Pet Care Information

Today you can buy a form of pepper spray dog repellant which has been approved by the EPA (Environment Protection Agency) and it is both safe, effective as well as a great way of protecting yourself from attacks by dangerous dogs. Certainly there are plenty of joggers, walkers, cyclists as well as delivery people who carry a dog repellant spray with them wherever they go. In fact these products are continuously being used by US Postal Service Workers and public utility meter readers as they provide them with an effective repellant against unwanted attacks by dogs. In fact in the US thousands of these sprays have been sold to postal workers right across the country.

What is particular good about the dog repellant spray is that it contains about 0.75 fluid ozs of a pepper based solution (same as that used in pepper sprays against humans) and each canister will contain enough to provide approximately 10 one second bursts of the mixture. It is important that if you intend to rely on your spray as a defense then it should be tested on a periodic basis to ensure that it is working correctly. It is quite easy to test it as all you need to do is discharge 1 or 2 bursts of the mixture outside and away from all people and animals, but you should take care to ensure that you do not actually deplete the contents of the unit completely. Because of its special formula (the pepper contained in the mixture is minimal) these sprays can be used quite safely and humanely against any dog that is going to attack you.

If you should happen to be attacked by a dog then you need to point the unit at their nose, mouth and eyes and then spray shorts bursts of the mixture at these areas. This then provides you with an opportunity to distance yourself from the danger. The pepper based compound in the dog repellant spray will cause extreme irritation if it comes into contact with the dogs eyes, nose or mouth and the effects that they feel will occur within a few seconds of it coming into contact. In most cases once a dog has been sprayed with this repellant it will lie on the ground and using its paws attempt to rub the mixture away from its facial area. However, often the pain and irritation that the dog feels often wears off after a few minutes and thus leaving the dog completely unharmed. The great thing about the dog repellant pepper spray is that it can be used from a distance of between 10 and 12 feet so it will really keep you out of harms way.

Each year there are 4.7 million dog bites, 375,000 require a visit to the
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Is your dog afraid of your hair dryer or vacuum cleaner? Have you found something else that makes your pooch shy away, lift his leg to the object, hide or bark? Here’s help.

Create an association between a really great treat and the object or situation your dog presently fears. Many dogs can be motivated by food; if your dog isn’t one of those, find something else your dog loves: a good smell, a favorite toy, or a few minutes of play time.

Let’s say the offending object is the vacuum. While your dog is in another room with you, have someone turn on the vacuum. As soon as it is on, give your dog a particularly tasty and healthy goodie, then praise and pet your dog. After you do this a few times, your dog will begin to associate the sound of the vacuum with treats and praise, while at a distance that won’t intimidate him. (If you don’t have someone to turn on the vacuum for you, put the vacuum in another room and while it is unplugged, place the switch to the on position. Then bring the cord with you into the room where your pooch will be and plug it in there with your dog next to you.)

After repeating this exercise a few times and on a few different days, move your dog closer to the vacuum before it goes on, still lavishing the dog with praise and treats. Gradually move your dog ever closer each time until your dog is within a few feet of the vacuum. Treat and praise, but do not hold your dog in place to prevent his departure. The dog needs to feel like he has an out if he’s afraid. The lack of an escape may make your dog fear the vacuum even more, despite the treats. If he fails to eat the treat but pays more attention to the vacuum, the lessons are progressing faster than the dog is. Simply back things off again and wait until the dog is completely comfortable with the previous distance before moving him closer.

Eventually you can bring the dog to the vacuum, and leaving it off, place a treat on the vacuum. When the dog eats it, praise him and pet him. After your dog is used to the object, turn the vacuum onto the air function, without the motor if possible, while petting your dog and offering treats. If the dog shies, turn the vacuum off and continue to create a closer association between treats and the vacuum.

Then, when you vacuum, make sure you don’t move too quickly when your dog is near. With repeated, pleasant exposure, your dog should soon overcome his fear.

Jana Ortiz is the founder of Kosmar Enterprises, LLC. You can visit Kosmar Enterprises at kosmarenterprises.com kosmarenterprises.com for lots of resources on pet health, herbal health aids for pets and people, or to chat on the forum.

We have all been in the situation where we love our dog, and we want another JUST like him/her so we think of breeding in hopes the puppies will be just like our dog; or we have purchased a quality dog and think we’ll ‘make more’. It can work, but before you take the plunge, there are several factors to consider.

No German Shepherd should be bred until it has passed a hip x-ray for dysplasia no matter how good the pedigree is, and no matter how healthy your dog seems to be. A dog can function fine with mild dysplasia, but it will produce more of it, and it can be much more severe in the pups. The x-rays must be done at 2 years old. This means you will have to go through 3 or 4 heat cycles with your female bleeding for 3 weeks each time. This makes all males in the area HORNY. Females that have never tried to escape may try to do so when their hormones are raging, and by the way, guess where the term “bitch” came from…the way a female’s personality can change when she is in heat or pregnant or nursing pups. Males can congregate and get into fights trying to get in to your female. The only way to be sure your female is not accidentally bred is to keep her inside when she is in heat.

Let’s say your male and female have been x-rayed and have no dysplasia (cost is about $300 per dog), Now you need to think about the delivery. Yes, wolves do it on their own, but in nature, if there is a problem the mom and her pups die. We don’t want that to happen to our beloved dogs, so this means you must be able to be present to help with the delivery in case the mother has problems. There are books available you can read that will help you know when a female needs help so you DON’T lose her in puppy-birth. Can you take off work to be with her during delivery? Mom needs a quiet place to deliver and raise her litter where other dogs can not disturb her. It must not get over 80 degrees or under 60 degrees.

OK, so we’ll assume she has delivered OK. She may have a few puppies, or she may have 12 puppies. Where will you keep them when they start getting out of their box at 3 to 4 weeks old? No puppy should be placed into it’s new home before 7 weeks of age…..so, you’ve got a month of WORK ahead of you keeping the pups fed 3-4 times a day and cleaned at least as often. To do less sets the pups up for illness. It is not fair to the puppies to let them get sick due to lack of proper care. By the way, a good size litter can go through a 40 lb bag of puppy food EACH WEEK (cost about $35 each).

Worming needs to be done at least 2 times before they are old enough to sell, and at least one set of ‘puppy shots’ must be done. If you can do this yourself it will cost you around $100, but if you must have the vet do it….be ready to pay lots more! Oh, and don’t forget the cost for advertising the litter for sale!

OK, what if your female did not have an easy delivery. What if she had to have a c-section (cost is about $700 to $1000)? This happens more than most people think. Will you be able to help the female by bottle feeding the puppies every 3 hours day & night for 3 weeks until they can start eating baby pablum?

So, now it’s time to sell the little darlings. This is where you make a killing, right? Well, Kennel X sells their dogs for hundreds of dollars each. You paid a lot for your dog as a pup, so you should be able to get a lot for your pups, right? Maybe, maybe not. Kennel X has been in business for years and years. They have shown many dogs successfully. They are well known. They can usually sell their pups for more than a newcomer to breeding can…they have ‘paid their dues’. Also, part of what you pay for when you buy a puppy is access to the breeder for advice and help when you have questions or problems as your puppy grows up. Do you have the same level of knowledge to offer to your puppy buyers?

Now all the puppies are in their new homes. If you were lucky, they were reserved and sold by 8 weeks old. If you weren’t so lucky, you may still be cleaning and feeding them at 12-16 weeks of age. Let’s say you were lucky and they all went to new homes. Now you can take a huge sigh of relief! But, what about the owner that calls you when the puppy is 6-8 months old and is in the destructive stage and they don’t want it any more…are you prepared to take it back, and give it the training it should have received from the buyers, and then find it another home? Or what if the owner develops a serious health problem, or there is a divorce, or they are moving and they can’t keep the dog? Do not create these new puppies unless you are prepared to help them if they need it.

Breeding a litter and seeing them develop into wonderful, healthy dogs that enrich the lives of their new owners can be VERY satisfying. The process may go very smoothly, but it is YOUR responsibility to be ready and able to do what ever is needed if things go wrong. After all, the female got pregnant because you wanted (or allowed) her to. You might lose money on the litter. You may break even on costs. You might even make a little money, but if you consider how many hours of work it takes to raise the pups, and the time spent educating and interviewing of potential buyers, you probably made only a few dollars an hour. So, why do people become Breeders? Because they love the breed and they are willing to do what ever is necessary to produce those wonderful dogs for others to own and LOVE.

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In this article I will be exploring the world of commercial dog foods and explaining just how dangerous they can be. Feeding your dog commercial dog food can be just about the same as feeding your dog poison. You could be feeding your dog toxic dog food and killing your dog at the same time without even knowing it. In this article I will give you the information you need to know about commercial dog foods, so you could avoid doing such a terrible thing to your dog.

What would you say if I told you that the deaths of thousands of dogs each day in the United States are caused by the commercial dog food which they are eating? You probably would not want to believe it. The sad part is, it’s true. Another sad thing is that these dogs are dying a very painful death. There are very few commercial dog foods which are actually healthy for your dog. Alot of people believe if the dog food package promotes that the dog food is nutritionally complete and balanced, that it is. This is not true most of the time. If your dog does not seem like his or herself and seems to be lazy all the time there is a good chance this is because of the dog food you are feeding your dog. The preservatives in commercial dog foods can cause your dog’s organs to fail, especially it’s kidneys.

The reason why most major dog food companies use preservatives in their dog food products is because the preservatives increase the self life of the dog food which in turn maximizes the dog food companies’ profits. Another scary thing is that alot of these dog foods contain at least six deadly chemicals that have been banned from human foods. They were banned from human foods because they are known to cause the following health problems: skin cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, spleen cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, liver dysfunction, birth defects, immune system collapse, leukemia, severe allergic reactions, blindness, hair loss, chronic diarrhea, major organ failure, and behavioral problems. Labels on dog food packages which say either “preservative-free”, “chemical-free”, or “all-natural ingredients” are not always telling the truth. Most major dog food companies have found loop-holes which allow them to print these false claims on their dog food product’s packaging. ethoxyquin, which is the most powerful of all the preservatives, is found in most dry pet foods. It also may be the most toxic of the preservatives which cause health problems in dogs. Like most preservatives ethoxyquin will probably not even be printed under the ingredients on the dog food package. I would strongly recommend that anyone who loves their dog should stop feeding them commercial dog food unless they are 100% sure that the dog food they are buying is healthy for their dog.

I learned about which commercial dog food products are healthy through a course called “Dog Food Secrets”. Dog Food Secrets gives you a list of healthy commercial dog foods. They also give you a huge collection of healthy, well-balanced dog food recipes. They explain how the dog’s age, size, and breed matters when it comes to nutrition. The amount of calories which are consumed by your dog each day is also important to your dog’s health. Basically, the Dog Food Secrets course is a step-by-step survival guide which helps your dog to live a longer and healthier life. The Dog Food Secrets course is great because not only does it show you all negative things that could harm your dog, but it also shows you all the positive things you can do to make sure your dog lives a long and healthy life.

In conclusion I think it would be safe to say that the dog food you are buying can be killing your dog. Reading through the Dog Food Secrets course is the first and most important step you should take to start improving the well-being of your dog. Educating other people who love their dogs is also very important because the majority of people do not know of the dangers of most commercial dog foods. Proper knowledge of nutritional facts can make a huge difference in how long your dog can live. I would definitely recommend the Dog Food Secrets course to anyone who loves their dog. I would also recommend asking your veterinarian alot of questions about how you can improve your dogs health.

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1. When is the best time to leash train your puppy?
Now! The sooner you start, the sooner your puppy will be able to safely walk with you outside in a predictable, controlled manner. This isn’t always an easy task but very well worth the effort! Puppies are easily over whelmed and may initially be afraid of a new collar and leash. With patience and a loving manner, you will be able to help your puppy overcome his initial fear.

2. What kind of collar and leash should I buy?
Start by buying your puppy a lightweight collar (no choke collars!) complete with an id tag, a lightweight leash, and some healthy treats. Begin by putting the collar snuggly but not tightly around your puppy’s neck. Be prepared – he won’t like it at first! He’ll paw at the collar, shake his head and roll around hoping to shake it off. It’s important not to laugh at him (this will only encourage him to keep doing it) or scold him either. Hopefully your puppy will forget about his new collar after a few minutes.

3. What is the first step in leash training?
Congratulations! Give your puppy a treat once he has accepted wearing his collar. The next step is to attach his leash. Just attach it and let him walk around the room getting used to the feel of it. After 2 minutes, take the leash off and reward your puppy. Wait 15 minutes and attach the leash again, once more letting him just walk around getting used to the feel of wearing a leash. After a few minutes, take the leash off again. Keep repeating this process until your puppy is used to wearing his leash. Remember: attach, walk around the room, remove, reward with a treat, repeat. Tip: if you attach his leash to his collar at mealtimes, your puppy will associate his leash with a positive experience.

Once your puppy has accepted wearing his leash, pick up the other end. Just let him lead you around indoors. Let him think that this is a fun game as he leads you around indoors. Keep it fun and make sure that you don’t let him be in a position where he wants to pull or strain against the leash. Do everything to make this a positive experience for your puppy. Praise him with your words and treats when you ‘catch him’ doing something right (if he happens to walk over to you for attention, rather than straining against his leash, praise him!). Tip: limit your ‘indoor leash walks’ to 5 or 10 minutes, several times a day if possible.

4. When is it safe to venture outdoors?
When you and your puppy are feeling comfortable with your ‘indoor leash walks’, it’s time to venture outside! Start with short walks in low traffic areas where there are minimal distractions (like other dogs). Slowly, gradually, widen the area where you and your puppy walk.

Once your puppy has mastered walking on the leash outdoors, it’s a great time to teach him how to go up and down stairs. Start by sitting on the bottom step of a short flight of stairs. Go up one step and encourage your puppy to join you. If he follows you, lavish him with lots of praise and a treat. Continue going up one step at a time with more praise and treats for each step. Do the same when coming back down the stairs. Tip: Don’t punish your puppy if he’s not ready to climb the stairs and never try to force him. If he’s not ready, try again in a few days. Patience is the key.

Whew! Congratulate your puppy and yourself! You’ve mastered teaching your puppy to walk on a leash AND go up the stairs! Leash training your puppy can be time consuming but is absolutely necessary for his safety.

BJ Gabriel is a successful Webmaster and publisher of DogTraining4Lovers.com. BJ provides free Dog Training information in a free Dog Lovers Newsletter to help you have the happiest, healthiest and most well-behaved dog on the planet!

Do you want a well-behaved dog? A dog that wont run outside and bark at every person that walks past your house, a dog that won’t pee on your carpet, a dog that wont bite your ankles as you walk past.

I am going to show you 3 very important training tips that will make your dog completely house trained and stop that annoying barking.

1. Catch your dog in the act. This is one of the most important rules to stop your dog from barking. Try not to let your dog get away with it at any time. Even if it means following them around yard. Use a strong voice and say “NO” when they start barking if they continue, tie them up away from the fence or whatever they were barking at.

Eventually they will learn that if they continue, they will be tied up. This is an effective way to stop dog barking.

You can also use electronic barking collars however I do not recommend this. For this to work you will need to have them working all the time.

Barking is part of dogs nature, using an electric collar is taking something natural away from them. I also believe these collars are the lazy solution so stop dog barking.

2. Don’t change your dogs sleeping, eating or potty locations. If you mix up these locations your dog will become confused and not know where to go to the toilet etc.

Keep the NO areas consistent. Before you even go to the pet store to buy a dog you should know where the do can and cannot go. Make it clear from the very start otherwise house training your dog can take much longer then you want.

3. It’s a family thing. Anybody who notices the dog barking should apply the training methods to stop this problem. One person can not be responsible for stoping a dog from barking because you need to catch the dog in the act for it to work

These are the most important factors in training your dog. However you must remember there are many other points to consider to successfully train a dog. Different dogs will learn your specific house rules at different rates but the most import thing is to not give up and do not let your dog get away with bad habits.

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So what’s the deal with feral cats? why is there so much fuss about them and why are they a burden upon environment and resources worldwide? A feral creature is referred to as a wild, untamed, savage animal that has gone from a state of domestication to a wild presence. Feral cats are typically kittens of domestic cats that were left, disowned, discarded by their owners. Un-habituated to humans, they live in colonies in urban areas…in alleys, malls, garbage disposal areas etc. If they manage to stave off starvation and death from other predators like coyotes, foxes, dogs, they thrive and breed at a prodigious rate - producing over half a million offsprings in their lifespan. A burden on resources, millions are spent annually to control them.

There are two approaches commonly advocated to deal with this problem. One is merciless euthanasia of every captured feral. The other, which is more sensible and what I also advocate, is TNR i.e. Trap, Neuter and Return - this involves capturing the stray cats, neutering them and returning them to the area. This approach, apart from being more humane, is also more successful and cost-effective than repeated attempts at extermination since the area of killed cats is soon taken over by other ferals. During TNR, cats are also frequently immunized and one of their ears nicked to identify them as being inoculated and neutered.

Whilst feral cats have had devastating ecological influences on biodiversity of certain species like the extinction of huitas from the Caribbean and the Guadalupe Storm-petrel from Pacific Mexico, they are also believed to be of use in controlling over growth of populations of certain animal species. An example is their removal from Macquarie Island where the number of rats and rabbits grew exponentially and had harmful influences on local ecology including the native seabirds.
Debate is going to continue on feral cats and how to best deal with them, meanwhile the take home message for pet owners is to neuter their cats - not only to avoid having to deal with a litter of kittens every few months - but also for the health of the cats.

The author is a blogger about ailurophiles.blogspot.com cats and an expert on ailurophiles.blogspot.com/2007/05/feral-cats.html feral cats.

Learn more about cats by visiting: ailurophiles.blogspot.com ailurophiles.blogspot.com

As I listen on my long drive to my grandpa’s farm, I begin to hit that little corner that always takes me back in time. I now live in town or the city, but my roots run deep, back in time I go to that little community I once lived in, where I grew up, where I was raised. I then recall a letter that I received from a cousin not long ago. I had asked some questions as to things she remembered from the past, when we were young girls and all that seemed to exist was that farm, in my mind anyways. I thought long and hard about what she had written.

She started by reminding me of all the fun times and memories we had shared. Then she reminded me of a past with hurt but yet things forgotten and let go of. She told me, ‘we grew up in a hard life, at times with things around us that we had no control of and no way to survive at the time, yet only we knew how’. She then told me, ‘I know why you were so close to all those animals. I know why they were so close to you. They were your family, the one you adopted and the ones who adopted you’.

Sometimes I think one of the most greatest gift a person can give to another human being is the gift of self. One of the people or citizens of a community that need to be applauded is that of the adoptive families. Who desperately want what most have and do not even care for, and they reach out and accept those that others were unable to, which I respect, but then there are those who do not want the children they have and this is true. So these loving and patient people await for the gifts from God that were meant for them, but were given through someone else, and they do so with an open and true heart, and can genuinely look past themselves and adopt one from another. I think they deserve so much for their efforts but then again with patience they already have what they sought.

So back to my animals. Living on a farm isn’t easy not if you are an animal lover. It is hard work all the way around and I honestly miss that life, that time. I reflect on mornings spent in gardens that sustained us through every season, we weren’t ones who went to town every day or week, it was once in a lifetime experiences for us and we rarely had that luxury. We lived off the land and we appreciated that and we respected what God and hard work gave us. It was hard work. We did live off the land. We lived by our own hands and sweat. It was the best times of my life and I wouldn’t have traded one day for any of the riches in the lives we now lead.

I guess I am a simple girl, with old traditions, and a little old fashioned. I live in a world of convenience but wish for the old. I look at the lives of others around me who came from the same place, and when we talk it brings each of us back to another time and place where we felt at peace with each other and with the world. It was never a dull moment. People came to visit and would stay for weeks and we were glad for the company, everyone chipped in and the stories are what we longed to hear not the radio or TV. It was the communication between distant families and generations. I miss that. I was the oldest out of the grand kids, except my two step- sisters, but I was the oldest from that line. I was quite a bit older than cousins and my brother, and yes the majority of my time was spent with the animals of the farm. We had cats, dogs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, pigs, a horse at one time, but some of my fondest memories were those spent with my grandpa’s herd of cattle.

This is so funny because one of my friends also grew up on a farm with cattle, and one day we laughed for hours over the many memories we had in regards to farm life. My grandpa would always take me with him out in the pastures and up in the fields and woods, checking on fences, checking on the cattle, especially when they were due to calve. I even told my son just the other night how I was forbidden to go in those fields alone because of the bulls but mainly the herd bull, and anyone who knows farm life will know how dangerous they can be. But I never listened I was always in those fields and I remember sitting at school day-dreaming about what path I needed to take as soon as I got home to find them. As soon as my feet hit that dirt road, I was on my way, running, to get home to drop off my books, grab a sandwich, and head out the door with my grandma yelling, ‘you better not go up in that field again’. And I would be gone on one path to the next, my grandpa owned a lot of property, till I found the herd.

Now what was so great about a bunch of cattle that just stood around and did nothing? For one it wasn’t me just hanging out with cows, it was me watching them , studying them and the family structure they created. I became an excellent tracker not of just cattle but of wildlife and simply animals period. I would track cats to find their kittens, because they are so good at hiding them. I would track the cattle to their calves. Which they would hide as deer will hide their fawns in bushes or shrubs. My grandpa would have approximately 20-30 cattle at a time, sometimes less, sometimes more, depending on the time of year. This was my time spent, Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer.

I lived to be with those cows. They looked at me and seemed to just accept the fact that I was an odd calf or just a crazy person to be over- looked. The bull never bothered me and at times I felt he even looked out for me. As many studies have been done on the family structure of animals, I guess maybe that was my own study. They were very in tune to one another. They were very protective of not just their calves, but of that of the entire herd. They had sitters for their babies usually younger cows who seemed to play and dote on the young ones, the bull was the protector by far, the older cows would sometimes take in orphans or try to take over the young of the other cows, there was a pecking order and it was intact always.

I am not sure where I fit in, but I do know I did, and I was never afraid and I always had fun. It was an unspoken language between us, they trusted me and I needed them. It helped me to escape, it helped me to forget my problems and being a child you need that. I would come home around dark, get my ass whipped, and continue on the next day. It was always the same. One of the worst days for me was when my grandpa decided he could no longer care for them and they were slaughtered and sold, and the days that came to pass were to horrific for me, to this day, to talk about, and I won’t, but just let me say farm life is tough and it was a life learning experience for me and taught me a lot about many things.

One of my favorite places to go was on top of hill where the trees spread out, and it was like a tent or canopy, one tree struck by lightening lay flat in- between two others that were still standing, it was hollow and cut out, I would take a blanket and lay in that tree under the canopy with the cows laying and snoozing not far way, my dogs sitting by the tree watching my every move, and me falling asleep feeling 100 % safe and right in the world.

I hit that corner I take in the smell of the air and the smell of fresh cut hay, I listen to the breeze and the birds and I feel the sun shining on my face through the open window. I turn off the radio and take it all in. I start down that dirt road I walked so many years ago, I round a bend and see the old farm house and look past it to the fields. I miss those days and what they represented to me over and over. I return to years past, the things you learn from cows, the things your learn from nature, and the things you miss when it is gone. Thanks for listening! God Bless You!

Vaughn Pascal

To Dakota: I love you.

To God and Jesus: Thank you!

Guinea pigs originated from the Andean region of South America, presently known as Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru. They were a food source for mountain tribes around the year 2000BC. They are still to this day used as a food source in that area. They also live off of families scraps and are used as pets or collectors of evil-spirits in healing ceremonies. European trades transported quinea pigs to Europe, people saw them as exotic pets.

Where do Guinea Pigs get their name and why?

No one knows for sure just how the guinea pig came to be called a “pig”. They really are not pigs but are larger rodents. However they do tend to make noises that are very similar to that of a pig. They alos have some similar physical features with a pig. Their heads are large, with a rounded hind end, and with no tail. The guinea pig is also able to survive in cramped conditions such as a “pig pen” therefore they were easier to transport to England. Even in other languages they are referred to as pigs. The Dutch often called them “Guineas Biggetie” (Guinean piglet). In Germany they use the term “Meerschweinchen” (little sea pigs). The Germans gave the guinea pigs the name from when they would stop in the New World to stock up on provisions and would purchase large amounts of guinea pigs for their main source of meat.

What kind of environment do Guinea Pigs live in?

Guinea pigs are very social animals living in large groups consisting of sows (females) and boars (males), the offspring are called pups. Their life expectance is any where from four to eight years. In the year 1997 it was recorded that a guinea pig lived for a record of 15 years. Guinea pigs mate for life unlike similar rodents who have several different mates. Domesticated guinea pigs generally are kept in groups of two, either all females, all males, or one female with a neutered male. All male groups usually do well as long as there is no females brought into their environment and they have enough room in their cage.

When in the wild they can be found in little groups grazing grass a lot like a herd of cattle. They are more active during dawn and dusk making in harder for predators to see them. When the are frightened they can move surprisingly fast. Domestic guinea pigs are often more active for longer periods of time and taking little naps in between.

Domestic guinea pigs usually are kept in plastic cages with softwood chip bedding. They are kept indoors, they are not capable of handling exposure to the elements or predators.

If you want to know more about Guinea Pigs including free information, reviews and much more, then please visit guineapigsuncovered.com/ GuineaPigsUncovered.com

Dogs dig for a variety of reasons. Once you understand why your dog is digging, you can easily stop this type of dog behavior.

Reasons Why Your Dog May be Digging

Dogs frequently dig as a form of recreation. If the backyard is his kingdom and he is alone, digging is one of the fun ways your dog may while away the hours until you return

Young dogs and puppies enjoy digging as well. What a way to use up all that energy youngsters are famous for !

Some dogs dig because it’s in their genes.” Some breeds of dogs such as terriers are natural diggers….so when your terrier starts digging, he’s just continuing an inherited family trait.

Your dog may be digging because he is looking for a cool place on a hot summer day.

Your dog may be looking for a way to make a break for it.

Ok so it seems that your dog is digging because his parents did or he’s just a fireball of doggy energy.

What you want to know is how to stop your dog from digging.

Here’s a few ideas.

Make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise. I walk my dogs four times a day. If you don’t have time to walk your dog as much as I do, by all means walk him at least twice daily. When you take your dog for a walk, make sure you spend at least thirty minutes on your walk. This is one of the high points of your dog’s day. He has a natural need for exercise . By providing him with the exercise he needs your dog will be healthier and tuckered out when you return.

As a result, digging won’t appeal to your dog as much as it did before. He’ll be more interested in a nap and some sedate playing until you return home.

Join a group training class with a professional dog trainer. There are many low cost dog training programs in your town that meet once or twice a week. The dog trainer will help you socialize your dog and learn to obey basic commands. By teaching your dog a few commands you will be able to stop your dog from digging whenever he decides to kick up a little dirt.

Divert your dog‘s attention when he starts to dig with a toy or a game of fetch.. He may soon decide that running and fetching is a lot more fun than digging through a pile of dirt.

If your dog is a “genetic digger”, who digs because it’s a breed characteristic, there is a way to control this type of dog digging as well.

Provide an area of the backyard that your dog is allowed to dig in. Whenever he starts to dig, direct him to that area and let him have a dirt digging good time.

If he starts to make a move toward another area of the yard to expand his digging territory, stop him immediately. The best way to do this is to give him a strong verbal command such as “NO Digging!”. Use the exact same phrase every time. Your dog does not understand English or any other language. But he will become accustomed to hearing the sounds of those words and the tone of your voice.

Never, under any condition strike or physically punish your dog. It’s cruel, abusive, unlawful and will not achieve the results that this misguided reaction intends. Your dog will only have the undesired behavior reinforced and become fearful of you. Neither is helpful or healthy..

If your dog is just looking for a cool spot, why not provide him a shady area, with cool water and a gentle breeze. If it is too hot for you to be in the yard, it is too hot for your dog as well. Bring him indoors and let him relax in a cool place with plenty of fresh water and food.

Is your dog a world class digger? Does he misbehave in any other way such as barking or exhibit aggression toward dogs or people? Whatever the problem, help is at hand. Find out how to easily solve any dog behavior issue at dogs-4life.com/disobedient-dog-help.html dogs-4life.com/disobedient-dog-help.html

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