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Decorating Your Pet’s Room

For a lot of people, pets are like furry children. If that describes you, then you know the importance of your pet having its own living space. Whether that space is a kennel or a whole room, your pet deserves a decorated environment.

Cats and dogs, which are two of the most popular pets, have different degrees of colorblindness. They don’t perceive colors the same way as humans. Therefore, you should pick a color scheme that is pleasing to you! You will be spending time playing with your pet, and you’ll be affected by the color more than your pet.

Make sure that your pet’s space is nice and roomy. When you are looking at apartments for rent, be sure to ask about room measurements as these can help you evaluate whether or not there is enough room for your pet’s food, toys, and sleep area.

As you begin decorating your pet’s room, try to make sure that most of the decorations have a purpose. Decorative shelves can be used to hold pet treats, a leash, or pictures. A beautiful over sized pillow can also serve as your pet’s bed. A nice selection of pet toys can double as decorations; scatter them around the room to keep your pet active and entertained. You will find a wide array of options, stores and ideas in ebayclassifieds to make your pet’s living environment as cozy as can be.

For the best decorative effect, try to keep the center of the room clear of clutter and toys. Not only does this look more aesthetically pleasing, it is better for your pet! Your pet can have more space to run around and play.

 

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Dynamite Comes in Small Packages

Pit bulls are family dogs! 

Image by outlier* via Flickr

 

Some dogs are cool, some are not. “Bully breeds,” are breeds that have been known to bite people and display aggressive behavior. There has been controversy over bully breeds since the beginning of domestication; they’re husky, strong dogs with large block heads that look scary. 

 

Looking scary has a lot to do with the facts of biting dogs; nobody is afraid of a Daschund but would cringe at the sight of a Pit Bull coming toward them, even when displaying friendly body language. The truth is, that Daschund is far more aggressive than the Pit Bull ever thought to be. 

 

Big Dogs do More Damage 

If someone had to choose a breed to be afraid of they’d be best off choosing a small breed of dog because, as people exposed to many dog breeds will attest, it’s the small dogs that have the worst attitudes. They have no fear and see no size difference between dogs or people and themselves. 

 

It’s true, the Daschund leads the pack when it comes to the list of aggressive canines, according to the Journal of Applied Animal Behavior Science. The study showed that one out of five Daschunds have bitten strangers, one out of five have attacked other dogs, and one in twelve have bitten their owners. 

 

Numbers two and three are Chihuahuas and Jack Russells, respectively. The study was done by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, among 6,000 people that owned one of 33 different breeds studied. Pit Bulls and Rottweilers scored four and five; which dogs scored the lowest? Greyhounds, Siberian Huskies, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and Basset Hounds.

 

 

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So you want to be a Veterinarian?

There are so many choices about what to study in college. It seems everyone would like to be a doctor or lawyer, maybe even a dentist. What about becoming a veterinarian? If you like animals or even just the medical field, you might look at this under-filled job area.

Demand is Growing

There is a wide variety of kinds of veterinary medicine in which you could practice after school. The demand seems to be growing at 35 percent for veterinarians but the supply isn’t keeping up. Job areas such as large animal practice are wide open to those who want to pursue them. It isn’t for everyone but it is very rewarding. For example, equine (horse) vets make very good money!

How to Become a Vet

There are certain classes you should take even as early as high school to become competitive for vet school. If you consider becoming a veterinarian, you can talk to your advisor to find out about the process, but many don’t really know what is required. It is best to speak with an actual veterinarian or even better, vet schools. Agricultural schools are pretty in-the-know about requirements as well.

Most Popular Fields of Vet Science

Currently, many students in vet medicine are women. They typically want to work with household pets for their practice because the schedule is a little more predictable and the work is not as physical as large animal practices. Pay scales often depend on the geographical areas as well as clientele of the practice. People love their pets and they pay to keep them alive and healthy!

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Starting Your Fish Right

When guests come into your home and you have an aquarium set up, they love to walk over and watch the fish for a few seconds. Children will stand in front of the tank and watch the fish for a long time. They love the free motion of fish as they swim around. Watching fish is very relaxing and quite enjoyable for most people.

Setting up your aquarium is actually quite easy and relatively inexpensive. Decide which size tank you can afford and will fit in the space you have chosen. It needs to be near a power source and out of drafts and direct sunlight. Placing two or three inches of aquarium gravel on the bottom of the tank allows the little microorganisms to live. They are needed to keep your tank and your fish healthy.

You can decorate your tank with driftwood, rocks and ornaments purchased from your pet store.  Live or plastic plants add beauty to your tank. Make sure to leave a large area in the middle of your tank for the fish to swim. They need to swim and race around as they love the ability to frolic and dart in and around your decorations. They also need to hide when they want their privacy. Many fish kept in the middle of rooms that can be viewed from all sides, do not live as long.

Using a good filtration system and tank heater will also allow your fish to remain comfortable and healthy. Keeping a hood on your tank will prevent them from jumping out and keep evaporation to a minimum.

Now you are ready to purchase your fish and start to enjoy them as they dart around in their paradise. You can now experience the enjoyment of relaxing and watching your own fish as they swim about your home aquarium knowing they are comfortable and safe.

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The Value of Pets in Recovery

The road to recovery for an addict is never an easy one. Trying to transform the mindset of an addict who gives into their addiction is not always easy. Plenty of addicts must take the time and care to go through lengthy rehabilitation programs to learn how to live in a world with temptation, and they must learn how to create ways to enforce good behavior and have good judgment.

For some addicts, this may involve the assistance of a pet. It seems odd that pets would be so important for an addict to get back on track, but the truth is there is a lot about pet care that a person who is struggling with addiction can learn about themselves and about the path to recovery.

Having a pet is a big responsibility, and one that should not be taken lightly. It’s caring for another life, and the decisions that you make that can impact that life greatly. This is a very important tool in the recovery process, and what it ultimately does is force the addict to take responsibility for something and put someone else before themselves. It also helps them to develop a nurturing relationship built on unconditional friendship and love. Many addicts have spent a long time being selfish about their own needs, and having a pet is great way for them to be both unselfish and accountable for their behavior. This also gives them the opportunity to learn about independence and self reliance.

There are many rehab facilities, such as Rehab-International.org, that actually encourage patients to bring their pets with them as a way to jump start the healing process. It’s also a great way to make the addict feel comfortable and cared for during treatment. With the love and companion of a pet, the enormous bridge to recovery is easier to cross.

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Loving Your Cat

A kitten opens its eyes for the first time.

Image via Wikipedia

Cats have been living with humans for 4,000 to 8,000 years. We love their graceful movement, their beautiful looks and the way they love us back. When you decide to get a cat one of the best places to get one is your local animal shelter.

Feeding your cat is easy. It is best to feed them and then remove the food after 30 minutes. Baby kittens, 6 to 12 weeks, will need to be fed four times each day, while kittens from three to six months should be fed three times each day. Adult cats can be fed one to three meals each day. Better quality kitten or cat food is recommended over generic brands as they tend to have better ingredients and are better for you animal. Keep fresh water available at all times. Clean the food and water dishes each day.

Treats are fun to give and your cat loves them. Nonetheless use them sparingly. Most treats have lots of sugar and fat and are not healthy to eat. Not all cats will eat fruits or vegetables but most love a few and will enjoy this natural treat.

Although cats keep themselves relatively clean and almost never need a bath, brushing or combing your cat can be a great bonding time for both of you. Cats usually like the attention and brushing frequently will keep their coat clean, reduce shedding and dramatically reduce hairballs.

Give your cat their own clean and dry place to sleep and rest. Line their bed with a warm, soft blanket or towel. Clean their bedding weekly as cats will stop using their bed if it stinks.

Cats really are an indoor animal. They do best if not allowed outside. They can avoid all the outdoor issues: ticks, parasites, fighting with other cats or dogs, cars and just getting lost.

Love your cat and they will love you back. It is not an accident that cats and humans have been together for so many thousands of years. Treat him well and he will live long and you will both prosper from the relationship.

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Pets Smell Better With Baking Soda

Your pet deserves good care and that care does not have to be expensive. Baking soda is relatively cheap and does an excellent job in many different ways when you want to care for your pet.

As baking soda is nontoxic you do not have to worry about hurting your animal. Baking soda absorbs many different odors, which makes your life much more pleasant. After a pet accident you can scrub the area with club soda and let it dry. Then take some baking soda and sprinkle the area you cleaned and let it stand for about 15 minutes. After you vacuum the residue you should have a clean smelling area.

Dental hygiene is just as important for your dog or cat as it is for you. Dip a damp, soft toothbrush into baking soda and brush gently. His breath will smell better and he will also appreciate the clean feel on his teeth, just as you do.

Another dental hygiene trick is to take a solution of ½ teaspoon salt, one teaspoon baking soda and 1 cup warm water and then rinse your pet’s mouth.

Skunk smell is one foul smelling stench. When Fido or Fifi have had a run in with our stripped friend, no one wants to be around them for a week. To help with the stench you can wash your animal in a bath with ¼ cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon liquid soap and 1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide. Throw away the extra solution and let your pet dry. This should allow you to snuggle with your pet again.

Help your pets sleeping area to smell good. Sprinkle baking soda, let sit fifteen minutes and vacuum.

Baking soda can go a long way in making you and your pet smell good. Your friends will also appreciate coming into your clean smelling home.

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Man and Animals: A Symbiotic Relationship

Humans and animals belong together. We love our pets and they love us. But this relationship goes beyond just having affection for each other. We are symbiotic. We help each other physically, emotionally, and socially.

Purdue University’s Center for the Human-Animal Bond has been conducting studies since 1982. Some of their findings are quite fascinating.

When people are in frequent contact with animals they experience reduced anxiety, a decrease in blood pressure and they just feel better.

As children interact and observe the behavior of their pets they often become more nurturing. Studies are still on-going but children with pets are possibly better parents when they start having their own children.

When animals have been introduced into nursing homes, hospices, prisons and even hospitals they have found a distinct therapeutic correlation. Animals sooth the patients and bring a calm to frazzled nerves or to the injured psyche.  Recovery is faster or declines are slowed. Quality of life for the patient tends to be much better.

When people are around pets those people tend to be happier. They stop and enjoy the love that flows back to them from the animal. Both people and animals are social beings. We thrive best when we have interaction between other beings. Whether that interaction is between two people or a person and a pet does not appear to make a difference.

There have been extensive studies about the benefits of humans having pets. We know we are better off. Studies are just beginning to determine how the human interaction is beneficial to the animals. These studies are looking at not just domesticated animals but they are also looking at how wildlife and humans interact. These studies will be interesting to see how different species will show benefits or detriment from their human interactions.

Man and animals are on this earth together and we are finding that we are truly symbiotic. Mankind is happier when they interact with animals and animals are happier and live longer when they live with and interact with mankind.

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Tips on Training Your Dog

Failing to train your dog or to teach him or her right and wrong can have serious consequences. If you’ve ever had the wood finish scratched on your poker tables due to this problem, it becomes clear that training should take place. Here are some tips to help with the training process on your dog.

You should seriously consider ways to learn training techniques for your dog. Many popular pet stores have pet training classes that could be a valuable way to learn these things. Not only will it give you a strong foundation in techniques, but it can help you become a better master of your pet – in order to teach him or her what is right and wrong.

As you learn techniques to help your dog with his or her mental and emotional health, be sure to stay firm in your practices. It is never a good idea to “give in” and break the consistency of a certain training method, unless the technique itself calls for such measures.

Don’t resort to other measures. While it can be easy to imagine the consequences of resorting to less effective measures, it can happen to anyone in the heat of the moment. As difficult and tough it may be, don’t ignore your methods of training a dog. It is unfortunate to see owners who start with a method to be chasing their dog moments later.

Stick to commands that can help your dog remain obedient. Once your dog learns to sit, lay down, and come, he or she will hopefully be better at listening to you. You can extend this to areas of the house in which your dog will be aware of, such as your nice poker tables, certainly.

Take some time to address options to learn how to train your dog – it will be worth it in the end.

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Responsibly Breeding Your Pets

Breeding your pets can be very easy. If a male and a female are around each other they, most likely, will breed.  It really is that simple. However, this laissez-faire attitude also causes thousands of animals to be put to sleep every day at humane societies all over the world.

If you decide that you do not want to responsibly breed your pets then please have them spayed or neutered and thereby save their offspring from living horrible lives or being killed early either humanly or otherwise.

Responsible breeding has four basic points.

First, acquire your animal from an established and reliable breeding source. Raise genetically healthy animals with good bloodlines.  This will allow life to animals that are free from common genetic defects and will allow their young to also be healthy and happy.

Second, as you breed animals,  do so primarily for healthy, even tempered and intelligent pets. You can breed for color and markings but these should be secondary to the health and happiness of the animal.

Third, a responsible breeder will only breed as many animals as they can handle themselves or they can find homes for. Often they will talk to others and breed only when they know they have a home ready for the animals. The adoptive family can then watch the mother progress through her pregnancy and birth. They can then enjoy the babies knowing they were wanted from the beginning.

Fourth, if the adoptive family does not work out the responsible breeder will take back the, now unwanted, animals. Recognize that not everyone can have pets in the home. When the adoptive family realizes that their children or mom or dad are allergic to the animal, the poor innocent animal must leave the home. This is hard on all involved but knowing that the animal went to a good home lets the children know the pet was lovingly moved to a new home.

And fifth, they will also make sure that the adoptive family is taught how to responsibly breed or ensure that the animal is properly spayed or neutered.

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