Archive for category Animal Lovers

Children and Puppies

Children and dogs seem to always be a perfect fit for each other. All families at some point once the kids get a bit older, consider getting a new puppy or family dog. This is often good for the puppy and the kids. They all have so much energy that they are able to keep each other company and play together. Getting a family dog is always a good idea as well if there is an only child. This gives them the opportunity to have an addition to the family.

As a family, when you start considering what type of puppy you should get, you consider size, breed, and cost. There are many great family dogs out there to consider. When I was young I had a beagle puppy. He was the perfect dog and I can still remember the way his big brown eyes would look up to me. This wasn’t always a good thing, as he got away with everything.

Beagles are friendly friendly easy-going dogs who have an instinct for adventure. They are known as the free-spirited wanderers with an inquisitive spirit. If you do decide on a beagle you will need to know that you will have to devote a lot of time and a devotion to your puppy. This is one reason they are a good choice for families with children. Children are able to play non-stop and give lots of attention to the puppy.

Beagles also do well with other puppies or dogs. They are very sociable, and get along with everyone at the dog parks. You will have to keep an eye on them though, because they like the adventure and are curious about everything, they will dart off after the first squirrel or bird that they see. Crate training a beagle is also suggested in order for best potty training results.

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Cage for Your Pet Chinchilla

There are several things to consider when selecting your pet chinchilla’s cage. Remember, although they are small animals, chinchillas are very active creatures. In fact, they can jump as high as five feet above their own heads. While you probably do not want to give them that much space, any cage you house them in will need to be roomy enough so they can exercise and play in it. This is very important in helping to keep your pet physically and psychologically healthy. Adding several small shelves for them to jump on is also a good idea. They will also need a separate corner to go to the bathroom away from where they eat and sleep.

A sturdy frame made of wood with wire mesh walls is best. However, the chinchilla cage should not have a wire floor. Not only is this uncomfortable for small animals, but can actually cause sores to develop on their tender paws. Ideally, cages should be made so you can provide your pet with comfortable beds of sand, wood chips, sawdust shavings or straw and come with removable trays for the bedding and litter to allow for easy cleaning without having to take the animal out of the cage.

The doors should be placed in such a way that you can open them to feed your chinchilla, but at the same time prevent them from escaping when you do. If building your own cage you might even consider making two separate doorways, a small one for feeding and a larger one so you can have easy access to your pet whenever you want to take it out for any reason. This can save you from headaches down the road. While cages need to be narrow enough to fit through doorways, larger ones can be placed on rollers so they can be moved easily.

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German Shepherd puppies

Here are a few tips on how to choose and introduce the German Shepherd puppy into your family and into your home.

The first thing that you should do is to select a quality breeder. You must make sure that they are breeding from good tempered stock. Take a look at its parents and grandparents if you can.

The next thing that you should do is choose the right type of dog for you. This is based on what kind of temperaments you will prefer, the kind of energy levels that would suit your household and family members, you may even want to choose a dog based on its color.

Always introduce the puppy into your home with an attitude of stats as you mean to go on, this way the puppy will not get mixed signals and will no its place from the very beginning

grania 11 weeks
Creative Commons License photo credit: ginandrew

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You’ll Pay Big For Cheap Horses

I’m going to break convention and suggest you look a gift horse in the mouth.  When you our allured by the cheap horses for sale sign you’re not just buying a deal on a horse, you’re buying all the reasons the owner didn’t want the horse anymore.  Perhaps the horse is horribly mean around kids, or eats way more than it should, or contantly runs into fences.  There just isn’t a whole lot you can do to protect yourself, but there is some things:

  • Take a Farrier with You – They will be able to determine any serious hoof damage and diseases.  This will save you thousands if you pick up a navicular or laminitis case.
  • Ask If You Can Lease The Horse First – If they are not willing to take the horse back if you have any issues odds are there is something they don’t want back.
  • Have Your Vet Do An Examination – A hundred dollars is worth not buying health problems.  Obviously save this step for last as it costs money.
  • Look Their Profiles Up – Look for the person’s name on blogs, twitter, myspace, and facebook.  There is a good chance they’ve gloated or complained about their horse before.

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Profile of the Dogo Argentino

Argentine Dogo
Creative Commons License photo credit: ricardo.martins

Many consider the Dogo Argentino as one of the best fighting dogs in the world. While dogfighting is illegal in most of North America, there are some places in Central and South America that either have no laws or take a lenient hand when it comes to enforcing their animal cruelty laws. In some countries like the United Kingdom and Australia, it is illegal to even import this breed into the country.

The Dogo Argentino is a very dog-aggressive breed and was distinctly bred for this purpose. While it resembles the American Pit Bull, the Dogo is a mixture of breeds containing the Spanish Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Irish Wolfhound, Great Dane, English Bulldog and the Boxer.  It was originally bred to be a big game hunter able to take down boars.

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Where Do Stray Kittens Come From?

11Every year there are more and more stray cats and kittens. This huge bust of homeless cats can be extremely overwhelming to animal shelters. When the animal shelters are over populated and can not find loving homes for all the pets they keep, something terrible happens.

Because the shelters only have a limited amount of space and can only keep a certain number of cats at any given time, there forced to euthanize the animals which have not been adopted to make room for the next round of incoming pets. The thought of a poor cute kitten being put to sleep is something that is incredibly horrible to imagine but it is a reality. Adopting a new pet cat or kitten is an amazing way to help save the lives of these unfortunate animals. So if you think you maybe interested in giving a needy cat a home, give your local animal shelter a call.

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Profile Of An Australian Cattle Dog

~24 hrs post-surgery
Creative Commons License photo credit: Christmas w/a K

The Australian Cattle Dog is a strong, compact dog that originated in Australia during the nineteenth century. This little dog was bred for endurance, toughness, and the ability to her sheep. It is considered the third most popular dog in Australia and was featured in the movie Road Warrior with Mel Gibson.

The Australian Cattle Dog is considered an extremely intelligent and affectionate breed of dog. It is very protective of their family and their home and thrive around a large loving family though this dog does not usually do well around children it was not raised with. They also do not usually get along well with other household pets.

These dogs tend to have large amounts of energy and require lots of exercise and it is best to keep them out of apartments for they can be destructive if left to get bored.

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The All Weather Dog Run

all-weather-dog-run1An all weather dog run is perfect for leaving your dog outside for a time, even in less than ideal weather conditions.  It is not insulated, nor are the sides fully enclosed, so it shouldn’t be used as a permanent dwelling place for your dog.

Popular variations of this run are made from galvanized metal, and there is often the option of purchasing metal roofing to go with it. The roofing does give some shade and protection from the elements, but not enough if the day is particularly sunny and hot, or if there’s heavy rain.

Normally this type of dog run is not attached to the ground, although if you are going to use it with the roof it is highly recommended that you try to attach it firmly somehow. Attaching it means that it is no longer mobile though.  You’ll have to decide, when purchasing the all weather dog run, whether or not you want to move it around. If you do, you may have to forego using it with the roof, or purchase a lighter, canvas covering for the roof.

More information on different types of kennels and runs available can be found at “Building the Dog Kennel and Run“.

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Building a Dog Kennel

You just got a new dog and want to give her a nice place to stay while you are gone and she needs to stay outside.  You could just get a doghouse and call it good or you could get a nice dog kennel where she could get cover, shelter and comfort from the elements.  You can either build one yourself or have a professional come out and put one together for you.

Zoey looks apprehensive
Creative Commons License photo credit: mara

You have the option of building one from a kit or doing an Internet search and finding a suitable design.  In either case consider your dog type and size, getting something that is too small or doesn’t fit the personality can cause your dog problems.

Some dogs have what is known as dog stress from kennels; make sure your dog is well taken care of.

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Control Your Pet

You can’t let your dog control you because you will very easily lose control over him. Because animals can be conditioned if you act early on, an obedience class is just what you need! I’m going to tell you more about how to properly train your dog. House breaking is one of the most important aspects of training, and should be the first issue you tackle. Beagles take a long time, so have patience. From the first day you bring them home, you should begin training.

To let your Beagle know that he or she should be waiting until you take them outside to go to the bathroom, I will give you some more Beagle dog training tips. First, take the dog out once an hour or after he eats or drinks. Next, use your intuition! If you think your dog needs to go, take it out! You should also give it a chance as soon as you wake up and right before you go to sleep.

For the first two months, every time your dog goes outside, and doesn’t make a mess in the house, you should praise it by speaking in a tone like you would a child.

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