Edible rewards are useful in raining puppies, while snacks can be convenient pacifiers and distractions. But do not imagine that your dog necessarily likes your favorite treats. He will accept a piece of candy or a potato chip if he sees you eating one. But he would probably prefer any number of unlikely foods, such as grapes, asparagus, tomatoes, peaches, pears, cherries, onions, and even garlic and walnuts.
Snacks and treats should never be given in excess or in place of a meal. The average owner is seldom aware of the effect of an improper diet on his dog until it has caused a serious health problem. It is usually noticed by your vet during a checkup. When you want to offer your dog a snack, for example let it be:
- A dog biscuit
- Canine vitaminized candy drops
- A raw carrot
- An apple
- Small pieces of whole wheat cookies
- Bits of cheese
- Pieces of cooked liver (used by show dog handlers)
- A suitable bone
Offer treats as rewards for obeying some command, no matter how simple. Without a reason, the "treat" becomes just more food that he will expect in the future. Try to resist giving food to a dog who begs for it, (easier said than done, I know), or at least command him to sit first. Never give him tidbits from the dinner table, (another tough order to follow), as it will only cause him to make a nuisance of himself in the future. The best method is to feed him before you eat, this way he won't be as hungry and he may join you for the pleasure of your company, not your food!
2008年8月28日星期四
2008年8月23日星期六
Cheap Pet Insurance And Pet Care
Purchasing cheap pet insurance can help the family to have the security that their family pets will be able to get the health care they deserve, without the stress of figuring out how to pay for the veterinary pet bills.
Pet insurance is a fairly new insurance product on the market. It has become a great way for average families to be able to have the sense of peace and security that the pet will be properly cared for in case they encounter some type of illness.
When the idea of pet health insurance was brought up some twenty years ago, some scoffed at the idea and considered it a new way for insurance companies to make money. Others laughed it off as being a luxury that only celebrities or the wealthy would ever consider. But, in the ensuing years, cheap pet insurance has proven to be of significant benefit to many families that might otherwise find themselves under financial stress to pay for needed veterinarian services.
The best news is that with the advent of more affordable and cheaper pet insurance, people are able to relax knowing that their pet will be taken care of in times of need. This takes away the worry and concern that is often in the back of people's minds. When a family budget is already stretched thin to take care of necessities for the children in the household, adding concern about an illness or accident with the family pet can place additional stress on the parents.
Now that pet health insurance has been on the market for a few years, there are more and more providers entering the arena and bringing competition. This has the beneficial effect for the consumer of lower prices and making cheaper pet insurance available. There are now options for veterinary pet care coverage that can be obtained for just a few dollars a month as the premium.
However, it should be noted that cheaper pet insurance is not always the best pet insurance for your particular needs and for your specific situation. One of the things to watch out for when doing any kind of pet insurance comparison is to uncover how reliable the company behind the policy is. It can be terribly frustrating and expensive to make a decision to go forward with a procedure for your pet based on expected coverage and then run into excuses and run-around's by the insurer trying to avoid paying the veterinarian.
One way to avoid this problem with any kind of pet insurance, is to do your homework. Ask questions about how long the company has been in business. Search the internet forums for people who have had experience with the pet insurance company you are considering. Check with your veterinarian and ask if they know the company and if they have ever had problems with being paid promptly.
Investing a bit of time to do research can help you to avoid some of the possible negative outcomes of choosing cheap pet insurance. It is a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau to find where the pet insurance company you are considering is located and how they resolve complaints. This extra investigative work will pay off because you will know that you have secured the right pet health insurance, and you can rest assured the coverage is legitimate, if it is needed.
Pet insurance is a fairly new insurance product on the market. It has become a great way for average families to be able to have the sense of peace and security that the pet will be properly cared for in case they encounter some type of illness.
When the idea of pet health insurance was brought up some twenty years ago, some scoffed at the idea and considered it a new way for insurance companies to make money. Others laughed it off as being a luxury that only celebrities or the wealthy would ever consider. But, in the ensuing years, cheap pet insurance has proven to be of significant benefit to many families that might otherwise find themselves under financial stress to pay for needed veterinarian services.
The best news is that with the advent of more affordable and cheaper pet insurance, people are able to relax knowing that their pet will be taken care of in times of need. This takes away the worry and concern that is often in the back of people's minds. When a family budget is already stretched thin to take care of necessities for the children in the household, adding concern about an illness or accident with the family pet can place additional stress on the parents.
Now that pet health insurance has been on the market for a few years, there are more and more providers entering the arena and bringing competition. This has the beneficial effect for the consumer of lower prices and making cheaper pet insurance available. There are now options for veterinary pet care coverage that can be obtained for just a few dollars a month as the premium.
However, it should be noted that cheaper pet insurance is not always the best pet insurance for your particular needs and for your specific situation. One of the things to watch out for when doing any kind of pet insurance comparison is to uncover how reliable the company behind the policy is. It can be terribly frustrating and expensive to make a decision to go forward with a procedure for your pet based on expected coverage and then run into excuses and run-around's by the insurer trying to avoid paying the veterinarian.
One way to avoid this problem with any kind of pet insurance, is to do your homework. Ask questions about how long the company has been in business. Search the internet forums for people who have had experience with the pet insurance company you are considering. Check with your veterinarian and ask if they know the company and if they have ever had problems with being paid promptly.
Investing a bit of time to do research can help you to avoid some of the possible negative outcomes of choosing cheap pet insurance. It is a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau to find where the pet insurance company you are considering is located and how they resolve complaints. This extra investigative work will pay off because you will know that you have secured the right pet health insurance, and you can rest assured the coverage is legitimate, if it is needed.
2008年8月14日星期四
A Guide To Housing Guinea Pigs & Children
It may seem like a cute concept at first however, mixing guinea pigs and children can often bring about fatal consequences due to the size of the guinea pig. A guinea pig is a great pet for children also despite it's small size and if it is properly cared for and very young children are supervised when visiting the pet, the outcome is often a very rewarding and moral building experience for both the guinea pigs and children. In order to better understand what potential dangers can be experienced lets have a more in-depth look at the relationship between guinea pigs and children.
Conflicting Dangers Between Guinea Pigs & Children
There are a number of conflicting dangers when trying to house both guinea pigs and children and the major one is the defenselessness of a pig when a small child is being too rough. It is a common occurrence that young children that are unsupervised while handling pigs can not only cause severe harm but the potential for death although it is quite innocent and accidental. Young children should absolutely be well supervised while playing with any small animal and it should take place quite often so that the tiny animal gets used to the child and vice versa.
The other serious danger with guinea pigs and children is that many times the parents buy the child a pet with the surrounding conditions that the child or children have to be completely responsible for the little pig and this can have dire consequences. Despite how mature and responsible your child is it is imperative that you have a role in the daily maintenance of the guinea pig to ensure it is getting proper nutrition daily. When this scenario happens, most often the guinea pig ends up on the suffering end of the stick while the children play quite oblivious to the condition of the pet. If this describes your situation, please make sure you have an active role in overseeing the daily maintenance involving small animals and children.
The last possible danger with housing guinea pigs and children is that if the guinea pig has free run time, it isn't unheard of to have children fall on top of the household pet leading to serious endings. It is best to keep the guinea pigs and children separate with free roam and run time to avoid an undesirable outcome.
Conflicting Dangers Between Guinea Pigs & Children
There are a number of conflicting dangers when trying to house both guinea pigs and children and the major one is the defenselessness of a pig when a small child is being too rough. It is a common occurrence that young children that are unsupervised while handling pigs can not only cause severe harm but the potential for death although it is quite innocent and accidental. Young children should absolutely be well supervised while playing with any small animal and it should take place quite often so that the tiny animal gets used to the child and vice versa.
The other serious danger with guinea pigs and children is that many times the parents buy the child a pet with the surrounding conditions that the child or children have to be completely responsible for the little pig and this can have dire consequences. Despite how mature and responsible your child is it is imperative that you have a role in the daily maintenance of the guinea pig to ensure it is getting proper nutrition daily. When this scenario happens, most often the guinea pig ends up on the suffering end of the stick while the children play quite oblivious to the condition of the pet. If this describes your situation, please make sure you have an active role in overseeing the daily maintenance involving small animals and children.
The last possible danger with housing guinea pigs and children is that if the guinea pig has free run time, it isn't unheard of to have children fall on top of the household pet leading to serious endings. It is best to keep the guinea pigs and children separate with free roam and run time to avoid an undesirable outcome.
2008年8月9日星期六
Pet Photography Professional Techniques
OK. You have your pet. You have your camera. You have the desire. Why can't you get a picture that doesn't show the back of your pet's head as he/she walks away from the camera or a shot of an oversized nose as they try to sniff your lens?
The professionals make it seem so easy, don't they? I've noticed that when you read their instructions about how "easy" it is, you wind up more confused than ever and get completely lost in the ISO's of the thing-a-ma-gigs and the whatzit number on the whoszits.
Let's get some basics in here. We know you may not be interested in becomming a professional photographer. You may not even be interested in taking a professional looking photo of your pet. You may simply want a nice photo of Skippy to stick in your wallet, on your fridge, or in a frame on the piano that doesn't make him look like an alien.
First of all, if you're still using film and you're shooting outside, stick to ISO 400. Suffice to say it will help make your pet photos less blurry. If you are inside, go for ISO 800 since chances are you will have less light to work with and you will need it. Take my word for it.
Now, if you are still using film you are either a professional already and not reading this, or as stubborn as the day is long and determined not to be dragged into the 21st technilogical century unless it's kicking and screaming that there's "nothing wrong with your old camera!"
Well, there probably isn't anything wrong with your old camera but the "new-fangled digital cameras" have several distinct advantages in the pet photography department. Most of them can shoot several pictures quickly in a sort of "stop action" animation-type sequence. You will at least have better odds of one decent moving shot! The new fangled digitals also let you check immediately for how badly you screwed up, let you ditch the pictures you hate, and give you plenty of time to try to get Fido to chase that squirrel up the tree one more time.
BE GROUNDED! No, that doesn't have anything to do with taking photos in a lightning storm. Pet photography is at its best when it's taken from the animal's perspective. Your pet will be far less intimidated by the little black (or silver) eye that appears to be eating your face if you get down to your dog's level. Remember, your dog (cat-bird-iguana) doesn't know that you are the owner of the camera and that you control it. From the animal's perspective, this is a strange little box that has removed one of your eyes from your face and flashes blinding light in the pet's eyes before it lets you go!
Try not to use the flash! Yes, it's easy for me to say that as you grovel around on the living room floor at dusk. Obviously when you can, it is better to try pet photography outdoors in natural daylight. Brilliant light can be tough despite the fact that it seems to you that the colors around you appear wonderful. You will have to check for shadows, both your own in the frame, and shadows on the face of your pet. Cloudy (not tornado type cloudy) but lightly overcast skies can create soft light and sublte shadowing both indoors and outdoors.
If you must participate in pet photography indoors, try to use the natural light from your windows. Reposition a chair next to the window that contrasts nicely with the color of your dog or cat...or iguana, and make him comfy. The animal will be less stressed and undoubtedly thrilled to be allowed on the furniture.
Don't forget to speak! Remember, if the little black or silver box is swallowing your face and you don't make any noise, your pooch is more likely to thik either you or he is in serious trouble. Whatever cutesy words you usually use to get Fido or Spatz-Kat to behave will do wonders for camera-stress.
There you go! You may not make this month's National Geographic, but Grandma will love the picture of Fido digging up her prize roses.
Copyright 2007 petphotographysecrets.com All Rights Reserved
The professionals make it seem so easy, don't they? I've noticed that when you read their instructions about how "easy" it is, you wind up more confused than ever and get completely lost in the ISO's of the thing-a-ma-gigs and the whatzit number on the whoszits.
Let's get some basics in here. We know you may not be interested in becomming a professional photographer. You may not even be interested in taking a professional looking photo of your pet. You may simply want a nice photo of Skippy to stick in your wallet, on your fridge, or in a frame on the piano that doesn't make him look like an alien.
First of all, if you're still using film and you're shooting outside, stick to ISO 400. Suffice to say it will help make your pet photos less blurry. If you are inside, go for ISO 800 since chances are you will have less light to work with and you will need it. Take my word for it.
Now, if you are still using film you are either a professional already and not reading this, or as stubborn as the day is long and determined not to be dragged into the 21st technilogical century unless it's kicking and screaming that there's "nothing wrong with your old camera!"
Well, there probably isn't anything wrong with your old camera but the "new-fangled digital cameras" have several distinct advantages in the pet photography department. Most of them can shoot several pictures quickly in a sort of "stop action" animation-type sequence. You will at least have better odds of one decent moving shot! The new fangled digitals also let you check immediately for how badly you screwed up, let you ditch the pictures you hate, and give you plenty of time to try to get Fido to chase that squirrel up the tree one more time.
BE GROUNDED! No, that doesn't have anything to do with taking photos in a lightning storm. Pet photography is at its best when it's taken from the animal's perspective. Your pet will be far less intimidated by the little black (or silver) eye that appears to be eating your face if you get down to your dog's level. Remember, your dog (cat-bird-iguana) doesn't know that you are the owner of the camera and that you control it. From the animal's perspective, this is a strange little box that has removed one of your eyes from your face and flashes blinding light in the pet's eyes before it lets you go!
Try not to use the flash! Yes, it's easy for me to say that as you grovel around on the living room floor at dusk. Obviously when you can, it is better to try pet photography outdoors in natural daylight. Brilliant light can be tough despite the fact that it seems to you that the colors around you appear wonderful. You will have to check for shadows, both your own in the frame, and shadows on the face of your pet. Cloudy (not tornado type cloudy) but lightly overcast skies can create soft light and sublte shadowing both indoors and outdoors.
If you must participate in pet photography indoors, try to use the natural light from your windows. Reposition a chair next to the window that contrasts nicely with the color of your dog or cat...or iguana, and make him comfy. The animal will be less stressed and undoubtedly thrilled to be allowed on the furniture.
Don't forget to speak! Remember, if the little black or silver box is swallowing your face and you don't make any noise, your pooch is more likely to thik either you or he is in serious trouble. Whatever cutesy words you usually use to get Fido or Spatz-Kat to behave will do wonders for camera-stress.
There you go! You may not make this month's National Geographic, but Grandma will love the picture of Fido digging up her prize roses.
Copyright 2007 petphotographysecrets.com All Rights Reserved
2008年8月3日星期日
Find Out The Secrets Of Having A Talking Parrot!
Is it not the dream of a parrot owner to each one of his or her peers that they have a talking parrot? I know that was my goal. I always wanted to have a parrot that would greet every new guest that entered my house. It took a lot of training but in the end I finally achieved this goal and was able to tell everyone about it. What are some of the best things about having a talking parrot?The first great thing about having a talking parrot is that you can teach them to answer every question you ask them with either a yes or no. How many other types of pets are there that can actually tell you if they have done something bad? After a great deal of practice a parrot can have the ability to understand every question it has been taught. Pretty amazing when you think about it.Another great thing about having a talking parrot is that you can have your own greeting butler if you like at your front door saying hello or good evening or even have a great day and don't trip over as you walk out the door! Its amazing to see the looks on people faces when they hear something shout out, how are you without knowing that its actually the parrot sitting on its perch right in front of them saying it.The last great thing about owning a talking parrot is that you can teach them to say anything you want it to say. You can teach it to be polite or you can teach it to be rude, polite is recommended of course. This means that you can teach them to ask any question, reply to any comment or just randomly say anything you want. This of course will take a lot of training but in the end it is definitely worth it. Think about when you are sitting at home all alone because no one loves you and all you want to do is have someone to talk to. I know this has happened to me on a few occasions that I do not wish to repeat! If or when this happens you can always just sit down and have a good old chat with your parrot and the best thing is, he or she will only say exactly what it has been taught to say, by you. This means no back chatting or unnecessary arguments. You can have a nice pleasant conversation with a polite, caring and most importantly funny parrot.So there it is the three best things about having your own talking parrot. Remember teaching a parrot how to talk takes a lot of time and some serious hard work. It will not happen overnight but it will happen. So if you do decide that you want to have your own talking parrot be ready for a hard road ahead, but also a great end to your journey!
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