Top 5 Best Gifts For Your Pets

by: Christine Arbor
Most individuals or families view their pets as a member of the family as well. That said there is no reason why they should not be included in birthdays, Christmas or any other holiday for that matter. It’s a special day for them as well and it should be celebrated. So what are you going to get for your feline friend on their birthday? Why not consider some of these popular ideas which are sure to excite your pet on their special day:

1. Pet Carrier – Your pet will love this gift! A pet carrier is a bag large enough to allow room for you pet. Your pet then sits in the carrier while you tote them around town. Imagine how excited they would be to go everywhere and never have to walk a step. These items can cost anywhere from $20 to thousands of dollars depending on the style, make and size of the bag.

2. Pet Clothes – Just as humans like clothes for the birthdays, pets do as well. They like dressing up and they also like sweaters to keep them warm in the winter. There are many places to buy clothing for your pet and they can cost as little as $10 or as much as thousands depending on your preferences and the amount of money you are willing to spend.

3. Tasty Treats – Every pet will love the gift of food. Their favorite treats are sure to make them feel special on their birthday (or other occasion) and this can end up being a very inexpensive, yet effective, gift.

4. Pet ID Tags – These items can be personalized with their favorite designs or characters but what’s most beneficial about these gifts is that if they get lost they will be brought back to you. That would probably be the best gift they could wish for.

5. Manicure/Pedicure – I know this sounds crazy but it really isn’t. Think about how much walking your pets do on their paws. Just like we like manicures and pedicures, your pets will appreciate the special treatment as well. Keep in mind this will only work for animals with paws and most likely is only best for those of female nature.

There are many other great gift ideas for your pets. It’s up to you to decide which is best for them but also within your budget. Many individuals spend unreasonable amounts on gifts for their pets but you really don’t need anything extravagant, just something small to let them know you care. In the end it’s the thought that counts…not the price tag.

Before You Buy a Dog

by: David the Dogman
Owning a dog has many benefits, but it is also very important to remember that it is long-term commitment and responsibility. Dogs are not toys that can be put away in a cupboard when you are bored with them. If you are considering taking on a puppy, perhaps you should ask yourself these questions first:

• COST
  Owning a dog can be very expensive and this should be taken into account before buying a puppy. Costs to consider are the weekly food bill, bedding, toys and other equipment, veterinary care, boarding kennel fees, enrollment fees for training classes, grooming/clipping fees.
  
  
• TIME
  Dogs demand a lot of time and attention, particularly as puppies. You will need to take your puppy outside hourly. Puppies have very weak bladder control and will need to relieve themselves at least twelve time throughout the day. There is a fairly set pattern.
  
  
• YOUR LIFESTYLE
  Choose a breed that will suit you and your lifestyle. The lifespan of a dog is thirteen years. Are your current circumstances likely to change? If so, will owning a dog be a problem, such as starting a family or going to another country? Will you be able to devote a lot of time to your puppy for the first few weeks when he arrives home? Are you going to be away from home for long hours during the day? If so, it may be unwise to buy a puppy. Do you go away frequently? If so, will you be able to take the dog with you?. Will you have time to attend training classes? Will you be able to take him for at least one good walk a day?
  
  
• BREED
  The next step is to consider what type of breed will suit you, think about your lifestyle, size of home, facilities for exercise and time available. Does you tenancy or leasehold agreement allow pets?. Ask about different breeds at your local vet or dog training club. As other owners of the breed that you are considering, for their advice and opinions. Meet dogs of all ages and both sexes of your chosen breed. This will give you an idea of what to expect. Research the breed by reading books and gain as much information as possible. When you have made your choice of breed, contact the breed club secretary through the local Spanish Kennel Club (Tel 2290237 Manuel) Insist on seeing the mother and if possible the father with the puppies. You should have easy access to the puppies and be able to handle them. Request a written agreement that the purchase is subject to a satisfactory examination by your veterinary surgeon within 48 hours of purchase. If you are unsure about buying the right puppy, make enquires with the local vet to see if he is willing to attend the viewing to check the puppy for visible health - problems this could save money and upset in the long-term.
  
  

As quoted by the RSPCA and National Canine Defence League " Never buy a dog from a pet shop or any retail outlet. Never take one from street markets, or from any place where you cannot see the mother." Visit your local Animal Rescue Society for advice and to discuss the options of adopting a rescue dog or puppy. All Animal Rescue Shelters are obligated to furnish you with a signed Veterinary Health Certificate. Like humans, dogs need company, so do not leave him alone all day. Dogs that become lonely and bored are more likely to bark and become destructive. If you really care for your dog you will train him properly and learn that play is one of the most essential ingredients in a good owner. In an ideal world every puppy would have a suitable home to go to and a caring owner. Sadly this is not the case. Many thousands of unwanted and abandoned puppies and dogs are destroyed each year. Neutering in the only guaranteed way of preventing unplanned puppies being born, if you consider the horrific alternative methods of population control for dogs, it really is the kindest cut.

Pet Store One-Stop-Shop

by:Anna J
Pets are the most beautiful gift. Many of us are found of pets and like to have at least a single pet in our house. Pet brings out your tender and loving site. Now every breed of pets is available at your near Pet Store.
Are you planning to have pet in your house then first step is to find the best pet store in your city. Make sure that you have entered the right store, because not all pet stores can give you the service, guidance and support you need.
Before buying just see to that store should be very clean, odor-free and spacious facility. You will find many of pet stores are overcrowd, never buy from such overcrowd pet store they may carry some diseases.
We always want to buy pet that were raised in a healthy, hygienic and roomy facility to make sure that they do not carry any diseases. Many pet stores are one-stop-shop where you can buy everything, from pet food to and other pet products.
Pet store should be consumer-oriented so that you can get return policy on supplies, and provide a good 'warranty' on pets. Many of working pet owners is not able to spend more time to pet because of their busy schedule, these considerations are very important.
It is good to buy pet from your near by area where you live, or is at least on the way from where you work place. So that in case if any pet emergency is there you can take your pet for treatment.
The pet stores assure you veterinary care whenever possible. It’s very easy to buy pet but raising it in your house as part of your family is very difficult. Be sure that all other in our family treat pet as family member. Today only visit your nearest pet store to choose a pet for yourself.

What you’ve always wanted to know About Choosing a Pet

by:Jhona
Choosing pets is an important choice to make and is no easy task. It's not just a matter of looking up pets for sale in your handy classifieds paper or online classifieds and picking the first thing you set your eyes on. You don't just buy pets as would buy grocery, so make sure your heart doesn’t rule your head when you sight that cuddly little puppy or kitten. Getting a pet is involving your life with it, committing yourself into a relationship with it, so consider the needs of the animal and the time and cost involved in its ongoing care.
Before buying pets for sale, decide what you want from the pet. Do you want a companion; do you want an animal for showing or competing with, or maybe an animal for protection?
Caring for Pets 101
You need to provide a safe and happy environment in which the animal can live. If you choose a large animal it is necessary to have a big outdoor enclosure to keep it active.
You will need to register your pet with your local Council to ensure its return should it get lost.
Have your pet de-sexed, preferably before six months old if it is not going to be used for breeding, or take steps to ensure that it will not breed unwanted litters.
Proper care for you pet includes proper and balanced diet, cool clean drinking water, and grooming.
If you have children, teach them the responsibilities of owning a pet. Share responsibility for looking after your pet amongst all family members. Socialise your pet with other animals and people, but remember not everyone is an animal lover, and you need to keep your pet under control when in public.
Keep your pet confined to your property at all times and be aware cats should be kept indoors at night (house, shed or garage).
When you go on holidays if you can’t take your pet with you, ensure you find suitable accommodation where you know your pet will be well cared for. Choose a boarding kennel or cattery registered with your local Council.
Protect your pet’s health by having regular check-ups from your local vet, and ensure you provide the required vaccination.
Most of all shower your pet with love and attention, as simple as that. Remember, your pet is a family member now, and no longer just an animal you find in pets for sale ads.

Owning A Dog On A Budget

by:Randy Jones
Owning a dog involves expenses that can't be ignored: purchase or adoption expenses, equipment and grooming, and veterinary fees. The cost of a three month old pure bred puppy, for instance, does not depend on its size but on its breed. Your initial outlay can be quite large; it depends on the place of sale and the quality of the dog.
As for equipment, (collar, leash, and so forth) prices vary with the size of the dog, the sophistication of the equipment, and the materials used. Differences between minimum and maximum costs can be considerable. Nonetheless once bought, many of these items will last the dog’s lifetime.
Apart from the collar and leash, other essentials include:

• case for carrying small breeds on public transportation;
• indoor bed or basket; food and water dishes;
• grooming equipment (single comb and rubber gloves for short haired dogs, brush and durable comb for long–haired dogs).

Certain breeds require special grooming and should be professionally groomed at least four times a year.
In addition to the above, there are daily food costs which naturally, rise in proportion to the size of the dog. Veterinary expenses are difficult to anticipate since they depend on the animal’s basic health. However, there are some that are definite. For instance, a puppy should be examined by a specialist once a month for the first six months.
Most small dogs or toy breeds require dental attention twice a year. Then there are the optional operations of neutering or spaying. Cosmetic surgery, which is essential for certain breeds of show dogs, may include ear–cropping or tail docking, and sometimes both, in certain countries. Buying or adopting a dog is a serious step and you should never act on impulse or be swayed by pity. Before acquiring a dog, always make sure you obtain every available guarantee in writing.

Pets for Christmas

by: Summer Fey Foovay
In general, pets as Christmas presents are a very bad idea. Both for the pet, and for the person receiving the pet. Adopting an animal into the family is very much like having a child. You would not just hand someone a baby for Christmas!
Christmas is a time when families get together. There is a lot of joyful chaos and people rushing here and there with many things to do. In all this, it is very easy to forget the puppy needs a walk, or there is a tiny kitten underfoot who is constantly getting stepped on. In all the confusion new responsibilities can easily be forgotten, such as walking or feeding the puppy.
Animals, and especially young animals, thrive on routine. They like to be fed at a certain time and in a certain place, and often a certain food. Holidays can be hard even on seasoned pets as strangers invade their space and special occasions disturb their daily routine.
For a young animal, this bedlam, however cheerful, can make it seem like they’ve just arrived in a very bad place. Their mother and the brothers and sisters they know, the caretaker humans who are so familiar to them, all of them have somehow disappeared and been replaced by a gang of strangers. All their familiar routines are disrupted. They have to become accustomed to a new place to sleep, a new food, new place to eat, a new time to eat, and, of course, when and where they are allowed to go to the bathroom. How overwhelming this must be for a young animal!
For the person who receives the pet, and their family it can be equally difficult. They may or may not have wanted the pet at all. It is not uncommon for a child to beg for a pet that is inappropriate or that their family is unwilling or unable to care for. If they get a puppy from Auntie for Christmas, by New Years the puppy may find itself at the Animal Shelter waiting to die, or abandoned somewhere to suffer a slower and more painful death. Never give a pet for Christmas unless you are absolutely sure that the entire family, everyone living in the home the pet is going to, welcomes the new addition.
With the best intentions in the world, a child will beg for a pet and promise to care for it. But children are not in complete control of their worlds or their time. They are still exploring their likes and dislikes, and the puppy that was so important to them last week may be forgotten this week. Playing and walking the puppy might become too time consuming once soccer season begins. Children are also not generally aware of the financial facts of life and pets need vet care, food, toys, shelter, and all of these things cost money. Money their parents may or may not have to spare.
Another problem often occurs when someone other than the family chooses a pet. Perhaps you like very hyper, happy dogs, but the family in question prefers a nice, quiet animal. The puppy you would choose is a wonderful puppy – but not the right puppy for them! Both the animal and the family will be unhappy. The family is faced with dealing with a dog they do not like very much, or disposing of him either by finding a more compatible home - or again, off to the Shelter to die.
A special note about ponies. Every horse person, every animal shelter, has seen their share of the horrible misery that ponies endure at the hands of ignorant or neglectful owners. Ponies, and horses, take a great deal more care than smaller pets. Just because someone has moved into a new home “with room for a pony” does not mean that they have the knowledge and funds to care for such a high maintenance animal.
For the child who is begging for a pony, I suggest that you find a local stable that gives riding lessons. The most responsible ones will also include horsemanship in their training. That is, information about caring for a horse or pony. The child will learn about shoeing, regular vet care, the importance of regular feeding and many other things necessary for the well being of a horse or pony. They will also learn just how much work is really involved! A gift certificate for several months worth of riding lessons will allow the family involved to find out just what they are getting into, and if their interest and finances are up to it.
Perhaps you have considered all of these things, and know the family truly wants a pet. Still, the holidays are a very chaotic time, a terrible time to make a new family addition. Here is my suggestion. Instead of buying the puppy, kitten, pony or ferret – purchase one of those wonderful small plush toy versions of the animal. Pack it into a pretty package with a certificate you can draw up or print on your computer that says “this little puppy is to hold the place in your heart for the real puppy who will arrive (and a good date you have chosen after consulting with the family)” After the holidays the entire family and the gift giver can go together to chose the pet they desire. Then the family will gain a new member who is completely compatible with them and their needs at a time when they are best able to greet this new family addition and see to the animals needs as well.

The Facts About Pets that You Should Know

by: Justin Vander Ploeg
Pets have many facts about them that you should know about. There are many different types of pets, some are soft and cuddly, and others are hard and rough, and still others are slimy. Pets are as different as one person is from another, no two are exactly alike. There are hundreds of pets in the world ranging from your average house dog to an elephant. Most of the differences in pets can be seen right away, such as, the difference between a dog and a cat, but others are hard to find such as, the difference between two frogs of the same order.
Dogs and cats tend to be the most popular of pets because of there availability and they are some of the most tame pets. Even though they are tame they still need to be trained to be the most enjoyable. Many books and e-books are written a year on how to train your dog or cat. These books can really take out the stress of trying to do it yourself, and in most cases you can end up training your dog or cat to do bad things. It is best to learn what is the right way to train you pet.
Many people own pets. Some people have pets because they want to have a friend. This is a good idea because pets can keep you company and watch over you. And that is another reason that people have pets, dogs can help you if you are old and live alone plus dogs are extremely loyal. Other people use dogs as guides if they are blind.