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February 24th, 2009 by KittyKitty

One of the toughest jobs that a family faces when a new puppy comes home is getting the dog housebroken. This means that the dog will eliminate outdoors and not use your home and furnishings as a toilet. Lots of people think that getting doggy toilet trained is a tough task, but it doesn’t need to be. If you arm yourself with plenty of information for the best ways to get your dog house trained, you are on the right path to having a dog that goes to the bathroom where you want him to go.

When to House Train

A dog can be toilet trained at any age, but the best age to begin is between eight and twelve weeks old. If you set up a housebreaking routine as soon as you bring your puppy home, before long he will get the right idea of where to do his business. A crate is a great tool for toilet training a puppy. It keeps him confined when there is no supervision and most dogs learn quickly that if they make in their crate they will have to sit in it. Most dogs are fairly hygienic and won’t enjoy having to sit in dog doody or urine.

The Advantages of Using a Crate

Be sure there is enough room in the crate for your pup to turn around, but don’t leave so much room that he will be able to eliminate and lie down far away from it. Many dog owners view a crate as a jail cell or to use as punishment, but your dog will love having his own space where he can escape from the hustle and bustle of the household for some quiet time. Make your dogs crate a happy place and don’t use it for punishment. You can feed your dog in the crate, or while he is in there, offer him some treats. Place a favorite chewy or toy in there with him, add blankets and he will have a cozy den to escape to whenever he feels the need. Utilizing a crate for your dog can keep him out of trouble and not only in housebreaking.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled

Keeping a close eye on your puppy is a key factor in getting him properly housetrained. Whenever you see that he is sniffing, circling or beginning to squat, immediately take him outside to the place where you want him to go and see if he eliminates. If he does, praise him lavishly. A good idea is to have a cue, such as “hurry up” so that your puppy knows what you want him to do. When he is going to the bathroom repeat the cue and then give your dog lots of praise for a job well done. It is better to take the dog out and nothing happens then take a chance of an accident happening.

Have a Schedule

Feeding, watering and walking your dog on a regular schedule will make housebreaking that much easier. Puppies are like children and they thrive on a routine. Try and take the dog out around the same time everyday so they will be able to adjust their bodily functions. The first thing you should do in the morning is take the puppy from the crate and don’t let his feet touch the ground. Bring him to the place where you want him to go, give the cue, and praise upon a successful completion. Take your puppy out at least every two hours, after eating or drinking and especially after play. Before you know it, your puppy will be letting you know it is time to go out and do his business.

Don’t Let the Puppy Roam

Letting your puppy roam around the house is a sure fire way to have accidents. If you have decided you don’t want to use a crate, and even if you do use one, confining the dog to certain areas of the house can make housetraining easier for everyone. It is difficult to keep track of a puppy when he has the run of the house, but if you gate him in the kitchen, he will still be able to be part of the action and can be better supervised in case of an accident.

Don’t Get Discouraged

There will be times when you first begin housetraining that you feel your pup is just not getting it. He may have accidents in the house as well on occasion. There is no need to be discouraged. If you stick to your routine, keep a good eye on the dog and make frequent outings to his outdoor bathroom, in no time your puppy will be housebroken. Another good idea is to use the same door all the time when you are taking him out so that when he has to go, he will scratch on the door to be let out. Once this happens, you can say hurray and know that your puppy truly is beginning to understand that going to the bathroom in the house is a no-no.

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February 23rd, 2009 by KittyKitty

Watch out for symptoms that may indicate your hamster has an illness. Keeping your hamster’s home clean and dry is probably one of the best things you can do for good hamster health. You should always make sure that there is no spilled water or other mess in the housing are, and you should clean your hamster’s home often.

Most of the illness found in hamsters do not affect humans in any way. Zoonotic diseases are those that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Ringworm and salmonella are two common examples of zoonotic diseases. To prevent any such disease, it is always a good idea to wash your hands before and after handling your pet. If your vet diagnoses your hamster with a zoonotic disease, they will give you additional instructions on how to prevent it from spreading.

Use caution when introducting any new hamster to your extisting pets. This is especially true if they will be sharing a living area since hamsters living together are more at risk for catching disease than those living alone. Even healthy looking hamsters can be carrying a disease, you just don’t know about it yet.

Unlike many other types of pets, hamster do not require annual wellness exams. However, you still need to find a qualified vet before any emergency occurs. Ask people who you know have a hamster and see which vet they take their pet to. After you find a vet, ask them how much they charge for various services.

Besides catching a disease, a hamster can also be injured or suffer poor health due to improper house cleaning. Be on the lookout for these common things:

Abscesses

A secondary wound infection can result in an abscess. To treat the abscess, you can drain it and then apply treatment, but this is quite painful for your hamster and should be avoided. To avoid any discomfort for the hamster, have the vet take care of the situation for you.

Colds/Pneumonia

If you notice any type of wheezing, difficulty breathing, or eyes glues shut, you need to take your hamster to the vet immediately. You may also notice things like weight loss, a discharge from the hamster’s nose, and general lethargy.

Tyzzer’s Disease

Tyzzer’s Disease is a very contagious disease that spreads from hamster to hamster, and usually results in death. Some hamsters will stop moving around, they will develop a scruffy-looking coat, and they will have diarrhea and dehydration. Other hamsters will show not signs at all – they will just die. This disease is common in hamsters with unclean housing areas and who have a lot of stress. Thankfully, it is uncommon in hamsters living in a clean habitat, and who are well cared for.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a noninfectious disease that has been found in Campbell’s Russian hamsters. A hamster who has diabetes will use suffer from excessive thirst and frequent urination. A change in your hamster’s diet is the usual treatment for diabetes in hamsters. Diabetic hamsters should not be given fruit. You may also remove corn and peas from their food. Your vet is the best person to provide an accurate diagnosis and recomendations for your hamster’s health.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma has been found in Winter White hamsters. While there is no cure for the affliction in hamsters, your veterinarian can prescribe eye drops for the pain.

Cheek pouch troubles

The cheek pouches that hamsters use for food storage and transportation can become pierced, impacted or otherwise damaged. Symptoms include not being able to empty the pouches or having an everted cheek pouch (one that is turned inside out). Take your hamster to the vet as soon as you suspect that she may have a cheeck pouch injury.

For more information on hamster health problems visit http://www.hamstercareanswers.com.

Stop by PetsCareStore for all your pet supplies hamster.

February 23rd, 2009 by PetGuru

SitStayFetch contains various dog training/obedience guides, however is mainly an eBook which is downloaded to your computer and you can view on screen or print out (see Product Specifications section).

>> View Official SitStayFetch Report

Daniel Stevens (the SitStayFetch Author) wrote this book to be a simple guide and system for anyone to learn (even complete beginers) how to train their dogs properly or change behavior problems. He is also a professional dog trainer.

Daniel stevens sit stay fetch is a horde of information which assists the dog owner in the resolution of greater than 25 obedience issues. Some of these include urinating and dog house training, barking, fighting and aggression to other dogs, biting and jumping uncontrollably to name a few. The manual has a step-by-step guide to the proper training of your dog.

The Sit Stay Fetch eBook has included in its contents many pictures which assist the reader to easily visualize the necessary training methods and techniques. It is also filled with tips on the training of your dog to command prompts or word commands of any type. There is a guarantee of 2 months for Sit Stay Fetch in addition to the inclusion of 4 bonuses.

Company Information

SitStayFetch Dog training and Kingdom of Pets includes the resources of a ton of trainers and behaviorists as well as veterinarians that have come together to meet the requirements of pet owners in the training of their pets and correction of negative behaviors so that pet owners can get the most from their pets.

The Sit Stay Fetch training resources are easily available online and are often readily available for immediate download. The company has vast resources on these subject areas as well as the general well being of your pet.

>> View Official SitStayFetch Report

Product Specifications

Www sitstayfetch com is a great sit as on this site you can download the Sit Stay Fetch eBook. This book is a digital copy readable from your computer after download. On download you can read or print the book. All the information provided will enable you to train your pet and correct behavioral problems. This will lead to a better behaved pet.

The eBook file is approximately 450Kb in size. SitStayFetch is over 250 pages long and in full color.

Besides the main e-book there are 7 bonus ebooks that you get with your order:

• The House Training Book
• The Dog Grooming Book
• The Security Training Book
• The Alpha Dog Book
• A Quick Guide to Dog Aggression
• 180 Gourmet Recipes
• Dog Community Forum (for questions/answers and networking with other dog owners)
• Top 20 Consultations

Sit Stay Fetch reviews have been astounding with raves coming in for the audio book version. This version is downloadable as well and allows the user to burn the audio file and listen to it on a CD player or a computer. They are able to listen while driving or even while out on a walk with portable CD devices or even MP3 Players.

Sit Stay Fetch has included with its purchase a free consultation with the consultation team. This will enable the pet owner to get advice on problems with their pets such as fetch dog training and many other issues. The problem is posted to the Forum and answered to enable others to benefit from the information provided by the consultation team.

Review Conclusion

There are tons of Dog Training Courses on the net and many have been reviewed right here. One that stands a cut above the rest is the Sit Stay Fetch program. This program is one of the top 2% of programs that properly deals with dog obedience training. It handles common problems faced by pet owners in the training of their dogs and has tons of resources available to assist dog owners.

View a complete industry report on: SitStayFetch.

February 23rd, 2009 by PetGuru

Pet grooming involves more than just giving your animal a bath. Tending to their skin, coat and overall health are also part of the process. Pets can’t talk about their problems. So when you groom them, you will be able to discover any underlying problems.

As you carefully groom your pet, it will be easy to discover any marks that appear unusual. It will be easy to discover if he has any injuries, or if fleas and ticks have made their home on him. This is the best way to care for your pet.

You’ll need to have the right pet grooming supplies on hand before you start tending to your pet. Following is a list of the essentials.

1. Brushes. Make sure you use a brush that’s made specifically for the kind of cat or dog you own. Look for pin brushes which have a metal comb and wider spaces between them. This is ideal for pets that have thicker hair or mats.

Once you’ve run a pin brush through the pet’s hair, next you’ll want to use a slicker brush. They are often somewhat shorter and might have a bend at the tip. You’ll get a more thorough comb through since the spacing is tighter.

2. Combs. For combs, you’ll again want to look at the distance between the pins. Those that are closer together will give the best comb through. But before using a thin comb, it’s essential that any knots or mats be brushed out thoroughly.

3. Nail Clippers. Find a well made nail clipper designed specifically for pets. It’s important that you don’t cut into the skin. Use styptic powder to stop bleeds. Make sure to get some training from your vet on how to cut nails before doing it yourself.

4. Clippers. You’ll need a well made clipper if you plan on trimming your pet’s coat. These can be purchased at any pet store. Check that the blade is the correct size. Keep in mind that the closeness of the cut depends on the size of the blade. You might want to get a few in various sizes.

Most of the tools that you need to do a thorough job of pet grooming are available at your local pet supply store. They’re also available on the internet. Regardless, you need to buy well made tools that will be long lasting and durable. Take care of them properly, and make sure to clean and sanitize them according to the manufacturer’s directions.

February 23rd, 2009 by KittyKitty

To teach your dog tricks even easy ones you need to have some small reward treats, be in a quiet suitable place and keep the training sessions to 10 – 15 minutes or your dog will start to get board, remember when he gets something right lots of praise and a reward treat, just be careful not to get him over excited or he will loose concentration.

Getting your dog to give you his paw, first get your dog to sit, then as you say the word ‘paw’ take your dogs paw in your hand, give the dog a treat, repeat this, after a few times do not take his paw so quickly, say the word, count to one then take it, you should notice he is bringing his paw up as you say the word if he does not go back to saying it at the same time, do it a few more times then slow your response again. After 2 or 3 sessions most dogs pick this one up quite happily.

The high five, like a lot of tricks the high five is a progression of an earlier trick, in this cast the paw trick. Hold a treat in your fingers and raise your hand slightly higher than you would for the paw trick. You dog will think you want to do the paw trick and will reach for the treat with his paw as we taught him earlier, as he reaches up you say “high five” and give him the treat. Once your dog has mastered the paw trick this one should be very easy to learn and with just a few sessions he will be doing it on hand signal rather than voice control.

Getting your dog to jump through a hoop, before you start this one I would just like to ask you to be a little sensible and not hold the hoop too high as you do not want your dog to heart himself while doing the trick. Sit your dog on one side of a hoola hoop, get the dogs attention on your hand on the other side of the hoop take a treat in your hand and give the dog the command to release him from the sit, at first he may attempt to go around or under the hoop, if this happens start again, your dog wants the treat and will soon learn that going around or under does not get it so he will soon start going through it, when he does say hoopla and give him the treat. He will soon be jumping through the hoop on the command of hoopla. When I started doing this trick I had a medium sized dog (a Labrador) so I started with the hoop 6 inches from the ground and slowly raised it to waist height, if you have a smaller dog you might want to start with the hoop touching the ground so the dog just goes through the hoop and then slowly raise it as he gets used to the trick.

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February 23rd, 2009 by KittyKitty

Thinking of the best toys that suit your dog? Browse through the dog toys below and see what fits your pet and your budget.

For dogs who love to chew:

1. Kong Jump’n Jack

Prices:
$5.60 (small)
$7.50 (medium)
$8.80 (large)

Kong Jump’n Jack is a dog toy and a teeth cleaner and gum exerciser at the same time. It has a very unpredictable bounce that makes it a lot more fun for the dog to play with. It has a lot more surfaces that clean dog’s teeth. Kong Jump’n Jack also has slits that are useful for the gums to be exercised. This also encourages your dog to chew on this toy rather than other things and can be effective if you’re trying to stop chewing dogs.

2. Squirrel Dude (Busy Buddy)

Prices:
$5.99 (small)
$8.99 (medium)
$11.99 (large)

This is a unique and innovative rubber toy. It has four rubber prongs that cover the hole a bit which challenges the dog to give more effort to taste the food treats inside. The Squirrel Dude is durable and very chewable.

3. Biscuit Block (Animal Planet)

$4.50 (small)
$9.90 (medium)

This chew toy has four grabbing chambers distributed throughout the toy. Varieties of dog treats can be inserted inside to keep pets happy and busy. It has a crazy bounce brought about by its square shape with cut corners.

4. Ball Stomp’r (Launch and Throw Ball Toys)

Price:
$10.99 (regular, red)
$8.99 (mini, green)

This dog toy enables both young and old to have a great time playing with their dogs. The Ball Stomp’r is the first ball launcher of its kind. The ball needs to be loaded, then stomped on and it will eject to a height reaching 100 feet with the regular ball. The mini Ball Stom’r can reach up to a height of 60 feet. This toy has its own ball but tennis balls are a good substitute. This toy is tough, water proof and very dog friendly. This is not chew-proof though so it should be kept after using. The dimension of a regular-sized Ball Stomp’r is 12 inches in length that uses a tennis ball sized ball. The smaller type is 9 inches long and uses a ball with the size of 2 inches. This also keeps the dog occupied and can be useful to stop a barking dog.

4. Dinosaur Egg Baby (Plush Puppies) – Intelligence Building Toy ($6.90)

The Dinosaur Egg Baby has three eggs inside that give out a squeaking sound. It has a secret opening underneath to test dog’s instinct in getting hidden rewards. It is 6 inches in height, 5 inches wide and 12 inches long.

Toys that exercise dogs, cleanse their teeth, rejuvenate their jumping ability and test their intelligence. A complete set of these toys would definitely make owners be much more loved by their pets.

I have personally used all of these toys at one time or another and can honestly say that each and every one of them has contributed to ensuring that my dogs have always had very clean teeth, and great athletic ability.

For the tips about house training dogs, please visit this blog.

February 23rd, 2009 by PetGuru

If you want to help birds who are having their natural environments disappear due to human encroachment, try helping to build bird houses for them to nest in. But what exactly makes for a good birdhouse?

The question is unanswerable in a sense. After all, a good bird house is different for each species of bird. What makes a good wren bird house is not necessarily what makes a good birdhouse for a robin and vice versa. A good birdhouse is built for the type of bird that you desire to inhabit it. But there is one primary trait that even the simplest bird house should have – even one as uncomplicated as a pop bottle or gourd bird house.

Of all the features that a good bird house can have, one of the most important is ventilation – both top and bottom. Every bird house should have holes at or close to the top of it in order to allow hot air an easy escape during hot weather. Without ventilation, birds can suffer from heat stress in birds as the interior temperature of the bird house rises to unbearable degrees. The lack of ventilation is particularly intense when the roof of the bird house is badly insulated, a leading cause of overheating. Birds do not have sweat glands and can only get rid of excessive heat by panting. In hot and humid temperatures, however, it can be hard for them to pant enough to lower their body temperature sufficiently. Ventilation helps to keep the interior temperature stable by creating cross breezes in the bird house.

Just as important as top ventilation is floor ventilation. By necessity, every bird house has one or more holes in it. Thus in a heavy rainstorm, even a well built one can take on water. Holes or ventilation in the bottom of the bird house prevents water from building up and allows excess water to drain. These holes prevent water from collecting at the base of the bird house which can lead to dampness and mold and fungus build-up. Good drainage will also prevent baby birds from drowning during a heavy rain.

February 22nd, 2009 by KittyKitty

You will soon find all of the new fashions coming out. Fashion trends are hotter than ever! The runways are bringing new and fresh designs for the upcoming season. Well if the trends are fancy and fresh for the human kind then they are just as fresh for our canine companions. New trends in dog clothes are in line with those off the runways in New York. What can you look forward to for spring? There are a variety of stylish trends for spring. Some are new but some are not so new.

Most people trends you can also find on the doggy runways but not always. Trends involving jewelry do not always work for dogs. On the other hand, rhinestones or colored gemstones or just an in color that are trendy will show up in doggy barrettes or hair ribbons. Also, shoe trends do not cross over into pet clothing trends. One popular dog trend is dog shoes and booties. They can usually only convey trends in colors that are in style. We all know that we are not going to put a pooch in a wedged heel.

Some of the current trends on the runway during fashion week will carry over into dog fashion. Here are a few that I think we will also see in small dog clothes and big dog apparel as well. Zippered accents are a spring trend. This fashion statement could cross over well because pooch apparel usually has lots of closures or pockets for treats to begin with anyway. What hues are trendy? The hues for spring are magenta and neon which are inspired by the 90s. Looks like the male dogs will have to wear the neon to stay in style. Neon green and electric blue are good choices for male dogs. Black on white is another fashion forward trend for the spring.

Sometimes the color itself is not the focus of a trend but what you do with the color. This spring color blocking is a big trend. Blocks of color will make any outfit catch your attention. The biggest fashion that will transfer over to the dog trends is the classic dog trench coat or raincoat. When we think of spring we think of rain which is why so many pets will join this trend. If this is a purchase you tend on making for your dog make sure that the dog rain jacket is water resistant.

We all enjoy seeing the new trends that come out during spring fashion season. It all comes down to your choice for your dog as to whether or not you choose to partake in the springtime fashion frenzy. If you decide not to participate in the high society trends that is perfectly okay because you will be able to find tons of fashion that will always be considered trendy.

February 22nd, 2009 by KittyKitty

German Shepherds are one of the most versatile dogs on the planet. They can make wonderful pets or can be trained to work. These dogs can learn to do almost anything and are frequently trained to be police dogs or other service dogs. With that said, training German Shepherds needs to be approached a little different than most other dogs. Read on then check the links in the article for some great dog training resources.

A German Shepherd is an athletic, strong, and large dog. They thrive on challenges and will do almost anything you want them to do. With that said, there are some things you need to know about training German Shepherds and the dog breed in general.

They can be very rambunctious as puppies and young adults. Because they do get big very quickly, this can lead to problems knocking over small children or elderly people they may be around. This isn’t due to any aggression issue, it is just because of their size and nature. You will need to pay particular attention to controlling their potentially destructive playful nature during training.

Another problem that can come up because of their size and nature is that they can be very destructive if left alone. A bored puppy or young dog can destroy a house if left alone without any stimulation.

As with any dog, it is important to make sure you socialize your new dog. This means putting them in non-threatening situations where they are around people and other dogs. This will make sure they don’t develop aggression issues towards strangers or other dogs.

One way to get a well trained German Shepherd is to enroll in professional training classes. This can be quite expensive though and tie you to a specific class time one or more times a week. If you miss a week, you may come in the next week and find out your dog doesn’t know what the other dogs do and you are now on your own catching up. This may be the best if you are looking for a highly trained dog or have behavior problems, but in many cases it is more than you need.

My preferred method for training German Shepherds and most dogs is to invest in a dog training course. These courses are usually very reasonably priced and give you almost all the benefits of a traditional dog trainer. If you have a problem dog, you may have to look into professional help, but I would try the DIY method first. You are going to have to be involved in training process either way so why not try to do it at home when you want to.

There are 2 keys to German Shepherd training. First, you must be consistent and use simple commands. Second, you must use positive reinforcement. Your dog wants to please you more than you can imagine so make sure you praise them when they do a good job. These rules apply to pretty much every pet you could have.

Do yourself a favor and check the links to learn all the secrets you need to know to make your training experience a pleasant and rewarding one. Remember what they say about catching more flies with honey than vinegar, it goes for dog training. Love will get you much better results than yelling and screaming. I wish you luck training your new pet!

February 22nd, 2009 by PetGuru

It is very important to know the basic rules of feeding koi.Sometimes, this task is easily ignored.  It is recommended how and when to feed these delicate yet lovely fishes and what are the types of food that is all right to feed them.
Koi Diet
Ready and prepared foods for koi are available in the market nowadays. It comes in different varieties that you can choose from: it comes in flakes, pelleted or extruded, pond stick formulae. While these kinds of food are all right, other types of food can be given as a sort of treat just to break the monotonous regimen of feeding koi. You can feed them bread (must be in moderate portions), whole lettuce, wedges of orange, watermelon slices, cultured earthworm and prawns. This way, you can bring the fish some enthusiasm.
However, there are some foods that should not be given as food to the fishes. Foods like peas, sweet corn and potatoes should not be fed, as these foods are high in moisture and carbohydrates. Foods that are high in solid fats are also the ones to be avoided, especially meat and dairy products like cheese.
Here is fact about koi: they do not have stomachs. They digest their food through the long gut, and the more they are going to eat, the more time it will take for them to digest it. This happens especially when climate is cold or at low temperatures. The food will be eaten, and then it will be partly digested inside the digestive system, and then drop the unwanted loading in the biofilter.
Feeding Koi the right food and time
In feeding koi, you need to be dependent in the temperature. It is never a problem for koi keepers that are living in a tropical climate, as they can feed them all year round. When you are living in a northern climate, where it snows and gets cold in the autumn and winter, you need to know the preferred food in different seasons.
When the temperature rises to 50 degree Fahrenheit, it is recommended to feed the koi with easy-to-digest sinking pellet that are wheat germ based. Switch to higher protein-enriched floating foods when the temperature rises further. When the temperature is shooting down, slip back to wheat germ based foods before cutting the food feeding for the hibernation period. This is when the koi’s metabolism slows down and the energy stored in them is going to be used all throughout winter.
A lot of people do not even care as to how much is the amount of food to be fed per day: the recommended amount is between one and two percent of the body each day. There are other people who apply the 5 minute rule: the process of which is to feed them at a certain amount and let them eat for five minutes, after five minutes, cut back the amount if there is leftovers.