Aquarium Plants And Lighting Mini-guide

Aquarium plants are as important to aquariums as water is to fish. Aquarium plants add more life to aquarium and make it to look beautiful while completing the aquarium community structure.
The most important thing to bear in mind with plants is to form an attractive background, leaving ample space so the fish can swim undisturbed and be seen. The tall, grassy type is best planted at intervals in rows, while the feathery ones look better when they are bunched into small clumps, which makes them to appear like branching bushes.
When planting rooted plants, hold the tips of the bunch of roots between the thumb and second finger and rest them on the sand. Now with the first finger push the upper part of the roots (where they join the stem) about 2cm into the sand. Without moving this finger scrape with the thumb and second finger some sand over any uncovered portion of the root.
When putting in rootless plants in bunches, the method explained above is repeated, but this time the lower ends of the stems are placed together and treated exactly as if they were roots.
It is important that the water surface should be right up to the lower edge of the top angle iron of the tank, so that looking from the front the water surface can not be seen and the viewer gets the impression that there is no water in the aquarium. If the level is allowed to fall below the top angle iron the tank looks like a container holding water.
Aquarium Lighting is also important for aquarium plants
This depends greatly on whether you intend to successfully grow plants or not. Lack of light causes colorful fish to fade and clanch-reds to pink, green to white. The two main methods of lighting aquarium are by the INCADESCENT and FLOURESCENT.
The total amount of light required is a matter of trial and error. Too much light will turn the water green; too little will stunt plant growth.
The lighting can be natural or artificial or a combination of both. The best position is near a north facing window. This should provide the ideal amount of indirect lights which an be supplemented by artificial light.
The lighting should be housed in wood constructed stylishly with the furniture and placed above the tank. if there is no natural day light, the lights should be left on for approximately eight hours per day.
If the water turns green, you cut down on the light.
The best light for showing off an aquarium comes from behind.

Aquarium Ornament

Aquarium ornaments aren't there to add any benefits to the fish, they are just for you to add some decoration in the tank. You can have all sorts of ornaments, big or small, traditional or caricature, simple or even complicated. There are thousands of different ornaments that you can buy in stores or you can even make your own. However ornaments are not for all fish, some fish don't like them, I know for a fact Oscars don't take well to any type of ornament or even plant. Some fish do need them though, basically to hide or live in and keep away from bigger fish.
Traditional ornaments are ornaments like castles and ships, they provide security for smaller fish from the bigger ones, they also provide a place to stay and play, yes fish do play! Fish ornaments are available in pet and fish stores. They tend to range from very low to very high prices. You can of course get more detailed ornaments that aren't shaped to be anything except for like branches with weeds on them. Some fish need their ornaments to resemble their natural home, for example lots of plants and branches in the tank.
If you have amphibians in your tank they often like a waterfall ornament with a bathing pool at the bottom of it so that they can bath in it. Amphibians need a lot of greenery in their tank as this resembles their home and therefore you should try to make sure that you fill you tank full of it! Aquarium ornaments are easy to come across and they don't take much effort to put in the tank.
You should always try to keep the ornaments like the animals natural habitat unless it is a fish that couldn't care less, like goldfish for example. Goldfish are very easy to keep and you can decorate their tank with all sorts of funny ornaments. With smaller fish you can try to decorate their tanks with funky ornaments but I always feel that the traditional ones are better!

Aquarium Fish Health: White Spot Disease Symptoms And Cures

Fish death is one of the main problems that beginner aquarist and even some expert aquarist face. It’s frustrating to the extent that most quit keeping aquarium fish.
But fish death can be avoided. Most fish deaths are caused as a result of both an internal and external types parasites that compete with the fish in tank.
As a result if you watch your aquarium fish often you should be able to discover when they have been infected by this parasite and be able to treat them to avoid fish death.
Look out for the following White Spot disease behavioral symptoms in your fish.
- Constant lying on the bottom or hanging at the surface.
- Rubbing of the body against rocks
- Gasping at the water surface
- No response to feeding
- General dullness and lethargy
- Hovering in a corner
- Fish swimming with clamps up
The most common of the visible signs is the development of the pin head-size while spots on the body or fins. This ailment is referred to as White Spot disease and is caused by the parasite - Ichthyophthirius Multifillis.
This parasite has a free-swimming stage, which attaches itself to the fish. The most common chemical used in treating infected fishes is Methylene Blue. You could buy a one per cent stock solution from a reputable chemist or aquarium shop and apply at 0.8 to 1.0ml per gallon of water. This amount should be added all at once. Repeat after one or two days.
The fishes must remain in this bath until every while spot has disappeared. A water change after treatment is necessary or else prolonged contact with the chemical may affect the fertility of the fish.
Another tip if you are using a side filter with activated charcoal should remove it to prevent the coal from absorbing the Methylene Blue.
Another tip... during treatment you should use artificial aeration with coarse bubbles near the surface, since a dirty bottom would inactivate the medicament by absorption. A better measure is to remove all dirt from the bottom before treatment.
Methylene Blue is harmless to young fish and unlike the general belief, it does not affect plants if used in weaker concentration.

Aquarium Fish Health: Dealing With Cotton Mouth Disease (Mouth Fungus)

Cotton Mouth disease also know as Mouth Fungus is a disease your fish can get and it needs to be dealt with quickly. Cotton Mouth disease is not as common as the while spot disease, but, it is highly infectious and contagious.
The victim fish shows a whitish fungus round the cheeks and lips. The lips may become swollen and rot away. Sometimes a rotten strip of lip attached only at one end will move in and out of the mouth as the fish breathes.
Fish infected with Mouth Fungus lose their appetite and their movement become sluggish. If no adequate treatment is given, the whole frontal part of the head may be eaten away finally and the fish dies.
Unless the affected fish is of consideration value, it should be killed before this fatal disease attack sthe other occupants, of the tank. Think about it... is trying to save the life of one fish worth risking the death of the rest of the fish in your aquarium?
But if you insist on keeping the fish or in case the infection has already been passed on to other occupants, the following treatment is advised:
- Swabbing the mouth of the victim fish with a soft cloth dipped in strong salt solution. Then you must then keep the patreat isolated in a bucket or jar containing a strong salt water.
- Try swabbing the lips with a 5 per cent silver mercury preparation.
- Make a solution of Terramycin or Aureomycuin by dissolving 50mg per gallon of water, a rapid cure is expected within 48 hours.
You can try all of the above remedies, but the most common remedy is the popular Methylene blue solution. To perform this remedy the sick fish should be placed in a jar, bucket or a treatment tank into which has been added a methylene per blue to colour the water deep blue.

Aquarium Fish Food Tips

A balanced diet for your aquarium fish is essential to thier survival. Most of the commercially available dry fish foods are almost always unbalanced. In many cases, the vitamin content will gradually decline at room temperature and since majority of the dry food for tropical fish commonly used will only keep for about three months, it is always advisable to buy fish-feeds in many small packs rather than in one large pack.
The feed could preferably be kept absolutely dry in a refrigerator. However, all fish appreciate a change of diet and will thank you for your consideration with more interesting behavior, better colours, and greater readiness to breed and better general well -being. This change of diet should be supplemented with live food; majority of which now come in irradiated freeze dried forms to make sure that they are disease free.
I will mention a few that could be found handy in some major aquarium shops and I will group them into two. And they are flake foods and freeze-dried foods
Flake foods
Most popular and highly recommended brands are Aquarian®, Tetra®, and Wardley®. They are varying in cost and quality. Wardley is the least expensive among the three. However, the Aquarian and Tetra are richer in specialty flakes compare to Wardley.
Freeze-dried foods
You will also find freeze-dried foods available in aquarium stores. They are favorite foods for aquarium fish. They have single animal-ingredient like mosquito larvae, blood worms and Tubifex worm each. Aquarist should note that freeze-foods are not in themselves complete diet but they can be combine to flake food or other type of freeze-dried foods. We shall discuss more about Tubifex as a popular freeze-dried food.
TUBIFEX - This is a traditional favorite food relished by most fishes. They are small red worms that live at the bottom of streams and rivers particularly where large amounts of organic matter are present. Therefore, it is difficult for the aquarist to collect them life from their habitat. It is therefore preferable to buy Tubifex from pet shops where they are already clean, freeze-dried and concentrated into cube forms.
From personal experience, Tubifex tubes could probably be the most exciting feed to use for fishes. The cube can be stuck to the front inside wall of the aquarium. The fishes in the tank will immediately come forward and bit off pieces of worms excitedly until satisfied.
You need not bother to remove the rest worms since they seldom pollute and in most case fishes return to the feed for further fill.

Aquarium Aeration Basics

As we all know rivers and lakes are the natural habits for fish and other marine life. Rivers and lakes have large surface area which makes maximum provision of oxygen for fish survival possible. On the other hand an aquarium is not like river or lake, it has a smaller surface area and there is limited movement of habitats.
This makes the provision of alternative means of oxygen for fish to breathe important. This artificial process of providing oxygen is called aeration. It's a simple process of re-oxygenating the water in aquarium tank.
The Aquarium Aerating System:
An aquarium aerating aystem made up of a series of materials that increases the supply of air (thereby increasing oxygen concentration) they are:

    the air pump
    t-pieces
    rubber tubing
    clamp or regulator
    diffusers or airstone

Air pumps come in different shapes and sizes but the most popular ones are tecax air pump from Taiwan together with 'dyna free, and the dragon' another popular one is super 555 from India though cheaper, but not as rugged. Occasionally available are the more expensive whisper and rens air pumps from Uk and rance respectively. Always place air pumps above the water level hooked to a non-vibrating material.
You can accomplish aeration in your aquarium tank by using the above listed aeration materials.
For small tanks all you need is to attach a simple aquarium air pump to airstone by means of a rubber air tube. The system will be blowing air into the water which causes motion in aquarium tank and thus provide the necessary oxygen your fish needs to breathe in the aquarium.
Sometimes people complain that the airpumps are too loud. A tricks to keep the air pump quiet is to insulate it's vibrations by placing the air pump on a large sponge.
I have even heard of some people who have buried the pump in cat litter with a air tube running to the surface from the air inlet... but you don't have to go to that extent. A large sponge should do the trick.

Apistogramma, Dwarf Cichlids In The Aquarium

The real apistogramma's come from southern America, they all have the same characteristics, like a complex breeding behavior, as their large relatives, only their size is different. Besides the apistogramma group there are also some relatively popular dwarf cichlids from Africa, like the Pelvicachromis group. From this group the most widespread cichlid is the Pelvicachromis pulcher, also known as the Kribensis or Purple cichlid.
Generally the cichlids from the apistogramma group are more fragile and harder to maintain, and breed, for a longer period of time. In my opinion apistogramma's are not real beginner species. They are more likely to get diseases if not all the environmental variables are properly taken care of. They need soft and acidic water with a low PH value, a PH of 5.5 to 6 is preferable. They hardly eat dry foods, best is to feed them live foods or frozen food, like bloodworms, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae. Apistogramma species can be kept in a large tropical community aquarium, but be sure the other fish are not too small, they can defend their territory very fiercely, and can be quite aggressive when they are breeding. In my opinion it is best to keep the apistogramma's on their own, in a larger aquarium you could combine two apistogramma variants together, maybe supplemented with a small group of other fish, like some livebearers or betta's. They also can be kept together with discus or angel fish. I always have a harem of apisto's in my discus tanks, just to populate the lower areas of the aquarium and I really like these small dwarfs with a big attitude.
The cichlids from the Pelvicachromis group are much more tolerant when it comes to water values and feeding, I do consider these cichlids a good beginner species. They are hardened, beautiful colored and eat almost anything. The Pelvicachromis pulcher is maybe one of the most easy to breed cichlids as well. If you have an adult couple they will reproduce, in a community tank, a special species tank or in a pond, some people like to breed them in their pond during summer. Actually some of the biggest and nicest colored Pelvicachromis pulcher were pond bred and raised. The only thing to keep in mind with these cichlids is that they are capable of redesigning your aquarium, they can make huge holes and are real little bulldozers. So if you have, or want to setup, a subtile planted tank, don't add a couple of Pelvicachromis to your aquarium.
The last dwarf cichlid I want to mention is the Microgeophagus ramirezi, or Ram cichlid. Their behavior and care are roughly the same as the apistogramma's but they are more tolerant when it comes to water values, and in my experience they are easier to keep in good condition. Unlike the apistos they have to be kept as a couple, not a harem but that's the only breeding experience I have. I have tried several couples, have a couple in a breeding tank right now, but I have never even had a clutch of eggs. I know from other breeders that they are kind of hard to get going, but if they do they never stop.

Apistogramma , Dwarf Cichlids In The Aquarium

The real apistogramma's come from southern America, they all have the same characteristics, like a complex breeding behavior, as their large relatives, only their size is different. Besides the apistogramma group there are also some relatively popular dwarf cichlids from Africa, like the Pelvicachromis group. From this group the most widespread cichlid is the Pelvicachromis pulcher, also known as the Kribensis or Purple cichlid.
Generally the cichlids from the apistogramma group are more fragile and harder to maintain, and breed, for a longer period of time. In my opinion apistogramma's are not real beginner species. They are more likely to get diseases if not all the environmental variables are properly taken care of. They need soft and acidic water with a low PH value, a PH of 5.5 to 6 is preferable. They hardly eat dry foods, best is to feed them live foods or frozen food, like bloodworms, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae. Apistogramma species can be kept in a large tropical community aquarium, but be sure the other fish are not too small, they can defend their territory very fiercely, and can be quite aggressive when they are breeding. In my opinion it is best to keep the apistogramma's on their own, in a larger aquarium you could combine two apistogramma variants together, maybe supplemented with a small group of other fish, like some livebearers or betta's. They also can be kept together with discus or angel fish. I always have a harem of apisto's in my discus tanks, just to populate the lower areas of the aquarium and I really like these small dwarfs with a big attitude.
The cichlids from the Pelvicachromis group are much more tolerant when it comes to water values and feeding, I do consider these cichlids a good beginner species. They are hardened, beautiful colored and eat almost anything. The Pelvicachromis pulcher is maybe one of the most easy to breed cichlids as well. If you have an adult couple they will reproduce, in a community tank, a special species tank or in a pond, some people like to breed them in their pond during summer. Actually some of the biggest and nicest colored Pelvicachromis pulcher were pond bred and raised. The only thing to keep in mind with these cichlids is that they are capable of redesigning your aquarium, they can make huge holes and are real little bulldozers. So if you have, or want to setup, a subtile planted tank, don't add a couple of Pelvicachromis to your aquarium.
The last dwarf cichlid I want to mention is the Microgeophagus ramirezi, or Ram cichlid. Their behavior and care are roughly the same as the apistogramma's but they are more tolerant when it comes to water values, and in my experience they are easier to keep in good condition. Unlike the apistos they have to be kept as a couple, not a harem but that's the only breeding experience I have. I have tried several couples, have a couple in a breeding tank right now, but I have never even had a clutch of eggs. I know from other breeders that they are kind of hard to get going, but if they do they never stop.
ZZZZZZ

Apistogramma , Dwarf Cichlids In The Aquarium

The real apistogramma's come from southern America, they all have the same characteristics, like a complex breeding behavior, as their large relatives, only their size is different. Besides the apistogramma group there are also some relatively popular dwarf cichlids from Africa, like the Pelvicachromis group. From this group the most widespread cichlid is the Pelvicachromis pulcher, also known as the Kribensis or Purple cichlid.
Generally the cichlids from the apistogramma group are more fragile and harder to maintain, and breed, for a longer period of time. In my opinion apistogramma's are not real beginner species. They are more likely to get diseases if not all the environmental variables are properly taken care of. They need soft and acidic water with a low PH value, a PH of 5.5 to 6 is preferable. They hardly eat dry foods, best is to feed them live foods or frozen food, like bloodworms, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae. Apistogramma species can be kept in a large tropical community aquarium, but be sure the other fish are not too small, they can defend their territory very fiercely, and can be quite aggressive when they are breeding. In my opinion it is best to keep the apistogramma's on their own, in a larger aquarium you could combine two apistogramma variants together, maybe supplemented with a small group of other fish, like some livebearers or betta's. They also can be kept together with discus or angel fish. I always have a harem of apisto's in my discus tanks, just to populate the lower areas of the aquarium and I really like these small dwarfs with a big attitude.
The cichlids from the Pelvicachromis group are much more tolerant when it comes to water values and feeding, I do consider these cichlids a good beginner species. They are hardened, beautiful colored and eat almost anything. The Pelvicachromis pulcher is maybe one of the most easy to breed cichlids as well. If you have an adult couple they will reproduce, in a community tank, a special species tank or in a pond, some people like to breed them in their pond during summer. Actually some of the biggest and nicest colored Pelvicachromis pulcher were pond bred and raised. The only thing to keep in mind with these cichlids is that they are capable of redesigning your aquarium, they can make huge holes and are real little bulldozers. So if you have, or want to setup, a subtile planted tank, don't add a couple of Pelvicachromis to your aquarium.
The last dwarf cichlid I want to mention is the Microgeophagus ramirezi, or Ram cichlid. Their behavior and care are roughly the same as the apistogramma's but they are more tolerant when it comes to water values, and in my experience they are easier to keep in good condition. Unlike the apistos they have to be kept as a couple, not a harem but that's the only breeding experience I have. I have tried several couples, have a couple in a breeding tank right now, but I have never even had a clutch of eggs. I know from other breeders that they are kind of hard to get going, but if they do they never stop.
ZZZZZZ

Another Kind of Horse Brand: Business Branding in Equine Marketing

It's winter time, the breed inspection season has come and gone in North America, and along with it branding season.
Branding season for horses--NOT for horse BUSINESSES.
If you have any business or marketing background, or have done any reading on the subject, you have heard of branding in the business context. Let's take a look at what that actually is.
Brands on horses and other livestock in the Old West showed ownership. There was some level of claiming recognition for owning a quality animal, but primarily the point was to keep livestock from being stolen. Branding helped to legally retrieve stolen livestock.
In Europe, brands on horses were not an indication of personal ownership, but rather indicated the horses' affiliations with one of the regional registries.
That idea, which is behind modern-day branding of horses in European-affiliated breeds and some of the other breeds in North America is closer to the concept of business branding. In fact, it IS business branding for the individual horse breed.
So What is Branding Exactly?
It isn't a string of freeze-branded symbols or a set of moose antlers or other breed symbol. Those are likened to a business logo or trademark, but those things aren't brands in the business sense, either.
A brand on a horse signifies everything the breed represents: the quality, history, performance record, origin, and so on. A horse that carries a breed's brand mark ostensibly possesses all of the attributes of the breed, and is theoretically capable of performing to the standard established by that breed association. For example, when you see a horse with a Holsteiner brand (assuming you have familiarity with the mark), you recognize the horse as a Holsteiner. You immediately know a little bit about the horse's lineage, background, and the kinds of activities it might be good at.
That is why some registries require a physical inspection and approval of the individual horse before giving it a brand--the branded horse is a representative of the breed's identity, a walking advertisement. It makes sense for the breed organization to want to control the quality of those advertisements.
Likewise, a brand is the embodiment of all the information connected with a product or service. A brand typically includes a name, logo, and other visual elements and encompasses the set of expectations associated with a product or service which typicaly arise in the minds of people. (reference: wikipedia.org).
Logos and such--like brand marks--are a shorthand symbol for the brand. Those marks are meaningless until the brand is built.
Build Your Brand from the Ground Up:
As Chevy Chase's character, Ty Webb, says in Caddyshack, "Be the ball." Live the brand. Branding is everything you and your business represents. You establish a brand through the quality of your horses, your competitive record, the standard of service you provide to your clients, the manner of your business dealings, trust, your reputation. A brand is a business' identity. Consistency in all of these elements builds a brand.
Paradoxically, I am on the fence about whether to brand horses or not. Maybe just the bunny-hugger in my personality coming out, but I think branding hurts the animal.
For your horse business, definitely, branding shouldn't hurt. It might take a little mental stretching to grasp the concept, but the actual establishment and building of your brand need not be painful.
But one thing is certain: There is no end to the branding season for businesses!

Animaroo Gives Animal Breeders the Online Opportunity They’ve Been Waiting For

The online animal industry has recently taken off due to the opportunity and connection the internet provides for animal breeders. It is now easier than ever to find dogs for sales, horses for sale, alpacas for sale, and llamas for sale, adoption, or stud. The internet is currently the vehicle of choice for animal breeders looking to find a greater variety of animals online. Animaroo has decided to take advantage of the opportunities that the internet is now offering to animal breeders around the world.
Animaroo has recently introduced an improved method of online animal marketing. Animaroo simplifies the listing processes for dog, horse, alpaca and llama listings, helps to educate dog breeders, horse breeders, llama breeders and alpaca breeders as well as the buyer. It also incorporates accountability practices and pioneered a method of posting dogs, horses, alpacas, and llamas to Animaroo.com right from a persons own website; all while keeping their animal classified ads free to searchers, breeders, adoption agencies, and service providers.
After receiving feedback from the online animal community about the lacking methods of other online dog, horse, alpaca, and llama advertisers Animaroo took the challenge of simplifying the listing process while presenting more within each listing, offering the most exposure without cost increases, presenting valuable updated information to help educate dog, horse, alpaca, and llama buyers while helping responsible breeders incorporate successful marketing techniques within their businesses.
Animaroo is the only online animal venue where the breeder/seller and the buyer are held accountable through animal classified feedback methods, references, and the online community. “Our reputable dog, horse, alpaca, and llama breeders are not afraid to put their references on the line as well as their customer’s feedback. We find that the breeders on Animaroo are encouraged by the feedback system and accountability it produces. Good breeders are often given a bad name by un-reputable or fraudulent animal breeders within the breeding industry. Animaroo aims to provide a venue for breeders who love your pets as much as you do.”
Animaroo also offers an online animal management system than can be used by those without a website and for those with existing websites. The system invented by Animaroo manages your dogs for breeding, horses for stud, alpacas herd sires, llamas herd sires, up to hundreds of breeds and can be used for one animal type or multiple types. The Animaroo animal management system aids breeders with their online presence, as organizes their dogs, horses, alpacas and llamas for sale in a customer friendly way, as well as offering the one click method for posting animals for sale, adoption, and for stud to http://www.animaroo.com.

Animals Benefit from Energy Healing

I learned about energy healing by receiving healings from a practitioner.  When I tried to find my horse's chakras, I took my first steps to becoming a healer myself.  Finding the chakras on my horse, Echo, was easy for me.  Echo became my first client.
Energy work, energy healing, pranic healing, Reiki, and hands-on-healing are just a few of labels which describe similar systems..  I use Shamballa Multidimensional Healing because it offers the highest vibrational frequencies available on Earth at this time and focuses on empowering the client. 
In a Shamballa session, the healer is a channel for Life Force energy, Unconditional Love energy, and Spiritual Light.  By holding specific intentions based on the client's goals, the healer provides a safe space and an opportunity to release and restore balance at the cellular, organ and system levels of the physical body.  In addition, limiting beliefs, blocked emotions, and karmic and dna patterns can be replaced with new ways of being.  The individual blueprint for that person's or animal's body can be repaired and restored to the cosmic seed blueprint of perfection that was originally intended.
About a year a half before I learned about energy healing, Echo, my horse, came in from pasture with muscle spasms in her mid-back.  Since I am telepathic with animals, I asked her what had happened.  Her answer was like watching a moving picture in my mind.   Two horses had chased her.  As she ran up a slope on wet grass, her hindquarters slipped sideways and hit the ground, twisting her back.  As a result, some vertebrae were stuck and the muscles were in spasm.
Echo was treated both with veterinary acupuncture and chiropractic, as well as gentle massage.  While her body seemed to be restored to perfect health, there remained a soft lump on Echo's back at the spine right behind the saddle area.  Two veterinarians said it was probably a cyst that would never go away.  I observed it changing shape from time to time, but it did not get smaller.
Eighteen months later, I began teaching myself about energy healing by looking for the primary chakras in Echo's body.  A chakra is a wheel or vortex of spinning energy shaped like a cyclone.  When working properly, the physical body receives life force through the chakras and sends out energies it no longer needs.  In humans and animals there are 7 primary chakras located along the spine. 
You feel for the presence of a chakra by bringing your hand, palm down, in a sweeping motion towards the spine and then swooping back up again.  As I moved my hand over Echo's back, I felt different sensations which helped me identify six of the seven primary chakras.  Since I felt the energy, but did not see it, I used my hands to feel Echo's chakras at various distances above her body. 
Echo's third chakra was located directly over the lump.  As I felt the chakra three inches above her physical body, I noticed that part of it seemed higher than the rest, like a funnel within a funnel.  I remembered seeing a drawing in Barbara Brennan’s Hands of Light which illustrated what I was feeling with my hands.  
I wondered, "How do you fix this?"  The answer came.   I grasp with my hand the root of the piece that was out of place and put it back where it belonged, inside Echo's body.  I knew that I couldn't literally place my physical hand into Echo's physical body, so I just imagined or pretended that I was doing it.  Then I checked the top of the chakra again.  It felt completely normal.
Two weeks later, the lump on Echo's back had completely disappeared, never to return. 
I was amazed, excited, and bewildered, all at the same time.  Had I actually fixed the problem?  If so, how had I known what to do?  I shared this story with the woman who was giving me healings.   she explained that all energetic healing is performed with the help of spirit guides who are healing experts.  She encouraged me to meet mine
That evening I asked to meet my guides.  Immediately, I saw in my mind three beings.  One looked like a Caucasian male dressed in a toga.  The second looked like a Native American kachina with a hawk's head.  The third was an African tribesman whose clothing sometimes looked like a western suit.  Only the first guide spoke to me, or he was the only one I could hear.  I asked them to work with me and they all agreed.
Since that time, I have learned a great deal by giving healings and allowing my guides to teach me.  For example, I discovered that a healing can be sent to someone anywhere on the planet and the effect is the same as if I were physically present with the client. 
One of my first distance healing clients was a dog named Vinnie who had received surgery on the vertebrae of his neck to repair an injury.  When his family called me, it had been three months since the surgery.  Vinnie was recovering was very slowly.  He was on medication for pain and walked with his head hung down, his lower back curled under.  He often held his right paw up, unable to put his full weight on it. 
The evening after Vinnie's first healing, his family called to say that he was holding his head up more and putting more weight on his right forefoot.  They said his eyes seemed happier.  Four days later, his family called to tell me that "For the past several days, he's been in much better spirits.  His neck doesn't seem to bother him as much and he doesn't lift his right front paw as often.  Although he seems stiff and sore in the morning when he first wakes up, he improves during the day.  He's more playful.  He can hold his head up higher and holds it up more often.  Overall, he seems happier and is playing more and even runs straighter."
Because the initial injury was severe and had taken place several months ago, Vinnie's body had compensated for his pain and had difficulty moving.  He benefited from a series of sessions to clear stagnant energies, reduce the pain and inflammation, and support the body's natural healing processes.  Between early March and late April of that year, seven energy healing sessions were given.  As a result, Vinnie lived a more comfortable, happier, active life, and hardly ever need pain medicine.
Sometime energetic healing is helpful in changing behaviors where physical injury is not the root of the problem.  A horse trainer from Kentucky called to have me speak with a gelding named Joe he was training as a show jumper.  Joe had been abandoned by his previous owner and the farm wanted to train him so he could be sold. 
According to the trainer, Joe couldn't seem to tolerate any leg contact and would spook at everything.  Training him was extremely difficult because it was hard to keep his attention.  Since jumping requires a great deal of concentration, the training wasn't going very well. 
As soon as I tuned in to speak telepathically with Joe, I felt that his spirit wanted to be outside his physical body..  With Joe's permission, I reached out with my hand to feel Joe's energy.  My hand felt as though I had put it into a nest of stinging hornets.  No wonder Joe was spooky and could barely tolerate a rider!
The trainer agreed to try three energy healing sessions.  Joe showed improvement after the very first one.  While the trainer and I also discussed ways to make Joe more comfortable under saddle, the biggest changes occurred after healing sessions in which I was able to move the "bee sting" energy out and replaced it with calmer, more comfortable energy.  When Joe was able to settle into his physical body and become more grounded, he was able to pay attention to the rider's cues.  Soon Joe was on his way to Florida for the winter show circuit where he would compete successfully.
Energy healing can help a multitude of situations.  It is non-invasive, can be combined with other forms of healing, including western medicine, and can be done just as effectively from a distance.  As you consider approaches to helping your animals, consider energy healing.

Animal Care: Pet Pests Are Back!

While most Garden Buffs can hardly wait for spring and summer to arrive, many pet owners fear this lovely time of year. They know it’s the beginning of flea and tick season. While the exact time when these tiny pests appear en masse to torture pets and humans alike may vary, a wise Pet Owner starts to prepare for their arrival as the snow melts, flowers bloom or the temperatures start to climb.
Preparation can help avoid infestation. Flea and ticks may seem like super-pests that are able to thwart even professional efforts to get and keep them out, but they are not as tough as you might think. In most cases, people actually invite these pests on to their property and into their homes by their action or inaction. They do this by creating a flea and tick friendly environment.
I received a letter from a big city apartment dweller a few years ago. He had a small dog and lived in a clean, well-kept New York City apartment. He took stellar care of his dog, had his place professionally cleaned and always made sure that his pet avoided contact with other animals and areas likely to be infested. Despite all these precautions, his pet always ended up with fleas. Having lived in the Big Apple myself for a number of years, I knew that his problem was a common one. People who live in urban areas or clean suburban neighborhoods fail to understand how their pets get flea and tick infestations. Well, it’s a lot easier than you might think.
During my days in New York City, I watched more then a few people walk their pets near trees. I mean, when a dogs gotta go, they’ve gotta go! The problem is that almost all trees in urban or suburban settings have grass, weeds or some other form of flora near or around them. That grass is rarely trimmed to proper standards. Fleas love tall grass because it’s just a hop, skip and jump to the next animal that happens along to use the nearby tree as an animal restroom. Ticks also have a field day with these areas. Animals free and clear of these tiny pests interact with infested pets and you know the rest of the story.
There are just no shortcuts to preventing flea and tick infestation. It is all about cleanliness, vigilance and making the right choices. Providing a clean and well-kept environment for your pet is the best way to avoid infestation. Problem areas include refuse storage, lawns, trees, plants and bushes. Problem situations include contact with other animals and exposure to environments outside of your residence.
Let’s begin with the garbage. Refuse areas are the perfect breeding ground for all kinds of pests. Keeping the inside and outside of garbage containers clean and making sure they are tightly covered is a step in the right direction. However, you also have to be sure that pets cannot get near or have regular contact with the containers or the area where they are kept. Pets are attracted to the smell of garbage (which you might not even be able to detect). So are other animals. Birds and various animal visitors to your property can bring unwelcome pests. These pests can end up infesting your pets. Refuse areas should be fenced off or placed outside of your pet‘s roaming area. Bird feeders should be placed away from areas where your pet eats, drinks or exercises.
Wild birds carry a number of tiny pests and diseases that can seriously affect the health of domesticated pets. When birds use pet water bowls to drink or bath, they can pass all kinds of health problems along to your animals. A large or concentrated number of bird droppings are also a major problem. While you cannot avoid having birds visit your yard or balcony, you can help limit their access to your pet by not going out of your way to welcome large numbers of them. Feed and water your pets inside. Avoid Bird Feeders if you have pets that eat, drink or exercise nearby. Keep pets inside when you seed your lawn.
The best way to place a NO VACANCY sign on your property when it comes to fleas and ticks is to avoid creating a pest friendly environment. Keep your lawn, trees and bushes trimmed. Use small portable gardening fences or other means of containment to keep your pet away from areas between bushes, small trees, gardens and your house. Purchase flea and tick preventive lawn sprays. These attach to your garden hose and allow the spray to be easily applied to your lawn, trees, plants and bushes. Most of these spray products are available at large pet or department stores. Outside areas should be sprayed once a month from March until October (and later if temperatures remain mild). If your pet has access to a balcony, patio, deck or garage, these areas need to be kept clean as well and may also be treated with anti-flea and tick sprays available in aerosol cans.
Dog Houses, concrete Pet Runs and containment areas can become havens for all kinds of bacteria, pests and disease. Unless you have a specific need to have these artificial areas on your property, don’t bother with them. Your pet is better off without them. These kinds of areas require a huge amount of maintenance and cleaning. Even when properly maintained and cleaned, it’s difficult to keep these structures free of troublesome pests.
Once you get the clean pet area thing down, you have another big hurdle to jump. Spring is the perfect time to take advantage of public picnic and park facilities. We all love to take our pets to the park and show them off. Well, fleas and ticks love that too. As pets meet and mingle, all kinds of pests and health threats rear their ugly heads to threaten your beloved pet. That is why it’s smart to stay away from public areas with lots of other pets, wild animals, tall grass and poorly maintained flora.
If you’ve got Spring Fever, curb your enthusiasm and keep your pet safe. I just cringe when I see people bring their pets out to public areas and allow them to run all over the place unleashed. That’s wrong on so many levels and it is an even bigger problem during flea and tick season. Maybe they watched too many Lassie reruns and have a vision of their dog running across a high grass meadow to save old Mister Hobbs who had a heart attack while plowing his field? Perhaps they saw Free Willy, all the sequels and want to give their pet a respite from the gated existence they endure as domesticated pets? Either way, letting your pet run free in public areas is not doing them or any one else any favors (except fleas and tick, they love you for it).
Another way to help keep your pet free of pests is by keeping the outside from coming inside. During the 1970s, everyone wanted to be Grizzly Adams. My mother loved to go walking out in the country (as long as it consisted of meadows off any one of a number of local expressways, parkways or highways). She brought all kinds of wild plants and berries into the house from those places. My favorite was the time that she decided to make Dandelion Wine, spent a couple of days collecting Dandelions and a couple of months trying to get the vile brew to taste like something someone would actually drink.
After any one of her attempts to get closer to nature, our home quickly filled with wild flora and all kinds of annoying flies, tiny flying insects and other annoying bugs that came along for the ride or were attracted by them. My Mom got really mad at me when I kept insisting that she had caused a fly with a human head to be brought into the house after collecting a bunch of wild plants and ferns from near an old research laboratory. I think the fly kept saying, “Help ME…Help ME!” The object lesson here is to keep inside plants and wild foliage brought in from the outside away from your pets. Trudging around nature and making it welcome in your dwelling can bring many tiny pests into your pet’s environment. May I suggest getting your inside flora from a reputable Nursery?
Because fleas and ticks have become such a big problem, there are now a number of indoor and outdoor chemical treatments available for your pet and their environment. Given the possible repercussions of exposing a pet to any chemicals, I suggestion you ask your Veterinarian for their input on these choices before using any. They are some natural choices that produce the same result.
A natural flea repellent can be produced by cutting up a lemon, allowing it to sit in a spray bottle overnight and then spaying it liberally on your dog. Avoid their eyes, but spray behind their ears. The spray can also be used on your pet‘s environment. A small amount of eucalyptus oil can be added to the final rinse of your pet’s bedding to help keep those tiny varmints away. Fleas hate salt and it can kill them. If your dwelling is really hopping with fleas, apply a thin layer of salt to your floor, carpet and furniture, then  vacuum. You will be surprised how effective salt can be against all kinds of annoying pests. Dogs who need a flea bath can be bathed with some Lavender oil. And then there’s the G-Bomb. Dogs hate garlic, but so do fleas and ticks. Garlic can be added to a nice piece of meat or chicken. When you pet sweats, they drop the G-Bomb on pests.
When it comes to fleas and ticks, they always prefer to come into a pest friendly environment. The best way to keep fleas and ticks away from your pet, your housing and yourself is by making sure that you do not put out a WELCOME sign. Keep your pet and their environment clean and well groomed. Pest proof your dwelling. Use common sense when taking your pet outside or away from home. Like poor relatives, it’s much easier to keep these pests out then to make them leave once they have found a nice place to stay.
Read more about Dog Care and health tips at http://doggiestyle.billknell.com. Adopt a puppy at http://www.AzToyDogs.com or http://www.ArizonaPups.com.

American Paint Horse

The American Paint Horse is a breed of horses which are known for having a percentage of white hair over skin combined with another color. This color pattern is one of the most important characteristics of this breed. The American Paint Horse Association is one of the largest breed register centers in the US.
Every American Paint Horse has white hair combined with some other color found in horses. This includes brown, black, tan, or gray. American Paint horses are related to the American Quarter Horse, and share the same ancestors. The markings on these horses can be anywhere on its body. Like the Quarter Horse, American Paint Horses are known for their speed and athletic qualities.
Strict requirements are necessary in order to register these horses. Both the sire and dam have to be registered in the APHA and the club for Thoroughbreds. At least one of the parents of the horse being registered must be an American Paint Horse. It is also important that the horse being registered have white fur over skin which is another color.  These horses have an excellent temperament, and make great pets.
The American Paint Horse should have a body shape which is the same as the American Quarter Horse. They should be heavy but not very tall, and their center of gravity should be low. They should also be very muscular with a powerful back legs. They should also be able to run extremely fast and maneuver quickly. The American Paint Horse is one of the most popular breeds of horses in the United States today.
Despite this, these horses are susceptible to getting lethal white syndrome, a genetic disease. Some foals are born with a pure white color and do not have a functioning colon. As of this writing, no effective treatments have been found for this disease, and the foal usually dies within two weeks. The death is a very painful process, and they are typically put down once symptoms have been found. The coat color alone is not an indicator that a horse has this disease.
This disease has become well known among American Paint Horse breeders, and many of them have encountered this disease first hand. While it was thought at one time that overos carried this disease, recent research has shown that not all overos carry this disorder, and tobianos and quarter horses may carry it also. Despite these conditions, American Paint Horses are highly prized.

Allergic To Your Dog Or Cat?

Pets definitely help us live longer and healthier lives. This is especially true of the elderly and those of us who live alone. Pets make wonderful and faithful companions. They are always there for us. However, this relationship can become strained, and sometimes even be broken when someone in the household develops an allergy to a beloved pet.
Studies show that approximately 15% of the population suffers from an allergy to a dog or cat, and about one third of those with an allergy to cats choose to live in a household with a cat despite the allergy. Some allergy suffers live happily with a pet for a year or two before an allergy starts.
There are sometimes long term health ramifications of repeated allergy flair up's, especially for children. Repeated flair-up's can cause permanent lung damage in children. This should be carefully and thoroughly discussed with your physician. One of the ways to live happily with an animal you are allergic to is to decrease your exposure to the animal. Keep the animal outside if possible.
If the allergy sufferer only has a mild reaction to the animal there are ways for the two of them to live together in harmony, but it takes work. The animal should not be allowed in the allergy sufferers bedroom or on the bed. Keep the animal off of any upholstered furniture in the house as dander can be transferred to upholstered furniture. Use a room purifier to remove airborne animal dander. Remove carpets from the home if possible and replace with wood floors. Wash area rugs on a regular basis with warm water. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter in order to trap dander. The allergy sufferer should wash his or her face and hands after handling the animal. The animal can be bathed weekly in specially formulated shampoo that removes dander.
In some cases where the above methods and the use of over the counter antihistamines and decongestants do not help, the allergy sufferer may need to seek the help of an allergist. Immunotherapy can be thought of like a vaccination against your allergies. Given on a regular basis as shots, immunotherapy helps your body build up a natural tolerance to specific allergens.
With the use of the above methods you'll be able to live a long and healthy life with your pet!

Allergies – Dogs May Suffer Too

Many people don’t realize that their dogs, just like human beings, can suffer from allergies. In fact, about twenty percent of the dogs in the United States alone suffer from one allergy or another, with flea allergy dermatitis being the most common form of allergies in dogs. Other types include atopic dermatitis, food allergies, and inhalant allergies.
Signs and symptoms of dog allergies may vary but are often marked by persistent itching and discoloration of the skin (most common in skin allergies), coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and mucus discharge (most common in inhalant allergies), and nausea, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea (common to food allergies and other ailments.)
Over-the-counter preparations and treatments for common dog allergies exist and may be purchased at any good pet supply store, but care should be taken when choosing such treatments. Consultation with a vet is the best first course of action for several reasons. First of all, what you think is an allergic reaction may actually be signs of a more serious ailment and a vet should be the one to determine whether that is the case. Secondly, if the allergy is severe enough, over-the-counter treatments may not be sufficient to treat the symptoms and a prescription strength treatment may be required. There is also the chance that the dog does not have an allergy at all. The last thing you want to do is medicate your pet unnecessarily.
If you do think your dog has some type of allergy, consult your vet. The doctor will be able to perform tests to determine whether an allergic condition exists, how severe it is, and what the proper treatment will be. If the dog has an allergy to certain foods, it will be imperative to restrict the animal’s diet to eliminate those items that cause a reaction. The vet’s testing methods can help to determine whether this type of allergy exists as well. If the dog has flea allergy dermatitis (an allergic reaction to the saliva of fleas, rather than to the insects themselves), an extreme flea prevention regimen will be recommended.
Just like humans, dogs that suffer from various allergies can live comfortably with them if they are detected and treated properly. It is important to keep in mind that this is not a time to “play doctor” by attempting to diagnose and treat a possible allergic condition yourself. Only your veterinarian is qualified to determine whether your dog is suffering from allergies and what course of action to take.

All for One, One for All: Fireants

If I weren't bit by a fireant the other day, I would never have thought of writing about ants. Despite the cortisone cream, fireant bites itch, burn, and take quite a few days to heal.
In primitive human societies, ant bites were considered as having healing powers; therefore, ant bites were used in initiation ceremonies as a test of endurance. That must mean, I am initiated to something without my consent and not for the first time either.
Taking their viewpoint into account, I really don't blame the ants much. To them, we must seem so careless and so much bigger than Gulliver's giants. They must suffer multiple casualties everyday, even if our clumsy feet commit their murders unwittingly. When we step on an ant, the crushed ant emits an alarm pheromone in high concentration. That sends other ants nearby into war frenzy and causes them attack anything and everything around the nest.
This waste of ant-life is increased thousands-fold under Florida's sudden showers that flood their commune and by the pest-control man who pays a visit once a month causing ant-martyrs because of the extermination industry. I watched that Terminex guy at his work, fighting a biological warfare at its best. Wherever he found an ant hill, he put in some granules and watered it. This much stress would make any species go crazy and strike back with vengeance.
To top their aggravation, fireants' forefathers play a role in their behavioral genes. It is believed that ants have evolved from the wasps and they must have kept the aggressive behavior of wasps somewhere in their DNA structure because their bite hurts and gets swollen just like a wasp's bite. Worse yet, some ant species, called killer ants, have a tendency to attack much larger animals during their foraging or in defending their nests.
The ant colony works as one unit. In that unit are many ants that act, according to their individual function, for the whole colony to make the ant life practical and effective. Even if there is separateness among the ants, their existence is one complete element. An ant colony does not consist of tiny whole things linked together as in human societies; each ant is a part of the whole without being separate. The ants' oneness is in harmony with the forces of nature.
Imagine being without legs or arms and needing total care from the others in your youth. Well, that's an ant's life for you. Ants do not develop their legs until fully grown; they depend completely on the nurse-ants. When the baby ants develop, they get six legs with prominent elbows, or should we say knees, and off to work they go. The worker ants spent their internship of few days in caring for the queen and the young. After that, they graduate to harder and harder tasks, from digging and nest work to foraging food and defending the nest.
Most of these worker ants are females. Maybe the ant colonies, too, depend on women’s volatile and high-strung view of things. Yet, there's a place for males in the commune also. The males act as drones and work with the queen to pad up the population. That must mean the females are the fallen soldiers who go out to face the world daily and possibly perish in the path of duty.
The queen--in the beginning of a colony--has quite a few jobs, but as the colony enlarges, her duties are delegated to others, and she becomes the mother of the commune who just lays eggs. Motherhood must have a very respectful and an almost divine throne, since ants appoint body guards to the queen and the body guards form a ring around her. That ring moves with her and expands or contracts according to the situation.
The eggs, or the ant-children, do not belong to the queen, but are the communal possession. As soon as the eggs are laid, they are carried to a separate room to be cared by attendants or nurses. These ants, though not a separate caste--being vigorous and efficient--are at the prime of their lives, and their care of the young, as witnessed by observers, is meticulously and very lovingly administered.
As soon as each young ant is out of the nursery, it gains responsibility and the spirit of the commune directs her to a chosen occupation. The young ant's role in life is not haphazard and directionless like the young of the human.
If we pause and think, we may understand that, from many angles, there is enlightenment to be gained from the ant colonies, but the most important point is, all ants of the colony act as one whole, making separateness an alien concept. Separateness causes discord in the harmony of life, allowing the ego to abhor or look down upon others.

All About Cats

Cats are the members of the Felidae family of canivorous
mammals. Lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, African wild cat are
the members of the cat family. Their closest relatives are
civets, hyenas and mongooses. However, what we generally
recognize as cat is the domestic or the house cat.

The association between cats and humans dates back to
between 7000 to 4000 years ago. From being dragged into
satanic ritual beliefs, Halloween and unlucky black cat
tags to being cute, caring and loyal companions, cats have
seen it all. Cats have also been associated with bad omens,
death and witchcraft. On the other hand there have been
cultures like Vikings who worshipped the Goddess Freya, the
goddess of fertility, who was closely associated to cats.

Cat appears in the Vietnamese and Chinese Zodiac systems.
They are highly respected in Islam since it is believed that
Prophet Mohammed approved domestication of cat. Feeding a
cat is regarded as a great deed in Islam. Ancient Egyptians
hailed cats as embodiment of their Goddess Bast. In many of
the pyramids, mummified cats were found in the thousands.
This signifies the importance of cat for the ancient
Egyptians.

Today, there are dozens of breeds of cat that are
domesticated. As for your cat vocabulary, a group of cat is
clowder, male cat is tom, female cat is queen and the cute
little baby cat is called kitten.

An average cat weighs between 2.5 to 7 kgs. And live for 15
to 20 years. However, you can ensure a longer life for your
pet cat by getting it spayed or neutered and getting all the
necessary vaccinations done.

Cats are extremely intelligent.  They communicate
effectively through purring, hissing and gestures. Thanks to
the 32 muscles in their ear, they have a sharp sense of
hearing. Cats can conserve their energy by sleeping for long
durations. Cats mostly land on their feet. They have a very
good sense of balance and have great flexibility. They use
their tail to regulate the angular momentum during their
flight in a fall. They walk on their toes. They can also
manipulate their walk in such a way that they make minimum
sound and leave negligible tracks.

Cats have very superior eyesight and senses which are
matched by no other animal. They have very good nocturnal
eyesight. They have a field of view of 200 degrees. Their
whiskers assist them in navigation. Surprisingly cats cannot
taste sugary food because they have faulty sweet receptors.

Cats are fussy eaters. They are known to eat grass, leaves,
shrubs and houseplants but they'll eat only the specific
food which they get used to. Whatever they are, they are
some of the most popular pet around the world. So much so
that they outnumber dogs as pets in USA.

AKA, Pocket Pet with Attitude

Many people are searching for different means to have pets. Dogs and cats are not always the best choice of pets for everyone. Here is an amazingly different type of pet. A Pocket Pet! A Sugar Glider.
The Sugar Glider is a popular pet because of its sweet, lively, inquisitive nature, but is illegal in certain jurisdictions, such as California.
Do gliders make sounds? Sugar gliders are very social creatures and make many sounds, including barking, crabbing, clicking, and chattering.
Are gliders rodents? No. Sugar gliders are marsupials (mammals that carry their young in a pouch); they are in the same family as the koala bear and the kangaroo.
I have gathered some information, and done some research. Perhaps this will be the answer for many wishing to own a different kind of a pet.
Sugar Gliders make excellent pets. They adapt very readily to captivity and can develop very strong relationships with their human keepers. This is why they would be great for people who cannot have big pets. They are small in size, are very intelligent and love to play. They are much smarter than a hamster or rat and have a much longer life-span, most living to be 10 or older if taken care of properly. Although nocturnal, this can be of benefit.
Sugar Gliders love human attention. And they really are so cute. They also develop very strong bonds with their owners.
An adult sugar glider is approximately 11 inches long from his nose to the tip of his tail, but most of that (6 or 7 inches) is tail. They have similarities with our flying squirrel. The fur is very soft. Here is more information I have researched.
It is around 16 to 20 cm (6.3 to 7.5 in) in length, with a slightly longer tail, and weighs between 90 and 150 grams (3 to 5.3 oz). The fur is generally pearl grey, with black and cream patches at the base of the pink ears. The tail tapers only moderately and the last quarter of it is black, often with a white tip. The muzzle is short and rounded. Northern forms tend to be brown colored rather than grey and, as predicted by Bergmann's Rule, smaller.
The most noticeable features of its anatomy, however, are the twin skin membranes called "patagium"s which extend from the fifth finger of the forelimb back to the first toe of the hind foot. These are inconspicuous when the Sugar Glider is at rest it merely looks a little flabby, as though it had lost a lot of weight recently but immediately obvious when it takes flight. The membranes are used to glide between trees: when fully extended they form an aerodynamic surface the size of a large handkerchief.
Sugar Gliders can occupy any area where there are tree hollows for shelter and sufficient food. Their diet varies considerably with both geography and the changing seasons, but the main items are the sap of acacias and certain eucalupts, nectar, pollen, and arthropods. They are difficult to see in the wild, being small, wary, and nocturnal, but a sure sign of their presence is the stripping of bark and tooth marks left in the soft, green shoots of acacia trees.
Sugar gliders love human attention and they love to play. This is what makes them special. Make sure you bond with the little ones when you bring them home. Since they sleep in the daytime, you can bond with them by letting them sleep in your pocket, but don’t sit on your glider! Sugar gliders will form very strong bonds with their owners. One article says that they love to play hide and go seek.
They love it when you come home at night; they are so excited to see you!
Please buy them from a reputable breeder. You can expect to pay from $200 to $400 for them. I recommend starting with a baby since they do form much stronger bonds with you. And as always, study and gather the right information to have a safe and healthy pet.

Affenpinscher - The Monkey Dog

The Affenpinscher is a small 7 to 8 pound dog that usually does not exceed around 10 inches in height.  The Affenpinscher has bushy eyebrows and shaggy hair and most often is considered looks somewhat like a monkey.  Although this certainly is a dog, you might consider that sometimes it is a monkey by the way that it acts.
Affenpinscher's look like terriers but they're actually part of the pinscher-schnauzer subgroup.  The common color of an often answer is black, although the AKC will allow them to be other colors such as gray, silver, and a combination of black and tan but Black is always preferred.
Are that they are very playful and lightly they get along generally speaking with other dogs and pads that they can become excitable around small children so they're not necessarily recommended as a family pet in that way at time off and pictures can be territorial when it comes to their food so you might want to take this into consideration as well that being said often pinscher certainly can be a fun pet to own and can provide hours of entertainment
The breed can date itself back to the 17th century and the European origin in fact its name is a combination between the German word for monkey and terrier.  Originally the breed was a little bit larger than it is now standing about 12 to 13 inches in height but it had similar colors.  Its original purpose was as a router working very hard to to remove rodents from places such as kitchens and staples.

Adopting a Dog and Dog Training

Adopting a dog from an animal shelter is very rewarding for the new owner, as more and more dogs are put to sleep if they are unable to find a home after a certain length of time. You are rewarded in the way that you have saved a dogs life, and additionally rewarded the animal shelter by helping them feed and look after the other dogs, and also that they have managed to save a dogs life and find it a new loving home.
When you purchase one from a shelter, it should have had the necessary injections, be checked for diseases and parasites and the new owner should be informed of the dog’s temperament and past history. This should come as standard.
The dogs at a shelter are not always strays and abandoned dogs, but quite a high percentage are handed in by the dog’s owners, for many reasons. This is beneficial for the new dog’s owner as they have more information about its history, whereas abandoned or strays have no history. 
New owners should be informed of the dog’s behavior with children, if it is a noisy dog, and also whether or not the dog needs training, and if so pointed in the right direction for a dog training school.
Animal shelters provide a valuable service to the community by helping to keep the streets free of abandoned pets, and are mainly funded by the public, but the majority is voluntary. Adopting a dog, not only saves the life of one dog, but also allows space for another off the streets, potentially saving another dog’s life in the future.
With regards to Dog Training, one of the most important outcomes of dog training is to teach your dog that your are his or her master and that you are in control, which in the long round will take a lot of stress from your dog and allow them to lead a healthier and happier lifestyle. This is especially true of older dogs that have got into bad habits. Always carry on teaching your dog after training school, as it is like doing homework, if you do not practice it, you will not know it for the future, and therefore all of that hard work and time will have gone to waste.

Adopting A Dog – Puppy Or Adult?

Everyone is surely going to get excited when trying to adopt a dog. Truly a man’s best friend, you can rely on your pet dog in giving you company, cuddling up together and some can even guard your house. You need to review your personal lifestyle and needs when adopting a dog. It is a major decision whether or not you would choose to have a puppy or an adult as a pet. Before deciding on which dog to adopt, here is some useful information that might help you decide.
On Puppies
* Bringing up a puppy is an advantage because this means that you would guide its growth and well being. You would have the chance to raise it up according to what you want. This means you can ensure that it is properly nurtured with the right dog food, ensure that necessary dog shots are given and prevent heartworm at this early stage. Having your puppy personally trained is also a plus since you can teach him exactly what you want.
* You should adopt a puppy when it is at least 10 weeks old. Puppies need a lot of time to be cared for by their mothers. This is a crucial stage for them. They somehow gain a psychological advantage for both puppy and for the mother dog as well.
* A puppy can easily adjust to new surroundings as compared to an adult dog. Although most puppies may cause minimal to major damage to your personal stuff while they are in the stage of teething. They need to be housebroken and house training needs a lot of time, effort and patience from the owner.
* There is no assurance of what a puppy would look like when it gets old; especially it is a mixed breed. Also, his temperament might change too when he grows up.
* Most pet owners love how puppies can be entertaining. They are very cute and adorable pets that is a hit for both children and grown ups. Puppies can be easily regarded as one of the family.
On adult dog
* You would have less of a fuss taking care of an adult dog. They already have this established behavior that you can easily adopt too. By being with the dog more often, you would have more or less an idea of what its temperament is.
* You need to get as much information that you can when adopting an adult dog. Take note of its habits and mood swings. You can acquire these valuable data from the previous owners of the dog. Some adult dogs may have some behavior issues. It is important to take note of them.
* It may take some time and effort for an adult dog to be completely comfortable with a new owner.
* Take note that you need to introduce an adult dog to your children and other household members. This would help the dog be familiar with them and helps them refrain from biting or barking thinking that they maybe strangers.
* Adult dog may not need your full attention unlike puppies need and would require lesser trips to the veterinary.
* For a fully grown dog physique and behavior is basically not a variable anymore. What you see is basically what you get.
* Most dogs are housebroken already so they would cause lesser damage to your belongings and don’t wake up at night like most puppies do. They have over grown the impulse of chewing things he has his eyes on.
* An older dog can easily adapt to other pets, like other dogs or cats, if you have a group of them at your household.
Adopting a dog is not an easy task and choosing which one to adopt can be a little tricky too. Everyone loves sweet looking puppies, but not everyone can stand up to the tiresome house training. Though most would appreciate the bonding shared with them. Adult dogs need no great amount of guidance but can still turn out to be a lovable pet. Whichever you think is the right pet for you, just keep in mind that taking care of them needs a lot of time and effort. In return, they would always keep you company and has ready smile with an excited wag of tail waiting for you everyday.

Adopting A Dog

If you have been thinking of getting a new dog, have you considered all the options available to you? The obvious choice people make, when considering a new dog is to go to a specialized dog breeder. A good dog breeder will be able to sell you a puppy that has been checked for genetic problems, diseases etc and will very often provide you with a high quality pedigree dog that should be free from problems that plague a lot of dogs.
This is ideal for a lot of people but of course will come at a price. There is an alternative - adopting a puppy or adult dog.
There are lots of dogs that are without homes at animal shelters or humane societies. These animals are often a victim of circumstance. Either an owner has died, or an elderly person cannot cope any more. Sadly through no fault of their own, they have ended up homeless. Adopting a dog, may be a great way to offer a loving home to one of these dogs.
A lot of people are concerned that they may end up with an unhealthy dog, or a dog that may be aggressive by getting one from a shelter. Most animal shelters will check a dog for good health and good temperament, so if there are any problems you will be told about them. Also, a lot of shelters offer in-house training to increase the chances of a dog finding a new home. Which is great for everybody!
The best way to go about adopting a dog is to pay a visit to your nearest animal shelter. Explain to the staff there, what kind of dog would suit you and your family. Bear in mind that if you have very small children, getting a large dog may not be a good idea. Similarly if you have an apartment, maybe think about getting a small dog that doesn't require vast amounts of exercise. A bit of forethought before you arrive will make finding the perfect dog for you that much easier.
When you bring your new dog home, try and imagine things from her perspective. Your new dog has probably been through a lot in the past so bringing her to yet another new home may well be overwhelming. The best thing to do is keep her on a leash at first, and gradually introduce her to your home letting her sniff each room until she has got a feel for her new surroundings. Also take her to relieve her bladder outside if she has been on a long car journey with you.
Once she has settled down, allow her to walk freely off the leash inside your home (not outside off the leash yet). This will give her a chance to find 'her' spot. By this I mean her favorite place. We all have a favorite spot where we like to go, dogs are no different. If you have bought a new dog bed or blanket for your new arrival, this may be the place to put it. She will naturally go to that spot so having a comfy new bed there will help her settle in.
Your new dog may be very quiet for the first few days but don't worry, this is part of the settling in process. After a short while your dog will be a fully settled in new member of the family.
Adopting from an animal shelter is a great way to get a new companion and a great way to make a new and happy future for your dog.

A Tale Of Four Dog Foods: Finding The Best Chow For Your Hound

We all love our dogs and want to give them the best life has to offer. But with so many variations of dog food in the market, it isn't always easy to identify the best food for our dog. Who can possibly feel confident when so many brands trumpet buzzwords that hit the human aisles not long ago, such as "rich in antioxidants," "highly digestible," "Omega-3 fatty acids" and "Ultra Premium Formula"?
What we can do, though, is to conduct a simple dog food comparison to determine which foods best fit our dog's requirements and our personal schedule. After all, some foods offer much greater convenience than the more natural, less processed types of food which may require freezing, thawing, cooking and preparation.
Convenience aside, the best food to give your dog depends not on the brand or the style, but rather on your dog's age and any special requirements he might have. For example, older dogs require food containing a careful balance of protein, fat and fiber. Most commercial dog food companies address this need with offerings such as senior dog food, containing about 18 % protein, and food for dogs diagnosed with renal failure, containing about 14% protein.
Dare to Compare Dry Dog Food
The vast majority of dog owners go for dry dog food. Between the supermarket and specialty pet stores, owners enjoy many brands to choose from. Dry dog food consists of kibble typically made from one primary ingredient such as chicken, beef or lamb. More specifically, the main ingredient is usually a meat byproduct that's been processed, dried and sold in packs or bags for easy dispensing. Needless to say, meat byproducts are far cheaper than meat, so this type of dog food is not only easy to store, it's much less expensive than other types.
Hard kibble comes with some advantages. For example, it gives your dog's mouth some exercise, and kibble's less likely to contribute to plaque than softer foods.
When comparing brands, it helps to remember that there are essentially two types of dry dog food on the market: premium dog food and economy dog food. A smart owner will avoid purchasing the economy food, which is made from lower grade ingredients (for example, economy dog food will often substitute cheap corn for the more expensive meat byproducts). The "end" result, as it were, is that your dog can't absorb many nutrients but simply passes the food through his body. So in addition to enjoying less nutrition, your dog will produce larger stools -- and you might find yourself with more frequent vet bills.
Other Popular Contenders: Canned, Semi-Moist and More
Other categories of dog food include the semi-moist type and canned food. Many owners like to mix in some canned food with dry food, to potentially cover more nutritional bases without taking too big a hit to the pocketbook.
Semi-moist food is attractively convenient to owners, and dogs love it. Unfortunately, it may cause dental problems in the mid-term and worse in the long term, because semi-moist food is loaded with corn syrup and other sugars, which dogs just aren't designed to process.
Recently, more natural, "premium" dog food has been introduced to the market, in which higher quantities of quality, nutritious ingredients are used to manufacture the food -- often human-grade, in fact. Since vegetables, fruits, real meat and quality grains are used as the primary protein source in the highest-quality dog foods, these foods are a fast route to healthy skin and beautiful fur. For the most part, they contain no artificial coloring and preservatives, but are chock-full of vitamins and minerals instead.
Although this food costs more, you can feed your dog less of it, because it's more nutritionally dense. So in terms of both convenience and nutrition, a premium, natural dog food is one of the best choices available to your dog, whether off-the-shelf or purchased online.

Animaroo Gives Animal Breeders the Online Opportunity They’ve Been Waiting For

The online animal industry has recently taken off due to the opportunity and connection the internet provides for animal breeders. It is now easier than ever to find dogs for sales, horses for sale, alpacas for sale, and llamas for sale, adoption, or stud. The internet is currently the vehicle of choice for animal breeders looking to find a greater variety of animals online. Animaroo has decided to take advantage of the opportunities that the internet is now offering to animal breeders around the world.
Animaroo has recently introduced an improved method of online animal marketing. Animaroo simplifies the listing processes for dog, horse, alpaca and llama listings, helps to educate dog breeders, horse breeders, llama breeders and alpaca breeders as well as the buyer. It also incorporates accountability practices and pioneered a method of posting dogs, horses, alpacas, and llamas to Animaroo.com right from a persons own website; all while keeping their animal classified ads free to searchers, breeders, adoption agencies, and service providers.
After receiving feedback from the online animal community about the lacking methods of other online dog, horse, alpaca, and llama advertisers Animaroo took the challenge of simplifying the listing process while presenting more within each listing, offering the most exposure without cost increases, presenting valuable updated information to help educate dog, horse, alpaca, and llama buyers while helping responsible breeders incorporate successful marketing techniques within their businesses.
Animaroo is the only online animal venue where the breeder/seller and the buyer are held accountable through animal classified feedback methods, references, and the online community. “Our reputable dog, horse, alpaca, and llama breeders are not afraid to put their references on the line as well as their customer’s feedback. We find that the breeders on Animaroo are encouraged by the feedback system and accountability it produces. Good breeders are often given a bad name by un-reputable or fraudulent animal breeders within the breeding industry. Animaroo aims to provide a venue for breeders who love your pets as much as you do.”
Animaroo also offers an online animal management system than can be used by those without a website and for those with existing websites. The system invented by Animaroo manages your dogs for breeding, horses for stud, alpacas herd sires, llamas herd sires, up to hundreds of breeds and can be used for one animal type or multiple types. The Animaroo animal management system aids breeders with their online presence, as organizes their dogs, horses, alpacas and llamas for sale in a customer friendly way, as well as offering the one click method for posting animals for sale, adoption, and for stud to http://www.animaroo.com.

All About Cats

Cats are the members of the Felidae family of canivorous
mammals. Lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, African wild cat are
the members of the cat family. Their closest relatives are
civets, hyenas and mongooses. However, what we generally
recognize as cat is the domestic or the house cat.

The association between cats and humans dates back to
between 7000 to 4000 years ago. From being dragged into
satanic ritual beliefs, Halloween and unlucky black cat
tags to being cute, caring and loyal companions, cats have
seen it all. Cats have also been associated with bad omens,
death and witchcraft. On the other hand there have been
cultures like Vikings who worshipped the Goddess Freya, the
goddess of fertility, who was closely associated to cats.

Cat appears in the Vietnamese and Chinese Zodiac systems.
They are highly respected in Islam since it is believed that
Prophet Mohammed approved domestication of cat. Feeding a
cat is regarded as a great deed in Islam. Ancient Egyptians
hailed cats as embodiment of their Goddess Bast. In many of
the pyramids, mummified cats were found in the thousands.
This signifies the importance of cat for the ancient
Egyptians.

Today, there are dozens of breeds of cat that are
domesticated. As for your cat vocabulary, a group of cat is
clowder, male cat is tom, female cat is queen and the cute
little baby cat is called kitten.

An average cat weighs between 2.5 to 7 kgs. And live for 15
to 20 years. However, you can ensure a longer life for your
pet cat by getting it spayed or neutered and getting all the
necessary vaccinations done.

Cats are extremely intelligent.  They communicate
effectively through purring, hissing and gestures. Thanks to
the 32 muscles in their ear, they have a sharp sense of
hearing. Cats can conserve their energy by sleeping for long
durations. Cats mostly land on their feet. They have a very
good sense of balance and have great flexibility. They use
their tail to regulate the angular momentum during their
flight in a fall. They walk on their toes. They can also
manipulate their walk in such a way that they make minimum
sound and leave negligible tracks.

Cats have very superior eyesight and senses which are
matched by no other animal. They have very good nocturnal
eyesight. They have a field of view of 200 degrees. Their
whiskers assist them in navigation. Surprisingly cats cannot
taste sugary food because they have faulty sweet receptors.

Cats are fussy eaters. They are known to eat grass, leaves,
shrubs and houseplants but they'll eat only the specific
food which they get used to. Whatever they are, they are
some of the most popular pet around the world. So much so
that they outnumber dogs as pets in USA.

1,000 Safe, Natural, And Effective Veterinary Secrets To Healing Your Pet

Most people do not know how to treat their pets when their pets needs them most. Surprisingly, alot of people do not even have the education or knowledge on how to care for their pets. The pet's life might be endangered if the owner do not has the knowledge. For example: If pets suffers from the aches and pains of old age and arthritis or it swallows household poison like chocolate, do the owners know how to deal with it? Most of the time the answer is "NO" as they are cluless on what to do next. So the next best action that a owner can do is to educate themselves better on how to care for their pets.
If you have the knowledge, you will be able to
-- Instantly decide on a course of action for your ailing pet - so you can ease pain and start treatment immediately.
-- Easily afford natural and effective remedies regardless of your financial situation so your pet doesn't have to go without treatment.
-- Quickly diagnose your sick or injured pet - so you can instantly know if you can administer care yourself or if you should seed medical help immediately.
-- Immediately begin regimens that have been proven to halt and or prevent diseases such as cancer and diabetes - so your pet can live a long and healthy life with you.
If the owner has very little knowledge and they are too dependent on vet as vet is the owner's only option , the pet will suffer because sometimes per owners
-- Delay bringing their pet in for treatment because the pet becomes ill after hours
-- Rely exclusively on harsh drug treatments because they (and their vets) are unaware of effective, gentle, natural ways to treat their pet.
-- Discontinue treatment for chronic illnesses because it's complicated or expensive
-- Aren't able to afford an office visit and or follow up treatment.
Most pet owners have no idea how to perform CPR, or even begin to give basic medical care to their pet. But you should know these things, because in some emergencies, you can't always get to the Vet in time.
And that is why it is so important for everybody who loves and cares for a pets to have the appropriate information. It might even saves your pet's life one day.
So the questions now is where to get the education and correct information?
You would have to pay hundreds of dollars to assemble enough books to cover all aspects of treatment in this one eBook. Books focusing on dogs, on cats, on behavior problems, chronic illness, and even trauma.
Then, you'd have to find books on herbal remedies - presuming you already know which are safe for dogs and which for cats and which could cause complications (including death).
Add to your cart books on dental health, acupressure, and homeopathy.
So it is very expensive and time consuming. So how? And what can I do? I really love my pet and I want to learn stuffs that can help my pet.
Dr. Andrew Jones who himself is a vet has compile all the informations that owner needs into one e-book at a very affordable price. He has practiced Veterinary Medicine for over a decade. Over the past 12 years he has treated thousands of pets for a variety of problems, and currently own the Nelson Animal Hospital in Nelson BC, Canada.
So if you really want to learn the correct information because you love and care your pet so much, or you want to know more detail, Please click on the link below in the Resource Box to see it.
I am Ryan and I am very interested in pet's health. So if you want to have more information or resources, go to http://www.graburl.com/x.php?3sn
Click http://www.graburl.com/x.php?3sn to know more.