How To Housebreak Your Puppy
July 31st, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World4 Comments
So you gave yourself the gift of a new puppy or someone else gave it to you. Unfortunately, this little bundle of joy doesn’t understand the specific places designated for going to the bathroom. So what do you do? How do you housebreak your new pet?
Housebreaking really isn’t all that difficult. As with all, dog training it will take consistency and patience but the hardest part will actually be training you and the rest of your family.
Before you start any training, you always want to be certain your pet is healthy. There is nothing worse then continually disciplining your puppy for going in the house and then finding out they have a kidney or bladder dysfunction.
The key to housebreaking your puppy is close supervision. You need to catch your pet right before or in the act of making a mistake so you can immediately say “ah ah” and take them outside or on to their paper. Using a crate can really speed up the whole process because it makes it easier for you and the rest of the family know when your puppy will need to go to the bathroom. General, but this will very with each puppy, about thirty minutes after eating your puppy will need to go. I recommend feeding your puppy at specific times then put them inside their crate for the thirty minutes and then take them directly outside. Walk around for a bit, if they haven’t gone after a few minutes take them back inside and put them in their crate, repeat until they go to the bathroom. Having treats and lots of praise ready for when then do go will also speed up the process of you puppy learning. Some other times your puppy will most likely need to go is right after waking up and after excited play.
Another thing to keep in mind is how long puppies can actually hold their bladder and bowels for:
2 months old - 3 hours
3 months old - 4 hours
5 months old - 6 hours
6 months old - 7 hours
So, if you work a 9-5 job and your planning on leaving your puppy at home by it’s self all day it may not be realistic to expect your puppy to be housebroken until at least 6 months old.
When your pet starts to go to the bathroom outside you want to have a word that you will say. This way your dog with start associating your command with the act of going to the bathroom. Eventually your dog will be able to go on command, this can come in really handy in the winter when it’s really cold and you want your pet to hurry up. “Hurry up” is the command I have chosen to use with my dogs. I think is sounds better then “Go potty” or “toilet”, but it’s your command so you chose what ever word you will feel most comfortable with.
Housebreaking your pet should not take very long, if your finding that your pet is continually having accidences and it’s driving you insane ask yourself two questions. One, could my puppy have a health problem? If not, have I really been consistent in watching my puppy and catching him before or during the mistake. If you haven’t been consistent you can’t really expect the dog to understand. It’s time consuming at first because you really need to pay attention to what your dog is doing and what he looks like when he’s about to go to the bathroom. But remember if your consistent everything goes much smoother and your puppy will be housebroken in no time.
Aquarium Fish Food Tips
July 31st, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World3 Comments
A balanced diet for your aquarium fish is essential to thier survival. Most of the commercially available dry fish foods are almost always unbalanced. In many cases, the vitamin content will gradually decline at room temperature and since majority of the dry food for tropical fish commonly used will only keep for about three months, it is always advisable to buy fish-feeds in many small packs rather than in one large pack.
The feed could preferably be kept absolutely dry in a refrigerator. However, all fish appreciate a change of diet and will thank you for your consideration with more interesting behavior, better colours, and greater readiness to breed and better general well -being. This change of diet should be supplemented with live food; majority of which now come in irradiated freeze dried forms to make sure that they are disease free.
I will mention a few that could be found handy in some major aquarium shops and I will group them into two. And they are flake foods and freeze-dried foods
Flake foods
Most popular and highly recommended brands are Aquarian, Tetra, and Wardley. They are varying in cost and quality. Wardley is the least expensive among the three. However, the Aquarian and Tetra are richer in specialty flakes compare to Wardley.
Freeze-dried foods
You will also find freeze-dried foods available in aquarium stores. They are favorite foods for aquarium fish. They have single animal-ingredient like mosquito larvae, blood worms and Tubifex worm each. Aquarist should note that freeze-foods are not in themselves complete diet but they can be combine to flake food or other type of freeze-dried foods. We shall discuss more about Tubifex as a popular freeze-dried food.
TUBIFEX - This is a traditional favorite food relished by most fishes. They are small red worms that live at the bottom of streams and rivers particularly where large amounts of organic matter are present. Therefore, it is difficult for the aquarist to collect them life from their habitat. It is therefore preferable to buy Tubifex from pet shops where they are already clean, freeze-dried and concentrated into cube forms.
From personal experience, Tubifex tubes could probably be the most exciting feed to use for fishes. The cube can be stuck to the front inside wall of the aquarium. The fishes in the tank will immediately come forward and bit off pieces of worms excitedly until satisfied.
You need not bother to remove the rest worms since they seldom pollute and in most case fishes return to the feed for further fill.
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Thrush Song Bird
July 30th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World4 Comments
Thrush are a group of small passerine birds that exist most commonly in the Old World. Most often Thrush are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores. Often thrush will feed from the ground. Thrush have also come to be known as song birds as they have many attractive songs.
Thrushes belong to the Family Turdidae which also includes:
Yemen Thrush
Olive Thrush
Olivaceous Thrush
Comoro Thrush
Kurrichane Thrush
African Thrush
African Bare-eyed Thrush
Grey-backed Thrush
Tickell’s Thrush
Black-breasted Thrush
Japanese Thrush
White-collared Blackbird
Ring Ouzel
Grey-winged Blackbird
Island Thrush
Chestnut Thrush
White-backed Thrush
Grey-sided Thrush
Eyebrowed Thrush
Pale Thrush
Brown-headed Thrush
Izu Thrush
Dark-throated thrush
Black-throated Thrush
Red-throated Thrush
Redwing
Song Thrush
Chinese Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Red-legged Thrush
Chiguanco Thrush
Sooty Robin
Great Thrush
Black Robin
Glossy-black Thrush
Andean Slaty Thrush
Eastern Slaty Thrush
Thrush are often found in open woods and land that is mostly cultivated over all of Europe and much of Asia. Many of the northern birds migrate south during the winter. Thrush can be both insectivoresand omnivores. omnivorous Thrushes are known for defending their food source against other thrushes in the winter months. Nesting in trees they lay several eggs in an organized cup shaped nest which is often lined with grass.
You Can Build Your Own Doghouse
July 29th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World2 Comments
Anybody who owns a dog will know that they can be expensive. Vets bills and food supplies soon mount up and this is why so many dogs end up abandoned in rescue centers or put out on to the street. Responsible dog owners are aware of the costs which a pet incurs and so go into it with their eyes open. However, an unnecessary expense is that involved with the purchase of a doghouse.
Many dog owners allow their pets to sleep in the home with them, thus eradicating the need for an exterior doghouse. But others prefer to distance themselves somewhat from their pets, preferring them to sleep outside at night. For these owners, the need to buy a doghouse is essential. These can range from budget buys which are little more than a wooden shell, to hugely extravagant constructions complete with a porch and stairs to make their kennel into a luxury home. Obviously, the cost rises proportionately to the quality of the doghouse. However, there is an alternative option.
You could build your own doghouse. You would still be required to pay for the supplies and you would have to do the work yourself but it means that you can tailor the doghouse to your pet. A doghouse should be large enough for your pet to comfortably turn but no bigger than that in order for it to retain the dog’s body heat and so self-insulate to a degree. Most readily available dog houses that you can buy from pet stores or similar places are a fairly standard size. Given that your doghouse should be sized in relation to your specific dog, you may find that, if you have a particularly large or small dog, that the shop bought ones are not ideal. Therefore, building your own can solve this problem.
There are a few things to remember when buying the materials for your doghouse. The first is to ensure that the doghouse is raised from the floor slightly to prevent moisture from seeping into the wood. The second is to ensure that you purchase exterior grade plywood and not pressure treated plywood. Exterior grade is slightly harder to come by as the majority of hardware stores sell pressure treated. However, this is treated with chemicals which may be harmful to your dog if they chew it.
These are the main things you need to adhere to when building your own doghouse. As long as these three areas, the size, raised from the ground and use of correct wood, are correct you can pretty much do what you like in terms of design and build. Why not decorate the finished doghouse to suit your pet’s personality? That is what I call a designer home!
Pet Insurance Obesity Is Cutting Many Pets Lives Short
July 29th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World3 Comments
Petplan, one of the UK’s most popular pet insurers, has revealed that 60% of pets can be considered obese.
Owners treat their beloved pets with what they feel will do them good - fatty snacks, titbits from the table - in addition to the large portions of food they already eat at mealtimes. As a result, pet insurance claims due to health problems directly related to being overweight are spiralling.
So what are the facts? Petplan insures 800,000 pets in the UK, and in the last five years they have seen obesity related health claims increase by 60%. The result - pet insurers could start slashing payouts as a penalty if your pet is overweight.
So what health problems can an overweight pet experience? Common problems include joint, ligament and tendon issues, problems with breathing, overexertion on the heart, and diabetes. Large, overweight cats can develop skin disorders because they are not able to clean themselves properly. The long-term effects on your pet’s health and lifespan could be disastrous.
It’s not all bad news though - putting your pet on a diet is a lot easier than doing the same to yourself. At least your pet has no choice in the matter, and doesn’t have to deal with the temptation of the Indian takeaway after a hard day at the office, or that second, third, fourth (!) glass of wine. Your pet can only eat what it’s given, so you can take control of the situation. The weight of your pet is your responsibility, so if it is overweight then it’s your job to remedy the situation. It’s not all about food either, if you have an overweight dog then take a bat and ball on the walk and really get that doggy working out! It will do you some good too.
Here’s how to tell if your pet needs to lose some weight. Of course your pet will have a certain amount of padding, but there shouldn’t be too much. First off, rub your pet gently over their ribs, you should be able to feel them without any trouble and the skin should move over the ribs quite easily. Then take a look at your pet from the side from a few metres away. If your pet has a hanging stomach and looks like it could be expecting some babies, then it’s definitely time to introduce a diet. Your pet’s stomach should slope in to form an obvious waist area at the bottom of the rib cage. Now stand over your pet and take a look from above. If your pet’s middle is bulging out to the sides like an apple then it’s carrying extra weight.
It’s not just the four-legged friends either, birds can also be overweight. Examine your bird for rolls of fat or a larger than usual breast area.
Some breeds and species of pet have weight problems inherent in their genetic make up.
For the dogs: Labradors, spaniels, beagles, corgis and retrievers are all genetically predisposed to becoming overweight, especially as they get older.
For the cats: less-active breeds, Persians for example, put on weight as they don’t do much exercise. Zany, fast moving breeds like Abyssinians and Siamese usually keep the weight off.
For the birds: Amazon parrots are particularly prone to piling on the ounces.
If you have just come to the conclusion that your pet is overweight, don’t be tempted to put your pet on a crash diet. Cats can develop a fatal liver problem if their food rations are suddenly cut and they lose weight at a fast rate.
Pets put on weight gradually so the reverse should be applied and their food allowance should gradually be cut. Stop giving them snacks between meals and stick rigidly to set mealtimes. They’ll soon get used to the new regime. You can also introduce more exercise to help them get fitter and also improve their quality of life. Ask your vet for advice on how best to put your pet on a diet, and commit yourself to carrying it through. You owe it to your pet.
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The Benefits Of Therapeutic Horseback Riding
July 28th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World3 Comments
Since the dawn of time, mankind has had an interesting relationship with animals. In some ways, the history of modern man is intimately linked to our interaction with animals. Dog’s, for instance, have long been considered man’s best friend. Any dog owner will gladly confirm this for you. Cat’s, too, have been living in close quarters with man for literally thousands of years.
In modern times, there has been a lot of research and experimentation regarding the use of horses in various forms of therapy. Back in the early 1900’s, Dame Agnes Hunt used horses in the rehabilitation of her patients at the first orthopedic hospital in England. A few years later, therapeutic riding was introduced to soldiers injured on the battlefield during World War I.
In the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, an amazing feat was accomplished. Dame Liz Hartel, a former Danish dressage rider, decided to compete in spite of being severely paralyzed by Polio. She became an inspiration to millions of people, when she won the Silver medal that year. Over time, doctors and therapists realized that exposure to animals was having a rehabilitative effect on their patients.
A number of organizations were established to reflect the interests of this new form of therapy. In the early 1960’s, the first therapeutic riding program in Canada was established by Dr. Elmer Butt. More recently, The Federation of Riding for the Disabled International was created. This organization serves to coordinate efforts between therapeutic riding centers all around the world, and have they been instrumental in helping this form of therapy gain the recognition it deserves.
Horseback riding is currently being used in many types of therapy. It is being used to help children suffering from physical disabilities, as in the case of Dame Liz Hartel. It is also gaining mainstream acceptance as a form of therapy for children with emotional or psychological disabilities. Children are naturally drawn to these majestic and beautiful animals, and many develop meaningful bonds that can last a lifetime.
In the case of children with Autism, riding can provide them with the sensory stimulation they need. The motion of the horse is highly rhythmic, and provides something for the child to focus on. As the child progresses with the horse, they are often introduced to group riding sessions. This allows for socialization and bonding in a peer setting, further supporting the child’s progress as a healthy, functioning individual.
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Dental Care For Dogs
July 28th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World3 Comments
Some people don’t realize that dental hygiene is as important for dogs as it is for human beings. Just like in people, dogs’ teeth can gather plaque after eating. When plaque builds up and hardens it becomes a coarse brown substance called tartar. As tartar accumulates it can work its way under the gums and cause painful infections and gum disease. This goes on in the mouths of dogs just like it does in people. You brush your teeth every day, probably three times. What does your dog do?
Teeth Brushing for Doggies
Veterinarians recommend that dog owners brush their dog’s teeth at least twice a week to keep the buildup of tartar at a minimum. Most pet supply stores carry specially designed toothbrushes and toothpaste just for dogs. Remember that a dog’s sense of taste and smell is far more acute than that of a human and the zesty, tingly, mint taste of toothpastes for people will be extremely awful to a dog. Try brushing Rover’s teeth with Crest just once and it will likely be the last time he lets you anywhere near him with a toothbrush. Use the specially designed doggie toothpaste.
Dental Chew
Some people don’t have the time or patience to brush their dogs’ teeth on a regular basis. If you’re one of these, you’ll want to care for Chopper’s choppers in another way. A dog’s natural tendency to chew is a built-in dental care mechanism. Dog biscuits break into small chunks when chewed and rub against the teeth, providing a cleaning service. There’s no substitute for brushing your dog’s teeth, but if you can’t do that, make sure he gets some sort of crunchy dog biscuit on a regular basis.
Mouth Diseases in Dogs
Dogs that do not receive proper dental care and do not have access to crunchy teeth cleaning foods run the risk of several types of mouth disease. These can be as mild as gingivitis (a gum disease that results in swollen, inflamed gums) and as serious as a bacterial infection that can spread through the dog’s bloodstream causing damage to vital organs. You owe it to yourself and your dog to take care of his teeth.
Doggie Dentistry
Dental services are available for dogs, just like they are for people. A dog’s teeth can be filled, capped, and extracted if necessary, just like a human’s. The best course of action, however, is to avoid the need for such services by properly caring for your dog’s teeth. If you can avoid unnecessary pain and discomfort for your furry friend, you should do so. Preventative doggie dental care can save you money as well. Doggie dental procedures can be quite costly.
Home Alone Troubles
July 27th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World4 Comments
Do you have problems leaving your dog home alone? Do you come home, only to find that your dog has been up to mischief or tried to escape from the yard? This is not an uncommon problem at all, and we’ll explain why your dog behaves badly when alone and what you can do about it.
Dogs experience many of the same emotions as humans such as anxiety, boredom and depression. If one of these emotions is triggered, it will also affect their behavior or lack thereof. Since dogs are pack animals, they are very sociable and simply do not like to be left alone. When a dog is left alone it can experience a feeling of neglect, depression, boredom and anxiety. Neglect can lead a dog to cry and howl for an extended period of time. This will happen as you leave and while you are gone. If a dog feels bored while home alone, this is what can lead to destructive and naughty behavior e.g.: barking, chewing anything in sight and digging up the yard. The most detrimental effect on your dog however, is the feeling of an anxiety commonly referred to as “separation anxiety”. The fear of abandonment that sets in can even cause your dog to feel sick, vomit and lose control of its bodily functions.
The good news is that dogs can be trained out of anxiety, and a few simple techniques can be used to help relieve the stress on your dog when home alone.
When leaving the house, a common mistake of owners is to give excessive emotional comforting to the dog. Extended “bye bye’s” and “you’re a good dog” do nothing but increase the dog’s anxiety when you leave. So in future, when leaving, just do so with a quick and firm gesture. When returning, again do not make a big deal about it, just go about your business as if nothing has happened.
It is also important to ensure that your dog won’t be left without any entertainment. After all, the dog will need to something to occupy its time. Provide sufficient toys, something to chew on, dog biscuits and anything else that might help the dog beat boredom. If you’re dog has a bad behavioral problem, try giving it some exercise before you leave. Getting rid of that extra energy can work wonders.
With a little conditioning, your dog should have no problems being home alone. If you are still not confident about leaving your dog alone for extended periods, then start small. Go out for 30 minutes, then try an hour and progressively build up until both you and pooch are comfortable. If all else fails, then consult your vet, as there are medications available for dog anxiety.
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Proper Housing Arrangements For Red Footed Tortoises
July 27th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World5 Comments
The Red-Footed Tortoise is not a large turtle. It is not small either, being in the middle of the size range for turtles. This said, the Red-Footed Tortoise needs a very large area to live in a healthy manner. A minimum size for a habitat for these creatures should be roughly 2.5 metres by 2.5 metres. The best place to house these turtles is outside. There are several things that need attention though. The humidity should always be between 60% and 85%, and the temperature should never be below 50 degrees F. If any or all of these conditions can not be met, you must house them inside, and simulate the conditions.
When keeping them outdoors, make sure you offer them plenty of protection from the sun. They will also want plenty of tall grass, plant life and a shallow but heavy dish of water. Red-Footed Tortoises are land based turtles, and do not need deep water.
When keeping the tortoises indoors, there is a set of guidelines you must follow. You can use whatever material you see fit, but wood is the most common. Make sure the floor of the enclosure is waterproof, in case any water is knocked over. A wooden floor may cause problems, as the water will seep into the wood, and over time could cause mould problems. If on concrete, never leave the floor bare. This has been noted as a cause of health problems in turtles, the most common being penis prolapse. This said, the bottom, whatever material it is, needs to be covered with a more natural substrate. Mulch type substrate works well. Peat moss, sphagnum moss and play sand are recommended. A mixture of peat moss and sand is the best substrate. Make sure the sides of the enclosure are tall enough to prevent the turtles from getting out. Like most reptiles, Red-Footed Tortoises require hiding places. They will also need an area that has increased humidity. A large container, on its side, with dampened substrate works well. When needed, the tortoise will crawl inside to get to the humid area.
You must also provide your tortoises with a heat gradient. This can be achieved by placing a basking lamp on one end of the enclosure. The cool side should be kept around 73 degrees F, and the hot end should be kept around 87 degrees F. If you have multiple tortoises you will need to provide multiple basking spots. Drop the temperature at night to be 57 degrees F to 60 degrees F, and like outdoors, never let this temperature drop to or below 50 degrees F.
Aside from the heating lights, full-spectrum fluorescent lighting is necessary for proper synthesis of vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is needed to properly use calcium in the tortoise’s body. You should always bring your turtles outside on warm days, as the natural sunlight provides the best vitamins you can get from light.
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When Dog Training Really Matters
July 26th, 2008 | Posted by catto | Category: Pet World2 Comments
Dogs can be very sociable. In fact, they sometimes get too sociable and get aggressive. That is why it is important to train the dogs to control their behavior.
Moreover, dog trainings are important to avoid dog biting incidents. Statistics show that 77% of dog biting cases are mostly those that are within the family.
Hence, with dog training, bad habits are removed and dogs have better control with their feelings and behavior towards environmental and social variables.
However, implementing dog training is not that easy. Certain things must be employed to have positive results. The thing needed in dog training is what most experts define as “positive reinforcement.” This refers to the way people reward their dogs with treats, praises, or both whenever their dogs show positive behavior.
Through positive reinforcements, dogs will be able to comprehend that treats and praises will come whenever he shows good behavior. For example, when the owner gives his dog some treats for obediently obeying his commands, the dog will think that obeying commands when told equals treats.
But this does not necessarily mean that when the dog did not obey the owner’s commands, punishment is needed as counter-reinforcement. This should not be the case because punishments will only make the matter worst.
What will happen is that the dog will be confused and it will begin to doubt your feelings.
The next thing that humans must remember when training their dogs is that people should avoid training their dogs into bad habit. Actually, many people are not aware they are doing this but there are instances wherein the people’s reaction towards some behavior of the dogs will inadvertently train the dog in a bad way.
For example, when dogs bark, it is common especially when they do that because they see something strange or unfamiliar things. But, when dogs continue to bark, even if it includes a familiar person, that becomes a problem.
In this case, most people have the inclination to yell and tell their dogs to shut up. This particular reaction of dog owners will confuse their dogs and will only make them understand that the reason why their owners are yelling is because they are also enjoying the shouting scene and that they are “barking” along with their dogs.
The key point here is to avoid paying attention to the dog. In time, he will stop. It’s when the owners should reward their dogs.
Boiled down, dog training is all about positive reinforcements. And, as they say, positive reinforcements reap positive results.