Posts tagged Pets
Dogs Are Animals, Not Humans
Jul 27th
Our dogs are a part of our family. We pamper them with favorite toys and pedicures, so sometimes it is easy to forget that they are not human. But it’s important for her emotional well-being to make an effort to let her be a dog, especially when it comes to socializing with other members of the species.
Too often we bring home a new dog and welcome the puppy as a member of the family. But then the dog becomes a fixture of the home, and rarely sees people outside of the family except for the vet and groomer. Even though the dog connects with visitors who come to our home, their well-being requires that they mix with others dogs in an environment outside of your home.
Is this really necessary? Yes, it is say the experts because dogs who are properly socialized early in their life tend to interact with others as friends, not foes. Dogs who are not permitted this needed connection are shown to be more aggressive.
Teaching your new puppy to make friends is not a difficult task, but you should wait until she has had all of her shots before taking the walk on the canine side. A young puppy may get overly excited at the prospect of making a new friend and her playful nature can go too far. The puppy is still too young discern the difference between our acquaitances and total strangers.
If your community has one, a dog park is the best place to introduce your puppy to the world. Many dog parks have separate areas for puppies or small dogs. Talk to dog owners and see which dogs are most likely to accept your pup’s attempts at making friends, or find another puppy owner and let your little ones play. If your dog gets along especially well with another dog there, then talk to the owner about arranging future play dates for your pets.
If you don’t have a dog park in your area, look for local parks, paths, or even pet shops to take a stroll. But regardless of the venue, don’t leave the leash at home. Some dogs don’t take kindly to the leash, although pups tend to be more accepting. Although it’s tempting to rush in for a pet, always ask permission before going up to another person’s dog.
The same general rules apply to an older dog, although if your dog shows anxiety or fear, or reacts aggressively to the approach of a strange dog, then a busy dog park might not be the best option. You might be better off trying a canine day care center or kennel that can offer supervised social interactions for Rover. Look for a center that can train your dog to get over his apprehension. If you believe that his aggession has escalated to the point where he could cause someone harm, consider finding a qualified teacher to work with your dog.
You will discover that this extra effort will pay big dividends when your dog is in the presence of others. This is a must if you plan to bring home another puppy, ensuring that the new member of your family is welcomed by all.
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Snake Facts
Jan 19th
There are more than 2,700 snakes varieties spread all over the world in temperate and warm climates; the only part of the globe where snakes cannot live is Antarctica. Snakes vary in size from a few centimeters to more than nine meters in the case of the anacondas or the pythons. Poisonous snakes are a minority in this incredibly large reptile family, but venom they inject in prey is so powerful that it could kill a human being within a few minutes. According to studies, the history and origins of snakes are lost in the Cretaceous period, some 150 million years ago, when it appears that snakes evolved from a lizard and adapted to a different living habitat.
Some modern species still carry primitive distinctive marks, this is the case with pythons and boas that still carry hind limbs remains, which only make us think of a past when snakes were more lizard-like than they are today. Snakes or serpents are present in all cultures, carrying symbolic meanings and being widely represented in artistic form. Mankind hunted down or worshiped snakes throughout its history; yet, modern attitudes have changed towards snakes under the pressure of ecologist organization that insist on the importance of these creatures for the balance of ecosystems. And many factors confirm such opinions.
There are many aspects in the life of snakes that fascinate scientists and indicate that not everything has been discovered about the many existing species. Thus, it is interesting to study how the patterns on the body of snakes differentiate between individuals even within the same species. Then, snakes’ sensitivity to vibrations, the incredible sense of smell and even the reception of low frequency sounds indicate the fact that snakes are fascinating. The same amount of scientific respect is due in terms of anatomical programing by the presence of the infrared sensitive receptors that allow pit vipers for instance to detect the warmth of the prey’s body.
Common habitats for humans and snakes are a reality, and people from areas with a higher variety of snake groups and sub-groups develop skills to distinguish between the dangerous or harmless varieties, and thus they reduce the risk of snakebites. Non-venomous snakes could also bite and injure one seriously when sensing danger, therefore, a avoidance and respect of the snakes’ habitat remain the most effective prevention means. Do not try to kill, catch or hunt snakes: they only feed and defend themselves as they cannot hold grudge and follow you just for the sake of biting. Be extremely cautious when keeping snakes as pets.