Our Daily Pet » Pet Stories

Guinea Pig Love

Jeannette Gardner — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:42:26 +0000

Our Two Loveable Guinea Pigs

©Copyright by Jeannette Gardner (March, 2012)

I never really knew how smart guinea pigs are, and that they can actually have you wrapped around their little finger by their cute demands.

We adopted two guinea pigs, mother and daughter of 1 and 3 years old in October of 2011. After buying a house, we wanted to get a pet, and decided against getting a dog for now. Instead, we are proud parents of two loveable guinea pigs, Harmony and Melody. Hey, you don’t have to walk them at all hours of the day or evening!

Our two adorable piggies have out smarted us in a lot of funny but very cute ways. They know our schedules for eating, and by this what amazes me is that they know of the exact “timing” of different hours for our meals, and for them to get their pellets and their treats. I’m normally the first one up, get the coffee on and check up on our guinea pigs. It’s really funny to watch them at that time as they are both standing up on their little front legs on their empty bowl looking at me, and squealing for me to give them their pellets. After eating their pellets, they will have a nap for a while as they somehow know my Husband will be up shortly. Our piggies know what they will get from him; their treat of different fruits. Each morning, my Husband cuts up fruit for his breakfast, and they actually know that it’s him in the kitchen preparing this, and not me. While he’s cutting up fruit, our piggies will be watching him and squealing and running around like crazy. When I go into the kitchen getting my breakfast, they don’t even make a sound! They even hear me opening the fridge door where their fruit is kept, but they are silent. When I’m preparing my breakfast, our guinea pigs know that I’m not preparing fruit for myself. They know I’m the one to give them their pellets in the morning. It’s so amazing how they know each of our meal schedules and they know who they are getting their fruit and pellets from.

My Husband and I are night hawks, and we do our own thing with our music in our studios after our late dinner. After dinner, I will make our little piggies their salad plate. They know what I’m preparing in the kitchen for them while they are watching me, as I am also watching them for their reactions. But they are silent again, just watching what I’m preparing to give them at a later time. It’s amazing that our piggies know they will not be getting their salad plate at this time, but instead later in the evening. Even though they watch what I’m making for them, they don’t make any of their squealing sound affects.

My Husband and I normally meet in the TV room around 1:00 a.m. and we get comfortable on the couch to watch TV. Wouldn’t you know it, our piggies are looking at us from their cage waiting patiently, and we know what they are waiting for. They will look away from us on and off while nibbling on their hay for a while. Then a short time later, their high pitch squealing begins with the amazing sounds of opera singing, or what almost sounds like an electric guitar playing. We just love these incredible loud sound effects from them. They run around in their cage like crazy, as they know it is almost “time” for their salad plate. Each time this happens, we glance at the clock, and their timing is normally the same time of around 1:30 a.m. every night; the time that they demand their salad plate which is truly amazing. As soon as I get up to go into the kitchen, our piggies go crazy, squealing again in their high pitch sound as they know I’m getting their prepared salad plate for them to eat. I will walk towards their cage, and by this time they are running around in their cage with excitement, standing up on their little hind legs begging and waiting for me to put their salad plate down in their cage. They are very happy at this time while guzzling down their salad.

This unusual knack of them knowing the exact time they will get their final treat of the night before my Husband and I go to bed is incredible. It boggles our minds on how they know of this unusual timing thing that they have developed with us. There have been times though when we both messed up and got off schedule. They knew we messed up by showing us their anger, which is expressed by them pushing their little beds up to their empty bowl, letting us know it is empty and time to fill with pellets. They both really know they are the boss of the house!

When it’s time to pick them up, they will run and hide from us which is normal for guinea pigs. When we pick one up, the other piggie will know it is her turn next. She will hide in every place possible so she won’t be picked up but once we do pick her up, she will calm down and be ready for floor time that guinea pigs need out of their cage for exercise. They will play and run in and out of a tunnel on the floor which is so cute to watch. Oh yes, they love chewing on the box as well which is good for filing down their teeth which constantly grow.

One of the funniest moments we’ve had with our piggies was when we put a large carrot on the floor and took them out of their cage to see their reaction. Oh my God! They started having a tug-of-war, grabbing it from one another and constantly grabbing it from each other’s mouths. It was so hilarious to watch that we were laughing hysterically with tears in our eyes. We just had to video tape their performance, and posted it up on YouTube. It can be viewed by goggling “Melody & Harmony (Our Guinea Pigs”). If you want a good laugh, it’s certainly entertaining and worth watching!

If anyone is concerned about getting a dog, I highly recommend guinea pigs as the next best pet to a dog. They are like little puppies when you hold them and so loving. They are very smart little animals, and once they get to know and trust you, they are wonderful to have as pets which we have experienced for the first time owning our guinea pigs. They are like having little babies, and that’s exactly how you have to care for them. Of course I would recommend getting two piggies of the same sex, as they are very sociable animals and will tend to get lonely or depressed if you only have one guinea pig. Eventually, they will out smart you and will be very demanding in a very nice cute way! They are certainly entertaining pets we have adopted. We just love our two piggies, Harmony and Melody!

Help for Bear.

Charlene Real — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:25:12 +0000

Our dog Bear has had alot of medical problems this past year. He has gone through heartworm treatment, surgery to remove a rectal polyp and dental surgery, where he had to have twelve of his teeth removed. He also was suffering from kidney problems, we were told that it could be the start of kidney failure. He had to have medicine and special food for two months, his kidneys are finally back to normal now. He was just recovering from his surgeries, when he started to develop swelling in his face. The swelling went from the size of a marble, to the size of a small egg in under two weeks. They thought at first it was an abscess, so he was on antibiotics for quite a while, almost a month. The swelling got worse, so we took him in to the vet. He examined him and said the area was very hard, and was not an abscess after all. The vet took x-rays and consulted a couple of other veterinarians who said it might be cancer, and that he would need to get a biopsy done. We got the results about a week later, confirming it was cancer, The kind of cancer he has is called Chondroblaftic Osteogenic Sarcoma, which is canine bone cancer. We were referred to an oncologist, so we can see if it’s treatable, or if it’s too far progressed. We have started a fundraiser on GiveForward.com to help with Bears medical bills and pain medications he’s taking to keep him comfortable for now. You can visit it at http://www.giveforward.com/helpforbear. We write updates on there anytime we get new information and take him to the vet. Bear has his appointment with the oncologist Tuesday (June 14th) we will be updating our GiveForward page after the visit. We also have a twitter account http://www.twitter.com/HelpforBear and a Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_229228317091987&ap=1 where we post updates and pictures. Bear is 7 years old and is a mixed breed. We have had him since he was born, we actually had to help deliver bear, he got stuck when his mom was giving birth and we had to help pull him out. He was, and is a fighter and has always been a very special dog. There was just something about Bear, and when we had to get rid of the puppies, we just couldn’t give up Bear. We have his mom yet, and her sister. They still treat him like a puppy grooming and cleaning him everyday, he really loves his mom and aunt. Bear loves to play with his many toys and enjoys eating his favorite treat, pup corn. Even with being as sick as he is, he still tries to play with his toys occasionally. Bear is a very loveable dog, everyone who meets him just loves him, and he always has kisses for anyone who asks. Bear is my little shadow, I wouldn’t know what to do without him. He follows me where ever I go in the house, and has to sleep right along side of me on the bed at night. He loves to wake me up by climbing on top of me and licking my face until I wake up. When I’m sitting at my computer and he wants attention, he will hit the back of my chair until I turn around and pet him.

Relaxing at a Dog Show

OurDailyPet — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:50:02 +0000

We were at a Saint Bernard Dog show the other day and there was a fun little (it is relative right) St. Bernard that was full energy. He was doing his best, but had a lot of fun the process. Here’s a shot from one of the final line-ups.

Bailey Sleeping After a Day of Christmas Play

OurDailyPet — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 03:12:30 +0000

A good day of playing hard makes for a tired puppy. His feet are either moving around like he is chasing something or bunched up in a pile. Check out this pile of puppy feet!

The Ultimate Doggie House Training Guide

Reviewer — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:21:59 +0000

The Ultimate Doggie House Training Guide

This handy manual is a comprehensive guide to what’s arguably the most widespread, challenging and frustrating issue faced by any and all dog-owners: house training. Has any aspect of dog ownership ever been so widely misunderstood and unanimously dreaded?

Theories both unhelpful and just plain wrong positively abound on the topic. You can find a veritable vortex of conflicting arguments almost anywhere you choose to seek information on the subject, whether it’s online (o, the staggering variation on the “The Only Way To House train Your Dog!? theme to be found here!), at your local library, through contact with dog trainers, or through the (less reputable but nevertheless prolific) ranks of “quack? dog trainers : aka, those frustrating people sans qualifications, but with enough smugness and pseudo-savoir faire to fool the less suspicious of us into handing over our hard-earned dosh.

What Sets This Book Apart?

After several confounding and increasingly-frustrated hours spent trawling through the virtual minefield of conflicting information on this subject, it was with a heady mixture of joy and near-tearful relief that I stumbled across an online book entitled “The Ultimate House Training Guide?, by Martin Olliver. As the title suggests, literally all aspects of the subject are covered, and in a manner both chatty and educational – it’s kind of like having a friendly conversation with a knowledgeable canine behaviorist (with the added benefit of being able to refresh your understanding of the matter at any given time, simply by scrolling back to the relevant section!)

The tone of the book presents a welcome contrast to the illogicalities so freely available elsewhere on the Net (and, indeed, in most repositories of canine “expertise?): it’s friendly, informative, and above all, commonsensical. No gimmicky recommendations, poorly-disguised marketing ploys, or too-brief Q&A sessions here: you don’t have to be experienced in canine behavior and training to see that this guy knows what he’s talking about (and did I mention he’s a vet?)

What’s Actually Included?

There’s a quick section on the tools of the trade (“patience, persistence, consistence, and common sense?) along with some morale-boosting advice on how to keep your cool through the training process, and then it’s straight into the meat of the matter: the nitty-gritty on how to house train, with a detailed section (one for pups, one for older dogs) on each of the three methods recommended (paper-training, crate-training, and the direct method.)

Common house training problems are dealt with next – this is particularly handy! A huge variety of issues are covered, from territorial marking to poop-eating; and on top of that, each problem comes with a case study, which helps you to put the information into context.

Next, health-related problems are covered in some depth. There’s a section on congenital problems (problems your dog was born with); a section on the disease-related problems that develop later in life; and a section on other problems related to house training, like inappropriate outdoor elimination, or lawn-burn from urination.

Finally, there’s the Top Ten Tips for hassle-free house training, which is essentially a recap of the most helpful and necessary attitude adjustments, practical tips, and useful nuggets of general knowledge which will come in most handy in your dog’s training.

Just Because It’s Detailed Doesn’t Mean It’s Confusing

Sound like a handful? It’s actually very user-friendly. Not only is this book packed with sound practical advice, but the whole thing is laid out in a very logical and easy-to-understand format: the tone is light and non-threatening (no confusing terminology or strange gaps in logic here!) and it proceeds in a logical manner from step to step, with the assistance of helpful how-to illustrations from the book’s charming mascot (a pooch called, of all things, Spot-Less).

Troubleshooting

In my opinion, one of the best parts: a free, personalized email consultation with the team at Kingdom of Pets. If you’d like additional help with your own dog’s toilet-related vagaries, just flick them off an email and you’ll get an individualized professional opinion on how best to handle the problem – plus any additional tips and strategies necessary to get your house training under control.

The Verdict

House training a dog is an intimidating task for most people, but the author’s depth of knowledge is pretty reassuring; and he certainly knows how to break it down for even the greenest of owners. In addition to the main sections detailed above, there are plenty of tempting extras included to make the process as easy and effective as possible: checklists, do’s and don’ts, how to appropriately deal with “accidents?, even a list of the more helpful training products available!

All in all, two thumbs up from me: when the information on hand is as detailed, easy to absorb, and – above all – reliable as The Ultimate House Training Guide, you really can’t go wrong. May your dog’s initiation to house training proceed Spot-Lessly!

Secrets to Dog Training

Reviewer — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:52:19 +0000

Secrets to Dog Training – Stop your Dog’s Behavior Problems!

What Is It?

Secrets to Dog Training presents an unusually detailed and thorough look at how to both prevent and deal with the more common problem behaviors exhibited by dogs. As the owner of a moderately troublesome mutt myself, I’ve spent a fair amount of time searching the Net for reliable resources on this topic, and I have to say that the level of knowledge and detail contained within the pages of this compendium is unusually exacting for an online book.

Not only that, but – again, unusually for this medium – the information at hand is actually (gasp!) reliable. Yes, that’s right – this one’s a whole new kettle of fish. Written by a seasoned dog trainer, you can relax in the knowledge that all the tips and advice included are tried and true, and come from Stevens’ real-life experiences as a professional dog trainer. There is also a straight-talking, easy to follow 30-minute downloadable video which provides real-life examples of doggy bad behavior along with solutions and remedies to change them.

What’s Covered?

There’s a pretty impressive range of information packed into this guide. It’s not just the problem behaviors that are covered: the book starts off with new-owner advice (how to choose a puppy/dog, the best places to get one from, breed information, puppy/dog-proofing your home, the first vet visit, housetraining, etc) and then moves on to the more advanced stuff: behavioral problems (such as aggression, dominance, chewing, digging, excessive barking, separation anxiety, to name a few), intermediate-level obedience commands, health-related dog problems (allergies, cat/dog coexistence, fleas, heatstroke, and so on), and advanced commands and tricks.

The 30-minute downloadable video gives a great insight into a dog’s quest to be the alpha dog and how you can prevent this. Its quick steps to stop bad behaviors such as housebreaking right through to leash pulling are so simple you can start trying them out on your dog straight away.
Particularly Good Parts

In addition to the contents listed above, there’s also a pretty impressive section on dog whispering, which – in case you haven’t heard of it already – is a method of dog training based on a philosophy of clear communication and mutual respect. It’s been popularized in recent years by Cesar Millan (“The Dog Whisperer”), and is becoming increasingly well-known as an alternative and humane method for disciplining and training your dog. Secrets to Dog Training has dedicated an entire section to dog whispering: Daniel Stevens explains the background of the technique, how to utilize voice and body language to your best advantage, and how to use the technique to calmly, assertively, and effectively correct and train your dog. Step-by-set instructions are included for the common commands (sit, down, come, stay, quiet, etc).

It makes for some pretty interesting reading – and, after trying out the basics on my own recalcitrant pooch, I was amazed at how effective the techniques suggested are. Highly recommended!

I Love Freebies (Who Doesn’t?)

There’s just something about getting something for nothing. And, although my magpie-like acquisitiveness may have led me into less-than-productive purchases in the past, in this particular case I’m happy to report that Secrets to Dog Training hasn’t let me down: the freebies included with this book are not only numerous, they’re actually useful(wow!)

The book itself costs $39.95. For this price, you get a complete and detailed manual on training your dog, preventing and handling behavioral problems, and a whole bunch of general-knowledge tips and advice.

You also get a handful of practical freebies: four bonus books, dealing respectively with advanced housetraining how-to’s and troubleshooting (including both the crate- and paper-training methods); a detailed study on resolving canine aggression; how to effectively groom your dog (including information on coat care for specific breeds, dental care, and nail-clipping how-to’s); and finally, how to begin training your dog for security work.

As mentioned earlier, there is a bonus 30-minute downloadable video which takes a no-fuss approach to practical solutions for dog obedience issues.

Another particularly useful freebie: a personalized consultation with a member of the Kingdom of Pets team. If you’ve got an issue with your dog that you’d like some individual attention on, you can flick them a quick email and receive a personalized, thorough reply packed with expert advice and practical tips.

Secrets to Dog Training: A Thumbnail Sketch

Altogether, I’m pretty impressed with this package. I’ve owned dogs on and off my whole life, starting from when I was ten – I would have thought that I was better-prepared than most to handle the quirks and caprices of my canine friends.

But since reading this book, I think my pre-Secrets to Dog Training self was (embarrassingly) perhaps a trifle more complacent than knowledgeable – I’ve learned more since reading this manual than I’ve picked up in a near-lifetime’s worth of contact with dogs (do you know how to stop your dog from tugging on the leash, without using a check-chain? Well, I do – but until I got my hands on a copy of this book, I certainly didn’t!)

Several of the training techniques present a refreshingly common-sense, down-to-earth approach to dog training; others require a little more effort (take dog whispering as an example) but yield some pretty dramatic results. I liked the way that more than one training technique is detailed, to allow the reader to pick and choose the techniques that best suit themselves and their individual dogs.

I have no qualms in recommending this package to anyone who owns, or is thinking about owning, a dog. You don’t need to have a “problem pet” for the manual to be of assistance: there’s information included that’ll be useful to any and all dog owners.

In a nutshell: highly recommended.

Unique Dog Potty Training Product

Reviewer — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:55:38 +0000

This dog potty training package can help you with toilet training your dog quickly and easily. It’s called “The Complete 7 Day Potty Training Guide“.

The publisher, Sharda Baker, has been around for a while and is well known on the internet for her top quality dog ebooks. She has put together a thorough and easy to follow dog training resource again. The downloadable ebook and audio package consists of a comprehensive potty training ebook and mp3 audio, plus several other free bonuses.

If you have a puppy, an older dog, or shelter rescue, you will find everything you need to get your dog toilet trained quickly!

The bonuses alone offer terrific value and include

an mp3 audio interview with a Vet,
a homemade dog food recipes ebook that contains a massive 60 pages of 101 yummy, very healthy, lovingly home prepared and cooked meals for your dog.

Here’s what one person had to say about Sharda’s potty training ebook package.

Until I found Sharda Baker’s Potty training website, I had bought 3 dog training guides that each were reasonable in what they contained, but none that taught potty training in the same detail that Sharda’s does.

The other difference is that Sharda’s Potty Training guide is so easy to follow. It is clearly explained and most IMPORTANTLY…it works!

Don’t waste your time with other training guides.

I recommend you look at Sharda Baker’s Complete Guide to Potty Training Within 7 Days.

It worked wonders for my doggie.

Thank you.

Cheri Taylor
Los Angela. USA

Check out the Sharda Baker’s Complete Guide to Potty Training. There’s absolutely no risk because it comes with a 100% money-back guarantee for a full 60 days- so if you are not 100% happy with the package for any reason, you can get all your money back!

Find out more about the Guide to Potty Training.

Dog Potty Training Program

Reviewer — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:35:58 +0000

Sharda Baker, a renowned publisher of many popular dog ebooks on the internet, has recently released a book and audio covering everything about potty training that you are ever likely to need to know!

The book and audio package is called “The Complete 7 Day Dog Potty Training Guide”

How nice would it be to have your dog potty trained in the next 7 days?

Consider the amount of time and money you will save. You then won’t need to worry when friends come over that your dog might “have an accident” and embarrass you.

The package consists of the main easy to follow potty training ebook, and a mp3 audio, plus several other free bonuses including mp3 audio of a Vet discussing health tips and some homemade dog recipes.

The bonuses alone offer terrific value and include an mp3 audio interview with a Vet looking at common dog health issues and her popular homemade dog food recipes ebook that contains a massive 60 pages of 101 yummy, very healthy, lovingly home prepared and cooked meals for your dog.

Sharda also offers a full 60 day 100% money back guarantee if you are not 100% completely happy with his product for any reason whatsoever.

All you need to do is email her and she will organize a refund. Can’t beat that.

A lot of time and research has gone into this quality product, and you now have the opportunity to benefit from this.

Please click the link below now for more details on the Complete 7 DAY Dog Training Guide.

Nose Licking Good

OurDailyPet — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:46:55 +0000

Do you have something for me?

OurDailyPet — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:42:34 +0000

Bailey always has his little pink nose in everything. Even when he isn’t rooting through the house like a little piggy, he is putting his nose in your face to get a good sniff.