A Pet Ferret: Is It The Pet For You?
Ferrets can make great pets but pet ferret care may be very different from what you are used to with cats, dogs, hamster and other pets. While ferrets have been domesticated, they still adhere to a lot of their natural or wild behavior. For example most ferrets will sleep during the day and then become active at dawn and dusk.
It will do you a great deal of good to find out as much information about feeding ferrets as you can, as ferrets have a very different diet than most indoor pets. Ferrets are carnivores—that means that most plants hold absolutely no nutritional value for them. They also digest their food quite fast, and it will be your responsibility to make sure that the food your ferret receives is full of the energy he needs.
You will need to make sure that you feed your ferret food that is high in things like protein and fat, yet low in fiber. Do make sure that you always feed food that is recommended for a ferret, and never feed him food specified for another animal.
Ferrets can be trained to use the litter box, however you shouldn’t expect it to be as easy as training a cat, who has more of an instinct for litter than a ferret. Make sure that the litter is easy to access, and try to leave a bit of urine or feces in the litter instead of fully replacing it, as the scent will entice the ferret to associate the litter box as the proper area for relief. Also, make sure that the food and sleeping areas have their own distinct section of the cage. Ferret cages should be kept in a general state of tidiness.
If you are unable to live with a distinctive “musky” pet odor, you may want to consider getting a different type of pet. Ferrets are notorious for their “musky” odor, and no amount of bathing will be able to prevent this. In fact, over-bathing your ferret can result in his skin releasing even more of the odorous oils to replace those which were stripped from his coat.
Ferret ownership can be very rewarding, but you must be prepared for the responsibilities of owning one. It is a good idea to research all of the ferret supplies that will be necessary for his care, as well as eating and behavioral habits. It is even a good idea to look into the diseases and various conditions that ferrets are prone to and set up a regular vet schedule for check-ups.
Categories: Pets Tags: ferret, ferret cages, ferret care, ferret supplies, pet
What To Know When Considering A Pet Beagle
Beagle personalities are generally very happy-go-lucky. They are playful, and if they are disciplined they can make an excellent pet. If you are considering getting a pet beagle, make sure that you are up to learning about the breed, as well as commiting yourself to training him, as beagles can easily become out of control without the proper training.
One important part of maintaining a pet is to ensure that you groom his coat. A beagle’s coat can easily take on a strong “dog” smell, which some people can’t stand in the house. In order to cut down on the smell, as well as for general health reasons, you should brush your beagle’s coat on a weekly basis. You must also make sure you check your beagle’s ears and wipe the inside with a cotton ball every two weeks or so. As their ears are relatively long and floppy, they can easily get dirty and become infected. As for bathing, you can get by with bathing your beagle about once every month. Bathing your dog too often can result in irritated skin, as your dog’s coat contains oils which are necessary to protect his skin.
Beagles do have a tendency to be quite the ferocious eaters, therefore you must take extra care not to over-feed him. You must also make sure to never feed him table scraps–he will be much healthier on a dry dog food. Also, as with any dog, he should be taken outside at least once or twice a day for a good stretch and a bit of exercise.
As mentioned earlier, you must be willing to go through a lengthy and thorough process when dog training beagle puppies. Although they are very friendly and playful, they are also very well known for their stubborn nature. Use positive reinforcement and make sure to stand your ground. Slacking off in the training process can result in a very unhappy owner-pet relationship. Use as little physical correction as possible as beagles tend to nip/bite when provoked.
Beagles tend to live to the ripe old age of around 12 – 15 years, therefore you could be lookin at several years of companionship with this breed. If you take care of your beagle properly, you are sure to make those years a very happy time full of lots of love and funny beagle antics.
If you are looking to find beagles for sale, the internet is a great place to start. You may also find some great deals by looking in the classifieds section of your local newspaper. Take care in choosing your pet and make sure that the breeder is reputable.
A Guide To The Terrier Dog Breed
There are many types of terrier: American Pit Bull, Scottish, Jack Russel, Cesky, West Highland White (Westie), Airedale, Staffordshire, Yorkshire (Yorkie), as well as Boston terrier to name a few!
First of all, we are going to start with our personal favorite, the heroic dog breed, the American Pit Bull Terrier. There are so many individuals out there that enjoy this breed. However, there are others out there that make this breed a bad name. There are many places that are trying to ban this breed and many of them have succeeded. Many do not realize just how heroic these dogs are. Look up Sergeant Stubby, who took part in WW2. These pets have great temperaments with a willingness to please their owner. They have a body that is thick and muscular. Might we add that they have a good temperament? Cesar Milan is a pit bull owner, in fact, he rehabilitates them.
Next, we are going to tell you about the Yorkshire Terrier. This is a pretty little creature that has a silky coat that is very long and parts down the spine. They have a head that is rather flat with V shaped ears. These pets, just like any of the other terriers are eager to go on an adventure.
Additional information about terriers can be found online, in books, or through a veterinarian. Although some of them require quite a lot of grooming, such as regular brushing and bathing, others are much less maintenance. Overall, they are loyal to the core and brave to boot. They also have tons of energy, so if you’re looking for a jogging partner or even a “partner in crime,” this mischievous breed could be perfect for you!
Children and Pet Rabbits
Parents will often get a rabbit specifically as a pet for their child. Your child looks at you with those big eyes and says “please” and the rabbit comes home. But rabbits are unlike cats or dogs and don’t react the same way to child behavior.
Rabbits have abilities that evolved in the species over thousands of years.They’re quick, have needlelike claws and teeth, and an escape response that motivates them to flee at the first sign of danger. But those very aids to the rabbit can be harmful to the child.
When a rabbit feels threatened it may bite. Rabbit teeth and jaws are powerful enough to cause a very nasty wound to a child, as my son quickly learned. Teach the child to stay alert, not to startle the rabbit, and keep its hands and arms away from teeth. Both parties will be happier, and so will you.
Rabbits have powerful hind legs. When possible they’ll use them to run away at top speed. When they can’t flee, they’ll fight. But the claws on their hind feet, even trimmed, can rip a nasty gash in a child’s hand, arm or face. To reduce the odds, teach the child not to stress or startle the rabbit. Approach slowly, don’t hold the rabbit when it squirms, and never yell or squeal in its presence. Those ears are large for a purpose!
Kids will need to be shown how and when to hold a rabbit (and how and when not to). Rabbits rarely enjoy being held firmly, and then only for short periods. They often enjoy human company, sitting beside someone and being gently stroked.Generally, though, it’s a good idea to stay away from the ears which are a natural magnet for children. The rabbit uses those for survival and interfering with them will sometimes produce stress.
Rabbits can see almost 360 degrees around. An eye is located on each side of the head giving them a wide angle of view. But because of the placement, they have a blind spot about 10 degrees wide just below the chin.The rabbit adjusts for the lack of depth perception we have from stereoscopic vision by moving its head. They judge the distance of objects by parallax (the two different views gained from two different angles).
Teaching a child about the rabbit’s visual and auditory systems helps them understand how the rabbit approaches the world. That makes it much easier to explain why some things are safe and others are potentially harmful or stressful to the rabbit.
But beyond physical safety for both the rabbit and child, there are a number of helpful lessons to instill.
Rabbits can be trained to perform a number of amusing behaviors.Helping the child to do that, involving it in the training, benefits both the child and the rabbit. The rabbit perceives the child as a companion and the child learns to develop skills that apply to many situations: patience, gentleness, careful observation and so on.
Find more information on rabbits at LuvMyRabbit.com
Categories: Pets Tags: pet, pet rabbit, pet rabbits, rabbit, rabbit cages, rabbit food, Rabbits, taking care of rabbits
