Going to horse shows, the equestrian show jumping event is one of the most popular attractions. The team work between horse and man, the physical challenges of overcoming obstacles, the pressures of a timed event, make show jumping a truly marvelous spectacle to watch.

In a show jumping course, there are five different types of jumps to overcome:

-verticals
-spreads
-combinations
-walls
-water jumps

Prior to the event, the riders will study the course to determine the best strategy to tackle it. They calculate how many strides between each jump and the tightest line to take in order to save time. However, it is usually best to go over the allotted time than to be assessed penalties.

Penalties, or faults can be assessed by the following ways:

-knocking over an obstacle: 4 faults
-first disobedience of horse for refusing a jump: 4 faults
-rider falls off the horse: 8 faults
-exceeding the time limit: either a quarter-point per second or 1 point per second

The above are considered minor infractions but there are other infractions that result in disqualification:

-second disobedience from the horse
-horse refusing a jump for more than 45 seconds
-a fall by the horse
-going the wrong way in the obstacle course, missing a turn or a jump
-receiving help from an outside source while on course

To negotiate an obstacle course under the prescribed amount of time, trust and cooperation is vital for a successful run with no penalties. When a horse gets head strong and the rider has to react by pulling on the reins, kicking hard or turning hard, that’’s a sign that the partnership is not going well.

The horse jumps over the obstacles guided by the motion of the riders legs and the reins. However, the horse can also sense the rider’’s emotions and reacts to that as well. It is a constant interaction between the rider and the horse. A perfect run through the obstacle course should seem effortless as the horse and rider work in unison.

Unlike other sports and their horse racing counterparts, show jumping horses get better with age and experience. The top horses are between nine and fifteen years of age with at least four years of training. Likewise, the riders need the experience and discipline to remain calm to guide the horse through the obstacle course.

Indeed, show jumping is an equestrian event where grace under pressure marks the characteristics of a champion rider and horse alike.

About The Author

Drop In Bucket is your source for horse care supplies. Keep pests at bay with horse fly masks and horse fly sheets.

Whether your new pet will be a tiny baby or a well-traveled companion from a rescue centre, your most recent addition will surely become an extremely important part of the family, and one that will bring much joy and happiness.

However, determining your pet’’s needs may not be as straightforward as many people think, especially for first time owners.

Before committing and becoming a pet owner, make sure you know their requirements. Just like any important family member, you will want to be able to provide the correct care and support for your pet to ensure they settle in well and become a happy, contented and affectionate companion.

Cats and dogs make excellent companions if they are cared for correctly. However potential pet owners need to be aware that this can be costly and expensive and your new pet will require your time and interest for the rest of their lives.

We have come up with a list of essentials that you should be able to provide to guarantee your pretty new pet remains happy and contented.

Can you…

1. Provide a balanced diet and fresh water - to keep your little scruffs coat shining and their eyes twinkling.

2. Provide companionship - to be able to spend quality time with you, or other pets, for at the very least part of the day.

3. Provide regular worming and flea treatments - to keep your pet happy, comfortable and healthy.

4. Provide recommended vaccinations and injections - to protect your pet from a variety of serious illnesses.

5. Provide a safe place to play and exercise every day - to keep your little rascal entertained and amused and to ensure they are always tired by bedtime!

6. Immediately take your pet to the vets if ill or injured - to make sure your pet is never suffering.

It is also extremely important to consider pet insurance when you bring home your new pet as vet bills can really be crippling to you finances. Our family had to take our kitten to the vets after he suffered an allergic reaction and the blood test alone cost 400GBP. Thankfully our insurance paid the full amount less a 50GBP excess

Cats and dogs are naturally very clean animals and often pride themselves in keeping their coats squeaky clean and their eyes twinkling. However, they do have sharp claws, and if not provided with the correct care and equipment they may be more tempted to dig them into your new furniture!

For more information about your pet’’s welfare, get in touch with your local vets who will be more than happy to help.

About The Author

Article written by Rachael Wood, owner of Little Scruffs Pet Boutique. If you decide you can offer a loving, caring home for either a dog or cat, visit our friendly, quirky boutique to see a broad range of beautiful pet supplies that will make their little eyes light up! www.LittleScruffs.com or email ]]> http://www.hitalink.com/2008/08/19/essential-considerations-for-potential-pet-owners/feed/ http://www.hitalink.com/2008/08/18/how-to-know-if-your-pet-has-a-urinary-tract-infections/ http://www.hitalink.com/2008/08/18/how-to-know-if-your-pet-has-a-urinary-tract-infections/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:14:16 +0000 LinkFeeder Pets and Animals By Beth Guide

Dogs and Cats get urinary tract infections too. In fact it is very common for your pets to get an infection. Surveys show that one in seven animals brought in to the veterinarian’’s office is because of this illness. The infection is more common in cats and dogs that have an improper diet with a low resistance, although it can happen even if these aren'’t factors for your pet.

Some of the symptoms of urinary tract Infection is difficulty in urination, bloody urine, urine with extremely foul odor, urination in inappropriate places and frequent urination. If your pet has any or all of these symptoms, chances are great that he or she has an infection. Urinary infections can be fatal in pets, so a trip to the Veterinarian is definitely called for. The longer you let it go, the worse it will get.

Usually a urine sample is taken at the vets office for evaluation and testing. They will be able to confirm the presence of an infection very quickly and can determine the strain of bacteria which has caused the infection. By determining the bacteria or other pathogen, the veterinarian can give the appropriate medication which targets the exact problem causing fewer side effects.

After your doctor prescribes the correct medication you will be given instructions for administration of the antibiotic or antimicrobial agent. There are also many natural remedies for your pet to choose from such as homeopathic products available to you if you choose to go that route. If you do decide to go with the vet prescribed medicine then it is important for you to follow the directions to make sure your pet is getting the proper dosage. Missing a few dosages could cause the bacteria to become resistant and the infection could become worse.

The best way to remember to give your pet medication is to either combine it with another task that you do regularly or if you don'’t have any sort of task that fits the bill, then use an alarm of some kind whether it be your cell phone or any other alarm you have around the house. Just treat it the same way you would manage medicine for a member of your family that is sick. After all, your pet is definitely part of the family too.

After completion of the medication, it is important to take your dog back to the veterinarian to make sure the infection is gone. If not, then further medication of another kind may be necessary. Your veterinarian can reassess accordingly and advise you what the next step is.

Urinary tract infections are painful and can be a danger to your pets life, so don'’t treat it lightly. Pets are depending on us for their health and wellbeing.

About The Author

Beth Guide is the webmaster for Posh Pampered Pets and carries a wide variety of dog, cat, horse and other pet supplies. If you have any questions regarding Dog Supplies or Posh Pampered Pets, please feel free to call 979-221-7251 or visit us at “http://www.poshpamperedpets.com”.

Socializing is important for any breed of dog because it teaches them about the world around them. Much like a human child does when it’’s young. The dog needs to smell, see, touch and feel things in order to get an understanding about what is around him.

A pit bull that isn'’t properly socialized can have several problems. The majority of dog bite that occurs is caused by dogs that have been chained up or not socialized properly. When this happens the dog tends to see everything as a potential danger and acts accordingly.

Dogs don'’t just have to be socialized when they are puppies. Socialization is a process that should start when the dog is young and continue until it dies. However, young dogs are like sponges much like young children, it is especially important that a young puppy be properly socialized.

When you start socializing your dog, it is important to get the dog around as many different type of people as you possibly can. Young, Old, Small, Large, Short and Tall, it is very important for a young dog to get use to be handled by children.

When you are socializing your puppy or dog it is best that you control the experience as best you can. Don'’t take your dog to dog park so that it can get overwhelmed by 20 dogs. Instead invite a friend over with their dog or meet somewhere neutral so that the dog can be introduced slowly.

Even if you do the best job socializing a Pit bull, it may still show aggression to other dogs and animals. This isn'’t a bad thing. It isn'’t a sign of future aggression to people. It is just a trait that has been genetically bred into the breed over hundreds of years. Never trust a pit bull not to fight with other dogs.

Make sure to introduce your dogs to as many sights and sounds as you can. Don'’t limit the socialization to just people and other dogs. Introduce them to cats (just have them leashed), take them to a park and have them smell the trees and watch the squirrels. Take them too the lake and have them play in the water. Just don'’t push them; causing undue stress early in the socialization process can cause problems down the road.

Just remember that socializing doesn'’t ever stop with dogs. Be patient and introduce them slowly on their own terms and you find that your dog will enjoy learning about and meeting new things.

Continue to introduce your pit bull to new things for the rest of his or her life. Socialization should never stop. You will find that a dog that is continually socialized will enjoy learning about and meeting new things.

About The Author

Dave Russell is an advocate for the true conforming pit bull breed. Visit his site about redeeming the Good Pit Bull Name.

Taking your pet to the spa can be very expensive and time consuming, but you don'’t have to pay big bucks to get your dog into a special spa. In fact, you can do your own spa treatment right at home. It’’s a great way to bond with your dog and since most dogs prefer to hang out with their own humans, this is something that your dog is bound to enjoy.

What You'’ll Need

There are a few essentials that you'’ll need in order to give your canine friend a good experience. Items such as a comb or brush, shampoo and towels are all a very necessary part of bathing your pet. However, these are just the basics. To make the at home spa treatment something different from a normal bath, here are a few items that will make the whole experience better.

- Lavender scented conditioner. Make sure it’’s formulated for dogs and don'’t try using human conditioner which can burn sensitive skin.
- Music. Most pets really enjoy music and this can have a calming effect on both of you.
- Detangler spray. This is very helpful if your dog has long hair that tends to mat in the bath.
- Removable shower head. This allows you to easily rinse your dog without having to dump buckets of water on him.
- Knee pads. These will keep your knees from getting sore as you kneel by the tub.
- Non-slip bath mat. To prevent slipping and sliding, your pet can stand on the bath mat.

These extras will help your dog truly enjoy his spa treatment and it will make things easier on you, as well.

Tips for a Successful Spa Session

- Start with a massage. Get your dog nice and relaxed by stroking him and then lightly massaging his back and sides. Start lightly and then increase the pressure to where your dog seems happy. Watch for the sensitive area where the hips join the body, this can be rather ticklish.
- Keep treats handy. This is a pampering experience, so be sure to have some of your dog’’s favorite treats on hand. Throughout the session, compliment him on his great behavior and give him a treat.
- Use conditioner to add shine. One of the great things about a spa treatment is that your pet’’s coat is bright and shiny afterwards. The best way to get this professional look is with a good conditioner and then spritz a high shine spray over his fur as you brush him out.
- Don'’t use a blow dryer. While it may seem faster, the heat can be too much for the sensitive skin of your pet. It’’s best to simply dry your dog with a big fluffy towel instead.
- Brush first. This will ensure that the extra hair will end up in the brush or mitt, rather than your tub drain. Since most dogs tend to shed, even if you'’ve done a thorough brushing, it can be useful to get a drain trap. This is simply a small bowl made of metal screening that sits in the drain, catching anything that threatens to go down. You can just lift it out and clean it later, without having to deal with clogged drains.

Giving your pet a home spa treatment can be a wonderful way to spend some quality time together. The end result is pretty nice, too. You'’ll have a sweet smelling dog who will be thrilled that you took the time to spend with him. Most animals are also calmer after a soothing treatment that includes aromatherapy (the lavender conditioner or spray) and music, along with a massage.

About The Author

Wholesale supplier that sells dog products from dog shampoo and conditioners, dog gas treatments, medicine for dog itchy skin and breath spray.

Training isn'’t a something that you do for a short period of time and quit once your dog has started being obedient. Training needs to be an important part of your daily routine with your pit bull.

When it comes to training your dog, there are as many techniques out there as there are trainers. Talk to ten dog owners about how they train, and you will get ten different answers.

I always suggest that new owners avoid prong collars, not because they can'’t be effective at training, but because the techniques required to effectively use a prong collar on your dog isn'’t easy to learn. An inexperienced trainer runs the risk or over correcting and causing potential dog - trainer relationship problems by using a prong collar. I have never met a dog that didn'’t respond well to positive reinforcement training techniques. It may not be the fastest way to train a dog, but in my opinion it produces the best results both in the dogs attitude and his desire to learn new things.

When starting to train your pit bull with positive reinforcement, I find that the use of treats works the best. You may be able to try using a favorite toy. I try to wing my dogs off of treats and on to toys once they get older.

To train using positive reinforcement is quite simple. For the first couple of sessions with your dog, you are going to have to vocalize a command and then use the treat to trick the dog into doing it. For example I would say “Sit” and then hold a treat over the dogs head until the dog sat down. Then I would give the dog the treat while verbally praising her.

It is important to keep the sessions short and fun. For young dogs its best to keep it too around 5 minutes, as they get older and their attention span increases you can increase the time of the sessions.

As the dog learns that the sitting after hearing the command sit, means he gets a treat, you will notice that you no longer have to trick the dog. However, at this point it is important that you keep giving the treat. Once your dog masters one trick its time to move on to something else.

Always remember that when you teach new tricks it is important to continue to review old tricks as well. Dogs are like people in the sense that they sometimes forget what they did yesterday.

Once your dog has learned the basic commands of Sit, Lay Down, Roll Over, and stay you can move on to something more difficult. With my young dogs I play a game of “Name that Toy”, where I say a toy name and the dog goes and picks it out. Training for this game takes some time and patience but it teaches a lot the skills that the dog will use later, including releasing the toy after he has brought it back too me.

Always remember to keep training sessions fun, this is good for both you the owner and the dog. By keeping it fun the dog will look forward to learning new things, and you the owner will be amazed at how capable the pit bull is at learning.

About The Author

Dave Russell is an advocate for the true conforming pit bull breed. Visit his site at Adorable Pit Bulls.

Labrador training can be a difficult. However, it has many rewards for the dog owner if the training is successfully completed. Labrador dogs are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and also a loving dog. They make wonderful companions for people at all stage of ages. Besides trained as house pets, labrador dogs are commonly trained to be show dogs, or to be working dogs in a various industries because of their high intelligence and their high learning capacity for new tasks and tricks. By following a few labrador training tips, the entire training process can be made fast and simple.

Basic Tool: The Leash And Collar

There are many different tools to help you perform an effective labrador training. Each of these tools makes the training of the dog much easier compared if you don'’t use any. The first training tool you should have in your tool inventory is a dog leash and collar set. These tools help to control the dog during the training and help you to communicate your thoughts to the dog during each phase of the training session.

At this point, let me remind you that the dog leash should never be used for negative reinforcement during labrador training. For instance, repeatedly jerking on the leash and yanking the dog around. This can cause harm to the dog and teach the dog that you intend to hurt it. Instead, use the leash for gentle coaxing and careful maneuvering of the dog into the proper position. It also provides the dog with a reminder to focus on the labrador training program and stop it from wandering away during the training.

Reward Your Labrador With Doggy Treats

To keep the dog attention in the training process, many professional trainers use doggy treats for positive reinforcement during labrador training. Also, it provides the dog with a reward for accomplishing a task correctly. The use of doggy treats training technique can also be just as effective for a dog owner, who is training their dog as long as the treats are used properly during the training. The treats that are chosen for use during the labrador training should not be given to the dog at any other time of the day. This way the dog knows that the only way they will be getting the treat is by paying attention to the training and accomplishing the tasks.

There are many commercial doggy treats available for use in labrador training and the choice of which one to use is different for any trainer. However, you can also use home made doggy treats like bits of boiled chicken, small bits of ham, or small pieces of broken bacon. Eventually, any item that tastes good to the dog, easy to carry and can be given to them on an infrequent basis, will do just find as a doggy treat for labrador training.

About The Author

Discover more about labrador retriever at labrador fans website

A flirt pole is a great tool for both training and exercising a pit bull or any breed of dog. A flirt pole consists of a pole a rope and bait. The best aspect of using a flirt pole is that it can be used with any age or level of dog. Also because it doesn'’t require a large open area it can be used in a small area.

A flirt pole is easy to build. You can start by buying a lunge whip from the local farm supply or horse tack shop. At the end of the lunge whip simply attach an old rag or burlap cloth as a bait item for the dog. If you think the rag doesn'’t create enough weight feel free to add a tennis ball by poking two holes in it and threading the line through.

Even though a lunge whip is the easiest way to get started, there are many other ways to build a flirt pole. Currently, I am using an old fiberglass tent pole with a cotton rope. I have used PVC pipe, Bamboo, an even a tree branch in the past. Take a look at what you have lying around the garage or house and I am sure you will find something that can be used. Never use any metal when attaching the bait too the line. Metal can be damaging to dogs teeth. Also, I generally use cotton rope I would suggest not using any material for line that you wouldn'’t be comfortable with your dog chewing on.

With the flirt pole in hand it is time to take you and the dog outside. Find a spot preferably over dirt and grass and hold the pole in one had while laying the bait in front of the dog. Avoid using the flirt pole on concrete because concrete could potentially be bad on your dogs feet.

Once you have the dogs attention start moving the bait around, most dogs will instinctively start to chase the bait. If your dog doesn'’t immediately start to play with the bait you may need to get down and play with it yourself to increase your dogs desire to want the bait.

Once your dog is actively pursuing the bait start moving it around in circles, occasionally allow the dog to grab the bait. If you don'’t let this happen the dog may loose interest in the bait, it’’s important to let the dog win sometimes in order to encourage its prey drive. This is a great time to practice your release command. Once the dog has hold of the bait you can pull, I find that the older the dog gets the less pulling I do. Once he has it I normally issue a release command and start over.

Initially it’’s important to keep the bait on the ground, once your dog is old enough and athletic enough you can start to whip the bait into the air. Naturally your dog is going to jump. This is a great way to exercise your dog. Be careful at first not to over exercise your dog, when starting out keep sessions under five minutes and add as your dogs conditioning increases.

The flirt pole provides an inexpensive way to both exercise and train your dog. You will notice that use of the flirt pole will increase your dogs agility and coordination.

About The Author

Dave Russell is an advocate for the true conforming pit bull breed. Visit his site to learn more about the Adorable Pit Bulls.

There are a variety of tropical fish diseases that may affect your pet tropical fish. Identifying these diseases and taking appropriate measures to counteract them is essential to ensuring the healthy life of your fish, and ensuring that they'’re as happy as possible.

We'’ll look at the first of the tropical fish diseases we'’ll be discussing in this article, the disease called ‘’Shimmy'’. Shimmy is one of the tropical fish diseases where your fish looks like it’’s moving at an inordinate rate. It seems to move fast, but it doesn'’t move its fins much at all. This is a sign of shimmy and should you notice it, you should have it treated as quickly as possible.

Ich spots are another form of tropical fish diseases. Ich spots are tiny spots, usually of a white colour, that appear over your tropical fish. If you notice these ich spots you should once again seek some form of medicine to treat your pet tropical fish. Another similar type of tropical fish diseases, is one that has red sores appearing all over your tropical fish. If you notice these sores, you should treat them as quickly as possible. As time progresses the sores will begin to grow larger and larger, if they grow too large, then you risk your pet tropical fish developing the worst of tropical fish diseases.

A common way of identifying whether or not your fish has tropical fish diseases is attempting to find out if your tropical fish has a loss of its appetite. Fish that show lack of interest in other fish, disinterest in their surroundings, or have a loss of appetite, may be developing some other form of disease which may not be readily identifiable. You should check for such symptoms and if noticed, purchase some tropical fish medicine that can deal with the disease most likely associated with your tropical fish.

Tropical fish diseases aren'’t as rare as some people may think, poor tank maintenance, incorrect food, or incorrect lighting, can all go towards negatively influencing the life of your tropical fish. If you want your tropical fish to be as happy and healthy as possible, ensuring they live a life free from tropical fish diseases, then make sure that you keep an eye on them, and treat them well.

Remember that tropical fish, like any other pet, require care, love and nurturting. If you provide your tropical fish with the appropriate care and love they need, then they should live healthy and fulfilling lives.

About The Author

John Hubert is a researcher of tropical fish, and has written the lens on Tropical Fish Diseases. He recommends the ebook written by Matthew Walls - Caring For Your Tropical Fish.

Are you thinking about owning tropical fish? Then you'’re in for a treat - there are many reasons why these little beauties make great pets, and some of those reasons may actually surprise you! So if you'’re still on the fence about whether or not you want to spend your money at the fish store, let’’s take a closer look at some reasons and benefits - that’’s right, we said benefits - that you may want to consider when it comes to choosing tropical fish as your new pets.

For one thing, there are many apartment dwellers today or those who live in limited space. Even the smallest cat may take up some room because of his or her litter box and may not even be allowed in an apartment because of potential damage. But most apartment managers allow tropical fish because they don'’t scratch the carpet, make messes on anything, or disturb the neighbors. And for those who aren'’t even limited by an apartment’’s rules, consider that tropical fish don'’t need to be walked, groomed, scooped up after, and won'’t tear up the rosebushes or leave you a dead mouse as a gift. They don'’t get fleas and won'’t get into fights with other neighborhood fish and won'’t give you a litter of six or seven babies that you somehow need to give away.

While there is still some work involved in keeping tropical fish, they are usually some of the lowest maintenance pets you can own which is good for anyone that doesn'’t want to put a lot of work into keeping a pet, someone that travels often and will need someone else to care for their pet, or someone that doesn'’t have all the time in the world to devote to an animal. They can also be great pets for families with young children as dogs and cats sometimes don'’t interact well with children while tropical fish usually get along with everyone.

It’’s believed by some that keeping tropical fish can actually be very relaxing. Some doctors believe that looking at fish has a calming effect on anyone, as being over-stimulated by television shows and even the news can be agitating to a person even if they don'’t realize it. But just sitting quietly and watching tropical fish can be very calming and soothing.

They also make for great educational pets as well. If you introduce your children to the world of tropical fish they can get a firsthand feel for how the oceans and lakes really work and what it looks like underwater. They can also better understand how pollution really affects the environment as they see the water get dirty or cloudy when it needs to be cleaned. By having them feed the fish and help as much as they can with cleaning the tank, young children too are taught responsibility and can really enjoy having tropical fish as they bond with each one and see how they interact together.

About The Author

To learn more about Tropical Fish it is recommended you visit John Hubert’’s lense on Tropical Pet Fish.

As a responsible pet owner of course you want to provide your fish with the best environment you possibly can, and that includes how you keep and maintain tropical fish tanks and their accessories. After all this is the home for the fish and where they'’ll live out the rest of their days, but they need to rely on you to maintain it, clean it, keep it warm, and everything else that’’s needed for that home to be safe and sanitary. It’’s not that hard to keep tropical fish tanks clean and healthy for your fish if you follow few simple steps and guidelines, so let’’s go over those here so you can be sure you'’re doing the best job possible.

First remember that you don'’t want to use any harsh cleansers, chemicals or abrasives when cleaning tropical fish tanks, especially anything with bleach. Chemicals and bleach always leave a residue no matter how much you rinse and these things are very bad for your fish. If there are algae stuck to the side you can use a razor or straight edge on glass tanks or a special cleansing cloth for acrylic tropical fish tanks. This will get rid of the buildup without damaging your tank. For cleaning everything else on the tank use a damp rag and lots of hot water, and a toothbrush for the accessories such as the heater and filter parts.

A special vacuum is used to clean the substrate or gravel on the bottom of tropical fish tanks. This type of vacuum will get any harmful buildup and bacteria without needing to remove and upset the entire collection of gravel, which is never a good idea. Some people make the mistake of thinking that the entire tank needs to be emptied and everything cleaned but this isn'’t safe for the fish. Wipe down your decorations and any buildup on your vegetation and clean the filter; this is the best way to clean tropical fish tanks without upsetting the chemical balance of the water.

Doing a water change is also important when cleaning tropical fish tanks. For large tanks you simply pull out about 10%-15% of the water and replace it with warm tap water; for smaller tanks you'’ll need to do this with about 25% of the water. Always add a water condition afterward; this is readily available wherever you buy tropical fish tanks. This water condition helps get tap water to the necessary chemical levels to sustain tropical fish.

Remember that you never want to clean tropical fish tanks too much or too often. Being overzealous will strip the tank of the good bacteria that fish need and that help to keep everything else in balance. Just do a general cleaning about once per week and you should be okay. If you notice problems in your tropical fish tanks such as green or cloudy water, there are additives you can use to clear up these problems as well.

About The Author

To learn more about Tropical Fish and Fish Tanks it is recommended you visit John Hubert’’s lense on Tropical Fish Tanks.

Tropical fish come in a variety of different species. First of all, you have freshwater tropical fish, and saltwater tropical fish. These are the two main and distinct categories that all breeds of tropical fish can be divided into. Within these categories are different species. Did you know that piranhas, carnivore fish and other anti-social tropical fish all fall within the ‘’tropical'’ category?

The last thing you'’d want, as a new owner of tropical fish, is to purchase tropical fish species such as piranhas or other related carnivores. Would you really want a flesh eating fish to be in the same fish tank as a beautiful yellow finned, delicate tropical fish species breed? I know I certainly wouldn'’t! So exercise due care and diligence when deciding which tropical fish species you would like to put in your tropical fish tank.

Now some tropical fish species don'’t get along with one another, even though they'’re not carnivores. Indeed, some tropical fish species are just naturally shy and don'’t mix with any other species other than their own. For this reason you may want to do a little research and ground work before deciding upon which tropical fish species you would like to integrate in your fish tank, as choosing two or more species that don'’t get along with one another won'’t be fun to watch at all!

Fish interaction is the main thing that makes keeping and maintaining a fish aquarium so interesting. If your fish live rather boring and dull lives, then you too will soon grow bored of looking at them! Whilst having a fish tank may be quite a novelty of sorts among your friends, if you want to have an enjoyable time watching your fish, then ensure you purchase the right types of tropical fish species.

Conduct further research into discus fish, freshwater tropical fish and saltwater tropical fish. There are so many different species and breeds to choose from that I couldn'’t even begin to attempt to list them here. Speak to your local pet shop store owner and ask them their opinion on what tropical fish species would be the most enjoyable to have within your tropical fish tank.

Do the groundwork now, and you'’ll save yourself hassle later! There’’s no point in just choosing some random tropical fish species, putting them in your fish tank, and hoping for the best. Planning how your fish tank will run before you'’ve even set it up will lead you to long term enjoyment, and you'’ll be a new tropical fish hobbyist in no time.

About The Author

John Hubert is a researcher of tropical fish and his written this article in collaboration with Matthew Walls. You may find out more about Trpoical Fish on John Hubert’’s lens on Tropical Fish Species. John Hubert recommends Matthew Walls'’ ebook - Caring For Your Tropical Fish.

The lion is simply a large wild cat. The scientific lion name is a Panthera Leo. These animals are native to the Africa, more specifically the Sahara Desert. Lions are one of the few big cats that are somewhat social. There are number of different species of lions but all fall into the same family of Panthera Leo. There are very few people who have lions as pets, but even in zoos, the keepers have special lion names that they like to use.

Naming lions and groups of lions is an important task in science. The fact that a group of animals has a family name is similar to how humans have family names. The purpose of this is to track evolution and genetics and to distinguish one from the other. For example, if lions had never been classified as a specific family of large cats, people might assume that tigers are part of the same group. There may be some connection between the groups but the scientific name sets all groups of animals apart.

Every animal at the zoo has a name and there are really popular or famous zoo lions around the world. One such lion is Marjon. Marjon can be found at the Kabul Zoo. Marjon was born in 1976 and he was given to the Kabul Zoo shortly after his birth. He was not alone in the zoo; he was joined by a lioness named Chucha.

Another famous lion is a lion by the name of Christian. Christian was purchased by two Australian men who were living in London in 1969. The lion was purchased from Harrods department store. Both men and their families cared for this animal and it grew to be their pet until it grew too large for them to keep. Christian was later sent back to Kenya where he was rehabilitated back in the wild at the Kora National Reserve. A movie was filmed about the journey that Christian took from England to Kenya.

A popular lion name amongst movie people is Leo the Lion. Leo is the mascot or MGM studios in Hollywood. Leo is featured on the film company’’s production logo. There have been five different lions used as the logo for the company since 1924. Leo was the fifth lion to be used. Leo was used on all films that were filmed between the years of 1957 to 1983 as well as on the Tom and Jerry cartoon series. Leo was taken out in three films and he was dubbed by a still frame lion and there was no roar at the beginning of the film, this was not a huge success.

While most of the lions used in productions were male there are some lionesses that cannot be forgotten. One such lioness is Mara. Mara was best known for her role in the movie Born Free in 1966. Mara was born in 1965 and was abandoned by her mother. Irene Grindley took it upon herself to care for the cub. It was first thought that Mara would stay with Irene for just a few days but she soon became a permanent fixture. She was hand reared and fully domesticated. As she grew larger Irene became aware of the fact that Mara had to be relocated. Mara went to the Animal Orphanage at the entrance to the Nairobi National Park.

About The Author

For lots of great lion names,bunny names and;pony names visit ]]> http://www.hitalink.com/2008/08/14/famous-lion-names-animals/feed/ http://www.hitalink.com/2008/08/14/pit-bulls-a-short-history/ http://www.hitalink.com/2008/08/14/pit-bulls-a-short-history/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:14:44 +0000 LinkFeeder Pets and Animals By Dave Russell

The history of the American Pit Bull Terrier varies depending on what source you choose to cite. Some believe that it dates back to the time of the Roman’’s and the Molossian family of Dog. The Molossus as it was commonly called is believed to be the direct relative of today’’s Mastiff breeds of dogs.

Most sources seem to agree that the Pit bull can trace its relatives to the English and Scottish Bull dog types used in the sport of Bull Baiting. Bull Baiting became a popular sport in England during the 15th and 16th century. Bull Baiting was effectively a sport where dogs were sent in to immobilize a bull, some even believed the sport caused the meat of the bull to be more tender. By the 16th Century just about every town in England had a Bull Baiting ring. At one time in England, it was even illegal to sell the meat of Bull that was not Baited in the Ring.

Due to the popularity of Dog Sporting events (however, cruel) during this time, the sport of Ratting and Dog fighting was started. It is presumed that the sport was popular because it gave people of low means another possible way of providing for there families. The sport of ratting was where a Dog was placed in a Pit with Rats, the dog would kill as many as possible during a set period of time. The dog who killed the most won. It is this sport that is believed to be the reason why the Bull dogs and terriers of England were mixed, attempting to combine the strength of the bull dog with the gameness of the terrier. It is believed that the “pit” in pit bull comes from the ratting pit.

In 1835 the sport of Bull Baiting and Dog Fighting, were made illegal under English Law. However, due to the ease of concealing Dog Fights, it is believed that Dog Fighting continued for the most part un-restricted in many parts of England. This increased the Popularity of the Ratting sport.

When the English and Irish immigrants came to America, they brought there dogs with them. One of the most popular being the close relative of the Modern day American Pit Bull Terrier. Unfortunately dog fighting continued to be popular in America through the 19th century. In addition to dog fighting the Pit Bull continued to get a name for itself by being a very versatile all-purpose dog. Known to be able to Herd sheep and Cattle, the pit bull found a home with many early settlers of America.

In 1884 the American Kennel Club was formed for the purpose of promoting purebred dogs and their owners. Unfortunately, due to the illegal nature of Dog Fighting, the American Kennel Club, refused to accept the Pit Bull Terrier as a full blood breed. This is why in 1898 the United Kennel Club was formed, with the goal to certify dogs that were uncertifiable by the AKC, the first breed of dogs recognized by the UKC was the “American Pit Bull Terrier”.

To add to the confusion of the breed the AKC decided in 1936 to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier but under a different name, the Staffordshire Terrier, named after the area in England where they suspected the original crossbreeding took place. Later the term American was added to the Staffordshire Terrier in order to avoid confusion with the smaller cousin being raised in England.

The American Staffordshire Terrier, or the Amstaff, has had different blood lines from the UKC American Pit Bull Terrier, since 1936. However, it is possible for a AKC Amstaff to be double registered as a AKC Amstaff and as a UKC Pit bull, it is not possible for a dog that was originally titled a UKC Pit bull to be recognized by the AKC as a Amstaff. Thus adding to the confusion, it is however commonly accepted that the Amstaff and the APBT share a common ancestry, however the Amstaff today appear to look the same however, tends to be on average 10 pounds or so lighter than the APBT. This likely happened because UKC breeders continued to breed a dog suitable for working dog competitions, where as the Amstaff was and is breed to be more of a show dog.

About The Author

Dave Russell is an advocate for the American Pit Bull Terrier breed commonly known as Pit Bulls. He continually tries to educate people about this great breed.

Believe me or not, that’’s the plain truth. According to the various Labrador Breed Associations and national kennel clubs, Labs come in just three recognized colors and golden is not one of them.

However, if you go browsing through advertisements for dog kennels, you can'’t help but notice that there are many ads that loudly proclaim that they breed golden Labrador Retrievers. And by that, they do not mean a Golden Retriever/Labrador Retriever mix (which are also known as Golden Labrador Retrievers). They actually saying a golden colored PUREBRED Labrador Retriever.

Suspected Scam

The only three recognized colors of purebred Labrador Retrievers are yellow, black and chocolate (which used to be called liver). Yellow Labrador Retrievers have there are many shades of their yellow hair. Some are so pale that they are called “white”, even though their papers will call them yellow. The darkest shade of yellow is sometimes called “gold”. But still, even the darkest golden Labrador Retriever will not compare to the luster of a Golden Retriever.

Sadly, like PT Barnum said, “there’’s a sucker born every minute”. These kind of people will believe whatever they are told. If they are told that there is such a thing as a purebred golden Labrador, they will break open their wallets and buy one. Even when they can clearly see that the puppy’’s color is yellow, they think the “golden” label means “premium” and they will buy the so-called “golden Labrador Retriever” at higher price, over the identical-looking “yellow Labrador Retriever”.

Golden Lab Is Not Always Better Than A Yellow Lab

If you do discover that your pricey “golden Labrador Retriever” is simply a yellow Lab, take it easy. Your dog will still be loyal and comical and loving. Keep the dog. But by all means, complain to the Better Business Bureau about how the dog was represented. It would help if you had a copy of the original ad that lead you to the kennel and a copy of the contract. You did get a contract with your “golden Labrador Retriever”, didn'’t you? If not, there’’s ANOTHER thing to complain about.

If you had your lab from a rescue shelter and your lab was listed as a purebred golden Labrador Retriever, the staff just made a common mistake. Don'’t rip into them about it, they are doing the best they can. You could write a thank you letter about how well you are getting on with your rescue dog and just casually mention that, officially, there is no such thing as a purebred golden Labrador Retriever. Once that is done, concentrate on building up a great friendship with your new Lab of whatever color.

Closing Words

If you already have a golden labrador retriever, don'’t stop caring for your lab even now you know that he (or she) is not a purebred. Telling about this fact you have just learned to people around you that is considering to buy a labrador retriever would be something valuable. For them and for yourself.

About The Author

Discover more about labrador retriever at labrador fans website.

If you'’re one of the millions of people on earth that owns an animal chances are your pet has either had the flu, a cold, ticks, flees or something else altogether. When things like that happen to your pet, obviously you want to fix it. Especially if you'’re someone like me, I think of my dog Casper as a part of the family, not just a dog. When something happens to your dog or cat or other animal you want to take care of it immediately.

There are several sites online where you can find pet medication at discount prices for your animal. Discount prices are great because medication for humans let alone animals usually costs a pretty penny. Admit it, there’’s been a few times when you'’ve been sick, and your doctors told you that you'’ve needed a certain sort of medication. This medication more often than not is expensive! Well with animals it’’s the same thing sadly.

Discount pet medications are also great if you own several animals instead of just one animal! Discount pet medications are no better or no worse than regular priced pet medications. The only difference is, is that they are less expensive. Which in my opinion is terrific for you. If you'’re looking for sites online that offer discount pet medication, all you have to do is go online and look for things relevant to discount pet medication.

I'’m just going to list a few sites for you. Most of these sites are pretty well known, but that doesn'’t mean you have to do just these sites, you can also find several other sites online that offer discount pet medications. The way I found these sites was that I'’ve heard of them, but I also looked up a top 10 list for discount pet medication sites. So you can do the same as well;

Pet Care Rx. - Dog meds, save up to 50%
Total Pet Supply - Save 80% on pet drugs today, 125% price match guaranteed
1800 Pet Meds - Save up to 25% on brand-name pet medications
Pet Care Choice - Up to 65% savings on pet medication. Best price guaranteed. Free shipping.

As you can see above, these are some of the more popular or well known sites, but as said above there are several other sites to you can go to.

About The Author

This author is a huge fan of Buy Discount Pet Meds Online

In todays society there is a growing fad for small dogs. With so many different breeds it’’s hard to keep track of all of them. We will discuss this fad and the most poplular of the small dog breeds.

More and more people are living in small metropolitan areas and have limited space for keeping a large pet in an appartment. This is one of the reasons that small breed dogs are becoming so popular in that sector. Small breeds are great because they can comfortably live inside small living areas, they don'’t create a lot of waste, and they make loving companions with unique personalities. It is important to remember that different breeds have different temperaments and characteristics, and if you decide you want to own one it is important to know them. Some of the most popular dog breeds are as follows:

*Chihuahua - The Chihuahua has over time become the most popular of the small dog breeds. Celebrities like Paris Hilton carrying her pet Chihuahua everywhere she goes has done a lot for their promotion. They are the smallest dog breed in the world, but their temperament doesn'’t show it at all. Chihuahua’’s like to bark at larger breeds and even show aggression towards them. Keeping them away from larger dogs is a must for every owner. Picking a fight with other large dogs is something you don'’t want with this little pet. Although Chihuahaus are very smart, they are also somewhat stubborn when it comes to training them.

* Yorkie - The Yorkie is the second most popular dog breed in the United States. They are loving, loyal, energetic and highly intelligent dogs, Yorkies are known for their long, flowing hair which leads to lots of dog competition awards. Thier intelligence level is notorious, as they can learn commands much faster than the majority of other dog breeds. Some tricks you can teach a Yorkie are laying down, go fetch (of course), standing up, sit and whatever else your imagination can come up with.

* Poodle - This breed of dog is known for their elegance in the show ring. Their coats do require regular, professional grooming to keep their lofty look, but they don'’t shed like some other breeds, which is a plus. The poodle is also a very intellegent breed and are often used in circus shows around the world.

* Pug - Pugs are recognized right away because of thier wrinkled faces that people seem to adore. Very social dogs, they seem to adapt well with other animals and people, but they are somewhat difficult to potty train.

If you are thinking about owning a small breed dog the above are some of the most popular, but there are many other options. You may look around and find a breed to like better.

About The Author

Beth is the web master of Posh Pampered Pets. If you have any questions regarding Horse Supplies or Posh Pampered Pets, please feel free to call 979-221-7251 or email
]]> http://www.hitalink.com/2008/08/13/the-most-popular-small-dog-breeds/feed/ http://www.hitalink.com/2008/08/13/instincts-and-traits-in-dogs/ http://www.hitalink.com/2008/08/13/instincts-and-traits-in-dogs/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:32:04 +0000 LinkFeeder Pets and Animals By Beth Guide

Domestication of canines was accomplished by humans thousands of years ago. Many think that the world’’s first dogs were tamed wolves, as dogs share many biological traits with wolves. First of all they look very much alike and their actions are similar. They both have highly developed sense of smell and hearing.

Dogs are extremely loyal and dependent on their masters. They have a place in human society to which few other species can hold a candle. The only reward for dogs in many cases is a kind word and a pat on the head. Still, the study of wolves and dogs teaches us that many of their traits haven'’t changed from before they were domesticated.

*Body Language is a postural display by canines that show you their intentions. When meeting a strange person, canines display their fear by raising their hackles, meaning, the hair stands up on their backs and necks. This display comes from lack of socialization with others. Of course this behavior would look more frightening with short-haired dogs, making them look larger and making the other dog or person fear him more. Many times a dog will also pull back his lips to show his teeth to make the display even more “large”.

*A dogs ears and tail positions can tell you what a dog is thinking. For example, if your dog’’s ears go back flat and his tail goes between his legs, it means he is being submissive to humans or other dogs. The old saying “ran off with his tail between his legs” came from this postural display of dogs. Another submissive behavior is rolling over on the back.

*If a dog kneels or puts his front legs on the ground lowering his front quarters, it generally means he wants to play. This is always accompanied by a friendly wagging tail.

*Standing tall on stiff legs and circling another dog is a posture of superiority and domination. It often includes strutting around with frequent growling and snarling.

*An instinctive ritual in canines is circling before lying down. Some specialists say that this came from a habit long ago of circling to pack down the grass to give a soft bed to sleep in. Others think the dog is smelling the area for enemies before lying down, as they put their noses to the ground while they are performing this task.

*Attacking small animals is an innate hunting instinct in dogs from the time when they had to hunt for their food.

*Digging is a trait that is thought to come from the dog’’s instinct to dig a den when there is nothing else appropriate to make a den with. Terriers were known to pursue their quarry through underground tunnels if necessary.

Other things to consider is the dogs sense of smell developed so they can sniff the air to find game and also to sniff out enemies that may be approaching. They have a wonderful sense of hearing for the same reasons and their sight is highly developed.

Although canines'’ instincts and actions are influenced by their heredity, they are highly intellegent mammals, and are the products of a combination of training, experience and genetics

About The Author

Beth is the web master of Posh Pampered Pets. If you have any questions regarding Horse Supplies or Posh Pampered Pets, please feel free to call 979-221-7251 or email
]]> http://www.hitalink.com/2008/08/13/instincts-and-traits-in-dogs/feed/ http://www.hitalink.com/2008/08/13/do-wireless-dog-fences-work/ http://www.hitalink.com/2008/08/13/do-wireless-dog-fences-work/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:31:01 +0000 LinkFeeder Pets and Animals By Joshua Drew

If you find yourself wandering the streets of your neighborhood in search of your escape artist dog, you might decide that it’’s time you did something about his wanderlust. The neighbors will probably thank you for keeping your dog in your own yard instead of ripping apart the garbage bags in their yards. Instead of keeping your dog on a runner and limiting his ability to wander in his own backyard, you can install a wireless dog fence and keep him on the right side of the boundaries.

The first thing you should do before you purchase your wireless dog fence is do a little research on the way that they work. One of the things that you will probably come up with in your research is the fact that the Humane Society approves them as being safe and humane. These fences are not meant to be a punishment to a dog. They should be used as a method to dissuade the dog from leaving his own yard.

These fences have become very popular with dog owners for keeping the dog in the yard and still keeping the look of a wide-open yard. They are also particularly low cost. Do the comparisons of regular fences and wireless fences and you will find that a wireless fence is actually lower in price. Many people find that they are a more aesthetically pleasing way to keep the dog in the yard as well.

The wireless dog fence system will come with a receiver that is worn on the dog with a collar and the transmitter that is put in the ground. There is also underground wiring that comes with an underground fence model. If your dog should cross over the wiring, the receiver in the collar will get a signal from the transmitter and get a very mild shock. There are even fences that give the dog an audio signal when they are getting too close to the fence. It is only when the audio signal is ignored that the dog gets the shock.

The shock is only supposed to be a deterrent. The dog will not be hurt by it. The wireless dog fence should always be used along with good training from you. The dog must be taught where the boundaries are and what will happen if he oversteps his bounds. It is not difficult to train a dog when you use the correct methods. They are very intelligent pets and they are easily taught the behavior that is expected of them. It is important that they understand that you are the leader of their pack.

You should take the time to do some research on the different dog-training methods and find one that you are comfortable with. You will have to try a few methods before you find the one that works for you and the dog.

About The Author

Joshua Drew is a Dog Expert. If you want to know more about a Wireless Dog Fence then it is a good idea to visit Wireless Dog Fence.

It would be nice if you could let your dog roam free in your fenced in backyard, but every time you do he manages to find a way out and run free down the street. Some dogs are very clever at finding the way out of the backyard when they think no one is looking. Putting the dog on a runner is a solution, but it doesn'’t allow the dog to have the freedom of the whole backyard. A wireless dog fence will give him the entire backyard to run around in and still keep him contained inside the perimeter of your yard.

A dog that can get out is just trouble about to happen. Dogs can be very well behaved and still manage to get themselves in all kinds of trouble when they are running loose in the neighborhood. If a dog is fearful of someone they may act in an aggressive or defensive manner and hurt someone. The danger of cars and the dog running in the street is always a possibility. A wireless dog fence can eliminate all of these possibilities. You will be giving your dog the best protection.

The wireless dog fence that you install around your yard is only a part of the solution. You will have to train your dog to listen to your commands. The dog will need to learn where the boundaries are and what he can and cannot do. The dog is behaving according to what he understands. You must teach him that aggressive behavior by him is not acceptable and that he will be disciplined. In fact, you will have to show the dog that you are the leader of his pack and he must follow your lead. A dog is a pack animal and he only understands the psychology of the pack. If you show yourself to be the leader then he will respect and obey you.

The wireless dog fence can give your dog a nudge in the right direction. These fences are not designed to actually hurt the dog, but only give him a mild shock when he oversteps the boundaries of the yard. He will get the signal that he has crossed the line. It will only take a few times before the dog understands where he cannot go. You will also have to be vigilant about the training that you give to your dog. Dogs need consistency