4 Tips For Buying the Right Pet Food Storage Containers

If you currently keep your pet's food in the bags that it comes in and just leave them open to the elements, then you might want to consider the alternatives. Left open, pet food deteriorates rapidly and may even attract pests such as ants. You could be giving your pet stale food and it is surely losing all of its goodness that you paid for day by day.

For less than $25 you can find a variety of plastic pet food storage containers that will keep your food airtight and fresh. With a little care and cleaning these could easily last your pets lifetime so are well worth the investment. If I have convinced you, here are a few pointers on what to look out for when buying:

Airtight

The whole point of pet food storage is to keep the food fresh so an airtight seal is a must. These are not only found on plastic containers but also on the more fancy looking stainless steel varieties. Some even have a double seal for added protection.

Size

Buy the right size container for your pets needs. It is no good buying a container that is too small so that you cannot empty your whole bag into it. Similarly you do not want to buy a container that is so large, once full it will keep your pet going with six months worth of food as even if stored correctly food still deteriorates. So look at the size of bag you normally buy and consider how much food your pet eats each week and buy accordingly.

Storage location

Think about where you are going to store this container so you can buy an appropriately sized and shaped product. If it will be in a cupboard, will the option you fancy fit in? If it will be on display does it look appealing? Will it be close to where you dish up and feed your pet? If not, something on wheels would be recommended.

Ideally you want to store pet food in a cool and dark environment so consider rethinking your home organization at this time.

If you are short on space, you can even find wall mounted containers that can take up to 40lbs of pet food. Just make sure your walls are strong enough and you mount them correctly if you go for this option though.

Features

There are varying features you can find with the many different pet food options on the market - some of which may be beneficial to you and some of which may not. Consider your needs before paying extra for fancy features. Such options are wheels, pedals and stackability.

Some Great Alternatives to Getting a Dog Or Cat

Not all animals make great pets. There is no doubt about that. But there are some animals that people can have in their home that you would never think of. Some of loving, some are not, some are just a great gift to get for your child as a birthday present.

Here are some great options of pets to get that are not cats and dogs.

If you are interested in getting some sort of reptile for your son or daughter, you may have a bad conception in your head and the first thing that might jump out at you is a snake. Many people are very happy having snakes as pets, but I am not one of those people. Something like an iguana, however is an easy pet to care for and can eat bugs around the house.

Another pet that I had as a child was a Prairie Dog. I cannot tell you how loving this creature was. My mother hated it at first, but learned to love it. Just be careful, because they have bottomless stomachs and will get fat if you don't watch their diet.

Hailing in from Madagascar is the Sugar Glider. This marsupial is similar to a flying squirrel in physique, with webbed wings that allow it to glide. Maybe not the most loving creatures, but they certainly are cooler than a Maltese.

Turtles are wonderful creatures. While they are not the most affectionate animals, they are adorable and your child will love them. Just keep the paint away so your kid doesn't paint them like the ninja turtles.

An ant farm is a popular and easy to maintain project for your son or daughter at a young age. Make sure to keep it in an area that is well ventilated, so it doesn't stink up your child's room.

These are just some of the great options of different types of pets to get for your home.

Pet Ferret History

Ferrets' history and beginning as a domesticated pet is a bit unclear, no one knows for sure when the domestication of ferrets began. Some people attribute the Egyptians some the Greeks, however, some evidence from archeology remains of ferrets have dated back to 1500BC. Other research on mitochondria DNA analysis has suggested that the ferret could have been domesticated around 2500 years ago. Another bit of uncertainty surrounding the history of ferrets has to do with its direct descendant. One view is that the pet ferret was most likely domesticated from the European Polecat (Mutela putorious) others believe that it's a direct descendant of the Steppe Polecat (Mustela eversmannii) or maybe a result of some hybridization of the two.

Ferrets usually established their feral colonies in areas where there are little or no competition from predators similar in size to it. In areas where they coexist with Polecats, hybridization is common.

As a pet ferrets are said to be ranked third behind the dog and cat in the United States.

Regardless of who first domesticated our favorite fuzzy friend, Europeans or Egyptians, what are the facts of ferret history?

1600 BC - Since the 1600 BC ferrets have been regarded as creatures of beauty, charm, and their skillfulness in hunting mice rats, rabbits as a form of pest control.

1500 BC - The ancient Egyptians have murals of hunting ferrets.

6BC - It is said that Augustus Caesar sent ferrets to the Balearic Island to control the rabbit population from getting too out of control. This leads to spreading of the news of ferret's usefulness in hunting throughout Europe. The European armed forces used to be fed from the hunts of their ferret partners.

1390 - English parliament passed the first law restricting the possession of ferrets.

1939 - The popularity of ferrets as pets grew in the United States.

2005 - The Delaware law was passed which stated that no person shall hunt, take kill or destroy any rabbit or hare with a ferret, or have a ferret in possession while hunting.

Ten Tips When Moving With Pets

Moving or relocating could be traumatic for people, but it could be even worse for your household pets that have spent most of their lives inside your home and have never ventured outside.

Furthermore, removing them from their favorite furniture pieces could change their world entirely.

Happily, there are things you can do to make your and your pet's move a lot easier. The following are great tips when moving with pets.

1. Take into consideration the present physical condition of your pets, age and temperament before you decide to bring them along with you. Keep in mind that long distance travel is taxing on most animals.

2. Ensure that your pet is wearing proper identification and required license tags if any, in the event they get lost.

3. Inform your vet about your move and ask if they know of a vet in your new place whom he or she can refer to you. Consult about proper treatment if your pet has a condition that might get worse after moving. Also, ask for a copy of your pet's medical history.

4. If you are going to travel long distance like flying, ask your vet for sedative for your pet unless it is travelling in the cargo section of the plane. This is particularly helpful if you have a pet that does not travel well or is cage aggressive.

5. If you travel by air, you will likely need a health certificate from your veterinarian and there could be a time requirement, such as a certificate that has to be dated thirty days before your scheduled travel.

6. A few days before your move, you pets could become nervous due to all the unusual activity around the house. Keep a close watch on them since stress could cause them to run off or misbehave.

7. If you are moving across state lines, write or call the state vet or State Department of Animal Husbandry for laws regarding animal entry. Some states will require updated rabies vaccinations.

8. Schedule your dog or dogs to be groomed a week before you leave. They will smell clean as you travel and their nails trimmed to avoid ruining the interior of your car. Have dogs with long hair trimmed or shaved. Give cats a good brushing when you move.

9. Consider spoiling your pets during the stressful time of preparing for your move. Allow them to sleep in the bed, take time out to play with them, take them for walks, feed them and treat them with their favorite treats or food. This will help improve their spirits on the actual moving day. Pets could often be the last thing on people's minds during a move and they would start to feel neglected and unloved, which could bring more stress and bad behavior.

10. After moving, give your pets time to adjust to the new neighborhood and do not allow them to roam the area freely until they learn where new home is now, or they could get lost.

Tired of Sleeping in a Bed of Pet Hair? Ways to Reduce the Amount of Pet Hair on Your Bed

It might be as simple as closing the door, but for some unlucky pet owners that means scratched up doors and floors from pets who just won't accept this one house rule. This means that when you're out and about or in another part of your home, those sneaky little pets of yours will snuggle into your bed and leave behind a bundle of fur for you to discover later.

Not impressed with what they're leaving behind? You might want to try an old sheet on top of your bed while you're away to create a barrier between your pet and your bed below. But if you have a more determined pet who likes to shift around your sheets to make themselves a cozy bed out of your bed, then an old bed sheet may not do the trick.

Using a heavier comforter may work better as a deterrent, but if that still doesn't work, there are products out there that are specifically made for this type of problem and is designed to fit on top of all your bed sheets, pillows and comforters. These specially designed covers even have four elastics that wrap underneath each mattress corner so that it stays put no matter how much your pet tries to maneuver the sheets below.

Having a barrier between your pet and bed not only keeps your pet's fur off of your expensive clean sheets, it also protects against stains, slobber, odor, mud, dirt, and pet dander. All extra reasons why you would want to avoid having your pet sleep on your bed. Yuck!

So if you can't stand coming home to your bed sheets being turned into a donut and then having to sleep in them afterwards, then try these simple tips to avoid having this ongoing problem. Trust me... you will wonder how you ever lived the way you did before.

Reading Articles Online About Good Pet Raising

Pet stores nowadays have a far better variety of choices for consumers and animal lovers than those of a couple of decades ago. Now, more and more animals have been domesticated and can be seen at these stores. Most of animal shops nowadays cater for wider varieties of animals that can be brought and raised at home, and most of them also have much better choices of the things related in raising the animal well.

Because of the growing awareness against animal maltreatment and abuse, more and more people are now into caring and raising animals at their home. Because of this we now have a better understanding on how to raise our animals well.

Internet even helped spread the word; it has been one of the best tools in calling for protection and sheltering for animals. Over the past few years, the World Wide Web has been one of the most effective ways to search and rescue those harmed animals around the world. There is no wonder why entrepreneurs of pet care business embraced the advantage of having an online store to reach more clients, especially animal lovers out there who want to be guided in raising their pets.

However, not all online stores have everything you need. If you own an exotic pet, like reptiles like snakes, Iguanas, etc, you may look for those websites that specialize on raising exotic animals as pets like these require special diets that can't be found in most online animal care stores.

Some good online pet shops don't just sell various products for different domesticated and exotic animals, they also post some tips and precautions on how to properly raise your animal, they have the pet's dietary needs whose emphasis are placed on the nutritional and health properties of each product, teach them how to cure their pets when their sick, and protect their beloved animals with various types of products for hygiene and health.

The internet really is a good medium to know more things about the animals you are planning to take care, so to be a good pet owner I suggest that you research and read.

Reading Articles Online About Good Pet Raising

Pet stores nowadays have a far better variety of choices for consumers and animal lovers than those of a couple of decades ago. Now, more and more animals have been domesticated and can be seen at these stores. Most of animal shops nowadays cater for wider varieties of animals that can be brought and raised at home, and most of them also have much better choices of the things related in raising the animal well.

Because of the growing awareness against animal maltreatment and abuse, more and more people are now into caring and raising animals at their home. Because of this we now have a better understanding on how to raise our animals well.

Internet even helped spread the word; it has been one of the best tools in calling for protection and sheltering for animals. Over the past few years, the World Wide Web has been one of the most effective ways to search and rescue those harmed animals around the world. There is no wonder why entrepreneurs of pet care business embraced the advantage of having an online store to reach more clients, especially animal lovers out there who want to be guided in raising their pets.

However, not all online stores have everything you need. If you own an exotic pet, like reptiles like snakes, Iguanas, etc, you may look for those websites that specialize on raising exotic animals as pets like these require special diets that can't be found in most online animal care stores.

Some good online pet shops don't just sell various products for different domesticated and exotic animals, they also post some tips and precautions on how to properly raise your animal, they have the pet's dietary needs whose emphasis are placed on the nutritional and health properties of each product, teach them how to cure their pets when their sick, and protect their beloved animals with various types of products for hygiene and health.

The internet really is a good medium to know more things about the animals you are planning to take care, so to be a good pet owner I suggest that you research and read.

Next Day Pets

Next day pets is a pets website that brings together a community of pet owners, or more specifically dog owners. This website is dedicated completely to dogs, and unfortunately there are no offers for cats or kittens at next day pets dot com. However, at this point it is important to mention that dogs and cats both are equally capable of being an adorable companion to the owner.

The specialty of the website is that it concentrates on the safety of the pet as well as the pet owner. Another special feature of the site is that it connects dog owners through the pet forums and through their presence on social networks like Twitter and Facebook. The social media presence of this site is a clear sign of their authenticity and their dedication in ensuring the safety of the dogs and puppies who are put in the for sale offers. Each dog breed and other characteristics of the dog like grooming requirements, compatibility with other dogs, shedding, vaccination shots, exercise requirements etc are clearly tabulated for the convenience of those who are looking for puppies for sale or dogs for sale.

The forums of the website are great learning centre for pet owners as everything from the pet insurance schemes to how to ensure the safety of a dog are discussed in the forum. Apart from the pet owners' forum, the dog articles of the website is a great way of learning all about dogs. New dog pictures and dog videos are updated regularly at the website. The learning center of the site is divided into categories like buying tips, dog breeds etc for the convenience of finding the perfect pet for your home.

Pet Exercise Pens - Treat Your Dog to a Pet Exercise Pen to Keep Him Safe

A pet exercise pen offers owners an effective way to keep a dog or puppy confined to a safe location. These handy pens are suitable for indoor use in any room if you want to keep your eye on a puppy but do not want them to roam freely about. Set one up on your patio whenever you light up the barbeque to keep your pet from wandering too near the hot coals. It is also useful by the pool if your dog is not a swimmer.

Pens are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Finding a pen that is the appropriate size is important for the comfort of your dog. There are even several models that are expandable, so it can grow bigger as the animal does. They are generally two to four feet tall and some will have a top to prevent the dog from climbing out. For frequent outdoor use there are tops designed to shade the sun.

Wire pens are made out of wire metal and are secured to the ground with stakes. They fold flat for convenient storage and are easy to set up with no special tools required. Many of them are coated with acrylic to increase durability and some have a door so you do not have to lift the animal in and out.

For small dogs and puppies there are soft pens that are built on a strong steel frame and covered with padding and stain resistant nylon. Many models have a zippered flap on the side to give you easy access to your pet without having to bend over the side. These waterproof pens can be set up outside just as easily as they can inside and they collapse for easy transport.

Pet Exercise Pens - Treat Your Dog to a Pet Exercise Pen to Keep Him Safe

A pet exercise pen offers owners an effective way to keep a dog or puppy confined to a safe location. These handy pens are suitable for indoor use in any room if you want to keep your eye on a puppy but do not want them to roam freely about. Set one up on your patio whenever you light up the barbeque to keep your pet from wandering too near the hot coals. It is also useful by the pool if your dog is not a swimmer.

Pens are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Finding a pen that is the appropriate size is important for the comfort of your dog. There are even several models that are expandable, so it can grow bigger as the animal does. They are generally two to four feet tall and some will have a top to prevent the dog from climbing out. For frequent outdoor use there are tops designed to shade the sun.

Wire pens are made out of wire metal and are secured to the ground with stakes. They fold flat for convenient storage and are easy to set up with no special tools required. Many of them are coated with acrylic to increase durability and some have a door so you do not have to lift the animal in and out.

For small dogs and puppies there are soft pens that are built on a strong steel frame and covered with padding and stain resistant nylon. Many models have a zippered flap on the side to give you easy access to your pet without having to bend over the side. These waterproof pens can be set up outside just as easily as they can inside and they collapse for easy transport.

What to Do When Your Pet Pees Or Poops in the House - Some Simple Clean Up Methods

The first thing that should be noted when something like this happens it's not because the animal wanted to make you mad. So you need to be calm and collective when dealing with the pet. There are many reasons a pet may decide to use the floor as its restroom:

1.) The pet is still in training. They may have gotten two excited and didn't realize they had to use the bathroom and then they just go where they are.
2.) The pet something medically wrong with them.
3.) If a cat they may not like the litter provided or the litter is dirty.
4.) Some people may confuse peeing with marking their territory. This is based on the position of the animal when peeing.
5.) Some animal may pee because they are upset with you or a situation.

The first thing you want to do after an animal has urinated or defecated in an area is clean it up. If it's a medical issue it could infect other animals. Wipe up the mess and then find a good cleaner. There are many cleaners out there that will get rid of the smell. It's best to use something that is made for getting rid of pet odors. Also a mixture of vinegar and water (50/50) works for a more natural solution compared to harsh cleaners. These spots need to be cleaned up well because if it's just a behavior issue then they will not use it in future as a potty spot.

After cleaning you may want to rule out any medical issues. There are many different issues that could affect the animal that could be related to messing in the house. Once you have rules out medical if it's a cat you can try a different litter as they may not like the one provided or make sure it's cleaned on a daily basis. If you have more then one cat you should have a litter box for each of them plus one extra.

If it's a marking problem the animal may need to be spayed or neutered. This may not get rid of the problem entirely but it could reduce the problem.

Remember that hitting or yelling at your pet is only make them ignore you and make them scared of you. They do understand those type of discipline and only positive reinforcement is the best way to resolve the a behavior problem.

Now I invite you to visit my website to get some more details on getting pets care for your pets. Sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date on great new tips and products.

The Benefits of Pet Steps

Pet steps and pet ramps have become popular among animal lovers. Pet steps, also referred to as pet stairs are simply a small set of stairs, consisting roughly of four to six steps depending on the brand and allows your pet to reach higher places that it would otherwise have difficulty getting to.

Pet steps can be made of wood, plastic and can be upholstered, padded with various fabrics of your choice. This piece of furniture can be customized to your needs. You will need to discuss your requirements with the designer or pet shop that supply the steps. You may actually be able to have a designer customize the steps so that they will easily blend into the décor of your home.

A carpeted block of steps may easily get dirty and may be difficult to clean. Plastic steps may also be lighter making it easier to carry around or move to a different location. Plastic steps however will not be suitable for larger pets that might knock it over. Smaller pets might find the plastic stairs more appropriate.

For at home and aesthetic purposes, there are also double steps available, which is two steps joined together symmetrically, making the steps to the bed look much neater and may accommodate multiple pets.

The steps may be custom-made, allowing the proportions of the steps to be altered upon manufacture. Pet steps have been proven useful not only to the pet in question whether it is a cat or dog but also to pet owners.

Benefits for Pets

For pets with joint problems such as arthritis, steps can be a great help in assisting the condition so that it does not worsen. Certain breeds are also more prone to hip and joint complications in general. The use of pet steps early on might decrease the chances or at least the condition and complications the might arise from such problems. For smaller pets in general, especially smaller dogs that are unable to jump as high as cats, the steps would be helpful in allowing them to climb onto the bed for bedtime or onto the sofa to join their owner during TV time. Older pets that are less active in their senior years would also benefit from pets Step, allowing them to continue all their activities and lifestyle habits from their younger and more active years.

Benefits for Owners

For pets that have become larger and heavier with age, it might be helpful for the owner to look into purchasing a pet step instead of carrying the pet. Some owners might not be able to carry their pet due to the sheer size of their pet or because of any back problems with owner might be suffering from. Other pets do not enjoy being picked up. The pet steps might prove helpful in allowing the pets to reach higher places without having the owner to actually carry it there.

What Not to Say to Someone Who is Grieving the Loss of a Pet

As a society, we are not equipped to handle grief and loss, and many people don't know what to say to someone who is grieving. This can be compounded when the loss is that of a pet. Even people who are genuinely sorry and want to express their sympathy are often don't know what to say to comfort the grieving person.

It is difficult to know what to say, and as a result, people often, without meaning to, say the wrong things that, rather than providing comfort, only serve to upset the grieving person even more. Sometimes, the best thing to say is to simply acknowledge the loss - because the only thing worse than saying the wrong thing is to not say anything at all. As I'm dealing with my own grief about Amber, I'm once again reminded of how much some of the things people say hurt, even though they're offered with the best intentions.

I know how you feel. Everybody experiences loss differently. While we may have lost pets ourselves, we can't know how the grieving person feels, because each pet and each relationship is unique.

Saying something like "I, too, have lost a pet, and I remember how awful it feels - my heart goes out to you" instead acknowledges the griever's feelings without being presumptuous.

It will get better or time heals all wounds. Grieving people know this on an intellectual level, but they sure don't feel that way, especially not in the early stages of grief. Trite phrases like these only serve to minimize the loss and the very real pain the grieving person is feeling now.

Acknowledge the grieving person's sadness and pain without diminishing their emotions by suggesting that they're only temporary.

She's in a better place now. It was probably for the best. It was God's will. Any variation of this will not be helpful to someone who's grieving. Even if their belief system supports this, they're not going to find comfort in these words, and they may, in fact, serve to emphasize their pain.

Even if the grieving person believes that our animal friends never really die and that their spirits live on, any of the above phrases, directed at them in the middle of profound sadness, invalidate the very real pain of missing the lost pet's physical presence.

Let me know if there's anything I can do. This is a classic, and natural, response to grief - we feel helpless, and we want to help the grieving person. However, people who are grieving don't think straight, and usually don't know what they need help with, and reaching out or asking for help often requires more of an effort than they can handle.

Offer to do something concrete instead, such as bringing a prepared meal to the grieving person, or running errands for them. If you know the person very well and you think it would be acceptable, stop by to check on them. Otherwise, call them, but accept that they may not want to answer the phone. Leave a supportive message, and check back again a few days later.

It was only a pet. I find it hard to believe that some people are still saying this - it is callous and uncaring, even coming from someone who's not an animal person. I'm fortunate that the majority of people in my life are animal people, so I've not heard this one personally, but I'm being told that it still happens more than you would think.

When are you going to get another one? Not quite as shocking as the one above, but equally inappropriate. Grieving pet parents know that getting a new pet can never replace the lost one, but getting a new pet after a loss is a very individual decision - everyone's schedule is going to be different.

Don't cry. Most people are uncomfortable in the presence of others who are crying. It is painful to see someone you care about cry, but by telling them not to cry, you are prolonging the grieving process for them.

Tears heal and are part of the natural grieving process. One of the best things you can do for someone who is grieving is to let them cry in your presence. Offer comfort, but don't make them feel that it's not okay to cry.

There is no "cure" or "solution" for grief - it's an individual journey. Navigating through the grieving process is difficult not just for the person who is mourning a loss, but also for those around the person. The best thing any of us can do for someone who is grieving the loss of a pet is to set aside our own discomfort with death and loss and gently support them in their grief.

Ingrid King is the author of "Buckley's Story - Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher." She is a former veterinary hospital manager turned writer. Her online magazine "News for You and Your Pet" goes out to subscribers around the world. Her blog, "The Conscious Cat," has been called "educational cat nip for the cat lover" and is a comprehensive resource for conscious living, health and happiness for pets and their people.

What to Do When Your Pet Pees Or Poops in the House - Some Simple Clean Up Methods

The first thing that should be noted when something like this happens it's not because the animal wanted to make you mad. So you need to be calm and collective when dealing with the pet. There are many reasons a pet may decide to use the floor as its restroom:

1.) The pet is still in training. They may have gotten two excited and didn't realize they had to use the bathroom and then they just go where they are.
2.) The pet something medically wrong with them.
3.) If a cat they may not like the litter provided or the litter is dirty.
4.) Some people may confuse peeing with marking their territory. This is based on the position of the animal when peeing.
5.) Some animal may pee because they are upset with you or a situation.

The first thing you want to do after an animal has urinated or defecated in an area is clean it up. If it's a medical issue it could infect other animals. Wipe up the mess and then find a good cleaner. There are many cleaners out there that will get rid of the smell. It's best to use something that is made for getting rid of pet odors. Also a mixture of vinegar and water (50/50) works for a more natural solution compared to harsh cleaners. These spots need to be cleaned up well because if it's just a behavior issue then they will not use it in future as a potty spot.

After cleaning you may want to rule out any medical issues. There are many different issues that could affect the animal that could be related to messing in the house. Once you have rules out medical if it's a cat you can try a different litter as they may not like the one provided or make sure it's cleaned on a daily basis. If you have more then one cat you should have a litter box for each of them plus one extra.

If it's a marking problem the animal may need to be spayed or neutered. This may not get rid of the problem entirely but it could reduce the problem.

Remember that hitting or yelling at your pet is only make them ignore you and make them scared of you. They do understand those type of discipline and only positive reinforcement is the best way to resolve the a behavior problem.

Pets Have Now an Exclusive Airline to Fly With

Pet Airways is the first airline that is dedicated exclusively to pets, it allows animals of all sizes to fly in the main cabin where they can benefit from an attendant at all times. However, their owners are not allowed on Pet Airways.

Although some airlines allow owners to travel with their pets in the cabin, only small sized animals can benefit from this option. The pet and its carrier have to fit under your seat. And now, when pets are part of our families, we might want to be able to fly with them on vacation. There is a growing trend in travelling with our animal companions and according to The Travel Industry Association, 29.1 million Americans have travelled with their pets in the last three years.

Only animals that are over eight weeks old can now travel with their owners inside the cabin of a plane. If you have a larger pet, you have to leave your it in the cargo section of the plane. Not all the airlines allow this. Some airlines do not allow pet travel during the summer, for the safety of the animals as some breeds cannot face extreme heat.

Unfortunately, there have been cases when pets were lost and the identification tag on their collars has not been enough to prevent such a problem. Even if your animal can stay in the cabin, you have to keep it inside the carrier at all times during the flight.
With Pet Airways you only have to drop your animal off at the airport at the Pet Lounge. You need a health certificate and a proof of vaccination together with a negative fecal test. For now services are offered to and from New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Omaha and Washington.

You will not need a carrier for your animal to travel with Pet Airways, as there are secured individual carriers inside all the planes. There are even separate areas in the plane for dogs and cats.

The owners can keep track of their pets while they fly. Attendants offer updates every fifteen minutes if you are concerned about how your pet might feel. The flight attendants walk down the aisles and check every one of the animals. If any pet gets sick during the flight, the owner is immediately notified and in case there is a serious problem, the airplane will land at the closest airport where the pet gets veterinary care. Once they arrive at the destination, your pets just have to be picked up.

Compared to passenger airlines, Pet Airways offer affordable service. There is even a frequent flyer program where you can enroll your pet to receive its own Pet Airways Rewards Account. The reward club offers pets benefits such as discounts for pet friendly hotels, pet insurance companies and pet supply stores.

We will still have to wait for an airline that will allow both owners and their pets to travel together.

Common Reasons For Vet Hospital Visits

Veterinarians have a tough job. On any given day a veterinarian has to deal with a wide range of problems from a wide range of animal species. Some of these species may have drastically different physiological systems and a vet has to be trained to handle each one. Vets also have to deal with animal behaviors that can be unexpected and even violent. A day at the veterinary hospital isn't like a day at the regular hospital. But like any doctor, vets see a few unique problems and many cases that are common and similar.

One of the most common problems a vet has to deal with is allergic skin disease. Pets have many diverse allergic reactions to a wide variety of substances every day. On any given day a vet may see several cases of allergic reactions to food, flea allergies, or inhalant allergies. Other non-allergic skin disease treatments are also a common occurrence at a veterinary hospital. Another common problem is known as gastroenteritis which means diarrhea. Vomiting may also be another symptom of this problem.

These are common problems for household pets and unfortunately, a common cause is ingesting human food or other harmful substances. Quite often a misinformed owner is feeding the pet human food. Dental issues are another common problem. Dogs and cats especially need special care for their teeth. This care is often ignored until it's too late and then tooth extraction becomes a necessity. Prevention is always better than procrastination. Your pet deserves love and care. If your pet develops these problems, make sure to make an appointment at a trusted vet hospital.

The Benefits of Pet Steps

Pet steps and pet ramps have become popular among animal lovers. Pet steps, also referred to as pet stairs are simply a small set of stairs, consisting roughly of four to six steps depending on the brand and allows your pet to reach higher places that it would otherwise have difficulty getting to.

Pet steps can be made of wood, plastic and can be upholstered, padded with various fabrics of your choice. This piece of furniture can be customized to your needs. You will need to discuss your requirements with the designer or pet shop that supply the steps. You may actually be able to have a designer customize the steps so that they will easily blend into the décor of your home.

A carpeted block of steps may easily get dirty and may be difficult to clean. Plastic steps may also be lighter making it easier to carry around or move to a different location. Plastic steps however will not be suitable for larger pets that might knock it over. Smaller pets might find the plastic stairs more appropriate.

For at home and aesthetic purposes, there are also double steps available, which is two steps joined together symmetrically, making the steps to the bed look much neater and may accommodate multiple pets.

The steps may be custom-made, allowing the proportions of the steps to be altered upon manufacture. Pet steps have been proven useful not only to the pet in question whether it is a cat or dog but also to pet owners.

Benefits for Pets

For pets with joint problems such as arthritis, steps can be a great help in assisting the condition so that it does not worsen. Certain breeds are also more prone to hip and joint complications in general. The use of pet steps early on might decrease the chances or at least the condition and complications the might arise from such problems. For smaller pets in general, especially smaller dogs that are unable to jump as high as cats, the steps would be helpful in allowing them to climb onto the bed for bedtime or onto the sofa to join their owner during TV time. Older pets that are less active in their senior years would also benefit from pet steps, allowing them to continue all their activities and lifestyle habits from their younger and more active years.

Benefits for Owners

For pets that have become larger and heavier with age, it might be helpful for the owner to look into purchasing a pet step instead of carrying the pet. Some owners might not be able to carry their pet due to the sheer size of their pet or because of any back problems with owner might be suffering from. Other pets do not enjoy being picked up. The pet steps might prove helpful in allowing the pets to reach higher places without having the owner to actually carry it there.

Finally, isn't it the best feeling ever, to see your pet waiting for you on the bed at bedtime?

The Lentek 6 Day Automatic Pet Feeder

If you have a small dog or cat and a job that requires you to leave for a day or two here and there, taking care of your pet can prove to be a real pain. It is simpler for cats than it is for dogs because cats use litter boxes and dogs have to be walked. Let's assume for a minute that you have someone who can stop by and walk your small dog a couple of times per day. What does that leave that has to be taken care of if you are gone? Well, your pets have to be able to eat and drink, right?

There are some great solutions to this issue, and the Lentek 6 day automatic pet feeder is one of the highest rated of those solutions. This electronic pet feeder is battery powered, meaning you will not have to worry that the power might go out while you are not at home and your pet will not be able to eat.

The Lentek feeder has 6 compartments that can hold either dry or wet food. You simply put the right amount of food into each compartment and set the digital timer to serve the meals at the correct time. When those times arrive, the Lentek will rotate the next compartment open and expose the meal to your pet. You can leave for up to 6 days and still know that your pet will get one meal each day at the exact time you want them to be fed. That is a real solution to this growing issue for today's pet owners.

There are other reasons to use an automatic pet feeder besides the fact you have to go away from home for some period. Let's face it, as much as we love our pets, we still view certain pet related things as chores. this includes feedinng them and changing their water bowl every day. With the use of a feeder and pet waterer, you can automate the nourishment aspect of your pet's life. this leaves your free time to do the things with your pet that you actually enjoy like going for walks or playing catch.

There are a lot of pet feeders on the market today. Take a close look at the available selections, and pay particular attention to customer reviews. These are people who have already made the purchase. If they felt the need to come back and give feedback, either positive or negative, that should tell you something.

Donations For Animal Shelters

Charlie Brindel has promised to offer $10,000 to Haven-Friends for Life animal shelter in order to bring the shelter to state standards. The 81 year old military colonel had received a bonus from the last place he worked and tries to challenge the community to donate so that state standards for the shelter can be achieved. The money will be used to complete construction of new buildings, fix fences and for other improvements. The shelter in North Carolina has a high kill rate. Investing money in its facilities could lower down this rate and help provide a more adequate environment for animals that come to live at this shelter.

City shelters have often been accused of neglect. Animals are not always properly taken care of and million of pets are killed in shelters across the US every year. However, it is easy to misinterpret what happens in an animal shelter from the outside. Shelters euthanize animals because they do not have money to house all the animals that are in need. Prevention of animal cruelty is always a focus for organizations that are dedicated to the well being of animals. But when judging how well an animal shelter manages to take care of the animals inside has to take into account the resources that are available for the shelter.

Even if a shelter has a comprehensive health program, there will always be sick animals. Most of the animals arriving in shelters are not vaccinated and some have contagious diseases. Adopting pets from a shelter is an option that is not yet covering all the demand. There are much more animals that need adoption than there are people willing to adopt a pet from a shelter. It is also difficult for shelters to screen the people wishing to adopt a pet. Some people prove to be unsatisfactory pet owners in time. Other people who might have proven to be careful pet owners get refused.

Adopting a pet from a shelter means saving its life. There are animals in shelters that could make great pets and adopting them means giving them a home. Good shelters are made from people who love animals and sometimes bright and modern shelters do not treat their animals with enough compassion and attention. Animals that arrive in shelters need time to adjust to a new environment and people working in shelters are very important for making such a transition easier.

Money is always useful for an animal shelter. Most shelters have a limited budget and donations are extremely useful. Not only money is needed, time is also important for animal shelters. If you can spend some of your time helping an animal shelter, there are plenty of things you can do there. You can walk the pets, feed them or even take it home until it is adopted by someone. With over crowded and under-staffed shelters there will be always something to do for a volunteer.

Animal shelters have to work on small budgets but have enormous responsibilities. The animals they take care of need food, medicine, veterinarian care. Money and volunteering will never be too much for animal shelters across the country.

Indoor Pet Barrier - Say Goodbye to Your Pet Hair Sweater

Tired of getting up from the couch looking like your wearing a sweater knitted from your pets hair? Keeping your pets off the couch may be easy when you're home, but breaking your pets habit of lounging on the furniture while you're gone can be quite a challenge. This is where an indoor wireless fence can help.

If you have a pet you want to keep out of a certain room or off of a particular piece of furniture, indoor wireless fence devices are a great training tool. Most of these systems come with a small electric transmitter and a receiver collar. The electric transmitter sends out a spherical wireless signal around the area you want to make off limits to your pet. The signal range can be easily adjusted (usually between 2 to 12 feet in diameter).

With the receiver collar around your pets neck, whenever your pet gets close to the off-limits zone, the receiver collar sounds off a warning beep. If your pet continues, the receiver collar will administer a series of progressive static shocks. The static shocks are not harmful. They simply create an unpleasant feeling so that your pet will learn to avoid the indoor wireless fence zone.

The PetSafe Pawz Away Pet Barrier System is the most popular indoor wireless fence system on the market. It's easy to set up, safe to use and highly effective. You just plug in the electric transmitter within the room or near the piece of furniture you want to protect, adjust the signal range, put the collar on your pet and you're ready to go. You can use the PetSafe Pawz Away pet barrier system with as many pets as you want (including cats). All you need are extra receiver collars, which you can purchase separately.

An indoor wireless fence is a great way to teach your pets to stay off the furniture-even when you're not home. Just keep in mind that hanging out on the couch may just be your pets way of trying to be close to you. So provide a substitute in the form of a blanket with your scent on it. This will help appease your pet while you enjoy your furniture without all the pet hair.

Wholesale Pet Supplies - Where to Find Cheap Pet Supplies

You can save a lot once you learn how to find cheap wholesale pet supplies. It usually costs you a lot of money to tend to a puppy over its length of life. Although quite a few pet enthusiasts purchase pet like a devil, it generally is sensible not to pass up any possibility of saving some dollars. I ever before bought an entire bag of pet for a price of around $10. I've actually got 20 pound bags of Purina dog food for under $5. I am going to show you my uncovered strategy of getting inexpensive pet in this article. To start with, It's supposed to be about where you make your purchase. Second, you have to know how to get some coupons and big sales.

Big Lots: Big Lots is really a closeout merchant that carries a diverse options of products such as seasonal goods, pet suppliers, pet playthings, pet treats etc.You can find dog bones for less than $1, and you can also uncover bargains on an assortment of pet as well.

Walmart Discount: Walmart is regularly fine-tuning its inventory they hold which in turn makes it possible to to come by low-cost pet supplies. Merely how? Well, they should remove its extra stock, in order that they generally place it on price cut. You'll ordinarily find great best buys on every one of these pet which have been moved to discount and if you have any coupon just for these pet, you're going to get more great deals.

Online Websites: Most of the pet supply vendors have sites. Most of these websites will often have promotions such as free trials and coupons. It really does pay out to sign-up for the free newsletters that these websites provide. The newsletters will usually have discount codes in them and definitely will also tell you about new products which will be on sale. You may as well find out affordable pet online. In particular, I have came across Advantage quite a lot more cost-effective than my veterinarian costs. On eBay, there are actually lots of sellers that simply auction off pet supplies and in addition they usually start off their auctions at a amazingly cheap price. You will find out about just about everything from pet beds to toys to nice dog collars and many others. There also several pet retail outlets which may have sites, like Petco, and they all supply money saving bargains on pet supplies too.

Coupon codes: In case you have a puppy, it genuinely makes sense to get a Sunday paper which is is packed with discount codes for pet supplies. You will find a number of ways discounts can help you to find affordable pet supplies. First, discounts can be doubled at some grocery which signifies obtaining pet actually cost effective or occasionally for nothing. Second, there are sometimes coupons totally free pet supplies. Last, discounts may be combined with buy one get one zero cost deals for better still offers.

New Merchandise: When original pet are on the market, you will find usually coupon codes and sales that make those pet super cost effective. Companies want you try their new products and they know that if those products are really low-priced, you'll be prone to purchase these items. Also keep an eye out free of charge samples.

The Ferret Nation Cage - Is it Right For You?

One of the best cages on the market for ferrets is made by a company called Midwest. It is the Ferret Nation. Go to any pet forum and you'll see this cage mentioned over and over again.

According to the manufacturer, they designed the cage with ferret owners in mind. They watched the behavior of pets very closely and designed what they consider to be the perfect environment accordingly.

What makes the Ferret Nation so special? It has a few very convenient features.

Full-Cage Doors
Anyone who has ever tried to get a ferret out of a cage with small doors knows how difficult this is. The Ferret Nation has solved this problem. The saloon-style doors make up the entire front of the cage. This means that when you open them both, you have total access.

This makes it very easy to get your critters out if you need to. It also means setting up cage accessories like hammocks and wheels is a breeze. And no more trying to figure out if the wheel you want will fit through the door. Cleaning is also much simpler when you can easily reach every part of the cage.

Just be very, very careful when closing the doors and make sure nobody has tails or paws in the way.

Adjustable-Height Shelves
Each cage comes with a shelf that can be positioned exactly where you want it. This means that if you have a ferret who has trouble getting around, you can lower the shelf which makes the ramp leading up to it less steep.

The shelves are also the full width of the cage. This means it isn't possible for your ferret to fall accidentally between the side of the shelf and the cage wall.

Modular Add-On
To me, this is one of the biggest selling points. These cages are modular. They are sold in three different styles: one unit, two units, and an add-on unit.

Each unit has an adjustable shelf and ramp to get to it, which gives you two levels. The two unit model has a second unit that sits on top of the first, with an opening between them. It also has an additional ramp that goes from the shelf on the bottom unit up to the opening. This means you get four levels of your habitat in total. The ramp can also lock in place, shutting off access between levels if you need to separate your ferrets.

But the really exciting piece is the add-on unit. You can easily add another story to your ferret townhouse, so you can totally customize the amount of living space depending on how many pets you have.

Solid Bottom
The bottom of the cage floor is a solid pan which can be removed for easy cleaning. Some other cages have wire bottoms, which are very hard on ferrets' feet.

Casters and Storage
Another great feature is that the entire ferret kingdom sits on locking casters. You can roll the cages around to vacuum behind and under them, then move them back and lock them into place.

And there's a shelf of storage at the very bottom for your food, extra hammocks, etc.

So does that Ferret Nation have any drawbacks? Yes, there are a couple.

Wire Ramps
The ramps are powder-coated metal similar to the sides of the cages, while some poorer-quality cages have solid, plastic ramps. Although the inferior plastic ramps retain odors more than metal, those ramps are safer. About 3% of owners have problems with their pets' feet getting caught. The Ferret Nation would be the world's most perfect cage if it had solid ramps.

But people who want the high-quality Ferret Nation get around this problem by purchasing fabric ramp covers. These can be removed easily for cleaning, but prevent little paws from getting caught between the rungs. Just Google 'ferret nation ramp covers.'

1-inch Spacing Between the Bars

This is not a problem for ferrets, both adult and young, but if you ever decide to use the cage for other animals, such as pet rats or degus, it may be too wide. Juvenile rats and degus will be able to fit through anything that is wider than 1/2 inch. Some people get around this issue by putting vinyl-coated hardware cloth around the outside of the cage when they have young, small animals.

But as long as your cage is exclusively for large pets such as ferrets or chinchillas, or for adult animals only, you'll have no problems.

So if you want a ferret cage that is extremely well-made and will last for years, try the Ferret Nation.

Good Pets For Small Children

Many parents want their kids to have a pet of some kind. It makes us feel like we are providing a joy for our kids, while at the same time teaching them some responsibility about caring for another living thing. Dogs and cats are the most popular pets but not everyone wants to keep their entire house pet safe and sometimes in can be too costly to own the dog or cat that you would like. One way to allow your child to have a pet and not have to ready your whole home is to get a small animal.

Any pet you choose will take responsibility on your child's part and you will probably still have to remind him or her to feed the pet or get the cage cleaned but sometimes a smaller animal is easier for a child to bond with. They relate to them better than a large dog. We will go over some good pets for children here but do some more research or check out some books from the local library before making a commitment.

Hamsters

Hamsters are a common small animal pet. They don't take up much space and are very inexpensive to take care of. They are quite small though and can be easily injured by rough play, being dropped, or squeezed too hard. Their small size also makes them easy to loose track of when they are out of their cage. Hamsters take some time to get used to their owner and can be defensive until they are comfortable being handled by your child. They are also nocturnal, making their time of activity late at night or early in the morning.

Guinea Pigs

Guinea Pigs are not quite as common as hamsters but still a good choice for children. They are larger than hamsters so they are a little easier to handle and play with without getting injured. They are still small so rough play should be avoided. These pets will need a slightly bigger cage than a hamster but nothing overwhelming and a good small animal cage is easy to clean. Guinea pigs socialize with their owners more quickly than hamsters, as well. They will need Vitamin C supplements in their diet or water to remain healthy but these supplements aren't very expensive and once the routine is set it's not hard to remember.

Rats

Rats aren't often thought of as a good pet for children. The fact of the matter is that rats make great pets for children of all ages. They socialize with their owner quickly and are quite docile animals. Rats are easier to care for if they have a medium sized cage and they do enjoy having a playmate in their cage so consider getting two if you decide on a rat. Two rats in one cage doesn't take much more effort than one rat. Rats are more durable than hamsters and guinea pigs and aren't known to bite as much as the other small animals. Pet rats create a good bond with their human owners, as well. Just make sure you get a rat bred for being a pet and not just pick one up out of the gutter.

There are several small animals that make good pets for children. As always, the parents know what is best and know which animal would be a good match for their child. Do your research and help your child know the joy and responsibility of being a pet owner.

Why Do Cats Hiss at People?

Cats hiss for a variety of reasons. They may be frightened, hurt, upset at something or someone or perhaps they have just 'had enough'. I'm sure we've all had days like that. A genuine hiss is when your cat draws back his lips and bares his teeth before expelling the air in his lungs through the teeth.

Normally a cat hiss is a defensive reaction. You may have moved suddenly and your cat is frightened by this so it hisses. A loud or unexpected noise will often produce a hiss. I have known cats to hiss at visitors when they came to the house. By working out what the problem was, we were able to fix it. Apparently the cat was frightened by the door bell. By 'conditioning' the cat to hearing the door bell with the door open and a familiar person standing there talking gently, he soon got over his fear. And by having the visitors get down to floor and cat level to talk to the cat and pet it, the cat no longer associated those people with the noise.

A cat may hiss at children who have played too roughly or inadvertently hurt or teased it. The hiss is a warning to stop what is being done. If the behavior continues, the cat might hiss again more loudly then strike out with claws and/or teeth. Children need to be taught the correct way to play with and pick up cats. And it is very important that they learn what a hiss means. Unfortunately it will possibly take a few scratches before some children learn.

Sometimes you may be stroking or petting your cat while it lies on your lap only to find it suddenly start hissing at you. Petting induced hissing is your cat's way of saying 'enough stroking, I just want to go to sleep now'. This will usually be a gentle hiss with no aggression attached. One of my cats will hiss and purr at the same time, which amuses my family greatly.

Cats are very intelligent creatures and if they have been mistreated, they will remember it for a very long time. If they see someone they think may have hurt them, they will hiss aggressively and back away. Sometimes they may hiss for no reason you can fathom. It could be a smell that has reminded them of an unpleasant time or person.

Some cats will hiss at strangers as they believe they are defending their territory against intruders. It is up to you and your visitors to calm the cat. Make sure your visitors don't stare at the hissing cat as this may be interpreted as aggression. By looking away from it, they are no longer threatening it.

Some cats will try to become the 'alpha' person in the home. They will hiss at you for no apparent reason other than to try to intimidate you. If this happens, just ignore your cat and walk away. If the behavior continues, try shutting the cat in the bathroom or laundry for half an hour. Then when you let him out, pet him and talk gently. If he starts hissing again, put him back in the closed room. He will eventually learn that hissing is only going to get him banished and that you, not him, is the 'alpha' person.

Cats hiss at people for so many different reasons and with different types of hisses. It is up to us to work out what the problem is and to fix it before it escalates into something more painful.

Pet Owners Turn to Pet Portraits to Immortalize Their Furry Family Members

Most individuals have some sort of keepsake at home in order to cherish a fond memory or commemorate a loved one. Many times photo albums also serve this exact purpose, but usually end up collecting dust as it sits on a shelf or in a box. A loved one does not necessarily mean a person, but any type of family member. Pets, as strange as it may seem to some people, are very much considered to be a family member instead of property by many people.

Simply hanging up a photo collage on the wall or placing a tiny 5" x 7" table-top photo frame is just plain boring. Usually a regular photograph will not speak to how important the loved one is or was. There are several ways for which to display and appreciate the love a person has for their furry friends and companions.

One of the more common methods is to retain the ashes of the pet and display an urn after the unfortunate demise of the pet. Although acceptable to some, many people are understandably uncomfortable and saddened by having such a physical or macabre reminder of their loved one. Many other different ways can serve as a gentler reminder of the joy that the pet provided.

A favorite method, although not very common, is to take an imprint of the pet's paw using some type of plaster-like mold. These molds can create a garden stepping stone or plaque which can then be hung on the wall or used as a decorative paperweight with inscriptions. One problem to using this technique is that while it will usually work quite well for dogs, attempting to hold a cat's paw in a wet plaster type of material is akin to flapping one's arms in the hopes of taking flight. It is a long shot, but it is probably safe to say that it will not happen.

The best and arguably the most unique method to show the commitment and love for a pet is to have a portrait custom painted celebrating the life and love of the furry friend, but not the traditional type of portrait. Typical portraits, even of people, can seem quite mundane and uneventful. It is quite another thing to have a painting depicting a pet in some sort of candid and playful activity or personifying them in a humorous manner.

Many people never think to immortalize their own pet in a manner such as these, but what better way to surprise them than with a gift of a custom crafted painting of their adored pet. Not only will it be prominently displayed and appreciated for years to come, but will bring a smile to their face as they look upon their pet frolicking in a memorable scene.

Pet Owners Turn to Pet Portraits to Immortalize Their Furry Family Members

Most individuals have some sort of keepsake at home in order to cherish a fond memory or commemorate a loved one. Many times photo albums also serve this exact purpose, but usually end up collecting dust as it sits on a shelf or in a box. A loved one does not necessarily mean a person, but any type of family member. Pets, as strange as it may seem to some people, are very much considered to be a family member instead of property by many people.

Simply hanging up a photo collage on the wall or placing a tiny 5" x 7" table-top photo frame is just plain boring. Usually a regular photograph will not speak to how important the loved one is or was. There are several ways for which to display and appreciate the love a person has for their furry friends and companions.

One of the more common methods is to retain the ashes of the pet and display an urn after the unfortunate demise of the pet. Although acceptable to some, many people are understandably uncomfortable and saddened by having such a physical or macabre reminder of their loved one. Many other different ways can serve as a gentler reminder of the joy that the pet provided.

A favorite method, although not very common, is to take an imprint of the pet's paw using some type of plaster-like mold. These molds can create a garden stepping stone or plaque which can then be hung on the wall or used as a decorative paperweight with inscriptions. One problem to using this technique is that while it will usually work quite well for dogs, attempting to hold a cat's paw in a wet plaster type of material is akin to flapping one's arms in the hopes of taking flight. It is a long shot, but it is probably safe to say that it will not happen.

The best and arguably the most unique method to show the commitment and love for a pet is to have a portrait custom painted celebrating the life and love of the furry friend, but not the traditional type of portrait. Typical portraits, even of people, can seem quite mundane and uneventful. It is quite another thing to have a painting depicting a pet in some sort of candid and playful activity or personifying them in a humorous manner.

Many people never think to immortalize their own pet in a manner such as these, but what better way to surprise them than with a gift of a custom crafted painting of their adored pet. Not only will it be prominently displayed and appreciated for years to come, but will bring a smile to their face as they look upon their pet frolicking in a memorable scene.

Golden Retriever Puppies - How to Choose a Healthy Puppy With the Ideal Personality

Golden retriever puppies must be the cutest looking creatures in the world! But, these lovely little bundles of fur grow bigger. And unless you know what their background is you could end up with an unfriendly, unhealthy grown up dog. Let's look at some of ways to make finding a good natured golden easier, that will also minimize any future health problems that may appear in later life

Where is the best place to get your golden retriever puppies?

Well, first of all let's look at 3 main places that prospective dog owners have to purchase their new golden from.

1 - Pet Store - This is probably one of the worst places to even consider buying your dog from. Although the pet store in essence should know all about the animals they supply to a customer,(and some do) in truth lots of them just want to sell as many as they can and are not bothered where they came from! Many stores just want to sell and make a profit. There's usually not much thought gone into the quality of breeders that they have acquired them from.

2 - Home Breeders - Regard this another poor choice for breeders. These tend to be people who have dogs and they are maybe considering getting the female spayed. The thought of making some quick money comes to mind before they do this! Typically this kind of breeder doesn't really have a clue about looking after the puppies or even how to check their health. They just see it as a way to make some quick cash. Once the puppies have been bred all they want to do is sell them for as much as they can.

3 - Reputable Breeders - Finding these breeders is not so easy but it is well worth the time looking for them and investigating them. They are usually dog lovers who may make some spare income from selling some of their puppies but money is not in the forefront of their mind. The welfare and health of their dogs however is! They will most likely show their dogs and will have plenty of trophies and awards that they want to proudly show off to you. Because they are enthusiastic and love their golden retrievers all they want is for the puppies to go to a nice loving home. This sort of golden retriever breeder would be where you would want to get your new puppy from.

When it comes to choosing puppies with a nice temperament you need to start by looking at the traits of the breeding pair. A caring breeder will be more than happy to let you see the breeding pair and let you get to know them. This way you can see what sort of temperament they have as this will be passed down to the puppies.

Health problems in later years can be minimized by asking the breeder if you can see any papers they have that shows that the adults have been checked for any inherent problems or diseases. A hip problem in elderly goldens is known as hip dysplasia and is common in this breed of dog. You should check with the breeder if the parents of the puppy have been checked for this problem by the OFA. This is a test that is based around using an x ray diagnostic tool. If the breeder tells you that you don't need to bother with things like that, hear those alarm bells ringing and move on!

In simple terms, finding the right golden retriever pup is down to choosing a reputable caring breeder. While I'm not saying all pet stores are uncaring and the same would be said for your "backroom or home breeders", but the sensible choice would be to find yourself a reputable breeder. Take the time to get to know the parents of the puppy you are looking to buy and you will know basically what sort of temperament the puppy will have when it grows up. None of us has a crystal ball to look into the future to definitely say there will be no health problems. But by asking to see any certificate of proof to show there are no known diseases or in-bred health problems that may exist in the parents, you shortening the odds of there being any major future risks.

Buying a Pet - Breeder, Pet Store, Or Rescue?

I am sure you have heard this before, but in the United States and Canada, every year there are millions of unwanted dogs and cats put to sleep because of lack of room at shelters, and not enough available homes for these animals. Even if you want a purebred puppy, you can usually find what you want at a shelter/rescue. Just go to petfinder.com, you can search by specific breed, age, region, etc. Some of the southern states are high kill shelters that euthanize if not claimed within 3 days; some still use the gas chamber and heart stick as methods of euthanization which are extremely inhumane.

Even if a pet store says the puppies available dont come from a puppy mill; 99% of the time they do; no reputable breeder would put their puppies in a pet store to be caged all day. Many of these animals at rescue organizations and shelters did start out as purchases from a pet store or breeder, but were surrendered due to lack of time, or the owners moving, lack of money, having a baby, children allergic, developing allergies, dog jumps up on children and they take the easy way out of giving the dog away or selling instead of investing time and energy that the animal deserves to train them to be a more balanced member of the family; or just a lack of time or desire to train, even for people without children, etc.

Most of the time people purchase a pet without giving it full thought and that pets are a commitment for the entire length of their lives. And, unfortunately, many people still do not spay or neuter their pets. A catch 22 with this is that spay and neuter surgeries cost a lot of money for most people; averaging $500 in most cases; and cities, vets clinics, etc; need to perhaps look at this dilemma and possibly offer reduced rates for lower income individuals and families somehow.

The best idea is to go to your local humane society or adopt from one of the many animal rescues that are in your area. You will be rewarded with a loving pet, that is house trained, altered and up to date on their vaccinations, and you will have literally saved a life. Many rescue organizations and local city pounds, shelters, spcas, have pure bred animals available for adoption. I know a young couple that found a beautiful pure bred Akita at the city pound and are very happy with their new family member.

So if you are looking at getting a pet, why not at least look into what your local rescue organizations have to offer?

The Art of Bee Keeping

Figuring everything out via trial and error may work for some some very simple hobbies, but when it comes to the art of bee keeping you'll save a lot of time and frustration by getting a little help and guidance. From picking out the right equipment to proper dietary care of your little living beings, your beekeeping questions are a serious business. Here are some of the answers you've been looking for.

There are many facets to keeping bees that make this an extraordinary hobby. Despite the occasional sting, overall the experience is a very rewarding one - and really therapeutic too.

Bees are an essential piece of our ecosystem puzzle. It is no accident that honey bees have the ability to spread pollen while collecting nectar for their hives. This of course helps plants flourish, meaning more flowers in the following seasons. Beyond the sweet rewards of the golden honey you can claim, bee keeping is not only good for the environment in general but can be good for you too.

The thought of even one bee sting can scare many away - especially if you have been stung in the past. Perhaps the worst candidate for this pastime would be someone who has an allergy.But the truth is it really is not as dangerous as many people think.

Smart beekeepers know to wear the right protective apparel when handling their bees. Their worries subside and their confidence grows. After time, many of these insect tamers will even approach the little beasts without the use of a suit at all.

Financially speaking this activity can turn out well worth it's small start-up investment. Just a few hundred dollars can cover the primary expenses which are just a few pieces of special equipment and apparel. Once you have everything in place, the monthly upkeep is next to nothing.

Your initial investment will be redeemed in no time when you start to collect honey and beeswax. These products are always in regular demand and have too many uses to mention.

Do you want to learn more about the basics of bee keeping? Today you can find an endless list of resources online and off. One place to start is your local beekeeping association. Pay them a visit and get the inside scoop from folks who are well acquainted with the topic.

Should you not have one of these facilities near you, the internet is the next best thing. What can beekeeping do for you? Search around a bit and you are sure to uncover a wealth of knowledge on the art of bee keeping.

Bad Dog Food? What is Your Dog Eating? You Will Be Surprised What You Are Feeding Your Pet

It has come to my attention that like me you do not know what you are feeding four pet in there food. What you are feeding your pet may be causing Kidney cancer, Bladder cancer, Skin cancer, Stomach cancer, Spleen cancer, Leukemia, Liver dysfunction, Chronic Diarrhea, Blindness, Birth Defects, Severe allergic reactions, Immune system collapse, Major organ failure, Hair Loss and Behavior problems, including increased aggressiveness witch is very dangerous if your dog is around children. And get this prepare to be horrified. Your dog food contains dead pets,mostly dead dogs and cats.

The city of Los Angeles alone, for example, sends some two hundred tons of euthanized cats and dogs to a pet food plant every month. These are animals that have been euthanized using a drug called Sodium Pentobarbital witch is not broken down by the manufacturing process and is still present in active form in your dogs food! If you are using commercial dog food you should find a alternative method for the health and safety of your pet. I myself have started making my dog food at home it is easy and less expensive than you would think. I feel much better about feeding my dogs knowing what is in there. There is nothing added to the food that I would not eat myself. There are a lot of recipes that your pet will enjoy. My three dogs (Chance, Senior Nutts, and Frannie) love meal time I am sure your dog will enjoy a healthy meal as well.

Ferret Care Includes a Ferret Hammock

It is obvious that ferrets love to sleep. Adults sleep 18 to 20 hours a day, on the average. Ferrets also love hiding in soft, dark spaces. Their habits should be enough to let you know they need a cozy place to sleep and hide in. Ferrets need a bed, like a sleep sack or a ferret hammock. People sleeping in a hot room use a lightweight blanket, but if the room is colder we use a blanket that is heavier. The blankets help regulate our body temperature so we stay comfortable while we sleep. This is true for ferrets as well. They should have two kinds of beds in their cage. This lets them choose the spot it thinks is more comfortable to sleep in. Good ferret care requires a bed that allows the ferret to have healthy sleeping patterns. An uncomfortable ferret will have disturbed sleep and will not stay healthy.

Sleep sacks, which are sometimes called nap sacks, are one type of bed. They keep your pet warmer when it needs it. A sleep sack is laid on the bottom of the cage. Your pet can crawl into it though an opening and be surrounded by its warmth. Some types of nap sacks have openings at both ends. Others have a crinkling effect and are suitable for play in it.

A ferret hammock is the other type of bed. It is hung in mid air and provides a pocketed space for walled security, as well as a partially open space. Because ferrets are sensitive to heat, the open part of the hammock can be used to cool off. Hammocks you can buy in a store are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some hammocks are lined but others are not. Ferrets love to snuggle together while they're sleeping, so some hammocks are big enough to fit several sleeping ferrets at the same time. Some hammocks are flat while others are boot shaped. Still others have a zippered front to adjust the size of the opening. The hammocks give more space to use, but they can also be a safety device. They can be stepped in a way that allows a ferret access to the higher parts of its cage. They help prevent long falls and are an important part of ferret care.

Whichever bed you buy, make sure it is machine washable. This is important to prevent the spread of disease. Fabrics that are tightly woven are safer and more durable. If the hammock or nap sack frays or is damaged in any way, take it out of the cage because it will endanger your ferret. Make sure that the hardware that comes with a hammock is safe for your ferret. If no hardware is provided, make sure the hardware you use will be safe.

Ferret hammocks are good for your ferrets because they provide a safer place. They put less pressure on a ferret's body, let it sleep in its natural position and give it a place to play. All of these are important in ferret care.