Pets and Garden

Crate training is one of the most often misunderstood dog training techniques. Many questions often come up when discussing the topic of crate training such as: “How can I use crate training to teach my dog to behave?”, “What are the pros and cons of crate training?”, and “Is crate training safe to use as part of my overall dog training program?” This article will definitely help you understand crate training and what it will do to you Pit Bull terrier. After you’re done reading, I’m confident that you’ll have a much better understanding of crate training. I get many questions from new dog owners on the subject of crate training. Most people really have no idea what crate training is or what purpose it serves. Quite simply, a “dog crate” is an enclosed cage area that prevents your dog from getting into trouble. You can crate train your Pit Bull both inside the house or outside. You’ll want your dog to have plenty of room to stand up and lay down. So what are the benefits of

If you are looking to train your dog you might consider using the 'clicker training' method, which has recently become popular amongst dog trainers all over the country. In this method the trainer has to make use of a clicker, a tiny plastic box with a metal button which makes a distinctive click sound once the button has been pressed. The training method is simple and is in many ways parallel to the positive training method. Here is what you have to do. Decide on a certain behavior which you want to teach or reinforce your dog to do. A number of behaviors/actions come naturally to the dog like sitting, eating, standing, barking etc. and these need just to be reinforced so that your dog knows when you want him to do what. Various other actions like acting dead, shaking hands, rolling over etc. do not come naturally to the dog and need to be taught. Clicker training can be used to do both. Clicker training works according to the basic principles of operant conditioning, by

Known as common garden chives, Allium schoenoprasum, can be grown indoors and out.  Chives are rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, and calcium.  They are grown for the flavour of their leaves, which is reminiscent of onion, although much milder.  Both the stems and light purple flowers are used in cooking and the snipped leaves are an addition to many dishes.  Chives lose their flavour with long cooking so it is best to add them to dishes at the last minute.  For chopping stems, a pair of scissors is the best tool. Chives can be frozen or dried.  They are less flavourful when dried rather that frozen, so they are best used when fresh and snipped, or snipped and frozen.  In both cases sort them carefully, removing any yellowing leaves and shoots, and keep only the plump green ones.  It is possible to place chives in non-iodized salt, keep them there for several weeks, remove the leaves, and then bottle the ‘chive salt’ for use in flavouring. Chives are a perennial in the garden

You will need a great deal of commitment in order to own a cat as they do require some care (although not as much as dogs!) and can live as old as 15 years (or even longer in some cases). Cats require feeding (daily), care and ‘play time’ on a regular basis. You will also have to take into consideration, before getting your cat, that you will have vets’ bills to pay for annual vaccines, worming and if treatment is required for any illnesses.  These bills can sometimes be very costly, but you can purchase insurance for pets – it may be a good idea to ‘shop around’ to get the best deal. Before getting your cat, you should purchase bowls for food and water, a collar (if you want the cat to wear one), a bed (or pet quilt), a few suitable toys, and some food. A kitten should be fed throughout the day 4 times with a small amount of food each meal, reducing to 3 times a day at 3 months old, then at 6-8 months 2 meals per day. Older cats (over 12 months) should only be fed twice in th

Many pet owners may be surprised to learn a dog's dental health is as important to overall well-being as a daily game of fetch. Dental problems in pets go way beyond bad breath. Periodontal disease is the most common health problem in dogs today. At least 80 percent of dogs suffer from it by age 2. Left untreated, dental problems can be very painful and affect the quality of a pet's life. Small-breed dogs under 20 pounds are at an even greater risk than larger breeds. First, small dogs have small mouths that crowd the teeth, and second, those teeth are excessively large for those small jaws. Fortunately, small breeds don't need to suffer, says Dr. Daniel Carmichael, veterinary dental specialist with the Veterinary Medical Center in West Islip, N.Y. He recommends: 1. See your veterinarian for regular dental checkups. Work with your vet to schedule regular professional dental checkups and ask how you can maintain your pet's dental health. Monitor for bad breath

Choosing the right dog for your family with kids need some research if you are new to the dog ownership. Families with kids need to pay attention on certain dog qualities such as temperament, size and energy level before adopting or buying a dog. Kids like to play with dogs. Sometimes they forget to respect dog's cue to back off. You need a dog that won't mind if his hair or tail gets pulled. Size is the another important consideration. This is for the safety of children as well as for dog. There are dog breeds that are very good with children but too big; especially with small children who may be accidentally stepped on or knocked over. Some dog breeds that are good with children have high energy or activity levels than others. If dogs don't receive the exercise they physically require, they are more likely to develop behavior problems such as excessive chewing or barking. Select a dog breed that loves children but requires less exercise if your family is not so act

Owning a fish aquarium can be a very relaxing hobby. If you have small children, they will spend many hours mesmerized by brightly colored fish swimming around and frolicking. In fact, aquariums are a great way to bring the family together, especially if you allow each of your children to pick out one special fish (of the breeds you are planning to have in your aquarium) to be his or her very own fish. Despite the relaxing nature of aquariums they are not a no care item. In fact there are many things that must be considered when choosing the proper aquarium for your specific needs. Aquariums today come in many shapes and sizes take care when selecting the one that will best suit your needs. It is always a better idea to know what you are going to be using your aquarium for before purchasing and setting it up. You do not want to have to undo all the work that goes into an aquarium because it won’t sustain the fish and plant life you have planned for it, nor do you want to kill yo

If you have a new puppy and are looking for the secret to training the puppy into the well-behaved dog of your dreams, the secret is simple and easy: dog treats. All dog owners know the sometimes slow and frustrating process of training, taming and teaching their dog some good behavior and maybe even some fun tricks. The problem for many owners is that they forget about one of the main reasons that any human or dog will act: motivation. Just like you need a little motivation to start exercising more or to get your house cleaned out, dogs need motivating reasons big enough to make them want to stop wetting on your carpet or eating holes into all of your socks. Dog treats can be a sure way to motivate your precious pup to do almost anything you desire. Dog treats are a great motivator for puppies for the obvious reason that they taste good. Only when dog treats are actually reserved as a special treat will dogs want to do whatever it takes to enjoy the yummy treat. Can't you s

If you have been thinking of getting a new dog, have you considered all the options available to you? The obvious choice people make, when considering a new dog is to go to a specialized dog breeder. A good dog breeder will be able to sell you a puppy that has been checked for genetic problems, diseases etc and will very often provide you with a high quality pedigree dog that should be free from problems that plague a lot of dogs. This is ideal for a lot of people but of course will come at a price. There is an alternative - adopting a puppy or adult dog. There are lots of dogs that are without homes at animal shelters or humane societies. These animals are often a victim of circumstance. Either an owner has died, or an elderly person cannot cope any more. Sadly through no fault of their own, they have ended up homeless. Adopting a dog, may be a great way to offer a loving home to one of these dogs. A lot of people are concerned that they may end up with an unhealthy dog, or a

We basically want to find companions who would give us most of the benefits we think we need. Well, if you are looking for a dog that is somewhat a one-in-package pal, you might find Jack Russell Terriers interesting enough. This dog has a history that is somehow loomed to give rise to the specie. It was said that the breeder of this dog, a young Theologian student of Oxford University named John Russell once met a milkman with a white terrier that has spots on his eyes and ears. This dog became his interest which later proved to be his foundation for breeding a new dog breed that many has learned to love as pets. The dog he first saw was named "Trump" from which another 60 types of terriers were later bred from. With a terrier's basic nature to go on and over the ground (terrier by the way came from the Latin term "terra" which means earth), Jack Russell terriers also have the disposition to hunt and scour for hunting. Thus, they should be given enough

The guests of honor wore black ties, arrived in limousines and walked the yellow carpet - on all fours. In a "black collar" ceremony in New York City, professionally trained service dogs were honored for their contributions to the community through the Pedigree Paws to Recognize program, an annual tribute to canine heroes. Jacko, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois, took home top honors as the 2005 Canine of the Year for his work to protect America's borders. In his career with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, he has detected more than 32,000 pounds of marijuana, 800 pounds of cocaine and 9 pounds of heroin. Using his detection skills, Jacko alerted authorities of a scheme to smuggle 49 people inside wooden boxes on two flatbed trailers into the United States. Other notable nominees included Jenner, a golden retriever that works as a guide dog for the blind and as a hospital volunteer in San Francisco; Keyotae, a volunteer search-and-rescue bloodhound who is on cal