Your Very Own Pug Puppy

Posted by Snoop Dog | Cat and Dog | Tuesday 29 July 2008 5:15 am

Wouldnt it be great to own your very own pug puppy one day? Having it look up at you with its big puppy dog eyes and its cute black, scrunchy nose. Before you decide to go out and buy your pup, there are a few things you need to know first.

Facial Structure

When choosing a pug puppy you have to look for certain features in their faces. The first feature you need to look at is they’re ears. They have to be small but not too small. If they are too small you can usually tell as their ears generally not suit their face. If they are too big then this is also a bad thing. Same with this you can usually tell just by looking at them. The second facial feature you need to look at when buying a pug puppy is their nose. The nose you will be looking for can’t be pushed into the pup’s face too much as this will result in certain breathing complications later on down the track. This usually reduces a pugs lifespan by 2-3 years in most cases. The last thing you need to look at is the amount of wrinkles on their face. In the case of show dogs, more is better, however the more wrinkles on a pugs face again usually promotes breathing complications in the future.

Personality Of Each Pug Puppy

This is perhaps the biggest area needed to be discussed when it comes to buying the right pug puppy. What makes a good personality for each individual case. Firstly if you are planning on showing your pug, you are best off looking for a puppy that is not to outrageous as this will mean he/she will be harder to train for the ring. Judges are looking for well behaved pugs that respond to human commands at will. A pug with a naturally outgoing personality will not be able to control itself in the ring. You are better off choosing a pup that is more willing to listen to you. For example when you ask it to come, it comes. Simple as that.

If however, you are not planning on showing your dog in the ring and you would like like to have a pug that is friendly and outgoing, then I would suggest looking for the puppies that are always full of energy. They may not listen to your every command, but I assure you they will be a lot of fun to play with. I would probably recommend this type of pug puppy for a family with younger children. They will have a great time growing up together playing in the backyard.

Dane Stanton is the owner of PugTrainingReview.com which is an extensive review of the top Pug training courses on the internet. Find which course is best for you and your Pug! http://www.PugTrainingReview.com

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An Introduction To Dog Health Care

Posted by Snoop Dog | Cat and Dog | Tuesday 29 July 2008 1:15 am

Dog owners should be voracious readers of books and materials on dog health care. They should be enthusiastic in asking questions at every visit to the vet. Dog health care is one important topic that should not be taken lightly by dog owners.

Dogs get sick from parasites, viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and fungus. These diseases and infections are sometimes fatal unless discovered and treated early. They sometimes cause chronic illness and damage organs of dogs. Veterinary researchers have developed drugs that reduce the effects of diseases and parasites. Some diseases affecting dogs are rabies and hepatitis parainfluenza. There are other viral diseases that may afflict dogs. To prevent dogs from getting sick, it is important that dog owners put a premium on their health by investing their time and money to go to the vet for vaccinations of their dogs.

Vaccinations work by stimulating the dogs immune system to produce antibodies to fight against subsequent attack. Modified live vaccines can cause long immunity and facilitate development but may give rise to a mild illness. Killed vaccines are more stable and do not produce mild infections and have a longer shelf life, although the protection may not last very long.

When a mother dog is vaccinated, her puppies will get the same immunity when they drink her colostrum, found in her milk. Puppies generally get a series of immunity shots since it is not certain when that immunity from the mothers milk wears off. After the initial puppy shots, vets recommend boosters at age one and subsequent boosters at six months, a year, and three years, depending on the disease and its prevalence in your area.

Vaccines can be given either separately or in combination. Some dogs, though, have varied reactions to vaccines and some dog owners and even veterinarians are questioning the principle of giving puppies so many vaccine shots. Researchers found out that dogs may be protected by more than a year by some vaccines. Some vets recommend three year intervals of administration of vaccines for older dogs that are not exposed to diseases. Still, it is agreed that vaccination is the first line of defense against deadly and debilitating diseases.

Dog Health provides detailed information on Dog Health, Dog Health Problems, Dog Health Questions, Dog Health Care and more. Dog Health is affiliated with Small Dog Houses.

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Dog Crate Buyer’s Guide How To Choose The Right Crate And Accessories

Posted by Snoop Dog | Cat and Dog | Monday 28 July 2008 9:15 pm

Why use a crate:

When used properly and not abused, crates are the fastest and most humane method of housebreaking dogs. Dogs are den animals that will instinctively seek out a small, cozy place to rest for shelter and security. Crates act on a dog’s instinct to keep its den clean and unsoiled. Keeping your dog in a crate teaches him to hold it until he can go in an appropriate place, which helps your puppy develop his bladder control. For older dogs, crates act as a bedroom where they can relax and escape the hustle and bustle of kids, other pets, and everyday family life. Also, it’s never too late to crate train! A crate can help break bad habits that improperly trained dogs may have developed over the years.

Plastic or metal?

Plastic kennels are good for travel, and are generally the only method of containment permitted by airlines. Metal wire dog crates are ideal for home use, however. They are generally roomier and more open. They’re also sturdier, so they will stand up to your pet’s movement/ activity and be able to last as your dog’s permanent bedroom.

What size?

A crate should only be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lay down. If the crate is too big, your puppy will have enough room to soil one side and sleep in the other, which defeats the purpose of the crate. Buy a crate large enough to accommodate your dog’s full-grown size and get a divider panel. This way, you can keep the one crate and have it grow along with your dog.

Accessories:

Always be sure to include appropriate toys and treats in the crate. This will keep your dog occupied and prevent your teething puppy from chewing on the crate’s metal bars. It is also important to purchase crate bedding. A crate cover is great for lowering the number of outside distractions your dog sees, which can reduce barking and stress in the crate. A crate pad will be more comfortable than the crate’s plastic pan. Finally, a bumper like the one included in Pet Dreams Cratewear will help protect your puppy from injuries caused by chewing or leaning against the crate’s metal bars.

For more information:

In addition to Cratewear, Pet Dreams provides a wealth of Crate Training Tips, articles, and FAQs to help you crate train your dog. Weve also recently launched Forums where you can discuss all aspects of training with others and get advice from the experts!

Visit http://www.petdreams.com for Dog crates, Cratewear bedding and Sleep-ezz dog beds.

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The Most Important Steps For Finding A Dog Breeder

Posted by Snoop Dog | Cat and Dog | Monday 28 July 2008 5:15 pm

Generally people are very keen on animals, dogs especially,wanting to have one in their apartments or houses. The dog breeders are the persons you can contact whenever you want to take a pure breed dog. Yet, the problem of the dog breeders’s reputation arises and you need to be sure that this person is indeed looking after his animals that they are healthy and so an. It is easy to check the advertisements in your local newspaper but it would be advisable to make sure that the dog breeder you have chosen is reputable. The purpose of this article is to suggest some ways by which you can find out whether that particular person is responsible and trustworthy or not.

Try to reach his references

Generally, responsible and professional dog breeder are very careful with their references: if this can be extended, any person characterized be professionally should be interested in that. The good dog breeder will provide you some information regarding his past ‘collaborations’ and will give you the telephone number or any other contact mean by which you can observe his success. You can always contact a dog breeder who has helped some of your friends because you can be told by them exactly how responsible that person was.

You will be asked several questions

A good dog breeder is likely to be fond of many of his animals and might ask you more questions than you will. They want to make sure that the animals are placed in a correct environment with the correct people because this is very important. They will need details of your life and finances: whether you have children or not, the size of your house and garden and other questions to make sure the dog is sent to the right place, with the right family. If your dog breeder doesn’t ask all these questions, is definitely interested in your money and might not have looked after the dog properly.

Risks and guarantees

A professional dog breeder will have had all the dogs and puppies passed through medical analysis before selling them.Yet, there are some problems which can be seen after several moths or maybe years. For instance the golden retrievers may have this problem called dysphasia, a genetics flaw in the animals’ hip joints, which cannot be seen until the animal is several months old. In this case, a good dog breeder should have no problem in giving your money back despite any unfortunate situation. These genetic problems can be avoided by means of selective breeding, yet many puppies have it as consequence of an hereditary genetic disorder, while some of them gain it not as an hereditary effect.

Other ways of reaching a dog breeder

The Internet and local newspapers are only some of the places where you can find a dog breeder. You can also try the veterinary offices and pet shops as well as dog exhibitions. The last mean is indeed trustworthy as the dog breeder is giving off his success and love for his dogs as well as the performance he has reached.

For great information about dog breeders, dog breeds, dog books, dogs for sale, stud dogs, dog names, dog rescue, dogs wanted and missing dogs just visit us at http://www.Doggies.ca

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History Of The Yorkshire Terrier

Posted by Snoop Dog | Cat and Dog | Monday 28 July 2008 1:15 pm

Understanding today’s Yorkshire Terrier means looking at this dogs ancestry. There seems to be little disagreement about the way in which the modern Yorkshire Terrier came to be. Even though there are no records of the earliest relatives of the Yorkie it’s widely believed that the breed is estimated to is just over 100 or so years old. The Yorkshire Terrier of the past was much larger than today’s terriers. It’s surprising but the early versions of today’s Yorkies were working class dogs.

From the 11th Century there was a rule that laborers were not allowed to hunt. In order to prevent hunting laborers were not allowed to own a dog big enough to be able to hunt. Dogs had to pass through a small hoop (7 inches in diameter) to prove that they were small enough. It was originally bred to be a hunting dog, catching rats, rabbits and mice to supplement their poor owners diet.

Before the beginning of the Industrial Revolution people lived in small communities and grew up around factories and mines. With the Industrial Revolution came great changes to family life. People were drawn to the cities seeking work and a better life.

These people brought with them the Paisley Terrier; who were mainly working dogs who used to catch rats and other small animals.

The Paisley Terrier, or Clydesdale Terrier was crossed with other types of Terriers. The English Black Terrier, the Tan Toy Terrier and the Skye Terrier. The Maltese was also crossed with these to produce long coats, and a smaller stature. You can still see the similarity in shape between the Maltese and today’s Yorkies. There aren’t any records about the early pedigree to confirm these crosses. There were low levels of literacy and this led to poor record keeping. It is believed that this is the most likely of the crosses.

The father of the modern Yorkie is said to be a dog called Huddersfield Ben. Bred by Mr. Eastwood and owned by Mr. Foster; this was a very popular stud dog who had a great influence in the modern breed. He won many competitions and is believed to have set many of the standards for his breed type.

The British Kennel Club registered the first Yorkies in the British Kennel Club Stud Book in 1874. The American Kennel Club started recognizing Yorkshire Terriers as a breed in 1885. The first Yorkshire in 1910 was the first specimen seen in a German speaking area. Known as Halifax Terriers these dogs shared the appearance of the Yorkshire Terrier which to this day has changed very little. The breed standards for the Yorkshire Terrier have hardly changed. There are some small changes but these relate directly to the new knowledge in matters of canine health.

The Yorkshire Terriers of today are brave, loyal and energetic. A loyal guard dog who will be suspicious of strangers and defend their territory. Yorkies like to bark but with good training they can be taught not to. Some of the cross breeding which results in tiny teacup varieties can cause health problems for today’s Yorkshire terriers. Often their skulls are too small and this results in a range of respiratory problems.

It is widely agreed that the breeding of such Teacup varieties is cruel and causes all kinds of health and behavioral problems. Be responsible and buy one of the more accepted varieties. If you are intending on breeding your Yorkshire terrier keep this in mind when choosing a sire.

Today’s Yorkies are energetic, fun and a delight to have around. They will keep you entertained for hours and years to come.

Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzus and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, Carpet Secrets and Moving Secrets Guide

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Yuck! My Dog Eats Poop!

Posted by Snoop Dog | Cat and Dog | Monday 28 July 2008 9:14 am

Dogs can do some pretty disgusting things, and poop eating also known as coprophagia probably tops that list. You may have noticed that your dog has a taste for cat feces (either found outside or fresh out of the litterbox). Some dogs even eat their own stool, right after eliminating. While this isn’t necessarily bad for them, it can be harmful if they ingest cat litter or the stool of another animal that contains harmful parasites. Aside from that, it’s just plain disgusting and not becoming of our canine friends.

Why Does My Dog Eat Poop?

There are several factors that can result in coprophagia. It can be seen in dogs who are hyper and immature in nature, simply because they are bored, and are driven to keep themselves busy. Dogs raised in filthy environments (pet stores, unscrupulous breeders or previous owners) are likely to eat their own feces simply because they have a need to be rid of it, and it becomes a learned behavior. Some believe that particularly dominant dogs will eat the stool of other dogs in order to remove their scent from the territory. Coprophagia seems to be most common in hunting, working and herding breeds.

Don’t Rub His Nose In It!

Coprophagia might be a learned behavior. Rubbing your dog’s nose in a pile of his own feces as a method of housetraining can teach him that the presence of feces is bad, and he’ll develop a habit of eating it in order to avoid punishment.

How do I get my dog to stop eating his own poop (or random dog poop he finds outside)?

The best way to prevent a dog from eating his or other dogs’ feces is to clean it up as soon as possible, without making a fuss or otherwise calling attention to the act of cleaning. If you’re walking your dog, clean up after him immediately (you should be doing that anyway!). If your dog has free reign of the backyard throughout the day, be sure to pick up poop on a daily basis.

If you have an indoor dog, be sure you are taking him outside on a frequent, regular basis. Dogs have an instinctive drive to keep their environment free of any smells that will attract predators and if they have to poop inside due to your forgetting to take them out, they will sometimes eat their own poop as a way of acting on this instinct.

There is a product on the market called Forbid. When mixed in a dogs food, Forbid is tasteless. However, once it is digested and excreted in the stool it is exceptionally foul tasting! This of course only works for dogs who eat their own stool. Talk to your veterinarian about this product.

How do I get my dog to stop raiding the litter box?

Dogs seem to especially love cat excrement. Unfortunately, this can be more dangerous since they will most likely eat some of the cat litter along with the stool. Cat litter can be toxic to dogs as well as wreak havoc on their digestive tracks especially the clumping variety.

It’s a good idea to keep the litter box in an area accessible to your cat, but not your dog. This can be accomplished by putting it in a room or corner blocked off with a gate (make sure your dog can’t jump over the gate!), with a small area of the gate cut out just big enough for your cat to fit through, or even propped up in such a way that your cat can squeeze through but your dog can’t.

Some litter boxes are designed to prevent easy access by a dog, such as those with a top entrance instead of a side entrance the dog’s neck isn’t long enough to reach all the way to the litter at the bottom through the small opening at the top. This might be a good solution for you.

As a final note, keep in mind that this behavior like most behaviors isn’t going to disappear overnight. Be patient, consistent and loving with your dog, and with enough diligence he can be trained to stop eating feces. Keep in mind that dogs are creatures of habit and if your dog has gotten used to eating his or other animals’ stool, it might take some time to break this habit. Diligence is the key!

Daniel Collinsworth More dog training articles can be found here: Dog Training Basics

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The History Of The Yorkshire Terrier

Posted by Snoop Dog | Cat and Dog | Monday 28 July 2008 5:15 am

Although the history of the Yorkshire Terrier is sketchy, there is a great deal known about the origins of this exceptional, vibrant breed. The Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie for short, finds it humble beginnings in Northern England, in the counties of Yorkshire, Manchester and Leeds, during the years prior to 1750.

During this time, the onset of the Industrial Revolution gave rise to small communities located around coal mines, textile mills and factories. The people of these areas originally made their living from the land and experienced great upheaval during the time of the Industrial Revolution. Many had to learn new ways of life to continue to support their families. These persevering families, many from as far away as Scotland, were drawn to the small fledgling communities to begin a new life.

Along with this hardy group of migrants came equally hardy pets and companions. During the 19th century, Scottish weavers began to arrive and brought with them the sturdy Scottish Terrier. Far from being a simple bloodline the Scottish Terrier has been attributed to creating several different types of Terriers including the Yorkshire Terrier.

Part of the Scottish Terrier bloodlines later became the breeds today known as the Skye, Scottish Terrier, West Highland White Terrier and the last of the named from their separation, the Cairn Terrier.

The Scottish Terrier was also known to be on Argyle or the Isle of Skye. It was of a bluish color and was also known as a broken or smooth haired Scots depending on the length of coat it had.

There is every possibility that they were forerunners to the modern day Skye Terrier. Other breeds that have ancestral claim to the Yorkie are the Paisley and Clydesdale Terriers and the Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier.

All of these Scottish breeds, along with some English ones, were working dogs, used to keep the vermin under control in the coal mines and mills.

In an effort to produce canines with exceptional skill at catching mice and rats, the common men of the day would breed only smallest, quickest and best ratters of the bunch. These men were not out to produce a purebred, sophisticated breed of dog; instead they desired the best dogs to keep the mice away. This is the reason why no records were kept as to what breeds were mixed to create the Yorkshire Terrier.

The best guess is that miners in Yorkshire County bred the Black and Tan English Terrier with the many breeds of the Scottish Terriers. It is even believed that Maltese may be thrown in there somewhere. The resulting Terriers were then probably crossed with yet again other types of terriers such as the Welsh Terrier.

In the late 1800s, the first written recordings about the ancestors of the modern-day Yorkshire Terrier began to appear. Most of these were written by wealthy educated men who had traveled to Yorkshire County and witnessed the intelligent, spunky dogs chasing down their prey.

Rawdon B. Lee, speaking of Yorkshire Terrier in Modern Dogs says: How the name of Scotch Terrier became attached to dog which so thoroughly had its home in Yorkshire and Lancashire is somewhat difficult to determine, if it can be determined at all, but a very old breeder of the variety told me that the first of them came from Scotland, where they had been accidentally produced from a cross between the silk-coated Skye (the Clydesdale) and the black and tan Terrier. One could scarcely expect that a pretty dog, partaking in a degree of both its parents, could be produced from a smooth-coated dog, a long-coated bitch or vice-versa.

Maybe, two or three animals so bred had been brought by some of the Paisley weavers in Yorkshire and there, suitably admired, pains were taken to perpetuate the strain.

Then, at the turn of the century, Mr. James Watson claimed in the Dog Book, that the pedigreed origins of the Yorkshire Terrier could be traced back 60 years. Before that time, there were two Class Registrations for Toy Terriers, Rough and Broken Haired. In 1866 Broken Haired Scotch Terriers were registered as not exceeding 5 pounds. These were later registered as Yorkshire Terriers in 1874.

Since the official recognition of the Yorkshire breed, there have been many famous, well-loved Yorkies. And today, this breed is gaining newfound attention as more and more people are turning to this lovable breed for companionship.

By Rose Lenk
Get Rose’s free mini course:
7 things you need to know about Yorkshire Terriers
http://www.GoodYorkie.com

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Dog Crate Buyer’s Guide How To Choose The Right Crate And Accessories

Posted by Snoop Dog | Cat and Dog | Monday 28 July 2008 1:15 am

Why use a crate:

When used properly and not abused, crates are the fastest and most humane method of housebreaking dogs. Dogs are den animals that will instinctively seek out a small, cozy place to rest for shelter and security. Crates act on a dog’s instinct to keep its den clean and unsoiled. Keeping your dog in a crate teaches him to hold it until he can go in an appropriate place, which helps your puppy develop his bladder control. For older dogs, crates act as a bedroom where they can relax and escape the hustle and bustle of kids, other pets, and everyday family life. Also, it’s never too late to crate train! A crate can help break bad habits that improperly trained dogs may have developed over the years.

Plastic or metal?

Plastic kennels are good for travel, and are generally the only method of containment permitted by airlines. Metal wire dog crates are ideal for home use, however. They are generally roomier and more open. They’re also sturdier, so they will stand up to your pet’s movement/ activity and be able to last as your dog’s permanent bedroom.

What size?

A crate should only be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lay down. If the crate is too big, your puppy will have enough room to soil one side and sleep in the other, which defeats the purpose of the crate. Buy a crate large enough to accommodate your dog’s full-grown size and get a divider panel. This way, you can keep the one crate and have it grow along with your dog.

Accessories:

Always be sure to include appropriate toys and treats in the crate. This will keep your dog occupied and prevent your teething puppy from chewing on the crate’s metal bars. It is also important to purchase crate bedding. A crate cover is great for lowering the number of outside distractions your dog sees, which can reduce barking and stress in the crate. A crate pad will be more comfortable than the crate’s plastic pan. Finally, a bumper like the one included in Pet Dreams Cratewear will help protect your puppy from injuries caused by chewing or leaning against the crate’s metal bars.

For more information:

In addition to Cratewear, Pet Dreams provides a wealth of Crate Training Tips, articles, and FAQs to help you crate train your dog. Weve also recently launched Forums where you can discuss all aspects of training with others and get advice from the experts!

Visit http://www.petdreams.com for Dog crates, Cratewear bedding and Sleep-ezz dog beds.

More articles at www.articles-host.com

Dog Treat Recipes

Posted by Snoop Dog | Cat and Dog | Sunday 27 July 2008 5:14 pm

Dog lovers may want to give their pet dogs some treats to reward their good behavior. Take your pick from these various dog treat recipes.

Homemade dog biscuit recipes include peanut butter, eggs, and flour with bone meal. Cheesy dog biscuits include cheddar cheese, chicken broth, whole wheat flour, cornmeal and oats, while bacon flavored dog treats make use of whole wheat flour, milk, eggs and bacon fat for flavor. There are also microwavable dog biscuits that use a variety of flours including cracked wheat, rye, and whole wheat.

Vegetarian treat recipes include vegetarian dog biscuits which use peanuts for the dogs protein source. Vegan dog biscuit recipes and doggie Christmas cookies also include peanut butter, honey, cornmeal, and flour.

Copper cookie cutters in fun shapes, such as big and small dog bones, cows, roosters, and squirrels will make fine dog treats that you can make into biscuit treats for your four-legged friend.

If you love baking for your dog, there are homemade breads and cookie recipes that you can follow. These recipes include peanut butter bones, chicken and honey biscuits, big boy beef biscuits, and everyday biscuits. Other dog treats include parmesan herb treats, apple cinnamon drops, whole wheat cream cheese Danish, peanut butter and honey oat crunchies, and beef biscuits. It is important to invest in high quality baking sheets that have a non stick finish to come up with these treats.

Kindly note that dog treat recipes should be healthy for both young and old dogs. These include gourmet biscuit recipes that are delicious, economical, and healthy for the dog. Remember that not all food that is good for human consumption is good also for dogs. Some food can cause allergic reactions such as itchy skin, rashes, coat problems, and dull, thinning hair in dogs.

Before following recipes for dog treats, review first the ingredients to ensure that they are safe for consumption by your dog. Please note that seemingly harmless substances may prove fatal to your dog.

Dog Treats provides detailed information on Dog Treats, Dog Treat Recipes, Homemade Dog Treats, Gourmet Dog Treats and more. Dog Treats is affiliated with Dog Chew Toys.

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Zen And The Art Of Reptile Maintenance

Posted by Snoop Dog | Cat and Dog | Sunday 27 July 2008 1:53 pm

I read the book many years ago now. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance A moving book, full of wisdom and love, it is a wonderful read.

It takes you on a journey, through philosophy, life, questions of quality and quantity, in an entertaining and gentle cross country journey.

So what has the book to do with keeping reptiles? Lots actually. But I only want to deal with one of the many ideas in the book. The idea of engaging yourself fully in an activity and paying attention to details. The Zen of keeping reptiles.

The author and journeyman, Robert Pirsig, looks after his motorcycle on the journey by paying attention to details and doing the maintenance and the little things regularly and enveloping himself in the activity and the moment as he does so. So it should be with your reptiles.

Spot cleaning your cages every day will make looking after the cages much easier. I keep a small spray bottle next to the cages, along with paper towels. This means I can clean up any fecal matter straight away. I can also spray this or any urine and clean it off there and then. This simple procedure means that cleaning the cages is much easier when I do a full clean out and disinfect. At the moment the bottle is pure water as I also use it to spray the bearded dragons greens but I think I might make a separate one with a mild detergent mix – better not confuse them.

Water is checked daily and the water bowls given a wash and clean out weekly (or daily if there is any fecal matter or contaminants in the bowl). I am lucky enough to have filtered water available so this reduces the growth of moulds and algae in the water bowls significantly as the water has no nutrients. But only if I thoroughly clean the water bowls.

A scrubbing brush is important when cleaning the water bowls and the cage furniture. The artificial rock material that the bowls are made of will collect algae, urine, feces and moulds in all of the crevices, so a scrubbing brush will allow you to get as much as this a removed as possible.

Also, using bleach to disinfect it on a regular basis (or if it has fecal matter on it) is important. Make sure you thoroughly rinse the bowls and other cage furniture with fresh water once you have cleaned them. There are a number of commercial reptile cage cleaning materials on the market if you want to use these as well, but to date I have not had to use any of these.

Regularly examine you reptiles closely. Get them out and look carefully at them, all over. Examine their eyes, their mouths, their body and their cloaca (snakes rear end used for waste and reproductive discharges). If you have lizards, check the feet carefully. Look for anything unusual. If you examine you reptile regularly, you will more than likely readily notice anything unusual, as you have looked thoroughly at them before. Remember to treat them gently while doing this to keep your trust with your pet and not give them fright if you can avoid it.

Paying attention to details is important. You will appreciate your fascinating friend much more when you look closely and see how fantastic and interesting they really are.

Make sure the food you are feeding your reptile is in good condition and if it is vegetable matter, make sure it is fresh. You wouldn’t eat two week old, limp, or slimy bok choi. So why should your lizard? If the food looks bad enough so that you wouldn’t want to eat it, dont feed it to your pet. Never re-freeze mice or rats. Its not bait (no wonder I cant catch a fish).

These are just a few things to help you look after your pet. Involve yourself fully in the moment and the activity of care and maintenance and enjoy it for what it is. You’ll find you pet reptile much more rewarding.

Mark Chapple is the Author of How to Build Reptile Enclosures Find out how to build reptile cages. Full color pictures, detailed diagrams and easy to follow, step-by-step instructions. http://www.reptile-cage-plans.com

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