Crate training is a great way to train your dog. No only does a crate help teach and enforce potty training, it can also give your dog its own personal space in your home. Why Crate Train? Your dog doesn’t want to pee where it sleeps. By having your dog sleep in a crate, as well as stay in it when you are gone from home the dog will learn to “hold it” until you return home to let it out. A crate also prevents your dog from destroying things while you’re away. What kind of crate do I buy? Buy a crate that is going to be big enough for the dog full grown in size. Think of it like your do... [continue reading]

It seems a cat named Oscar lived on the Bismarck, a German Battleship during WWII. When the Bismarck was sunk by the Hood, he was rescued by a crewman from the HMS Cossack. When the Cossack was sunk five months later, a crew member of the HMS Royal Ark, another English ship rescued him. Just three weeks later, the Royal Ark was destroyed by a German U-Boat. At this time, British naval authorities felt that Oscar should complete his naval stint on land and that is where he completed his service. British naval records indicate that Oscar died in 1955. ... [continue reading]

Many cat lovers long to bring the beauty of a wild cat into their home, even though they realize lions, tigers, leopards and other wildcats are not suitable for the home environment. Enter the Ocicat, a thoroughly domestic and wonderfully tame domestic cat that retains the looks, beauty, charm, and spots, of those denizens of the wild. The Ocicat started out as a conglomeration of Abyssinian, Siamese and American Shorthair, and from these breeding emerged a wonderfully spotted cat. In fact the Ocicat is the only spotted breed of domestic cat to have been bred specifically to look like its wi... [continue reading]

It seems that our pets are suffering from more and more of our human illnesses, and more and more pet owners are looking for natural and innovative ways to treat these all too common ailments. From diabetes and obesity to joint pain and arthritis, our dogs are sharing more of our ailments, and it is important for responsible pet owners to seek out the best therapies to relieve these often painful conditions. There are of course a number of over the counter and prescription medication that can be used to battle arthritis in both two and four legged patients, but these medications can have a nu... [continue reading]

The first aquarium I ever owned was an expensive nightmare. I killed everything I put into it. No matter what type of fish I purchased, no matter how healthy they’d looked in the store, it made no difference. Once they hit my tank they were dead meat on a stick. They got sick and grew spots, or swam sideways awhile before keeling over for no apparent reason. Sometimes they’d eat each other, and I’d wind up chasing the horrid cannibals with my little green net. It was awful. There had to be a better way! I spent a small fortune buying several impressive looking books on... [continue reading]

If you are one of the many people who are allergic to dogs, you may find yourself missing out on one of the best relationships you could ever have. Dogs are filled with love and often would give up their own lives in order to protect their human friend. If you find yourself missing this relationship, you may want to invest your time in a Bichon Frise. The Bichon Frise is a small dog, approximately 12” or less in height. They look like white power puffs with deep-set, dark-colored eyes. Some may have a slight buff or apricot shade to them, but many are stark-white. The undercoat of the... [continue reading]

I had never even thought of getting a dog from a rescue organization until I was looking for a specific type of breed, and found the breeder’s prices a little steep. Yet now that I have gone that route, I can’t imagine getting a dog through any other source. Rescue organizations obtain dogs, both young and old, from a variety of places such as shelters, homes or breeders where they have been found to be abused, or that are giving up on them for personal reasons. The dogs are brought in, spayed or neutered to help control the population, and normally live with foster families for a ... [continue reading]

There are two things about me that all of my friends know: I have terrible allergies and asthma, and I have always wanted a dog! For years I assumed that I could not have a dog and stay healthy. Now I am the proud owner of a rescued Lhasa Apso named Ziggy, and believe me, it is possible to have allergies and happily own a dog. When I was growing up, the conventional wisdom was always that someone with allergies could not have a dog unless they also got painful and expensive allergy shots. Now there are many strategies for successfully coexisting with a pet. The secret requires combining the pr... [continue reading]

As Saint Patrick’s Day approaches, much thought is being given to Ireland and all things Irish. While all the humans are busy planning their festivities and deciding on their green outfits, their poor pampered pooches and cute kitties are probably beginning to feel a little neglected. Well, there’s still plenty of time left, so get thinking and make sure your pet dresses for the occasion. Why not make them a green coat and fasten a piece of shamrock to it. You could tie a green ribbon around their neck or use it to tie up a piece of their long hair. Don’t forget the parades either! Pets ... [continue reading]

Apologies to all the men reading this, but is it just our dog or does this happen in general? Jake is a three legged Staffordshire bull terrier, so although he’s quite chunky he’s not exactly a big dog. Whenever we take him for a walk he insists on going up to people and getting a fuss. A twenty minute route can take twice as long with so many people joining the ‘Jakey Fan Club’. But when we see a huge dog (as we did some time back – a Great Dane appeared with its owner) he goes into some kind of ‘Incredible Hulk’ like change. He barks, growls and pulls on his lead, and if we ... [continue reading]