Parrot Supplies - What You Need to Know About Toy Safety

By MattCarver

Toys can be an important part of your parrot's emotional life. Just think about it, they stand around in their cage all day with nothing to do. A bored parrot can develop some very bad habits that can be destructive to him and his surroundings. Having the right toys might not cure everything but it will go a long way toward keeping your parrot busy and out of trouble.

Parrots love to chew. If you have had your bird for any time at all this is no surprise. So, to give them something to chew on beside their perch, try a variety of wooden toys. They come in all shapes and sizes and are usually strung together with some kind of thin rope or chain that can be hung in the cage. Make sure the wood has been dyed in a natural dye and look for any rough spots that develop where a toenail could get caught and break off.

A popular toy on the market is the acrylic toy. It is virtually impossible for your parrot to destroy it. But the downside is that they don't provide for the natural chewing and destruction that the wooden toys offer. My recommendation is to get a variety of toys and rotate them in the cage. Puzzle toys are also very popular. These have a variety of treats hidden in them. This will make your bird work some to get at the treats thus providing some good exercise while it has some fun.

Make sure that any toy you buy for your parrot is safe for it to use while unsupervised. We all know that while our birds are unattended they can get into all kinds of trouble. Doesn't that sound familiar parents? Toys with unnatural materials can be torn apart and ingested. Toys such as stuffed animals or toys made from PVC plastic should always be avoided. These are also very good at collecting unwanted dirt and dust.

Here are a few tips to help you decide on the best and safest toys for your bird so he doesn't end up hurting himself. Avoid toys that have "jingle bells" on them. They may sound good and keep your bird entertained but they can easily catch a toe or beak (especially smaller birds) in them causing injury. Avoid flimsy plastic toys that will easily break or toys that have very small parts on the inside like a clapper in a small bell.

Make sure you get the proper size toy for your particular parrot. Any parrot can break a toy designed for a smaller bird. Ring toys are especially dangerous if they are mismatched. Also the rings and links that are used to attach toys to the cage are a big problem. Each year many injuries are attributed to the use of these. The only type of link you should be using are the stainless steel quick link that can be found at any good hardware store. Never use snap hooks or key rings.

About the Author:

Matt Carver is an author and parrot enthusiast. Learn more about parrot supplies and many other parrot care tips by downloading a copy of his latest book on Parrot Care.

Parrot Diet - Fresh Food, Snacks and Table Food

By Matt Carver

Like everybody else your parrot deserves fresh food whether it's seed, pellet or cooked. But it's not always easy to know if the seed or pellet food you get at the pet store is always as fresh as it should be. Next time you get some seed, place a teaspoon of it between two damp paper towels. In a couple of days check it to see how has sprouted. If most has you've got good fresh seed. If only some of it has it's not so fresh. If none sprouted find a new pet store.

If your supplier sells seeds or pellets in large open bins I'd find another store. Store employees or customers may run their hands through it and contaminated it. Worse yet the food may have been picked over by rodents. You want the food you buy to be in airtight sealed bags - seed or pellet.

Your parrot likes a treat now and then just as you do. The trick is to give them something health as well as enjoyable. Store bought snacks are usually high in calories and low in nutritional value. Doesn't that sound familiar? There are some healthier alternatives if you look for them.

Millet spray is a favorite of many smaller birds like budgies and cockatiels. Give to them in the late afternoon after eating its other regular food - kind of like dessert twice a week. You can thread it through the bars of the cage so your bird has to work at it to eat it. Here is a word of caution. Don't buy a spiral millet holder. They have been known to cause injury or even death.

Many of the foods we eat every day can be very nutritious for your parrot. But be careful. If you're going to feed your parrot table food, here are some things you need to be aware of. He can eat just about anything you can - but not everything. What he can't eat is very important to know. Some of the foods we like to eat are in fact toxic for your bird. Salty and sugary foods are unhealthy for them so avoid all junk food.

There are other foods that also must be avoided. They include avocado, rhubarb, chocolate (no candy bars!), raw onion, any salty or sugary foods (it may be fun to watch him eat that pretzel but it is definitely a no no) and alcohol. These foods are toxic or even deadly and must be avoided.

About the Author:

Matt Carver is an author and parrot enthusiast. Learn more about a good parrot diet and many other parrot care tips by visiting http://www.parrotcaretips.com.

Basic Guide to Caring for Your Small Dog

By Elias Maseko

Caring for the small dog is pretty similar to caring for a larger pet. Having said that, there are certain points they need to be made aware of when looking after a small dog. Just think about some of the everyday events that may need to be looked at when considering certain needs.

Feeding time:

Of course eating is the most obvious daily activity but the average kibble available from the grocery may be over-sized for your dog. Make sure that your dog gets a kibble which suits his tiny mouth and you could get these along with the premium brand of dog foods. But if you feed your dog with canned food, this should not present a problem.

Where they will stay - safely:

A few staple needs for any dog include exercise, some confidential outdoor venue for potty and a protected area for security. Not necessarily when it comes to smaller dogs because a fence that adequately holds a bigger dog may have gaps large enough for a small dog to fit between or under, allowing him to escape. An important safety concern is that no fence would protect your tiny pet from the prying eyes of hawks flying overhead as they are famous for stooping down to snatch away the Lilliputians and smaller puppies. A simple answer to this problem is to construct an enclosed play area which should stop this from happening.

Training to obey commands:

Though teaching larger dogs is as easy or as hard as their tinier counterparts, according to pet experts, it is common to find the diminutive canines are thoroughly smothered to be taught any discipline. Small dogs don't think any differently to their larger cousins and believe they are part of the pack where you are their leader but if you show signs of weakness they will start ruling you. Getting them house trained is just as important too even though their mess might not be as great, this is still an important issue that must be dealt with. To make the dog obey your commands, dog experts recommend that the dog must be made to work for you. If you can train your dog to perform small tricks and other normal things like fetching a stick for example you can then provide them with a small treat afterwards.

Dog grooming:

Small dogs have some particular requirements when it comes to grooming you need to bear in mind. These diminutive pets usually require more frequent nail trimming than larger dogs, because they typically spend less time on rough surfaces wearing them down. You'll also need to brush his or her teeth twice a week if you're feeding a soft canned food diet. As you can see, small dog care largely follows the same route as care for any other sized dog. While each requirement may seem small and insignificant, but when you do it with earnestness, it can make a huge difference in the way you keep a dog.

About the Author:

Dog Breeding supplies more accurate information, check out this link: Dog Breeding Instructions.

The West Highland White Terrier Change of Fate, from Below to the Top

By Jack Richardson

Full of spunk and dauntlessly courageous; these and more are what makes the West Highland White Terrier an absolute charmer and enthusiastic little gamer. This dog is widely recognized for having a short, brilliant white hair, compact little body and fearless spirit. Tagged as well as "Westie", this little diminutive charmer has a wide base of admirers and the number continue to rise by the day.

It's a out of the question how Westies are being hailed as one of the top favorite breeds today but looking back almost hundreds of years ago, they were surprisingly not so pampered and not so favored like today. In Scotland before, the place of origin of the Westie, believe it or not they were treated as despicable and meaningless pets of the peasants and of the poor. In the hands of sadistic humans, they were abandoned, left to fend for themselves, and even killed.

With the good spirits of the Malcolm family, however, the pet was saved, flourished, and in time gained recognition for its unique and favorable usefulness as vermin catcher. The Malcolms are an influential family and through this rank they managed to catch the interest of other people to look at Westies in a different and most loving way. Col. Edward Donald Malcolm, the main instigator of the change, formerly developed several colored terriers but it is the white colored one that made the most importance for it is utterly recognizable among other animals being hunted, the bushes, mountains, and rocks.

Having been breed from other Scottish terriers such as the Skye, Cairn, and Dandie Dinmont, the Westie of today is nothing but pure blooded terrier. In 1905, the first Highland terrier club was formed in the overseeing of Col. Malcolm. A year later, The Kennel Club cited the club as an official member and gave it the name The West Highland White Terrier Club; in 1908, the American version of the club was included in the AKC.

The Westie indicates a typical terrier temperament as it is fearlessly game, hardy despite its size, trusting of new people and children, active, confident, and adores companionship. They also love playing and chasing around and has the tendency to run after cats and other smaller animals but this is just a form of entertainment for them. The Westie has no problem getting along with other dogs for it doesn't typically pick a fight, isn't pugnacious and is inherently self-assured.

In appearance, the West Highland White terrier looks adorably hairy in 2 inches long of thick, soft, and sparkling fur. The hair on top of its head is typically trimmed to show its well- rounded head; daily brushing and regular trimming are necessary to bring out its best feature. They typically stand robust in 10- 12 inches of height and have a fur that is soft and dense under and rough at the outer.

Adding to its already cute appearance, this dog is quite the showman, too, for it is tractable in training and obedience which makes him a winner at every dog show competition. In terms of health, this dog needs a dose of regular walks so as to avoid the development of negative behaviors. Aside from that, this dog also needs a regular chance at playing, running around, and frolicking in order to keep his physical and mental health in check.

The Westie has come very far from its underdog days and is actually enjoying quite a handful of recognitions and a steady flow of admiring owners today. West Highland White Terriers clubs exists in almost every country now and this furthermore proves the Westie's change of fate. Thanks to the effort and faith of some people for this breed, we experience the companionship or the very least, the sight of a sinewy, luminous, and lively West Highland White terrier today.

About the Author:

Jack Richardson has years of experience in West Highland White Terrier breeding, grooming, and training. Get more helpful tips and information from him by visiting his website about West Highland White Terriers.

The Dangers of Poor Parrot Diet

By Matt Carver

The main cause of any number of parrot problems stems from poor nutrition. A poor diet can drastically reduce a parrot's life span. Some of these birds can live to be over 60 years old. But a bad diet can force to live of pain and misery with health problems including liver disease, respiratory problems, feather and skin disorders and other issues.

Tap water is not all that great either. It can contain all kinds of harmful chemicals depending on where you live. It might not be all that good for you either. Use bottled or filtered water. Make sure your parrot's water dish is clean. Refresh the water at least twice a day - in the morning and afternoon are good times. Clean it any time you see it getting cloudy or otherwise dirty.

For food, remember that a diet exclusively made up of seed is not the best for your parrot. In the wild, parrots eat whatever is available during any given season. This results in them getting a natural variety of foods in their diet. Parrots need a mixture of fresh leafy greens and fruits as well as seed.

Neither seed nor widely available pellet food has enough vitamin A for your bird. As a result, vitamin A deficiency has become quite common. To combat this you need to feed them plenty of leafy greens, green vegetables and fruits.

Pellet food has become very popular over the years. Undoubtedly that's because of the claims made by the manufacturers about how easy it is to give your parrot a balanced diet. Just give them these nutritional pellets. Well, be a little skeptical. It just isn't that easy. In fact there is some evidence that suggests a long term diet of only pellet food can cause other problems.

The best way to go is a cooked food base diet that is supplemented with seed or pellet food. Most owners would agree this is more work but, the benefits in terms of your bird's health outweigh the extra effort required. This diet is comprised of cooked beans, brown or whole-grain rice, quinoa, amaranth, couscous and other grains. As always check with your veterinarian for the specific needs of your bird.

About the Author:

Matt Carver is an author and parrot enthusiast. Learn more about what makes up a good parrot diet and many other parrot care tips by downloading a copy of his latest book on Parrot Care.

Offer Your Dog An Active Lifestyle

By Daniel Waser

Of all the creatures which man can rely upon, dogs are the ones deemed as his best friend. Still, eating the remote controlling or chewing your sofa is one of those nasty things that they're just fond of doing. It is because they have that characteristic of being dynamic, but they are at home with a TV addicted couch potato. A dog is more likely to feel depressed if he is matched with an keeper who has a different lifestyle and this can sometimes create a tense in a human relationship.

If you bring a dog into your home, the activity level that the dog requires to remain physically and emotionally healthy should be one of your priorities. Getting the kind of exercise that they've always been avoiding to deal with is the mere thought that some lazy adults would think of if they tend to have a dog that needs a frequent walking twice a day.

Lazy individuals are not likely to change their habits enough to make a good fit between them and active dogs. Since lazy owners are more likely to slack off during walking sessions, the dog is not likely to get the essential benefits of having a frequent outdoor time thus the dog will be the one to suffer.

Giving your dog enough physical exercise is not equivalent to giving him the amount of daily activity that he needs. You should give your dog his required time to walk, run, jump and relax for each day. You might as well go to the park for a walk with your dog on a leash or even just around your block. You don't have to put your dog on a leash to let him enjoy the freedom of running and playing if you have a home with a fenced yard.

If you are one of those older adults who are concerned about having limited mobility, then you might as well go for a dog that won't demand you of too much activity everyday. Active dogs may find individuals who are fond of going outside to have fun or relax after a day's work to be ideal owners that are suitable for them. It is more likely that the end of each day's actions make both the keeper and the dog excited, since they will both relish the fun and freedom of running together or chasing each other around the park.

Bigger dogs tend to be more physically active. Those dogs with the heritage of being working or hunting dogs can be sited as examples of these dogs. They have an innate desire to be busy and work off energy. Dogs such as Irish Setter, Doberman, Beagle, German Shepherd and Greyhound are built for movement and agility, so they naturally want daily exercise.

Size can fool you as the exceedingly large dogs like the St. Bernard and Bull Mastiff, who can easily outweigh their keepers, are low physical activity dogs. Rescuing a missing skier or other things related to that might have been the main activity that a St. Bernard does according to the movies, what you don't know is that to sleep in front of the fireplace is the physical activity that ordinarily takes up most of the dog's time.

Small dogs like Poodles, Pekinese and Chihuahuas can live in small places and forgo the daily long walk in the park, however, getting active around your house is not something that you can avoid from these dogs since they have those nervous temperaments. It is already taken that some of their natural actions may appear to be pointless such as running to and fro around your house, meddling with your guests or bouncing either at them or at you, but as soon as the energy burst is all used up, they just tend to calm down. When those little dogs go find their way to your lap or on their sumptuous pillow, that's the time for them to recharge by getting that hard-earned nap.

There are a lot of things that you need to think about just before you decide on buying a dog. By taking time to make a profile of the dog that best fits your living space, character, and individual physical activity level, you'll have a better match for a lasting relationship.

About the Author:

If you'd like to discover more about dog training and how to train your dog to be well behaved, play safe and respect your every command, then get our site about the best dog training book today and see how anybody, including you and your dog, can learn to live in perfect harmony. And don't forget to get our free dog training tips.

Ailments that Are Common in Dogs

By Lin Arunee

As a pet, dogs are very important. To some people their dog is part of the family and dogs are generally considered to be our best friend. When it comes to ourselves and family members, our health is vital to us and so we visit the doctor regularly.Your family pet is no different and should be treated as such. If he is to avoid the ailments that are common in dogs then regular trips to the vet is necessary. If it comes down to emergency visits to the vet, that will end up costing quite a lot more than regular checkups.

Dogs require regular shots in order to remain in good health. These shots prevent diseases and also lengthen the life span of your pet. If a dog is not vaccinated for the many canine ailments out there, they are at a high risk to contract them.

Dogs are always prone to picking up certain infestations. One such is ear mites. They can be annoying and unpleasant for the dog. The treatment is easy to administer and if you go to the vets he can prescribe the medication necessary and within a few days the problem will be dealt with.

Fleas and Ticks are also very common. They should be treated right away and again, your vet will be able to tell you how bad the situation is and then provide the necessary treatment.

One illness that is common to dogs is worms. By themselves they are not really an illness, but if left untreated your dog can become very ill and possibly even die from certain types of worm. Regular treatment is a must for this. Your vet can advise on the best medication.

The dental health of your pet is also very important. Vets will often clean your dogs teeth for you and show you how to do it properly. Have your vet check your dogs teeth regularly to avoid bacteria from spreading.

As we said at the beginning because there are numerous ailments common to dogs, you must take the responsibility and take care of him. He cannot do this without you. Try to prevent a problem before it occurs. Look after your pet and give him the regular medical check ups that he needs. He can then look forward to a happy and healthy life.

Illnesses that are common in dogs may seem only minor, but sometimes they can lead to more serious things if they are not treated in time. Vets are the exact same as doctors, their job is to try and diagnose these problems before they can become serious.

About the Author:

Lin Arunee has been an avid dog owner and dog admirer for numerous years. For some excellent information read her article on best dog food for dogs. There are some interesting revelations. Before you shop for pet items checkout her online store for some great bargains.