Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Bird Cage - How to Choose an Aviary Bird Cage


Bird cages, or aviary bird cages are as important to taking care of your pet bird or birds as their food and water. A bird needs a cage to come home to and to keep it safe. Different kinds of birds like different shapes and sizes of cages, so it is very important to choose a cage that is appropriate to your kind of bird.

Bigger birds will need bigger cages, and while a good rule of thumb is to always make sure that the cage is at the very least two times wider than the bird's maximum wingspan, that is the minimum space requirement for a larger bird, and it is almost impossible to go too big. A big bird needs lots of room to fly or climb and you do not want to end up with a cage that is too small for your bird. This is not a place to save money and cut corners- your birds health is depending on you to choose a big enough cage. You should generally get the biggest cage you can afford for a bigger bird, and they will thank you for it.

For smaller birds, you can get a smaller cage, but remember that they will likely like to fly around, so make sure there is enough room in the cage to let them do so. It is possibly to get a cage that is too big for a smaller bird though, so your best bet is to ask a pet store employee or breeder- whoever you got your bird from, how much space he or she will need when full grown. Of course, keeping more than one bird in a aviary cage means that the cage will have to be big enough to fit them all comfortably.

Aviary bird cage are available in all sizes and shapes. You can find them made out of many different materials including wood, plastic, metal, and coated wire, which is the most common and usually the least expensive. However, you can also find specialty bird aviary cages if you know where to look and have a little more to spend. These can be more than just a place for your bird to perch in- they can be a jungle gym, a habitat, and even a piece of art.

For those who are looking to spend as little money as possible though, a good place to start would be to look for a bird cage at the local pet store. This will give you an idea of how bit it will need to be and you can see if you can get it into your room or not. Once you have seen the cage type you want in person, you can go on to the internet to look for websites that will sell you a aviary bird cage for less money than the brick and mortar store.

These websites usually have lower prices because they do not have to pay rent on a retail location, and often stock the same kind of things. Of course, you will have to pay shipping and wait for the cage to arrive at your house instead of walking home with it then and there. There are pros and cons to either approach and the choice is up to you.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

10 Essential Puppy Training Tips


1 - Start Training Early:
Puppies start to learn the moment they open their eyes and are most open to new experiences during the first four months. Start training your puppy the moment it is bought home. Good early habits endure and will result in a well behaved dog in the future.

2 - Early Socialization:
Help ensure your puppy meet and socialize with as many people as possible during the first four months. Going on outdoor trips, visiting friends who own pets, and walking along busy streets should all be part of your puppy's education. These positive experiences will allow your puppy to be comfortable with humans and reduce the likelihood of any future behavior problems.

3 - Mental And Physical Stimulation:
Every puppy thrives on both mental and physical stimulation. Exposing your puppy to new environments and experiences early can greatly enhance your dog's interest in learning new things. Puppy walks or games are great ways to stimulate your pet both mentally and physically. If actively stimulated, your puppy will become healthier and adept at learning new trainings faster. This will also help strengthen the bond between the both of you at the same time.10 Essential Puppy Training Tips

4 - Hand Feed Your Puppy:
Whenever possible, hand feed your puppy. This teaches him/her to like human contact, even when your puppy is feeding from his food bowl. Not feeding from hand can lead your puppy to turn aggressive to whoever that tries to get near him/her while feeding.
5 - Biting And Chewing:
Your puppy will certainly bite and chew while they play and investigate new things around them. If your puppy is teething; direct, encourage and reward your puppy to bite the right object (toy). Discourage and discipline by simply saying a firm "NO" and replace the object with the correct toy or training equipment.

6 - Step-by-Step Training:
Always begin your puppy training at home where it is in a familiar environment and work on one new exercise, command or trick per training session. This will allow your puppy to learn, understand and familiarize each training better and faster. Trying to introducing multiple items at one session can confuse your dog and lead to a slower learning curve.

7 - Best Time To Train:
Train your puppy when it is feeling hungry or before each of its meal. Your puppy will respond very well to food treats. This is especially useful if you are just starting out to train your puppy or you have certain difficulty with a particular command. Balance your rewards with praises and hugs so that your dog doesn't associate every reward with just food. Never begin any training with your puppy when you are feeling lousy or in a bad mood.

8 - Housetraining:
Housebreak your puppy early by supervising and recognizing your puppy's body language such as circling or sniffing the floor. Take your puppy out every 45 minutes after eating or drinking as they tend to "let go" around this time. When it eliminates at the right location, praise and rewards your puppy so that it will associate eliminating outdoors as a positive experience.

9 - Rewards And Punishment:
Different puppies learn at different speeds. Whenever your puppy obeys or performs to a certain command, praise and reward your dog immediately. This allows your puppy to associate learning with positive-ness and fun. Never use any physical corrections or harsh yelling when you puppy misbehave as this can cause fear and promote future aggressive behavior in your dog. Reprimand your dog by using a stern voice instead and only when you actually caught it misbehaving.

10 - Training Sessions:
Train you puppy in short, frequent sessions. Puppies have a short attention span and will get easily distracted or bored. Train your puppy for ten minutes each session and then play with him/her with its favorite toy to stimulate your pup's learning process. Always end each training on a positive note with your puppy wanting more. This will allow your puppy to look forward to its next training session.

10 Tips on Keeping Pet Treatment Costs Low

A pet is a loved member of the family but costs of caring for a pet especially some breeds can be expensive. Food, grooming costs and vet bills can costs much more than you estimated when buying the pet.

Here are a few tips from pet lovers on how to keep costs down and yet care for the pet:

1. Find out about low-cost clinics that give shots. Information can be had online or from your local vet hospital or humane society.

2. When any illness needs treatment or surgery always take a second estimate and surf the internet to find out if there are any alternative treatments in use.

3. Be friendly with your vet and share your problems if any with him. Often vets help patients by giving them free medicines they get from manufacturers.

4. Consider feeding the pet home cooked food instead of the more expensive commercial food. The internet has many resources about pet nutrition and balanced diets.

5. Ensure good health by giving the pet the right amount of food, exercise, and training. Obese pets have greater health problems than fit pets.

6. Think about buying pet medicines online from discount stores.

7. Train your pet well and protect it from accidents by keeping it on leash when outdoors.

8. Before buying a pet because its cute or in fashion find out all you can about the breed, costs of upkeep, susceptible diseases and more. Talk to other pet owners and find out all about their experiences.

9. Think about signing up for a preventive health care package if your vet or local clinic offer one. If you take good care of the pet the costs are likely to be low.

10. Read up on preventable health hazards and on what foods are bad for pet health. Teach the pet not to beg or eat foods lying around.

A pet is a responsibility and needs great care. As a responsible pet parent you will need to know all you can about the breed. Decide on neutering and on how you can give your pet a long disease free life.

Find out about pet insurance and how you can get a comprehensive pet health policy for low premiums. The World Wide Web has in depth articles and tips on how to choose a pet, how to care for one, and all about pet health. Be an informed pet owner and buy or adopt a pet only if you can be a committed pet parent.

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