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Archive for March, 2009

postheadericon In fishing, trout are one of the favorite “fishing friends” of most anglers

In fishing, trout are one of the favorite “fishing friends” of most anglers. These crafty fish are abundant anywhere. The native habitat of these crafty fish depends on the type of trout.

For brook trout, the native habitat includes the territory from Labrador westward to the Saskatchewan, while the rainbow trout is a native of the Pacific slope from Alaska to California.

On the other hand, brown trout has found its way into the waters of every state in the United States except Florida, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas. It has been reported in the waters of some of these states, but according to conservation officials, no authentic reports have been received. It is also found in many parts of Canada.

In trout fishing, there are some factors that need to be considered in order to have a successful catch.

1. For trout fishing, the leader should not be greased. It will not sink far enough to cause any difficulty when picking the line and lure from the water, but if it is allowed to float; it will cast a shadow on the bottom of the stream which may scare the trout.

2. The trout is one of the fishes that are usually secured through the use of the dry fly. For trout, the current as well as the pools should be fished. It may sometimes be a bit difficult to keep the fly from sinking or dragging because of the various conditions of the current, but this is a matter that the angler will have to figure out for himself. 3. It is not good practice when fishing for trout to fish directly upstream so the flies, line, and leader will float directly over fish. The fisherman should make the cast from one side of the stream so the fly will only float over the fish.

4. It is important to make the first cast the best. A feeding trout will usually strike the first lure presented if it is cast so that it will float over his private domain. The angler should never fail to fish the lower end of the pool first even if the trout are rising in the middle or upper end.

5. Trout are sometimes very moody or selective and will try the patience of any angler; hence, possibly a fly with less hackle will do the trick or it may be necessary to use a spent-wing fly or a fan wing.

Indeed, catching trout fishes can be lots of fun. The anglers just have to remember these tips in order to have a happy catch.

postheadericon One of the most important chores when grooming your pet, is definitely the trimming of the nails

One of the most important chores when grooming your pet, is definitely the trimming of the nails. Pet owners with wooden floors are likely to hear the long nails on their pet very clearly, as they tick, tick, tick when they walk. This usually means more than an irritating noise, it also means the time has come to groom your pet and trim his nails. Trimming of the nails is very important since they can be painful on your pet when he walks, and in some cases they can prove to be dangerous and cause unfortunate accidents, either on purpose or by mistake. We are not going to even start talking about what long nails in your pet can do for your carpet and furniture.

Professional pet groomers active in the trade use special tools for clipping nails on felines and canines. The trimmer tool must be able to surround the nail completely, never in an angle but straight all around. In order to attempt this at home you must be trained in some aspects of nail clipping. First, you should know how far you can go in relation to length, and where to apply a cut. The secret is to identify the cuticle and not cut into it. There are veins, blood vessels and nerve endings that run part way up the nail. If you should cut into this area by accident, there will be bloodshed and a great deal of pain involved. The case may also be one in which your pet shows some discomfort because your cut was too close to this area.

Animals in general dislike any type of grooming activity and will turn away from it every chance they get. In order to be successful, approach your pet and calmly start caressing him. Create a soothing moment that makes him comfortable, and then slowly pull out his paw and begin caressing it without showing him the clippers. Massage his paw as if you where playing a pet game with him, and then slowly take out the clippers and begin working.

Note that professional groomers clip the nails differently, faster and more efficiently than novice groomers at home. Be aware however, that professional groomers are able to do this by holding down your pet tightly, mostly due to the fact that they are not interested in a relationship with him, and won’t have to see him again tomorrow. You, on the other hand, want to remain being friends with him, thus, you are best advised to take the slow approach.

Let’s face it, for some animals the entire process of clipping the nails is a gruesome experience. Your pet may react violently, and try to hurt himself or the person doing the grooming. If for any reason you are hesitant about trimming nails on your pet, thing about getting help before trying anything. Ask your veterinarian for advice, and let him decide whether you are ready for the job or not.

postheadericon Many of us dog owners get really amazed to see our dogs scratching away to glory in spite of the fact that there is not a single flea on its body

Many of us dog owners get really amazed to see our dogs scratching away to glory in spite of the fact that there is not a single flea on its body! This is one thing that most dog owners will know. Many a time, our dogs just keep on scratching their skin although they do not have fleas or any other parasites. This is one thing that all dog owners have to be careful about. Continuous itching without any reason might have larger health implications.

This incessant itching can highly be an early symptom of dermatitis. Dermatitis is similar to fever in human beings. When we have fever, we just start sneezing like crazy or have congestions. But in case of dogs, their skin becomes itchy and they keep on scratching their skin. Fever in dogs happens generally when they inhale a large amount of pollen.

If you notice, you will see that your dog starts itching more during the months of August and September. This is a time when you need to take extra care of your beloved pet. Pets become especially sensitive to things around them during these months. Thus, this is the time when you have to look out for Dermatitis because your dog will be highly susceptible to it.

The other months when your dog will start itching indiscriminately are March and April. Since these two are the pollen months, dogs become very likely to catch hold of Dermatitis during this season. The grass pollen season of May, June and early July are also particularly troublesome months.

This dog health symptom is something that affects your dog particularly badly. Once your dog gets affected by Dermatitis, it will practically suffer from scratching problems throughout the year. This gives rise to another problem of increased sensitivity which means that something like dusting your sofa will also make your dog uncomfortable and scratchy.

The owners who have a dog who is less than six months old are lucky because young dogs do not get Dermatitis. It is a disease seen in dogs that are three or more years of age. Also, almost every breed of dog can get Dermatitis as it is not a breed specific disease.

However, despite of not being a breed specific disease, Dermatitis is something that affects certain breeds of dogs, like Dalmatians, West Highland White Terriers, White Haired Fox Terriers and Poodles particularly badly. Dermatitis is something that should be treated immediately because it can make your dog suffer a lot and live in great discomfort.

As for the treatments of Dermatitis, you must consult your dog’s vet. There are multiple treatments available but you have to choose one that suits your dog’s breed and age, so it is best to go for whatever your dog’s vet suggests.

Apart from the treatment, you also need to take care of the fact that your dog gets regular grooming so that its skin remains in perfect condition. If your dog is not groomed regularly, it might suffer from skin problems that are extremely uncomfortable.

postheadericon It can be one of the most stressful situations that you can go through, whenever your pet is lost

It can be one of the most stressful situations that you can go through, whenever your pet is lost. All of us love our pets and want to provide the best environment for them. Many of them, however, like to get out and run and they do this on any occasion that presents itself. If we find ourselves in the position where we have lost our pet, it is important that we act as quickly as possible. There are several things that can be done in order to help. Here are some tips to help find your lost pet and to get them back home as quickly as possible.

The sooner you begin your search, the less likely it is your pet will have wandered far. Be sure to search your property thoroughly before moving on to neighboring homes. Ask neighbors if they’ve seen your pet, and if so, in what direction he or she was moving.

Next, you should prepare some flyers to be posted around the area. Somebody should be out actively looking for the pet while the signs are posted. Include a picture of the pet, his or her name, a detailed description (age, sex, color, breed), your phone number and any reward that you are offering for its safe return. Post these at the entrance to every neighborhood and all on as many signs and telephone poles that are available. The more exposure your sign gets, the more likely it will be that your pet will be found.

You should also make sure that you get in touch with any local pounds or animal shelters that are in the area immediately. Alert them to the fact that you have lost a pet so that they will be on the lookout for it and not simply put it in with the general population. Unfortunately, many of these animal shelters will not be very diligent in making sure that a pet is lost and not simply abandoned. Call back on a regular basis and check in person from time to time to see if your dog is there.

Check your local newspaper’s lost and found section. Most newspapers will run a “Found” ad for free, so many people will take the time to place an ad.

Another way to help find a lost pet is to hire some neighborhood children to actively look for the pet. Make sure that they are allowed to be wandering around and then give them each some money in order to look. Let them know that there will be additional money available for the person that finds your pet. Children can be very creative when it comes to taking care of tasks like this.

Be aware of pet-recovery scams. When describing your pet in flyers or in the newspaper, always leave one important identifying mark out of the description. This way, if someone does call with information about your pet, you can verify whether the person really has your pet or not.

When you do get your pet back, consider purchasing a GPS collar so that it does not get lost again in the future.

postheadericon The bichon frise (pronounced ‘bee-shone freeze’) is a curly all-white dog with a puffball appearance and a very puffy head

The Bichon Frise (pronounced ‘Bee-Shone Freeze’) is a curly all-white dog with a puffball appearance and a very puffy head. It has been around since the 1300’s, and throughout their history they have been popular among Italian sailors, the Italian and French royal courts, and eventually with French street performers. Their name ‘Bichon Frise’ is in reference to their curly white coat.

Their diverse history of human companionship is proof of the Bichon Frise’s easy going temperament. These Non-Sporting dogs are independent, gallant, and full of energy. The Bichon loves people and is happiest when he is in his owners company. However, the Bichon Frise is also friendly to strangers, adores playing with children and doesn’t mind other family pets.

The Bichon is intelligent and is easy to train. By nature, he is a natural worker, which is why he got along well with street performers and made a wonderful circus dog once upon a time. This also means that the Bichon can be quite the little clown and enjoys learning tricks.

As was previously mentioned, the Bichon Frise is covered from head to tail in a curly white coat. His coat does not shed, making him a great companion for those who suffer from allergies. Nonetheless, the coat of the Bichon needs daily brushing to keep it free from mats. He will also need a monthly bath, and will require a full coat clipping every few months.

Since the Bichon’s coat gives him such a fluffy appearance, you may be surprised to learn that he isn’t as large as he may appear. For instance, the height of the Bichon Frise only reaches 12 inches and they weigh between 7 ‘ 12 pounds.

It is important to keep a Bichon in trim shape to avoid the possibility of him becoming overweight. This is best achieved by feeding him a sufficient diet and providing him with significant exercise. Because of his size, and the fact that they can happily live in an apartment, one may think that the Bichon does not need too much exercise. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The Bichon Frise enjoys being active and likes talking long walks and the freedom to run around in the open.

Those interested in the Bichon Frise will discover that he is a long lived companion with an average life expectancy of 15 years or more. Bichons have a few hereditary problems such as cataracts, ear ailments, knee dislocation and epilepsy. Nonetheless, the Bichon is still one of the more healthy breeds available today.

The Bichon Frise will become miserable if left along frequently. He loves to be included in the activities of his family and owner as much as possible. Human companionship is what makes the Bichon a happy go lucky canine and the best friend you could ask for.