Be Your Pet Dog's Best Friend

To have a really great relationship with your pet dog, you need to work on that relationship constantly. It's not enough to build a few foundations and expect your relationship to blossom with little or no extra effort. Time spent reinforcing the bond between you and your pet dog is time well spent, and will enrich your relatonship providing you both with the fun and rewards that pet dog ownership brings.
Make sure that you spend quality time with your pet dog. As pet dog owners we are all aware of the need to exercise and train your pet dog. The time spent on these activities will vary according to your pet dogs needs, however, this time should be rewarding and enjoyable for your pet dog. When walking with your pet dog, make sure that you talk and interact with your pet dog. Play a game of fetch or chase. All pet dogs love to chase, and taking an active role in this game will not only keep you fit, but will help you engage with your pet dog in a fun and simple way.
Be animated when you communicate with your pet dog. During the day, your pet dog will hear you converse with many different people, either on the phone or in person, and will generally filter out most of the conversation. With your tone of voice you can communicate to your pet dog that something is interesting or fun, or that something is undesirable or naughty.pet Dogs have extremely sensitive hearing and are very much attuned to your moods and tone of voice, use this to your advantage. Attract your pet dogs attention by using a friendly voice that is slightly higher pitched than your normal speaking voice.
Never forget the importance of physical contact. When your pet dog is near, make the effort to stroke their head or neck and talk in a soothing voice. If you are in the park, and your pet dog bounds over to you, make a fuss of them, make being near you a rewarding experience for your pet dog. This will not only reinforce the bond you and your pet dog have, but it will also aid recall. If you have problems recalling your pet dog, practice this when they are off the lead. Several times during the walk, call your pet dog to you and reward them for coming with a treat or a cuddle, and then let them carry on with what they were doing. If you only recall your pet dog when they are naughty or to put them on the lead, your dog will associate punishment or the end of the walk with coming when called. If you have been out, greet your pet dog properly when your return - being away from you is never enjoyable for your pet dog. Make the time to cuddle or play a quick game to celebrate your return. This is very natural for pet dogs, they will do this to other pet dogs they know and like, so this behaviour is something they understand.
Ask yourself, if you were your pet dog, would you enjoy the time you spend together. Try to be fun for your pet dog. We all have busy days, bad days and sad days, but your dog relies upon you to provide the love and support it needs, and will give you loyalty and friendship in return. Your pet dog doesn't need or understand your stress, but they are affected by it. On a bad day, make a point of having a game or cuddling with your pet dog, and you'll probably find it helps you too.
By: Jane EarleyAuthor Bio

Oct 29, 2008

if you were your dog

Ask yourself, if you were your dog, would you enjoy the time you spend together. Try to be fun for your dog. We all have busy days, bad days and sad days, but your dog relies upon you to provide the love and support it needs, and will give you loyalty and friendship in return. Your dog doesn't need or understand your stress, but they are affected by it. On a bad day, make a point of having a game or cuddling with your dog, and you'll probably find it helps you too.

Oct 24, 2008

Tips on How to take care of a Turtle

Tips on How to take care of a TurtleIf you have decided to own a turtle as pet at your home, you should be having some knowledge so that you know how to take care of a turtle in a proper way. There are different kinds of Pet Turtles and each kind of turtle requires special care. I am going to explain the common tips on how to take care of a Turtle that will help you provide the best care to your pet turtles and help living a long and healthy life.
Right Environment for your Pet Turtle – Depending on their type, Turtle have different kind of environmental needs and that too varies with their type So it becomes very important that they should be provided a suitable environment. They should be kept in a proper aquarium or habitat and make sure you always regulate its temperature carefully. The wet and the dry regions of the habitat must be kept at an appropriate temperature. This is key to your pet staying healthy. The above point is most important tip on how to take care of a turtle.
Balanced diet – You need to make sure that the food you are feeding your pet is enough balanced to sustain its long healthy life. Most species of the turtles require fresh vegetables such as lettuce to stay healthy. So always feed balanced diet and take care of your pet turtle.
Types of groupings – It’s very important to know what your turtle prefers in its living. Like some species of Pet Turtles prefer to live in groups while others like to stay in solitary. You should take care of those pet turtles that like to stay in groups, make sure you give them company by providing same and similar size of one or more such pet turtles so that they don’t feel lonely.
Regular Care – Like any other Pet, Turtles also require daily care plus you need to be very conscious of any changes in their health and behavior. A change might be anything, from not having proper food to laziness of your turtle.
Commitment – Pet turtles live much longer life (usually between thirty to fifty years) than any other pet. Before planning to own a pet turtle you need to make sure that you are going to give commitment to the care of your pet turtle for many years to come.
Now day’s turtles are becoming more popular as pets than any other animal as it is fun to have a pet turtle at your home and because of their longer life they can be your child’s best friend right from their childhood to adulthood. If you remember the above tips of how to take care of a turtle as pet, you will not only enjoy company of pet turtle but also they will give some rep to your home.
About the author:By Abhinav Sidana

Oct 20, 2008

Checking your Pet’s Health

Checking your Pet’s Health
If you are a pet owner, you know one of the most important factors in your relationship with your pet is their health. Your pet can add a lot of fun to your life as well as being a great companion and keep you safe. You will need to keep an eye out for any changes in your pet’s behavior such as loss of appetite, drinking excessive amounts of water, gaining or losing weight rapidly, behavior that is strange for your particular pet, your pet being overly tired or sluggish, having trouble standing or sitting, or any strange bumps or lumps. Other things to watch for would be if there is any abnormal discharges from nose, eyes, or other openings, any scratching, licking, or biting excessively, or loss of hair. If you notice any of those then you need to contact your veterinarian and let them have a look.
There is one type of illness to keep an eye out for which can effect both cats and dogs. That illness is Heartworm. There is an infection as well as disease. Heartworm infection is where the parasites are, and doesn’t mean that your dog is sick at this point. Heartworm disease is where your pet is sick. You can keep your pet from getting heartworm disease by visiting your vet on a regular check-up as well as giving your pet heartworm treatments you can purchase from your vet.
Other than the major things to keep an eye out for, you also need to do the regular things to keep your pet healthy. The first activity in keeping your animals healthy is to bathe and groom them regularly. If you own a dog then you need to regularly brush, bathe, and take care of its nails. Be sure to protect your dog’s eyes and ears when you bathe it and dry it off, not allowing it to become chilled. If you have a puppy be sure it’s older than 12 weeks before bathing on a routine basis.
If you own a cat, you should brush your cat’s coat regularly, even though they can groom rather well on their own. If you must bathe your cat, be sure to give it something it can cling to; it will hate having a slippery surface underneath it. Use the shampoo that is just for cats and kittens. Put some cotton in the ears to keep water out. Use an ointment that you can get from the vet’s office in case you get water in its eyes. Dry the cat completely and brush out the hair to keep it from getting matted. If you have a kitten, be sure to brush its teeth on a regular basis. Your vet can provide with the correct brush.
The next activity in keeping your pet healthy is to feed them the proper nutrition. If you own a puppy, then you need to provide a high quality diet that is just for puppies. Generally, you should feed your puppy only as much as they can eat in between 5 and 10 minutes at any meal. You will usually feed a puppy 3 times a day between 6 to 12 weeks, 2 times a day when your puppy is between 12 weeks and 6 months, and then 1 to 2 times a day when the puppy is older than 6 months old. If you have a larger dog, you might do better in giving it numerous small meals instead of 1 large.
If you own a kitten, then you need to provide a high quality diet that is just for kittens. The best food is dry because it is more economical and will help with tartar and plaque reduction. You can feed your kitten canned foods as a supplement if you wish. Kittens do not have to have a set mealtime, although if you wish to monitor your kitten’s intake, then the best way is to set a mealtime for your kitten.
If you are feeding your cat canned foods, then you need to set a mealtime because otherwise the food will spoil if left unrefridgerated.
A stainless steel bowl is best because it will not get scratched. Plastic and ceramic bowls can get scratched easily and this will leave room for bacteria to build up, which can cause your pet irritation and cause them to become ill.
Everyday care is essential to happy pets. This gives your pet the opportunity to live long and healthy lives with you as your companion. Please take care of your pets - your friends!About the author:By TOm Lewis

Oct 14, 2008

Adopt A Dog

Why You Should Adopt A DogDog adoption is made easy through the countless animal welfare organizations and animal shelters existing in every city across the United States. With literally thousands of adoptable dogs listed, a prospective dog owner can select to adopt a dog that needs a wonderful family to go to and be loved. In fact, when you search through these shelters and find a puppy, you are doing a great service to the community and to the local dog rescue or animal shelter that you went for your dog, cat, kitten, or puppy adoption. Thus, you should not hesitate! You should go today to your local area's shelter facilities and practically support dog and puppy adoption. But before you exit such a life-saving premise, you should first consider some important factors that will shape your decision.

Oct 10, 2008

Move Over, Doggie Bag

Move Over, Doggie Bag Pets and pet lovers alike will enjoy a dog gift basket. It's a truly unique gift that lets someone know that you understand how special their dog is to them. Your own furry friend will be delighted with the treats and toys, too.
Dog gift baskets come in a variety of sizes and price ranges. Baskets just for pets include treats and toys, and may also include bedding, dishes, or clothes. The treats may be name brand dog treats or in some cases, gourmet dog cookies or homemade treats. If you give your pet gifts during the holidays, this is something you can both enjoy.
For a pet and owner, a dog gift basket with something for each is a good choice. If you know someone that positively dotes on their dog, this can be a great Christmas gift or a nice thank-you to your veterinarian for a job well done. Often, pet-themed gift baskets include a mug or other item for the owner, a toy for the dog, and treats for both.

Oct 9, 2008

Treatment

Heartworm Treatment for cats and dogs The treatment for heartworms is different for cats and dogs. Do not ever give medicine intended for a cat to your dog or vice versa.
Once your pet has heartworms the treatment is not easy. You want to rid your pet of heartworms but many factors need to be looked at before proceeding. Your veterinarian will have to do many tests to determine how many worms your pet has, how it is affecting your pet and if your pet can handle the side effects of the medication.
Let?s first look at the treatment of heartworms for dogs. The first thing that will have to be done is an evaluation of your dog and what treatment is necessary to stabilize them for treatment for heartworms and then the elimination of all the heartworms and larvae.
The adult heartworms will be killed first, then comes the larvae and the microfilaria. Both have to kill with different treatments. There are side effects that can happen that are very dangerous to your dog while ridding them of the adult heartworm. As the adult heartworms die they can become lodged in the arteries. The arteries are already inflamed by the presence of these worms but as the worms decompose the arteries can become more inflamed and your dog will need to be watched carefully for things like this that may occur during treatment. Sometimes, according to how infested your dog is with heartworms, he may need to stay at the hospital for proper care. Talking with your veterinarian will ease your mind and let you know the best options for your dog.
The treatment for heartworms in cats may be no treatment. Cats are very hard to treat for heartworms. The side effects of the dying worms cause at least one third of the cats treated life threatening problems. Cats can not also take some of the medications available for eliminating heartworms. Your veterinarian will have to do many tests to determine if your cat should undergo treatment.
As with all disease prevention is better than the treatment. Before your pet can get heartworm disease talk with your veterinarian and find medications that can prevent heartworms in your pet from ever happening.

Oct 8, 2008

Move Over, Doggie Bag

Move Over, Doggie Bag Pets and pet lovers alike will enjoy a dog gift basket. It's a truly unique gift that lets someone know that you understand how special their dog is to them. Your own furry friend will be delighted with the treats and toys, too.
Dog gift baskets come in a variety of sizes and price ranges. Baskets just for pets include treats and toys, and may also include bedding, dishes, or clothes. The treats may be name brand dog treats or in some cases, gourmet dog cookies or homemade treats. If you give your pet gifts during the holidays, this is something you can both enjoy.
For a pet and owner, a dog gift basket with something for each is a good choice. If you know someone that positively dotes on their dog, this can be a great Christmas gift or a nice thank-you to your veterinarian for a job well done. Often, pet-themed gift baskets include a mug or other item for the owner, a toy for the dog, and treats for both.