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The Boa Constrictor, an in particular the Common Boa (Boa constrictor imperator) is a popular snake amongst herpetoculturists. The common boa has a long lifespan, capable of reaching more than 30 years in captivity, so is a very long term commitment. They require specific heating and housing, but if cared for properly they make excellent pets. Here is a boa care sheet explaining the basic care requirements of these extraordinary snakes.

Size: Adult boas can easily reach 8-10 feet in length, which means that you need to provide a substantial enclosure. A vivarium of 72x24x24 inches is ideal for adult boa constrictors.

Food: Boa constrictors are nocturnal hunters. In their natural habitat they feed on small mammals and little rodents. Lizards, birds and bats also common prey, but in captivity there is no need to provide such a varied diet. Mice for juvenile boas and bigger rodents and rabbits for adults make a perfect and easy to provide diet. The boa needs one prey every ten to fifteen days when it is adult and one per week as a neonate.

New born boas will start on pinkie or fuzzy mice, and the prey size should be increased as your boa grows, but in any case you need to remember that the size of the prey should not exceed the size of the widest part of the snake. Overfeeding, or ‘power feeding’, to increase growth rate should be avoided. While this can increase the snake’s growth rate, but it will significantly reduce its lifespan. Boas are prone to obesity in captivity so care should be taken to limit the amount and size of prey items offered.

You should also keep in mind that as with all snake the common boa needs fresh water. It is essential to provide fresh and clean water on a daily basis.

Substrates: Many people tend to place wooden substrates in the snake’s vivarium, considering them to be close to the natural ambiance. These however are prone to harboring parasites such as ticks and mites, are difficult to clean, and can lead to digestive problems if ingested. A much better solution is to use paper towels or newspapers which can be quickly and easily changed at little or no cost. A solid brand should also be provided as many boas will climb if given the chance.

Handling: Avoid handling newly acquired boas for a few days to allow them to get used to their new surroundings. Once settled in, begin handling for just a few minutes at a time and slowly your boa will become quite tolerant and docile. Most adult boa constrictors are easy to handle, slow moving, and unlikely to bite. They are however large and strong, so always be aware that they are potentially a dangerous animal. When handling a large boa always ensure that a second person is nearby as a safety precaution.

The top dog training research indicates that when beginning the training process, it is best to use methods based on positive reinforcement.  This will motivate your dog to decide whether to follow your instructions rather than doing them out of fright or evasion.  Educating your dog with the lasting power of love, compassion and respect will produce a deeper bond with your dog and family.  Positive training techniques are the most effective way to teach your dog to obey your commands and signals.  Rewarding your dog for doing something good and teaching them right from wrong while not punishing them is a prime example of this.  Owners must realize that the dog is doing what comes naturally and the one training the dog at fault for perhaps using an incorrect method, or not making sure the dog is comprehending every piece of information they are trying to get through to them.

Since your dog will be encountering a vast amount of people, places, and things, positive reinforcement will ensure that your dog is a great role model for all other dogs.  This will make socializing with other people and dogs a great experience for both dog and owner.

Consistency and repetition is the main means in which dogs learn new things so all family members should consistently greet the fore mentioned dog the same way to ensure proper behavior.  This same approach should be taken when using verbal commands and while using hand signals to ensure that the behavior is being reinforced.

Another great way for your dog to learn is to train them during play time.  This positive and fun atmosphere is great for teaching commands and basic training techniques, especially when you can involve your children.

The final thing that is a necessity when training your pup is having an adequate chew toy.  Every dog needs to chew so make sure they have a toy, or else they will find a nice newspaper or pair of slippers.  Dogs love toys that have the ability for food or treats placed inside them, these type of toys are the optimal type for every young or adolescent dog.  These simple steps can turn your dog from nightmare to dream dog!  Good luck and happy training!

Train Your Dog Right

Indoor potty training is the way to go if you have a dachshund puppy. This is true for miniature dachshund puppies as well as for those of the standard variety. I love dachshunds in general but am partial to the miniature dachshund. This article is primarily meant for those who have a single dachshund puppy.

Indoor training will spare you some of the unpleasantries of having a dachshund that must go outside. Who wants to get up at 5 AM in the morning, when it is rainy or cold or, when you are watching a great movie? It is also better on the dachshund’s bowels and bladder if they can go potty anytime they want.

Start the potty training as soon as possible once you get your new best friend home. Dachshund puppies are quite small so even if they do make a mess it is no big deal. However, having them make a mess on a hard floor is preferable as it is much easier to clean than if they go on carpet. For the first few days you have your doxie at home, I suggest you have them mostly contained to a room with a hard floor…like in a bathroom. Don’t worry, you can get them out to play and can go into their area to spend as much time with them as you wish. I suggest having some Nature’s Miracle around when a mess on the carpet (it will happen) does occur. You will be amazed at the power and efficiency of this product.

Place everything your dachshund puppy needs in the contained area i.e. their bed, food and, potty. If you are lucky, the breeder has already initiated the paper training which will make it easier for you and your dachshund puppy. Start the puppy’s training off on some newspaper. If and when they make a mess on the floor put a little of the pee or poop on the newspaper or preferably between a few pieces of newspaper. They will smell this and will begin to associate this as the place for them to do their business. Some people utilize wee wee pads but I never did.

Very gently chastise your dachshund puppy when they don’t perform well; they will feel the disappointment in your voice. Never yell at them as they are incredibly sensitive and will be very hurt. They very much want to please you! Do not praise them or give them a treat when they make a mistake. Just keep working with them and your dachshund puppy will soon get it right. When they do get it right praise them and give them a treat. Your puppy will be so happy! It won’t be long until they start getting it right most of the time! You will develop your own little system as times goes by.

One purpose of this article is to spare you some of the mistakes I’ve made over the years. My mini dachshund (Charlie) is almost 12 years old and I have experimented with several indoor potty techniques over the years. I started off with newspaper (paper training) but as your dachshund puppy grows, you will tire of them stepping in their own urine, transferring urine or, having the urine drain off the newspaper onto the floor.

Dachshunds have a quirk where if their front paws are on the paper they think their entire body is on the paper. This causes a number of near misses…especially since their body is long like a hot dog. Improvement was made when I placed a plastic hallway runner under the newspaper. At some point, I then purchased a large litter box and then placed newspaper in that and a hallway runner under the litter box.

You will so love your dachshund puppy that messes won’t matter much. However, as years go by, the messes have a way of growing on you. Once Charlie got into his 10th year or so I started to get quite tired of dealing with the messes. It is a labor of love however and unavoidable.

Just recently, I discovered and purchased a Wizdog Indoor Potty System. How I wish I had discovered this years ago! Wizdog consists of a large plastic pan with a separate plastic grate on top. You place newspaper in the bottom of the device. The dog does it’s business on top of the grate and the urine falls into the tray below. No more wet footprints or urine on the floor. The poop is easy to clean off the top of the grate. This is so much better than the intermediate steps I went through over the years. Charlie is taking to this upgrade well—messes transferred to the floor have decreased dramatically. I’m happier now too as the messes are more contained and much easier to clean. Wizdog and Nature’s Miracle can be found and purchased through my dachshund and pet oriented site.