Cattle

It is said that a dog is a man’s best friend. And today, with the implementation of animal assisted therapy in hospitals, there is no better example for this saying. Therapists, doctors and mental health professionals are making use of dogs to help in the recovery of patients in one way or another.

Usually, the brain injury patients, senior citizens, those who are physically impaired, and patients in hospitals and treatment centers are the ones who benefit the most from animal assisted therapy. With this kind of therapy, both the patient and dog will experience loyalty, love and joy together, and they will develop a bond that is quite extraordinary.

Dogs are used in different settings in different countries

In some countries, dogs are used to help in fine motor control where patients are advised to move their arms and fingers so that they can pet and brush the dogs. This will help patients develop their sense of touch as part of the therapy process. Another form of therapy is the large muscle therapy where patients take the dogs for a walk or an outing in a park or recreational area.

Basically, there is no scientific evidence that support the fact that dog therapy actually works on patients. The only reasoning provided by therapists is that the unconditional love that the dog displays towards patients will help them gain self confidence. It is this self-confidence that helps them recover from whatever health problems they may be suffering from.

There is another logical reason for the success of dog therapy. Caring for the dogs and spending quality time with them will remind patients of their childhood or other positive moments of their life when they were hearty and enjoying life to the maximum. By reminiscing on the good times they had, patients will develop a renewed interest in life, and they will have a new reason to get well and carry on with their lives.

Whatever the reason, or even if there is no particular reason for the use of dogs in therapy, the main point is that dog therapy is effective in treating patients.

The elderly see a friend in a dog

Besides helping in muscle coordination, dogs are also used as companions for many patients. Usually, the elderly and isolated patients are the ones who will find great comfort and consolation in the company of therapy dogs. Having a dog as a companion gives them the opportunity to interact with another living thing, and this will certainly add some meaning to their lives.

Dogs make good companions because they are not judgmental and they are always happy to see the patients. This creates a positive feeling in the patients to help them improve both emotionally and socially. This is not always achieved with the visit of a nurse or a therapist.

Any dog of any age can help patients

There is no specific breed, age or size requirement for therapy dogs. Usually, medium to large sized dogs are used as therapy dogs. However, some small dogs can be excellent therapy dogs as well.

Some hospitals have their own therapy dogs, while others depend on volunteer dog owners who are willing to offer their dogs for therapy purposes. Usually, the dog owners will bring their dogs to the hospitals whenever health care professionals and trained therapists require their assistance.

In order that a dog can be an effective therapy dog, it has to be calm and well behaved, without any history of aggression or disobedience. It should be well socialized and not prone to barking and whining as this will only disturb the patients.

Therapists require that the dogs undergo special obedience training before they start working with patients and clients. In fact, special insurance on therapy dogs are also available as protection against possible accidents.

Conures originate from Central America, South America, Mexico and the Caribbean. They vary in size depending on type and can be anywhere in the range of a small to a medium sized parrot. They are very playful and intelligent and can be very affectionate if handled and trained properly in their formative age.

Jenday conures are parrots that grow to approximately 12 inches at maturity. They have dark green wings with blue on the tips of the wing and tail feathers. Their heads are orange and fronts are yellow. This makes them easy to mix up with the sun conure, but this bird do not have the dark green wings and back feathers. Jenday conures are typically found in forest clearings in northeastern Brazil in the wild but they can also be found near coconut palms and the edge of the rain forest.

This pet tend to be very sociable and playful, making them ideal pets for families with children. They are intelligent, meaning that they pick up new tricks and words fairly quickly. However, their pronunciation is not always spot on, so they are not usually very popular talking birds. Also, their vocabulary seems to be fairly limited, knowing only about six unique words at a time – teach them a new word and they will forget one of the words that they already know.

Jenday conures, like any other pet, will remain healthy and develop well only if you pay proper attention to its care and feeding. In general, conures should be fed with proper bird pellet mix perhaps with the sporadic addition of different fruits and vegetables. Seeds and nuts should not feature in their diet at all because they have a high fat content and can cause health problems for your conure. The fruits and vegetables that you add to the pellet mix should be varied to ensure that your pet gets all its proper nutrition and remains healthy.

The Mastiff Dog has because of links to history a very long and storied tradition. Right around the sixth century or so Phoenician merchants introduced the mastiff dog into the Britain colonies. The mastiff dog was also utilized by the ancient Celts in battle. They found a major asset of the mastiff dog to be it’s loyalty.

Lived In Ancient Rome

This dog was used to fight in the ancient Roman arenas being captured during the Roman occupation. Then they were transported back to Italy to serve as guard dogs. It has even been stated that the great infamous Hannibal used them extensively. History also notes that Julius Caesar counted the mastiff as one of his favorite pets.

Part Of Ancient Britain

This mastiffs dog hunting prowess was so respected that there was a time in ancient Britain where the middle toes of all mastiffs dogs were removed. This was done so that the mastiffs would not be able to move fast enough to hunt deer who were protected by royal law. When this wasn’t done the dog owner’s were held responsible for their owners. Many British royals utilized the mastiffs dog to protect there vast estates. They did this by releasing the bullmastiff at night to deter trespassers and would be robbers. They also served as pets to the owners.

New World History

The mastiff was present right at the beginning of the Unites States. From the shores of Britain the first mastiff puppies were carried on the Mayflower to America. Seldom used as pets the Mastiff breeds popularity didn’t start to flourish until the late 1800’s. It was in the southern part of America where they started to make there name. This is when they were used on plantations in the South as guard dogs.

War Time Service

Being utilized to pull ammunition carts was the mastiff breed service during both World Wars. For some reason right around the same time period in Britain the mastiff breed was becoming very close to extinction. To help with the efforts to make sure the mastiff dog didn’t go extinct Canada and America both sent to Britain a large number of Mastiffs. Today with an increasing number of bullmastiff puppies and mastiff dogs being picked for pets on both continents we can say the operation obviously worked. This article should have exposed you to more information on the popular mastiff dog and why it’s storied history would make it even more interesting.

Horses are known for their horse sense, horse power, loyalty, dedication and what not. They have become associated with man over the passage of time, since times immemorial. Horses and ponies have served man in many ways. A horse carriage or a horse cart is what comes to our mind at the first instance.

As a means of transport from one place to another, horse drawn coaches have provided comfort, safety and reliability to the persons who travel by means of them. In certain places, horses work in agriculture farms. By sheer diligence and industrious output, horses have endeared themselves to mankind. Stud farms have become the dream possession of animal lovers.

The sight of a stallion with a black velvety and glossy coat, of good height and stature, sturdy, is enchanting for a horse breeder or a trainer. If the animal is fostered and trained by the person, a special attachment and a sentimental relationship get developed. Bonding cannot be depicted in a better way. Stable relationships get exemplified by horses.

Right from the moment they are born, horses are known to show friendliness and playfulness. A foal is a delightful creature that frolics and gambols, providing amusement to the onlookers. A foal is a true depiction of innocent fun, bundle of energy or a live wire. People can be excused if they show a wish to fondle and caress them. The horse also acknowledges this gesture and cherishes it as it grows up only to reciprocate and return this love in a grander manner. An attitude of gratitude, so to say!

However, training of horses is an area where many changes have taken place by way of research and development. Horses, ponies and mares can be expected to learn the ropes fast and deliver goods to the owner’s satisfaction and pride. The grasping power of horses and ponies is phenomenal. But care needs to be taken to ensure that horses and ponies do not inculcate ‘bad manners’.

The situation of the horse going wild and berserk is enough to send shivers down the spine of a person. Holding the reins is of paramount importance. Food and treats that conform to the basic nature and normal food habits are the healthiest. However, horses are known to have different tastes. Generally, treats would consist of raisins, pitted dates, sugar cubes, apple pieces, hay cubes, carrot pieces, sunflower seeds, peppermints. Treats ought to be restricted, else a horse could be demanding and this would pose dangerous. Things that should be avoided under treats would include lawn, hedge or garden clippings, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, tomatoes, acorns, chocolates. The last one has resulted in a horse getting tested positive for drugs.

Ponies are miniature horses and are loved to be reared by one and all. Children especially are fond of ponies. Like horses ponies are generally smart, hard and sturdy, athletic, loveable. They continue beauty with intelligence.

All in all, horses have proved to be resourceful for man. They bring laurels in races and restore the wager’s confidence. They toil productively in fields. They help carry goods from one place to another. They serve as good playmates. Can man live without horses? Yes, but perhaps he would lack the horse power!

The Yorkie is among the most popular small dog breed in the US. Find out why…

There are many small dog breeds in the US. So many, I would not even attempt to count them. However, among them all, the Yorkie is right on the top of the list as the most desired small dog breed of all time.

The Yorkie might be small in size, weighing in around 7 pounds but do not let their size fool you. They pack a powerful love and bond for their human counterpart. With proper attention and a loving owner a Yorkie can be a great pet. Be careful bringing this dog breed into your home if you have young children that might not treat the little one in a gentle caring fashion.

A Yorkie can become aggressive if it feels threatened. This dog breed tends to remember when they have been mistreated and will show aggressive behavior if the same circumstances arise. For example, if a child visit’s a few times and each time hurts the Yorkie it is likely this dog breed will show aggression towards the child in an attempt to keep itself safe.

This particular dog breed is trainable, however they prefer to think they are the pack leader. You will need to be consistent with your training of a Yorkie because they also tend to be a little on the stubborn side of the scale. Food rewards work great with this dog breed, however do not always reward with a treat and keep the treat a healthy one.

A common complaint associated with a Yorkie is potty training. It is very important that you stay on top of teaching a Yorkie that it is only acceptable to go outside. By allowing this dog breed to take advantage of you, you are merely teaching him or her that they, indeed are the pack leader and you are beneath them. This can also bring about bouts of aggression from a Yorkie.

Once a Yorkie truly understands his or her role in the family, they can be very kind and loving little bundles of fur. This dog breed enjoys affection and exercise. It is important that you consider the size of a Yorkie when you are out walking. They have little legs and it takes a great deal for them to keep up. These dogs are best suited for a slow paced walker on short walks. But if you notice your Yorkie has a lot of energy left over after a walk, he or she might need to go on walks more frequently and for a little longer.

Yorkies have the ability to be a great dog. They require regular grooming, but less frequent baths. There are several health concerns that are typical in this dog breed. Among some of the most popular Yorkie health issues are tooth decay, spinal injuries, problems delivering pups and fragile bones. If your house is fairly rough because of larger dogs and children, it might be best if you do not bring a Yorkie into your home.