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It is important that good house cat care is very important in keeping your cat happy. The benefits of good house cat care go way beyond the fact of making your sure your feline has a good quality of life. Good house cat care can benefit your own physical and mental well being and help towards leveling your emotions. Happy cat, happy owner.

Research has shown that by providing good house cat care can be good for your body. Just by spending time with any happy pet can lead to a happier you. Lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels are achieved in pet owners. Some people buy cats for this very reason. It’s a small price to pay for a better quality of life. In fact, a happy cat can prolong your years on this planet. More good news is by actively playing with your cat, like with a ball of yarn, will improve you as a person in more ways than one.

Ideally, you should try to integrate the house cat care into your daily routine. A good daily routine will include things such as grooming, cleaning the litter box and so on. You may even try to go more advanced and try to train your cat. To what level is up to you but even simple commands will bring a greater understanding between you both. Try a little more activity with your cat. Chasing your cat around the room will keep you fit and entertain the both of you. Chasing your cat around will bring you more benefits than sitting on the sofa.

House cat care will also keep you emotionally balanced. When your cat purrs for you, it also brings up a warm glow inside you. These comfort moments can be a nice welcome break in a stressful day. Having a cat around the place can uplift your mood and increase your happiness.

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There’s no doubt that cats can be a handful. Unlike dogs, they retain an enormous amount of independence, they don’t often aim to please, and they’re not always the loving, cuddly balls of fur you might want them to be. If you’re a new pet owner - or even an experienced one - you may well be wondering how to train your cat.

Make no mistake, it is possible to train your cat, but it takes a commitment on your part. You need patience, and you need to accept that training a cat is different from training most other household pets.

Whether you’re just starting out with a new kitten or you’ve had an unruly cat for years, there are three key things that you should keep in mind when trying to figure out how to train your cat.

First of all, cats learn through experience. For instance, if you feed your cat every time he starts yowling and complaining, it becomes a learned behavior - he’ll continue his yowling, thinking that it’s the proper way to signal hunger. With this in mind, it’s important to always punish the bad behavior and reward the good.

Second, always talk to your cat. You may feel a little silly at first, but there’s no doubt that cats can recognize and register the sound of your voice, the emphasis, and even certain words. When you want to discourage bad behavior, pick a word or a sentence and keep repeating it to your cat. Your cat will eventually realize that he’s done something wrong. Conversely, when you want to reward good behavior, pick another word and repeat it in the same manner.

Third, remember that cats can become agitated and aggressive in response to serious stress or changes in their environment. If your cat has suddenly become irritable when before he was agreeable and good-natured, it may be due to recent upheaval. This can be brought on by something as obvious as the introduction of a new pet or as simple as moving your cat’s litter box.

It’s true that cats can be extremely fickle. One minute they’ll be lounging peacefully in your lap and the next they might be clawing at the furniture, meowing uncontrollably, or just causing havoc in general. But it’s that same streak of independence that makes a cat-lover out of all cat-owners. If you begin with the three basic tips in this article, you’ll be able to work through the ins-and-outs of how to train your cat faster than you may think.

Gillian Aitken is a proud cat-lover who isn’t afraid to admit that they can sometimes make for fickle pets. Are you interested in uncovering more tips and tricks on how to raise a healthy, happy cat? Visit Gill’s site at gill-careforcats.blogspot.com gill-careforcats.blogspot.com

A dog, like a human baby, experiences the world through his mouth, by tasting and chewing on things. But, he also uses his mouth is as his hands. He carries and pulls with it as well as defends himself. Therefore healthy teeth and gums are very important.

A dog’s teeth need the same care as a human’s. Therefore, it’s important that you take care of his teeth as you would your own. The best way to do this, of course, is to brush them, which should be done at least twice a week. There are special tooth brushes designed to fit in a dog’s mouth as well as special chicken flavored tooth paste to make the task easier. But sometimes, brushing your dog’s teeth can be a real hassle. For instance, there are some dogs that will flee at the sight of a toothbrush and it is very had to coax a seventy pound Rottweiler from under the bed.

So, how can you get Bruno the Rottweiler to care for his teeth? Here are several alternatives to toothbrushing.

Dog Food

Dog food is a major cause of tooth decay. Believe it or not, canned dog food, though it tastes real good, is not good for Bruno’s teeth. Therefore, you should not feed it to him all the time; once in awhile, as a treat, or on a special occasion is fine. Instead, Bruno should eat a good quality hard dry dog food. This will keep his teeth and gums exercised, as well as cleaned.

Bones

Of course, Bruno needs more than just dry dog food to keep his teeth white and his gums healthy. Chewing on things, such as sticks, the furniture and golf balls, though it is good exercise for his gums, is not very healthy, especially if he were to swallow the wrong thing. Or, in the case of the furniture, just chewing on it is not a good idea on his part. So, you can provide him with a bone, either rawhide or real, as a diversion. These come in various sizes to fit your dog. Bruno will want a larger one, while a smaller dog would necessarily need a smaller bone. Either way, he can exercise and clean his teeth without fear of choking.

Enzymatic Rawhide Chips

You can try some of the rawhide chips that are infused with enzymes designed to kill your dog’s bad breath as well as remove tartar and plaque. However, the taste leaves something to be desired and Bruno may not like them, thus leaving them untouched. If he does not use them, they won’t work.

Regular Visits to the Veterinarian

Of course, the veterinarian is the best person to keep Bruno’s teeth in perfect health. As much as he will protest, regular visits insure good oral and physical health. Your dog’s veterinarian will provide him the proper care that will keep him healthy and happy for years to come.

Arlene Mason is a freelance writer living outside of Dallas, Texas with her husband and two dogs. She has written and published the following e-books: “Understanding Low-Carb Dieting”, “On the Edge” and “Stepping Stones” which are all available at double-dragon-ebooks.com double-dragon-ebooks.com

“Training Your Boxer: The Training Your Dog Series”, is one of a collection of breed specific dog training books published by Barron’s Books.

If it has four legs and a tail, or two legs and feathers, or fits in a home aquarium, there’s a Barron’s book to help you understand and care for it. The “Training Your Dog Series” offer guides written for owners of German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Beagles, Boxers, Labrador Retrievers, and Pit Bulls.

Of these six breeds, Labradors, German Shepherds, and Beagles are perennial members American Kennel Club’s Ten Most Popular Breeds. So there would, or course, be a market for books about how to train them.

Rottweilers and Pit Bulls? It’s not too hard, given their often undeserved reputations, to understand why there would be a need for books about how to train them, either.

But the fearless, smart, energetic and comic Boxer, subject of “Training Your Boxer: The Training Your Dog Series” is the only dog to make both lists. One of the AKC’s Ten Most Popular Breeds, at #7 in 2006, Boxers are often confused, by those unfamiliar with dogs, for Mastiffs or Pit Bulls. And it is true that an untrained Boxer can be one of the canine set’s most destructive forces.

But the Boxer breed is notably non-violent. Its destructive tendencies, when aroused, surface out of boredom and a need to release its overflowing energy. And any Boxer training manual, to be effective, will have to be written by someone who understands the nature of the Boxer beast.

Joan Hustace Walker, author of “Training Your Boxer: The Training Your Dog Series”, seems to understand it very well.

“Training Your Boxer: The Dog Training Series” is not only a training guide. It offers the Boxer owner information on the Boxer breed’s history and the personality quirks unique to Boxers which make them the marvelous people-loving dogs they are.

The book is loaded with photos which make the techniques crystal-clear. And all the training techniques in “Training Your Boxer: The Training Your Dog Series” are based on positive reinforcement. That’s crucial, because Boxers are not only intelligent; they have a very high pain threshold, so trying to get tough with them will get you nowhere. Let your Boxer know it is doing well, on the other hand, and you will have a happy, obedient dog.

“Training Your Boxer” The Training Your Dog Series” covers everything from housebreaking and socializing your new puppy to teaching it the five basic commands every dog should obey, “Come”, “Heel”, “Sit’, “Down”, and “Stay.” It also has chapters on learning tricks, how to control your Boxer’s aggressive instincts, and competitive and non-competitive activities which will keep you Boxer both busy and tired.

“Training Your Boxer: The Training Your Dog Series”, takes the generally accepted dog training techniques, and adapts them, very successfully, to work with you Boxer’s delightfully special mentality!

Do you want to know find out loads more about how to train and raise you Boxer the proper way? Visit boxerdogessentials.com for more FREE info! boxerdogessentials.com Training Your Boxer: The Training Your Dog Series was written by freelance writer and boxer lover Rob Bogie.

The Black and Tan Coonhound is often referred to as simply the Black and Tan. They are a medium to medium/large working class breed that loves to work and hunt. They weigh between 55-75 pounds and reach up to 27″ in height.

Recognized by the AKC, the Black and Tan Coonhound’s coat is predominantly black with tan markings on the muzzle, chest and legs. Their name, of course, simply comes from their coat color. Their sleek, short, shiny coat is dense. It is easy to care for and requires minimal brushing.

Whether hunting dog or family companion for active families, the Black and Tan Coonhound will do well with their friendly, energetic nature. They are good with children and other dogs or pets. Because of their history of hunting small animals, it is best to socialize them from puppyhood with cats and other small non-canine pets. They are highly intelligent and fairly easy to train. When they are at home with family, they are laid back and easygoing. However, when they are tracking or hunting they are all business and they become very intense and energetic. As hunting dogs, they love to do their job and do it well. They should not be kept locked up inside all day and they need plenty of exercise and play. When they are outside, it is best to keep them in a fenced in yard as they have a tendency to take off if they discover an interesting scent or see a critter in the area.

Originating in the United States, the Black and Tan Coonhound was developed by crossing the Bloodhound and Foxhound. They were mainly used to hunt raccoon, but are also good opossum and other game hunters. They are known for their excellent tracking ability.

With their high energy level and love for hunting and being outdoors, the Black and Tan Coonhound needs a family that will meet their activity needs. While they are an active breed, they are surprisingly calm when they are home hanging out with their family. They make a good family companion for any family dynamic willing to give them the exercise and play that they need.

Learn more about the

Keeping your cat healthy is the key to extending your cats life. Although cats are independent by nature they really do need a good caretaker. As an owner of a cat you take on the responsibility of caring for your cat and making sure its needs are met.

Your cat needs access to fresh water daily. The water bowl should be cleaned out regularly. Feed your cat good quality cat food. Ask your veterinarian whether the brand you feed meets your cats requirements for his lifestyle and age. Obesity in cats is common in indoor cats. If you have an indoor cat and he has free access to food all day, you may try a light variety to slim him down. If you have a senior indoor cat he may need more nutrients than the light food offers, so once again it is a good idea to ask your veterinarian.

Exercise is very important for your cat. An indoor cat will often eat out of pure boredom. Provide a selection of cat toys and cat furniture such as a cat tree, to entertain your cat. Even an outdoor cat can benefit from this. Taking time at the end of the day to play with your cat will help keep it active.

When we have been away from home and our cat has been indoors the entire day, we help him unwind his excess energy with a bouncing ball. As a kitten he learned to jump in the air and catch a bouncing ball and we keep him entertained for half an hour with his attempts. Our other cat prefers to play ‘fetch’, where we throw a toy mouse for her to run and find. She does not always bring it back, but as soon as I say “are you ready?” She jumps behind our bedroom door and gets prepared to stalk her prey.

Providing a good scratching post is a wise investment. It may well limit the damage to your furniture and it satisfies your cats need to scratch. Keeping your indoor cats nails trimmed is important to keep them in good condition and so that they do not get too long. If you notice your outdoor cat getting his claws stuck in carpet or fabric he may be in need of a trim too. Most outdoor cats are able to keep their claws worn to a reasonable length.

Grooming your cat regularly helps reduce shedding and prevents matted hair. Both long and short haired cats will benefit from a groom. A brush is often a better suited grooming tool than a comb as it does not pull the hair. Keep your cat free of fleas and ticks.

A healthy cat is a happy cat. Taking time to meet your cats needs will keep your cat comfortable and content. You are rewarded with a purring companion cuddled up in your lap.

Cats are living longer lives thanks to dedicated care from their humans, and advances in veterinary medicine. Most experts consider a cat’s “senior years” to begin on her 10th birthday. After this point, the aging process begins to slow in even the most playful feline. Yet, with a little extra attention from her owner, Miss Kitty might enjoy another 5-10 years of life and love.

Just as with humans, cats often lose the ability to hear as they age. This often goes unnoticed by owners, who might chalk their cat’s lack of response to typical feline aloofness. Without keen hearing and vision, however, an older cat is more vulnerable to threats from cars and dogs on the street. It is best to keep an older cat indoors. If she loves the fresh air, make sure you supervise her in a protected area.

Even the most easygoing cat can become a finicky eater in her later years. As an older cat’s senses of smell and taste begin to diminish, she becomes less interested in her food. Adding moist food and warming her meals will amplify the scent and make it more tantalizing. Moist food will increase the amount of water in your cat’s diet.

It is important to keep fresh water available for your older cat, and to monitor her drinking habits. Her natural thirst drive can fade with age, causing her to become dangerously dehydrated rather quickly. Take note of about how much water your cat drinks each day. If the amount suddenly drops, and you know she is not getting water from any other source, contact your veterinarian.

Remember that there have been huge advances in medical care for cats in recent years. Online shopping for cat medication has become popular, but remember that there is no substitute for regular check-ups with your veterinarian.

Common problems owners see their geriatric cats develop include difficulties swallowing due to decreased saliva production, less tolerance to extreme heat and/or cold, gum disease and tooth loss, a change in litter habits, and not sleeping well.

Recent studies have uncovered a problem with potassium balance in many older cats. Poor coat condition, loss of appetite and lethargy have been linked to a mild form of hypokalemia, or low blood potassium. Low blood potassium damages the cat’s kidneys, which, in an older cat, are already weakening. This leads to a vicious cycle because declining kidney function increases the loss of potassium in the blood, which in turn causes further deterioration of the kidneys.

Arthritis and stiffness is fairly common in older cats. Because it becomes more difficult to move, a geriatric cat spends more time sleeping. If her diet stays the same, she’ll begin to pack on the pounds. The extra weight adds to her discomfort, making her more inclined not to move. Without exercise her muscles will weaken. It is important to encourage an older cat into some activity every day. Physical movement will help with digestion and bowel function, as well as keep her sharp mentally.

An older cat spends less time grooming herself than in her youth. As a result, her hair becomes dry and painfully matted. Regular grooming from her owner is required to keep her coat healthy and beautiful. Daily brushing removes loose hair that can form uncomfortable hairballs in her stomach.

As your cat gets older its important that she is comfortable. You should ensure that your cat has a comfortable, warm bed that she can stretch out on. Cushions and hammock bed on radiators are popular.

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There are a few different problems that are seen commonly in puppies who are six months of age or younger. These problems include submissive urination, urination when getting overly excited, and problems with nipping and chewing. If your Pit Bull terrier pup is having problems in any of these areas, don’t worry. I’m about to reveal exactly how to correct it.

If your Pit Bull puppy tends to squat and urinate when you approach him, this is a problem with submissive urination. This behavior shouldn’t be confused with a potty training problem, it is associated with insecurity if you punish your puppy or use negative reinforcements it will more than likely worsen the behavior. Submissive urination occurs when a dog is scared and feels intimidated when being approached by an individual.

To solve the problem of submissive urination, calmly approach your puppy. Try not to tower over him, crouch down so that you’re not as intimidating. If your puppy begins to urinate, try offering him a treat next time. The way to correct submissive urination is to get his focus away from whatever is causing his reaction.

If your puppy has difficulty controlling his bladder when getting excited, it is known as excitement urination. Again, never punish your puppy in this situation as it will only cause problems to get worse.

The fix for this problem is easy. Ignore it. Excitement urination usually disappears as a puppy matures and his bladder control strengthens.

Puppy chewing can be extremely annoying, especially if your Pit Bull is destroying things of high value to you (I’ve lost my fair share of eyeglasses for example). Puppies use chewing and biting as a way to ease teething pain. To solve this problem, give your puppy lots of toys to chew on instead. Kong toys are popular, as are stuffed squeakers.

If you’re having problems in these areas with your new Pit Bull puppy, have patience and take the time to work with your new buddy. He’ll get through these tough times with a little love and understanding.

To learn all about

House training is one of the most important things you can do for both you and your puppy. It is imperative that you begin your puppy’s housebreaking as soon as you bring him home.

It is natural for a dog to relieve himself where ever it is. You must teach your puppy to relieve himself outdoors. Keep in mind that the younger the puppy is, the less control he will have over his bladder and bowels. A very young puppy can seem like a pee and poop machine! Puppies can also mark and urinate when they are submissive or afraid.

Dogs are relatively clean animals and will typically want to eliminate in an area separate from the main living area. Keep an eye on your puppy for signs that he needs to go. You may notice him sniffing the floor, going into a room away from all the activity, or staring at the door. Some puppies will be more obvious, such as running between you and the door, jumping on you, or barking.

Designate a place in your yard specifically for your puppy to eliminate. This area should be kept clean of feces. Take extra care to keep the area clean from feces and safe from other dogs until your puppy is fully immunized.

Take your puppy outside to the designated area frequently. Develop a routine and take your puppy out on a regular schedule. Do not go more hours than your puppy is months old without taking him out. For example, if your puppy is three months old, do not go more than three waking hours without taking him outside. In addition, you should take your puppy to the designated area approximately twenty minutes after meals or long drinks of water.

If you see your puppy eliminating inside, immediately take him outside to the designated area. Don’t fall into the temptation of sticking his nose in it and telling him, “no!” This will not help. It will just confuse him as he will not understand why he is being yelled at and it will make him nervous and scared around you. Ignore the unwanted behavior and reward the good behavior.

Take your puppy outside on a leash. Give him five minutes to eliminate. If he doesn’t go in five minutes, take him back inside and put him in his crate. Ten minutes later, take him back outside again on the leash. Repeat if necessary.

When your puppy begins to eliminate, give him a command such as, “Do your business.” Say it continuously while he is going. Praise your puppy after he voids in the designated area. Reward him with something he likes. Many puppies are happy to be off the leash and have ten or fifteen minutes of play time outside with you.

It will take a few weeks to fully house train your puppy. Consistency is the key to success. When your puppy’s training is complete, he will eliminate on command when you tell him, “Do your business.”

Visit my Dog Training Clinic web site for more information on dog and puppy obedience training. dogtrainingclinic.com dogtrainingclinic.com

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Get it straight from the dog’s mouth. Ask Maxie for expert dog and puppy advice.
askmaxie.com askmaxie.com.

Here are 5 things to do to put the odds of getting a
good horse in your favor.

Let me share a short story with you about public horse
auctions and my friend Jack.

I’ll show you how to buy a horse at auction so you won’t get
burned. Jack, an old time horse trader and I use to
travel to horse auction all over the state. I’d
just watch Jack and maybe later ask my questions.

Jack was usually pretty closed mouthed, but he let me in
on his secrets to buying good horses at auctions.

#1 Arrive at the auction real early like 3 hours or more
before the auction starts.

You want to be there as the horses arrive, so you can see
who brings them and how they unload and walk to their pen.

Who brings the horse? A horse trader, private party, woman,
man, kid, also how many horses did they bring? You need to
know this so you have a clue as to who you will possibly be
buying from and who to talk to about the horse before you
bid.

#2 If you see a horse you like the looks of, go to the
horses holding pen.

Watch the horse and how he moves. If the horse is tied up
in the pen this could mean trouble as the horse owner might
not want you to see the horse move. Check the horse for
blemishes and soundness, make sure the legs are clean and
the hooves are healthy and maintained, there should not be
any limping or signs of lameness.

I do not like scars, divots or bumps on the head and neck,
This shows the horse has been in a wreck of some kind, which
could mean the horse is prone to panic, I’ve been stuck with
a couple of panic prone horses and they did hurt me. If you
don’t know about lame horses and what to watch out for, take
someone with you who does or don’t bid.

Now the horse should show signs of life maybe be a little
bit excited, what with all the other horses and the new
surroundings, if not you could be looking at a drugged
horse.

#3 Talk to the person that brought the horse

you know this person because you seen them arrive. Make
sure they are the owner of the horse, if not who are they?
The standard stories are:

It’s my neighbors horse, this often means it is my horse but
I am not going to admit it to you, as I don’t want to be held
accountable for the lies I’m about to tell you.

Or I’m a dealer trying to pass off this horse as a good old
horse so gentle to ride, the neighbor kid rode bareback on
the road when in reality it’s a dink horse that he can’t
sell off his trading string.

Jack use to saddle up to the person who brought the horse
and softly ask; say can you tell me a little bit about your
horse? ( then he SHUT UP! ). They would tell all the nice
things about the horse and Jack would just look at the
horse, not saying a word. After they got through the string
of lies or half truths, they would start getting nervous
because it was so quite they thought they had to ramble on
some more and that’s when a bit more of the truth starts to
show up, yeah old Barley don’t buck except that one time
when he broke my collar bone opps…

#4 Follow the horse from the pen to the sale ring

Jack use to walk right into the sale ring with the horse and
watch it move in the ring too. The other advantage is you
can see who is bidding. The owner or someone with them may
be running up the bid, you know this because you seen them
arrive right?

Now you may not be able to get in the ring but you can stand
next to it so you can see the horse and the crowd too. Most
owners try too hard to get their horse to ride well in the
ring which is usually too small to work a horse in anyway so
you get to see how the horse responds under pressure. Watch
for rearing, head tossing, humping up or crow hopping,
usually the small size of the ring prevents them from
bucking.

#5 If you still like the horse bid on it.

How much? Jack would only pay about $15 to $20 above killer
price. How much is that? You need to snoop around before
the sale and ask the dealers or auctioneer, I’ve seen it
range from 15 cents to 1 dollar a pound, so that could mean
from $150 to $1000 for a 1000 pound riding horse.

Jack was comfortable paying that price as he would take the
horse home, try them out, if there was a problem he would
run them through the next auction and not get hurt too bad,
out $20 at most.

This works good if you, your wife, or kids don’t fall in
love with old Barley, Jack use to say if you don’t send
them right back to the auction. you end up with a field full
of cripples and buckers.

You can get a nice horse at a rock bottom price following
this method. My experience has been that I can get older
well trained horses that people are bailing out on because
the kids all left home and they don’t want to feed the horse
any more, or they just were flash in the pan horsemen and
need the money for a quad runner.

I have also bought young unbroke horses that people do not
have the skill to train, if you think you want a go at that,
make sure you have a medical plan and go for it.

I do not pay top dollar for exceptional horses at auctions
because, again experience has taught me there are no
exceptional horse at these auctions, if you think there are
some there, look close as there is usually a hole in them
somewhere.

Now put this plan into action and you will find a nice horse
that you can use and even make a profit on if you so choose
at some time in the future, just do all the steps and you
will get the successful results.

Dale Anderson