News Archives
Archives for December 2009
Puppy Care at Christmas
“A puppy is not just for Christmas” It's an old saying but it's very true. Unfortunately, many people at this time of year buy a puppy without taking into consideration the time and commitment needed to care for it. Animal Rescue Centres shouldn't be the place that pets are taken to in January this is why the charities that we work with close their doors to people wanting to adopt and this time of year.
Apart from a lot of hard work and dedication a new puppy requires a lot of money being spent on veterinary fees, puppy toys and a whole host of other things!
Our Dog & Puppy advice is for everyone, whether you are a first time puppy owner or a professional Dog Breeder. Don't just rush into buying your new pup, take a look at our puppy guide.
Measures to prevent your pets straying at Christmas
Dear All, Christmas is a fantastic opportunity for family, friends and pets to get together and celebrate. Unfortunately, many people lose their pets at this time of year so i thought it would be a good idea to give some handy hints on what measures you can take to prevent any misshaps and take steps to prevent your much loved pet from going missing.
Although most pets are quite sociable, it can be unnerving for pets to be in a room full of loud Christmas revellers. Make sure there's somewhere quiet for your dog or cat to go and take time out.
As everyone arrives, make sure that your pets that may be on foot, such as cats and dogs are in a room where they can't get to the door and run away.
If you have pet birds and you have quite a full house, it may be worth putting a cover over their cage or better still moving them to a quiet part of the house.
Don't allow people to feed your pets - Chritmas fare tends to be quite rich and could give them an upset stomach, which is the last thing that you want.
Other than that, have a great time and enjoy your Christmas celebrations! We'll obviously be on hand, should you need our help.
Keeping your Pets Warm at Christmas
How cold is it outside? It's freezing! At lostpetlocator, we thought it would be a good idea to give you all some ideas on how to keep your pets warm, during the festive season.
1. Don't allow your cat to get outside. With the temperature as low as it is, Cats can freeze to death, become lost, stolen or even worse. Stray cats can become exposed to infectious diseases from feral cats, dogs and other types of animal.
2. Don't let your dog off its leash in icy conditions, especially during a heavy downpour of snow — dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost in such conditions. Many dogs become lost at this time of year and we strongly recommend getting your pets microchipped and also, it’s not only a legal requirement for your dog to wear a clearly marked collar ( with your name and address)but it also means that should they stray, the odds are then stacked in your favour for your pet being found. Please see our forum for advice on the options available when microchipping pets.
3. As soon you’re home from a walk, make sure that you've dried your dog, as they’ll no doubt have snow and icy water all over their legs and stomach. Due to extreme weather conditions, dog’s paws/pads can often bleed. If your dog appears to be in pain after inspecting, call your local Veterinary Practise for advice.
4. It's an obvious one, but don't take your dog to be clipped right down to the skin in winter. Your dog has a winter coat for a reason!
5. You should never really leave an animal unattended in a vehicle, but you definitely shouldn't in winter. A car acts as if it were a refrigerator at this time of year, keeping the cold in, and it can lead to the worst...
6. Puppies are incredibly sensitive to the cold weather and it may be difficult to toilet train a puppy during winter. It's worth considering training them in the house, on newspaper or in a puppy litter tray.
7. Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. It also needs to be in a quiet place.
Many pets are lost at this time of year and if you follow a few simple rules you should have a great christmas without your pets going missing! We hope our guide is helpful and may we wish you all a Merry Christmas!
Dog Training and Psychology
To communicate correctly with your dog take a moment to contemplate the fact that your dog is an animal that has been selected by man to be a domesticated companion and in some cases, a worker. He's not a fluffy bunny to be passed from pillar to post! Dogs all have their own character and you'll need to get to know what that is.
Experts believe that the domesticated dog is genetically linked to the Wolf. Once you appreciate this, it's clear why they live and how they live with other groups and people Like Wolves, Dogs live in social structures with a hierarchy in place that supports peace amongst the rank and file, whilst also providing opportunities for a balance shift, should a member leave the family. You usually get an alpha dog and bitch. The pack must adhere to the group rules but are also allowed their own sub groups, sitting under the alpha dog and bitch.
How did we domesticate wild dogs? As humans, we certainly didn't sit them down and talk to them about how they thought that their life was going! There are limitless possibilities It could have been a young boy walking past a wolf cub, stealing it and taking it home to raise, or was it someone throwing food away which resulted in a pack of wolves warning the sleeping humans about any impending danger? It's all speculation, who knows what the reasons are? Most of the aggressive characteristics with the 'heritage' breeds have disappeared due to hundreds of years of breeding
Many 'work' dogs are reliant on man. Breeds such as Greyhounds, Retrievers, Border Collies and German shepherds are fantastic at the jobs that they now carry out for humans, such as collecting or chasing down prey or protecting livestock, but some would have huge problems if they were without their owner. There are certain breeds that would and indeed do, protect animals for long bouts and will scavenge as opposed to eating the livestock!
The above information should highlight why being introduced to a new family, especially one with no clear hierarchy can be traumatic for a new puppy. Your new Puppy will feel lost if there's no clear direction. Not only this, but even without the skill set, he or she may attempt to take on the dominant role. As humans, our first instinct is to reprimand or shout if a pet attempts this but it raises far more serious issues to do with its environment.
Always remember that we're the ones who have pre determined the canine genetic makeup and it's up to us to provide for them, not only when it comes to food, water, exercise and bedding but emotionally.
Stick Insect Pet Care Advice
Stick insects can make an ideal, low maintenance pets. There are approximately three thousand varieties of stick insect across the globe, but the pet trade tends to stock about twenty of these.
The choices you’ll be presented with when purchasing your stick insect is to either buy eggs, nymphs (which are immature stick insects) or adults. Bearing in mind their life expectancy, eggs or nymphs are the way to go as a mature adult may only be around for a fortnight or so. I’ve just done a quick search on Google and six stick insect nymphs were available for £1.00!
Housing
When looking to purchase your new stick insect, it’s important that you take steps to ensure that you have the right home for the stick insect to live in. An aquarium or pet carriers are perfect options although the latter can often be to short, so check before you use or purchase one.
An aquarium with a specially adapted lid for ventilation purposes, will give your stick insect a good home. Take steps to make sure it’s secure and that they can’t easily escape. The reason that the new home has to be tall, is that stick insects hang upside down to moult. It’s a good rule of thumb for the stick insects new home to be three times the height of a fully grown adult. If in doubt, speak to your pet shop or alternatively, look online.
Take steps to make sure that the temperature of your stick insects new home is kept between 21 – 30 degrees Celsius. If you don’t have your heating on that much, buy a heat pad to place beneath the stick insects new home. There are many different types available online. You can line the bottom of their home with old sheets of newspaper, sand, woodchips or plain paper.
Humidity
Like caring for a fine cigar, your stick insects home environment should be kept at the correct humidity. It varies by species but think about the fact that in their natural environment, humidity levels can be up to 80%. All stick insects require water and some even require a shallow bowl for them to drink from. Check with your stick insect retailer as to what would be the most suitable way of proving water for your new pet. Get into the habit of regularly misting their home. This should be done ideally, once in a morning and once before you go to bed. Some species can be harmed by tap water, so once again, check with your supplier. Steps to prevent issues from arising are to leave the tap water to stand for twenty four hours (allowing the chlorine to dissipate) or use rain water.
Feeding and water
Stick insects live a simple life, spending most of their time feeding and climbing around on the fauna placed in their new home. Food is freely available, without having to purchase anything. You can feed most of them on blackberry leaves, rose leaves, ivy (which is readily available at this time of year) and privet. It goes without saying that if you pick food for your stick insect from the wild, that you wash it thoroughly in cold water. This will avoid any complications arising from any kind of chemical spraying that may have taken place. Don’t just pick the leaves, keep them on the stems and place the stems in a bowl of cold water that the stick insect can’t knock over.
Your stick insect will also love to have dry twigs in its new environment, which it can use as an assault course to roam around on, until its hearts content. As previously mentioned, stick insects shed their skin regularly. Their lifespan is relatively short and the female stick insect tends to live the longest. This can be upwards of six months.
Handling
I’ve previously mentioned the importance of being careful when handling puppies and cats – stick insects are no different! They’re extremely fragile and shouldn’t be man-handled. If they are, they can often shed their legs. It’s best not to let young children handle stick insects unsupervised.
Breeding
Unlike mammals, stick insects hatch from eggs. These eggs moult several times prior to becoming an adult. The female stick insect is the larger of the species, and has a longer maturation period. Some species of stick insect can actually reproduce A-sexually and as such, do not require the assistance of a male when it comes to reproduction. Different species lay their eggs in different ways. Some may lay their eggs on leaves, while other types of stick insect will scatter their eggs on the floor of their new home. The breeding process can be aided by slightly raising the temperature of their environment. This isn’t something that happens over night and can actually take longer than their average life expectancy. Eggs can take up to a year to hatch! You will also need to ensure that you have adequate housing for all of your stick insects. If you breed your stick insects in a cool environment, it will generally lead to an equal mix of male and female nymphs. Fifteen to twenty degrees Celsius is the ideal temperature.