Kitties Resources

It’s been said that dogs are man’s best friends, and that’s perfectly shown in our societies today. Not only are dogs given expensive dog foods or gourmet dog treats, they’re also showered with a lot of fancy accessories.

Before, dogs used to sleep on the cold hard floor, but now, comfortable and soft beds for dogs are made available in the market. What’s even more amazing is that manufacturers are coming up with more dog accessories ideas such as Halloween costumes, dog toys and even dog sweaters to keep the dogs warm during winters.

The ordinary dog collars are slowly being replaced with something fancy. If you think dog collars are still those boring pieces of leather with a hard buckle attached on them, then you should try to visit a few pet specialty shops.

The mall has a wide collection of fancy dog collars. Now, collars come in different shape, color and size to suit the taste of the finickiest dog owner. They could even be made out of different materials such as nylon, leather, suede, metal and fabric.

Different designs are also available. No matter what your preferred design is, you’re sure you could find one to match your dog and fit your taste. In fact, it’s possible for your dog to wear a collar that perfectly matches whatever it is you are wearing. Examples of beautiful patterns of dog collars are polka dots, crystal, mink, bone, denim, crocodile prints and even Victorian.

If you think these collars are fancy, then you probably haven’t seen a dog collar attached with adjustable buckles, speakers, reflectors and RFID. A dog collar can even contain a GPS device so you can locate your dog wherever it goes. Now, just how fancy is that?

There are also lighted dog collars which can help keep your dogs safe. If you usually bring your dog outside for a walk at night or during foggy days, these lighted collars will enable you to see your dog even if it’s half a mile away. Usually, these illuminated collars run with an ordinary watch battery, and are weather- and shock-resistant.

There are also fancy dog collars which are highly personalized. Most of them are made-to-order. If you want a beautiful dog collar that comes with beads or small letters spelling your dog’s name, you can just order online.

Some manufacturers would even allow you to personally your dog’s collars. So if you have a great idea on how a collar should be made for your very special pet, then you should try to give your local pet shops a visit.

But dog manufacturers didn’t stop there. They know that dog lovers are not reluctant to spend a few hundred dollars just to accessorize their dogs, thus, they took full advantage of this. The most exquisite dog collars have probably been designed.

There are collars which are made of expensive materials like gold, platinum and silver. With precious gemstones such as sapphires, rubies and crystals embedded on them, these collars are more of jewelry than a dog collar.

Gone are the days when dog collars are simply just name tags. Dog collars also speak of the dog owner’s fashion and style preference. In addition, these dog collars are just one of the ways you can show how much you value your dog.

With such fancy dog collars available, it’s make you wonder if the dog itself is able to appreciate such extravagance. Well, whether the dog appreciates these fancy dog collars or not doesn’t really matter. What really matters is that you, as a dog lover and your dog’s best friend, were able to get your dog a fancy collar he deserves.

And if you’re feeling a bit more extravagant, you might even consider giving your dog other dog products like a throw blanket or dog totes. Do you know that the dog accessories industry is becoming a multi-million dollar industry? And that’s because of the numerous dog lovers like you who would probably spend a fortune for your pets.

That’s also one of the reasons why dog owners are the easiest people to find gifts for. Dog owners shower their dogs with so much attention, that you can’t possibly go wrong if you get them something for their pets. So don’t stress yourself too much thinking on what gift to give them.

Bookmark to

RICHIE RAMSAY? Scottish professional golfer broke through at SA Open yesterday. In 2006, Ramsay became the first British golfer in almost a century to win the United States Amateur Championship. He also won several other amateur titles and played in the 2005 Walker Cup. It is the first time that he had won at European Tour.

“There’s no greater feeling than winning and I’m just a flood of emotions – I’m holding back the tears,” said Ramsay after becoming only the 7th foreigner to win a century-old title that in most of its previous 99 editions, has been dominated by native South Africans of the calibre of Gary Player and Ernie Els.

Ramsay had a putt for the title on the last at the Pearl Valley Golf Estates.

But it went fractionally left, forcing him and Kapur, who finished with a 67, to go back up the par-five 18th for the play-off.

(for golfers, Titleist AP2 Irons just cost you $329.99)

Kapur had to lay up with his fourth shot, a chip from the fringe that finished two feet from the flag.

Ramsay, though, reached the green in two. His 15ft eagle putt came up just short but it still enabled him to tap in for victory.

Ramsay declared: “I had no thought of laying up with my second, because I was so sure of myself over the shot.”

He clinched his play-off spot at the 17th, sending his approach over the water on to the green and then sinking a 15ft birdie putt.

He added: “I hit an eight iron and couldn’t believe it cleared the water. My heart was in my mouth.”

Bookmark to

As a cat owner you must recognize the signs of a cat urinary tract blockage such as your cat straining to urinate, bloody urine or your cat not urinating. If your cat is a male, he is at risk for the very life-threatening complications of a cat urinary tract blockage. If he survives this painful disorder he needs extra attention for improved cat urinary health.

It is easy to forget the strategic role the urinary system plays in keeping your cat alive. This system consists of two kidneys, a bladder, sphincter muscles, two ureters and a urethra. These organs filter out waste products, toxins and excess fluids from the bloodstream, then remove it from his body as urine.

The urethra in your male cat is narrower than in a female cat Tiny bladder stones or mucus can plug the male’s narrower urethra. It doesn’t take much to plug his narrow opening.

You should suspect a cat urinary tract blockage if you notice blood in his urine, your cat straining in the litter box, or no urine.

This is An Emergency Situation

When your cat experiences a cat urinary tract blockage for more than 24 hours his urinary system shuts down. His kidneys stop filtering toxins and this pollutes his bloodstream. This toxin build-up will kill your cat in three to six days.

Unblocking A Blocked Cat

You must seek veterinary help for your cat The vet will feel your cat’s bladder and if there is a blockage the bladder will feel like a peach. Inflamed bladders are small and empty. In any case, your vet needs to be the one making the determination.

As your vet probes your cat’s abdomen and bladder, the pressure may dislodge the obstruction, however this is not common. More often, a urinary catheter is placed into the urethral opening and this breaks up the obstruction. Sometimes a solution is used to flush the plug back into the bladder where it dissolves.

This is a very painful procedure and usually anesthesia is used to sedate your cat In some drastic situations, the catheter does not remove the blockage and the veterinarian must perform a perineal urethrostomy.

Once the blockage is removed the catheter may have to stay in place until the urinary system is able to return to its normal process of removing toxins from the your cat It is equally important to keep your cat well hydrated to replace the expelled fluids, thereby preventing dehydration. Your cat may need intravenous replacement of fluids. Once your cat’s urine stream is strong and your cat is drinking fluids on his own your vet will send your cat home.

At home, your cat is still at risk of another blockage or poor cat urinary health for some time after the initial episode. Now its your job to watch for signs of another cat urinary tract blockage. His bladder’s pH levels are out of whack due to stress, anesthesia and the medications given to him. This can lead to a repeat blockage.

Keep plenty of fresh water in bowls throughout the house. Refill the bowls daily. Reduce or eliminate any additional stress factors on your cat He may prefer to stay in his own bedroom (complete with water bowls and litter box) with the door shut.

Your vet may recommend pain medications to help reduce the urethral spasms and help urine pass. Think twice about using steroids to help with swelling and pain. These anti-inflammatories also promote infections in cats that have had a urinary catheter.

More veterinarians are recommending herbal remedies to help reduce stress in post trauma cats. They are also finding that certain herbs, like Arctostaphylos uva ursi, improve cat urinary health by promoting the proper pH level in the urinary tract system. Berberis vulgaris acts as an anti-inflammatory and has a restorative effect on the bladder. Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower) is an herb used to soothe your cat’s nerves and reduce stress levels.

Loving cat owners do not want their cat to experience the excruciating pain of a cat urinary tract blockage. Nor do they want to have to say ‘Yes’ to a perineal urethrostomy in order to save their cat’s life. Herbal remedies help your cat ‘survive the cure’ and prevent a recurrence.

Bookmark to

The Caucasian Mountain Dog also known as the Caucasian Ovtcharka is an ancient breed that for centuries was little known outside the remote regions from which it hails, namely the Caucasus which incorporate: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Dagestan, Iran and Turkey. The Caucasian Mountain Dog or Ovtcharka (in Russian Ovtcharka means shepherd or sheepdog) is a member of the working group of dog breed and despite its appellation of sheepdog/shepherd this dog was never a livestock herder but rather a guardian or protector which goes a long way in explaining its not inconsiderable size! The Caucasian Mountain dog was bred to protect livestock against wolves, bears and other predators; in fact the Caucasian Ovtcharka has an uncanny resemblance to a bear!

Considered until fairly recently by many to be a descendent of the Tibetan Mastiff, updated archeological evidence suggests that its ancestry originated from ancient dogs that lived in the woody hills of Iraq and Mesopotamia. It is believed that assorted dog types that accompanied nomadic tribes that settled in the Caucasus regions, with little intervention and interference from outside influences, eventually evolved into the Caucasian Mountain Dog.

Up until the 1930s, the Caucasian Ovtcharka was little known outside its home range until it started appearing in European dog shows in Germany. Around 1952 the Caucasian Mountain Dog was sub-divided into two distinct breeds: the Transcaucasian Ovtcharka which is typically the heavier-boned, massive dog that hails from the mountainous regions; and the Caucasian Ovtcharka, the less heavily built type that originates from the steppe regions.

In 1976 the two sub-breeds were consolidated and reclassified as one breed, and these days the Caucasian Mountain Dog is expected to conform to a single standard. Be that as it may however, the various sub-breeds can still be differentiated regionally from the various territories of the former USSR and nowadays one of the most coveted type of Caucasian Mountain Dog is the so-called Georgia sub-breed which is characteristically a thick-coated, heavy-boned, massive dog that most closely resembles a bear.

The potential of the Caucasian Mountain Dog as much more than a Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) was quickly realized by the now defunct Soviet Army and soon enough this dog breed was employed both during peace and war time as auxiliary military “personnel” within the expanse of the Soviet Union. In the late 1960s the Caucasian Ovcharka was widely introduced to East Germany specifically for border patrol duty, fore mostly to patrol the infamous Berlin Wall. When the Berlin Wall came toppling down in 1989, the by-then, at least 7000-strong unit of Caucasian Mountain Dogs employed to patrol the Wall’s perimeter was disbanded and many of those dogs found new homes within the newly emancipated civilian population!

Temperament

This dog breed was developed to guard flocks and livestock and hence has a strong inherent guardian/protector trait. Much as a Border Collie family dog will tend to herd its family as a substitute flock of sheep, the Caucasian Mountain Dog will have the tendency to be somewhat protective of its immediate family, a characteristic that has obvious benefits but perhaps less obvious consequences. The Caucasian Ovcharka is a strong-willed (some might say stubborn) breed of dog that requires a firmer hand for proper socialization and training. The so-called stubborn nature of this dog type is not surprising when one considers that it was bred over hundreds of years for these exact qualities.

This dog was bred to largely exist independent of humans (except for its shepherd) and was bred to co-exist with the livestock it was guarding; thus the Caucasian Mountain dog breed is inherently wary of strangers be they people or animals. Unsurprisingly, the Caucasian Ovtcharka is most active at night (livestock predators tend to hunt under the cover of night) and though it may give the impression that it’s a big lazy dozing dog, at the slightest hint of intruders the Caucasian Mountain Dog will nimbly get to its feet, sound the alarm (barking) and immediately go to confront the threat!

The Caucasian Ovcharka takes the protection of its territory (these days consider that the family yard) very seriously and will consider any encroachment by a stranger as a threat. Despite its formidable size this dog is characterized by the use of minimal force to dissuade any threat. Such minimal force may likely take the form of confronting the predator and barking and growling aggressively; usually that is enough to change the minds of most intruders because much like its wild Canid counterparts, this old dog breed still retains the mindset that physical (or deadly) force should be a last resort since it tends to be counter productive (i.e., injury to either party).

Any Good With Kids?

As previously noted this dog breed tends to substitute its immediate family for the livestock it was selectively bred to protect; in other words this dog is strongly protective of members of its family. Hence it is important to understand that this dog could perceive rambunctious or rough child’s play between a family member and a friend (as is the tendency with boys) to be a threat and its hardwired protect-the-flock genetics will immediately kick in!

Thus it is vitally imperative to properly socialize this dog breed and also explain to your kids that just because they know that “Shaggy” would never hurt them, they should understand that the same may not go for their friends unless the dog knows them well (i.e., has accepted them as an extension of its flock). Obviously with a dog this size all activity around small children should be supervised, because though the family pet may not intend harm, it’s a big dog that during the heat of play may easily forget its formidable strength and size and could accidentally hurt a young child!

The Question Of Apartment Dwelling?

By and large the Caucasian Mountain Dog does not make the ideal apartment dweller. Although like most big dogs its energy level is somewhat low this dog breed is inherently nocturnal and was bred to alert and warn of, and off intruders. In other words your love for your Caucasian Mountain Dog could well translate into hatred from your neighbors because your Caucasian Ovcharka is driving them crazy with its nightly cacophony (barking…which is especially true if your neighbors are creatures of the night aka party animals).

Interactivity With Other Dogs

From a genetic view point the Caucasian Mountain Dog was never bred to be overly friendly with other canids be they dogs or wolves, because as a flock guardian it would have been expected to ward off all potential predators which naturally would have included feral dogs. However as with most any breed of dog timely and proper socialization usually overcomes any unfriendliness towards other dogs or animals in this breed!

Caucasian Mountain Dog Breed Standard

Currently there appear to be conflicting breed standards which could be in part explained by the different sub-breeds and the late acceptance of this breed into the AKC; as of now this dog breed has no AKC ranking. Only recently has the AKC moved to officially recognize this dog breed (May 2007) even though the Caucasian Ovcharka has been on record with the FSS (Foundation Stock Services) since 1996. From January of 2008 the Caucasian Mountain Dog will be allowed to formally compete in the AKC Companion Events.

Size Requirements:

The following height measurements are for the mature dog and are measured up to the shoulder bone.

Height of Males: 25.5 – 30 inches (64cm – 70cm)
Height Females: 24.5 and upwards

Weight of Males: 100lbs + (45kg – 70 kg)
Weight Females: 80lbs + (37kg – upwards)

It should be noted however that for the Kavkazskaya Ovcharka Breed (the Georgian Caucasian Mountain Dog sub-breed that most closely resembles a bear) the requisite dimensions differ considerably:

Height of Male: 28.3 – 29.5 inches (72cm – 75cm; minimum is 68cm or 26.8 inches)
Female Height: 26.0 – 27.2 inches (66cm – 69cm; minimum is 64 cm or 25.2 inches)

Naturally the weight of the Kavkazskaya Ovcharka Breed will tend to be somewhat heavier and it is not unusual for males to top 180lbs!

The Caucasian Mountain Dog falls under the category of Working Dogs as a Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD).

Caucasian Mountain Dog

Bookmark to

If you have a pet cat at your home then you must be well aware of the problems that are faced by most of the cat owners. The common problem faced by most of the cat lovers is that their cat is not safe from their neighbor’s cats. It is common to have such incidences where the neighbor’s cat enters your house and enjoys the meal that is meant for your beloved cat.

The common solution that most of the people prefer for above problem is to go for cat door. But is it the best solution? Is it able to protect your cat in the best manner? The answer is no surely not!

If you are using the cat door then it is sure that you are wasting your time as well as risking the life of your cat. But then the most important question that must be arising is your mind is – is there not any way by which you can give full protection to your cat? Is it not possible to let your cat live peacefully in your house?

Now with the help of extraordinary Pet Porte microchip cat flaps, it is really very easy to give the desired safety to your beloved cat. Microchipcatflaps is the site that is offering this unique product that is capable of giving the complete peace of mind to you. In order to know more about these unique Pet Porte microchip cat flaps, it is must to have a look on some of the most important features of these products. Some of the most important features are as under:

Highly recommended: The most important feature of Pet Porte microchip cat flaps available at microchipcatflaps is that they are really useful and are recommended by various influential bodies. For example these cat flaps are recommended by Cats Protection, Cat Magazine and leading vets.

Workable with the existing chips:  The second most important feature of these extraordinary Pet Porte microchip cat flaps is that they are workable with the existing chip as well. It is not at all required to replace the existing chip or the collars and tags.

Fully automatic: The third most important feature of these cat flaps is that they are totally automatic. All that you are required to do is to program these cat flaps and you would be able to achieve special feature like locking of the door automatically at night to ensure full safety to your cat. Not only that, you can also set the option to get the door opened in morning for your cat.

Permits only the pet cats to enter: It is yet another important feature of Pet Porte microchip cat flaps that these flaps permit only your pet cat to enter your house. Thus now you are not at all required to worry about the safety of your cat from intruders.

Most convenient: Along with the above mentioned features of Pet Porte microchip cat flaps, it is yet another important feature of these unique products that they are developed keeping in mind the comfort, safety as well as convenience of your cats. Thus you can rest assured that your beloved pet is fully secured and happy because of these flaps.

The above mentioned are just few important features of Pet Porte microchip cat flaps. So visit Microchipcatflaps and get the best what your beloved cat deserves.

Bookmark to

“After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf,” Woods said on his Web site. “I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.” But another man had opposite opinion. Fellow PGA golfer John Daly advised him to “go out and play golf.”

Daly, appearing on CBS’ “The Early Show” Friday said Woods needs to surround himself with people who support him – his coach, his agent, his caddy.

Woods estimated fortune hit the billion dollar mark this past September and given the numerous accusations of infidelity – he could lose a large chunk of it if Elin indeed leaves for good, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor.

Daly, who is currently going through his third divorce, said he has tried to reach Woods and “he just didn’t want to talk to anybody.”

“I feel if there is anybody in this world who could give him some advice …” Daly told the Associated Press last week in Australia. “I hope we get him back soon. They always say there is no one bigger in golf than the game itself. But Tiger is.”

He told “The Early Show” that if he had been in Woods’ situation, he would have made a statement earlier to the press, but believes Woods is “getting good advice.”

Daly added, “I won’t bug him ? but he can call me.”

As for the other golfers on the tour, Daly believed most want Woods back as soon as possible. We should “support the man who has elevated our tour for the past decade.”

Bookmark to

Are you frustrated with constant bouts of cystitis in cats in your feline companion?  Has your vet diagnosed him with idiopathic cystitis in cats?  Have you wondered if cat stress has something to do with the recurring episodes of FLUTD?  Read on for answers to your questions.

What Is Feline Idiopathic Cystitis?

Your cat shows all the symptoms of cystitis in cats.  He strains to urinate, but doesn’t pass much urine.  His urine may be bloody.  He’s obviously in pain when he’s using the litter box.  And he may be urinating in places other than his litter box. 

But when your vet examines him and runs a urinalysis and a urine culture, there’s no sign of a bladder infection.  There’s no bacteria in his urine, and bladder stones, tumors, and even an anatomical defect have all been ruled out. 

Feline idiopathic cystitis is the diagnosis when there doesn’t seem to be any reason for feline urinary problems.  It’s very difficult to watch your cat suffer with FLUTD symptoms when there doesn’t appear to be any reason for these cat urinary problems.  The worst thing is that this condition is becoming more common in cats as time goes on.

Is Cat Stress Related To Idiopathic Cystitis In Cats?

Research is showing that this condition in cats is very similar to interstitial cystitis in people.  In both cats and people, some sort of stressful event often happens just before the cat or person suffers another bout of cystitis.

Sometimes we don’t realize how much stress our cats face.  It may be hard to believe, but being an indoor cat is stressful for felines.  We keep them inside for their own safety, but this is an unnatural environment for felines.  They do like to prowl around, especially at night.  Hunting for food provides lots of exercise that keeps them in shape. 

We also feed them the wrong type of diet, which is another stressor.  Most dry cat foods are made mostly from corn, which is very high in carbohydrates.  Too much of the wrong type of food leads to obesity, feline diabetes, and other health issues. 

Something that many cat owners don’t consider is that the moisture level in dry cat food is extremely low.  Cats are meant to get most of their water from their diet, which should be mostly meat-based.  A cat who is always fed dry food is more than likely chronically dehydrated.  Even if a cat who is fed dry food does drink water, it’s hard for him to drink enough.

The problem with a dehydrated cat is that water doesn’t pass through his body often enough to flush out toxins.  His urine is also concentrated.  Urine is caustic, and if it’s too concentrated, it can irritate the bladder, which leads to cystitis.  Concentrated urine also has high mineral levels, which can result in cat bladder stones, and urinary blockage in cats.

This type of stress is low-level, but it can lead to problems over time. 

Your cat may be facing other types of stress.  Cats are very set in their ways, and any kind of change can be upsetting for them.  Moving to a new home, remodeling, adding another person or pet to the household, even a change in the weather, can all be stressful for your cat.  Your cat may be having problems with another cat in the home, too, especially if the other pet is more aggressive and seems to bother him a lot.

Reducing Cat Stress

It’s been shown that reducing stress in cats does reduce the frequency of cystitis in cats.  It’s also important to feed your cat a diet more naturally suited for felines to reduce stress on his body.

You may also want to consider trying a natural remedy for cat bladder infection.  The incidence of feline urinary problems can often reduced by giving your kitty a cat uti remedy that contains herbs and homeopathic remedies known to cure bladder problems.

By taking these steps to help your furball, you can solve the problem of idiopathic cystitis in cats.

Bookmark to

Dog barking if left can get out of hand and then becomes uncontrollable when a remedy is taken late to alternate its barking behavior, it is always good to train your dog to stop dog barking because taking dogs barking for granted might result in your dog biting someone or even you. Always try to apply some dog barking remedy as soon as you notice your dog has developed a barking problem, it’s also good to start initially to stop your dog barking because if you leave it to continue, he might make it a habit and then trying to stop the dog barking later on might not be easy. Naturally your dog is supposed to bark when a stranger or a thief approaches you or any of your things, you know quiet well is not normal for your dogs to bark when something that is not usual is going on. To stop dog barking has strategies just like everything else, its always good for you to allow your dogs to socialize with other dogs especially dogs that of good behaviors not those that are naughty, this can help to stop dog barking, at least you can take your dog to a friends house or dogs park or something like that to spend sometime with his/her or other dogs. Dogs just like human beings needs socialization, remember that whenever you are bored, you don’t feel relaxed you always look for things to use and get away with your boredom. Dogs love meeting new dogs, sometimes you might have noticed the excitement in them whenever they see dogs like them passing by, they always love to approach them if an opportunity is giving to them. I recommend you to visit Kingdom of Pets if you want to stop your dog barking.

Another method you can use to stop dog barking is by petting them, its your pet and you need to pet them, don’t punish them whenever they do little things. Some dogs owner love scolding their dogs which is very bad, these cant stop dog barking rather it would make dogs be aggressive, these normally make dogs start to bark out of the fear you impacted in dogs. Try as much as possible to avoid stuffs like beating, tapping, smacking or even kicking it, these are the most things that encourage dog barking. It is always necessary to leave dogs with their mom when they are born newly, its one of the things believed to help stop dog barking the easy way with taking it to a long extent, when you take dogs away from their mom before they are 5 months of age they wont get the necessary pre natal care from their mom. It’s like taking away a newborn babe from their mom, don’t you think this would do her great harm. Just like human beings, dogs need care, these can reduce or even stop dog barking.

Dogs that bark anyhow could be dangerous at times because you need to know why the dog is barking. When you take your dog barking problems for granted and it bites someone you could be sued for it resulting in hundreds or even thousand of dollars for dog bites when you can easily apply some strategies to use to stop dogs barking problems. Provide your dogs with variety of toys to keep them busy, try to impact in them the habit of playing with those toys but don’t let them over do it, it might go to another level, you can let them play with it for 2 or 3 hours and then put them to another task like eating or any thing you feel can help them get busy.

Some dogs do not know whether barking is good or wrong, they have lived with it since they were born, its your duty to make them stop barking, sometimes you can tell you dogs to stop barking when they bark, words like that can ease the situation. Always try to scold dogs a little when they are barking in friendly way, do not leave it till after they’ve finished barking, trying to hit them when dogs bark can worsen the whole situation. You can try splashing your dog some little water on the face to stop barking, these might ease the barking come from your dogs. When you have noticed it has stopped barking, try to reward it with something you know your dog love so much, everything has a reward, now that you know that you don’t like your dog barking and you tried some tricks to make it stop and finally it did stop, reward her immediately don’t wait for it to pass so long, you can reward it after 4 seconds or less, you can try saying words like good dog, another day don’t bark, I will always treat good if you stop barking, I hate it when you bark, in a cool and gentle way, less i forget while you say this words you could touch her body, the hairs and of course the head these might make your dog feel that the owner doesn’t like dogs barking.

They are many numerous ways to stop dog barking, you may never know the type your dog needs to stop its behavior, I recommend you to get these ebook on how to stop dogs behavior it would go a long way in stopping your dog barking behavior, not only that but also stop your dog jumping, bitting, urinating anyhow or even digging holes, no matter what their problem might be. I equally use it to stop my dog biting problems; it is rich in dogs training. Visit Kingdom of Pets

Bookmark to

Recently Tiger woods had bad luck, what’s worse, his marriage is facing to be broken. A little good news finally comes to him. He was named the PGA Tour Player of the Year.

It is the 10th time Woods has collected the Jack Nicklaus Trophy, and his first since 2007.

But it comes as he continues to battle against the fall-out from revelations about his private life which have caused him to take a break from the game as several sponsors – Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer the latest – drop the 33-year-old.

Woods was recognized by his fellow professionals for his achievements in returning to action from knee surgery, as he won six tournaments out of 17 started.

Woods also had three top-10 finishes during the play-offs.

Australian Marc Leishman, 26, won the Rookie of the Year award.

“Congratulations to Tiger and Marc for their accomplishments in 2009,” said PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.

“Both players enjoyed outstanding seasons capped off by success in the play-offs. The recognition by their peers is the one of the highest compliments a PGA Tour member can receive.”

Although Tiger had scandals, it can’t deny his talent in golf.

This proves that every dog has lucky day.

a joke:Why are these Americans good at golf

Did you know that O.J. Simpson, Monica Lewinsky, Ted Kennedy, and President Bill Clinton are all avid golfers?

O.J.’s a slicer, Monica’s a hooker, Ted Kennedy can’t drive over water, and Clinton can’t seem to hit the right hole!

Bookmark to

It is widely believed that any given breed of dog is born with a strong genetic predisposition to behaviorisms characteristic of that breed. Thus it should follow that the livestock herding and guarding dog breeds, of which the various sheepdogs and shepherds are good examples, must be born with an inherent tendency to guard or herd livestock. Also in the same vein it should also follow that gundogs must have a natural propensity to tolerate loud noises such as gun shots or rifle reports. However, as so often happens, things are not quite so simple!

The Critical Period

The critical period of socialization is that time when a certain set or patterns of genetically oriented behavior must be performed or presented to a developing animal (in this case a puppy) in order for such behavior to manifest in the animal when it is older. The inability to initiate such genetically programmed behavior during the critical period can result in the complete corruption of hereditary behavior characteristic to that particular species of animal. The critical period in dogs varies for the different dog breeds, but as a species in general, the critical period of socialization in dogs extends from 2 weeks to 16 weeks. After sixteen weeks if a puppy has not been properly socialized in the desired manner, that dog will not exhibit appropriate behavior in the future!

For example, in certain species of birds, unless the parents sing the specific birdsong for attracting a mate to the growing chicks within the critical period, those birds will never be able to attract a mate when older for the simple fact that they are unable to reproduce the necessary mating call (birdsong).

Imprinting

One of the more significant factors of the critical period of socialization is that known as imprinting. Imprinting is the process whereby a young animal gets to self-identify as a species; in other words imprinting is the process during the socialization period when the young animal gets to align itself with a particular species. Normally in most cases the species with which a young animal identifies usually happens to be the species to which the animal actually belongs. However rarely in the wild, cases do occur where an animal imprints on an entirely different species altogether and ultimately identifies with that species as being its own.

Cases of artificial or manipulated imprinting abound in domesticated animals, and one of the most celebrated cases of imprinting manipulation was that conducted by Austrian ethologist Konrad Zacharias Lorenz who was awarded a Nobel Prize for his efforts. Using graylag geese Konrad Lorenz definitively illustrated the significance of the primary period of socialization by getting graylag goslings to imprint on him as opposed to their mother. The result was that the goslings identified with Lorenz and not with geese which resulted in the rather novel situation whereby Lorenz was trailed by his flock of young goslings wherever he went.

Okay, you may be thinking what has some dude with a bunch of geese following him have to do with you and your pet dog? If you’re thinking along such lines those are valid thoughts indeed, so let me illustrate some of the practical applications of imprinting manipulation conducted in dogs.

Imprinting Manipulation In Dogs

Over the span of many generations, shepherds have routinely manipulated the process of imprinting in their livestock guarding dogs. The shepherd introduces the future livestock guardian dog as a puppy to the appropriate target animal which for simplicity reasons in this case will be the sheep. At its most extreme, this imprinting manipulation may be stimulated by getting the puppies to suckle from a pregnant ewe. More routinely though, the dogs are removed as young puppies and reared with the sheep but not necessarily suckled by sheep.

Contact and socialization with people is kept to a minimum as is that with other dogs excepting those littermates that are destined for the same vocation. The dogs are fed in the presence of sheep, sleep with the sheep, socialize and communicate with the sheep and age permitting allowed to follow the sheep about during their grazing. By the time sixteen weeks are up that dog(s) will now identify with sheep as its primary social companions; not dogs…not people! In essence that dog will take appropriate protective measures to ensure that no harm befalls the sheep, even against human beings.

Problematic Dogs

Have you ever encountered a dog that just doesn’t get on with other dogs, strangers or with any animal for that matter? Such a dog is that way because it was never properly socialized within the timeframe of the critical period of socialization. Before I continue along this thread however there’s a point I wish to stress here. Because of years of selective breeding, certain dog breeds are naturally predisposed to exhibiting specific behavior and mannerisms that are hereditary in nature. Thus for example, the retriever breed of dogs will have a natural and inherent tendency to retrieve whether or not such behavior is encouraged during the critical period of socialization.

Certain breeds of dog are natural water lovers for the mere fact that over the years of selective breeding such a trait has been greatly magnified. Such dogs will, in appropriate circumstances, exhibit those inherited traits whether or not they were performed when the dog was still a puppy.

When I was a kid we had a Labrador mix dog that once trailed us to the campus swimming pool. One moment my siblings and I were happily splashing about in the pool with the other kids, next thing…we heard shouting and yelling and a right ole ruckus. We soon knew why. Our Labrador mix, named Nip, had followed us to the swimming pool and saw absolutely no reason why he shouldn’t join us (his primary social companions) in the pool for a dip. Nip was about 7 months at the time and other than his bath times (which he detested) he had never been introduced to water nor had he ever shown any particular affiliation for it. Yet on that day, there he was doggy paddling towards us in the pool like a pro, as if for all the world that was what he had been destined to do!

The point I’m making here is that certain traits in certain breeds of dog cannot be totally switched off for the fact they have been exaggerated through selective breeding over the span of multiple generations and in appropriate conditions those traits will manifest!

Take the case of the so-called dangerous dog breeds, of which perhaps the Pitbull and the Rottweiler spring foremost to mind. There is an element of truth warranting the dangerous-dog moniker for these dogs for the simple reason that some unethical dog breeders have selectively bred their dogs for the aggressive trait. Why? So their dogs may be more vicious and efficient fighters in the dog pit! Like the case of my dog Nip, in certain circumstances those inherited aggressive traits may one day manifest seemingly out of nowhere.

Why You Should Socialize Your Dog Early On

Whether or not your dog is going to be an apartment dweller or an animal living on a farm, it is important to socialize your dog within the critical period. This is especially true for apartment dwelling dogs that live in the city because they are routinely going to rub shoulders with other dogs, other animals as well as people. Obviously if you wish to avoid having to pay out hefty fees and penalties (and perhaps seeing your dog be put down) because your anti-social pet keeps attacking other pets and people, then it is of vital importance to take the appropriate measures to see that your dog is properly and timely socialized.

If your dog is to co-exist with other animals in the household such as a cat, then for purposes of a harmonious coexistence, that dog as a puppy, should be introduced early on to the other animal whereby it will regard that animal as a social companion and not as prey or foe. Early socialization of one’s dog has both subtle and in-your-face manifestations. The subtle manifestations could be the difference between a confident and outward-going dog to one that is shy and unusually submissive. I’ve already discussed some of the overt (in-your-face) manifestations of socialization which include identification of social companions and getting along with others.

Many dog breeders have also noticed that early handling and petting of very young puppies appears to boost the confidence and friendliness level of the animal when it matures into an adult dog.

Dog Breeds

Bookmark to