Picking A Good Dog Name

For some people, choosing a name for their dog is almost as important as choosing a name for their child. While you can technically change the name of the dog whenever you want, we all know that we are very reluctant to once the name sticks. So it is always best to choose a great name for your dog from the start.

There are many routes one can go with choosing a dog name. Some name their dog using traditional people names, such as Suzie, Charlie, etc. This may cause some confusion though when talking to acquaintances. For example, if you, a close friend, and an acquaintance are talking and you mention your dog by its name (say Alexander), the acquaintance may think you are talking about a person. This is one of many reasons why most people do not choose a people name for their dog.

Another option people use is traditional dog names, such as Rover, Fido, Fluffy, etc. These names are viewed as so overused that people now hardly use them at all! If anything, using a name like this is almost a joke. While there is nothing wrong with using these names, people generally want to give their dog a more special, unique name.

One way to find unique names is searching the Internet. There are many good websites out there that have names for dogs. Most websites also differentiate if the name is commonly used for boy dogs or girl dogs. A lot of these websites have so many names that choosing one may be a bit intimidating! So if you use the Internet, schedule yourself an hour's worth of time, so you will be able to not feel rushed as you go about looking for a name for your new pet.

Besides searching the Internet, another way to name your dog is to think of a name that characterizes your dog. The name may relate to the dog's physical characteristics. For example, if he has a long nose, you may call him Pinocchio. If the dog has a lot of spots, you may choose to name him Spotty.

Another way to name your dog is based on his or her emotional characteristics. Is he or she especially energetic, sleepy, or perhaps playful? These are all methods you could use to figure out a name for your dog.

Often, people choose a funny name for their dog. For example, if their dog start sneezing a lot at first, they might choose to call him Mr. Sniffles. While this may seem humorous at first, keep in mind that you will likely be using this name for fifteen years or so. The novelty of a humorous name often wears out fast.

Likewise, just as you should think twice about a humorous name, also think twice about a long name. You'll likely have to be calling your dog by this name a lot, and it's going to be annoying after awhile to have to use a six or seven syllable name. Most people like to just use names with one or two syllables.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Picking-A-Good-Dog-Name/53033
Ideal Dogs

Protect Your Cat By Keeping Her Inside

Should you keep you cat indoors or let her roam in nature? Pet owners worry about diminishing their cat's quality of life by keeping her from the great outdoors. Fresh air and trees would seem to be a cat's natural habitat But your best bet for prolonging your cat's life and health is to keep her indoors. By providing her with a few essentials, you can keep her happy and healthy for years to come.

Outdoor cats are susceptible to a variety of diseases, including feline leukemia, rabies, FIV and peritonitis. Even inoculated cats are not 100% protected from some of these conditions, many of which are contracted through contact with other cats. In addition, abscesses can result from fights with other cats. Not only will your cat suffer from these illnesses, the vet bills can be staggering.

Even the most road-savvy cat is in danger of being hit by a car. Predators can kill or injure outdoor pets. And millions of cats are lost every year and can't find their way home, ending their lives in shelters. The dangers of outdoor life outweigh the pleasure your cat may find there.

So how do you keep your indoor cat happy and entertained?

Make sure she has a perch in a sunny spot where she can view the outside world. The back of a couch, a carpeted cat perch or an accessible bookshelf are all good choices. Cats love to bask in the sunshine, and can spend hours watching the world from a safe nook.

Play with her. Playing with your cat can fulfill her need to stalk and give her plenty of exercise. Provide her with toys so that she can entertain herself when you are not available. Giving her a scratching post will allow her to indulge her love of stretching and scratching, and also give her a place to climb

Plant a pot of cat grass, cat mint or catnip. Your cat will rub against it, chew it and bat at it. Dry catnip sprinkled on a scratching post or cat tree will provide hours of entertainment for both you and your cat!

You might consider getting your cat a feline companion. If she is friendly with other cats, she may love having another to play with and curl up with for naps. While cats are very independent, often two or more will form strong bonds and keep each other company while the humans are out.

Provide a clean, accessible litter box with plenty of sand. Your cat will love loves to dig with her paws. In addition, your neighbors will be thrilled that your cat is no longer soiling their flower beds!

Cats who are kept indoors have life spans of up to four times longer than those who go outside regularly. They are safe from disease, predators and the stress of unpredictable situations. Your inside cat will provide you with companionship and love, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are providing her with a healthy, happy life.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Protect-Your-Cat-By-Keeping-Her-Inside/52843
Pets Health

More Tips To Free Mastiff Training Tips

Training a dog is not easy, but a trained dog is a great companion. There are some great places to train a dog, but some of these institutions can be very expensive and the results are not often worth the added expense. Any owner can train their dog if they get the proper advice, and there are free mastiff training tips available from a variety of sources. A great place to find free mastiff training tips is the veterinarian who provides the basic medical care for pets. These professionals are experts on the animals that they care for, and they often provide free %LINK1% tips in brochures available at their offices. Owners should check out these free mastiff training tips when they visit these offices.

The public library is a great source of free %LINK1% tips. The card catalog at the public library will list the titles of the books they have on the subject of dog training. You will find that the subject of free mastiff training tips can be found in a number of books at the library. Once you get a free library card then you will be able to take these books home with you. The books you find at the library will be written by dog training experts who have had a wide varied experience in training all manner of dog breeds. Of course these books will provide basic, intermediate and advanced training techniques.

Experts GiveFree Mastiff Training Tips

There are many shops now that provide all of the supplies needed to care for many different pets. These shops employ many experts who have great knowledge about caring for and training pets. The shops often have veterinarians who actually have offices set up on their premises. These experts provide information on ridding your dog of fleas, the proper shots and free %LINK2% training tips.

Closing

Another great source of training tips are pet stores. Most pet stores in addition to providing a myriad of free information on training your pet will usually have clinics available to provide hands on training. Of course usually the more basic classes are held for free with the more advanced ones usually costing a modest fee. Pet stores also provide a lot of Internet available information on there web-sites. There is usually a frequently asked question (FAQ) page and some even provide training videos online.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/More-Tips-To-Free-Mastiff-Training-Tips/53302
Pets Health

How to Select The Perfect Decorative Bird House Material for your Birdhouse

If you have gone to your local pet store, you would have discovered that there really are a lot of different decorative bird house designs made up of a similarly dizzyingly variety of materials ranging from metal to colorful plastics to wood. However, if you would like to build your own birdhouse instead of buying a ready-made one, the best material to choose to construct your birdhouse is wood because it is easy to cut, it has naturally attractive designs, it is weather-proof and most importantly it doesn't stand out like a sore thumb in the middle of your backyard.

Let's dwell a little on the properties of wood as a material for your decorative bird house construction.

First, wood has good insulating properties. Choose wood that is at least three quarter inches thick to maximize its insulation benefits so that your nesting birds will be nesting in a comfortable temperature in your birdhouse.

Second, although wood is naturally durable, some woods are better then others at resisting decay. Since your birdhouse will be going through rain and shine everyday, you should pick a wood that is more decay resistant so that it will be longer lasting. Ideal material choices for wooden bird house will be cedar, redwood or bald cypress.

If you have an existing birdhouse that is made up of pine or plywood, you can coat it with a water-based exterior latex paint. Be sure to only coat the exterior of the birdhouse and not the interior or the birdhouse entrance. Usually, coating the exterior with a dull, earth-tone color will be sufficient to keep the boards from rotting.

Why do we recommend painting the birdhouse exterior with a dull, earth-tone color ? Well, a earth-tone color will not absorb heat as much as a darker or more striking color. Different colors absorbs different amounts of heat. Darker colors tend to absorb more heat and as a result, it becomes warmer. Light, earth-tone colors reflect more light and so the surface feels cooler. Another reason why we recommend painting your birdhouse a dull, earth-tone color because it is less likely to attract predators to your birdhouse.

Regardless of the colors that you chose for your birdhouse, you should never use paints that contain lead or use any harmful chemicals like varnish on the wood surfaces of the birdhouse. Wood surfaces, due to their inherent properties, will tend to break down and chip off after being exposed to the natural weather elements. If the birds accidentally ingest one of the wood chips that is covered with toxic paints or have been treated with harmful chemicals, the bird may die of poisoning. If you do need to treat the wood, use non-petroleum based, naturally occuring oils like linseed oil. Petroleum based liquids tend to stick on the bird's feathers, causing them to be wet and sticky and as a result, it will make it very difficult for the birds to make a quick escape when a predator is near.

Next, to put everything together, you can either glue the wood pieces together or you can nail them together. If you want the birdhouse to last longer, glue the wood pieces first then nail them. However, one thing to note is that, none of your nails should not be sticking out. Nails exposed to the rain will gradually become rusty. When birds accidentally cut themselves on the exposed nail, it will be seriously injured. Moreover, when humans accidentally get cut by the nails, they may also get an infection from the rust.

For the interior of the birdhouse, you should consider placing some rough sawn wood to act as a "ladder" to make it easier for the nesting birds to get in and out of your birdhouse. Most birdhouse are quite small in size and since wood has a smooth texture, sometimes it is hard for the birds to get out of the birdhouse. You can also consider making small notches on the inside of the front face of the birdhouse which can also make the birdhouse more bird-friendly.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/How-to-Select-The-Perfect-Decorative-Bird-House-Material-for-your-Birdhouse/53297
Pets Health

Will a Puppy Fit Your Lifestyle?

Before you run out and adopt a new member of the family, you need to evaluate your own lifestyle to see whether you have the resources to make a happy, healthy home for both of you.

1. How much time can commit? You will have to make a conscious commitment to be with your dog every day for the rest of his or her life. If you get a puppy, remember that you'll have to set aside time for training classes and other activities. You should never buy a dog only to relegate him to the loneliness of the backyard; dogs are social creatures and need interaction with your family. Training a puppy is critical, because it will determine how he or she behaves for the rest of his or her life.

2. Do you have medical concerns? The most common question might be about allergies. Does anyone in your household have allergies that could be aggravated by a dog or mean that you must get rid of him or her? No breed of dog is truly hypoallergenic, and people who have serious allergies may not be able to tolerate any dog at all, regardless of what you might read in an ad. Make sure to consult your doctor if you're unsure.

3. Can you afford it? The big costs for owning a puppy are not the initial ones of just buying him or her. You must also buy all the accessories: a leash and collar, and a crate for training your puppy; regular vaccinations and inoculations; obedience classes (which can cost up to one hundred dollars!); regular veterinary visits and unexpected medical emergencies; and food, food, food! Growing puppies, especially big breeds, have BIG appetites.

4. Where will your puppy live? It's not adequate to chain up your dog in your yard with a plastic hut and a bowl of water. Dogs need social interaction and should be a part of your family: keep him inside when you're not home, and take him for regular, ample exercise opportunities. If you can't do this, getting a puppy may not be for you, especially because dogs without adequate social interaction tend to bark more and are often victimized by neighborhood bullies.

5. Will your lifestyle fit? If you and your family are very active, you will want to choose a breed that is suited to this lifestyle; if you are more sedentary, the same principle applies. Collies can tolerate much more exercise than a bulldog, for example. In fact, border collies actually require daily workouts. Do your research and find a breed that will fir your lifestyle, and make sure to use several different sources. Another thing to remember is that size and energy/exercise requirements don't always "match up"!

6. Can you groom your puppy? Dogs need hygiene, just like humans do, and some dogs (like poodles) need a LOT more than others. You should think about how much time you have to spend in a dog groomer's office, and how much money you can spend. Remember that you'll have to brush your dog, and keep the problem of shedding in mind.

7. What's your motivation? Knowing why you want a dog is crucial to picking the right one. If you want a companion, or a watchdog, or anything else, do your research. Some breeds are better suited than others for certain tasks.

8. How much experience do you have? Different breeds of puppies require different amounts of attention. If you're an experienced dog owner, this consideration might not be important, but if you're a novice, you should probably choose a breed that is low-maintenance. Each dog, and each breed, has distinctive character traits and physical needs that you should research.

9. What's your long term status? If you're single, will a marriage or family change your plans? Will a move mean that you have to leave your dog? Remember that it's not just you that will be affected - it's your pet, too.

10. Can you take care of your senior dog? Puppies aren't puppies forever; just like humans, they age, and they often require more work as they get older. Are you willing to devote the time, or are you just planning to get rid of your dog when he or she is no longer "fun"?

If you have thought about these and decided to get a dog, here are some criteria to keep in mind when choosing a puppy.

1. Age. Never buy a puppy that is younger than eight weeks, because they are still undergoing critical physical and psychological development. At six weeks, puppies are barely weaned; in two weeks, they learn valuable social skills with their litter-mates that will ease the transition to your home. Also, as puppies age, they can often be more receptive to obedience training. If you want to take the "rescue" route, try looking for an older dog, who can offer just as much companionship as a puppy.

2. Physical health. Check your puppy for the following problems: signs of lameness, or any discharge from facial orifices. Your puppy's coat should be clean and shiny. His stool should be firm and he should be alert. Make sure your puppy was bred with good parents and has had all of his shots. Also, check the status of the facility where your puppy has been raised. Make sure it is clean, but not heavy with odors from artificial cleaners, and that there are no pests. Make sure your puppy and its caretakers have healthy attitudes.

3. Breeder Behavior. Know your breeder! Make sure they're not trying to "dump" the puppy on you, and that they answer your questions completely and honestly. A responsible breeder can help you decide whether a particular breed of dog is right for you, and if they seem too eager to sell you a puppy, maybe you should look into finding a different source.

4. Temperament and Characteristics. Make sure your puppy's breed has temperament testing, and that its temperament matches what you are looking for. Your personality should match your puppy's, because it can be hard to make a relationship of polar opposites work.

5. Intuition. You should trust your instincts when you're investigating a breeder: does something feel "wrong"? If so, walk away. But remember that your intuition might make you want to take the "feel-good" route of adoption. This requires a huge time commitment and may not be right for everyone.

Choosing to get a puppy is a huge, lifetime commitment. Make sure you do your research and honestly evaluate your lifestyle before taking this important step.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Will-a-Puppy-Fit-Your-Lifestyle-/52873
Ideal Dogs

What Are Feral Cats, And What To Do About Them?

Feral, or wild cats are descended from domesticated pets. When cats are lost or abandoned, they return to a more primitive wild state, know as feral. Although feral cats may live alone, often they join large groups or colonies of other wild cats. Their lives are hard, and their life expectancies are much lower than their domesticated kin. Disease is rampant in these colonies, and competition for proper nutrition is fierce. Unaltered cats have many kittens, increasing the number of ferals in the group.

There are many rescue groups devoted to saving the increasing population of feral cats in the United States. These organizations rely on pet-loving volunteers to help them bring medical care to feral cats. Individuals catch the cats, often spending weeks feeding them outdoors to gain their trust. Once they've been captured, they are spayed or neutered, inoculated against disease, and treated for any injury or illness. They are then released in the same area in which they were first found. They are now healthy, and because they've been fixed, they will not continue the cycle by bringing more feral cats into the world. Those kind-hearted volunteers who originally saved the cats may be asked to continue to feed and monitor the feral cats they have rescued.

In some cases, feral cats can be rehabilitated and prepared for adoption. Generally, adult feral cats cannot be domesticated. They have lost their ability to bond with other species. Occasionally an adult that was once a pet can be brought back into domestication. Kittens are another story. If they are taken out of the wild early enough, they can make a fairly smooth transition to living in a home.

The best time to remove a feral kitten from its environment is between six and eight weeks. This is a natural time for a kitten to wean from its mother. At this age a kitten can make the transition from the wild to a home very quickly. Older kittens can sometimes be socialized. The older the kitten, the harder it will be to domesticate it. Often older kittens and young cats will bond to one owner and refuse to have anything to do with other humans.

Many cities in America are home to large feral cat populations. Trying to deal with these populations is controversial. Hunting feral cats is illegal in most cities, and has been proposed in others. However this possibility is considered outrageous and cruel to many animal lovers. Feral cats do keep rodents under control, thereby making them valuable. On the other hand, the sharp decline in American songbird populations is due in great part to feral cat communities.

Feral cats are the victims of human irresponsibility. Pets who are abandoned or lost must fend for themselves the best they can. The most important thing a cat owner can do to help end this cycle of misery is have their pet spayed or neutered.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/What-Are-Feral-Cats--And-What-To-Do-About-Them-/52849
Pets Health

Dog Clothes - Functional and Fashionable

If there is one good thing about cool weather its sweaters! Sweaters scream comfort, and who doesn't like to be comfy? Man's best friend is no stranger to the concept of comfort. With animals being considered members of the family, fashion design has spilled over into the pet world. After all, you wouldn't let your child or sibling run around naked, now would you? Fido needs fashion too!

Pet clothes consist of just about any item imaginable. From t-shirts and tanks to boots and jammies. With cooler weather upon us, sweaters will not do the trick all season. Dog jackets are necessary for the severe cold. Dog jackets come in a wide variety of colors and styles. Your Pit Bull may want to sport a faux leather bomber or biker dog jacket. While your Pekinese will look pawsitivly polished in a preppy dog vest or ski bunny style dog jacket. Depending upon your climate, a dog raincoat or dog poncho may be a necessity as well.

When shopping for a dog jacket, or any dog apparel, look for dog apparel that is machine washable and easy to dress your dog in. Dog jackets often have Velcro closures, which are not only simplistic; Velcro closures allow the owner to easily fit the dog. Reflective dog clothing is a smart choice for late night walks. Some dog jackets come equipped with an O-ring to attach a lead to.

With the functional stuff out of the way, let's talk fashion! Pet fashion trends are inspired by human fashion trends. Belted sweaters are popular right now as are jewel-tone colors. Both can be found in dog clothes. Fabrics such as faux fur and Sherpa are available among many others including polyester and faux suede. Camouflage in traditional camouflage as well as pastel camouflage will continue to be a popular trend and can be found in a variety of apparel, such as dog shirts and dog jackets.
With the holidays around the corner, you can bet that pet fashions include holiday and winter themed sweaters.

Chazz Martin has a background in home fashions and is an expert at picking out dog clothes and loves to shop at www.lovemypetsupply.com. Chazz also has a love of animals. He enjoys sharing his knowledge on these subjects and enjoys contributing articles combining his loves. Chazz is the proud owner of three cats and one dog.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Dog-Clothes---Functional-and-Fashionable/47742
Ideal Dogs

Understanding Pet Adoption Procedures

Pet adoption agencies are available throughout the United States and it is an excellent way to get your own pet. The adoption agencies in the U.S provide homes for the pets brought from animal rescues, animal shelters and humane societies. Some pets are brought there due to ill treatment by the pet owners or would have got lost having not having a family. Many of the pet adoption agencies work over time in order to find a constructive solution for the U.S pet population issue. They work hard in finding adoptable pets and provide them caring and loving family homes.

The websites of the pet adoption agencies provide the potential pet parents to search for a pet of their choice without any need of going to chaotic and noisy locales. You can search for your preferred pet of any breed, size, age, and sex and also even from any specific organization from where the pet came before it made its way to the adoption agency. The websites have pages that list photos of the animals offered by the agencies with their names, their place of birth or from where they came and such related information along with their preferences. Information like vaccinations, eating habits, likes and dislikes and health conditions are all available prior to pet adoption.

If you are not in a position to adopt a pet but you love pets and want to help them, then you can send your donations to the pet adoption agencies. They always welcome volunteers for helping them in services like pet adoption, administrative support, and marketing and fund raising events. There are many programs that facilitate pet lovers to play with pets for certain duration of hours. This service is offered especially to help those pets that are homeless and mistreated earlier, for spending time with loving and caring humans. All the pet adoption agencies provide help and extend their support for the families who have adopted pets recently and for pet adoption seekers. They offer advice on what kind of a pet can suit your family and in-house training. They advice you regarding separation anxiety, basic techniques on obedience, introduction of new pets and how to adjust the new pet with additional pets in your home.

You have multiple benefits in adopting a pet, which was already owned. By adopting a pet you are giving a chance to the pet to live with committed parents in a happy home. Many pet animals when adopted tend to be closer with your family. Initially after pet adoption some pets will be cautious and tentative but they will change along with time when they realize that they have actually been rescued it. When you adopt a pet it will reward you with the satisfaction that you have helped your community by some means. Though pet adoption is a lifetime commitment it will not be that hard for you. All these unfortunate pets are waiting for a chance to join with your loving families to take care of them very well. You always have this option of adopting a pet and a pet will make your family complete. Pet adoption is available not only for cats and dogs but you can also adopt pets like bunny rabbits, rats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and also some varieties of birds.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Understanding-Pet-Adoption-Procedures/48161
Ideal Dogs

Stop Cat Spraying Inside Your House

Cats that spray outside of the litter box is a common frustration for cat owners. The odor is terrible, and getting the cat to stop seems to be an impossible task. To stop spraying issues, first determine why your cat is choosing this behavior.

Cats commonly spray to mark their territories so that other cats know they are around. Felines also may spray if they want to mate. Fights with other cats residing in the same home can cause spraying as this behavior can be a show of aggression. A cat lurking outside of the house could also cause your cat to spray. A new baby or pet, moving to a new house, or other differences in the cat's normal routines can also create this behavior. Kitties that are under any kind of stress such as living in a chronically chaotic household may resort to spraying.

Male cats are often sprayers. A female that is in heat or stressed may also spray. The smell of the spray differs from that of normal urine since spray also contains chemicals produced by the anal glands.

If your cat has not been neutered or spayed, doing so is likely to solve the problem. But, some altered cats will still spray. For the best results, the surgery should be performed before the age of six months.

One thing that you should not try is punishing your cat. Kitties do not understand the relationship between behaviors and punishment, and the stress may cause your cat to spray even more.

Litter boxes must be cleaned and scooped regular. A cat may express its dissatisfaction with the state of the litter box by spraying. Routines such as times for feeding, playing, cleaning the litter box, and bedtime should be consistent. Any accidents that your cat has should be cleaned with an enzyme cleaner to stop the odor. Cats will often return to the same place that they have soiled again and again if the odor is not removed.

A veterinarian examination is important. Bladder infections and other health problems can cause cats to spray. And, if the cat's issue is anxiety, the vet can prescribe anti-anxiety drugs such as Prozac.

If you have cats that fight, try confining each cat to different areas of your home. Sometimes, the best way to solve this problem is to find a new home for the spraying cat. Neither the cats nor your family will be happy if there are chronic battles or spraying. The offending kitty may stop the behavior in a new home, especially if there are no cats living there.

Since spraying is often over territory, confine the cat to a small part of your house. With a smaller place to defend, the cat may not feel compelled to spray. And you will at least be cutting down on the messes to clean up.

Cat behaviorists specialize in analyzing cat behavior and working with you and your cat to implement desired behaviors while reducing unwanted behaviors. You may want to consult one if other measures are not working.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Stop-Cat-Spraying-Inside-Your-House/47935
Pets Health

Selecting Nutrition-Filled Foods for Health Pets

With the availability of many commercial pet foods in the market, you may be confused in selecting the complete pet food that takes good care of your pet's health. You may be wondering whether it is safe to feed commercial pet food or pet food prepared at home.
Your pet's health can be spoiled through any source of pet food and hence you should make sure that whatever food you feed to your pet should not have been contaminated.

Food related illness could occur in your pet due to bacterial infections, chemicals, mycotoxins, metals etc. Mycotoxins are toxins formed by fungus and some type of toxins affect one fourth of the world's food crops. Hence mycotoxin litigation is a big problem and pain to the pet food industry.

We generally get confused with food infection and food poisoning. Pet food infection can be caused when the pets consume food with infectious microbial cell. They initially attack your pet's tissues and start reproducing. Another important aspect to be noted is most of the clinical diseases will not be visible to you before 12 hours. Food poisoning occurs as a result of pet food that already contains a microbial toxin. The food poisoning symptoms are visible within an hour after your pet consumes the pet food. It is always recommended that homemade food preparation should be hygienic and if you are buying commercial pet food, take suggestions from people who are used to feed pets with such foods.

Selecting nutrition filled pet food is a challenging task particularly when there are many pet food providers offering more varieties of pet food. You can choose a complete pet food with balanced nutrition by evaluating the ingredients mentioned on the pet food package. The ingredients will represent fat, fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals in percentage values.

When you are ready to pay a higher price for the pet food, it is reasonable that you look for high and better value and additional health advantages for your pet. Cheap pet foods have more of ingredients that are grain based like wheat, soy and corn. Cheaper pet foods use ingredients like grains, bone meal and meat that are inexpensive and hence show poor nutritional quality. These pet food manufacturers justify that grain protein is equally nutritious when compared with meat protein. But there are arguments that grain proteins put excessive stress on your pet's digestive system and also result in illness in the later stages of the pet's life. Pets like dog and cat eat meat and their digestive system is designed for meat and not for grains. So it is always advisable to provide pet food suitable for your pet's digestive system.

Normally pets are fed with the same kind of food every day if complete nutrition value is available with regular foods. Your pet always should be served the best nutritious pet food and so take time in choosing the perfect pet food for those deserving pets of yours. You can follow the below mentioned tips to avoid pet food problems:

Try to avoid commercial foods for your pets as stool hardening agents are used by most of the pet food manufacturers. Understand the terms used in the pet food label and select the food that provides the calorie needed by your pet. Never over feed your pet. Provide them plenty of fresh water.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Selecting-Nutrition-Filled-Foods-for-Health-Pets/48164
Pets Health

Choosing Pet Clothes for Different Seasons and Occasions

After a hectic and busy day, you will feel good when your pets with pretty gestures welcome you. Pet lovers always consider their pets as one among their family members and take a lot of care for their needs. One product which all the pet lovers show interest is the Pet clothes. When you clothe them, you protect them from the changing weather conditions. Even though the pets have natural fur and hair for protection from cold, clothes adds more beauty and the pets also look very cute by wearing varieties of pet clothes.

The pet clothing for your pet depends on your living environment. If you are residing in a cold region your pet may be exposed to cold climate for a long duration and hence you have to choose thick clothes for your pet. When you are residing in a place with temperate weather condition, you have to unbutton your pet clothes and so you have to buy thin coats for your pets.

Though there are multiple reasons for dressing your pet, you don't have to be worried about your pet clothes if any of the following fits with your pet. When the density of hair and fur is more on your pet, you don't have to additionally burden them with pet clothes. When you live in a hot climate your pet will not enjoy getting dressed. Lastly, if you're pet refuses the pet clothes offered to it, don't force such clothes on it and don't ever try to make it wear pet clothes that it does not prefer. You can always beautify them by other means like hairstyles, jewelries etc.

Pet clothes are having increasing popularity as a lot of stores and suppliers now offer different ranges of pet clothes. Pet clothes are available in different varieties and styles for pet dogs when compared with other pets. This may be because the dogs show more of cooperation in getting dressed. Mostly sale of the pet clothes are focused towards pet owners who are fashion conscious and clothes are marketed with the multiple benefits your pet attains out of using them. Normally after winter walk, pets get tired and their body temperature undergoes sudden change and pet clothes can prevent them from catching cold. Another important benefit of providing clothing for your pet is to safeguard the pet's skin from scratching or aggravating any itching area. If your pet has undergone an invasive operation, then the pet clothes will protect the wound till it's healed. Some pet clothes are exclusively available for preventing family way in pets. Though it may look awkward but it prevents the number of pets in your home from increasing.

Most of the pet lovers choose sports style pet clothes like hooded tops, faux leather jackets, trendy vests, T-shirts and colorful knits as they add more of uniqueness in their appearance. Other fashionable clothes are pet's shoes and boots with matching pyjamas and there are also trouser suits that are waterproof available for your lovable pets. On special days if you don't want your pet to be left out, you can buy fancy costumes. The famous fancy pet clothes are bridesmaid outfit, wedding gowns, tuxedos, and seasonal costumes. When you love your pet and can afford more budgets you can buy fashionable pet clothes as a gift for your pet.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Choosing-Pet-Clothes-for-Different-Seasons-and-Occasions/48162
Pets Health

Dog Training: Tame Your Pets at Ease

If you have a new puppy or dog, then you need to provide some sort of basic training for your pet. You can train your dog yourself or can get it trained through an obedience instructor. As dogs are like kids, they need proper training to mould them into obedient pets. With the required training, your dog can learn how to behave. You can be a happy owner if you have a trained dog. Dog training involves learning to communicate with a dog properly. You can train young pups within 2 to 3 weeks while for an older dog it can take about 7 to 8 weeks for training. Basic training can be started for pups when they are about 8 -12 weeks old for teaching commands and tricks. From about 3 to 6 months, formal classes can begin.

With understanding and patience, the trainer can impart efficient training to resolve the behavioral problems of dogs. For adequate training of your dog, you do not require any strong language or physical discipline. There are a number of methods for making training enjoyable for both your dog and yourself. Certain specific trainings are also available for dogs for doing tasks such as rescue dogs, guiding for the blind, hunting dogs etc.

When providing training for your dog, ensure that the place is open and quiet without any distractions. You can make the training experience an enjoyable one for both of you for ensuring that your dog stays happy, gains confidence and behaves well. The way and tone of speech is important in dog training. You need to use a friendly and happy tone for commands like 'come' and 'heel'. Your voice can be firm and low for commands such as ' stay' and 'Sit down'. You need to appreciate your puppy or dog by offering some toy or food when it obeys the command. After the training class, you can take a little time to play with your pup or dog and this can develop a bond between both of you during the training. You should have good endurance to train and always should avoid harsh punishment.

Remember that food is important in dog training, as most dogs will love to eat. Some foods are tasty for dogs and it is also convenient for the trainer as bits of food can be kept in bag or pockets. Also note that giving food brings positive associations while training. You need to just know which food your dog likes. Never use food for behavior control; instead food should support a behavior. Never train the dog on a full stomach.

Keep the leash a bit loose when you walk with your dog because a tight leash could teach the dog to pull. Do not punish the dog after calling to you. Only one command should be given at any one time. Dogs cannot differentiate the good and bad deeds, as they know specific behavior to certain situations; therefore name a behavior to reinforce some control. Behavior will increase with reward.

You can also choose online dog training if a dog trainer or dog training school is not accessible. You can enroll for some online dog training classes and know all the secrets and techniques used by professional dog trainers for activity training, behavior training and obedience training.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Dog-Training--Tame-Your-Pets-at-Ease/48254
Pets Health

Why Pet Friendly Hotels are Important while Traveling

When you travel you can also take your pet along with you, as there are pet friendly hotels available almost at all places and at an affordable price. But before you travel you have to locate some pet friendly hotels, as some hotels do not allow pets for night stay. It is very important that you contact the hotels you have planned to stay and make sure whether pets are also allowed.

Pet friendly hotels are similar to normal hotels. You can choose bed and breakfast hotels or even a spa and enjoy your trip with your pet beside you. As pet friendly hotels are available in minimum numbers in all the destinations you have to do advance booking. As these hotel rooms are of great demand, they will be booked earlier than typical hotels. For this reason, you have to plan ahead in booking room for you early when you have decided to travel with your pet. Particularly when your travel with your pet is related to pet shows, then the rooms in the destination will be exceptionally booked and therefore ensure comfortable accommodation for your pet before all rooms in the pet friendly hotels are gone.

Many of the pet friendly hotels have specific rooms set aside in the hotel especially for pet owners. These special rooms allow other guests in the hotel to spend their time comfortably in the hotel free from pet dander and also avoiding hearing some other pet's noise. Some pet friendly hotels provide special place for pet dogs so that you can take your pet dog outside for some relief. Rarely some pet friendly hotels provide a few recreation areas like a dog park and this gives an opportunity for your dog for socialization with other pet dogs staying in the same hotel. The pet friendly hotels provide facilities keeping in mind the pets and they also provide pet friendly dining so that your pet deserves special dining service from the hotel. In such pet friendly hotels there will be an invitation often for your pet to do almost everything provided for pets and also additional activities are entertained for pets like dog camps. Such dog camps allow you to enjoy your trip with fun and by leaving the dog in this dog camp will entertain your dog also.

For all the services offered in a pet friendly hotel you need to spend some additional amount as they allow your pet to stay along with you with extra facilities. Though the pet friendly hotels allow pets, you always need additional supplements for your pet so that your pet enjoys staying along with you. The supplements offered by pet friendly hotels are not expensive as far as another persons staying in your room. The supplements will be a little bit expensive and the costs of the supplements depend on the type of hotel you have selected.

You need to do some research before you book in pet friendly hotels. You can get recommendations of pet friendly hotels from your friends and known persons who would have taken their pets to similar destinations earlier. Always do your bookings in advance, as the accommodation costs will be less expensive in advance bookings. Last minute bookings may cost you more and at times you may not be able to get a room.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Why-Pet-Friendly-Hotels-are-Important-while-Traveling/48166
Ideal Dogs

Making Sure Young Fish Make It To Adulthood

Rearing young fish can be a compelling and rewarding hobby. The feeding of fry and their space requirements and culling are discussed below.

Two quite recent fish foods have revolutionized the rearing of fry. These are mikro worms and brine shrimp. Before they were available or had been popularized, raising a tank of two or three hundred young fishes was quite a task. Not all fry can be started on mikro worms or brine shrimp, and some have to be supplied with smaller food for a few days, but a surprising number can eat them from the start, especially the young of the mikro worm, though the parents may be too big.

Thus, newly hatched giant danios (Danio malabaricus), zebra danios {firachydani rerio), glowlight tetras (Hyphessobry con gracilis), head and tail light fish (Hemigrammus ocellifer) and most of the barbs, to cite only a few examples, can take brine shrimp as soon as they are free-swimming.

It is not the size of the young that counts as much as their mouth capacity or even their willingness to accept a particular food. With any given species, it is easy to see whether they are eating brine shrimp because their bellies show a red color even when only one or two have been eaten.

It may be observed that not all the fry are taking them, perhaps only the largest, and it must then be decided whether to arrange for supplementary feeding of the unlucky ones, or to let them starve and raise only the biggest starters. It may be added that either of these newer live foods appears to be a complete and satisfactory food on its own. There is no need to worry about varying the fishes' diet in the early stages if these foods are given.

Space Requirements and Culling

Young fry can stand much crowding. Even when 1/2 inch in length, most species can be packed some 30 or 40 to the gallon. An outstanding exception is the goldfish, in which fry need good space after the first few weeks for adequate growth and must be sorted out fairly early.

The fry of nearly all tropicals can be kept in the small 3- to 5-gallon breeding tank advocated for the first 6 weeks unless there is a spawning, say, of over 250 per tank. In such a case they will do better if given more room after the first 4 weeks. Goldfish fry will stand equal crowding at first, but after 2 to 3 weeks they should be much more liberally provided with space, so that by the time they are 6 to 8 weeks old there should be only about 5 to 10 per gallon, and progressively fewer as they grow up.

In the goldfish, this process will be accompanied in the usual course of events by quite severe culling, so that the capacity of the aquarium is not so badly strained as it might seem at first sight. Culling can start as soon as you can see body and finnage shapes and sizes. Culling for color is impossible until much later.

With all types of goldfish, good shape, finnage, and color are attained by only a very small number - less than 1% is usual. With the fancy types, vast numbers of "throwbacks" occur, some of which are worth keeping as good examples of different classes, but many are useless. The genetics of gold- fish are complex, no doubt made so in part by the reluctance of breeders to inbreed consistently and so help to clean stocks up.

Thus, with the goldfish, culling can be severe. It all depends on your standards and on how many relatively inferior fish you wish to keep for disposal or pond stocking. Few will be worth keeping for further breeding. With tropicals, which throw far fewer abnormal or undesirable forms, it is usually the aim to keep most of the spawning, rejecting only a few runts or badly shaped individuals during the first weeks, and later selecting those which grow best and have the nicest general appearance for breeding.

These few pointers can get you started on this fascinating hobby. Have fun!

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Making-Sure-Young-Fish-Make-It-To-Adulthood/48501
Pets Health

Caring For The Cute Magpie

Magpies (Pica rustica)are fascinating birds with a capability of talking. The different species are distributed over most of the world, in Europe, Asia and North America. They are birds of the woodland. The American and the European species are the ones best known as talkers, and have pure white patches on the wings and abdomen. The rest of the body is black with a glistening sheen. The tail is very long and black, shading to green and purple.

Magpies are very amusing and full of mischief. Like Master Crow, they are thieves for anything you own which may catch their fancy, and which they then proceed to hide. They can pick up quite a few words, and like to imitate strange sounds they may hear around them. These birds make too much of a mess to be allowed the freedom of a house. A cage four feet long, by three feet high, by two feet wide is suitable for them in the home. The larger the space you can give them the better.

If you need a good mouser, a Magpie will answer your requirements, at least during the day. Depending on how they are introduced, Magpies will have either great friendship or enmity for a cat or dog. If you own a Canary or other small bird, don't bother with the introduction, as the anticipatory gleam in the Magpie's eyes will be one of hunger rather than friendship.

In the wild, these birds kill an occasional mouse or small bird as a "piece de resistance." They also consume insects, carrion, fruit and grain. Gastronomically speaking, they are really not very difficult to please.

Other alternative feeds are soaked chicken mash, cooked potato, puppy meal crumbly moist, soaked grain, whole wheat bread, milk, and soaked dog biscuit.

FEEDING IN CAPTIVITY

For easy feeding in captivity you may make up a dry mixture of the following items:

10 lbs. Chicken Egg Laying Mash; 2 lbs. Oatmeal; 5 lbs. Puppy Meal; 1 lb. Fish or Beef Bonemeal; 1 lb. Whole Milk Powder; 1/2lb. of vitamin-mineral concentrate. These items should all be mixed well and stored in a dry spot. When feeding, add water to make it a barely crumbly consistency. This powdered feed has all the necessary elements, is convenient for you to use, and is about a three-months supply. Other alternative feeds are soaked chicken mash, cooked potato, puppy meal crumbly moist, soaked grain, whole wheat bread and milk, soaked dog biscuit.

While the above dry feed is good for them, Magpies should often have a variety of fresh food such as table scraps, mashed potatoes, grated raw carrot, etc., but do not give them cake, candy or coffee. Magpies are partly carnivorous and require the protein of some form of meat occasionally. This may be raw beef or fish (without fish bones), a mouse, cut-up rat or rabbit. Fur, skin and bone should be included with the latter delectable items, as they are apparently essential to the digestive organs of Magpies and Crows.

Vary this also with fresh greens, fruits, berries and grains (cracked corn, hulled oats, peanuts, etc.). A treat most birds relish is a piece of fresh corn on the cob, and a small quantity of milk to drink. The above diet applies also to Crows. As live food when available, up to 12 mealworms may be given a day per bird. These birds enjoy bathing frequently.

DISTINGUISHING THE SEXES

Magpie cocks and hens look alike. When cocks are fully matured (at 2 years), they are deep black and glossy. Hens are paler, although a young cock is as pale as a hen. Males are more alert and active. The young are easily hand-raised by giving them food in your fingers, their mouths being large enough to be fed in this manner. They become exceedingly tame when thus hand-raised.

Using these simple tips, you should be able to care for and enjoy your Magpie. Good luck!

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Caring-For-The-Cute-Magpie/48497
Pets Health

Bulk Catnip And Your Needs

Are you aware that your catnip needs can be easily met by buying bulk catnip? The economies of scale begin to work for you when buying bulk catnip as opposed to the ordinary type, and you will be able to purchase more for cheaper than with typical packet sizes.

With good storage, like in a cool dark place with a package with airtight seal, your bulk catnip will keep fresh and powerful for a good long time. The simplicity of being able to order once instead of repeatedly will make it more convenient as well as save on unnecessary shipping charges. That adds up over the course of time!

Uses for Bulk Catnip

One of the best uses for bulk catnip is to donate it to your local vet or a pet shelter in the area. Both of these organizations have need of mollifying large numbers of felines who have reason to be rather cranky, so you can do a good charitable deed by helping these groups who give so much of themselves to help the animal and human communities. It would be just a little thing to do but a big worthwhile deal to them. Give a little back to those in service to animal kind.

On a less humanitarian scale you can use bulk catnip for making your own catnip cat toys. It's a simple task, to be sure, since the main concern is to have a vehicle to contain the catnip long enough for the cats to get to it. At the simple side of the spectrum are catnip filled cloth bags, and the complexity scales up from there. Might be an interesting side business idea.

If you are enterprising and can extract the catnip oil, then bulk catnip would be a good source of catnip sprays that can be used to freshen up your cat's toys but also keep in mind you could leverage catnip oil's insect repellent properties in the bargain. It's sure to be cheaper than DEET!

Dangers of Bulk Catnip

Well, you probably wouldn't want to be the mailman tasked with delivering you package of bulk catnip! If it's not well packaged, he could be mauled by legions of neighborhood cats in the process of simply trying to do his job and get you your package by the appointed time.

Once your package has been delivered safely, you will want to make sure you secure it well. Catnip should be kept in a dark and cool place. Ideally you would use an airtight container and place it in the freezer, or at least somewhere cool, and somewhere it will be safe from feline detection and thievery.

Good, high quality bulk catnip is very important. It wouldn't be good to find that instead of quality catnip you have a baggy full of stems, seeds, and leaves. They're not good for kitty digestion so you'll want to avoid this. A good supplier will sift the wheat from the chaff, making sure that the resulting bulk catnip is dried and sifted cautiously so as to provide only the most potent catnip. Don't buy stems and stalks!

Summary

If you want a good way to take care of all your catnip needs in a simple, convenient, and economical package, bulk catnip is the way to go. From there you can fulfill your and your cats' catnip needs.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Bulk-Catnip-And-Your-Needs/48634
Pets Health

Pacemakers Are Now Commonly Available For Dogs

Many people know someone who has had a pacemaker implanted for a cardiac rhythm disturbance. Like so many treatments, this has now made the switch from human to veterinary medicine and pacemakers are widely available for implantation into dogs that would otherwise be reliant on less effective drugs.

What is a pacemaker?

A pacemaker is an electronic device for use in certain cases of heart disease to assume the functions of the natural cardiac pacemaker. The first pacemaker to be implanted in a human was in 1957, the first dog to have a pacemaker fitted was in 1968. Since then, the implantation technique has developed so that a pacemaker can now be implanted by feeding it up a peripheral vein to the heart, rather than via open chest surgery.

When is a pacemaker required?

Pacemakers are useful in the treatment of a slower than usual heart rate (bradyarrhythmia) that causes symptoms in the patient. These types of rhythm disturbances are poorly responsive to drugs.

The 2 most common types of bradyarrhythmia in dogs are:

1) Third-Degree Atrioventricular Block
2) Sick Sinus Syndrome

Dogs with either of these conditions usually have a history of a slow heart rate, exercise intolerance, lethargy and sometimes collapse (syncope). Some dogs with third-degree atrioventricular block may already have signs of congestive heart failure, such as fluid in the abdomen (ascites) and fluid between the lungs and chest wall (pleural effusion).

What is required for diagnosis?

A complete baseline blood profile, including hematology and biochemistry, should always be conducted to rule out concurrent disease.

Chest xrays often show an enlarged heart, and are useful to rule out primary respiratory disease.

Ultrasound is used to assess the contractility of the heart muscle, the dimensions of the heart chambers and the function of the valves.

The most important of all diagnostic tests is electrocardiography (ecg). This measures the electrical pulses in the heart itself, so is the most useful for studying rhythm disturbances.

How is a pacemaker fitted?

The dog is put under general anesthetic, taking care to maintain circulation and ventilation as best possible during the procedure. Sometimes a temporary pacemaker is placed via a leg vein, from induction of anesthesia until the permanent one is implanted.

The permanent pacemaker is fitted via a lead in the right jugular vein in the dogs neck. The lead is passed all the way down into the right ventricle of the heart. Once in place, the lead is connected to the pulse generator and the heart is paced as necessary. A pulse generator is implanted under the skin on the right side of the neck. Once implanted, the pacemaker can be interrogated to find out information about sensing and pacing thresholds. The heart rate can be set according to the heart disease present.

Is there much postoperative care?

A bandage is placed around the neck for 7 days following surgery. Dogs should be kept calm for the 48hrs following surgery, the anti anxiety drug acepromazine is sometimes prescribed for this purpose. Antibiotics and painkillers are given for a week or so after the implantation.

What about longer term aftercare?

Aftercare of pacemaker dogs is vital. Animals must be kept quiet for 28 days after implantation to allow the lead to become imbedded in the heart wall. If the lead becomes dislodged the pacemaker with fail, with potentially disastrous results.

Regular follow up appointments with the cardiologist are very important. Stitches are removed 10 days after the procedure, with further appointments at 4 week intervals for several months.

Summary

Whilst for many uninsured pets pacemakers might not be affordable, technological advances mean they are becoming cheaper and more widely available. Although implantation is considered a high risk procedure, complications rates are low and the severity of the disease means it is the treatment of choice.

Pacemakers allow many dogs to return to their normal day to day activities, and most of them can enjoy a relatively normal life expectancy.

Dr Matthew Homfray is one of the veterinary pet experts at www.televets.com. Our dedicated community of caring pet experts are waiting to offer you free advice, second opinions and support.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Pacemakers-Are-Now-Commonly-Available-For-Dogs/48590
Pets Health

Note to Owners to Heed Cat Food Recalls

It is always prudent for pet owners to be aware of and heed warnings regarding pet food recalls. One recent cat food recall came in response to reports of renal failure in pets. It was publicly noted in March 2007, when increased numbers of cats and other pets were observed dying due to kidney failure.

The reason was traced to wet type pet foods made with wheat gluten produced by a single Chinese company. There have been several cases reported following that, but in spite of extensive government and private testing and forensic research, no definitive cause has been identified as the significant factor in the deaths.

Sources of Cat Food

Pet food is a billion dollar industry in America. As a result of the cat food recall, investigators have determined that the cat food in question was manufactured by a large company that was producing nearly 100 brands of cat food under various labels. In the United States there has been significant media coverage of the cat food recall.

There has been public outrage in many places and people have demanded government regulation and set standards for pet food. Pet foods are self-regulated by pet food manufacturers and the government encouraged to set specific standards.

There are about 40 products manufactured by the company that produces pet foods using a variety of labels under the one primary company umbrella. One of the products they produce labelled "cuts and gravy" has since been removed from the market place due to the cat food recall.

The ingredient that appears to be the source of the problem is a protein product that is used to thicken the pet food gravy. These products sold in cans and pouches are available in most popular supermarkets nation wide. Consumers are advised to stop buying these products immediately.

Anyone who believes that they have purchased and made this product available to their pet, has been advised to seek the aid of a veterinarian in assessing any potential illness or condition.

Symptoms Causing Alarm

There has been a 30 per cent increase in kidney failure in cats. This abnormality is the primary cause for the alarm and discovery of the dangerous product. It is definitely the main reason the company issued the cat food recall.

Pet owners have been asked to take their cats to a veterinary doctor as soon as they show any symptoms such as loss of appetite, lethargy, depression, vomiting or diarrhea. These symptoms have been associated with the recent health issues. If the cat is excessively thirsty or urinates more than usual, these are typical symptoms of kidney failure. That kidney failure could be a direct result of exposure to the cat food in question.

New Cat Food

In part, due to that significant cat food recall, the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has recommended that the cats be fed products which contains only U.S. sourced protein supplements until the issues are fully examined and understood. The ASPCA is keeping a close watch on any new developments regarding these investigations. Pet owners can call them or email them regarding with questions and concerns.

More specific data identifying products and companies is available at their website which provides advice and answers all questions regarding the cat food recall. The information will be kept up-to-date and is fully supported by a team of doctors who have been examining cats displaying the typical symptoms of consuming the Potentially lethal cat food.

Tom Henricks is a retired utility worker and charter fisherman from The Canadian of Shore of Lake Erie. For more information about Petfood please visit Petfood Tips and Info

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Note-to-Owners-to--Heed-Cat-Food-Recalls/48750
Ideal Dogs

The Best Dog Food For Your friend

Walking the isles, you will find a wide choice of dog food available in supermarkets and pet supplies today. This can make it difficult to decide which is the best dog food for your best friend. This may be one of the most commonly asked questions by pet owners when they take their dogs to their veterinarian. The answer really is not definitive.

There really is not one "best" that is suitable for all gogs across the board. The answer can be narrowed down by looking at each dog. Dogs are very much like people. Some dogs are extremely active to the point that they are often labelled hyper. Some dogs are built big and tough and some small and delicate. Each will need a diet tailored specifally to that dog's physical needs. However, understanding what determines those needs will help you to determine what the best dog food is for your pet.

The First Component

The first primary difference in dog food relates to the raw materials that are used to provide the nutritional value. You will notice that commercial dog foods are either grain-based or meat-based. Most experts will agree that the best dog food to maintain healthy dogs (who don't have heart or kidney problems) is a meat-based food.

Meat-based dog foods are considered the option due to the fact that their digestive system more easily extracts the nutrient value from the food source. It is common knowledge that protein is a necessary component in the diet of all dogs. Meat based dog foods typically are very high in protein. While meat based dog foods are produced from lamb, turkey, fish, beef and venison, many professionals in the field feel that chicken-based dog foods are the best choice.

Basic Guide

As notednpreviously, no single dog food can be rated the best for all dogs. There are a few things to specifically look for when selecting your dog's food. These components found in the appropriate ratio will ensure that your pet is getting the required source of nutrition from their food. As with people food, dog food will display nutrition labels that provide information about the nutrient value that can be expected from that product. These labels will provide the information you need to dtermine which is the best dog food for your pet.

When reading the nutritional value analysis, pay attention to the amount of protein contained in the dog food. For most dogs this value should be at least 30 per cent. In addition be sure to look at the fat percentage as well. The food should contain at least 18 per cent fat. This number may vary according to several factors. Older dogs or overweight dogs may require food that provides lower fat levels. These issues can be manged simply by selecting a product with lower fat in the source. Other components you should look for would include Vitamin E, the presence of Vitamin C, and the presence of Omega 3 fatty acids.

Food for Health and Happiness

The best dog food for your dog ultimately rests on the evaluation of your particular dog's needs. The key thing to consider is that you ensure that your dog is getting the appropriate amount of nutrients. You may want to consult with your veterinarian for more professional advice about a healthy choice for your dog. That will help you determine what is the best dog food to meet your needs.

Tom Henricks is a retired utility worker and charter fisherman from The Canadian of Shore of Lake Erie. For more information about Petfood please visit Petfood Tips and Info

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/The-Best-Dog-Food-For-Your-friend/48746
Ideal Dogs

How To Make Money Selling Your Equestrian e-Book

Why write an equestrian e-book?

Equestrians are always eager to earn extra money to spend on their horses or on riding. Horse riders would all like to find a way to do so that doesn't involve a large time or financial investment . On the internet, one of the easiest ways to sell your equestrian experience and insight is by writing an equestrian e-book. You may think that

-You cannot write, and never could, your grammar and spelling is terrible

-You know nothing worthwhile that you could possibly write about

-What you do know no one will want to hear about and certainly will never pay for

-You know too little about the internet and computers to publish anything, never mind an e-book.

How to find the time and energy to write an e-book

These are all very valid objections. Your average equestrian rarely have the time to become an internet expert. That is probably why there is such a limited amount of personal-equestrian-experience e-books on the internet market. This means there is a huge market for your e-book and a lot of potential for you to earn some money, sitting comfortably in an armchair in font of your computer. All you need to do is to overcome your limiting beliefs about your writing abilities.

Writing an equestrian e-book is very easy

It is crucial to understand that:

a.You do not have to be an accomplished author to write an equestrian e-book. E-books are written in everyday horse people language and they do not go on for ever either. You can usually get your message across in 20-60 pages. You will be surprised how quickly you get to 60 page when you are writing about something you feel passionate about.

b.You do not need to know everything about the internet or computers to write an e-book, nor will it cost a lot of money or take a lot of time.

c.You can write an e-book about any of the following and earn some money in the process:

1. Equestrian Holidays
2. Your favorite horse breed
3. Reviews of books you read, fiction or non-fiction
4. How to find a good riding instructor/ livery stables/farrier
5. Where on th internet one can find more info about horse nutrition
6. The best horse forum/ horse blogs
7. How to take the perfect horse photo
8. Where on the internet to find th best riding gear/tack
9. Horse names
10. Your favorite horse shows
11. How to groom a horse before a competition
12. A true horse story

The hardest part of writing an e-book is getting the knowledge out of your head and onto the paper or onto the computer screen. Even this can be simplified if you follow a suitable framework. Most people start with a lot of enthusiasm, but never finish; they give up before they get half-way. The secret of writing a useful e-book is to start with the end in mind, to stick to the point and always keep your reader in mind.

In fact, the easiest way to go about it is to write as if you are explaining something about horses or riding to one of your best friends. Some writers record their thoughts by talking to a Dictaphone and later transcribing their ideas.

There are a lot of sites on the net that will teach you how to write and publish e-books. Find one that is equestrian-friendly and start writing.

Dr Margarethe de Clermont wrote several articles, reports and e-books ex.'Ride with Supreme Self-Confidence'. Did you find this article interesting? Discover how you can write and publish your own equestrian e-book at www.equestrian-life-coaching.com Subscribe to to receive your FREE 7 day e-courses. Or visit The Browse eBooks Bookshop

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/How-To-Make-Money-Selling-Your-Equestrian-e-Book/48808
Pets Health

Ask a Vet, Get an Answer

You cannot compare the expertise of a doctor to the expertise of a veterinarian because doctors only need to learn to diagnose and treat one species. Vets, on the other hand, have to learn to recognize and cure diseases for many different species without being able to talk to them in plain English.

Your dog is not going to sit down with the vet and tell him where it hurts or how long he has felt ill. We as pet owners have to take extra precaution in choosing a veterinarian to treat our furry loved ones. Be sure to ask your vet about his or her ability to perform surgery or treat serious diseases like cancer. Most veterinarians are unable to treat these kinds of illnesses, so if you find one who claims to be able to, you have either found a liar or a genius.

Find out which it is, because the specialized training to perform surgery and such is a rare commodity but may be what your pet will need in the future. If your vet is capable of such advanced procedures, you have yourself a winner. Another point of interest that you should ask your veterinarian about is pet dental care. Pet dentists are not exactly common as far as I know, since most people would turn to a vet for this type of thing. If your vet knows anything at all about pet dentistry, count yourself lucky. Ask your vet how to treat your pet's teeth properly, what kind of toothbrush and paste to use, how to remove trapped food, and what kind of food is lightest on teeth. This is not for the pet's vanity but for your pet's genuine well-being, since all pets need to be able to eat appropriately.

When you ask about what food to give to your pet, beware the sales pitch. If the vet only recommends the food in stock in the shop, you may need to ask another vet. It is ideal to find a vet who specializes in animal care only and not in the sale of products. One tip is to avoid any heavily processed foods because just as they are bad for humans, they will not be any better for pets. Avoid major bills by asking your vet to educate you in accident prevention and how to detect early signs of illness.

Many pet owners wait too long to take their animal to a veterinarian because of the big bills they expect to pay, however, prevention is the least expensive option if your vet is really your friend and educates you about how to protect your pets. Many vaccines are unnecessary, so do some research and make sure your vet does not pressure you to over vaccinate.
Any time a medicine is prescribed for your pet, ask about side effects because some treatments offer effects that are worse than the disease. You are your pet's insurance company, so be as tough on your pet's medical treatment as your insurance company is on yours.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Ask-a-Vet--Get-an-Answer/48757
Ideal Dogs

7 Dog Training Tips To Should Know Prior To Starting Dog Training

Dog training is very important if you would like to ensure that you and your new pet will be able to live in harmony. Dog training can correct or modify a number of the dog's natural behaviors, making the dog much more suited to life being taken care of in your home. There are a number of different ways available to train your dog and by following these 7 basic dog training tips, you will find that the training goes smoothly and is fun for both you and your dog.

1. If you are unsure of how to train your dog, seek help.
Individuals that would like to train their dog often have no idea how dog training is conducted or how the personality of their dog will factor into the training process. There are a number of different books and reference materials available to help a person train their dog, and if the owner is still unsure or uncomfortable with the training methods, they can ask a professional dog trainer for assistance and additional dog training tips.

2. Negative reinforcement is the least effective training method.
One of the dog training tips that most dog training professionals wish more people knew is that using negative reinforcement or punishment to train the dog is the least effective way to get the dog to obey you, but is the most effective way of making the dog fearful or aggressive towards you and others.

3. Making dog training fun also makes the training more effective.
Another one of the most important dog training tips to remember is that dogs love to please and are eager to learn in all stages of life, so making the dog training fun for the dog not only makes the training more enjoyable but also makes the lesson easier to learn for your dog.

4. Don't be afraid to use small treats as rewards.
Giving the dog a small treat for a job well done will not hurt the training process and will make the training more enjoyable for the dog. The treat chosen as the reward should only be given during the training process and on the successful completion of the task the dog was asked to do.

5. Research training products extensively before deciding which to purchase.
There are a large number of different training products on the market today and some of these products are intended for a specific use, not for general obedience training. Some of the products will have features that are not necessary to the training that you are trying to conduct, while some others may have features that will make your training sessions easier.

6. Dog training takes time.
Just as you didn't learn how to read in a day, your dog will not master a command or a trick within the space of a day. It takes time for a dog to remember and execute a desired behavior after it has been introduced to them, so this important dog training tip is to give the training time to work and the dog time to understand what you are asking him to do.

7. If at first you don't succeed, try again.
This last tip of the important dog training tips is that if your dog fails to understand a training method or a command, try a different teaching method. Just like different people learn in different ways, different dogs learn in different ways as well.

To find more dog training tips, visit the following site: Free Dog Obedience Training Wisdom. You'll find free articles that will teach you more about how to train your dog to obey you.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/7-Dog-Training-Tips-To-Should-Know-Prior-To-Starting-Dog-Training/49530
Pets Health

How To Create A Profitable Horse Blog

Three easy tips on how to earn money writing a Horse Blog

You may have heard or read that one can earn money by writing a blog. You have decided to write a horse blog because you love horses and horse riding, but you are not quite sure how to go about it, nor do you know exactly what a horse blog is.

What is a horse blog?

A horse blog, or any blog for that matter is a type of journal, a bit like and old-fashioned diary or scrapbook. You use it as an internet-based record of your life, your thoughts, your experiences and your knowledge. Some people use it as a marketing tool, to sell their products or services. Blog is short for weblog; it's a bit like a training log where you note your and your horses training goals and achievements.

Free and easy

It is extremely easy to start a horse blog and is absolutely FREE. All you need to do is to go to a site like Blogger for internet-novices, or Wordpress for internet-intermediates. You can set your blog up in 5 minutes flat by following the simple clear instructions on the website.

And then what? How do you earn money from your website once you have set it up?

Use good, old-fashioned word of mouth to get people to read your blog. Choose a subject for your blog that you are familiar with and feel passionate about. Write about it regularly, at least once or twice a week. Then tell every one you know about it. E-mail all your friends about your new horse blog. Tell your riding buddies, your vet, your farrier, your grand-mother. Spread the word. And then monetize this traffic with the following methods:

1. By adding Google Adsense to your blog. This is not too awfully complicated either. Type the word adsense into your browser window, open an account, wait until it has been validated and then add the code to your websites. There are some excellent e-books available on the net about how to get the most from adsense.

2. By writing reviews about books you have read or equipment you have tried and encouraging your readers to get a copy or piece of equipment of their own. This is called affiliate marketing. It basically means that you agree with the merchant of the e-book you read or product you found useful that you would earn a commission on each sale they make from a client you referred to them. It may sound complicated, but due to the modern technology available on the internet it is in fact tremendously simple. Tons of e-books have been written on affiliate marketing, some more useful than others.

3. Promote your own equestrian e-book or short report on your blog. Add a mouth-watering description of your product, listing all the benefits that buying your e-book will bring riders who buy it. You can even sell your e-book from your blog.

Social Benefits

Not only can you earn money with your horse blog, but it is also extremely rewarding. As time goes by, you will meet lots of fascinating horse people, and learn an enormous amount, all from the comfort of your living room. (or where-ever you keep your computer)

Writing a horse blog is not difficult; it can be a lot of fun and help you earn some pocket money to spend on your horse.

Dr Margarethe de Clermont wrote several e-books (ex.'Ride with Supreme Self-Confidence') and the horse blog 'Equestrian Information'. Did you find this article interesting? Discover how you can write and publish your own horse blog at www.equestrian-life-coaching.com Subscribe to receive your FREE 7 day e-courses. Or visit the Browse eBooks Bookshop

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/How-To-Create-A-Profitable-Horse-Blog/48809
Pets Health

Can Animals See Angels

Gabriel is my grey and white speckled four year old miniature Schnauzer dog. He is soft and cuddly and the best little ball of warmth on frigid winter days. His greatest entertainment is when I sit on the floor and I command him to find a ball. In excitement he begins to jump up and down anticipating my throws, some he catches in midair and others he runs the length of my living room and dining room breathlessly scooping up the ball in his mouth and bringing it back at breakneck speed.

From the moment that Gabriel came into my home he became my little guardian angel. He brought joy into my life and his constant unconditional love warmed my heart and gave me the strength to push ahead no matter how life can pull you down. I guess that's the reason why, when Gabriel suddenly stops all of his activity and twists his head up and looks mysteriously into the empty air, I know he sees angels.

We live in a world where love is tossed aside for wealth and prestige. Having an unseen spiritual God in our lives becomes one thing we can let go of and not really miss until we are faced with a life changing decision that demands God. Sometimes these moments of faith are inspired by the very animals we love.

Numbers 22: 22-30, "God was angry that Balaam was going, and as Balaam was riding along on his donkey, accompanied by his two servants, the angel of the Lord stood in the road to bar his way. When the donkey saw the angel standing there holding a sword, it left the road and turned into the fields. Balaam beat the donkey and brought it back onto the road. Then the angel stood where the road narrowed between two vineyards and had a stone wall on each side. When the donkey saw the angel, it moved over against the wall and crushed Balaams foot against it. Again Balaam beat the donkey. Once more the angel moved ahead; he stood in a narrow place where there was no room at all to pass on either side. This time, when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down. Balaam lost his temper and began to beat the donkey with his stick. Then the Lord gave the donkey the power of speech, and it said to Balaam, 'What have I done to you? Why have you beaten me these three times?'

Balaam answered, 'Because you have made a fool of me! If I had a sword, I would kill you.' The donkey replied, 'Am I not the same donkey on which you have ridden all your life? Have I ever treated you like this before?' 'No,' he answered."

Remember the times in your life when you wished you had someone tell you that you were about to make a very big mistake. Wouldn't it have been wonderful if God allowed your dog to speak and tell you not to do it? Think of all of the wasted time you wouldn't spend debating inside your head whether or not the biggest financial move you were about to make would be the worst possible thing for you to do.

This is the reason why we need to make God a priority in our lives. We do not know the future. But when we pray and ask God to lead us through a tough decision, like a fabulous job opportunity, then suddenly our eyes are opened to things we would not have understood without the spirits help.

During the Old Testament times of the Bible people did not have the Holy Spirit guiding them in their lives. So they had to rely on people who had the ability to see into the unseen spiritual realm surrounding our world. This area is where the spirits gather to influence the minds of men and interact in their lives according to God's plan for the world.

In order to understand the spiritual things of this world we must acknowledge the difference between good and evil. These differences are easily explained through the battle between God and Satan. God sent prophets, who were messengers, to warn and help people. While Satan worked through the false god's of the world to entice people to do evil.

Balaam was a soothsayer, a man who had the ability to interact with evil spirits. Because he was spiritually gifted he also had the same ability that we have today to hear from both evil and good spirits. The story of Balaam and his talking donkey happened because Balaam was given a great job opportunity from a very wealthy King, King Balak.

Balak was an evil king who worshipped idols. During these worship times, human sacrifice and sexual immorality was performed on a regular basis. God, who loves all people, saw how Balak was leading the entire nation of Moab into sin. God decided that the only way to stop this evil from spreading to the Israelites was to completely annihilate Moab from the face of the earth.

Balak had a plan to defeat God's plan and he knew that he could do this if Balaam would come and put a curse on Israel. A curse is the opposite from blessings. When you follow God you are blessed, but when you follow Satan you are cursed. Being cursed is to be enticed away from God and become blind to how evil can corrupt and ruin your life.

Numbers 22: 6, "They outnumber us, so please come and put a curse on them for me. Then perhaps we will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. I know that when you pronounce a blessing, people are blessed, and when you pronounce a curse, they are placed under a curse."

These verses show how powerful a soothsayer Balaam was in Moab and how much Satan controlled the entire country. The evil King Balak promised Balaam riches beyond measure, but God was not pleased with the how evil the nation had become. Israel was blessed because they chose to follow God and so God was not going to allow Satan to curse them and lead them astray like Moab.

Perhaps you have been in a job dilemma where you would become promoted over a person who had served at the same job you were doing for many years and your conscious tells you to do this would be wrong. Or maybe you are confronted with a business opportunity, but in order to have the freedom to be self-employed you must lie to a friend in order to get them to help you, all the time knowing that you would never pay back the loan even when your business turns a profit.

Do you know the difference between taking advantage of a friend or stepping on a fellow employee in order to get the better paying salary? These are clear examples of good and evil. But in our present day world decisions like these can be clouded over by the desire to have a better life: "I should take the promotion, because I have a family and I need the money. Why should I pay back the money I owe when they already have more money than me?"

This is the very reason why we need the leading of the Holy Spirit. God will condemn us through our conscious, but Satan will encourage us through the desire for more money. The only way that God could get Balaam to not curse Israel was to get his attention big time. He did this through his donkey seeing an angel. Balaam needed to know in no uncertain terms that he was not to curse, but to bless Israel.

Numbers 22: 31-35, "Then the Lord let Balaam see the angel standing there with his sword; and Balaam threw himself face downward on the ground. The angel demanded, 'Why have you beaten your donkey three times like this? I have come to bar your way, because you should not be making this journey. But your donkey saw me and turned aside three times. If it hadn't, I would have killed you and spared the donkey.'

Balaam replied, 'I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me; but now if you think it is wrong for me to go on, I will return home.'"

Because God used an animal to speak to Balaam today all of us have an opportunity to learn the difference between God leading us and being lead astray by Satan. Remember if the voice of the Holy Spirit condemns you, listen and you will choose the right path for your life.

We live in a world where we will learn the difference between good and evil whether we like it or not. This is the reason why there are bad people in the world. This is the reason why we have fraud in the business world. This is the reason why people are enticed into falsifying reports so that people will invest in their business schemes.

In order to win against evil people we must hold onto God principles. 'Love your neighbor as yourself', will help you to do what is right. Pray and talk to Jesus Christ about everything. Don't give into easy riches because in the end it can condemn you to never understanding what you are doing wrong. Read your bible and listen to the animals in your life so they can lead you down paths to doing right.

Balaam did continue on his journey, but instead of cursing Israel he blessed them because God would not let Satan infect Israel and cause it to turn away from Him. During the take over of Moab, Balaam died with the evil people who had committed their ways to doing Satan's will.

There are inspired stories of animals rescuing their masters when faced with natural disasters to health issues. Animals have become intertwined within the human culture mirroring the characteristics of compassion and unconditional love. It should become no surprise to anyone that they are one of the littlest angels sent by God to help and aid human beings in their everyday lives.

Linda C Dipman author of THE GAME OF LIFE IT'S ALMOST OVER outskirtspress.com/gameoflife presents AND HIS LOVE SHONE DOWN my true life story! It describes all the persecutions I endured. It will put you on the edge of your seat as you read each vivid detail. You will feel terror and experience love like nothing you have ever read before. lovinghandsministry.com

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Can-Animals-See-Angels/48877
Pets Health

Making Pet Sitting a Pleasant Experience

Pet sitting is becoming popular and the availability of pet sitters is getting increased as they like and love this profession of pet sitting. Pet sitting affords your valuable pet to continue its regular eating and routine habits. You, as a pet owner, can enjoy your annual vacation happily as well as your pet can be in safe hands till you come back.

Committed animal lovers generally do pet sitting. The pet sitters enjoy their experiences in their job with total satisfaction and it is an opportunity they don't want to miss. It is a dedicated job loved by animal lovers and their work schedule does not start on Monday and end on Friday.

Professional pet sitting is not by helping you and your pet, but is also doing it as a job for your pet. A pet sitter when hired takes time for instructions and will give importance to what the pet needs and provides due respect to the clients wishes. Once you purchase a pet, the consequences that follow and services provided by professional pet sitting agencies could relieve your stress to a larger extent.

The advantages of pet sitting:

As your pet will be cared in your home in used surroundings, pet sitting reduces your stress and worries about pet management. Because of proper care being taken of your pet in your home by professional pet sitters, the pet will not get affected by parasite or strange illness. Many of the kennels specify vaccinations for boarding animals there, and by using pet sitting service you can avoid this. Your pet will be used to a set of routine activity and environment and pet sitting does not disturb this course of action and there is no need for your pet to get adapted to new environments.

Sometimes a pet sitter is equally helpful as a house sitter by providing extra-personalized touches like picking post for you, turning lights before you come home etc. and these are added bonuses to you. For complete happiness, you should appoint a trust-worthy pet sitter so that due attention is given to the pet for playing, exercising and periodical evaluation of medical conditions.

The following tips will help you in choosing a perfect pet sitter:

To start with, slowly introduce the pet sitter to your pet and provide details regarding routine care. Always ask for literature with statement of fees and references. Check whether the pet sitter is insured and bonded.

A pet sitter should have a good reputation and you can get recommendations of a pet sitter through your family, relatives and friends. Arrange for a meeting and watch the pet sitting procedure and try to sense your pet's liking towards the pet sitter. Always insist the pet sitter to take important notes related to your pet like any health problems, allergies etc. Always get a copy of the pet-sitting contract so that you will understand the pet sitting conditions.

Paying a small price for pet sitting will get you a good professional care for your pet. Peace of mind is very important to all and so when you wish to travel without your pet, you can use a pet sitting service. Pet sitting allows you and your pet to enjoy a good time but in different places with different companions.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Making-Pet-Sitting-a-Pleasant-Experience/48170
Ideal Dogs

Mastering the Art of Pet Grooming

Pet lovers always consider their pets as important family members and hence they want their pets to be well groomed and clean. You have many grooming services available for your pet. When your pet is not groomed regularly, pets' hair and dander causes allergies to humans. Pet grooming during winter and fall seasons is very important, as you will be restricted to your residence for a longer period. A regular pet-grooming program ensures good health for your pet.

One of the common pets grooming service is regular bath to your pets. As a pet owner, you should show great care for bathing your lovely pet. Before making your pet ready for bath you have to collect all your pets' bath supplies like shampoo, bucket, hair dryer and towel for grooming after bath. Bathing provides them comfortable and warm temperature. Bathtubs will be easy for pets to take bath and you can splash water all over its body. Washing your pets can be done with a hose along with sprayer and you can rub over smoothly with your hand. Pets will love this. There are pet grooming gloves available that help in scrubbing your pet.

You can provide your pets light-handed massage during bath as most of the pets enjoy massage during bathing practice. Pet shampoos are available in different varieties like medicated shampoo, scented shampoo etc. You should choose the best shampoo that suits your pet and shampoo choice depends upon the climatic season. After shampoo, apply a conditioner so that it protects the pet's coat from allergens. Never use the shampoo and soap together for your pet as it may cause skin irritations and problems to them. You can get suggestions from pet grooming trainers for choosing the best bathing items that will be needed for your pet.

While washing the pets' body, brushing their teeth can also be done. After every bath you should rinse their paws and ears with a smooth towel to remove the extra moisture. For pet grooming, you can use hair dryers but the settings of the dryer should be medium for pets. To add more style to your pet, you can use hairbrush.

The following are the advantages you may attain with regular pet grooming:

Dead dander, hair and other debris will be removed when you thoroughly brush and wash your pet. This also helps to remove the odour from the pet's body. Regular brushing ensures increase in blood circulation in your pet because of massaging movements. Air circulation is increased and the skin is clean, free from allergies and diseases. Pet grooming aids in removing mites, ticks, fleas etc. and makes the coat shine with good health. By rubbing and massaging the pet you will know better of its comfort zones. While grooming, you can also feel and detect any lump or any unhealthy body condition in your pet that was not visible to your naked eyes.

You need to have a lot of patience while doing pet grooming, as it is a time consuming activity. Pet grooming gives you a chance of spending more time with your pet and creating a close bond between the pet and yourself. When the pet realizes the care you take for grooming it, the pet will feel more secured in your hands.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Mastering-the-Art-of-Pet-Grooming/48174
Pets Health