Bird bath fountains are probably the best way to attract birds to your property. Whether they’re looking for a quiet place to splash around or a quick drink on a hot summer day, birds look for baths and running water.

The inviting sound of trickling water that is provided by a fountain design, lets birds know that the water is fresh and safe to drink.

Advantages of Bird Baths

Bird bath fountains are natural and will attract a wide variety of birds to your backyard - like bluebirds, warblers and bobwhites - all of which enjoy moving water. You’ll love watching your backyard birds as they play, splash, bath and drink.

Bird baths also make great water accents for your garden, adding a decorative touch, but also the therapeutic and peaceful sound of running water.

Why a Fountain Bird Bath?

Birds instinctively listen for the sound of water, making a point of seeking out bubbling or running water. And while a standard bird bath will eventually attract regular visitors, a fountain-style bath will draw migrant birds that are simply passing through the area.

Depending on the season, your backyard will fill with robins and doves and waxwings as they pass through on their migratory paths. In short, the running water will actually attract the birds, rather than simply waiting for them to happen upon your yard attraction.

Maintain a Shallow Water Level

Most birds aren’t long-distance swimmers and they prefer a shallow level of water, no higher than an inch. So, keep the water level in your fountain low and place a few rocks around and inside the fountain to act as footing for smaller birds.

Install a Bath Mat

Just as we don’t like stepping into a slippery bath tub, birds are hesitant about slippery surfaces like glass tile or glazed pottery, no matter how beautiful it is. Instead of spending the money, opt for a grip-safe fountain surface like concrete or sandstone.

Stay Low to the Ground

In nature, you won’t find natural water at waist height, unless it’s falling over a cliff. Water pools at ground level, and that’s the first place birds will look for it. So, keep your bird bath close to the ground and surrounded by natural elements such as shrubbery.

The Best Fountain Designs

One of the best designs for bird bath fountains is a dual basin set-up. With two tiers of basins set on the ground, a small pump keeps water flowing from the top basin into the lower one. The running water attracts the birds while the low-to-the-ground style keeps them interested. Dress it up with a few plants and some well-placed stones, and then sprinkle some seed on the ground - you’ll soon have a backyard bird oasis.

The ability to attract beautiful birds to your yard is both gratifying and aesthetically enjoyable to bird lovers all around the world. Just watching them taking in a drink in your fountain or slashing themselves with the refreshing water you provided is a sight to behold.

For helpful information about pet supplies, please visit petsuppliestips.com, a popular site about needs for your beloved pet, such as cheap dog crates, health care for pets, and many more!

Canine gastric dilatation, commonly referred to as bloat, is a fairly common and potentially fatal medical condition. Bloat occurs when gas accumulates in the dog’s stomach and causes it to become overstretched. Bloat can also involve a twisting of the dog’s stomach, known as volvulus, which leads to very high mortality rates. Volvulus has the potential to close off the esophagus of the dog, preventing it from belching or vomiting, as well as decreasing blood flow to the liver and spleen, often leading to blood poisoning or death by toxic shock.

Bloat can be caused by a number of things; age, breed, stress, and even the shape of the dog’s chest can be bloat-inducing factors. Gastrointestinal disease and inflammatory bowel disease can also increase your dog’s chances of developing bloat. The most common cause of bloat, however, is what and how your dog is eating. It is important to take preventative measures to ensure your dog doesn’t develop canine gastric dilatation. Regular veterinarian check-ups are imperative; while a trained veterinarian can usually treat the situation with surgery, a sudden bad case of bloat can become fatal in a matter of minutes.

Dog bloat isn’t the easiest canine ailment to detect. According to a study conducted by the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University, the breeds most likely to develop bloat are Rottweilers, St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, and Collies. Great Danes, Akitas and Bloodhounds are least likely to develop bloat. Unlike external problems with visible symptoms, internal medical complications may not become noticeable until your dog has developed a serious problem. The most common symptom to be on the lookout for is general distress. Is your dog standing awkwardly or seem to be in pain for no apparent reason? Does it seem depressed or weak? Is it having problems breathing or experiencing weight loss, vomiting or a decreased appetite? These are all basic symptoms for bloat and should act as a red flag for any pet owner. If the dog is in an advanced stage of gastric dilatation it might even show symptoms of shock; pale mucous membranes, poor pulse strength and increased heart rate. A fairly large percentage of dogs also develop cardiac arrhythmias with bloat, a dangerous heart condition that can cause cardiac arrest and even sudden death.

Resuscitation and emergency surgery are often needed for dogs that develop a bad case of bloat. These complicated and dangerous procedures usually involve intravenous fluid therapy, gastrectomy, and passing trocars (sharp, hollow cylinders used to drain high-pressure areas of the body) directly through the skin into the stomach. It is a painful, long process, and does not guarantee that bloat attacks won’t reoccur. Much like a heart attack in humans, dogs with previous bloat attacks, even ones that underwent invasive surgeries, still often develop gas distension of the stomach. Dogs that were treated without surgery are at a much higher risk of having more attacks.

While the dog’s age and breed factors into whether it will develop bloat, there are a few steps you can take to help prevent the occurrence. Studies suggest that dietary factors play a big role in developing bloat, not so much in what the dog is eating but how much and how fast. Dogs that eat a large volume of food once daily are at the highest risk for developing bloat, as are those that eat foods containing a large amount of added oils or fats. This means dogs that are fed too much too fast are being set up for this painful and potentially fatal medical condition. The simple remedy for this is to feed your dog a number of small meals throughout the day, instead of one giant meal in the morning or evening. Slowing down the speed at which your dog eats using a barrier in the bowl or a bowl made specifically for overeating dogs can also be helpful. Another preventative method is to keep your dog’s food bowl at his or her feet. This minimizes not only occurrence of bloat but also stressful situations that could aggravate a current condition. It also helps to not exercise your dog immediately before or after feeding.

Canine gastric dilatation is a very scary medical condition, one that requires a lot of time, money and energy in treating. Luckily, simple feeding techniques, plenty of exercise, and regular veterinary check-ups can help prevent your pooch from developing this painful, debilitating and possibly deadly ailment.

~Ben Anton, 2008

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Buying a horse property presents immense opportunities for the owner. Aside deriving pleasure from the presence of the animals on your compound, you can also resell the property at a much later date for higher profits. It is becoming increasingly common for property owners to diversify into horse properties as that part of the real estate industry looks promising. Though many horse properties are built or purchased for ranching reasons, you can also have one mainly for equestrian activities.

Equestrian enthusiasts are gowning by the numbers everyday and so is the demand for such facilities. But the increase in demand also means that there is pressure on the land. Raw land is now been developed at a rapid rate and that has been of concern to the government and environmentalists. This situation has led to the concept of green equestrian facilities. These properties are ordinary horse properties but are more environmentally oriented. The rationale behind this type of property is, the owner will be developing his horse ranching business and at the same time caring for the environment. He is conducting his management in such a way that business and protection of the environment go together and does not negate each other.

Green equestrian development consists of assigning large portions of the land to environmental development. This type of facility incorporates meaningful planning and sustainable land use. The general idea is to use the land for the sports and at the same time be able to ensure that it is t0 degraded. This means, you will take steps to protect the vegetative cover by planting more trees and grass to check erosion, protect wetlands by leaving it intact and doing everything possible to make sure that the land is not degraded after you set up your facilities. I other words, your property must coexist with the natural topology of the place and all that it is endowed with that makes the place natural.

A green equestrian property involves much work. You will need to install rain gutters so that water does not hit the ground directly to cause erosions or gullies in topsoil. You will also have to set up a water catchment area to collect all the water that drains trough the plot to serve as reservoir for the horses. Many people have used rain barrels to collect all the rain that comes down the rain gutter and use that for feeding the horses. This way, they are able to conserve water and protect the streams, wells or other water sources they have. It also means you will not just be doing concrete but rather apply alternative methods to construct such that it you will not severely damage the environment.

Aside environmental benefits, the green equestrian provides money saving opportunities for the owner. Because you are able to do hay and compost production on the facility, you are able to keep costs low. Again, the amount of money that could have been used to draw water to the place will be saved with the construction of the rain gutter and the reservoir.

Going green benefits the property owner in many ways. He can receive rebates in tax for been responsible about the environment. In some cases, the volume of benefits could go as high as 30%. In addition, the owner is able to conserve the land and make it sustainable for other uses. He is able to control erosion and other forms of land degradation. Ultimately, the greenery augments the value of the property making it appreciate for maximum gains at resale.

It has been suggested by analysts that interest in green-based properties will double over the years. As the need for environmentally responsible programs become common, so will their equestrian equivalent. Many see a green-oriented property as something recommendable.

Martin Webbster is a writer for Horse Clicks - horse property classifieds of equestrian property sale, farms for sale, ranches for sale and other horse real estate. Martin is also a featured author at www.ArticleKing.com

“Sit” and “stay” are usually the first commands a puppy learns. You’ll use these commands everyday and everywhere. In this article, you’ll learn how to train your puppy to sit and stay on command.

Prepare For Training

For your training time, choose a quiet place with few distractions. This will help your puppy focus. Keep your training sessions short, working with your puppy’s short attention span.

Grab a handful of treats. Five or six tiny pieces of meat will be enough. Give commands in an excited tone of voice. Only give the command once. If you repeat a command, your puppy will learn to wait for you to say it a few times before he gives you the behavior.

Start sessions with a review before moving on to new commands. End with a success. Make training a game and have fun. If you feel frustrated, take a break and try again later in the day.

Get the Behavior

First, get the behavior. Then, give it a name. Begin with your puppy in front of you, facing you. You are going to ‘lure’ him into a sitting position. Hold the treat to his nose. Slowly lift the treat straight up until your puppy’s nose is pointing at the ceiling. Then slowly move the treat back over his head toward his tail. As his head goes back, his rear will go down.

The moment his rear touches the ground, say “Good!” or “Yes!”. By doing this you are “marking the behavior”. He might get up when you say “good”. That’s fine. Give him a treat and praise him. Try it a few more times.

Some puppies will back up without sitting. If this happens, move to a spot close to a wall or a big piece of furniture. Are you moving the treat too quickly? Slow it down. If you’re still having problems getting your puppy to sit, break the behavior down into smaller sections. Reward him when his nose is straight up. Then, when he starts to sit. And finally, reward for a complete “sit”.

Give It a Name

After a few sessions, your puppy will begin to sit as soon as you lift the treat. Now it’s time to name the behavior. With your puppy in front of you, hold the treat behind your back. Say “Sit” and wait about 3 seconds. If he sits, say “good”, reward and praise him. If not, put the treat to his nose and lure him into a “sit”. Then say “good”, reward and praise him. Try it again. After a few tries, he should be sitting on command.

Adding “Stay”

Start by waiting a second before saying “good”. Increase your time by one second until your puppy is “staying” for 5 seconds without getting up. If he gets up before you say “good”, no reward. Your puppy must wait until you say “good” before he gets up.

If he continues to pop up too soon, you might be moving too fast. Shorten the wait time and practice it a few more times before moving on. This is where patience pays off. Resist the urge to move too quickly.

When your puppy will wait for 5 seconds, it’s time to add the command. Have him “sit”. Say “stay” and wait a few seconds. If he stays, say “good”, reward and praise him. If he gets up too soon, no reward. Try it again.

Finally, watch your body language. Your puppy can anticipate the end of a behavior by reading your unconscious body movements. Don’t move until you say “good” or “yes”. With patience and practice, you can train your puppy to sit and stay on command.

Geoffrey A. English is the Founder of GundogsOnline.com, the internet’s premiere online magazine dedicated to hunting dogs. Their site has a great variety of dog training collars and shock collars.

Dog grooming is an essential part of being a dog owner. For most it can be difficult to trust a stranger with your best friend. You need to be able to trust someone to do the right job as well as treat your dog with the love, affection and care that they deserve. Doggie Dip and Clip is a professional dog grooming business in Oakville that provides a welcoming environment designed to comfort and reassure your dog.

Doggie Dip and Clip was established in 1981 in Oakville, Ontario by Cheryl who is a professional hand scissor stylist. Cheryl and her assistant, Sherry, have worked together for nine years and are experienced at relaxing and comforting dogs without restraining methods. They use soft voices and gentle touches to put your pet at ease. This comforts pet owners knowing that their dogs will be in good hands.

Doggie Dip and Clip offers a full range of grooming services for all breeds of dogs, no matter how small or big! These services include full pet grooming, shampoo and blow-dry, and medicated baths. This salon also has “a la carte” services from nail trims to baths, so be sure to ask about their extra services. They can provide you with the exact service that you need.

Grooming your dog is important not only for your dog’s appearance but also for its overall health. Nail trimming can prevent catching and tearing, ear care and cleaning can help detect infections, dental care can help prevent gum disease and cavities, and brushing your dogs coat will help spread natural oils that keep it conditioned and clean.

Some of our beloved best friends can get quite messy with tangled hair. Regular brushing and combing is sometimes necessary to avoid matting and tangles, which helps remove dirt and keep their skin clean. Brushing your dogs hair also allows for the natural oils to be spread evenly over their coat giving it a healthy glow. Because brushing and combing can be a challenge for some breeds, we are more than happy to offer our assistance to help maintain your dog’s healthy coat.

Owning a dog, running a household, working full or part-time, and cooking are just a few stresses that you face everyday. Doggie Dip and Clip understands that the world is a busy place and is proud to offer flexible hours from Tuesday to Saturday and include evening appointments. To make grooming even more of an easier task, they also provide in and out services. Their facilities are fully climate-controlled and an Ecolife air purifier is used to freshen the air.

A clean and healthy dog is a happy dog. Cheryl and Sherry will take the time to get to know your dog and treat them with the utmost respect that all pets deserve. So don’t think that grooming time is a stressful time. Doggie Dip and Clip is a great dog grooming service that caters to both you and your fellow companion’s needs. Don’t stress it out and contact Doggie Dip and Clip today at 905-844-7778.

For more information on dog grooming in Oakville, contact http://www.searchenginesimi.com/Oakville-Ontario/Dog_Groomer/

Did you know that your veterinary bills are rising at two to three times the rate that your salary does? One way to lower your pet costs is to become a more educated consumer. Most people spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars a year on their pets, so if you can find a way to lower them by even 20% you can save yourself a lot of money.

There are so many ways to lower your veterinary bills, but here are just 5 quick tips for you.

1. Be nice to the technicians and the veterinarian when you are at the clinic. A lot of people are just nice to the veterinarian, but then are rude to the technicians. This is a big mistake, because if the technicians like you they will likely do some free stuff for you, like trimming your dog’s nails. If they don’t like you, you can be sure that you’ll be charged full price for everything they can think of.

2. Don’t let your pet become overweight. It is estimated that over 40% of America’s pets are overweight. Being overweight puts your pet at a much higher risk of acquiring a large number of diseases. Some common problems experienced by overweight pets include diabetes, cruciate damage, heart disease, heat intolerance, and liver problems. Also, if you pet does need surgery there is an increased anesthetic and surgical risk as well. Just like people, healthy pets require less medical care and live longer lives.

3. Avoid pet insurance. Both Reader’s Digest and Consumer Reports both agree that pet insurance is rarely worth the price. In fact, they say it can often times add hundreds to even thousands of dollars to the cost of owning a pet. They know it is better to save money in a pet emergency fund, but they know that most people don’t have the will power to do this. Prove them wrong.

4. Buy pet medications online. Buying some of your pet’s medications online can save you a lot of money for things you use on a regular basis, like flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, etc. But sometimes it makes sense just to get them from your veterinarian, either because there are no shipping charges, or you need the medication right now.

5. Pet Proof Your House. Your house can be filled with objects your pet could easily eat. For dogs, small toys can become lodged in their throats, and for cats, something as benign as dental floss can be deadly. By taking steps to prevent this you can easily save hundreds even thousands by avoiding emergency room visits with your pet.

By becoming an educated consumer you can empower yourself to make better financial decisions veterinary bills. Veterinarians prefer to work with educated clients because they can do so much more for you when you understand what your pet needs. While these 5 tips can help you lower your pet costs, there are so many more ways to lower them dramatically.

If you are interested in learning more about how to lower your veterinary bills, check out Slash Your Veterinary Bills.

Rescue dogs are frequently used to aid in finding missing people, whether in avalanche areas or in the forest, since they have such a fine sense of smell. Just one dog can do the work of nearly two dozen rescue workers, by covering the same amount of ground in a fraction of the time and far more thoroughly. But how are these dogs chosen and what type of dog training do they go through?

The Selection Process

Most rescue dogs are chosen as puppies. The first selection is usually done around 2 months of age, but the puppies will be weeded out to select the best candidates again at one year, once they`ve matured a bit. While there are some specific breeds (German Shepherd, bloodhounds, etc.) that work better for this type of training, they still need to meet certain standards.

The qualities looked for in these puppies include the following:

• Strong “prey” drive, the ability to hunt something for extended periods of time, which is useful when searching for lost hikers for several hours.

• A calm temperament. Excitable or nervous dogs rarely do well in the field and are not selected for training.

• Dog obedience. If a dog isn`t interested in following commands, it won`t be possible to control him in the field, which is essential for tracking.

Puppy training begins once the dog has proven to fulfill all the requirements.

Training a Rescue Dog

The first step in training a young dog to track people is to lay the foundation. This basic puppy training is actually very similar to what any working dog would need to learn and once the puppy has mastered the basic skills, he is ready for more specialized training.

The foundation training includes socialization, desensitizing the dog to external distractions, dog obedience classes and barking on demand, among other things. These dogs also learn to follow hand signals, rather than simply voice commands. This makes it easier to direct a dog that is too far from its trainer to receive voice commands and also allows for silent work when needed.

Once the dog is adept at these skills, it`s time for more advanced dog training that will prepare him for the real world of scents. One of the first things a puppy learns is to track by air, following a scent carried on the wind or simply lingering in the air. This is very important for areas that don`t hold a scent, such as river beds. The dog is also trained to track scents left on the ground.

To help train these dogs, they are often taken on courses where a person has laid a trail on purpose. The dog is given an object or item of clothing with the person`s scent and is allowed to smell it before casting for the scent in a specific area. In these cases, the person laying the trail will purposely cross roads, walk through water and double back, so the dog can learn to distinguish the true trail. Distractions are also provided, including other animals and people walking across the trail.

Since rescue work often requires the collection of evidence, particularly in the case of death, rescue dog training includes learning to point out objects dropped by the person they are tracking and to handle any evidence with care. The most common method of alerting their masters to the fact that they have found something of value is to bark.

These dogs participate in specialized rescue dog training and in most areas, are required to pass a tracking and ability test in order to become a certified rescue dog. They then need to be recertified every couple of years or so, depending on the area. They provide a very valuable service and are instrumental in the recovery of missing people every year.

Dog training company offers in-home obedience to create happier dogs and happier families. When looking for puppy training services, consider Bark Busters.

Although dogs are among the most beloved pets in the world, some do suffer from serious aggression problems. In fact, experts estimate that approximately 2% if the United States population is bitten by a dog each year, which equals about 4.3 million people. Although these statistics sound a bit frightening, the reality is that many dog bites can be avoided if you understand the causes of dog aggression and how to avoid putting yourself in a bad situation.

Types of Aggression

There are many different causes, or types, of aggressive behavior. These include aggression that is based upon:

• Dominance - Since dogs are naturally pack animals, it is also natural for them to want to be the leader of the pack. In some cases, this desire to be the leader can be directed toward humans and even toward the dog’s owner.

• Fear - When a frightened dog is approached by a person or an animal, it may act in an aggressive manner if feels cornered and there is no way of escape.

• Female Dominance - Two female dogs may show aggression toward each other, particularly if they live in the same household.

• Pain - If a person or an animal causes a dog pain, such as when touching a painful area or when giving injections, the dog may exhibit what is called induced aggression.

• Male Dominance - It is not uncommon for two male dogs to exhibit aggression toward each other as they battle for territory.

• Maternal - A female dog that is pregnant or that has recently had puppies can become quite aggressive in an attempt to protect her pups.

• Predatory - Dogs are natural predators, meaning they will exhibit aggression toward anything they consider to be prey. This can be other animals, but can be anything else that moves quickly, such as a bike, a car or a scared person running away.

• Territorial - Dogs are also very territorial animals, meaning they will do whatever it takes to protect their property. A dog’s home, room and yard are all part of its territory, which the dog will fight to protect.

Treating Aggression

If your dog frequently exhibits aggressive behavior, you should discuss the problem with your veterinarian. In some cases, there may be a medical reason causing the aggressive behavior. For example, your dog may have an unknown health issue that is causing it to feel pain, which is making it overly sensitive and aggressive when touched.

If your veterinarian has determined that there is no medical reason for the aggressive, he or she may recommend seeing a behavioral therapist who can help you treat your dog’s aggressive behavior. Even if the therapy appears to be successful, it is important to continue implementing the steps prescribed by the behavior therapist in order to make certain aggressive behaviors do not reappear. In addition, if your dog is dangerously aggressive, you may need to seriously consider removing the dog from your home in order to keep yourself, your family and your friends safe.

CS Swarens is the CEO of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065 For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet’s resource for dogs for sale. Research dog information.

If you are the proud owner of a cute and cuddly little kitten, it is important for you to know how to feed it properly. After all, your kitten has to get proper nutrition now so it can grow up to be strong and healthy.

The Mother’s Milk

During the first ten weeks of life, it is essential for your kitten to feed from its mother’s milk. During this time period, your kitten will also grow substantially. In fact, most kittens weigh around three ounces at birth and they gain

If your cat’s abdomen has become larger, it may be suffering from abdominal distension. This term refers to an enlargement of the abdomen that is caused by problems other than obesity. There are actually several possible causes of abdominal distension, with treatment for the condition varying according to the cause of the disorder.

Causes of Abdominal Distention

One possible cause of abdominal distension is the accumulation of fluid. This accumulation can be caused by a number of different health issues. These include:

• Blood from an internal hemorrhage

• Urine from a urinary tract tear

• Exudate, a fluid caused by infection

• Transudates, which are fluids that are leaked from vessels

Abdominal distension can also be caused when an organ becomes enlarged, such as the spleen, liver or kidney. Your cat may also experience abdominal distension due to injury, during pregnancy or due to tension in the abdominal area or other organs.

Symptoms of Abdominal Distension

In addition to having an enlarged abdominal cavity, there are other signs and symptoms (some extremely serious) that are commonly associated with abdominal distension. Some other symptoms your cat may exhibit include:

• Change in urinary habits

• Change in bowel habits

• Decreased appetite

• Diarrhea

• Difficulty breathing

• Diminished activity level

• Loss of fat

• Loss of muscle

• Sudden weakness

• Vomiting

• Wretching

If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, it is important to contact your veterinarian right away so your cat can be examined. Failure to act quickly can lead to an increase in the severity of the condition, unneeded surgery, or even death.

Diagnosing and Treating Abdominal Distension

Diagnosing abdominal distension includes determining the cause. As such, your veterinarian will likely complete a number of different procedures in order to determine the specific problem. These procedures or tests include:

• Abdominal ultrasounds

• Abdominal x-rays

• Abdominocentesis

• Biopsy

• Blood tests

• Chest x-rays

• Physical examination

• Specific tests on organs

• Urinalysis

After determining the cause of the abdominal distension, your doctor will be able to effectively treat the disorder. If the distension was caused by fluid in the abdomen, the fluid may be drained or your veterinarian may choose to administer a diuretic to remove the fluid. If the abdominal distension is caused by organ enlargement, the veterinarian may need to perform surgery or investigate the cause of the enlarged organ.

If the abdominal distension is caused by liquid accumulation resulting from diseases such as heart failure or cirrhosis, the veterinarian will need to take steps to treat these diseases while also draining the fluids in order to alleviate the pressure.

Abdominal distension is usually caused by a very serious disease or disorder. Therefore, it is essential for you to seek medical treatment for your cat right away if you notice abdominal enlargement. Quick action on your part to seek treatment will increase the likelihood your precious kitty will get through the disorder safely. Waiting too long, on the other hand, can lead to devastating effects for you and your feline friend.

CS Swarens is the CEO of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065 For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet’s resource for cats for sale. Research cat information.