Is the Havanese a Good Choice for the Family?

October 27th, 2009 by KittyKitty

The Havanese is a Bichon Group breed, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese The Havanese is a lively small dog, toy dog that were bred to be good companions, so are good with children. They love to have attention and will do many things to attract it. This love for attention means they are not the choice for a busy working couple. They will often follow owners around the home, but are rarely overly possessive of their “ family”, so are great with other dogs, pets and other animals. They often like to eat with someone in the room, so stay there when they are eating, otherwise they may take their food with them and eat it as they walk, which can be messy. They are a “ true dog”, playing games such as football with all their strength. Like many toy dogs, they do not require long walks, but they do love attention. Professional dog trainers such as London Dog Training love them, as they are so responsive to positive reinforcement.

For dog care they are relatively simple. One advantage of the Havanese is that they do not shed much. You may see on lists that they do not shed, this misleading as all hair follicles will have a cycle of growing and dying, shedding it hair, but this is variable and not often, so there is no strong cycle of hair shedding. The coat catches the hair and dander internally, so many people think it is non-allergenic, but they all release dander that can aggravate allergies. If you have an allergy sufferer in the house, have one to stay for a few days to check.

The Havanese have a slight wavy double coat, which is light and soft, with a denser undercoat.

The Havanese should ideally be brushed daily, as they have the tendency for their fur to mat. If not a show dog, you can have the fur cut. Whilst they have a good coat, it is a coat to keep the hot sun off the body, not warmth inside, so in some areas you may need to buy sweaters for them.

When you bath them, dry with a towel and allow them to dry off naturally inside, as they are susceptible to skin problems if dried with a hair drier. It is a breed that for showing needs to keep a natural look, but for everyday looks and practicality may benefit from bows etc..

The original Harvanese were white, but now they occur in all types of coat colours and patterns.
The Havanese has a solid build relative to most toy dog breeds. The Havanese weight ranges from around 5 Kgs ( around twelve lbs). Its height measured at the withers is 220-290mm( roughly 10). The back raises from the withers to the rump which is unusual in dogs.

They move with an agile springy gait. Whilst they are relatively good swimmers, they generally shire away from water, but careful when near water if there is something for them to run after.

They have almond eyes, with medium sized ears that are well covered and hang down. The Havanese are inclined to ear infections, so regularly check their ears and clean them. Sometimes they may need inner hairs to be pulled by hand or tweezers. The tail sweeps over the back and is also well covered. They have a great sense of smell and are trained in some countries for search. The Havanese are easily trained so are often used in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.

The Havanese generally live fourteen to sixteen years. Like many other pure breeds they suffer from a few genetically-linked disorders. These include liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia ( streaks and dots on the retina). It is advisable only to acquire Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese sometimes develop brown tear stains, this is more obvious on the lighter coloured dogs.

The dog was bred from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Havana by traders and settlers. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Globally the Havanese is a relatively recent breed, rapidly growing in the seventies from only 10 dogs in the states. Though they were common prior to the Cuban Revolution, they, like many trappings of aristocracy were culled. Rapid growth in popularity now makes it difficult to find a puppy.

A superb family dog that is well worth considering.

Chicken Coop Designs – Possible Hazard To Your Chicken Coop

October 27th, 2009 by KittyKitty

In building a chicken coop, there are many things that people don’t take under consideration, and they’re sometimes things that may finish up hurting their chickens in the long term. Agree with it or not, there’s much more to making a coop than just building it and inserting your chickens, so let’s take a look at the potential dangers in your coop.

 

Low Ceiling

You won’t think about this, but chickens are birds, and just because they do not fly well, doesn’t imply they don’t give it their best shot. Chickens are no doubt to hurt themselves if you have a very low ceiling since they will tend to fly. If it is weirdly low, there is a chance the chicken will manage to wreck its neck.

This essentially isn’t something you want to see when you come out to feed your chickens in the morning, so remember, if you have to duck while fundamentally walking around in your coop, the ceiling is too low, that is something to think about in your chicken coop designs.

 

Exposed Wires

Chickens need lighting 14 hours every day to lay properly, and for you want a heat lamp in your chicken coop designs. This does not imply you must run an extension twine across your ceiling and let it sag. When you install the heat lamp, make sure that you either wire it into the ceiling, or at least fasten the core soundly to the ceiling so that your chickens don’t start running into the hanging wire. This will also cause difficulty in entering and going out of your coop, so make sure it is done the right way.

 

Poisons

you can always have some rodents rambling your coop, and while they can get exasperating, you mustn’t set out poisons, and this is for 2 reasons. One reason is that your chickens will eat the poison and you’ll find them dead the following morning. There’s one other reason, and that is even if you’re smart, and put the poison out of the reach of your loved birds, the rodent that eats the poison will not always be that far away. Truthfully, your chickens will most likely try to attack announced rodent, and likely absorb the poison that way, ending with the same result.

 

Not Good Fence Design

If you don’t design your fence properly, your chickens will finish up dead one way or another. Make sure that you build the fence from chicken wire, or run some plastic chicken wire round the base of the fence so that the chickens don’t poke their head thru it and finish up getting hurt when a predator is near.

 

Poor Lighting

Some people forget that chickens do need light, and tend to leave the poor birds in the dark all day. This meddles with their laying habbits and not just bad for their health.

Make sure that you add in decent lighting when you’re doing your chicken coop designs, or you might meet with disastrous results. Those are a couple of the major failings in chicken coop designs, and hopefully by studying this piece, you have learned to avoid them altogether, and your chickens will live a long and productive life.

What is Separation Anxiety and Where Jack Russell Training Fits In

October 26th, 2009 by KittyKitty

 

Dogs are social creatures, making them therefore naturals when it comes to bonding with people and most animals. But sooner or later, the dog will have to confront separation with those it knows; the average puppy gets early its taste of separation from its mother and siblings. Puppy owners will also have to prepare for the initial caterwauling of the new arrival. Moreover, the problem may not stop there since when the puppy grows up, it will develop a strong and anxiety-prone attachment with a house member. There is nothing wrong with a dog that follows the owner everywhere inside the house, or expresses excitement when people come back after a long while. But years of Jack Russell training tell us that the trigger that starts the major series of agitations is when the dog is left alone more often, or times in the day that it is not accustomed to being alone.

The downside to separation anxiety is that its signs are only seen when the people are out, but owners can also observe it when the dog is not allowed to get close to the owner, for example, when it is time to sleep. The dog is fussy, and predictably so since it wants to be close to the owner and yet cannot. Thus, in order to give vent to its frustrations, the dog will not just listen to music, or watch TV, or count one up to ten. Obviously, it will instead: urinate or defecate indoors; chew dig or spread litter at home; eat less or play less; show aggression when the owner leaves, among other signs.

But far from doing these things out of spite to its owners, the dog simply has come to rely on its owners an awful lot (simply also because its owners spoiled and showered love on it). There is therefore no mystery behind the trail of mess indoors and outdoors every time people come back home. Roughly, it can be said that the greater the damage or mess at home, the greater the dog’s insecurity was.

Jack Russell training also teaches us that regardless of the flattery the dog showers on you, there is no reason whatsoever that it should be left to feel helpless or insecure by your leaving, so much so that it is compelled to behave in a variety of undesirable ways.

A Pet Fence: A Good Idea?

October 26th, 2009 by KittyKitty

Many pack animals, such as dogs, tend to chase after things in movement, which can lead to injuries, harm, or even death. Any person that owns a dog has a responsibility to keep it inside his or her property to protect it from harm, and the best way to do this is by getting a dog fence.

Knowing the Right Dog Fence to Purchase

Two of the factors that you have to take into consideration when purchasing a dog fence are the area that you will assign to your dog and your dog’s size. Small breeds can’t jump very high, so you can get them a small dog fence.

Bigger dogs will obviously require a bigger dog fence as well as one made from stronger material. Thus, stronger dog fences will require a more expensive material. There are some places that offer a very economical dog fence or they might carry a regular pet fence that still suits your needs.

These fences can also serve the purpose of keeping other animals out of your area as well as keeping your animal inside your area. For example, if you grow flowers or vegetables, the fence will help you keep out rabbits and other unwanted visitors. A dog fence is also a good way of showing your dog which area belongs to it, and which one belongs to another family pet.

Very territorial dogs may attack animals or people that happen to enter their perceived territory. A dog fence will let you keep your dog from attacking guests or visitors, specially when you aren’t home to receive them. Also, a dog fence presents a small obstacle for would be thiefs.

Dog Containment Systems: How They Work

October 26th, 2009 by KittyKitty

For those dog owners and lovers that are looking for an easy solution to keep their pet within a certain area. technology is now providing innovative and practical solutions for this with dog containment systems.

Sorts of Pet Containment Systems

These can be either electronic wired or wireless.

The wired one requires a collar that has to be worn by the dog and a small transmitter. An in-ground, invisible fence can easily be installed using the transmitter, wire and a collar. The transmitter is placed near the wiring and it effectively completes the circuit composed by the wiring, ready to detect the approaching of the dog’s collar. With the help of a small rechargeable battery, the containment system will emit a sound when the dog tries to approach the fence. If the dog tries to cross the invisible fence, even after being warned, then a mild and harmless static electric shock will be administered through the collar.

A wireless system avoids the hassle of wiring and installation. The training DVD that comes with every purchase of the wireless pet containment systems assist in installation, set up and training with ease.

Advantages of Getting A Pet Containment System

Not only you get to set the exact limits of your dog’s movements, but you also keep him from running into hazards, like running cars. Also, you don’t have to worry about your dog chasing after strangers, guests, or visitors; and if you live near an open area, he won’t be able to wander way and get lost. These fences are also more effective and affordable than electric fences.

You’ll see results without investing much time or money. You can also have the pet containment system adopt any form that is appropriate for your property very easily. Trenches and pits will be a thing of the past.

There isn’t a limit on the number of dogs that you can confine within a single pet containment system. Even when you’re not home, the system will continue to protect your dog.

Should I Use Fluoride or Not?

October 26th, 2009 by KittyKitty

It is quite amazing when you stop to consider all of the different ideas and notions about proper dental care. These seemingly conflicting theories leave the patient – or more accurately – the consumer, in a sea of bewilderment most of the time.

For instance, is fluoride in mouthwash and toothpaste good or bad? Many dental experts believe that toothpaste, mouthwash and even topical treatments of fluoride harden your teeth and are therefore good. Other researchers say that any fluoride containing product put in the mouth spikes blood fluoride levels. Fluoride apparently tends to accumulate in parts of the brain as well.

Research like that done by Dr. Phyllis J. Mullenix, PhD. clearly makes you question even small amounts of fluoride showing up in our drinking supply and food supply – as many foods are exposed to fluoridated water. She also discusses that when they wanted to study even lower doses of fluoride for extended periods of time, that her funding was cut.

There are even dentists who are against fluoride’s use in the human body for any reason. Confusing, isn’t it? Who do we listen too? I can’t answer that question definitively for you but here are some thoughts that I will share on this aspect of dental health.

I am personally against fluoridation of drinking water. Despite the arguments in favor of forced medication of our drinking supply, I think it is wrong to ‘force’ any medication on a population. This behavior effectively side steps each person’s right to choose. On the other hand, the choice of personal dental care products is just that: a choice. Each person as the right to choose whether he uses fluoridated rinse and toothpaste.

When it comes to adding fluoride to the drinking supply, many scientists and professionals are against the use of fluoride while many others are in support of it. When you have this kind of debate between scientists, isn’t it best to error on the side of caution? Follow the links below to learn more about what I think is useful on the topic of dental health.

The hydro floss Oral Irrigator

An Ozonator

Therabreath Products for Bad Breath and Dental Health

David is the author of the book: What You Should Know about Gum Disease. ISBN: 978-0981485508 – Available online at most book retailer sites. It can also be ordered by most book stores.

Disclaimer: This article is for information and entertainment purposes only. It does not intend to render advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have or think you might have a dental health problem or any other health problem, visit your periodontist or physician for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products in this article.

Adding Necessary Fatty Acids To Your Pets Diet

October 26th, 2009 by KittyKitty

Requisite Fatty Acids (EFAs) are a requirement inside everyone’s diet, for equally human and animal. However, the body cannot produce EFAs on its own, so it have to be added to the diet each day. The two most generally known fatty acids are omega 3 (linoleic acid) and omega 6 (alpha-linoleic acid). The diets of our pets, like public, tend to include extra omega 6 fatty acids rather than omega 3. This is an imbalance that needs to be enhanced upon.

Omega 3 fatty acids are necessary since they help with the proper formation of cell membranes, cardiovascular functions, nourish the lining of the digestive tract, and work to keep your pet’s skin and coat smooth, soft and shiny. Another required function of omega 3 fatty acids is that they work to reduce inflammatory problems inside the body. If you find your pet’s coat is dull and brittle or if he/she tends to have dry skin and scratch a lot, it may be due to a lack of this particular fatty acid.

There are different types of essential fatty acid supplements that are available, however which kind you want to supplement your dog or cat’s diet be able to be a bit of a dilemma.

Pure plant oils such because flax oil, evening primrose oil, safflower oil or a blend of plant oils is a groovy alternative to fish omega-3 fats. These must be “cold-pressed” oils, because opposed to oils that are typically extracted with chemical solvents. The problem with plant oils is that animals have a harder era converting the fatty acids to a form greatest used by the animal’s system. 

Fish oils, such since salmon oil, halibut liver oil, or cod liver oil are extra easily converted and used by an animal’s body. The downside is that fish oils often contain deadly toxins, including high levels of dangerous PCBs, dioxins and detectable levels of mercury. Farmed salmon is the worst for contamination and contains less omega 3 acids than wild salmon. At this moment nearly 30% of all fish are farmed, using salmon being inside the 90% farmed size. Because fit, farmed salmon are often carriers of illness and parasites. When supplementing your pet’s diet with fish oils, desire oils that come from wild sources, not farmed.

There are also blended fish and plant oil supplements available. These often include a mixture of salmon or cod liver oil and flax, safflower or other such oils that make available a mixture of 3 to 4 parts omega 3 oils to 1 part omega 6 oils. Giving your animal a combination fish/plant supplement possibly will be a excellent alternative to think, as they ought to contain fewer toxins since they are not strictly fish oils, yet always should be better assimilated by the animal’s body than straight plant oils.

Make Cat Out Of Your own Backyard

October 26th, 2009 by KittyKitty

Your 1st line of defense when keeping the cats out of your garden is to make certain that you have your boundaries secure.  Wheter there are any gaps in your fence, you should make sure that you block them to prevent any fewer access.  Cats are tremendously agile animals, & could jump tremendously high.  Commonly they could jump a fence, which is why you must also invest in string or taut wire across the great.

Wheter a cat has made his track into your garden, it might be not easy to accomplish him out.  Most persons select to purpose dogs, simply because dogs are known to dislike cat. There are multiple dog breeds out there that fully dislike the cats, such as pit bulls & Dobermans.  Cats are completely fearful of these breeds, and will flee when they see them around.

Every the cats are known to despise water as well.  Wheter you spot a cat in your garden, water almost always gets him out.  Every it takes is a bucket of water or a well aimed squirt by a backyard hose to make him run away.  After you have hit the cat through water several times, he must accomplish the idea not to come back anymore.  Wheter he comes back, easily squirt him or throw further water on him until he gets the idea.

Protecting your plants is a diverse story.  Mothballs are said to be enormously beneficial, whether cats don’t love the smell.  You could reason mothballs around your plants, garden borders, or although along the fence.  There are other repellents that you can reason as well, for instance cayenne peppers, tobacco, lavender oil, citronella oil, mustard oil, & even though lemon grass oil.

When you visit your local hardware or lawn store, you could find motion activated sprinklers.  They work great in keeping cat out of your garden.  Once you install the sprinkler technique and a cat comes into the area, the detector will pick up the cat’s presence and immediately shoot out a jet of water that would douse the cat.  In most cases, all it takes is some times of exposure to the sprinkler before a cat learns to stay out of that area.

Sound devices that feature good frequencies are also a great way to scare off cat, although they aren’t annoying to humans.  You can find numerous dissimilar models, for example those that stay on all the event, and those that are motion detected.  To purpose this type of device, you will require to make certain that the model you’ve is strong adequate to cover the entire zone.  Wheter you model you’re using is strong adequate to cover your entire garden, it must suffice in scaring off any unwanted animals.

You could also use commercial repellents whether well.  Commercial repellents use scents to keep cats away, & shouldn’t be applied near any food crops.  Due to their good chemical content, commercial repellents could pollute your crops.  You can find them at your local department store, through various varieties to take from, many of which will fend off other animals from your garden as well.

If you have a garden, it could be really annoying if cat & other animals decide to make your backyard their home.  When you stick to your guns and do your part, you could avoid them from bothering your garden or your crops.  When you’ve secured your limitations around the backyard, you must try using water 1st.  When water doesn’t seem to work, you could search into another technique, for example commercial repellents. Find more other useful articles about dog car seat, miniature dogs and dog pounds

The Basics of Cat Grooming

October 26th, 2009 by KittyKitty

Cats are charming creatures sharing a history with humans that rivals dogs. Some cultures have histories that depict cats as good warm hearted creatures, while other cultures have folktales that convey tales about cats being the root of all that is evil. On one hand cats are warm creatures that look forward to cuddling and showing affection to their owners, on the other hand the same cat can go for weeks without ever looking at its human.

One of the most intriguing things about cats is their cleanliness. Cats practically house train themselves, just show them where the litter box and they are prepared to use it; if you keep the litter box clean you cat will reward you by never making a mess in your house, (although some do prefer potted plants to the litter box!). Most cats are content to spend hours cleaning themselves, using their tongues to remove the dust from their bodies and to tidy up their hair. Watching a cat bathe itself can be a hypnotic experience for its owners.

We are so accustomed to our house cats taking care of their own hygienic needs that we sometimes forget that they, just like dogs, want us to help with their grooming. It is the cat owners duty to ensure that the cats nails are trimmed, that any exceptionally nasty mats and knots are removed from their coats, and that their teeth are kept clean and free of tarter and decay. In order to make sure that your cat is appropriately groomed you need a very straightforward set of equipment, your toolbox of cat grooming supplies.

The fist item you need in your cat grooming toolbox is a cat brush. This brush has bristles that are stout enough to eliminate mats and debris from your cat’s coat, but still gentle enough that they won’t pull and tear at your cat’s delicate skin. If you have a cat that seems to be particularly prone to getting substantial knots in its coat you will want to invest in a specifically designed mat spreader.

Unless you have had your house cat declawed your cat will need to have its nail clipped. In the wild, cats need their sharp claws to defend themselves and to help them capture and kill prey. Untamed cats keep their nail from becoming overly long by walking around on hard surfaces that wear down the nail, keeping it sharp. The only real use house cats have for their claws is scratching furniture and occasionally taking a swipe at their human caretakers. It is the caretakers responsibility to make sure the cat’s nails get trimmed whenever they get long. If you have never trimmed  a cat's nails watch a professional pet groomer or your cat's veterinarian trim your cat's nail first.

Dental care is an crucial part of your cat’s general health. It is important to make sure that your cat's teeth are clean and free of signs of decay. Discuss with your veterinarian who will be able to help you choose products designed for optimal feline wellbeing.

Is The Rise of Natural Healing About To Begin?

October 26th, 2009 by KittyKitty

Sometimes, the pendulum swings too far to one side creating an imbalance in the way of things. So it is between the well established and powerful companies that manufacture and market prescription drugs and those who remember the old ways of natural healing or have rediscovered them. The powerful have become too powerful.

In ancient terms it is the tension and conflict that exists between the mechanists and the vitalists. Perhaps now the mechanists have become a bit too powerful. Some speculate that they have control even over government agencies that are designed to regulate such things.  With such power, even questionable things can be officially ‘approved’. But is the research all that solid in the end?

HydroFloss

Yet, the natural remedies that currently exist have no such champion with big purse strings. In fact, many of the big prescription drug remedies are nothing more than concentrated, synthetic copies of compounds that naturally exist in nature.

Oramd

As a result of this crazy power structure, the every day remedies that grow in the desert or the forest or maybe even one’s own backyard can’t get the coveted government stamp of approval as a substance that really works. These natural ways may not even have the long list of side effects that today’s pharmaceuticals may have. It’s a bit ironic when you think about it. On the other hand, mother nature was there long before the current government / corporation power structure that we know today. It seems that mother nature will be there long after the status quo disappears too. Mother nature never needed government approval. But even today, mankind and governments need mother nature.

allergy symptom relief

The pendulum is due or getting close to the point where it has to swing back. As a result, those who have preserved and conserved the ancient healing methods passed down to us persist.  They are there. The knowledge is there. One merely has to look. Now days, that looking is getting easier and easier all of the time.  The more greedy the current power structure’s components get, the more the old, natural ways of healing will rise again.  In the end, people will turn to them as the cost of ‘modern’ treatment spirals beyond the reach of the majority of human beings.

On the other hand, there are folks who plain don’t realy care about the current power structure, they just plain believe in the old and natural way of doing things.  Some are extremely well versed in these natural methods. They follow that way because it just makes sense to them!

Disclaimer: This article is definitely not intended to provide advice, diagnosis or treatment for any health problem at all. If you have or think you might have a health problem, you must consult your doctor for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products mentioned in this article. This article is for information purposes only.

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