You’ve chosen the cutest little *insert pet here* - that’s the hard part over and done with… right? Naming your adorable new pet can be troublesome, especially if you have never had the responsibility of naming a creature before.

So how does one go about naming a pet? Basically, it all comes down to personal preference. If you like the typical standard pet names, then you are more then welcome to call your dog Fido. Some people like to be a little more creative when naming their pet, using TV or novel characters. Others use ‘human’ names that they like or think are unusual.

When it comes to naming a pet, you can go one of several ways. The following is just a small list of possible names that you might consider using:

Use a typical pet name, such as Fido, Spike, Socks, Mr. Whiskers or Spot

Use a famous pet names from a move or book, like Lassie, Frank [Men In Black], Shere Khan [Jungle Book], Aslan [Narnia Series]

Use one of your favorite names. It can be any name, from any origin.

Sometimes, the personality of the pet once it starts to mature, or becomes comfortable in it’s new surroundings, doesn’t really suit the name you gave it. You can give the pet a new name or even a nickname that relates more to it’s personality, for example a cat that thinks it is a dog may be called Fido

If those suggestions don’t sit well, and you plan on having several pets, you may like to find a theme or common factor when it comes naming your pets [you are more than welcome to use the following for a single pet]. Some themed name ideas may include:

Use your favorite songs – for example: Queens’ “Bohemian Rhapsody” you could call one pet ‘Bohemian’ and the other Rhapsody”.

Drinks – for example: Rum and Coke, Bundy, Dark n’ Stormy, JD (Jack Daniels)

Muppets – for example: Camilla (perfect for a pet chicken), Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Sweetums, Wayne and Wanda (for fish, perhaps), Baskerville. There are hundreds of Muppet characters [try a Google search for more Muppet names].

Disney or other Cartoon characters – for example: Tinkerbelle, Tigger, Zazu, Stitch, Razoul, Scooby, Shaggy, Stimpy

These are just a few examples that you can use when looking for a name for a new pet. There are literally thousands of names that you could use. Try not to use really common pet names, especially if there are a few neighborhood pets with the same or similar names – it may get confusing.

Also, try to give your new pet its own name; don’t copy someone else’s pets’ name or even the name of a deceased childhood pet [i.e. Snowball III]. Like people, animals are unique characters with their own personalities. You shouldn’t try to replace an old pet, you a getting a new pet.

Remember: Be creative and make sure you like the name, there is no point giving a pet a name that you do not like. If you are unsure about a name, try one or two over a couple of days. As with naming a child, try asking opinions of friends and family about your chosen pet name – it’s possible they may come up with a name that you will like.

You can view more of Ra Ruddell’s writing at chynadolores.com Ra’s World. This article has been submitted in affiliation with PetLovers.Com/ PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for PetLovers.Com/ Pets.

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Tags: fido

He’ll find it fun to learn and it’ll help stretch his brainpower. Most dogs
learn this one quickly.

1. Get a treat that’s small enough to hold in your hand but keep hidden
from him when you close your finders.

2. Place your dog in a sit position on a non-slippery surface.

3. Gently tap one his paws with your free hand. Keep tapping it until he lifts
his paw off the ground.

4. As soon as this happens, support his paw in your hand and say “shake.”
Then give him the treat and coo praise at him.

5. Repeat this process four or five times and then stop before either of you
get tired.

6. Do this exercise a couple times a day for a few days before you expect company.

7. You can stop the teaching once your dog lifts his paw to you when you say “Shake.”

8. If you want to teach to shake the other paw, use the same process but with a
different verbal command. Use “paw” or some other word.

Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist and
creator of the popular website on small dogs,
ToyBreeds.com ToyBreeds.com

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Tags: fido

Let’s start out by saying that dogs do not “need” clothes. Most are born with their permanent wardrobe intact. You know, it’s that furry thing all over their bodies. Depending on the breed, they may even leave their clothes all over your house…it’s called shedding. But no matter what I say about dog clothes, there is still that group of dog owners out there who will still insist on spending more on their dog’s wardrobe than their own. So if you insist on doing this, at least be fair to your friend.

If you are the proud owner of a championship Rottweiler or a well-trained German Shepard, don’t dress them up in little dresses and bright pink tutus. That’s more embarrassing for you than it is for them (and it is embarrassing for them…just look at their faces). And if you own those little purse dogs, you know the ones I mean, don’t dress them up in spiked collars and full blown leather. That’s a powerful image to live up to. But that advice won’t be listened to either. So if you are going to dress Fido or Princess up in the latest fashions, be sensible.

First and foremost, make sure the clothes fit. Make sure there’s plenty of room across the shoulders. Make sure the straps that go under the front legs leave plenty of room so the dog has full range of motion. If the clothes don’t fit, you’re just going to make your dog more irritated than he already is. Also, listen to your dog. If you just have to put that “cute sweater” on Fido and he is constantly fighting you on it, he’s trying to tell you something. Listen to him.

Now for those of you who still insist on dressing up your dogs in clothes, don’t worry, the pet industry was listening. Dog clothes are a billion dollar a year business and you can dress your pampered pooch up in the latest fashions from Paris all the way into the Walmart special. There are costumes for Halloween. There are tuxedos and prom dresses for the pooches who just have to look their best. There are workout clothes for the fitness gurus living in your doghouse. And there are casual clothes for the fashion impaired who prefer comfort over style.

There are also a wide variety of shoes you can purchase for your new best friend. But if you want him to remain your best friend for very long, I wouldn’t make him wear them that often. Have you ever seen a dog walking with shoes on? They look like they are walking across hot pavement. There’s a reason for this…THEY DON’T LIKE THEM!

So as you can see, I personally am not a big fan of clothes for dogs. But I am obviously wrong. Pet clothes manufacturers have built entire empires on the product and dog clothes are one of the few items pet stores have a hard time keeping in stock. And there are plenty of choices out there for the fashonista pooch. But pay attention to the styles. After all, there’s nothing more embarrassing for your lovable mutt than being seen in last year’s fashion line. Except maybe of course being seen in clothes at all.

Allen Shaw is a successful author who provides information on dogs-n-u.com/ dogs, dogs-n-u.com/dog-clothes.htm dog clothes and dogs-n-u.com/dog-coats.htm dog coats.

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Tags: dog clothes, fido, rottweiler

When summer comes around, so do fleas — those little creatures that can make your dog’s life (and yours) miserable. There are things you can do to minimize the chances of flea infestation and other measures you can take if they have already invaded your home.

First let’s look at the steps necessary to keep the fleas away; without using chemicals. This natural flea prevention will work best to prevent fleas from taking hold and can also be used if you have a very light flea infestation.

Keep your carpets vacuumed! Vacuum daily and get some wide tape to seal up the vacuum bags as soon as you remove them from the vacuum cleaner. If you DON’T have small children around, use pennyroyal leaves either fresh (if available) or dried and spread them around your carpet to repel fleas.

Keep your dog’s bedding clean by washing it in warm water and soap. When it is dry apply some cedar oil to the bedding to help repel the fleas. Keep the area around your dog’s bed free of dust and dirt.

Give your dog a bath once a week with cedar shampoo (bathing more frequently may dry out its skin). If your dog does get dry skin it will attract fleas — just what you don’t want. Give a dog with dry skin some Linatone oil mixed with its food. Something else you can mix, in very small doses, with your dogs food to repel fleas is a mixture of garlic and brewer’s yeast. With this mixture in the dog’s system, it will give off a scent that you won’t be able to notice but fleas will notice it and they hate it.

If you mix lavender oil (60 ml) with rock salt (2.8 liters) you will have a great flea repellent that can be spread around the places where your dog goes and can also be used as a dog shampoo.

Fill your outside flower beds with marigolds — they have natural flea repellent properties and also repel other bugs.

Try boiling either lemon peels or orange peels in water to create a solution that can be used as a dog dip and can be used on the dogs bedding before washing it.

Another effective dog dip, if you are experiencing a light infestation, is warm water, shampoo and laundry detergent; immerse the dog’s body in this for ten or fifteen minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

If you have a heavy flea infestation you may have to resort to chemicals — all these products can be used safely if you follow the directions that come with the products.

Advantage. Advantage is a flea poison made by Bayer. Apply the Advantage (liquid) to the dog’s coat as directed. Advantage should work for about one month, Advantage’s active ingredient, imidacloprid, upsets the nervous system of any flea that comes in contact with it. Advantage kills flea’s fast and should kill all the fleas on the dog in about two days; but it is not absorbed into the dog’s bloodstream or internal organs. The active ingredient, imidacloprid is a chloronicotinyl nitroguanidine, integrated from the nitromethylene class of a compound. The imidacloprid affects the nicotinyl receptor sites of insects and upsets the flea’s normal nerve transmission, resulting in death. Advantage costs $15 to $20 for a set of two vials.

Frontline. Frontline is very similar to Advantage but it is not water soluble; this means alcohol is required to wash it off the dog. Frontline is safe for use on puppies as well as adult dogs, kittens and adult cats and it will work for approximately four months.
The active ingredients in Frontline include: Fipronil 5-amino -1- (2, 6-dichloro-4 [trifluoromethyl]phenyl) -4- (1,R,S)- (trifluoromethyl0sulfinyl) -1H-pryazole-3-carbonitrile 0.29% inert ingredients 99.71%. Fipronil, from the new phenylpyrazole class, is very effective at killing fleas by attacking their nervous systems. Fipronil is safe for use on dogs and cats that are not allergic to it. Tests have shown that Fipronil will kill up to 95% of a pet’s fleas within two hours and all the fleas within the first 24 hours — ticks are killed instantly on contact.

Knockout. Knockout is as effective as Frontline and works in the same way but Knockout can not be used on cats.
Knockout’s active ingredients are: Pyriproxyfen: 21[1-methyl-2-(phenoxyphenoxy)ethyoxy] pyridine….0.05% cyclopropanecarboxylate 2.00% inert ingredients 97.95% Knockout also contains NYLAR, a flea-growth regulator.

Biospot. Biospot is used topically, like the other products and, in tests, killed up to three quarters of the fleas, ticks and their eggs; like Knockout, Biospot can NOT be safely used on cats. Biospot works for about one month and can also be used as a mosquito repellant. Biospot has been known to temporarily turn the white hair on a dogs coat to yellow.
Biospot contains permethrins and IGR.

Proban and Prospot. The Proban (cythioate) and Prospot (Fenthion) products are also for use on dogs only and they are very popular. Proban and Prospot are actually absorbed in the dog’s bloodstream, poisoning any fleas that bite the dog. The fact that these products are poisonous to fleas combined with the fact that you are actually allowing this poison to be absorbed in the dog’s blood stream, may be cause for concern. There are no published (or known?) side effects. Another factor to consider about these last two products is that they do not repel fleas, they will only work if a flea bites the dog — if the dog has a flea allergy this would not be the product of choice.

Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu’s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at allmypuppiesonline.com All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, carpetsecrets.com Carpet Secrets and movingsecretsguide.com Moving Secrets Guide

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Tags: dog breed, fido, kitten, shih tzu, yorkshire terrier

With the holiday season nearly upon us, thoughts of gift-giving are most likely starting to climb way up the ladder of your priorities. And whether you’re trimming the tree or lighting the menorah, don’t forget your furry friend this December.

Gone are the days where the best gift you could buy for your pet was a boring rawhide chews or a tin of plain yellow tennis balls. In this age of mega-pet-stores and online shopping, the selection of gifts for your pet is amazing.

Of course the traditional gifts are still there. In fact, you’ll find tennis balls aplenty in the aisles of any pet retailer you choose What’s changed is that there’s more a sense of fun in dog toys these days. Tennis balls are no longer just yellow. They come in all shapes and sizes and colors. You’ll find bone-shaped tennis balls and tennis balls shaped into rings for great games of tug-of-war. For larger dogs such as retrievers, there are larger tennis balls. Some tennis balls come in tasty flavors that dogs love, such as mint and peanut butter.

Even the traditional rawhide chew has been upgraded. Some are basted with chicken or beef flavorings, and some even come with chewy meaty centers.

Beyond that, you’ll find a wealth of other gift choices for man’s best friend. Many pet stores now contain aisles laden with plush toys in all shapes and sizes. For larger dogs that tend to be rougher on toys, there are toys made of a durable tire-like rubber that are destined to last longer under the wear and tear.

Still other items make great gifts for both owner and pooch. Take, for example, the new pet drinking fountains that are available. This would make a great gift for a pet owner. Many come with filters and provide an aerated, flowing water supply that encourages pets to get enough fluids.

Or how about contraptions that raise food and water dishes off the floor so that larger dogs don’t have to bend so far down to eat and drink? Or how about a kit so that owners can bake fresh dog treats for their best friends? Many even come with bone-shaped cookie cutters.

The options are as limitless as your imagination, so don’t forget Fido when you’re doing your holiday shopping this year. After all, he’ll be the one waiting for you with a loving wag when you come home.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with PetLovers.Com/ PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for

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Tags: fido