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With over 43 percent of the population owning at least one domestic animal, the UK pet industry is thriving. Indeed, from grooming parlours and gourmet feed to accessories and state-of the-art toys, it’s possible to pamper your pet beyond belief.

But, with the country firmly in the grips of a recession, it’s time to start thinking smartly when it comes to what you spend on your beloved furry friends. And, with a bit of thought, it’s easy to reduce your pet expenditure without compromising on care.

The first issue to consider when looking at ways to save money is to identify and prioritise your pet’s needs. For instance, food is obviously of utmost importance, but does Fluffy really need to eat gourmet, hand-prepared meals every day? By switching to cheaper brands – many have been found to be just as good as their expensive counterparts – you could bank hundreds of pounds each year. Bulk buying is also a great way to cut down on costs.

It may be nice to buy your pets toys, but in reality they can be expensive and unnecessary. In fact, it’s far better to interact with your pet personally and a stick for your dog, for example, is just as good as pricey plastic replica. Equally, buying clothing for your pet might seem like a good idea, but when you’re watching the pennies, it is definitely an expense you can do without.

Grooming parlous are again a nice luxury to indulge in. However they can be very costly. Therefore, invest in a good brush and some appropriate cleaning products and do it at home. That way your pet will still stay shiny and clean and you won’t be out of pocket.

Your pet’s health is undeniably important. In this respect, it doesn’t pay to skimp here. In fact, most vets will tell you that it’s vital to take your pet for regular checkups and to ensure they have all the relevant vaccinations. It may seem expensive in the short term, but taking preventative health measures now will help to avoid bigger, and much costlier, problems arising in the future.

In this respect, pet insurance is also crucial. You may think that insurance is one item you can cut out, but the experts argue it is more important to have coverage in times of recession than at any other time. However, without the right research, you could end up paying more than you need to.

Therefore, when choosing your pet insurance, make sure it is the right one for your circumstances. There are thousands of insurance deals available: a quick internet search will help you to find the most appropriate ones. And remember, it’s better to pay out a few pounds a month on an insurance policy, than it is to have to spend thousands for an operation or surgical procedure.

 The razor sharp teeth that puppies seem to have can cause you some pain. You need to try to prevent your puppy from forming this habit of biting. In order to stop puppy biting different methods may have to be tried. Any little annoying or bad habits should not receive a reward. If you want your pup to mature into that wonderful family pet, you will need to take responsibility for helping him. Dog behavior is never “good” or “bad” it’s just behavior. It is going to take some time, but stopping a puppies bad habits needs to be done.

The playing behavior for a litter of puppies involves lots of nipping and biting. Nipping and biting their new owners is very common for puppies and will most likely be the first problem they have to overcome. All new puppies take part in this behavior, but as a new member of your family actions will need to be taken to control it.

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When your pup bites you, quickly give him a sharp tap on the nose and say “NO”. If you tap the nose softly the puppy is only going to think that you are playing. A timid correction is a worthless correction. One good tap on the muzzle, that gets the puppies attention could stop puppy biting}. Another way to go is, immediately after he bites, grab his muzzle with one hand, point at him with the other, and firmly say “NO”, this will eventually tell him that biting is the wrong behavior. Your puppy may pick it up rather quickly, or it may take a little time, just remember to show some patience. You will eventually be able to correct your pup verbally once he understands what is going on. This verbal “NO” command is going to prove to be very handy when he starts chewing on your shoes, socks, newspapers or anything else laying around for him to test his teeth on.

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Another way of moving him away from biting you and your personal items is doggy bones and chew toys. When the teething stage hits he is going to need something to chew and bite on so the chew toys get to serve another purpose. Whatever toys you choose need to be appropriate, they will need to be able to stand up to the intense chewing by sharp teeth for an extended period of time. Be careful of toys that are to small or poorly made because they can break off into s tiny pieces and get stuck in their throat.

While playing with your puppy, don’t encourage him to bite and play rough or it may become a bigger challenge to stop puppy biting, it’s best to avoid any bad behavior traits at this stage. It is going to take some time to fix the problem no matter what method you choose to use. All puppies go through certain stages in their life and puppy biting happens to be one of them. Don’t worry though, you will be able to get through the biting stage, just stay firm and patient.

Just where exactly did this sweet and adorable little lap toy dog, the Japanese Chin originate? As with many of our toy dog breeds, there are several theories for us to remember as the history of this toy dog breed.

There is plenty of evidence that the Japanese Chin can be traced back to the dogs that arrived in Japan as precious gifts from China and Korea over 1,100 years ago. The Japanese Chin is one of the most ancient breeds of dogs.

The exact history of the Japanese Chin is difficult to determine, however, evidence exists that at the end of the first century A.D., the Chinese had a type of dog known as ‘Pai’. Canine breed authorities say the ‘Pai’ was a very small, short-headed and short-legged dog. One canine breed writer, Collier, tells us there is little doubt the Japanese race of small dogs originated from China. It is fact that trade and association between the two nations date back as far as the fifth century. During the period of Tein Wu Ti (A.D. 673-686) and Ch’ih T’ung Ti (A.D. 690-696), Korea and China constantly gave small pet dogs to Japan.

As with many of our toy dog breeds there are various theories about the origin of the Japanese Chin. Some suggest they come from Korea and that a Korean prince went to Japan taking gifts for the Mikado in A.D. 732. The gifts included tiny dogs with flat noses which resemble our present day Japanese Chin. In those days they were called Shoku-Ken. They were definitely different from the dogs in Japan at that time which was of the Spitz type.

Another theory of the origin of our Japanese Chin states that as early as 520 A.D., Buddish monks took Shoku-Ken from China to Japan when they went to preach as missionaries. The dogs were said to be a symbol of the sacred Lion of Buddha.

Other people believe the Japanese Chin were of the Imperial Ch’in that supposedly originated in China. The Imperial Ch’in dogs were only owned by Chinese royalty. This seems to be the case of several of our purebred toy dogs. We are so very fortunate now that not only the wealthy have access and the companionship of the purebred toy dog.

It has also been said that the last Empress of China kept 50 of these dogs in the throne room. When the Empress entered the room story goes that these little dogs would line up from door to throne, standing on their hind legs and bowing until she was seated. Of particular note, I would like to add as the author of this article is about my little Danny Boy, who is not Japanese Chin, but is Shih Tzu. Of all the Shih Tzu I have owned, he is the only one who stands on his hind legs before me. Danny and I are very, very close. I wonder if this is a characteristic he inherited from the Imperial line of dogs in China. None of my other Shih Tzu exhibits this trait. I thought he was begging for something. He does it quite often and he looks as if he is just standing up on his hind legs like a human and his front legs are like his human arms and hands. It is so cute; I really enjoy seeing this little trick in my Danny Boy. I am also wondering if the little dogs owned by the last Empress of China lined up from door to throne, standing on their hind legs was out of “respect, love and honor for her.”

It has been said, however, that because the Japanese Chin is not the easiest of dogs to train, the thought of 50 of them doing this in perfect unison was a bit too much to believe. And…….it is only one of mine, out of all I ever had, who does this. Incidentally, my Danny Boy received no training for this. The only real thing different is my relationship with Danny Boy. He is my absolute favorite of all time Shih Tzu I ever owned and I have in many ways told him this. He does have one bad trait I think is cute, but is dangerous for him. He sees himself as rough and tough and loves to try and prove this to all the dogs, big and small. I have to many times rescue him, which may add to the beauty and love of our relationship also. He stands to his feet when I am around because I suppose in his mind, I am his “Empress.”

Other relatives of the Chinese Imperial Ch’in were the Chinese Temple Dog, the Japanese Spaniel, the Pekingese and the Chow. They resemble each other in my opinion.

With all we know about the Japanese Chin today I believe it is reasonable to assume that at least in the very beginning was an Oriental breed. We also know the early days of the Japanese Chin were spent with people of nobility or very high rank and were considered as something very valuable and precious. It is my opinion as well that this “precious look” that seems to glow from the faces of the Japanese Chin is the result of some of that pampering and adoration. The Japanese Chin is a delightful little lap toy dog companion for us today, and is still considered valuable and precious for all who truly love this breed.

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Dogs are the preferred pet of many families because they are smart, lovable, and loyal, which makes them a joy for both children and adults. While owning a dog is great fun and always enjoyable, with it comes many responsibilities. Dogs have the same similar needs and health problems of humans. This requires the owner to watch their pet’s diet and ensure that the dog gets plenty of exercise.

The Symptoms Of Dog Constipation

Even though dogs are very expressive, it is hard to tell when they are ailing because they can’t directly tell us how they are feeling. So we need to pay close attention to them and look for the signs that they show you. In the case of dog constipation, an observant pet owner should know that there’s a problem if the dog hasn’t passed a stool in over two days. A dog’s digestive system is a lot more active than that of a human’s, so the pet will have bowel movements at least once a day in a soft form. If the pet does not pass a stool for two days or the stool is difficult to pass because it is hard, your loving pet may be suffering from constipation.

If you believe your dog may be constipated, then you’ll want to watch for the other common symptoms of dog constipation. These include loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting as well as lethargy and/or disinterest in his or her favorite activities.

Common Dog Constipation Treatment And Prevention

If your pet suffers from constipation, you need to take a closer look at the dog’s diet to ensure that it contains enough fiber and increase the fiber level if it does not. Most of the dog food sold on the market contains an adequate amount of fiber. Some popular brands are Dog Chow, Pedigree, and Alpo to name a few. Dehydration may be another possible cause of your dog’s constipation and therefore you should ensure that the animal drinks plenty of water by placing a bowl of fresh water by the food dish and make sure to fill it as soon as it is empty.

Other Measures For Dog Constipation

If the situation doesn’t improve wihin the first week, take your dog to the vet’s office as soon as possible. Your dog may be in pain, and the only person to offer the correct treatment is the veterinarian. The vet may prescribe some dog laxatives to help your best friend, but he may also need to conduct a few tests to ensure that there are no existing medical conditions that may be at the root of your dog’s constipation.

Regular check ups, balanced diet, adequate water and exercise will help keep your dog in good health and free of constipation. You and your pet will enjoy a lot of happy times together if you learn to listen and watch for the early warning signs of health problems.

Goat farming is increasingly becoming popular these days. Apparently, more and more people are discovering that there is good profit to be had in raising these animals either as consumable products (fiber, meat and milk,) or as pets. However, that does not mean that the best way to learn how to start a goat farm is by immediately setting up a pen, buying the hoofed creatures and hoping for the best.

Here are a 2 critical things you would need to successfully establish a working farm.

1. Research everything there is about how to start a goat farm. Nothing would defeat your purpose of getting your business running faster than you — quite literally, not knowing anything about the goats you want to take care of. Some breed of goats can be raised for their meat. Others provide rich sources of milk which can be turned into goat cheese and other milk-based products. And then there are other breeds that can be raised as lovable pets. Buying several breed of goats with the intention that the animals can provide you meat and milk, while others can be tamed as well-mannered pets is not the best way to start your farming pursuits. Needless to say, if you want to raise a specific breed of goat, then you really have to provide very specific nutrition and care also.

So the first and most important step to take is to learn all about the breed of goat you want to raise. Subscribing to online courses and reading books would be great; but apprenticing yourself in a working goat farm might be the best course of action to take. This will give you a hands-on experience on how to start a goat farm. Additionally, this might also provide you a better insight as to what kind of goats you want to raise.

2. Before checking out the catalogues for the goats you want to raise, make sure that you have ample space for the animals to live in. Just like livestock, these hoofed creatures would need shelter, and more importantly: grazing areas where they can both eat and exercise at the same time. Keeping goats in very restrictive pens would only lead to a lot of trouble down the line. Make sure that the space you have is just enough for the number of goats you want to farm. One of the most basic things to remember on how to start a goat farm is this: having too many animals on a small patch of land can make the goats both destructive and unproductive.