Top Cat Breeds That Dominate Today's Families

When you decide to take a cat for a pet, then there will surely be a number of things you have to consider. One of these relates to race cat. This is because there are different breeds of cats on the market, and choosing among the many choices can be confusing altogether. Thus, it would be better to research the different cat breeds so you can choose the best for your family. This is because cat breeds differ in terms of shapes, sizes and behaviors.

One of the most popular cat breeds is the Abyssinian, also known as the Aby cat. If you want to have a playful cat, then you should consider this race because the Aby cat is very energetic and has quite the personality. The great thing about this cat is that he is very loyal to his owner and he is also very attentive.

Another popular cat breeds is the Balinese cat. Back in the day, the Balinese is known as the Siamese cat with long hair just because the inscriptions on the Balinese cats are quite the same as the Siamese breed. The only difference is that the tail of the Balinese is in fact more feathers in appearance. If you want a cat that is particularly attentive to you, then you should consider getting the Balinese because he feels no inhibition to give attention to its owner. Because the Balinese cat also likes have an attention of its owner. And since this cat is particularly strong, make sure to leave with a toy or a chew toy when you go to work. This way, your cat will be able to keep entertained.

The Manx is another race that deserves a mention. Apparently, you'll certainly say that the Manx is like any other cat. However, do not be surprised to see a Manx with no tail. Due to some changes in the spine of this race, most Manx cats have very short tails, and some have no tail at all. In addition, if you want a cat that you and your family can play with our car search, then the Manx is certainly the race to obtain.

These are some of the top cat breeds that dominate today's families. If you're not too sure which race to go with, you can seek help from your veterinarian. This way, your most can help you decide which cat breeds are best for your family.

Dog Care: Understanding Red Eyes

Have you noticed your dog with red eyes? If you have, never take it for granted as this could be a sign of a very dangerous condition. While it may not all the time be a cause for alarm, most of the time it is, so it is best to have your dog checked by his vet.

Most of us probably relate conjunctivitis (pink eyes) to red eyes, but in truth, conjunctivitis is but one of the conditions for red eyes, and nothing more. Red eyes can be caused by something a lot more serious than conjunctivitis.

To get a better understanding, it is necessary for us to know the possible reasons for its occurrence. While you may think that eye irritation is brought about by external particles are the likely culprit, it is much more complicated than that. Four of the common factors that cause red eyes are:

Glaucoma

Superficial Keratitis

Anterior Uveitis

Conjunctivitis

Glaucoma

This condition is brought about by an increased pressure in the eyes which causes it to turn red. Glaucoma is a very serious condition that may cause damage to the eyes; internal structures will be displaced, in most cases, because of rupturing brought about by increased production of liquid. While liquid production is normal, the problem when a dog has glaucoma is that there is no way to drain the liquid which then results in a buildup, thus causing it to burst.

How do you treat Glaucoma? Usually, doctors prescribe antibiotics to rid of pressure and liquid in the eyes, as well as dilation of the pupils.

Superficial Keratitis

A condition that is shown by an inflammation of the cornea, Superficial Keratitis is caused by the following: bacteria, virus, allergic reactions, traumatic situations, or even constant irritation. An eye condition exclusive to dogs, it is actually very common for all breeds, and its chronic condition is referred to as Pannus.

It starts out as a grayish-pink line that develops in the eyes, which if left untreated, will cause blindness. You will notice that your dog’s cornea becomes opaque, and will be worsened if exposed to too much sun.

Treatment used is antibiotics. Proper hygiene is also important so that the condition will not get worse.

Anterior Uveitis

Brought about by virus, bacteria, or a traumatic experience, Anterior Uveitis can be diagnosed as an inflammation of the ciliary or the iris. Dogs with cancer will also most likely develop this condition. You will notice that your dog’s eyes are always formulating tears, and the iris will look swollen, with a cloudy cornea. It could also cause the pupils to contract because protein level goes up abnormally. If this condition is not treated immediately, this could lead to cataracts or glaucoma, and at times, secondary lens luxation, particularly for small breeds.

Treatment is through anti-inflammatory drugs to dilate the eyes and minimize the level of pain. If you think your dog has Anterior Uveitis, have him checked right away as it could signal the presence of cancer.

Conjunctivitis

Also coined as ‘pink eye,’ conjunctivitis can cause red eyes. This condition takes place because of allergic reactions, irritation, or infection. Conjunctivitis is not as serious a condition as the rest, but it can still bring about excessive discharge due to infection. Treatment can be in the form of antibiotics. Hygiene is also just as important to keep your dog’s eyes clean.

Dog Wedding Dress - Perfect Formals For Grand Occasions

Pet dogs are just like your family members. At times they prove to be really concerned and protective about you. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to consider them as the most faithful and friendly living beings. You love to take your pet for a walk; you take him or her to the park or a friend's party and sometimes even for a wedding. When it's a causal outing, any fancy or suitable clothes will work, but for formal and grand occasions like weddings and parties, you need to make your dog look high profile. You can also get a perfect dog wedding dress for your pooch.

Buying a dog wedding dress for your canine friend is important. You would definitely not feel good if you have to leave your pet behind at home all alone and miss the enjoyment. According to wedding planners, these days it has become quite common to take your pooch along to weddings. Your well trained, obedient and disciplined tail-wagger can be a ring bearer with a satin pillow tied on its back, the best man or even the maid of honor at your own wedding. No matter how much you love your dog this is only possible when your dog can behave cool with the crowd and respond well to your instructions. But then, it is to be made sure that you have dressed him/her right for the occasion with the best dog wedding dress.

While a dog tuxedo can be a perfect dog wedding dress for your pampered pooch, a bright bridal gown for your female canine friend will be perfect. Apart from this there are many more fancy and designer apparels for your doggie. The dog wedding dress would really be imperfect and incomplete without complementing collars and leashes. Embellishing your dog with a beautiful tux without a proper collar would be like wearing sneakers under your formal wear. It's always suggestible that you get collars adorned with precious or semi-precious stones to pair up with the tux. Same applies to the wedding gown for your female dog. The collar should not only be studded but preferably matching the gown.

A perfect hair bow or a barrette for her and bow tie for him along with the dog wedding dress would also make them look more trendy yet elegant. These accessories could be studded with rhinestones or bejeweled with crystals. A dog wedding dress or any other formal wear should be complete with perfectly matching accessories. For his flawless dress up, you could also mull over to groom him up, get his coat well trimmed, do proper clipping of nails, clean and brush him without a glitch. Basically for such formal affairs, spruce up your dog nicely and get him a dog wedding dress that your friend can put up with for a long period of time. He should be absolutely comfortable and be able to carry it gracefully for hours together.

Dog Bark Training - 5 Tips For Peace And Quiet At Last

Dog bark training can stop excessive barking. Uncontrolled crazy racket is the problem. All dogs bark, but when a dog just yaps on and on something has to give. Try these tips.

1. Look and listen.
The best way to start solving a barking problem is by watching your dog closely. By spending some time just looking, you may be able to see a cause for all the noise. The best long-term solutions will come from a good idea of why the barking is out of control.

2. Isolation?
Dogs often require more interaction with people than owners think they do. A dog is a social critter and just long periods alone may produce lots of noise. Can you change the position of the kennel or just arrange for more time with your pet? Boredom is filled up with noise. Stop the boredom and the racket level may drop.

3. Energy to burn.
Many dogs have unbelievable amounts of energy. Unburned energy gets channeled into noise. Increase the exercise time for your dog and the noise can go down. Just having a bigger pen isn't the answer either.

4. Are you the trainer or the trained?
Are you the one that's trained? "Bark" and you come. "Bark" and you give a head pat. "Bark" and you holler out the door. Have you trained your dog to bark by rewarding barking with some action the dog likes? Reward barking and you get barking.

5. What about a collar?
If all else fails, try an anti bark collar. There are several different designs. All administer some unpleasant consequence to barking. If the dog stops barking, the bad thing stops. These devices are just tools and be sure you've looked at the real cause before reaching for a collar. Sometimes collars don't work either.

Dog bark training can get some peace and quiet back in your life. If you can observe your dog for the real cause of the barking, you can make some changes and help your pet be quieter and more content. You might save your sanity too.

What to Consider When Buying Your First Fish Tank

For the soon-to-be owner of the home aquarium who has little to no education regarding aquarium fish and equipment that might be needed, it might be wish to do some reading before purchasing. Prior to the purchase of fish tanks or aquariums, one certainly should have some idea of what type of fish will be taking up their abode in these quarters. It could prove to be a costly mistake otherwise. Will the fish you decide upon have adequate space or perhaps too much space? These are points to be considered carefully. Once you have clarified this issue, you can move forward.

The next consideration in your new venture might be how much living space you can afford to give up for this new addition. Certainly not only must you account for the wall space needed but depth into the room as well as there needs to be space in the back of fish tanks to accommodate the filter, hoses and power cords. Once again, literature can be essential in this entire process. While aquariums are pleasant to the eye and soothing to the spirit, it is not an easy undertaking. Reading books and visiting websites to learn more about the hobby is a good idea before purchasing a first fish tank.

You might pose the question to yourself regarding the long term commitment to this hobby. Is it just a whim to be discontinued after a short time or the long haul relationship? This might help you in deciding how much you plan to spend on fish tanks. There are unlimited amounts of time and money to be spent in this leisure activity so plan accordingly before you make that visit to the pet shop where you might be easily persuaded to over-spend. Set a budget and be realistic!

Obviously, there will need to be many other accessories to be added to your aquarium/fish tank. Seek the advice of an authority or knowledgeable sales person when you go to select your fish tank. They can guide you so long as they are aware of your specific needs and budget. One particular essential will be a stand for your aquarium/fish tank. These are from basic to the most elaborate. In the higher end of the expenditure list, one might even consider having the tank actually set into a wall which is most unique in design. This would certainly qualify for the open-ended budget without restraint.

Allow time for the setting-up process of getting your fish tank ready for its new occupants. It is a good idea to get an understanding of something called "new tank syndrome" and learn what it takes to cycle a new fish tank before you plan on buying your first fish. There are several steps to be followed in this endeavor but can prove quite worthwhile in the end. Just to have the pleasure of sitting in front of your very own fish tank and watching the fish as they swim so effortlessly. It is thought that merely watching can have a calming effect on the human body even to the lowering of stress levels.

Purebred Puppy: How to Find One

For many people, owning a dog is a pleasurable experience. True dog lovers are familiar with both the benefits and drawbacks of owning a dog and they love their pooches unconditionally, much in the same way a parent loves a child. Although most dog lovers simply enjoy the companionship of their dogs, proud owners will be the first to tell you about the many fringe benefits that come with dog ownership.

If the objective is to find the healthiest puppy possible and by default one bred by a hobby breeder, then you must be willing to jump through a few hoops.

Benefits of Owning a Dog

Dogs are instinctively great security agents. Even small dogs alert their owners to perceived dangers like fire or unwelcome intruders; whereas, larger dogs, in addition to warning of potential threats, can be trained to provide protection on command. Police dogs assist in enforcing security; they are able to smell everything from explosives to drugs and are vital components in many search and rescue operations. Sheep herders use dogs to protect and move flocks. Children, when taught to care correctly for pets and properly supervised, willingly learn lessons of responsibility. Dogs provide many health-related benefits as well. Older people who tend to neglect their own need for exercise will happily walk their dogs. Younger owners frequently enjoy the company of their dogs when jogging, biking or walking. There is a wealth of research on the medical and emotional benefits reaped by both adults and children as a result of visits by therapy dogs and of course, nearly everyone knows of the contributions dogs make to the lives of handicapped individuals. Finally, dogs bring joy and companionship to many owners just by being themselves. Nobody misses you, depends on you or thinks you are simply wonderful without reservation like a dog.

Expenses Involved in Owning a Dog

Before you purchase a dog, however, it pays to know not only the benefits but the liabilities of dog ownership. Owning a dog can be an expensive proposition. Prospective owners need to consider the cost of feeding, grooming and training. Then there are medical care expenses: vaccinations; heartworm tests and preventive therapy; spaying or neutering; medication to prevent fleas, ticks, and other insect bites; annual check-ups; possible worming or treatment for common infections like gastroenteritis. Dogs need leashes, beds, food and water bowls, harnesses and collars. Some cities and towns require-and charge a fee for-the annual registration of resident dogs.

Fortunately, with careful forethought and a little education on breed types, prospective owners can influence some of these anticipated expenses by selecting a breed that fits their needs. For example, a St. Bernard is more expensive to feed than a Yorkshire terrier and a Poodle is more difficult to groom than a miniature Whippet. Many prospective owners think they are willing to groom their own dogs, until it comes to cutting toenails and cleaning ears or they discover they don't have the time it takes to do a thorough job. For owners who prefer not to groom their own dogs, paying a professional groomer every 4-6 weeks can become an expensive proposition. Training is another issue for prospective owners to consider. An uncooperative Rottweiler is more difficult for an owner to control and tolerate than an untrained Chihuahua. How willing are you to hire a professional trainer or go to obedience school with your dog should assistance in training be required?

There are other dog expenses that come into play depending on the lifestyles of owners. If you work all day, will you need a dog walker or sitter? Will you need doggy daycare?

What will you do with the dog when you travel? Boarding fees are not inexpensive.

As pointed out, most of the common expenses of dog ownership can be anticipated in advance depending on the breed selected, the prospective owner's life style and the degree to which the owner is willing to groom, train and exercise the dog himself. But every dog owner will admit to being on the receiving end of some unexpected expenses such as having to replace a pair of shoes chewed by a teething dog or the cost of cleaning a pair of pants soiled by an over-eager greeter. However, these wear and tear expenses are usually not sufficient to break the bank.

The point at which dog ownership can become financially burdensome though is when illness strikes your pet. Trips to the veterinarian can be kept to the minimum if you select a healthy puppy in the first place. But how can prospective owners be expected to know what constitutes a healthy puppy?

Considerations in Selecting a Breeder

There are two primary kinds of breeders: hobby breeders and commercial breeders. Hobby breeders breed for the love of their breed preference, choosing to produce offspring only as necessary to improve particular breed qualities according to a carefully thought out breeding program. Commercial breeders are motivated by their bottom line: money to be made from the sale of puppies to retail stores and in some cases, even directly to the public. Commercial breeders can run the gamut from acceptable and responsible to deplorable in their breeding choices. Here is where the astute puppy buyer needs to select carefully. Commercial breeders have no stake in improving a particular breed; therefore, they may be lax in screening breeding stock for genetic disorders and other diseases to which certain breed types are prone. This lack of concern may translate into the purchase of a puppy that brings with it a plethora of medical bills and the emotional problem of having a sick puppy.

Your bottom line as a prospective dog owner is to secure a puppy that is as healthy as possible. Clearly a hobby breeder is the most likely of the two primary breeder types to offer a puppy with the cleanest bill of health.

How to Find a Responsible Breeder

If the objective is to find the healthiest puppy possible and by default one bred by a hobby breeder, then you must be willing to jump through a few hoops. Do your homework: Investigate the characteristics of the breed in which you are interested. Look for information on size, exercise requirements, general temperament, genetic diseases that may run with the breed, grooming requirements and so forth. Determine if this breed will fit your lifestyle. After you have decided on a particular breed, you are ready to begin looking for a responsible breeder. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
The best way to start is by contacting a breed registry. A breed registry is basically a stud (pedigree) book, an official list of the lineage of a particular breed. The American Kennel Club (AKC) maintains a multi-breed registry, one for each breed, www.AKC.com. Search for the national breed club and request a list of breeders. There are other breed-specific registries besides those offered by the AKC, but if you are unfamiliar with the source, be diligent in investigating their legitimacy.
Local breed clubs are invaluable resources and they can assist you with locating a responsible breeder as well. Search for one on the AKC website.
Look online for breed discussion groups. Join in, read postings, ask questions.
If you see someone with a dog of the kind you are interested in, talk to them. Ask them where they purchased their dog. Ask if they know other owners who have the same breed. Offer your contact information should the owner have a resource for you.
Go to dog shows and other dog events. You can search for these events online under the breed you have selected. Seek out owners and trainers and ask them for the names of reputable breeders. Usually these dog lovers are more than happy to talk about their breed.
Call veterinary offices in your area.
Go where people with dogs gather-parks, events, animal supply stores, grooming and training facilities-talk to other owners.
If you do not have your heart set on a puppy, look for an organization that rescues the breed you prefer or search for one in a shelter. Rescue and shelter dogs are not all problem dogs as is so often thought; rather, they were just unlucky enough to have problem owners.

In your search for a responsible breeder, don't be lulled by fancy advertising in newspapers, on the Internet and in magazines. A great ad does not necessarily translate into a responsible breeder. Because hobby breeders only breed once a year or so, they rarely need to advertise; litters are often spoken for well in advance.

Questions to Ask a Breeder You may have difficulty evaluating the quality of a particular breeder when you finally succeed in locating one, especially if you are new to the experience of owning a purebred puppy. The list below will assist you in eliciting pertinent information from which you can draw your own conclusions. Remember in making your assessment that breeders are people too and few are perfect. Use these questions as a framework to evaluate the breeder based on what you feel is important. For example, if you are looking for a socialized companion puppy, look for a breeder who shares his/her home with the puppy. An armload of trophies and awards does not mean that a breeder cares one whit about socializing puppies before they are sold. DogPlay.com offers a great list of questions to help you gather the information you need. The answer to each question below should be "yes." If you want more information as to why a particular question is important, visit www.dogplay.com
Were the puppies born on the premises?
Does the breeder refuse to place puppies before they are seven weeks old?
Does the breeder seem pleased that you are asking questions?
Does the breeder ask you lots of questions about your lifestyle, family make-up, experience with dogs and other pets, reason for wanting a dog?
Does the breeder ask if you plan to breed?
Will the breeder be available to offer advice and support for as long as you have the dog?
Does the breeder alert you to issues particular to the breed?
Is the breeder a member of a breed club? (An organization that shares information on the breed)
Are the puppy's parents (sire and dam) at least two years old?
Did both parents undergo genetic testing before being bred?
Have the immediate relatives of the puppy's parents been tested for health issues and if so, does the breeder have a record of the results?
Does the breeder voluntarily share the results of all health tests and offer proof?
Does the breeder offer a guarantee with respect to genetic health problems, explaining to you in the process that a guarantee is not a promise that the puppy will be problem free, but a promise of what will happen if the puppy does manifest a problem.
Do you understand your options should the puppy manifest a genetic health problem?
Is the guarantee at least two years long?
Does the guarantee allow you to keep the dog?
Does the guarantee allow you to choose at least a partial refund instead of another dog?
Is the mother dog (dam) a family pet that lives in the house with the family?
Have the puppies been introduced to children or to other animals?
Will breeder take back the puppy you buy (no matter how old) if you can't keep it?
Does the breeder believe it is important to keep in contact with buyers to follow up on the dog as it matures in order to verify the level of success in producing a healthy dog of correct temperament?
Does the breeder consider himself or herself a dedicated hobbyist to the breed?
If the breeder advertises, is the focus on important qualities like health and temperament?

Red Flags

In the course of your discussion with the breeder and your assessment of him/her, there are particular issues that should send up a red flag if the answer is yes instead of no. Dogplay.com offers these questions to use as a guide:
Does the breeder indicate that the puppies will be arriving from somewhere other than his/her present location?
Will the breeder agree to sell a puppy less than 7 weeks old?
Does the breeder seem reluctant to answer your questions or is he/she defensive?
Does the breeder charge different prices for different dogs?
Does the breeder claim that his or her lines are entirely free of genetic health problems?
Do you feel as if the breeder is attempting to persuade you to purchase a puppy?
Does the breeder run promotions or offer special incentives to encourage a sale?
Does the breeder have more than two breeds available?
Does the breeder seem more like a business man or woman than a dedicated breed lover?
Does the breeder seem knowledgeable with respect to the details of the breed?
Does the breeder charge different prices depending upon the sex of the puppy?
Does the guarantee require the dog be euthanized in the event of a health problem?
Does the health guarantee require that you return the puppy?
Is the guarantee limited to a replacement puppy from the same breeder?

The decision to own a dog is not to be taken lightly. Dogs are not disposable items. They are living, breathing animals with feelings. They are also entirely dependent on their owners for their very existence. Before purchasing a dog to enrich your life, be absolutely certain that you are willing to commit to loving, nurturing and caring for your pet for its full life time. Anything less is insufficient.

5 Tips For Best Results With A Barking Dog Collar

A barking dog collar is just one way to put a stop to excess dog barking. Let's face it, dogs bark. That's just what dogs do, but when that barking just goes on and on something has to give. Constant barking causes all kinds of stress. Following are 5 tips if you're looking at a bark stop collar.

1. Look closely.

Before you get a collar, watch the dog for some clues as to why all the noise is happening. Sometimes there may be a better and easier way to stop the barking. Some animals have so much energy, the barking may just result from too little exercise for example. Look for the barking cause, but there may not really be one!!!

2. Sound blasters even work on neighbor noise.

One device that's not a collar may be an option. That's a sound blaster. This can even work on neighbor dogs. What happens with these is the sensor in the blaster detects barking. When the barking starts, the blaster generates loud ultrasonic blasts. This can't be heard by people, but it's painful to the dogs in the area. They may shut up to avoid the pain. Works sometimes, but not all the time. Some of these have a warranty so if it doesn't work you can get a refund.

3. Ultrasonic solutions not shocking.

The ultrasonic collar works the same way. If the dog wearing the collar barks, it gets a blast of painful noise. More barking produces more pain. This works for most dogs, but only if the collar is on. Take the collar off and the noise will most likely start right back.

4. Stink oil spray.

This collar detects barking and sprays a blast of citronella oil around the dog's face. The spray itself is irritating, but the citronella oil smell makes it even worse. These work for most dogs and are shown to be as effective as most any other method.

5. What about the shocking solution?

A violent solution is the electrical shock. Barking causes the dog to get an electrical shock. Most dogs stop the noise quickly. Again, this usually only works as long as the collar is on. Think about this? How would you like to get an electrical shock for barking if that was your natural reaction to something? Not too well... Some dogs go "crazy" when shocked. Some never recover rational behavior.

There are options when choosing a barking dog collar. The less violent options, like the citronella collar, often work as well or better than the electrical shock collars. Look first for the cause of the barking before using a collar for training.

5 Ways to Stop a Dog Biting

If your dog won't stop biting, it can be much more than a frustrating habit. A biting dog can become a huge problem and a liability. If your dog is still a puppy, you know that part of a puppy's nature is to nip during play. Although puppies may nip and bite gently during play, you must train him not to do so, to avoid potentially larger issues when the dog is full grown. A grown dog that has not been trained to stop biting will likely use its mouth during rough play and end up hurting someone.

So, how to you stop your dog from biting? There are different techniques that you can use to train your puppy to stop biting. You can also use these techniques on your adult dog. Here are five effective ways to stop a dog from biting.

1 - Communication

Communication is a key element in learning for dogs just as it is with humans. When it comes time to train your dog to stop biting, communicate to your dog in its own language. Dogs understand more tone of voice rather than the meaning of the words you say. When the dog bites during play, instead of using a shout or angry voice, try yelping. The yelping is understood as a painful response and will encourage your dog to refrain from biting.

When you communicate to your dog using the yelp, a high-pitched "ouch" will do the trick. When you use this technique, be sure to stop all play immediately and turn your back on the dog. Tone and body language are important to a dog. The dog will eventually come around to you and when he does, reprimand him in a firm tone with a command such as "bad dog" or "no bite" and he will quickly get the idea.

2 - Divert Attention

Another way to stop your dog from biting is to divert his attention from biting you to something that he can chew on, like a toy. By replacing your flesh with a chew toy each time the dog turns to inappropriate biting, he will get the idea that your limbs are not meant for biting. Remember to quickly provide the chew toy if your dog resorts to biting during play again to reinforce the habit.

3 - Positive Reinforcement

A sneaky yet effective way of training your dog to stop biting is positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is a training technique that rewards good behavior with something positive. An example of positive reinforcement with a biting dog is to give him wonderful praise during play when he does not bite. The praise could be a pat on the head, a belly rub, a treat, or extra attention. Positive reinforcement is a great way to show your dog the type of behavior that you prefer.

4 - Tap the Nose

If your dog begins to bite or nip, quickly tell him to sit. Once he is seated, take your index finger, hold it in front of his nose, and then tap him on the nose as you say "bad dog" in a stern voice. Just remember, the tap itself is not the punishment, so it should not be particularly strong. It is just meant as a startling element to encourage him to stop the bad behavior. Don't scream; just use a stern tone, which he will understand. Eventually, your dog will come to understand the raising of an index finger as an indication to stop a behavior.

5 - Avoid Biting and Nipping Games

A good way to stop a dog from biting is to avoid biting and nipping games in the first place. If you don't encourage these types of games from the get-go, the dog will not be prone to biting and nipping at inopportune times. For example, a chasing game, while it may be exciting and provide plenty of exercise, will likely encourage your dog that you are prey. This is where his nipping and biting instincts will kick in.

Tug-of-War is a game that should also be avoided when playing with your dog. It will encourage him to think that humans are his equal and may promote biting as well. He won't mean any harm with the biting, but he will want to win, so he will likely nip at your hands to make you lose grip on the toy. Replace Tug-of-War with fetch and retrieval games, and teach him the "drop and release" commands so that your authority is never questioned.

In Conclusion

Biting during play can quickly evolve into a serious problem, which is why consistency is a key way to stop this from happening. It is important that you stop the biting behavior as soon as it starts, and discipline for the bad behavior while reinforcing the good. Remember, dogs do not understand the meaning of "sometimes" so be sure to consistently train the dog until he knows that biting is never allowed.

Tips in Managing Cat Allergies

In the United States, half the number of households owns either a cat or a dog as pets. However, it is just a little unfortunate that many people are allergic to cats, which discourages them from owning one, despite their fondness for these loving domestic animals. In fact, there are about 10 million Americans who have shown allergic tendencies to cats.

To help manage cat allergies, let us focus on the specific forms of cat allergies. The first one would be dander, which is dust coming from the cat’s body. Dander is a term used to refer to old skin that is shed off from the cat’s body in the forms of minute flakes.

Aside from causing skin irritation, dander also penetrates the immune system, which consequently causes allergic reactions. Once it enters the immune system, it becomes a problem, and although it is not a disease-producing element, it can certainly cause problems with people prone to allergies.

Cats spread allergens in many ways- blood, saliva, and urine. Even after the cat has left the area, his excretions can still bring about problems. You will find these things all around the house as the cat’s daily routine such as licking, scratching, and rubbing, makes it possible to do so.

Allergic Reactions to Cats

Commonly, if a person is allergic to cats, it is shown by the following signs and symptoms:

• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Itching
• Watery eyes
• Difficulty in breathing

Other times, although rarely, fever and chills are experienced, and this is when you need to get medical help right away because this could be a sign of an underlying condition.

Take note however that people may show varying signs and symptoms of cat allergies, and not all the symptoms above could be present.

Treatment

The most common treatment of cat allergies is decongestants and antihistamines. When do you take these? You take decongestants if you are coughing or have stuffy nose. You take antihistamines if you have asthma attacks, and breathing becomes difficult.

Additionally, there is also an option to get allergy shots but this will depend on your doctor’s decision so you may want to consult with him about it. Not only do these cat allergy shots treat the problem, they also help prevent its occurrence.

It is best to get hold of your doctor if you think you are suffering from cat allergies. This qualified medical practitioner should be able to advise you on the necessary steps you need to take, and this may include taking of medication or allergy shots. Your doctor may also advise you to get rid of your cat, if he deems it is best for you to do so.

Cats are wonderful creatures- warm and loving. Kids and adults alike love cats. However, there may come a point when we have to give them away, especially if they are already causing problems to our body, and to our health. This can be a difficult thing to do if you have grown so attached to your pet, but if it is the only recommended way to stop cat allergies then you should learn to let go.