A Healthy Cat Is A Happy Cat

Keeping your cat healthy and happy is a responsibility that cat owners have to

take seriously, and subscribing to a few tried and true habits can achieve this

out come with very little stress. You must insure to change your cats litter at

least once a week. If you use clumping litter you should scoop it of debris two to

three times a week and completely change the litter once a week. 

Change your cats water at least once a day, in the summer change the water

with every meal. You should feed most cats twice a day. Most cats prefer canned

food , but you can alternate between canned and dry food for the two daily meals.

Feed your cats in the morning and in the evening this will ensure they have enough

energy supply to get them through the day.

Make your cat feel loved by providing him with his own bed and several

pieces of cat furniture. Cats love multi-tiered cat furniture that they can climb and

perch on. When purchasing a bed ensure it is large enough for your cat to move

freely about in it so they can kneed and paw it to their comfort specifications .

Plan on taking your  cat to the vet at least once a year for an annual check

up. This way your vet can ensure your pet is healthy and up to date with any

vaccinations he may need . Brush your cats fur daily this will help in the removal

of shedding hair and keeping the fur smooth and unmated . And finally give your cat plenty of love and affection and you will have a prescription for a  happy and 

a healthy cat.

Dog Bathing Tips

Bath time for your pouch can be fun time or it can be a time you might not want

to deal with, dog bathing tips can put you in position to make bath time an

enjoyable  experience for you and your dog. You want your dog to associate

bath time with something pleasant , the trick is to surround your dog with things

that he or she enjoys. For instance a favorite chew toy could accompany your 

dog into the tub or wash area. Preferably you would like your dog to enter the 

tub or bathing area without you having to drag them to the wash area . So be

prepared to exercise some patience during your initial foray into the bathing

process. A rubber ball thrown into the tub can act as an inducement to get your 

dog into the water.
Dog Training

Make sure that the water is of moderate temperature, not too

hot and not too cold. You will need to obtain a good dog shampoo product. Your

local pet supply store carries  a wide variety of shampoo's for your dog. Its a good

idea to consult your veterinarian if you're not sure of which product to choose.

When in the pet supply store ask for a mild shampoo, you want to get your dog 

clean but you don't want to strip the skin or fur of natural oils. It is suggested that

you give your dog a few treats to lead him into the tub. As he gets into the tub

praise him and give him a treat, this will provide positive reinforcement and show

your dog that the bathing experience is a pleasant one.
Dog Training

To start washing your dog , after he has entered the tub

use a large cup or pail and pour water over him , be sure to avoid getting water

into the eyes or ears. If you prefer you can purchase a sprayer that attaches to

your faucet or shower head to facilitate the process. Once your dog is thoroughly

wet you can apply shampoo beginning with the nape of the neck and rubbing in

throughout the body, again be sure not to get any shampoo into the eyes or ears.

You can use a soft shower sponge or brush to thoroughly clean your pet, these 

can be purchased from your local pet supply store. After shampooing rinse and

repeat , then get a large absorbent towel , rap it around your dog and dry him off.

At this point be sure to lavish your dog with praise and treats to celebrate a 

successful bathing. And finish the process by playing  a game that your dog enjoys

like run and fetch this will help reinforce for your dog that bath time is fun time.

Dog Anxiety

Do you have an anxious dog?
The answer is that at some time or another your dog will suffer from a bout of anxiety.
The concern arises if the anxiety is an extreme case , or is it just the run of the mill occurrence
that should not be obsessed over. The most common anxiety in dogs is separation anxiety , which of
course takes place when the owner leaves the pooch at home while going out. Does your dog exhibit
any of the following symptoms : pacing back an forth when you prepare to leave. Crying, whining ,
barking and becoming destructive of furniture or breakables, or scratching at the door when you are not at home.

If any of these actions represent the behavior exhibited by your dog these suggestions should be of benefit
to you. You do not want to take any kind of action that will worsen the situation. If you present a calm
demeanor , your dog is more likely to act calmly in response. When leaving and or returning to the home or
apartment don't make it a momentous event. You need to ignore the dog. Act as though nothing significant
has happened. Your dog will take your example as an indicator as to the severity of the situation. When
you prepare to go out, casually put on your outer garments, collect your keys, hand bag, etc. When you
see your dog not reacting to your movements, leave and come back quickly . Repeat the process over and
again. All dogs are different and learn at varied paces, you will need to be patient to get your dog over
this hurdle. Don't expect immediate results , given time and repetition you'll achieve the desired result
of a better socialized pet.

Learn Cat Language Part 2

Continuing with our theme of learning cat language another communication device is the head.

 If a cat holds his head low and to one side or the other , this cat has  adopted a defensive posture. He  may also

be submitting to a more dominant cat.

Head rubbing or head bumping is utilized to convey a friendly gesture or a greeting. Cats use this method

with people as well as with other cats to show they are happy to see you.

If you see a cat with his head down low and staring intensely , he has adopted an aggressive stance.

He will approach his prey with head held low and shifting from one side to another , he's about to pounce.

  Arching is another communication device employed by cats. A cat will puff up its fur and arch its back in

order to appear larger to an adversary . This visual display is often times accompanied  by growling and hissing

to create an intimidating picture.

Rubbing with the head is a friendly gesture, but rubbing with the body is used to delineate territory. 

When your cat rubs his body against you he is marking you with his scent as being a part of his territory, he's letting every other cat know that you are his.

Cats can talk through a vocalization process , growling for instance with a closed mouth is a device used to indicate both aggression and fear. A deep, low growl can be used as a warning to stay clear or else.

Meowing by adult cats is usually reserved to communicate something to humans, adult cats don't usually 

meow at each other. Kittens on the other hand meow to their mothers to indicate they want food or attention. 

They also meow to indicate something is bothering them or they want affection. 

Cats use hissing to convey both aggression and fear. It can be difficult to determine which emotion is being

conveyed at a particular moment. The best way to assess a hissing cat is to step back and take in the whole

picture to see what other body language signs there  may be to indicate what's  wrong. But try not to turn your back on a hissing cat.

A howling cat is usually in some kind of discomfort and is warning you to stay away, its best to take a

persistently howling cat into your vet to determine if there is a medical issue.

A message used to convey contentment is purring accompanied by kneading. these are cats that are happy

and content with their surroundings and everyone in it. Kneading and fluffing of material is also another device

for marking of territory. Scent glands in the paws leave trace amounts of scent behind to mark territory. 

These are just some of the many ways in which cats communicate both through verbal methods and the use of

body language . Watching for these and other traits will enhance your learning and cat loving experience.

Deter Dog Barking

Does your dog  bark incessantly   and  at the  wrong times.

Well you are not alone, constant barking is one of the most

registered complaints of dog owners. But there are measures you can take to deter dog barking in your home.
Dog Training

Here are a few remedies you can take to quiet your dog:

     With hold attention from your dog when he's barking.

In essence ignore your dog when he's barking, for as long

as is necessary to get him to stop the unwanted behavior.

Don't talk to him, definitely do not yell at him. He'll think

that you are barking along with him. If it takes an hour for 

him to stop so be it. When he stops the offending behavior

reward him with a treat. You need to be consistent with this

approach, don't look at him or acknowledge him in any way

as long as he continues the noise , if he stops even momentarily reward him with a treat. As he begins to catch

on lengthen the amount of time it takes for him to be rewarded. You can make a game of it , tell him good dog 

when he stops and pet him along with giving him a treat

to reward him for giving you the response you want.

For these techniques to work best everyone in your

household must be in accord with this training approach.

Consistency from family members regarding your dogs unwanted behavior will help your dog receive 

 his lessons in a manner

that will encourage a smooth progression in his learning

process. If your dog is prone to bark at passersby viewed

from your living room window handle this by drawing the

curtains or removing your dog to another room in the house. When you take your dog out for a walk and he barks

at an oncoming stimuli you can manage the situation with

a good supply of doggie treats. When an oncoming pedestrian causes your dog to bark try giving him a treat,

as the person moves out of range stop giving treats. By

doing this you can condition your dog to view oncoming

pedestrians as a pleasant encounter, not a threatening one.

This approach can work equally as well with approaching dogs. As you see a dog approaching you if

your dog begins to bark start feeding him yummy doggie

treats as the dog moves out of sight stop feeding him treats. It will probably take some time for this lesson to take

hold , but again consistency is key.

Get your dog to be quiet on command,paradoxically in

order to teach your dog to be quiet, you first have to get him

to bark. Command your dog to "speak", get a family member to do something you know will get your dog to bark. Perhaps knocking on the door will cause the dog to bark. Allow him to bark a few times then pat him on the head and give him a treat. Repeat as often as it takes for him to bark when you say "speak".

Dog Training

After you've gotten your dog to "speak" on command 

then you can teach him to be "quiet" on command as well.

Place you dog in a quiet setting give him the command to

"speak", when he starts barking give him the command to

be "quiet" place a treat in front of his nose when he quiets

pet and praise him and give him treats. Repeat the process

until he's learned the lesson. As you can see dog ownership is an evolving process , you learn your dog as

he learns you. Make sure you get your dog plenty of out

door exercise, a dog that is bored is more likely to bark

for no obvious reason.A dog that gets sufficient mental

and physical stimulation is a good and happy dog.

             

Why Choosing the Right Dog Breed is Important

Getting a dog is a long term commitment. Depending on the breed, a dog can expect to live between ten and fifteen years, with some making it to even older ages. Imagine how long that time would feel if you are stuck with the wrong type of dog! Even worse, if you do find yourself with a dog that does not fit in with your life, would you take him down to the shelter, knowing that he would probably end up being put to sleep? A dog is just about the only family addition that you can make where you can take some time to truly consider all aspects before leaping in with both feet.

Dog Training

There are several things that you must consider before going out to look for your new pet. First, how much space is in your home? Are you already tripping over each other? If you said yes, then by all means skip the labs, the mastiffs and the Saint Bernard's.  Do you have a big house and a big yard? Then by all means feel free to look at the dogs that could double as ponies.

Next, consider your family makeup. Do you have any young children in your family? If so, then skip the dainty, yappy dogs that tend to be high strung and frankly tend to bite. Any dog that looks like it would need more accessories than your teen daughter to be happy should be a no if there are toddlers or young children around. Also, if you are a fairly busy and active family, these dogs, including the poodle, the Pomeranian and Shih Tzu should be a no, as they require lots of grooming and will need to be clipped frequently. Dogs for families with young children should be sturdy, well mannered or easily trained and less likely to bite. These include the pug or the puggle, the golden retriever, and the cocker spaniel.
Dog Training

Also, consider your family's activity level and favorite hobbies. Do you like to spend the day at the river or lake, fishing and swimming? Consider a water breed that would be happy joining in with your fun. These would include the labs, and spaniel breeds which come in a variety of colors and sizes. With adequate exercise and training, either breed would be a good family addition, but if they are allowed to become bored, might be destructive.

And finally, consider a blend of the best breeds- the mutt. Many of the best dogs are not purebred at all, and rescuing a Heinz 57 from a dog shelter is more rewarding than all of the pedigrees in the world.

What to Know Before Adopting a Pet

Before getting a pet, no matter where you get it from, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, and foremost, make sure that your entire family is ready, willing and able to care for a pet. Make sure that there is total agreement about the type of pet that you will be seeking. And, make sure that everyone knows what type of pet is absolutely not allowable for any reason!

If you are a first time pet owner, make sure that you understand what that means, exactly. Do you know the basic needs of the pet that you have in mind? Do you know the approximate expense involved? Adopting a pet means adopting an entire lifestyle as well, so do some research on the various breeds of pets to make the best choice for you and your family. If there is any possibility of allergies with your family members, then by all means visit shelters and pet shops and watch for reactions before making the leap. Also, consider taking your children to areas where they might interact with different animals and watch how they behave. Some children are just not big animal lovers, and they should never be forced to pet or talk to one, especially if they are afraid. A fearful child may make a dog or cat apprehensive enough to bite.

Where you live will determine the size or type of the pet that you should look at adopting. If you are an apartment dweller, your lease may not allow any pets at all, or may restrict you to certain small, caged pets. Small homes and small yards will rule out larger breed dogs who need lots of room to roam and stretch out their big legs. Some toy breed dogs are not appropriate with younger children- they tend to be hyper, delicate and will nip at the drop of a hat. Make sure that you ask lots of questions during the adoption process- if you do not know what to expect of a certain breed, make sure to do the research, ask the questions or look for another pet option.

Again, before even going to the shelter to adopt a pet, know what you would like to find, and what you do not want to bring home. Make sure that everyone knows from the start of the process what your intentions are- including the shelter staff. Do not let an overzealous worker talk you into a pet that is not really right for you or your family. This is a serious commitment, and not one that should be taken lightly.

Responsibility for a Child's Pet

The child is the one that asked for the pet. The child is the one that picked out the exact pet that was brought home. And the child is the reason that the dog shakes his head in shame when he has to respond to Squidword as his name. But, that dog or the cat or any other pet that manages to make it into your home is not just the sole responsibility of the child, is it? Like it or not, they become part of the family and as such, are the responsibility of everybody, at least partially. Despite protesting against it, you find yourself feeding the cat or walking the dog from time to time, but does that necessarily mean that your child is shirking his duties? Not really, if one child needed a drink of water, would you really make him wait for it?

Before you even allow a pet to come into your door, sit down with your child lay down the rules and obligations that will be expected of him. Make sure he knows how much food the pet will need, and how often. Make a clear chart with pictures for younger children, or clearly worded directions for older kids. Include rewards and punishments for failing to meet any obligations, for example, if the child does not walk the dog on their day, then that child loses TV time. Teaching your child to meet obligations and duties is important to turning out responsible adults.

Remember though, that children will actually forget certain things in pet care, no matter how much they love their furry friend. There might be times when your child is sick, or too busy with schoolwork or extracurricular activities to fulfill all of his obligations. On those occasions, it will be up to you to step in and help the child out. Ultimately, as head of the family, all of the members are your responsibility and that means the feline, canine or miscellaneous additions as well. If you are completely unwilling to step in and take over any aspect of pet care for any length of time, you may want to reconsider allowing a pet at that time.

No matter how well the child does take care of his pet, you must also understand that the financial burden will most likely be on you. You will have to maintain his diet, his vet bills and the other costs of pet ownership, unless you are planning on sending your child out to find a job!
Lol.

Blueberry Coming Along Nicely

Our newly adopted kitten that my children have named Blueberry is making inroads with his other
cat mates. They still occasionally hiss, spit , swipe and the like but they also play quite a bit , share food
bowls and favored perches in a general environment of togetherness . More to come.

Blueberry moving into the fold

Blueberry our new kitten has been with us now for about three weeks. He's making a relatively

smooth transition to the household. He and our two other cats Simba and Oliver are interacting

more and more with less hissing and spitting. He's about four months old and we expect to have

him neutered in the near future. We'll keep you up to date on further developments.

Blueberry has been added to the household

Blueberry a kitten we've adopted, was taken in off the street. He was part of a litter of a

feral cat my children refer to as Cheese fondue. We already have two cats that we adopted from

an animal shelter on Long Island. The interaction between the kitten and our two resident cats

is intriguing . We are limiting the contact the three are having to several moments at a time.

There's been some hissing, spitting and vying for position but nothing to arouse alarm.

As long as we keep these initial forays brief we can effectively monitor the getting to know

you process. I'll keep you posted in the days ahead and let you know how things are coming

along.

Advantages of Training Your Cat

Advantages of Training Your Cat

Despite all of the stereotypes, kitties are not completely self-sufficient creatures. They still need their human families to feed and water them, and to protect them from the elements. And, despite all of their protests against it, kitties need their humans to love them. Adopting a cat can be a very rewarding feeling, as well as a major challenge at times. We want our family life to be calm and warm, not frantic and frustrating, so we need all of the members, including the furry ones, to be at their best behavior. Training your cat can ensure that you have a gentle, loving pet that does not eat your furniture and pee in your houseplants. Training your cat does not only protect it from potential dangers, but keeps your belongings safe from destruction as well.

Cats claw, scratch, bite and chew for many reasons. If they are doing these things to food items or their cat toys, that is great, but many times they will find something else. Cats that chew on the new divan or the electrical cords are not only destroying property, they are also potentially put their own lives in danger. Young cats will mouth or chew on things for the same reasons that puppies and human babies do- they are exploring their world, as well as teething. Give them substitutes and reward them for chewing on the right items. If an older cat has suddenly developed a urge to gnaw on things other than food or usual toys, then consider whether he is bored, or if it is possible that he has a nutritional deficiency.

Poorly trained kitties will often start using the entire house as their personal litter box. If you have ever walked in the house when the litter box needs to be changed, you know how disgusting that can truly be. If your cat is using items like your bed or favorite chair to potty on, he might be sending you a message. Does he loathe the new litter you bought? Did you move his litter box? Or, have you started spending too much time with that guy in 2A that stomps his feet at kitty when you are not in the room? Although most cats will train well to the box and never have issues, some are more stubborn and this behavior can often be the deal breaker for many families.

A well-trained cat will charm and amuse your guests when they come to your home. He will make your days seem warmer and brighter. Because he knows what is expected of him, he will not have as much anxiety, leading to a calmer more easily controlled cat. Calmer cats are more affectionate because they are not nervous or high-strung. Training your cat allows him to focus on good behaviors and the things that make a cat's life a good one; napping, eating and stalking dust motes in the sunny patch by the window.

What Dog Breed Fits Your Lifestyle?

What Dog Breed Fits Your Lifestyle?

If you are a hands-on, sporty type person, then a dainty lap dog might not be the right choice for you. Likewise, a rambunctious, energetic hound dog is not going to be a happy pup just sitting quietly at your feet while you knit. Finding the right dog breed for your lifestyle will not only ensure your own happiness, but the dog's as well. He will become part of your family, after all, and you want him to be the right fit.
Dog Training

All puppies are cute; little roly-poly creatures that fall over themselves and snuggle with you when they are tired. But, just like your babies grew up to be defiant, mouthy teens, a puppy will grow to be a poorly trained adolescent dogs if they are not dealt with properly. Although good training is necessary, it is not the only consideration. Moving a mastiff into a two-bedroom bungalow is not going to work out, for you or for the dog, and a teacup poodle may feel overwhelmed in a large, expansive mansion. Keep in mind what size your puppy your dog will grow up to be, and by pass the ones that are not realistic for your home, no matter how cute the big sweeties can be.

Consider your family make up and lifestyle before you start looking at pets. If you have a newborn child, it might not be the best time to consider getting a new puppy- you are busy enough and might not have the right amount of time to properly train your four-legged addition. An improperly trained puppy may turn into a poorly behaved, bigger dog, so wait until you have more time to devote to him and the energy to keep up with it. The fallacy that the dog and baby should grow up together is a very dangerous one to buy into. Do you want a gentle dog that is sturdy enough to be handled by inquisitive little hands without knocking your toddler down? Consider a pug, one of the gentlest and most forgiving of the dog breeds. But, for safety sake, never trust the loving nature of any dog over your own vigilance.

Dog Training

Need a jogging or walking partner? Consider an upbeat, energetic breed like the small, Jack Russell terrier or the larger labs. Want a cuddle buddy instead? Then a sweet natured, compact Scotty is a good choice for the small dog lover and the golden retriever is the star standard for those who prefer the big dogs to love. (Goldens are also great all around for being gentle with children, and walking partners. As long as you call them sweetie pie or big wuvvie, a golden will do just about anything you ask.) Choose wisely, a dog will be part of your family for a very long time and a part of your heart for even longer.

Most Popular Dog Breeds

Most Popular Dog Breeds

A listing of the most popular dog breeds can bring about ardent debates over which dogs do and do not belong. Let a list include the breed that bit you when you were a small child and you are outraged, or worse, let the list snub your current wubsie and that does it, you want to write an angry letter. To be fair, you must consider the source of the list, and what the criteria were for it. For instance, the AKC kennel association shows its top one hundred dog breed listing based on the number of each breed that is registered with them. They do not declare one breed better than others for the sake of this list; they simply list how many of the breeds are accounted for.

Dog Training

If you search the words "most popular dog breeds" on the web, you will find a large number of listings- from the different categories of dogs and the breeds within them, to the most popular dog breeds for families with children. Narrow down what exactly you are looking for and that should help quite a bit. Perhaps you want to know what the most popular toy dog breeds are, or the most popular hunting dog breeds. Either way, you will be able to pull up the right list and see exactly where your favorite dog breed places.

Everyone has their favorite and least favorite dog breed. It does not matter how or why they came to their conclusions, they just have and that's that. For them, there is no convincing them that the husky is a perfectly fine dog, if it is handled properly, or that the Yorkie can sometimes be more trouble than they are really worth. Some people will dismiss entire breeds of dogs simply based on what they know about one representative of the club, a practice that is not fair, by the way. Dog breeds gain and lose popularity based on many things, including movies that feature them, or which breed is winning at the major dog shows. But, regardless of all of that, there are some dog breeds that make it to the tops of nearly every list, the diehard favorites that people flock to, year after year. Those breeds include: the Labrador retriever, the Golden Retriever, the Beagle, the Yorkshire Terrier, and the Poodle.
Dog Training

Of course there are the so-called designer dogs- the mixed breed dogs that hopefully get the best of both worlds. Popular mixes are: the Puggle, a mix of the ever--popular Pug and the Beagle, the Labradoodle, a mix of a Lab and a Poodle and the Cockapoo, a mix of a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. These dogs are not registered, but still very popular, as evidenced by their steadily growing numbers.

Cat Training Classes

Cat Training Classes

When people say they are taking their pet to obedience training classes, others will assume that they mean their dog. More and more people are taking their cats to these classes as well. Cats are great pets. They are less time consuming than a dog, more affectionate than a bowl of goldfish, and definitely less creepy than a spider, but they can also be a huge mental challenge. Cats are experts at doing things when there are no witnesses, and that makes training them just a little trickier. The first thing that a feline owner must understand is that reprimands do not work with a cat at all.

Cat training classes are more about training the human owners than about training the cats themselves, because it takes some real patience and understanding to deal with the behavior of even the best kitty, and let's face it, those are not the cats that are getting dragged to behavior classes, are they? Behavior classes are usually filled with harried owners at the last step before dropping their psycho pet off at the local shelter. Some cats are just nuts, and that is putting it mildly, so what is the kitty owner to do?

First, you have to make the decision of what behaviors will and will not be tolerated in your home. The first thing to accomplish should be the litter box, and then other skills can be introduced and perfected afterward. Do not allow your cat to get away with a bad behavior even once or he will be bound to repeat it, and remember although your cat will do several things that are similar to dogs, they are not the same and must be handled differently.

The cat training class will show you the proper methods of disciplining your cat, as well as the best reward system to use. Some cats are pure gluttons and will turn themselves into pure idiots for the treats, while others would rather starve to death rather than comply with such frivolity as rules. You have to know your own cats mindset that can help you figure out how best to approach him. Regardless of the method, make sure that the rules are adhered to consistently by all family members or you might find manipulative monsieur le chat playing his hairless wards like a game of chess. Remember, you are the boss, this is your house! Let the cat get the upper, er, paw and all might very well be lost!