FISH

Buying Your First Tropical Fish

Whenever you start a new hobby it is very tempting to try to get everything at once. It can be also be easy to buy whatever the store clerk tells you is the right thing, especially as you are probably keen to get started. But if you are setting up your first fish tank and buying your first fish, then it is a good idea to think what you really want and what may be suitable for you before you buy.

If you are not familiar with tropical fish, then the best thing you can do is to find someone who is. If you have a friend who knows about tropical fish then take them to the store with you. But if you don't, make sure that you do your research first. It might be tempting to go to the store and buy the fish that look best, but if you have no idea whether or how you can look after them, then it is not a very good idea.

There are some wonderful beginners books on how to keep tropical fish that will tell you exactly what the requirements of each fish are and how well they get on with other fish. If you do this research then you will be in a much better position to choose the right fish that you can look after well and your new hobby is much more likely to be successful.

One mistake that many people make is that they buy everything at once. There is no point in buying the tank and all of the accessories at the same time as you buy the fish. To set up the fish tank properly without using chemicals to clear the water, you need at least 24 hours to let the water and gravel settle and clear. You also need to make sure that your filter, aerator and heater are working properly and that your tank is set up properly and that everything works well. There is no reason, even if you did not have to let the water clear, to leave your new fish in a bag while you do all of this.

It is much better to wait until everything is set up and working well so that when you get your fish then you know that they will be ok. Tropical fish are a great hobby and choosing carefully and taking the time to set everything up well can make all the difference.

DOG TRAINING TECHNIQUES

Dog Training Techniques

This article will look at each technique in more detail to help you decide which training technique is right for you and your dog. Training your dog is very important if you want to have a well behaved dog. Your dog is a member of the family and like other members of the family he must learn the rules of the household. There are basically three techniques for training your dog. They are the traditional dog training, positive reinforcement training and mixed training techniques.

The traditional training techniques have been around since World War I because it was developed to train war dogs. This type of training employs the techniques of negative reinforcement and punishment. Shock collars or prong collars are frequently used in this type of training. The traditional techniques have the advantage of giving consistent results. However, each dog has their own personality and you must be careful when you use these techniques because you could end up with a dog that bites you or becomes scared of you. This is not the goal in dog training. The goal is to get your dog to obey your commands.

The next type of dog training is the positive reinforcement method. This method involves rewarding the dog every time he exhibits the correct behavior. When he sits on command you will praise him and give him a treat. If he doesn't sit when commanded you do nothing. Some dog trainers swear by positive reinforcement techniques. They say the dog learns faster and more consistently with this type of training. A method that is popular to use in conjuction with positive reinforcement is clicker training. A clicker is a device that makes a "clicking" sound when squeezed. The clicker is used to mark the exact moment the dog performed the desired behavior. This type of training is enjoyable for both the owner and the dog.

The third popular dog training technique is the mixed training technique which is a combination of negative and positive reinforcement. This type of training is used frequently to train dogs for specific roles, such as attack dogs or protection dogs.

Another method that is coming to light is the use of canine ethology. This is not really classified as training, but is based upon the natural behaviors of the dog. The premise is to assert yourself as the leader of the pack. You must become the alpha dog whom all the other dogs in the pack submit to. This is done through proper body language and sounds. There is no concrete evidence that this works and more studies need to be performed.

It is very important that you know what you are doing before you start any dog training program. Get a few good dog training books written by someone who has been in the business for awhile. Follow the advice in the books and keep your training sessions short and consistent. Most of all, show your dog love and affection.

DOG TRAINING HAND SIGNALS

Dog Training Hand Signals

When you are training your dog to respond to your verbal commands, you can train him to respond to hand signals also. These can be learned in conjuction with the verbal commands and can be very usual in certain situations. There are a few common hand signals that you can teach your dog.

When you are training your dog, the very first command that you should teach him is the sit command. Teach him the verbal command first and then you can incorporate the hand signal. The hand signal for sit is to start with your right arm at your side, bend your arm at the elbow with the palm facing up. Slowly bend the arm until it is above the dog's head. Do this while giving the verbal sit command. Once he seems to have that mastered, do the motion without the verbal command. If he follows the hand signal, praise him immediately and give him a treat.

Once he has the sit command mastered you can teach him the down command. This command will have the dog lay down with head up and paws forward. This is one of the first verbal commands that has a hand signal. Once your dog learns the down command, incorporate the hand signal into the lesson. The hand signal for down is palm down, fingers together and you slowly lower your hand to the ground. Keep your dog focused on your hand signal as he obeys your verbal command. Slowly, verbalize the command in a softer and softer tone until he is able to do the command on hand signal alone.

The next hand signal that you can teach your dog is the come signal. When teaching your dog to come on command use his name first and then say "Come." If he comes right away, praise him greatly and give him a treat. If he doesn't come you may have to pull his leash toward you while saying his name and the word "come." Once he has the verbal command mastered, just add the hand signal. The hand signal for come is the same as the hand signal for a person to come. Bend your right arm at the elbow and move in backward toward your left shoulder in one sweeping motion. Make sure you have your dog's undivided attention when using the hand signal.

Teaching your dog hand signals along with the verbal signals can be very usual if you need to get your dog to obey you in a crowded, noisy area. It can also be usual as your dog grows older and his hearing declines. The most important thing is to never hit or spank your dog. You do not want your dog to associate your hands with pain. Be patient with your dog and before you know it he will be obeying your every command!

CAT LOVER GIFTS

Cat Lover Gifts

Among the most well known cat lover gifts are photo frames for the cat or cats in question. A majority of cat owners have more than one cat, and love to show off pictures of their "babies" to anyone willing to listen, gush over and admire the beauty of their feline friends.
Cat lover gifts might also take into consideration the type of cat the pet owner has. Cats come in an amazing variety; there are tabby cats, pure-breads, black cats, calico cats, Persians and even Siamese.
When buying a cat lover gift you might take into consideration whether the owner has an indoor or outdoor cat. Unlike dogs, cats are capable of living 100 percent of the time indoors. They have a natural tendency to use a litter box, so in a sense they come "potty trained" which makes them easy maintenance and very appealing to many owners.
Cats that live indoors generally suffer much fewer sicknesses and difficulties than those who are exposed to the outdoors. Cat lover gifts are generally designed with those that have indoor pets in mind.
"Catnip" is one of the most humorous and interesting cat lover gifts available. Catnip is a relatively benign, naturally occurring plant that affects cats much like an intoxicant. The aromatic oils given off by the plants cause cats to often act drunk and hyper, providing much entertainment for owners and guests alike. It is completely safe for kitty to use, and is often incorporated into cat lover gifts such as bouncy balls or chew toys.
Other cat lover gifts include:
decorative mats ot throws with picutres of cats. Make it even more special by personalizing it.
cat videos
cat shaped napkin rings
musical cat figurine
cat shaped mail box

KITTEN

Kitten-Proofing Your Home

Nothing beats a kitten for fun. But the feline "wonder years" can also be the most frustrating and dangerous time in your kitten's life. Do not let his sweet, innocent face fool you. Behind those twinkling bright eyes is a mind brimful of curiosity, and the boundless energy to try and satisfy it. Kittens have a way of turning the most innocuous situation into a disaster. Whether you survive with your sanity intact and whether your kitten survives at all depend on you kitten-proofing your home.

Kitten-proofing is done to make the house safe so that your kitty does not hurt himself. It also prevents him from laying waste to your house. First, try to think like a cat. Invest in knee pads, get down on all fours, and tour your house at kitten level. But jumping and climbing kittens rarely stop at floor level, so you also need to kitten-proof the heights.

Kittens do not have hands. Instead, they use patting paws to explore their world and they stick their tiny noses into everything. Anything left within reach is fair game, so place anything breakable out of feline range. The more intelligent the kitten, the more ways he will find to get into trouble.

Protect your kitten from houseplants and vice versa. Chewing on houseplants like pothos and English ivy can cause toxic reactions. Kitty may even lick off the poison when he grooms his claws after shredding the plant. Keep plants out of your kitten's reach by hanging them or placing them on shelves. Choose nontoxic plants like the jade plant, the prayer plant,or the begonia.

Kittens do not tend to chew as much as puppies, but they do play-attack and bite nearly everything. Electric cords can be particularly tempting, and bitten cords can result in severe burns or even death. Get rid of as many electrical cords as possible, and check remaining wires regularly for signs of chewing. Tape cords to the floor to keep them from moving.

Keep garbage away from your kitten. Although cats are generally more fastidious than their canine counterparts, the smell of scraps may tempt them to scrounge. Your kitten might be poisoned by eating chocolate or he might end up with an upset stomach that results in a predictable mess.

Securely fasten lids on trash containers, or store them under the sink or in the garage where he cannot reach them. Never leaving sharp knives, food processor blades or other utensils out on counters where he might try to lick them clean and cut her tongue.

Like children, kittens have a tendency to swallow small nonfood items like coins, erasers and paper clips. Anything left out is fair game for the cat. Carefully cap all medications, and put them away. Pills are fun to bat around the floor, but if swallowed can be poisonous.

Christmas is a wonderful yet dangerous time of year for kittens. The tree seems meant for climbing, and the blinking lights and swinging ornaments tempt the most stoic kitty to indulge. But broken ornaments, extra electric cords, metal hooks or tinsel, sprayed lead-base "snow" and tree needles all pose dangers. Avoid placing decorations on the bottom branches, be sure the tree is securely anchored, avoid tinsel, and use ribbon to hang nonbreakable ornaments.Carefully inspect cat toys and remove small eyes or tails that come loose and may be swallowed. Put away sewing baskets and tackle boxes. Kittens love to play with thread, string and yarn, but unsupervised games can lead to accidental strangulation, swallowed needles, cuts from fishing line or embedded fish hooks.

Cats can swallow several yards of ribbon or string, which will require surgical removal. Tie up curtain cords out of his reach, or purchase breakaway cords. The standard double cords on window blinds can hang and strangle a kitten. Always check cupboards and dresser drawers before shutting them to be sure your kitten is not hiding inside.

Keep appliances closed or he may think he has found the perfect warm hidy-hole to sleep in, until the appliance is turned on. It may sound funny at first, but kittens die every day by being accidentally shut inside a dishwasher, washing machine, clothes dryer or stove.

CAT

Helpful Tips Before Getting A Cat

Before you look for a new cat, know what you are getting into. Despite their reputation for being aloof, cats are not animals that you can ignore. Unless your are prepared to spend time with them, do not get one. If you have never owned cats, you may not realize that they do certain cat things and need certain cat things. New and unsuspecting cat owners may be surprised when they find their cats regularly do the following:

1. Jump. Cats like to be in high places such as on top of your desk, bookcase, filing cabinet, sofa to watch people and events and gain information about people behavior.

2. Play. Cats need interaction with humans. Be prepared to spend time playing with and talking to your cat.

3. Scratch. Cats have to scratch. Rather than trying to prevent them, train them to use a scratching post and trim their claws regularly.

4. Vomit. While this may seem a bit something on the “ill” side – it is not. Many cats constantly vomit or cough up hair balls and fur balls to clear their throat of them.

Where you live plays an important role in the feasibility of owning a cat, especially if you do not own your own home. Obviously, some landlords do not allow cats so look for apartments that do. One way to find out is to access the internet. You can do searches online for apartments that do allow cats. When you do find a place you want to live, ask yourself the following questions.

1. Does your apartment complex require declawing or require that cats are kept indoors only? If so, you could face unresolvable litter box problems that could eat up your security deposit and living options.

2. Is your apartment or house big enough for one or more scratching posts or litter boxes? Can it handle more litter boxes if a problem develops?

3. Are you on a quiet or a busy street? If you live in a congested area, your cat will face increased risks if he goes outdoors.

Shelters are the best place to find a cat. With thousands of cats being euthanized in your local cat shelters due to lack of homes, adoption is a responsible choice. Shelters put cats through adoption tests so your chance of finding a smart, loyal and appreciative cat is extremely high in practically any reputable shelter in the country.

Kittens less than eight weeks old are often cared for in a volunteer foster home until they are old enough to adopt. In these cases, the shelter may be able to give you an idea of the kitten's personality and behavior. Try to locate a small, nonprofit cat shelter. Smaller shelters often do not cage or euthanize their cats. Many small shelters are run by people who will sacrifice everything to find homes for the cats they rescue.

At the shelter, you will find strays and unwanted adults and kittens that have been put up for adoption. Even after the stress of being captured, relocated and caged, stray cats can be trained to be well-behaved. If you are thinking of owning only one cat, try to find a cat who is used to being alone. This will probably be an adult. If you want a kitten, it is best to adopt at least two kittens so each will have a friend.

There are advantages to adopting an adult cat. While it is hard to know what sort of cat a kitten will become, you will know the size and personality of the grown cat in relation to your home or apartment. If you do adopt kittens, try to get them over 10 to 12 weeks old. The longer a kitten stays with her mother, the better your chances of having a healthy, stress-tolerant cat.

You may call different shelters to see if they have older kittens and at what age the kittens were taken from the mother. Find out if the kittens were fostered in a household with children for several weeks. Children and frequent handling make for a more social and loving cat.