PETS & PET CARE ARTICLES

Buying a Parrot
Parrots are one of the most attractive and rewarding animals in the world. Though parrots are very intelligent their requirements and demands are quite different from other types of pets. They need the care and attention of their owners far more than other household animals. Most of the parrot breeds are both noisy and destructive; and the larger breeds live for a much longer time than the smaller ones. Therefore it is necessary for you to think carefully about the following issues before buying them.

Buying a Lhaso Apso
One of the cutest looking dogs around is the Lhasa Apso. The puppies especially are just irresistible but before one decides to purchase a Lhasa just because the kids are begging for one, there are some things that should be known about this particular breed. Historically, Lhasa Apsos were kept by the monasteries and nobility in Tibet as indoor watch dogs. They would sleep by their masters and with their high intelligence plus keen sense of hearing, would warn of any intruders. Lhasa Apsos were never bought or sold in Tibet. Instead, the Dalai Lama sent Lhasa Apsos in pairs to the emperors of China as gifts. High ranking visitors to Tibet also received them as gifts.

New Baby and the Family Dog
I always advise that as soon as you are aware that there will be a new baby in the house, begin to prepare your family dog. Do not leave it until the new baby arrives. It is important that your dog associates the new baby with as few disruptions as possible. It is essential to ensure that your dog has a basic understanding of good behaviour. The dog should be able to lie quietly for short periods, not jumping up, walking on a lead without pulling and coming when called are all essential.

Children and Dogs
The most frequently bitten people are children. By the age of 14, about half of all children have been bitten by a dog. The overwhelming majority of bites occur in children under nine years of age, sometimes resulting in both physical and emotional damage. Through an understanding of canine behavior and preparation for what to do in the event of a canine confrontation, many such bites can be avoided.

Exercise for Dogs
Most veterinarians will caution pet owners not to exercise a dog right after feeding him. This is certainly true of strenuous exercise, which can make a dog throw up and can lead to gastric torsion. A recent study by the Divisions of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University proved that exercise after eating seems to burn up more calories by raising the body's rate of metabolism. After eating, many dogs will lie down to digest their food.

Barking and Destruction
I am often surprised at the number of owners that have barking and destructive dogs. How do they manage to put up with all that the noise for so long? Perhaps after a while, we manage to turn a deaf ear to the racket the dog is making. In many instances, nothing is done about the dog barking until a neighbour complains.

Barking
Barking at night The simple answer is to ignore the dog. By barking, it is training you to respond. You might have a few noisy nights but you will be showing it that barking is not productive. Certainly do not respond by shouting or scolding. If you do so the dog will only know that its barking has been productive by making you bark as well.

Dogs and Chocolate
Chocolate made for human consumption can cause death in dogs. Dogs are sensitive to a class of chemicals called methylxanthines. Caffeine and theobtomine are members of that family. Dogs simply cannot metabolise and excrete methylxanthines as efficiently as humans. The half life of those compounds in the human body is in the order of 2 to 3 hours, in the dog it is more like 18 hours.

Punishing a Puppy
I think the message I have is that we cannot ever expect a puppy to think human...therefore it is quite reasonable for us to think like a dog. A very good book on the market is called Think Dog...by the late John Fisher, well worth getting. When puppies annoy the bitch she will use eye contact and facial expression first. The youngster will carry on the unwanted behaviour then the mother will give out a low growl which will increase in volume with a show of teeth.

Jumping Up
If a dog is jumping up,most pet dog owners will have all hell trying to get a dog to sit. Lets get it right, sorry for being blunt but I shoot from the hip! Most people have never bothered to attend a training school, read a book and now expect to train a dog by letter, well I do not think it can be done.

Jumping Up 2
Teach your dog to sit whenever you ask him to. Sit at the kerb when you cross the road. Sit in front of you. Then when he runs at you, or anyone else, if told sit he will sit. BUT it has to be practised, and used constantly, not just now and then. When he sits as you have asked reward him with a titbit...a very tiny one. Sit while his food is being prepared. Lying down is another skill that is useful. Lie down, I am busy. Lie down, I want to watch TV. Lie down, while we eat.

CAT ANTICS: Cats Use the Family Toilet
Question: Hi! How do you train cats to do it? (use the family toilet instead of a catbox) I've heard this before, but I always thought people were pulling my leg. I have a lovely Maine Coon cat, and he's smart, but I don't know if I could train him to use the toilet. Kathy Neufeld and Giggles! (Giggles is a Guide Dog for the blind.)

Dog Food Secrets
Dog foods do vary in quality. So do the companies that make the foods. To some companies quality is only a word. To others, it's a way of life. Ultimately, the quality of a dog food is best measured by your dog. How your dog performs on the food, how he looks, feels and acts are the best measures of the quality of any food. At least 30 per cent of my clients that report behavioural problems find that a change of food changes the unwanted behaviour.

Biting Dogs
Often dogs lash out when reprimanded for doing something wrong. This is because the dog does not know what it is doing wrong. It only knows you are being aggressive. Remember a dog should not be punished for anything after three seconds of the act, it just does not understand. Any punishment after that time can result in the dog fearing you and can often cause aggression.

Basic First Aid for Dogs
As an ardent reader of the Collins Dog Photoguide I came across this article, which I feel, might be of interest to readers. A traffic accident is probably the most common cause of serious injury to a cat or dog. Always approach the animal with caution, it may react aggressively because of the pain.

Clicker Training
Since things started the primary means of controlling dog behaviour has been with a collar, leash and the strength of the trainer's hand. Most pet dog owners do not have the strength and skill required. Over the past 12 years a new form of dog training has developed based on the system used by Karen Proyer, pioneer marine mammal trainer now known as the "Clicker" which is used for dolphin and whales. The training of dolphins is based on a positive reinforcement-primarily a bucket of fish.

Christmas Time (with dogs)
Every year comes the message "A Dog Is Not For Christmas, its for life" A living puppy should not be thought of in the same category as a Christmas toy. A puppy that makes it first appearance, as a gift under the Christmas tree is more likely to be thought of by children as an object or a toy, rather than a family member.