Monday, March 30, 2009

A Guide to Getting Your Kids a Pet

When you happen to see some really cute pets at a store or in a show, you might feel all warm and fuzzy. The idea of getting a pet of your own might cross your mind and you recall that the kids have been begging you to buy one for a long time now. All of a sudden, the thought of a new addition to your household seems like a great idea.

Enticing as it may be, do not buy a pet on the spur of the moment. You need to find just the right pet for your kids before you make this commitment. Remember that owning a pet requires many obligations. You need to be informed before you get one. Some people can't handle the responsibility and wind up giving their animals to a humane shelter. You can head off this situation by preparing yourself for the experience. Taking care of the essential preparations will unquestionably be of tremendous assistance in seeing to it that the pet will be well provided for and that it has a pleasant and loving home.

Start by asking your kids why they wish for a pet. It's the most significant question to consider. Regrettably, a number of families get a pet on poor grounds. A lot of the time, your kids' argument for desiring a pet will afford you an idea of what kind of pet will be most suitable for them.

Before acquiring a pet, question your kids as to what type of critters they prefer so you won't unwittingly take home something that could wind up frightening or overwhelming them. Talk over with them what they find most desirable regarding their favored pet and what might make it objectionable to them. It's important that you recognize the expectations of your kids.

You need to study the pet your children desire. Firstly, research whether the pet will fit your children’s personalities along with the whole family’s way of life. Performing research and learning the facts will prevent a great deal of problems over time. Possessing ample data regarding the pet will put you ahead of the game. Teach yourself properly so you have adequate information to convey to your children. Study books or explore the web regarding the pet itself as well as its suitable care.

Make some inquiries and request input from knowledgeable sources. This will include vets, breeders, animal shelters, and other pet owners. Every one of these has their own view which might help you see things from a different perspective. It can be quite advantageous to speak to those who have genuine experience in managing that specific breed. The higher the amount of people you consult, the more data you get prior to making your decision.

Ensure that the entire family is prepared for the new addition. Once a pet is added to the household, changes will certainly take place. Care and maintenance will become a part of your continuing responsibilities, including tasks such as clearing away the pet’s waste products, cleaning its pen, and washing and feeding the animal. No matter how grown up a child appears, continuous oversight and direction needs to be supplied. As a parent you're required to be the stand-in if situations arise which are outside your child’s capability to manage.

With any luck, the foregoing guidelines will be of use to you in determining the best pet for your children.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Tropical Fish Breeding Tips You Can Use

If you’re thinking about breeding tropical fish, you need to be aware of a few things before you head out to the store to buy some fish. First of all, you have to figure out what type of tropical fish you want to breed. There are lots of types to select from, so it's important that you know what you're looking for. You need to find out as much as you can about the type of fish you plan on breeding. Every breed has specific maintenance and care requirements, and you can avoid a lot of mistakes if you have some knowledge before you start.

If you’re a beginner in fish breeding, you might wish to think about acquiring some live bearing fish. These fish produce live young rather than those that produce eggs. They will also be work for you to maintain until you become more experienced at this endeavor. If you decide to purchase live bearing fish, make sure that you breed them in a separate aquarium. Otherwise the other fish will eat the young. After the mother has given birth, you can put her back in the main tank.

One of the most essential pieces of information you should know is the best water temperature for your chosen breed. This is critical to the health and wellbeing of your fish. The size of the tank is another important factor. You might not require a large aquarium in which to breed your fish, but it must be big enough to give them lots of room to grow. They will live in this aquarium for some time before they are sufficiently developed to be transferred to the main aquarium with the rest of your fish.

Where you locate your aquarium is another important consideration to think about. Many new breeders are unsuccessful simply because their tanks were in the wrong place. It's important that you don’t place your tanks close to a window where they receive a lot of sun. This will produce an overabundance of algae. The light will also heat up the water, and it might end up too warm for your fish to survive.

You also need to make sure there's lots of foliage for your fish to hide among. It's important that you replicate their natural environment as much as you can. There are different types of plants that are best for certain breeds, so follow the guidelines.

Another thing to keep in mind is to limit the length of time that the tank lights are burning. As a rule, it should be between 8 and 12 hours daily. As well, be sure that the lighting is appropriate for the plants that are in the aquarium.

If you find that you can't give away or sell all your fish, you might have to purchase additional tanks to hold them all. At the very least, separate the males and females; otherwise you'll soon have more fish than you can handle.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Let Your Cat Hunt Down Its Food

Do you ever wonder how your cat can be so fastidious about cleaning her paws yet so untidy with her food? Many cat owners go through a variety of types of food bowls, searching for the one that won’t spill while their kitty plays with it.

Just forget about finding that ideal food dish. It isn't about the bowl. It’s about the innate feline impulse to play with their food. Instead of fighting it, go with it! That neat little pile of tidbits in the dish will be strewn around in no time by your cat, who is on the hunt for just the right nibble. Once she finds it, your cat takes it to a secure hideaway, maybe beneath a chair or behind a plant. Kitty might play with the tidbit for a little while before she consumes it. And that’s the way cats are, so it's best not to interfere with the ritual.

Your cat might have a comfortable lifestyle inside your house, but in her soul, she’s on the hunt. From food bowl to hideout, your cat looks at food just the same way as she would in the great outdoors. That is, if her interfering owner wouldn't keep putting her intended victim back in the bowl. Outdoors, cats will naturally hunt down and capture their next meal. Then they toy with it, letting it go briefly and then pouncing on it once again. Although this habit is objectionable to most humans, for a cat it's just natural.

When your cat gets her food presented in her bowl regularly each day by her indulgent owner, she misses out on the action that she intuitively longs for as part of her mealtime routine. So don’t get mad at her for having some fun with her food. Cats who always receive their food in tidy little piles will often surrender their instincts and turn into sluggish, overweight balls of fur. Although it might produce tidier mealtimes, it’s not optimal for cat health and well being.

OK, so you don't want to introduce mice into your house just so your cat can get some exercise and satisfy its inner hunter. However, you can purchase special cat toys into which you can hide treats. Put a few of these toys throughout your home so your cat can search for and hunt the treat. Because they roll, your cat can chase and overcome its prey, then dig out the food. Dry foods are preferred for these toys as they won't make a mess or go bad.

Because your cat has an instinct to hunt even inside the house, it's important that you keep plants off the floor. Some varieties like poinsettias, azaleas, ivy, and dieffenbachia are toxic to your cat if ingested, not to mention your children. It's easy to put these kinds of plants out of reach of a toddler, but your cat can easily jump up on the table to reach them. Your best bet is to select plant varieties that aren't poisonous, or find some realistic artificial plants to take their place.

Monday, March 9, 2009

The Advantages of a Dog Obedience Training School

You probably realize the importance of a properly trained and well behaved dog. It can make the difference between a delightful addition to the family or an unmanageable terror in the house. A carefully disciplined dog is unlikely to bark at or attack visitors or passersby, or jump all over them without restraint. It will also take much less effort to care for and control an obedient pet. Dogs like to know where they stand, and they are often more affectionate once they know who's boss. This makes for a happier situation all around.

Many people successfully undertake dog training on their own, but for those who are somewhat lacking in patience or time, a professional dog obedience training school is a common recourse. A good dog obedience training school will teach your dog to respect its owner and follow basic commands. An important component of a dog obedience training school is teaching the dog owner to communicate properly with their pet. The dog must learn to listen to the commands being given to him and carry them out properly. These institutes have helped countless dogs become the ideal family pet.

There are many benefits to enrolling your dog in a professional dog training school. For starters, the training period is considerably condensed from that which you would undergo with home training. This lessens the misery for everyone concerned. You'll also be sure that your pet experiences an inclusive program that doesn't neglect any important aspects of obedience training. Once your dog has graduated from dog obedience training school he will follow basic instructions such as sit and stay. This makes his life at home more comfortable and enjoyable for everyone in the household.

Be prepared for feeling overwhelmed when it comes time to picking the right dog obedience training school, especially if you're a first time dog owner. It's important that you take your time and do your research. Ask for recommendations from people you know who have sent their dog for professional training. Also ask for customer references from any schools you are considering signing up with.

Look for a school where you think your dog will feel comfortable and where the atmosphere is considerate of his well being. You also need to ensure that the methods of training are current and effective. You might even be interested in a program which provides more sophisticated instruction – maybe even offering your dog the opportunity to learn how to perform tricks.

Dog obedience training schools are operated and staffed by professionals in the field. So you should feel comfortable spending your money on this training, knowing that it's a worthwhile investment in your pet.