Sunday, December 30, 2007

How to Choose a Dog Breed?



There are so many different dog breeds, how are you supposed to choose what is best for you and your family.

You need to decide what you are looking for:
  • Grooming and maintence level
  • Size
  • Temperament
  • Trainability

    Some dogs require more maintenance than others. For example, the golden retriever will need more grooming concerns than a dalmatian. Due to the longer hair, golden retrievers will need daily brushings, and longer baths, whereas the short coated dalmatian, will require less.



    When regards to size, you need to consider whether you want a small, medium, or large breed dog. You may be thinking that a small breed will be best in your home when compared to a larger dog, but most small breed dogs are iffy when it comes to children and families. Most small breed dogs are more hyperactive and nippy, whereas many large breed dogs are more docile and calm. You may think that a cute little chihuahua may work well with your five year old, but in reality, a great dane, is more of a family pet. Both breeds are best kept indoors, so it's really up to you as to the size of the dog.



    The temperament of a dog may be the key factor when determining which dog breed is best for you. But, don't believe all that you hear from friends and family about every breed. You may hear that the baby-killer American Pit Bull Terrier would attack and harm your child, but in reality they make the best pets for children, as long as you, the adult, properly trains and socializes the dog when it is a puppy. So, when it comes to temperament, consider all your options; even consider adopting a mix breed from the shelter, as in many cases they will have the best temperament.



    Trainability is usually very important to most people when choosing a dog. Is the dog easily trained, or will I have to fight with it? Well, a lot of a dog's trainability starts with its breed. Now, breed does not always a factor, but many breeds are known to be more easily trained than others. The yorkshire terrier, surprisingly is a dog that is very trainable; although, as a terrier, they do get bored quickly with repitition. Other breeds, such as the Giant Schnauzer is receptive towards training, but training MUST be kept up, as the breed is very high strung.

    When choosing a dog breed, you must consider all your options. You must even consider whether you can afford a dog, of any breed, at all. You have to pay for dog food and vet care. You may even want to purchase a leash, collar, food/water bowls. And, to spoil the dog, treats, toys, and a bed. So consider your financial options as well.

    Before bringing home a dog, you must decide who will be taking care of the dog, as by bringing home that cute puppy, you cannot rely on your five year old to feed and walk it.

  • Sunday, December 23, 2007

    Schnauzers

    Learn about the schnauzer before you decide to bring one home. You may think the Miniature Schnauzer is the best for your family, but with research you may find out that the Standard Schnauzers is better or may the Giant Schnauzer.

    Tuesday, December 11, 2007

    Dog Breeds



    There are so many different dog breeds that no matter what you're looking for you're bound to find it. I mean, if you're looking for small breeds, there's tons of them, medium, large, giant, mixes.

    Dogs have been a part of human life for thousands of years. They were initially domesticated to aid in hunting, gaurding, and protection. Dogs are wonderful at the jobs they are given, which has increased their popularity amongst the peoples.

    Plus, they're cute and pleasers... Most of the time.

    You always want to consider the breed's background, temperament, appearance (for grooming purposes), and their overall disposition as pets. Not every dog is right for every person.

    For instance, I love Yorkshire Terriers. I love their quirky, exciting attitudes. But, on the downside, the breed can be nippy, yappy, jealous, possessive, and slightly dominant despite their size. Yorkies just aren't the pet for everyone, and their' not necessarily the best family pet around small children.

    Chihuahuas, too, share this "Little Man Syndrome." Although, yes cute, they are, honestly, worse family pets than most other small dog breeds. They are the nippiest, and most likely to bite.

    Daschunds on the other hand, are great pets. They may have their share of health concerns, but they are friendly cute, and loving.

    But, you must remember that no matter what breed of dog that you bring home, you MUST keep up training and socialization.

    If you want a more laid back dog breed, then English Bulldogs may be the dog for you. Although, as puppies they can be rather destructive, once they have matured they are calm and very docile.

    You may even be interested in a mix breed dog. This may be one of the better ways to go about bringing a dog home. You can rescue a dog from the shelter, save two lifes (the pup you bring home and the one that can take it's place in the kennel), and you get a friend for life. Today, there is a growing number of designer dogs, but in reality, they are nothing more than high priced mix breed dogs. The Goldendoodle is one of the more popular of these dogs. They are the creation of breeding a purbred poodle with a purebred golden retriever.

    In any case, a dog is a true responsibility, and must be agreed upon with everyone in the house before bringing one into the family.

    Thursday, December 6, 2007

    Hamsters



    Hamsters are fairly simple to care for. They are one of the most common small animal pets for children, but are they truly one of the better pets for children? Well, that's for you to decide. I'm here to give you information about them in hopes to help in any way that I can.

    Hamsters are fairly simple to care for, as I've already mentioned. Because they are one of the smaller furry pets, they require smaller cages. A 10 gallon cage will suffice for one Syrian hamster or 2 dwarf hamsters.

    The one good thing about hamsters is that for the most part, they are pretty robust and healthy critters. They can succumb to illness, but the most common will include wet tail, abscesses, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses.

    Friday, November 30, 2007

    Reptile Videos



    We all love our pets. Take pictures of our cats and dogs. We want to remember the silly antics that they do. Reptiles are pets to... Remember... Well, don't forget. ;-)

    Video tape your reptiles and submit your videos to You Tube.

    Wednesday, November 28, 2007

    Bearded Dragon Care



    Bearded dragons are one of the better beginner reptiles, but you must make sure that are able to provide the proper diet and husbandry for the animal. Although, they are one of the better beginner reptiles, their husbandry requirements are a little more complicated than the simple leopard gecko or crested gecko.

    But, the temperament of the bearded dragon, is what truly makes them near the top of the best beginner reptiles list. So, you want to make sure that you are able to provide the proper care and diet for bearded dragons.

    Although bearded dragons are relatively healthy and robust, you want to make sure that you supplement them properly. Otherwise, you risk the chance of metabolic bone disease, which can be fatal.



    Another bearded dragon health concern is impaction, which is completely preventable, but can be fatal. You want to make sure to house bearded dragons on solid substrates such as tile, paper towels, and such. Avoid play sand, calcium based sand, corn cob, wood shavings, and any loose substrates that can be accidently injested.

    Saturday, November 24, 2007

    Pet Snakes

    Pet Snakes can make great pets if you know and understand how to properly care for them. I have found that ball pythons are one of the better beginner snakes that one can have. They are very docile and even temperamented. Ball pythons are a medium sized snake, so the excess size isn't as much of a concern.

    With any snake, you want to try to feed it frozen rodents, as thawed feeders cannot hurt a snake. Live rodents can seriously injure any snake, causing broken bones or even worse death, especially if you leave them alone unsupervised for a long period of time.

    One of the main concerns with snakes, is mites. You will want to watch out for this parasite, as they are similar to ticks, in that they are blood sucking creatures. These small creatures, reproduce rapidly, and can spread. They are very had to get rid of, but it's not impossible.

    Saturday, November 17, 2007

    More Feeder Insects

    Silkworms make great staple diets, but they can be a little pricey at times, so you may want to consider breeding them for your reptiles.

    Superworms are a great staple for larger reptiles. Because of their hard exoskeleton they are hard to digest.

    Phoenix Worms are very high in calcium. Some reptiles love them, but some don't. So, you may want to grab a cup and try them out.

    Butter Worms are very high in calcium, but they are also high in calories. These brightly colored worms are great healthy treats for your reptiles.

    Waxworms are nothing more than fatty junk food for reptiles. They make wonderful treats, but definately nothing more!

    Thursday, November 8, 2007

    Feeder Insects

    My favorite staple feeder insects include crickets, mealworms, and discoid roaches.

    Some feeder insects are better than others, but for the most part the crickets, mealworms, and discoid roaches, make great staples. You can, also, try silkworms, if you want.

    I would stay away from feeding butterworms and waxworms as a staple, as they are high in fat content.

    Sunday, November 4, 2007

    Metabolic Bone Disease



    MBD is also known as Metabolic Bone Disease. It is one of the more common reptile health concerns. You should make sure that you fully understand the signs and symptoms so that you can keep a look out for your pet reptile's health. now the treatment and preventative measures so that you never have to combat the illness.

    I will say that for personal reasons, I have done everything that I could for one of my bearded dragons, yet she still contracted MBD. I believe that she has it because of poor breeding and poor initial husbandry from the petstore that she was purchased from. So, you want to watch out for these factors as well. Finding breeders in your area or even reputable petstores will lower your risks of picking a pet with MBD, or one that may possibly contract it.

    Check out the link above, but if you need more information check out:
    Metabolic Bone Disease
    Calcium Metabolism and Metabolic Bone Disease

    Sunday, October 28, 2007

    Goldendoodles

    Goldendoodles are one of the "designer breeds" that claim to be hypoallergenic. But the truth is that most people are allergic to the dander of animals, not the hair or fur. And ALL dogs will have dander even the poodle, labradoodle, goldendoodle, and various other poodle mixes. And, yes they are mixes as very few breeders have a confirmed characteristic of the "breed," and until that day, to most people they will still be considered a mix breed dog.

    Thursday, October 25, 2007

    Miniature Pets

    Miniature Pets can range from the cute little one pound chihuhuas or the three feet tall cattle. Miniature pets are great for those people who want the characteristics of the normal sized animal, but just don't quite have the room. Example being that a person with two acres of land may not be able to have a herd of goats, but they could have a herd of miniature goats or cattle or horses.

    An apartment dwelling family may not be able to have a standarad poodle in their apartment, but a miniature poodle, toy poodle, or teacup poodle, would all fit in just fine.

    Tuesday, October 23, 2007

    Souther California Wildlife Suffer During the Fires

    California Wildlife is Threatened in Fires that is destroying the southern portion of the state. Thousands have been evacuated, but you evacuate all the animals in the woods and forests of the areas. They must fend for themselves. You can donate money to the rehabilitation of the animals at Animal Advocates Organization if you want to help. They will rehabilitate the animals and release them back into the wild.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2007

    Crested Gecko Care Sheet



    Crested geckos are a great beginner reptile. They have simple husbandry requirements that are fairly easy to meet. Crested geckos are a relatively small gecko that do not need excessive space.

    And, they come in a variety of morphs (colors), ranging from brightly colored harlequins and fires to dalmations opf varying degrees. They can be pinstripe, tiger, patternless, red, tan, yellow, etc.

    Crested geckos are becoming more and more popular in today's reptile market due to their ease in to keep in captivity.

    A few crested gecko breeders include:

  • AC Reptiles
  • Garrick DeMeyer
  • goReptiles
  • HISSS
  • RT Reptiles
  • Spade Reptiles

    These are just a few of the reputable breeders I have had the pleasure of working with.
  • Monday, October 15, 2007

    Housing Rats

    SO, you've decided to let a rat into your heart and home. Now, to choose the proper cage before you actually bring the little critter home. It's best to go ahead and have the cage at home so you don't have to let the rat sit in his take home box for too long.

    Choosing a rat cage is actually fairly simple. There are three basic designs- aquarium, plastic, or wire. Make sure that you have a solid floor on the cage to prevent bumble foot.

    Fill the cage with toys and proper bedding. To make your rat healthy and happy.

    Sunday, October 14, 2007

    Fancy Rats



    Pet Rats consider all the options, even consider whether you would prefer a pet mouse. Consider the time, money, and space that you have. Research fancy rats, their housing, treats, games and toys, and even find a list of the signs and symptoms of illnesses for rats. You want to make sure that you consider every possibility before bringing a new pet home.

    From personal experience, I love my pet rats, and wouldn't have it any other way. They live in a 4 foot tall wire cage with a solid bottom. They receive fresh and dried fruits as treats, as well as a few seeds, nuts, and yogurt treats.

    The only difference with pet rats and most small animal pets, is that because they are so intelligent, you will have to make sure that they are not left without toys, as they will get bored easily. Entertain their brains!!

    Wednesday, October 10, 2007

    Dog Tricks

    Dog tricks are fun for you and your dog. There are so many tricks that you can teach your dog. Show them off for friends, too. Try teaching your dog wave and spin. Why stop there? Why not try teaching your dog to put up his toys and to say he's sorry?

    Monday, October 8, 2007

    Correcting Problem Behaviors

    Dog problem behaviors can be rough to live with. Whether they be digging, chewing, barking, jumping, or any other nuissance behavior. You can untrain your dog of these problem behaviors as easy as you trained him. Yes, more than likely you unwillingly trained your dog to jump.

    When you dog was a puppy, and he jumped on you, what did you do? More than likely, you pet him. Right? The you just rewarded the behavior. From that point on the dog associated jumping on you, or any other person as getting pet, so anytime he wanted your attention or to be petted, he would jump on you. But, now that the cute 10 pound puppy is no longer 10 pounds, but 60, what do you do?

    Find ways to solve the problem behaviors. That's what you do. Once you have found the cause to the problem behavior, you can begin to fix it.

    But, not all problem behaviors are as simple, as you'd think. Some behaviors are caused be some fear or emotion within the dog. Yes, dog's can be scared, too. Some dogs are scared of thunder and storms, whether it be because of the loud noise, the rain, or the change in barometic pressure. But, either way, you can fix... Well, unless it's the change in barometric pressure, otherwise, I have a few tips. Try drowning out the should with loud music or television. Occupy the dog during the storm. On a sunny day, play a recording of a thunder storm, slowly raising the volume, until the dog doesn't care.

    In any sense, you CAN fix the problem behaviors that are ruining your lifestyle. In many cases may even be embarrassed of your dog's behaviors. Well, fix them. Don't hide or crate the dog, that's a quick fix, truly dig deep and fix the problems. It'll be worth it in the end.

    Sunday, October 7, 2007

    Dog Agility Training

    If you've decided to train your dog agility. Awesome choice. It's a great way to run the energy out of you dog and loose a few calories while you're at it. You want to learn the basics of the sport, as yes, it is a sport. Learn the history behind today's competitive dog sport. Learn what each obstacle is and looks like.

    Then, find out how to best train each obstacle from the jump to the tunnel to the seesaw. The best and quickest way is to target train mixed with a little clicker training. Have the dog target a plate of some kind of object in order to clear the bar jump obstacle or to properly run over the dog walk.

    Next, learn the course. Learn the faults. Know how to run it. Get used the the ever changing agility course. You won't have a problem as long as you dog knows how to perform each obstacle. At that point, you'll be able to run the course with ease and efficiency.

    Friday, October 5, 2007

    Leopard Gecko



    Leopard geckos are one of the better beginner reptiles that one can have. They have relatively easy husbandry requirements, making Caring For Leopard Geckos pretty simple. Being a smaller reptile in the pet trade, leopard geckos only need at minimum a 10 gallon aquarium, again making housing them come with ease.

    Leopard geckos are insectivores, eating crickets, mealworms, superworms, butterworms, roaches, waxworms, silkworms, and phenix worms. But, sometimes when they're sick or stressed, the will not eat. If the temperatures in their enclosure are not correct, they may stop eating, as well. When your leopard gecko stops eating, you can tray various things. Do NOT try force feeding, unless it is you absolute last possible option! When you notice weight loss from you leopard gecko's tail and body weight, you may want to take the gecko to the vet. You can try a different feeder insect, and lastly, you could try the leopard gecko slushy.


    After researching,caring for leopard geckos for years, preparing incubators and lay boxes, and even made plans as to where the hatchlings will go, then you're ready for Breeding Leopard Geckos.

    Thursday, October 4, 2007

    Revolution for Dogs

    Revolution is one of the better flea and tick preventatives on the market today. It can be purchased at your veterinarian's office, sometimes Petco, but always online. Various online petstores and discounts will sell Revolution.

    Revolution comes in various sizes to include:
  • for puppies under 5 lbs PINK
  • 5-10 lb dogs PURPLE
  • 10-20 lb dogs BROWN
  • 20-40 lb dogs RED
  • 40-85 lb dogs TEAL
  • 85-130 lb dogs PLUM

    Revolution is a great preventative to keep fleas and ticks off your pets as they carry diseases and viruses that can harm your dog.
  • Dog Fighting

    Dog Fighting is very much a part of the bully breed family's history and ancestry. But, do you truly understand what it involved. Today, dog fighters throw their dogs in a pit and let the have at it. But traditionally, there were rules and regulations. Strict ones at that. Now, don't get me wrong, I am a APBT advocate, and 100% disagree with dog fighting. But, learning the truths and history of dog fighting has opened my eyes more to the history of the breed. It has made me better understand their background.

    Plus, without the background that they did have, they wouldn't be the breed they are today... Loving, loyal, protective, robust, healthy, and so much more!

    Wednesday, October 3, 2007

    Pet Snakes

    I'm a lover of snakes. Of all sizes, shapes, and colors. Now, don't get me wrong, I do have my preferences. I'm a huge fan of ball pythons of any morph, but again I like piebalds, mohaves, pastels, and of course the plain and simple standard ball python. I like red tail boas, California kingsnakes, and even the temperaments Emerald tree boa.

    I find that as pets, snakes are very easy to care for. They only get fed a minimum of once a week. You can even go a month without feeding a snake, of course all depending on the size and species of the snake. You wouldn't wait a month in between feedings to feed a hatchling burmese python.

    Tuesday, October 2, 2007

    Fake Rock Instructional

    Making Fake Rock is rather easy as long as you have the time and patients. It's a messy crafy, but seeing it in you reptile's enclosure makes it worth.

    You can make the designs as elaborate or simple as you choose. You can make perches, ledges, hides, humid hides, rocks, backgrounds, and more!

    I've made full backgrounds, regulare hides, humid hides, rocks, perches, and bridges for my leopard geckos, African fat tail geckos, and bearded dragons. I've made full backgrounds and partial backgrounds, as well.

    It's all up to your creativity and imagination. But, don't worry if you think you're not the most creative or imaginative. It's a simple project. And you know the husbandry for you reptile, so have fun with it.

    Sunday, September 30, 2007

    Cats and People- Think Like a Cat

    Does your cat always seem to end up in the lap of the one visitor to your home who's allergic? Or maybe it's the one visitor who doesn't like cats? Why is it that, very often, your cat-loving visitors get passed over for the one person who doesn't want to interact with Fluffy?...

    Read more:

    Having Company? Guess Which Guest Kitty Will Like Best ...

    Friday, September 28, 2007

    APBT deemed a Demon

    I risk my life every night when I let a A Demon Sleep In My Bed. I'm brave I know, but the good morning kisses and good night kisses are worth it.

    Wednesday, September 26, 2007

    Dog Behavior Problems

    Dogs aren't perfect. Not anywhere near it. Ha. Many dogs have common behavior problems like barking, digging, chewing, jumping, and mouthiness. To Stop Chewing and Digging you can try a variey of things, but you really need to understand why your dog is doing what he's doing. In many cases, boredom is the key. But, sometimes the dog maybe teething, mimicking you, or other reasons.

    If you want to figure out Why Your Dog Digs, you should look at where he's digging to start. Is it everywhere? In one place? If in one place, where's that place?

    Saturday, September 22, 2007

    Puppy Food

    What is the best dog food for my puppy? is a great question to start off your new puppy's life. It means you truly care about what your dog intakes, versus just picking up the cheapest brand at the store. You should take into consideration the brand, is it a premium brand? The ingredients, is the first ingredient a protein, how many fillers are in the first five ingredients? And the size of the dog, is my dog going to be a small dog or a large dog?

    I feed my dogs the best that I can. My dog's get Nutro Natural Choice. My 7 year old yorkie gets Small Bites, and my 4 month old APBT gets Large breed growth control.

    Monday, September 17, 2007

    Behavioral Problem Solving

    Behavioral Problem Solving with your dog can make a happier you and a happier dog... Not to mention a happier neighbor... Find out problem solving tools and techniques to help you and your dog cope with each other.

    In many cases, behavioral problems can easily be eliminated by starting basic obedience training from the get-go. Basic Obedience Training Part 1 and Basic Obedience Training Part 2 includes the basic commands like walking on a leash, leave it, give, sit, down, stay, wait, and come. I am constantly reworking and refining basic obedience commands with my dogs. Basic obedience, believe it or not, can save your dog's life one day. If he decides to charge out the front door ahead of you, you can give him the 'wait' command that will tell him that he cannot move but you can. This will insure that you dog is kept safe.

    Sunday, September 16, 2007

    More Training Thoughts

    Ever have a dog that's scared of something? I mean, it's possible. I have a dog scared of thunder and another scared of water (well, unless it's in his water bowl). You can work with your Dog's Fears and Phobias. Just follow a method or two and get things going.

    Untraining Your Dog's Behaviors can work when trying to stop an unwated behavior. You don't want you dog to bark nonstop for the rest of his and your life do you? That's like having a wife or husband that just won't shut up... I.E. an unhappy relationship. Well, there are a few things that you can try to stop the behaviors before you just can't take it anymore. Well, there are actually eight different methods of untraining that range from 'shoot the dog' to 'change the motivation.' There are four negative and four positive methods of untraining.

    Friday, September 14, 2007

    Training Tools

    Dog Training Tools are very important when you've decided to train your dog or puppy. Just a few things that are very important and must haves when training. The basics include leashes, collars, and treats.

    No harnesses.
    No flexi/retractible leads.
    No pinch collars.
    No choke chains.
    No large treats.

    Make sure you wear training appropriate clothing. When training, you move around a lot. You also, want to be weary of your shoes; it is possible to slip out of your shoes while training or get your toes stepped on.

    No skin tight pants.
    No belly shirts.
    No low cut shirts.
    No flipflops.
    No sandals of any kind.

    Wednesday, September 12, 2007

    Don't Get Stuck

    According to a recent article on yahoo news, a new Online Scam is in the midst... But, unfortunately it involves innocent people wanting to open their lives to a new puppy. You assume the puppy in the picture is the puppy you're going to get... Not all the time... The classifieds and online ads that float all around the interent are filled with puppies. Breeders getting the word out about a new litter of pups. You take the bait, and get screwed....

    I will admit that I have searched for days on online classfieds and adds. Searched tons of breeders and looked through many photos. Luckily, I did not get caught in one of these scams. I received my pit bull puppy from a loving pet parent in Atlanta. His ad was different than most of the ones I had seen. Just listing that he had 11 puppies, 4 males and 7 females available, serious inquiries call xxx-xxx-xxxx or xxx-xxx-xxxx. I called. Met with him the day after, and brought home a gorgeous blue pit bull.

    Some people aren't so lucky. Read the following article to hear a few stories... Find ways to protect yourself!

    Online Puppy Scams

    Tuesday, September 11, 2007

    Famous Pit Bulls

    Famous Pit Bulls are far and wide across the history of the United States. They range from famous military dogs, such as Sergeant Stubby, to RCA, a certified hearing dog in Alaska. They're in music videos, such as Jennifer Lopez's 'I'm Glad,' and in movies such as The Little Rascals and Cheaper by the Dozen. Pit bulls were once the poster dog for the United States, showing the country's loyalty, dignity, and strength. Why is it that today the breed is feared and hated? How did the breed go from the most gently to the most fierce? It's all in the raising of the dog. All dog's can the ability to show aggression. All dogs have the ability to attack. It's NOT a pit bull thing.

    Sunday, September 9, 2007

    Training Your Dog


    The oldest training method is the technique of punishment. But using Punishment as a Training Method you can encounter many problems and big concerns. Whereas, using Reinforcement Training, you come across fewer problems. Reinforcement training is the quickest and most effective way to train ANY dog.

    When Training a Dog always think about the dog first. Configure your training method around the dog's personality. You do not want to be as forceful with a passive dog as you would with a more dominant dog.

    Have fun when training your dog. It's a great bonding experience.

    Saturday, September 8, 2007

    Clicker Training

    Have any of you heard of Clicker Training? I find that it is one of the better techniques towards training dogs. I have found the quickest results when using a clicker than without. I began training my new puppy without the clicker, and she basically understood what I wanted, but as soon as I picked up my old clicker and began using it when training with her, she began catching on quicker and quicker. It is pretty simple to clicker train. You can use your voice as a sharp 'yes' when the desired behavior was reached; the sharp 'yes' is in place of the clicer as we all have our voice with us at all times, but maybe not a clicker. This is what I started with when training my new puppy, but I was not getting the results I desired in the time frame I had hoped. When picking up my old Karen Pryor I-Click clicker, MIA quickly began responding to simple cues of 'sit,' 'down,' 'sit/stay,' 'down/stay,' and 'speak.' Many more behaviors are added to her 'behavior glossary,' with every click of the small, hand-held clicker.

    Friday, September 7, 2007

    Digging Doggies

    Many people have a problem of holes in their yard caused by their best friend. In some cases, holes are by the fence, in the garden, or just all over the yard. In any and all places, it can be a problem. It looks ugly. It can cause someone to trip, if not looking. Hole just are pleasant to have around the yard... First thing you should do is figure out Why Your Dog Digs. Then try to correct the problem...

    Wednesday, September 5, 2007

    Breeding Leopard Geckos

    Breeding Leopard Geckos can be a fairly easy task if you have your mind set on it. But, at the same time there are a few factors that are involved when breeding. You MUST have an incubator, incubation medium, a male and female pair, and a lot of patients.

    Tuesday, September 4, 2007

    Growing Puppies

    Everyone who gets a puppy want s the best for it. Yes? Well, I personally want my puppy to grow up into a big and strong adult. Healthy, too... I supplement her dry dog food, which is Nutro Natural Choice large breed puppy, with K9 Puppy Gold. She LOVES it. The other dogs try to eat her food as well, due to the K9 Puppy Gold, so it really does have a dog approved taste.

    Sunday, September 2, 2007

    Dealing With the Loss of A Pet

    As I have experienced lately, dealing with the loss of a pet can be a hard thing to undergo. There are many different emotions that are involved when grieving the loss of a pet, whether it be a dog, cat, bird, reptile, small animal, or fish. There are different steps to the grieving process, and there are different things to aid in the recovery.

    Dealing With The Loss of A Pet

    Friday, August 31, 2007

    Loss

    I've dealt with a lot of loss this year- from the loss of a boyfriend for several months to the loss of a dog, hamsters, geckos, and a chinchilla. Today, another chinchilla passed away.

    This past Tuesday, Roxy, the hamster, passed away, but I assumed it was due to age as she was about a year and a half or so. But, yesterday, I found Cheech curled up toe Chiko trying to help him stay warm as he was loosing body heat.

    I took him to the vet as soon as I could. The vet could not diagnose anything, as he hadn't shown any signs except for the current lethargy and labored/shallow breathing. Chiko was given a shot of B12 and Dex. The B12, like in humans, was a pick-me-up, so to speak; it was to help him feel better. Dex was to aid with circulation, breaking apart clusters of bad cells (as bad cells tend to cluster in one spot) and pushing through more good cells.

    For a short time, it seemed to help, but Chiko quickly began to fade again. I was giving him a diluted apple juice mix every hour or so to help him with his sugar levels in attempts to give him a little energy to help fight the illness. It seemed to help for that brief moment, then he would regress back to lethargy.

    Throughout the night, I constantly checked on him and tried giving him the apple juice/water mix. He stopped taking the apple juice at 2:00a.m. He died between 6:45ish and 7:30ish this morning.

    I took him to the vet this morning for an autopsy. Dr. Hall is going to check for tumors, bleeding, clots, etc. Things that are somewhat basic and visible. If he cannot find anything visible wrong, I agreed to paying the additional fees to have tissuesif not the entire body, sent to Tifton. I want to make sure that whatever happened to Chiko will not happen to Cheech or my rats.

    As, earlier this year, Chong passed away without showing any signs of illness. His autopsy showed nothing more than lung tissue damage, as the tissue were decomposing rapidly. He passed away on a Sunday, and the vet was not opened. Chong's autopsy was not performed until Monday afternoon. I still believe, to this day, that something was wrong with him, due to the fact that he was only 3 and a half, or so.

    Because chinchillas are social animals, depending on what the vet or Tifton has to say, I may attempt to find another chinchilla to adopt. One that is around Cheech's age, 4 or 5 years. This would give him the socialization that he needs and is used to, and will help an older chinchilla in need of a home.

    My chinchillas are housed in a 48T"x30W"x18D" cage with two balconies and a full level. They are fed Mazuir Chinchilla food and timothy hay, and housed on Aspen bedding. They receive nothing less than the best that I can afford. Weekly, bedding changes. Fresh food and water. Chews and treats galore.

    Dealing with loss can be a hard thing to handle. And if you know someone that has lost a pet, provide sympathy and a loving heart and hand. If a child, ask they would like to have a funeral. Get all dressed up, have a service, and a proper burial. This will help the child's grieving process. It, also, shows the child that you DO care. Don't just flush his pet fish down the toilet, even a simple goldfish to a 5 year old is important.

    It may take a long time for a child, or even an adult, to finish the grieving process, but throughout the entire process, as a friend or loved one, you should be there at all costs.

    I can say from personal experiences, after six months having lost my dog to theft, I was still grieving over him. In order to push along the grieving process, I had to purchase another dog of the same breed, American pit bull terrier. Having entered my life, MIA has helped so much with the loss of Chance. Although, I still love and greatly miss him, she has helped fill the void. This may be an option to help aid someone's loss, but do give them plenty of time to grieve before trying to fill the hole. Sometimes this may be perceived as replacing the lost pet, but it's really filling a hole left behind.

    Tuesday, August 28, 2007

    Pit Bull Rehabilitation

    In light of Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal, 53 dogs are in question of death. Should they be? My opinion...

    Pit Bull Rehabilitation

    BSL- Close to my Heart


    I have a pit bull puppy names MIA. I live in Georgia. This could pose a problem one day. One day breed specific legislation could affect my owning a pit bull. I don't like that idea. It's not the breed's fault they have a bad rep. It's the humans creating the reputation. They're good dogs, with great histories! They were bred to be people friendly, dog aggressive, not aggressive all around.

    BSL and Pit Bull Terriers

    Monday, August 27, 2007

    Why Do Animals Have Tails?

    Ever ask yourself why do animals have tails? Many people find their dog's tail offensive as he runs by knocking things over. It really is a good question, when you think about it. Animals have tails for different reasons all depending on their habit and lifestyle.

    Why Do Animals Have tails?

    Sunday, August 26, 2007

    What? You want a specialty animal?

    Specialty animals include:
    • Birds
    • Reptile
    • Ferret
    • Rabbit
    • Small Animal

    Thinking about getting one? Read the following article:

    Things to Consider Before Buying a Specialty Animal

    Saturday, August 25, 2007

    Moving and Have a Reptile?

    Read the following article for a few suggestions about moving with a pet reptile.

    Moving With Your Pet Reptile

    Friday, August 24, 2007

    Problems with Your Reptiles

    With pet snakes, a big problem can be mites. My Snake Has Mites! goes over a few solutions for getting rid of mites in your snake's enclosure.



    Leopard geckos are usually pretty hardy little critters. That's why they're top on the beginner reptile list. But, sometimes they will stop eating. The following article goes over a few things to consider and some possible solutions to getting your gecko to eat again.

    My Leopard Gecko Quit Eating

    Ball Pythons

    Ball pythons are by far my favorite snake. They're very docile and reach a decent length- not too big or too small. But the one thing I absolutely HATE about ball pythons is their known reputation for being finicky eaters. Feeding Habits of Ball Pythons will give you some guidelines when it comes to feeding ball pythons. Some tidbits and experiences of my own and stories of experiences of others. Hopefully, by reading the article you will figure out why your snake isn't eating and what you can do for him.


    Feeding Frozen is another good article about the frozen feeder rodents versus live feeder rodents. Now, I will go ahead and say that I feed live. Not by choice, but because my ball python won't eat frozen. Now, his last feeding, he grabbed and fully took a thawed mouse before I gave him a live small rat. That, to me, means he's ready to comply. I'm choosing to wait 3-4 weeks before feeding him again, so that he's good and hungry. Then I'll be attempting a thawed small rat.

    Thursday, August 23, 2007

    Caring for The Two Most Popular Pet Reptile

    I have two bearded dragons. After researching and begging for one for probably two years, I finally got a baby bearded dragon for my birthday one year. She was so small. I knew right away she need crickets and veggies. Many people don't know that...

    Bearded Dragons join leopard geckos on the top kept reptile. Although the two vary in size and diet, they are both docile reptiles, which make great pets, especially beginner pets. But, sometimes their diet, isn't followed through correctly. I've heard people say that they've NEVER fed their bearded dragon veggies. WHAT? Not good. Well, reading Bearded Dragon Diet you can see the different produce items that you can feed bearded dragons as well as how much to feed them.

    Leopard geckos are one of my favorite gecko species. They come in SO many morphs (colors), ranging from tangerine, yellow, albino, jungle, red eyes, black eyes, etc. There are so many possibilities out there for the Eublepharis macularius species.

    On top of that, leopard geckos are one of the most owned reptile species due to their ease in captivity as well as their very docile temperaments. But, just because many people own leopard geckos, it doesn't necessarily mean they know how to properly take care of them. Here is a basic caresheet for Caring For Leopard Geckos.

    Wednesday, August 22, 2007

    Mice/Rats Whats the Difference?

    I have both rats and mice, well 3 rats and 1 mouse. I have had other mice in the past though. When I got my present mouse, I was under the impression that he would be similar to my rats... Wrong. Well, somewhat. He has similar diet and husbandry, just smaller scale. He has similar needs in general, but personality, it's just not the same. Read up before you make a decision between a mouse or a rat. To get you started, here's a brief article with a few this and that's.

    Rats Vs. Mice as Pets

    Rats, Rats, and More Rats!


    Ok, so it's something my mom's not the proudest to admit... Her daughter has rats in her room... But, it's true. I do. I have three rats- a black hooded, black berkshire, and brown berkshire. And, no matter how much I swear they give kisses, no one believes me, and no one dares to try it. Ha. I love my rats greatly.

    My rats experience tons of treats daily... Well, when I say tons I mean no more than 10% of their diet, but tons none-the-less. You always have to watch out what and how much you feed rats, as surprisingly enough they're not like the nasty New York sewer rats. The following article is a great listing of treats that your rat(s) CAN have.

    Rat Munchies

    Rats LOVE attention! To any rat lover, that's no surprise. Games and Toys for Your Pet Rats is a great show of fun that you can have with your pet rat.

    I'm a constant worry-wort when it comes to my animals. Wondering if they're getting enough nutrition in their diet, attention, excercise. Like my chinchillas, my rats, too, hold a special place in my heart. I have compiled Signs of Illness In Your Rat in order to share a few symptoms that you can look for in order spot whether or not your rat is sickly or not.

    Tuesday, August 21, 2007

    Evolution of Reptiles

    Reptiles have had an interesting start in life. I mean who would have thought that reptiles evolved from fish? I wouldn't have... Well, it's all in theory. This article give a short description about the evolution of reptiles.

    A Brief Evolution of Reptiles

    Choosing A Pet Reptile

    When deciding upon getting your first reptile, it can be a hard decision. Trying to maintain a docile pet that you can hold, yet appealing. It's always best to do your research before purchasing any animal. Here's an informative article about the best beginner reptiles to have. The information in the article is taken from person experience and word of mouth from other reptile hobbiest.

    Best Beginner Reptile

    Once you have decided upon a reptile of choice, you then need to decide where to get it. Before You Buy Retail Reptiles... is a great article about retail reptiles. It goes over the pros and cons about buying reptiles from corporate retail petstores. Personal experiences were used as examples in the article.

    Monday, August 20, 2007

    Caring for Hamsters



    Hamsters are a popular pet these days amongs both apartment dwellers and house dwellers. Many younger children want hamsters. They want to see them running throughout their room in the translucent ball. Hamsters do require a little work. You can't just sit and watch them take care of themselves. By reading Caring For Hamsters you can go see the basics to taking care of a pet hamster. The article discusses diet, behaviors, temperament, and housing.


    But when it comes to hamsters there is one thing you should definately be aware of, and that's wet-tail, which is similar to diarrhea. It is caused by stress. Reading Hamsters With Wet-tail, you can find out what you can do to help a hamster with wet-tail, and what you can to do try to prevent your hamster from getting wet-tail.

    Sunday, August 19, 2007

    Chinchillas

    Chinchillas are very close to my heart. I received my first chinchilla for Christmas one year. He was so cute! And, I didn't even expect it. I had done my research, and asked, and got a semi-yes. But nothing definate. At this time, I volunteered regularly at Petsmart, and saw that they had one male chinchilla. I asked for him, and my parents didn't seem too keen on the idea, as it had been a while since I'd taken care of a furry pet; plus I already had a few reptiles and a dog in the house.
    The next day, we went back to Petsmart, to get something that I had forgotten, crickets, mealworms, or something... I saw that the chinchilla wasn't there anymore, and began asking for a hamster. Turns out that the previous day when my mother picked me up, my dad was in the parking lot (supposidly at work). He ran in and bought the chinchilla, since they can't put anything on hold. He had already gotten approval from my grandparents, that they would house the little guy until the following weekend, which was Christmas. I had absolutely NO idea!!!
    Luck for me I had done my research, or I would have been in for a huge RUDE awakening! But, at the same time, I was still surprised by somethings, such as how much they actually liked to chew! I expected some chewing, but I didn't expect to walk in my room one day and have the front of my ferret cage falling off because they had chewed the pieces that held the cage together off. Oh, and I say they, because in April, of the following month, I went back to Petsmart and got another chinchilla, and we purchased a bigger cage, a ferret cage.
    But anyway, I have created a basic chinchilla caresheet for those who are interested in owning a chinchilla.

    Did you know it takes OVER 150 chinchillas to produce one chinchilla fur coat?? Did you know that Jennifer Lopez has well over 10 of these coats? That means well over 1,500 chinchillas had to die in order to make Lopez a fancy coat. I am very fond of my chinchillas, and will never understand why someone would want one of these coats.

    Chinchillas are very sensitive, cute, and furry creatures that are now found in homes across North America versus solely in the Andes Mountains of South America.

    If you're thinking about getting a chinchilla, you should read the article below. It consists of a few tips and things that you may want to think about first:
    Chinchilla Basics

    Animals

    I have too many... Ha... Well, it's true.

    I have had dogs all my life. My experience with dogs ranges from volunteering weekly for 5 plus years are various dog rescues. Dog training for over a year. And just plain personal experiences.

    As for my experience with reptiles; I have been researching reptiles for over 7 years, and have owned them for over 4. I have a small hobby business breeding leopard geckos, african fat tail geckos, and crested geckos. goreptiles.com

    My experience with small and furry animals goes so far as 10 years off and on hands on experience and research. I was the certified specialist for a retail petstore, as well.

    The list of my zoo inludes:

    REPTILES

    • 12 leopard geckos
    • 5 african fat tail geckos
    • 2 crested geckos
    • 2 bearded dragons
    • 1 ball python

    SMALL AND FURRY

    • 3 rats
    • 2 chinchillas
    • 1 hamster
    • 1 mouse

    DOGS

    • 1 yorkie (mine)
    • 1 pit bull (mine)
    • 1 mutt: hound/heinz 57 dog (partially mine)
    • 1 dalmatian (cute dog at the house)
    • 1 st bernard/collie mix (my mother's)

    Please take everything written in this blog as personal experiences unless otherwise said.

    Google