Category Archives: Pet Articles

Good articles from various sources about pets.

Too much exercise can be punishing for dogs

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Author: Betty Ortman

Copyright (c) 2009 Betty Ortman

Several years ago my brother Thomas embarked on a 3-month hiking adventure in Europe. The goal of his trans-European trek was to reach the mission church of Santiago de Compostela in Spain from his home in the medieval southern German town of Freiburg, a distance of about 1,000 miles.

And, he thought, what a fantastic opportunity for hours and hours of daily, fresh outdoor exercise for Anko his Labrador retriever. Anko was 6 years old at the time, weighed about 60 pounds, and was in good physical condition.

It didn’t take long for Thomas to realize, however, that such an ambitious goal would never be realized in the time-frame he had envisioned. In fact, after about 4 hours of brisk walking with Anko that first day, he was afraid that he might not be able to even continue his journey at all.

The problem was not with Thomas’ stamina but with Anko’s.

Instead of hoping to cover 15 miles that first day, the two had to stop for the day after only about 6 miles – Anko simply could not walk any further and was very exhausted.

On the second and third day of similar experiences with Anko, Thomas sensibly scaled back his plans to be back in Freiburg in August or September instead of mid-June. Thus, the pace of this journey would be determined by Anko, not by himself.

It seems surprising to many, that dogs do not have an infinite source of energy and stamina. But any Veterinarian will tell you that the misguided belief that all dogs like to run nonstop for miles needs to be dispelled.

Therefore, one needs to prepare the dog for longer hikes to make it a great experience not only for the hiker but also for the dog.

The following is just a very general list of items you should include in your planning. You might have to do more to get your wonderful dog ready for a longer hike.

1. Have a Veterinarian check your dog to make sure your dog is healthy to go on a longer hike

2. Get him used to a doggy back pack. Your dog can safely carry about a third of his body weight.

3. Increase the walking distances gradually with your dog

4. During the hike increase the amount of food up to 100 % depending on how strenuous the hike is

5. Feed your dog twice a day and give him plenty treats between meals

6. Make sure your dog gets to drink frequently

7. Pack a First Aid kit for your dog

So please, hikers, continue to enjoy your favorite outdoor activities with your favorite companion by your side. But also keep in mind that dogs like people, need to be conditioned for any strenuous activity.

About the Author:

Betty lives with her husband Mike and their dog Lady in Virgina. She is the founder of a social website for pet owners http://www.petwatchclub.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Too much exercise can be punishing for dogs

Training a Dog

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Author: Jonathan Gunn

After lamenting about the question of whether or not to get a dog and what kind of dog to get, you finally bring the one you choose home. You want very much for your dog to be a very loyal and faithful pet and friend, just like you believe all dogs are to their masters. But just wanting it to be that way will not make your untrained, adorable puppy become a well-behaved dog. But how do you help your wonderfully cute, playful puppy turn into a well-behaved guard dog?

Understand How to Train a Dog

Dog training involves showing your dog how to act, so that you and your dog can live under the same roof happily. There are several different avenues to dog training, like clicker training and behavior training for example. It doesn’t matter which exact techniques and tools you use to train your dog, the basic rule is still the same: productive dog training involves using mental preconditioning advances that function by reinforcing productive behavior. In all dog training, treats or rewards are used. When you begin life with your new pet, keep in mind the following training rules.

The sooner the better. Because it is harder to undo acts of behavior and fix unseemly responses,it will be more difficult to train an adult dog that is set in its ways; puppies that are only a month or two old and don’t have any established bad habits will be much simpler to train. With adult dogs, behavior modification will require a lot more of your time.

Investments will get you returns. If you have already put in the time, effort and even money to get your dog, then put in the time and effort to train them. You will be happy you took the time to train your dog when you finally have a loving, reliable pet that loves playing with your children, guards your family well, and helps you to relax at the end of the day.

Be Firm and Patient, but not coddling. Do not baby your dog by giving them any treats that they have not earned or deserve. When your dog is young or in training, be careful not to give them treats whenever they want them. The same way as parents can change their cute little angels into spoiled brats, your pet will run all over you if you allow it. When you are training, it is important to be patient. Most importantly, be firm. When you mean no, say it, and reward your pet with a treat only if he does what you ask of him.

Be Consistent with Your Dog. It will just confuse your pet if you give in to their whining today and then ignore it tomorrow. This will only make their training more difficult and complicated. If you are using a device like a clicker to train your dog, you must give them a treat every time you click it, without exception. You can only be clear about what you are asking from your dog if you are consistent. If you are consistent, then your dog will be able to respond correctly and understand what you want.

Dogs are very smart. Even though they are not as smart as humans are, they can learn human-like behavior and show that they understand and acknowledge emotions. A dog will quickly learn who is it’s leader and training will be easier.

If you are interested, you can read this article on Dog Clicker Training or these reviews of products that address dog training Best Dog Training Products. For more information about dog training and dog behavior problems visit Dog Training.

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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Training a Dog

Keeping a Healthy Golden Retriever Healthy

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Author: Kevin

When you’ve assisted your Golden-Retriever in developing it’s immune system, then it will be more fit and will be strong enough to stave off whatever type of sickness. There are methods that you are able to aid your Golden on his immune system, which is basicly what you give him for his dietary needs..You care about your Golden and want to help it build a very strong immune system – you will feel this information extremely helpful.

As you feed your Golden, try to give him a little homemade food.Blend them in together,you’ll be able to replace this as canned foods.Homemade food always tastes much better to a dog, and it carries many of the nutrients and vitamins he requires. As you give him water, afford him spring water.Spring water is in reality much better for him than any other type of water although allot of people give their Golden it’s water supply out of the faucet.

One thing that will aid him in developing a hard set of pearly white teeth would be to give him a treat or a bone that still has a good deal of meat still on the bone,.Teeth are really significant factor to keep in mind with with Golden Retriever, which is why you would care without doubt be sure that his teeth continue to remain strong and healthy.Whenever you offer him a bone, maybe every day or two, he might have plenty to chew on to sustain healthy teeth. You’ll be able to likewise utilize chewing toys equally well, particularly while you may be playing with him, because they’ll assist him to build up durability in his jaws.

You are able to likewise aid to support your Golden Retriever health by knowing a little about any health troubles that he might.In this way, you will be able to keep track of what your veterinarian diagnoses.If you do find something is wrong after seeing your veterinarian about your Golden Retriever, you should recognize a little about what he tells you, and how you may be able to help to take care of the problem.

you may want to think about getting your male Golden Retriever neutered to avoid reproductive issues.It is common that Golden Retrievers, have reproductive problems ,if you do nothing , they may lead to more life threatening circumstances.If you aren’t planning to breed your Golden Retriever, you may prefer to have him neutered because soon as you will be able to, to aid in preventing any case of reproductive troubles.

If you take care of your domestic dog and help it to stay healthy, he may live much longer. You will want to always strive to sustain your dog’s health, so he may live out a pain free life. As long as you provide him a suitable diet and allow him get enough physical exercise, he should remain strong and healthy. Golden Retrievers that develop to be healthy and strong make outstanding pets, since they can join in exercise and allow for whole slew of fun and entertainment for your entire family.

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Thinking about Getting a Golden-Retriever?

Visit our

website to learn more about Goldens.

There you can also learn about many other dog breeds to help choosing

Which Breed is

best for you and your family.

the www.Best-Dog-Breed-For-Me.com.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Keeping a Healthy Golden Retriever Healthy

You Can Treat Your Bird From Sickness – Keep Bird Healthy

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You Can Treat Your Bird From Sickness – Keep Bird Healthy.Author: Bryan Burbank

Having a pet such as a bird can be a great animal to have around your family. It is important that you make sure your bird stays healthy because pet birds often develop health issues. Make sure that you take your bird to the vet on a regular basis so that your bird get the shots it needs to stay healthy. You should always feed your bird a healthy diet so they can naturally cure any disease as they may get. A Good diet consist of sprouted seeds and healthy fruit so they can maintain good health. Make sure that your bird does not eat any chocolate or coffee because this can cause great harm to them.

Get: Free Bird Health Tips

You want to check with your veterinarian to see what they recommend to maintain a healthy bird. It is important that you keep your birds cage clean and make sure there are no lead items in the cage. You may also want to avoid any cages that are made in a foreign country because they may have high lead content. Having an active bird will help to avoid having any health issues. The proper toys are important for them to play with inside the cage.

How to : Find Bird Information

Remember that having a family pet bird can be fun and exciting but you need to make sure they stay healthy. Feeding them the right food can help them to maintain good health. It is also important that you make regular visits to your vet so the bird can be checked out and get the proper healthcare. If your bird seem to be acting out of the ordinary then there may be something wrong and they should get checked out soon.

About the Author:

Bryan Burbank is an expert in the field of Pets. For more information go to: http://www.birdila.com/health-symptoms.html

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – You Can Treat Your Bird From Sickness – Keep Bird Healthy

You Can Get Basset Hound Health Care – Keep Your Basset Healthy

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Author: Bryan Burbank

It can be exciting when you first get your new Basset hound puppy. Keeping them healthy should be your number one priority because some bassets have natural health issues. One of the main issues that a basset hound has is that they tend to eat a lot of food and can develop a weight problem. It is important to monitor what they eat and to make sure they do not have access to leftovers. It is better to start a Basset hound out on a good diet plan when they are puppies so when they grow up they will have developed great eating habits. These dogs are very adorable but you need to make sure to keep them healthy as well.

Get Free : Basset Hound Health Care

There are many health concerns you should know about when owning a Basset hound dog. Along with weight gain your Basset hound can also have problems with their legs because they are carrying a lot of weight. Also you need to make sure that you keep your dog’s ears cleaned out so that they do not get any kinds of infections, this is common as well with Basset hounds. These types of dogs are great for family pets because they have a great personality and work well with children. Just make sure that you take them to the vet regularly so you can avoid any issues they may have.

How to : Find Basset Information

Remember that owning a Basset hound dog can be fun and exciting but you need to make sure they stay healthy. It is important that they get plenty of exercise so they can control and maintain their weight. These dogs tend to eat too much food and become overweight so controlling their diet is essential. Also making regular visits to the veterinarian can help them to stay healthy as well.

About the Author:

Bryan Burbank is an expert in the field of Pets. For more information go to: http://www.bassethoundexpert.com/health-care.html

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – You Can Get Basset Hound Health Care – Keep Your Basset Healthy

Learn How to Train Your Bird – Learn the Best Techniques

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Author: Bryan Burbank

Birds can be trained but it is important that you have a lot of patience with them so that they will obey you. You need to designate one person that is in your household to be the one who does the training. Remember it is going to take some time before they understand your commands so keep working at it even if you get frustrated. If you want to teach the bird to sit on your hand then you need to get the bird used to your hand being in the cage. You should spend time petting the bird and talking to it until they are comfortable climbing on your hand.

Get: Bird Training Tips

Once the bird has the confidence to sit on your hand then you can teach it to move to one finger. Once the bird has trust in you then you can teach it to do many things. It is also important to teach the bird to go back on there perch and the best way to do this is to move the bird close to it and use a command such as “up.”

How to: Find Bird Information

If you let the bird fly around outside the cage you need to teach it to come back to the cage. One method that works well is to use the command “come” and make sure you have a stick for the bird.

Remember that it is not difficult to train your bird but you need to be patient so that the bird gets comfortable with you. Eventually you will be able to train your bird to do just about anything but like most animals it takes time and patience on your part so they succeed.

About the Author:

Bryan Burbank is an expert in the field of Pets. For more information go to: http://www.birdila.com/train-your-bird.html

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Learn How to Train Your Bird – Learn the Best Techniques

the easiest and most effective dog training techniques

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Author: ben sou

You’re out walking with your dog. The dog’s running free. Up ahead you see a mother with a young child. You know that although your dog is friendly with other people the child might be scared by the sight of a dog running loose.

You call out two words to your dog. Immediately it comes running up to you and goes straight to your side. Without you having to say another word it stays right by your side as you carry on walking.

As you approach the mother you stop for a quick chat. Without being to

Have you ever heard stories of households where the dog’s the boss? And I really mean boss. Like where the dog regards certain rooms as his own territory and will viciously prevent people coming in, even family members?

What about dogs that have ‘their’ chair or ‘their’ rug and will turn on anyone who tries to move them from it? Or how about dogs that won’t hesitate to bite anyone who strays too close to their food bowl while they’re eating?

Once you’ve got your own copy of “Dog Training Blueprint To Success” you’ll never be the victim of a dog like that again. You’ll learn straightforward techniques that will stop any possible problems long before they get serious.

Have you ever heard people complain about how it’s not safe to leave food lying around the kitchen because the dog will steal it? Or that they can’t even sit down with a cup of coffee and a cookie without having to watch the dog like a hawk to make sure it doesn’t snatch the cookie right out of their hand?

You won’t have to worry about your dog being like that once you’ve read “Dog Training Blueprint To Success” as you’ll be shown a simple way to make sure it can’t happen to you.

http://www.dogtrainingblueprint.com/secrets.html?id=actnews24

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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – the easiest and most effective dog training techniques

The Process When Adopting a Dog

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Author: A Nutt

Adopting a dog is not a decision that should be made lightly. When you bring an animal into your home through adoption, you create a bond that lasts for a lifetime. You want to be sure you, your home and your family are ready to take the step.

Have you Done Your Homework?
- Do you know what it takes to be a dog owner, and are you prepared to do it? Read up on topics such as housebreaking, dog training, training collars and the debate, inside and outside dogs, grooming and daily care.
- Be sure that your schedule allows you the time to exercise and care for the dog daily. Especially puppies, but any dog needs the chance to move around outside every day.
- See that any children in the house are invested in helping to care for the dog. Help them understand the kinds of responsibilities associated with pet care and help them determine if they are prepared for these things.
- Consider the cost of pet owning a pet, and be sure your budget can handle it. You’ll need to consider annual exams, medical costs, monthly medications such as flea and heartworm control

Which Dog is Right?
- If you have long hours and a busy schedule, you may want to reconsider dog ownership. If you still are certain you want a dog, consider a smaller, less active breed.
- If you don’t have the time for training and housebreaking, then adopting a more mature dog will probably leave you happier than a puppy would.
- Think about size. Too small a breed could get smashed by children, but too large a breed needs space. A small, active breed can seem to take up as much room as a large dog.

Things To Have
- Dog ID tag Have the tag made and ready to put on the collar after you adopt.
- Have a leash and collar. A buckle collar gives the best, most secure fit.
- A crate provides security for the dog and assistance to you in training. Try to find the fold-up wire variety.
- Water and food bowls as well as some kind of a bed.

Determine the Adoption Facility
- Be sure the animal will have all its basic immunizations and is ready to enter your home. Find a shelter that provides spaying or neutering as part of the adoption process.
- Collect all records for the dog, especially veterinarian records.

Choose Your Companion
- Get to know lots of dogs before deciding on one. Spend some time with each dog you’re considering and see how it interacts with the family.
- Set limits on what you will bring home as far as breed, size, health, etc. and stick with those limits.

Visit the adoption center at different times of the day if possible. Get to know your dog in different circumstances so that you know it well before it comes into your home permanently.

About the Author:
Dog training can take some time and house training is no exception. When looking for puppy training to not pull on a lead, in-home dog training Kelowna to improve your relationship between you and your dog.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Process When Adopting a Dog

Guinea Pig Breeding

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Author: Lee Martin

Guinea Pig Breeding

The guinea pig has been a favorite pet in many western cultures since the late 1700′s. Guinea pigs originated in the Andes Mountains of South America and are particularly suited as household pets because of their gentle demeanor, easy of care and friendliness towards humans. Guineas are a particularly fertile animal, related to the Caviidae family of rodents but are neither pigs nor from Guinea. Guineas are still popular today in many South American countries as a food source because they require very little resources to maintain and breed extremely quickly.

Guinea pig breeding has evolved beyond food production needs and is now considered a popular past time for those keeping guineas as pets. Guinea pigs come in a variety of shapes colors and sizes from long to short hair and everything in between.

Similar to many rodent species guineas are able to breed year round, though typically have the largest litters during spring pregnancies. Guinea pig breeding is controllable if your take precautions. Guinea litters can contain 1-8 pups but are normally 3-4 pups in size. Guineas are born nearly fully matured with hair, claws and a full range of senses including sight. Shortly after birth they are able to move about freely and eat solid foods. Males reach sexual maturity 3-5 weeks after birth while females typically sexually mature 4-6 weeks after birth. They reaches adult maturity around 8-12 months of age and can live up to 11 years though the average life span is 3-6 years.

Since females are able to become pregnant within a month after being born guineas can and do breed and have litters several times per year. Even more amazing is the fact that a female can become pregnant after about 4 hours of giving birth (so it is extremely important to separate adult males and breeding females after birth if you do not wish to produce more litters!). Guineas breeding out of control sometimes happens if you do not watch your piggies. Gestation last between 60-70 days as pig pups are born at a late stage near full maturity. They normally do not require any assistance during birth all though a guinea pig that has not had at least one litter by the age of six months may have problems with pregnancy later on as the hip bones of females with fuse together without birth experience. If a females hipbones do fuse together giving birth after the fact can normally only be done by cesarean section, as natural birth is no longer an option.

Male and female pigs are nearly indistinguishable from one another by outward appearance and normally can only be told apart by an examination of the pubic areas. Guineas are extremely social animals so much that when co-habitation mothers have litters together they will share and nurse each others young if lactating. When raising and breeding them, it is important to handle and pet the young, shortly after birth to ensure bonding. Unlike some animals a human’s touch will not cause rejection by the mother in pigs. In fact the sooner and more often a newly born guinea pup is introduced to humans the better, as guineas imprint social bonds from an early age. If they are touched, handled and petted shortly after birth they will become far gentler and people friendly pets. Raising guinea pigs can be a fun and rewarding hobby if responsibility is taken to ensure mothers and pups are cared for properly.

By: Lee Martin

About the Author:

Author: Lee Martin
Resource Site : http://www.Guinea-Pig-Lovers.com
Come to the site and look around. Lots of good information.
Also a Free Mini-Course, for anyone wanting more
knowledge about guinea pigs.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Guinea Pig Breeding

Some Basic Training Tips For Dogs

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Some Basic Training Tips For Dogs.Author: John Singleson

Have you recently brought home a little puppy? Then you may be interested in giving your dog some basic training. You can get an obedience instructor for the job, or you yourself can train your pet.

The fees of the obedience instructors can differ, and you would also have to take your dog to the class where the training would take place. But if you are the trainer, you can have the whole thing done almost without any expense, and that too at your own home. So if you have decided to be the trainer, you must have some knowledge on dog training first.

You should teach your dog three basic things first – sit, stay, and come. The first thing you need to teach your dog is to sit. The one thing you would surely need for this is dog treats.

Make sure that you choose a quiet place for this training, so as not to distract your dog’s attention. Ask the dog to sit again and again while you hold the treat over his head. Thus, he will have to turn his head up, and will sit there willingly to get the treat.

If he still doesn’t sit, gently push his back down. When you have made him sit, praise him and give him his treat. If you repeat the word ‘sit’, your dog will realize that the command is related to sitting and will obey you to receive his rewards.

The next thing you need to teach your dog is to stay. This part of the training can be a little difficult. This is a command which your dog would have to learn when you teach him to “come”. Make him sit in a place without any direction.

Repeat the word “stay” as you gradually walk back. Maintain an eye contact with the dog, and if he rises from his position, say “no” and start all over again. This training does take some time and patience. It would be easies if you initially get someone to sit and hold him back if he doesn’t “stay”.

If he has learnt this part, try walking away with your back towards the dog. He will probably rise now to follow you. Tell him “no” and repeat the process asking him to stay in his position as you move away.

When your dog has passed this test, teach him to come. Make him stay and then call him in a cheerful voice and thump your knee as you repeat the word “come”. Reward him, as he will probably respond to your call promptly enough.

The key word of dog training is praise, and not punishment, as dogs respond more to a positive behavior, rather than a negative one. Keep these tips in mind and you would be able to install these three basic commands into your dog.

If you follow this process of training, you would surely be the proud owner of an obedient pet whom everybody praises.

About the Author:

To read about poodle grooming and shih tzu grooming, visit the Puppy Grooming site.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Some Basic Training Tips For Dogs