How can such a small animal elicit such a huge reaction? But more importantly, do they deserve their reputation?

Before you judge rats, it might help to understand a little bit about them. Everyone knows rats are rodents, but did you know a male rat is called a buck, a female is a doe, and the babies are called pups or kittens? Rats reach puberty at an early age, between 6 to 8 weeks. Their bodies are between 9 and 11 inches long, with a tail up to 9 inches and they come in many different colors and varieties. Rats have an average lifespan of 2 to 3 years and are most active at night.

Now that you know more about them, let’s take a look at some of the myths people believe about rats as pets. Maybe you’ll see them in a whole new light.

Myth #1
Rats are mindless creatures.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Domesticated rats are intelligent with a natural curiosity which makes them very trainable. They can be taught simple tricks with relative ease and love the interaction of learning. My son has a three year old Blue Fancy rat named Samantha. She quickly learned her name and will come when called. She also learned to play fetch, chasing a small plastic ball when it is rolled away from her on the floor, then rolling it back.

Myth #2
Rats are vicious, dangerous creatures.

Rats are very friendly, social animals. They are easily tamed simply by being handled from a young age. Rats enjoy spending time with their owners; bonding with them much as a dog bonds with a person. They love being petted and being close to their family. Our rat loves to sit on my shoulder while I’m writing at my computer, sometimes falling asleep while she is up there.

Myth #3
Rats are filthy, disease bringing rodents.

In reality, rats are very clean creatures, grooming themselves daily. The sign of a healthy rat is a clean, well-groomed coat. They are not a low maintenance pet, but are much easier to care for than a hamster or larger pet. Replacing the bedding in their cage every week, and making sure they have fresh food and water daily will go a long way to make your furry little friend happy. I’ve found that rats are orderly animals. Every time Samantha’s cage is cleaned she rearranges it to suit her needs. She likes her house, bowls, and toys to be where she wants them.

Myth #4
Rats are not playful.

Rats enjoy interaction with their human owners, requiring daily play time. They need at least an hour outside of their cage every day to play and socialize with their family, as well as toys to play with when you can’t be there. The best toys I’ve found are ones designed for cats. Pick ones that can’t be chewed by your rat, because they will chew. Samantha has two plastic balls with bells inside that she plays with. You can hear her at night, rolling those balls around to make the bells ring.

Myth #5
Rats are only nocturnal creatures.

While this is mostly true, it isn’t set in stone. Rats will be up when they think you are. Yes they are up at night, but they are also up during the day. They will wake up if they feel that you are ready to play. Taking them out during the day is a great way to train them that daytime is a good time to play. Samantha sleeps during the night and day, but she is always willing to come out during the day and spend some time with me or my son.

Rats can be a great first pet. They are easier to maintain than a dog or cat, and are friendlier than a hamster. With a little understanding your family can reap the benefits of rat ownership too. Give rats a chance. You’ll be glad you did.

Dawn Arkin is a former rat phobic who discovered the joys of having a pet rat later in life. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.

Installing the twins in a cardboard box made comfortable with shredded newspaper and leaf lettuce, we hurried outside to build a hutch. Not for a moment did we think that good old Dad would not take the orphans in. We looked again, but there was no sign of the mother rabbit. The chicken wire we found would scarcely keep a grown rabbit locked up much less a two ounce baby bunny. But after much hammering and a few screams of pain, the hutch was finished. Sweating, we carried the box to the back yard and covered it with canvas, ready for the moment of truth.

Soon, Dad arrived and was immediately surrounded with shouted explanations of our adventure and pleadings to be allowed to keep them. Weren’t we lucky to have found two, one for each of us? We automatically discounted our younger sister for being too young. Kitchen noises were followed by a call to supper. My dad sat in his favorite chair reading the paper while my mother insisted we wash our hands — again. At the table, there was much discussion about how wild animals thrived in the out-of-doors and how they often contracted colds and such from the heat in the house. Barely weaned, my brother tried feeding the bunnies with a doll baby bottle with a real rubber tip, but it didn’t work. Finally, my mother supplied us with an eye dropper which worked if we force fed the struggling animals.

After supper, we went to gather the bunnies to further our pleas to our silent father. Huddled deep in one corner of the box was the white rabbit, shivering with fright. Of the male rabbit there was no sign. A frantic search under the furniture and in every corner was fruitless. Panicky, we even tried to enlist my dad in the search for the missing animal. Suddenly, from the living room we heard my dad say, Uh oh , here he is! He had inadvertently sat on the bunny, squashing him with his full weight as he sat in his favorite chair. Now a bag of bones lying still on the cushion, his little rabbit soul had gone to bunny heaven. Carrying him outside in a match box, I dug a hole by the glow of a flashlight held by my brother.

Back inside, my brother and I reluctantly agreed that the lone survivor be transported to his burrow, come what may. My dad reminded us that though we mourned the loss of our baby bunny, there were probably hundreds of rabbits in the woods behind the house. That night, as we cuddled our favorite cat in our bed, we dreamed of rabbits by the millions.

Retired portrait photographer. Do you have any similar experiences?

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Most kids at stage will ask ? no, nag ? for a pet of some type. Gold fish, guinea pigs, pet mice and rabbits are generally on city-dwelling children?s want lists for pets at some stage. The more conventional cats and dogs compete with more exotic species such as tortoises, snakes and parrots for kid?s attention in the large animal stakes.

The lure of pets for kids was demonstrated some years ago at the height of the electronic pet phase. Kids across the world were glued to their handheld monitors feeding, walking and caring for their electronic pets.

As it turned out electronic pets were no substitute for the real things and the phase thankfully has passed.

Pets contribute in four ways to children?s healthy development:

1. They teach children to take responsibility for something other themselves. Some pets are easier to care for than others but most have to be cared for, protected and fed on a regular basis. It is the regularity of caring for pets that is the greatest lesson for kids. Parents may give children chores and it may not matter much to children if they are not done. But the consequences of not caring for a pet are generally very real for children. Fail to feed a small animal and it may die. Forget to close the cage on the chicken pen and the dog may have an unexpected feast. These are real responsibilities that teach real life lessons to kids.

2. It is inevitable that at some stage pets will die. It is tough but that is life. Animals teach kids about the cycle of life. Dogs moult, lizards shed their skins and the call of the wild is just too great for some species in spring. The nature?s cycles become real when you have pets

3. Pets teach kids to be empathetic. When children care for their pets they become protective and look out for their welfare. They empathise with their pets if they are cold, hungry or it is stormy outside. Kids will often want the dog to sleep inside when it is cold or the cat to come in from the rain. They often blur the line between animal and human but at least they are emphasising with their pets ? and putting themselves in their situation. My point ? empathy is a brilliant life skill. Empathetic kids never bully and empathetic adults are brilliant to be around. They make great partners, workmates and bosses. These characteristics need to be nurtured in childhood and owning pets can allow for this.

4. Youngest and only child are usually surrounded in their families by people who are bigger and more capable than them. The opportunity to care for a pet puts them in control and allows them to care for something just as their parents have cared for them.

The type of pets that kids have will depend on their age, your circumstances and their wants. From my own experience it is necessary to instil in kids the responsibility that comes with pet ownership. Kids will often see an animal in a pet store or at a friend?s house and immediately want it. It?s a parent?s job to remind children that pets are for LIFE (of the animal) and that the fun of having a pet is balanced by the responsibility of looking after it.

Pet ownership is a two ?edged sword. But so is life. That?s why kids should keep pets.

Michael Grose is a popular parenting educator and parent coach. He is the director of Parent Coaching Australia, the author of six books for parents and a popular presenter who speaks to audiences in Australian Singapore and the USA. For free courses and resources to help you raise happy kids and resilient teenagers visit http://www.parentingideas.com.au

A puppy is very much like a baby.

They are cute and cuddly. They tug at your heart and you just have to give in to them. But, doing so will likely spoil that puppy into an annoying pet rather than a trusted friend. While the world of puppy can be a rewarding one, it can also be quite nerve wracking as well.

Just like children, puppies need you to watch over them virtually all the time. They like to explore and they are likely to get into things that they shouldn?t. This can prove to be something that injures them or even poisons them, though. Puppies use their mouths to explore the world around them. If it has an interesting taste or texture, the dog is likely to keep at it. Now, if this is such a thing as an electrical cord, it can prove to be fatal to them.

So, what do you do if you can?t be there all the time to watch your puppy? You can use baby gates as well as barriers of other types to lock off dangerous areas to your pet. Put your pet in a welcoming area where you spend time in. Provide them with toys, water and a soft place to lie and they are set to go.

Training for a pet begins from the time you allow them to enter your home.

Experts agree that the first thing a puppy needs to learn is that you are the leader of the pack. You need the dog to understand that you are the boss. They instinctively look for a leader because dogs are pack animals. If you don?t take on this role, the animal will think that he is the leader instead. You don?t have to be aggressive at it though. Subtle things tell your puppy that you are in the leadership role. If you are harsh with the puppy, you will make them afraid of you and they will not be able to bond with you at that point.

At a young age, you can teach your puppy to sit. To do this, simply put your hand on his chest and the other on his rump. Say the command ?sit? and push down on their rump and up on the chest. When she does it, praise her verbally and give her a treat. Keep practicing this with her. Whenever you give the dog its food, make her sit before you give it to her. This is a ?nothing in life is free? technique. The dog learns that you are in charge and that to get his food he must obey you.

Lastly, it is important to note that the best techniques for raising your animal are those that surround compassion, patience and love.

Best Pet Health Information is a resource which will help you find infomation, hints and tips to keeping your puppy happy and healthy. Dog News Center publishes news and articles about dogs and puppies.

http://www.best-pet-health.info This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and live links are included intact.

It is up to you to be able to administer the first aid that your pet needs when he needs it. Something can happen at virtually any time at home or away from home. You should have with you a first aid kit that is designed for your pet in mind. If you take your pet away from home frequently, make sure to store the first aid kit in your car as well. These tools can save your pets life.

Here are some of the things that you should have within that kit:

Hydrogen peroxide

Gauze pads and tape

Absorbent cotton/cotton balls

Scissors with a round tip

Instant ice packs

Tweezers

A bulb syringe to be used to remove mucous from the mouth/nose

Eyewash solution specific for pets

A clean white cotton sock for paws that are hurt

Flashlight

A rectal thermometer

Medication syringe for dispensing medication

An electrolyte liquid such as Pedialyte

You need to protect these products so keep them in a hard shell container that has a tight fitting lid. You should also have the vets name and number written and enclosed in this package. You should know and secure information about the local emergency pet hospital as well. Also, when you leave your pet with another caregiver to take care of, such as when you are traveling, you need to provide them with the kit and a release form authorizing them to seek treatment for your pet.

A common dilemma is the bee sting. If this happens to your pet, you should restrain the animal and use a pair of tweezers to remove the stinger. Then, bath the area with a mixture of water and baking soda to relieve some of the pain. You can help to reduce swelling by using an ice pack on the area and using Benedryl. Make sure you know how much to give your pet by asking the vet.

What should you do if your dog is injured?

Youll need to approach the animal slowly and carefully because they may snap or bite at you. It is just a nature reaction for them to do this. See what has happened to them and reassure the pet that you are not going to hurt her through a smooth voice and calmness.

Your first concern is to stop the flow of blood as quickly as possible. Apply pressure to the wound and hold it there. Make sure to use a cloth that is clean and change them as needed. Keep as much pressure on it as possible until you get to your vet. If you need to, tape a thick gauze pad to the wound. Youll want to keep as much pressure on the wound though, so if possible have someone else transport you.

In the case of choking, you should use a flashlight to check down the throat. If you can, remove the object. If you cant see it, youll need to use a Heimlich maneuver that is designed for your pet. As a pet owner, you should have this basic training taught to you. It is important to do it correctly in order to protect against serious injury of the pet. You can get this type of training at your local humane society or through your vet. You can also learn how to give your pet CPR and how to deal with serious injury and poisoning.

Best Pet Health Information is a resource which will help you find infomation, hints and tips to stocking a doggie first aid kit and keeping your dog happy and healthy. Dog News Center publishes news and articles about dogs and puppies.

http://www.best-pet-health.info This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and live links are included intact.

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Researchers have found evidence suggesting that kids who grow up having a pet companion learn a lot from this relationship. The connection formed is not only beneficial to the animal, but also to the child. Kids that have pets become responsible sooner and behave proactively. These are just two of the positive outcomes your child will experience from your decision to allow a stranger to enter your house. The lessons a child will learn from being close to an animal can have a tremendous effect to its personality and behavior; today and in the future. Having to take the dog out for a walk, visiting the veterinarian’s office every six months, washing the dog or playing with it, will not only be some of your kid’s future cherished memories, but also some rather life-changing experiences.

Only good can come out from your child learning to be respectful and affectionate to an animal. By living with a dog, your child will for the first time in his or her life learn what it feels like to take care of another living-soul. Moreover, the happiness and comfort such a relationship will bring to your kid’s life cannot be easily ignored or compared with anything else he or she will later decide to experience. Respecting someone else’s needs and thinking of their well-being are extremely important lessons for the formation of your child’s future character and you will be later thanked for being tolerant and supportive.

Do not be intimidated from the fact that your child will consider his or her new pet friend just like he or she does with a new toy; fun and wonderful at the beginning, annoying and boring later. This is actually your chance to teach your child what it means to love unconditionally and to protect one’s life. From the trips to the nearby park to your family’s summer vacations, your child will have a first-hand experience on how rewarding and fulfilling it can be to cultivate such an intimate relationship and what it entails to keep it flourishing and rewarding.

Finally, the risk of loosing the dog, or the reality that it will one day die, cannot be underestimated. It is true that kids become psychologically attached to their pets, but so do adults. There is no easy way to say goodbye to a beloved companion, but no bigger lesson exists there in life. Understanding what death is, learning to accept it, and finding ways to cope with it, are not processes one has to go through when he or she is an adult. Perhaps then it will be too difficult for your child to become conscious of the loss.

Pets can be the most fulfilling experience a kid can have and it is always time to open your door and your soul to that stray dog he or she will bring in. Life gives no guarantees that happiness and bliss will last forever. Nevertheless, your kid will become a better individual if he or she is given a chance to experience life through the eyes of a dog.

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It is important to provide your animal with the right type of food. That means that you should give her food that is right for the dogs age and activity levels and that is right for her size as well as her health. Youll find a wide selection of products to choose from in your pet store. It is wise to purchase the best quality of food for your pet that you can afford to buy. Realize that if you purchase poor quality food for your animal, his health can be lacking.

Your pets diet should include some dry food because the crunch will help to keep her teeth clean and it will also help with gum health. It provides the fiber in your dogs diet that is necessary. You can use wet food, but dont give them too much of it. For example, pour some over your dogs dry food instead of giving them the whole can. If you are interested in providing your pet with home made foods, find dog specific recipes throughout the web to use. It is important not to give your dog leftovers from your meal though. You need the food to provide nutrition to your dog based on his needs. Things like fats, and fillers in human food, as well as spices, can make a dog sick.

As a puppy, your dog needs to eat frequently throughout the day, about three or four smaller meals, until they are about three months old. Then, cut it down to only three meals a day for the next three months. Ideally, your adult dog should each twice per day. You should provide your dogs food to them for up to twenty minutes. At that point remove it if they have not eaten it and are not in the process of doing so. This will help to stop picky eaters. You do need to provide a constant amount of clean water for your pet to drink as well.

Ideally, you will need to get recommendations about the amounts of food to feed your dog from your vet. Sometimes, information is also available on the food bags as well. Not sure if your pet is eating the right amount? Heres a test. If you run your hand against the dogs side, you should feel her ribs without pressing. If you can not feel them without pressing, she may be overweight. If you can see them, though, she is underweight.

Best Pet Health Information is a resource which will help you find infomation, hints and tips to keeping your dog happy and healthy. Dog News Center publishes news and articles about dogs and puppies.

http://www.best-pet-health.info This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and live links are included intact.

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Our dogs rely on us for everything. Unlike people, dogs cannot make choices; they rely on us to choose for them. Before you decide to send your dog to the pound or shelter, please read this and make a more informed decision.

The Truth About Shelters

There are many no kill shelters that will not put any animal down. The pet can stay at the shelter until a home can be found. But do not assume that all shelters are this way. If you must give up your animal find out what the shelters policy is before you take your pet to one.

Why Shelters Were Created

Shelters and humane societies were created to care for stray and/or abused animals. They were not meant to be a drop off place for people who do not want their pets any more. When an owner turns their dog into a shelter, depending on how full the shelter is, the dog may be killed that day. Owner turn ins have far fewer rights than stray dogs. In most places stray dogs are kept at least seven days in case the owner shows up to claim it. Dogs turned in by their owners do not have to be kept for any amount of time and many more are never even put up for adoption. While shelter operators do not necessarily want to kill these dogs, they may have little choice. Space at animal shelters is always limited, so many perfectly adoptable dogs will die. So sending your dog to a shelter in hopes that someone else will adopt him is nave, wishful thinking. It is far more likely that you are just sending your dog to be executed.

How Do I Prevent My Dog From Being Euthanized?

If your life circumstances are such that you must give up your dog, the best chance your dog has for avoiding an untimely death is for you to take a proactive approach.

1.Contact a qualified dog trainer in your area. A dog trainer will be able to tell you better what your other options are for your dog. Further, if a dog requires some instruction a trainer can help you. A trained dog is more valued, more fun to have around and will get into trouble far less than dogs that are not trained. Having your dog trained will open up more possibilities for him to live a long and happy life, no matter what happens to you.

2.Contact a leader dog organization. Maybe after your dog leaves your home, he can get a job. He may not qualify to be a leader dog for a blind person, but there are lots of other jobs dogs can get with police, fire, or even search and rescue organizations. Some organizations also use dogs for pet therapy. Do your homework and maybe your dog can help someone else.

3.Consider a breed rescue. While no kill shelters are hard to find, many breeds have their own rescue for their particular breed. Individuals from their homes operate most breed rescue services. Like traditional rescue services, space is very limited while demand is high. But a breed rescue service can help you place your dog with a new owner by providing referrals to persons who may be interested in adopting your dog. You will have the most success if you follow the services advise and as much of the leg work yourself in finding a new home for your dog.

4.Advertise. Use the classified ads to find your dog a home. Done correctly, its the most effective way to reach the largest number of people. Your advertisement should give a short description of your dog, his needs, your requirements for a home, and of course your phone number. The description should include the dogs breed, color, sex, and whether he or she is spayed or neutered. When listing the dogs age, if the dog is more than two years old list him as an adult dog. Here are a few more tips:

-Emphasize your dogs good points. Is he friendly? Housebroken? Love kids? Have any type of special training? Does he know any tricks? Dont keep these things a secret, list all of them.
-Always state that references are required. This tells people you are being very selective and that you are not going to give your dog to just anyone. This statement alone will keep people with bad intentions from calling you.
-Never use the phrase, free to a good home in your ad, even if you are not planning to charge any fee. In fact, do not put any reference to a price at all. The chance at a free dog will bring lots of calls, but most of them will not be from the type of people you are looking for.
-Your ad should read something like this, Mixed breed large dog. Friendly, housebroken, and well behaved. Better with adults or older children because of his size. Fenced yard required. References and interviews prior to acceptance. Call Harold at 989-555-1234.

Give your ad plenty of time to run. It may take four to six weeks for your ad to pay off with a home for your dog. Be patient, it will be worth it.

To contact the author, Harold Nicoll, call 989-839-8293 or email hgnicoll@sbcglobal.net. You can visit our website at http://www.gettingluckythedog.com.

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For some of us this is fairly easy to answer as were partial to a certain breed. For others it can be a tough decision.

Should you get a big dog, a small dog or one thats partway in between?

One that has long hair, or perhaps a short coated breed that requires minimal grooming?

A dog that will fit in well with your children or do you want one for companionship?

These are just some of the things you need to ask yourself before you can start narrowing down the breed of dog youre after.

As you no doubt have already discovered dogs come in many shapes and sizes, some require more exercise than others, some need special grooming, some still might be pre-disposed to certain medical conditions.

One of the best places to start is to narrow the field down by eliminating what you dont want/cant have.

If you live in a small, confined area it may be too hard for you to give a larger breed the exercise it will need. So stick with the smaller/miniature breeds.

If you know that you wont have the time to maintain/groom a dog that requires it, dont select a dog that will need constant attention unless you have the ability to take it to a dog groomers etc.

If you have small children make sure you choose a dog that can both grow with them and has the temperament to handle a bit of rough treatment. Some dogs are not suitable for small children, they can be snappy, while others, often the medium to large breeds, are well suited to the roughhousing they will endure.

For the elderly, often a smaller dog is great for companionship, and they dont require anywhere near as much exercise as the larger dogs.

Once youve narrowed that list down, do some more research. Talk with breeders, your vet, local animal welfare, canine association etc. and get all the information you can on the breeds youre choosing from. If youre not fussed on whether its a purebred or not and are happy to rescue one from the pound/welfare ask as many questions about it as you can to try and determine whether the pup will fit into your lifestyle.

Now that youve chosen your breed do some more research. Ask around and find out who are the reputable breeders of your chosen breed, follow up by making sure they will allow you to see the parent(s) of the puppy, and will let you visit their kennels. Check with the vet to see if they have any knowledge of the breeder and can help you ascertain whether they get their regular checkups, puppy vaccinations etc.

After all that comes the hardest part of all: waiting. Once youve chosen your breed, selected the breeder and picked out your puppy youll find yourself having to wait until the pup is at least eight weeks old until you can bring it home. To help make the time go quicker, use it to prepare your house for the new arrival.

V.Brown is a long time dog owner/lover. And after recently acquiring another new pup has decided to share her tips as she once again puts them to practice. http://www.freewebs.com/dogzspotz/index.htm

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Small children under 5-7 years of age should not be entrusted with the care of any animal including fish. This is not to say that small animals shouldnt have pets but rather to say that the parents understand that the pet is their responsibility and not the childs. A child in this age group can benefit a lot from being allowed to interact with animal, se fish swim and feed the fish but is not ready to care for the animal themselves. As an example can be said that children off this age group only should be allowed to feed the fish when a parent is present. It isnt an uncommon event that children tries to be kind to the fish by feeding them the entire can of fish food causing a biological disaster, and if not discovered and corrected the death of all the fish in the aquarium within a matter of hours.

Small children under 5-7 years should never be allowed to change water in the aquarium or work with the electric equipment used in the aquarium due to the risk of injury.

Some parents might think that a fish is a good pet for a child since it require less care than say a dog and are cheaper. This is only partly true. A fish requires good care to remain healthy and the parents should expect that they will have to do a certain amount of work to keep their childs fish alive and healthy. True it didnt cost that much but it is still a living thing and does as such deserve to be threaded with care. Expect that an aquarium will require 5 minutes of your time each day for daily care and an hour each week for partial water changes etc.

Remember that a small aquarium requires more work than a large one. You should therefore never buy a small goldfish bowl or other small aquarium for your child. It might seem easier but requires a lot more work and only experienced aquarists should keep fish in small aquariums. I recommend an aquarium of at least 25-30 gallon (around 100 L) as a first aquarium for your child. Anything smaller will give you a lot of extra work and most likely more dead fish. A little larger aquarium also allows you the luxury to choose between more fish for your aquarium. So what fish should you choose to your child?

Some fish species are more suitable than others for children. First of, a child should never be allowed to keep toxic or otherwise potentially harmful fish species. Secondly the fish should be hardy enough to be easy to take care of, accept flake food and other easily storable foods and be calm enough not to be stressed by the children playing near the aquarium, tapping on the glass etc. Suitable fish includes many livebearers, barbs and tetras. Always buy fish that are suitable for you aquarium and dont just let your child by the fish he think is most beautiful, coolest or otherwise most appealing without considering their demands.

And dont forget that you as a parent have to do your research so that you know how to take care of an aquarium before letting your child get one. It might be your child that is getting an aquarium but you are getting the responsibility.

You can read everything you need to know about setting up and caring for an aquarium at AC Tropical Fish & Aquarium. AC Tropical Fish & Aquarium features a large amount of articles containing info on all aspects of aquarium keeping from setting up the aquarium, to diseases and fish breeding. Visit the Aquarium article archive now.

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