 Did you know: Dogs can learn up to 500 commands. Wow!
Sensitive Spots: Dogs don't like it when you touch their nses or ears, so leave them alone! Dogs can hear much better than humans can, so loud noises scare them, and hurt their ears. So when you are playing your loud music ... make sure your dog isn't in the room. Grooming: Ask your parents to buy your dog a brush. At first, your dog may want to try to bite the brush, but it will learn to like being brushed. Brushing also removes the dead hair, so it wont be lying all over the house. Bathing is important when you have a dog, also. If your dog has longer fur, you should bathe him regularly. Do not bathe your dog too much in the winter so that you don't remove too much natural oil from your dog's skin ... it helps keep him warm and dry. Food: To grow up big and stong, dogs need to eat healthy too. You should feed your dog three times a day, with a good brand of dog food. The brand of food is your choice. You can also buy 'junk food' for your dog. This could be rawhide bones. Something my puppy really loves is ice cubes. When your dog is a month or older, you can give them an ice cube to play with and to eat. The dreaded poop and scoop: In case you dont know, poop and scoop is where your dog goes to the bathroom, and then you pick it up. I know what you're thinking ... 'EWWWW!' But in some places it is a rule that you pick up after your dog, so here are some tips. You can buy poop-'n-scoopers, but they can be a pain to carry around. What I do is carry a sandwich bag with me. When my dog does her business, I turn the bag inside-out, and put my hand into the bag. I scoop the poop, and hold onto it while I flip the bag right-side out. I never have to touch the poop! If you live in the country, however, and there is no rule, it might be a good idea to train your dog to go in a certain area around your home. My dogs go in the bush beside my home. This is nice because I do not have to pick any poop up. Yay! Basic obedience: Teaching your dog these things will make your life a lot easier! Sit: Hold a small treat above your dog's nose, just out of reach. Say 'Sit!' as you move the treat up, over the dog's head. As your dog looks up, it will sit to get a better look. If it does, immediately give him or her the treat and tell them that they are a very good dog. If your dog does not sit, be patient! Try again. If your dog tries to eat the treat (which he probably will) just say 'no!' and again tell him to sit, and move the treat up and over. Lie Down: Ask your dog to sit. Hold a treat close to your dog's nose, but out of reach. Slowly lower the treat down to the floor, while saying 'Down!'. Do not give your dog the treat until it lies down. If he or she will not lie down, try pressing gently but firmly on his or her upper back. When your dog lies down, give them the treat immediately and tell them that they are a 'good dog!' 
Did You Know:Cats can fall and land on their feet!
Most cats love to be petted: Whenever you have some time, pet your cat! They will love it! Grooming: Cats also like to be brushed, just like dogs. If your cat has long fur, it really needs to be brushed just like your hair! If a longhaired cat's hair isn't brushed, it will get into tangles called mats. Mats are really uncomfortable for your cats, so you should definitely brush them! Cats do not like to be bathed as much as dogs, so talk to your parents about when you should bathe them. Basic Obedience: They say that cats can't be trained, but they actually can! There is a new way to train acts called 'Clicker Training'. This is when you ask a cat to do something with a special stick, and when they do it, you make a clicking noise with a special button that you can buy. Breeds of cats: Do you know any breeds of cats? Breeds are different kinds of cats. Some are Persian, Sphynx, Scottish Fold, Manx, and Siamese. There are lots of other kinds too. Dogs also have different types of breeds. 
Did You know:Fish 'breathe' water in through their mouths, and as it passes through openings called gills in their necks, the oxygen in the water is extracted. Care: Fish are pretty easy to take care of, but they are still fun to own. Feed your fish according to the number you have ( one pinch of food each). If you are going away, you can buy feeders that you put in the fish tank that will feed your fish for you until you return. Your fish tank should be cleaned about once every month or two. Equipment: You will need an air pump pumping air into the water, and a filter to keep the water clean. Your fish will eventually die if you don't have these two things. |