Everyone wishes for a well behaved pet dog that wouldn’t chew on their favorite shoes, or leave half-eaten newspapers on the lawn. We all long to find our own version of Lassie, but it’s difficult when we don’t know where to start. Training your mutt to be a Class A citizen is close to impossible if you’re off on the wrong foot. This article lists pointers to guide every dog lover on the right track.
Choosing the right collar and leash
The fist step in training your dog is to find the right collar and leash. Make sure that the collar you buy is strong enough to hold an aggressive and untrained mutt, but comfortable enough for long term wear. Don’t buy a frail collar just because it looks cute on your pet. On the other hand, you shouldn’t pick a collar that could possibly injure your dog. Collars made of tough cloth and leather are very good choices.
When buying the leash, the same rules apply. Chain leashes may be strong enough to handle a big mutt, but they’re pretty difficult to manage unless you’re wearing gloves. Chain leashes can also injure your pet, so it’s still safer to choose a tough rope-like cloth leash.
Positive reinforcement works best
Just because you have an aggressive dog doesn’t mean that you have a bad dog. Most of the time, pet aggression is caused by a misunderstanding between you and your pet. You pet is probably venting out frustration because it couldn’t please you. Giving treats to reward your pet works better than any punishment when you’re trying to get the message across. Harsh punishments for misdemeanors only trigger defensive behavior from your dog. For this to work, make sure you don’t spoil your pet dog by giving it treats for no reason. Make treat giving an occasional but meaningful occasion.
Keeping your sessions short and sweet
Your pet’s attention span can only hold lessons for 10 to 15 minutes in a row. Holding long training sessions within the day, in other words, will only bore your pet. For a more effective training scheme, spread your training sessions into 2 or 3 regular segments throughout the day. Try to stick to a strict and consistent training schedule, and don’t rush your pet when you’re in training. Slow and steady wins the game in pet training too.
What you should do when all else fails
There are some pets that are simply harder to train compared to others. Labradors usually give their owners a big headache because they tend to act like pups even when they’re all grown up.
Most people who can’t train their dogs look for professional trainers who can hold sessions inside their house. Some owners also find dog schools effective for extremely disobedient mutts. If you’re not comfortable about leaving your pet in someone else’s hands, you should try group dog training sessions, so you can still train your dog under the supervision of a professional pet trainer.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Cat Breeding Basics
Cat breeding is an expensive undertaking both as far as the money it costs and the time it takes. It's important to realize that cat breeding is serious business and cannot be done well without a lot of effort.
The first thing you need to do if you want to get into cat breeding is learn everything you can find about your chosen breed. Research the breed, it's origin, it's history, and it's Cat Fancier Association breed standard.
Becoming a cat breeder is a huge commitment. Cat breeding is not easy. Make sure you are ready to make this huge commitment before you take the cat breeding plunge!
Health is the most important consideration when selecting cats for breeding. You also must consider coat color and pattern. It's important to have a thorough knowledge of your breed so you know exactly what you are looking for.
Breeding a male and female cat usually produces kittens in about 65 days. But it is not that unusual for cat pregnancies so don't necessarily be concerned if the pregnancy goes past 65 days.
It's very important that the mother cat is fed very well during her pregnancy. Of course you want to be consulting with your veterinarian during this very important time. Some feel it is a good idea to restrict the movement of the mother during her pregnancy not only to lower the chance of injury but also to get the mother cat used to her more sedentary lifestyle she'll be living once her kittens are born.
After the kittens are born be sure that they are gaining weight. You should be able to see the kittens gaining weight. If they are not gaining weight there is something wrong. You should know ahead of time how to tube feed a kitten and you should have that equipment available in case something is going wrong. The problem will most likely correct itself in a few days but if it does not you may need veterinarian assistance.
Weigh your kittens every day at the same time. Do not weight them in the morning one day and in the evening the next. Pick one time like 10 AM and weigh them at that one time every day to be sure you are getting an accurate reading. Little or no weight gain one day to the next is a sign of a problem. Kittens should be gaining weight every day!
After the 3rd week kitten food should be made available. Sometimes kittens ages 3 and 4 weeks will become curious about their mother's food and may try to eat it themselves.
Handle your kittens from an early age so they become more socialized. This will make them better pets and also better show cats.
No kittens should leave your home prior to 12 weeks. They should never leave your home before inoculations are complete.
Hopefully you've got some better idea about cat breeding basics from this article and you have a clear idea of whether you want to become a cat breeder and if you do, you should have some basic cat breeding knowledge now.
About The Author
Hello I'm a serious cat lover and I am writing this article for www.mycatwearsclothes.com the ultimate cat website. Please chat with me on the great Cat Forum there.
By Matthew Yoho
The first thing you need to do if you want to get into cat breeding is learn everything you can find about your chosen breed. Research the breed, it's origin, it's history, and it's Cat Fancier Association breed standard.
Becoming a cat breeder is a huge commitment. Cat breeding is not easy. Make sure you are ready to make this huge commitment before you take the cat breeding plunge!
Health is the most important consideration when selecting cats for breeding. You also must consider coat color and pattern. It's important to have a thorough knowledge of your breed so you know exactly what you are looking for.
Breeding a male and female cat usually produces kittens in about 65 days. But it is not that unusual for cat pregnancies so don't necessarily be concerned if the pregnancy goes past 65 days.
It's very important that the mother cat is fed very well during her pregnancy. Of course you want to be consulting with your veterinarian during this very important time. Some feel it is a good idea to restrict the movement of the mother during her pregnancy not only to lower the chance of injury but also to get the mother cat used to her more sedentary lifestyle she'll be living once her kittens are born.
After the kittens are born be sure that they are gaining weight. You should be able to see the kittens gaining weight. If they are not gaining weight there is something wrong. You should know ahead of time how to tube feed a kitten and you should have that equipment available in case something is going wrong. The problem will most likely correct itself in a few days but if it does not you may need veterinarian assistance.
Weigh your kittens every day at the same time. Do not weight them in the morning one day and in the evening the next. Pick one time like 10 AM and weigh them at that one time every day to be sure you are getting an accurate reading. Little or no weight gain one day to the next is a sign of a problem. Kittens should be gaining weight every day!
After the 3rd week kitten food should be made available. Sometimes kittens ages 3 and 4 weeks will become curious about their mother's food and may try to eat it themselves.
Handle your kittens from an early age so they become more socialized. This will make them better pets and also better show cats.
No kittens should leave your home prior to 12 weeks. They should never leave your home before inoculations are complete.
Hopefully you've got some better idea about cat breeding basics from this article and you have a clear idea of whether you want to become a cat breeder and if you do, you should have some basic cat breeding knowledge now.
About The Author
Hello I'm a serious cat lover and I am writing this article for www.mycatwearsclothes.com the ultimate cat website. Please chat with me on the great Cat Forum there.
By Matthew Yoho
Monday, August 18, 2008
Cat soiling and not using litter tray? by Kathy Davison
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Soiling and not using a litter tray are problems that many cat owners sometimes face with indoor cats. Sometimes this can be a sign of illness and a visit to the vet might sort out the problem .It could be the cat is suffering from a bladder problems or constipated and so it begins to associate the litter try with pain. Many times indoor cats could be allergic to a food or some chemicals in the home, carpet, shampoo or paint and the explanation may be quite simple. In other cases your cat may be asking for the litter tray to be changed more often or it may be unhappy with the litter being used. Try a finer grained litter or stop using those with a deodorant added. Other possibilities are that the tray is placed too close to the cat's food or in a high traffic area where feet constantly tramp past. If lack of peace and privacy could be the problem, a hooded litter tray may be the solution.
Never smack or scold an indoor cat for soiling, even if you catch it in the act: this will increase any feelings of insecurity and make the behavior worse. The old idea of rubbing the cat's nose in it is even more counterproductive; the cat might enjoy the smell and want more! Begin by cleaning the area with a warm solution of biological detergent, followed by surgical spirit or a weak solution of household bleach and a scattering of baking soda. Check your fabrics for colour fast first!!
Do not use any disinfectant containing chlorine or ammonia; it may smell clean and fresh to you but to a cat it smells as though another cat has been in the house and draws it back to that place. Some disinfectants can also be absorbed through the paws.
Discourage the cat from revisiting the soiled area by laying a sheet of slightly crinkled aluminium foil over it or try feeding the cat in that place, once it is completely clean. No cat will soil its feeding place. If the cat tends to leave a deposit in the middle of your bed-this seems to be a favorite location for an indoor cat- if the cat is upset at being left alone or left behind while the family goes on Holiday-fix a sheet of plastic over the bed. Remember that once your understand why the cat is soiling its usually easy to rectify.
About the Author
Kathy is a fulltime lecturer in human and animal Health in a college in N.Ireland. She also has an online business dedicated to cats and dogs. http://www.kathydavison.com/catproblems.html
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Choices For Names For Your Pet Birds by Mikael Rieck
The sky is the limit when it comes to finding creative names for your pet bird. The name you choose to give your pet bird could range from something silly to something serious and everything you could imagine. Some bird owners opt for sticking with traditional bird names, while others choose names that are off the wall. If you are unsure what to name your pet bird, there are some ideas that might help you decide.
Some birds' names are derivative of the kind or type of bird they are. Other ideas for pet bird names are descriptive of their feathers or colors. Whatever scheme you want to go with for choosing a name for your pet bird, there are plenty of good ideas for names available. Here is a list of some of the most common bird names for all types of pet birds:
A-B Pet Bird Names: Abercrombie, Acadia, Achilles, Adonis, Adriel, Amadeus, Ami, Ari, Aria, Ares, Arcadia, Amber, Adonis, Banana, Bam Bam, Bilbo, Berrie, Bernie, Brahms, Baby Beak, Barnabas, Bailey, Billabong, Binky, Brady, Boyd.
C-D Pet Bird Names: Chico, Chaso, Clyde, Cole, Conga, Conrad, Sparrow, Candy, Canoli, Caper, Captain Jack, ChiChi, Chelsie, Cherrio, Coco, Callie, Conrad, Dafney, Daisy, Dakota, Dali, Dania, Dinah, Dinky, Destiny, Dora, Doohicky, Dudley, Demeter, Dude, Darcy, Diego, Doozer.
E-F Pet Bird Names: Echo, Elan, Elgar, Emily, Emerald, Eve, Ernie, Elmo, Eggbert, Elsu, Euterpe, Feathers, Folly, Frank, Fern, Fanfan, Fallow, Faith, Falco, Fred, Frank, Fletch, Finesse, Frazier.
G-H Pet Bird Names: Gandolf, Gar, Gill, Giligan, Georgia, Grady, Grace, Goldie, Ginger, Gimli, Gallant, Goliath, Geebers, Hamham, Happy, Harry, Hailey, Hillary, Hermes, Hera, Hombre, Honey, Horatio, Homer.
I-J Pet Bird Names: Ian, Icebreaker, Ichabod, Illy, Inca, Indi, India, Indigo, Iris, Isaac, Isabeau, Isabelle, Isis, Ivy, Jake, Jay, Jo, Jewel, Jerry, Jude, Julia, Jumbo, Java, Jamie, Julius, Josetta, Jose.
K-L Pet Bird Names: Kade, Kya, Keeter, Kiara, Kamie, Kalypso, Kally, Kirby, Kip, Kira, Kiwi, Koko, Kako, Karma, Katie, Lacey, Lily, Lime, Lizzie, Lulu, Luke, Luca, Louis, Leah, Lanie, Larka, Leelu.
M-N Pet Bird Names: Maggie, Maddy, Melody, Max, Mo, Molly, Monet, Misha, Maya, Monroe, Melody, Maya, Maude, Nate, Neva, Nibbles, Nissa, Niko, Nero, Neptune, Norton, Nanny, Nessie, Newton, Nimbus.
O-P Pet Bird Names: Ocean, Odin, Olive, Ollie, Onyx, Opal, Oscar, Ortega, Olivia, Oedipus, Odilon, Pandora, Paco, Pepe, Percy, Polly, Pippin, Plato, Pip, Pluto, Poochie, Pascal, Pappy, Paloma, Petry, Priudence, Pickles, Pika, Pearly, Peedie.
Q-R Pet Bird Names: Queen, Qunicy, Quentin, Quennell, Querida, Radley, Rhett, Rocky, Rodin, Raven, Robin, Rosy, Ricky, Ruffian, Rowan, Rockey, Remus, Reed, Raphael, Rhianna, Rhona.
S-T Pet Bird Names: Sandy, Sierra, Sidi, Spud, Squek, Sparrow, Sparky, Shonna, Shylee, Sangria, Samson, Salterella, Sam, Sammy, Sahale, Sidian, Spike, Tiki, Tuck, Tweeky, Tweeter, Tao, Tico, Tia, Thor, Tequila, Taco, Teila, Tarma, Tansy, Tango.
U-V Pet Bird Names: Uh-oh, Ulani, Unity, Uriah, Uranus, Ulysses, Urania, Val, Virgil, Violet, Verdi, Vixen, Venus, Vesta, Voltaire, Verdis, Vaughan, Vanilla, Verne.
W-X Pet Bird Names: Wanda, Willow, Willy, Winter, Wriggley, Winnie, Winslow, Worple, Wanda, Xaviera, Xenos, Xerxes, Xylia.
Y-Z Pet Bird Names: Yale, Yancy, Yannis, Yasmin, Yetta, Yoda, Yvette, Yves, Yoshi, Yates, Yodel, Xena, Ziggy, Zoe, Zola, Zippy, Zorro, Zazu, Zen, Zeus, Zelda.
As you can see from this list of common bird names there is no shortage of creative and fun names, and names that have special meaning. Pet bird names are varied and you be as imaginative as you like. One thing to keep in mind when naming your parrot is to keep it something shorter and that is easy to mimic to help your parrot pick up on it faster and be able to repeat it.
About the Author
Visit the authors website at www.petinsurancepro.com for more valuable information on pets. Also download a free pet health report. Read the latest reviews on pet insurance companies like ASPCA Pet Insurance, Banfield Pet Insurance and VPI Pet insurance.
Some birds' names are derivative of the kind or type of bird they are. Other ideas for pet bird names are descriptive of their feathers or colors. Whatever scheme you want to go with for choosing a name for your pet bird, there are plenty of good ideas for names available. Here is a list of some of the most common bird names for all types of pet birds:
A-B Pet Bird Names: Abercrombie, Acadia, Achilles, Adonis, Adriel, Amadeus, Ami, Ari, Aria, Ares, Arcadia, Amber, Adonis, Banana, Bam Bam, Bilbo, Berrie, Bernie, Brahms, Baby Beak, Barnabas, Bailey, Billabong, Binky, Brady, Boyd.
C-D Pet Bird Names: Chico, Chaso, Clyde, Cole, Conga, Conrad, Sparrow, Candy, Canoli, Caper, Captain Jack, ChiChi, Chelsie, Cherrio, Coco, Callie, Conrad, Dafney, Daisy, Dakota, Dali, Dania, Dinah, Dinky, Destiny, Dora, Doohicky, Dudley, Demeter, Dude, Darcy, Diego, Doozer.
E-F Pet Bird Names: Echo, Elan, Elgar, Emily, Emerald, Eve, Ernie, Elmo, Eggbert, Elsu, Euterpe, Feathers, Folly, Frank, Fern, Fanfan, Fallow, Faith, Falco, Fred, Frank, Fletch, Finesse, Frazier.
G-H Pet Bird Names: Gandolf, Gar, Gill, Giligan, Georgia, Grady, Grace, Goldie, Ginger, Gimli, Gallant, Goliath, Geebers, Hamham, Happy, Harry, Hailey, Hillary, Hermes, Hera, Hombre, Honey, Horatio, Homer.
I-J Pet Bird Names: Ian, Icebreaker, Ichabod, Illy, Inca, Indi, India, Indigo, Iris, Isaac, Isabeau, Isabelle, Isis, Ivy, Jake, Jay, Jo, Jewel, Jerry, Jude, Julia, Jumbo, Java, Jamie, Julius, Josetta, Jose.
K-L Pet Bird Names: Kade, Kya, Keeter, Kiara, Kamie, Kalypso, Kally, Kirby, Kip, Kira, Kiwi, Koko, Kako, Karma, Katie, Lacey, Lily, Lime, Lizzie, Lulu, Luke, Luca, Louis, Leah, Lanie, Larka, Leelu.
M-N Pet Bird Names: Maggie, Maddy, Melody, Max, Mo, Molly, Monet, Misha, Maya, Monroe, Melody, Maya, Maude, Nate, Neva, Nibbles, Nissa, Niko, Nero, Neptune, Norton, Nanny, Nessie, Newton, Nimbus.
O-P Pet Bird Names: Ocean, Odin, Olive, Ollie, Onyx, Opal, Oscar, Ortega, Olivia, Oedipus, Odilon, Pandora, Paco, Pepe, Percy, Polly, Pippin, Plato, Pip, Pluto, Poochie, Pascal, Pappy, Paloma, Petry, Priudence, Pickles, Pika, Pearly, Peedie.
Q-R Pet Bird Names: Queen, Qunicy, Quentin, Quennell, Querida, Radley, Rhett, Rocky, Rodin, Raven, Robin, Rosy, Ricky, Ruffian, Rowan, Rockey, Remus, Reed, Raphael, Rhianna, Rhona.
S-T Pet Bird Names: Sandy, Sierra, Sidi, Spud, Squek, Sparrow, Sparky, Shonna, Shylee, Sangria, Samson, Salterella, Sam, Sammy, Sahale, Sidian, Spike, Tiki, Tuck, Tweeky, Tweeter, Tao, Tico, Tia, Thor, Tequila, Taco, Teila, Tarma, Tansy, Tango.
U-V Pet Bird Names: Uh-oh, Ulani, Unity, Uriah, Uranus, Ulysses, Urania, Val, Virgil, Violet, Verdi, Vixen, Venus, Vesta, Voltaire, Verdis, Vaughan, Vanilla, Verne.
W-X Pet Bird Names: Wanda, Willow, Willy, Winter, Wriggley, Winnie, Winslow, Worple, Wanda, Xaviera, Xenos, Xerxes, Xylia.
Y-Z Pet Bird Names: Yale, Yancy, Yannis, Yasmin, Yetta, Yoda, Yvette, Yves, Yoshi, Yates, Yodel, Xena, Ziggy, Zoe, Zola, Zippy, Zorro, Zazu, Zen, Zeus, Zelda.
As you can see from this list of common bird names there is no shortage of creative and fun names, and names that have special meaning. Pet bird names are varied and you be as imaginative as you like. One thing to keep in mind when naming your parrot is to keep it something shorter and that is easy to mimic to help your parrot pick up on it faster and be able to repeat it.
About the Author
Visit the authors website at www.petinsurancepro.com for more valuable information on pets. Also download a free pet health report. Read the latest reviews on pet insurance companies like ASPCA Pet Insurance, Banfield Pet Insurance and VPI Pet insurance.
Dog Eating Health Problem with Dog Food by B.J.Lyons
For every activity--the daily walks, the romps in the park, the all-important, rejuvenating naps--your dog craves a great-tasting, life-enriching food. Everyone knows we should eat healthy and in moderation along with getting plenty of exercise. The idea doesn't change for our pets. If your dog lives healthy by avoiding dog eating health problem, you won't have to see the vet as often! If your dog is confined to a yard or other area, give it lots of space and things to play with or explore, to encourage exercise. Dog biscuits and table scraps should be saved for very special occasions. Don't believe everything you hear from the so called experts concerning commercial dog foods and supplements.
Having your dog examined by a vet is expensive but necessary. Even with your best attempts to avoid any dog eating health problem. Every pet will need to be examined by a vet occasionally. Dog illnesses, like human illnesses, if caught early are often more treatable. Regular exams by a vet are your best chance for early warning of disease. Even if your dog is the healthiest pet ever known, it may have an accident; this could call for immediate emergency care. Also if your dog is Older it may be in pain from age-related matters. So, no matter how you cut it, you're going to have to take your dog to the vet sooner or later. Accept it and be ready to pay for it!
About the Author
B.J.Lyons is from Buffalo NY and has more information for you about good eating for your beloved Doggy turn your volume up and enjoy the video at http://www.budricks.com/doghealth .
Having your dog examined by a vet is expensive but necessary. Even with your best attempts to avoid any dog eating health problem. Every pet will need to be examined by a vet occasionally. Dog illnesses, like human illnesses, if caught early are often more treatable. Regular exams by a vet are your best chance for early warning of disease. Even if your dog is the healthiest pet ever known, it may have an accident; this could call for immediate emergency care. Also if your dog is Older it may be in pain from age-related matters. So, no matter how you cut it, you're going to have to take your dog to the vet sooner or later. Accept it and be ready to pay for it!
About the Author
B.J.Lyons is from Buffalo NY and has more information for you about good eating for your beloved Doggy turn your volume up and enjoy the video at http://www.budricks.com/doghealth .
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