First Coast Pet

Archive for November, 2009

When looking to buy a horse, one of the first decisions is whether to get one which is untrained, partly trained, or fully trained. Most people, especially if it is there first horse, will be better off getting a horse which is already trained for whatever they intend to use if for. For example, if one intends to use the horse for basic riding it should already be trained for riding, whereas if you are using it for show jumping, it should already be trained in show jumping.

Of course, after looking at horses for sale, one can purchase an untrained horse or a partly trained horse. Such a horse will be less expensive to buy. Also, you can instruct a trainer on exactly how you want the horse trained, and you can have the experience and pleasure of participating in this. However, against these advantages, there are a number of disadvantages:

• Cost of Training. The cost of training depends on individual circumstances and is hard to estimate, but it is under-estimated far more often than over-estimated. Aside from the direct trainer costs, unless the trainer comes to you, there are the additional costs of either stabling the horse with the trainer, or transporting the horse to the trainer for each lesson. Many people find that by the time the horse is fully trained to the level they require, it would have been cheaper to have bought an already trained horse.
• Accidents. Occasionally there are accidents during training, even with good trainers, especially during early training when the horse is less predictable. Even in the case of minor accidents, there may be vet costs.
• Mis-Training. Trainers vary both in terms of approach and in quality. Furthermore, in order to secure the training contract at an economical level, trainers may rush the training or under-estimate the amount required. If this occurs, at best you end up with an incompletely trained horse and at worse a horse which has been mis-trained, resulting in undesirable behaviors.
• Feel. Two horses, trained in exactly the same way, will provide a different riding experience due to individual differences. Horses differ due to breed, build, training and individual genetics. Consequently, how comfortable you will be riding a horse is more predictable with an already trained horse than with an untrained one.
• Health Examination. A trained horse is easier to evaluate for injuries or other defects as one can ride it and one can watch it carefully while being ridden in each gait. Although one can examine an untrained horse, the examination by necessity is less complete.

Due to these considerations, buying untrained (or partly trained) horse can be both more expensive and more risky than buying a fully trained horse.

Although some people purchase a horse with the idea of training it themselves, this is inadvisable unless one is an experienced trainer (or working closely with one). Novice trainers can easily give the horse bad behaviors or habits, which are expensive and difficult to correct.

Also be careful of buying a partly trained horse based on the seller’s promise to complete the training. After the sale is made, it is too tempting for the seller to rush the training, in order to reduce costs and get payments as quickly as possible. Make the final commitment to buy only after the horse competes its training and you have ridden it to confirm that you are completely happy.

Cribbing is a behavioral problem, which sometimes develops in horses with insufficient mental stimulation (i.e. bored horses) and most commonly occurs in horses which spend long periods of time in stalls. Cribbing horses bite objects (such as fencing rails), while pulling backwards on the object and sucking air. It is believed that the horse does this because it causes the release of pleasurable brain chemicals (endorphins). The terms ‘wind sucking’ and ‘crib biting’ are alternative names for cribbing.

Horse cribbing is sometimes confused with wood chewing but the two are different problems. A wood chewer simply nibbles on the wood, which is a habit that is easily treatable. A cribber pulls on wood (or other objects) while sucking air in order to release brain chemicals, which effectively makes it a drug addiction, and consequently much more difficult to cure.

Cribbing should be treated as soon as possible to minimize damage to your horse’s health. Untreated, it will result in the horse wearing down and damaging its teeth, leading to dental issues. It will also result in the neck muscles growing and thickening in an abnormal way (which is an issue for show horses in particular). It is also associated with various illnesses, such as colic, but there has been insufficient research to understand the nature of the association (e.g. does cribbing cause colic, or are both cribbing and colic both promoted by excessive periods confined to stalls).

Ideally, one should prevent the development of the cribbing behavior by providing the horse with as natural and interesting environment as possible. Once a horse has cribbing, the situation is more difficult, but one can greatly reduce the frequency of cribbing by providing a mentally stimulating environment. The first step is to provide as much pasture time as possible. One should also make the feeding regime as natural as possible, consisting of pasture grass if possible and hay as a second choice; foods such as grains which can be quickly eaten with minimum chewing are the least desirable. In addition, many small feeds are preferable to a few large feeds, as this helps break up the day. Any other activities which provide interest, such as exercise and grooming, will make a positive contribution.

The above actions are normally quite successful in reducing the amount of cribbing. Unfortunately, once the habit is established, merely providing a good environment will not in itself cure the habit. One also needs to take steps to physically prevent cribbing. There are a number of options here; none of them are successful with every horse so you may need to try different ones until you find one that works with your horse and situation.

A common treatment is the ‘cribbing strap’ which is a strap that fits around the neck with a metal plate underneath to making swelling the neck to suck air uncomfortable; this device is also known as a cribbing collar. One can also use a specially-designer muzzle which allows the horse to eat but prevents it grasping fence rails or other objects with its teeth. Putting a fencing wire (with electrical current) on top of fence rails will also keep the horse from cribbing on them. There are also a number of paints which are designed to have a foul taste which one can paint rails and other objects with to discourage cribbing on them (make sure that any product you use is veterinary approved). Some people find that anti-depressant medication helps. If none of the above techniques work, the final approach is surgical, consisting of cutting certain neck muscles and nerves and thereby preventing the cribbing activity.

It is important to both address the base issue (intense boredom) and to try to physically discourage the horse using one of the above approaches. Trying just one or the other is seldom effective.

In any farm, now and then, there is a dog breeding and dog grooming or other animal health problem when veterinary acupuncture can be a solution. Many diseases related to animals, like different dog breeds, today are solved in a more conventional way of medication and other usual medical treatments. But there is a more satisfactory and an easier way to address those animal related health problems and sicknesses.

Veterinary acupuncture is regarded as one of the oldest forms of medications in the world although it has been appearing in the scene only in the recent past. More over for animal treatments the use of veterinary acupuncture has been introduced very lately. Verterinary acupuncture is now being used effectively all over the world.

It is understood that veterinary acupuncture is only a part of the traditional Chinese veterinary treatments. Usually herbs, diets and various other forms of medication form an integral part of usual Chinese veterinary treatement. For over 3000 years, this method of veterinary acupuncture has been effectively carried out in China and that alone will give you an impression of the degree of effectiveness in veterinary acupuncture. By improving the flow of energy in the body veterinary acupuncture will increase the capability of the body in combating sicknesses.

Internal organs of the body can be controlled from outside by the use of veterinary acupuncture. The method used even today is one that was invented by the ancient Chinese even though a few rather insignificant changes has taken place with its adaptation by the West.  The pain can be eliminated through the use of veterinary acupuncture and will give better control over the animal which has been in agony from that pain and was not able to treat due to its aggression caused by the pain.

Many pets today including dogs, cats and also larger animals like horses and cows are also treated with veterinary acupuncture. The method does not have any surgeries or any other complex procedures which will be a little tough to practice on an animal.

Now you would find thousand of veterinary acupuncture centers all over the country so an online search would be adequate in order for you to find the centre that is closest to you. A lot of of these veterinary acupuncture services do have their own website and will give their services and contact information to those interested in getting their pets to a treatment. By introducing you pet to veterinary acupuncture make sure of the wellbeing and the happiness of your pet. It is less complicated and it is faster while being effective as well. Through the use of veterinary acupuncture make the lives of both you and your pet much easier and simpler.

Various chicken coop plans can be found for free ranging chickens from big structures to backyard coops. If you are looking for plans that give you an easy step by step layout to construct your chicken coop, you won’t have any cause for concern.

For a really great chicken coop building guide, see by visiting Building A Chicken Coop Review.

I recommend a small chicken coop if you don’t have a large flock of chickens that you are looking to keep in your backyard outside.

In looking for chicken coop plans for your backyard project, choose those that have drawings showing how each step is being done. If you could download the diagrams and the instructions that go with them, it would be better as it would be hard to work on your mobile coop if you need your laptop open to work through your project.

Included in the plans for your chicken coop should be what materials you will require to get the job done. Things such as areas for chickens to perch on, nesting considerations and special containers for feeding and drinking all need to be taken into account.

Good chicken coop plans also need to factor in safety and security from coyotes and other harmful predators as well as protection from the elements that could otherwise cause damage to your flock and coop.

You should also take note of the fact that governing laws for backyard chicken coops can vary, so it’s worth checking these out for your city to ensure you comply. Your chicken home might be small, but if you are going to keep it in your backyard and you live in a residential area; chances are, there are regulations to follow.

You can also find more tips and advice on all types of chicken coops then take a look at Chicken Coop Building Plans.

What you don’t want to have happen is that you finish building your coop according to set instructions according to your plan, only to find out that for one reason or another it does not comply in your city.

In the chicken coop plans, make a point of looking at what materials you will need to use and whether they are affordable so you can get started without it costing a packet. I do not recommend you compromise on materials if they aren’t the ones advised in the coop plan itself.

There are such a large number of plans available on the Internet that it is almost a certainty that you’ll find a plan that you like while also using materials that you have.

Keep in mind that choosing the right design plan will play a big role in the success of your project. If you got the wrong plan for the number of chickens you have and for the area where the coop will be placed, you will just be wasting your time and your resources.

Many chicken coop plans for small and mobile backyard constructions are easy enough to execute and will not cost you a fortune. Consider how much money you can save by constructing your own chicken house as compared with buying a pre-built version and your enthusiasm will not fizzle out.

I hope you enjoyed this article, I also have more advice I’d like to share with you at How To Build A Chicken Coop

If you want to bring a little country into your backyard you may want to purchase a few chickens so you can enjoy fresh eggs every morning. Chickens are easy to take care of and they don’t require too much room to run around in the yard.

Chickens need to get out in the fresh air every day so you need to provide them with a chicken yard that is safe from any dogs or cats that may try to dig up underneath the pen in order to grab a chicken. The chicken yard should be a fenced in pen that will allow them to come out during the day for fresh air when they want.

If you have a small back yard to keep the chickens in you may want to consider chicken houses that are on wheels. You can wheel the chickens around the yard as they wear the grass down in their chicken yard. These are the most popular chicken houses on the market today. You can easily wheel the chickens around your property, reset the outdoor yard fence, and open the door and let them out. The grass will have a chance to grow back when you move the pen and the chicken house together.

You want to find chicken houses that have egg laying boxes inside. You may just need one or two boxes depending on the size of your flock. Hens will generally use the same boxes to lay their eggs in every day. Chickens will mainly lay eggs in the mornings but they can lay eggs in the evenings, it depends on the chickens.

If you are unable to find the right chicken houses for your back yard then you may want to consider building your own house so you can design it to better suit your needs. These plans are usually free and are located on all the home improvement sites. You will be able to find the directions step-by-step online. You will have a huge selection to choose from.

When you have completed the project you will have chickens roaming in your back yard and farm fresh eggs to pick up every morning. The number of chickens you get will depend on the demand for eggs.

Today rising number owners, having pets from any of the dog breeds, demands answers and help for dog grooming and dog breeding. Want to breed your dog but feel like you can’t handle the responsibility? It’s amazing how a little know how can actually assist you to make that decision for yourself. Firstly one should ponder on why they wish to breed their dog. The next step is evaluating the practicality of that reason and the third is getting an understanding about how to breed a dog. If you wish to know how to breed a dog, then it is essential that you have some basic background knowledge. The first thing one should know is that the female dog is called a bitch while the male dog is called a sire. 

Having an idea about the canine breeding cycle is an integral part of the dog breeding process. For instance a female dog usually gets in heat once every six months. It’s not advisable to breed your dog if it happens to be young and in its first cycle since it could lead to a growth stunt. This happens because the vital vitamins and nutrients are absorbed by puppies, leaving the bitch feeble and unhealthy. Thus its advisable not to make any attempt to speed up the natural process.

When considering how to breed a dog it is crucial that you know how to recognize when the bitch is in heat. Prior to the bleeding the owner should first be able to witness a clear discharge together with a swelling of the vulva. If have some understanding on how to breed a dog then you will only allow the dog to mate ten to fourteen days after the first sign of color in the discharge. This is extremely important because your dog might be in danger by sires that refuse to leave the bitch alone and thereby injure the animal.

A main lesson for having the knowledge on how to breed a dog is to look out for the symptoms that the female is ready to mate. To make sure of this all the owner has to do is scratch the right area above her tail. If she raises her tail and moves it to one side then this is a clear sign that she is ready. Make sure that you do not interrupt when the actual mating is taking place. Instead keep a hold on the females head incase she decides to change her mind and attack the sire. The mating generally takes from 10-45 minutes and an interruption can injure both dogs. Repeat this daily until the bitch refuses any more sires.

Now that you have sufficient knowhow on how to breed a dog make sure that you do not ignore the technicalities. For example it is vital that you keep record of the first and last dates of the breeding and do not interfere with her until sixty three days have passed as this is the usual conception time for a dog. You should take the precaution of getting her examined by a veterinarian if she has not conceived by the end of this period.

Experimenting with dog breeding and dog grooming with the hope of getting dogs or dog breeds with a better physical condition or qualities is not something new. Breeding however becomes difficult when the female is unwilling to let a male dog mount her for different reasons. Devices like dog breeding stands are used sometimes in such occasions if the owner is very keen on getting puppies.

Most of you are perhaps aware of the huge raging debate that still continues regarding the moral aspects of the dog breeding stand. Some of course are of the view that this device is inhuman and goes to the point of referring to them as ‘rape stands’. There are of course those people with conflicting opinions who state that the dog breeding stand is perfectly ethical and defends the use of the device. To come to the correct conclusion is not an easy task but perhaps it’s best to see the device as a tool in the hands of the dog’s owner and whether it’s good or bad depends on the motives and actions of the owner.

What critics of the dog breeding stand say is that the device is usually used for the breeding of fighting dogs because dogs which have been trained to fight all their lives could tear each other to bits when trying to breed naturally so the female is attached to the dog breeding stand so that the breeding process may be completed in a safe manner. The device allows the male to mount her safely as she cannot turn back to bite the male. These critics also claim that this method is used to get puppies early before the female is prepared to breed or before she hasn’t reached the right time in her ‘heat cycle.’

However those who support the use of the dog breeding stand argue that it’s one method to assure the safety of both the male and the female when the dogs in question are simply too fierce. They also say that when it comes to breeding between dogs that have a significant height difference the dog breeding stand is a suitable option. The fact that the female could lie down if she is exhausted while breeding is going on is another point that used by the group to argue their case. They are of the opinion that the use of a dog breeding stand is justifiable in such a case.

To any dog owners out there who might not be all that enthusiastic in using dog breeding stands on an unwilling female should remember that artificial insemination is also possible and talk to a dog breeding expert if you want a detailed explanation.                         

With the huge increase in breeding of dog breeds in U.S.A and all over the world, dog grooming and dog breeding problems have become a relatively common issue. Due to the lack of necessary knowledge in the dog breeding field, many individuals will find it difficult to deal with the tasks associated with dog breeding.

Many people will seek the help of an expert in situations where dog breeding problems occur. This is the best option if you plan to sell the puppies once they are born.You can be ensured of higher profits if the puppies are in good health and the offspring would be of higher quality with the expected behaviors and qualities of the dog.Many bitches will have several kinds of problems that may cause to dog breeding problems. One such kind is the occurrence of a disease. The born puppies would contain characteristics such as undesirable qualities or illnesses , if the bitch is ill before birth.One other kind of a problem is that of the disliking by the bitch towards the dog. Normally, this will occur if the male is a more of a shy dog.One solution will be to bring a bitch that?s in her periods of heat, so that a natural attraction by the bitch towards the dog will occur.

In some occasions dogs will come up with stress.This kind of a dog stress is possible due to traveling.Occasionally, people will take dogs longer distances in order to breed.Thus, all this traveling may cause undesirable stress on the dog or the bitch making them reluctant to breed.Traveling stress by air to another state or a country is well recognized amongst this kind of stress causing travels for dogs.

Sometimes a bitch which is in the period of heat might not show it off, hence will be very difficult for the owner to identify its behaviors for good breeding. In some cases the bitch might experience some vaginal issues related to breeding, hence will prevent pregnancy.

Prior for any good breeding it is desirable to identify dog breeding problems and make sure that you address these once a failure occurs.  For a successful breeding the literature study of past breeding by others will surely help.Referring to some of very important online advices and explanations given by experts on the field will be a smart idea.

A lot of pet owners are interested about dog grooming and dog breeding or the health problems of different breeds and how to handle them. Acunpuncture is a method renowned for its healing effects. But did you know it works equally well on animals? Canine acupuncture is now being used to provide your pets with canine pain relief and is said to be equally effective.

Acupuncture has been around for over thousands of years and is known to have originated in China. This method of treatment is carried out by inserting thin needles into various points of the body, {along certain paths known as  meridians~into certain acupuncture points in the body on pathways called meridians} , to provide relief for different disorders~diseases}. The acupuncture therapy relies on the theory that the vital energy in the body should be balanced for efficient healing.

If you are considering canine acupuncture for your dog, you would want to visit a canine acupuncturist, who would commence canine acupuncture treatment after carryiong out a thorough check up. It is important that you go to a canine acupuncturist who is licensed, so as to ensure safe treatment. It is best that you first take your dog to its regular doctor who will then be able to let you know of a good acupuncturist. Several websites online also have lists of veterinarian acupuncturists.

As most patients find acupuncture therapy very relaxing, it is likely that you would find your dog fast asleep while going through canine acupuncture. Canine acupuncture is said to be quite painless. Pet owners therefore need not worry about their dogs having to undergo a lot of discomfort during a canine acupuncture session.

Canine acupuncture could treat other diseases such as arthritis, various allergies and problems with regard to fertility, among others. Canine acupuncture therapy does not last very long. It generally takes around 10 to 15 minutes, provided the animal does not struggle too much, but it could go on for even half an hour. The number of times that you would need to carry out canine acupuncture would depend on your dogs  ailment and its history of various disorders and condition in general. Usually it would take around 5 sessions to cure the dog of its ailments. Not only does canine acupuncture heal physical diseases, but is guaranteed to help improve psychological and emotional ailments. What better way to keep your dog healthy!

Daniel Stevens ‘Secrets To Dog Training’ is widely thought of as the best online dog training course around today.

Formally known as ‘SitStayFetch’, it has been the number 1 selling dog-training course online for four years in  a row, with sales figures in excess of 220,000 and rising all the time.

When reviewing this course, I was firsly struck by just how comprehensive it is – its “list of contents’ page takes up the first 5 pages!

Its 260+ pages cover all areas of dog training and dog welfare. 

The ebook contains some great photos and pics which help to illustrate the instructions contained in the course.

If you’d like to read more about Daniel Stevens ‘Secrets to Dog Training’ course, check out Review of Daniel Stevens ‘Secrets to Dog Training’

Section One covers subjects relating to dog ownership in general, such as ‘Selecting Your Puppy or Dog’, and ‘Diet and Nutrition’, together with information on various types of training methods, such as clicker, head-collar and crate training.

Section 2 looks at our dogs thinking process, their instincts, and how they use their senses.

A particularly useful chapter in this section focuses on communication with your dog using signals and body language.

Section 3 is where this course really shows its worth, with more than twenty five specific dog behavioural problems dealt with, from excessive whining to biting and aggression.

It explains why these behaviours arise in the first place, before going on to detail how we can stop them.

I have followed the instructions in many of these sections myself with my own dog, and I have to say that the results were fantastic, with noticeable improvement almost immediately.

Remember, if you would like further information on this great online dog training course, have a look at

Secrets to Dog Training by Daniel Stevens

The ‘Secrets to Dog Training’ course covers far more dog training topics that I have time to talk about in this article – from dog allergies to separation anxiety!

There are also many free bonuses that currently come with the package, including a half hour long online video which shows you how to make sure your dog recognises you as the pack leader, an audio version of the course which you can take with you on your MP3 player and listen to anywhere, and also a ‘members-only online community’ where vets, dog trainers and other dog lovers are on-hand to answer any questions you may have.

If you’re not sure, the course comes with a’No Hassles’ 60-day 100% Money Back Guarantee.

I can say having used this course that the effect it has had on my dog has been huge.

My ‘badly-behaved-but-loveable’ black labrador has now transformed into a happy, attentive, obedient and content dog thanks to the advice given in this course.

If you need a dog training program that covers a huge range of dog training topics, I strongly advise you to check out ‘Secrets to Dog Training’ by Daniel Stevens.

I trust you’ve enjoyed reading this. Why not check out my review of another fantasic dog training course by visiting Review of Dove Cresswells ‘Puppy and Dog Training Online’

{For loads of helpful tips and useful advice an all aspects of dog training, why not take a look at http://fixmydogonline.com/}