Pets Smile Plus

Dog owners, when they get together, will tell stories of their amazing, brilliant, astonishing and misbehaving dogs. How many times have you heard about the pet who, displeased by its owners’ absence, left a “present” of the most unpleasant kind?

The truth is – he didn’t do it out of spite. Dogs aren’t people. People are the only animals that have an idea of “spite,” “revenge,” or “getting even.” That’s not to say that dogs don’t have emotions – any dog owner knows better. But most will agree that dogs aren’t planners – they live completely in the moment - a skill humans can only attempt.

The only time to correct a dog for improper behavior is when you catch the dog in the act. Revisiting the scene of the crime doesn’t help. The dog doesn’t remember committing the crime. Yelling at the dog when you find the mess teaches the dog that finding a mess is bad. Therefore, in dog logic, it will learn to hide the mess, not refrain from creating it.

If you’ve been tempted to accuse your dog of “spiteful” behavior because it does leave messes when you’re gone, it’s time to rethink what’s going on. Your dog isn’t telling you that it’s angry you left – it’s telling you it’s anxious and unsure when you’re not there.

It’s been said many times that dogs are pack animals. If you are the leader of the pack – as you should be – then your dog is, for its entire life, a juvenile member of the group. Your dog may be a victim of separation anxiety; it doesn’t know what to do when its leader isn’t there to tell him.

Now that we understand, somewhat, how a dog thinks, we can use that to create the behavior we want. Crate training your dog is a good way to alleviate many sources of anxiety – both yours and your dog’s. A crate, or cage, is civilization’s answer to a cave or den. Your dog can feel safe and secure in its den. A crate should be big enough to allow the dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down. That’s it.

Don’t project your claustrophobia onto your dog. It likes feeling safe, secure and enclosed. It likes not being responsible for checking out every noise. It’s happy when it has no decisions to make. Never let a dog make a decision – it will choose wrong.

There are people who resist the idea of a crate. They think they are being kind to the dog. And there are some dogs who do not need their crates past puppyhood. But if your dog is prone to separation anxiety, you’ll both be better off with a crate. If you’ve never used a crate, or put it away as your dog matured, introduce it gradually. Leave it out, door open. Feed the dog in the crate. Throw toys into the crate for it to fetch. Never, ever use the crate as punishment, nor as a substitute for a trip outside to eliminate. Dogs shouldn’t be left alone more than six to eight hours. If your schedule requires an animal to be left alone 10 or 12 hours a day – get a dogwalker, or settle for a cat.

When you begin crate training, only leave the dog in the crate for a few minutes. Have a special treat or toy that the dog gets only in his crate. Many people use a hollow rubber toy with a bit of peanut butter or soft cheese spread inside. Happily tell your dog it’s time to “kennel,” (the word you choose doesn’t matter, just be consistent) and put the toy in the crate.

If the dog doesn’t come – go get it. Never tell your dog to “come” to you for something it doesn’t enjoy. Place it in the crate, close the latch and walk away. Just a few minutes the first time. If the dog whines or cries, ignore it. When it’s quiet, let the dog out and tell her she’s wonderful.

Build up the time your dog is left in the crate gradually. Conventional wisdom says that the first 15 minutes are the best indicator. If the dog settles within that time he’ll be fine. And you’ll both be happy – Fido has no decisions to make, and you’ll have no messes to clean.

Hope Saidel is the co-owner of GollyGear.com GollyGear.com, a bricks-and-mortar and online small dog shop featuring fun, affordable and practical products for small dogs. She has trained and competed in Obedience with small dogs for over a decade and is on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Dog Training Club.

My Border Collie, Emma, was overweight. Family members started to call her “Pudgy,” and “Rolly-Poly, ” and laughed when she wouldn’t move even to bark. She even developed a way to twirl around in a sitting position rather than get up to see what was going on around her.

While her adjustments to her added weight seemed funny, it started to become clear that her health was in danger. Most of us don’t want to believe that our pet is fat. In our eyes, they are oh-so perfect. A good test is to rub their tummy, along their ribs – if you can’t feel their ribs, then you have a tubby on your hands! But don’t despair.

In just four months our Emma has lost 13 pounds. It really wasn’t all that hard to get her to lose that weight – and now we have a healthier and more active pooch. You can do the same! Where do you start?

First. record what you feed him or her for a few days, including treats. You probably don’t realize just how much you are actually feeding your dog. After you’ve recorded the food you are giving your baby – start eliminating the extras! Cut out the snacks – or replace them with healthy alternatives (my dog loves to chew on raw carrots), always checking with reliable sources to make sure whatever you feed isn’t toxic for dogs.

Watch other family members! Your best efforts can be compromised if someone is sneaking treats on the side. Make sure that everyone at home realizes just how serious obesity is to your pets’ health. Everyone in the house has to realize that love actually equals less food!

Take that dog out for a walk! Make sure you are giving your pet a chance to exercise. Walking will speed up the metabolism and help to lose that excess weight. Grab that leash, and bring your dog along - even if you were thinking of going out for a short walk by yourself. Don’t be surprised if your dog gets tired a lot at first – especially if your pet hasn’t been exercising much. Give those doggie muscles and bones a chance to build up! Slowly increase your walks, and you will have a slimmer dog companion.

Your dog’s health will improve and so will yours – and those walks will make both your dog – and you - very happy, too.

Visit natureshealthypet.com Natures Healthy Pet for more information about pet health. Sign up for our newsletter and receive 3 free ebooks right away.

Houses are needed for every dog, be it small or large. Each dog deserves it own pretty, secure shelter which it can call its home. No matter how much we pamper our large friends, they too need some retreat of their own.

A large dog house definitely doesn’t mean a really big structure. Research shows that dogs don’t prefer a large roomy big space to rest. The space should just be enough for them to rest comfortably by stretching out. Such is the case even with large-sized dogs like English mastiffs, Tibetan mastiffs, Alaskan malamutes, Leonbergers, and Neapolitan mastiffs.

Ready-to-use large dog houses are all available in the market. Companies and online shopping centers such as Petsmart, Petco, Paw Homes, Comfort House, Lilliput Play Homes, and seeFido offer beautifully designed large dog houses. Available in different shades and material, these companies offer houses of different designs too. Attractive names like mansion, chalet, barn, stable etc., are used to describe the houses.

Besides the completed large dog houses, there are several kits available, using which we can build our own large dog house for our beloved pets. Spirit Elements, All Dog Houses and House of Hammocks are examples of companies which provide both completed dog houses and dog house kits too. Easy to compile and build, using the basic household tools, such kits are cheap and often offer great satisfaction in building. Customers get to choose among dog houses made of different types of wood and other materials such as plastic.

Like all dog houses, large dog houses should also follow the basic norms of dog house construction and placement. Dog houses are said to get particularly heated up during summers, and hence, like all dog houses, should always be placed under a shade and cleaned thoroughly always. No matter what the size and design, the comfort and safety of the dog should always be the topnotch concern of all customers.

e-doghouses.com Dog Houses provides detailed information about dog houses, dog houses for sale, small dog houses, large dog houses and more. Dog Houses is the sister site of e-dogtags.com Dog Tags Web.

In cats and dogs, fleas are perhaps the most common external parasite problem encountered by pet owners. They have been around for a very long time and know a thing or two about species survival so getting rid of a flea problem is never easy.
Keep the following in mind when tackling fleas on your cat or dog.

They are an environmental problem, not a pet problem. Yes, you will see the fleas on your pet, but those you see are a very small proportion of the total flea population in your pets environment(approx 1% visible to you vs 99% hidden in the environment!). The implication of this is that you cannot hope to beat a flea problem by only treating the pet - you have to include the environment in your plans.

Fleas need blood meals to survive and breed. They are also photophobic (don’t like bright sunlight). So that patch of sand in the middle of your garden 20m from the dogs kennel is unlikely to be the source of your flea problem.Fleas like warm, humid areas out of direct sunlight.

Dogs and cats are the preferred host for the normal pet flea (C.felis). If you have pets but find fleas jumping onto you for a blood meal then you have a huge infestation on your hands.The exception to this observation is if you move into somewhere that has not been occupied for a while then newly hatched fleas will jump on anything to get a blood meal.

One should not stop the “anti-flea” drive over winter. As it gets cooler, the flea lifecycle takes longer to complete and the presence of fleas may be less obvious. However, the lifecycle rarely stops altogether, even in very cold climates because then the pets are often inside the house with central heating. Hmm, lets see…warm,constant humidity, out of direct sunlight - yes, ideal conditions for flea survival.

You might not actually see any real live fleas on your pet (this is particularly true of cats because they groom so frequently). But your pet may still have a flea problem. If your dog or cat is scratching a lot and has some hair loss, especially just above the tail on the lower back, then look for little black and/or white grains in the coat. These are flea faeces (black) and flea eggs (white) and their presence means that there are fleas on your pet - even if you can’t see any!It doesn’t automatically follow however that getting rid of the fleas will sort out the hair loss problem. Alas, it is often more complicated than that but reducing the flea load will always be beneficial to a scratching pet.

Fleas, signs of fleas, or a skin reaction to fleas may be present on a single e.g. dog in your household, while your other dogs look fine. You cannot only treat the affected animal to get rid of the fleas. You must treat all the dogs (and cats) in the household AND the environment or you are going to lose the battle.

Very young animals can literally be sucked (almost) dry of blood if they have a very heavy flea burden. This can obviously be life threatening on its own, and is often made worse by a concurrent worm infestation.

What do you use to treat for fleas? By now I hope you realise there is more to this than simply buying a flea collar!There are a wide range of products available for treating both pets and the environment. Remember though that the formulations for dogs are usually different to those for cats - either in terms of the active ingredient or the dosage. Make sure you consult your Veterinarian to establish what is safe for your pet - cats can be particularly susceptible to some of the chemicals used to control fleas.

Whatever you use to treat the environment, it is best to start with a thorough mechanical cleaning before you apply any sort of chemical. Vacuuming, using only a nozzle to ensure good suction into carpet pile and cracks between floor boards, will remove a significant number of the non mobile flea eggs and pupae present in the environment. Outside, remove moist and rotting vegetation, cut the grass short and try to expose damp, shady areas to as much sunlight as possible.

Natural flea repellants are available but, as with the other anti-flea formulations, don’t expect them to work miracles all by themselves. fleas have been around a long time - several million years in fact - so they know how to survive as a species. Your best efforts will be needed to keep them under control!

Keith Perrett is a qualified Veterinarian
pet-health-for-humans.com/pet-health-questions.html pet-health-for-humans.com/pet-health-questions.html

“Any man who does not like dogs and want them about does not deserve to be
in the White House,” President Calvin Coolidge said. Coolidge himself had at least
12 dogs. Future office holders have taken the 29th American President’s words to
heart - every single one since has shared the Oval Office with a canine friend.

How would you like to hike with your dog where Presidents hike with their
dogs? When an American President leaves the White House for the presidential
retreat of Camp David, there is almost always an eager dog in tow. Franklin
Roosevelt’s Scottish Terrier Fala was the first in a steady procession of Presidential
dogs to romp in the woods of Camp David. President Reagan once complained that
when he took a break at Camp David, his dog Rex would beat him to the window
seat in the helicopter.

Everyone has heard of Camp David but where exactly it is? Surprisingly it is located deep inside a public park called Catoctin Mountain Park. When you take your
dog there, you will never see Camp David or any evidence that the presidential
compound is hidden among the trees but the trails you can hike on are of
Presidential quality nonetheless. Just don’t expect to see President George W. Bush
and Spotty.

You could fill up a day of canine hiking at Catoctin Mountain Park just by checking off the many easy self-guiding interpretive trails as you learn about mountain culture and forest ecology. There is plenty of more challenging fare in
the park as well. Three of the best vistas - Wolf Rock, Chimney Rock and Cat Rock -
are connected by a rollercoaster trail on the eastern edge of the mountain. There is
little understory in the woods and views are long. Many of the mountain slope trails
are rocky and footing can be uncertain under paw on climbs to 1500 feet.

In the western region of Catoctin Mountain, near the Owens Creek
campground, are wide horse trails ideal for contemplative canine hiking. The grades
are gentler for long hikes through mixed hardwoods of chestnut oak, hickory, black
birch and yellow poplar. Dogs are allowed in the campground and on all national
park trails but not across the road in the popular Cunningham Falls area.

The forests deep in the rugged Catoctin Mountains provided ideal cover for a
whiskey still, made illegal by the onset of Prohibition in 1919. On a steaming July
day in 1929 Federal agents raided the Blue Blazes Whiskey Still and confiscated
more than 25,000 gallons of mash. Today the airy, wooded Blue Blazes Whiskey
Trail along Distillery Run leads to a recreated working still and interprets the history
of whiskey making in the backwoods of Appalachia.

Down the road in Washington D.C., across the street from the White House, on
the National Mall, dogs are not only welcome but often celebrated. The finals of the
canine frisbee disc championships have traditionally been held on the National Mall.
The patchy grass squares make a fun place to play with your dog or the Mall can be
the setting for a canine hike of almost two miles from the Capitol Steps to the feet
of Abraham Lincoln.

The best canine hiking in the nation’s capital is in the northwest part of the
city at Rock Creek Park. Although technically a national park, Rock Creek Park is
more like a city park administered by the National Park Service. How many other
national parks boast of ballfields and 30 picnic sites? It was the Army Corps of
Engineers that first proposed the creation of Rock Creek Park when they considered
moving the White House out of the mosquito-infested lowlands of downtown
Washington after the Civil War. In 1890 Congress carved 1,754 acres from the Rock
Creek Valley to establish the park.

Two main parallel hiking trails, run the length of the park from north to south
on either side of Rock Creek. The wiser choice for canine hikers is the Valley Trail
(blue blazes) on the east side. In contrast with its twin, the Western RidgeTrail
(green blazes), there are fewer picnic areas and less competition for the trail. Each is
a rooty and rocky frolic up and down the slopes above Rock Creek, a superb canine
swimming hole. Numerous spur trails and bridle paths connect the two major
arteries that connect at the north and south to create a loop about ten miles long.

President Harry Truman once famously philosophized, “If you want a friend in
Washington, get a dog.” Or, if you are just visiting, make sure you bring one.

copyright 2006

I am the author of over 20 books, including 8 on hiking with your dog and the
widely praised The Canine Hiker’s Bible. As publisher of Cruden Bay Books,
we produce the innovative A Bark In The Park series of canine hiking books found at
hikewithyourdog.com/ hikewithyourdog.com. During the warm months I lead canine hikes as tour
leader for hikewithyourdog.com tours, leading packs of dogs and humans on hiking
adventures. Tours, ranging from one-day trips to multi-day explorations,
visit parks, historical sites and beaches. My lead dog is Katie, a German Shepherd-
Border Collie mix, who has hiked in all of the Lower 48 states and is on a quest to
swim in all the great waters of North America - web.mac.com/crudbay/iWeb/KatiesBlog/KatiesQuest.html web.mac.com/crudbay/iWeb/KatiesBlog/KatiesQuest.html. I am currently building a hikewithyourdog.com tours trailer
to use on our expeditions and its progress can be viewed at web.mac.com/crudbay/iWeb/TeardropTrailer/BuildingATourTrailer.html web.mac.com/crudbay/iWeb/TeardropTrailer/BuildingATourTrailer.html.

If Asian Arowanas are still off-limits due to regulations and restrictions in your area, consider an alternative that has color, attitude, and size. The Australian Arowanas may not be quite as brilliant in hue as their Asian cousins, but both species possess interesting color patterns, large and distinct scales, and the same habits and care requirements as Scleropages Formosus.

Although they take longer to mature than any other Arowana species, neither of the Saratogas (as Australian Arowanas are called) is endangered. Both are generally available for purchase at much more modest prices than Asian Arowanas.

There are two separate species of Saratogas: Scleropages Jardini and Scleropages leichardti. There are some notable differences between the two including geographical location.

Northern Saratogas: Pearl Arowanas

Scleropages jardini are commonly known as Northern Saratogas, or Pearl Arowanas. As their name denotes, they are found in freshwater, coastal areas of Northeastern Australia. They are also native to New Guinea.

Northern Saratogas appear longer and narrower than Asian Arowanas. Their bodies are grey to golden in color with characteristically shiny scales sporting crescent shapes. The crescent shapes are made up of between one and three yellow-orange or red spots - the ‘pearls’ behind their common name. Northern Saratoga’s fins and tails are also spotted red. Unlike the Southern Saratoga, a pattern of undulating lines or dots may also decorate the gill plates of the Pearl Arowana.

Pearl Arowanas are generally larger than the Southern Saratogas. They may grow up to 35 inches in the wild. Although it is claimed they can reach up to 60lbs, 38 lbs. is the maximum recorded weight. In the aquarium, they tend to reach 25 - 30 inches.

Northern Saratogas are considered much more aggressive in the wild or in captivity than any other Arowana species. They are popular among Sport anglers due to their feisty and tenacious attitude.

Southern Saratogas: Spotted Arowanas

Scleropages leichardti are referred to as Southern Saratogas, or Spotted Arowanas. They are found in the Dawson/Fitzroy River system in Queensland, Australia, where they populate many tributary lakes and rivers. Southern Saratogas have also been established in non-native lakes and dams throughout other areas in the South.

Spotted Arowanas appear more green or silvery-green than Pearl Arowanas. Their spots do not decorate each scale on their flanks: instead, red-orange spots appear in rows that horizontally span their lengths. Lines of red spots are also present on their fins and tails. Fins and tails may match body-coloration, or appear somewhat darker. In general, Spotted Arowanas have smaller spots than Northern Saratogas.

Southern Saratogas may command a slightly higher price than Northern Saratogas. Hobbyists claim Spotted Arowanas are more tenacious leapers than the Pearl variety.

Saratogas in the Aquarium

Saratogas require nearly identical habitats and care to Asian Arowanas. Very large tanks with sturdy, leap-proof lids are a must. Water must be kept immaculately clean to promote optimum health of Saratogas. They should be fed high quality, live foods and a variety of commercial foods, as well.

Australian Arowanas are susceptible to many of the same illnesses and diseases as South-eastern varieties. Make use of a quarantine tank when introducing tank mates or live foods to prevent parasite infestation of your Australian Arowana tank.

In addition, take care to carefully acclimatize wild-caught Saratogas. When considering a fish for purchase from your local fish shop, observe it on site for several days to weeks to be sure it is healthy. Ask to see the fish fed to ensure it has a healthy appetite. Check carefully for parasites, wounds, or fungal infections. Mimic the water conditions of the successfully kept source tank carefully at home, and avoid stressing the newly arrived Saratoga for several days.

Unless you have an extremely large tank or pond, keep only one Australian Arowana and keep tank mates to a minimum. Saratogas (especially the Northern variety) are notoriously aggressive. Choose tank mates carefully and be prepared for altercations and the possibility of fighting and injury. Only large, bottom-dwelling fish or fast-moving, mid-tank swimmers are likely to be successful tank mates for an Australian Arowana.

Steven Yeoh is an avid arowana fish lover who is also involved with an asian arowana breeding farm. If you find his arowana information helpful, make sure that you sign up for his 7 days ecourse for the “New Arowana Hobbyists” at his main site as well as visit his very useful and informative blog.

Main site: arowana-care.com arowana-care.com

Arowana blog: arowana-care.com/aroblog arowana-care.com/aroblog

Recently, there has been a paradigm shift in veterinary medicine. Over the last few years, new research has determined that most pets do not require annual immunizations, as their immune systems maintain the ability to fight off infections for several years following immunization. This article will discuss the new recommendations for your pet, and present my own holistic recommendation as well.

New vaccination protocols have been established by a variety of medical organizations (AVMA, AAHA, Association of Feline Practitioners) and the veterinary schools as well. These protocols were developed in response to the increasing occurrence of cancers developing in some cats following repeated injections, most commonly with vaccines (especially rabies vaccine and feline leukemia vaccine.) The standard of immunization was an annual set of “shots” (determined by each individual practitioner) following the initial puppy and kitten vaccination series. While manufacturers of vaccines recommended annual immunization based upon testing of the vaccines to fulfill labeling requirements, no one really knew how “long a shot lasted” in the pet. We only knew that the immunization would protect the pet for at least 1 year.

Since the discovery of an increasing incidence of sarcoma tumors in some cats who received repeated immunization, researchers decided to begin testing cats to see just how long immunity from a vaccine might last. The goal was to try to minimize vaccinations, so that the chance of a cat developing an injection-site sarcoma would also be minimized. While we still don’t know the exact maximum duration of immunity for the various vaccines (from a variety of manufacturers) for cats and dogs, preliminary research suggested that most pets maintained immunity for at least 3 years for the vaccines tested. As a result, the veterinary community has been slowly adopting a 3 year vaccination protocol. Each year, your pet will receive an annual physical examination, necessary laboratory testing for degenerative diseases, and only 1 vaccine. The following year, the pet would receive a different vaccine. This cycling of vaccines would ensure that your pet only receives each vaccine every 3 years, but would receive some immunization during each visit.

While this new approach is certainly preferred to the former standard, holistic veterinarians like myself prefer an even more personalized approach. Using a blood antibody test called a vaccine titer allows the doctor to determine each pet’s own level of immunity to various diseases. In simple terms, antibodies are proteins made by the pet’s white blood cells (specifically B lymhocytes.) These antibodies are made whenever a pet contacts an infectious organism (virus or bacteria, as a result of a natural infection) or is vaccinated (the vaccine uses low doses of infectious organisms, tricking the immune system to form protective antibodies without causing disease as might occur in a natural infection.) Using a titer test reveals each pet’s antibody status. These results are then interpreted in an attempt to determine if the pet is currently protected against a specific infectious disease or if the pet may require immunization. This way your pet is only immunized when its body shows a need for immunization, rather than an arbitrary 3 years. After all, if your pet only needs 1 immunization every 5 years, even vaccinating every 3 years for everything is too much!

The benefits of the titer approach are as follows:

*Decreased minor side effects (fever, stiffness, joint soreness, lethargy, decreased appetite) and serious side effects (injection site sarcomas, collapse with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (decreased red blood cell count) or thrombocytopenia (decreased platelet count,) liver failure, kidney failure, bone marrow suppression, immune suppression, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, food allergy, atopic dermatitis, glomerulonephritis/renal amyloidosis (different types of immune kidney diseases,) seizures, bloating, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism) from immunization.

*True holistic approach to patient care.
*No wasted vaccination.
*Focus on true preventive health rather than simply preventing only infectious diseases.
*Pets are only vaccinated with whatever is necessary based upon titer testing (no more 7-in-1 shots for every pet every year!)

While no test is perfect, I believe titer testing is a better option than simply vaccinating all pets every 1-3 years whether or not they truly need immunization. By minimizing the number of vaccines your pet receives, you are improving its health and still reducing illness. Talk with your doctor about this more natural approach. By using vaccine titers, you’ll truly be personalizing the care you give your pet!

Dr. Shawn Messonnier is the author of 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog, The Allergy Solution for Dogs, and the award-winning The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats. Dr. Shawn is the medical consultant for Pet Togethers, a pet supplement company.

pettogethers.net/healthypet pettogethers.net/healthypet

petcarenaturally.com petcarenaturally.com

Family: Lebiasinidae

Species: Copeina guttata

Size: 15cm (6 inch)

Diet: Omnivorous

Tank levels: Upper and middle

Habitat: Streams and rivers of central Amazonia

Remarks: This species is relatively easy to keep and breeds readily. Eggs are laid in a hollow and guarded by the male. If you want to breen fish this is an interesting one to try.

Comments: The body of this species features a green-brown dorsal surface with darker flanks, and a light yellowish ventral surface. Each large scale has a red marking at its forward apex, giving the fish the spotted appearance which is reflected in its common name. Nice fish fish to keep and own, which is great to watch at night.

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This fish comes from the “Tropical Fish” family species of fish. I hope you enjoyed this fish profile that I put together to help people to choose the right fish for the right aquarium tank setup you may own, or be thinking of buying in the future. If you require more information about keeping fish in general and what are the right fish to choose for your tank setups, you can always visit my site called “GB Aquarium” and see what’s posted new there and also join in the discussion taking place!

garybolton.co.uk garybolton.co.uk

Dogs are amongst the most amazing creatures because they give unconditional love. Dogs love their masters and the masters reciprocate by providing them with all the things of comfort they can afford. Dog supplies are important and useful things for keeping your dog healthy and happy, and include items for dog grooming and maintaining good dog health. Canine or dog supplies can be classified into several sub categories, including dog training supplies, dog grooming supplies, and even more specialist items like hunting dog supplies.

Dog Grooming:

Dogs are gods of frolic. Undertaking thorough dog grooming is like having a permanent job requiring lots of patience, yet packed with exercise and the general fun of bringing up a dog and ensuring it lives a long and carefree life. Dog grooming is an important practice which should not be underestimated – a practice which ensures good dog health and hygiene and should also help to eliminate most dog health problems.

Dog grooming is in fact a somewhat intense program of dog health care that covers the entire life span a dog. Puppy care, canine health care, giving a hygiene bath, washing, combing, brushing, checking ears, paws, teeth and underside, nail trimming, removing dog fleas and insects, and fixing regular meetings with a professional veterinary are all important activities that a dog owner should undertake. A dog’s masters should follow a schedule of regular grooming sessions.

Puppy care is a very important practice that requires a lot of diligence and patience. Like children, puppies require some extra special attention. A puppy needs to be handled with extreme care, and should be groomed properly, fed carefully and well, and bedded properly.

Dog Grooming Supply:

Good dog grooming supplies are required to help undertake the important activities of dog grooming and care. A dog supply may include a dog house, dog furniture, dog carriers, dog beds (and designer dog beds), dog toys, dog collars and leashes, dog bath tub, dog soaps, dog perfumes, dog odor removers and mouth fresheners, dog clothes, designer dog clothes, dog t-shirts, dog jewelry, dog food, dog tonics & supplements and dog medication.

Dog Beds:

A dog bed is a bed designed especially for the sleeping comfort of a dog. It should be the snug retreat to where it retires to take sweet dreams at the end of a long and active day. Good dog beds play a very important part in keeping your dog in good health. An improper sleep may very much affect the health of a dog, thus dog masters should be very careful when buying dog pet beds. Dog beds and dog bedding include a dog bed mattress, dog bed sheets, dog bed cover, dog bed cushions, dog pillows, dog blankets and dog quilts or duvets.

Dog beds are available in numerous designs and sizes including luxury dog pet beds, large dog beds, wicker dog bed, leather dog beds, top quality dog beds, orthopedic dog beds etc. There are a number of designer dog pet beds available. Dog beds can also be purchased online, as there are many dog pet bed manufacturers now selling their dog beds through their websites.

“Perhaps the dog is the only animal that has seen its god, as a man is a dog’s idea of what God should be.”

Paul MacIver writes articles about

Animals make the headlines today for many reasons. The problem is that animals tend to make the news for the horrible and unthinkable things that happen to them. In every state across the United States and every country across the globe atrocities happen to animals great and small everyday. We have covered news stories involving dogs and cats as well as assorted types of animals being stared to death, beaten to death, burned with acid, inhumanely executed in addition to countless other ways. We have written stories about animals that were killed for the fun of it by the sickest of individuals and by accident by the ones who loved them the most. But, with all of the negative headlines that animals are involved in, there are a number of animals that make the news for wonderful, heartwarming and humorous reasons.

Many dogs and cats can says that their owners would not be alive if it weren’t for them. Dogs and cats have called the police when their owners were in trouble and in need of medical help, dogs have waken the owners up to let them know there was a fire in the house and still others have been the driving force behind helpful laws being enacted to help make the world a better place to live. Below I have placed one of my favorite articles I have written which highights one of the many happy reasons an animal has made the news. I hope that you enjoy it.

Black Labrador Honored as Katrina Hero

At the annual Genesis Awards, hosted by the Humane Society, a black Labrador now called Katrina was honored for her life saving efforts. A New Orleans man who was in trapped in flood waters after the hurricane recalled how the dog helped to get him to higher ground, without her he surely would have drowned. The awards dinner attended by leading animal rights activists granted the dog a standing ovation. Katrina was rescued from a shelter after the man’s story was reported on a local Los Angeles TV station.

Yes, animals have certainly solidified their position in the world today for both the good, as seen above, and the bad. Join us as we explore the world of animal news one day at a time.

Learn about