Posts Tagged ‘pets’

Young puppies tend to be cuddly, cute, and adorable but when they begin nipping at your toes, your face, or even on your furniture, it will get very disturbing. Puppy nipping is really a really normal occurrence among young puppies, especially for those who have started teething. When teething takes place puppies feel pressure on their gums and as a result they'll really need to find a method to counteract this pressure simply by chewing, gnawing, or nipping on anything that they see. This is actually a quite typical challenge among dog owners but there are actually strategies to help you resolve your puppy nipping issues.

To start with, you should understand that it's never right to strike your dog if he begins nipping. Instead, you need to redirect his behavior onto far more acceptable biting behavior, like biting on chew toys. Additionally it can be essential to train him to be gentler any time a hand is close to his mouth. Always surround your puppy with chew toys so that there are actually lesser possibilities of him gnawing on the furniture or nipping on other people's toes.

Just like children, young puppies react to novelty so it is crucial to give him brand new toys on occasion. In case your puppy isn't comfortable when he is being petted, you can actually improve this by conditioning your pet to believe that petting is a good thing. Whenever you pet him, provide him with a chew toy with your other hand. This tends to keep his mouth busy and prevent him from nipping.

A different technique to stop puppy nipping is by discouraging his unfavorable behavior. As soon as your puppy begins to nip at your face whenever you are playing with him, never strike him. He'll only feel you are playing with him and it can even inspire him to do it even more. Hitting or spanking could also encourage violent behavior that he can carry over as he grows up. It may in addition cause your puppy to become fearful of you.

Instead, give him a time out. Whenever the nipping begins, say "bad dog" and turn your attention from him. This way he'll almost certainly realize that he did something wrong. The more you do this, the more his nipping behavior will be discouraged.

In the event the biting becomes worse, you must say "no" in a shocked voice and immediately put your thumb inside his mouth underneath his tongue, and your other finger under his chin. Hold it there for around ten seconds, but not very tightly, in order that your puppy will really feel uncomfortable. One vital thing to bear in mind is that you must be consistent with your behavior. Dogs flourish on routine, so the more they grow to be comfortable with your behavior the much easier they learn or unlearn undesirable behavior.

Do you need help with puppy behavior problems? Be sure to visit my site to learn how to stop dog begging and jumping puppy problems.

When choosing a guinea cage for your guinea pig it is important that you have a large enough cage for the Guinea Pig plus room for its feed bowl, toys, bedding area and space for it to run around. There are quite a few guinea pig hutches sold today which can be too small for a Guinea Pigs needs, that include; exercise, play, socializing, sleeping and eating. Below you'll find some suggestions on how you can make your guinea comfortable and what to look for when deciding on a cage.

There is certainly no use in having a big guinea pig cage that is bare. A large cage and not the required accessories will probably be boring for the Guinea, and it will in the long run have a very damaging consequence on your Guinea Pig and making it distressed. The guinea cage needs to be completely enclosed to keep your guinea pig in and the cat or dog out. Include toys and tunnel's and near to the ground ramps however pet guinea pigs aren't agile and do not climb very well, however they do need areas to play, explore and exercise. Keeping all this in mind, and refilling food and water - your Guinea Pig is guaranteed to be happy and healthy.

The best cages are manufactured from plastic, steel, wire, or a combination of these materials. Wood cages are easily chewed all the way through and glass cages don't make available enough exposure to air and may also crack easily and injure your Guinea Pig/s. Don't use wire meshing as the flooring to your Guinea Pig's cage as housing your Guinea Pig's in a cage with a wire mesh floor is putting them at risk. Guinea Pigs have extremely delicate and thin-skinned feet and the wire can slice their feet or give them a condition known as Bumblebee. This is when the paw of the Guinea swells up much larger than its normal size and is very painful to the Guinea Pig. So if your cage has a wire floor, which many do, make sure to cover it with cage mats.

It's a good idea when getting a Guinea, to also get it a cage mate. In the wild, guinea pigs live in herds, consisting of usually one dominant adult male, several females and her babies. Pet guinea pigs would much rather live as a pair or a herd, they feel that there is safety in numbers. Additionally they have the benefit of the company of their own kind, communicating and interacting with each other. Both males and females have a strict dominance ranking. The domestic Guinea Pigs act in much the same way as wild guinea pigs.

There are also advantages for you personally as a guinea owner. You will get to see so a lot of diverse kinds of behavior when they interact with one another. Particular behavior just would not be seen with a single guinea pig. Playing 'following the leader' tug of war with their veggies, grooming each other, sniffing, so much more that a lone guinea pig just would not be able to do. A single account that crops up is "my guinea pig won't bond with me if they have a cage mate". This just isn't true. As long as you are gentle and caring towards your guinea pigs, they will bond with you. You may also become aware of that your guinea pig will become more confident and relaxed so that is an added bonus for you and your Guinea Pig.

For much more info regarding Guinea Pig Cages drop in on our web site. We've got a bunch of reviews and ratings in relation to Large Guinea Pig Cages and a lot more.

Is the Russian Blue a smarter cat than the rest? It really is hard to tell. For the most part cats are unique but different breeds have special characteristics. The intelligence of any cat cannot be underestimated and some may be smarter than others. One of the best features of the Russian Blue is the fascinating green eyes. You can feel the gaze magnetically drawing you into the depths of the cat's personality. When the eyes lock onto yours, you feel as if the animal is talking directly to you. Many times you will find yourself answering the little beast.

This little trait is what make the breeders and owners swear up and down the cat can read their minds. Don't worry! You"re not going crazy it happens to everybody. Now let's compare the Russian Blue with more different cat breeds. How about the American Bobtail for instance? If you were walking along side a country road and you spied an American Bobtail, your first thought would be; you're looking at a real bobcat. Their most distinguishing characteristic is of course the all natural bob tail.

Your Russian Blue Feline will spend hours playing and bonding with members of their adopted family. Not only do they bond well with the family, but will blend right in with the other household pets. They have been known to chase after a ball or a favorite toy and return to the one playing with them. Their energy level is quite high and will remain high through out their life, as long as they are healthy.

An extremely important fact about the Russian Blue Cats is their hardiness and resistance to health aliments that other different cat breeds often fall prey to. The majority of breeders and those in the know contribute this to their genetic background.

As you can see the Russian Blue Cats and other different cat breeds have much in common. Each cats owner and breeder say they are the best and the most intelligent. No one can really truly know for sure but there is no doubt that the RB is very bright. Actually you will find out that the cats have conspired together to keep their loved ones on their toes. Until next time!

Jeff Parke is a writer and blogger who writes articles and blog posts specializing in pets, animal rights and animals in general. His caring for cats website is one of his many projects that he is passionate about. In addition to caring for cats he has written about fish, dogs and animal rights just to name some. Click one of those links to learn more.

You just got a new puppy whom you adore, but it's driving you crazy whining. You don't know how to stop the crying, and your neighbors are complaining about it, too. Sending the dog away is not your preference, though you do wish to stop the dog from whining. So what do you do? Several techniques exist to help stop the dog from whining. A possibility is to employ an electrical tool capable of creating unappealing sounds audible only by the dog. You can also consistently tell your dog to stop whenever he or she starts whimpering. With time, your dog will learn not to whine and silence will be restored, but your presence will be required almost all the time to train your pet this way. The focus of this article will may be on ways to make your dog stop whining, but there are plenty of other behaviors that will need to be addressed.

Training Devices

Audio tools to cause the dog to stop whining such as previously discussed are inexpensive and are not harmful to your pet. Their function is simply to create a noise that the dog will find unappealing. What would happen if you heard a high-pitched, piercing scream every time you sat down with a piece of cake? To keep from hearing that awful sound one more time, you would probably be willing to give up the fattening food. Such is the concept underlying the noise tools made to prevent a dog from whining. Of course there are other ways to be sure to make your dog stop whining, especially if you don't like the idea of subjecting your dog to noises that will bother it, or are afraid your pet might be harmed by them.

Predictable Teaching

There is another method to make your dog stop whining, but you must be there with your pet all the time to follow through correctly. Should the whining begin, emit a raucous sound or issue an admonishment. You should never strike the dog. Regardless of what your puppy is doing, hitting her is never the answer. Alternatives exist that will help the dog stop whining, or displaying additional undesirable traits, other than striking it. Clapping a rolled magazine or simply the owner's two hands are methods to make the dog stop any disfavored activity. Canine ears are finely tuned, therefore the audio tools are very effective, and though the smacking of a newspaper against a hand may not seem bothersome to the owner, it will certainly irritate the dog. Employ this tactic whenever the dog whines, and do so frequently. Soon enough your dog will stop whining; you and your children will then have the puppy of your dreams.

Hugo is a consultant who specializes in dog training methods to increase the pet owner's satisfaction with their pet. Looking for a free guide to dog training? Visit James' site to get one, see other helpful hints and read training product reviews. Take a look at: Online Dog Training , Dog Training Guide

Dogs and owners can be protected on walks after dark by using a reflective dog leash. These leashes reflect light back towards oncoming vehicles, and make it possible for an owner and his or her dog to be visible. They are manufactured with reflective-material on both sides, are affordable and also come in many sizes so dog owners should be able to find the best leashes for their dog's needs.

Many times may exist where an individual and his/her dog could be left to walk over dangerous roads at night. For instance, a person may have to go over such roads while going on a walk in the country-side, or may need to cross various roads to get to a particular destination such as a local park or field. Such events can become dangerous in low-light levels, and for this reason, leashes that could reflect light were manufactured.

Leashes that reflect light can be a potential life saver for anyone who happens to be walking his or her dog at night. These leashes give clear warning signs to drivers that there is a dog walking near the road, and can prevent many potential accidents from happening to both the owner and his or her dog.

To accommodate for most dog owner's needs, reflective leashes are manufactured in a wide variety of sizes. As would be expected, the leashes can be used as a leash with the added benefit of being reflective and thus highly visible for night-time use. Thus, a person may use the leash in the day time as he would with any normal leash, but it can come in handy at night when things become less visible.

A good point about these leashes is that both their sides are usually covered in highly-visible material. This means that a person does not need to worry that his dog might have twisted the strap onto its non-reflective side while oncoming vehicles approach because the leash can always be able to reflect back the light of traffic lights.

On some occasions, a dog may escape from a person's grasp and run out onto the road. Again, if this happens at night time, reflective leashes could save your dog's life as they gives a good, early signal to drivers that there is a dog on or near the road.

The leashes, as well as being potential life-savers, are within the vast majority of dog owners' price range. Thus, they should fit in nicely as one of the main accessories that an owner needs to keep with his pet in most circumstances.

Dog owners may choose to take their dog for walks during the evening for various reasons, and sometimes this may involve walking the animal on or close to busy roads. A reflective dog leash can come in very handy at these times for dog and owner. Because both sides are usually reflective, a dog owner can now walk his or her pets more confidently after dark. More information can be found online to help an individual find a reflective leash that fits his or her needs.

Get the low down on how a reflective dog leash can help save your life as well as that of your pet. Get the low down now in our guide to the best glow in the dark dog leash .

A hamster is a domesticated animal that belongs to the rodent family. Hamsters are now popular household pets that many people especially kids love to take care of. Same with other house pets, hamsters also seek attention and need training in order to be tamed to become friendlier to humans. If you decide to pick a hamster as a pet, then make sure you are responsible enough and can set time to supervise the growth of your hamster and play with it.

In picking out a hamster, it is wise to select one that is about 4 to 8 weeks old. According to animal experts, hamsters at this age are easily trained compared to hamsters that are more than 8 weeks old. Now, before finally getting a hamster, you should make sure that you already have a hamster cage and you know where to place it. Hamsters hate to be under the sun so find a cozy part of your home where you can place the hamster cage.

As expected, your hamster will surely leave some mess like droppings in their cage. Hamsters eat often so be prepared in cleaning up the droppings in their hamster cage to remove foul odor. Of course, it is less smelly compared to the feces of dogs and cats. One way to minimize the odor and avoid cleansing from time to time is to use pine wood shavings and lay it on the hamster cage floor at 2 inches high. Pine wood is known to be a great absorbent of foul odors so it can surely help reduce the smell inside the hamster cage.

If you have placed well all the things that your hamster need in the hamster cage then it would be less difficult for your to clean up their mess. You can clean the hamster cage once a week or every time you notice that the cage is very dirty. Keep the cage clean so that your pet won't get ill due to dirt and contamination.

You should also use a water container that won't be easily tipped off by your pet hamster so that the pine wood shavings will not decompose which might cause illness to your pet. There are special containers that can be purchased in the pet store that seem like a feeding bottle made especially for hamsters. It should be placed in the wall of the cage which can be reached by the hamster so it can suck on the bottle like what babies do.

Sleep is very important for hamsters to stay energetic thus it is important to provide enough room and make a comfy bed for your hamster to sleep. You can use a piece of cardboard or you can buy special beddings in a pet store. You can even buy a cute little house especially created for hamsters which is available in various color and style.

It would also be wise to buy a wheel or running ball for hamster to use in working out. You can also add a small tunnel toy for your pet to move around. This artificial tunnel can be bought in pet store and are available in various length, style and color.

Provide your hamsters all the things they need like their own hamster cage so that they will remain happy, lively and healthy.

Looking for the best deal on hamster cages, visit http://hubpages.com/hub/Great-Tips-In-Selecting-a-Hamster to find the best advice on hamster cage

Cat owners regularly encounter challenging choices when deciding on which items to buy for their pets. We worry about their health and well being, however with so many companies and product types available it may make it difficult to select the right product that will best meet the needs of our pets. This same problem exists for many cat owners as they try to choose which litter box to select for their kitten or cat.

A litter box is an important item for cats. An incorrect litter box may make it harder for cats to utilize and may make it much harder to litter box train kittens. Therefore, there are several essential factors that cat owners should think about when shopping for a new litter box.

The initial consideration for a new litter box should be ones lifestyle. There are numerous self cleaning litter boxes out there that advertise their abilities to minimize the cleaning needed by pet owners. Having said that, self cleaning litter boxes which use a rake process may truly be more difficult to thoroughly clean. Self cleaning litter boxes work well for most cats, but the rake may become packed if it must scoop loose stool. Because many older cats experience this problem, owners of older cats may be best to use a common hooded litter box.

Covered litter boxes are traditionally inexpensive and are produced in many different sizes. Because these litter boxes have a cover, litter tracking is reduced. Any time cats shake the litter off from their paws, the cover will contain the majority of the litter except for the opening in the cover. These styles of litter boxes can use any sort of cat litter, however they should be cleaned on a daily basis.

A standard litter box, which many call a litter pan, is usually very economical to buy. While the cost might be attractive to many pet owners, litter tracking is a major issue with this kind of litter box. Coupled with constant cleaning, these types of litter boxes really are a high maintenance item which many pet owners become disappointed with in a brief period of time.

One of the most critical points to keep in mind when choosing a litter box is to size it for the cat. If a cat has to leap in and out of the litter box, odds are it's simply too big for him. Especially with regards to litter box training, pet owners should do their best to make it easy for them to get into and get out of a clean litter box.

By thinking about lifestyle requirements, and the size of a kitten or cat, any cat owner can take the first steps toward supplying a healthy atmosphere for their cat to relieve themselves in. Furthermore, pet owners may rest knowing that there will be fewer accidents to clean in the years ahead.

As an animal shelter assistant, this writer has helped take care of many kittens and cats. She also manages a reputable cat litter box site which offers litter boxes as well as other pet products to cat owners.

Before you go out to a pet shop to purchase a new pet for the family, consider looking in one of the shelters run by a pet rescue Find out more about charity. There are several important reasons a rescue center should be your first choice.

Give an animal a second chance Animal rescue charities are full of animals that have been given up for a number of reasons- the owner died, the job is relocating, allergies, even something as minor as chewing on the wrong pair of shoes. Staffordshire Terriers or Staffies are especially prone to release because of their particular needs. Intelligent, energetic, strong and loyal, Staffies need patient, active, confident owners.

Excellent with children, they will defend their family to the death if necessary. Staffies are sometimes known as 'nanny dogs' because of their natural tendency to watch over 'their' children.

Adult animals are easier to care for, their teething induced chewing- done, over-exuberant puppy energy has subsided. They are steadier, ready to learn more quickly and consistently. You are not adding to pet overpopulation problems by insisting on a new puppy when there are already hundreds of adults looking for a new home at any given time.

Have the training already finished before you get it Staying with the Staffy, housebreaking can take much longer than with other breeds, obedience training and socialization take time as well. Why not bring home a friend that has already had all these basic behaviors established? It is a myth that Staffies given up for adoption are antisocial, aggressive misfits. Usually, the worst thing they've done is be themselves- active, agile, alert. Most are given up because their owners were not aware of the amount of activity and interaction a healthy Staffie requires.

With the basics out of the way, this allows you to start on the 'fun' stuff. Staffies are eager to please their people, and their intelligence means they enjoy learning new things. You may both enjoy learning (and competing) in agility trials, or advanced obedience; or you may want to teach your friend new tricks, just because you both think it's fun.

When you add up the expense involved in buying a pedigreed animal (even without the papers), examinations, vaccinations, training (including replacement items before the training was complete), you can end up with quite a hefty price tag. Acquiring a Staffy or other pet from a pet rescue charity is significantly less expensive, and you have the knowledge that your new companion has been certified healthy physically and stable mentally. Even those rescued from an abusive or neglectful environment are most often so happy to be out of their previous situation that they work extremely hard to please their new owners.

Help a pet rescue charity Adopting a Staffie or other pet from a charity serves two purposes, first- one less mouth to feed and care for; second- adoption fees help finance the care of another needy animal. Of course, the best reason of all- your forever friend is waiting for you there.

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Everyone knows that you should only feed a dog with dog food or dog treats, but we all occasionally slip our dog a treat from the table. What most people do not know is that there are some foods that humans can eat without any ill effects, but when fed to a dog can make them very ill.

Dogs should never eat onion in any form; onions are pure poison to a dog whether they are raw, cooked or dried. When you consider that most processed foods contain onions in some form or another you can see how easy it is to end up feeding your dog onions by accident. Onions cause the red blood cells in a dog to burst, when the bone marrow cannot keep up with the loss of red blood cells Heinz body anaemia sets it. By the time, you notice that your pet is ill there is a good chance that some serious damage will have already been done and that the anaemia will be irreversible. You should also not feed your dog anything containing garlic, for the same reason.

You should not feed dogs with grapes or raisins; in most dogs, they cause lethargy, diarrhoea and sickness. Calcium levels become elevated in a dog that eats raisins or grapes, which can cause kidney problems and in severe cases lead to full renal failure and death. Small dogs tend to be more sensitive than large dogs, but it is unwise to give any dog raisins or grapes.

Dogs love chocolate, but it is very bad for them because it contains theobromine which over stimulates the dog's nervous system. Feeding a dog human chocolate can lead to sickness, hyperactive activity, heart palpitations, muscle ticks and in extreme cases death. If your dog displays any of these symptoms, take them to the vet straight away.

Most dogs do not like nuts, but a few will wolf them down. Macadamia nuts should never be eaten by dogs, they cause muscle spasms that can put a strain on the heart.

Learn more about gun dog food. Stop by our site where you can find out all about the best dog food manufacturers in the UK.

Rabbits need to eat a varied diet to remain in good health. Feeding your pet rabbit pellets alone won't be enough to give him the levels of nutrition he needs. Supplement rabbit pellets with fresh hay, fruits, and vegetables to round out his diet and keep him and his coat healthy. Rabbits need to chew on things in order to keep their constantly-growing teeth worn down, so you should provide some sort of chew toy for the rabbit to chew on. Being highly social creatures, rabbits need interaction to remain happy.

If you don't have the time to play with your pet rabbit on a regular basis, you should at least consider buying more than one rabbit so that your pets can keep each other company. Spaying and neutering is an option for rabbits, and you will want to spay or neuter yours if you are getting both male and female rabbits, as they are famous for breeding quite quickly and soon you will be up to your ears in rabbits if they are allowed to reproduce.You should choose a cage that is spacious so that your pet rabbit doesn't feel cramped inside his cage. More importantly, you should choose a cage that is easy to clean.

Rabbit urine tends to smell quite strong, so you will want to clean frequently so that the odour doesn't build up in his cage, which will aggravate both you and the rabbit. You should rabbit-proof your house if you are planning to let your rabbit roam free in your home. They will instinctively chew on things they find, so you should make sure to keep electrical cords and telephone cords out of their reach so they don't electrocute themselves. You can also buy plastic casing for cords at the hardware store which will protect your electrical cords, but a determined rabbit can still get through these so check them every once in a while for bite marks.

Check for houseplants that are toxic to rabbits and remove any in your home that can harm your pet. You should make sure that there aren't any small hiding spots in your house where your rabbit can get into and get stuck. These Pets can get bored easily without toys and constant social interaction, and may begin to dig through the carpet, ruining it, or chew on household furniture. In order to prevent bad behaviour from your rabbit, it's best to give him some toys he can amuse himself with and play with the rabbit regularly.

You should also make sure your carpet is securely tacked down at wall edges and at doors, as little places where the carpet rises can entice rabbits to begin chewing and digging up your carpets.Contrary to popular belief, rabbits can be trained. It's possible to teach tricks to a rabbit and to litter train them. However, it requires more patience than training a dog or a cat. These pets do not respond well to punishment as a means of deterring behaviour ; they can't link together the punishment and the action that caused the punishment, so punishment can make a rabbit fearful of humans.

Find out more about the RSPCA - Animal Charity