Pet Information

Many parents know that the best way for children to learn compassion and the importance of keeping commitments is by helping to care for a pet. Children learn from watching the adults in their lives. If a child can learn to treat an animal with respect they can take that lesson into later life. A cat can be a marvellous, loving companion for a child, but it is up to the adults in the family to ensure the cat and the kids live together happily ever after.

When you first bring a cat home, explain to your child that they will need to be patient, quiet and gentle to help the cat feel safe. Sit on the floor with your child and help him practice patience as the cat gets up the courage to come close. Let your child feed the cat a piece of food from his hand. If the cat is reluctant to come close, have your child gently toss a piece of food close to the cat. Once the cat realizes what your child is offering, the ice will melt.

Very young children can easily overwhelm a cat or kitten with their exuberance. Children under the age of five years should always be supervised when playing with or handling a cat. Children over 12 years can usually be trusted to be gentle, but be sure to occasionally check up on kids under 12 years when they spend concentrated time with the family cat.

You should remind children that they should not disturb a sleeping cat, or a cat that is using its litter tray.

Kittens appear to be amazingly flexible, and children often think nothing of draping a weeks-old cat over the crook of the arm and carrying it around like a toy, or picking up a kitten by the scruffof its neck. In this position, it is easy for the kitten to be dropped and seriously injured. Also, being carried like this leaves the cat feeling unsupported with it’s hind legs swinging in space.

The best way to carry a kitten or cat is to place one hand or arm under its front legs, and support its hind legs with the other hand or arm. This gives the cat a secure feeling. Teach your children not to carry the cat from one place to another. Explain that for the cat’s safety, they should always sit when they want to hold the cat, and should have their friends do the same.

Cats often have a mind of their own. Your child might feel like snuggling quietly at a time when your cat wants to play pounce. Impress on your children that if the cat ever struggles to get away, they should respect her wishes and let her go. A cornered cat will scratch and bite.

Encourage your children to exercise the cat by playing with appropriate toys. It is always tempting to play “catch my hand” with a kitten, because it is so amusing how fascinated they are with fingers. You should ensure that your children know the difference between playing and teasing your cat. If you teach a kitten that it is acceptable to swat and bite fingers, you’ll wind up with an adult cat that regularly attacks you. Not exactly the kind of cuddly cat parents want for their children.

Bulldogs originated in England. They were reared as working dogs that minded the cattle and acted as watchdogs. They were largely used for bull-baiting, but the sport was outlawed in the early 19th century, and the original bulldog lost much of its athleticism.

The English bulldog as we see today is small in stature. It is a wide, compact creature and has a thick, massive head. Its cheeks extend to the sides of its eyes. As is the hallmark of bulldogs, the skin on its skull and forehead falls in dense folds. It has a short muzzle and large black nostrils. The tail is normally short and the legs are stocky. The English bulldog gets its peculiar gait from these physical characteristics. In fact, to some people, the appearance of the English bulldog can be somewhat intimidating. However, it is a very gentle creature and people-friendly. At the same time, it is fiercely loyal and brave and can chase an intruder away at any time of the day or night. The English bulldog is the epitome of courage and affection. It loves attention and can get very friendly with humans if they shower it with love.

English bulldogs are not very fond of exercise and are, more or less, indoors dogs. As such, they adapt easily to apartment life. They can be quite inactive without complaining. They are more suited to temperate climates and do not do very well in either hot or cold weather. They should be exercised regularly, even if they show disinclination towards it.

They are fairly easy to groom – they have a smooth, fine, shorthaired coat that can easily be combed and brushed. It is their wrinkles that need special care and cleaning. Care should be taken to clean the folds regularly. English bulldogs tend to drool quite a bit and snore quite loudly. If their owners pay a little bit of extra attention to them, both the dog and owner can have a warm, long-lasting relationship.

There are times that a hunter is too tired to carry the deer home. There are some ways which he can use the preserve the deer until he come back for the deer.

Speaking of being tired, I had another experience with deer in Kennebec County. This time, however, I wasn’t deer hunting, but had been out after small game—squirrels, rabbits, birds—with my single-shot 16 gauge. When I started for home shortly before dark, passing through a swamp, I jumped a good buck. Since my gun was loaded with birdshot, I made no effort to get him, but continued my walk homeward. We had three hunting licenses in the family that year, one of them had been filled— the deer was hanging in the shed—so I had no real use for another. But what real deer hunter can resist the impulse to put a shell loaded with buckshot into his gun when he sees a good buck and knows he’s in good deer country! This is what I did, and when I saw another deer shortly afterwards, I could not resist throwing lead at the small buck.

By the time he was dressed out, it was beginning to get dark. I thought of that long, uphill drag to the house. This was a little too much for me to take and I began to feel sorry that I’d given in to the impulse. I decided to hang the deer and return later in the week for it. The weather was cold enough to keep the meat and we did not need it at home. I was in an area of cedars and small firs, with nothing handy to use as an aid in hanging the deer so I cut him in half crossways and hung each half in smooth-boled cedars, high enough to be out of reach of dogs and foxes.

Well, time went on—as time has a habit of doing— and I didn’t get back to the deer for at least ten days. A companion was to carry one half while I handled the other. It would thus be a simple task for us to bring the meat out of the woods. When we approached the trees where the deer hung, we began to see an increasing number of fox tracks. Something was wrong! Perhaps a limb had broken and let one of the halves fall to the ground? I hoped it was the forward half rather than the more valuable rear half. No such luck! The remains of the hind quarters were strewed over the ground at the foot of the tree. The forward half was still hanging in its place and we walked over to see what had happened. When I looked at the tree, I knew. I had not seen a bobcat’s tracks in that area for several years, but a bobcat was responsible for the condition of that deer. There were his telltale claw marks on the bark where he had tried to pull the two quarters of meat from the limb.

Did you ever see bobcat work on a deer? Well, this one had eaten practically every bit of meat from the fore quarters yet had not disturbed the hide, which hung there empty, giving the appearance of an undisturbed piece of meat. I suppose these cats have a place in the world and I don’t mind giving them a feed once in a while, but if I had had that one at my mercy at that moment, I would have gladly killed it and waived the bounty. On the other hand, probably my inherent Yankee thrift would have prevented such foolish action. I would have gone back for his scalp.

IF a hunter wants to leave the deer for quite sometime, he can hang the deer, which in a good distance from the ground, this way will keep the deer in a better condition and away from the attack of the fox or others attacker.

Crufts – The Worlds Greatest Dog Show?

Crufts calls itself The Worlds Greatest Dog Show, so what should you expect if you’ve never been before? Well on the 9 th – 12 th March 2006 it’s the 103 rd Crufts Dog Show, so they must be doing something right!

In 2005, Birmingham, England’s 2 nd City saw 21,000 dogs and 120,000 visitors to Crufts across four days and 2006 is set to see similar success.

Crufts truly is an international affair with visitors and show dogs from all around the world. But its not just 4 days of pampered show dogs on display at Crufts.

There is the competition, pace and noise of agility and flyball. There are displays from the best of the UK’s police dogs and customs dogs, apprehending criminals and sniffing out contraband and weapons.

There are dogs who herd ducks and terriers who race in addition to the beautiful art of Heelwork to music and obedience trials.

Crufts also brings Discover Dogs to Birmingham, an opportunity to meet expert owners and breed representatives and the chance to get up close to hundreds of dog breeds from around the world. There are all shapes and sizes of dogs and dogs for every type of home. For anyone looking for a new dog, this is a perfect opportunity to consider all of the different breeds available. And for anyone who loves dogs, adults and children alike, this is a chance to play with and cuddle the dogs at the exhibition!

Add to all of this the stands, selling everything from dog food to dog clothes, pictures and ornaments to shampoos and brushes.

Crufts really is something that every dog lover should visit at least once; but I suspect that if you do see it once, you’ll go back again and again!!

So you have just verified with your veternarian that your animal is indeed overweight. It is time to confess and take some responsibility. That is really the first step. We are far more responsible for our pets’ weight issues than we may believe.

Take a quick peak at this fat checklist and take note of the statements that

apply to you and your animal.

1:Your dog or cat is an indoor animal which eats, sleeps and snacks virtually all day long.

2:You take your dog or puppy out on ultra-fast walks for potty and rush him or her right back into the house. You rarely take him or her around the block for decent exercise.

3: You indulge your dog by giving him/her treats whenever those wanting eyes look your way, without cever onsidering the ingredients or the number of calories.

4:You feed your pet too much, refilling the dish after it is emptied, never thinking about the amount that you are actually feeding.

5:You have a multi cat household and some cats end up eating more than the others.

6:You live in a small apartment that does not have much room for your cat or dog to run about.

7:You feed your cats and dogs food just because, whether or not they are really hungry.

8:You never play with your cat and she has no other kittens or cats in the household to play with

9: You lavish your pet with lots and lots of treats out of pure guilt to compensate for all those long hours at work

It should be noted that Monitoring your fat cat’s food consumption can be particularly difficult in multi-cat households where only 1 of the household cats is fat.

He or she probably got that way initially by consuming the other cats’ food as well as his/her own. Perhaps the easiest solution is to simply feed set meals in different rooms and remove any uninjested food after the cats have lost interest in their meal. Alright, say that you have tried this and your cats just will not seem to cooperate. This is normal.

Cats, more than some animals, are really creatures of habit. It may take 2 or even 3 tries, carrying your cat and the food into the new eating room. No matter what room it is, make it comfortable for them, even if it is the bathroom. Put down a place mat, close the toilet seat, put on a light and maybe even place down a towel for your cat.

When people think of the term “house breaking” they usually think of training a dog or cat where to properly relieve themselves. There is how a technique available to train a bird proper pooping manners. Even though bird poop has no odor, it still makes living with a bird so much easier if they have some sort of training. Life is easier without lots of bird poop on your shoulder.

The main principle behind this technique is that birds need to relieve themselves every 15 to 20 minutes. Right after your take your bird out of its cage, put it in its play pen and wait for it to eliminate. While waiting, say a command word or phrase of your choice like “go poopie”. Repeat this word until your bird does go; this will help it learn to associate the command with eliminating. If your bird does not go within 2 to 3 minutes, take the bird off the playpen for a few minutes and then place it back on until it goes. When the bird does go, its reward is being with you. Don’t let it off for extended periods until after it’s relieved itself. It’s important to return the bird to the playpen every 15 to 20 minutes and repeat the command word until it eliminates. Once it’s trained, you can say the command and your bird will poop before it leaves the cage. This is also helpful at others homes. You can command your bird every 30 to 45 minutes to go over the sink or trash, saving carpet, clothes and headaches.

Dogs are creatures of habit; and once they develop a habit, breaking it can be a long, frustrating process. Your dog needs guidance and encouragement from you to develop a toilet habit you can live with. Animal behaviorists have learned a lot about dogs over the last couple of decades, and there are many tips available that will make housebreaking your dog or puppy a less frustrating task.

When you consider some of the things your dog or puppy is willing to roll in, or put in their mouth, it’s a bit hard to believe they’re picky and specific about their toilet areas. Dogs will go to great lengths to avoid soiling near where they eat and/or sleep. That means any accidents an un-housebroken dog has will be far from its food dish and bed. To a dog, however, “far” can mean about 6-10 feet. This leaves lots of “fair game” space in your home, unless you guide the dog to suitable spots.

Whether your dog is a puppy, or an adult dog new to your home, the process is the same:

- Every few hours, take the dog outside to a place you designate as a “bathroom” area.

- 30 minutes after the dog or puppy eats, do the same.

- Stay in this bathroom area, and praise the dog lavishly when they relieve themselves.

- If the dog doesn’t use the bathroom when you’ve taken them outside to the appropriate spot, try again 15 minutes later. Continue doing this until they’ve actually used the bathroom spot.

- When the dog is inside, watch closely for any signs of needing to “go”. A dog will circle and sniff areas when they’re about to relieve themselves.

How quickly your dog becomes housebroken depends partly on their personality, but mostly on your diligence in taking them outside at the right time. If your puppy is less than four months old, you should plan on getting up during the night to take it outside. Puppies over four months of age can usually “hold it” through the night, but if your dog cries to be let out, it is best to get up and let them tend to the urge. It is vital that you give your dog every chance to succeed during this time. Positive reinforcement of the proper behavior is the fastest way to teach your dog anything.

Accidents happen, and when they do, your response will affect how quickly your dog learns to “go” outside. If you catch your dog in mid-squat, clap your hands or call their name loudly to distract them. Once you have their attention, quietly and calmly take them outside. Be sure to praise your dog or puppy well when they finish relieving themselves outside properly.

If you find a wet spot or droppings on the floor when your dog is not around, simply clean it up. If your dog approaches to investigate what you are doing, ignore them. Don’t talk to or pet the dog at this moment, because it could be interpreted as praise. Above all else, avoid yelling or physically punishing the dog, because they won’t make the connection between their mess, and your anger.

Additional information and resources related to this article can be found at: http://www.mypetanimals.com/articles/200506/housebreaking-your-dog/

According to the Travel Industry Association of America 19% of all pet owners take their pets with them when they are traveling, up 3% since 2002. The majority of these trips are by car with 6% by air. An amazing 29% of dog owners and their dogs are staying in dog friendly hotels.

And hotels are taking notice by offering unprecedented services such as special dog packages, concierges that cater to your dog, and pet massages. And dogs, my Berry and Wanda included, are lapping up these new dog amenities.

Many hotels and motels are realizing that accepting dogs is usually not a problem. In fact many are noticing that those traveling with their dogs tend to be much more considerate guests.

While motels such as Motel 6, Red Roof Inns, and La Quinta Inns have long been dog friendly upscale hotels like Starwood Resorts, Four Seasons, and the Ritz-Carlton are jumping on the bandwagon. (you can read about our experience with the Four Seasons here). Each of these hotels offer Pet VIP programs that cater to their canine guests with special pet menus, dog beds, special welcome “doggie bags” and even concierge services during your dog’s stay.

The leader in the high-end hotel market is the Loews Hotel Chain. The “Loews Loves Pets” program has been around since 2000. Loews has even introduced learning vacations for dogs and their owners. Activities include surfing camp, guided hikes with a personal trainer, and even a “Hound of Music” trip where dogs can howl on their own CD.

So when planning your next vacation, bring your dog along. Your dog is part of the family, and I know from experience that you can really have a fantastic vacation with your dog(s).

If you are thinking about hitting the road with your dog be sure to check out my book, How To Travel With Your Dog which can be found at http://www.spoilyourdog.com. You’ll learn everything you need to know about traveling with your dog from my years of experience of traveling with my dogs.