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Expenses Of Owning A Pet
Everyone knows that in this economy, the "cost of living," the cost of just maintaining life, is rising due to fuel costs as well as other circumstances. You may not have recognized it, but those increases also extend to the costs of always keeping a pet happy and healthy.
One of the first costs you will have to take care of will be the price of simply acquiring a pet. Certainly, those costs could be considerably less should you adopt a dog or cat from your local shelter or rescue organization. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you avoid getting your new pet from a source that encourages "puppy mills" or such unethical breeding practices. Not merely will the costs be lower, but you probably will have a healthier pet.
Another issue - one that will will always be an expense as long as you happen to be pet owner - is that of what the family pet will eat. You should invest some time educating yourself on how to read pet food labelling, and learn what is nutritious and what's not. If you feed your dog or cat quality food throughout its life, it ought to live longer and lead a healthier life. With regards to food, you'll also have to purchase food and water bowls.
The time you bring your new pet home, you ought to already have a few essential things in your home and ready to go. One example of these items is a crate, which will serve as a respite for your pet to allow them to have somewhere of their own to get clear of all of the commotion. You could expect your pet to be a little shy as it is becoming familiar with these new surroundings, and it will need a place to relax and take a breather. This is especially true if you have children who will constantly want to enjoy their new friend.
You'll likely need to place some bedding in the crate. While you might not be averse to a pet sleeping along with you in your bed, it is most likely that it will need a place of a unique to rest or take naps in the day. Remember that pets with special needs might need some sort of specific bedding needs. For instance, older dogs usually have joint issues, so it might need more padding for joint support.
You need a collar for your pet to carry an ID tag, and any necessary vaccination tags also. If you are obtaining a dog, you'll also want to add-on a leash for walks. I can't help but recommend that you take the pup to behavior training classes to help it (and also you) learn manners and basic commands. So you also will need the collar and leash for that activity. You'll also want dog grooming tools or other pet grooming products.
Once your new pet comes home, you will have to get it in to the veterinarian at once. You will need to have it looked over from head to toe, and it might also have to have a number of vaccinations. This primary visit will most likely amount to $100 at minimum, so understand that. Ongoing care for a healthy dog or cat could amount to between $1000 and $2000 each year. If your pet begins to have some health issues, those costs may go up substantially.
Obedience Training For Dogs
You can create a great pet if you take the time to train your dog. Beyond the efforts you put forth into housebreaking your dog, you need to take your dog to a basic obedience class. You will quickly learn that your dog responds to your authority. An obedience class will get them socialized with other dogs and with a variety of people.
One of the first things your dog will learn is to heel'. It is a pleasure to walk your dog and have control, rather than be walked by your dog. You will learn to hold the leash in your left hand, get your dog's attention, give a command and walk. When you reward your dog with praise of a special treat, he will be yours forever.
Teaching your dog to sit is up there on the list as well. Persistence and consistency will help you to achieve that command in a very short time. It is also easier to start your dog on a walk if you have them sitting at your left heel. Again, the one of the secrets to get your dog to obey is to reward him when he does.
Stay is another handy command. When your doorbell rings and your dog starts barking, giving the command to sit and stay will allow you to open the door without your dog lunging at your guest or family member. Everyone appreciates a well-behaved dog in your home. As the leader of the pack, you need that power.
Providing a crate for your dog is also a good training tool. Dogs are den animals and they enjoy the privacy and security of their very own den. A crate can be just that. It is where your dog can go to escape from the busy areas of your home when they become overwhelming. There are a few things you need to do before purchasing your crate.
If you are adopting a puppy, you should get a crate big enough for the dog to be comfortable in when it is fully grown. The crate should be large enough for the full-grown dog to sit, stand, lie down and turn in. A comfortable pad on the bottom of the crate will increase their comfort and in cold weather, it will help them stay warm.
Crate training has a lot of benefits. It helps in your attempts to house break your dog. By keeping your dog in the crate for short periods and taking him out to do his business when you do, the process will be easier. Puppies need to be taken out after play time, eating time and resting time. It requires you to be attentive and persistent.
If you are away from home for long periods, you should confine your dog to a crate or a designated room. If in the crate, put newspaper down on part of the crate and his pillow on the other part. A dog will seldom mess in his bed. If you are using a laundry room or garage, put a large amount of paper down and decrease the area as you learn the preferred spot. A pet sitter may be needed to let your pet out if you are gone for the entire day.
To help ensure your dog's happiness and health, you should pick up dog grooming tools.
Welcoming A New Pet
A lot of thought should go into the decision to bring home a new pet. Some of the things to consider are the ages of your children, your family's lifestyle and your experience with raising a dog or cat. If you have been influenced by your children, you need to determine their ability to assume some of the responsibility for the care of the pet.
A cute puppy or kitten may not be the right choice for a very young child. Puppies are fragile and not ready for rowdy play. A visit to your local animal shelter may yield the perfect older dog that is ready to play and will appreciate you for the rest of its life. A dog or cat with a little age has probably gotten over the puppy habits of chewing and may even be housebroken.
Dog proof your home. When your new arrival gets there, you will have to teach them what is okay to chew and what is not. As soon as you get them home, you must establish yourself as the leader of the pack. If you don't, they will assume that responsibility and you will have a lot of trouble on your hands.
A visit to the veterinarian is necessity. You can be sure that your new family member is healthy and up to date on vaccinations. It will also be the perfect opportunity to have them spayed or neutered. Puppies should be at least six months old before being neutered or spayed. This will give your pet the benefit of long life without the unwanted pregnancy, no risk of uterine or testicular cancer and a happy pet all of the time.
Obedience training is next. If you are experienced in teaching a dog the right way to behave, good for you. If not, find a local basic obedience class and enroll. It will give you the opportunity to bond with your pet and to truly establish yourself as the leader of the pack. It will give the dog the opportunity to become socialized with other dogs and people. Simple commands such as stay, sit and come are vital to a good relationship with your dog.
Choosing the right food is also important. If you adopt an older pet, you should know if there are any food sensitivities or allergies. Then you will know what to look for on the ingredient labels at the pet store. If you are new to pet ownership, you can find a lot of available information on the Internet. Your veterinarian is also a prime source of proper nutrition for your pet.
Cats are not very excited about baths. Fortunately, they also do a fairly good job at grooming themselves. Dogs on the other hand, need baths. Choose a hypoallergenic shampoo at your bet store or discount store and plan to bathe your dog on a regular basis.
Bedding is a fun item to choose for your dog. Providing the perfect bed for your new friend to use will keep it happy and provide a sense of security. The best way to introduce your dog to its own place is to place a soft, comfortable pillow in their crate.
Whether you choose to bring a dog or cat into your life, you should also pick up grooming tools or other pet grooming products.
Common Myths About Cats
Cats are an animal surrounded by myths. Some myths are based in old wives tales and others are misconceptions. Let us look at a few myths and make you aware of the facts that often counter them. For the health and safety of your cat, being aware of these falsehoods is vital.
It's a common belief that cats don't need attention, time, or anything else of that sort. It is a myth. Cats both need care and attention from you. This includes providing fresh food and water, trips to the vet, cleaning litter boxes, play time, and your attention. It will cost you between three and five hundred dollars a year per cat for veterinarian visits, food, litter, toys, and other accessories. It is very possible that once you get to know your cat's moods and can give him or her attention on his or her terms that the cat rewards you with bountiful amounts of attention in return.
Another huge misconception is that cats always land on their feet. While this is partly true, because cats do have a instinctive uprighting action when the fall that does help them land on their feet, it is not an always or even a safe thing. Falls can cause injury, and vets treat many cats for these types of damages that could be prevented. Better to be safe then sorry. Make sure your cat does not fall by securing screens in second story windows, discourage him from waling on railings and shelves, and try to keep them out of trees they might fall out of.
There is the myth that cats cannot be taught. This simply is not true. Cats can be trained but that training needs to be tailored to teaching a cat. You cannot use the methods for a dog and expect it to work. Cats can be taught to come when called, learn to use the toilet and flush, and other amazing things that a dog could never do.
Another falsehood is that cats when spayed or neutered become lazy and fat. This simply is not true. A cat does require less food after being spayed or neutered, so adjust the amount you feed your pet. Provide plenty for the cat to do by way of toys and spend time with it playing, and you will find that this does not impair your pet. In fact vets recommend spaying or neutering as young as eight weeks old. The sooner you have this done the better it is for your pet's overall health.
Your cat is a creature surrounded by many myths. These are just a few. You will find that educating yourself with the truth is the best way to ensure you have a healthy, happy long-lasting relationship with your beloved purr-machine. Take the time to get your pet fixed, give her love and attention, learn about her personality and traits and you will find that you have a brilliantly smart loving pet that will amaze you.
Another crucial step toward taking care of your pet is to invest in grooming tools and other pet grooming products.
How To Handle A Problem Cat
Cats can develop behaviors that you might want to discourage. This can range from knocking things off from shelves to getting up on surfaces you want them to stay off of. There are a few basic things you can do to keep your cat from doing such things, if you catch them in the act. Remember that certain behaviors are instinct. The cat who sprays you door outside the house may cause your inside cats to engage in the same behavior. Such things can be deterred by trapping or treating the outside of the house to discourage the outside stray and applying spray to the inside area that will calm your pet and keep them from marking there. Your vet can help you determine if this is necessary or if there is a medical reason for the behavior.
How can you stop a pet cat from doing certain things? If you catch them in the middle of something you want to stop then you should act while it is happening. One way is to spray the cat from a location they do not see you from with a water pistol or spray bottle on stream. This works as long as the cat does not have an affinity for water, of course. Cats that like water might be better deterred through making a loud noise and being startled. You can use a can filled with coins, marbles, or buttons for this, or using a newspaper to thwack a wall and make a loud noise. Don't hit your cat though, just startle them. If you have a cat that bites or claws you one method you can use it to place your hand gently over their face palm first and pushing back against the bite while telling the cat no. In most cases this will discourage the behavior. Another method is to yowl like an injured cat would do when bitten or clawed. Speaking in the cat's language, pulling away, going limp and ignoring the cat for a period of time will eventually stop the behavior. To stop chewing you might want to spray bitter apple or bitter orange spray on the surface or item. Cayenne pepper is also effective.
Another method is to make surfaces you want your pet to stay off of unpleasant to be on. Applying two-sided sticky tape, laying down bumpy plastic runners upside down, or such may be enough to keep them off the counter or table top. To keep a cat from digging in plants try placing foil over the soil or adding a layer of gravel. This falls under childproofing. Taking a few steps to make behaviors impossible that you do not want your cat to engage in can go a long way. Another way to keep a cat off surfaces is laying down foil. To stop climbing on drapes try either using tension rods or threading the drapes with thread instead of hooks so that the thread breaks when the cat climbs.
Another crucial step toward taking care of your pet is to invest in grooming tools and other pet grooming products.
Consider Adopting Older Dogs
If you have made the determination that a dog is the right addition to your family then you likely have settled on a breed and perhaps are looking at breeders so you can adopt a puppy. Puppies are cute, endearing animals and it is easy to fall in love with one. Puppies are also a lot of work to teach proper behavior, to housebreak, and to keep happy and occupied. If you are considering a specific breed, instead of a breeder, consider the animal shelter for a grown dog in that breed or mixed with that breed.
The reasons for this are many. For one thing a puppy needs to have a place or access to a place where they can empty their bowls and bladder every four hours. An older dog will already be housebroken. A puppy will need obedience training and re-enforcing teaching to learn proper behavior while inside. In most cases an older dog will know this already. A new puppy is a long term commitment. An older dog may live for a good while, but being older they will not be such a long term commitment. Also older dogs often have a calmer disposition and are less likely to be destructive.
Another thing to consider is the age of any children in the household. While a puppy might be appealing to those children, particularly small children, you will find that an older, calmer dog might be a better choice. A puppy could get annoyed with certain behaviors and bite in retaliation without warning. In most cases an older dog will have more tolerance or give a warning before they bite. You will want to keep in mind size too. For children a good size dog is a medium sized breed, and one with a good calm temper. Both things are hard to tell with a puppy, especially with mixed breed dogs.
You will want to pay attention to allergies also. Remember that it is not the fur that causes reactions but the urine and dander. A puppy will expose you to more urine then an older dog. If you insist on a puppy though remember to use dander neutralizers in his fur, wash your hands after petting and playing with the puppy, teach them to stay off the bed, and get the puppy used to the vacuum because you will be running it often.
Why choose an older dog over a puppy? To save a life, to get the love from an older, calmer animal, to make a lifelong friend with less of the hassle and time consumed in training them. You will need the same supplies for both ages, including ID tags, collars, leashes, kennel, bowls for food and water, and a dog bed. An older dog should take to all of these things quickly while a puppy will have to be trained to tolerate them. Knowing the temperament of the dog coming into the family helps you plan how to introduce them to others.
You will definitely want to pick up dog grooming tools and other pet grooming products.
Pet Dog Adoption
A dog provides a great benefit in unconditional love in exchange for the time and effort he takes. But before you grab a puppy to bring home, consider how much love an older dog can give you instead. In most cases an older animal has a stable, tried and true personality. They are usually trained already to behave in accepted ways. And you can tell this upon meeting an older dog, unlike with a puppy. In any case you should be very sure you have the time to devote to a dog, because they will need to be exercised, cared for, cleaned up after, and in general loved.
You should become familiar with the things you will need to take care of a dog. Knowing what to do in case of housebreaking issues, behavioral problems, health matters, and training needs can make the difference between a well behaved health pet and one that people want to avoid. In the case of a busy lifestyle you need to be aware that a puppy or young dog needs to be allowed access to the outdoors or a puppy pad for waste elimination every four to five hours. If you cannot provide this then consider an older dog with the ability to hold such things for a longer timespan. If you have the time to come home and be there every four hours and really prefer a puppy, then a puppy pad can give you that little extra assurance that the dog is going where you want them to go instead of in the corner.
Behavioral problems can come from boredom, lack of previous training, abuse, or other factors. If you are unsure about a dog's potential behavior then you should first make sure there are no medical reasons for it. A trip to the vet will help here. Then try to provide your dog with toys to keep them occupied to eliminate boredom as a factor. Providing your dog with the basics of fresh food and water can also help keep them happy and out of trouble.
A dog comes with costs, like vet bills. You should make sure you have time and funds to afford these bills to help keep your canine friend in top shape. You will need to provide monthly heart worm medicines, flea treatments, dental care, and similar things. Your dog will need vaccinations and may develop other medical bills as he gets older. All of these things should be kept in mind when deciding if you should get a dog. You will also want to invest in pet grooming products and grooming tools.
Training is a matter of time. The younger the dog, the more time and effort you will need to make in teaching the proper behavior. A large dog will need to have the entire family use the same methods to train it. This means enrolling everyone in obedience classes to teach the entire family all the same methods. Consistency is the key for training or retraining a dog to act in the fashion that you desire.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Hi everyone! I'm just getting started on Xanga... Drop me a comment if you've got some ideas on what to do first - or just to say, "Hi!" 
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