German Shepherds – Smart, Loyal, and G...

They are recognizable the world over, regardless what color they come in. They are number three of the top ten smartest dogs and depending upon how you rear them, can be the sweetest dog, the bravest guard dog and the best bomb sniffers out there. German Shepherds, a.k.a. Alsatian Shepherds and GSDs are keenly intelligent, fiercely loyal and make great family pets. Whether you choose to get one from a breeder, a shelter, or a GSD rescue organization (the last two are highly recommended), if you are serious about owning one, there are some things you will want to know first. Intelligence...

Pet Vaccinations: For or Against?...

Vaccinations are a hotly contested topic in their uses among humans and pets. This article of course deals with the latter. Yes, there are warnings galore against vaccinations and their particular side-effects. Some research suggests that immunizations are not needed annually after either one or two years (possibly dependent upon species, location, or other factors). Still, a Titer blood test should be done in order to determine whether or not your pet really needs an immunization. It isn’t this article’s intention to advocate for or against. It would be wrong and...

Types of Miniature Pets...

Dr. Jan Bellows. People love small things. It is difficult to pinpoint what it is about small things that attract us to then, but for some reason or another our instinct is to appreciate small things more than big things. Let it be one of those aspects of nature that we may never understand. One such small thing that people seem to love are small animals, especially small animals that are smaller versions of larger animals. It is with that in mind that many people purchase pets that are “miniatures” of a larger pet. If you like small things, below are a variety of examples...

Important Tips About Understanding Dog B...

Dog ownership is a wonderful thing. Your new pet will bring a great deal of joy to your life. Every day you will have a loving and exciting member of the family that will care about you unconditionally and be attentive to your every move. Your dog wants to hear about your day. Your dog wants you to be happy. Your dog wants you to feel relaxed and important. Your dog will show you affection every day, and bring brightness to your life that you will appreciate for years. Your dog will also do a number of different things that will frustrate you to no end. Dogs are great pets,...

How to Stop Stray Cats from Pooping in Y...

During the spring and summer, homeowners love to go outside of their homes and work in their gardens. The soil is fertile and the plants are ready to grow. But for many homeowners, the garden is tarnished by stray cats making waste on their fertile ground. Stray cats love to use gardens as a makeshift litter box, and this can drastically impact your gardening enjoyment. There is no surefire way to ensure that cats do not use your garden as a litter box beyond removing the cats from your premises. But there are several methods of deterring cats from using your yard, and if you...

What Breed of Dog is Friendlier Towards ...

One of the many things that people take into consideration when choosing a dog is the temperament of the dog towards humans and other animals. It is well known that some dogs tend to like other dogs more than people, some dogs tend to like people more than other dogs, and some dogs tend to like neither. New dog owners that are looking to purchase their first puppy will often take this into consideration. There is a worry that a dog that does not like people or a dog that does not get along with other dogs may cause various problems that can contribute to the need to give the...

Are Flea and Tick Prevention Safe?...

Dr. Jan Bellows Over the past several years, the use of flea and tick medicines – so called “spot on” treatments that you place on the back of your dog’s neck so that it is absorbed into its skin – has been on the rise. The results have been fairly positive, as they have been able to do a better than decent job reducing discomfort to your pet’s skin by killing off fleas and preventing them from coming back for several months. Yet it is also widely known that these “medicines” are actually a form of pesticide, and pesticides can be very dangerous. After all, they...

Why Does Crate Training Work So Well? by...

If you have ever bought a guide to dog ownership, you have no doubt seen several chapters about the importance of crate training when it comes to housetraining your pet. Crate training is one of the only effective, time proven methods of dog training for reducing accidents and making sure that your dog learns to hold its waste until it goes outside. Despite all of this knowledge, few people truly understand what it is about the crate that makes it such an effective tool. Understanding why the crate is so effective is one of the most important aspects of training your pet effectively. Reasons...

What are Teacup Cats?...

By Dr. Jan Bellows Ask anyone their favorite age for their cat and they will tell you it was when they were a kitten. Kittens are small, adorable little animals with paws so tiny that anything they do can be considered cute. They look like babies, act like babies, and even when they are performing some regular behavior (like yawning), the look as though they are the most innocent and endearing little animals in the world. So much so, in fact, that modern day breeders decided to shrink down their adult cats to become a size known as “teacup cats.” Teacup cats are smaller...

End of a Pet’s Life - What to Do?...

Thanks to Dr. Jan Bellows for all his support with this website. As living beings, all pets will one day reach the end of their lives. It is not always predictable as to how and when and the details, but that there will be an end is a sure thing. No one is ever fully prepared for the death of a loved one, even if a pet has been sick or incapacitated for some time. Another part that complicates the human-animal relationship is that people have the option to prematurely end a pet’s life via euthanasia. Often there is a sense of regret and guilt associated with this decision,...