Cattle

Posts Tagged ‘gold’

All dogs are not created equally, and not all dogs will follow through with all of the standards of the breed. We all know of the snappy Golden retriever or the affectionate poodle that goes against everything that you thought you knew. And while there is always the exception that proves the rule, there are enough of the dogs that do follow standards and traits to make them worth exploring when you are considering adding a dog to your family. Remember, dog breed traits are merely guidelines and may not fully and adequately describe each individual animal. Always evaluate a dog on its own merit, keeping in mind any potential traits that might seem troublesome to you.

Some dogs are known for being hyperactive, rambunctious creatures that have the potential to be destructive, incorrigible and potentially nuisances if they are not properly trained and monitored at all times. These include the Jack Russell terrier, the Labrador Retrievers, and the collie. Jack Russell Terriers also tend to dig when bored, while the lab will show his unhappiness by refusing to be fully housebroken. (Again, these are just generalizations, I am sure your lab is a perfect angel and only piddles outside!)

Some breeds are rampant barkers, or even worse, howlers. Vocal dog breeds include the Boarder Collie, who has a sharp, hard to take bark, the bored beagle that howls and, of course, the yappy poodle. Timid dogs tend to overreact to every sound or movement and will bark as well. This behavior is usually found in the smaller breed dogs, including the Chihuahua, the Pomeranian and the Lhasa Apso. The Chihuahua is also notoriously stubborn with housebreaking and tends to be a bit of a biter. (Mine would lay outside on a sunny porch for hours, get up, stretch and then dash inside to pee on my floor, so do not get me started.) Hound breeds tend to be the howlers, especially if they hear trains or sirens. Hounds in the city are bound to be miserable, and freak out all of the neighbors.

There are some breeds that no one would say a bad word about, and then there are the opposite- the breeds that no one would say a good word for. Golden retrievers are generally highly praised dogs, quiet, good natured and gentle, but there is bound to be a barking, biting golden to deal with. And of course, we all know that it is the pit bulls and their close cousins that get all of the negative press. While these are the dogs most affected by negative press and bad ownership, it is still probably worthwhile to consider owning these only if you are willing to properly, and gently train them, and learn everything that you can about the breed.

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The amount and type of care necessary will depend both on the water type, the size of the tank and the number of fish that it holds. As a general rule, after the initial set up, regular maintenance of the tank should be relatively straightforward. In fact, an tank that has been set up correctly should eventually reach a state of equilibrium that will require only a minimum level of work.

Water Quality: The Key To Fish Health

Regardless of the type of fish or style of tank, it is critical that you maintain the proper pH levels in the water. Consider your fish tank to be a swimming pool for your fish. Just as a swimming pool that does not have its water tested regularly will quickly turn into an algae-filled swamp, a fish tank that is not monitored for water quality will quickly become poisonous for your fish. You can quickly test the water quality yourself by purchasing a test kit from an aquarium supply store or pet store but the easiest method is to establish a relationship with the aquarium store and take a jar of water to them regularly for testing. The store will also be able to supply you with any chemicals or treatments that your fish require.

In addition to monitoring the pH level and water quality, you will need to make partial water changes as part of your fish tank care. To clean a fish tank it is not necessary to drain all the water, scrub out the tank and refill it with fresh water. All that is necessary is to siphon off around one quarter to one third of the water from the tank and replace this with fresh water from the tap. If you water is chlorinated you will need to add dechlorinating solution to the fresh water or leave the water sitting in a bucket for 24 hours or more before adding it to your aquarium.

Never clean the glass in your tank with soap. The residue is almost impossible to remove and it will almost certainly kill your fish. Partial water changes once every two to three weeks are all that are required once your tank has been properly established.

A sound filtration system and one that is bit enough for your aquarium size also plays an important role in keeping the aquarium clean. A filter that is too small will not circulate enough water and will not filter out enough impurities and your tank will become discolored with algae. Maintaining the oxygen level in the water is important to the health of the fish and an effective filter will also assist in maintaining the oxygen level by recirculating the water.

Following these steps in setting up and caring for your goldfish and they’ll reward you with years of pleasure as you enjoy your aquarium fish tank.

Today I fell into a trap that I should never have allowed myself to get into. I actually trusted my dog, my Nikki, a 3 year golden retriever.

Nikki is an amazingly affectionate dog, even more than normal for a golden retriever. She is gentle, good natured and behaves pretty well.

She loves going out for car drives, and she is a very well behaved dog in the car. She sits beside me, head hanging out the window and gently watching the world go by. She never gets agitated, restless or excited, even when she spots another dog out the window.

The other day, I took both Nikki, and Benny my black lab out for a drive. This time Benny was sitting in the front. Nikki was in the back. As usual I had the back and front window open.

I drove around the corner, and pulled into my driveway. And, what do I see…Nikki, sitting by the front gate. She must have jumped out the back window as I was pulling around the corner and ran to the gate.

I had absolutely NO clue she had even jumped out. Never before did she ever show any signs of jumping out.

Needless to say I was freaking. I mean, with a little imagination, I could imagine what could have happened.

Rule number one: Don’t trust your dogs. No matter how well behaved your dogs are, they are still dogs. Look out for their safety. Always make safety your first priority.

I should have known better. I try to make dog safety and dog training and dog nutrition my priorities. I have 3 dogs, 2 black labs, and my Nikki, a golden retriever. Dukie, one of my black labs is blind. Oddly enough, when I walk my 3 dogs and my neighbour comes and joins me with her dog, Dukie behaves the best. He loves walking and going for car rides. If you are observing him, you would never know he is blind.

The Labrador Retriever (“Labrador” or “Lab” for short), is one of several kinds of retriever, and are the most popular breeds of dog (by registered ownership) in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The breed is exceptionally friendly, intelligent and good natured, and as a rule these qualities mean that Labs love people, handle children well, and therefore make excellent family and service dogs. Benny, my black lab and Nikki are both Certified Therapy Dogs. They visit the elderly in homes.
Labradors are relatively large with males typically weighing 60 to 80 lb (27 to 36 kg) and females 50 to 70 lb (23 to 32 kg). They are energetic outgoing dogs, and are black, yellow, or brown (called “chocolate”) in color, in that order of frequency. Their fur is usually fairly short and straight, and the tail quite broad and strong. The otter-like tail and webbed toes of the Labrador Retriever make him an excellent swimmer. Their interwoven coat is also waterproof, providing more assistance for swimming. The tail acts as a rudder for changing directions. Yellow labs can have black or pink noses; chocolate and black labs’s noses match the coat color.
As with some other breeds, the English and the America lines differ slightly. Labs are bred in England as a medium size dog, shorter and stockier with fuller faces than their American counterparts which are bred as a larger dog. I have both, one English, My Benny, and one American, my Dukie.
Famous Labs

There is more to a new fish tank then just a tank filled with water sitting on a stand in your living room. There is a certain amount of equipment needed such as a heater and filter to keep your fish healthy and happy. With the proper equipment your tank will become a healthy water filled paradise for your tropical fish. Most tropical fish are imported in small boxes which can be quite a shock to their systems. By providing an environment much like their natural environment your fish will thrive and become an active part of your everyday life.

Getting the right type of heater is an important part of setting up your fish tank, unless of course you are just putting gold fish in it. Nearly all tropical fish require a water temperature between 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. They will die if they are kept in water cooler then that for any length of time.

You need to be aware that there are different sized heaters for different sized tanks, make sure you get one that will work for the fish tank you decide to go with. If you get one that’s too small or does not have a high enough voltage rating for your tank it will not be able to adequately heat the amount of water needed. On the flip side if your fish tank heater is to big for your tank you stand a good chance of boiling your fish. If you are unsure of what size heater to get ask some one who works at your local fish store.

The second major piece of equipment you will need is a filter of some sort. A filter keeps the water circulating and helps filter out the ammonia and nitrates that build up in a fish tank. This is particularly true in new tanks which haven’t had a chance to get established with the beneficial bacteria that break down these natural by-products of fish waste. If too much ammonia and nitrate builds up your fish will have trouble breathing and could die. The beneficial bacteria actually build up in the filter system and break down these poisons as the water cycles through the filter.

If you do nothing else when it comes to equipping your new fish tank you need to have at the least a heater and filter. Without these two vital pieces of equipment you will be hard pressed to keep your fish tank warm enough and clean enough to successfully keep healthy happy fish.

When you are ready to get a dog, you’ll find that there are many breeds available to you. Whether you go to a breeder or you are curious about the background of some of the lovely dogs you can find at a shelter, you’ll discover that being aware of the different groups of dogs might help you make your pick.

If you are someone who is looking for a dog that will require lots of regular exercise and who has a great deal of natural energy and exuberance, consider sporting dogs. Sporting dogs are very active and alert and do require a fairly constant schedule of activity. Some examples include Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers.

Dogs from the hound group were bred for hunting, whether they hunt with their eyes and with their nose. Like sporting dogs, they do require regular and fairly intense exercise, but they are also quite diverse. Make sure that you know if you are getting a breed that bays, because the sound is quite loud. Beagles and Norwegian Elkhounds are a part of this group.

Working dogs, on the other hand, have been bred to perform certain specific jobs, whether it means that they have instincts to herd sheep or guard property. Siberian Huskies, Boxers and Doberman Pinschers are all members of this group.

Terriers are often distinguished by their small size and their bright and energetic personalities. They are usually not dogs that are friendly with other dogs, and in the past they were bred to kill rats and other vermin. They are quite lively and you may want to think about it before you bring them into a house with small children. Jack Russell Terriers and Welsh Terriers are part of this group.

Toy dogs are, as the name implies, small and bred to be house dogs. They are great for people who don’t have a lot of space and make good apartment dogs. Consider some of the very popular breeds like Chihuahuas or Yorkshire Terriers.

Herding dogs were bred to protect their charges from predators and to make animals move from place to place. Some members of this group might surprise you, like the Welsh Corgis and Swedish Vallhunds who are just about a foot tall and capable of driving cattle into pastures. These dogs are great companions, but do require good socialization and training. Border collies and Pulis are two examples of this type of dog.

Non-sporting dogs are very diverse, and this is something of a catch-all territory. They do not fit into any other group, but they might share characteristics with them. Poodles, Bulldogs and the Japanese Shiba Inu fall into this category, as do the long haired Lhasa Apso and the Keeshond.

When you are thinking about choosing a breed of dog, consider what your requirements are in terms of temperament and think about what the dog itself needs in terms of exercise, space or socialization. This is an important choice for you to make, so think about the options and make sure that you get a companion animal who suits your space and lifestyle.