Rabbits are rodents, varying in all shapes, sizes and colors they are understandably a very popular pet.

Traditionally kept in hutch out in the back yard, rabbit owners are now becoming more and more inclined to keep their pets inside.

Although not obvious, it would appear rabbits adapt very well to life in doors, what’s more is they can be trained and tamed to a suprisingly high standard.

In fact, did you know you can teach your rabbit to respond to it’s own name?

That’s right, just like a dog!

So the obvious way here is for the rabbit to associate its name with food; if you already have a rabbit then you’ll note that they are quick to come running up to you when they here the rustling of their mix bag.

The idea is to replace the rustling with your voice saying their name; the more distinctive the better.

Again it’s just a case of time and repetition saying their name nice and clear, over and over each time you are feeding your rabbit.

You’ll get to a stage where when the rabbit hears its name it thinks, Rabbit Mix! – As it knows your the provider they’ll come running right to you.

NOTE: Don’t over use the rabbits name as the more you do without presenting food, the less likey it is they will come to you.

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Theres a horse show across the state in a few weeks, and youre planning on being there with your horses. However, its been awhile since you last pulled a horse trailer, and youre a little concerned about your trailering skills. After all, you want to arrive at your destination safely, with the horses as calm and relaxed as possible.

Guiding a loaded horse trailer down a country road or highway requires practical experience and know-how. Theres very little room for error. What do you do to ensure a safe, uneventful journey?

How to Ensure Safe Trailering

If youre out of practice, or if youve never towed a trailer before, obtaining adequate personal experience prior to the actual event is of the utmost importance. Just as if you were learning to drive for the first time, you should begin by practicing basic driving skills before getting out in traffic with the trailer.

The more experienced you become, the more prepared you will be for anything that may potentially happen. With more confidence and a higher level of awareness and preparedness, you should be better able to handle any unexpected situation that comes along.

Find a level field or a parking lot in which to practice. Mark your course with several highway cones, then, set out to work on the following driving skills:

Ready for the Highway

After youve practiced all the basic driving skills while pulling your horse trailer and you feel confident in your ability to handle the rig safely, youre ready to test your skills out on the road.

Try towing your trailer for short distances, at first. Make sure that you feel comfortable with turning corners in traffic, with backing your trailer, with parking on a grade, and with being able to stop your trailer quickly (should the need arise). Once you are confident in your towing abilities, youre ready to travel any distance with your horses.

Just remember to always be alert when out on the roads. Drive defensively and be prepared for any possible situation.

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Dog grooming is absolutely essential in maintaining your dog’s health. Grooming includes regular brushing and combing to remove dead hair, skin and general debris, bathing and nail trimming as necessary, as well as looking after your dog’s ears, eyes and mouth.

Regular dog grooming will provide your dog with not only a shinier coat but also a healthier lifestyle, plus it gives you the opportunity of spending some ‘one on one’ time with your dog. It is essential that you train your pet by dog grooming him in his earlier years with a gentle approach, as this way he will not worry when you continue to groom him as he gets older – he will know what to expect. Often dogs can look on the grooming routine as another way of you petting him. Combing and brushing will care for your dog’s coat but it is equally important that you attend to his other body parts, like the ears, toes, eyes and the mouth.

Dog grooming will have to be applied in a different way, depending on the breed of dog that you have, so you need to make sure that you research the right way for your dog. We have listed below the general dog grooming methods used, but you need to make sure if your dog has special grooming needs, then you abide by them.

Bathing

Bathing is a very large part of dog grooming. It is wise to bathe your pet once every two months or so, or as frequently as needed. Brush you pet’s coat well before each bathe so that you elimate dead skin, hair and knots from his coat.

To bathe your dog:

For secure footing, place a rubber mat or a bath towel in your bath tub or sink. Make sure you are careful not to let water into your dogs ears – it can be a good idea to secure the dog’s ears with cotton balls so you make sure that you are preventing the water from entering these openings.

Use warm water to rinse your dog. If you have a spray hose available then this can be best to use, but do make sure that the nozzle of the hose is kept close to your pet’s body. Never ever spray the animal directly on his face, as this is likely to scare or irritate him, and he will not want you to bathe him again.

Use only specially formulated shampoos that are only made for dogs. Using small amounts, start from head to tail but avoid getting the shampoo on your dog’s eyes. Be sure to clear from dirt the dog’s rectum, and other body parts like those under the chin, behind the ears and between the dog’s toes.

Then rinse your dog with warm water, make sure that no shampoo is left on his coat.

. Remember a dog’s instinct is to shake when they are wet, so stand clear!

Lastly, pat your animal dry with a bath towel or a hair dryer.

Coat

It is also a very necessary part of dog grooming to ensure that your dog’s coat is kept clean. Make this part of your dog’s daily dog grooming routine, so that his coat is thoroughly brushed each day. This assures that his coat is kept from dirt, and to get rid of dead skin, old hair and other debris that finds its way onto a dog’s coat. A dog grooming procedure like brushing may spread the dog’s natural skin oils all through the coat, which can help to keep the dog’s skin form irritation and may further prevent his coat from tangling. This does not only apply to dogs having long coats but also short-haired dogs benefit from regular brushing.

Nail trimming

Depending on your own dog, but generally around once a month, your dog’s nails should be trimmed. Use a specially designed nail trimmer or clipper that has been designed for your dog breed, also provide a blood-clotting powder in case his skin tissue is cut. You may also use scissors for this form of dog grooming. If you don’t feel confident with this procedure then leave it to your vet to do when necessary.

Ear care

Is also an important part of dog grooming. If not properly addressed, your pet could well develop an ear infection, which in turn may lead to permanent hearing loss. The symptoms for an ear infection are constant scratching, ear redness and head shaking. Your dog grooming specialist or vet must deal with severe cases of ear infections in your dog.

Teeth care

Give your dog the specially formulated bones that are designed to help combat bad breath. Also try and get him into the habit of letting you clean his teeth for him. You can buy beef flavored toothpaste and a doggie size toothbrush just for him.

Look after your dog – he is worth it.

For more information on Dogs as Pets

Please feel free to use this article in its entirety, but keep the resource box and all links intact.

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There are two types of fences that will keep a pet in your yard: a high frequency fence and an electric fence. Both fences are effective at keeping animals from roaming, and will not hurt the animal. Electric fences emit a small electric shock to the collar the animal wears when the they have stepped past the property boundary line.

Eventually, the pet learns where that boundary is and will not go beyond it, risking a pesky shock reminder. This type of electric fence is very popular and easy to install. Only animals wearing a special collar will be shocked. This means that people can walk through the fence and not be harmed in any way.They will not even know it is there.

Electric pet fences are popular with people who have small dogs and cats. Many times, these pets want to roam around the backyard. Small dogs, however, will try to leave the yard especially to investigate noises. Small animals can put themselves into dangerous situations when they leave their yards. Dogs can sometimes get lost and will roam around the neighborhood until they (hopefully)find their way home. Electric pet fences provide the security people want for their pets. If people work all day and want to let their pet outside, they can do so and not have to worry about them. There are many cats that enjoy the outdoors. Protecting them from harm is every pet owners mission.

Installing electric fences is easy. There are companies that will come to the house, inspect the yard, and give an estimate for electric fences. Usually an electric fence can be installed in a few hours. Many homeowners have them and other people do not even know it. The pet will have to wear a collar that will be activated if they cross the line and leave the area. Training a pet is easy and they will usually learn after a few tries. Having a fence is an extra security measure people take when protecting their pets.

You deserve the hottest and most comprehensive information. Visit this link for details: Invisible Fence

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Theres a horse show across the state in a few weeks, and youre planning on being there with your horses. However, its been awhile since you last pulled a horse trailer, and youre a little concerned about your trailering skills. After all, you want to arrive at your destination safely, with the horses as calm and relaxed as possible.

Guiding a loaded horse trailer down a country road or highway requires practical experience and know-how. Theres very little room for error. What do you do to ensure a safe, uneventful journey?

How to Ensure Safe Trailering

If youre out of practice, or if youve never towed a trailer before, obtaining adequate personal experience prior to the actual event is of the utmost importance. Just as if you were learning to drive for the first time, you should begin by practicing basic driving skills before getting out in traffic with the trailer.

The more experienced you become, the more prepared you will be for anything that may potentially happen. With more confidence and a higher level of awareness and preparedness, you should be better able to handle any unexpected situation that comes along.

Find a level field or a parking lot in which to practice. Mark your course with several highway cones, then, set out to work on the following driving skills:

Ready for the Highway

After youve practiced all the basic driving skills while pulling your horse trailer and you feel confident in your ability to handle the rig safely, youre ready to test your skills out on the road.

Try towing your trailer for short distances, at first. Make sure that you feel comfortable with turning corners in traffic, with backing your trailer, with parking on a grade, and with being able to stop your trailer quickly (should the need arise). Once you are confident in your towing abilities, youre ready to travel any distance with your horses.

Just remember to always be alert when out on the roads. Drive defensively and be prepared for any possible situation.

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The only way to be 100% sure of getting a verified pure breed Maine Coon cat is to buy a pedigree kitten from a breeder. The breeder should be able to present a family tree of your cats pedigree and provide relevant certification.

A recommended place to start a search for a reputable breeder in your local area is the Maine Coon Breed Fanciers Association (www.mcbfa.org) Maine Coon kittens can be instantly recognizable by the long tufty ears and oversized paws, as seen in the classic longhaired American however there is a European strain of Maine Coon, (my own Maine Coon, King Henry comes from a German line) which has a shorter ruff around the neck, and often a fuller, squarer muzzle. The differences are not apparent until the cat is between 12 to 18 months.

In terms of identifying a pure pedigree Maine Coon, youll be relying quite heavily on information the breeder is presenting to you. If you have difficulty finding a reputable breeder, you could try and get a recommendation by talking to individuals at a Maine Coon event or an all breeds Cat show. It is essential you are happy with your breeder – if you are becoming a Maine Coon owner for the first time, you may need to rely on their expert advice.

You can expect to pay anywhere between $500 and $800 for a pure breed Maine Coon. With food, litter, vet bills and cat-sitters for holidays, Maine Coons can be a relatively expensive investment. All Maine Coon owners will agree that they are a truly wonderful breed and will repay you many times over.

IMPORTANT TIP: This could save a lot of heartache, trouble and expense later on; When buying an expensive pet, do not go for the kitten you feel sorry for and looks like it needs help. Any kittens with signs of withdrawal, low energy or general apathy, should really be avoided. Choose an independent, lively, energetic kitten. Pick out kittens that dont necessarily come to you but are, however, interested in their surroundings.

Its best to pick a local breeder and visit them in their home, when youre first making your initial enquiries to check the kittens living conditions, health and welfare of all cats living in the same environment.

Although it sounds like common sense, have questions prepared that will help you to establish whether the breeder can be trusted.

Questions youll definitely want to ask:

1. How much experience does the breeder have? If you need assurance about the breeders ability/expertise ask to speak to someone who has recently purchased a Maine Coon from that breeder.

2. Who are the kittens parents and are they champions? Even if you dont intend to show your cat, youll still want to find out about their pedigree. Thats what you are paying for. If this is just not important, you can sometimes find cheaper Maine Coons that are called pet quality meaning they do not meet the required physical standards for showing. This does not mean they are not perfectly healthy.

3. Does the stud live with the breeder? If not, can the breeder guarantee that the stud has not been subjected to any illnesses e.g. cat flu. Has the breeder bred the stud before?

4. Is there any known heredity illnesses in the ancestral line such as HCM (can cause heart failure) and hip problems?

5. Have any of the other cats suffered from any illnesses for e.g. have any recent litters suffered from any strain of cat flu?

6. If relevant to your situation, ask if the kitten is comfortable around other animals and children?

7. At what point, could the kittens leave their mother (I would be concerned if the breeder allowed the kitten to leave its mother if it is less than 12 weeks).

8. Will a vet check the kittens before leaving the breeders home? How many times? If the Maine Coon becomes ill after it has left the breeder, who is responsible for paying vets fees or could the kitten be returned to the breeder?

9. Youll also want to find out how often the queen is impregnated; because a queen subjected to too regular pregnancies can be prone to producing weak or sickly kittens.

Other things you may want to check/do:

10. The living conditions of the stud and queens e.g. the cleanliness of the cages/rooms and the health/welfare of the cat etc.

11. Will the cats be litter trained before they move to their new homes?

12. Also, the environment where the mother and kittens are living. Are there toys, clean litter, warmth, food and water?

13. Check the eyes of the kitten to evaluate its health. Never purchase a kitten that has weeping eyes.

14. The breeders contract. Have a read of the written agreement before you commit yourself. Pay particular attention to areas of responsibility should the kitten become unwell soon after youve bought him/her.

15. You should book your new kitten in for an all round check with your own vet almost as soon as youve collected from the breeder. If there are any signs of problems, youll want to know within the first 24 hours.

On the whole, Maine Coon breeders are passionate about their cats and love what they do. Theres not a whole lot of money to be made in breeding Maine Coons, and it is very demanding work.

Unless, your gut feeling tells you otherwise, you can expect to be talking to breeders who are totally dedicated Maine Coon lovers.

Copyright 2006 Sarah Crosier

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One of the pleasures of owning a pet bird is to teach him or her tricks. However, the purpose of teaching your bird is not just for entertainment. Training will create a better behaved, more social and happier animal.

Most birds are very smart, and if taught correctly, will be able to learn a wide range of tricks. You should set a specific time to work with your pet each day. If at all possible, try to stick to that time. Birds function well with a schedule and will even come to look forward to their training time. Plus, if you practice on a regular basis, your bird will pick up the skill you are teaching much faster.

The training area should be safe and secure. Eliminate distractions so you will have the bird’s full attention. Close doors, draw curtains and turn off any music. Use a room that is brightly lit, colorful, quiet and away from its cage.

You should start the training session by socializing with your pet. Just like humans, birds learn much more quickly if they are engaged and enjoying themselves. For your bird to have fun, you shouldn’t work with him or her, if you are in a bad mood or overly tired. Your attitude will negatively affect the bird and your time together. Begin by talking with your bird in a cheerful, but calm voice.

Smile and don’t make any sudden or fast movements. You can also choose to offer your pet a small treat right off the bat to signal that this is an enjoyable time. To keep it fun, it is important to not tire the bird by an overly long training session. Young birds, even ones that look fully mature, often tire more quickly than adults. You should only work with young birds for about five minutes. Older pets can usually take 10 minutes.

If your bird is untrained, the first trick you should teach him is step-up. This is a relatively easy one to learn and will make moving and transporting your bird must easier. Before you teach this maneuver make sure you have followed all the above recommendations.

When you are ready, slowly move your hand towards the bird. Then you should softly press your pointer finger to the bird’s lower stomach and say in a friendly and calm voice, step up. (If the bird is too large to perch on your finger, you can use your arm). In most cases, the bird will automatically step up onto your finger. Eventually, he or she will come to recognize your words as the cue to step onto your hand or arm.

When your bird completes this trick or any other trick successfully make sure you praise them! The reward that they receive is what teaches birds that they are doing what you want and it gives them motivation to continue to follow your commands. Besides verbal praise, you should offer your bird a treat. You can use a special food such as a piece of fruit or vegetable, or a favorite toy that is reserved especially for the times when the bird has learned a new trick. If you give your birds lots of praise and encouragement, then he will learn quickly and be eager for the next lesson.

Once a trick is learned, you should regularly ask your bird to perform the trick so that it is not forgotten. You can use daily activities to sneak in practice. For example, when you are cleaning the cage, ask your pet to step up onto your hand, instead of letting him just pull himself up on the bars.

If you remember to follow all of these guidelines and exercise patience, you will be sure to have a pet with an impressive set of tricks.

This article is one of many featured at Teach Your Parrot To Talk training course A website dedicated to the world of Bird Lovers. Want to learn about how A Revolutionary Speech Training Method Will Change How Bird’s Learn To Talk.

Copyright 2006 Parrotsite.com. All rights reserved. – This article is available for reprint on your ezine, website or ebook. You MUST agree NOT to make ANY changes to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included.

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Theres a horse show across the state in a few weeks, and youre planning on being there with your horses. However, its been awhile since you last pulled a horse trailer, and youre a little concerned about your trailering skills. After all, you want to arrive at your destination safely, with the horses as calm and relaxed as possible.

Guiding a loaded horse trailer down a country road or highway requires practical experience and know-how. Theres very little room for error. What do you do to ensure a safe, uneventful journey?

How to Ensure Safe Trailering

If youre out of practice, or if youve never towed a trailer before, obtaining adequate personal experience prior to the actual event is of the utmost importance. Just as if you were learning to drive for the first time, you should begin by practicing basic driving skills before getting out in traffic with the trailer.

The more experienced you become, the more prepared you will be for anything that may potentially happen. With more confidence and a higher level of awareness and preparedness, you should be better able to handle any unexpected situation that comes along.

Find a level field or a parking lot in which to practice. Mark your course with several highway cones, then, set out to work on the following driving skills:

Ready for the Highway

After youve practiced all the basic driving skills while pulling your horse trailer and you feel confident in your ability to handle the rig safely, youre ready to test your skills out on the road.

Try towing your trailer for short distances, at first. Make sure that you feel comfortable with turning corners in traffic, with backing your trailer, with parking on a grade, and with being able to stop your trailer quickly (should the need arise). Once you are confident in your towing abilities, youre ready to travel any distance with your horses.

Just remember to always be alert when out on the roads. Drive defensively and be prepared for any possible situation.

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Socializing your puppy is one major key to having a normal, well-adjusted dog. In my years as a dog trainer I have unfortunately seen the scary results of a lack of early socialization.

Imagine your neighbor has a child. For whatever reason your neighbor decides to keep that child away from the outside world. In fact, your neighbor decides to keep that child locked up in his bedroom. Year in and year out he stays in that room. His parents bring him his meals and spend an hour or so every day with him. The view from his window is of a corner of the backyard. He is an only child and has no friends. Then imagine that on his 14th birthday his parents decide it is time to take him out. So out they go to a restaurant. Upon seeing the world the boy is terrified, awed, and in wonder. The cars move so quickly and are so large. There are so many noises on the street. The waiters at the restaurant look right at him and speak to him which makes him uncomfortable. The food tastes weird and he is afraid to use the restroom because there are so many people moving about.

Sounds crazy, right? It is. Yet, so many people do this with their dogs with a lack of puppy socialization. I used to run group obedience training classes in a park. On any given first day of class about a dozen or so dog owners with their dogs would show up. Many of these dogs were suffering from an extreme lack of puppy socialization. Many a dog had never met another dog. Many a dog had never met another person outside their family. Many more had very limited socialization. They were kept cooped up in the back yard and taken on walks a few times a week. These dogs werent ready for the world.

Based on the character and temperament of these un-socialized dogs their deficiencies showed in different ways. The more aggressive dogs who lacked puppy socialization manifested their problem by growling and barking at everybody and everything. For them, this new stimuli was scary, and anything scary needed to be warned with a growl. The timid, poorly socialized dogs ran from people or cowered when approached by others. These poor dogs had not been prepared for the world.

Dont do this to your poor puppy. The first six to nine months are the most crucial for puppy socialization. So you may ask, what does puppy socialization involve? Proper puppy socialization is introducing your dog to anything and everything. Your puppy needs to experience all types of sights, sounds, textures, and so on. He needs to see cars, motorcycles, football games, lawnmowers, and pogo sticks. He needs to hear a car backfire, a basketball bounce, and a baby cry. He needs to walk on gravel, grass, dirt, carpet, and slick floors. But most of all he needs to meet people. Lots of them. All types. Short ones, fat ones, weird ones, black ones, white ones, people who limp, people in wheel chairs, and people who sneeze. And children, loads and loads of children. If it exists, you should have your puppy see it or meet it.

There is a big caution when doing this, however. During these formative months your puppy is susceptible to many diseases. He is still in the midst of his vaccination cycle so his immune system isnt well equipped to handle diseases from other dogs. The best way I have found to handle this is two fold.

1.Only let him meet dogs that are current on their vaccinations. Yes, it is very important that your puppy meets other dogs to learn how to interact properly with them. They should be puppy friendly and disease free.

2.Socialize your puppy in non-dog areas. Let your puppy meet the world where there arent going to be other dogs. This can be tough but if you are inventive there are many ways. I like to take my puppies near a school while it is letting out. Here he will meet lots of kids. I have also been known to take a puppy and sit outside of a grocery store. Here the puppy sees shopping carts, cars, and other sometimes scary things. Not only that but I guarantee you that if you sit outside a grocery store for a half hour with a puppy that you and your puppy are going to meet a lot of new people. Get creative. Your puppys mental health depends on it.

Socialization is not only done during a short window of time. Socialization should be a lifelong pursuit for you and your puppy.

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There are certain codes of behavior and etiquettes that we as people should observe and teach to our children with regards to interacting with dogs. These behaviors serve as dog bite prevention, such that tragedies can be avoided.

Dont run past dogs. Especially important for children. Dogs have an inherent drive called prey drive. This drive inspires them to give chase to moving objects, tennis balls, neighborhood cats, or shrieking children. This doesnt mean that you cant go jogging, it just means that you must exercise caution when getting your daily exercise. I once had a running coach who instructed me to stop running when I saw a dog and walk past until safely out of the way. I dont necessarily recommend you go to this extreme but it definitely wouldnt hurt with dog bite prevention.

Allow dogs to introduce themselves to you. A mistake many people make is to rush up to a dog to tell him hello. Many dogs see this as an invasion of personal space and a threat and may react in kind. By allowing a dog to make introductions on his terms, the level of stress he feels is much lower. By lowering the amount of stress with the introduction you greatly reduce the chance of a dog bite.

When you allow the dog to meet you and do his obligatory sniffing, allow him to sniff your closed fist instead of your open hand. If he does decide to bite, much less damage will be done. Better to get bitten on a closed fist than to lose a finger by taking a direct bite to your digits.

When a new dog is approaching to meet you, position your body at a sideways slant. This is a much less threatening posture than a straight-on affront. It is a more submissive posture and makes a new dog feel more at ease.

Dont have staring contests with strange dogs. Some dogs will see this as an invitation for conflict.

Children are the victims of the majority of dog bites. All children should learn the above codes, plus there are additional behaviors that children should learn when dealing with dogs and dog bite prevention.

Children should always ask permission to meet a new dog. By asking the owner of the dog permission, the owner is now more in a mindset of supervisor. He will now be in better control of the dog. Never should a child run up to a new dog to make an introduction whether or not the owner is around. In fact, a child should never attempt to meet a strange dog who is without an owner.

Children should learn to be calm around dogs. Dogs will often bite as a result of stress. A running, screaming child can cause many dogs a lot of stress. This could provoke a dog bite and should be avoided.

Although children are shorter, they should work to avoid being face to face with a dog. Allow the dog to instead sniff the childs closed fist. This makes sense on a few different levels. If a dog is going to bite, the last body part you want near him is the head or face. Also, the act of a child putting his face near the face of a dog can be seen as a threat by the dog. This could provoke a dog bite.

If possible, when making introductions to new dogs, children should be still, higher in elevation than the dog (sitting in a chair or on the lap of an adult), and calm. Allow the dog to come make the introduction on terms that are comfortable for him.

Children would be do well to feed new dogs a treat. By making an immediate positive association between child and dog you are much more likely to avoid a dog bite.

Above all, use common sense when dealing with mans best friend. Common sense is the best form of dog bite prevention.

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