Archive for the ‘Pets, Dog Training, Cats, Birds, Exotic Animals’ Category

 

Anaconda Snakes : Fact, Fiction & Fantasy

Anaconda Snakes had hitherto been largely ignored as a species, despite their conspicuous size, from the academic viewpoint. It was only Dr J. A. Rivas’s path-breaking explorations and studies on the green anacondas in the Venezuela region that somewhat pierced the awesome veil of the anaconda snake, indisputably the largest of all the world’s snakes. Moreover, Anacondas have been a tantalizing and recurring subject for several popular films churned out by Hollywood. These naturally served less to educate the mass viewer and more to amaze and enthrall the lay person with the sheer size, dangerous mode of capture, and the brute force of the anacondas.

As a result, it becomes difficult to quite sift fiction from myth, segregate myth from fact, and distinguish fact from fiction. Let’s discuss certain salient facts pertaining to anacondas and get rid of a few contradictory beliefs spawned by fiction and myths in the process.

Can an anaconda snake be over 60 meters {150 feet} in length? Not quite likely. However, tall claims made by natives merrily narrate alleged sightings of 125-150 feet-long anacondas. Such tales are obviously to be taken with a pinch of salt. The longest anaconda snake that has been measured and documented was about 28 feet in length. However, this fact need not detract an iota from the usual awe associated with the anaconda snakes.

Are anacondas venomous and kill their preys with lethal poison? Not at all! The anaconda snakes have no venom at all. But before you begin to consider choosing the anaconda snake as a domestic pet, bear in mind that we are referring to the world’s biggest snake. Moreover, anacondas require no poison to best a prey. The anaconda snakes wrap their bodies around their preys’ and squeeze hard until the victims dies of sheer suffocation.

Do anacondas really gobble humans up alive and whole? The anaconda snake does devour its prey whole, its head first. Anacondas lack teeth, and it is up to powerful juices within their stomachs to break & digest their food. Hypothetically, an anaconda snake could gulp down a human, but they normally live submerged in remote marshes and swamps. Of course, if a stray unfortunate human has met with such a gory end, he has not lived to tell the tale.

Can anacondas swallow a whole hippopotamus? Not an adult-sized one, but yes, the anaconda snake is large enough to possibly swallow a baby hippo in a single gulp.

Do anacondas give birth to about a hundred babies at a time? Not by a far sight! The female anaconda snake gives birth to 20 to 40 live babies at a time. They are called neonates, and learn to fend for themselves within hours of their birth.

Do anaconda snakes live for over a hundred years? Wrong again! It seems the mere size of the anacondas invites only superlative expectations from people in their regard. Anacondas normally have a life span of between 10 and 30 years.

So, we see that the anacondas have their mammoth size, but most myths around anaconda snakes are at a considerable tangent from the truth. However, a worrisome fact about the anaconda snake is that today it is an endangered species, and if the consumer demand for its skin products does not decline, the anaconda snake may be on its way to becoming irrevocably extinct.

To experience anacondas for real, visit our Anaconda Videos section for watching real life anacondas in action.

Discover How to Handle Dog Aggression

How to Handle Aggression in Your Dog

Are you having problems with aggression? Does your dog make you or someone else nervous? [spin]Read on to understand and prevent aggressive behaviors in your dog!|Then you need the following tips…[spin]

Dog aggression and tips to solve the behavior problem.

Aggression is a serious behavioral problem that that dog owners can solve in case you take steps to really learn and understand their dog and what can create bad behaviors.

Learning about growth periods in dogs can aide in avoiding this problem.

The First Step - Socialization

Puppies have a great need for socialization. Puppies who are sold or placed in homes should ideally be placed between 7 and 8 weeks to allow for proper socialization in the home. From 8 to 10 weeks, it is a delicate time period, and puppies should be treated with extreme care and love.

Puppies and Adolescence

Adolescence starts at around 14 weeks. If your pup has not had the love and care to provide the socialization he needs by this time, he may never be trustworthy around others. Adolescence continues until they reach sexual maturity, usually around 15 months of age. If your pup did not recieve much handling before adolescence, he or she will often be withdrawn, shy, and even nervous. They may never grow out of this.

The Path to Sexual Maturity

During this stage as they grow to sexual maturity, dogs begin to get protective of home and family. They begin to bark at strangers, and males start lifting their leg to mark territory. Introductions to strangers at home is important in socializing them them.

Warning Factors in Aggression

Breeding plays a large role in determining aggression. Dogs bred for protective traits like Ridgebacks, Dobermans, and Rottwielers will be more aggressive than a Lab or Dalmation. Small breeds like terriors were bred to hunt and still have those qualities.

Environment and Aggression

Obviously living conditions will play a huge role in aggressive behaviors. Dogs who are abused, or neglected, or punished excessively can become aggressive. By the same token, dogs who are spoiled, or given too much attention can also become aggressive.

Being the Alpha

Dogs are guided by a different set of rules than people. They live in packs, and packs always have a leader, or Alpha. Dogs who exhibit aggressive behaviors and are not corrected, start to think of themselves as the Alpha of your family or “pack”, and will exercise their dominance by biting. Many times owners will not understand the process leading up to this, and think their dog just decided to bite them out of nowhere, and get rid of the dog. In reality the dog had established himself as your Alpha.

Tips for Preventing Aggression

The number one priority is never let your dog gain dominance over any family member, especially children. Children are usually the easiest to target as they don’t know any better. If you establish yourself as the Alpha, and don’t let your dog get away with dominant behaviors towards other family members, he will recognize social order.

So remember! Prevention is the best medicine, and the best way to prevent aggression is: Early Socialization, Understanding your Breed, and Establishing your role as Alpha!

Read more about how to house train dogs.

The Border Terrier: Practical Dog Advice

Let’s take a look at some facts concerning the Border Terrier – a popular breed of dog

Living Environment: indoors (highly recommended); outdoors (fenced yard)

Coat: wiry and short; double coated

Colors: tan, red, grizzle and tan, and/or blue and tan

Height: between 11 and 16 inches

Weight: between 11 and 16 pounds

Temperament:
Naturally,
they are scruffy, hard and bold hunters;
they are active as puppies but mellow down as they mature;
they are not friendly with rabbits, rats, hamsters, and even birds;
they are economical to feed;
they really love to please people especially their owners.

When properly trained:
they can get along with the household cats but not with cats in the neighborhood
they may even catch a burglar;
they may lose timidity when accustomed to active environments.

Breeders should note of the following health issues:
Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome or CES, also called as “Spike’s disease”, which is a hereditary, neurological, metabolic and muscle disorder that is sometimes confused with canine epilepsy;
Cataract, or loss of transparency of one or both lenses of the eyes ;
Cryptorchidism, wherein testicles do not descend into the scrotum;
Deafness;
Skin problems and a few skin allergies.

Care and Exercise:
Their coat requires weekly brushing;
They should be professionally groomed at least twice a year;
They should bathe only when necessary since they shed little to no hair. Their physique requires a regular exercise routine which includes a daily play time while on leash.
They should be on leash while walking in public places because of their hunting instincts.

Every dog, no matter the breed, needs to be properly housetrained. Discover more about the best methods house training puppies

House Training A Puppy: Essential Pet Help

Making the decision to bring a puppy into your house is a major decision, and this newcomer will definitely bring years of fun and joy to your family. And, there will also be the requirement to train your brand new puppy. House training your puppy is the most vitalimportant and basic training your puppy will receive. Choose a house training method that will work for you and your family.

Simple Steps To Success
House training a puppy may take some time but is essential. House training your puppy can involve several different ways. One way of house training means using the crate method. This type of house training involves using a crate to house your puppy. Puppies must feel secure, and a crate is a way to achieve this. A crate is used to hold the puppy during the night, when you are gone or even during the day when you don’t have time to keep an eye on the puppy. House training a puppy with this method makes the crate your puppy’s sanctuary within your house. Dogs will not make messes in their own homes, and will learn to hold their bladders for longer while in the crate. Make sure to always take the puppy outdoors before and after they are in the crate.

If you would like to have your puppy only use a particular spot in the backyard for their toilet, ensure to take the puppy to that spot every time you take them out. This will train the puppy to go to that spot only; and can restrict messes to one spot of the backyard.

Keep in mind, when housetraining your puppy that this is a baby. They will on occasions have accidents. Some puppies will often urinate when they become excited. Do not yell at the puppy if accidents do occur. Tell them “no” and then show them where they should have gone.

Look Out For Signals
House training your puppy may also involve you becoming aware of your puppy’s habits. Looking for signals suggesting that the puppy has to go out can help stop accidents and help to train your puppy faster. When anticipating the puppy’s requirement to relieve himself, you will be helping them in getting used to going outside. When house training your puppy, watch for the clear signs that now is the time to go. Make sure to always praise your puppy when they have finished any training successfully. Positive reinforcement can be a faster training tool than any other method.

For for toilet training advice, do check out these articles
crate train a dog
Toilet training puppies
Potty training puppies

Essential Dog Advice: The Poodle

The Poodle is generally acknowledged as one of the most intelligent of canines.

There is a widely held belief that he is a fop, whose time is largely occupied in personal embellishment, and that he demands a great deal of individual attention in the matter of his toilet. It may be true that to keep him in competition order and perfect cleanliness his owner needs to devote more consideration to him than is necessary in the case of many breeds; but in other respects he gives very little trouble, and all who are attached to him are consistent in their opinion that there is no dog so intensely interesting and responsive as a companion. His qualities of mind and his acute powers of reasoning are indeed so great that there is something almost human in his attractiveness and his devotion. His aptitude in learning is never denied, and many are the stories told of his marvellous talent and versatility.

Not merely as a showman’s dog has he distinguished himself. He is something more than a mountebank of the booths, trained to walk the tight rope and stand on his head. He is an adept at performing tricks, but it is his alertness of brain that places him apart from other animals.

The profuse and long coat of this dog has the peculiarity that if not kept constantly brushed out it twists up into little cords which increase in length as the new hair grows and clings about it. The unshed old hair and the new growth entwined together thus become distinct rope-like cords. Eventually, if these cords are not cut short, or accidentally torn off, they drag along the ground, and so prevent the poor animal from moving with any degree of comfort or freedom.

Corded Poodles are very showy, and from the amazing appearance of the coat, attract a great deal of public attention when exhibited at shows; but they have lost popularity among most fanciers, and have become few in number owing to the obvious fact that it is impossible to make pets of them or keep them in the house. The reason of this is that the coat must, from time to time, be oiled in order to keep the cords supple and prevent them from snapping, and, of course, as their coats cannot be brushed, the only way of keeping the dog clean is to wash him, which with a corded Poodle is a lengthy and laborious process. Further, the coat takes hours to dry, and unless the newly washed dog be kept in a warm room he is very liable to catch cold. The result is, that the coats of corded Poodles are almost invariably dirty, and somewhat smelly.

Every dog, whatever the breed deserves to be properly house trained. Learn more
Toilet training puppies
House training puppies
potty training techniques for puppies

Try Dog Nutritional Supplements And Find A Simple Yet Elegant Pet Health Solution.

Pedigree and mixed breed dogs alike, they are all worthy of your attention when it comes to pet health issues. Any pet can fall ill and need proper treatment and they all require immunizations.

Check out pet health on the web. There are pet forums where you can find advice and share worries with other dog owners, and there are, typically, threads on forums covering everything from pet health and nutrition to pet travel requirements and health fitness exercise plans.

Sharing the delight and the experience of owning a pet on a dog health forum can lead to a very valuable information exchanges. If you’ve got a general question about your pet’s well being, try searching the Internet for solutions about basic treatments for common maladies.

The new topic in joint care for pets is glucosamine for dogs. You have probably heard of cosequin, but did you know that its a brand, and not a drug? Get the facts on these and other dog supplements.

Find a great vet. Of course, you can’t accurately diagnose a disease from what you read on a forum, so beyond reading the dog stories of others, it’s wise to entrust your dog’s health care to a professional.

Canine probiotics are a easy and effective way to boost immunity and streamline pet digestion. Fortiflora is made up of a microencapsulated form of the Enterococcus Probiotic, protein, vitamins and minerals.

The dog health advice that is available online, should be considered safe, only if backed by an expert. One symptom could be linked to a number of different problems, and you’d never want to risk your pet’s health with a misdiagnosis.

Health insurance for your dog is a great idea. You should look into getting your pet health insurance, most will tell you that it is very advisable. You know health insurance is expensive for humans. The same applies to your pet. Look around to find the best price, as quotes will very greatly.

It is unfortunate that pets get [spin]ill|sick[spin], but having an annual medical, can prevent illness in some cases. You should never overlook the health of your pet. The least your animal will feel is some discomfort; at worst, they could die.

Support healthy liver functioning in your pet with a supplement designed to enhance liver efficiency. Make the most of the benefits of Denamarin to help optimize liver function in your pet.

A healthy diet is an critical part of your dog’s well-being. Good health is dependent upon good nutrition. Your pet’s best chance of staying healthy is by eating healthy dog food and exercising regularly which will lead your pet to build a strong immune system.

Do a bit of research and you will find the best brands of dog food and healthy treats. Many pet foods available today really aren’t suitable for your animals. Dogs can develop many health problems from poor nutrition.

Since healthy dogs are generally more lively and full of life, you’ll want to guarantee that your pet is in tip-top shape.

Finding Labrador Breeders Associations

Anyone who is interested in getting a dog for a pet should definitely consider the Labrador. Strong and beautiful, this breed is one of the favorites around the world, and this is not at all surprising. These dogs are friendly, energetic and absolutely devoted to their owners.

Many people think that they can just head out to the local pet store to get a Labrador puppy, but really you should be spending some time finding legitimate and reputable Labrador breeders. This is the only way to ensure that you will be getting a healthy and well-behaved puppy, which is especially important if you want a purebred Labrador that you will be paying hundreds of dollars for. There are mass breeders out there who are usually not educated on and do not care about the dogs, and who should be avoided at all costs. You want a breeder who is familiar with the breed and who provides the dogs with the love and care that they need to strive.
To get started finding Labrador breeders, you will first need to become more educated on the matter in general. Make a list of the different Labrador breeders available in your local area, whether they sound worthy or not. You will then need to start contacting the breeders on your list, and be sure to have a pen and pad handy so you can make notes while you speak to each one. This will help to keep you organized and help you keep track of which Labrador breeders you are actually interested in dealing with.

There are a few things that you will want to ask a breeder as well as some expectations that you should have about them. You will want to inquire about any written contracts that the breeder may have available for you to sign, specifying the rights of the seller and the breeder. You will want to make sure that all of the dog’s health information is up to date and that they have had all necessary vaccinations.
The process of finding reputable Labrador breeders to deal with may seem a bit complex and even a little intimidating, but remember that buying a puppy is a long-term commitment and so it is important to put some time and effort in here. Finding a good Labrador breeder can take a lot of time, patience, planning and research, but will be more than worth it at the end of it all.

Too many people these days skip out on this process altogether and end up going with pet shop puppies or backyard breeders. The problem with these casual breeders is that they are not professional, and they are not educated on what they are doing or on the breed that they are selling. Because of this you can never really be sure what type of dog you are getting and what type of grief or problems they may end up causing you in the future.

There are some excellent Labrador breeders out there, and you just have to know where to look. To find out more Labrador information you can use the Internet, newspapers and books to help educate yourself more.

Different Allergies Of Golden Retriever

From the time you got your Golden Retriever, you have loved the golden hair of your dog. But you don’t love it falling all over your car, furniture, foods or clothes, right? And having to ask the veterinarian about the persistent itching and biting problem is not a very uncommon problem for Golden Retriever owners. There may be a wide variety of reasons including infection, parasitical intervention and allergies. Primarily there are four major forms of Golden Retriever allergies. These are flea allergies, atopy, food allergies and contact allergies.

Flea allergies, also referred to as skin inflammation, occurs due to an allergic reaction to flea saliva. If this happens to your dog, the first thing you will notice on his body is a small red papule, which is gradually changed into a crust. The commonly affected areas are lower back, back legs, hind legs, upper thighs and belly areas. Flea allergies is one of the most common forms of skin allergies and when you find your dog is excessively scratching and itching, you can consider this as the primary symptom of Golden Retriever allergies.
When flea allergies occur, the affected areas become hairless. In addition, the areas change color and the skin becomes thickened. As few a couple of bites or less can make a dog react if the skin is sensitive to flea biting. If you can control the flea population, then you can possibly offer effective treatment measures to your dog. Additionally, you have to control flea population in the external environment. There are few advanced methodologies and products that are beneficial in controlling flea infection.

When a dog becomes sensitive to any particular substance in the environment, atopy occurs. The harmful substances are either inhaled or soaked up by the skin of the dog. This is one of the major forms of Golden Retriever allergies, which may affect different body parts including groin, feet, underarm and face. Atopy also affects areas close to ear. Cat dander, fungal spores, weeds, pollen and grasses are the most common factors of atopy. Common interventions may involve antihistamines, antibiotics, cortisone administered either by shampooing or spraying.
Food allergies are another common form of Golden Retriever allergies. The symptoms are quite similar to atopy however the root cause differs significantly. Food allergies occur due to adverse reactions to specific foods like beef, dairy, wheat, soy and few poultry products. Only by changing the entire diet pattern can you identify whether your dog is suffering from a food allergy or not. You need to feed the dog continuously for eight weeks. This is the observation period when you need to observe any possible allergic reactions in the dog.

Contact allergy is another form of Golden Retriever allergies, however, it is not as common. This occurs only when any other form of allergy like atopy affects the dog or a flea reaction causes the area to become hairless and the dog becomes vulnerable towards contact allergies. Paw, underarms and belly are the most affected regions. Chemicals used in carpet cleaning, polishes, grasses, waxes, and pollens may contribute to contact allergies in Golden Retrievers.

Owner must be aware of proper Golden Retriever care so that the dog can grow with optimum health. If you would like to know how to choose a vet for your Golden Retriever, this article can teach you the basic information about Golden Retriever allergies.

How To Choose A Vet To Treat Your Beagles Allergies

Beagles are one of the most amazing small breed dogs in the world. Their ‘have a care’ attitude, and super high energy makes them one of the most popular small breed dogs in the country today. But these sweet little dogs are not without their problems. Due to the carelessness with which these dogs have been interbred, they often come standard with Beagle allergies, extreme skin conditions, and other genetic health problems that can tax even the most loving owner’s patience.

With so many health issues to worry about when it comes to a beagle, you would think that more people would have a care when it came to choosing the right vet for their dog; but all too often, people will simply choose the vet that’s closest to their home. This can be a dire mistake. Beagles require a whole-health approach in order to live long and healthy lives. This means that it takes care and patience to choose the vet that’s will deal with your beagles allergies the right way.
Beagle allergies to mites and fleas typically cause severe skin irritations, including areas of the skin that will dry out, crack, and weep. The most common treatment by vets is to simply treat the skin conditions with ointments, and other medication; and then to dip your dog in a medicated treatment on a regular basis. Unfortunately, this can have a devastating effect on your dog, as a beagle’s immune systems can become weakened by these treatments.

Instead of treating your beagle’s allergies with these medications and drugs, you should instead take a holistic approach to treating your dog through diet and exercise. By feeding your dog an organic diet, preferably comprised of homemade food, you can help to boost your dog’s immune system. Not only that, but by adding a bit of olive oil to your beagle’s food, you can help to provide a protective barrier on their skin that mites and fleas will avoid.
When choosing a vet, it is important that you ask questions about whether he or she agrees with taking a whole-health approach to treating beagle allergies, or if they simply feel that treating the symptoms are enough. Don’t hesitate to ask plenty of questions, and never feel guilty for walking out if you don’t feel that a particular vet has your dog’s best interests in mind. You wouldn’t take chances with your children’s health, and you should do no less for your beagle.

We know how important your beagle is to you, and how important it is to treat your beagle’s allergies. That is why we so stress the importance of treating your whole dog, and not just the symptoms. If you follow the simple steps laid out in this article, you will be doing your part to help ensure that your beagle lives a long, and allergy free, life with you and your family.

Proper beagle care requires that the owner take a whole health approach to the treatment of beagle allergies. For those who want to know how to choose a vet for your beagle this article is a must-read!

Allergy Care For A Rottweiler

Dogs have allergies that can affect them the same as humans. Food allergens, flea allergies, bacterial allergens, contact allergens and atopy are the main Rottweiler allergies your dog can develop. In order to provide proper Rottweiler care you should be aware of the particular characteristics of each of these allergens.

The first of the Rottweiler allergies is food and can be caused by any type of food, so you first need to determine what causes the allergy. If your dog has a food allergy they will likely scratch, chew or lick. Some severe symptoms can develop such as sneezing, coughing, eye and nose discharge, itching around the anus, hair loss, loss of appetite, pawing at their ears or head shaking, vomiting, diarrhea or breathing problems. Until you are able to isolate the harmful ingredient you will need to cook special meals for your dog. Once you know what causes the allergy you can buy specific dog food that doesn’t have the product that causes Rottweiler allergies.
The easiest allergy to determine is fleas. If you Rottweiler is scratching their tail or experiencing hair loss, scabs and sores then you should take your dog to the vet. The vet will check for fleas since Rottweiler allergies can result from the saliva of the fleas. Your vet will then give you a flea control product to eliminate this allergy. There is also a normal bacteria called staphylococci that lives on your dogs skin which can sometimes cause Rottweiler allergies. The skin will develop a crust and the dog will lose hair as a result of the scratching. For this type of allergy your vet will administer antibiotics.

The most rare of all Rottweiler allergies is contact allergens, but they can happen. Flea collars, plastic food bowls, pet sweaters, plants and grass or wool bedding can cause contact allergies. The symptoms of these Rottweiler allergies include swelling, redness, itching and hair loss. You should eliminate all but one on the list and then narrow down the culprit so you can remove it and allow your dog to heal.
Rottweiler allergies can also be caused by environmental factors such as dust mites, molds, house dust, human dander, feathers or pollen, which are known as atopy or inhalant allergens. Dogs who have these allergies will often chew, lick or scratch themselves in specific areas like the face, paws, abdomen, armpits or the genital areas. A reddish-brown stain will develop as a result of the itching. By taking your dog to the vet a test will be run to determine what allergy effects them and then your vet will be able to find the best way to get rid of the allergen. Medicated shampoo, antihistamines, allergy shots, diet changes or corticosteroids are just a few of the methods used.

Remember that your pet has breed specific problems when it comes to choosing a vet for them. This is why you should look for a vet that is aware of the specific conditions a Rottweiler can develop and is familiar with all the particulars of Rottweiler care. The best method to selecting a vet for your Rottweiler is from the recommendations of your breeder or other Rottweiler owners.

An important aspect of Rottweiler care is the ability to recognize and treat allergens. It is important that you know how to choose a vet for your Rottweiler.