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March 31st, 2009 by PetGuru

Rabbits are fascinating creatures, not least becuase they seem at first blush to be so common. But, in fact, rabbits come in several dozen breeds and exhibit behavior that is surprising to anyone who hasn’t owned on.

The America Rabbit Breeders Association recognizes about 50 different breeds, though there are more types of rabbit. But, of course, as a professional association concerned with keeping things orderly they have fairly strict standards. Snowshoe hares aren’t among them, for example. Hey wait, they argue, we’re interested in only domestic breeds. Fair enough. But do the rabbits know the difference?

But all those breeds have one thing in common that is something they are NOT: they’re not rodents. Though similar, rabbits are Lagmorphs. It sounds like something from a science fiction book? Rodents are Rodentia.

They have an interesting way of maturing, too. The average, well-cared for domestic rabbit has a roughly 10 year life span, whereas for humans it’s about 75 years. The like expectancy varies from breed to breed. Yet a human isn’t sexually mature at 3 3/4 years (75 divided by 20, which is 10 years/0.5 years), while a six month old rabbit is. They grow up fast, don’t they?

Their gestation lasts about a month, and it is true, they can have a lot of babies. Baby rabbits are called ‘kits’. But don’t confuse ‘kit’, as in rabbit baby, with ‘kit’ as in tool bag. They don’t like it when you try to pry beer bottles open with their teeth.

their teeth never stop growing,unlike human teeth that shift but don’t lengthen after adulthood. That’s not usually a problem, since they like to gnaw on just about anything they can get their hands on. Or, more accurately, their teeth on. Oh, maybe that is a problem where you live?

But they’re not just mindless chewers. Rabbits are a lot smarter than some people think. Rabbits can be trained to use a litter box and can sometimes even perform clever tricks. One Japanese man raised a rabbit called Oolon (after a type of tea). The rabbit could balance small objects on its head as it walked (or hopped) along. Quite a feat when you consider that most humans can’t do that, especially if they have to hop.

Rabbits are quite affectionate, too. Part of that head balancing ability may come from a rabbit’s tendency to tuck its head under an owner’s chin. Of course, you have to get along fairly well for a long time to get it to relax enough to do that. Rabbits are somewhat high strung. Or, maybe they’re just particular.

The stress they feel comes about whenever they sense danger. That is very easy for them to do since their eyes have almost a 360 view of what is around them. Set on the sides of the head, they geta peripheral view of almost 180 degress on each side. But because of the arrangement, they do have an approximately 10 degree blind spot directly in front just below the nose.

So, if you stand in front of your rabbit and lecture them about something they did wrong, don’t assume they’re stupid or stubborn. They may just not be able to see you. Of course, with those ears they don’t have any excuse for not hearing. They may just be ignoring you. Rabbits are pretty smart critters, after all, and they know your boot was made for chewing even if you don’t.

March 31st, 2009 by PetGuru

There are many obstacles and challenges for dog owners, particularly when it comes to owning puppies and the typical aggressive puppy biting behaviour. This article can assist with this problem and its resolution in as nice a way as possible. Puppy biting normally initiates when playing with your puppy and eventually becomes a habit, at times without your knowledge as to how the habit started.

You may ask, “How to stop a puppy from biting?” The answer is held in correcting the behaviour before it becomes a habit. The biting stage in puppies is a natural stage due to the fact that they are teething. During this time they will bite into most items including human flesh. They are still learning right and wrong at this time and need to be led in the right direction. This can be a heavy task but to avoid the development of bad habits like biting needs to be done.

How to stop puppy from biting is a fairly simple training exercise to employ. This is better accomplished early in the development of the puppy and will make all remaining training easier to complete.

At the puppy stage most puppies bite but in order to correct this behaviour the puppy must see that its owner is serious and stern about correcting this bad habit, no matter which method of dog training is used.

Correcting the problem of puppy biting is often done with the favorite technique used by many trainers known as guilt therapy. This is where the puppy is made to believe that they are causing pain when they bite a human. This builds on the natural behaviour of puppies where when they play together they engage in biting but this stops once a yelp of pain is heard. Humans can take advance of this natural learning and make the puppy believe – with some good acting – that they have caused pain. Coupling this with the withdrawal of affection and play for a short time will fast teach the puppy that biting is not acceptable.

Identification of the puppy biting growling problem should be done as early as possible in the puppies life as at this stage the behaviour is easier to correct.

The technique of redirection is another method that can be utilized when dealing with puppy play biting. This is where when you are bitten you say a serious “”No!”" and move the attention of the puppy to another object such as from your hands to a bone or even a chew toy. Once the puppy is still young this may be all the correction that they require to end this problem.

Outlined here are just a few of the training steps that you can employ to stop biting puppies. When used we hope they significantly change the behaviour of your puppy and halt the biting (stop puppy biting quickly).

If more assistance is required to stop a puppy from biting then check the website DogTrainingCompare and go to the Dog Training and Obedience section.

In order to make puppy stop biting you may need more training resources and one area to check is the Dog Training Product Industry Reports.

March 31st, 2009 by PetGuru

There are several kinds of birds, each with many diverse nesting preferences. Consequently you should consider what kind of bird you want to attract and build your outdoor bird house according to the sort of bird you want to nest in it. Numerous folks discover that several other animals find bird houses attractive. These inhabitants can frequently stop the birds you were trying to attract at the start to nest there. The easiest alternative is simply to build 2 or 3 bird houses. Therefore even if one of your bird houses happens to be inhabited by another animal, there will still be place free for the birds you originally made the houses for. There are many varieties of birds whose populations are in decline, such as the bluebird. Therefore exploring and obtaining bluebird house plans and building one that is attractive to them is a good way to assist in protecting their numbers in the future.

Researching your Outdoor Bird House

When preparing to build an outdoor bird house you should take into account that there are a variety of predators that can worry your nesting birds. These are normally animals adept in climbing trees, for example, racoons, snakes and cats. Its really important that you design your bird house in such a way as to safeguard the birds from these predators. The straightforward option is to secure your outdoor bird house to a pole. That way the eggs and nesting chicks are out of harms way.

You need to consider the size of the bird that is going to be living in your outdoor bird house. Its a good idea to try to create the front entrance slot as tiny as possible for the dimensions of the bird. This helps keep the birds safer from predators as a smaller hole makes it more difficult for them to reach inside the bird house. All bird houses should also be constrcuted with drainage holes at the bottom. This allows any waste substances to escape and assists in keeping the house in a clean condition. It’s also good if any water somehow gets into the house, as the water will be able to drain out, instead of filling up inside the box.

It is advisable to choose to construct your outdoor bird house with wood such as cedar, instead of a different substance. Wood is a natural material and therefore deters insects from living in your bird house. Purchasing wooden bird house plans is the easiest way to end up with a bird house isn’t infested with bugs and drive your birds away. If you are the type of person who wants to keep an eye on the development in the bird house the best option is to construct the house with a hinged front allowing you to open the front. It will then be possible to view the inside the bird house without disturbing the birds.

For additional details and information on constructing an outdoor bird house visit BirdingAdvice.com. BirdingAdvice.com is an excellent resource for information on building a bird house.

March 31st, 2009 by PetGuru

Betta’s are actually carnivores which exist in the oceans by feeding on tiny insects, larvae and assorted types of plankton. If you go over to the pet outlet, you will see a wide variety of sorts of Betta food. They can live off pellets and flecks as well as food that is frozen or freeze dried. They may not recognize new fish food sources straight away, so be sure to insert different foods as well as the foods they are familiar with to ensure their stay healthy.

Special foodstuffs that Bettas savor are brine prawns, glass worms and even beef heart but blood-worms can also be employed as a type of live, frozen or freeze dried foods. If you prefer nevertheless, pellets and flecks are manufactured that can supply the nutritional requirements of your betta. As a matter of fact, some of these kinds of food are just the live or frozen solid foods that have been ground up and processed into pellets or flecks. Because bettas are accustomed to removing their fish food from the surface of the water you are going to want fish food that stays on the top of the water as opposed to sinking to the bottom. Most bettas will not eat food that drops down which means it simply turns polluted in the fish tank.

Bear in mind that many fresh fish foods are not able to provide ideal nourishment so it is essential to ensure that you look at all the bases to guarantee that your betta is going to obtain the right nutrition to be safe. Betta’s do not call for excessive feeding particularly with betta food such as pellets and flecks which could lead to excessive waste and contamination in the tank. When feeding with this type of fish food, place it in such a way that the fish will be able to observe it and ensure to check back to ensure it has been eaten, but if not, take it from the tank promptly to avoid pollution.

There are numerous good reasons in using flecks and pellets for food when looking after your betta. Many of the foods that are available in the form of pellets or flakes have additives that are designed to do various things, for instance, improve the color and vitality of the fish.  Often medications are placed in the food as well in order to make it easy to feed to the betta. Bettas can be fussy about the food they eat and there are some that will not take pellets and will only consume fresh food while others that won’t look at live fish food.  When you are considering a new betta, ask what they are being fed at the store and start out with this. You can try other betta food if you wish or would preferably have them feed on something other than the food that made up their past diet by mixing the two together, then you improve the chances of it being used.

Carol provides more free and extremely helpful information in her contentrich Best Food For Betta Fish blogs as well as her equally content-rich Betta Fish Spits Out Food Site. For More Information About Best Food For Betta Fish Check http://www.betta-fish-care.tips-inc.com

March 31st, 2009 by PetGuru

Chicken care, like all pet care, is important both to the health of the chicken and the owner. Many people think that because chickens are farm animals or outside animals, that they can pretty much take care of themselves as long as they are fed and given water regularly.

This is an unfortunate misconception because although it is true that chickens spend much of their time outside, they need to be kept warm and dry. Both the chickens and their coops need to be kept clean as well, to ensure that the chickens stay in good health.

This may seem like a lot of work, but like any pet, chickens need to be treated with care and love. If a chicken gets sick, it can easily make all of the other chickens (assuming you have more than one) sick as well. The chicken’s handler or owner can also get sick from the chickens, especially if the chickens are being raised for meat (hopefully not!).

There is also a moral element. Taking on a pet comes with the responsibility that the pet will be cared for properly, and to not do so is pretty much abuse. If you are thinking about a chicken as a pet, then you should seriously consider the commitment it will take to properly raise and care for the chickens.

Ultimately, chicken care is most important for the happiness of both the owner and the chicken. Happiness contributes to good health, and good health contributes to longer life, as well as a more fulfilled life. It is proven that pets contribute to the happiness of the owner, helping to combat depression and loneliness.

Although chicken care may seem like a daunting task, it really isn’t, especially when you have a complete guide to chicken care. The more information you have on chicken care, the better off you will be in having happy, healthy chickens

If you’re looking for more information on how to take care of chickens, you can visit http://www.squidoo.com/chicken-care

There’s lots of great information as well as links to other lenses with even more about how to care for chickens, how to build chicken coops, and more. Whether you are just thinking about raising chickens or have raised many, the information at http://www.squidoo.com/chicken-care will sure to be beneficial for everyone!

By Dean L.

March 31st, 2009 by PetGuru

Owners love their dogs.But with Doxies that devotion reaches new heights.  The reasons aren’t hard to understand.They are special in many ways.

The German translation “badger dog” shows just one of those ways.Bred in the early 1600s to hunt those ferocious little animals, the Doxie became ferocious himself.  That assertive and fearless attitude remains today.

That feisty nature can be a positive or negative.

Dogs that are independent can make great companions, being as that also makes them exploratory and playful.It provides the dog with a willingness to try new things and lots of energy.It also means that skill and extra patience are required to train them.Doxies are more inclined than many other breeds to strive for alpha status in the household.Reminding them that the human is superior may require a long struggle.

That training has to be appropriate to the breed’s physical and mental attributes.

They weigh between 10-30 pounds and are 9 inches high at the shoulder.Toy varieties are quite a bit smaller, often only 5 inches high and under 8 pounds.  Their lifespan is between 14-17 years, on average.

Doxies are much more prone to spinal problems than other breeds due to their short legs and long bodies.Serious problems can be caused by rough handling.

At the same time, because they are assertive, simply screaming won’t work.At best that produces a fearful dog, at worst, they can become aggressive and hostile in response.Doxies may look at their trainer as an enemy badger.Owners should be prepared due to barking being more common in Doxies, too.

With the right approach, though, they make for excellent companions and pets.

There are three basic varieties – Long-Hairs, Wire-Coats, and Smooth-Coats.The difference goes beyond the type of fur they have.  The personalities of the three types tend to follow a pattern, as well.

Smooth-haired Dachshunds more often attach themselves to a single family member.  While they will tolerate other humans, they tend to be stand-offish and wary of other animals.The Wire-haired is usually more outgoing and playful.Long-haired Dachshunds tend to be a little more placid.Though, like any Doxie, they are up for a game of fetch whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Apart from spinal problems, Doxies less often suffer from diseases that are more prevalent in other breeds.Abdominal cancers, diabetes and other diseases are possible but much less common in Dachshunds.  Urinary tract problems (such as stones) can occur, but they are more likely in special varieties such as Double Dapples and those with blue eyes.This variety tends to have more eye and hearing problems, too.

Raising a healthy and happy dog is a challenge.Doxie owners commonly report that the rewards in their case are especially large.Dachshunds are very loyal and highly affectionate.The people they live with tend to return the favor.

Dachshund supplies and gifts can be found at Ony-Dachshunds.com

March 31st, 2009 by PetGuru

All dogs need regular grooming to keep their coats healthy and their nails in trim. Which technique you use for your Dachshund depends on which of the three main types you have.

Smooth-Coat

A Smooth-Coat Dachshund is the classic, short-haired type you have seen in a hundred films and ads. Requiring little more than regular bathing and brushing, their coats are easy to care for. “Regular” varies with the dog’s age and environment.

Grooming Supplies for dogs can be found at LuvUrDog.com

Younger dogs may require baths as often as once per week, though once a month is fine when they stay out of dirt and bushes.Be sure to keep their coats brushed and clean regurlarly if they live in rougher circumstances. “Regularly” means a minimum of twice per week, and as necessary.Remove plant material as soon as they are done playing.

A wire slicker is fine for grooming, but be careful. Even though all dogs are durable, it’s important not to scrape the skin. That can lead to hot spots that the dog will make worse by licking and chewing. Since Dachshunds are a high-energy, assertive breed, extra caution is needed.

Wire-Hair

The wirey hair on the muzzle, chest and legs of this variety gives them the name. It can also give them a need for extra grooming care.In their case, more frequent baths along with more regular brushing will be called for.Brushing will take longer as well.

Like the terriers they look like, the stiff coat is actually in two layers.Use a regluar brush for the top layer and a slicker for the undercoat. Remember, too, that they will shed more.A shed control shampoo may be necessary. In every case, be prepared for seasonal changes as they naturally adjust to the change in weather by shedding more.

Shorten any excess hair off the muzzle to keep it from dragging on the ground. A trim behind the rear legs will also be necessary once it reaches a length that leads to mats.Otherwise, regular brushing of once or twice a week will suffice.

Long-Hair

As the name suggests, this type has long, wavy hair. Since they are low to the ground, more regular trimming will be needed, along with more frequent bathing.Mattig is especially common in this variety, but can be avoided with brushing every other day, paying close attention to behind the ears.When mats arise, trim them gradually with a blunt-nose pair of scissors until you have removed enough to work out the mat with fingers and brush.

A shampoo that contains conditioner works well with these Doxies.Be sure not to over-bathe them, though, since that leads to dried, scaly skin. Regular brushing will help, since it smooths natural oils over the skin and under the coat.

Nail Trimming

All types need to have their nails trimmed often, usually weekly. The usual technique is fine. Obtain a good pair of nail trimmers and hold each foot firmly, searching for the quick. Cut away from the quick to avoid accidents, which are more likely in the Doxie’s case because of their feisty nature.

Only-Dachshunds has gifts and more for the Doxie Lover

March 31st, 2009 by PetGuru

Safety tops all criteria in the selection of an ionic air purifier for use in the home, office, factory or school.

Existing ionic air purifier technology, regardless of whether they originate in North America, Europe, Japan or China produce a primary beneficial reactive agent. These reactive agents may be negative ions, bipolar ions, plasmacluster ions and so on. Their main role is to eliminate airborne contaminants in our indoor living environment. There is much research on the efficacy of these reactive agents in eliminating these airborne contaminants. What we do not know is whether these same potent reactive agents also cause harm to delicate human tissues such as those that line our breathing passages from the trachea to the lungs.

There is also an information vacuum about whether there are other by-products and if these are harmful to human tissues as well. However, in the industry, it is known that current ionic air purifier technology results in the inadvertent production of by-products. In sufficient concentrations, these may prove harmful to human tissue. One of the main by-products which attracts much attention is ozone, which in high concentrations is known to be harmful to human tissues.

In the light of the above, the issue of safety for the user of an ionic air purifier has to be addressed from these two perspectives:

(1) Potential harm from the beneficial reactive agents, and

(2) Potential harm from the unintended by-products.

We have done intensive web research on these two important perspectives. The reports are featured on Ezinearticles.com.

Don’t miss these 2 in-depth Ezine articles. To read, click on the Ezine Author Badge on The Ionic Air Purifier Blog.

Ezinearticles.com, within their terms and conditions, allows publishers to freely reproduce these two articles. So help yourself, publish the two articles on your websites as a complete set, via these links:

(1) Beneficial reactive agents

(2) Unintended by-products

In addition, keep updated with our progress as we research other aspects of the very broad and exciting field of ionic air purifier technologies.

March 31st, 2009 by PetGuru

People think all kind of thoughts when you mention pigs but hardly one of pigs in the house. Teacup potbellied pigs are becoming increasingly popular as domestic pets around the country. They are much smaller than the standard farm pig and the regular potbelly pig, and they are commonly seen with many colors, such as mixed black and white coloring; or all black, all white, silver coloringand even chocolate. They are not really teacup size like one imagines except when they are born when they are around 9 oz. But compared to a full grown regular pig at 600-800 pounds or a full grown regular potbelly pig at 120 – 200 pounds then they are teacup. Adults typically weigh around 40 – 65 lbs, are fully-grown at 2-3 years and are about the height of a cocker spaniel. Living 15-20 years and low maintenance pets, with about the same daily care as a dog. People living in apartments find the small size of the teacup pig just the right size. They litter box train in a matter of days and as early as 4 weeks old.

The regular potbellied pig originated in Vietnam, and is a combination of several breeds. They will breed with other types of pigs even farm pigs causing mixed breeds. The teacup pigs were bred first in Devon, England.

Teacup potbellied pigs are considered exotic pets, which can make them a bit more troublesome than a cat or a dog for this reason: not all veterinarians treat them which can make it difficult to get these pets the care they require. All types of pigs need maintenance with tusks trimmed and hooves trimmed. A veterinarian, or an owner who has learned how from a doctor, can perform these tasks. Pigs will need to be spayed or neutered and require regular vaccinations.

Teacup potbellied pigs make enjoyable pets because they are very intelligent and affectionate. Like many animals they are prone to laziness and aggression and must be exercised to keep them from getting to fat and antisocial. At times, an adult pig may raise a challenge against the owner in so-called “dominance aggression”, much like any pet will at first and they will need to be reprimanded gently yet strongly, and taught to respect the owner’s authority. They take well to positive reinforcement when they are behaving well, but should not be physically punished. Properly motivated these intelligent animals learn tricks very easily like sit and playing golf.

Pigs should have daily leash-led walks or they will gain weight. If you find that your pig is getting too fat you can scatter raw oatmeal where they have to search for it and doesn’t amount to much to eat. This gives them something to eat and exercise at the same time. Of course this is when they are outside. Pigs just really love to eat, just like children they lean toward the high carbohydrate unhealthy type, please restrict your pet’s availab.ility. Pigs constantly search for food so care must be taken to keep them out of the kitchen. Special pig feed can be purchased in a pet store or special-ordered and local feed stores are starting to carry the specialty feed. Pigs are omnivores, equally interested in vegetables, meats, sweets, and carbohydrate-based foods.

Pigs are best kept in pairs or groups if they are kept outside as they are social animals. While in your house they will want your attention. Give them toys to play with just like children have. This keeps them stimulated and active. Because of their intelligence, if pigs get bored they may become destructive and troublesome. Lack of attention can lead to pigs tearing up your house. If you are not keeping your pig outside in a confined area then they need their own confined area in the house. They are clean and essentially odor-free, so it is not usually difficult to find a room where they can roam.

Teacup pigs require specialized care of time and resources and should not be taken without a serious commitment. Do not consider owning a teacup pig or potbelly pig without doing a lot of homework to make sure that you and a pig will be compatible. Shelters are overflowing with abandoned pigs whose owners did not anticipate the kind of attention that their pet would need. However, the intelligence, affection and personality of a well trained, adequately cared for teacup potbellied pig can be very rewarding for the prepared, responsible owner.

March 30th, 2009 by KittyKitty

I have a lot of accessories for my dog but again, when I saw the Cherry! Handmade Crocheted Barrette, I wanted to get it for my lucky diva. I wanted all the latest accessories for my dog and so when I liked the So Very Cherry! Handmade Crocheted Barrette I immediately picked it up. There are many more dog accessories which are pretty and also affordable. Although I have an classy sunglasses for my dog but when I saw some more beautiful glasses I picked one that also. The collars were very appealing , the necklaces were attractive too. There are huge collections of all dog costumes, dog strollers, dog beds, dog carriers and much more stuff. One can visit the nearest mall to have a look at the entire products or else if there is a lack of time and you cannot visit the mall for any reason, then you can have a look at the website also. You will find a variety of Designer Dog Bows these days. Get a few of them for your lovable diva and experience the difference.

The Unique Dog Bow which I bought for my pet is not only eye-catching but it is also handcrafted proficiently to give a perfect finish. This is a exceptional attractive dog bow which is made for the toy breeds like the long hair Chihuahuas’, Maltese, Yorkies, and Pomeranians and also for the other long haired dogs. This small dog bows is hand-crocheted and is it is made in USA. It measures one inch wide. The dog’s hair which will be covered with this beautiful bow will definitely look attractive. Tying the dog’s hair is not just a craze but also it is very helpful . The dogs with long hair might feel irritated with it when they fall on their eyes. So tying their hair in a stylish way will help them to lessen this irritation also.

So if you really want your dog’s wardrobe to be full of modish accessories, then you can also have a look at different dog costumes which are magnificently designed for all the events . There are valentine day special dresses, the birthday dresses, the wedding dresses, the winter wears, the summer wears and several other exquisite costumes. Each of the dress is carefully designed using soft materials so that the dogs can be convenient while wearing them. The range and the cost of all the accessories vary. There are many luxurious as well as inexpensive products.