Go confidently in the direction that will bring results. don't be afraid to ''think outside the box''. It scares people. Let them be scared. Humans fear change. They are weak in spirit and ideas. You will lead them in the long run.

Don't expect too much from humans. They are limited. Their egos are not. You will experience failures. Keep moving forward. Without them you learn nothing. The successes you will have will be monumental. If you set out to solve a problem, do it with integrity, honesty, fortitude and determination. Sorry we didn't have those qualities. Be smarter than we. Give voice to the animals.

Randy Warner has done 22 years of Dalmatian Rescue saving over 2,500 Dalmatians. He has also begun to give humane education programs to schools and authored a series of books on issues surrounding humane education, character development and the importance of voting.

The dog is said to be man's best friend. However, there are certain moments that dog owners get a little frustrated, and yes, sometimes angered by their pet dogs because of their innate rage to pee in every corner of the house.

How convenient would it be for dog owners if their dogs were a little bit more obedient? Getting one's dog trained is a very good idea since it relieves the owners of the hassles of cleaning every corner of the house.

However, getting professional trainers to do the job can really a hole in one's pockets, this is why more and more people are doing house training for their dogs. Here are some tips on how to house train a dog:

1. Observation is the key

From the start, one should observe his dog or puppy during times when he is excreting. This will tell a lot about the warning signals and the different signs that dogs are making when they are about to unload it. Perhaps, one can take down notes on what specific time of the day the dog wants to do "his thing" and what behavioral signs does he give when he is about to do it.

2. Go outside

Make it a point to make the dog feel comfortable outside the house. Let him explore your garden (but don't let him destroy the plants) for him to find a comfortable spot to relieve himself. Do this everyday and the dog will eventually be more comfortable in doing this outside the house.

3. Stay with him

When house training your dog, always make sure that you stay with him until he finishes. If you leave him by himself, he will have the tendency to do other things such as explore the garden or chase other animals.

4. Be patient

This tip is especially effective for puppy owners. When puppies arrive in a new home, he will feel very uncomfortable at first and will usually cry during the night. Owners should be observant to be able to identify the signals that the puppy gives to communicate that he would want to relieve himself. Owners should carry him to the designated place every time he does these signals so as to give him a message that excretion is to be done outside.

5. Never use ammonia-based cleaners

During house training, dog owners should never use ammonia-based cleaners to clean their houses. These substances' smell is a lot like that of urine's. Dogs will have the tendency of peeing on corners which smell like urine, so avoid using these substances.

6. Don't be harsh on the dog

There will be times that the dog or puppy will make a mess inside the house and there are cruel dog owners who would punish their dogs too much. Some slap their dogs with newspapers or other things (God knows what) or stick the dog's nose into his mess. This should be avoided since the owner has the sole responsibility of making sure that the dog does not make a mess inside the house.

These are just some few tips on house training a dog. Remember that a dog is like a family member who should be taken cared of and loved.

For more tips on how to house train a dog , please visit http://www.1st-in-Dog-Training.info/

There are two major kennel clubs in the U.S. They are the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC).

The AKC is the oldest, largest,best-known (thanks to the Westminster Dog Show) and most rigid.

The UKC is second oldest, second largest and generally considered more accessible to ordinary dog owners.

Both register dogs and both have standards of conduct for breeders.

Generally, however, the AKC is more concerned with breeding dogs that meet the physical demands of a breed standard.

Sometimes that, in my opinion, has led to unfortunate side effects such as miniaturizing dogs to the point they developed slipped kneecaps and collapsed wind pipes.

The UKC, on the other hand, stresses the whole dog - both looks and temperament. It is well known for its performance events: Coonhound field trials, water races, agility trials and hunting tests for the retriever breeds.

Your own interests would determine which kennel club would appeal to you although you register in both.

There are other kennel clubs and other "purebred" registries. Be aware that some of these exist only because the breeders can't meet the standards of the AKC or the UKC.

For example, one of the largest alternative kennel clubs was started by a group of Missouri dog breeders who were booted out of the AKC because they violated safety and health standards.

When they could no longer advertise their puppies as being AKC-registered, they created a registry of their own.

Another registry was started to handle a franchised chain of pet shops.

It's easy to tell a true registry from a quick-buck operation. The real kennel clubs require a pedigree and often DNA or genetic testing.

The quick-buck ones require you to send a check. Many do not require your dog to be a purebred and one of them even registers wolf/dog crossbreeds.

Many reputable breeders are registered with their breed club as well as the AKC or UKC.

Many breed clubs have a stricter code of ethics than either the AKC or UKC. It's reassuring to only deal with a breeder who dual-registers or only registers with the breed club named in the AKC's list of breed clubs.

I don't know why you would ever want to be registered with any kennel club other than UKC or AKC.

Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist and creator of the popular website on small dogs, http://www.ToyBreeds.com

It is important when you are considering training your dog or indeed any other domestic animal that you remain motivated, as it can take some time for the commands to be fully integrated. To remain inspire, study some of the dogs on television. For example, the dog Eddie on the popular television sitcom, Frasier is very well behaved and follows all of the commands of his master. But this is not by accident. Eddie is in fact well trained using the Clicker method of dog training. The fact the Eddie enjoys what he is doing is the key here. After all, the animal's enjoyment is what's really appealing about using positive training with a Clicker and some carefully chosen bridge words.

To get started you should start with a simple training exercise so that you and your dog become familiar with the clicker or bridge word process. The first exercise you should embark on is known as 'targeting'. Targeting teaches your dog how to touch something with his nose on cue, or on command. It is best to start with this very basic exercise because it is the best way to teach both you and your dog exactly how clicker training works. It also helps your dog to use its natural instinct to seek out something that smells good.

To begin, stand in front of your dog and have some treats ready to go. Rub some of the treats on the palm of your left hand so that your hand smells good to your dog, anyway. Don't let your dog see the treats and after you have rubbed them, leave them hidden in your left hand. This is step one. Step two is to take your left hand and bring it towards your dog's nose, almost right up to his nose, hand out. Now, he is probably going to stick his nose or his mouth in your hand which is what you want him to do, because you want your dog to touch your hand with his nose. At the exact moment that he touches your hand with his nose, click your clicker and give him a treat. That's all there is to it. Simple!

Sara Edan is a professional Dog Trainer in New York and provides free information on training your dog. For more free Dog Training Articles then please visit my site at: http://www.dogtrainingarticles.info/

A dog that growls at and/or bites its owner does so for some reason, even if the behavior appears to be "unreasonable" to the owner. If your dog displays aggressive behavior towards you, for the safety and welfare of you, your family and your dog, it's important to find out why as quickly as possible.

Call your vet right away and schedule an appointment for a complete medical examination. Talk with your vet about testing your dogs hormonal balance, neurophysiologic functions and allergies. The test results may reveal the underlying cause. This has been especially helpful in dogs that have mood swings.

When growling or biting has erupted as a consequence of scolding or punishment for behavior such as chewing, jumping, general unruliness, or overprotection of food, these problems must be dealt with swiftly and firmly to correct the aggression it is initiating.

As the dogs owner, you must understand that your dog growls or bites at you as a result of defensive feelings. Even the dog that growls when ordered off the couch is reacting defensively, as it feels its dominance status has been threatened.

If scolding and punishment provoke aggression, your dog is reacting to a perceived threat to its physical safety. In either of these situations, your own threatening behavior may be producing negative results.

If the results of a medical examination show no signs of a medical condition that would be causing this behavior, you will have to examine your own behavior closely to determine what you are doing to make your dog feel threatened.

If you can't hire the services of a professional, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Secrets Of A Professional Dog Trainer by Adam Katz for indepth instructions on dog behavior training.

Heather Colman loves to spend quality time with her dog Gibson. She has worked closely with various professional dog trainers in the past 2 years to work through many of the behavior problems generated by Gibson's previous owner. Visit Heather's blog for more tips on dog behavior training.

This article is Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as this entire resource box is included.

"Shake hands," my uncle ordered.

I crouched; then, I sat on the floor and our eyes met at the same level. Rocky bent his head to the left, offering me his paw. Rocky and I shook hands. Next, Rocky gently drew closer and licked my face. I was nine years old then, and this was love at first sight.

Rocky was a Red and White Irish Setter. Although his kind is not AKC recognized, the dog was truly aristocratic in behavior and Rocky and I bonded like twins who played together.

My uncle had adopted the dog from the local pound, and he and my aunt had driven several hundred miles to introduce Rocky to the family. As it has always been the custom in my family, when we need a pet we adopt it, but this was a few decades ago and adopting pets from the pound was frowned upon. Most people thought we were cheap. After all, in those days, pet stores were numerous and people flaunted their pedigreed pets.

Flaunting aside, things were quite different then; the local pounds were not as advanced in animal care as they are today. It could be possible a few pets could be carrying diseases. According to my uncle, Rocky's pen in the pound was unkempt, and as soon as my uncle brought the dog home, he gave him a bath, after which Rocky proved to be the only dog I knew who loved baths. In hindsight, this doesn't surprise me. After all, Rocky always exhibited his nobility.

My uncle and my aunt lived in another city several hundred miles away. Once a year, they came to see the family for about three weeks, and during my school vacations, my mother and I traveled to see them. Those visits helped Rocky and me to become inseparable, since I was an only child and he was an only pet.

In the beginning, when I talked to my uncle long distance on the phone, my uncle guessed that Rocky sensed it was me, because when I called, Rocky got excited and ran in circles around the room. Maybe the dog heard my name spoken, who knows! The thing is, Rocky didn't exhibit that behavior with other people when they called.

One day while I was on the phone, it occurred to my uncle to put the phone to the dog's ear. When he heard my voice, Rocky yelped into the phone. After that day, Rocky and I started talking long distance, and why not, since Rocky was truly intelligent and clever.

Teaching a trick to Rocky was a delight. He learned everything immediately, and sometimes, he even made up games. Rocky was lively and bouncy, but never ever disobedient. He sensed everything and he felt our joys and sorrows deeply.

One day after a funeral, when an elderly member of the family had passed away, we found Rocky at the entrance, sitting with his paws inside the deceased's slippers. Tears kept falling from the dog's eyes as several people witnessed that day.

Rocky was more than a dog. He was a person.

Annual Vaccinations for Your Dog?

Are they really necessary? - In a word, NO!

You probably receive an annual reminder from your vet that your dog is due for his/her annual checkup and vaccinations. I do.

But I don't have my dogs vaccinated any more.

For years I was hoodwinked into believing that vaccinations were essential to my dogs' health. Why else would my vet tell me my dogs needed an annual booster vaccination shot?

Why indeed.

I learned the answer when, after careful research, I decided not to expose my dogs to what I believe is unnecessary, and potentially dangerous, toxins, any more.

I received the letter from my vet as usual, advising that my dogs' annual checkup and vaccinations were due.

I made an appointment and arrived ready to do battle. I advised the vet that I had decided not to have my dogs vaccinated any more. She said "Fine."

That's right - after years of leading me to believe that these vaccinations were essential to my dogs' wellbeing, the vet agreed that they were not in fact necessary at all! She went on to stress the importance of still bringing the dogs in for their annual physical checkup (which was what I was doing, and certainly intended to continue to do).

So that's why we're all told that our dogs need annual vaccinations - it's simply a ploy to get us in so our dogs can be given a physical. Why not just tell us how important these annual checkups are instead of slowly but surely poisoning our dogs with these vaccines?

I don't have the answer to that, but I can tell you I was speechless.

I've now found out that all across America a new protocol for vaccinating dogs has now been issued and is slowly making its way to vets. (I haven't been able to locate a similar protocol for Australia, but I'm sure it's in the pipeline). This protocol does not recommend any vaccinations for dogs beyond 1 year of age!

Make sure you ask your vet next time a vaccination has been recommended for your dog - it this really necessary? And if you're not satisfied with the answer, consider getting a second opinion from another vet.

Side effects of this appalling over-vaccination which has been going on for years can be significant and severe.

You can clear your dog's system from all toxins by Removing Toxins Naturally - Click Here: http://www.HealthyHappyDogs.com/RemoveToxinsNaturally

(c) 2005, Brigitte Smith

Brigitte Smith is a dog lover with a special interest in holistic dog health. Her site, Healthy Happy Dogs, has pages and pages of information on improving your dog's health naturally. Brigitte is the author of a number of reports, articles, and the Healthy Happy Dogs newsletter.

For your special FREE report - "How to Improve Your Dog's Health Within 30 Days - Maybe Even Lengthen Your Dog's Life!", Click Here for Your Free Dog Health Report! - http://www.HealthyHappyDogs.com

So you have decided to purchase a pet rabbit, and now you are wondering how do I pick out the right one?

Well, aside from appearance, there are a number of important considerations that you will have to make when you pick out your pet bunny rabbit at the local pet store or other venue. This is important both to ensure that you choose a healthy pet rabbit, and to make sure that you and he are compatible!

Now I'll explain what you'll need to think about before heading out to buy your pet rabbit, and what to look for when you're actually selecting an animal from a local breeder, adoption center or pet store.

Housing: Do You Have Enough Space for a Pet Rabbit?

When it comes to tame pet bunny rabbits, they do much better indoors than outdoors. Living indoors will ensure that your pet bunny rabbit stays healthy and safe and gets to know the members of your family. Rabbits kept in outdoor cages are at risk of being threatened by other animals; foxes, dogs, and raccoons have been known to open cage doors.

Therefore, before you decide to bring home a pet rabbit, make sure that you have plenty of space inside your house for your new animal friend. For most rabbits, plan on buying a cage that is either 30 inches square, or 2 feet by 3 feet. You will also need to make sure that you have enough room inside your home to fit a cage of this size. If you don't have space for a cage, you will not be able to provide a rabbit with an adequate living situation.

Keep in mind that the cage should not just be placed in any old spot, but should put somewhere where the rabbit can feel connected and close to the family. At the same time, the rabbit cage should be away from heaters, air conditions, loud objects like TVs or radios, and not in direct sunlight. Since you will be letting your rabbit out of his cage for exercise, you will also need to put the cage in an area that can be bunny-proofed. (more on that later...)

Your Time Investment

A lot of people seem to think that because rabbits are relatively small and spend a good deal of time in their cages that they're easy to take care of. Well, that may be true in some sense, but it's foolish to bring home a rabbit thinking that it's not going to be much of a time commitment. If you are not willing to spend time with your pet rabbit, then you probably should not get him. This, of course, applies to all pet animals!

Well, here's what to expect. You should ensure that you have plenty of time for all the initial and intermediate stages of pet care, which include:

- Rabbit-proofing your house to make sure the little guy won't get hurt
- Litter box training
- Cleaning up after the inevitable accidents
- Spaying/neutering

You will also need to devote a good deal of time to your rabbit well after you bring him home for the first time. You must:

- Give him exercise (at least a few hours per day out of the cage)
- Give him attention (just like any pet or child, rabbits need to feel love!)
- Buy and provide rabbit toys
- Administer feedings
- Take him to the vet if necessary and for check-ups

Above all, just keep in mind that bringing home a new pet bunny rabbit is not so different from bringing home a new infant. You will need to spend adequate time preparing for the arrival, as well as adjusting to life with the newcomer. Setting aside time for all these necessities will make for a happy, comfortable situation for everyone involved.

Before bringing home a pet rabbit, make sure that you can commit to giving him the quality of lifestyle he deserves throughout his lifetime (5-15 years, depending on the rabbit-s breed and age and health at the time of purchase).

by Andrea Austin, http://www.rabbits-n-bunnies.com

We hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like more information on pet rabbit care, click on this link to get your FREE Rabbit Care Guide: Bunny Rabbits

Does your Agility Dog Stay everywhere but on the starting line? My "over the edge Border Collie", started breaking her start line stays after about one year of trialing. I had to go back and examine the cause and what lead to the deterioration of her start line stay.

As I pull pieces of the past, I realize that at first I asked my dog, Rip, to Sit-stay at the start line. But she began to lean and scoot, so I changed to a Down-stay. She did this for a while until she began to crawl and creep. Then I would walk away for a lead out, but I would continue to face her, by being face to face, that would help her to hold her position, well it did for a while. Then I started getting breakaways, she would no longer wait at the starting line, as soon as I started to step away from her side, and she would be off. That's when I pulled her from trialing.

Why did her behavior get worse at the start line? Because I started to negotiate with my dog, way back when she moved from the Sit-stay, I should have made it clear that the Sit -stay was the only behavior that would bring the reward of running agility. What I mistook as, "Oh, I'm asking too much for my edgy dog to Sit-Stay on the line." She took as, "Mom, doesn't really mean what she says when we're in this fenced ring with lots of people around." So, she began to test every behavior I asked for on the line. Dogs will do what we allow.

If your dog begins to break its start-line stay, whether that is a stand, sit, or down, STOP immediately. Don't run your run. I know you've paid your entry fees, but you'll be spending a lot more time and money fixing the problem when it gets worse. For some dogs, taking them off the course is deterrent enough to get back on track. For other dogs you may have to "train" your stay in the ring, of course you also, may be called for training and excused from the ring, but it's most important that your dog know that the fun can not and will not start until the Stay stays.

Brad Carlson is a dog trainer at Agility by Carlson. For more training details, visit our website at http://www.carlson-agility.com/

You're happy at home, but there just seems to be something missing. Ah, it's a dog. Remember when you were a child, the fun you had with your dog. Whilst you can't recapture your youth, you can fill the void. And of you have children then they can get to enjoy the love and attention of their very own dog. It will also teach them 'some' responsibility. Hey, every kid will commit to taking the dog for walks before you get one, but when the chips are down!

So the first question you ask yourself – to buy or to adopt. Both have their pros and cons. Most people head out to the breeders and pick up a purebred dog – sometimes paying large sums of money. That's fine if you're going to shows and competitions but some of the nicest and best tempered dogs can be found at the pound, or in foster care. It's a much cheaper route and it gives a dog a home.

But beware! You need to decide what type of dog, its age and size before you head out the door and then stick to it! Once you're at the pound meeting the dogs you'll see so many cute dogs that your heart can run away with you. So make a decision and stick to it, no matter how much pressure your children place on you!. Talk to your local rescue groups and go see the fostered dogs. This is a great way to find a dog that suits your needs because you can ask the foster family about the dog before you commit.

Consider an older dog. Once a dog reaches 3 or 4, its temperament and behavior is pretty well set, it's probably been spayed or neutered and it will be full grown. You will know exactly what you're getting and provide a loving home for a long time to come.

Once you get your dog home there will be a period of adjustment. Depending on the dogs circumstances it may have been in a foster home, it may have been abused and it's spent some time in the cages at the pound. This is a difficult time for your dog so extra understanding is needed. Your dog may bark, chew, scratch and even have 'accidents' while trying to adjust to a new life. It's stressful so make a safe haven for your dog and give him some space and time to adjust.

Exercise is important so take your dog out and give it all the exercise it needs as soon as you can. This will give you a good indication of how much exercise your dog requires and how well behaved it is. Training is important, no matter what the history of the dog is. This will give you valuable insights into your dogs behavior, (as well as your own!), and it's great bonding time too. Make sure that you're consistent so that your dog learns how to behave correctly.

Follow this simple advice and you'll have a happy, healthy, loving, well behaved dog for you and your family to enjoy for a long time to come

David Amos is a dog lover and long time dog owner. To find more articles and resources click on Dogs and Dog Care

Pets become an important part of our lives once we begin to live with them. These animals become family members, giving us support in an inexplicable manner that might only be interpreted by the psychoanalysts and psychologists. In order to give your pet the ultimate care and affection it is wanting, you might need a lot of things (like accessories, medicines and drugs, collars, clothing, food, etc.). But often you will feel the need for more accessories and other things for your pet that might be too expensive for you to afford. Wholesale discount pet supplies are what are sold to individual retailers to resell to the public. However, you can also try to pool your buying resources and buy in bulk with other pet owners directly from wholesalers.

There are ways to find affordable pet products, though. There are a number of Wholesale pet suppliers who can provide what you need in the most affordable ways. Some of the products that might be available at wholesale rates: dog clippers, dog dryers, grooming tables, grooming fashions, combs, rakes, clipper blades, toys, treats, bedding supplies, shampoo, collars and leads, clothing accessories, house breaking pads, disinfectants, doors and gates, stainless steel dog bowls, raised dog bowls, all kinds of flea and teak, soft sided dog crates, folding dog crates, dog bed pads, dog bed chairs and sofa covers including specialty beds, bath supplies like bath tubs, houses and such related accessories, towels, and various kinds of foods, like health supplements and natural food.

Discount Pet Supplies provides detailed information on Discount Pet Supplies, Wholesale Discount Pet Supplies, Discount Pet Drug Supplies, Discount Pet Food and more. Discount Pet Supplies is affiliated with Custom Dog Tags.

Is your cat taking over the house? Climbing curtains, chewing cords, knocking over the trash and jumping on the counters? Well you don't have to put up with it! Even though it may seem like your cat cannot be trained, a little bit of patience and persistence can help you get a feline housemate that is well behaved and a pleasure to live with.

Curtains might be a way to dress up your windows to you, but to your cat they are a fun thing to climb up on and shred with their claws. You want to discourage this behavior and one way to do that is to use tension rods. When your cat tries to climb up on the curtain that is attached with a tension rod, the whole thing will come tumbling down and make a clatter that will scare him. This might be a bit inconvenient for a while, but your cat will soon learn that climbing on the curtains is not fun and will avoid them altogether. You can do this temporarily until your cat gets the hint and then go back to your usual curtain rods.

Another thing is that you can simply use vertical blinds in your windows. Your cat won't want to climb them and he will be able to move a slat on the blind and view the outside world with out tearing down the whole thing.

If your cat is chewing up things around the house try putting a distasteful substance on them. Cayenne pepper, biter apple, orange, nail polish orange peels, lemon peels and sprays specifically purchased for this purpose in the pet store can all do the trick. The next time your cat goes to chew he'll think "ick!" and won't want to chew that item again. Of course, you want to test the item first to make sure whatever you are putting on it won't get ruined.

If your cat is a garbage digger, the best solution is to just not make it available to him. Store the garbage in a cabinet or in the garage. If you have to have the garbage out then make sure there is a tight lid and avoid swing top lids. A good garbage pail would be one that you have to lift off the top or one that you have to use your foot to open. If your cat is tipping the garbage can over put something heavy enough so that they are unable to tip it over

Cats hate loud noises and surprises and to discourage him from jumping on the counter you can leave some items up there that will make a loud noise when he jumps up. Try putting empty aluminum cans on the edge with pennies in them or lay utensils on the counter or cover it in foil paper.

Carpet shredding is a favorite past time of my cat. To try to get her to stop, I use one of those cardboard cat scratchers. Whenever I catch her scratching the rug, I yell and then go over to the scratcher and scratch it myself. She comes right over and uses it instead of the rug. A couple of times she has run right over to it and I do notice her using it more often so hopefully she is getting the hint. You can try this with any type of scratcher your cat prefers, just make sure you put one handy in the room she likes to scratch up.

Lee Dobbins writes for E Pet Center where you can learn more about pets and caring for kittens and cats.

Many goldfish are imported in very cold water, in crowded conditions, making them very susceptible to disease (especially ich). Although goldfish are not very particular about water conditions, they still do better at a ph of 7.2 to 7.8 and a high mineral content (especially calcium and magnesium- KH of 80 ppm or more).

Goldfish also are basically "grazing fish" and need to be fed frequent small amounts of fish food that are not made from animal based products. Goldfish do well on foods high in vegetable based proteins (such as spirulina), they need a high fat content and Vitamins C & E, and carotenoid for color enhancement.

Canister filters are great for goldfish, due to there high efficiency and great bio load and mechanical filtration abilities (although make sure to clean them regularly, or they become nitrate factories). Unfortunately they are generally expensive. A combination of "hang on back" filters (such as ReSun and Aqua Clear) and sponge filters are an excellent combination for less money.

Regular water changes are a must. A small 20% change once per week is best (sometimes larger less frequent changes can be performed as per one's busy schedule). Using a gravel vacuum is the best and easiest way to change water (a new device called an "Aquarium Cleaning Machine" is awesome for larger tanks). Make sure the water is of similar ph and temperature and has no chlorine or choramine when you add it to your aquarium.

Remember, goldfish are dirty animals, can grow up to 12" (or more), so house them in an appropriate aquarium for good health and long life. Even if you start out with a ten gallon aquarium, I recommend moving up to a 45-60 gallon aquarium as soon as possible.

Add or subtract many of these points, and your goldfish may have problems. I recommend "Wonder Shells" (For ph and KH control) or "Medicated Wonder Shells" for prevention and/ or treatment of goldfish disease (ich/ fungus), and water conditions. Of coarse good maintenance, proper feeding, proper filtration, are not replaced by this product. I have used this product on my aquarium maintenance route (27 years experience) with GREAT results.

By Carl Strohmeyer

http://goldfishdisease.blogspot.com/

There are several things one should consider before adding a Pit Bull terrier to your household. As with any and all breeds of dogs, Pit Bulls have their own individual quirks and personalities that should be researched and considered thoroughly before adding a Pit Bull puppy to your family. You also will need to make sure that you have time for a puppy in your life, as they crave lots of love and attention, and don't do as well in busy families where they aren't able to get that. You definitely do not want to add a new pet if it isn't going to fit in with your family or other pets you may already have. Pit Bull terriers usually do better in homes with older children, than those with babies or toddlers.

Once you have made the decision that a Pit Bull puppy would be a good addition to your household, you will need to ready your house for him before you bring the puppy home. Preparing your home beforehand will make your first few days at home with your new puppy much easier. Puppies are naturally curious about their surroundings, so you definitely should take precaution with household products, plants, poisons, etc. Puppies also tend to be destructive sometimes, so you will also need to consider that as well. They like to chew a lot, so you will want to purchase toys for them to have, and keep anything you don't want damaged out of the puppy's area.

When you bring your new puppy home, you should ensure that there will be someone at home most of the time. The puppy should be taken outside often, at least until he is house-broken. It is also important that your puppy get a lot of exercise, which will help in getting rid of any pent up energy he may have, making the puppy easier to deal with.

It is very important to try to have a routine for your new puppy, as puppies tend to do better when things are kept consistent. Many puppies don't respond well to change, so it is important to establish a routine and keep it up.

Owning a Pit Bull terrier comes with a lot of responsibility, as with owning any pet. Pit Bulls thrive in homes with loving and attentive owners. They are very loving and devoted when cared for and treated well.

To learn all about American Pit Bull Terriers and training a Pit Bull, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.

Any person, whether a minor or adult, having been bitten or knocked down by an animal improperly or inadequately leashed or contained can sue for injuries or death caused by a bite or knock-down. You can sue the person who has or was responsible for the animal. For a person to be responsible they need not be the owner of the animal. However, an owner who maintains some control over the animal remains liable even if the animal is partly under the care of others.

You may be entitled to recover damages for past and future and medical expenses, past and future wage loss, past and future pain and suffering, and if it is deemed that conduct is severe enough, punitive damages (punishment damages against the defendant). If the victim dies, his or her survivors are entitled to recover full compensation for their financial losses that resulted from the victim's death, as well as emotional distress damages. If the survivors can prove that the victim lived for a period of time between the negligent act and death, they can also bring an action for punitive damages.

You can also sue if you were fleeing from an animal, and you reasonably feared for your safety and can prove that the owner or possessor of the dog knew or should have known of the dog's propensity to attack people walking nearby, and failed to act accordingly.

So if you own an animal with a propensity for biting strangers, make sure it is safely contained fenced, chained, boxed, whatever is necessary to protect you, your animal, and potential plaintiffs. If you are bitten by an animal and it creates a situation where a lawsuit is appropriate, be informed as to the criteria under which you can pursue and obtain damages.

Jason Rigler "Settlement Advocate" and consultant for Prosperity Partners Customer Service Department.

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), there are 350 million pets in the US and 65 million households own them. Pet care is a $35 billion industry, and although there are no clear figures, pet supplies/accessories is a billion dollar industry.

A number of studies associates pets with increased health benefits for the owners. The percentage of Americans owning pets is on the rise. Pets are highly pampered with accessories such as fur coats, special playgrounds and even special bakeries and restaurants. It is no wonder that pet identification has gone one step ahead into high tech by adopting computerized identification tags.

Most of the counties and states require that pets are licensed by the authorities and collars are worn with identification numbers and other details such as rabies vaccination. Name tags are optional and may serve as back up when pets are lost. In many a cases, pets have been returned to their owners because of a name tag. They usually contain details such as owner's name, address, and phone numbers. A veterinarian's address may also be included in case the pet requires medical assistance. It may have optional details like a reward will be given if the pet is returned.

Name tags come in different sizes and colors such as gold, pink and blue, and information can be engraved on one or both sides. They are engraved or stamped in metals such as aluminum, brass and stainless steel. Most companies also sell other accessories such as collars with different types of fasteners. They also often have Internet websites that allow you to order your identification tag online, filling out a form that gives the company all the information they need to know.

Name Tags provides detailed information on Name Tags, Pet Name Tags, Printable Name Tags, Free Name Tags and more. Name Tags is affiliated with Door Name Plates.