Cattle

Archive for April, 2008

Dog Parks and Starting One in your Community

Dog Parks are becoming more and more popular. They are not only fun for our dogs but , are also a great place for humans to interact. They provide a place for dogs to run off leash and socialize with other dogs, as well as allowing for owners to socialize at the same time.

Unfortunately not all communities have Dog Parks available for our canine friends. If your community does not have a Dog Park available to you here are some guidelines on getting a park started.

First off do some research.

Is anyone else developing a Dog Park in your area. Find out about rules and regulations that pertain to your community. Can local parks or recreation departments be of any help. Talk to people in your community and get some feedback about opening a park in your area. When planning park keep in mind traffic patterns, neighborhoods, noise, etc Set up a liaison with city, neighborhood, and dog owners Assign someone to monitor use Set up times that park will be available for use. Rules for using the Dog Park

Present you Community with the benefits of having a Dog Park.

Dogs can socialize and exercise in a safe environment. Helps to promote responsible pet ownership Will help to promote public health and safety Provides a meeting place for dog owners to socialize. Provides access for people with disabilities to exercise their pets.

Dog Park should include:

At least 1 acre or more of ground and be surrounded with a 4′ to 6′ fence. The entry should be gated Regular maintenance should be performed (cut grass, waste clean up, etc.) Wheelchair access Plenty of shade and water A separate parking area Station to dispose of waste Benches, tables, trash cans, etc Complete set of rules for using the Dog Park

With this general guideline you will be well on you way to developing a Dog Park in your area. We hope to see your Dog Park up and running soon.

Article written by Kevin Gawricki

Kevin is owner of Dog Gone Good Stuff which he founded because of the need for a place that caters specifically to dogs and their owners specific needs. Please feel free to visit Dog Gone Good Stuff for all your dogs needs. Web address www.doggonegoodstuff.com

The Finnish Spitz is recognisable for its bright red fur, they have a double coat with the undercoat being a lighter colour than the longer and courser outer coat. They have an almost fox-like face with pricked up ears, a narrow snout, and dark eyes. They are square in appearance, a deep set chest and profuse amount of fur on their tail which is carried curled up over their back. They have rounded catlike paws and their dew claws are often removed. They are generally between 15-19 inches in height with females weighing between 20-27lbs and the males between 27-33lbs.

History. The Finish Spitz is the national dog of Finland, they are thought to have originated around 2000 years ago when they were brought, by a group of people living in central Russia, into Finland. Due to the area where they lived, which was secluded, the breed managed to stay almost pure throughout the years and developed to the hunters needs. They were first introduced to the UK in the 1920’s and to this day they have remained relatively popular not only as working dogs but also as family pets. The Finnish Spitz was used to hunt small game and would alert the hunter with a distinctive bark, it’s even been known for these little dogs to chase bears.

Temperament. The Finnish Spitz is an affectionate and inquisitive companion, who loves nothing better than to be part of the family. They can be lively and playful and do not fully mature until between 3 and 4 years of age. They need to be socialised well, from a young age, or they can develop the habit of being aloof with strangers. It’s important to train them well and to make sure that the dog knows it is not the one in charge, or they can become dominant and even aggressive. They are loyal to their family and, due to their breeding, bark when they have found game, they make excellent watch dogs alerting the family to trouble, however they do not make good guard dogs. Health Issues. Thanks to the careful and responsible breeding of the Finnish Spitz they suffer from very few health problems and are generally a feirly robust dog. On rare occasions though they can suffer from luxating patella, which is when the knee cap slips out of position, epilepsy and hereditary cataracts. They can also suffer from hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Their average life expectancy is around 12 to 15 years.

Grooming. The Finnish Spitz has an almost self-cleaning coat and only requires brushing around once a week. However, they do shed seasonally for a few weeks twice a year, during this time they will need to be brushed daily to remove all the excess coat. This process of removing the old coat will help the new coat to grow out in a better condition, also excess undercoat can cause skin conditions.

Living Conditions. The Finnish Spitz prefers a cooler climate and can be relatively inactive indoors. They can do well in an apartment but do need daily walks and plenty of attention. They are well suited to family life and get on well with children and other pets.

Did you recently purchase a fish tank? If so, did you purchase any additional fish tank supplies or accessories? If so, what supplies and accessories did you purchase? Is an aquarium chiller included in your list of purchased supplies and accessories? If is not, you may want to examine aquarium chillers, namely what they are and what they can do for you. After a close examination, you may see why it is advised that you own an aquarium chiller.

Just as the name sounds, an aquarium chiller is a piece of equipment that is used to help keep the water temperature of your aquarium at a cooled, chilled level. As with many other fish tank supplies and accessories, aquarium chillers come in a number of different makes and models. Despite a variation in appearance, most aquarium chillers accomplish the same goal; to keep your fish tank cooled. When it comes to cooling an aquarium, aquarium chillers work just like air conditioners. In fact, many even have similar controls, allowing you to control the amount of cooling that is going on in your fish tank.

In many cases, owning an aquarium chiller is completely optional, but in other cases it may be necessary. Whether your not you actually need to own an aquarium chiller will depend on where you live, the average temperature of your home, and the type of fish that you own. These small, but important factors should be closely examined before you automatically decide that you do not need to purchase an aquarium chiller for your fish tank.

As mentioned above, where you reside may have an impact on whether or not you need to own an aquarium chiller. If you live in the south or if you live in an area that regularly experiences heat waves or high temperatures, it may be a good idea to purchase an aquarium chiller. If you do not have an aquarium chiller, it is likely that the water inside your fish tank will slowly adjust to room temperature. If the overall temperature where you live is too high, your fish tank water may increase in temperature, even to an unsafe level. In this case, an aquarium chiller may have a significant impact on the survival of your fish.

In connection with where you reside, it is also important to examine the average temperature inside your home, namely the temperature in the room where you fish tank will be housed. If you like to have the temperature inside your home to be above room temperature, an aquarium chiller may also be needed. As it was mentioned above, the temperature of your fish tank and its water may have a significant impact on your fish and how long they are able to survive. In fact, that leads to another important factor that should also be examined, the type of fish that you own.

If this is your first time owning fish, you may not necessarily know that certain fish need certain accommodations to survive. If your fish tank water is too warm or is downright hot, your fish may not only be “uncomfortable,” but they also may not be able to survive. To determine what the best water temperature is for the type of fish that you have, it is best that you ask when purchasing them. If you have already made your purchase, you can easily find the same information online, often with just a standard internet search. The individual or company you are looking to buy an aquarium chiller from may also be able to give you their suggestions or professional advice.

The decision as to whether or not you want to own an aquarium chiller is yours to make; however, it is advised that you keep the above mentioned factors in mind. If you feel that you need to own an aquarium chiller or if you would like to purchase one, just in case, you are urged to examine FishTanksDirect.com. They have a relatively large selection of aquarium chillers available for sale. This includes aquarium chillers that are designed for small, large, and medium sized aquariums.

Having a sick dog on your hands is never a pleasant experience.  It can be an emotional roller coaster as well as a time consuming task. A dog is man’s best friend.  And no one wants to see their best friend suffer. So, how about a dog that never gets sick; do they exist?  Unfortunately, they don’t.  Dogs are prone to many of the same diseases as humans: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and even depression and anxiety.  Of course, this is rather depressing in itself to think about when you look at your rambunctious pup.  But, there is one simple remedy that can greatly reduce the risk of these diseases: walking your dog.

Dog walking and dog ownership should go hand-in-hand, but as we all know, the hustle and bustle of New York City can catch up to us.  By the time you get home, you want to plop down on that couch, have your tail-wagging friend pounce on you, and smack a wet kiss on your cheek.  But, if you want that friendly welcome to continue, you should consider the health benefits of taking your pup for a stroll.

There’s a lot of beauty in New York City that you might miss between hopping subway cars and hailing cabs.  So, at the end of the day, a walk can be relaxing and healthy for you and your pet.  A leisurely walk can greatly reduce your dog’s stress level as well as your own.  Walking through Central Park as the sun sets and the cooling autumn air brushes against your face just sounds relaxing, doesn’t it?  And, while we’re on relaxing, if you’re dog is a bit too rambunctious—past the point of cuteness—a daily walk can calm him/her down.  Walks will also dissuade chewing and other destructive habits.  As for the other benefits, well, you and your pet need exercise.  A daily 30 minute walk will help keep you and your pup in shape.

Of course, committing to a daily 30 minute walk might not always be possible.  Schedules change, things happen, and you might find yourself unable to walk your dog.  Well, no need to worry.  Even if it’s only a few days a week, you can rely on a Manhattan dog walker.  When you seek out a dog walking service, you’ll find people who genuinely care about your pet’s health and would be more than happy to take them on a walk when you’re unable to.  Utilizing dog walking services in New York is a reliable way to make sure your puppy will be greeting you after a hard day’s work for a long time to come.