From the monthly archives:

April 2009

Koi care: How To Control Your Pets Population

by Pet Care on April 18, 2009


In koi care, controlling the population is something that you need to do. Your pets will always spawn and lay eggs (others will also fertilize theirs). It is innate for them, and there’s only little you can do about that! Population control involves removing those unwanted offspring after they are already conceived.

Now, you might feel or think that this is a cruel thing to do, but always remember the fact that having many fish in your pond will impose harm and danger to both your pond and to your original fish population as well (particularly the original parent fish).

Why babies are harmful…

These babies has the potential to grow up to three feet in length. Now, if you have many babies that you’ll keep in the pond and will grow up to this length, you can now imagine what your pond will look like, right? An overcrowded and unhealthy pond, that is! What will happen is that the fish will not be comfortable with this kind of habitat, which will in turn impose danger to them.

In setting up your pond, make sure to set up a filtration system for a specific amount of fish. If you add extra pets without adding more to your system, this can cause unwanted gases and chemicals that will harm and destroy your pets.

How to get rid of the babies…

Getting rid of the babies can be done in several ways. You can stop feeding your fish once spawning has occurred for no less than three weeks. If you think that your fish will starve, don’t worry about it, they can take care of themselves, for they will focus more on natural foods if they are not fed daily. Their diet includes their young, wherein they will eat those that are still eggs and those that resembles like a small insect (as harsh as this may seem, this is just part of their nature!).

You can give away those unwanted fish away to others who can still take care of them. Many local pet stores have programs for caring for koi that accept unwanted animals and give them home (others may also pay some money because they’ll sell it). Some local zoos also have this kind of program. Another are the local Koi society that you know of. You can also go to online message board and group in the Internet wherein you can post your messages.

Koi watch: Knowing Your Fish A Little Better

by Pet Care on April 18, 2009


Being a Koi owner, you enjoy taking care of them, feeding them with treats and spending your leisure time with them. But the question is this: how much do you really know about your pets? As part of caring for koi, this article will give you a profile about your koi.

Koi (which means “carp” in Japanese) are domesticated varieties of the carp. They were bred for the first time in Japan around the 1820′s. These fish come in a wide array of colors and patterns which include orange, red, white, black, blue, silver and green. The environment where they live and their diet affect their color, and this makes it easy to comprehend the skill and patience it took for the first breeders in developing such an amazing and magnificent koi.

The fish thrive in cold water, which makes them perform best in temperatures between 61 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Thriving in cooler temperatures, they can be kept outside during the colder seasons.

The Koi is one of the most popular fish that thrive in freshwater ponds, and they can be found in millions of outdoor ponds throughout the globe. They are loved for both their color patterns and lifespan (the oldest of which reached around 226 years old!). These fish are typically large, which requires them to be placed in ponds with 500 gallons of water (or even more), and the pond should be no less than 3 feet in depth.

For this, build your pond in such a way that it can hold your fish very well. Remember that your fish’ health will depend very much on the amount of space that you provide them. Water quality is another thing that you need to consider, as it is another factor that will affect the health of your fish. These are more expensive than the goldfish, that’s why they can be harder to replace.

They are not typically one of those schooling fish, but this doesn’t keep them from mingling and socializing with other breeds of fish. Just be sure not to place them next to bigger fish that might see them as prey. They seem to school together in smaller ponds, but will split up in smaller groups when placed in larger areas.

As winter comes, they will begin their hibernation. During this time, their digestive system will slow down, almost reaching to a stop. The food stored in their stomachs may grow bad, which can cause them to get ill. In caring for koi, this is the main reason why your fish shouldn’t be fed in temperatures dropping less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Koi are magnificent ornamental fish that will really complete the relaxing sounds of water flows coming from your pond. Owners are lucky to have pets such as these that would always touch their lives.

Koi care: Keeping Your Koi pool In Good Condition

by Pet Care on April 18, 2009


Taking care of your koi pond and keeping it in good condition should be your primary priority. Always remember that prevention is better than cure: once your pond for koi starts to develop problems, it’ll take more time and money to fix these.

No overfeeding:

As part of caring for koi, overfeeding your koi can cause damage to your water quality. Your fish would not nearly eat the amount of food that they do in a controlled environment. Feeding them too much will produce a greater amount of waste in the pond for koi. You should vacuum the bottom out as much as you can, and make sure that the drainage systems are clear and working properly.

Keep The Water Quality:

Your pond for koi needs a filtration system. There are two types. The mechanical and biological. The mechanical filter is the one that relieves the pond of dead algae, wastes and insects (this is important to sustain the size of your pond and the size and number of your pets). The biological filter is the one that gives the nitrogen cycle, and thus removes dissolved wastes from your pond for koi (without it, ammonia will build up which is very harmful to your koi).

Always keep your pond for koi clean so that your koi will live a good and stress-free life. The water in your pond for koi is where they will eat, sleep and feed, so always keep it as clean as possible. The pond’s water should be almost completely clear. It should contain no debris, and your koi should appear like they’re floating in the air. You should see the bottom of your pond very clearly.

Keep the supplies ready:

There are many supplies that you’ll need to maintain your pond for koi, and the majority of these items are of greatly important. You should know the function of each item to understand why they are needed. There are also items that you need to have on hand always. As your pond for koi is located outdoors, emergency situations are sure to occur. We all know that nature itself is unpredictable, so do not get caught in a situation where an item is needed and you have no way of getting it!

Prevent those common diseases:

If you have a new koi, it’s quite important to quarantine them from your current koi population. Do this for no less than fifteen days. Knowing that Koi Herpes Virus is activated within temperatures at 74 degrees Fahrenheit will let you expose your koi to the right conditions for the illness to reveal itself. Those that live in these conditions for a longer period of time and do not have any of the symptoms will show that they have little chances of contracting the disease.

As you quarantine your koi, keep it in complete isolation, away from your current population. Separate the tools, food and water that you use to take care for your new koi. Proper hand washing procedures should be followed as well in handling both the koi and Koi items within the same period of time. Keep in mind that quarantining will greatly reduce the chances of exposing your koi to viruses and diseases.

The Designer Dog Colognes & Perfumes is a Dog Perfumes

by Pet Care on April 17, 2009


When there are several accessories for us in the market then there are several attractive and beneficial accessories for dogs also these days. In the earlier days there were no such benefits and accessories so the people were also simple and they never knew latest ways to pamper and give their pets the ultimate comforts. These days the manufacturers of the dog accessories are sharp and they know what the dog lovers prefer for their pets and they are introducing latest products year by year day by day. There are boundless dog products these days which are economical, attractive, comfortable and stylish. If the products are in abundant then the manufacturers of these magnificent products say that the demand for their products are also rising and they are promising the dog lovers that they will produce many more trendy products in the near future.

Once I visited the nearest dog shop then I was amazed to see the vast collections of the products. The dog costumes were not only lovely but were designed elegantly bearing the climatic conditions and even the occasions in mind. Definitely the manufacturers have to be appreciated for their hard work. The pet strollers which I saw were not only durable but the colors were so attractive and the finishing was done in such a way that the puppy would definitely feel warm and safe in it. The colorful caps and the eye-catching sunglasses were magnificent. The blankets were so warm and soft that when the puppy would be covered in it, he/she would go fast asleep in it within minutes without any disturbance. The carriers were beautifully designed so that the puppy could easily fit in it. The dog beds were priced from expensive to inexpensive models with traditional designs and non-toxic paint was used on them which prove that it would be totally harmless for the furry animal.

When I moved in the mall to have a look at the grooming and spa products then I was amazed that there were varieties of Dog Colognes there also. There were colorful and soft bath towels, attractive colorful nail paints, Dog perfumes and the list is endless here also. I was puzzled to which products to buy for my sweet little puppy because my wife was not with me when I visited the mall so I decided that we will together have a look at the website and then decide for the products which we wanted to buy. While surfing with the leading websites we found that there was a clearance sale also. So when we surfed to that website, then we had a look at the various products and we decided to place an order for the Bear bugs toys, Dog diapers (set of10), Majestic marabou harnesses, Ravishing red tutu party dress and also the Designer Colognes & Perfumes. All the items were cheap and also lovely which would please our puppy also. All the products were shipped within a few days and when we tried the Designer Colognes & Perfumes on our puppy its fragrance was so real that definitely we knew that our puppy would feel fresh when it would be sprayed on her and even on her bed. There were many more Affordable Dog Perfume and Unique dog perfume and are available commonly for both the male and the female dogs and also separately for the male and the female dogs.

How To Buy the Best Pet Crate for Your Dog

by Pet Care on April 17, 2009


Picking out the right pet crate for your dog requires you to think through how you’re going to use the pet crate. If the pet crate is going to be used to housebreak your dog using the time-tested crate-training method, you need to get a crate that will give your dog room to lie down and be comfortable. The idea is to give the dog enough room, but not too much room. If your dog has too much room within the pet crate, he could be tempted to use the bathroom in one end of the crate and sleep at the other end. If you choose a pet crate that ensures that your dog takes up most of the space inside the crate, he won’t be tempted to soil any area that he’s going to have to lie down in. The crate should have nice, soft bedding inside so your dog feels like the pet crate is a nice place to lie down and relax in. This takes advantage of your dog’s den-making instinct.

Of course, you also have to consider the future size of the dog, if you are starting with a puppy. If the dog will eventually be quite large, you may have to get a pet crate for crate training and then make a decision on whether to get another crate when the dog is full-grown. A crate that would be perfect for a full-grown Saint Bernard, for instance, would probably be way too large to crate-train a Saint Bernard puppy.

Another key decision concerns where the pet crate is going to be set up within the home. Or, maybe you just need a pet crate to transport your dog. If it is going to be located in one place within the home, is it going to be in an out of the way location or is it going to be centrally located and need to be an attractive addition to the interior look of the home?

If appearance is going to be an issue, you’ve got a number of options. You can start out with a wire crate and add an attractive dog crate cover. This serves two purposes: it gives your dog more of a feeling of privacy and safety and a crate cover also improves the appearance of the pet crate. You also may want to look at wicker dog crate. These are more expensive, but they add a very attractive accent to the décor of the home. However, a wicker dog crate is probably not appropriate if your dog is still young enough to be chewing on everything.

FDA Dog Food Recall is a Joke

by Pet Care on April 17, 2009


Does anyone remember the dog food recall of 2007? The thousands of dog owners left with vet bills and dead pets will never forget 2007.

5300 pet food products were on the dog food recall list in 2007 according to Wikipedia. There has been many more commercially made dog foods hit the dog food recall list since 2007, but none have killed the amount of pets as in 2007.

Dealing with the next dog food recall is on the minds of thousands of pet owners, but they should be more worried about what is in the pet food they are serving tonight. Pet owners should be outraged of the amount of toxic waste legally being added to pet food somewhere in the manufacturing process.

Now everyone knows that the Chinese was adding Melamine to pet foods and that is what triggered the deadly dog food recall of 2007. The pet food industry legally allows chemicals to be added to the process that might not kill as quickly as Melamine, but are as deadly long term.

Did you ever ask yourself why more pets are dying from cancer and human sounding diseases like kidney failure? When will our dogs start living up to their life expectancy of twenty? What are the reasons for a six year old dog to start to have seizures without warning?

When I started my research on how to help my Beagle the biggest question was why is he having seizures. The findings of my research stopped me in my tracks. A dog food recall was no longer what I feared most.

The pet food industry was getting away with slowly murdering my dogs and I decided I needed to do something about it. After hundreds of hours of research I decided that if I want to make my dog healthy, and live longer I would need to change what I was feeding him.

It is much easier to rip open a bag a food, but once you learn how to cook for your dog the benefits of him living longer well out weigh the work. I’m very happy with the changes I’m seeing in my Beagle after only one month, but I’m not the only one. Look what others are saying.

“Only One Month Has Pasted and My Dog Already Acts Five Years Younger”

Justin Kyle & ‘Crackers’
Salt Lake City, Utah
USA

“It Only Take Me Three Minutes to Find Good Quality Food for My Dog Now That I Follow Your Advice”

Cassie Overton & ‘Sweetpea’
Orlando, Florida
USA

“I Can’t Believe How Good Maxine Looks After Only 5 Weeks and She Has Lost 8lbs”

Darleene Christchurch & ‘Maxine’
Sydney, NSW
Australia

Those are just a few people that have, like me found out that we can make our dogs happier, healthier and live longer by what we feed them.

You can listen to the so called experts that have a vested interest in selling pet foods, or you can learn to feed your dog home made food and never worry about another dog food recall.

Click here to keep your dog save from the dog food recalls.

Local Moving Services: Simple Moving with Your Dog

by Pet Care on April 15, 2009


Relocating is stressful for dogs. Dogs, in a lot of ways, should be treated much like a child. One way to move your dog successfully is to plan ahead. As with a child, dogs require more affection and attention during the packing phase. Different moving services will offer different choices.

Try to stick to their normal schedule as close as possible. Try to plan some trips to the new home around the same time as the normal walk times. By teaching you dog the new sights and smells, your dogs will know what is normal and what needs attention quickly. This can be very important for dogs that tend to run away at the first opportunity because there is more likelihood of them finding their way back.

Another thing to consider with the move is how to get them from point A to point B. Dogs are much like children in the car . If you want to arrive at the new house with everything intact (including the car) you will want to bring toys and a bone to keep the dogs occupied. Make sure to bring some toys to keep the dogs busy during the drive. Once you have decided which local moving services you will use, you will have to sign paperwork.

If you are driving a good distance. As the dog gets used to riding, its tolerance builds. One of the worst things you can do is to put your dog in an unfamiliar moving object headed towards an unknown destination. He or she is likely to be upset and whiny. Listening to the dog howl the entire trip would drive any one crazy. You will know which long distance moving services is best fitted to your needs.

In the hassle and bustle of getting the track loaded and get on the road,make sure you don’t load the things you will need on the trip. If you plan on stopping for the night, make sure you have everything you need with easy access. Make sure that you keep food and water dish close at hand, whether you stop to stretch or stop for the night. Be sure to bring the dog his bed if you have to stop.

So long as you bring something to distract, dogs and kids are very much a like. Even having plans, make sure to leave time to enjoy the new places you will see.

The Perks of the Canine Comfort Corner Facility

by Pet Care on April 15, 2009


Having your dog taken good care of while you are vacationing is a good thing. If you don’t then your dog may very well get depressed in your absence, as many dogs do. So, choosing a place that is right for your dog to stay is very important if you care about your dog. The Canine Comfort Corner, a facility that provides Dog boarding Seattle, Washington and Dog boarding Everett, Washington, but is located nearby in Bothell, will not only house your dog, but will feed (you provide the food), care for, train, play with and love your dog just as well as you do but with a professional touch. They will take the care of your animal to heart and will do all they can to make sure you, as well as your furry friend, are satisfied with everything. Their mission as a facility is to make sure that your dog can enjoy its own fun, safe, cozy vacation while ensuring your peace of mind.

The Canine Comfort Corner not only will care for your dog while you are out of town, but also will provide training and day care. These training sessions can be separate or included for only a small increment in fees. Your pup will be pampered with spa treatment to make sure that your dog is looking and feeling its best during its stay with the Canine Comfort Corner. During the day they will be able to romp in the woods, chase birds and squirrels galore, and socialize with the other dogs.

The Canine Comfort Corner, though located in Bothell, Washington, will also house dogs from local areas. Places such as Mill Creek, Seattle, Duvall and Everatt will be catered to as well as Bothell and many other cities. It is a flexible facility that is willing to serve your and your pet’s needs.

Not only providing day care and vacation stays, the Canine comfort Corner also features special events that are open to the public. Events such as WOOFD2 day (Washington Owners of Flying Disc Dogs) feature trained dogs and their owners, and, in this case, their ability to catch Frisbees in cool ways. They have clinics, relays and performances for your, and your pup’s, enjoyment.

Lastly, the rates for the Canine Comfort Corner are correctly priced. At only thirty-three dollars per dog per day for board, the benefits of this facility far outweigh the fees. Board includes feeding and playing and training and a magnificent faculty who loves what they do and do it well. Your dog will be more than happy during its stay at the Canine Comfort Corner, and will make many new friends both with the staff as well as with the other dogs. And, as is well known, a happier, healthier dog leads to a happier, healthier bond between owner and pet.

The Designer Dog Carriers gives a cozy feeling to the pets

by Pet Care on April 14, 2009


Wouldn’t you feel glad if people will compliment you and your unique style? You would certainly want to look decent and stylish. Well, there are many ways where you can feel and look stylish. If you are a pet owner and especially if you are a dog lover, then there are several articles which you can purchase and make yourself look decent and stylish. Now you would wonder how dog articles can make you decent and stylish. You can buy elegant Designer Small Dog Carriers for your dog and make use of it. Some of their products are although meant to be used for them but they can give us also styles. You can get a good bed in your house for him/her and then people will admire your choice and your unique love for your pet. You can outfit your dog in an innovative way by buying them beautiful designer clothes which are available these days with several colorful patterns and styles for all the seasons and events . You can also buy some elevated feeders for them and enjoy watching them having their food with style. Buy some colorful and attractive caps and even sunglasses for them and see how people will look at you and your puppy when you walk with style across them. When you are going in the garden for a walk, you can put your sweet little furry puppy in the stroller and take him/her along with yourself. You can celebrate your puppy’s birthday and give the other puppies some birthday return gifts which you can buy from any shop where you can get all dog accessories. You can keep different types of delicious cookies in the party for the other dogs too. Above all, you can buy a attractive dog carrier and carry your charming puppy with you wherever you go very conveniently and pleasantly . Gone are the days when people used to carry their pets in arms. Now you can carry them in stylish carriers. Now don’t these entire Designer dog carriers give you style and pleasure too?

Although it is not possible to buy the entire collections of Small Dog Carriers but you can try to purchase some of the elegant accessories because they are available with both expensive as well as inexpensive ranges. From the vast collections of Pet carriers you will definitely get some accessories according to your budget. When I wanted a stylish carrier for my puppy I bought the Ice Cream & Carrier By Louis Dog. The Carrier by Louis Dog is a very beautiful carrier which comes with several features. There is a plastic buckle control on the strap with an extra shoulder pad. There are two big zipper pockets on both the sides. There are two safety rings for further safety for the puppy. The price of this lovely carrier is $ 109.95.

Train your dogs quickly and efficiently!

by Pet Care on April 14, 2009


Winter is over and its time to get back outside with your dog. Its great having play time with your pup but it is not all that fun if your best friend can not listen to your commands. If you are similar to a variety of other people who have no idea how to train their dogs, you have probably tried shocking or pinching collars as well as verbal reprimanding. This spring, why not try out a new version of training called Puppy Clicker Training. This revolutionary new tool uses a high-pitched clicking noise that not only captures your dog’s attention but holds it long enough for you to teach them to sit or lie down. I reside in Silver Springs, Maryland and I can absolutely guarantee that Silver Spring Dog Training is some of the best available.

When your dog will not lie down and pay attention, and your commands to your pup seem to be useless, a new tool may be exactly what you need to fix your doggy’s listening issues. My two dogs, a Labrador and a Shiba Inu, are both very rambunctious and don’t always pay attention directly on command. So, just to try it out, I purchased a new puppy clicker tool and tried it out of my dogs. At the beginning when I had first clicked the button my dogs had their ears perked up and immediately pointed their attention towards me. I was extremely happy because it seemed as if the sound would annoy them, but it definitely worked well.

I thought about bringing my dogs to a real trainer but then realized that it would probably be better to train them myself, that way they understand who is in charge and who is their master. A dog trainer is helpful but has ultimately failed for my pups in the past. Don’t get me wrong, they are great dogs, they just need a little direction when it comes to behaving around other dogs and people when in public. My black Labrador, Gracie, is a bit older then Maxwell, the Shiba Inu, but she has never completely absorbed all of the rules about her behavior. This is why I was glad the puppy clicker tool even worked on the older dog. Maxwell, the younger responded very attentively as well, but he was a bit easier.

My dogs were extremely well behaved after I began using the puppy clicker tool and best of all hiring a trainer or taking them to dog classes was not necessary. The puppy clicker tool works great to use at home or at the dog park where there are lots of people. The reason why the tool is such a great deal is that the clicker can be heard from far away. So, if you are at the park with your dog and you both are far away from each other try using the puppy clicker tool. A dog’s sense of hearing is already really sensitive, making it even easier to get your dog to listen and behave correctly.

The puppy clicker tool can work wonders for you and your dog, leaving nothing but peace of mind and silence when you need it in your home. Purchase one to find out if your dog can behave better as many others have tried and succeeded as well!