Every Pet Has Its Days

Searching For Missing Cat

2008-09-15T17:08:00.002+08:00

I came home after church. The church that day celebrate the feast of The Triumph of The Cross. I came back at about 9.15pm, and saw this notice at the lift, at the void deck of my house.

This 'missing cat' notice pasted on the side of the lift at my void deck

A closer Look At the Missing cat.

The cat looked so familiar to me!

The date was my birthday... the cat was lost on my birthday!

It was the cat on the tree, the cat I had seen that day when I had the 'inspiration', that instant moment when I had the words 'Victory Alleluia' in my brain...

The girl was wearing St Theresa's Convent uniform on that day. I do not know her name, but knew that she is a Muslim, but look so much like a Chinese, her complexion so fair. They have two cats, both so lovely!

First time I saw the cat climbing up on the tree. The last time was perhaps when I was young, at Boon Lay house, where there were so many cats...

Victory Alleluia

Nature Cats
Cat's Life
Two Miracle's Cats

The one below is the one I like most. It was catching the mynas on that day when I saw him...

Lost and Found
Energy cannot be created or destroyed.....

Cats are such HOLY animal, I am God's Cat now... serving God....

Photographs of Baby

2008-07-19T12:39:00.003+08:00

This is my old home in Woodlands. I like white and cleanliness, but Richard always like black and he always said white colour will trap a lot of dust and dirt....

This is outside our house, the corridor is very big. There is one other house directly opposite us.

My greatest nursery success was here, where we have big place for our gardening hobby. Over here, my arrowhead plant was so beautiful at one time, one Chinese New Year.... Richard and I went to nurseries to buy plants and orchids. We had so many types of orchids then....

This is Baby, he loves to smell the plants.

He is such an intelligent dog, very like me(his character), and Amanda said he is so passionate. Don't know what happen to him now. But last night, I saw another Shih Tzu, about three years plus, and it is beige colour.... it is a female dog, very obedient...

My Baby Shih Tzu

2008-06-16T14:27:00.003+08:00

This was Baby, my favourite Shih Tzu. He was a gift given to me by Richard. We bought him at Soo Kee Kennel, at Belastier Road if I am not wrong about the name. At that time, I was feeling blue, really at the point of 'breakdown' because of His Father. I won't mention much about His Father at this point. But I saw Baby, and he was so active, playing with a ball. He was put in the cage, together with another dog. But we chose him. He was so small, so cute and adorable. I brought him everywhere I went. I remembered I brought him to my sister's home also, because I saw my photograph of me and baby at her home.

This is a closer view of Baby when he was sleeping, just behind the door of our old house, our first matrimonial house. Baby was so alert, so clever, and he was so like me! At the slightest sound, he would wake up -- as you can see from these photographs. I caught sight of him sleeping so soundly. It was such a peaceful sleep, so adorable he was. I walked towards him...

Nothing can escape his 'eyes' and ears, even when he was 'sleeping'. He opened his eyes, the moment I walked near him. He knew it!

Baby gave me so much 'happiness'. I 'forgot' all my 'problems' and I was so much happier with him around. Baby always like to kiss me. However, his temper was rather 'bad', just like me. He was temperamental, but to me he was just fine. We got along so well, until I was pregnant and was unable to look after him...

Baby would be thirteen years old now if he is still around in this world. However, I do not know where he is now. I would like to find him or at least know what had happened to him if there is any chance of it.

Our dog is our best friend, a very loyal and faithful friend. They recognize you as their owner, their master, from the very first day you bring them home. They rely on you wholeheartedly and trust you for their well-being. Once they 'escape' or wonder out of the house, owners get so worried about the safety of their pets. Their pets have become so important to them and they have become part of the family. When pets are lost, owners have no peace. Their mind would only be focused on searching for their lost pets. At this website findtoto.com, one can search for lost animals, missing or stolen pets. So whether your pet is a Lost Dog or a missing dog, findtoto.com can help you to search for your missing dog.

Cat In The Box

2008-04-25T08:45:00.000+08:00

This picture is taken two nights ago, on 23rd April 2008, on the day where the Enchanted Tembusu Tree was full of blossoms... Again two cats were at his same place, the place where I met the two miracle cats, but this time, different cats, but still cats I seen before.

I was attracted to the black ones, while the boys (Richard and Ricsson saw the other one, and asked me to go over, as it was even funnier there). I went over and so surprised to see this cat above, in the box. It was the cat which I had seen, sleeping last month on the walkway.

It was this black one that I saw first. A malay guy with kids brought some dry food to feed the cats. He told me that the white one is a male cat, very fierce, 'Be careful, very fierce" he said.

But he was never fierce to me, last month, he was lying in front of me, and now, he is in the box.

This is the Singapore Carton Cat. The cat spirit was captured under the Mango tree one day, among the grass and bushes. It was a fierce looking cat, with sharp teeth.

However, that night when we were there, the white cat never attacked or do anything to the black cat. The black cat is a female cat, eating the food given by the boys, and the white cat (food was given to him), never eat the food, just go kaypo (busybody like what you see in the picture).

If you have never harm the cats, why should the cats harm you? In the news, the elephants lost control, get mad and went around destroying things and hurting people. This is the works of God at work now. Noah Ark, the flood, it is all a jigsaw puzzle now, we must fix the puzzle and we want the picture of paradise to be seen.

Nature Cats

2008-04-21T09:49:00.002+08:00

Most of a cat's sense organs are on its head, as ours are. This arrangement brings two main advantages: it puts them in the front line and also means they are nearest to the brain, which can therefore receive and process incoming data as quickly as possible.

Wherever they live, island or mainland, cats are bound to take their toll of wildlife. Cats are great survivors. Carried around the world for centuries by people, they now occupy every possible habits wherever there is food, water and shelter. Feral cats need to hunt to survive, and farm cats do it for a living. But even pampered pet cats -- however well-fed they may be, will hunt and kill, because that is what cats do.

Normally, a cat's faeces contain around the same moisture as the meat they eat; by creating drier faeces, constipation increases the amount of moisture the cat extracts from its food. Due to their desert origins, cats also have extremely efficient kidneys.

Newborn kittens are easy to sex. Between birth and five weeks old, it becomes surprisingly difficult, but by the time a kitten is ready to leave its mother, the differences are clearly visible again. The genital opening, although directed backwards in both sexes, is more widely separated from the anal opening in a male; in females, both openings are so close together that they may appear to be connected. It is reasonably easy to sort them out when you have kittens of both sexes to compare.

The regular pattern for a hunting cat is little and often, meaning bite-size mice taken at regular intervals. Given the chance, most pet cats will follow this pattern. Cats given free access to dry food take their daily ration in many little snacks throughout day and night.

A male cat may kill kits. Nursing females tend to treat all males with suspicion and hostility, but some mothers permit carefully supervised visits from the kittens' father. Females, especially sisters, quite often co-operate in rearing kits. If the nursery is disturbed or discovered, a mother often moves her kits to a new site, carrying them, one at a time, by the loose skin(the 'scruff') between their shoulders and neck.

Kits are taught to hunt by their mother; she demonstrates techniques which they imitate. Play is a way of honing the coordination and hunting skills that their lives will depend on. The age at which kits naturally leave their mother depends on how much needs to be learned in order to survive; a female tiger spends at least 18 months coaching her cubs before she even thinks about starting a new family, whereas domestic kittens are normally 'taken away' when they are weaned, around two months after birth.

A tom will grow up to be a philandering warrior; a female will grow up to be a mother. Two intact toms cannot coexist in peace, whereas intact females live together happily and may even babysit for one another. Toms are often affectionate toward people, perhaps because they make few friends in the cat world. Females can be more self-contained; maybe they get more feline company or put motherhood before other relationships.

Cat's Life

2008-04-20T07:27:00.001+08:00

Cats are free spirits. They are dedicated, body and soul, to the thrill of the chase. They are not driven to hunt by hunger alone but by instinct, more or less regardless of whether their quarry is edible or not.

This is my first time taking picture of cats on tree. When I was young, I saw cats climbing trees, but after I moved house, I no longer see cats, nor think of them anymore.

At the library, I found this book, Natural Cats, written by Chris Madsen, the author of over 30 history, conservation and pets' books.

She wrote:

"Happy animals make cheering company, and we can all use some of that. A happy cat makes a perfect friend too. It won't pretend to like you if it doesn't honestly feel in the mood; it will listen to your problems patiently without ever interrupting with smart advice; you can confide your darkest secrets and it won't tell a soul. And it's good to come home to a warm body who'll give you a rub and welcome you with a happy trill, even when you've a frown on your face and your hair looks terrible....

The very first cat I remember was Mimi, a tabby born under a redundant railway carriage mysteriously marooned in a meadow on the Isle of Wight. Her son, the inimitable Chester, moved in the very best circles; his beat on the tiles of Belgravia gave him a direct view into Buckingham Palace's secluded gardens. This was one cat that really might -- and surely did -- look at a Queen. Chester taught me to speak cat and, I suspect, a lot about respecting my betters. I couldn't have written this book without him."

No wonder the name ManChester United.

That evening, I was so filled with awe, the cat on the tree just looked like any other wild cats, the tiger, leopard and so on, on the tree, how cool it is... a very nice scene and picture indeed. And the cat just stayed up there on the tree for so long, as long as more than 10-15 minutes, for as long as I was there. The cat can move its ears when I talked, and it is very alert on the tree, watchful of its surroundings.

I never like cats, never, but only dogs. But somehow, it is so strange, that I am 'led' to learning more about cats. And it is my duty to tell you about cats, as we learn together, and we become better people.

Sixty million people keep cats in the USA. Seven million in Britain are cat owners. More people are keeping cats than dogs. After thousands of years co-existing with people, cats still have not lost their wild side. They are still the same natural, beautiful, sensual animals that the Ancient Egyptians adored.

Cats generally sleep during the day and hunt at night or in twilight. Their eyes see little colour but are acutely aware of movement, especially in dim light; stereoscopic vision enables them to measure distance accurately. Their large, mobile ears can detect, identify and locate the faintest sounds. They use their keen sense of smell for hunting, for selecting fresh and wholesome food, and for identifying other individual cats. Whiskers add an extra sense for accurate work at close quarters.

A cat's body is built around a muscular, supple spine, ending in a long tail which it uses for balance or signalling. Hooked retractable claws serve for climbing and hunting; if they fall, cats have an uncanny talent for landing on their feet. All cats can swim if they have to .

Stalking is an economical method of hunting. Adult cats don't waste energy dashing around. Typically, a cat stalks its prey until it is near enough to pounce and get a grip with its claws. Cats can be extremely dexterous, flicking fish out of water and even snatching birds and bats in flight, but their main prey is rodents. Their long, sharp canine teeth pry the victim's neckbones apart to sever its spinal cord. After feeding, the rough tongue is used to remove all traces of blood that might otherwise attract flies and bacteria.

Two Miracle Cats

2008-04-03T17:29:00.002+08:00

This is the exact colour of the cat I saw, at Fushan Garden and also last night. This is the first cat which I had seen last week, while walking at Fushan Garden, love it at first sight. I cannot help but stroke it many times and it was so obedient. As soon as I left, it seems trapped in the red-lip palm tree.

Beside this cat was another one, black with stripes, both at the left hand side of the walkway. I was so surprised. I like this cat, they made me happy. I bend down, 'sayang' it on the head, but it show 'protest', it doesn't like it. I stroke the black one, and it was very obedient. The second black cat was the one I fed it with food on 27th March 2008. It was the day when Ricsson and me cut hair and we ate our food at Blk 834 Seafood. The cat was very special that day. I would not forget. It was SO CUTE. The cat came to me, stretched out its left arm, seemed to 'talk' to me, "I want to eat." I gave the cat food to eat, but leftovers. That reminds me of so long ago, when my family ate at outside restaurant, we used to feed the cats. And only to be scolded by people for littering and feeding strays, encouraging them to breed more.

Richard was so angry that day. But I still feed the cat, the cat seems to call me thrice, with the left hand touching my right hip. It was so gentle, and so comforting touch. I am no good at recognising cats, but last night, it should be this cat that I fed.

The other cat which I had seen looked like that, but not kitten.

I was confused, why I saw two cats, does it mean that I have done the wrong thing, I am going to revert back to the 'sinful state' or what? I faster got up and I walked down the stairs when one of the kid said,"let's go," I forgotten who said,"the cats are dirty, later must wash hands". Sound familiar, but I am doing it myself. Did I do the wrong thing?

I was so scared, so worried about Richard, he was no where within our view. I asked the children,"where is Papa?" We walked to the open space of Woodlands North Plaza and still no sight of him. But soon, I saw him walking down the stairs from Woodlands North Plaza. At Woodlands North Plaza, the food are sold upstairs, second floor. There are two food court, one used to have air-con and one do not have air-con. We went upstairs, bought vegetable rice. Unhappiness, sad. What he planned, what he wanted to eat, went there, nothing. Walking around with him, having to discuss what to eat again. I was so sad. The children asked,"Why you cry?" I said,"Nothing...I am alright.." I explained to them, but again Richard said,"see, why you cry? You okay a not?"

Walking back, I wanted to buy some food initially, but children and I were all hungry. I was too tired to go buy anything too. We walked back, climbed up the stairs and strangely, Richard walked back the same place. We all followed behind him. I was again surprised to see the TWO CATS sitting there. As we walked past, the cats ears moved. They were very attentive. The two cats seem to be listening with their ears and watching us. How strange and amazing it is. FIRST TIME. First time I encounter all these.

Cat Has Nine Lives

2008-02-28T15:34:00.002+08:00

It is said that the cat has nine lives. Cats are amazingly self-reliant and adaptable creatures. Although there are many stories testifying to this fact, there is one tale that stands out as particularly remarkable. In Detroit, Michigan, a female cat was accidentally imprisoned inside a shipping crate full of motor parts. Six weeks later, in Egypt, the crate was opened. Not only was the cat found alive, though pathetically weak, but she had given birth to a healthy litter of four kittens. The entire family had survived in complete darkness without food or water. Miraculously, the mother had fed her young and kept them alive during the long ordeal!

There is much evidence that cats do have nine lives! In fact, in England, a Siamese cat named Sam, survived an incredible series of near-death experiences, everything from hanging to being nearly done in by a garbage truck. Dennis Bardens tells Sam's story in Psychic Animals:

Sam was dropped on the doorstep and sustained a cracked jaw... He next disappeared while his owners were out visiting. His piteous mews at last located him behind a brand-new ornamental fireplace, which had to be ripped out to release him. Next, he ate a bee which stung him in revenge. His head became swollen and he could not eat for a fortnight. Next, he slipped inside a laundry bag just in time to be tumbled into the washing machine where fortunately for him, he was spotted. He then decided to join the rubbish being ground up in a passing garbage truck; the driver heard his 'plaintive mew' just before tipping the dustbin in. Next, Sam was found hanging by his collar from a tree. His eighth life was squandered when the home caught fire; he had passed out and a fireman revived him with the kiss of life!

There are many such cases on record testifying to the extraordinary survival skills of cats like Sam, and this is probably how the phrase "a cat has nine lives" got started centuries ago.

Great Facts About Cats

2008-02-26T18:29:00.002+08:00

The Cat as a Role Model
"I think one reason we admire cats, those of us who do, is their proficiency in one-upmanship," said Barbara Webster. "They always seem to come out on top, no matter what they are doing -- or pretend they do. Rarely do you see a cat discomfited. They have no conscience, and they never regret. Maybe we secretly envy them."

Cool Cats
Cats are one of the most successful groups of animals on earth. They thrive in more places than any other group of mammals. Cats are nocturnal creatures. They sleep about 16 hours each day.

An adult cat has 32 teeth. Cats can become physically mature as early as 3.5 months old, but generally at 8-9 months. After 8 weeks, a kitten is ready to fend for itself and can be safely removed from its mother.

Cats make good house pets because they are willing to share affection when we are around and able to be self-sufficient when we are not. They are also superb listeners. One survey found that only 5% of all cat owners do not talk to their cats.

Sight is the last of a cat's senses to develop. First is touch, then after about three days, the senses of smell and taste. A few days later the cat begins responding to sounds, and after about 10 days its eyes begin to open. During this period, it is recommended that the cat be confined to a darkened place, until its eyes can fully adjust to light and shade.

The colour of a kitten's eyes changes as it grows older. Most cats can see six times better than people can in the dark. In the first 2 weeks of a kitten's life, its eyes are closed; the newborn finds its mother's milk through smell and touch.

Cats have independent spirits. One reason why cats are so laid back and independent is that they are considered predators, not prey, in the animal world. Dogs are predators, too, but they prefer company -- human or canine -- if given the choice.

While the health benefits of a vegetarian diet for humans are well documented, for a cat, there is nothing worse. Given a steady diet of veggies, a cat will become sick and eventually die a very miserable death. Cats are carnivores; they love meat and must have it to live healthy lives.

Although cats are very good hunters, they are not always successful at catching their prey. Birds are most elusive; they usually fly away before the cat can even get close to them. Cats have better luck with small animals, such as mice and cockroaches, but it still takes perhaps 10-20 attempts before they catch one.

Cats do not normally need baths because they clean themselves with their rough tongues; they spend about 30% of their waking hours grooming themselves. Nevertheless, all cats benefit from regular grooming.

Cats don't have to move their heads to know what direction a sound is coming from. They just move their ears. A cat's hearing rates among the sharpest in the animal kingdom. She can hear your footsteps approaching from hundreds feet away.

A cat's tail not only expresses a cat's mood and disposition, it also helps the cat to maintain balance when jumping or falling. But many alley cats lose their tails in accidents or fights but do not seem to be much affected by their loss.

These days, cats are living longer, nearly twice as long as they did in 1930. On average, cats live 15-18 years. The oldest cat on record lived for 36 years and one day!

Do Cats Smell with Their Mouths?
Yes, they do. It's called the Flehmen reaction. The cat sucks in pheromones through the nasal cavity to an area of cells that specializes in processing them. This area is known as Jacobson's organ and lies in the roof of the cat's mouth.

The Divine Cat
In the Middle Ages, cats were hunted and cursed as the devil incarnate. Some Buddhists in Asia attribute divine powers to the cat. They believe that in the hereafter the soul of a cat speaks to the Buddha in favour of its owner who still lives on earth. They also believe that the faithful will return to earth in the form of a cat.

Quotes About Cats Links
Quotes About Cats I
Quotes About Cats II
Quotes About Cats III
Quotes About Cats IV
Quotes About Cats V
Quotes About Cats VI
Proverbs About Cats
Pictures of Cats
More Cat's Links
Fun Facts About Cats
Cats Senses
Ancient Cats

What You Want To Know About Cats

2008-02-25T11:31:00.000+08:00

Cats have a very special place among domestic pets. In spite of having attached themselves to human beings thousands of years ago, they have preserved an astonishing independence. They still show many of the behavioural patterns of their wild ancestors and their independence and characters are particularly fascinating. They, of all animals, are particularly suitable as pets for people of every age group. The relationship between cats and human beings can be even closer than relationship between two cats, as shown in some behavioural studies.

A healthy cat is one with bright eyes, a nose that does not run and thick, and have shiny fur. Observe the cats eating, playing and cuddling. Each cat will have its own very distinctive character. Most wild cats, and the ancestors of domestic cats are counted among them, are solitary creatures. Even the young will only remain with their mother until they are able to feed themselves. During the course of their evolution into domestic animals, cats have become much more tolerant towards other members of their own species and will often seek contact with them.

You can easily keep two cats in your home. You can leave them alone all day long without having a guilty conscience because they will be able to play with each other. On the other hand, a single cat may become bored and will get up to all sorts of mischief. Some cats will even learn how to open the doors of rooms and other 'containers' and even refrigerator.

Colours of Cat
Cats come in a huge variety of colours -- white, black, red, cream, blue -- and in combinations of colours such as tortoiseshell. Their markings can vary as well, eg. tabbies may be striped or patched as well as being of different colour combinations. There are no significant character traits associated with colour. However, tortoiseshell cats of any type or breed are almost always female.

How Cats Spend Their Time
Cats are noted for being clean animals. They love to sharpen their claws on upholstery, textured wallpaper and carpets. Kittens love to climb up curtains.

Cats will sleep in a number of different places around the house, the most popular being upholstered furniture, discarded clothes, next to radiators, in cartons, bags, boxes, or sometimes even in the cat-baskets...

Male Cat or Female Cat
The sex of a cat will not have much bearing on its character. Both males and females can be quarrelsome, affectionate, moody or lovable. Only in the case of non-neutered, fully grown animals will you clearly notice definite differences in behaviour.

It is quite easy to sex a kitten, even when it is quite young, and you can do this yourself. In a female cat, the genital opening is fairly long and close to the anus. In a male cat, the genital opening is roundish and the distance between it and the anus is noticeably greater than in the female. Before a male cat is castrated, you can also see the paired testicles.

Cats Links
The Cat (Felis silvestris catus), also known as the Domestic Cat or House Cat to distinguish it from other felines, is a small carnivorous species of crepuscular mammal that is often valued by humans for its companionship and its ability to hunt vermin. It has been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years.

Anatomy of Cats
Amazing Facts About Cats I
Amazing Facts About Cats II
Amazing Facts About Cats III
Comparison of Dogs, cats and human age
Black Cats
Funny Cats
Pictures of Halloween Cats
Halloween Cats
Cats and Dogs Story
Pictures of cats and goldifish
Cats Paintings with Fast Facts
Beautiful Cats Paintings
More Cats Pictures

Senses of Cats

2008-02-24T11:33:00.000+08:00

Cats are not bonded just to their homes. They are well able to distinguish between acquaintances and strangers, and will recognize good friends after years. They will often develop a preference for one member of the family -- and this need not always be the one who feeds them. Solitary housecats in particular need the affection and company of their adopted human. Their needs will depend on the age and idiosyncrasies of the animal: young cats need to be played with; older cats especially need companionship.

Cats show their affection in many different ways: they will rub against your legs, hold out their head, allow themselves to be lifted onto your lap while purring loudly, or follow your every step. Most cats love to be stroked, but only when they are in the mood. To really understand your cat you have to be able to think yourself into its position. This is not quite easy as cats see the world in a very different way from human beings.

Cats At Play
Kittens practise their innate hunting skills by playing with their siblings or with inanimate objects, lurking, stalking, leaping and hitting out with their paws. Cats kept in pairs are able to keep each other occupied but, in the case of solitary animals(particularly housecats of any age), you will have to make time for playing with them everyday. In this way, you will keep your pet young and fit and prevent boredom. All kinds of toys for cats -- rubber, fur, mice, balls etc, are available from pet stores and similar outlets. Even an ordinary table tennis ball or a ball of string will keep a cat entertained for hours.

The Cat's Senses
A special light-reflecing layer(the tapetum lucidum) in a cat's eyes enables them to 'shine' when a ray of light falls on them in the dark. This layer enables a cat to see efficiently in faint light and cats can certainly see far better than we can at night. However, even a cat cannot see anything in total darkness.

A cat's mobile ears will be able to pick up even very faint noises and extremely high-pitched sounds(in the ultra-sound range) that would be inaudible to human ears. Its highly developed sense of touch -- the whiskers are particularly sensitive -- enable the cat to find its way around in the dark.

The nose of a cat is far more sensitive to smell than the human nose. Cats have scent glands on their chins, lips and foreheads, with which they leave a scent mark -- undetectable to us -- when they rub themselves against us. Their terriory is marked with urine and gland secretions.

Cats Links
A Glance At Cats
Anatomy of Cats
Amazing Facts About Cats I
Amazing Facts About Cats II
Amazing Facts About Cats III
Comparison of Dogs, cats and human age
Black Cats
Funny Cats
Pictures of Halloween Cats
Halloween Cats
Cats and Dogs Story
Pictures of cats and goldifish
Cats Paintings with Fast Facts
Beautiful Cats Paintings
More Cats Pictures

Photographs of Labradoodles

2008-02-14T01:13:00.001+08:00

Labradoodles are intelligent, versatile and able-bodied. They also come in non-allergic varieties. This allows those who are both physically disabled and suffering from allergic reactions to dog dander to have the canine assistants they so badly need, aiding them in their goal of independence.

The Labradoodle Association of Australia, Inc. (LAA) has named the following six breeds as the only approved parent breeds to be used in Labradoodle breeding: Labrador Retriever, Poodle, Irish Water Spaniel, Curly-Coated Retriever, (American) Cocker Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel. Those wishing to cross to one of the parent breeds must submit documentation and meet certain specifications as set forth by the LAA.

The first retriever ever to be recognized by the American Kennel Club was the Curly-Coated Retriever. This breed was totally suited as a hunting dog, offering keen sensitivity and the desire to perform. The breed's coat was close to waterproof, hardly shed at all and required little grooming attention. The next retriever recognized by the AKC was the Flat-Coated Retriever. This breed had all the attributes required to be a good hunting companion, but it still had the long coat that could get caught up in briers or build up ice when hunting in the snow or cold weather, thus hampering the dog's performance.

Labradoodles were created to be all-around loving, loyal family dogs as well as extremely good service dogs. Males and females alike are terrific at both. A Labradoodle is, however, not a pet dog for everyone. An ideal family who are suitable to adopt a Labradoodle would be one that is active and takes time to train and stimulate the dog. The family has time to spend a lot of time with their dog, continually offers positive reinforcement and new stimuli in the environment. The family will give the dog time to play with other dogs and maintain a regular daily routine and schedule. Lastly, the ideal family that can have a pet Labradoodle at home is one that has no children or has well-behaved school-aged children. If the family has a sedentary lifestyle, has very young children (less than 5 years old) at home, often travels and have hardly any time nor any regular daily routine or schedule, then they should not buy a Labradoodle.

Labradoodles Links
Labradoodles
Labradoodles Facts & Pictures
Special Dogs

Labradoodles

2008-02-13T23:16:00.005+08:00

Early in the development of Labradoodles, Tegan Park added Irish Water Spaniel blood into the mix to create the dark chocolate coat seen today in many dogs. This addition is called a "parent breeding".

Cute and curly well describe the Labradoodle of today. Labradoodles were first developed in the late 1980s by Wally Conran of Guide Dogs Victoria in Kew, Victoria, Australia as assistance dogs for the physically challenged. In the 1980s two breeding and research centres were created to try to generate a consistent outcome for the Labradoodle: Rutland Manor Labradoodle Breeding and Research Center Australia and Tegan Park Labradoodle Breeding and Research Center Australia. Labradoodle Breeders have the desire to create the perfect pet: a dog that has the sturdiness of a Labrador Retriever and a non-stedding coat, is intelligent, has a great temperament and has a teddy-bear appearance that holds him dear to many hearts.

Retriever with a Poodle does not do much to change the intrinsic nature of the outcome. Both breeds are intelligent, eager to please, loyal and hardworking with high energy levels and the ability to learn quickly.

The Labradoodle is considered a "trotting breed" like the Poodle, meaning that he should appear as though floating through the air when moving. The price of a well-bred Labradoodle varies according to the dog's conformation, colour and desired traits. Labradoodles Puppies are great with children, as they are high-energy and very social dogs. They can easily accept other dogs and new people. What is important about Labradoodles is their intelligence. It is equal to that of a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd, regarded as among the most intelligent breeds. Physically, Labradoodles can withstand very extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. Their coats will protect them against both extremes. Along with their energy and love of activity, Labradoodles also like to rest at the owners' feet. They love to be touching their human companions. They readily partake in anything, provided it is with their families, to which they are very loyal.

Experience Labradoodle

2008-02-12T00:09:00.002+08:00

The Labradoodle comes in three sizes, Standard(largest), Medium and Miniature(Smallest). The Medium to light boning, graceful in movement and with vivacious expression. coat should be non-shedding, be of even length over body, on legs, neck, tail and head, and should be as close to non-allergenic as possible. Their unique traits of intuitive nature and the seeking of human eye contact should be easily discernible at a glance.

Labradoodle life expectancy is somewhere between that of the Poodle, at 12 to 18 years, and that of the Labrador Retriever, at 12 to 14 years. Many Labradoodle breeders have determined their dogs' average lifespans to be 13 to 15 years. Standard Labradoodle is over 20 inches at the highest point of the shoulders; the Medium Labradoodle is 17 inches to 20 inches to the shoulder; and the Miniature Labradoodle is below 17 inches to above 14 inches at the highest point of the shoulders.

Temperament: Confident, joyful, vivacious, clown-like, sociable and friendly, totally non-aggressive, clever and extremely intuitive. Well-suited for special work such as Therapy Dog and Assistance Dog.

Colours: The Labradoodle coat colours are black, blue, silver, chalk, cream, cafe-aulait, apricot, red, gold and chocolate. Small white patches are accepted. Most Labradoodles are either black or golden tan, as these are the most dominant colour genes.

Coat: There are three types of coat possibilities for Labradoodles; all are easy to maintain, but not all are allergy-friendly. First, the "hair coat" can range from flat to straight, wavy or curly. This type of coat also can range from being slick like the coat of a Labrador, to having feathering on the tail, legs and face, to wavy all over. This coat sheds in varying degrees and is not the desirable coat type for the Labradoodle. The Second type is the "fleece coat" which is like that of an angora goat. This type of coat is a single coat, soft and curly and should not shed. Finally, the 'woolly coat' is much like the coat of a pure-bred Poodle, offering a non-shedding dog. The coat is dense and thick, sometimes a dense plush with curls that aren't as tight as on a Poodle.

Serious Faults: Hyperactivity, shyness, timidity, aggressive to people or other animals, snappy, yappy, high-strung, missing pigment, overshot, undershot or crowded mouths, patched colour, kinked or teapot tails, weak or "hare" feet, heavy or ponderous build, cow hocks, dippy backs.

Labradoodles Facts & Pictures
Special Dogs
Labradoodles

Dogs Diet

2008-01-08T17:13:00.002+08:00

In the wild, dogs gorge themselves when any kind of food is available and then live off that nourishment for several days. This food sits in the stomach, where not much digestion takes place, and is passed into the intestines a little at a time. In domestic dogs, this behaviour can lead to obesity. Some pet dogs, especially small breeds, are very fussy about what they eat. They turn up their noses at certain foods and blackmail their owners into offering them full menus from which they choose a daily selection.

Your dog should only eat what you want to feed it. The frequency of meals does not really matter, although once or twice a day is the norm. If your dog is overweight, reduce its calorie intake, or increase its consumption of calories through extra activity. If your dog refuses to eat, seek veterinary advice about its health, then offer it food twice daily, and remove any uneaten remnants after a short period. The war of wills between you and your dog can last up to a week, but the dog will eventually eat whatever you decide to feed it.

Never offer spoiled or stale food to your pets. Provide prepared foods from a reputable manufacturer such as Premium Health Food for Dogs and Cats from Life's Abundance, which is a premium human quality food for dogs and cats. Life's Abundance and all of HealthyPetNet's human grade foods, supplements, and treats are formulated exclusively by nationally recognized holistic veterinarian Dr. Jane Bicks. Dr. Bicks has extensively studied holistic nutrition for pets, especially the role that diet and nutrition play in preventing the all-too-common illnesses that prematurely age our beloved companion animals. Never feed a dog cat food. It is too high in protein. A bowl of fresh water should always be available and the food should always be served at room temperature. Dispose of any canned or moist food that is left uneaten. Left-over dry food should be discarded at the end of each day. Lastly, watch your dog's weight and never feed your dog brittle bones, for example from chicken. Do not let the dog grow fat. Consult a vet for advice if your pet dog refuses to eat for 24 hours, since this may indicate illness.

Pictures of Pot-Bellied Pigs

2008-01-02T10:35:00.000+08:00

Socialize
Pigs are very gregarious animals, which is to say that they need to socialize with others of their own kind, with other species, with people, or a mixture of these. If this vital area of their needs is missing, they will become unhappy, moody and potentially very aggressive animals. If you cannot devote a reasonable amount of time to socializing with them, it would be better if you considered another pet.

Training
The fact that pigs are highly intelligent means that their training is a crucial need. An untrained pig can be a real burden on its owner. It will rip up clothes, carpets and furniture. It will defecate all over your home, and may charge at any person who it does not know, or whom it dislikes for any number of reasons. It will not hesitate to rummage through cupboards in order to satisfy its very healthy love of food items. In short, and especially in the home of the softhearted people, it can make their lives a worry and a misery.

Nutrition
Pigs are extremely easy pets to cater for in respect to their diet. The importance of correct feeding is critical in maintaining a healthy pet. Feed a piglet under 14 weeks old four meals per day. Each meal should contain a mixture of food such that it features items from each of the major food groups. The alimentary canal of a pig is not a precise machine. Its digestive system was evolved to cope with a whole range of food items, some of which are readily available, and some which are less frequently encountered in its day-to-day lifestyle. If a food item is of low nutritional value, the pig will need a large quantity of it in order to meet its metabolic needs. If the food is of high content value, much less will be needed. The pig can survive at either extreme, but for optimum health the norm would be a food intake that represents a balance between these extremes.

Accommodation
Pot-bellies are best kept where there is an available yard or garden. If you live in an apartment, the number of difficulties you may need to overcome will most likely make a pig an unsuitable pet. Pigs cannot climb up and down the stairs like a dog or cat. They also need a rooting box to forage in. No large pet should ever be confined into a home.

Litter Box
If your piglet is to spend most of its time in the confines of your home, you will need to provide a litter box of one sort or another. The box must be larger than the piglet. It must enable your pet to attend to its natural needs without any difficulties whatsoever. The box itself is merely a means of containing the fecal matter or urine. The pig relates the box to the area, thus goes there if it is so trained. It is very important that you change the litter on a regular basis.

Toy
There is no need to purchase squeaky plastic toys for your piglet as there are plenty of alternatives that are both safer and will be thoroughly enjoyed. A pile of newspapers will amuse a piglet for ages, as will cardboard boxes that can be rummaged through and flung about your neat and tidy home! A piglet will happily push around a number of scatter cushions, and of course its rooting box is really both an essential and a toy. Pigs will enjoy chewing on short branches of fruit trees. As they get older, they can amuse themselves with an old rubber tyre or inner tube.

Related Links
Pot-Bellied Pigs
Pet Pigs

Pot-Bellied Pigs Information

2008-01-01T10:18:00.000+08:00

A primary characteristic of the pot-bellied pig is its pot belly, which hangs low and may even touch the ground. Pot-bellies also have a swayed back.

The Genuine Pot-Bellied Pigs
Many piglets are sold as genuine pot-bellies each year, and the buyers really have only themselves to blame if they end up with less than the genuine piglet. There are basically two ways you can be sure you are not being sold a 'counterfeit'. The first is by looking at what is in front of you. The pot-belly must have a straight tail. If it is curly, this indicates a crossing, at the least, with a domestic pig breed.

The pot-bellied youngster will have, albeit in a milder form, a potbelly. It will also have the typical wrinkled snout of this variety to a greater or lesser degree. Its ears will not be as large as those in domestic pig breeds. If you view enough babies, you will have a firm mental picture as to what this breed looks like.

The second method of identification is via the paperwork that should come with the youngster. This will include a pedigree and a registration certificate. An unregistered piglet should still have a pedigree. The latter indicates its line of descent, which should be pot-bellied all the way back through each generation. You cannot assess the quality of the piglet from its pedigree as many people mistakenly believe. At best, it may suggest quality is possible.

Both the pedigree and the registration form will indicate on them the colour, sex and age of the piglet. However, some people might forged the documents and you have to be sure you are purchasing the piglet from a reputable source.

Colour and Size
Pot-bellied pigs can be sexually mature from about the age of four months onwards. They will not be physically mature until they are in their second year(at the earliest). If the pig you purchase matures to be under 100 pounds and less than 53cm at the shoulder, you have a miniature pig. Pot-bellied pigs are available in a range of colours and patterns. The basic colour of pot-bellies is black, but a number of other colours and colour patterns are also available in the hobby. The colour is only important if that one colour or pattern appeals to you more than the others. Of itself, colour has no bearing on either the quality or the disposition of the piglet; these traits are inherited completely independent of each other.

Unless you are really determined to obtain a particular colour and pattern, you are advised to concentrate on obtaining a piglet of sound health and breeding, and one which has a very stable temperament that reflects its breeding and the care lavished on it by the owner. This is the piglet that will prove to be by far the better pet.

Should You Own A Pig?
There are a number of things that you should consider before purchasing a pot-bellied pig, including its suitability as a pet in your household. Do not purchase on impulse. When selecting a pot-belly, health and temperament are the most important qualities to consider. The colour of the animal has no bearing on its disposition. Male pet pigs should be neutered, and female pet pigs should be spayed.

Choosing Pet Pigs

2007-12-31T08:08:00.000+08:00

Pigs live to eat!

The word 'pig' generally refers to any wild or domesticated animal in the scientific classification family of Suidae, although some reserve 'pig' just for younger animals. The word 'swine' covers all members Suidae and means much the same as 'pigs' in its most general sense. "Oinker" and "grunter" are some terms that can also be used when describing a pig.

Another word that gets used quite a lot is "hog". "Hog" typically refers to any domesticated pigs living on a farm, although some use "hog" only in reference to pigs that are over 120 pounds and raised specifically for pork production. "Porker" is another familiar term that can also be used for a pig that is raised for pork production. "Hog" is also used with a few wild pigs like the Warthog and Pygmy Hog.

For either wild or domesticated pigs, the babies are called "piglets", immature pigs, a bit older than piglets, are called 'shoats', castrated males are called 'barrows', males of any age can be called boars, and adult females are called 'sows'.

The ideal age to obtain a piglet would be when it is 10-14 weeks of age. Very young piglets can be notoriously difficult to cope with in respect of their eating habits, and they can suffer badly if they are relocated during this difficult period. By the time they have reached the recommended age, they will be much more settled in every way. They will have been desexed, received all their needed vaccinations, will have been weaned a number of weeks previously, and will have been well socialized by the breeder. Chances are they will have been litter box trained, and have become familiar with a harness and lead.

The New Piglet
The main criteria of a pet pig is that it should be very healthy, be a typical example of the breed, and should have been carefully reared so that it will make the transition to your home with minimal problems. The pet piglet should have received ample handling so that it is not nervous when you obtain it, and will not squeal and run off at high speed every time you and family members approach it.

It will naturally be rather apprehensive the first day or two but this will recede thereafter. The piglet that has not been socialized to humans will take weeks of devoted care before it loses its nervousness. Some may never lose this trait, because to imprint any animal successfully on humans it must be socialized at an early age, on a day-to-day basis.

Which Sex makes the best Pet?
Neither sex is superior to the other though each may display traits you would expect that sex to have. The fact that all pets should be neutered or spayed means that sex-limited traits are displayed at a much lower level. Boars are less aggressive and domineering, sows are less moody. The most influential factors will be just how well your pet is fed, cared for, housed, trained and loved. Both sexes respond equally to these influences and it is these that, in any pet, will determine its attitude to you and others.

Sealed With A Kiss

2007-12-20T20:48:00.000+08:00

There is little doubt that children who grow up with animals do develop into more sensitive and caring adults.

Pets play an important part in our lives. As well as giving us joy and entertainment, they help to keep us healthy and heal us when we are hurt. This statement applies to almost any animals we may choose to share our life with, but there is no doubt that the relationship between people and dogs is something extraordinary.

A dog makes a perfect friend. More than that, a dog can be both confessor and counsellor. It will listen patiently to your problems without interrupting or offering clever advice; you can confide your darkest secrets and it will not tell anyone.

Every successful relationship rests upon mutual understanding, tolerance and respect. In a relationship between a person and a dog, the person normally has the upper hand; this power brings with it the major share of responsibility for the way the relationship works out. It is therefore the human partner who must make the greatest effort to work toward building a true friendship.

The benefits of living with a pet are not imaginary; they add up to the hard medical fact that pet owners visit the doctor up to 10% less frequently than people who have no pets.

A dog is not an ornament to be worn on one's sleeve. It is not a toy to be picked up and put down at will, nor is it a trophy.

Domestic dogs are cheerful, cooperative beings by nature, and the vast majority are fortunate enough to have owners are willing to shower their pets with love.

Last night, I saw a very cute dog. It was love at first sight. I wanted to kiss him. When Cebest was around, he always kissed me, just like the picture above. Sometimes he got bad breath and I need to buy him his favourite snack at one of the pet shops in the neighbourhood. Our dog knows when the owner is sad, and when the owner is happy. When you are excited, he will jump onto you to celebrate your joy. When you are sad, it will crept up to you, to lick away your tears. My dog, Cebest was my most faithful friend. Everyday, he followed everywhere I walked. I had another dog before Cebest. I kissed with all my dogs. They love to kiss me and I enjoyed kissing them and hugging them. If your dog has bad breadth, you can buy Greenies for him. My dogs love Greenies and they serve not only as snacks or treats for your dogs, they also help to remove plaques from your dog's teeth. Greenies come in the shape of toothbrush and bones. There are big and small ones. Greenies will clear away dog's bad breath so that you can enjoy kissing your dog!

Dogs' Drawing

2007-12-06T20:06:00.000+08:00

If a dog does not have a cold, wet nose, does that mean he is sick? Dog's noses are complicated little tools that perform a myraid of services and functions. One of those functions is to keep the dog cool by hydrating the air that passes through his nose so that there is an exchange of air that is fresh, cool and moist. The inside of the nose is lined with mucous membranes. These membranes need moisture for good health so they can perform their function, which is to catch debris and germs and all kinds of funky stuff before it reaches the lungs.

The canine snout is great for isolating and sniffing things out, but in order to make it so efficient, the nostrils are necessarily straight and open to air, so they need that added moisture to keep out all the bad stuff and keep the mucous membranes clean and healthy. The 'wetness' is a mixture of mucus and saliva, but it starts out as mucus. The dog will lick his nose a lot and the saliva acts as a mucolytic(a substance that thinks mucus).

Sometimes a dog's nose will even drip, and that's normal too. The wetness keeps the nose clean and well hydrated so that the nose does not dry out, which would cause the mucous membranes to dry out as well. Dogs, during a single day, will go from a cold wet nose to a warm wet nose to a dry cold nose to a dry warm nose at various times and degrees throughout the day, depending on the ambient factors. If there are breezes, if they are indoors or out, if they are in air conditioning or overheated air, their noses will react accordingly. It's just as with contact lenses; the ambient factors sometimes determine whether you need to add eye drops or the eye is well hydrated on its own.

Do Dogs have the ability to exhibit facial expressions? Dogs do have the muscles that are necessary to exhibit facial expressions. It's doubtful, however, that they use facial expressions like we do.

Many pet owners had seen 'the guilty look' or a look of surprise or fear in their pet dogs. So there is reason to believe that dogs show facial expression. That could be just our interpretation of what they are doing; we cannot truly know what emotions give rise to the expression. Body language is very important to dogs, but as far as using facial expressions to show disgust, happiness, or anger, it's hard to say. Even though they have the muscle structure, they probably do not have the attendant, necessary intellectual ability.

Why does a dog pee on the bed? Professor of animal sciences Susan Helmink notes that dogs tend to prefer absorbent substances to pee on(such as grass as opposed to slate). The reason for this is so they do not wet their feet from splashing or pooling urine. So if they are not well housetrained they may see the bed as an absorbent alternative.

Why do dogs wag their tails? Wagging their tails means they are happy.

When dogs are happy, they want others to know they are there and ready to party! But there are times when a wagging tail can signal danger ('flagging'). It's dog-speak for 'don't come near, I'm afraid'. When a dog is wagging his tail slowly from side to side and the tail is stiff, coupled with showing the teeth and raising the hackles, it is not a friendly wagging, it is a danger sign.

A dog's tail can communicate all kinds of things, such as heightened awareness or interest, fear, defiance, confusion, or aggression. A dog with his tail between his legs is a submissive, fearful dog.

Is it true that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a person's mouth? All animals have a built-in immune system that helps them fight pathogens. Predators, especially, have an efficient germ-fighting saliva that will defend the body when they eat carrion or diseased prey. The saliva does, in fact, have some antibiotic properties. Human saliva does, as well.

Canine saliva, however, is much more acidic than ours, which makes it inhospitable to bacteria. So in a sense, it is true that a dog's mouth is cleaner than ours, but where they have about a thousand bacteria per square inch, we may have 10 000 in the same area. So it is cleaner, but it is not clean.

Peaceful Refuge

2007-12-03T23:14:00.001+08:00

This was Cebest, three years ago.

These are all Cebest's photographs that you see. I thought that I had thought that I did not have any more of his photographs. However, I was so happy that I had discovered a few CDs in my album just now. They contained photographs of my children and Cebest as well. They were so cute! My children were so chubby and small three years back. Now, they have really changed a lot, and of course, Cebest is no longer here.

He would not sleep long when placed in the basket. He would rather sleep on the floor!

I did not shop for any pet beds when I bought Cebest. However, if you have a puppy and you need to buy pet beds, you can visit Mammoth. MammothOutlet has various dog beds for sale. There are designer dog beds, orthopedic dog beds, luxury dog beds and many more. All their pet beds are of durable quality materials specially designed for dogs.

I did not buy any pet beds for my first dog too. I had always seen puppies and kittens placed in baskets. When I brought Cebest home the first time from the pet shop, I put him in a basket with a blanket over it. He did not like to spend much of his time in there. He liked to follow me everywhere I went. In the night, he would whine if he was left alone in the basket. Then I carried him on my bed. He loved to sleep on my bed.

On my bed, he could sleep soundly like what you see above. He could snore and even had dreams when sleeping on my bed.

He would not sleep at all on this sofa bed.

I had sewn a small bed for him too. However, he did not like it. He did not sleep on the bed which I had made for him, he even thought that it was a toy or some kind of any other furniture at home. He did not like the bed and he also urinated on the bed. That was very infuriating at first, after I had spent so much time sewing the bed for him. As he did not sleep on the bed at all, soon the bed was thrown away. I gave up the idea of letting him sleep on any pet beds. Our bed became his bed too. We shared the same bed and we were so much happier this way. He was happy, Richard and I were happy too. My bed was his favourite sleeping spot. Whenever he was tired, he would retreat to the room, jumped onto the bed. That was his place of shelter, his peaceful retreat where he would enter his dreamland.

Love Your Pets

2007-11-21T00:05:00.000+08:00

As soon as God had created Adam and then Eve, He created animals upon the earth to share in His joy. God truly loved everything that He had created. He blessed all the animals that He had placed in Adam and Eve's care. They multiplied and spread all over the earth. Animals were useful during those days. Animals were used to teach people about following God's will and animals were present at the time where Jesus Christ was born. There was a time when Jesus spoke of God's joy when a sinner turns from his sins. He said it is like the joy of a shepherd when he finds a lamb that was lost. God loves us so much that He would leave His 99 sheep, which are in no danger, to search out that one lamb that is in danger. Men and women who followed the teachings of Jesus also experienced the love of God through animals. There are many stories of how the Saints were able to talk to the animals!

People have often depended upon their animals to help them in their work. They have used horses to carry them from one place to another. They have used their oxen and donkeys to help them plow their fields. Sometimes, they used birds to carry their messages to distant lands. They have used dogs for hunting, and also for looking for people who were lost. For thousands of years, people have kept animals as pets. Some of the first pets were cats and dogs. Pictures of cats and dogs were seen in ancient caves and in the pyramids!

People also keep birds to listen to their beautiful songs and to look at their beautiful colours. They have kept fish in ponds and eventually inside their house as well. Today, people keep all kinds of different pets, such as dogs, cats, snakes, lizards, canaries, hamsters, spiders, pigs, parrots, rabbits, chinchilla, and so on. Animals that once were only found in distant jungles have found a place in our homes!

If we have brought all these animals into our homes and have made them our pets, then we have a special responsibility to take care of them. That means that we should make the commitment to do everything we have to do to take care of our pets. We should never forget to feed them or clean up after them. For example, we need to clean its cage or its tank, even if they began to smell. We should not forget to feed our pet with fresh water and food. Fresh water from the tap should be given or water from our own consumption should be given to our pet. However, I had seen many owners who are very busy with work. Many times, they had neglected their pets. If they have maids at home, the maids are the one who bring the dogs to the park for a walk. The maids are the ones who bring the dog to the bathroom for a bath. The maids are the ones who give the dogs fresh water and food. Busy owners who have no maid at home will put their dogs in cages. Some of my insurance clients have their pets locked up in their bathroom when they go to work!

We should remember that God created all these animals and He loves them. When He first created animals, He had Adam to give them names as a sign that he was placing them in his care. Now, we are the ones who give our pets their names, and we are the ones who are to take care of them. Whenever we call our pet, we should remember that it depends upon us for its health and happiness, and we should never let it down. Treasure Your Pets when they are still alive.

Facts About Dog's Aging

2007-10-18T03:11:00.000+08:00

Dogs are living longer. Aging changes are inevitable. A curious phenomenon of aging is that while females that have been neutered become more aggressive, neutered males get less aggressive as they grow older.

The rate at which a dog ages is under the control of a biological clock, which is set at conception in the animal's genes. The clock mechanism is located at the hypothalamus -- a part of the brain that controls the body's hormonal system. As a dog ages, the brain produces ever smaller quantities of a chemical called dopamine, which is somehow involved in the aging process. If dopamine production is maintained, a dog lives longer. For unknown reasons, small breeds tend to be better at producing dopamine in their later years than are large breeds, and as a consequence usually live longer.

Normal Aging Changes
The natural changes that dogs go through as they grow older are similar to those experienced by people. By 16 years of age, about 20% of dogs pass urine or faeces in the house, with little or no warning, and for no medical or acquired behavioural reason. A quarter of all dogs of this age have altered sleep -- wake cycles; they sleep more in the day but less at night, when they are more restless, but not because they need to eliminate.

A dog's mobility is usually reduced in old age, and as a result it may appear less responsive to commands and may become more aggressive, choosing to threaten and bite rather than retreat. Over 70% of 16-year-old dogs become naturally disoriented, going to the wrong side of the door when asking to go out, getting stuck in corners, or simply staring into space. Some dogs develop a disease similar to human Alzheimer's.

Natural aging changes include reduced appetite, but this is also a sign of illness; if your older dog's appetite changes, consult your vet.

Mental Stimulation
Routine mental exercise helps to postpone the natural decline in brain power that comes with age. Give your dog regular mental stimulation through creative activities, such as rolling a toy that releases food. Maintain the dog's physical dexterity by giving it work to do with its forepaws. Massages are also beneficial -- they improve blood circulation to all parts of a dog's body, including the brain.

Aging and Illness are Different
With aging, dogs invariably slow down. In the absence of mental stimulation, the elderly dog becomes dull and lethargic, and its appetite may change. Similar changes also occur when a dog is unwell -- lassitude or depression is often how a dog's body respond to the stress of disease or injury -- so it is important to differentiate between natural aging changes and illness.

Here are some Ways To Delay Aging:

Provide short frequent walks rather than one long one.
Groom your old dog often; it helps circulation.
Feed it with smaller, more frequent meals.
Take your dog out after each meal, just before bedtime, and the first thing each morning.
Change your dog's diet according to its medical needs, and keep its weight within a normal range.
Provide warmth and comfort for sleeping and resting.

Dog's Ear

2007-10-16T00:00:00.001+08:00

Dogs can hear sounds too high-pitched for our ears. Their hearing is four times better than that of human. Their acute sense of hearing helps us with training.

A dog can locate a source of sound in six hundredths of a second, and it can hear sounds four times further away than a human can. Dogs are also better at hearing high-pitched sounds, and can detect sounds in the ultrasonic frequency range that are inaudible to humans. This requirement evolved in the dog's wolf ancestors, whose diet of large herbivores was supplemented with small animals, such as mice, that make high-pitched calls. For the domestic dog, however, acute hearing can be a disadvantage: some dogs have extremely sensitive hearing and develop a fear of certain sounds, such as the rumble of distant thunder.

Humans have exploited the keen hearing of dogs to make training and communication easier. Dogs respond quickly to the sound of a whistle or a clicker. For example, shepherds just need a whistle to communicate with their sheepdogs over great distances.

Useful Links
How To Clean Dog's Ears
Dog Ear Infection

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

2007-10-09T18:02:00.001+08:00

Originated in Great Britain in the 1900s, Cavalier is warm, gentle, affectionate, and graceful. Its coat may be black and tan, ruby, tricolour, or Blenheim.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the ideal urban dog. It is friendly, sporting, adaptable and prone to medical problems. The affable and energetic Cavalier is justifiably popular, partly because it is so accommodating to our moods. A Cavaliar is willing to curl up on a sofa in bad weather, but equally eager to walk and run for miles when the occasion arises. However, increasing demand for the dog has led to intensive in-beeding, which has caused substantial increases in lethal heart conditions. The life expectancy of affected dogs is reduced from 14 to just 9 years.

Physical Characteristics of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Head: Nearly flat between the ears. Well-developed lips.
Eyes: Large, round eyes contribute to the dog's sweet, endearing expression.
Ears: Long, with plenty of feathering.
Body: Small and well-balanced with a regal appearance; moves with a slight wave.
Tail: Well-feathered.

History
In the 1920s, an American, Roswell Eldridge, offered a prize to anyone exhibiting King Charles Spaniels with long muzzles, as they appeared in Van Dyck's paintings of King Charles II and his spaniels. By the 1940s, these dogs were classified as a unique breed and were given the prefix Cavalier, to differentiate them from their forebears.

Sexing Rabbits

2007-10-08T12:40:00.000+08:00

Sexing Rabbits
It is essential to learn how to sex a rabbit in order to be able to select the sex of your choice. This can be quite a difficult task with young rabbits, so even if you are buying your rabbit from an experienced breeder, it is important to be able to double check.

Unlike most animals, rabbits cannot be sexed at birth. It takes at least four or five weeks before it is possible to determine the sex of a baby rabbit. Large breeds are usually slightly easier to sex than smaller ones, simply because their genitals are larger.

The easiest way of determining the sex of a young rabbit is to place the rabbit on its back on the palm of one of your hands. Make sure that you have a good grip, as small rabbits can jump surprisingly well. With the other hand, gently press with two fingers around the sexual organ. A small opening will then be visible. In the buck rabbit, this will appear in the form of a circle, in the doe the opening will look like a V-shaped slit. If all the youngsters examined appear to have a circular opening, it may be because they are slightly too young to be sexed properly. If this is the case, wait a week and try again. If you still get the same result, then you can safely assume that they are all bucks! It is much easier to sex the adult rabbit. An adult buck will have two fairly large testicles that are clearly visible. The doe's vagina will show as a large V-shaped opening.

Buying Male or Female Rabbits
Bucks(males) will make better pets than does(females). A buck will often be slightly more easy-going and friendly than a doe. An adult doe rabbit who is not being bred from, will often become almost obsessed with breeding. If not bred from, she may become aggressive, and will often also develop so-called phantom pregnancies -- when she believes that she is pregnant, although she is not. A doe will also often be more territorial than a buck, defending her hutch from intruders(which may be the owner!)

Male Rabbit

Female Rabbit

A buck rabbit can also become aggressive and defend his territory, and the entire buck may develop the annoying habit of spraying. A spraying buck rabbit will literally spray urine over anything that he considers belongs to him, and that includes his owner! Not all bucks spray, but it is seldom possible to predict which young buck is going to become a sprayer as an adult, and which will not. There is, however, a way to get round most of the problems that may be associated with buck rabbits. If the rabbit is not intended for breeding, a vet can neuter him. This will usually calm the rabbit down considerably, stop him from spraying, and will most often improve a bad temper. Therefore, you are perhaps safer in acquiring a buck rather than a doe, as it is easier to correct any undesirable behaviour. Neutering of does is not normally done, as it is a very major operation for such a small animal.

Training Your Rabbit To Jump

2007-10-05T14:56:00.000+08:00

A rabbit that regularly jumps at shows, or simply for fun, will be a well-looked-after, happy rabbit. The rabbit will be very fit due to all the exercise, and it must be kept n this tip-top condition to be able to jump. The rabbit will certainly enjoy a more varied and stimulating life, rather than being confined to a hutch for long periods like most pet and show rabbits.

Teaching Your Rabbit To Jump
Any breed of rabbit will make a suitable show jumping prospect, apart from possibly Angoras, whose long fur may get in the way. Dwarf Lops are very popular jumpers in Sweden as they are so good-natured. Any rabbit that is being trained to jump must be very tame and used to being handled on a regular basis.

The best age to start training is around four months when the rabbit is neither too young nor too old to learn. Do not attempt to teach an older rabbit how to jump fences, as it can be a frightening experience for a rabbit which has, perhaps for years, been kept in a hutch and only handled once or twice a week. Both sexes will make equally good show jumpers, and the average rabbit will normally be able to clear fences of up to 3 ft(90cm), although the heights will need to be much lower in the beginning.

The first step in show jumping training is to get your rabbit used to wearing a harness and lead. You can allow your rabbit to jump freely indoors, but outside a harness and lead is essential to ensure that your rabbit cannot escape.

You do not need to construct special fences for your rabbit to start with. Almost anything will do -- some books, an empty shoebox, a pair of shoes -- just use your imagination! If you find that your rabbit likes show jumping, then perhaps you can use some wood to make minature versions of horse show jumping fences.

To teach your rabbit to jump, the most important attribute that you will need is patience. Some rabbits will learn quickly, others slowly, some will not learn at all. Do no persevere if your rabbit is not enjoying itself. The first stage is to allow your rabbit to get acquainted with the fence/obstacle by sniffing at it. Then place the rabbit in front of the fence, say the word "Jump" and gently push its bottom. Most rabbits will soon get the idea. Slow learners will benefit from being gently lifted over the fence to start with. Once your rabbit has jumped, give lots of praise, and perhaps a tidbit as a reward. Then all you have to do is to keep on practising!

Rabbits Information

Rabbit Jumping

2007-10-04T14:50:00.000+08:00

The practice of rabbit show jumping is definitely not cruel. The rabbits jump because they like it, and have been trained to do so using lots of praise and rewards. Any handler that is seen to push, jerk or kick his or her rabbit at a show jumping event will immediately be disqualified.

Rabbit show jumping is an increasingly popular sport in Scandinavia, with both children and adults taking part. To date, the sport does not exist in countries outside Scandinavia, but it is only a matter of time before it is adopted elsewhere.

Rabbit show jumping originated in Sweden during the early 1980s. Ironically, it all came about as a direct result of what some British children has been doing! The television programme, That's Life, once screened a fun item about some children that had taught their pet rabbits to jump fences, like a miniature version of 'real' show jumping with horses. This clip was eventually shown as part of a Swedish children's television programme, and it inspired a number of children to try this game out with their own pet rabbits. They were so successful that magazine articles were written about them, and when the number of 'rabbit jumpers' had grown large enough, rabbit show jumping was introduced as an attraction at rabbit shows and other pet shows.

More and more people started to get interested; rules for the competition were formally laid down, and clubs especially for this new sport were formed. The first ever Swedish Championship in rabbit show jumping took place in 1987, with sixty rabits competing. The following year the number had grown to one hundred and twenty, and today there are two thousand active rabbit jumpers all over Sweden, with as many as fifty clubs catering for their sport. The sport has also gained popularity in Norway and Denmark.

To start with, the sport was confined exclusively to children, but increasingly, adults are becoming involved. It is a highly popular spectator sport, and it has received a lot of coverage in the media. Organisers of large shows and exhibitions often feature rabbit show jumping as a major attraction.

Rabbits Information

Surgical Improvements

2007-10-01T17:15:00.000+08:00

Perhaps the greatest imminent threat to dogs comes from genetic engineering. Humans are able to modify breeds in previously unimaginable ways, by inserting new genes from dogs and other species. The uses of genetic engineering may have apparent value -- for example, producing a dog that does not make the canine skin allergen. Engineering for shapes or behaviours that are not part of the dog's natural repertoire is one possible outcome. Human's relationship with dogs has, until n ow, been mutually beneficial. Only time will tell whether that mutuality continues.

It was once believed that cutting off a dog's tail would prevent it from getting rabies. This procedure is called docking, and it developed into a traditional practice with working dogs, especially terriers and spaniels, to prevent tail injuries. Today, many companion dogs still have their tails amputated, but only to satisfy the vanity of their owners. Tails are usually removed within three days of birth; puppies feel pain when this is done, but as their nerves are not fully developed, the sensation of pain is often delayed.

Other dogs have their ears partly amputated -- "cropped" is the benign word people like to use -- for no other reason than to make them look fierce. This is primarily a German tradition, born out of breeds like Great Danes, Boxers, Dobermans, and Schnauzers. This mutilation is banned in its country of origin, and also in most other places. North America remains the only significant region in the world where ear and tail amputations are still routinely performed.

There is no medical or work-related justification for any of these procedures to be performed on companion dogs. Many dedicated, dog-loving veterinary surgeons will no longer carry out tail docking or ear cropping for ethical reasons.

Responsible Dog Owners

2007-09-30T18:36:00.000+08:00

A dog is built to endure. It can survive without water four times longer than humans before suffering irreversible kidney damage. It can live without food for days at a time without a drop in energy-giving blood sugar. It can walk, trot, canter, run or gallop far longer than human without building up debilitating waste chemicals in its muscles. Its natural inclination is to lope and trot rather than walk or amble. A dog thrives on physical activity and is naturally inquisitive. It wants to explore, investigate, and evaluate, continually tasting the experience of life.

Dog owners not only have responsibilities to their dogs, they also to their families and the communities they live in. It is not difficult to behave in a sensible manner, keeping a dog on its lead to prevent road traffic accidents and neutering the pets to avoid unwanted pregnancies and the problems that accompany both male and female sex-hormone-induced behaviour. It is equally important to be aware of the limited range of diseases that dogs can transmit to the humans and the pet owners.

1. Neutering And Behaviour
Breeding, the natural consequence of sexual activity, is out of the question for most dogs, and lack of fulfilment can lead to social problems and destructive behaviour. Neutering can make life easier both for dogs and their owners. Neutered female dogs no longer experience twice-yearly heat cycles or unwanted pregnancies, and escape the mood swings associated with hormone production. Neutered male dogs wander less, are more responsive, and empty their bladders because they are full, rather than territorial guarding behaviour. Neutered males are less likely to indulge in aggressive behaviour with other male dogs.

2. Transmissible Dog Diseases
A disease that can be passed to humans by dogs or other animals, is called a zoonosis. Although these conditions are always of concern, almost all are rare. Dog owners are theoretically at risk of contracting the following:

Lyme Disease: ticks can transmit several infections to dog owners. The most common causes Lyme disease, which can result in enlarged lymph glands, joint inflammation, and pain.
Rabies: this is the most dangerous disease that can be transmitted by dogs. In regions where rabies is endemic, humans are at risk if bitten by any dog that has not been vaccinated. Once the disease is fully established, in dogs and in humans, there is no cure.
Migrating roundworms: canine roundworms are a potential human health hazard. If a person accidentally swallows roundworm eggs, the resulting larvae migrate through the body. This can cause blurred vision if an eye is affected, and in some children, may trigger an allergic response.
Hydatid Disease: If a dog eats raw, infected sheep offal, it can pick up hydatid tapeworm and pass this nasty parasite to humans. Once contracted, by dogs or by humans, this can be an untreatable disease. Children should be taught never to play with untreated dogs.
Ringworm: This superficial fungal infection causes circular skin lesions in humans. It is most commonly carried by Persian cats, but can also be carried and transmitted by dogs. Affected dogs are treated with topical antifungal medication combined with oral antibiotics.

Everything in life carries an element of risk. Through simple and practical disease and accident prevention, dog owners can minimize these dangers and significantly cut their veterinary bills. Dog owners must ensure that their dogs are vaccinated against contagious diseases and protected from common parasites. Be responsible when your dog is near traffic or other dangers and know what to do if an accident does happen. Dog owners should make themselves familiar with the clinical signs of general illness and more serious conditions.

Like human, the dog has a lifelong need for play, not just as a learning experience, but as a satisfying end in itself. Thought the dogs are well-known for their superb adaptability which has made them the most successful canine, and perhaps numerically the most successful land carnivore ever, many dogs need our help. Many dog owners abandon their best friends when they are very sick. For many other reasons, there are many dog owners who desert their healthy dogs too. NJAFA is an animal welfare non-profit group based in Southern New Jersey, mainly the Camden area. NJAFA advocates spay/neuter and works to educate individuals about spay/neuter programs available. They help to arrange transport for individuals who have no transportation to get their animals altered and endeavor to find funding for those who cannot afford to have it done. They help abused, neglected, stray, and abandoned animals in need; help find homes for strays and/or abandoned animals; transport an animal to rescue; and take information about abused animals to the highest level and follow through to prosecution. Report animal abuse, adopt a pet or need help for your pets? NJ Aid For Animals is for you!

Games With Dogs

2007-09-13T21:13:00.000+08:00

Dogs thrive on both mental and physical stimulation. They are also inquisitive, and enjoy human companionship. By playing constructive games with your dog, you can alleviate boredom, channel its natural jumping behaviour and reduce any destructive activity. By controlling the games, you will reinforce your authority over the dog.

Playing games can be rewarding for both the owner and the dog. If possible, play games after each training session. You should avoid playing before training, since the dog will then be too tired to concentrate properly. You can incorporate training into your games by reinforcing the "Come", "Sit", "Stay", "Down" and "Drop" commands throughout, and by using play as the reward. If family members and friends participate in the games, the dog will receive rewards from a variety of people, and will learn to enjoy the companionship of all humans. These are some games that you can train your dogs:

1. Frisbee Games
Chasing games stimulate natural canine behaviour. Catching a Frisbee and returning it is an exciting game for active, healthy dogs, but can be physically demanding, and even dangerous, for elderly or overweight animals.

2. Playing with balls
Catch and drop is a simple game that tests the dog's reactions and obedience. Always throw the ball away from the dog, not towards it. Throwing a ball towards a dog is dangerous, since it could go down the dog's throat when it is caught.

3. Activity Games
Train the dog to participate in purpose-made activity games. Many dog clubs hold competitions involving these games, and it is enjoyable for both the dog and the owners to participate in them.

4. Hide-and-Seek
Playing hide-and-seek with the dog tests its mental and scenting abilities. Alternatively, train the dog to seek out hidden objects like a set of keys, a wallet, a shoe or a slipper, on your command.

5. Tug-of-war
Only play tug-of-war when the dog learns to drop an object on command, and always use specially made, robust toys. Never play 'mouthing' games with possessive dogs, since they might react aggressively.

6. Jogging
Healthy dogs need plenty of exercise, and training the dog to run to heel with the owner is both enjoyable and physically stimulating.

7. Following a Scent
Many dogs, especially scent hounds, enjoy the mental concentration of following a scent trail. The dog owner can lay down a track for the dog by walking through grass, leaving a reward at the end.

In addition to daily rigorous exercise, provide your dog with frequent walks. An extendable lead provides the handler with short lead control when walking among other pedestrians, and provides a dog with longer lead freedom so that it can exercise safely. Avoid dangerous toys such as poor quality toys and small balls that can be swallowed. All dogs enjoy playing games with balls and frisbees. To shop for suitable dog toys and dog care products, visit ShopWiki. ShopWiki has found all the supplies and products from just about every store on the internet that a pet owner needs. You can find anything and everything from the common to the esoteric, and from major stores and small stores at great prices. ShopWiki has anything you want to get for your pets like dogs, cats, fish, birds, and even your amphibians, reptiles and horses! Whether you are shopping for your healthy dogs, puppies, elderly dogs or sick dogs, ShopWiki really has the products for you -- not only can you find diapers for your dog who is suffering from incontinence, you can also find supplements and first aid products at many more dog stuff! Hop on to ShopWiki now to discover what you can buy for your pet friends. Perhaps you need some flea and tick control for your dog!

Beautiful Pictures of Conure

2007-08-22T23:40:00.000+08:00

Conures are either large parakeets or small parrots that are found in the western hemisphere. They are analogous in size and way of life to the Old World's Rose-ringed Parakeets or the Australian parakeets. All living conure species are found in Central and South America; the extinct Conuropsis carolinensis or Carolina Parakeet was an exception.

There are over 350 species of parrots in the world. The smallest parrot species are the Pygmy Parrots, who average at about 8cm in length. The largest of the parrot species is the Hyacinth Macaw, which can grow to a length of about 40 inches from the beak to the end of the tail feathers.

Most conures are healthy, hardy birds. They are known for their sweet dispositions and playfulness. The most common color combinations of the conure are green and red, blue and green, gold, orange and green, and gold and green. Although there is a wide range of other colors.

The only species of parrot that builds a nest is the Quaker Parrot. The Quakers link their nests together to form structures akin to "bird condominiums". These nests can reach weights greater than 200 lbs.

Conures love to bathe and enjoy showers. They are avid chewers (especially the Aratingas) and need to be provided with plenty of toys for this purpose or behavior will become destructive.

Links to Know More About Your Pet Birds, Conure

Why Choose A Bird?
Characteristics of Conure
Facts About Conure
History of Conures

Birds Anatomy

Avian Senses
Feathers
Conure Health Concern

Feeding The Conure

Conure Droppings
Conure Diseases

Information About Conure

2007-08-21T01:06:00.000+08:00

Conures have been imported into the United States since the late 1800's; however, by the early 1980's, importation had almost entirely been replaced by captive breeding programs. This in turn led to birds being sold that were inarguably healthier and better suited emotionally to captivity by virtue of handling and hand-feeding beginning at an early age.

Conures belong to the Family Psittacidae. There are 8 genera of Conures:

Aratinga - 19 species, including the popular Sun and Mitred Conures

Pyrrhura - 18 species, including the popular Maroon-bellied, Green-cheeked, and Black-capped Conures

Nandayus - 1 species, the Nanday Conure

Leptosittaca - 1 species, the Golden-plumed Conure

Ognorhynchus - 1 species, the Yellow-eared Conure

Cyanoliseus - 1 species, the Patagonian Conure

Enicognathus - 2 species, the Austral and the Slender-billed Conure

Guaruba - 1 species, Guaruba guarouba, the Golden or Queen of Bavaria Conure (formerly Aratinga guarouba)

Food
Some parrot species must fly over 500 miles a day in the wild to forage for food. Their diet consists of 65-80% quality pelleted diet, 15-30% vegetables (eg. greens, legumes, corn-on-the-cob), 5% fruits, and an occasional nut, mealworm, or cricket. Include many varieties of fruits and vegetables, washed thoroughly, but avoid avocados, fruit pits and chocolate.

Grooming
Trim the beak and nails as necessary; wing trims are also recommended for safety.

Vocalization
Conures have a harsh and shrill screech, louder in the Aratinga genus while the Patagonian is reported to have the loudest call of all Conures. Will pick up human speech with relative ease, especially when exposed at an early age.

Breeding and Reproduction of Conures
Conures gain full maturity from 1-3 years (the smaller Conures mature more quickly). Nesting Sites in the Wild includes holes carved in sandstone cliffs and terminate mounds or in naturally formed tree cavities. Breeding Season is throughout the year, depending on genus and species.

Conures are fairly easy to breed. They must first adapt themselves to their environment before they will breed. Once they do breed, however, they will continue to breed year after year. Due to the destruction of their natural habitats, all conures shall ideally be breed in captivity to ensure continuation of each species. Smaller conure species are ready to breed at 2 years and the larger at 3 1/2 to 4 years.

The sex of most conures is difficult to determine by physical characteristics. Sexing of Conure is reliable only via DNA or surgical probe or endoscopy -- Usually a blood sample or a few plucked feathers sent to be diagnosed in a lab; or a chromosomal analysis. In some birds sex can be determined by iris coloring, with females having red while males have black, and in several birds sexes can be distinguished by differences in the coloration of their plumage. Pelvic bones may be closer on a male than a female.

They will need a nest box placed up high that is filled 2/3's full with pine shavings, peat, or other soft materials. Metal nesting boxes are nice as conures will often chew wooden ones. Pyrrhura and Aratinga can use a nesting box that is 12"x12"x12" (30 x 30 x 30 cm). Humidity is best at between 50 - 55%.

After mating, the female will spend a lot of time in the box. When she starts laying, she will lay an egg about every other day until she has laid between 3 to 8 eggs. She will brood for approximately 27days. The young will leave the nest when they are about 50 days old.

Dog Death Video

2007-08-08T23:31:00.000+08:00

My Dog, Cebest, Rest In Peace

I have finally enough courage to put up my beloved pet, my dog, Cebest's last pieces of photographs. His death photographs and it was the most photographs I had ever taken of him on that date.

I had regretted not taking more photographs of him when he was young. My Canon camera was not working well then. The average life span of a dog is about 10-15 years old. I would thought that he would follow us and with the children till their teens and even older. However, everything was the least expected and the most unexpected happened.

It was just a routine yearly vaccination. He was so happy. He spin around, dashing here and there, was filled with excitement and joy. He saw me taking out his belongings for outings -- the shoes, his shirt and the leash. He came towards me, allowed me to put on everything on him.

After vaccination, we came home. Everything seem to be normal since it was just a moment ago after vaccination, a few hours ago. As per normal, after vaccination, no bathing, and nothing was done to touch water there at the injection part also.

However, the next day and the next and the next. Day after day, I observe his changed of behaviour. His appetite changed, he is more quiet. Called up the vet, nothing seem to help. Followed the vet's instruction, his appetite never improved.

I told my husband to bring him to the vet again. He said wait for the next day. I was so worried! The next day? Yes, the next day, the very next morning, we rush him to the vet. The vet was called upon and he rushed there too. However, everything was too late. On the way, he vomitted and brownish discharge was emitted from his anus uncontrollably. Our hands which was carrying him was stained and it was all smelly. That was not our concern. We want him to be well again. I was hoping I could get a cab as fast as possible.

Soon a cab came and we reached the vet hospital. The vet and his assistance had not arrived. We were so anxious and quite angry that he took such a long time. We called his name, we called out for Cebest, talked to him. There was no response at all. He was all jerking and gasping for air, struggling for every moment of his life. It hurts me. It is so painful in my heart to see him in this condition. It was barely 7am, early in the morning. By the time the vet came, it was almost 730am.

By the time he was pronounced dead, it was still before 8am. There was nothing much the vet and his assistance could do anything. His lungs were filled with water. Any adrenaline shot given was no use. The vet just arrived and for the next 10 minutes or so, Cebest was pronounced dead. The vet shaked his head.

It was lucky that my husband had his camera handphone at the moment. That is the last memory I will have of him. That is the last thing I can have of him. They are so precious to me now. Today I had written the importance of the heart at PeaceMotivate.com. I have used the heart as an icon for my PeaceMotivate.com blog, Health Motivator. I had written my reasons for using the heart as an icon at PeaceMotivate.

This just got to show the importance of the heart. Cebest was very strong and fit. I always lied on his back. I love to feel his warm. I can feel his heart beat and his pulse. However, I can no longer had this kind of comfort and relaxation moment now. I missed his heartbeat sound, his warmth, and his wet licking on me. I missed his bell sound. I miss everything about him, his unique smell that he had, his barking, his laughter, his anxious face and sad face, everything everything about him I miss.

The heart is just so important to life. When the heart stops, life stops. If time can reverse, I would still want him back. I want to have him with me. I want him to me my pet again, no other pet can replaced him. Even if it is just a dream, I would be happy to see him. He will forever be remembered and loved, my dear Cebest.

Everything about Cebest

Cebest

I am Very Sad

Song Dedication To Cebest

Nothing's Gonna Change my love for you

Cebest Death Anniversary

Remembering My Dog

Love and Suffering

Loving Memory

I dream of Cebest

Pictures of Cebest

I only Like Schnauzer

My Hope

My Name

Show Dog

2007-07-27T14:25:00.000+08:00

Do not expect to win a trophy at your first dog show; only experience will bring success.

Dog shows are not only for the professional breeders now. Anyone who enjoys the company of canines can find a suitable show. At official shows, purebred dogs are compared to a breed standard, which is a list of ideal characteristics for a perfect specimen of each breed. Only registered pedigree dogs may be entered at this type of show. In other competitions, both mongrels and purebreds compete in agility, retrieval work, obedience or simply for the waggiest tail. There are even ball-catching and frisbee championships. The competition is always intense and it requires a lot of training and preparation to produce a prize-winning dog.

Some dog breeds need particular care over their grooming and preparation for a show.

The first proper dog show was held at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1859 and was open only to pointers and setters. Mr Cruft organized his first show in 1886, for terriers only, an dhis first general show was held in London in 1891. In the US, it all started in 1877 with the prestigious Westminster Dog Show of New York.

Nowadays, as well as a multitude of local, regional and national shows in countries all over the world, there are Obedience shows as well as Sheepdog Trials and Field Trials for gundogs.

Train your dog to accept handling by strangers -- the judge will appreciate it.

Types of Show
1. Championship
In Championship show, classes are organized on breed lines with further divisions by age and handicap into Puppy, Junior, Novice, Open, and Veteran classes. Dogs and bitches are judged separately in each class. There is a Best of Breed class. The Best dog and best bitch of each breed receive a Challenge Certificate. In the next round in the Best of Breed winners from each group (Hounds, Working Dogs, Toys etc) are judged to find the Best of Group, and finally the Best of Groups are judged to award the accolade of Best in Show.

2. Open
This is very similar to Championship shows, but more concise, with Best in Show judged from Best of Breeds.

3. Exemption
Exemption Shows are exempt from the full Kennel Club show rules, and are an ideal introduction to showing for beginners. They are run in a similar way to Championship shows.

4. Club
These are organized by breed societies and are ideal for breed enthusiasts as well as beginners in a particular breed.

Showing dogs can be great fun and is a fascinating. For the serious pedigree breeder it is essential to prove the excellence of his or her stock. For the owner of a friendly mongrel, however, it is less serious, and probably means an enjoyable afternoon competing in the novelty class at a local show. If dog shows sound nice to you, and you would love to play dog game -- have quality dogs to raise, feed, groom, train, breed, and even show, there is a chance now. No money is needed. Showdog.com is an interactive simulation with approximately 10,000 active kennels in which users breed, raise, show, and manage a small kennel of show dogs from one of over 180 different breeds of dogs. There are daily shows, events, and users interact with each other extensively! Don't miss the chance to fulfill your dream! Choose your dogs and take part in the Dog Show Game!

Care of Elderly Dog

2007-06-27T09:48:00.001+08:00

The life expectancy of dogs differs widely, ranging from 7 to 10 years in Bulldogs and the giant breeds, to well into the late teens in some Spaniels and small Terriers. Longevity is to some extent a hereditary factor, as well as depending on good care by the owner and freedom from congenital factors which may shorten life.

Greying of the muzzle and eyebrows is seen in some dogs as early as 5 years old, but this does not signify that the dog is to be regarded as old at that stage. In extreme old age the whole coat may become dusted with white hairs, or even white all over.

Old dogs have a capacity for deep and prolonged sleep, take care not to startle an elderly pets as it may respond with a growl or snap which was not really intended. Their years should be respected and they should not be teased by puppies, cats or children.

There are many ways in which the quality of life of an old dog can be increased, often just by a little forethought and consideration on the part of the owner. The following hints may help:

Avoid boarding an elderly dog in kennels. Stress can trigger a latent illness.
Keep distemper, parovirus, hepatitis, leptospirosis boosters up-to-date. An elderly dog can lack immunity to these diseases.
Have their teeth attended to regularly to make eating easier and to prevent halitosis.
Have anal sacs checked regularly. Blocked sacs are uncomfortable for the dog as well as unpleasant for the owner.
If the dog is unable to take much exercise, keep the food intake down, but offer small amounts more often, so that the dog does not feel its pleasures are taken away. An overweight dog is more prone to heart disease.
Old dogs are not as mobile as before. Take care that they do not sit on cold damp concrete, or in full sun for too long. Put rugs and beds in favourite sitting places, so that they are convenient to go to.
Take care that an old dog does not sit or lie on rough surfaces, as elbow and hock callouses can become painful and even chronically ulcerated.
Do not allow an old dog to get too far away on walks. They can easily become lost through being disoriented when sense of smell, sight and hearing is deteriorating.

Special Care of the Old Dog
1. Water
Monitor the amount of water being drunk daily. Consult the vet if there is an increase without apparent cause. If necessary, offer the dog water as it might be too lethargic to help itself.

2. Food
Provide food of consistency and at temperature the dog prefers. Sometimes there is changes to the dog's diet. For example a reduction in protein and salt contents. Seek your vet's advice.

Observing and caring for your elderly dog can be interesting and rewarding in terms of the dog's visible gratitude for the arrangements you make for its comfort and for the many ways you will be able to devise for continuing to enjoy the companionship which you have valued for so many years. Remember that dogs live for now rather than for yesterday or tomorrow. This makes being old and caring for the old so much easier in the dog than in the human.

Adolescent Dogs

2007-06-26T09:25:00.000+08:00

In late puppyhood, during the adolescent phase, a young male may experience an upsurge of hormones making him indulge in excessive sexual behaviour. If the dog is suitably discouraged, this behaviour will often prove only transient.

A survey carried out in 1977 among dog owners visiting veterinary surgeries for any reason revealed that 52% of dogs under 1 year of age and 65% of older dogs had annoying hypersexual traits. The fact that such behaviour is tolerated is even more remarkable as many of the dogs showed two or more hypersexual traits and one dog displayed no less than six!

But what are the behaviour traits? These are the three main signs:

Mounting people and inanimate objects
Aggression, particularly towards other dogs
Urination about the house (territory marking)

These are the three minor signs:

wandering
excitability
destructiveness

All of these are obviously both worrying and potentially embarrassing. What makes some dogs hypersexed? Fundamentally, sex drive in male animals is controlled by the male sex hormone, testosterone, and the cerebral cortex in the brain. In some dogs, the hormones are more important and in others the animal is motivated principally by its brain. Furthermore, it is always worth noting that the hypersexual traits noted above can be learned behaviour and that they can be perpetuated by inappropriate training.

Quite obviously treatment and prevention must be aimed at reducing the production of testosterone, at calming the cerebral cortex and applying corrective training or at least not reinforcing the behaviour by any sort of reward. Often, all that can be achieved by castration and the use of synthetic hormones, coupled with a determination by the owner to teach the dog that such behaviour does not pay off.

A number of scientific publications have been written on this subject and veterinary surgeons in practice are familiar with what can be done. If your dog is a problem in this respect, it is well worth talking to your vet since a course of tablets, a series of injections or possibly a relatively simple operation may be all that is required to give you some peace and save your dog from frustration too.

Funny Cats Pictures

2007-06-14T17:50:00.000+08:00

Dead Cat Test

A kindergarten pupil told his teacher he'd found a cat. She asked if it was dead or alive.

"Dead," she was informed.

"How do you know?" she asked.

"Because I pissed in his ear and it didn't move." said the child innocently.

"You did What?!?!" the teacher squealed in surprise.

"You know," explained the boy, "I leaned over and went 'psst' and he didn't move!"

Great Truths About Life That Little Children Have Learned

No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
Never hold a Dust Buster and a cat at the same time.

How To Bathe The Cat

1. Thoroughly clean toilet.
2. Lift both lids and add shampoo.
3. Find and soothe cat as you carry him to bathroom.
4. In one swift move, place cat in toilet, close both lids and stand on top, so cat cannot escape.
5. The cat will self-agitate and produce ample suds. (Ignore ruckus from inside toilet; cat is enjoying this.)
6. Flush toilet three or four times. This provides power rinse, which is quite effective.
7. Have someone open outside door, get on top of the tank and quickly lift both lids.
8. Clean cat will rocket out of the toilet and outdoors, where he will air dry.

From The Dog

Cat And Dog Story

2007-06-13T18:48:00.000+08:00

A man brought a very limp dog into the veterinary clinic. As he lay the dog on the table, Doc Burck pulled out his stethoscope, placing the receptor on the dog's chest. After a moment or two, the Doc shook his head sadly and said, "I am sorry, but your dog has passed away."

"What?" screamed the man, "How can you tell? You haven't done any testing on him or anything. I want another opinion!"

With that, Doc turned and left the room. In a few moments, he returned with a Labrador Retriever. The Retriever went right to work, sniffing the poor dog on the table and checking him out thoroughly. After a considerable amount of sniffing, the Retriever sadly shook his head and said "Bark".

The Veterinarian then took the Labrador out and returned in a few moments with a cat, who walked around the poor dog several times and then sadly shook his head and said,"Meow". The cat then jumped off the table and ran out of the room.

The verterinarian said, "There's nothing more I can do." and handed the man a bill for $600.

The dog's owner went postal. "$600! Just to tell me my dog is dead? This is outrangeous!"

Doc shook his head sadly and explained. If you had taken my word for it, it would have been $50, but with the Lab work and the cat scan..."

Click here to read Dogs Letters To God

Cats Bragging

2007-06-12T19:29:00.000+08:00

Four men where bragging about how smart their cats are. The first man was an Engineer, the second man was an Accountant, the third man was a chemist, and the fourth was a Government Worker.

To show off, the Engineer called to his car,"T-square, do your stuff." T-square pranced over to a desk, took out some paper and a pen and promptly drew a circle, a square, and a triangle. Everyone agreed that was pretty smart.

But the Accountant said his cat could do better. He called his cat and said,"Spreadsheet, do your stuff." Spreadsheet went out into the kitchen and returned with a dozen cookies. He divided them into four equal piles of three cookies each. Everyone agreed that was good.

But the Chemist said his cat could do better. He called his cat and said, "Measure, do your stuff." Measure got up, walked over to the fridge, took out a quart of milk, got a 10-ounce glass from the cupboard and poured exactly eight ounces without spilling a drop. Everyone agreed that was good. The three men turned to the Government Worker and said,"What can your cat do?"

The Government Worker called to his cat and said,"Coffee Break, do your stuff." Coffee Break jumped to his feet, ate the cookies, drank the milk, crapped on the paper, got the other three cats pregnant, claimed he injured his back while doing so, filed a grievance report for unsafe working conditions, put in for Workers Compensation and went home for the rest of the day on sick leave.

Getting A Puppy

2007-06-11T13:23:00.000+08:00

Consult a veterinarian about any hereditary diseases in the breed of your choice, and what clearance certificates you should ask for. Try to see as many dogs of the breed as possible -- at dog shows and in the homes of people that own them. You may find that the dog you admire outdoors is not the dog you would want in your own sitting room.

Be prepared to wait for the right puppy from the right breeder. The majority of buying mistakes are made because of the impulse for an 'instant puppy'. It's best to buy from breeder, not from a dealer. Places which advertise several breeds at the same time are likely to be dealers who buy in puppies from several different sources. The risk of infectious disease are stress-induced illnesses is high when puppies have made long journeys at an early age, and then mixed with other litters.

Never buy a puppy because you feel sorry for it. If a puppy is sickly, the breeder is the best person to look after it and to decide what its future is to be. Never buy a puppy which is cheaply priced because it is might be deaf, lame or has some other disability or illness. It could prove to be very expensive in the end.

Be careful about buying a puppy with an umbilical or inguinal hernia. Get a vet opinion on the puppy. The puppy should come from clean premises, where there is not an overpowering smell of urine and faeces. It should be in a well-lit but shaded room, with enough space to move about. It is best not to buy a puppy unless you have seen the mother of the litter and found her to be an agreeable dog in reasonable health after her litter. Furthermore, it is sensible to ask if you may make arrangements to go to see the sire of the litter. Try to take your puppy as early as possible, ideally from 7 weeks. The puppy will fit into your home and family best while it is very young.

Getting a puppy is a long term commitment. Not only do you need to spend your time and love on it, you have to prepare to 'spend' on it. There are several costs involved. There is a considerable initial expenditure on any puppy very soon after purchase. Examples of these immediate expenses are

Transfer of ownership for purebreed puppies
Full course of vaccinations and deworming
Electronic identity implant
Purchase of dog's accessories such as collar, lead, wire crate, perfume, shampoo, conditioner, nail cutter, scissors and so on
Pet insurance

Your continuing commitment to the dog will include feeding, boarding kennels during your holidays, the amount of the exclusion on veterinary fee insurance, booster vaccinations, contraceptive measures for a bitch, renewal of collars, leads, bowls, bedding, etc. All these costs must be considered before you purchase a puppy. Be sure you can cope before you buy!

If you have decided to buy a puppy, look at Puppy Classifieds for your the breed of puppies that you want. Puppy Classifieds offer *PREMIUM* puppy classifieds to both individuals and serious breeders looking for a classy - yet well-advertised - site on which to advertise their puppies. There are plenty of shoddy sites out there offering a similar service, but they strive to set themselves apart with quality services and premium traffic. They also offer a growing selection of articles meant to assist the same target audience - their articles are written specifically for their site and are their own exclusive content. Searching for your favourite breed is easy. You can search for your favourite puppies by looking at their featured puppies or find dogs for sale, all current available breeds arranged in alphabetical order. If you are too lazy to find a dog, just use the search box, you can key in your favourite breed and buget as well! Puppy Classifieds is for both the buyer and seller. If you want to sell your puppies, place your ads at Puppy Classifieds. All the puppies found on this page is obtained from Puppy Classifieds. If you like the them, visit Puppy Classifieds.

Training The Fearful Dog

2007-06-10T14:31:00.000+08:00

A fearful dog is a challenge to train. You may have a sweet, wonderful dog at your home. But when you bring your dog to a new environment outdoor, your usual dog may turns into a mess of jittery shaking nerves in these new places. Dog which fear new places, strange sounds and unfamiliar people need our help. It is the owner's job to train their dog just as training their own children to be more confident.

Certain types of dogs are more prone to fearfulness, any dog can grow up being fearful and suspicious due to negative experiences or lack of proper training early in life. If you feel your dog's fearfulness is a result of lack of early socialization, then you should start training him as early as possible. You can enroll your dog in a well-organized group training class.

Phobic dogs are a mix of unfortunate experiences and a lack of early socialization appropriate for their temperament. Training these dogs may not be easy but with lots of patience and careful training, you can help your dog to enjoy life ultimately. There is of course no miracles overnight. Fearful dogs do not suddenly become confident, even with lots of training. Depending on your dog's breed and personality, your dog might need more social experience than average. Working and herding breeds are notoriously more suspicious of new people and things. They are bred to notice what is different and to react to it, which makes them so good at herding and guarding.

When training a fearful dog, it is important is important to adapt. Be organized, consistent but flexible enough to realize when you have pushed too hard and insightful enough to know what changes to make so that your dog will be successful. For example, teaching your dog to make a game out of what he is afraid of, through targeting, is a great way to build his confidence. If you practice targeting enough, it will become second nature to your dog and he will learn to play the game regardless of what else is going on around her.

If your dog is afraid of going up and down the stairs, you will need to practice with him. Start on no more than half a flight of stairs and use a very wide stairway with good traction. Leash your dog, grip the railing and slowly progress up or down one step at a time, looking straight ahead to to convey confidence. Expect the first step to be the biggest challenge. Rather than allowing him to avoid the stairs, support him by holding his leash short and tight, to prevent him from losing balance. Repeat this training often. Treat him each time he succeeds in climbing a step.

To train young puppies to climb stairs, you can use heavy duty Pet Steps made for dogs and cats. Introduce you puppy to the stairs by placing him on the bottom stair. Then either wait for him to gather the courage to jump off, or try to coax him by sitting on the floor with a toy he likes. When he's mastered that step, place him on the second-to-last stair, and then progress one stair at a time from there until he has mastered the entire flight. If a puppy will walk downstairs, usually he will have no problem going up.

Pet steps are built with wood and covered in carpet. They are offered in 4 different sizes including a 2, 3, 4 and 5 step. Storage lids and wheels and handles can be added to the steps. They are offered in 8 different colors including sage green, dark green, dark blue, grey, tan, ivory, black, and light blue. The steps are sturdy and hold up to 200 pounds. There is also a 4 step with 2 cut outs to compartments below the steps for a cat to play or sleep inside.

All dogs need structure, but fearful dogs need even more. A fear dog needs a strong, fair and consistent leader. The more predictable the schedule and house rules, the better able they will be to cope with life.

Pet Death

2007-06-09T00:22:00.000+08:00

It's been a year now since my dog, Cebest had left me. He should be four years old now if he is still alive. Yesterday, 7 June was his Death Anniversary.

The emotional reaction to the death of a pet is determined by our degree of involvement with that animal. The mourning for a pet can be far more intense than for a human. The pain you are experiencing after your pet's death is real and even crippling emotionally. You are actually mourning the death of a very close member of your immediate family. In many ways, the pet becomes an extension of our own personality. Who has not experienced that special sense of awareness and greeting when we put the key in the lock and open the door? Coming home is a major event -- no matter how long we were away. We had become so used to anticipating our pet's welcome when we arrived, but now it is insanely silent.

The death of a beloved pet is traumatic. Our pets have become significant members of the families. They are considered our adopted children, our brothers and sisters. Only those who have suffered such a loss can truly know the heartache and pain it produces. Over the years many poets and authors have tried to put into words the feelings in our hearts when we are forced to say goodbye to a pet.

Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.

Rainbow Bridge at Rainbow Bridge National Monument is between Forbidden Canyon and Navajo Mountain (Naatsis'áán - "Head of the Earth"), and just at the western base of Navajo Mountain. It is the largest natural stone bridge in the United States.

Links to Pet Loss Site

Pet Memorial
Rainbows Bridge
Pet Loss
Beautiful Flash of Rainbow Bridge

Maternal Behaviour Of Dogs

2007-05-19T11:38:00.001+08:00

After a meal, the bitch licks the puppies' faces and genital areas, and cleans up any mess they make. At one day old, the puppies are already expert at suckling. Although they are blind and deaf, each puppy can find their way to the nipple. The bitch and puppies relax after the meal and get some sleep.

Bitches make good mothers, and you can generally leave the care of the pups to them. You should be there to supervise, however, and to assist in case anything goes wrong. The bitch's biological role can lead to problems even when she is not carrying or caring for pups. The responsible owner should know about these and how best to cope with them.

False pregnancy
It is quite common for a bitch that has not been mated to show signs of pregnancy. Eight to nine weeks after her heat, she will exhibit the restlessness, bed-making and fullness of the breasts that occur in truly pregnant bitches. Milk may run from the teats and an old slipper or child's toy may be carefully guarded and tended in the place she has selected as her nursery.

The bitch is not consciously or unconsciously wanting to have puppies when this happens. It will not result in ovary or womb disease. It may or may not occur after each heat. The cause is the ovary, which, having shed eggs during the heat period, carelessly assumes that fertilization must have ensued as night follows day. It therefore produces hormones that prepare the body for the arrival of the phantom puppies. Treatment is easy. You can either let the phenomenon run its full course(only a couple of weeks or so) or contact your vet. He may well prescribe contraceptive pills, which have the additional function of suppressing false pregnancies.

Spaying
Neutering, sterilizing, spaying: these are all other names used for the ovariectomy operation that prevents bitches from having unwanted bitches from having unwanted pups.
Although not a cheap operation, spaying is an important once-and-for-all contribution to the well-being and longevity of the pet dog. This involves major surgery and the procedure is irreversible. It is performed under general anaesthetic by a veterinary surgeon and involves making a surgical incision either along the mid-line of the bitch's stomach or on one flank. It can be done at any age from twelve weeks onwards, but is best delayed until after the first heat period.

Spayed bitches are not more prone to troublesome false pregnancies but less so. Their chances of breast cancer are also reduced if the operation is performed before they are two years of age. Some do get fatter after the operation, but this is probably because their owners over-indulge and under-exercise them. Spaying is the surest method of preventing unwanted pups. Spaying also has the major benefit of preventing pyometra, common and serious disease of bitches that occurs in middle and old age.

When the puppies are older, the bitch finds it easier to feed them standing up. She needs about three times her normal amount of food at his stage.

Care of newborn pups
Pet owners must provide the mother with a comfortable nursing box, daily changes of bedding, and extra high-quality food. It is almost impossible to overfeed a nursing bitch, and her nutritional requirements peak at about three times normal. She will have been eating more than usual in the last weeks of pregnancy, and her appetite will drop off sharply as the puppies are weaned.

Newborn puppies from a healthy litter find their way to their mother's teats soon after being born. The milk the mother produces in the first day or two (colostrum) provides a puppy with enough antibodies to protect it against most diseases for its first six to ten weeks. It is therefore important that all puppies in the litter suckle properly for the first few weeks at least. If the bitch does not feed her pups for some reason or appears to have a shortage of milk, consult the vet. In many cases, a simple injection of pituitary hormone can produce an immediate flow.

Nature Of Shih Tzu

2007-05-15T12:41:00.000+08:00

All dogs, regardless of breed, can trace their ancestry back to a form of wild dog or wolf. They lived in a specially structured society. To live together in harmony, the members of each pack had to conform to certain behavioural rituals. These rituals included ranking order and the marking of territories. After the passing of countless generations of these wild dogs, these behavioural patterns eventually became instinctive behaviours that man was first able to domesticate them.

Evidence indicates that dogs were first domesticated about 12000 years ago. Undoubtedly, they were the first of all animals to be tamed by man. It is believed that humans trained wolves, or wild dogs, to assist them in hunting. The hunting practices of both dogs and men at this time were probably very similar. This made training them all the more simple.

During the course of domestication, dogs lost many of the behavioural rituals associated with pack life, but retained others. They also began to display new behaviour patterns which they learned from their human trainers. Which traits were gained and which were lost depended greatly on the history of each particular breed and its relationship with humans.

Much of the Shih Tzu's history revolved around its association with the imperial family in the forbidden city of Peking. This close relationship with royalty is no doubt responsible for the proud and arrogant manner in which the Shih Tzu moves and behaves. These regal house pets were cherished and pampered by the royal family and their servants for hundreds of years. As a result of countless generations of pampering, the Shih Tzu has also developed a friendly disposition toward all people, a trait not found in all breeds of dogs.

Most of the physical attributes of the Shih Tzu are a result of the careful and select breeding practices used by the eunuchs of the royal court. These breeders would mate dogs based on their temperament as well as their physical qualities. The last thing the royal breeders wanted was to have their prized pooches snap at the emperor.

The nature of the Shih Tzu is, therefore, a blend of two elements. First is the instinctive behaviour that has been retained from its wild ancestors. This behaviour includes the sexual drive, the marking of territory and submitting to a ranking order. Second are the traits for which the dog has been selectively bred. These include "people-oriented" behaviour, which is the result of their being bred to become the perfect house pet of the Imperial Courts.

Do you like these dog's clothes? If your answer is yes, then you got to visit The Shih Tzu Store! These beautiful pictures of Shih Tzu and their wonderful clothes are from The Shih Tzu Store. Specializing in smaller dogs, all their items are hand picked by Suzy, their fashionable Shih Tzu. For small dog clothes, such as shirts, dresses and coats, please visit The Shih Tzu Store. There are various categories such as dog jewelry, beds and leads etc for you to shop for your dog. The Shih Tzu Store is a place for you and your pet. Start Shopping for Shih Tzu Collectibles and Dog Fashion now at The Shih Tzu Store!

Pets Exercise

2007-05-14T12:21:00.000+08:00

Dogs of every age and size enjoy playing with each other, and with humans and objects. If a dog is denied metal and physical activity, its energy may be released in destructive and unacceptable behaviour.

The actual amount of exercise needed varies according to a dog's breed, age, and state of health, but all obedient dogs should be let off their leads daily and allowed to run in a safe, appropriate place.

By training a dog to retrieve objects, you can concentrate this necessary exercise into a shorter period of time. And by providing a dog with toys you can ensure that, even in your absence, your dog can stimulate its mind and senses.

Types of Exercise

1. Exercise on and off the lead
All active breeds of dogs revel in daily physical activity. When you have trained your dog in obedience and where regulations permit, you should regularly let it off its lead to enjoy vigorous exercise. In addition to rigorous exercise, provide your dog with frequent walks. An extendable lead provides the handler with short lead control when walking among other pedestrians, and provides a dog with longer lead freedom so that it can exercise safely.

2. Toys
All dogs enjoy playing games with balls and frisbees. These toys help exercise your dog and teach it to chase, capture and retrieve. Some balls and rubber toys have squeakers, and dogs enjoy "killing them". When a dog is provided with toys, it can exercise its mind and senses even in its owner's absence. Avoid poorly made toys or small balls that can be swallowed. Do not give articles of clothing or shoes as toys, since a dog will not restrict itself only to the items offered, but will chew anything that bears its owner's scent.

3. Playing with other dogs
Just like humans, dogs enjoy playing with each other. When two dogs are put together, they may exercise their minds and bodies by playfully tugging together on a rope toy.

Keeping Dogs As Pets

2007-04-11T15:45:00.000+08:00

A dog is by nature a pack animal. If you adopt a dog, it will think of your family as its pack. You will be able to share the responsibility for your dog with your family, but if you are the one who feeds and trains it, you will be the leader of the pack.

You could not choose a more intelligent and affectionate pet than a dog. Dogs were first domesticated over five thousand years ago, and they have lived as close companions to human beings ever since.

A dog can be faithful and quick to learn obedience, which makes it easier to train than most animals.

Having a dog of your own is fun but the dog does need quite a lot of looking after in return. Every year hundreds of dogs are abandoned by people who buy them as puppies and then find they cannot cope with looking after them. So before adopting a puppy, it is important to think about what keeping a dog involves, and to be quite sure you would be able to care for it properly and give it the kind of life it needs.

These are some things you will want to think about before you adopt a puppy.

1. Would your dog get enough exercise?
If you do not live in the country, is there a park or common where it is safe to let a dog off the lead to run about?

2. Could you afford to keep a dog?
Dog food is not cheap. Also your dog would need vaccinating once a year, and there could be other vet's fees if it got ill.

3. Would you have the time?
You will need to feed your dog once a day(four times a day while a puppy), train it, and take it for walks.

4. Would your dog be left alone too much?
If everybody in your family is out at work or school all day, it would not be kind to keep a dog, unless you have two for company. A dog can be left for a few hours, but if it is alone all day, it will get lonely and very unhappy.

5. What would you do when you went on holiday?
Would somebody look after the dog for you? Dogs can be boarded at kennels, but it is expensive. Remember, if you take a dog abroad, it will be quarantined for six months on your return.

A dog enjoys human company and affection, and becomes very attached to its owners and its family.

Even when he is old and not able to run about so much, your dog will still depend on you and need your love and care.

Pampering Your Pets

2007-03-25T15:00:00.000+08:00

As mentioned in my previous posts, there are so many advantages and rewards of having pets. Pets have brought so much joy and happiness to their owners. They are so innocent and cute, looking at them made many of the owners feel so heart-warming. The pets are just like our children. They are so vulnerable to the environment. They are curious creatures who like to discover new things. And they depend on us, the owners, and their only friend for survival and well-being. Just like children placed their trust on their parents, the pets, who have no parents, but you, the owner, will be their parents.

When we say we love our pets, be it cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits or guinea pigs, how do we show that we love them? To show that we really love our pets, what we do must be all for the benefits of our pets. This can be shown in the list below:

1. Safe Home
As pet owners, we should always ensure that our pets are safe. Their home should be well kept and be suitable for them. For example, toxic plants and chemicals should be keep out of reach from pets. In addition, there should be room enough for them to move about freely.
( I love my dog. My house was my dog's house. My bed was my dog's bed. )

2. Discipline and Handling of The Pet
Just like your children, your pets must know how to behave. This applies to the cats and dogs. You love your pets, that's why you want to train them to behave.

For example, training is a most important part of caring for a dog. An untrained dog is like a car with faulty brakes. It is unreliable and, until the fault is corrected, potentially dangerous. All but the most dominant dogs enjoy training because it involves mental stimulation. Training also helps prevent the dog from adopting bad habits through boredom.

Prevention of bad habits is always easier than cure. They should learn your family rules. They should be trained where to do their daily business and where they can get their water. In addition to these, children should be taught how to handle the pet properly. They are mostly very clumsy, especially when handling small pets like hamsters. Whether adults or young children, care and safety must be observed when handling pets. This is even more important when our pets meet strangers in the park or when there are guests at home. Some people do not like pets. When they see dogs or cats, they kick at them.

3. Food
We are what we eat. This applies to our pets as well. A nutritious, well-balanced diet produces a strong-boned, well-muscles, healthy-coated pets. Since humans and pets are different species of animals, and all pets have different diets requirements, it is important to read widely about your pets nutritional needs. For example, finding out information such as what not to feed to your dog and what to give to your dog. In addition, the frequency of feeding should be looked into.

4. Play And Exercise
Spend time with your pets. Pets especially cats and dogs enjoy the companion of human and other similar species. If a dog is denied mental and physical activity, its energy may be released in destructive and unacceptable behaviour. For example, by training a dog to retrieve objects you can concentrate this necessary exercise into a shorter period of time. And by providing a dog with toys you can ensure that even in your absence, your dog can stimulate its mind and senses. This is very similar to your children. You buy toys for them. You do not have the time to spend 24 hours with them. During your absence, if your children feel bored, they play with toys themselves.

5. Responsibilities
Every parents are responsible for their kids. All pets owners should be responsible for their pets as well. For example, if you want to go travelling, you must make sure that someone will be looking after your pets. If you are travelling with your pets, such as dogs, remember never leave your dog in the car in hot or sunny weather. When the dog is sick, he should be sent to the vet.

Just like humans, pets are vulnerable to various health problems. Dogs and cats can suffer from almost all the physical diseases and ailments that afflict humans. For example, when the pet dog is not well, it relies upon its owner to notice and take appropriate action. Many dogs may try to hide their discomfort and want to please their owners so much that they attempt to behave normally. As responsible pet owners, whenever you notice any changes in your dog's routinues, demeanour or behaviour, contact your veterinarian immediately.

6. Grooming
All pets should be kept clean and tidy. It's all pets owners wish to have their pets look pretty. For example, grooming your dog serves two main purposes. It keeps the skin, coat, teeth, gums and nails in a healthy state and through routine grooming sessions you also constantly reassert your authority over your dog. Bathing the dogs is beneficial in eliminating certain skin parasites and treating a variety of dry and oily skin conditions. (Not all pets need to be bathed. For example, rabbits and tortoise do not require the owners to bathe them.) The ears of the cats and dogs should be cleaned too.

7. Knowledge
You love your pets. You would want to know more about their history and any other information that may be important for you to know. For example, it is important to know of some first aid just in case your pets suffer serious injuries. It is important to know that certain food are harmful to your pets too. For example, dog owners can learn about bandaging wounds just in case their dog gets involved in dog fights and other unexpected traumatic injuries.

8. Dog Shows
Dog shows are not simply for professional breeders. Anyone who enjoys the company of canines can find a suitable show. Competition is always intense and it requires a lot of training and preparation to produce a prize-winning dog.

We love our pets. We want our pet to look good and special. All pet owners want their pets to be admired. Pet owners want to be feel proud of their pets. Your dog is your best friend. He listens to your sorrows and your happiness. He never nags and shout back nor answers you back. You dog is your personal possession, it follows you whenever you go. As a good owner, you want to pamper your dog. You want him to feel good, be loved and happy. You want him to have the best of everything. Going out with your dog, you want to feel proud. You want your dog to look special, your dog represents you. Whether you have a dog or you have a cat, you want both to be beautiful.

Pet owners love their pets. We love our pets so much so that we went pet shops to shop for goodies for them. We shop for shoes, collars, name tags, clothes, snacks and so much more for our special friend. Some dog owners even bring their dog to dog restaurants for meals! Big Paw Designs is one such store where you can shower your pets with love, shop for your pets needs. If you are looking for unique pet gifts, look no further than Big Paw Designs. Big Paw Designs have all the gift ideas you need for yourself, your family and friends and for the pets in your life. The selection of gifts and other pet items at Big Paw Designs have something for everyone on your list. Your pet will soon be adorned and surrounded with unique pet designs you can't find anywhere else.

Dog's Lessons

2007-03-24T01:09:00.001+08:00

I am constantly thinking of him, my dog, my best friend, Cebest.

I have neglected by children, my house and some of my blogs recently due to so much happenings that had occurred recently. Disappointment, anger, hurt and helplessness is how I feel. There are so many things which sometimes we have no control of, such as how our spouse treat us, how our children fare in their exams, and the fate of our pets.

Since young, I love pets. I have experience of a few types of pets. They were chickens, tortoise, hamsters, white mice, birds, rabbits and dogs. Among these pets, I love dog the most. Chicken is my first pet. I ask my mother to buy me a little chick one day when we went to the market together. It was very cheap in those days. Those chicks were kept in a box and an old man was squating at the market place, selling them.

Keeping pets are never easy. Though my sister, my room mate, hated it, always scolded me for all these pets odour, I never gave up. I love my pets and I did what I am capable of during my childhood days.

These few days I was thinking of my dog again. I had made a video to commemorate his death. And I have found this topic at Helium, which I want to write about him as well. This is what I wrote:

Reflections: My Dog
The reflections of my dog is that life is so unpredictable. It is so fragile and we must learn to treasure life and relationships (especially those that we love).

In life, most of the time you do not know the importance of that person or thing to you when they are always there for you. But when they are gone or leave you, then you realise their importance and how much they had contributed to your lives while they are with you. This is what I learned most from my dog, Cebest.

Owning a pet offered me many advantages (as what I had just written about the rewards of having pets at http://www.helium.com/tm/227932), I have learned lessons and experiences which are unforgettable. To say that everything was a bed of roses with my dog is too good to be true. Just like any other relationships, there are good times and bad times. There are days where we found our pets to be a chore, especially at times where we were so busy and stressed up with the hassle of life. However, at times where we are feeling low, my dog is always there for me. He was the first one to notice it.

He loved to bite and chew at socks and shoes. And I will pamper him with treats of chewable shoes from the pet shops.

From shopping to bringing him home and then training him, everything took time, a lot of time. I remembered choosing him, after going to several stalls, and then have to compare him to another in the end. He was much more active and that was the reason why we brought him home. Bringing him home was so much fun and excitement for the kids especially. The first thing that we did was to find him a basket to sleep in -- he was such an adorable small puppies that love to sleep. In the meantime, the family had to give him a good name. Cebest was given. The reason for choosing this name was because we wanted him to be the best dog we had. Name is important because it is something that the family and I were going to call him often. As you call him by his name, you want to feel proud of him. You want him to be good as well. So Cebest was really a good name for my dog.

Whenever he had done something wrong, he would lie on the floor like that, with guilty looking eyes.

The next thing that I did for him besides finding him a place to sleep was to put a 'ding ding' on his collar. When the bell around, I could trace his whereabouts. He was so curious about his environment and yet fearful at times. The children were fearful of him in the beginning as he would chase after the kids when they ran. However, soon through training, everything was not a problem. The children love the companion of the dog. There were times where the children and the dog play together and in role-playing as well! Those were the good times. When the dog is small, and less than a year old, there were not much of a problem.

Every year, I bring my dog for vaccination and deworm. Through the years, I learned how to take care of the dog -- grooming, feeding, training etc. Training is difficult. It needs consistency and patience. He was so smart. When prompted with the gesture of a 'gun', Cebest knew on to lie dead on the floor. Then he would be rewarded with food. He was so cute and clever!

With animals, a lot of times they are very similar to children. My dog is just like another of my kid. I have to teach him how to behave and I have to look after his welfare. I shower him with love. I cane him when he was disobedient -- when he urinate at the sofa and things like that.

Whenever I was busy doing housework, he would wait patiently for me, without fail.

Like most things, starting is always hard. My dog had to be toilet trained and it was not a one to six months thing. It took him nearly nine months to a year to be perfect. By one and a half year, he was able to walk round the house and knew every corner of the house. By one year old, he was big enough to jump about. By this time, he was able to jump on my bed too. He never failed to sleep with me.

All good things come to an end. And all life comes to a halt some day. Little did I know that by bringing him to the third year vaccination, that would cost us more than just spending money. After the vaccination, Cebest's health deterioriated and his behaviour was abnormal. It worries me. And soon everything happens very fast, and he was gone forever. He left me and my family. I have written about his death on my blog http://peace-diary.blogspot.com/ and http://whoispeace.blogspot.com/.

My dog, Cebest, as the name was given, is really the best dog I ever had. Till this day, though he was gone, memories of him and my love for him never die. It is something that no other dog or pets can replace.

See my ranking at Helium or read what other writers' views

Read more articles contributed by me ( 44 articles )

Now, I have no pets. My heart cannot accomodate another one. It is taken.

Pets Rewards

2007-03-23T23:07:00.001+08:00

Keeping pets such as dog, bring more smiles to pets owners.

I have not updated this blog for some time. I do not know what to write. I decided to go Helium to look for some topics. I found two which interest me. I started to write on this first:

Keeping pets help to cultivate your patience, and it helps to lessen stress.

Rewards of Owning a Pet
Owning a pet requires a lot of care and patience. It takes a responsible owner to look after his pets well. The rewards of owning a pet can be divided into a few categories.

Firstly in terms of character building, people who have pets, as mentioned earlier, need to spend time to look after their pet -- feeding, bathing, washing up the pet's homes, cleaning up the mess that the pet might have caused. For people who do not like their pets, they may give up their pets after sometime because of all these hard work or chores to them. However, for people who really love their pets, they are willing to take up these responsibilities to care for their beloved pets. For these, the children, will learn to be responsible, love and care for animals and discipline (able to feed, bath, groom their pets routinely). For first-time pets owners, such as adults or old folks, the same things can be learned from pets, although these people already know what is being responsible and how to care for their pets. Something extra that adults or old folks can gain from looking after pets is the cultivation of patience. It takes patience to groom the pets, such as dog. It takes patience to bath the pets well, and it takes patience too to handle a hamster as well as other pets.

The above lead to the next advantage of owning a pet. The fact that you are willing to sacrifice your time and money on your pet show that you love your pet. Any pet lover will rejoice and enjoy the company of their pets. Thus the next rewards that many pets owners get is happiness. Most pets owners are friendly and have more smile on their face. This is because keeping pets are known to reduce stress in people's life. Old people who keep pets have a longer life span than those who do not own a pet. The companion of pets help the pet owner not to feel 'lonely'.

Talking about Pets is a good way to start conversation with strangers and making friends.

As mention above, pets help to keep young children and old people's company (especially when in the day time all the people in the house is working, young children and old people can divert their attention on the pets). This greatly aid in the health of these people. Boredom and feeling lonely can lead to many illnesses in people indirectly as they are not happy. Pets can help these people -- children, old people, or even depressed people to feel better. For people who are depressed, their condition will get better if they are known to keep a pet such as cat or dog.

Children feel happy and more cheerful with pets. Children learn how to care and love for their pets. Cultivation of discipline, responsibilities and organizational skills can be taught to them through handling pets. Exercising with pets also help to improve the health of pet owners.

The next reward of owning a pet is that most of the time owning a pet need you to do extra kind of 'work' such as bringing your pet such as dog to the vet, to the garden for a walk, etc. These activities will indirectly 'force' the owners to 'do exercise'. In such activities, owners often meet other people around them. Often when pet owners meet other pet owners, they have so much information and queries to ask each other. They want to share their experiences. Thus in so doing, they easily make friends, and in so doing, they feel happier, cheerful and a higher self-esteem when you know that there are friends who are kind to you and your pets.

The last rewards of owning a pet could be applicable to the disable people. For blind people, a dog helps in guiding them around. Even for wheel-chair bound people, keeping pets such as birds, fish, can cultivate a sense of worth and self-esteem for them. Like normal people, pets help to make these pet owners happier and healthier too. For disable people, it was known that some pets such as dogs, are able to help their wheel-chair bound to pick up things that are dropped to them. These are dogs that are useful to man to do work for them.

Lastly, one more point to add about keeping dog as pet, the reward is loyalty. No matter how you treat the dog, the dog will always regard you their trusted friend. Other pets such as chickens, fish which I have experienced, are known to have similar traits. They recognize you. They are eager to look forward to the owner everyday for food (especially the fish). For chickens, they can actually understand our language after some time. The most loyal one would be the dog. And they give us warmth, companion and a 'shoulder' to cry on during stressful times and sad moments. When you shed your tears, the dog will be the first 'creature' to come to you, lick you spontaneously -- you will know their language.

The rewards of owning a pet is far more than the disadvantage of owning a pet. Whether your pet is fish, bird, cat, dog, rabbit, ferret, or even pig, the rewards are your health, both physically and mentally.

Pets are natural remedy for depressed people.

Read what other writer's view

View more of my articles at Helium (43 articles)

Photographs Of Shar Pei

2007-01-11T21:19:00.000+08:00

The ancestry of the Shar-Pei is uncertain. It may be a descendant of the Chow Chow, however, the only clear link between these are the purple tongue. However, pictures on pottery suggest the breed was present even in the Han Dynasty (206bc).

For many years the Shar-Pei was kept as a general-purpose farm dog in the Chinese countryside, used for hunting, protecting stock, and guarding the home and family. During that time the Shar-Pei was breed for intelligence, strength and scowling face. Later, it was used in dog fighting. The loose skin and extremely prickly coat were developed to aid the dog in fighting, making the Shar-Pei difficult for the opponent to grab and hold on to.

During the Communist Revolution, dogs were rescued by a Hong Kong business man named Matgo Law, who appealed to Americans in 1973 though a dog magazine to save the breed. From those few specimens, the Shar-Pei fancy has grown tremendously over the past decades. Now the Shar-Pei is in the Non-Sporting Group of the AKC with over 70,000 dogs registered as foundation stock. When first introduced, Shar-Pei were astronomically expensive. Now they cost about the same as any other purebred dog.

The Shar-Pei needs a confident handler. If you are too uncertain, too inconstant, too soft, or too mild in the dog's eyes, it will take over as the boss. Shar-Pei need firm, but gentle and extremely consistent training. They are stubborn and bold and need firm obedience training to establish your leadership. They may refuse commands from family members who have not established leadership over them.

In its Chinese Fighting Dog days, it is likely that the Shar Pei was drugged by its owner to stimulate sufficient aggression to ensure a long and profitable fight.

Shar-Pei was very popular in the 1980's. It was referred to as one of the "Yuppie Puppies", meaning the breeds that were carelessly over-bred. A lot of this breeds personality and health depends on the lines it comes from. Good Shar-Pei lines will get along well with other dogs and will not have skin problems, which is a hereditary condition.

Shar Pei

2007-01-10T21:19:00.000+08:00

Shar Pei is extremely uncommon breed that makes a fine house dogs. It has a splendid reputation for cleanliness, and Shar Pei puppies are sometimes credited with the ability to house-train themselves.

Shar Pei is one of the world's rarest dogs. This baggily wrinkled creature is likely to cause a stir wherever it goes. It derives its name from its bristly coat -- Shar Pei means sharkskin or sandpaper in Chinese. It is a pleasant, amiable breed, and at first may seem undeserving of its other name, the Chinese Fighting Dog. In the past, however, it has achieved considerable success in canine combat, for its seemingly oversized skin makes it a difficult dog to get to grips with!

Short History Of Shar Pei
The Shar Pei's Oriental ancestors can possibly be traced back to 206 BC to AD 220, for works of art from the Chinese Han Dynasty feature a dog resembling it. Some believe the breed to be descended from a much larger dog, now extinct, found in Tibet and China's Northern Province around 2000 years ago, while others consider it to be related to the Service Dogs of China's Southern Province. Its future has sometimes looked very bleak indeed -- in 1947 the dog tax in China rose so steeply that many Shar Pei owners could no longer afford to keep them, and their numbers diminished alarmingly. In the 1970s, the Shar Pei's plight was taken by breeders in the US, and in 1981, the first Shar Pei arrived in Britain.

Information About Shar Pei
The Shar Pei is a joy to be with. It is independent, well-behaved, and loves people. It is an intelligent dog that does not always follow orders slavishly. Playful, active, dominant, and brave. The size of Shar Peis are about 46 - 51cm (18 -20 in) tall and weigh about 40-55 pounds (18-25kg). Shar Pei has a life expectancy of up to 10 years.

The Shar-Pei has a frowning expression, but is surprisingly easy-going, calm, independent, and devoted. They make a delightful companion and good watchdogs. Like the Chow Chow, these dogs have a blue-black tongue. It has a square profile with a broad, full head and wide, padded muzzle. Puppies have more wrinkles than adults. Shar-Pei slowly loose their wrinkles as they get older.

Shar Pei has coat which is stiff, short and bristly, standing off the body, and lying flatter on the limbs. The coat should not be longer than 2.5cm. Colours are black, red, fawn and cream, often with lighter shading on backs of the thighs and tail. They should be brushed regularly. Their coat is never trimmed. This breed does not have an undercoat. The "bush" coat sheds a little year round, but the "horse" coat tends to shed only during molting periods. Molting may leave the dog looking unkempt. Bathing about once a week and brushing the coat daily during this period will remove the old dead hair and allow the new coat to grow in. Some owners are allergic to the harsh coat.

The Shar-Pei has a considerable need for exercise. They are moderately active indoors. Because of their padded head, the Shar-Pei is very sensitive to heat. Shade and water must always be available. Provided they get enough exercise, they will be very peaceful indoors.

Health Problems
Shar Peis are generally healthy dogs, but are prone to entropion(inward rolling of the eyelids), an eye disease that can result in blindness unless treated promptly. Fevers of unknown origin or swollen hocks syndrome may be the early stages of amolydosis (kidney failure). One misconception is that the Shar-Pei have skin problems due to their wrinkles. Some Shar-Pei have skin problems, but it is not because the dog has wrinkles, but rather a hereditary condition. Due to over popularity in the 1980's, some Shar-Pei do have hereditary skin problems. However if you buy from a reputable breeder, this conditions will not be a problem. Be sure to find a breeder who strives for healthy dogs.

Special Dogs

2007-01-03T14:29:00.000+08:00

Picture of Shar Pei

Dogs inherited a range of behaviour from wolves. But by accentuating or diminishing specific traits or characteristics, humans have created dog breeds with different personalities. They have also created a range of shapes and sizes. Some of these present-day breeds are less fearful than their ancestral relatives, while others are more aggressive. By Roman times there were shepherd dogs, warrior dogs, sight and scent hunters, terriers, and companions. Kennel clubs still emphasize such divisions in their classifications.

Shar Pei
The Shar Pei originated in China and has a history dating back 2000 years. Although the exact place of origin is unclear, statues indicate they came from somewhere in southern China, Tibet or Dah Lel. The name Shar Pei literally translates to mean sand skin. This is from the breed's characteristic harsh coat. Shar Pei were used as general utility dogs for herding and guarding.

Picture of Shar Pei

Shar Pei were also known as tomb dogs, relating to the discovery in ancient tombs of 2000-year-old statues bearing their likeness. When China became a communist country, a tax was brought in that made the keeping of dogs a luxury and basically out of reach of the average farmer. In 1947 the tax was increased and breeding banned. This led to the Shar Pei becoming an endangered breed and it was listed with the Guinness Book of Records in 1978 as the world's rarest dog. The first registered Shar Pei were imported into Australia in 1981 with the first litter in 1985.

Picture of Borzoi

Borzoi
The fleet and powerful Borzoi originated in Russia and was used by the Russian aristocracy to pursue and catch wolf, fox and hare. While still used for hunting, they excel as companions and show dogs, with gentle temperament and striking good looks. The Borzoi is one of the largest sighthounds, averaging 28" to 32" inches at the shoulder, and a big male can weigh over 100 pounds. The muscular, athletic body is clad in a soft, silky coat of almost any color. Their graceful beauty has made them a favorite in art, fashion and advertising through the years.

Picture of Labradoodle

Labradoodle
Labradoodle is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the Labrador Retriever and the Poodle. The Labradoodle was started when Wally Cochran was approached by a blind woman who suffered severe allergies to dogs in the 1970's. His vision was to create a dog who could aid the physically impaired, and have the low-maintenance and temperament of the Labrador Retriever, and the allergen-reduced coat of the Standard Poodle. For more details of Labradoodle breed information, Labradoodle Photos, Labradoodle forums and breed directory, visit Labradoodle. It is a site containing lots of Labradoodle stuff -- gifts, books, news, and other breeds of dogs as well.

Picture of Labradoodle

Sealyham Terriers
The Sealyham Terriers are white or yellowish-white with dome shaped skulls, a large nose and powerful jaws with sturdy teeth and very long canines. Its eyes are round and dark and its ears are wide and carried against its cheeks. The neck is long and muscular and the tail is docked and carried upright. Its front legs are short and straight; the hind legs are powerful and muscular. Their coats are bristly, coarse, and long and require stripping.

Picture of Sealyham Terriers

Bedlington Terrier
The Bedlington Terrier is a of terrier named after the mining town of Bedlington, Northumberland in North East England. The Bedlington Terrier is often described as looking like a lamb on a leash, probably because it has non-shedding fur with a wooly texture. These handsome dogs may be blue, sandy, or liver, and can be solid colours or have tan markings. These become paler as the dog grows older.

Picture of Bedlington Terrier

Pictures Of Goldfish Pets

2006-12-20T17:23:00.000+08:00

A complete ecosystem must be developed within the aquarium unit. As far as the fish are concerned, the aquarium is their entire world, so the unit should be as large as possible for the fish to thrive in it. This also makes practical sense because a larger unit is easier to maintain than a smaller one. In addition, a really attractive exhibit can be displayed in a large tank -- one that would not be possible in a small tank. The number of goldfish that can be contained in an aquarium is greatly influenced by the size and shape of the aquarium.

The main objective of an aquarist is to create a balanced aquatic environment within a given volume of water. The living and non-living components must form an attractive display, be maintained with a minimum of effort, and afford the fish a stress-free life. In an aquarium, it is important to be sure that no one component of the system dominates the environment.

It is not possible to avoid all problems in an aquarium. However, the risk can be reduced to an acceptable level. Steps can be taken to counter potential hazards because we know about the cycles of life in water. Here are some tips:

1. The aquarium structure itself should be as large as possible. This slows the rapid changes in the condition of the water.

2. Circulate the water and have some turbulence at its surface. This ensures a constant temperature throughout its depth and maintains an adequate oxygen supply. However, movement of the water should not be so rapid that it affects plant growth.

3. Provide a filtration system to remove unwanted debris and harmful chemicals.

4. Add only clean water to the tank. The water must not contain unwanted organisms or dissolved chemicals.

5. The plant selection should reflect the temperature of the water. Include only those plants which thrive in the temperature range of your tank.

6. Maintain the water temperature within acceptable variables. Avoid sudden temperature fluctuations.

7. Illuminate the aquarium to equate a natural day-night cycle.

8. Do not overfeed the goldfish. Excess food sinks to the substrate, where it decomposes and helps foul the tank.

9. Treat ill fish in an isolation tank. The spread of disease must be restricted.

10. Subject any addition to the aquarium, whether living or not, to careful scrutiny. Toxic chemicals, parasites, and bacterial infections must not be introduced.

Breeding is an interesting aspect of the goldfish hobby. Careful thought and preparation is required, however, because a lot of work is involved. It is unlikely that any returns from fish sold will cover the overhead.

Breeding is all about selecting the best fish and retaining them for further breeding. The idea is to steadily improve the overall standard of your stock. Purchase young breeding adults rather than immature fish. The quality of an immature fish remains to be seen. The best age at which to breed a female is at full maturity, about two years of age. A male may be bred any time after one year of age.

Note the strong and weak points of a fish. You may select a fish for a particular feature, such as colour, body shape, caudal fin shape and so on. Or you may be interested in the overall quality of a fish. However you choose, breeding health and vigor are always important criteria. Choose a popular and hard variety. Learn all you can about that variety before breeding others.

Pictures Of Cats & Goldfish

2006-12-19T11:44:00.000+08:00

Goldfish have been breed commercially for more than 600 years and have been known and kept by man for more than 1000 years.

There are over 100 varieties of goldfish. However, many forms are not seen outside of China and Japan. In some instances, you may need to contact a goldfish specialist or society to locate a supplier.

Beginners are strongly advised to restrict their interests to the most popular varieties. These specimens are hardly, breed well and do not require special treatment. More delicate varieties can be kept once experience is gained.

Modern technology has been utilized by tropical fish hobbyists. Coldwater specialists also have benefited from the latest ideas in fishkeeping. Breeders have been improving the goldfish species and developing more varieties through selective breeding. Top exhibition fish are outstanding in their shape and colour.

The singular advantage of goldfish over other species is that sophisticated equipment is not essential. Therefore, there are lower costs in setting up an aquarium and no risk that the system will be adversely affected by a power failure.

The common goldfish is obtainable at a modest price. Even the fancier varieties are not expensive in comparison to other pets. The goldfish is an animal that requires little upkeep and minimal maintenance cost. It can be kept as a household pet or bred for exhibition. Aquarists are full of praise for the virtues of the goldfish.

If you plan to exhibit goldfish, then purchase superb initial stock. Do not buy pet-quality fish in an attempt to upgrade them through selective breeding. Such a process is time-consuming, costly, and impractical. Additionally, if your initial stock is substandard, no amount of breeding will produce good quality. It is better to pay a high price early on to a breeder whose fish have show potential. This way you gain the benefit of that breeder's years of hard work and experience in building up his line of goldfish.

Over the years, fish of many kinds have been kept in various containers. Fish keeping truly became popular with the public following the opening of the world's first aquarium in the London Zoo during 1853. The relationship between fish, plants and water had been observed by a medical surgeon, Ellis, as early as 1850, and by a chemist named Warrington. It was the naturalist Philip Henry Gosse, known as the father of fishkeeping, who put theory into practice.

The goldfish has managed to retain its popularity despite competition from other pets. Tropical fish are the main competitors of the goldfish. However, goldfish generally are less expensive. Advanced technology and new colours stimulate ongoing interest. Today's goldfish varieties are extremely attractive subjects in both tanks and ponds.

History Of The Goldfish

2006-12-18T11:44:00.000+08:00

Paintings Of Goldfish

The goldfish, Carassius auratus, is the world's most popular pet. It is also the world's most abused pet. This latter situation is a result of the virtues that make the goldfish a good pet. It is a hardy species. It can adjust to and survive in conditions that kill most other species.

It is a hardy species. It can adjust to and survive in conditions that kill most other species. These creatures are often confined in unsuitable containers with poor water quality. Because the goldfish survives for such a long time in such an appalling habitat, the owner surmises that the fish must be happy and healthy. However, the fact is that the fish just took a long time to die.

Goldfish owners must understand the basic essentials of good fishkeeping. They must know it is important to keep the water clean and well oxygenated and to choose a tank large enough to allow straight-line swimming. In this way, their fish not only live longer, but also look healthier and are more pleasant to watch.

The goldfish, Carassius auratus, is the domesticated form of the wild Crucian carp, Genus Carassius, found in slow-moving waters in southern China. No one knows for certain when the process of domestication began, so conclusions are drawn from early Chinese art and literature. Based on this criterion, the goldfish is a modern pet compared to the domestication of dogs, cats, and even mice.

Chinese art features many examples of fish. However, the ornate nature of the products makes it difficult to identify the fish species. Coloured fish are depicted on pottery dating from about 200 AD. Most authorities agree that the goldfish was developed later, from 800 AD onward. Selective breeding produced a number of colour varieties by the time of the Sung Dynasty (circa 960 - 1379 AD). During that time, goldfish were first exported to Japan. It is likely that the first colour mutations in carp appeared in stock farmed for food. Such novelties would have appealed to breeders. Hence, a trend developed toward improving such colours. As colour mutations became well established, there was greater interest in retaining the best fish, both for further breeding and aesthetic appreciation of the colours. Even greater interest was aroused as fin and eye mutations appeared.

It is generally believed that many of the basic modifications to the goldfish had been observed by the end of the Ming Dynasty. Further development of varieties moved from China to Japan, home of the famous koi carp, after 1650. The goldfish also became widespread in many other Far Eastern countries. Since Europeans were then developing strong trade links with the East, it was only a matter of time before goldfish journeyed to Europe.

They appeared in Europe during the 1700s and on American and Australian shores the following century. During these early years goldfish were kept in ponds. The hobby of keeping fish in tanks in the home did not become popular until the late 1800s.

Pets Diabetes

2006-12-13T17:46:00.000+08:00

An estimated 1 in 500 dogs develops diabetes. Diabetes usually happens in dogs around the age of 5 & 7, though juvenile diabetes is also a possibility. In cats, diabetes is a problem primarily of middle-aged and older cats. Male cats get the disease about twice as frequently as females, and the typical feline diabetes patient is overweight - although unchecked diabetes will cause weight loss over time.

Diabetes mellitus occurs when a dog has low or inadequate levels of insulin, or has an abnormal response to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produce by a certain cell in the pancreas, and is necessary for the body tissues to use to absorb blood sugar. Without insulin, sugar remains in the blood stream and eventually passes into the urine. This causes increased urine production and thirst. Hunger is increased because the body cannot use the sugar in the blood. As diabetes progresses, chemicals called ketones accumulate, resulting in vomiting and dehydration. Eventually coma and then death occur in untreated animals. Diabetes is not a curable disease, but with proper insulin administration, the disease can be controlled. Although not the most common of dog diseases, as many as several hundred thousand dogs may be affected.

Diabetes mellitus is common in middle-aged and older dogs, especially female dogs, but it is also seen in young dogs of both sexes. Certain breeds of dogs also experience above-average incidences of diabetes. Breeds that tend to have a predisposition for diabetes mellitus include: Toy Poodles, Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and Pomeranians.

If you notice any change in your dog or cat's behavior that might indicate diabetes, take your pet to an animal hospital right away. Your veterinarian will need to measure the level of glucose in your pet's blood and urine and check for other diseases that might be causing these signs. Even if your cat or dog does have high blood sugar, it doesn't necessarily indicate diabetes. Sometimes, animals under stress or on medication develop a temporary elevation of blood glucose (transient hyperglycemia). Your veterinarian may therefore suggest repeating the blood and urine tests in a few days.

Understanding Insulin
During digestion, your dog’s food is broken down into smaller components for use by the body. Carbohydrates are converted into various sugars, including glucose. Glucose is absorbed from the intestines into the blood and provides the body’s cells with energy. However, glucose can only enter into most cells if the hormone known as insulin is present.

Insulin is produced by specific cells in the pancreas.

In diabetic dogs, these cells in the pancreas produce little or no insulin. When this happens, glucose cannot enter into the body’s cells and therefore begins to accumulate in the blood, causing the condition known as diabetes mellitus. Simply put, diabetes results from a shortage of insulin.

Insulin Fast Facts

Insulin is a hormone that keeps your dog’s glucose concentration at a normal level.

Insulin is produced by certain cells in the pancreas.

In diabetic animals, these cells produce little or no insulin.

Useful Tips

Diabetes in dogs, like the similar disease in people, is usually manageable and can have little effect on your dog's ability to live a full and happy life. But as with many potentially serious health problems, owners must be attentive to their dog's well-being so they can seek professional care at the earliest signs of sickness or decline, and before serious damage is done.

Females should be spayed because the hormone levels during their heat cycle disrupt control of diabetes.

DO NOT limit the dog's water intake. This is very crucial, because the dog will need all the water it needs. This will prevent dehydration.

Diabetic dogs are more susceptible than healthy dogs to infections, especially urinary tract infections. The increased sugar in the urine creates an environment more hospitable to infectious agents. So owner should pay extra attention to your dog's overall health status; these infections usually can be detected early and treated routinely.

If a diabetic cat gets too much insulin or doesn't eat enough food, its blood sugar could dip to dangerously low levels (hypoglycemic shock), causing seizures and even death. To be safe, always make sure your cat is interested in food before you administer insulin. Also, keep careful track of injections so your cat doesn't get double dose from two separate caretakers. When in doubt, no insulin is better than too much. If your cat is acting very sluggish, is having a seizure, or is unconscious, you must raise its blood-glucose level immediately. If possible, get your pet to eat something. But if the animal is unable to eat, dip a cotton ball or your finger in Karo syrup (or maple syrup, in a pinch) and swab it over your cat's gums. The gums will absorb some of the sugar, which should help bring your cat out of shock. Once your cat begins to respond, immediately take the animal to your veterinarian.

Diaxol, an all-natural product reverses pet's diabetes. Diaxol helps to lower pet's blood sugar and heal pet diabetes. Diaxol™, has been clinically proven to be 99% effective for pet diabetes. It contains no chemically generated-compounds, fillers, or artificial additives and unlike pharmaceutical drugs, Diaxol™ does not require a prescription and has ZERO negative side effects.

It's always best to prevent diabetes than trying desperately to cure it. Keep your dog healthy! Take good care of your dog. Watch what your dog eats.

Breeding Goldfish

2006-12-08T18:06:00.000+08:00

Goldfish will only breed if they are fit and not overcrowded. Before anyone can breed goldfish, he needs to tell the difference between the sexes of the goldfish.

Differentiating a male goldfish and a female goldfish:
The male goldfish has raised tubercles(pimples) on the gill-plate and on the leading rays of the pectoral fins. These rough surfaces are used to excite the female when pre-spawning courting and the violent chase take place.

The female in breeding season usually appears stouter on one side than the other. Most females do not have tubercles but there are exceptions. Sometimes, though rarely, females show as many tubercles as any male; and on the other hand, some males never have tubercles.

Many aquarists buy breeding trios consisting of two males and a female, but it is better to buy a half-dozen youngsters and select the breeders as they mature. It is almost a certainty that at least two pairs exist in any random selection of six young goldfish.

Pre-spawning Chase
Breeding will usually begin with a prelimary halfhearted chase. Make sure the tank has no rocks or rough surfaces.

Fertilization
The actual fertilization of the eggs take place outside the female. After a wild chase the female will dash into a bank of weeds and, by a violent flapping movement, spray some of her eggs. The male or males will follow as closely as possible, also flappign violently. While this flapping is going on, the male often presses his gill-plates hard against the head or abdomen of the female.

The eggs at first are very small, smaller than a grain of sugar, but very quickly swell by absorbing water to double their size. This swelling sometimes occur within 10s after spawning; they may swell a little after this but the greatest absorption of water occurs very rapidly. While the egg is absorbing water and swelling, sperm that is shed as the male gives off milt(the reproductive secretion) is drawn into the egg through a tiny opening known as the micropyle. Thus fertilization takes place.

Breeding Condition
Feeding is an important factor getting fish into breeding condition. A good diet at the right time is essential. After you have conditioned the goldfish with proper feeding, you can prepare for the eventual spawning. Since goldfish devour their eggs, you should provide separate container for the bunches of plants to which the eggs will adhere. The eggs will hatch in about four day time, taking care about the temperature and air condition of the water.

For best results keep males and females separated before breeding. Feed them well with a variety of foods - good quality dry food supplemented with live food. When the breeders are well conditioned and ready for breeding prepare an aquarium or pond with mesh water. The ratio we recommend is 3 males to 2 females. The fish will generally spawn with an increase in temperature of about 2ºC. You can either let this happen naturally as weather patterns change, or spawning can be induced by simply raising the temperature a little. Goldfish will breed at any temperature between 10-26ºC, although about 20ºC is the optimum. It is important to remember that it is the change in temperature not the actual temperature, which triggers spawning activity.

Although the eggs will hatch after 3-5 days, the embryo needs 3 days or so to absorb all the yolk. It is important not to feed the fry until after the 3rd day and they have consumed the yolk. Once the fry have digested the yolk, they require copious amounts of live food. Feed them on a diet of infusorians, newly hatched brine shrimp, and sifted daphnia. Liquifry, boiled egg yolk fed through a stocking and after a week finely powdered dry food may also be fed. Care must be taken not to overfeed fry as excess food will quickly pollute the water and kill all the young fry. Make sure you give the fry plenty of good quality food, good water quality, along with plenty of space to swim in and watch how quickly they will grow!

Selecting Goldfish

2006-12-07T17:54:00.000+08:00

The scientific name for the Goldfish is Carassius Auratus Auratus (Family: Cyprinidae, Species: Carassius auratus). The small goldfish are usually called comets. Goldfish are descendant of the carp. Carp were the first ornamental fish to be kept. Our modern goldfish are actually domesticated Crucian carp from the slow-moving waters of China. The red and white goldfish was first developed in 12th-century China by selective breeding of the occasionally colorful carp that would otherwise be destined to be dinner on their plate! Goldfish were introduced to England in the 1600s, where they, and the hobby, began its long road to popularity.

When selecting goldfish, select healthy, active fish from a tank of healthy fish. If there are any sick fish in the tank, it's a good bet all may become sick. Never buy fish that float at the surface whenever they stop swimming.

Fins
The fins of a goldfish control its movements. The movement of a fish is acheived by the alternating movement of muscles in desired direction and stability. Even when the goldfish is motionless, the pectorals continue to move at intervals. This movement may bring a change of water, with renewed oxygen content, to the fish's head region.

Always pick goldfish that can move with extreme precision and with all fins alert and in use. If the fish is not physically damaged, has no missing scales, torn fins or signs of blood on body or fins, you will avoid initial trouble. A sick fish is a sad creature. Even in the first stages of disease, it will have a drooping dorsal fin, closed ventral fins or it will move queerly.

Colours
Goldfish come in many colours - red, white, brown, black, gold, yellow, orange, or a combination of these colors. Some goldfish are strongly coloured blue, purple, orange or black. You can see these colours at their best only if the fish are sufficiently protected from strong light. The colour of a goldfish changes as its environment changes. If a wild carp is placed in a white bowl, its colour will gradually recede until within twenty minutes the fish will have a pale, wash-out appearance. If it is then placed in a flack bowl, its colour will return to normal in about the same length of time. However, this colour change will not take place on blind fish or on goldfish that cannot see their background. This is because the eye sets off nervous impulses that cause the colour cells to contract or expand according to the light impulses received. Thus, a fish kept continually over a light-coloured gravel will not show as much intensity of colour as it would if it had a darker background.

Swimbladders
The swimbladder is the organ that is responsible for a fish’s buoyancy in the water. Goldfish are extremely sensitive to swimbladder problems, especially the fancy types because of the globoid shape of their stomach. The swimbladder is the organ that is responsible for a fish’s buoyancy in the water. If you feed pellets dry, they will expand in the fish's stomach, blocking the pneumocystic duct, so that the swimbladder cannot inflate or deflate properly. This results in goldfish that become “sinkers”, that is, they cannot rise from the bottom of the tank or more commonly “floaters”, who bob like a cork at the surface and cannot swim downward in the water and remain submerged.

Sex: Male Or Female Goldfish
There are a few ways to sex goldfish. This is best done after the fish has reached sexual maturity, which may occur anywhere from 9 months to 2 years after hatching. This is easiest to accomplish during breeding, when males chase and nip at females. The males also develop “breeding tubercles”, which look like small white spots or pimples on their gill covers and this should not be confused with the parasite, Ich, which would also be on other areas of the body. It is possible for females to develop tubercles, but this is rare and they develop fewer than the males do. During breeding, the female goldfish's body may become larger, indicating that she is carrying eggs.

The most reliable method of determining your goldfish’s gender is by examining the fish's vent (anal opening), which is located under its’ underside between the tail and anal fins. If the vent sticks out a bit, you have a female. A male’s vent does not stick out, but instead goes inward.

In general, females are usually larger in body and have larger anal fins than males. Males usually have thicker and longer pectoral fins than females.

Another sexing technique, which is not very reliable, looks at symmetry of the goldfish’s body. With this technique, when viewing the goldfish from the top down, the sides of the male’s body are more narrow and symmetrical, while the female's sides are more broad and asymmetric.

Caring For Goldfish

2006-12-06T17:34:00.000+08:00

Goldfish, with ordinary care, are very hardy and can live well in captivity (if their few requirements are provided).

Tank
Goldfish need at least 10 gallons of water each, and the larger goldfish require as much as 30 gallons per goldfish in order to remain healthy and thrive. They are an active fish requiring space to maneuver and swim in. Goldfish also require filtration and aeration of the water. These provide movement of the water’s surface, allowing for oxygen exchange, so that the water becomes better filled with oxygen. Goldfish need a lot of dissolved oxygen in the water. Typically, a goldfish tank’s filter system should turnover the tank’s water a minimum of 10 times per hour… a far cry from what happens in a goldfish bowl!

Goldfish pass a lot of waste, in the form of ammonia, mostly via respiration across their gills. This and other harmful chemicals, such as nitrite and nitrate, that you can’t see, will build up in the water quickly. If the levels of ammonia and nitrite are above zero, the fish may become quite ill or even die. Ammonia will build up in less than one day in a goldfish bowl! When your goldfish lives in a higher volume of water, it is easier to maintain proper water quality, when these chemicals are being produced in the water. Your goldfish's proper-sized tank should be cycled and nitrate levels kept at less than 20 ppm.

You may have seen some goldfish living in bowls that appear to be fine but they really aren't! They are under constant stress from the chemicals, and the stress compromises their immune system, which will eventually lead to illness and death. Under such conditions, their growth is often stunted. Goldfish under normal conditions grow to be quite large, easily reaching 6 inches and some will grow to 12 inches or more. Some of the larger goldfish eventually need as much as 30 gallons each as they grow and need proper tank space in order to be able to swim. Goldfish are innately schooling fish, so do better when kept in at least a pair. Therefore, in order to meet all of these needs, we recommend that the minimum tank size required for one to two grown non-fancy goldfish (e.g. Common, Comet), who grow to 8-12" is a 55-gallon tank (48" x 13" x 20"), while the minimum tank for one to two grown fancy-type goldfish, who grow to 6-8", would be a 20-gallon "long" tank. Any of these goldfish may grow larger than the averages stated here and would therefore need even larger tanks or to be housed in a pond. Remember though that bigger is better!

Keep decoration to a minimum. Goldfish need room to swim. They can get stuck between or under decorations. Avoid sharp decorations that they could get hurt on. Gravel should be small enough to pass through a goldfish or use bigger rocks. Plants can be used with goldfish but not always with success.

Water
This concerns the goldfish's breathing. They depend for dissolved oxygen in the water for
survival. Normally, any gaseous exchange occurs takes place at the surface of the water. Oxygen that is used up will be more quickly replaced in wide shallow containers than in narrow, deeper ones. While a small fish may quickly exhaust all the available oxygen in a pint of water if contained in a deep container, it could be reasonably comfortable in the same pint of water if placed in a shallow container. The fact largely decides the shape of the desired aquarium.

Other than the size of the aquarium, the temperature of the water also affects oxygen content of the water. Cold water will retain far more dissolved oxygen than warm water. A suffocating goldfish will swim with its mouth open at the surface of the water in an attempt to breathe the oxygen in the air.

Tap water usually contains some chlorine, which can harm your fish if you add tpa water to their tank too soon. But chlorine soon leaves the water as it is allowed to stand, especially if the water is agitated by means of aeration or a filter. Another way to remove chlorine from water is by usign commerical de-chlorinizing compounds available at aquarium shops.

Temperature
Goldfish are cold-blooded. They have poikilothermic, that is, any rise in the temperature of their water will be followed by a rise in the temperature of their blood. Any rapid changes in water temperature caused by the effect of room temperatures on the small volume of water will eventually be fatal to the goldfish. The aquarium must be placed in a room that does not fluctuate between extreme cold at night and excessive heat during the day (unless you install an electric heater with thermostatic control).

Food
Goldfish are members of the carp family and they are largely vegetable eaters and bottom feeders. There are a varieties of fish food available for goldfish, including all of those produced for tropical fishes. Generally it is better to underfeed your goldfish(provided that the aquarium is well planted). Live food are the best food for all varieties of goldfish and a little and often is preferable to large meals at infrequent intervals. There are many dried foods available in the market too. Always be sure that nothing is left to decay on the bottom of the aquarium.

Feed goldfish once or twice a day (more often if they are babies and juveniles) and a varied diet. Do not overfeed. If you feed dry food (pellets or flakes) make sure they are good quality ones and not too old. Feed a varied diet of shrimp; krill and some live foods such as daphnia and worms. Some goldfish are sensitive to dry food - particularly dry flakes. You may have to presoak your dry food.

Goldfish

2006-12-05T11:45:00.000+08:00

There are many fancy breeds of goldfish, including Orandas, Telescope-eyes, Celestials, Lionheads, and more. Fancy goldfish are round-bodied fish and some have "popped" or "telescope" eyes (e.g. Moors), eyes that only gaze upwards (e.g. Celestials), and some that have an arched back (e.g. Ryukins). Fancy-type goldfish have different needs than the Comet with respect to temperature and environment. For example, the Bubble-eye goldfish with its' massive sacs underneath the eyes requires a tank enironment with no jagged or pointy objects, so that the sacs will not get punctured.

Originating in China, Goldfish are known to be the oldest "aquarium" fish. They arrived in the United States somewhere between the 18th and 19th century and have became the most common pet found in households today! They have been kept as pets longer than any other species of fish. Goldfish are the easiest fish in the world to keep in a home aquarium. They are easier to care for than tropical fish. They are extremely enjoyable and rewarding when kept as pets, as long as their requirements are met. They come in seven main types: original, oranda, ryukin, lionhead, pearlscale, telescope, and bubble eye.

Goldfish are similar in their behavior, required care, and habits. Goldfish are not tropical fish; therefore, they do not require tropical temperatures such as some fish. They have an average life span of 12 to 20 years. Among the many varieties and colours of goldfish, the most common or familiar goldfish seen in the fish stores and pet shops are Commons or Comets.

Scales
Goldfish scales are large. There are 26-35 rows of scales from the gill opening to the beginning of the tail(the caudal peduncle). The line of scales in the middle of the side has little dots. These dots are really pits that make up the lateral line, a sense organ that makes the fish sensitive to low sounds and to temperature changes in the water. The exact functions of the lateral line are not fully known, but further study may provide other vital information about the fish's environment.

Three kinds of scales are found on various types of goldfish. The difference is caused by the amount of reflecting tissue on the back of the scales and behind them.

The first of the scale groups are often known as scaled type goldfish, but are badly named, since all goldfish have scales. A better name is metallic-scaled. This aptly describes the metallic luster on the common goldfish.

The second group also have a badly-chosen name. They are known as calico goldfish. A better name is nacreous fish, for this describes the slight shine to the scales, through which show the many vaired calico colours.

The last group, errorneously called scaleless, are perhaps better described as matt fish. Here there is no shine at all. The irridicytes, the crystal-like substance in the scales that produces the shine, are entirely absent so that the body appears transparent, especially with pale and flesh-coloured specimens.

Pigments
There are only three colour pigments in goldfish: orange, yellow and black. Any other colour must be produced by combinations of these together with the refraction of light caused by the colours' depth in the body wall. The beautiful blues come from the black pigment which is dispersed in the body wall in such a way that it gives the appearance of blue.

The enormous difference in shape, fins and colour among the many different types of goldfish is the result of careful selective breeding over the years. If different types are kept together, they will readily interbreed and produce worthless fish with a mixture of characteristics.

Swim Bladders
Internally, a goldfish has two small bladders filled with gas. These lie directly behind the head and above the gut. They are known as the swim bladders, and besides helping the goldfish to maintain its balance they act as an additional method of hearing through a complicated series of little bones known as the Weberian ossicles. But the swim bladders can be a nuisance to the fish, since any chilling is likely to affect them and cause severe imbalance in the body. A goldfish troubled with this will be unable to leave the bottom of the tank for any length of time.

Teeth
The teeth of goldfish are very small. They are arranged in two rows of four each and they bite against a hard pad that forms the upper palate. The number and arrangement of teeth, incidentally, are used to identify the different members of the carp family.

Dog's Motivation

2006-12-02T00:55:00.000+08:00

Almost every culture in the world keeps pets, and the dog is the world's favourite pets. Why do people keep dogs as pets? Why do we love dogs? Why do sick people feel happier and better when they have dogs around? Why do the elderly people feel happier and gain more motivation in life when they started keeping dogs as pets?

Dogs give us inspiration and motivation. Looking at them make us forget our problems and anxiety. Whether you are a dog owner or a dog lover, when you see a dog, you feel happy. Dog is our best motivational 'speaker'.

Dogs do not hold grudges. Dogs are always your loyal friends. No matter how you treat them, they always regard you as your faithful 'parent'. When you are sad, they can sense it. They would be the first one to know. They would be the first one to come to 'kiss' you.

Dogs are always there to 'listen' to your sorrows if you are willing to pour all your sorrows and share with him. They will be your most faithful listener and you will be most sure that they will not reveal any of your secrets out.

Having a dog train you to be a more responsible person. It makes you a more sensible 'parent'. You need to care about the well-fare of your little 'child'. Your confidence is greatly increase when your little 'child' is able to obey your command of 'sit', 'stay', 'come' and so on.

It is said that dogs are able to see spirits. Dogs will howl or bark when they see it. Dogs also can help the blind. Dogs are companions to the elderly. Dogs are children's friends too. Dogs help to calm a person's mind. Our sense of security is greatly increased, when you know that there is a 'body guide' by your side.

No one will say no to a lovable dog. No one can resist the charm and innocence of a dog. No matter what kind of mood you have, the magical power of the dog is wonderful. It is your best medicine and vitamins for your life. Your beloved pet dog brightens up your day. Walking in the park with your dog, makes your body healthier. Watching your dog rolling on the floor, watching the dog 'chasing' after a toy car makes you laugh. Dogs are funny animals. They make you feel happier. Daily companion of dogs will bring you feeling more youthful, feeling more cheerful, and a best of all an enriching life that is filled with dog's motivation. Dog is our ultimate Health Motivator.

Dog's Inspiration

2006-12-01T16:13:00.000+08:00

Dogs is not only our best Health Motivator, it has many other advantages and uses.
With many parents busy working nowadays, many children are left alone at home maid and the pet. Children turn to dog as their best playmates and dog is their best friend. Not only do children talk to the dog, they also play with the dog. Dog inspire the child to be a responsible person, inspire her/him to be more caring towards the little friend. The dog inspire the girl/boy to look forward to every day's life, seeking his faithful dog friend's companion. Every where the little child goes, the faithful and loyal dog will sure follows.

Taking care of dogs, giving food and water to the dogs, help to train children to become a better and more responsible person. It also cultivate a children's love for animals. It inspire children to think of ways and means to care for their 'playmates'.

Dogs, like human beings, are warm-blooded animals. Dogs love to sleep under the desk, on rugs, under the beds, or in a quiet corner of the house. Many times, when the dog is sleeping under the desk, patiently and quietly keeping the owner company, the dog owner can seek warm, stroking gently on the furry pet dog, using the legs (dog owner), while you do your paper work at your desk. It is such a warm feeling both physically and mentally.

When you feel warm in the heart, knowing that there is such a kind and faithful 'friend' always by your side, never betrays you, never shout back at you, never answer you back, never and never will be angry with you, you are so inspired and so motivated to continue happily and calmly you feel at ease and inspired to do your paper work with all your heart.

When you are tired after a day's work, you need a rest. When you feel bored, you want a rest. When you feel tired with life, you want a place to rest too. Your dog is the most comfortable pillow for you to rest. Not only do you feel warm physically, you feel warm in your heart as well. You just feel so close to your dog. The feeling is so good! It is the best ecstasy pill one can ever get.

Dogs are for all ages of people (of course not for baby). When you are old, with children having their own lives, with best friends leaving you, you are lonely, having a dog keep you company. Keeping a dog adds more meaning to your life. Keeping a dog makes old people happier. Old people have 'someone' to talk to, 'someone' to care for and 'someone' to sleep with and rely on. The dog is the inspiration for the elderly and lonely people. Rearing dog helps the elderly to 'forget' all their sorrows or got no time to even think of their 'sorrows', and everyday is made more positive and healthier, having to exercise together with their dog in the park.

Walking in the park is another inspiration for the elderly and for all the dog owners as well. After a hectic day's work, bringing the dog out for a walk in the gardens, listen to nature's sound, the birds chirping, gentle breeze in the garden, with your dog by your side, inspire you to explore more about nature around you.

When you find that life is meaningless and you think that there's nothing worth to do, bring ecstasy to life by having dogs. Dogs are miraculous creatures. They do wonders for your health. They can act as your pillow, as cushions and as your massagers (lie down on the floor or bed, let your dog walk on you). Dogs are a great helper at home. They eat up all the rice for you the moment you spill them on the floor. Their fur help you to 'sweep' the floor. Dogs are your best laughter medicine and best ecstasy pills you can ever get.

Your dog inspire you to think of tomorrow. Tomorrow is another great day for you and your dog. The inspiration we can get from dogs are plentiful. The inspiration from dogs, our best friend, our best companion, just drive us to looking forward and towards the every moment of life. Every moments that you spent with your dogs make you feel your existence in Inspiration Paradise.

Talk Dogs

2006-11-30T17:51:00.000+08:00

Dogs first came on the scene in Eurasia between 12 000 and 14 000 years ago.

The most popular pet worldwide is the domestic dog, Canis familiaris. It holds a unique position in human society. The relationship between dog and man is that of two more or less carnivorous mammals that have shared shelter, food, wheather, and fortune; exploited, quarrelled with, and fawned over one another; worked, played and endured together for a hundred centuries. Not even the horse has been so intimately involved in recent human evolution.

Man has employed dogs in a rich variety of ways -- as guards, guides, hunters, war-machines, rodent controllers, draught animals, and foot-warmers, as well as providers of hair and meat. Today, dogs are popularly kept as pets by people of all ages. There are about 400 breeds of dogs. Although their sizes and shapes vary enormously, all dogs are essentially the same design of animal, not far removed from their primitive ancestors. They are resilient and adaptable creatures, and the process of evolution has not found it necessary to alter them much.

Children turn to dogs for companionship, love, fun and comfort. Dogs often seem drawn to children, in whom they may sense kindred playful spirits.

The number of different breeds means that there will always be one just right for you, no matter what your taste, fitness, accomodation or purse. And whatever you choose, giant or Toy, pedigree or mongrel, athlete or lap-dog, you can be sure that, if treated with care and intelligence, it will repay your kindness a hundredfold in companionship and affection. It may eventually become your best friend.

Children who have pets tend to be more self-reliant, more sociable and less selfish than children without pets.

Besides companionship, the dog has proven scientifically to help people to reduce stress, dog owners are known to have lower risks of getting heart diseases. Not only can dog enriches the lives of lonely elderly, they also promote their overall well-being, making them happier. Dogs have the ability to sense whether you have cancer a not!

Many times, having a pet like the dog, enlarges your social circle as well. When you need to bring the dog for a walk, you are exercising with the dog. In the park, you meet other dog owners and you always allow your dog to interact with others' dogs. And many times, conversation just created just like that and friendship just created in an instant. Socializing with their dogs also allow dog owners to be happier too.

Having a dog needs your commitments and time to care about it. You need to show it with love and care before they can trust you and love you back. In order to be your dog's best friend, you need to know and understand dogs behaviour, their anatomy, how their body works, how to train your dog and so on. For example, one of the questions among hundreds of questions dog owners might have, would be what food should we not give and should we give to the dog? Many times, we want to get opinions, and we want to make sure that we are doing the right thing and that we are not giving our dogs the wrong food. We want to have the feeling that 'you are not the only one feeding the dog this way and that'. So it is very common for dogs owners to share about their problems and how they train their dogs, how they take care of their dogs and so on.

In addition, dogs, like human, will face health problems. When our dog reaches old age or faces health problems, we want opinions and answers. We want to know who are the people out there who have the same problems and how to solve these problems. Besides going to the bookshops or libraries to do some research on books, a lot of websites also offer help on dog's health topics.

All good things come to an end some day. Our dog, our best friend cannot escape from death also. When your dog is put to death due to unforseen circumstances or when your dog died unexpectedly, dog owners are very depressed and feel lost. Dog forums enables you to share your sorrow with dog lovers. ( Dogforums.com is a new online message board for dog lovers. It is a great place to meet friends, talk dog, and have some doggone fun! ) All dog owners want to talk about their dogs. They want to talk about their dogs' health problems, their behaviour problems, exchange ideas with their dogs' friends and even share their joys and happiness with their dogs' friends. When your dog is lost or is dead you want to talk about it too, so that you will feel better. Regardless of which forums you go to, a dog forums definitely allows you talk dogs.

Pets For Children

2006-11-16T10:45:00.000+08:00

Dangerous Pets
Not all animals are safe to be kept as pets, especially when children are involved. Some animals may be cute and adorable, but they are dangerous to be kept as pets — they aren't used to being around people and may carry diseases that can be transmitted to your child. People mistakenly believe they can tame a wild animal. Instead, you should teach your child to stay away from animals in the wild, and never to touch, feed, or try to take an animal home.

And just because you can buy a pet from the pet store doesn't mean it's safe for homes with kids. Animals that may not be safe for children are:

* hedgehogs
* prairie dogs
* ferrets
* chinchillas
* monkeys

In addition, many people don't realize that reptiles (such as turtles, snakes, lizards, and iguanas) transmit salmonella, a kind of bacteria, through their feces. The salmonella bacteria are transmitted through direct contact with reptiles or by touching surfaces and people who have had contact with reptiles. Pet reptiles are an especially bad idea if anyone in your house, such as infants and elderly people, faces greater health risks from a salmonella infection. If you're seriously considering having a reptile as a pet, check with your family doctor or veterinarian about what special precautions, such as regular hand washing, should be taken.

Dogs and cats can also spread infections. For example, pets that are often outdoors easily pick up ticks, which can carry diseases such as Lyme disease. This shouldn't stop you from owning a dog or cat, though. There are effective preventative tick treatments and collars that can help decrease the number of ticks that find your pet. As with your children, if you live in a wooded area, you should check your pets regularly for ticks.

It's also important to pay attention to which dogs aren't recommended for first-time owners. For example, some larger breeds, such as Doberman Pinschers, Dalmatians, and Great Danes, may not be child-safe because they can grow to be more than 50 pounds. Also, bites from very large dogs can do a lot more damage than those from smaller dogs. And, of course, avoid choosing a dog that's been specifically bred to be an aggressive fighter (such as some Pit Bulls or Rottweilers).

Safe Pets
Some common domesticated animals that can make good family pets include:

* cats
* dogs
* rabbits
* guinea pigs
* hamsters
* gerbils
* birds
* fish

But be careful about labeling a certain animal or breed as unquestionably safe. There are exceptions to every rule, and any animal may scratch or bite if put in a dangerous situation. Before you decide on any kind of animal for your family, learn as much as you can about your pet-to-be:

1. Read pet guides, which explain the various personalities, tendencies, and backgrounds of specific breeds in detail.

For example, some breeds (such as certain terriers or Chihuahuas) are known for their feistiness and are considered less tolerant of children — especially if they aren't raised with kids from puppyhood.

Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, on the other hand, have excellent reputations as family-friendly dogs. Also look around for guides (at your local bookstore, on the Internet, or at animal shelters) about taking care of different kinds of pets.

2. Set up a consultation visit with a veterinarian to talk about what you're looking for in a pet and to ask questions.

3. If you're thinking about buying a dog from a pet store, first ask where they get their dogs and puppies. It's not uncommon for pet stores to purchase dogs from "puppy mills," where they may be poorly bred and, therefore, may have physical and/or behavioral problems.

4. Ask neighbours and friends about their experiences with various kinds of pets.

Click here to read about my pet hamsters and my experiences of it.