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Chat to any dog lover and they’ll sing the praises of these amazing animals. Completely devoted to their master, they ask so little and yet offer so much. I could write pages about the strengths of the humble canine, I could advise why so many people prefer the companionship of a dog rather than another member of the human race or how a pet can replace a deceased loved one. But I’m not going to, instead my story is about one very special dog, my dog, Murphy.

It is said that you cannot teach a cat much of anything. Cats do what they want, when they want and only if they really want to. To teach a cat a trick takes patience, more patience and a good slab of tuna as a bribe.

Cats seldom look stressed and are seen most of the time in a horizontal position.

What is it that cats know that we do not?

Why do cats seem calm, cool and collected, when we wander about feeling stressed, upset and sometimes just plain cranky?

You love your dog; but should you believe that groomer that recommends having your pet bathed and groomed every 4 to 6 weeks? After all, isn’t it just a matter of them getting to your pocket book? Actually, there’s far more to it than money. In fact, did you know a lack of grooming can negatively affect the state of your dog’s health? Here’s how:

1) Dogs cool off by panting and by air circulating around and through their pads. Long hair impairs that ability.

The recent dog food scare has a lot of dog owners on edge, not knowing what they should do to protect their pet from future possible tainted dog food problems.

So what is the best option - take the risk and continue feeding your dog commercial dog food? Make homemade dog treats and meals for your dog? Or, perhaps feeding your dog table scraps?

The worst thing you can do is feed your dog table scraps. Your dog will love the taste of your table scraps, and you may think since what you are eating is healthy for you, it should also be healthy for your dog. But, foods that are good for us can be just as dangerous as tainted commercial dog food for your dog.

Have you ever wondered if your pet cat can learn tricks? Sure! Follow these instructions to teach your cat a simple trick which forms the foundation for a whole range of new tricks.

This trick is known as targetting, and it is the same trick we teach dogs, dolphins and exotic zoo animals. It forms the basis for a number of other tricks from competition obedience, to marine mammal shows, to animal acting on TV, to animal husbandry and veterinary handling.

The basis of all animal training is reward and punishment, and repetition leading to reflex actions. Pleasure and displeasure are sufficient rewards and punishments for dogs. Dogs never become capable of understanding the moral distinctions between right and wrong, as children do, and they seldom evolve beyond the “childish” stage of doing something because it makes their owner happy.

In dog training, punishments and rewards are really an elementary form of communication, a means of getting the dog to understand what you want him to do. You will get the best results from the mildest punishment and the most extravagant praise at first. Later on, an affectionate word or an imperceptible pat will suffice.

Cats, just like any other animal and their caretakers, can get sick. If you love cats and own them, there are some things you should know about the illnesses that can affect your feline friend.

Leukemia

Even for humans, this word is one you never hope to hear. For Felines, it’s a virus, that works by producing an enzyme that it then inserts into healthy cells infecting them. Just like a retrovirus. Because of this, it is a particularly nasty illness.

Goats are truly useful both when they are alive and even after death, offering meat and milk as the skin offering hide. A charity is involved in providing goats to poor people in Africa. The main advantage was that goats are easy to manage than cattle and have multiple uses.

Meat

The Weimaraner is a dog that needs plenty of exercise and a place to run. Try to avoid running them after a meal as they may develop a life threatening bloat. This breed of dog will do better with three smaller meals a day rather then two or even one large meal. This is a very protective dog and can be a one person or one family dog. They may not be trusted with other pets due to their strong prey instinct. They may fight other canines. They need to be socialized with children and very young children are in danger of being knocked over but this athletic, highly active dog. They have a coat that is very pleasing to the touch. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.

There are many products available to control fleas in dogs and cats, from shampoos, to spot ons, to oral treatments. Let’s have a look at these products, and compare the benefits and disadvantages of each.

Flea powders have been available for many years and usually contain organophosphates. There are very few powders still on the market, and I’ve found them pretty ineffective in controlling fleas on dogs and cats, and they can be toxic. I don’t recommend the use of a flea collar for the same reasons.