Go Red Sox from Your Little Fan

A friend of mine sent me this photo of her little Yorkshire Terrier in her Red Sox shirt. I thought it was adorable, so I figured I would share. Go Red Sox! This little dog in a Red Sox shirt is ready for the 2013 World Series!

Touching Dog Quotes and Sayings

I hesitate to call my collie a dog – he is my best friend, companion and confidante. When I look at him, I don’t see a dog but a member of my family. Many people don’t seem to understand this relationship but the few who mention dogs in the following quotes, better express my feelings about my dog. These are my favorite, inspirational dog quotes. They give me goose bumps when I read them and some even bring a tear to the eye. I hope you enjoy these touching dog quotes about a dog’s life, death and love as much as I do.

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.-- Author Unknown

Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made. -- Roger Caras

Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.-- Milan Kundera

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. -- Josh Billings

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. -- Will Rogers

Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer. -- Dean Koontz, False Memory

No matter how close we are to another person, few human relationships are as free from strife, disagreement, and frustration as is the relationship you have with a good dog. Few human beings give of themselves to another as a dog gives of itself. I also suspect that we cherish dogs because their unblemished souls make us wish - consciously or unconsciously - that we were as innocent as they are, and make us yearn for a place where innocence is universal and where the meanness, the betrayals, and the cruelties of this world are unknown.-- Dean Koontz, A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog

Dogs, lives are short, too short, but you know that going in. You know the pain is coming, you're going to lose a dog, and there's going to be great anguish, so you live fully in the moment with her, never fail to share her joy or delight in her innocence, because you can't support the illusion that a dog can be your lifelong companion. There's such beauty in the hard honesty of that, in accepting and giving love while always aware that it comes with an unbearable price. Maybe loving dogs is a way we do penance for all the other illusions we allow ourselves and the mistakes we make because of those illusions. -- Dean Koontz, The Darkest Evening of the Year

The greatest fear dogs know is the fear that you will not come back when you go out the door without them. -- Stanley Coren

References:

Goodreads

Great Inspirational Quotes.com

Facts About Silkie Guinea Pigs and Abyssinian Guinea Pigs

Intro

Silkie and Abyssinian guinea pigs are friendly, active little fellows that greet you with excited squeaks when you visit them. The main difference between a Silkie and Abyssinian guinea pig is their hairstyles. The Silkie and Abyssinian diet, behavior and communication methods are the same as the other 11 breeds of guinea pigs recognized by the American Cavy Breeders Association.

Silkie Guinea Pig by Christine Majul

Silkie Guinea Pig

The unique characteristic of the Silkie guinea pig (Caviidae porcellus) is his soft, silky, floor length hair. It you enjoy brushing hair, then the Silkie would be a good match for you. Silkie guinea pigs need their hair brushed daily to keep it free of mats, bedding pieces and food remnants. In England, Sheltie is another name for a Silkie guinea pig.  

Abyssinian Guinea Pig by Just Chaos

Abyssinian Guinea Pig

One of the most popular guinea pig breeds, the Abyssinian has whorls of hair on both shoulders, across the back, on both hips and on his rump. The thick, rough hair grows to 1.5 inches. You can keep your Abyssinian’s short coat healthy with weekly brushing to remove dander, bedding particles and food. 

General Facts

There’s a color for everyone when it comes to guinea pigs. You can choose white, red, black, chocolate and sandy in striped patterns, tricolors or bicolor . A guinea pig lives from five to seven year but can live one or two years longer with good nutrition and veterinarian visits. A healthy guinea pig should weigh from 1.5 to 2.5 pounds and grow to 8 or 9 inches.Guinea pigs are small, inquisitive pets with big personalities.

Diet

When feeding your guinea pig, keep in mind that he needs to eat constantly. Don’t let his small size fool you. Unlike dogs or cats that you feed once or twice per day, a guinea pig’s speedy metabolism keeps him munching all day. Providing a nutritious, vitamin rich diet of high-fiber plant food, such as hay, leafy greens, vegetables and guinea pig pellets will keep your guinea pig happy and healthy . One unknown fact to many new guinea pig owners is that these little guys eat about 40 percent of their own poop, according to veterinarian, Anne Fawcett . This is normal and provides your guinea pig with healthy bacteria for digestion, although many guinea pig owners are squeamish about this habit.

Communication

Guinea pigs like to talk a lot. You'll hear your guinea pig chirp, purr, rumble, squeak, chatter, whistle and whine  When your guinea pig squeals or squeaks, he is hurt or afraid. When you feed him, he may whistle and chirp, indicating that food is available. Sometimes guinea pigs chase each other and may whine when the chase is over.

If you decide to add guinea pigs to your family, learn as much as you can about them. This way, your family and your guinea pigs will be happy.

References:

Small Animal Channel: Guinea Pigs

Small Animal Channel: Abyssinian Guinea Pigs

American Cavy Breeders Association: Breed Profiles

ASPCA: Guinea Pig Care

Animal Diversity Web: Cavia Porcellus Guinea Pig 

2013 Annual Critters USA: Eating Well the Guinea Pig Way: Anne Fawcett, BA, BSC, BVSC, CMVA

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How to Teach Your Dog to Go Through an Agility Tunnel

Is your dog afraid to go into an agility tunnel?

Does he pull back or run around the tunnel?

Following these "Tunnel Training Tips" will have your dog charging through the tunnel to meet you at the other end.

The article gives a step-by-step guide for training tunnels that helps even the most fearful or jittery dog to learn entering straight tunnels, curved tunnels and agility shoots.

I followed these instructions with my own dog and the tunnel is one of his favorite obstacles now. Good Luck!

Does Your Dog Eat Too Fast?

Does your dog eat so fast that he gags, coughs and vomits? These ideas help you slow down your dog's eating, so he can actually enjoy his food. Not only that, the suggested tips and games help you bond with your dog and stimulates his mind by learning new games and puzzles.

Take a look at How to Keep Your Dog from Eating too Fast and find out how you can make your dog's mealtime a fun, learning experience.

If your dog continues to cough or gag after eating, bring him to a vet to check for any digestive problems.

Volunteer at Your Next Dog Agility Trial

Participating in dog agility is one of the best ways to bond with your dog. After a few months of agility classes, you will notice that you and your dog communicate without having to say anything. It all has to do with body language. Dog agility trials offer you one more way to keep that bond strong and give you an idea of how your dog focuses on you even with so many distractions.

If you decide to enter an agility event with your dog, consider the volunteer opportunities available at the trial. Volunteering for one of the trial jobs helps you become acquainted with other competitors and makes the events run smoothly. It also gives you a close up view of the agility course and something to do besides get nervous before your agility run. Make sure you designate which events you are competing in when you fill out the volunteer form. This ensures you free time for your event. Even beginner agility enthusiasts can do most of the volunteer work.

Ring Crew

Volunteering for ring crew is a good starter job at the trial. All that is involved is sitting on the sidelines and watching the dogs run the course. If a dog should knock off a jump bar, you run in and put it back on the jump. Also, when the dog groups change, you set the jump bars to the correct height for the dog. You do not have to guess because the judge yells out the jump height.

Leash Runner

Leash runner is another beginner volunteer job. Each handler takes the leash and collar off the dog before beginning the course. The leash runner takes the collar and leash and carries it to the end of the course. When the dog completes the final obstacle, you hand the leash to the handler.

Course Builder

Course builders set up the new agility course for each event. This job involves moving jumps, tunnels, weave poles, A- frames, hoops, and dog walks. A course chart is available to show where the obstacles go and how they are numbered. The judge is also available to direct how the course should be set.

Timekeeper

The time of each dog's run is calculated electronically. When the dog runs through the first obstacle, it registers on the time keeping machine. The timekeeper just has to make sure the time begins as soon as the dog begins its run and turns off when the dog passes the final obstacle.

Scribe

The scribe's job is to write down the time it took each dog to complete the agility course. When the dog finishes the run, the timekeeper tells the scribe the dog's time.

References:
North American Agility Council
Act Up Agility Club

Do I Need an Aquarium Bubbler and Air Pump for My Fish Tank?

Photo by Vestman

Freshwater and saltwater aquariums require equipment that prevents the water from becoming stagnant and polluted. Water movement provides oxygen for the fish, keeping them healthy and disease free. The aquarium filter is necessary for all aquariums because it filters out fish waste and excess fish food. The filter also provides oxygen as it circulates water throughout your fish tank. Two other pieces of aquarium equipment that aerate and move aquarium water are the air pump and bubbler. Although the air pump and bubbler are not essential equipment for your aquarium, they do provide extra aeration and water circulation in the fish tank.

Air Pump

An air pump produces air that flows through plastic tubing into an aquarium bubbler, air stone or into a sponge filter. Sponge filters do not provide their own pumping action like an external, power filter, so it needs a pump to force air into the filter and push the tank water through the filter material. Air pumps also carry air to bubblers and air stones through plastic tubing. The air produces bubbles that add oxygen to the aquarium.

Bubblers and Air Stones

The aquarium bubbler is a long tube with tiny holes that connects to the plastic tubing, which comes from the air pump. They are also known as ‘bubble wands’ or bubble walls’. Bubbles from the wands rise to the surface of the aquarium water, taking toxic gases out of the tank. The bubbles provide additional oxygen to the water, helping fish to remain healthy and active. The bubbles also keep the water moving, keeping fish waste and food from settling on the tank bottom.

Air stones are porous stones that release bubbles from air forced through air pump. Aquarists use air stones, not only for added aeration but also as ornamental bubble stones in the aquarium. The bubbles look great as they rise to the surface and they reflect the colors and lights of the fish tank.

So, if you’re wondering whether you need an air pump and bubbler, keep in mind that any extra oxygen you can add to the fish tank helps keep your fish healthy and bubbles are also pleasing to the eye.