Hobbies

It’s no secret that Americans love their pets. In fact, we spend billions of dollars every year on feeding, grooming, and vet visits, as well as toys and other pampering supplies. Chances are your town even has some kind of gourmet retail outlet for dog and cat treats.

It’s a fact that the pet industry is booming and shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, it has actually become stylish for people to pamper their pets with playthings, carriers, treats, and more. As you walk down the street or watch celebrities on TV, you’ll see more and more people who love to adorn their beloved dogs or cats with shiny accessories or outlandish outfits.

Not everyone wants to carry their dog in their purse the way Paris Hilton has been doing, but more and more of us are discovering that our pets need plenty of love and attention, just like kids and adults require.

If you’re not ready to spoil your pet with lavish gifts and gourmet treats just yet, start small. For example, when traveling with your cat, buy something better than your typical carrier. When shopping for pet transportation, look at the products carefully, and ask yourself if you would be comfortable riding in that for so many hours. If the answer is no, your cat probably won’t be that comfy either.

Do you really get the fullest amount of enjoyment out of your fish?, or is it hampered by little worries and anxieties?

Do you sometimes worry that you may be spending too much time with your fish? I often hear people remark that although they enjoy their hobby, the routine maintenance tasks involved detract from the fun.

In this month’s feature we will explore how we can increase our fun by maybe taking a different approach to those mundane activities that are so essential if we are to keep our fish in tip top condition.

Create a plan

When you get some time to spend with your hobby do you go through a sort of mental conflict wondering what to do?… and when you finally do decide, half of your time has gone already.

WELL…you are not on your own, most aquarists share the same dilemma. BUT… it is possible to overcome this problem, to even double your fishkeeping enjoyment. HOW? Well, certainly not by adding more tanks or even devoting more time to your hobby… the answer lies in a change of mental outlook, a change of approach.

My dog has fleas. That one statement is enough to make any visitor to my house run back down the walk to their car.

If you own a pet it’s one of those unwritten facts that they will, at one time or another, have fleas. One of the not-so-fun jobs of pet ownership is dealing with an infestation or working to avoid one.

To cope effectively with fleas you should have an understanding of their habits and life cycles. I realize that doesn’t sound like fun, sitting-in-front-of-the-fire reading material, but knowing what you’re up against is winning half the battle before it starts. So here’s the low down on fleas.

Adult flea - lives on the host animal (dog or cat), where the female lays her eggs.

Egg - flea eggs are laid on the animal but fall off into the bedding, carpeting, and elsewhere in the animal’s home and hatch into larvae within a few days (depending on heat & humidity).

Larva - flea larvae feed on organic material in the environment and on the droppings from adult fleas. I know it’s gross.

Are you nuts? You think banging your finger with a hammer is fun? No, I don’t. But building your own snake and other reptile cages can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Before you even start, it is important to spend some time planning your reptile enclosure and carefully examining at how other cages are manufactured. Check out all of the parts, examine the locks, joins and vents. How is the lighting done? What about the heating?

Use this information to design your own cages, based on the needs of your reptile and its size. Work out the size of cage you require and design it accordingly, altering the basic designs as needed to suit your purposes.

Building something yourself is a great feeling. I personally enjoy the process of shopping for materials and deciding which is best for the purpose.

There are quite a few questions to consider, such as:

? what should I make the base from
? what is the best way to make a vent
? how do you make the base water resistant
? what sort of lock should I use
? what sort of door should I use and how do I make it
? what is the best light fitting
? How should I heat it

When I first started my interest in reptiles I was only young. At that stage of my life I had little or no skills and did not understand the requirements of the wonderful creatures so I did not keep them effectively. We just kept the local lizards, so the cage temperature was not an issue.

I rekindled my desire later in life but I also had mortgages, the cost of raising a family and the daily costs of living to contend with. A reptile was expensive enough, without adding the costs of retail cages and accessories. So I built my own. It saved me a lot of money.

You do need some basic tools but the money you save by making it yourself will allow you to purchase some of those tools that help make the cage. The remainder can go into accessories so that for the cost of a basic cage with nothing else you can make a cage, get some tools and the cage accessories and still have money left over. That’s a big difference.

Do you want a Westie as a pet? What are your expectations? What do you know about the breed? You take time out to know these answers. Knowing your motives and being sufficiently educated about the breed, is key to getting the dog that’s right for you. It will also guide you in picking the right breeder, from the many West Highland White breeders around.

Your breeder should:

1. Be a member to the following: the West Highland White Terrier Club of America, a regional Westie club, or an all-breed club. Membership to all these organizations is ideal, but it’s not a strict requirement. It does indicate that they are committed to knowing all there is for the breed, and responsibilities attached.

2. Be concerned about what kind of buyer you are, and to whom they sell their dogs. This is a good indication that the breeder isn’t after a quick profit but genuinely concerned in doing what is right for both the dog and you.

3. Will allow you access to the puppy, so you can have this examined by a veterinarian. The veterinarian is a reliable third party who can give you the real situation with regards to health of the puppy. It also gives both you and the breeder, the assurance about the condition of the puppy upon sale.

"Westies" or West Highland White Terriers are furry coated dogs, with dots for coal black eyes and button noses.

Why are West Highland White Terrier puppies sought after by many dog lovers? Because these friendly creatures are well-behaved, loyal and affectionate dogs, who may be pocket sized (average a 10-11 inches tall), but are highly intelligent animals.

You won’t have a hard time training these dogs, whether solely as house pets, or for show. Their keen intelligence makes it seem like play. However, they learn better and best to training sessions that are done on a schedule.

Brush their white coats two to three times a week, to keep it shiny and clean. If you do intend to enter them for competition, make sure your pet is regularly trimmed, plucked and stripped of his or her coat.

A West Highland white terrier lives an average of 15+ years, and usually has a litter of two to five puppies.

What is the history behind the West Highland White Terrier breed? This breed originated in Scotland developed in the high mountains of West Scotland, to hunt vermin. They claim a common ancestry to the Scotch Terrier.

The West Highland Terrier is a friendly dog, and is considered easier to handle and train than other terriers, such as the Scottish Terrier. Still, it possesses the bold, dynamic terrier temperament, and has to be trained in a manner appropriate for the breed.

Your West Highland Terrier training begins from the moment you bring your terrier home. Westies are stubborn and clever, and considered a bit naughty. They will become demanding and ill tempered if they do not get their way, so you must teach them from the start that you are in charge. From the beginning, treat your terrier in a firm, consistent way.

Terrier puppies, like all very young dogs, should be trained in short sessions of five minutes or less. Make the training session play for both you and your terrier. Generously reward your dog with praise. They are also known to react well to food training.

Your Westie will become confused if you lash out at its misbehavior, particularly if you continue to be angry after the behavior has stopped. Your little terrier wants to please you, and by consistently rewarding the behavior you wish to promote, you will encourage it to become part of the dog’s personality.

I really do not hope your are eating something, but did you know that you can get a fake dog pile in long or round bits for a joke. My younger son had initiated this research of mine, by asking why I pick up the dog’s business, even though he had done it on the grass.

As a slight diversion, I found out that the meaning of pepper - our westie dog -is “An animal full of zip” Believe he has plenty of zip if you are trying to get him into the bath.

To get back to the topic in hand (sorry that was a bad turn of phase), please be responsible and try and clean up after your dog. There are a number of diseases and illnesses that can be caused by contact with dog poo. One is stomach upsets, but the most important is Toxocariasis.

Toxacra can infect young children, if they play in an area, which has been infected by dogs, and they then put their fingers in their mouths. The infection is very serious and can cause eyesight damage or even blindness. Although, the Toxacra infection is very rare, even one case is one too many.

Westies dogs’ owners delight in the companionship their dogs give them during long and leisurely walks. But this activity should be one that brings pleasure to both.

How can you ensure that your dog also enjoys these activities?

First, you’ll need to get your dog accustomed to having his paws handled and manipulated.

These are important Westie health issues that come under the grooming umbrealla.

When your dog is tolerant of such treatment it would be easier for both you and the veterinarian to carefully scrutinize your dog if there are cuts or bruises on, in and around his paws.

Where should these foot exams take place? Pick a spot that’s comfortable for both of you, and is at the same time well-lit. Here’s how to do it. Put the dog’s paw in your hand. Run your finger around every pad. If you feel lumps, examine it closely to find out what it is.

Keep a pair of tweezers handy, to pull out bits of twig that may be stuck.

If the skin is broken, put anti-bacterial ointment or powder on the sore. Check the next day to ensure it heals completely.Refrain from taking a walk with your dog in the next couple of days, until the healing is completed.