Pet Screen Doors: Your Door for More Freedom and Relaxation

Pet screen doors are designed to help your dog, cat or any other pet to go out or come in easily. Its saves you time and give your pet much more independence. It is a time consuming experience to always take the dog outside whenever it wants. Pet doors, also popularly known as dog doors can even be mounted on sliding screen doors and can be placed on the lower right or left corner of your screen door, it all depends on how your door opens.

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Safety Tips for Wheeled Pet Carriers

Wheeled pet carriers are growing in popularity among pet owners. These units are relatively easy to maneuver and are designed for the convenience of the pet owner. There are many different types of pet carriers that include wheels. You can choose from a basic design, to luxury pet carriers. Regardless of the type of wheeled pet carrier you elect to purchase for your pet, it is absolutely essential to ensure that you are familiar with a few safety tips for using this type of product.

Knowing the difference between proper use and improper use can make a large difference in the overall health and safety for your pet. While many pet owners are simply looking for convenience, safety is not always a popular topic. Here, you will learn some basic safety tips for wheeled pet carriers. Continue reading "Safety Tips for Wheeled Pet Carriers"

Choosing Stylish Pet Carriers that are best suited for your pet

Stylish pet carriers are becoming the latest trend when it comes to moving pets from one location to another. Many pet owners enjoy sporting their pet in the latest styles and fashions when it comes to modes of transportation. There are so many choices when it comes to choosing the right carrier for your pet that you may have a difficult time making the choice on just one.

This is the intent and purpose of this particular article. I want to share with you some essential steps on how to choose a stylish pet carrier that is appropriate for your pet. I know that you want the best for your pet, and stylish pet carriers can deliver just that, but it is also important to consider other areas that may have an impact on the pet's comfort, and your comfort as well. Continue reading "Choosing Stylish Pet Carriers that are best suited for your pet"

Understanding Pet Sitting Insurance

Pet sitting is basically a service on a contract basis, that is provided by those who take care of pet in their own home. There is also a professional pet sitting industry and the fact is that it is growing very rapidly. This is because the pet owners believe that there are great advantages in using pet sitting or sitters instead of using the more traditional methods of pet care.

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Choosing Luxury Pet Carriers | The benefits of the perfect pet carrier

Choosing luxury pet carriers can be a challenging task to those who have never made this type of purchase. There are many different types of carriers available these days. This is mostly why they are referred to as "luxury". There are the standard, square type with the little doors, the kind that one can wear to carry their pet in, and even those that resemble a purse or a duffle bag.

Many may call these by different names other than that of "pet carrier". Some of the other names that they have been called include "pet crate", "pet taxi", and even "pet purse". These units are used to move a pet safely from one location to another. You may need to visit the veterinarian, a kennel, a friend, a relative, travel by air or bus, or visit an emergency clinic in order to have your pet checked. In all of these situations, luxury pet carriers can prove to be especially helpful. Continue reading "Choosing Luxury Pet Carriers | The benefits of the perfect pet carrier"

Saltwater Aquariums | Beautiful colors of fish from the ocean

The use of saltwater aquariums allows you to bring a small piece of ocean life into your home. There are many people who enjoy watching fish swim in their natural habitat. Some of the most beautiful fish found on this big earth are from the ocean. With bright colors and the slow movements that they make, watching these fish in action is a great way to pass the time. However, as with any type of pet, there are certain precautions that you should take when placing one of these saltwater aquariums inside our home.

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Soft Pet Carriers | Comfortable transportation for your pet

Soft pet carriers are great products to use when traveling with your pet. Many people like to take their pets with them when they travel. In doing this you always want your pet to be as comfortable as possible. Other types of pet carriers are hard and have no soft inside lining to allow this comfortability. Your pet is as much a part of the family as anyone else and deserves the same treatments as we do. With the use of the soft pet carrier, you can now offer this comfort to your pet and they will be happy for it.

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Types of Pet Travel Carriers that you can choose for your pet

There are many different types of pet travel carriers that one may elect to choose from when traveling to certain destinations. It does not matter if you are traveling down the road to a local grooming shop, or you are going across the nation to visit relatives, these handy little pet travel carrier units can make the trip a lot easier. When you travel, it is important to understand that, yes, you have a certain stress level and want to be as comfortable as possible.

However, your pet is also experiencing their own stress, and they need to be comfortable as well. This is where pet travel carriers come into play. Here, I will introduce you to a few of the many types of carriers that are available for traveling. Continue reading "Types of Pet Travel Carriers that you can choose for your pet"

Cage Hammocks | Travel comfort for your pet

Cage hammocks are designed for the comfort of your pets. When traveling, you want your pet to be as comfortable as possible. The need for this is so that your pet does not freak out and try to claw their way out of the cage. These cage hammocks are designed for them to climb in there and rest when taking long trips. Although it does not have to be just for traveling. Many of our pets such as cats, ferrets and the whole rat family are kept in cages. These hammocks used in this type of cage allows for your pet to rest comfortably while they are sleeping.

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Keeping Your Pet Fit With A Dog Treadmill!

It's a lot of fun having a dog, but it can be a lot of work, too. You need to be responsible for his basic needs, such as food, on a daily basis. You also need to make time for exercising him each day in order to keep him healthy and fit. He's depending on you for the things he's unable to do for himself. Keep in mind though, when grumbling about taking time to exercise your dog, you're also keeping yourself in shape, too.

Your dog loves you, but he really doesn't understand when you don't make time for going for a walk or playing with him. He wants to go out and run no matter what the weather is like out there, and you need to see that it happens. Being able to run and exercise every day is vital to his overall well-being.

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Tesco Pet Insurance | Covers Both Cats and Dogs

Tesco Pet Insurance is offered through many homeowner and auto insurance agents. This means that as a pet owner you can have a Tesco Pet Insurance policy through the same insurance agent that handles your other insurance needs. This is a terrific advantage and makes this type of insurance easy to acquire and easy to pay monthly.

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ASPCA Pet Insurance

ASPCA Pet Insurance is one of the leading pet insurances available on the market. They are so popular that you can receive a free rate quote on the Internet. Many insurance agencies that provide home and auto insurance also offer the option of ASPCA Pet Insurance for homes with family pets. We buy health insurance for our medical needs and health issues. Our pets deserve the same type and quality of insurance.

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Sliding Glass Door Pet Door

Home owners are no longer restricted to standard doors in their homes if they have pets. There are some wonderful sliding glass door pet doors available for home owners to use. A pet door is a great way to reduce accidents in your home. Bored or stressed pets can start destructive chewing. The freedom to go outside for a little exercise and play reduces the chances of destructive chewing. A sliding glass door pet door enables your pet to have freedom to venture outside when they choose to.

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House Training A Dog

It is hard to teach old dogs new tricks and so one need to begin house training a dog at an early age when he is most receptive to learning the correct behavior and be taught how to co-exist with his master. You will need to be patient as well as give your pet a lot of love before it leans how not to soil the interiors of the home. No doubt, owning a pet can be exciting and fun; but, you do have to train it so that it does not do its potty within the home thus not only soiling your expensive rugs, and furniture, but also leaving a foul smell that will be hard to get rid off.

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Tapeworms in a Cat: Kill the Leeches Before They Kill Your Cat

Almost all cats will experience at least one type of worm infection during their lifetime; among the most general worm infestations are that of the roundworm and the tapeworm.

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What Causes Worms in Cats?

Worms are a problem that many pets can be afflicted with, and although most people associate intestinal worms with dogs, they can develop in cats too. Normally, the most frequent feline sufferers of worms are kittens under the age of six months. For that reason, many veterinarians will recommend that a cat owner vaccinate their cat against worms once a month for six months until they are six months of age. The is important because many kittens are born with worm larvae inside them. De-worming kills live worms, but they do not kill worm eggs and if the worms have already laid eggs, that is the setting of the groundwork of a new infestation of worms, which is not something that anyone wants to deal with.

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What are the Causes of Worms in Dogs

If your dog is a pup, chances are that you have at least heard about the dangers that worms can pose to their health. Worms are a widespread affliction for dogs, especially those under six to eight months old. They are as widespread as flea bites and just as easy to cure, if not simpler - if you know what you are doing. If you don't know what you are doing and you are a new dog owner, that is alright too; your vet should know all that you don't know about worms and how to rectify the situation. Just in case, here are the nitty-gritty and causes of worms in dogs.

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How to Tell the Signs of an Overdose of Heartgard

Our pets take wonderful care of us; they provide love, company, tenderness and even exercise to contribute to a better quality of life for human beings. Isn't it only fair that we do the same for them? Heartworm is one of the most harmful illnesses that a dog can get, but that is only if it is not properly treated. Heartgard is one of the most in use forms of treatment for heartworm disease, most likely due to the fact that it is nearly always effective. It can destroy the worms that infect your dog's heart and save it's life, so needless to say Heartgard is an crucial part of any canine's heath regimen. Unfortunately, it can also be harmful. Those who don't know how to administer Heartgard to their dog can unwittingly cause an overdose of this medicine and if not rectified, an overdose of Heartgard can be fatal to your canine pal.

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How Dogs Get Roundworms

If you have a dog, one thing you need to be conscious of are roundworms. Of course you may be thinking what roundworms are and why they can be such a negative thing for your dog. Basically, roundworms are tiny worms that have a body that is rounded. Generally, they are measure between 3-5 inches in length and they live in the intestines of a dog, consuming food that has been somewhat digested. While they don't stick to the intestine, they do swim around in the food and the eggs are passed into the excrement of the dog.

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How Do Dogs Get Hookworms

Dogs are prone to be parasite central at times. They are the main host for heartworms, a parasite that infects cats and even humans. Fleas and ticks love them and they are a breeding ground for hookworms it seems. Dogs can easily get hookworms and they aren't as immediately detrimental to your pet's health as other types of parasites, but it is important to detect and treat hookworms as soon as possible or your dog could end up suffering and costing you a lot of money in vet bills in the long run.

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What Causes Heartworms in Dogs

They don't call dogs "man's best friend" for nothing. By spending time with us, walking with us, playing with us and loving us, dogs directly contribute to a better quality of life for human beings. Isn't it only fair that we return the favor? It is the sole responsibility of the dog owner to make sure that their canine companion is as well taken care of, healthy and happy as they can be and making sure that their pets are disease and heartworm free is one of the most wonderful ways of doing so.

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Screen Doors with Pet Doors: Let Your Pet Be Free

For anyone with pets, whether they have a dog or cat, you'll know that despite how enjoyable it is to have a pet, on occasion they can be a headache. This generally comes from wanting to go outside when you're preoccupied. However, this annoyance can be overcome if you get a screen door with a pet door.

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Menu Foods Tainted Pet Food: The Pain is Felt Everywhere

Menu Foods has been out of the headlines for awhile now, since news of tainted pet food broke back in the spring that contaminated wheat gluten imported from China was making pets ill across the nation, many of them dying.

"In fact, the Veterinary Information Network had reported 1500 deaths, but that number could fall far short of the reality, according to comments attributed to Veterinary Cardiologist Dr. Paul Pion appearing Christmas Day in Cleveland.com's The Plain Dealer. He says that number could easily be thousands, or tens of thousands," says Gordon Gibb, a writer with www.LawyersandSettlements.com.

"That number could have easily increased by five, had Janine Anderson and Mike Dainis failed to nurse their five cats back to health. The cats were hospitalized with kidney failure after eating some of the contaminated pet food eventually recalled by Menu Foods."

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The Pros & Cons of Pet Doors for Patio Doors

When it comes to the freedom of letting your pet to enjoy the great outdoors, pet doors for patio doors make a convenient enhancement to any house. With an variety of styles, shapes, sizes and features, many consumers like the fuss-free installation that comes with most models. Generally speaking, pet doors for patio doors caters to the needs of both the pet and the owner, as the trouble of regularly opening a door to the back yard for cats and dogs is eliminated, which saves time and effort.

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Pet Doors For Sliding Glass Door: Great For Pets But Bad For Security

If you have a pet, then you might want to let your pet to enter and exit as they desire. It can be troublesome to always have to think about letting your pet in and out, therefore a pet door can be a great convenience. One type of pet door that you may want to consider for your pet are pet doors for sliding glass doors. These doors can be installed beside your sliding glass door and you'll still be able to use the sliding glass door as usual. Instead of installing a pet door in the glass door, they come with a special panel that fits right into the track of your sliding glass door.

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Do You Need To Get An IR Dog Door For Your Dog?

Once a homeowner has decided to provide the freedom of a pet door for their pet, the process of picking just the right model begins. A variety of concerns often arises when approaching the purchase of a dog door, as one starts to mull over security problems and wondering if a stray animal will find its way into their home. With the purchase of an IR (infrared) dog door, various models provide coded locks that keep children in the house and other animals on the outside.

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Homemade Dog Food

Homemade dog food is the only type of dog food that many owners will give to their pets. One of the largest reasons for the increase of homemade dog food preference by owners is because of the scares in the pet food industry and pet food recalls.

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Saltwater aquariums Moray eel| research, reviews for a successful Moray eel saltwater aquarium

Although a saltwater aquariums moray eel is certainly an eye catching fish that will astound all your guests, this is hardly the type of fish suitable for a beginner. Before you even consider inserting a moray eel into your new aquarium, there are a lot if issues you need to be aware - for both your safety and the moray eel itself. You have to read and research on how to take care of a moray eel.

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Small Wet Dry System for Saltwater Aquariums| Bio filtering at work

For a long time, the idea of having a small wet dry system for saltwater aquariums at affordable prices was nothing but a distant dream. Thankfully, things change; and the time for that dream to become a reality is finally here. If you want the best filtering for your saltwater aquarium, the wet dry trickle filters are the best you can possibly wish for. They're easy to use and very affordable as a filtering system for your saltwater aquarium.

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Saltwater Aquariums Maintenance| Keeping the perfect environment for exotic fish

If you're concerned about your saltwater aquariums maintenance, there are a few tips and tricks I can share with you. Most people think a saltwater aquarium to be a costly and labor intensive affair, requiring critical maintenance done every day with preset and precise timings. Well... that's a myth, probably created by all those who have tried keeping a saltwater aquarium in top shape and failed. If you follow a simple saltwater aquariums maintenance schedule you'll have no problems keeping your fish environment healthy.

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Tank reef saltwater aquariums, self-sustaining environment

Tank reef saltwater aquariums are the holy grail of saltwater aquariums. Who wouldn't wish for a self-sustaining aquarium requiring little or no external intervention other than the air pumps and occasional food? Not having to worry with filtering systems would be a blessing. So, how can you turn your own aquarium into a Tank reef saltwater aquariums and live rock aquarium? That's what we're about to find out.

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Successful Small Saltwater Aquariums| Beautifying your home with oceanic colors

If there is such a thing as a key to the secret of successful small saltwater aquariums, it probably is: dedication. Most aquariums fail because people stop caring about it and let it die. If you're not sure about how serious you are regarding a saltwater (or freshwater) aquarium, it's best you wait until you know for sure. Just like having any other pet - you wouldn't let a dog or cat starve to death, would you? - Aquariums are the safe haven for living creatures that should be treated the best we can. By following some simple maintenance rules you can have successful small saltwater aquarium.

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Electronic Pet Doors

One of the complaints of pet owners that use pet doors is the intrusion of other animals into the home. One day a stray cat or someone else's dog may slip through the pet door opening to surprise you and your family. This can be an annoying frustration to say the very least. Electronic pet doors offer a solution to this problem of unwanted visitors.

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Insulated Pet Doors

While many home owners would like to use pet doors they have a concern about energy loss and the rise in electric bills. The solution to this problem is the insulated pet doors. These dual flap and thermal flap doors decrease the amount of heat and energy lost in your home each time your pet uses the doors.

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Pamper Your Pooch with a Dog Bathtub

Dog owners have to be able to bathe their dog. Even if you send your dog to the groomer regularly there will be occasions when something gets on your dog (or your dog gets into something) and he will need a bath at home. As an alternative to using the family bath tub to bathe your family dog you can purchase Fido a dog bathtub of his very own. It may sound like a crazy idea at first, but if you think about the benefits of dog bathtubs, you can see several benefits. It will allow you to bathe your dog at home, saving you groomers fees, and it will keep you from having to share a tub with Fido as well as keeping Fido from scratching up your bath tub.

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Ideas on Patio Pet Doors

Is your home filled with loving pets that are virtual members of the family? You are not alone because many home owners share their lives with various pets. Pets enjoy the independence and freedom to leave and return inside the home at will. If your yard is fenced in for your pet to be safe you might consider the option of patio pet doors.

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Dog Wheelchairs

The thought of our beloved pets being injured, recovering from surgery or even sustaining the loss of limbs can be a challenge. The invention of dog wheelchairs has now enabled many pet owners to give their dogs freedom and mobility that was never possible before. Dogs that have lost limbs or should limit mobility to recover from surgery now are able to have an active life with the assistance of dog wheelchairs.

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How to Remove Pet Stains Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are beautiful in a home and make a lovely addition to virtually any room. However, it you have pets there are a few things to keep in mind for removing pet stains from hardwood floors. Regardless of the types of accidents or spills it is imperative to remember to immediately tend to accidents when it comes to hardwood floors.

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Homemade Recipes for Carpet Shampoo

Hiring a professional to clean your carpets can be expensive. Many people own carpet shampooers and they are able to clean their carpets more frequently than those who have to hire someone to do the job. The manufacturers of carpet cleaning machines recommend using only their products to clean your floors, and they often charge more than $10 per bottle of carpet shampoo so it isn't surprising they suggest that you use their products.

Homemade recipes for carpet shampoo can save money while helping you to keep your floors clean. As with commercial carpet shampoos you should test a small inconspicuous area first to make sure you aren�t going to stain or damage the carpet - this is very important! Different carpets are made with varying materials and cleaning solutions react differently with each kind of carpet fiber. There are many different recipes for homemade carpet shampoo and various cleaning tips using household items instead of shampoo. Some recipes work better on one type of stain than another.

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Buying a Dog: Things to Consider Beforehand

A puppy is not something that should be an impulse purchase. In fact, this is a decision that will bring a new member into the family unit and another living being for which you are responsible. Below are a few things you may wish to consider during the process.

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Good Idea to Fit Bowls to Animal Size

It sounds so simple, but sometimes we forget the fact that a bowl may contain the food your dog eats, but if the dog is a "quick-eater" the area surrounding those bowls may be affected by this...

Get some good tips you can use in your home.

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Pet Birds

You want a pet but you don’t know what exactly you should get. A dog is out of the question since your flat is too small, and besides it would just be cooped up in there the whole day long while you went to work. A cat might be a good pet. It’s independent, it can take care of itself, and you can still come home to a warm living body that will curl up to you. But what about pet birds? Did you ever think of getting a bird for a pet?

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House Pets

If you’re a serious animal lover like me then there’s a good chance that you have a number of various house pets around your house. You’ll also probably have an intriguing number of other house guests roaming around your house as well. You know what I mean, all the strays and hurt little birds and four legged creatures that you just couldn’t desert.

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"Feeding Hummingbirds"

There are a few pleasures that one can enjoy for free and watching birds is one such pleasure. Watching hummingbirds is a definite joy.

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Dealing With An Abused Cat

Abused cats, whether physically or emotionally, are no different than any creature who's had to deal with a bad situation. They can be difficult to deal with because of the abuse and it will take patience to get them back to normal. Physically abused cats are obviously easier to spot since they likely will show physical damage to their bodies. However, those that appear to be in perfect shape on the outside may have sustained internal or emotional damage and are more difficult to spot. Physical damage is certainly bad, but emotional damage is a lot tougher to repair. However, cats who've been physically abused will still respond to a soft touch and voice, as long as they know the abuse has ended.

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"Humming bird feeders"

Everyone loves to watch Hummingbirds as they dart among the bright flowers in our gardens.

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Ferret Facts You Should Know

If you're looking for a different type of house pet than the usual cats and dogs, then you might consider getting a pet ferret. There are a number of things to recommend a ferret as they're charming little creatures that are very playful, which makes them a fun pet for the entire family.

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Leash Training Your Cat

It’s a rare sight to see someone walking down the street walking their cat on a leash. However, it certainly is something that can easily be done. As with training any pet, patience and practice is required and with cats being the creatures of habit that they are, once you’ve made it part of their regular routine, you’ll be able to walk her on a leash any time you desire.

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Cats Will Scratch

As a cat owner, you’re fully aware that your cat seems to scratch everything in sight. This is normal behaviour because what she’s doing is sharpening her claws and getting rid of the outer layer of the old claw. This behavior is so embedded into her instincts that even a cat that’s been declawed will continue to go though the motion of clawing and scratching.

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The Traveling Cat: Cat Carrier Training

It’s inevitable that most cat owners will one day plan to go on vacation and bring along their feline companion. This will often require your cat to endure long periods of time traveling in a car, a scary place if you haven’t properly prepared her for the trip. A cat let loose in a moving car will tend to jump all over the seats, moan and cry and become a general nuisance. Therefore, if you’re planning to travel with your cat, it’s a good idea to orient your cat first to help make her as comfortable as possible.

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Pet Health Tips For Summer

Summer can be a dangerous time for house pets. For pet owners being outside in the summer can be enjoyable - going on family vacations, relaxing at the cottage, sipping a cold drink by the pool etc. But for house pets, the high temperatures of summer can be dangerous.

Following are some pet health tips that will help you protect your house pet this summer.

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Acquiring Your First Dog: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

When you’re ready to acquire a new dog you’ll have several choices, with some methods definitely better than others. Pet shelters, Dog Breeders, Pet Stores and Puppy Mills are the most common sources, and it’s important that you carefully examine exactly what you’re getting into with each of these choices before making your purchase.

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Abyssinian Cats A Great Family Pet

The Abyssinian breed of cats has a long history going all the way back to ancient Egypt. The breed has a sleek, muscular body, arched neck, elegantly shaped eyes and large ears. While the name “Abyssinian” points to the country of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) as the breed’s place of origin, it’s more likely that the name, although derived from Abyssinia, does not point to the cat’s country of origin but to the country from which they were originally imported to Great Britain for frequently held cat exhibitions.

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Can You Teach An Old Dog New Tricks?

Despite what has become common knowledge based on the old saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks," it's important to realize that this is really a myth that has little basis in reality. Oh yes, it certainly is a bit more difficult for an older dog to accept being trained, but it certainly isn't impossible. This is especially true if you're patient and stay consistent with the dog's lessons throughout the entire process.

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Herding and the German Shepherd Dog

Once other animals such as cattle, sheep and goats became domesticated, man became aware of the dogs herding ability. Tactics used by hunting wolves, witnessed by humans, such as driving and separating one animal from the flock, were further exploited and bred into these dogs. As in other dogs, the animals possessing the best inherent herding abilities were further developed to assist human shepherds in their daily duties.

As you know, German Shepherds fall into the Herding Category of dog breeds- the breed was derived in the late 1800’s from several different types of herding stock. As the breed gained popularity, it also gained new “jobs” and duties as varied as can be possibly imagined- from work in the wars, search-and-rescue, tracking, police work, protection, to guide dog, companion dog and more. Still, some animals(GSD’s) are used today actively as herding dogs.

Exactly what is involved in the process of herding? First, a willingness to work and to cooperate with others. In the wild wolves or wild dogs work as a unit when hunting prey and each animal may have a particular “job” to fulfill in order to bring down the intended victim. Some may be following the prey while others attempt to head it off. Still, another may be the pack leader who in essence coordinates the events of the hunt. Herding dogs now work essentially with a human as pack leader in attempting to control herds of livestock.

Herding dogs may have natural abilities and fall in one of two basic categories- either that of gatherer or driver. Drivers generally move the stock away from the handler while still grouped, while gatherers tend to head off stock, keep them grouped and move them toward the handler. Generally speaking, gatherers are more versatile than drivers and it is much easier to cross train a gatherer to drive than it is to cross train a driver to gather.

Overall, principles of herding are based on the dogs natural instincts though other training methods abound. First dogs must obey the handler and follow commands. This, along with mutual trust and respect, are the most important aspects of the working relationship between the dog(s) and the handler. After being introduced to stock, the animals are taught to position themselves in relation to the handler and stock based on their ”job” and the direction in which the herd is to be moved. It is the handlers job to give the dog guidance in working the stock.

Later in training directional commands are learned by the animal in training. Most commands are in the form of verbal cues or whistles although visual commands may sometimes be involved as well. Possible commands may include “easy” or ”steady” (move slowly), “stop”, “down”, or flanking commands such as move counterclockwise or clockwise around the herd. Once the dog masters the basic gathering commands it is taught to drive the herd and as it learns each lesson, it is taught other more difficult commands.

Qualities a good herding dog must possess are obedience, trainability, adaptiveness, good health, responsiveness and, most importantly, being able to use its own judgment. “Standing up” to uncooperative stock or being gentle with cooperative stock are other qualities of utmost importance in an actual working herding dog.

Article written and reprinted with permission of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com/ Purebred Dogs, Puppies and Dog Breeders - "Your New Best Friend"

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved

How Old is Your Pet- Really?

Just how old is your dog really? More than likely you know the dogs age in years, or at least have an approximation of its age, but do you really have any idea how old it may be- chronologically speaking?

I’m sure you’ve heard of the old “seven year theory”. You know, the system where each year of a dog or cats life is the equivalent of 7 of ours. An example of this thinking would be that a 1 year old dog would be the age and developmental equal of a 7 year old person. Now just how many 7 year old kids do you know that are sexually mature -and able to reproduce? A cat or dog is much more likely to have a litter when it is one year or younger, or at the other extreme,ten years or older, than is a human who is under the age of seven or over the age of seventy! This system was simple- but too simple. Many people today may still use these calculations when coming to some idea of their pets chronological age. Still, due to examples like the one above you can see why this most simple of systems is not accepted today.

In the early 1950’s a French veterinarian, Monsieur LeBeau, formulated another system to address this problem. In LeBeau’s system, a dog/cat of 1 year in age became the equivalent of a 15 year old person- due to the onset of puberty in each species. The second year of a dog/cats life became the equivalent of a 24 year old person- someone/ something that has reached full maturity. After two, each year of an animals life would equal 4 years of human life.

Pop quiz time! Just how old would a 6 year old cat “really” be using this newer system? According to the LeBeau theory, the dog/cat would be the equivalent of a 40 year old person. Remember, 24+ (4*4)= 40. How about a 10 year old dog? If you came up with 56 then you were correct! It is interesting to note that dogs and cats move up this newer age scale at the same rate until they reach the age of 14. At that time the rates begin to differ between dogs and cats compared in human age terminology. This chart would work quite well for a dog or cat having an average life expectancy(ALE) of 14 years. As we all know, oftentimes animals,as do people, may exceed the ALE which would call for further refinement of this age formula. For this we need to be aware of something called the maximum life span(MLS). Basically, the average life expectancy is the amount of years a person, animal, etc. may reasonably expect to live. The MLS on the other hand, is the genetically based maximum age beyond which no member of that species may live.

Now, with that in mind, consider this addendum to the first age chart. A human maximum life span is close to 110 years. A cats maximum life span is around the mid-30’s, while a dogs maximum life span is around 29. So, just how do you calculate a cat or dogs age who lives past the 14 year mark? In this event, each year of life past 14 for a dog would equal 2 1/2 human years, and only 2 for a cat. Due to recent research it has been found that many times an animal may live past his ALE when given improved care, activity, social and psychological stimulation. If we examine the oldest living dogs on record, we can begin to see that most had a regular moderate exercise program that included differing levels of psychological and social stimulation.

Currently, the oldest living dog on record worked as a herding dog in Australia(29 years old). The runner-up, a mere 27 years of age, was a Lab who lived in the home of a game keeper in England. Other famous notables include Higgins, the terrier on Petticoat Junction and the Beverly Hillbillies(20); Pal, the collie who started the role of Lassie(18);and,last but certainly not least, Rin Tin Tin, movie star and German Shepherd who lived to be at least 16 years of age.

The following charts will show you just how LeBeaux theories work when determining the age of your pet. We hope this material is of help to you in the future.

AGE

Cat/Dog Human

1---------------------------15

2---------------------------24

3---------------------------28

4---------------------------32

5---------------------------36

6---------------------------40

7---------------------------44

8---------------------------48

9---------------------------52

10-------------------------56

11-------------------------60

12-------------------------64

13-------------------------68

14-------------------------72

AGE Cats/Humans Dogs/Humans

15------------74--------------------74.5

16------------76--------------------77

17------------78--------------------79.5

18------------80--------------------82

19------------82--------------------84.5

20------------84--------------------87

21------------86--------------------89.5

22------------88--------------------92

23------------90--------------------94.5

24------------92--------------------97

25------------94--------------------99.5

26------------96--------------------102

27------------98--------------------104.5

28-----------100-------------------107

29-----------102-------------------109.5

30-----------104

31-----------106

32-----------108

33-----------110

34-----------112

Article written and reprinted with permission of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com/ Purebred Dogs, Puppies and Dog Breeders - "Your New Best Friend"

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.

The Importance Of Early GSD Socialization And Training

I can't stress enough how important it is to perform GSD socialization and training activities early, and often, in your German Shepherd’s life. Go to the park, to as many dog-friendly stores as possible, on errands, etc.

Take your GSD puppy with you wherever and whenever you can. And when I say take the GSD puppy with you, I mean take it with you, not leave it in the car while you're in the store.

GSD socialization will occur whenever your puppy is introduced to new situations, new people and animals, and new places. They need to actively participate in socialization for it to really work - that means you must let them safely interact with new people, places and things.

This is definitely a great step in building the GSD puppies confidence and building a more stable temperament - more capable of coping with new and unusual experiences. German Shepherds are highly intelligent and these early GSD socilization lessons, being around new and different stimuli, will make your adult German Shepherd much more stable and confident - and this is exactly what you want.

Your new GSD puppy has spent the first few weeks of it's life with his mother, litter mates and breeders family. Your new GSD puppy may have gone on rides to many new places such as the veterinarian, short shopping errands, and on short training rides. It has probably heard many different kinds of noises: people, horns of cars, birds chirping, children, sounds of traffic, etc. If your German Shepherd puppy was raised in a farm type locale the puppy has probably seen, heard and smelled many different types of animals, larger farm equipment, etc. Other interesting things to introduce your puppy to are: slick floors (tile / linoleum), elevators, stairs and carpeting.

One of your new jobs as the GSD puppy's new owner is to add to all of those past experiences with many other new ones. Ask the breeder what kind of socialization has been done with your puppy and take it from there. The more new and exciting experiences that your make your GSD a part of, the better. I can't stress enough how important it is that you continue to socialize your GSD puppy during the first several months of its life. Discovery of new experiences and teaching the puppy to deal with them positively and confidently is highly important.

Many studies have been done that show the critical socialization period for a puppy is from eight to sixteen weeks of life. During this period it is essential that the German Shepherd puppy safely and positively experience as many new things as possible. Some of these experiences will be a little stressful, but you must support your puppy during these times and encourage them throughout the entire socialization process.

Here's a short example of how simple this process can be: Several years ago I was walking my 10 wk old GSD puppy, Cera, around our block on one windy day. Out of nowhere a small piece of trash paper blew by both of us, quietly startling her.

She watched the trash as it continued to blow up against the curb, changed direction and blew closer toward us. Curious, she wanted to check out the new object that was moving around on the curb in front of us and now moving toward us but unsure as how exactly to react to the new object.

It was obvious to me that she was curious enough to want to check it out, but also fearful enough that she wanted to run away from it. I waited to see what she would do. She watched the object as it moved around, sometimes backing up slightly, sometimes moving toward it. I allowed her the time to observe the paper and waited to see exactl