I Love Animals

This is Jake’s own story, as he sees his world!

I can’t remember much about my very young life, but my own story really started at around about 14 weeks, when this very nice couple came to where I was living, looking for a puppy. All I remember is sitting in the corner of the kennel, while four young lady puppies rushed over to say “Hello”. They were very pretty blue merle collie pups and I was just a plain old “black and white” Border collie. I was thinking to myself “No-one will ever want me” and was resigned to a lonely life in my corner. However, to my amazement, I was the puppy they picked up to hold.

“Right”, I thought… “I’m going to make the most of this and hope that they take me home with them”, so I snuggled in as tightly as I could and gave them a big wet kiss. That turned out to be a winning move on my part, because that’s when my own story started for real and they took me home with them.

I was determined it would be a decision they would never regret and decided from that day on to be the best friend anyone could have asked for. When we arrived at the house, where my new “Mom and Dad” lived. I felt a bit lost sitting on the kitchen floor all by myself, with no other puppies around to play with. But as the months went by I became more accustomed to the surroundings and started to enjoy my little life.

“This is the place for me” I thought “There’s plenty of open space to run around in, shadows to chase and even things with feathers on that fly away when you get near”.

I did have a few hiccups though, when it became time to learn how to walk on one of those lead thingies… I wasn’t too keen at first! In fact I tried very hard not to give in, but as you can guess, I did!

As time passed, I had done everything from digging holes in the flowerbeds, helping with the “unplanting” of flowers and just managing to avoid falling into the fishpond, I reckoned my new life was going to be great.

When I was about…mmm!, let me think about this…ohhh! I guess I must have been about 12 months old, everything in the house was being packed away in boxes. “What’s goin’ on here?” I thought to myself “Which box is mine?”. It turned out my own story was about to continue from a new home near the coast…

What a great place that was. So many places to have a good old romp amongst the heather, plus there was this place called “the beach”. Wasn’t too sure about it at first, as I got my feet wet, which was something that I didn’t like at all (at first). But after going a few times, I began to realise that it wasn’t such a bad place. I could run and run and not really get anywhere, but that didn’t matter.

Then one day much to everyone’s surprise, I decided to be brave and charged off into the water… Yippee!, I’ve got more than my feet wet now. “Hey, this is fun” I thought “I can actually swim”. I looked forward to being taken to the beach more and more as time passed.

However, after a couple of years everything was being packed in boxes again. Here we again, I thought, where are we off too this time? Didn’t have long to wait. We moved to another house, but still near the sea.

I am nearly 6 years old now, (I think!) and I am sure I have been a constant source of amusement to “Mom and Dad” I reckon they have got a file full of photos and lots of fond memories… so far that is!

Life has been very good for me, so a great big wet-nosed thank-you to my “Mom and Dad” for picking me and taking me home with them that day. All I want to do now is to grow old with them, update my own story, from time to time and enjoy our lives together for many years to come…

Gone are the days of boring bird cages. Today’s bird cages are trendy. They are stylish. They make a statement about the owner’s taste and lifestyle. Bird cages can blend in artfully with the décor or they can stand in bold contrast. Bird cages are available in many different themes and styles. Modern, whimsical, simplistic, Victorian, Oriental, Tuscan, Arabian —bird cages are available in these styles and more.

Some of the most beautiful cages in any style are wooden bird cages. They can be made of most any wood—cherry, oak, pine, maple, and even laminate. For most any wood décor, there is a wooden bird cage to match. And, if you can’t find an existing bird cage, one can be made to match.

For all their beauty, though, there are some things to consider before buying a wooden bird cage. For example, wooden bird cages are difficult to clean. They can be very challenging to disinfectant and sanitize, as germs and bacteria can get into the grains.

If you own a parrot, it is definitely best to avoid wooden bird cages. Parrots enjoy chewing the wood.

Wooden bird cages are available online in a variety of sizes. They can also be custom ordered to your exact specifications. Though used wooden bird cages are available, they should be avoided. These cages could pose a significant health risk to your bird and your family.

For people who love and keep pets, one of the most traumatic moments they will ever experience is bidding farewell to their furry of feathered best friend. Most pet people imagine that they could not feel any worse than they do during this terrible experience. Unfortunately, often we can, and for the most ironic of reasons.

At a time when we are at our lowest and sorely in need of comforting from a friend or relative, instead, too frequently we find callousness or indifference. Sometimes those we love come up short in the compassion department and unwittingly say cruel and hurtful things. Commonly, we hear things like “get over it already, it was just a cat”, or “what is your problem, just go buy another dog”. Friends don’t mean to be cruel. Some simply do not understand the depth of our pain or cannot relate to how we are feeling.

I want to caution you not to over-react to their lack of understanding. Don’t buy into the philosophy that when you are down and out, you will learn who your true friends are by the way they act toward you. This may be true when you lose your job or when you become divorced, because friendships are often based on social considerations. If the make-up of your family changes, for instance (i.e. your wife leaves with the children, etc.), your neighbors may not find you as socially attractive as before. If you lose your job, and coincidentally your income, you may not be able to afford membership at the local golf club and shallow friends may shun you because you have become a potential burden to them.

Losing a pet does not usually change your social status, however. It does not make you an unattractive neighbor or economically-challenged golf partner. Consequently, if your friends are not there for you when you need their support, there probably are other factors at play that have nothing to do with your friendship.

Friends undoubtedly feel your pain very, very deeply. They perceive that you are very low and they want to help, but sometimes even your closest friends do not know what to do for you. They are not sure how to react to your grief. They do not know how to approach the topic or are afraid of saying the wrong thing.

Their first response is usually an attempt to try to cheer you up, not realizing that this is the last thing you need or want. That failing, they feel inadequate and unable to help. Perhaps they are ashamed that they initially came across as flippant when they did not mean to. Now, certain that they have offended you, they try to avoid you, or at least avoid the topic. The effect is that they appear to be indifferent and unfeeling in your hour of need.

This makes them no less your friend than they were before your loss. They still love you and care about you. They simply are not equipped emotionally to help. We perceive this as a failure on their part, and indeed, it is; but it is a failure to know how to help, not a failure as a friend.

If you value your friendship, your reaction to this perceived failure should be one of grace. The relationship may hang on your ability to be understanding. Undoubtedly, it is unfair to you in your hour of need to be required to exercise wisdom and compassion for someone who you think is letting you down. But if you value that relationship, it is worth the effort. Don’t react harshly. Don’t react impulsively. Put your emotions on hold until such time that you can make a measured response.

I have found that by saying something like: “I know that what I am going through is difficult for you to understand. I know you want to help me, but there is really nothing you can do right now. I need to go through the pain and I need to grieve. If you would just give me some time and be patient, eventually my pain will be manageable and I will start being my old self again”; friends will give you space and understand.

Then, the ball is in your court. Don’t let what you told them be words only. You need to follow through on your promise. Grieve as long as you must, but start to focus on returning to normal. Time will assist you in that goal, but real healing comes from within.

Most of us play the “what if” game and wind up blaming ourselves for one thing or another regarding the passing of our pets. Don’t do that. No matter what the circumstances, don’t blame yourself for what happened. Focus on the love and devotion you had for your best friend and concentrate on the good times. Eventually, you will wake up one morning and realize your life is returning to normal.

When you do, you will see that friends and family are still there for you. Forgive their inability to relate to what you were going through. It doesn’t mean they didn’t care. It doesn’t mean they didn’t love you. In fact, in most cases you will find that it was because they cared, because they loved you, that they kept their distance in respect for your grief.

Grieving is one of the few times in our lives when we are allowed to be selfish and to over-indulge. You take whatever time you need in this very private matter. No one should tell you how long to mourn. Set those who care about you at ease and let them know you need time to grieve and be alone. But when you are finished, return to normal for them. The pain will still be there, but you will have framed it in context with the rest of your life and other relationships will have remained intact.

Hummingbirds are very small petite birds belonging to the family of Trochilidae. These birds have the capability to linger in mid air and flap their wings incredibly fast, that is, fifteen to eighty times per second. The distinguishing characteristics of a hummingbird are:

a) it can fly backwards

b) it can fly vertically

c) its wings make a constant humming noise

d) it can draw the nectar from flowers while maintaining its position

The bird has got its name from the humming sound of its wings.

Hummingbirds primarily live on the nectar of flowers. They are drawn to a lot of foliage, but Shrimp plants, heliconia, fuchsias, penstemons and other types of flowering plants seem to have a large concentration of hummingbirds feeding on their nectar. Small insects are also eaten, mother birds feed these to their young. These small birds take an active part in pollination of the flowers they feed on. The nesting of these birds sees no active participation of the male hummingbird. Eggs take around fourteen to nineteen days to hatch. The nest is a woven cup like shape in the midst of a tree branch.

Hummingbirds are beautiful. The male birds have bright and colourful plumage and the female birds are a bit duller. Glittering bellied emerald, shining sunbeam, festive coquette are some of the names given to various species of these birds by the enthusiastic admirers. Though they are gorgeous, they are also very small and the bee hummingbird is the smallest in the world weighing hardly 1.8 grams. The flight of humming bird is an area where intense scientific research is being done. The wingbeat cycle of the bird support their body weight, that is seventy five percent of the weight is supported on the downstroke and twenty five percent is supported on the upstroke.

Hummingbirds have high rate of metabolism which is necessary for their fast flapping of wings. Their heart beat rate is also extremely high compared to other birds. They eat more than their weight per day but can slow down their metabolism at night or when food is not available. They are then in a hibernation sort of stage called torpor. For long flights the birds store body fat which is used as fuel. The birds are generally quite hardy.

Hummingbirds are popular with people and many feed the bird with artificial nectar. They accept man made feeders but are partial to the red ones. Hummingbirds can get trapped in garages but if trapped the birds may not survive. They are a source of joy to countless bird lovers.

The Terriers are a group of dogs with dozens of individual entrants. Most of these dogs have some common traits, including the fact that they’re almost always tenacious at whatever task life has handed them. Terriers range from the very small to the very large, from those with rather snappish tendencies to the very tolerant. And there are even some that have little or no hair.

The American Hairless Terrier is one of those with no hair. Many adults weigh in at no more than six or seven pounds. They tend to have white or pink skin with spots just like a Rat Terrier would have, but with no hair. If you think that breeding these hairless Terriers to a haired dog is a good idea, think twice. The result is sometimes a dog that has random tufts of hair.

The Black Russian Terriers are sometimes called Bear Schnauzers. The Schnauzer is among the direct ancestors of this breed that was created by the Soviets for use as a military dog. The breed today has been standardized and is often used as a watch or guard dog. These Terriers grow to be well over 120 pounds, but are much more suited to indoor living than life in a kennel.

Patterdale Terriers are smaller Terriers, usually only ten to twelve pounds. These dogs are usually calm - a trait not so common in Terriers. The breed is common to England, but not so well known around the world.

The West Highland Terrier - also known as the Westie - is the epitome of all things Terrier. These dogs are lively and alert, always anxious to be included in anything that’s going on within his territory and ready to stick his nose into everyone else’s activities. These little guys tend to like their people and simply exude the fact that they are secure in their rule over their part of the universe!

Dandy Dinmont Terriers are very similar to the Westies in many ways. These dogs simply seem to take over any house where they feel comfortable and secure. As is the case with most Terriers, they may be reserved with strangers or those who are not overly kind to them, but their people will never wonder if the Dandy Dinmont is happy to see them.

The German Hunt Terrier exhibits one of the traits common to many Terriers. This little dog has the tenacity to run its game to ground, and a tail that will withstand the strain of a hunter pulling the dog from a hole! Many of the terriers were bred to hunt various game or vermin - the Rat Terrier, for example. Sometimes, the hunter had to pull these tenacious little dogs from the hole to keep them safe and to provide the hunter a clear shot at the prey.

The Terriers as a breed are as diverse as any in the canine world. These dogs range from extremely tolerant to reserved and serve many purposes. Whether you’re hunting, taking an afternoon nap, romping in the park, throwing a stick in the water or tossing a Frisbee, the dog you’re playing with may very well be one of the many Terriers that we call friend.

America loves dogs in films and on television. We also seem to love dogs in the pages of the Sunday funnies and in animation. To list all of the cartoon dogs that have made some kind of impact on American pop culture could fill an entire book. Here, however, is a small who’s who list of dogs that have been popular in cartoons over the years.

1924 – Sandy

Fans of Harold Gray’s comic strip Little Orphan Annie fondly remember Annie’s dog Sandy. Although Sandy never had much to say except the occasional panel-ending “ARF!” she was loved nonetheless and often was able to help Annie out of tough scrapes when fighting Nazis or investigating haunted houses.

1950 – Snoopy

Easily the most recognizable cartoon dog in American history, Snoopy – the real star of Charles Schultz’s Peanuts – is an American icon. Snoopy stole the show in every Peanuts strip he appeared in. He fought the Red Baron from the top of his dog house, was the proud owner of original paintings by both Vincent Van Gogh and an Andrew Wyeth (the Van Gogh was sadly destroyed by fire), never quite finished his novel but typed the opening line “it was a dark and stormy night” countless times, and had a twin brother named Spike who lived in the desert outside Needles, California. Not bad for a Beagle.

1980’s – Odie

It is nearly impossible not to love Odie, the relatively stupid, completely mute (he doesn’t even think in words), and incessantly slobbering canine companion of Garfield the cat in the Jim Davis strip Garfield. Odie was there simply to be abused by Garfield, no doubt about it, but there are plenty of times in the history of the comic that we get to see just how important the little dog is to the titular chubby cat.

1990 – Santa’s Little Helper

What better pet for the misfit Simpson family than Santa’s Little Helper, a weary greyhound that couldn’t win a race if his life depended on it? From the Christmas themed pilot episode of The Simpsons to the episodes airing today (as of this writing the show is in its 16th season), SLH has been a fixture in the constantly expanding Simpsons universe. Who can forget SLH destroying Homer’s prized giant cookie, learning to talk in an effort to distract the family’s attention away from their “new” dog Laddie, and being trained as an attack hound by Mr. Burns and the not quite in the closet Waylon Smithers? Santa’s Little Helper is everything the Simpson family dog should be and more. Watch for his Snoopy imitation at the end of one of the series’ famous Treehouse of Horror Halloween episodes.

I love dogs. I have my whole life. My dogs I consider family (only I rarely ask them for money). I let them sleep in my bed, ride shotgun in my car, and I have even been known to kiss them on the lips (hey we’re in love, okay?). When it comes time to give them presents (on Christmas, on their birthdays, or important times of a dog’s life: first day of obedience school, day they become house trained, day they are bar mitzvahed) I always strive to give them something unique; something that they in their sophistication can appreciate (for the sake of this article, we are ignoring the fact that they eat their own feces). One thing I’ve recently come across that is both fun for pets and pet owners are Chewgars, cigars made for dogs; get your animal in the habit of smoking these.

For those of you who are both dog owners and cigar lovers, you may notice some things that non-pet owners do not. Take for instance the reactions of your beloved pup. As you light up a Henry Clay or a Montecristo, you may notice Rover or Fido looking on, salivating like a tobacco loving version of Pavlov’s dog. You may notice that man’s best friend stares at you with jealously whenever you smoke a cigar. Or, you may simply notice him pretending to smoke a chicken bone the way a child pretends to smoke a candy cane or pretzel stick. When this kind of thing happens, the only way to reward your beloved pet is with a cigar of his own.

Chewgars are made of rawhide and shaped like cigars, intended for only the most sophisticated and luxury loving animals. Though they look like real cigars, and even come in a cigar box, they don’t contain any tobacco; that is saved for the humans. Each Chewgar is eight inches long and individually banded; they will cause onlookers to catch a glimpse of your dog and suddenly realize the truth: your dog is so much cooler than theirs. They will also realize that your dog’s Chewgar can totally beat up their dog’s milk bone.

Chewgars are made of American premium rawhide (although we are unsure if anyone really knows what rawhide actually is) and they contain USDA certified beef, chicken and even chocolate flavors. They are also free of pesticide and preservatives; in other words, they contain no surgeon general warnings. Suitable for both puppies and older animals, your dog doesn’t need to be over 18 to buy them.

If you love cigars and you love your dog (or you know someone who loves cigars and loves their dog) Chewgars are about as unique a gift as they make. No other present gives your dog the ability to unwind after a hard day of work: a hard day of being the protector of your house, the chaser or squirrels, and, most of all, the provider of unconditional love.

Deworming your puppy is a critical part of his puppy care. 98% of all puppies are born with worms that they contracted before they were born from their mother.

There are many different species of worms which can affect your puppy’s growth and development. These worms are intestinal parasites, and contrary to popular belief, you probably won’t see them in the puppy’s stool unless they have a severe infestation.

The most common type of worm found in puppies are roundworms. Roundworms, as you might expect, are round, and a common description is spaghetti-like. These ascarids are very common in nature and can survive outside a host in a cyst stage for a long time. Grassy areas are common places to find any number of parasitic cysts.

Tapeworms are among the most difficult to get rid of. They are a flat, segmented worm. The head of the tapeworm burrows into the intestine wall and segments break off and are expelled with the feces. You may see wriggling rice-like segments in the stool or dry sawdust-like flakes stuck in the coat around the puppy’s anus. Each segment contains thousands of eggs and ingestion will cause a recurrent infestation.

Fleas are the vector for the tapeworm. They carry the tapeworm from one host to the next. When an animal bites a flea, the tapeworm finds it’s way to the digestive tract where it sets up camp. Tapeworms can be very difficult to get rid of. Dislodging the head can require multiple de-worming attempts. If you do not kill the worm at the source, it can and will regenerate from the head.

There are actually very few medications that work against tapeworms. Many of which can be very hard on the puppy. Whichever medication you choose, you should be sure to consult your veterinarian before you use it. Drontal is the best general de-wormer on the market today. It is a wide spectrum de-wormer and does get tapes, most do not. If your puppy definitely has tapes, it is a good idea to follow up with a species specific dewormer. That is, one that just gets tapes.

When de-worming your puppy, you need to repeat it at least twice, three times is better still. The procedure needs to be done at two week intervals. To follow the life-cycle of the parasite. Most eggs will hatch in that two weeks. The first medication kills anything that is its adult stage, the follow up treatments kill anything that has hatched in the mean time. You can see why it may be advisable to repeat it a third time, just in case any residual eggs had yet to hatch or, any remaining adults laid new eggs.

It is a good idea to follow the final worming with a microscopic fecal exam done at your vet’s office a couple weeks after the final de-worming. Just to make sure no eggs are present. Your vet will need a very fresh fecal sample. Usually no more than an hour old.

Intestinal parasites can cause many problems for the puppy. They can become malnourished, despite how much they eat. If they are always sharing their nutrition with their unwelcome companions they won’t grow well. They will be more susceptible to disease despite vaccines. They may have chronic diarrhea and vomiting and never reach their standard body weight or muscle mass.

Some species of intestinal parasites are transmissible to humans. Mainly children who have a less developed immune system and are more likely to be in the vicinity of the worms or eggs. Round worms especially can infect young children. Children inadvertently put their hands in their mouth or roll around in the grass with the puppy. It is possible, though less likely to contract other species of worms as well.

Constant yapping at anything and everything is one of the most annoying and treatable of the obsessive compulsive dog behaviors. In our series of articles addressing problem bad dog behavior, these obnoxious barking dog problems are among those which are unnecessarily exacerbated by unspent, pent up energy, yet so frequently overlooked by overly protective owners. Especially with the smaller breeds… And they drive the owners and neighbors bonkers! That is what this little ear-splitter did.

This day the small Yorkshire Terrier was barking so loudly I could not hear his very frustrated owner clearly. “Quiet!” she commanded loudly in exasperation.

I had a spontaneous “Ouch!” escape from me, because the woman had forgotten that I was on the other end of the phone. I shook my head for inner ear equilibrium.

“I am so sorry,” she said. It was genuine. The poor thing was near tears, I could tell. “He just won’t be quiet. He barks and barks and barks –at EVERYTHING! Even if it is a simple noise with which he is familiar.”

The little Yorkshire Terrier was still yapping despite her desperate plea. He refused to stop … that incessant yapping that goes right through you until you want to scream.

So I went straight over to the distraught owner’s home. The little dog, Jake, came charging out, barking furiously and in such a high pitched tone that it was very hard on the ears.

I corrected Jake with a firm “Hey!” and a stare down. He understood my body language and surrendered immediately.

“I have had this dog for seven years!” the owner exclaimed. “The only time he has been this quiet is when he was sleeping.” Then she added, only half kidding: “Can’t he sleep all the time?”

She said she had tried numerous medications and some exercise to soothe Jake’s excitement, but nothing had worked. I then learned that Jake was walked for only fifteen minutes a day, and was allowed to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.

“Jake becomes excited before the walk,” I said. “He must learn that the leash means for him to calm down. Second, he must be behind or beside you on the walk, unless you have decided to give him free time. You are dealing with a very obsessive dog, and your not giving him leadership is intensifying this bad dog behavior.”

Jake screamed and was like a bucking bronco on the leash as I made him walk behind me. For less than two minutes, this typical tantrum kept up. Expect a tantrum of some form. It always happens.

However, upon seeing that he could not manipulate me, Jake relaxed and started trotting along like the ideal little dog. It is all about leadership and control. We took a good long walk. Warn out by the time I brought him home, Jack took a short nap right away.

I showed the owner what to do, step by step, and how to correct Jake. She worked with him diligently every day, and within three weeks Jake was no longer obsessive in any way. Seven long years of obsessive compulsive dog behavior with this excessive dog barking behavior problem — cured in three weeks of proper exercise and dog obedience training. Ahhhh … Nice and quiet …

The average lifespan for most dogs is between eight and sixteen years. Some breeds age expectancy is less while other breeds normally have a longer lifespan. Once your dog becomes older it is time to take some preventative steps in order for them remain healthy, happy and active. Have your vet examine your pet annually or more often, if necessary. Veterinarians understand the different breed types and are familiar with problems you may encounter with your pet. They watch for this and make you aware of what to look for, if your dog is acting a little different.

As in humans, keep your dogs weight within the proper or optimum range. An overweight dog has far more health problems such as joint problems, arthritis, diabetes and liver or kidney malfunctions. If your dog is too heavy, buy dog treats low in sugar and salt or purchase dog cookies especially made for overweight dogs, which are low in calories. Also, cut down on the amount of treats given to your pet. It is hard to resist their soulful eyes but always remember that it is for their own good. You do not want to kill your pet by thinking you are being kind to them. Feed your pet once a day or smaller amounts twice a day but remove the food if there is any left. If you have children, explain to them why they should not sneak food to the family pet.

Pre-soak or add water to the dog’s dry food if they have lost some teeth or have dental problems. Daily brushing helps prevent problems but always use toothpaste made specifically for pets, not humans. Start brushing your pet’s teeth when they are young, so they are used to the routine. Have their teeth examined annually by the vet, as they may need to have some pulled or professionally cleaned.

As with dogs of any age, make sure there is always fresh, cool water available. Some older dogs have problems getting to the water bowl so either take the water to them or place bowls of water in several different places so they do not have to go far for a drink.

If possible take your dog for a short walk daily. This helps the dog’s blood circulation and provides some new sights and smells to stimulate them and it gives you quality time to spend with your pet.

Unfortunately, dogs suffer from arthritis just like humans. Keep your dogs weight down and feed him food especially formulated for older dogs, as this does help. Talk to your vet because there is medication available that often makes your pet more comfortable and move easier. Supplements are available, but always check with your veterinarian before giving these to your dog.

Many great orthopedic dog beds are available. Some are made of memory foam and there are heated beds available. An older dog needs good support and warmth for their aging body. Dog beds are easies for your pet to get into than a sofa or your bed.

Looking after your senior pet and taking him to the vet regularly helps keep your dog healthy and happy longer.