What causes pet allergies? The primary agents are proteins produced in the hair, feathers, fur, urine, saliva, and feces of pets. These proteins can stimulate a wide and uncomfortable variety of symptoms in sufferers.
Pet allergies can spring up all at once, or they can evolve over months or years. A new cat owner, for instance, may suffer no allergy symptoms until six months after introducing a pet to her apartment. It’s important not to jump to conclusions about the cause of symptoms.
Many environmental and physiological factors can produce “pet allergy like” symptoms. You may be allergic to other substances (e.g. pollen, mold, poison ivy, certain foods, climatic variations, and even stress) or suffer a medical condition like influenza, eczema, lupus, or chronic fatigue syndrome.
The best way to settle the diagnosis is to discuss the matter with your doctor. He or she can perform a range of tests (including skin and blood tests) aimed at pin pointing triggers. Be aware that allergies can often be comorbid with other conditions. To relieve symptoms, you will need to treat all triggers.
Symptoms of Pet Allergies
Pet allergies can present in vastly different ways in different patients. Some sufferers may experience eczema, nettle shaped rashes, and other skin blotches. Others may get asthma or other bronchial problems. Still others may present with full-on “hay fever like” symptoms, such as watery eyes, runny nose, headache, and congestion.
Symptoms can also vary in how, when, and how intensely they present, and individuals can respond to allergens in their environments differently at different times. For instance, let’s say you're allergic to dogs. During one encounter with a golden retriever, you may develop hay fever symptoms and difficulty breathing. Several weeks later, you can encounter the same golden retriever, and this time, you may experience an allergic rash but no hay fever symptoms.
Allergic symptoms can create secondary health problems as well. Pet allergy sufferers are statistically more likely to develop ear infections, insomnia, and the common cold. Moreover, if left untreated, these symptoms can impede one’s ability to travel, visit friends, or even go shopping.
Notwithstanding all of these negative symptoms, a surprising number of Americans “work through” their symptoms just to have the joy of spending time with their favorite companions. Approximately two millions Americans, according to one study, keep cats even though they are allergic to them.
What Makes Pet Allergies Worse?
Just because you have a pet allergy doesn’t mean that you can’t be allergic to other things in your environment. Indeed, your allergy symptoms can be exacerbated by a whole host of environmental factors, such as cigarette smoke, pollen, dust in the air, and even your diet. If you don’t stay in shape by running, eating well, sleeping enough, limiting your stress, and avoiding excess consumption of drugs, alcohol, and caffeine, you can make your symptoms worse. Some studies even suggest that non-allergic pet owners who lead unhealthy lives put themselves at risk of developing allergies to their pets down the line.
How to Treat Pet Allergies
Fortunately for pet allergy sufferers, solutions abound. The simplest but in some ways saddest solution is to avoid pets entirely (or at least the pets which trigger your allergy symptoms). Thankfully, there are intermediate solutions you can try before parting with Fido or Mittens.
Taking allergy shots can prevent symptoms from developing. Minimize exposure in your environment by cleaning your house of pet dander particles or setting up a HEPA filter to circulate the air and eliminate pet allergens.
Shop for so-called low allergy pets, such as shorthaired cats or “low allergy” dogs like Bichon Frisé’s. If you can wrangle your pet for regular baths, you can reduce the amount of pet dander that will circulate in your house. Also, make sure to keep your pet healthy and active -- studies suggest that pets that are confined can become more allergenic over time.
If you're “super allergic” to pets and you need to visit someone who owns an animal which triggers your symptoms, wear a mask, and/or bring medications to control symptoms. Finally, declare an “allergy free zone” in your house. You may be able to control your symptoms simply by staying out of rooms your pet occupies regularly.
Medications to Control Symptoms
You can find over-the-counter and prescribed antihistamines to control symptoms, and corticosteroids and/or bronchodilators can be effective as well. You can also try over-the-counter topicals, such as eye-drops, nasal sprays, creams, and even non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Finally, it is possible to build up tolerances to pet dander through a program of controlled exposure over time. You may want to speak with an allergy specialist to come up with a comprehensive treatment plan. If you're really allergic to a certain type of animal, make sure to carry emergency medication on your person in the event that you encounter that animal, since you may not have time to get to medical help before severe symptoms set in.
Negative reinforcement can be used to teach behavior. The main disadvantage of using negative reinforcement is that you must precede the reinforcement with either a punishment, or the threat of punishment. This can cause fear and anxiety in animals.
A punishment, as we all know, is an unwelcoming event which an animal or human, for that matter, obviously wishes to avoid because of the fearful consequences. As Webster puts it a punishment is:
• To impose a penalty on for a fault, offense, or violation.
To inflict a penalty for the commission of (an offense) in retribution or retaliation. To deal with roughly or harshly.
A punishment is designed to make a behavior less likely to occur in the future. As children I am sure we were all punished. At least I was. That is for sure. I thought twice about doing that same naughty act again. An example of a negative reinforcement with a dog is a choker chain. If you are trying to teach your dog to walk beside you and to heel on command when you stop, you could use a choker collar. If he surges at another animal or human and he is wearing a choker chain you may pull on his choker chain. If your dog then stops, and heels the stopping of the pain and pressure on the dog's neck stops because the choker chain goes slack.
So, the stopping of the pain and pressure on the dog's neck is a "negative reinforcement" to the dog. It is reinforcing because it removes something that is not of benefit to the dog.
A lot of people seem to think using positive reinforcement doubled with negative reinforcement would make for a better behaving dog. There is no doubt that using negative reinforcement will make your dog do what you want. However punishment and negative reinforcement produce involuntary behaviors, as the dog doesn't willingly do what you want. Just imagine how you would feel if a powerful person punished you for a particular action and you didn't understand why. You would probably run away from that situation and avoid contact with that person at all costs in the future. A lot of dogs who are trained using punishment become very fearful which in turn causes anxiety.
4 Big Disadvantages For Using Negative Reinforcement To Train Your Dog.
1. The dog does NOT willingly do what you want.
2. The punishments must become more severe for the dog to continue to obey you.
3. The dog will link you, the owner with punishment therefore destroying your relationship with your dog.
4. Because the dog is fear driven it may become unwilling or unable to learn.
Examples of a dog feeling fearful.
A. The dog heeling with tail held low and ears laid back.
B. Dog returns slowly to you in an arc, rather than quickly in a straight line.
C. Cringing behavior when the dog is close to you.
At this point it should be very clear that positive reinforcement is the best choice for training your dog. Your dog will have a much better temperament and ability and willingness to learn.
If you missed the article on positive reinforcement drop me an email and I'll send it to you. BettyBulldog@ForTheLoveOfDogZ.com
Please put positive reinforcement in the subject line.
Saving Your Pet's Life
A Serious Medical Condition to be Aware of
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus - commonly known as Bloat
This is a life-threatening condition and requires immediate veterinary assistance for proper diagnosis and treatment. If not treated immediately it can quickly take your dog's life.
Commonly seen in deep-chested breeds (such as Basset Hounds, Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, etc.), bloat is caused by an intake of gasses and fluids that aren't released. It often happens by eating too quickly, gulping water, and/or strenuous exercise after a meal.
Gasses and excess fluid trapped in the stomach expand, causing a distention (bloat) of the stomach, which is readily visible from the appearance of the dog. The distention of the stomach causes it to flip possibly a full 360 degrees and the spleen may rotate. Symptoms include:
Restlessness
Distended abdomen
Glassy eyes
Unproductive retching/dry heaves
Excessive panting
Salivating
Arrythmia
Pale gums and mucous membranes
If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, take him to the vet immediately. Even after surgically releasing the gasses, the dog may need to undergo extensive surgical therapy to return the stomach to it's original position as well as treatment of shock symptoms. Many dogs never fully recover, and may die of complications stemming from Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus. Ongoing therapy is often needed.
In order to prevent bloat from happening, feed your pet smaller meals, broken up over the course of the day particularly if you have a large, barrel-chested breed like those mentioned above. Avoid exercising your dog immediately after eating and limit water after exercise to avoid gulping.
Once bloat happens, it is common that it may happen again. Owners of deep-chested breeds that have a history of bloat may consider having the stomach stapled to abdominal muscles to prevent future problems. This preventative step should only be taken under the advisory of one or more veterinarians.
How to choose the breed of dog with the most suitable temperament for your needs.
How to choose the breed of dog with the temperament most suitable for your needs
by Dennis Fisher
Different breeds of dogs vary considerably in temperament.
In deciding which breed would be most suitable for your needs and for the needs of your family, the distinctive temperament of the breed should be an important factor in your choice.
Obviously you cannot ignore practical considerations such as the size of your garden and the facilities you have for the dog to exercise. Some breeds of dogs obviously require more exercise than others. But do not ignore the natural, distinctive temperament of the breed you have chosen.
In order to make the task of choosing the breed of dog that best suits your needs a little easier, I have listed below the eight most popular dogs – according to A.K.C. registration figures – and given brief details about their temperaments.
The following list is in current order of popularity.
1. Labrador Retriever.
Then Labrador is a medium sized dog of about 22 inches in height with very expressive eyes. An important reason for it’s popularity to the fact that it is generally an even-tempered, friendly animal that is particularly good with children.
There are Labradors who have been trained to be quite effective guard dogs, but this is not a natural characteristic of the breed. But if is a lovable, friendly, affectionate, easy to manage and easy to train pet is what you require the Labrador is an excellent choice. Labradors are, quite understandably, the breed of choice with many eye-dog organizations.
A Labrador can be a somewhat greedy dog and there is a tendency for the dog to put on too much weight if the diet is not controlled.
2. Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a fairly large, friendly animal, standing about 24 inches at the shoulder and weighing approximately 80 lbs.
This is a highly intelligent, very lively, active breed. It has a delightful temperament, friendly and affectionate and is very fond of children.
The Golden Retriever is very quick to learn and responds very well indeed to training.
It must be mentioned however, that the Golden Retriever is not a natural guard dog. It is a breed that appears to have no inherited protective, guard instinct. It is possible this can be instilled with correct training but it is not a natural trait of the breed.
3. Yorkshire Terrier.
This handsome little terrier, with a beautiful silky coat, although only about 7 lbs. in weight, is reputed to be one of the most courageous small dogs willing to tackle anything.
It is highly intelligent, friendly and lovable and can fit in easily in a very small home or apartment. It does not require a great deal of exercise.
The “Yorkie”, as it is affectionately known is definitely a terrier in nature. It is bright, intelligent, lively and alert and in spite of its small size makes a very good, protective watchdog.
4. German Shepherd Dog
This is the breed that has been my personal favorite for many years.
There is no animal as anxious to please, as easy to train and as adaptable as the well-bred German Shepherd.
But I would like to stress the “well-bred” aspect. In this regard I must emphasize that I consider temperament is to a very large extent an inherited trait. For this reason it is imperative that before you select a German Shepherd pup, you know something about his parents and make absolutely certain they have sound, confident temperaments.
If at all possible make a point of seeing both Sire and Dam.
A German Shepherd Dog is not for everyone! It is not the type of animal that can be ignored, except at feeding time and left in the backyard to fend for itself.
The German Shepherd craves attention. It is an animal that wants to be part of the family, which can be a definite disadvantage if you haven’t the time to give Shepherds the attention they need.
This doesn’t mean that you have to devote all your spare time training the dog. But it does mean that you will have to spend a fair amount of time training the German Shepherd in basic obedience. The dog must learn to respect you. This is of vital important and comes with training.
If you are willing to spend the time and effort in giving you German Shepherds the extra attention they deserve, you will be able to bring out the exceptionally fine qualities they have inherited from their ancestors.
5. Beagle
This is a dog that originated in England and was used for hunting rabbits. It is a very intelligent, good-natured animal that is easy to train. It also has a very good sense of smell.
Although smaller than most hunting dogs, standing only about 14 inches in height and weighing less than 30 pounds, it is nevertheless a sturdy animal. It has a white coat with black and tan markings and large, hanging ears.
This playful breed that was popularized though the “Peanuts” comic strips, that featured “Snoopy”, makes a delightful family pet because it is particularly fond of children.
The Beagle is also very alert that and makes an excellent watch dog.
6. Daschund.
The Daschund, a breed that originated in Germany, was originally bred to hunt badgers. In spite of its small size it was also used to hunt foxes. Because of it’s long body, loose skin and keen sense of smell, the animal was able to burrow underground.
Although quite small, no more than 25 pounds, it is a sturdy, well-muscled animal
The Daschund has a delightful temperament, fun-loving, undemanding and very affectionate. They do not require a great deal of exercise and are quite content to lie around.
In fact because of this they should not be over-fed otherwise they have a tendency to become overweight, which is of course unhealthy for any breed.
They are also inclined to bark unnecessarily. But his can be corrected with training. They are intelligent animals and although sometimes inclined to be obstinate, they will respond to firm, but gentle correction.
7. Boxer
This breed also originated in Germany and was the result of the crossing of dogs of the bull breed variety and terriers.
A well-bred Boxer has a great deal to offer. It is an animal that is exceptionally good with children. Because of its size – about 24 inches at the shoulder and between 65 and 70 lbs in weight, this muscular dog, with correct training can prove to be a useful guard dog.
A well-bred Boxer is muscular, very athletic, handsome animal.
A decided advantage of the Boxer is the fact that coat is short and requires very little attention in so far as grooming is concerned.
Boxers are capable of being trained and a number have done reasonably in competitive Obedience work. Sometimes they are not quite as quick to respond to commands as other working dog breeds, but once they understand your command they seldom forget.
They are lovable very affectionate animals that generally get on well with other dogs.
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8. Poodle.
The poodle is reputed to be the most intelligent of all breeds - with good reason. It is a remarkably intelligent animal, very responsive and very easy to train.
It is very playful lovable animal that very often attaches itself to one member of the family. Because it is suspicious of strangers it can also be a very good guard. Although it is sometimes a noisy dog, this alertness can be very useful when there is also a larger, guard dog in the home. The Poodle is alert to every strange sound.
A great advantage of the Poodle is the fact that it is the only breed that does not shed it’s coat. This can be of inestimable value if there happens to be member of the family who is allergic to dog’s hair. But because the dog does not shed its coat, the dog should be regularly brushed to avoid matting of the coat.
Because of it’s exceptional intelligence the Poodle can be remarkably easy to train.
Because of space restrictions this article provides only the basic facts about these eight breeds. If you would like to know more about these and many other breeds, you will find a great deal of information on the following site http://www,freedigadvice.com
If you live in the area that is subjected to heavy snow fall and very cold temperature especially on winter season, and you have a pet, you might want to start thinking of ways to keep them warm and comfortable for the season. One of the means to keep your pet warm and comfortable during the wet season is to let them inside your house. However, if you are not comfortable in keeping your dog inside your house, there are still alternatives to keep them warm and dry during the cold season.
One way to keep your dog outside your house but still ensure he is warmed and comfortable is to set him up a bed in your garage. A nice, thick mat or bed for your dog will keep him warm even he is in your garage. Making sure that the bed or mat is elevated from the ground to make sure that the cold will not creep into the bed. Another way is to put him in a dog house. Dog house is a great way to keep your dog outdoors and still ensures that he is comfortable and warm during winter.
Winter can create some health problems on your dog such as arthritis due to cold weather. A great investment is to put up a dog house that is sturdy and can withstand any weather. Keep in mind that it is important that the dog house should not be too spacious but also not too enclosed. Proper size of the dog house should be considered when buying or building. The exterior should be sealed against rain, snow and moist and wind. To ensure the warmth of the dog house, amenities can be added such as thicker blanket of bed. A heater can also be installed on the dog house to ensure that your dog is warmed. A well built dog house should provide a shelter for your dog at all kinds of weather. Building your dog a house will protect and give him shelter all year round.
There are a lot of means and ways to keep your dog warm and comfortable during winter or cold season. All you have to do is to explore the alternatives.
I am a veterinary assistant. Working for about six months at my uncle’s clinic gave me some education that a few vet schools failed to teach. Being a veterinary assistant puts you to the actual health scenarios of the animals. But may be you are puzzled why I chose to become a veterinary assistant rather that being a real veterinarian. At first when I took veterinary medicine, I am hesitant if it is really the career I want to take. Of course I love animals but it is rather a different thing when you are a doctor. You are not only handling the health of the animals but also their lives. This is what I am thinking while preparing a dose of dog wormer for a beagle.
The beagle that I am currently attending to has been delivered here at the clinic late in evening yesterday with his owner rushing over the emergency situation. The dog was dehydrated, fainting and weak. With a few samples of the feces, it has been diagnose to have tapeworms and low concentration of hookworms. The dog was given medication in the soonest time and now I am preparing for a second shot of the dog wormer.
The owner is also fainting together with the dog. It must be funny but this happens every time an emergency condition happens here; may be because they really love their pet so much. My uncle said that being a veterinarian is more than giving medical treatment. It is giving a new life to the animals. Like what I am presently doing, preparing the dose of dog wormer is more than getting rid of the parasites, giving the dog wormer is saving the life of the beagle that I am attending do. When you handle a living creature, whether human or simply an animal, you are an instrument in extending their lives. That is why I have to prepare properly the doses of the dog wormers that I am asked to do.
The dog wormer that I am preparing is in the liquid form for easier digestion of the beagle. Though it can be on chewable tablets, and has the same effect, the owner would rather prefer the liquid for it to take effect immediately.
My uncle prescribed the dog wormer to be administered for three consecutive days. Since he prescribed panacur or febendazole, this is safe for the dog. Moreover, the veterinarian also suggested to the owner that though they are strict in the home hygiene, he should take deworming proactively by bringing his dog every month for a deworming session rather than waiting for the situation to happen again.
It is a relief to see the dog’s conditioned renewed after the medication. After such, now I am giving it a second thought to pursue my veterinary medicine career.
Tip 1 – Make sure that your dog’s collar has attached to it an identification tag that shows their name, your name and your contact details. Generally it is best if you just place a phone number on which you can be contacted. By including this on your dog’s collar you are increasing the chances of them being returned to you if they get lost or runaway.
Tip 2 – You need to find out what the laws with regards to registering your dog and having them vaccinated. Today it is a legal requirement that all animals kept as pets are fitted with a microchip. This is done by your vet and generally the cost of having it inserted between the animal’s shoulder blades is around $50. There are some microchips which just provide an identification number, whilst others are designed to actually read the animals temperature as well. Once inserted the information is then entered into a database and should an animal be lost and found with such a chip they can be returned to you as their owner much more quickly.
Tip 3 – Whenever you are walking your dog away from your property it is important that they are always on a leash. Also check with your local authorities because you may find that certain breeds are classed as dangerous dogs and may be required to be muzzled when out in public.
Tip 4 – Although you dog may be inside most of the time when they are outside in the garden still make sure that they have adequate shelter, especially if you intend to leave them there whilst out. But although you may keep them outside you should also spend time with them as well and these are pack animals and so they like to be with others.
Tip 5 – You should make sure that you arrange for your dog to be checked over regularly by your vet. This way if anything unusual is noted they will be able to treat it much more quickly and which could save you on your vet bills in the future.
Tip 6 – Unless you are intending to breed from your dog it is important that you have the spayed or neutered. Many dogs after having this routine surgery carried out tend to live much longer and tend to be much healthier and have far less behavioural problems.
Tip 7 – It is important that you provide your dog with a well balanced nutritional diet and make sure that they can easily get to fresh water when they need. This is especially important if you intend to feed your dog only dried food. When it comes to which food to give your dog as there are so many different kinds available it may be advisable to discuss the issue with your vet first. Certainly many owners today prefer to feed dried dog food simply because it is must easier and also contains the right balance of nutrients, minerals and vitamins that dogs need. The other choice you have and if you have the time is actually to prepare fresh meals for your dog which you can then freeze and give to them each day.
Tip 8 – If you have never owned a dog before then it is worth your while enrolling them in some obedience training classes. This way you can learn the most humane and safe ways to control your dog and provides you with a chance to bond much more closely with your animal. Your vet should be able to recommend a class for you, plus there are plenty who advertise in local newspapers and dog magazines. Before joining such classes go along and check them out first and speak with other dog owners who attend them.
Tip 9 – Although you dog may have the garden to run around in, it is worth actually taking them for much longer walks as well. It provides them with the opportunity to explore new areas so not only are they getting the physical exercise they need but the mental as well. Ideally you should be trying to walk your dog at least twice a day. However, this may differ from breed to breed and if you are unsure how much exercise your dog needs then speak to your vet.
Tip 10 – It is important that you have a regular grooming in place for your dog, especially if you own a large dog or a dog with a long coat. As you are grooming them you can actually carry out some simple health checks as well. It is best to start at the head and work your way down. You need to check their eyes, ears, nose and mouth to make sure that they are all clean, clear and bright. If you notice any discharge or foul smells then arrange for your vet to carry out a more thorough inspection. After checking them over then it is a good idea to bathe and then groom your dog. As well as getting rid of any unwanted guests on their body you are also helping to remove any loose hair.
Above we have shown you 10 ways to care for your dog. If you keep the above tips in mind then you will find that not only does your dog remain healthy, but they will be much happier too.
1 - Fit your cat with a collar and attached to it details relating to you including your telephone number. This way if your cat does happen to get out and goes missing then the chances of them being returned to you will be greatly improved.
2 - Today you will also find that it is a legal requirement that your cat is actually micro chipped. This is something that your vet needs to do and normally they will inject the small device between the animal’s shoulder blades. As well as you having a copy of the identification information this is then entered into a database and so if animal is lost a quick swipe of the animal will tell if it is the one.
3 - Although many cats like to be able to go outside if you live in a built up area it is best if you keep them confined to your home. Ideally look at providing them with plenty of things such as a scratching post so that they don’t get bored and start to damage your furniture instead. Plus it is a good idea when you go out to restrict them to one room only in the house (i.e., the kitchen) and make sure that they have everything that they need.
4 - It is important with any pet including cats that they go to the vet regularly not just for checkups but for boosters of their vaccinations. If you are unsure which vet to use, ask a friend, neighbour or a family member if they can recommend someone.
5 - You may not like it but having your cat spayed or neutered is extremely important especially if they are allowed to roam outside. Not only will your cat be a lot healthier but this will help to prevent you ending up with more cats than you wanted.
6 - You need to ensure that you provide your cat with a well balanced nutritional diet and make sure that they have a good continuous supply of fresh water. If you are unsure just what you should be feeding your cat then speak to your vet and they may recommend something for them. Certainly it is best for young cats (kittens) and older cats that they are give food specifically designed for them. A quick search online and you will see there are plenty of products now available suitable for all types of cats no matter their ages.
7 - As mentioned you need to prevent your cats from doing things that you find undesirable. Although you may not believe it but just like dogs a cat can be taught to do things. However, it will take quite a lot of time and effort on your part and certainly you will need lots of patience with your animal if you want to stop such problems from arising such as them jumping up on to kitchen counters or tables.
8 - If you want your cats coat to remain looking good then you need to be regularly grooming them, especially if the cat has long hair. Grooming long haired cats regularly will help to prevent their coats from becoming matted, plus it also helps to remove loose hairs as well. Although short haired coats don’t need so much grooming as long haired breeds by brushing them regularly you are stopping them from ingesting the loose hairs when they groom themselves. If they ingest too much hair it can form into hairballs which if they cannot expel can lead to other health issues for your cat.
9 - You may not believe it but it is a good idea to actually spend some time playing with your cat especially if they are kept in the house all the time. It not only helps to stimulate them physically but mentally as well, plus the bond between the two of you will be strengthened.
10 - Finally whenever you spend time with them carry out your own checks. This way if you spot any abnormalities in your pet you can take them immediately to the check to have the problem looked at further. When doing your own checks start at the head and work your way down the body. Check the ears make sure that they are clean and they are not producing any unpleasant odours. Next look at their eyes are these clear and bright and focus on you and check to see if there is any discharge. Then you come to the teeth this may be difficult but once you are able to make sure the gums are pink and there hasn’t been any build up of tartar on them. Plus you may not want to but see if their breath smells bad. The final thing to do is check their nose for any kind of discharge and when touched it should feel warm and dry.
Above we have shown you 10 ways to care for your cat as long as you keep these in mind then you will find that you will have a healthy and happy animal.
Food, devices and gadgets are given more credit than they deserve when balance begins to occur between dog and owner. The real agent of change is the dog owner them self. This change centers more on what we are projecting through our personality rather than with devices, gadgets or treats. A device can provide a boost of self confidence to the frustrated dog owner and help with increasing interactions which meet the pack leader criteria. The owner or trainer in turn emphasizes the device or motivator as being the agent of change when in fact it is the opposite. Self-confidence is linked to the type of pack authority and demand which challenges and maintains the lead role. Dogs feel this being projected from our being. Authority, although necessary to create and maintain the pack roles, is not intended to be hurtful, aggressive or bad. Based on their individual needs, as temperament and breed,the dominant dog must feel that you represent the type of authority figure that allows them to release this dominant pack role.
Food and treats alone do not represent demand or challenge for the dominant pack dog. They are viewed as only something that the dog wants. The dominant pack dog may see the human owner as their follower and a pathway to get what they want. The dominant dog will respond for the food but still resist, challenge and express dominant and aggressive behavior. The owner can use treats as long as they are also expressing enough authority and demand to maintain a follower role for their dog. Often this isn't the case for the dog owner who expresses emotion first and seeks out methods or techniques which represent how they feel about their dog from a human perspective rather than as a dog. Dogs express demand, authority and challenge through their state of being and within the pack relationship.
Adopting this lead role requires the dog owner to mimic those traits which represent authority figure and maintains a follower role. Demand, challenge and authority must be expressed through interactions. This is more psychological presence than physical. The emotionally driven and self-focused dog owner often has great difficulty expressing the type of psychological demand and authority needed to meet their dog's basic pack needs.The emotionally driven dog owner is seeking love and attachment through a human agenda.This can lead to interpreting dominant behavior as a human expressions of love and affection. The dominant dog will follow the emotional human owner everywhere while avoiding those who represent authority figure. What the emotional dog owner perceives as expressions of love often represent possession and ownership to the dominant pack dog. Those whom represent authority figure to the dominant dog represent challenge and something to avoid. This leads to relationship issues with one spouse distancing them self while the other remains a source of empowerment for the dominant dog. Often the emotional dog owner will continue on the same path to the very end. The dog becomes the focus of the problem as a result. The owner must change for change to happen.
I absolutely love dogs, make no mistake about it, but I also know what I must do to prevent my dog from taking this unhealthy dominant role. You must have the ability to think beyond your own immediate needs, of what we might lose, fear and insecurity and adopt a new perspective, a new approach, a new realitity. That by meeting our dogs needs we also meet our own, in a much more powerful and meaningful way than ever before.
Losing a pet can be one of the hardest things to go through. For many, pets are parts of the family, much like people. Here are some tips to help cope with the loss of a four-legged friend.
ALLOW YOURSELF TIME TO GRIEVE
Grieving is a natural way to help your mind and body heal from a loss. Allow yourself the time to reflect, cry or express your loss; it will make you feel much better faster. Many people find solace in writing down thoughts and feelings on paper - don’t be afraid to try. Grieving is natural, healthy and an important step in the healing process.
ACCEPT HELP FROM OTHERS
Let friends and family into your heart to help ease the pain that you are feeling. Ask for help - people often don’t know what to do or say when a close friend or family member loses a pet. But asking for help brings people to you; it will make them feel better as well as make you feel better. Reach out to others in similar situations; again, you both will feel better.
SET UP A MEMORIAL TO HONOR YOUR LOSS
Memorials and dedications honor your pets and help you to remember them in a way that fits you best. Some people memorialize pets by using photographs or doing things like dedicating a special tree in their honor. Others make donations to local animal welfare groups like the Humane Society.
Make a memorial that feels right for you and honors your pet.
TRUST YOURSELF THAT YOU WILL HEAL
Don’t give up hope, time is the best healer. Even when you don’t know how you will get over your loss, you will discover strengths in yourself that you never knew you had. Take one day at a time and you will get there. Healing will take time and effort, but it always happens.
A complete line of personalized dog cookie jars. Your pet's treats will stay fresh in these decorative ceramic dog treat jars. Unique dog treat containers with pet themes will look great with your home decor. This versatile ceramic treat jar by katie is both stylish and decorative.
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The setting up of an aquarium is both a fascinatng and patience-taxing job. The greater the depth of the water, the more troublesome is the task. The boyancy of the plants time and again frustrate our efforts. Usually after several futile attempts, a root selection seems to be successfully pushed down into the sand. Before one can follow through with the rest, the plant becomes foot-loose, gracefully arising to the top, necessitating starting all over again.
Frequently I would have beautiful plant specimens, well rooted, perfect in every way, but in the process of planting, quite often from one to two-thirds of the roots would either be destroyed, or so badly bruised, they would eventually rot. Resulting in weeks to overcome the shock.
One of the best tools is the common aquarium plant weight. Commonly called lead weights, they are not actually made out of lead, but rather a tin composite. These weights can be gently wrapped around the roots of a plant and pressed into the gravel thus holding the plant in place.
The beauty of using a plant weight to hold the plant is that the weight frame also provides a place that allows us to gently cover the parts of any roots that should be covered in gravel. Thus we can gently cover roots without worry about damaging or bruising the roots.
It is best to not use metal because most metals will leach into the water and may be toxic.
This is also a more healthy way to plant roots as this allows us to spread the roots out so they can grow more naturally and healthily.
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First, we need to know what kind of fish will be living in the tank. Putting the wrong fish together can be disaster. Some may not make it due to the living conditions, others may get injured while in the tank, and the two different fish may get into constant fights. Usually one fish will eventually not come out from these fights alive. Make sure to know the personality of the species of fish you’re about to place into a tank together. Typically, you’ll want to stay away from sticking aggressive fish with each other.
Next we need to have all the equipment that runs the aquarium. Get a tank that will fit in the space or display area that you have in mind. Make sure it fits wanted area from the start and that there is enough room for the kinds of fish that plan on being in there.
Lighting should be next on the list. Again you’ll need to know some information about the fish. Some species prefer low lighting while others like to swim in a lot of light. Your choice here will also be affect if live plants or reefs are planned to be placed into the tank. Make sure to cover the lighting requirements of everything placed into the saltwater aquarium.
Filters are the next most important. Without a quality filter, bacteria and disease can get out of control in the tank leaving your fish in danger. This also helps clean the water of anything excreted by the fish.
To finish up, there are a few other important items that are needed to properly run a saltwater aquarium. A heater is use to regulate the temperature of the water at the required levels of the fish. Bigger tanks may need more than one of these. As make sure to buy some substrate. This is the stuff commonly seen at the bottom of the aquariums and looks like rocks and pebbles.
Hopefully, this guide will help in the creation of your first saltwater aquarium. Do some research and keep the fish’s needs in mind and everything should go fine.
Justin Oliver owns a shop with cheap aquariums and used aquariums.
