PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

Most dogs will display a tendency to jump on people at times. How often will vary with breed and by individual. One theory suggests that dogs are trying to get close to the person’s face - not to attack, but to interact. Other dogs, especially of the same breed, have faces close to their level and the dog will use its nose and eyes to explore.

So, one way to deal with jumping is to give them no need to reach. Kneel down and interact with the dog at its level. Let it explore your face in a safe way, while keeping an eye out for excessive assertiveness. Very rarely will a dog bite its owner this way, especially if the human has taken the trouble to become the ‘alpha’ (leader of the pack).

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It is possible to ride a horse that is uneasy around you, but it is much more enjoyable to ride a horse that trusts you completely. However, getting your horse to trust you is not always easy, especially if he has been abused in the past.

If you have a horse that is a bit shy and uneasy around you, but hasn’t been abused, it may take a bit of time to get him to trust you, but it is certainly not impossible. First, think about how you approach him. Make sure you don’t make sudden movements and be sure that you always approach your horse from the left. Show him anything in your hands, even if it is only a hoof pick, before you try to use it on him.

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Tastes among humans differ, but one thing is constant: your dog will eat just about anything off the table you give it. That may be fine when it’s just you and the family. But when you have guests over, it can be embarrassing. Here are some tips for how to get pooch to stay away during meal time.

The first step is not to start a bad habit.

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Debate continues unabated about whether or not crate training dogs is healthy or harmful.

‘Crating’ involves placing a pet in a cage, usually plastic or metal of roughly the size of the dog, for a period of time during the day or night.

Proponents argue that crating gives the dog a sense of ‘property’, a place it can call its own. In this little home within the home, the dog feels safe surrounded by familiar smells and objects. Here, the dog can retreat from fearful noises or boisterous children.

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Riding a horse can be one of the most wonderful experiences that a person can have. However, no matter how long you’ve been riding, you need to be aware of what’s going on around you and you should always stay alert. After all, you never know what is coming around the corner that could be dangerous or frightening to your horse.

One of the most important things you should do when you are riding your horse is to hold the reins properly. If your horse is suddenly startled, you will be able to react quickly to get him under control before he panics and bolts. Never loop the reins around the saddle horn, no matter how placid and docile your horse is. Even the quietest, most boring horse in the world has the ability to run off with the bit between his teeth if he is scared enough.

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If your tank walls are so covered in green gunk that you can’t see your fish, it may be time to remove the algae from your tank. While algae can help keep your fish alive and healthy since it helps provide oxygen and can consume some of the excess nutrients in the tank, a little algae can go a long way.

Too much algae can cause the tank to be so dirty that you can’t enjoy the beauty of your fish. If the algae is extremely thick, you may even miss the fact that one of your fish is not doing well because you literally cannot see it.

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Determining the Sex of Your New Bird

Many people are not concerned with whether they have a male or female bird. After all, if you’re not going to breed your bird, it doesn’t really matter, right? Actually, it is important to know whether you have a female bird because you will need to know to look for signs that she is egg bound when she is mature. Some birds, especially if they are one of the smaller species, will decide to go to nest even if they do not have a mate. Of course, it is also nice to know that if you name your bird Fred, he really is a boy.

There are several ways to determine the sex of a bird. The most reliable method is to literally look at the bird’s reproductive organs. Not only does this tell if the bird is a male or female, but it also allows the veterinarian to find out how healthy the organs are. The sexing procedure is relatively quick and inexpensive, but this is still one of the least popular methods because it is still surgery. Some birds die when they are put under for the operation.

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When you buy a dog or cat, where to keep your new pet is probably one of the last things on your mind. However, for anyone who is considering buying a horse, housing is one of the biggest concerns. After all, you can’t exactly give your horse a pet bed in the kitchen!

Of course, the ideal stabling situation for your new horse is a deluxe horse barn in the back yard, complete with a box stall, standard stall, tack room and feed room. However, few horse owners are actually able to provide this type of housing. Most backyard horse shelters are converted sheds or even simple lean-tos.

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For many people, a single cat is the ideal situation. However, for others, cats seem to be like potato chips. They can’t stop with just one. This is partly because there are so many wonderful cat breeds and partly because most cats enjoy the companionship of other cats.

Is owning more than one cat right for the cat you already own? If your cat is home alone for long periods of time and seems to be lonely, he may enjoy having another cat around. In addition, an older cat will often develop a new lease on life when a new kitten joins the family. However, cats who enjoy their solitude or are very territorial towards their homes and families may not appreciate sharing their lives with another cat.

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* The Portable Pet Water Bowl - www.waterrover.com/

It’s our last day on this Labour Day weekend out at the cottage, and it was our “Anniversary Weekend”, so I didn’t do too much blogging (although I did take my laptop here!).

But - we did do a lot of walking with the dogs and we had really nice and hot weather - and I tell you now - this new dog water bowl is probably the best thing since sliced bread when it comes to carrying water for your dog on walks!

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