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by Norma Crozier
Many people don't realize the many things to consider when adopting a dog from the shelter. The main questions to consider so you at least will have some background on your prospective pet you have in mind. This way you will have an idea of what to expect if you have at least some background of what this dog went through, where he came from and how to react to him with understanding.
There are questions which we will deal with here which may help when considering adoption of a dog or any animal from the shelter. They may help to decide if both you and they are the right match.
1. Turn-in, stray or a shelter save-The shelter will likely have more information if the pet was a turn-in than stray. This may help to understand his background
2. Turn-in- The idea would be why was this pet given up, can the family give information on the dog? The more you find out from the previoius owners the more will help with this dog.
3. Age of the dog- The age may only be approximate but if a rescue dog then the age would range from 8 weeks to more than 15 years
4. Foster Care or Shelter Life- A dog who has been in a foster home will have information gained from the foster home and family who took care of him. The shelter life, depending on the length of time, may have the dog experiencing kennel-related behaviour issues as needing remedial house training.
5. Behavour on Arrival- This information on whether any medical or behaviour problems existed on arrival, if any medical treatment was necessary and received. The problems will need to be known if serious and if the treatment must be continued or if there would be any long term effects.
6. Training and Socializing- The dog may have received training and socializing while in foster care or the shelter then you will need to know it the training is still ongoing.
7. Training and Behavior Issues- These issues will need to be addressed, what problems there could be as housetrainng, dog aggression and then determine if such problems exist if you can deal with them.
8 Activity Level and Excercise Needs-This is where you must address your life style with those of your dog -pet you plan to adopt. The dog's level of activitity must be compatible with your lifestyle. You need to consider if you are outgoing, athletic, quiet then whatever your personality and lifestyle is then you need to consider the personality, acitivity level and excercise needs of your dog. The fit must be suitable for both. The shelters try to match people with the correct fit.
9. Aggressiveness Signs- Aggressive behaviour toward people or animals must be considered because a dog with aggressive behaviour will need training. If you have no training in this type of situation then it is advised not to choose this type of dog.
10. People Preference- Some dogs will show a preference for certain types of people-more towards women, men, children or the elderly. Dogs are adaptable in most cases.
11. Compatible- People who consider adopting a dog must take into consideration their other pets at home. The dog may need another dog friend in the home, or no other pets or does he feel comfortable with other dogs and cats.
12. Return Policy - A dog you take home is one you plan on keeping because you feel he is right but what happens if your home does not work out for the dog or he is found to have major medical problems no one was aware of at the time of adoption. The return policy should be looked into in case you may run into some unforseen problem. Most shelter will accomodate a return if the pet is found to have a serious medical or behaviour problems.
13. Spaying, Neutering, Shots, Deworming- These facts should all be taken into consideration when adopting. Some municipal shelters provide only the minimum.
These are all important details to take into consideration when adopting a dog or any pet from the shelters. It all depends on what you are looking for in a pet, a dog who is aloof or frightened may not be the perfect fit for your lifestyle and if you have children then you must consider them as well when adopting a pet. If you have no dog experience, are not able to spend time entailed in training a dog with behavior problems then you want a dog who can adjust within a minimal time frame.
It would be nice to find the ideal dog who is friendly, interested in you, great with children, other dogs, cats and the love of your life. That is where taking in all of the above considerations and you and your dog from the shelter can live along and compatible happy life.
About the Author
author and owner of site www.heavenpeturns.com. I have always had a connection with animals which is why I chose cremation pet urns. The animals-pets always are a soft sport wiith me because they depend on us for so much in return for their love. That is why it is so important to choose the correct pet cremation urn that justifies your pet the respect and love they are owed. Making your pet cremation urn personalized withe engraved name plates
Reading Eagle
The Bolton News
Courant.com
Q: Do you have any advice for taking a pet bird on a road trip?
A: Some birds travel better than others. A few practice drives around the neighborhood will determine your feathered friend's tolerance.
Regular birdcages are not suitable carriers, however, because sudden stops can cause a bird to flutter around and get its feet stuck in the bars. Instead, use a small pet carrier (some are designed for birds, although a cat carrier will also suffice) with ventilation holes. Secure it with seat belts or bungee cords.
If the trip will be shorter than two hours, water and food shouldn't be necessary for larger birds, such as a cockatiel. But small birds, including finches and canaries, require a constant supply. Plan for some extra pit stops on longer jaunts, since most birds don't like eating or drinking during excessive movement.
When packing the car, put your bird in last so that you don't forget it's in there — a real danger on hot days.
Anti-Itch Products
by Amy Nutt
Clipping your puppy´s nails at home can save you a lot of time and money, but it can also be rather stressful if you don´t prepare your puppy for it. Making sure that a dog is ready to have his nails clipped is easiest to do when they are young, so start getting your puppy used to the idea early on and you´ll have a more compliant adult dog when it comes to nail clipping, whether you do it at home or take your dog to a vet.
First Steps
When your new puppy first arrives home, you will want to make sure that you play with his paws frequently. Lift them up one by one, rub the pad gently, tap the toe nails and just generally get him used to having his feet handled. This should not be playtime. Make sure that your puppy understands that he needs to sit still while this is going on.
Since puppies are much like small children, don´t expect yours to sit for very long. Keep these sessions quite short to begin with, just one minute to begin with. Then increase by 30 seconds as your puppy shows the ability to sit calmly for longer periods of time. This will greatly benefit you in the future when you need to clip the nails of an adult dog.
These early sessions are very important. You can use a small dog treat to reward your puppy afterwards for letting you handle his paws. Get him used to you touching all parts of his foot and moving the nails gently, touching between the toes, etc. Most dogs won´t like this much, but by teaching him young, you´ll find that he´ll let you do it later on.
You might also want to practice filing the nails to get your puppy used to having things done to his actual nails. Again, short sessions are a good idea here until your puppy is a bit older and able to sit still for a while longer.
Making Nail Clipping a Pleasant Experience
By getting your puppy used to having his paws handled, you are preparing him for a more intense experience, actually getting his nails clipped! This can be a big deal for dogs, even if they are used to having their feet touched and played with. The fact is that it´s not exactly the same and your puppy may be quite anxious as you actually begin to clip.
Make sure your puppy is comfortable. Unless the puppy is quite large, it will likely be easier to put him up on a table or counter with a non-slip surface. Make it a gentle experience and start off by handling the puppy´s paws like normal, then begin to clip. Take care not to cut too far down or you´ll get the quick and your puppy will be in a lot of pain. This will obviously not endear him to the process, so be very careful. You may even want to have a professional do the first nail clipping and teach you how if you find that you are nervous about the process.
It´s also important to use the right equipment and sharp cutters, to speed up the process. Your puppy probably won´t be happy to sit still for a long time, so you´ll need to work quickly and carefully. Once the whole process is over, go ahead and give him a treat to let him know that this is a good thing.
Nail clipping can be traumatic if you haven´t prepared your puppy, so make sure that you do put in the time to train him.
About the Author
Offering spa dog products, dog shampoos and natural dog grooming products. We offer anti-itch products, dog odor reducing products, problem solving products for dogs and more.
New Kitten Care -Ten Tips For Raising Your Kitten
By Liz Allan
You've picked your brand new kitten from a litter, and you're now ready to bring him home. You naturally want to give him the best possible start in life. Here are 10 tips to help him develop into a confident, affectionate adult cat who'll give you years of stress-free pleasure.
1. Make sure you're fully prepared for his arrival. Have his toys, food, litter box, scratching post and bed all ready for him. This will help him to settle in more quickly.
2. Handle him - a lot. If kittens are handled a lot when they're young, they get used to it and learn to enjoy it. As a result, they're much more likely to turn into affectionate adults that love to be cuddled and stroked. Your new kitten should always be handled gently. If you have young kids, you'll need to supervise them with Kitty at first, to make sure they don't accidentally hurt him.
3. Get him used to receiving everyday care from you. This includes grooming him, washing his face, bathing him and cleaning his ears and eyes. If he gets comfortable with all this when he's a kitten, you'll have few problems with it when he's an adult.
4. Safely introduce him to the everyday things that will form part of his world as soon as possible. This may include other people, kids, other pets, travelling in your car, boarding at your sister's house when you go on holiday etc. etc. Doing this will turn him into a confident, happy, adaptable adult.
5. Play with him and talk to him every day. Bored kittens and cats often seek amusement in activities that you won't be too keen on, such as destroying the furniture. Playing with your kitten will build your relationship with him and help to prevent boredom.
6. Feed him a wide selection of foods that are suitable for kittens. This gets him used to a varied diet, and reduces the risk of him becoming a gourmet cuisine snob who'll only eat fresh wild salmon caught in the Scottish Highlands...
7. Gently and calmly set boundaries. Kittens are like kids - they'll push their luck to see how much they can get away with. Common naughty kitten behavior includes scratching, biting, jumping on the kitchen worktops, scratching the furniture and abseiling the curtains. If your kitten is being naughty, stop him, say "no" (don't shout) and move him away from the scene of his crime. It's much easier to train a new kitten to be good than an adult cat, so setting the boundaries whilst he's young can save you years of frustration in the future.
8. Don't give in to vocal blackmail. Some kittens try to get what they want by meowing non-stop. If you keep giving in to this, your kitten will turn into a very vocal adult cat who'll drive you nuts with his constant noisy demands.
9. Keep him safe. Nasty frights - for example falling down the toilet, being tormented by a kid or having a dog bark in his face - will have a negative impact on him. The more unpleasant experiences he has as a kitten, the more likely he is to become a nervous, mistrusting adult.
10. Accept that your new kitten is a baby with loads of energy. Whilst you can discourage him from acts of willful destruction, you'll need to accept that your house is unlikely to survive completely unscathed. But hey, he's worth it!
Liz Allan is a cat behavior expert with 25 years experience of caring for cats. She lived and worked in a cat rescue centre for 3 years, and has fostered hundreds of cats at home. For more information on cat care and behavior, sign up for her FREE ezine at http://www.cat-behavior-explained.com/cat-behavior-explained.html
To find out how to deal with the most common, frustrating cat behavior problems, visit her website: http://www.cat-behavior-explained.com/index.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liz_Allan
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