Category: Animal Control

Animal Control

How the 12 Animals Were Selected For Chinese New Years and Astrology!

Rusty

The Chinese Calendar’s 12 Animal Cycle (2008-20): 2008 Rat, 2009 Ox, 2010 Tiger, 2011 Rabbit/Hare, 2012 Dragon, 2013 Snake, 2014 Horse, 2015 Sheep, 2016 Monkey, 2017 Rooster/Chicken, 2018 Dog, 2019-20 Pig.
A puzzle to many in the West. At last, the ‘true’ explanation of how the twelve Animals of Chinese New Years were incorporated into the Chinese Calendar, New Years and Astrology!
Animal Olympics
These were held long-ago to determine which animal should start the 12-Year Cycle and comprised a race, plus a raging river-crossing, before a sprint home. Smart Rat met the Cat (Tiger) the day before and gave the wrong start time. Rat then sneaked a ride and crossed the river on powerful Ox’s back, before dashing over the finish line First (Ox came Second). The furious Tiger, arriving late for the race, came Third and has been chasing the Rat ever since! Lucky Rabbit found some stepping-stones and arrived next, in 4th place.
Enter the Dragon
The Dragon/’Lung’ arrived next. Returning from making rain, Lung noticed Rabbit trying to cross a river using stepping-stones. The last stone was missing but Rabbit couldn’t see the attempt was doomed. Noble Dragon paused and used his mighty breath to blow a log into position, allowing lucky Rabbit to cross. Commended for such noble altruism, Dragon was awarded 5th place.
The Horse pounded powerfully towards 6th place without noticing Snake wrapped around a foreleg. Near the finish line, Snake jumped off and Horse reared up and leaped backwards in surprise. Taking advantage of this, Snake crossed the finish-line before Horse and so the two were awarded 6th and 7th place, respectively.
Chicken on a Raft
Goat, Monkey and Rooster suddenly arrived all-at-once, in a group. Rooster had found a raft but couldn’t move it until Goat arrived and started to push. Monkey then appeared and helped launch the craft on which all three crossed successfully together. Congratulated for their team-work, Goat, Monkey and Rooster were awarded 8th, 9th and 10th place, in that order.
Appearing on the scene next was Dog, looking smart and frisky. The river water was so clean and clear that dog couldn’t resist taking a bath in it, but still achieved 11th place. Finally, with an amiable grunt Pig arrived. Stopping to eat on the way, Pig felt tired after the meal and fell asleep and so was consequently awarded 12th and last place in the Chinese Zodiac!
Chinese New Year Hint!
Hard to remember the 12 Animals, let alone their correct sequence? Learn this story and you will know both in a very short time. Children, too, can benefit from learning this traditional tale, considering the list and sequence it contains.
In Fact
The Chinese Calendar in its current form goes back to the time of the Yellow Emperor, Huang Di (circa 2,690-2,590 BC) who is credited with its inception in its present form, although it is certain it was in use before. Yin/Yang and 5 Elements Theory, fundamentally affecting the way the Calendar operates (1),(2) are also credited to the Yellow Emperor and exert powerful influences on events to this day. Dragon Year 2012-13 is Year 4,709 according to this Calendar, which is also used by many other countries of S.E. Asia!
Notes
(1) See ‘Yin-Yang Aspects of Rabbit, Dragon, and Snake Years (2011-14)’ EzineArticles, for details of Yin/Yang influences on Animal Years.
(2) ‘China’s 5 Elements, Pentagram and Pentagon–Influential Originals!’, EzineArticles, provides information regarding the ‘Famous Five’.…

Animal Control

All About Basset Hounds

Rusty

Why the long face? Well to start of with the Basset hound has a longer face than most dogs. They also have long ears in comparison to the rest of their body. They are a distinctive breed that usually weighs 40 to 60 pounds and stands about 14 inches. You will find that they are about any hound color from brown, tan, black, and white or a mixture of colors. You will find that their coat is coarse with short hairs and it is weather resistant. In other words they don?t tend to get too soaked from rain, get too cold or too warm depending on the climate.

The Bassett Hound is one of the most pleasurable breeds in the dog groups because they are well behaved, affectionate, and they love to be sweet. One minor issue with this dog is the need to howl or bark. They tend to make noise even when there is nothing to bark at. Therefore you may see them as a great alarm system, but not a great guard dog. They tend to be very affectionate with strangers and other dogs as well.

You will find that they are quite lazy and peaceful despite the need to bark or howl. They also tend to be stubborn during training, but more on that later. First you will want to know they are better with older children. Their ears are extremely sensitive and they don?t wish to be handled roughly by the younger set. As for intelligence they can be taught tricks with patience, but they are not the most intelligent dog.

Basset hounds need grooming daily. You will find they shed quite a bit so brushing and combing them at least once a day will keep this down. The basset hound tends to neglect the natural method of grooming as well as their toenails so you will need to spend a little time and care to get them in shape.

Part of the laziness factor is actually due to a tendency to overheat easily. They do need to have plenty of exercise, but it should be a moderate pace. Since they don?t tend to run around a lot you need to help them stay healthy as part of the dog care package. You can certainly let them roam around a fenced yard, but again they do need a regiment of exercise to keep them healthy.

Training is one of the most important aspects of this breed. The basset hound tends to be sensitive and gentle so it requires patience and consistency to train them. You also need to understand that they are stubborn so it may take a little bit to get them motivated. They also like to go off and sniff around rather than be trained. Training should begin as early as puppy- hood to get the best results. You can train them out of the barking and howling for the most part, but that will take a bit of time and definitely some type of reward.

The basset hound is one of the best pets you can have when you consider the dog breeds available. They love to be around humans and other dogs even if they tend to be a little on the lazy side. You will find that affection, devotion, and tranquility are their best qualities as well as being someone to complete a family with children. They don?t have any major medical issues, but you do need to remember their sensitive ears. In case of an accident with their ears you may need to seek your vet.…

Animal Control

My Dog Has A Fear Of The Leash. Heres What To Do…

Rusty

Exercise is a major part of our dogs? lives.

Cesar Millan, the ?Dog Whisperer?, tells us that to maintain a healthy relationship with our beloved pooches, that relationship should consist of 50% physical exercise, 25% discipline, and 25% affection. That?s a lot of exercise! In order for us to be able to enjoy exercising our dogs as much as they need, it?s important for them to behave well both on the lead. Unfortunately, there are many dogs out there who are afraid of the leash itself ? resulting in neurotic, fearful, submissive behavior whenever the lead comes out. In this newsletter, we?ll take a look at the most effective way to deal with fear of the leash.

Fear of the Leash

The majority of the time, the sight of the leash is enough to bring on a fit of joy ? the dog knows that leash = walk, and reacts accordingly.

For some dogs, though, the leash connotes fear and submissiveness more than anything else. Perhaps the leash was used in a negative way with a previous owner ? as a tool for dragging the dog around. Perhaps it was used to confine the dog for long hours at a time. In some extreme cases, dogs have even been whipped with the leash as punishment. Or perhaps your dog is just very highly strung, and is prone to developing phobias seemingly arbitrarily. Although fear of the leash can have a severely negative impact on your walks with your dog, the good news is that it?s easy to cure.

You just need some patience and some basic equipment.

What you?ll need A leash, made of webbing or leather. Approximately 5 feet (1.25 meters) is a good length, as it enables control without risk of the dog getting tangled in the leash when out walking. Chain-link leashes aren?t recommended, as they?re hard on the hands ? and also can flick the dog in the face, which isn?t something you?d want to inflict on any dog, let alone one that?s suffering from fear of the leash! – A good-quality collar, again made of leather or nylon webbing. If you?re using one with a snap-lock, make sure it?s safety-approved and won?t come undone under pressure. Slip-chain collars (also known as ?choke-chains? or ?check-chains?) should never be used on an unattended dog, as they?re a training tool, not a real collar. – A little bit of time, and a little bit of patience.

What to Do

* Your aim here is to accustom your dog to the lead a little bit at a time, keeping him well within his comfort zone at each step of the way. Because he?s already got a fear of the leash, some discomfort in its presence is to be expected, but watch out for signs of extreme fear:

* hyperventilating,

* drooling,

* submissive urination,

* rolling eyes (often showing the whites).

So step one: remember to take baby steps at all times!

* If he?s really afraid of the leash, you?ll need to accustom him to it very slowly indeed.

* Practice leaving it out in full view, preferably in ?fun? places: next to his food bowl, in preferred play areas, near his bed.

* Once he?s stopped reacting to the sight of it, introduce the leash to him in a more active manner. You can do this by wrapping it around your hand as you pet and groom him.

* Hold the leash in your hand as you prepare his food; sit by him and stroke him, with the leash wrapped around your hand, as he eats. Keep this up until he?s stopped showing any signs of discomfort ? it may take some time, but remember that you?re aiming to accustom him comfortably to the leash. Any rushing is counterproductive.

* When he?s not showing any signs of nervousness with this level of progress, you can start attaching the leash to his collar.

* Put him in a sit-stay, using a firm, calm voice, and clip the leash on. Don?t make a big deal out of it: your dog will take his emotional and psychological cues from your behavior. If you act as though it?s not a big deal, he?ll follow your lead.

* Once the leash is on, give him some time to get used to the sensation of something hanging off his neck. He may get a little panicky at this stage, and start pawing at his neck and trying to rub the leash off along the ground. If he?s showing signs of nervousness, distract him with a game: a short game of tug-o?-war (providing he knows to drop the toy when you?ve had enough) is a good idea; if he can run without getting tangled in the leash, play a short game of fetch; or, …

Animal Control

How an Effective Flea Prevention For Cats Work?

Rusty

Frontline Plus for cats

Frontline Plus is very effective flea prevention for cats. It is used to kill fleas in all its stages and works against killing ticks. There are different varieties of fleas and each one of them is prevalent more in certain regions. It is difficult to identify the type of dog fleas by a pet owner but with an effective medication like frontline Plus, one does not have to worry for his pets.

Frontline Plus is the flea prevention for cats is helpful in killing the entire family f fleas as well as ticks. In just 24 hours of application, frontline Plus will effectively kill all fleas and ticks. As a result, the pet gets instant relief from itching and scratching. This medication gives immediate result.

Frontline Plus has two powerful ingredients; one of them is fipronil which kills the adult fleas and ticks by attacking their central nervous system. This makes the fleas, ticks disable, and they are not able to move. The application of the medication prevents the ticks from jumping and thus they do not infect other places. The other ingredient present in the flea prevention for cats is S-Methoprene. This ingredient kills eggs and larva of all types of fleas. When these two ingredients mix, it provides an all-round effect in killing these tiny pests.

This flea prevention for cats is a powerful medication and comes with an instruction to apply it in the right manner. It is very essential to apply this medication properly else, it will not show the desired result. One has to part the dog’s fur with fingers after taking the medication on the tip of the finger. Then apply the medication on the dog’s skin and not on the fur. One has to wait for three days before grooming the pet.

Some precautions while using flea prevention for cats

Kids must not be allowed to touch the medication; they must not apply it on the pet.After applying the medication, make sure that the pet is made to worn veterinary cone. This is done so that the pet is not able to lick itself.

Wash the hands properly after applying this flea prevention for cats.…

Animal Control

Feline Fine: Cat Care For Cat Lovers

Rusty

Dogs, as it is often said, are a man’s best friend. But whilst they may indeed be a very loving and loyal companion to have around, the large proportion of cat owners in the UK would probably argue that their moggy is every bit as faithful a friend, and also a fully integrated member of the family unit.

Indeed, most people are fairly clear on whether they are a ‘cat person’ or a ‘dog person’ and normally have quite specific reasons for their opinions. But regardless of what camp a person sits in, most people would probably agree that cats require a lot less maintenance than their canine counterparts.

For instance, cats quite often tend to take care of their own hygiene, which can be of great help for those pet owners who perhaps have their time occupied with more important day to day tasks. But, and as many cat owners will have experienced, they also have a tendency to wander off, particularly if they are living in the countryside. It’s fair to say, however, that cats are reasonably independent creatures that are more than capable of taking care of themselves.

The down side to this independence is that when cats do stray away from home it can often be for long periods of time, but regardless of how many lives cats are supposed to have, this can still cause a great deal of worry for any feline-loving family.

Of course, when a cat does disappear for days on end, it is merely doing what comes naturally. It may be hunting, looking for a mate, or it may simply have wandered into a neighbouring garden where it has become acquainted with another, perhaps overly-generous, cat lover. Either way, it can be difficult to determine a cat’s reasoning for straying and more than often you begin to consider the worst has happened.

As a result, it’s not too uncommon to see posters placed around a neighbourhood, offering a description of the missing moggy in question, and perhaps even a small reward for its safe return. However, the cat may even wander home eventually of its own accord, and at times possibly a little bedraggled and worse for wear.

Moreover, even the littlest of scrapes or cuts can become infected after days of roughing it, which can lead to a great deal of expense if a vet’s help is needed. But as is the case with anything in life that we hold dear to us, it is possible to provide a little protection should the need arise, and many people choose to take out pet insurance for such occasions.

Having pet insurance in place will ensure that a mischievous moggy isn’t cause for a financial catastrophe, as protection is usually offered not only against the cost of veterinary care, but also for reward and recovery costs too. And as a fully integrated member of the family unit, that’s probably the very least a cat deserves!…

Animal Control

Tips All Cat Owners Need To Know

Rusty

Cats are some of the most lovable creatures a person can own as a pet. However owning a cat comes with a lot of responsibilities. The following article will help teach you exactly what you need to know about owning a cat. Be sure to read and learn what it takes so that you can make an informed decision as to whether or not a cat is a good idea for your household.

Get a pet water fountain. Cats can be prone to dehydration, and running water entices them to drink. It is an evolutionary habit that developed because in the wild, running water is less likely to be contaminated than a stagnant pool. Your pet will enjoy the water more, and will drink more often.

Give your new cat some space. Moving to a new home can be stressful on a cat, especially one who is no longer a kitten. To help them adjust, give them a quiet place that they can call their own, such as a spare bathroom or laundry room. This gives them a safe space they can retreat to until they have become comfortable with exploring the whole house. Depending on the cat, this process may take a few days up to a month or more.

If your cat is pregnant, set up a comfortable, safe place for her to have her kittens. A big cardboard box equipped with a pillow and blanket is good. Place it in the back of a closet or other out of the way place. Keep food and water dishes nearby.

If your cat has a tendency to eat your plants, you can stop him. You can either purchase bitter apple spray and spray the pot, or you can put a bit of clove oil on a cotton ball and bury it a bit in the soil. Your cat will avoid both.

When getting a small kitten to eat dry kitten food, be patient. At first they usually just play with food. It may take a little while, but they’ll eventually learn that they are supposed to eat it rather than toy with it. If the food is moistened first with milk, a kitten may take to it faster.

Provide safe and engaging entertainment for your cat at all times. Even if you cannot be in the house with your pet, you should ensure that it has access to toys and other diversions. Sometimes we perceive that cats are lazy animals, but that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy playing to pass the time. This is especially important if your cat is alone in your house for long periods of time.

Cats have an uncanny ability to always find their way home. If you move to a new home, keep your cat inside for about a month. This will help your cat to familiarize themselves with the smells of your new place. If you let your cat out too soon, they might go home to the wrong house.

When you are looking to finally adopt a new kitten, but don’t want to spend big bucks on an expensive bloodline, you should investigate your local shelters. Most animal shelters offer dogs and cats that need a home badly, regardless of their heritage or costs.You may be able to find a similar cat with a different cost.

When introducing a new cat to your home, make sure that your other pets have time to adjust. You will want to give the new cat extra attention, but it is important to keep up established routines with your other pets. Allow the new cat to explore its new home while you care for your other pets.

Animal Control

Keep track of your feline friend by having the animal microchipped. This small device is implanted beneath the skin between your cat’s shoulder blades. Microchip implantation may sting for a few seconds, but the implant is otherwise unnoticeable and will not cause your pet any discomfort. This chip makes it easier for animal control to locate your cat if it goes missing.

Owning a cat is not easy. It is going to require a lot of work on your part to make sure your cat remains happy and healthy. However, if you implement the advice mentioned in the article above, there is no reason why you can’t be a wonderful owner to your feline friend.…