Potty Training Your Dog - Stop the Indoor Messes
If only your dog could use the toilet just like you do. That would make life so much easier. But as most dog owners are aware potty training your dog means teaching them to do their business outside, not on the living room carpet. Potty training can take some time and patience and a great deal of your success will depend on the dog, but once he’s house broken the effort will have been well worth it.
Probably the easiest method for potty training your dog is the newspaper method. In its simplest terms newspaper training involves laying down newspapers in a certain corner of the house, maybe the extra bathroom or utility room, and getting your dog to only do his duty there. Every hour or so take your dog to this area and use the same command each time that you wish to use that signals him to go the bathroom. Also keep an eye on your dog around the house and when he starts to go potty take him to the newspaper toilet and give him the command, chances are he will start to understand that this is the designated spot to take care of business.
Be sure to praise him every time he goes to the toilet when and where he is supposed to. This is positive reinforcement and dogs for the most part live to please their owners. If your four legged friend does make a mistake it is important not to punish him, particularly if you didn’t catch him in the act. He will not understand what he is being punished for and will eventually start to fear you. If you do catch him in the act firmly tell him no and take him to his newspapers or outside.
Submissive urinating can also be a problem when it comes to potty training your dog. Some dogs get so excited when you come home or they meet someone new or another dog that they loose control and wet themselves and who ever may be around them. By properly house breaking your dog he will learn bladder control even in the most exciting or stressful of situations.
Potty training will take some time and patience. How fast your dog learns will also depend on how much effort you put into it and the type of dog you have. Some breeds just pick up on it quicker and are much easier to train. In the end having a potty trained dog will make both you and your furry friend much happier.
If you are looking for more information about toilet training your dog please visit the website Worfdog.com at http://www.worfdog.com
The Average Guinea Pigs Life Expectancy
A guinea pig makes a fabulous pet for many reasons however one of the most imperative reasons is the flexibility to keep your pet outdoors or indoors. Many people are under a common misconception that guinea pigs are much too smelly to be kept indoors and this is just that; a misconception.
This will be touched upon more in depth later on however another great reason for these animals is that the life expectancy of a guinea pig is quite long and versatile. Lets take a closer look at the average guinea pigs life expectancy as well as other favorable traits about this marvelous creature.
Reviewing Life Expectancy
Most people when beginning to do research on a specific pet that they wish to acquire begin by asking how long it is expected to live and this is no different with the guinea pigs. In a typical situation, the guinea pigs life expectancy can be expected to last about five years although many cavies have been recorded to live up to as old as seven!
The age of four for a guinea pig is also considered to be quite old and it isn’t unheard of for a guinea pig to only live four years so the typical expectation you should have for your guinea pigs life expectancy is generally four to seven years old.
Sometimes this is a huge downfall with potential owners because they want the pet to live much longer than a mere four years. Inquiring about the guinea pigs life expectancy is sometimes the biggest downfall for the guinea pig getting a new home because some parents and individual owners feel the potential sadness of losing a pet.
This is terribly unfortunate because the guinea pig is an excellent pet that not only requires but also loves human interaction. They are very social creatures and have a very gentle disposition and typically will crave affection from the owner.
The last issue to address when speaking of the guinea pigs life expectancy is that despite the fact that it may be short, these creatures make wonderful pets due to the fact that they have a seriously low biting tendency which makes them a great and safe pet to have with children as well as the elderly.
Guinea pigs are very easy to feed daily and hold very low cost for food and supplies, which makes it a great pet also despite the low guinea pig life expectancy.
If you want to learn more about Guinea Pigs please visit our site which is free to the public. You’ll find the best tips on everything to do with Guinea Pigs - http://www.guineapigsuncovered.com/guinea-pigs/
Here Are Some Interesting Facts About Horses
Depending on breed, management and environment, the domestic horse today has a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years. It is uncommon, but a few horses live into their 40s, and, occasionally, beyond. The oldest verifiable record was “Old Billy,” a horse that lived in the 19th century to the age of 62. The size of horses varies by breed, but can also be influenced by nutrition. The general rule for cutoff in height between what is considered a horse and a pony at maturity is 14.2 hands(h or hh) (147 cm, 58 inches) as measured at the withers. An animal 14.2h or over is usually considered a horse and one less than 14.2h is a pony.
However, there are exceptions to the general rule. Some smaller horse breeds who typically produce individual horses both under and over 14.2h are considered “horses” regardless of height. Likewise, some pony breeds, such as the Pony of the Americas or the Welsh cob, share some features of horses and individual animals may occasionally mature at over 14.2h, but are still considered ponies. The difference between a horse and pony is not simply a height difference, but also a difference in phenotype or appearance. There are noticeable differences in conformation and temperament. Ponies often exhibit thicker manes, tails and overall coat. They also have proportionally shorter legs, wider barrels, heavy bone, thick necks, and short heads with broad foreheads.
Light horses such as Arabians, Morgans, Quarter Horses, Paints and Thoroughbreds usually range in height from 14.0 (142 cm) to 16.0 hands (163 cm) and can weigh from 386 kg (850 lbs) to about 680 kg (1500 lbs). Heavy or draft horses such as the Clydesdale, Belgian, Percheron, and Shire are usually at least 16.0 (163 cm) to 18.0 hands (183 cm) high and can weigh from about 682 kg (1500 lb) up to about 900 kg (2000 lb). Ponies are less than 14.2h, but can be much smaller, down to the Shetland pony at around 10 hands, and the Falabella which can be the size of a medium-sized dog. The miniature horse is as small as or smaller than either of the aforementioned ponies but are classified as very small horses rather than ponies despite their size. The largest horse in history was a Shire horse named Sampson, later renamed Mammoth, foaled in 1846 in Bedfordshire, England. He stood 21.2 hands high (i.e. 7 ft 2 in or 2.20 m ), and his peak weight was estimated at over 3,300 lb (approx 1.5 tonnes). The current record holder for the world’s smallest horse is Thumbelina, a fully mature miniature horse affected by dwarfism. She is 17 inches tall and weighs 60 pounds.
Horse breeding
Pregnancy lasts for approximately 335-340 days and usually results in one foal (male: colt, female: filly). Twins are rare. Colts are usually carried 2-7 days longer than fillies. Females 4 years and over are called mares and males are stallions. A castrated male is a gelding. Horses, particularly colts, may sometimes be physically capable of reproduction at approximately 18 months but in practice are rarely allowed to breed until a minimum age of 3 years, especially females. Horses four years old are considered mature, though the skeleton usually finishes developing at the age of six, and the precise time of completion of development also depends on the horse’s size (therefore a connection to breed exists), gender, and the quality of care provided by its owner.
Also, if the horse is larger, its bones are larger; therefore, not only do the bones take longer to actually form bone tissue (bones are made of cartilage in earlier stages of bone formation), but the epiphyseal plates (plates that fuse a bone into one piece by connecting the bone shaft to the bone ends) are also larger and take longer to convert from cartilage to bone as well. These plates convert after the other parts of the bones do but are crucial to development.
Depending on maturity, breed and the tasks expected, young horses are usually put under saddle and trained to be ridden between the ages of two and four. Although Thoroughbred and American Quarter Horse race horses are put on the track at as young as two years old in some countries (notably the United States), horses specifically bred for sports such as show jumping and dressage are generally not entered into top-level competition until a minimum age of four years old, because their bones and muscles are not solidly developed, nor is their advanced training complete.
Horses are adapted to grazing, so their teeth continue to grow throughout life. There are 12 teeth (six upper and six lower), the incisors, adapted to biting off the grass or other vegetation, at the front of the mouth, and 24 teeth, the premolar and molars, adapted for chewing, at the back of the mouth. Stallions and geldings have four additional teeth just behind the incisors, a type of canine teeth that are called “tushes.” Some horses, both male and female, will also develop one to four very small vestigial teeth in front of the molars, known as “wolf” teeth, which are generally removed because they can interfere with the bit. There is an empty interdental space between the incisors and the molars where the bit rests directly on the bars (gums) of the horse’s mouth when the horse is bridled.
The incisors show a distinct wear and growth pattern as the horse ages, as well as change in the angle at which the chewing surfaces meet, and while the diet and veterinary care of the horse can affect the rate of tooth wear, a very rough estimate of the age of a horse can be made by looking at its teeth.
Keith Londrie II is the and publisher of http://horse.about-animals.info A website that specializes in providing information on horses that you can research on the internet. Please Visit http://horse.about-animals.info now!
Pet Sitters - Choosing The Right One
Some people embark on purchasing a pet with out really thinking about the consequences. If you are in full time work and want to own a pet such as a dog, have you considered how much it will need to be walked? And who will do this when you are at work.
Pet sitting is a professional pet sitting service that is rapidly growing. Pet sitters provide extraordinary care and will lessen the stress to you while providing your dog with freedom.
Advantages of using pet sitters
Less stress to your pet as the animal will be cared for in their own home and own surroundings.
Being kept in the same area and around your home your pet will be less likely to pick up any strange illnesses or parasites.
A pet sitter will travel to your home to care for your pet this means there will be no travel trauma as he/she will not need to be transported anywhere.
Most kennels will require specific vaccinations to allow any animal to board there, pet sitters are less restrictive in this area.
Your animal will have a set routine and will not be required to adapt to a new environment.
Many pet sitting services will provide additional personalized touches which will leave you worry free, having someone come in and pick up your post and turn a light on so that you do not come home to darkness is just some of the added bonuses a pet sitter can provide. Some people say they double as a house sitter.
For you to be completely happy you need to be able to trust the person you choose to care for you animal, pet sitters will care for your pet as you do giving them time for play, exercise and will also be aware of any medical conditions.
Tips On Choosing A Pet Sitter
I would recommend that you ask friends and family if they can make any recommendations so you know the pet sitter has a good reputation.
Arrange a meeting with in your home with each pet sitter. Watch how they interact with your pet and see if you can sense that your pet actually likes this person.
Make the pet sitter aware of any health problems your pet has and let them know what your pet enjoys, a reliable pet sitter will take notes as you provide them with this information.
Make sure you ask for a copy of their contract this will provide you with exactly what you can expect from this person as well as their rates of pay.
Prepare detailed instructions. Include all your contact phone numbers including one of a friend in case you are unreachable in an emergency.
Being armed with the right questions will help you choose the perfect match for you pet leaving you stress free and you pet happy.
Allen Jesson writes for several sites including http://www.pets-on.net http://www.theaquariumsite.com
http://www.saltwaterfreshwateraquarium.com
Just What Is Birding, Anyways?
Anyone can get involved in birding. Also known as bird watching in most areas, this activity is open to people of all experience levels and physical abilities. For many, birding represents an opportunity to be outside, to enjoy nature, and to enjoy the company of people who have similar interests. Still others find a sense of accomplishment by being involved in something that is pro-actively encouraging the preservation of our planet.
Beginners, or those new to birding, will find that more experienced and knowledgeable bird watchers are more than eager and willing to pass on whatever skills and methods that they may have acquired themselves. Bird watchers do not tend to be a selfish bunch and are quite happy to see everyone enjoying the day. The accessibility of the activity often surprises those who are just developing an interest in birding. One can have some great bird watching experiences right in his or her own back yard!
Of course, any activity that welcomes new hobbyists or participants must have veterans who make them feel welcome and who are willing to pass on what they know. Veteran bird watchers often take as much pleasure teaching and guiding newcomers as they do in their own bird watching activities.
Ultimately, this necessary relationship between rookie and veteran bird watchers is vital to the continued growth of the movement. There is much more at stake than just recruiting new folks to join us in going to a bird watching destination. Driving the very core of the conservation movement that protects the habitats where the birds nest, feed, and live is people who have a passion for birdiing. In order for this passion to stay alive, and thus conservation efforts, there must be an ever growing and on going relationship between those who know and those who wish to learn.
The birds stand to gain the most out of these relationships that exist within the bird watch community. Ultimately, this must be about more than just us and our own passions and hobbies. It must be about the protection of habitat and the preservation of the things in this world that are beautiful.
The importance of this mandate is clearly stated in the first point of the Code of Birding Ethics. Point 1(a) reads, “Support the protection of bird habitat.” It is no small thing that this is the first ethic listed. Those who stand as icons and leaders within the birding community recognize that, without a conservation mindset, the future is bleak, not only for bird watchers, but for the birds as well.
Mike Selvon is the owner of various niche portals. Our bird feeder portal at http://birdfeedersmanual.mynicherecommends.com has some great information about bird watching.
Choosing the Right Fish for a New Fish Tank
Once you pick out your new fish tank and get it all set up your biggest decision is going to be what type of fish to put in it. One of the biggest factors that will determine the type of fish to buy is the size of the tank. If you have a small 5 or 10 gallon tank then it just doesn’t make sense to buy fish that may grow to be 6 to 12 inches long.
One of your best resources when it comes to purchasing fish is the people who work at the local pet store. They can point you in the right direction, making the learning curve much easier. There is also a wealth of information across the internet about fish and fish tanks, so much so that it may take a little time to research the type of fish you think may work in your new aquarium.
If you are looking for a more decorative tank with lots of color then smaller more brightly colored fish such as tetras, neons, and even angel fish are a good choice. There are hundreds of small fish varieties to choose from and most of them will school, making for a constant display of flashing colors in your tank. Smaller fish are easier to care for as well, eating simple flake food and keeping aquarium maintenance to a minimum.
If you bought a large tank then your choices increase. For the truly adventurous large fish such as cichlids can be a fun choice. They are much hardier then smaller fish so there is less chance of them dying after you get them home, which is good considering they will cost more. Cichlids do have something of a mean streak though, so you have to be careful with the other fish you wish to have in the tank. They will attack and kill other fish and even those of their own species.
Cichlids will also grow to a rather large size, some large enough that they can eat feeder goldfish. Once you get them to this size there is little else you can put in a tank with them. They can also be quite messy, creating large amounts of waste material and they will push the gravel and any other decorative rock or items you may have in the tank around, creating piles of gravel and other debris wherever they see fit.
In the end choosing new fish for your aquarium will come down to the type and size of tank you have and your own personal preferences. Obviously the larger the tank to more choices you will have but even the smallest of tanks can add decorative warmth to any room.
For more valuable information about choosing fish, setting up and maintaining a new fish tank visit the website Fish Tank Care & Supplies at http://fish-tank.home-choices-net.com
A Guide To Housing Guinea Pigs & Children
It may seem like a cute concept at first however, mixing guinea pigs and children can often bring about fatal consequences due to the size of the guinea pig. A guinea pig is a great pet for children also despite it’s small size and if it is properly cared for and very young children are supervised when visiting the pet, the outcome is often a very rewarding and moral building experience for both the guinea pigs and children. In order to better understand what potential dangers can be experienced lets have a more in-depth look at the relationship between guinea pigs and children.
Conflicting Dangers Between Guinea Pigs & Children
There are a number of conflicting dangers when trying to house both guinea pigs and children and the major one is the defenselessness of a pig when a small child is being too rough. It is a common occurrence that young children that are unsupervised while handling pigs can not only cause severe harm but the potential for death although it is quite innocent and accidental. Young children should absolutely be well supervised while playing with any small animal and it should take place quite often so that the tiny animal gets used to the child and vice versa.
The other serious danger with guinea pigs and children is that many times the parents buy the child a pet with the surrounding conditions that the child or children have to be completely responsible for the little pig and this can have dire consequences. Despite how mature and responsible your child is it is imperative that you have a role in the daily maintenance of the guinea pig to ensure it is getting proper nutrition daily. When this scenario happens, most often the guinea pig ends up on the suffering end of the stick while the children play quite oblivious to the condition of the pet. If this describes your situation, please make sure you have an active role in overseeing the daily maintenance involving small animals and children.
The last possible danger with housing guinea pigs and children is that if the guinea pig has free run time, it isn’t unheard of to have children fall on top of the household pet leading to serious endings. It is best to keep the guinea pigs and children separate with free roam and run time to avoid an undesirable outcome.
If you want to learn more about Guinea Pigs please visit our site which is free to the public. You’ll find the best tips on everything to do with Guinea Pigs - http://www.guineapigsuncovered.com/guinea-pigs/
Choosing a Fish Tank Heater
Aside from the condition of the water there is probably nothing as important to properly maintaining a fish tank then keeping the temperature of the water at a set level. Both salt water and fresh water fish thrive best in warm water that stays constant. They are after all tropical fish. Gold fish on the other hand are cold water fish and can handle fluctuation in temperature.
The temperature of the water is important for the health and welfare of your fish. If the temperature drops by one degree over a twenty four hour period it can leave many fish susceptible to diseases such as “Ich”. If not caught soon enough it can create irreversible damage and kill any and all the fish in a tank. This is why it is doubly important to keep a close eye on the water temperature during the change of season, particularly as winter approaches and temperatures drop.
There are a variety of different fish tank heaters on the market and depending on how much you are willing to spend will determine how functional the one you get may be. The cheaper ones may save you money but they are more likely to break or malfunction, thereby endangering the investment you have made in your fish. Many times the cheap heaters also do not have an accurate heat setting, which makes dialing in the temperature difficult.
For most people a mid priced heater will do the job they are looking for. Their thermostat controls are reliable and they maintain a constant temperature without having to make adjustments all the time. It is important to check your fish tank heater periodically to make sure it is operating correctly and after about a year of use there is a good chance that it may need to be replaced.
The best way to make sure your fish tank heater is working properly is to invest in a thermometer. These days you can purchase thermometers that stick to the outside glass of the fish tank. This makes it easy to monitor the temperature because it is always in a conspicuous spot. You can use the type that float around inside the fish tank but they are not always as easy to read and more often then not they float behind a filter or some other obstruction making it impossible to see what the temperature is.
Once you have your heater it is best to place it near a filter. This allows the heated water to be distributed throughout the tank keeping hot and cold spots to a minimum. A heater is an important part of any fish tank ecosystem and by keeping the water temperature at a constant level your fish will be disease free and entertain you for many years.
For more valuable information about choosing a fish tank heater and setting up and maintaining a new fish tank visit the website Fish Tank Care & Supplies at http://fish-tank.home-choices-net.com
Basic Guinea Pig General Care Tips
There are several steps to be taken in order to decide if a guinea pig would be the right pet for you and basic guinea pig care tips and information to better put the pet owning in perspective. There are a few things to consider in the general care tips such as if you own other animals that may pose a threat to the guinea pig as cats and dogs can be potentially life threatening.
Lets take a look at a few in depth considerations before purchasing a small animal and alternatively if you have newly acquired a pig than this is the article for you to read to gain some basic knowledge about guinea pig care.
Important Issues Of Pet Ownership
Aside from guinea pig general care you must also consider such things as your precious time and if you are able to dedicate enough time to the pets maintainence. They are very lovable and social creatures that thrive on interaction from the owner so it is imperative that you realize this early and are able to accommodate that into you schedule.
This is very high on the scale of guinea pig general care right next too food and habitat because they are susceptible to becoming very lonely and can ultimately get sick and well, you know the rest!
In learning the basic guinea pig general care it is imperative to understand that they naturally live in packs or families in their natural habitat. In fact, the boar or male pig actually lives with eight or nine females at any one time and this is perfectly acceptable and they get along great together.
In learning the basic guinea pig general care for your new pet it is essential to know that in order to stave off this loneliness because face it, you can’t give your pet the affection and interaction that it requires so getting another one is almost a necessity and most people don’t know that when they set out to purchase a pig.
There are a couple of basic guinea pig tips to be learned before running out and randomly picking out two guinea pigs that strike your fancy because certain combinations do not mix well together. For example, a guinea pig general care rule of thumb is that you should never mix two males together because when they mature between 5 - 7 months they begin to fight over who is the ‘boss’ of the dwelling.
On the flip side, you can house as many female pigs as you wish because it is natural to them to live together however; it is not advisable to add a male to this mix unless of course, it is neutered.
If you want to learn more about Guinea Pigs please visit our site which is free to the public. You’ll find the best tips on everything to do with Guinea Pigs - http://www.guineapigsuncovered.com/guinea-pigs
Aquarium Snails - Pets or Pests?
Have you ever suddenly looked into your fish tank and noticed a bunch of little black things crawling around which, upon further inspection, revealed themselves to be tiny little snails? You probably wondered where the heck these things came from and what you should do with them. It’s most likely that these little aquarium snails have hitched a ride in an aquarium plant you recently purchased and, while these can be terrible pests, there are other types of snails that can be quite beneficial to your fish tank as well as fun to look at.
The tiny snails, are most likely Pond snails which reproduce very quickly and have a voracious appetite for your aquarium plants. You may find literally hundreds of the snails in your tank and they will eat your plants quite quickly reducing them to nothing more than sticks.
While the pond snail isn’t really much to look at, the apple snail, one of the most popular types of aquarium snail, is a lot more fun to have in your fish tank. These snails are actually the largest snails and can grow to be 6 inches in size. There are several species and while some of them do eat aquarium plants others do no, so if you are shopping for a snail you want to be sure you get ones that do not eat plants if you plan to also keep plants in your aquarium. The apple snail comes and a bunch of different colors including yellow, blue and brown.
Another type of snail for your fish tank is the Ramshorn snail. This snail has a shell that is curly like the horn on a ram. The snails do reproduce quickly and like to eat aquarium plants so they may not be a good choice if you want have plants in your tank. The Ramshorn snail comes in an interesting checkered pattern as well as plain black and plain red.
If you do want to keep aquarium plants and are also interested in getting a snail for your tank, you might consider a Trumpet snail. These guys rarely eat plants and prefer to forage around in the substrate eating the debris off the bottom making them beneficial fish tank inhabitants as they can help to clean the bottom of the tank. While you might see the trumpet snail clinging to the glass of the tank just below the water line in the morning, you most likely will not see them out and about during the daylight as they prefer to hide and then come out at night to eat.
You can keep snails with most other community fish including Tetras, Danios, Guppies and White Cloud Minnows, however there are some fish that simply do not get along with snails so you’ll need to ask the clerk at your pet store if this snail will get along with the fish in your tank. If you do have those pesky little snails and want to get rid of them, you might try adding a Clown Loach to your tank is they love to eat snails and will happily seek out every little one of those pests and devour them!
Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.fish-tank-guide.com where you can get more information on setting up and maintaining a fish tank as well as more in depth information on tropical fish and aquarium snails.
