I Love Animals

The Poodle’s origin is controversial. Many countries have claimed the origin of the Poodle. Some say it is Germany. Other says it is Denmark, and of course, France says the Poodle’s origin belongs to them. Even Russia claims the Poodle’s origin. Many say, however, the Poodle’s most likely place of origin is Germany. The name Poodle is derived from the German word Pudel which means means to splash in water. In Franch, the Poodle was called Caniche, a derivation of canard or duck and described his chief function there.

The Poodle does indeed possess many attributes. Among those attributes are:

• Boldness

• Intelligence

• Sensitivity

The Poodle, out of all the other toy dog breeds, has a fine reputation of being extremely gentle with children. The Poodle is easily trained and has been a wonderful acrobat and performer with circuses and variety shows.

Another reason the Poodle has been so popular is the fact that he comes in three sizes. They are:

• Toy

• Miniature

• Standard

The Poodle also comes in a wide variety of colors ranging from black and white with many different shades in between.

The Poodle is the only breed whose coat is traditionally styled in a variety of ways. The Poodle is endowed by nature with the kind of coat that can grow over eight inches long. The Poodle’s coat is of a naturally harsh texture, profuse and dense throughout.

In the art of grooming the most artistic component is the scissoring work. A perfect finish can only be achieved through skillfully applied scissoring. The true professional groomer is set apart from the novice by the skill of scissoring.

A method of scissoring the legs of a Poodle:

1. Comb the hair down around the pastern so you can see all straggly hairs clearly hanging over the clipped area.

2. Scissor straight across the narrowest part of the pastern and uniformly all around it.

3. Hold the leg up with one hand, scissor along the inside leg silhouette in a straight vertical line up to the elbow.

4. Do the same routine on the other leg.

5. Scissor in a circular fashion with overlapping strokes so that there are no ridges.

6. The final result should resemble a cylindrical column.

7. All four legs should be trimmed in the same way.

8. All the wispy hair is trimmed away and the legs are nicely outlined.

You should also use the scissors to blend lines so the whole coat is even. You should scissor more closely in the anal area. For the tail, the Poodle standard calls for a pompon on the tail. The “pom” should look like a ball.

A method of scissoring the tail of a Poodle:

1. Comb out the pom and scissor in a circular fashion.

2. Some professional groomers find that curved scissors achieve a better result.

The head or “topknot” of a Poodle is scissored to achieve a domelike look.

A method of scissoring the head or “topknot”:

1. The first scissor cut on the topknot should be along the top line of the ear.

2. Do the same on both sides.

3. Scissor the whole topknot in proportion to the size of the head.

4. Scissor ear furnishings just to remove any straggly hairs.

5. Some professional groomers prefer to tie up the ears with a latex band while trimming the head.

6. The topknot must be blended into the neck.

7. You can round out the topknot using curve scissors.

8. Take care to keep the topknot in balance with the trim.

9. For decoration apply ribbons. Traditionally the ribbon is placed on the hip for the male dog while it is placed at the ear separation for the female.

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Getting a great family pet begins with careful selection of the animal. Great care should be taken in this regard due to the growth of puppy mills that crank out cute little puppies with little emotional stability. These emotionally damaged animals can be found in pet stores in almost any city or town across the country.

Take the time to check out not only the puppy but also where the pet store obtained the animal. If there’s any question, pass on a dog as the emotional trauma you and your family will experience with an emotionally scarred dog is not worth bringing a puppy home immediately after seeing them.

Another thing that you should watch out for is if the puppies are kept in the same area where they go to the bathroom. The dogs natural instinct is to keep where they live and sleep clean. If you find puppies that are being kept in cages where their bowel movements, etc. are in the same general area as where they are living, this is a big red flag. While these puppies may be fine, you run the risk of having a much more difficult, and possibly impossible time of fully housebreaking the puppy.

The reason for this is that successful house training is most effective when you use the animals’ natural instincts to help associate relieving themselves with the outdoors. A properly trained dog will not relieve themselves anywhere in the home if only to keep it clean. While this may sound more than a little odd given what dogs will eat and roll around in poo, starting out with a puppy that hasn’t developed bad habits will make your job of house training a lot easier.

There are many different ways of dog training available. One of the most effective ways is using a crate to limit your dogs access to the rest of your home. This is important given that a new puppy doesn’t understand the roles of the home or your expectations, limiting his ability to get into trouble is really a blessing.

Don’t mistake crate training for keeping your dog in a cage. A training crate is much different from a cage and the animal will consider a crate a secure place to rest versus a holding pen.

While fencing makes good neighbors, training your pet using a dog crate is the best way to quickly get them to learn your rules. Crates also typically do not have tops but are more of a containment area for your pet. By limiting your pet’s ability to be out of your sight, you are much more able to be available when training opportunities arise.

Crate training is an easy and inexpensive way to train your pet. Visit the site below for much more valuable information on crate training your new family pet.

Housebreaking is the most indispensable thing your Shih Tzu puppy must learn. Common sense should tell you why. Do you want your house to stay spic and span? Handle your Shih Tzu puppy’s housebreaking well. Aside from the maintenance of your household hygiene, trained Shih Tzu is happy Shih Tzu. As creatures of habit, it’s in their nature to keep schedules as pack animals. Here is how you should housebreak your Shih Tzu puppy:

Ideal Housebreaking Age

When your Shih Tzu puppy reaches the age of 8 to 12 weeks old, it’s high time to begin housebreaking. Remember that adage that old dogs can’t learn new tricks? It is true so why take chances?

Crate Help

Dog trainers suggest using a crate in housebreaking your Shih Tzu puppy. A crate is like a cage, with see-through bars and a locking door. Its size should accommodate well the Shih Tzu’s size for it to move around in. It should be used like a Shih Tzu’s bedroom. It is advised to not confine your Shih Tzu puppy in his crate for more than two hours at a time.

The reasoning behind using a crate in housebreaking your Shih Tzu puppy is that dogs will not dirty their sleeping areas. However, he may do so if you lock him in somewhere for longer than he can hold it in. Never use a crate to punish your Shih Tzu, it will backfire. Generally, Shih Tzu pups that are three-months old must eliminate every 3 hours, so you should lead him to a special outdoor comfort place more often.

Make Your Shih Tzu Puppy Learn Routines

Another tip is to leave the house through one door only. This door should be the one that you want the Shih Tzu to scratch to warn you about his being called by the nature.

Taking your Shih Tzu pup out at around the same times every day will be very beneficial for the both of you. This will help in establishing a routine, and will make him learn to hold it in until you become available to take him out.

Look For Clues

If the un-housebroken Shih Tzu is accustomed to roaming freely around the house, search for signs that show you he needs to do it. Be really observant enough of his behavior, i.e., heavy sniffing, circling an area, staring at the door with an intense look on his face, etc. If you catch him WHILE doing it, stop him with a quick grab of his collar and pull it up while saying “No” using your deep, stern tone (don’t forget to use a deep, gruff voice when stating commands). Then, take him outside and let him finish what he is doing. Lastly, pat him on his head while saying “Good (his name)!” It is a must to make your Shih Tzu get used to being praised whenever he does anything that makes you proud. Giving him food as a reward when he does his business in the appropriate spot can help, too.

Patience is a Big Virtue

Like any training endeavor, housebreaking requires a lot of patience. If you definitely despise cleaning your Shih Tzu waste off your Persian carpets on an hourly basis and having your whole house smell like a public bathroom, you want the housebreaking to be successful in a wink of an eye, if not sooner.

Common Sense Makes a Lot of Sense

The use of common sense will aid you big time in dealing with your Shih Tzu puppy’s housebreaking. Logical thinking should inform you to not give your Shih Tzu water before bedtime if his tendency is to pee often at night time. Catering to his schedule first will prove to be very helpful in making it gradually change into yours.

Aside from patience and common sense, consistency is also one of the important factors of this dog training activity. If you suddenly forget about the routines yourself, don’t blame the Shih Tzu if he starts committing accidents more often. Remember that the stakes are high (dirty and malodorous house). If you would like success in this housebreaking feat or just about in any other training drills, don’t treat it as a game. Allot enough time and commitment on your part.

Best of luck!

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All puppies are small dogs – some, however, won’t be small for very long. You have to know how big your dog is going to be when it is fully grown before you can buy it a bed of its own, unless, that is, you don’t mind buying your beloved canine friend a new bed every six months or so for several years.

The beauty of small dogs is that for the most part they are full-grown in under a year or so. You can count on certain breeds merely doubling in size from birth – starting out at about four to five pounds and ending up at only ten pounds or less. So buying this breed of dog a small dog bed means that unless there are accidents or other unforeseen circumstances, one small dog bed may be good for the life of your pet.

Another factor to keep in mind when buying a small dog bed is whether or not your puppy is a chewer. Chewing dogs, especially those puppies having a difficult time cutting their first set of teeth, may destroy the beautiful bed you’ve bought them as a way of relieving the pain in their mouths.

Housebreaking your pet is another factor to consider when purchasing a small dog bed. Maybe you should wait until the dog is completely housebroken, whatever that means in your particular living situation, before purchasing that new dog bed. You might spend a lot of time and money, place your beloved puppy into his new sleeping place for a good night’s sleep, and then awaken to find he’s pooped and peed all over his new bed. Finish the housebreaking process and then go to work on finding a permanent sleep situation for your pet.

The rule of thumb for small dogs is to measure them in their sleeping position and then add 7 inches for future growth or a change in sleep style. In this manner your dog won’t hang over the edge of his new bed or outgrow it too quickly. Small dogs prefer the “nest” type of bed, where there are structured sides to lay against and offer comfort when sleeping.

Finding the right bed is important because small dogs spend a lot of time being held by their owners, more so than larger animals, and the comfy, cozy small dog bed makes them feel right at home without the added human touch.

None expected me to return home holding a tiny living fur-ball in my palms and announcing that whether they liked it or not I would definitely keep my new friend indoors. As simple as that my female cat entered my life. She was actually saved by my father, who being an animal-lover all his life he decided to run to its rescue when he spotted the stray kitten walking the dangerous city streets. Two days later, I was introduced with my soon to become indoor cat and I was glad that me and my father were in fact on some kind of “secret agreement” to convince my mother that the kitty had to be adopted by us.

Although my parents have taught me to love and respect animals since I was a small kid, it was amazing for me to be able to touch and play with my cat in the comfort of my own bedroom. One of my friends, who is afraid of animals in general due to a misfortunate event with a dog when she was a child, came one day at my house to watch a movie with me. Since she was not informed that a cat was present-it totally slipped my mind to tell her-and as we were relaxing on the couch, she suddenly jumped surprised and screamed “For God’s sake! Who is this Godzilla?” I laughed so hard that tears came out of my eyes, as I was seeing my adult friend being afraid of a kitten not bigger than a palm. As you can probably guess, this is why my cat took that name.

Next summer, as I was vacating at my favorite island, I woke up one morning from a noise a cat made outside my door. This for me was a unique experience, as my ability to sleep through any kind of noisy disturbance is legendary. When I opened the door, there was on my doorstep another tiny soul looking straight into my eyes, begging for some food. This male cat instantly became the mascot of that year’s summer vacations and I was not willing to leave the cat behind upon my return. My parents had to experience, for the second time in their lives, how determination can lead a stray kitten into our home.

A year later, Godzilla and Ricky-my father thought of the second name-became a couple and gave birth to five kittens, which I had to give away to other families as I could not keep seven cats in my apartment. Four months after the birth both of my cats were spayed or neutered-my veterinarian suggested that this procedure was necessary since the cats were always together and in less than a year I would have to find more families to adopt the new kittens that would be born. Although I was extremely reluctant to the idea, I finally agreed to perform the operations and the truth is that afterwards my cats were calmer and much more affectionate; not only to each other, but also with family and friends. They never gained weight-one of those myths that you can hear-and they immediately began behaving as usual. Of course, I have always remembered to perform all the appropriate vaccinations and I bought colorful collars for their ID tags. At some point, I considered microchipping them too, but did not go ahead with the idea as I should and until today I regret not going ahead with it.

Godzilla and Ricky were two of the best friends I had during the last eight years and they were always there for me. Only those who have experienced the pleasure of having a pet can probably understand how I felt when I had to give Godzilla and Ricky away as I was about to leave my country and my parents, who had a third cat in their house which did not like intruders, could not handle this triple challenge. I was fortunate enough to find two kind friends, who offered Godzilla and Ricky a new home and the love they so much deserved. But, although I know Godzilla is totally happy in her new premises, I must confess that Ricky has gone missing two moths after I left; that is almost two years ago. Even though my friend did everything in her power to locate the missing cat, he has never returned to her house or to mine. I terribly miss both and there are moments when I still imagine entering the house and finding them waiting to go back to sleep at my side. I never forgave myself for not microchipping my cats, since that unique pet ID might have been Ricky’s ticket home. I am one of those animal-lovers that want their pets to feel free and happy and not for one second have I even thought the possibility of one of them getting lost during my absence. Although some are reluctant to the idea of keeping their cats indoors at all times, life has taught me that you should do everything in your power to keep your beloved cat safe. I never blamed my friend for having a garden and Ricky for deciding to explore the world outside her fence. I regret for not being proactive and concentrating on my own fears instead of their future safety. Do not do the same mistake. Take good care of your cats so you will sleep better during the night.

In choosing a dog for the family, it is a good idea we keep the children in mind. Some dogs are not tolerant of children and can be a threat to them. There are many breeds of dogs out there to choose from. Do your homework to see which one works the best with your family and especially your children.

By far the number one best dog breed for children hands down, would have to be, you guessed it, Labrador Retriever. This dog is well accepted because of its good nature. It is not generally aggressive or hyper. It is playful, easy-going, intelligent and patient. No wonder it is loved by the young and old. Because of its mild manner, it is first choice in working with the handicapped. It is has desire to please as if it knows its plight. The Lab is also a great pick if you have other animals. They are very accommodating. A well taken care of Lab can live up to 13 years. In order to reduce boredom in these dogs, they should be kept active. These dogs love playing in the yard or taking walks.

Number two on the list is the Golden Retriever. They are similar to the Lab in their personality. They are also mild mannered, kind and they enjoy being around people. They too are a top pick for working with the handicapped as well as the elderly. They too get along with other pets. These dogs are intelligent creatures to train. Playing fetch is a favorite game for them. Because of their playful nature, this breed of dog would be great for an older child who enjoys the outdoors. Regular grooming is required because of their long hair.

The next pick is the Beagle. Even though they have a baying bark, they are not aggressive dogs. What their barking does say about them is they make great watch dogs. These dogs have a friendly demeanor about them. Their tails seem to be in an unending wagging motion. Because friendliness comes natural with them, they do not like being left alone. They become bored when left by themselves for too long. They are great picks for smaller children because of their size.

Another great pick for children is the Basset Hound. They are generally docile, yet they are known for their stubbornness. They are also known for their gentleness and are quite sweet by nature. They are great with children of all ages and enjoy attention from them.

The German shepherd is another pick. Again, these are probably best for older children who enjoy playing outdoors. Because of their size and strength, they are probably not suitable for younger children. German Shepherds are known for their loyalty. Police often use this type of dog for search and rescue missions. They are protective by nature and are quite tolerant. It is best to start training these dogs as pups. Without training, they can be a handful.

The black and white spotted Dalmatian is associated with fire trucks. But for a family, a Dalmatian would be a trusted friend. They are very outgoing dogs with lots of energy to spare. This dog needs companionship from humans.

The Bearded Collie is another great pick. These are active dogs and would do best outdoors. They like to have open space to run, so being confined to an apartment would not suit these dogs.

Then there is the American Cocker Spaniel. They are sensitive and sweet dogs. They are generally obedient to their master and enjoy the attention of children. They are definitely a people friendly dog.

The Bearded Collie is known for its bounce. This dog is very playful and happy. They like to be around people and will not hide their excitement of being around you. Female Collies tend to be calmer, while males are more rambunctious.

Cockapoos not only are good around children, but they get on with other pets as well. They do not need a lot of space. Apartment life is OK with them.

In choosing the right dog for your family, always remember that there are always exceptions to the rules. Each dog is an individual, and why for the most part certain breeds are more children friendly, you should always be cautious with your child around unknown dogs.

Before you decide to give your dog canine arthritis medicine you should understand what arthritis is and why medication will ease your dog’s symptoms.

Arthritis in dogs is just like in humans, it is when a joint becomes inflamed. It can be very painful, swell and become hard to move. Dogs can have different types of arthritis also. Before just giving your dog any type of medication you find at the store, you should have your veterinarian check your dog for signs of arthritis.

Canine arthritis medicine will not make the arthritis go away. There are no cures for arthritis. In severe cases, surgery can be an alternative. But, many medications will relive the pain and swelling associated with arthritis. After your veterinarian has diagnosed your dog with canine arthritis it would be best to find out what medicines he thinks would be best for the type of arthritis you dog is suffering with.

There are many different types of pain killers and anti inflammatory medications that are great in helping your dog. With these medicines your dog will be able to play again and even enjoy life more.

The main thing to remember is that you do not want your best friend suffering with pain if he doesn’t have to. He will not be happy and can become worse without the medication. The pain from arthritis will have him lying around and then his joints can become stiffer. He needs to exercise and that is very hard to do, if he is in severe pain.

Luckily, its an ailment that can be treated with treatments such as Arthramine which helps repair the damaged tissue.

Crate training for dogs. Crate training is a wonderful training tool as the best gift you can give to your dog. How to Crate Training your Dogs? There are some tips to help you to crate training your dogs.

• Crate training can be fun for the puppy if you make it a POSITIVE experience. Make sure that your attitude toward using a dog crate is a positive one. If you properly train your dog to use a dog crate with a positive one, he’ll think his dog crate is a safe place and will be happy to spend time in his dog crate when needed.

• Training your dog to use a crate happily. First, introduce your dog to a dog crate with a correct way so dog will feel secure and safe. You can start by use some toys and foods to encourage him to go to his crate, open the crate door so he can go in & out as he wants.

• After the dog become familiar with the crate and want to going in and staying in the crate, feeding him there, with the door open at first so he doesn’t feel you tricked him.

• Dogs dislike soiling in or near their beds, so remembering to open the crate door usually after eating, so they can relieve themselves by go outside.

• Put the dog crate in the correct place. Put the crate in quiet place at home, remember don’t put the crate in the places that get to hot or to cold.

• Never use a dog crate as punishment place. Remember, a dog crate is not supposed to be a jail. The most common misconception about a dog crate is that it is a cruel form of caging a pet.

• Crate training is one of the most effective ways, positive tool for housebreaking and other aspects of behavior control. Crate training can save your house and belongings from being soiled and chewed. It is one of the most effective ways of house breaking any puppy or dog.

Crate training for dogs are something that can work well for both you and your dog. It is efficient when used correctly and the fastest and most humane method of housebreaking dogs. A dog crate is used to regulate training and teach good behavior in your dog and safest place for your dog when you can’t be present to supervise. Crate training is a wonderful training tool for both you and your dog!

(c) Crate Training For Dogs

House training a shih tzu puppy is very important for the well being of both the shih tzu puppy and the owner. The number one reason that dogs are surrendered to animal shelters is problems with inappropriate elimination, so it is easy to see why proper house training is such an important consideration.

It is important to establish proper toilet habits when the shih tzu puppy is young, since these habits can last a lifetime, and be very hard to break once they are established. It is very important for the owner to house break the shih tzu puppy properly. In most cases, true house training cannot begin until the shih tzu puppy is six months old. Puppies younger than this generally lack the bowel and bladder control that is needed for true house training.

Shih Tzu puppies younger than six months should be confined to a small, shih tzu puppy proofed room when the owner cannot supervise them. The entire floor of the room should be covered with newspapers or similar absorbent materials, and the paper changed every time it is soiled. As the shih tzu puppy gets older, the amount of paper used can be reduced as the shih tzu puppy begins to establish a preferred toilet area. It is this preferred toilet area that will form the basis of later house training.

The Do’s of House Training Your Puppy:

Always provide the shih tzu puppy with constant, unrestricted access to the established toilet area.

When you are at home, take the shih tzu puppy to the toilet area every 45 minutes.

When you are not at home or cannot supervise the shih tzu puppy, you must be sure the shih tzu puppy cannot make a mistake. This means confining the shih tzu puppy to a small area that has been thoroughly puppy proofed. Puppy proofing a room is very similar to baby proofing a room, since puppies chew on everything.

Always provide a toilet area that does not resemble anything in your home. Training the shih tzu puppy to eliminate on concrete, blacktop, grass or dirt is a good idea. The shih tzu puppy should never be encouraged to eliminate on anything that resembles the hardwood flooring, tile or carpet he may encounter in a home.

Praise and reward your shih tzu puppy every time he eliminates in the established toilet area. The shih tzu puppy must learn to associate toileting in the established areas with good things, like treats, toys and praise from his owner.

Always keep a set schedule when feeding your shih tzu puppy, and provide constant access to fresh, clean drinking water. A consistent feeding schedule equals a consistent toilet schedule.

Using a crate can be a big help in helping a shih tzu puppy develop self control. The concept behind crate training is that the shih tzu puppy will not want to toilet in his bed area.

And finally, it is important to be patient when house training a shih tzu puppy. House training can take as long as several months, but it is much easier to house train right the first time than to retrain a problem dog.

The Don’ts of House Training Your Shih Tzu Puppy

Never reprimand or punish the shih tzu puppy for mistakes. Punishing the shih tzu puppy will only cause fear and confusion.

Do not leave food out for the shih tzu puppy all night long. Keep to a set feeding schedule in order to make the dog’s toilet schedule as consistent as possible.

Do not give the shih tzu puppy the run of the house until he has been thoroughly house trained.

House training is not always the easiest thing to do, and some dogs tend to be much easier to house train than others. It is important, however to be patient, consistent and loving as you train your shih tzu. A rushed, frightened or intimidated shih tzu will not be able to learn the important lessons of house training. Once you have gained your shih tzu puppy’s love and respect, however, you will find that house training your shih tzu puppy is easier than you ever expected.

Let’s talk ticks. There are three things - OK, more than three thing - that I find people won’t believe, even after you prove it to them:

1) Warming up your car on cold mornings is a waste of gas - just get in and drive, staying under 35 mph for a mile or two;

2) Gas is gas - buying high octane gas is a waste of money unless your car is one of the select few that specifically demands it; and

3) finding a tick on your dog does not signal the impending apocalypse.

I came by this last truth the hard way. Someone - i won’t say who, O.K. my mother, brought me up to believe that a tick was nothing less than a miniature Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Indestructable. Slain only by complete immersing in fire or by driving a silver stake through its little heart.

I believed this until I pulled a tick off my dog one day, tossed her (it’s the bloodthirsty females we worry about) on the desk and sliced and diced it with my x- acto knife. Not that I would normally harm a fly, of course, but this was in the interest of science. In about 11 pieces, the tick didn’t seem likely to resume foraging for a blood meal anytime soon.

This was the just first myth I would come to unravel about ticks.

I’ve already started at the end of a tick’s story so let’s work back from there when you are out hiking with your dog.

TALL TICK TALE #1 - Removing Ticks From Your Dog (or yourself)

How many times have you heard that the proper method - the ONLY safe way to remove ticks - is with tweezers. Smearing vaseline on the tick first is even better. This is supposed to guarantee the tick’s head will not stay embedded in your dog.

Well, how many times do you have vaseline and tweezers at the ready when you find a tick on your dog? The ONLY safe way to deal with a tick is to get it off as quickly as possible. A tick (and we’re talking deer ticks, not the much more common dog tick) cannot infect your dog with Lyme Disease until it is embedded for some time (usually more than 24 hours). So don’t be shy about removing a tick with your fingers. Get in there and get it out.

TALL TICK TALE #2 - Leave As Little Of Your Skin Exposed As Possible To Keep Ticks Off You

It didn’t take many trips into the woods to realize that wearing long sleeves and tucking long pants into socks to stave off ticks was just plain ridiculous. All you do when you load up on clothes in the summer - besides sweat - is give your tiny enemy a lifetime’s worth of hiding places.

When a tick hitches a ride on you or your dog it doesn’t settle in for a meal immediately. It checks out the new digs by wandering around for awhile. Are you more likely to detect a tick crawling on your bare leg or sneaking up your shirt sleeve?

So you don’t need to dress like a beekeeper outdoors to detect ticks - just check your skin and your dog regularly as you walk. Catching a tick at this time is the easiest way to combat it.

TALL TICK TALE #3 - The Best Way To Avoid Ticks In The First Place Is To Stay Away From Trees

What is it with irrational fears we harbor about our hair? Bats don’t fly into our hair and ticks don’t lurk on tree limbs eyeing the tops of our heads like tycoons checking out oceanfront property. Leave your tick-fighting hat at home.

Ticks spend most of their time clinging to wispy blades of long grass waiting for a warm-blooded passerby to hitch a ride. The best place way to avoid ticks is to keep your dog and yourself out in the middle of a trail as much as possible.

If you want to be outdoors, you aren’t going to avoid all ticks. But if you deal with them a little more realistically, you don’t need to avoid the outdoors, either.

copyright 2006