When looking at your dog's body language, it is important to understand that similar signals can have different meanings, even when used by the same dog.
Breed and individual differences
Be aware of what is normal for a breed or individual dog. For example, terrier is likely to carry his tail high when relaxed, whereas most whippets will have a lower tail carriage. A cocker spaniel cannot signal with his ears like a German Shepherd Dog and an individual dog may have a tendency to put his hackles up as soon as he is aroused. This may be because of excitement or aggression.
Look at your dog
Watch your own dog and dogs in general and learn from them. They can teach you more than any book.
Overall picture
Always look at the overall picture, rather than concentrating on one aspect. Compare human behaviour a smile can mean friendliness or anticipation, embarrassment or lack of interest. Therefore, it is important to see the whole picture in context.
Body shape
As a general rule, a relaxed dog will look like one. A dog who is threatening or intimidating will attempt to look larger and will stand more upright, with his head and tail up. Hackles may be raised. A frightened dog will attempt to look smaller, by cowering, head and tail down, crouching.
Ears
A relaxed dog will have his ears in a neutral position. An alert dog will prick his ears or move them in order to detect every sound. A frightened dog will put his ears back. A very unhappy dog will pin his ears back so that they are flat to his head.
Eyes
Eye contact is very important. It can be friendly or unfriendly, a challenge or a sign of aggression, or a loving way of communicating. A frightened dog may feel the need to stare at the object of his fear, whereas a submissive dog is likely to look away. A dog who is challenging will probably stare directly whereas an apprehensive dog may give a glare, followed by a growl if the threat continues.
A happy, relaxed dog will stare in a friendly way. A dog who is attempting to get attention from people can stare for a long time until they take notice of him. Direct eye contact tends to show that the dog is concentrating on a particular object, person or dog.
Lips And Mouth
Again a happy dog will be relaxed around his mouth whereas a tense dog will tense his lips. After a growl, may dogs will pull back their lips in a snarl, showing their teeth.
Tail
A tail is extremely important to a dog and also for the owner as it is an excellent indictor of what kind of mood the dog is in and how he needs to be treated. The higher the tail the more aroused the dog is. A relaxed dog will hold his tail in a neutral position and an anxious dog will lower his tail.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Natural Cat Care - The Best Way to Take Care of Your Cat
If you are a cat lover then you have to know about natural cat care or the use of only natural remedies and other products for your cats. When it comes to taking care of our feline friends, you have to know that nothing beats using the gifts that mother nature has provided. Through the years, we have been made to believe that the only cat products out there are the ones that can be bought in popular pet stores and groceries. Even some of the veterinarians out there are clueless when it comes to alternatives to conventional cat care products.
It is only recently that the scientific community has began to recognize the value of herbs in treating health issues among animals. Now, more and more veterinarians and cat experts are turning to all natural remedies and products to promote and maintain feline wellness. Recent studies have shown that natural remedies are not only more effective, more importantly, they are safer than conventional healing methods. Many of the popular commercial cat care products contain chemicals and other synthetic ingredients that may be harmful to the health of your cat in the long run. In short, conventional products can do more harm than good.
Your cat deserves nothing but the best in health care. And when it comes to your cat's health and wellness, only natural cat care products make the grade. The best thing about using all natural products is that they are in line and in tune with your cat's innate healing tendencies unlike some commercial products that actually block the natural healing abilities of animals. You've probably heard of the pet food recall that occurred several years ago. That is just one proof that conventional products may cause more harm than benefits to animals. Just as in food, natural products are also best when it comes to remedies of common cat diseases.
One cause of hesitation with the use of natural products among pet owners is the price. While it is true that, natural cat care products cost a little bit more than conventional ones, the difference in cost is just proof that these kinds of products use only the finest ingredients. If you really love your cat, you would not mind the extra cost that premium products entail.
When it comes to taking care of your cat's health, keep in mind that natural cat care products and remedies are the best. These products can be easily bought in specialty pet shops and in natural pet stores on the internet. http://healing-pets-with-herbs.blogspot.com/
It is only recently that the scientific community has began to recognize the value of herbs in treating health issues among animals. Now, more and more veterinarians and cat experts are turning to all natural remedies and products to promote and maintain feline wellness. Recent studies have shown that natural remedies are not only more effective, more importantly, they are safer than conventional healing methods. Many of the popular commercial cat care products contain chemicals and other synthetic ingredients that may be harmful to the health of your cat in the long run. In short, conventional products can do more harm than good.
Your cat deserves nothing but the best in health care. And when it comes to your cat's health and wellness, only natural cat care products make the grade. The best thing about using all natural products is that they are in line and in tune with your cat's innate healing tendencies unlike some commercial products that actually block the natural healing abilities of animals. You've probably heard of the pet food recall that occurred several years ago. That is just one proof that conventional products may cause more harm than benefits to animals. Just as in food, natural products are also best when it comes to remedies of common cat diseases.
One cause of hesitation with the use of natural products among pet owners is the price. While it is true that, natural cat care products cost a little bit more than conventional ones, the difference in cost is just proof that these kinds of products use only the finest ingredients. If you really love your cat, you would not mind the extra cost that premium products entail.
When it comes to taking care of your cat's health, keep in mind that natural cat care products and remedies are the best. These products can be easily bought in specialty pet shops and in natural pet stores on the internet. http://healing-pets-with-herbs.blogspot.com/
What You Need in a Bird Perch
If you've just acquired a bird or are in the planning stages of getting one, there are several things you'll want to take care of in order to ensure that the bird is healthy and comfortable in its new home. Of course this means having an appropriate cage and the right food and water. However, sometimes overlooked in the process is the importance of bird perches, which can be do a lot for a bird's happiness if well chosen, but can also be damaging to a bird's health if not.
Although bird perches may seem insignificant, they can actually make a great difference in the comfort level of your bird. Birds spend the vast majority of their time standing on their feet, and comfortable perches allow birds to stand securely and happily. Unfortunately, it is frequently the case that standard perches are even, rounded wooden dowels that put pressure on the same part of the bird's feet every time, which adds up after a while, and can lead to redness or foot infection in severe cases.
Thankfully, there are a wide variety of different perches available depending on the size and type of your bird. Some of these are made out of wood and try to replicate actual branches. Indeed, some bird perches are simply small branches pared from trees outside. These kinds of perches are beneficial because they can effectively double as chew toys for birds, and they don't cost anything to replace.
Whatever material you choose, you will of course want to make sure that it is non-toxic. All cage items should be selected knowing that birds like to chew things. Therefore, items, including perches, need to be safe, and will often need to be cleaned or replaced. In the case of natural perches, this is especially easy-but most perches are inexpensive and not difficult to replace.
After you determine the type of perch you want, you'll need to consider the size of your bird and select the corresponding perch diameter. If you have a small bird such as a finch, canary or parakeet, a perch with a 3/8" to 3/4" diameter is what you'll need. For a medium-sized bird such as a Cockatiel or Senegal, a 5/8" to 1 and 1/4" diameter is appropriate. A larger bird, such as an African Grey, Amazon or macaw, will need 1" to 2" or larger in diameter.
Generally speaking you'll want to see the bird's foot wrap itself around about 2/3 of the perch. If the bird's front toes overlap, then the perch is too small. Perches should also have unequal diameter along the width, as this most mimics natural branches. This, again, keeps birds from always placing pressure on the same part of the foot.
Another common mistake people make is to install sandpaper onto standard perches with the idea that it will help keep the bird's claws trimmed. On the contrary, sandpaper actually damages the bird's feet. Instead, try one of the cement grooming perches, which aim to keep the beak and toenails of the bird from becoming overgrown.
Perch placement is also important. First and foremost, your perches need to be accessible for the bird. Perches should also be placed in proximity to food and water dishes so that the bird can easily access them. However, you shouldn't place perches directly over a food or water dish, in order to avoid contamination from the bird's droppings.
Perches should also be placed toward the middle of the cage, where the bird's tail won't touch any side of the cage. Perches can be placed anywhere throughout the cage, as long as these requirements are met.
There are a number of different kinds of perches available. The ideal perch will be easy to clean, comfortable for the bird, made out of chewable material, and be the right diameter in order to reduce foot problems. The easiest way to find out which is best for your bird might be to experiment with different styles. It can also be helpful to either ask an expert or to read up on your species of bird, specifically, to better know its potential preferences.
Although bird perches may seem insignificant, they can actually make a great difference in the comfort level of your bird. Birds spend the vast majority of their time standing on their feet, and comfortable perches allow birds to stand securely and happily. Unfortunately, it is frequently the case that standard perches are even, rounded wooden dowels that put pressure on the same part of the bird's feet every time, which adds up after a while, and can lead to redness or foot infection in severe cases.
Thankfully, there are a wide variety of different perches available depending on the size and type of your bird. Some of these are made out of wood and try to replicate actual branches. Indeed, some bird perches are simply small branches pared from trees outside. These kinds of perches are beneficial because they can effectively double as chew toys for birds, and they don't cost anything to replace.
Whatever material you choose, you will of course want to make sure that it is non-toxic. All cage items should be selected knowing that birds like to chew things. Therefore, items, including perches, need to be safe, and will often need to be cleaned or replaced. In the case of natural perches, this is especially easy-but most perches are inexpensive and not difficult to replace.
After you determine the type of perch you want, you'll need to consider the size of your bird and select the corresponding perch diameter. If you have a small bird such as a finch, canary or parakeet, a perch with a 3/8" to 3/4" diameter is what you'll need. For a medium-sized bird such as a Cockatiel or Senegal, a 5/8" to 1 and 1/4" diameter is appropriate. A larger bird, such as an African Grey, Amazon or macaw, will need 1" to 2" or larger in diameter.
Generally speaking you'll want to see the bird's foot wrap itself around about 2/3 of the perch. If the bird's front toes overlap, then the perch is too small. Perches should also have unequal diameter along the width, as this most mimics natural branches. This, again, keeps birds from always placing pressure on the same part of the foot.
Another common mistake people make is to install sandpaper onto standard perches with the idea that it will help keep the bird's claws trimmed. On the contrary, sandpaper actually damages the bird's feet. Instead, try one of the cement grooming perches, which aim to keep the beak and toenails of the bird from becoming overgrown.
Perch placement is also important. First and foremost, your perches need to be accessible for the bird. Perches should also be placed in proximity to food and water dishes so that the bird can easily access them. However, you shouldn't place perches directly over a food or water dish, in order to avoid contamination from the bird's droppings.
Perches should also be placed toward the middle of the cage, where the bird's tail won't touch any side of the cage. Perches can be placed anywhere throughout the cage, as long as these requirements are met.
There are a number of different kinds of perches available. The ideal perch will be easy to clean, comfortable for the bird, made out of chewable material, and be the right diameter in order to reduce foot problems. The easiest way to find out which is best for your bird might be to experiment with different styles. It can also be helpful to either ask an expert or to read up on your species of bird, specifically, to better know its potential preferences.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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