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How to Look After Turtles and Terrapins

By Alison Wood on Thursday, May 28th, 2009 | No Comments

There is a lot to consider when you want to keep a turtle or terrapin as a pet. Some people assume, wrongly as it turns out, that having a pet turtle is an easy task and does not require a lot of time or work. While it is easier in most respects to keep a turtle as a pet versus, say, a dog that requires loads of time and hands-on care, you need to understand that pet turtles also deserve a lot of attention and love and can live for many decades. In fact, some turtles can live up to a hundred years or more so you should be prepared for a pet that will last you all your life, if not outlive you!

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One of the key things to remember when bringing home a turtle or terrapin is that most of them need exactly the right kind of environment. Or two environments, rather, a dry one and a wet, or damp, one. You can have two aquariums for this, or even one aquarium made to your specifications, but make sure you’ve got enough space in your house somewhere for this. You will also need to provide the right kind of lighting and temperature control so your turtle can lead a happy life and feels comfortable while switching environments as well. The lighting especially should be as close to daylight as possible so the turtle can follow the natural rhythms of the day. In fact, you can even have your aquarium outdoors as long as you’re sure there are no ‘predators’ (dogs or other pets) around that are going to harass, traumatize or even kill your turtle.

There should also be a constant supply of fresh water available for them which should generally be placed between the two aquariums or in their dry environment. And keep an eye out for any changes in your pet’s behavior or appearance. Some diseases or illnesses manifest themselves as odd behavior (not eating, not moving etc) or as changes in the shells (lighter color, texture going funny and so forth). So keep that eagle eye out and check your pets regularly.

It is possible to form a bond with your pet turtle as long as you are committed to spending time with it and to being a good pet owner.

Choosing A Dog Breed That Fits With Your Lifestyle

By Alison Wood on Monday, May 25th, 2009 | No Comments

If you are a hands-on, sporty type person, then a dainty lap dog might not be the right choice for you. Likewise, a rambunctious, energetic hound dog is not going to be a happy pup just sitting quietly at your feet while you knit. Finding the right dog breed for your lifestyle will not only ensure your own happiness, but the dog’s as well. He will become part of your family, after all, and you want him to be the right fit.

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All puppies are cute; little roly-poly creatures that fall over themselves and snuggle with you when they are tired. But, just like your babies grew up to be defiant, mouthy teens, a puppy will grow to be a poorly trained adolescent dogs if they are not dealt with properly. Although good training is necessary, it is not the only consideration. Moving a mastiff into a two-bedroom bungalow is not going to work out, for you or for the dog, and a teacup poodle may feel overwhelmed in a large, expansive mansion. Keep in mind what size your puppy your dog will grow up to be, and by pass the ones that are not realistic for your home, no matter how cute the big sweeties can be.

Consider your family make up and lifestyle before you start looking at pets. If you have a newborn child, it might not be the best time to consider getting a new puppy- you are busy enough and might not have the right amount of time to properly train your four-legged addition. An improperly trained puppy may turn into a poorly behaved, bigger dog, so wait until you have more time to devote to him and the energy to keep up with it. The fallacy that the dog and baby should grow up together is a very dangerous one to buy into. Do you want a gentle dog that is sturdy enough to be handled by inquisitive little hands without knocking your toddler down? Consider a pug, one of the gentlest and most forgiving of the dog breeds. But, for safety sake, never trust the loving nature of any dog over your own vigilance.

Need a jogging or walking partner? Consider an upbeat, energetic breed like the small, Jack Russell terrier or the larger labs. Want a cuddle buddy instead? Then a sweet natured, compact Scotty is a good choice for the small dog lover and the golden retriever is the star standard for those who prefer the big dogs to love. (Goldens are also great all around for being gentle with children, and walking partners. As long as you call them sweetie pie or big wuvvie, a golden will do just about anything you ask.) Choose wisely, a dog will be part of your family for a very long time and a part of your heart for even longer.

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Choosing A Pet For Your Child

By Alison Wood on Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 | No Comments

Every Christmas, every birthday, even every St. Patrick’s Day, your child has asked for a pet, and every year you say no, but recently you are beginning to relent. You think little Timmy might actually be ready for the responsibility of pet ownership, but what is the best pet for him and how do you actually help your child make this important choice?

First of all, do not let your child hold all of the cards in the decision process. Ask Timmy what kind of pet he would like to have and the answer might range from a ducky to a dinosaur, so start off by setting some limits. If you are an apartment dweller, you are already limited with your pet choices. No Great Danes in the penthouse!

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Next, consider the level of commitment that your child has shown to projects in the past. Has he started off gung-ho, only to start slacking off with sports, hobbies and other interests? Think about your child’s closet floor, does it look like the island of lost dreams? Are there the skates he wore once, fell in, and then cast off? Or does he have the staying power to see things through to the end? The more dedication that your child has, the more pet choices you can look at. The interest of the child should be at least long enough to get the new pet into middle age.

Of course, you should also consider the “ick” factor. Is your child squeamish and germophobic? Would this child snap if there were little gerbil goodies left on the palm of his hand? Or worse, would the child be nearly hysterical at the thought of feeding the pet he mistakenly chose? The fussier the child, the cleaner the pet has to be, and the less hands on. For the really finicky child, you might want to consider some nice tropical fish.

And finally, consider the temperament and the activity level of the child. Childhood obesity is at an all-time high, and some people are finding that a dog is a good way of getting their little couch tater-tots up and about- but don’t count on a pooch working miracles on a truly unmotivated kid. Laid back kids do well with laid back animals, while the more energetic kids can run the energy out of the more active labs and Jack Russell terriers. And, the opposites attract concept might be beneficial here as well. A gentle pug might help calm a child that just cannot sit still, while a bouncy Boxer might actually break a shy child out of his shell. Give your child his options and then let him have a say in the decision. It is the family pet, but hopefully, this will be his friend.

Feline Funnies!

By Alison Wood on Friday, May 22nd, 2009 | No Comments

Here are some laughs for all you cat lovers out there ;-)

Cat Tails – collection of feline humor! Cat Tails – collection of feline humor! Strategic Services This collection of feline logic and fuzzy wisdom from our beloved cats will have you roaring with laughter.These cat tails have been collected over the years and are treasures for all cat lovers. If you ever read a funny story to do with a kitty, its probably featured here!Also included are some sensible tips for your cat health and training, as well as recipes for home made cat treats and herbal remedies for fleas and such.I’m so happy that at long last this book can be read on scribd since it was impossible last year when I first loaded it up.Go on – have a laff – you know you want to!Helene Malmsio

Tips For Training Your Cat

By Alison Wood on Thursday, May 21st, 2009 | No Comments

Cats are wondrous, wonderful creatures, and are filled with curiosity. They can be snuggly, affectionate and friendly creatures; often content to nap on a human lap and be stroked until their fur glistens. Some are more standoffish and will only allow the occasional solemn head pat before regally stalking off to stretch and preen in the sunshine. And others are just way out there wild cats, hell bent on running straight up the walls in pursuit of invisible prey, knocking down all who dare get in their pathway. While you cannot change the basic nature of the cat that you have in your home, you can change some of his more obnoxious behavior.

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Your first cat-training tip should be to understand why they do some of the things that they do. Some cat behavior is out of boredom, some out of transitional changes as they grow out of kitten stages into adulthood, and some can be a symptom of impending or ongoing illnesses. Knowing which is which can help you to avoid potentially dangerous problems before they become life threatening.

Once you have a basic understanding of the why of cat behavior, you can start working on the things that he will need to change. Make sure that you have a list of the poor behavior, and start with the worst offender first. Try to teach new behaviors one at a time, because too many changes will make the cat confused and potentially worst behaved than before. If a cat is doing something that is possibly dangerous that problem should be addressed first, otherwise, it is at your own discretion.

Remember that training a cat is a matter of patience triumphing over frustration. Shouting at a cat does not work at all, and in fact will bring up a whole new set of issues. Timid cats will become even more fearful, and aggressive cats may take your shouting as an actual threat, so remember that a startled cat will not always react with James Bond coolness- sometimes they bite.

Do not bother with reprimanding your cat, as it is often an ineffective maneuver as well. Cats will learn that getting caught doing the targeted behavior brings about some horrible reactions, so they will simply learn to hide better. This is seen frequently with toileting issues. A cat will stop using his litter box for a variety of reasons, including illness, so that you must find out why. Finding kitty messes after the fact is a pain, but it will not do you any good to drag the offending furball over to the spot, show it to him and then take him to the litter box. Unless he is a brand new cat or you have moved homes recently, he knows full well where that litter box was, he just did not use it. Find out why and the behavior should be stopped. Eliminate all causes, including sickness, and then work from there. Some cats will never use a litter box, but will allow themselves to be trained to use an alternative. Bizet, the big fluffy cat is too big for the litter box, but he does scratch at the door when he needs to go. He is a psycho the majority of the time, but for this one, he deserves a good kitty!

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