To provide basic care for your baby sugar glider you must focus your efforts providing your animal with enough fluids. Avoiding dehydration is very important in the first few weeks of the newborn’s life. If you remember that eating fruit gives the infant a lot of the fluids they need for growth you will be well on the way to raising a healthy sugar glider. Perfect Pocket Pets strongly recommends carrying your sugar glider with you as much as possible. A small slice of apple in the pouch or pocket you carry them in acts as constant source of necessary fluids.
You can make sure your sugar glider is getting enough fluids by taking them out every now and then and giving them a drink of water from a small bowl or something similar. Touch their nose to the water to help them locate it, and they’ll take a quick drink if they want it. This should be done at least every couple of hours if you are out on a long excursion.
Helping the sugar glider help itself is a sure-fire way to avoiding dehydration. This is achieved by making sure the sugar glider knows where its water bottle is. Provided in the Pocket Pets Starter Kit, the brand new bottle will need washing and filling with a mixture that is half water and half Gatorade (or Pedialite), and then you should place it in the cage in an accessible location (reachable from standing on the cage floor). Press the nose of your sugar glider against the tip of the bottle to give the baby its first sip. The sweetness of the mixture means your sugar glider will remember this experience and locate the bottle. You can gradually reduce the amount of Gatorade (or Pedialite) in the mixture over the next few days so that the sugar glider is drinking pure water. To ensure hydration, a very small amount of Gatorade (or Pedialite) is acceptable for up to the first six weeks of life.
The Massachusetts Handicap, otherwise known as the MassCap, is a former Grade II thoroughbred-racing event held at Suffolk Downs, in Boston, Massachusetts. The first MassCap was held on October 16, 1935 that saw a horse named Top Row as the victor. Currently, the length of the course is over 1.5 miles. The MassCap also produced several legends of thoroughbred racing throughout its history, both equine and human. During its early years, the MassCap became one of the prestigious thoroughbred races in the United States and attracted top performers in the sport, including Seabiscuit and its jockey Red Pollard, who finished the 1938 MassCap in record time.Despite its grand stature in the world of horseracing, MassCap suffered financial setbacks and was forced to cancel in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2003, 2005 and 2006. Suffolk Downs described those years as “financially hard times.”On September 22, 2007, the Massachusetts Handicap returned with a purse of $500,000, and the event was the highlight of TVG, which helped a lot in terms of media exposure. Though the American Graded Stakes Committee declared MassCap ineligible for grading due to its two-year absence, the return of MassCap attracted thousands of horseracing enthusiasts and several top thoroughbreds in the league like Fairbanks, Firestarter, and Brass Hat. As horseracing analysts put it, the MassCap comeback was a success.
Learn more about horse competitions on the Horse Sports site.
Rocking Ranches are ranches where competitive cutting horses are trained.
Alice Walton, founder of the Rocking W Ranch, is a horse enthusiast.
“Dog Whisperer” Exposes His Top 3 Dog Training Secrets That Will
Teach Your Troublesome Pooch That YWant to know the secrets of a top dog trainer who has the power
to turn your disobedient, reactive, misbehaving pet into the
“best-friend” you’ve always dreamed of.
Here are our top 3 tips simple tips that will make a world of
difference to your relationship with your pesky pouch.
Tip # 1 Put Your Pouch on a “Leadership” Programme
Put simply, your dog needs to know that you’re in charge. Dogs
are pack animals, and like all pack animals they require that
someone is in charge. While your dog would prefer that you took
the lead role, if they decide that you’re not up to the task,
then they’ll take on the job!
If your dog currently thinks that he’s the leader of your
family’s pack, then you need to implement a leadership programme
in which you re-assert yourself as the Top Dog! This doesn’t
mean being unkind or unloving to your dog - it simply means
understanding your dog’s psyche and behaving in a way that
reassures your dog of your ability to take charge.
Some simple ways to demonstrate your dominance include: eating
your meals first; ensuring that your dog waits at the door for
you to walk through first; don’t walk around your dog if he’s
sitting in your way (give him a gentle nudge and he’ll move);
and determine when your dog gets your attention (ignore your dog
when he demands your attention as he’s simply demonstrating that
he’s in charge of you).
For more detail on how you can show your dog that you’re the
boss, visit:
http://www.dog-training-central.com/articles/5-surefire-ways-to-s
how-your-dog-youre-the-boss.html
Tip # 2: Consistency Is the Key To Success
When it comes to training dogs, most people fail to consistently
reinforce positive behaviour and punish bad behaviour. Without
consistency, your dog will be confused and over time lose
respect for your commands. If you fail to follow through on your
expectations, the dog will determine when it suits him to
respond.
If you’ve been consistent with your expectations, then in time
your dog’s responses to your commands will become pre-programmed
and eventually anticipated. This will ensure that your dog will
behave in a predictable manner time and again. A dog who clearly
understands the boundaries of his behaviour and the consequences
of his mis-behaviour is a much happier dog who will be a
delightful member of your family.
For more details on basic dog obedience training, visit:
http://www.dog-training-central.com/articles/dog-obedience-traini
ng-basics.html
Tip #3: It’s Much Easier To Train A Puppy Than To Teach An Old
Dog New Tricks
As soon as your new puppy is welcomed home you should get
started on your Leadership Programme, and consistently implement
it until your puppy is automatically programmed to behave in
precisely the manner that is worthy of a “best friend”!
The more quality time you dedicate to your puppy up front, the
fewer on-going headaches you will encounter for the life of your
dog.
Reinforcing positive behaviour is the simple most effective
training tool available to dog owners, however from time to time
you will also need to reprimand your dog for inappropriate
behaviour (a clear, firm “BAH” or “NO” will do the trick -
there’s no need to resort to shouting or hitting).
For more details on getting an early start on your canine’s
leadership programme, go to:
http://www.dog-training-central.com/articles/dog-training-early-t
raining-is-essential.html
If you follow these top 3 techniques used by leading dog
trainers, both you and your dog will enjoy a much happier and
enjoyable relationship.
Copyright © 2006. http://www.dog-training-central.com All rights
reserved.
This article may be re-published “as is” (unedited) as long as
the author’s bio paragraph (resource box) and copyright
information is included. The URLs in the resource box should be
set as hyperlinks if used on a web page.
When you first get a new dog it may seem a little overwhelming
the amount of things you have to buy. You will have to buy food,
a bed, bowls and toys to mention just a few and it is also a
very sensible idea to get some dog training equipment.
While it is possible to use ordinary items this may not be the
case in some circumstances.
For instance, it will certainly be necessary to get a case if
you intend to crate train your dog and you may want to purchase
a clicker or a noisy chain. If you are training a hunting dog
then you will want more specific dog training equipment to help
with the process of training.
A clicker is used to help with positive reinforcement. Every
time you praise your dog you click the clicker and give him a
treat and so he recognizes the noise to mean he has done well
and is being rewarded.
On the other hand a noisy chain is used to throw at the feet of
your dog as negative reinforcement when he has done something
wrong. The noise of the chain hitting the floor is irritating to
the dog and will certainly get his attention. You should never
use the chain to reprimand the dog directly and it should only
be used to make the loud noise.
There are other more unusual training aids. You can get remote
spray collars that work like ordinary collars but have a small
water spray attached. When your dog misbehaves you can click the
button and the water will spray into his face.
This will invariably stop him in his tracks and after using this
a couple of times it is very unlikely he will do the same thing
again for fear of getting water sprayed in his face.
Walking big dogs can be a real challenge. Specialist collars can
help. Harnesses give you much more control over a boisterous dog
that usually has the run of you when out on walks and the choker
chain works by tightening around the dog’s neck but quickly
loosening again when the tension on the lead loosens.
Electric collars give out a small electrical shock to your dog
although this form of punishment is best for hunting dogs and
teaching them not to approach certain harmful animals like
snakes. This dog training equipment is all fairly inexpensive
and will make your life a lot easier when first training your
dog.
The temporary shelters are filled and the pets left behind by victims of Hurricane Katrina are turning up in shelters and Humane Societies across the South.
Many rescuers have stopped trying to find the dogs and cats, and have opted to just leave food and water for the unlucky thousands of animals trying to survive.
The Atlanta Humane Society is currently housing pets that belong to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in the Atlanta area and is offering free medical assistance to any evacuee pet in need.
The Arizona Humane Society is in New Orleans trying to help provide for the pets left behind.
“It’s very dire,” Kim Noetzel told Reuters News Service. Noetzel is the marketing director for the Arizona Humane Society and the organization is doing everything it can to help the displaced dogs and cats affected by Hurricane Katrina.
We all can help too.
The Atlanta Humane society is accepting donations for its relief efforts on its website, www.atlantahumane.org.
PetSmart Charities Rescue is providing specially designed vehicles to transport dogs and cats from hurricane-ravaged areas into safety. Over 150 animals have been saved by the rescue effort from one of the largest pet store chains in the country.
Those who want to help PetSmart’s efforts can maketax-deductable donations by calling 1-800-423-PETS or visiting www.petsmartcharities.org.
Petfinder.com has set up a database to help reunite pets left behind by the disaster as well as try to find home for pets without one. The database, according to the website, features the following:
- A place where displaced hurricane victims post the locations of their pets so that rescuers can go in and save them.
- Rescuers post the descriptions and photos of pets they find.
- Volunteers post their offers of foster care for displaced pets.
Petfinder.com also has an area where those who want to help can make a donation to help support the Petfinder.com Foundation Disaster Fund.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, an estimated 30,000 pets have been left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. Helping websites like www.katrinafoundpets.com, can help reunite loved ones with the furry friends they had to leave behind.
About The Author
Hannah Chastain works for DoggieDeliveries.com, a company known for gourmet dog treats and dog gift baskets. For more information on Doggie Deliveries, visit http://www.doggiedeliveries.com.
Let’s admit it, the US and UK are both countries of dog lovers, and dog owners love to indulge their dogs like children. You only have to listen to a dog owner call out to their dog, playing in the park or field, to realise how devoted they can be. Being devoted, dog lovers, and their friends, like to give dog gifts. Dog lovers often refer to their dogs as “baby”, or to themselves, when talking to the dog, as mummy or daddy. It’s no surprise then that dog toys are a big market, and can make excellent dog lover gifts.
Choosing the right dog toys can be more difficult than you may think. The problem is, you probably “think” in a human way. Dog lovers, and those buying gifts for them, love to buy cute, squeaky toys for the dogs, or give them stuffed animals which they can chew on and carry around. That’s really the human thinking in baby terms. The result is likely to be a dog lover gift for the dog lover, not the dog.
If you are buying a gift for a dog lover, or are a dog lover buying for your own dog, then try to remember that dog toys have no need to be cute to look at. A dog does not appreciate cuteness, so if you want a real dog gift, rather than a dog lover gift, then look for something practical, fun for the dog, durable, and safe.
The Best And Safest Toys For Dog Lover Gifts
An important consideration with gifts for dogs is size. Kongs, balls, and other common dog toys must be small enough that the dog can chew them and also carry them. However, they should not be so small that they can become lodged in the dog’s mouth or throat.
For the same reasons, durability is an important factor, particularly for a dog that loves to chew. A toy that will break apart easily can become a hazard as the small, sharp parts of the toy can be swallowed, caught in the dog’s throat, or they could cut the mouth and gums. A hard rubber Kong, easily one of the best dog toys ever conceived, is a great choice for a dog lover gift.
If you, or the dog lover you are buying the gift for, has a gentle softie of a dog, then you can consider softer toys, like the popular “squeak” toys made of thin plastic and full of air. These are good for dogs that are that bit gentler. Such dogs are unlikely to chew through these softer toys, so again these can be good dog lover gifts if chosen with the type of dog in mind.
A good ol’ tennis ball can be a good choice, but are great for some dogs, and poor choices for others. This is likely to depend on size. If the dog is too small to fit a tennis ball all the way into its mouth, then it can be an excellent toy, one which the dog will love but will cost you very little. If the dog is a large one with a large mouth, and the tennis ball fits all the way in, then the tennis ball becomes a choking hazard. Your dog lover friend or relative may not thank you for buying a box of tennis balls that endanger the dog and land him with emergency vet bills.
About the Author
This gift for dog lovers article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Gifts For Xmas website, http://www.gifts-for-xmas.com,
and the Xmas ornament website: http://www.xmas-ornament.com
One of the greatest joys of dog ownership is the tight bond we experience and encourage with our dogs. However, if your dog becomes too reliant or dependant on you, dog separation anxiety can develop.
Dog Separation Anxiety is an enormous problem to an estimated 10% of all puppy’s and older dogs. Somewhat ironically, it is the major cause for dogs ending up in animal shelters. I wish I could say dog separation anxiety is easily fixed , but the truth is it can be a very difficult and time consuming problem to turn around.
Let’s take a look at separation anxiety from your dogs perspective. You are the most important thing in your dogs life. Dogs are very sociable creatures and thrive on company for many reasons. If your dog had a choice he/she would spend every bit of his time with you. So it’s only natural that when you go out, your dog can experience varying degrees of distress and anxiety. He becomes confused, vulnerable, doesn’t know where you are going, why he can’t be with you and if you will be coming back to him. When you are separated all he wants is to be reunited with his pack - which is you.
Punishment is NEVER the answer to treating dog separation anxiety!
Does Your Dog Suffer From Separation Anxiety?
There’s every chance your dog is suffering from a Separation Anxiety disorder rather than another dog behavioral problem if:
1. Your dog gets really worked up and anxious when you are preparing to leave the house. Things like picking up your car keys or putting on your coat can trigger the behavior.
2. Your dog engages in inappropriate behavior only when you are separated. I expand on this topic further down the page, but behavior such as urinating inside, excessive barking and destructive behavior are common symptoms of Separation Anxiety in dogs.
3. Your dog follows you everywhere you go and immediately becomes distressed if he can’t be near you.
4. When you arrive home your dog is over the top with his greeting and takes a while to calm down.
Why Do Dogs Suffer From Separation Anxiety?
There are many theories on this one. In some cases the cause or trigger can be pinpointed to a particular event, but often there appears to be no explanation for the Separation Anxiety to commence. What I can say is that Separation Anxiety in dogs regularly occurs:
- Straight after a change in routine. Such as your work hours changing or a family member leaves home. Remember dogs are creatures of habit and any changes can be very unsettling to them.
- If you have been on vacation or unemployed for some time and have been spending heaps of time with your dog. When you go back to work your dog becomes anxious and distressed.
- Unfortunately dog’s rescued from animal shelters contribute a highly disproportionate number of Separation Anxiety cases.
- After your dog experiences a traumatic event while on his own. If a thunderstorm lashes your home while your dog is alone, this can trigger Separation Anxiety in the future.
- If your dog is rarely left alone and becomes overly reliant on his pack.
- When you move house to a new neighbourhood.
How Does Dog Separation Anxiety Manifest Itself?
- Barking
- Whining
- Licking
- Destructive Behavior
- Chewing
- Howling
- Panic Attacks
- Digging
- Inappropriate Urinating
- House Soiling
- Self Mutilatio
- Escaping
- Diarrhea
- Loss Of Appetite
- Excessive Salivation
- Vomiting
- Jumping Through Windows
- Crying
What Can You Do To Help Your Dog Overcome Separation?
The treatment administered to your dogs separation anxiety problem depends on its severity. You will find lots of theories and suggestions regarding the correct way to treat separation anxiety - I’ll just inform you of what’s worked for me.
The 4 Step Program I Used To Fix My Dalmation’s Separation Anxiety Problem
My dalmation Harrison developed Separation Anxiety seemingly for no reason when he was about 7 years old. He would start digging and crying as soon as I left the house, even if my other family members were home. My Veterinarian suggested this training process, it achieved the desired result but took plenty of time and patience.
Aside from the 4 step program listed below, I continued to practice the general day to day duties of responsible dog ownership. By this I mean things like providing a safe and comfortable bed, plenty of exercise and obedience training.
Harry would start to get anxious (his whole body would shake) at the very first sign of me leaving the house. This typically would be putting my shoe’s on or turning off the TV or heater. It became a real problem for Harry, myself and the rest of my family, this is how we eventually solved it:
Step 1
Since Harry was always by my side when I was home I had to slowly teach him that he didn’t always need to be close to me. I started out by ignoring his attention seeking behavior (jumping up, barking etc.) and then did some solid practice of his down stay. Little by little we extended the time and distance we spent apart, until he was happy to be alone for up to 30 minutes. Of course, we still spent lots of fun time together.
Step 2
The next step was to get him used to being outside when I was inside. Again we started off with very small periods apart and gradually lengthened the time over a couple of weeks. If you try this Separation Anxiety treatment make sure that you don’t just leave your dog outside to get all worked up and stressed. The trick is to start out leaving your dog out for a few seconds, then going out and reuniting before he shows any signs of Separation Anxiety. Give your dog a treat or dog toy to keep his mind off missing you. Only initiate contact with your dog when he is calm and quiet.
Step 3
The next step in fixing Harry’s Separation Anxiety problem was to eliminate the distress caused by me getting ready to leave the house for work. What I did was write a list of all the triggers that started Harry’s anxiety. I then set about desensitizing him to these triggers. I’d put my shoe’s on, and not go anywhere. Put my coat on, then sit down to read the paper. Pick up my car keys and just carry them around with me, jangling along as I went about my business. After a while (about 3 weeks) Harry barely offered a sideways glance at my shenanigans.
Step 4
When Harry was completely calm in situations that would have unsettled him in the past, I left the house. At first I just stepped outside, shut the door and came back inside within 20 seconds - before he made a sound. Again this was a slow process, similar to step 2. I extended the time outside the front door and then graduated to starting the car, then driving around the block before I came back inside. You can provide a tasty treat to your dog on your way out the door, something that he can work on for a while. Harry’s favorite was a frozen Kong stuffed full of peanut butter and a few liver treats, this eventually kept him occupied for hours. Remember that when you return home, don’t make a huge fuss. Come inside, get changed, pour yourself a nice hot coffee, then greet your calm dog.
This process did prove effective for me and my anxious dalmation. All up the 4 steps took about 5 weeks to work through and fix Harry’s Separation Anxiety problem. My Vet suggested that I supplement this training with some medication. I didn’t go down that path, but it would have been my next step if required.
Whichever method you choose to treat dog separation anxiety, be sure to stick with it and don’t expect any immediate results.
Chris Smith is a dedicated dog owner and creator of http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com
Find out the best way to correct dog behavioral problems and properly obedience train your dog. The latest cutting edge dog training techniques, for you to apply at home.
