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So you decided to get that new puppy for the family but did you consider the responsibility that go with dog ownership. Most dog breeds can live for ten and fifteen years and some may be around for a longer time. Now consider how it will be if you are stuck with the wrong dog type for you and your family. One that will not fit your family lifestyle or conditions. So what would you do? Take him down to the shelter where it is possible that they will put him to sleep. This is the only family member that you have a choice on how and what type of dog you will want and what will fit into your family lifestyle. So choosing the right dog breed is important so take your time and consider all aspects of dog ownership and the type you want to get.

One of the biggest considerations that you might need to take is to see how much room you have in your home. Are you and your family tripping all over each other if so then it might be a good idea to leave the big dogs alone. So don’t go after that Saint Bernard or Lab, Mastiffs. If you have large home and plenty of property then maybe these large dogs will be fine for you.

The next consideration is your family makeup. Are there young children at home. Then it might be a good idea to skip the high strung type of dogs. The ones that need more attention than the children. They could have the potential to bite. These types should be a no no for the family makeup. The poodles, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu. Plus they need a lot of grooming and attention. What could be considered a good match for a family with small children are the gentle breeds and are sturdy and well mannered. and with out the potential to bite. May be the Pug, Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever.

Also take into consideration are your family activities. Are you the outdoor type that likes to go to the beach, to the river, goes swimming or fishing. A good choice for you would be the Labs or the Spaniels.

Finally the last consideration on dog breed is the mutt. They can be the most fun type of dog out there and you can rescue one from a shelter and that can be rewarding in by itself.

Mr. Baker loves to write on various dog and pet topics. I am hoping that this will help you in your quest for making the right choice of dog. By the way, do you want to learn more about How To Chose The Right Dog Breed and for a good source of information on How to Train your dog?
Learn about the cat breeds with descriptions, pictures, breed standards, history & orignins and more.

The breeding of purebred dogs today has become very complex and even in many breeds of dogs there are many different breeding lines that produce different type and traits of dogs within the same breed of dog. This has come about due to breeders personel likes and dislikes of a certain types, sizes or colors but every breeder of purebred dogs needs to remember that breed of dog breed standard. Does your dog have its true breed characteristics? Does your dog appear to look like what its breed books say it should look like? Does it compare to picture of of dogs of its breed of old or of famous dogs bred in its breed? Finally does it have the true temperment for the breed you own? Last but not least is your dog of sound healthy breeding lines?

These are all question any breeder or some one thinking of breeding dog should ask themself before they undertake the job of breeding any litter of puppies in any breed of dog. If you can answer all the questions above and you have done at leat some research in your breed of dog and the bloodlines you are working with and do know what traits your bloodline has, what the sire and dam look like, the grandsire and granddam and further back great sires and dams in your dogs pedigree. The next thing on your mind should be what are you trying to improve on and what are you trying to keep in your breed of dog.

There are three main breeding methods of breeding dogs or purebreds, line breeding, out crossing and inbreeding. There are many good books out there on breeding of dogs and I am not trying to rewirte any of them in this writing, rather I am trying to get you as a breeder of dogs to think, read and questions what you doing and wear you going with your breeding program. I will discuss shortly the three ways of breeding purebred dogs as to only lay fourth a guide to breeding better dogs and keeping some type of constant format to produce dogs that closely look like each other, have the same traits, temperments and are sound healthy dogs. Lets us simply discuss them shortly and see if I can get you thinking and looking at the way you are breeding your dogs.

Lets talk out cross breeding – This type of breeding is seen a lot in dog breeding were none related dogs who are bred out none related stock are bred together and in your dogs pedigree. This type of breeding will not produce good dogs of the same type, quality and soundness. Breeding dogs this way only leads to many uncertain factors and can bring in many things a breeder is unaware of or even make it impossiable to pin point were a trait or problem have come from. Out cross breedings should be done by very experienced breeders only looking to correct a fault or make a certain improvement in there dogs and than the breeder must be sure the dog or bitch they are using carries this trait themself and the line they were bred down from does carry this trait or improvement for at least the last three generations in there line or pedigree for it to have any effect on result in making the desire changes, after this these dogs from the out cross are usually bred back into the main breeding line. Out cross breeding should not be done by new breeders or new comers to any breed and out cross breeding is no way to start a breeding program when trying to produce constant type, temperment and soundness in your dogs. Even long time breeders have made mistakes when out crossing and it is the fastest way to change type, temperment and soundness in any breeding program in any breed of dog. I allways recommend you to educate yourself, know your breed of dog, do some generation research and at leat learn basic genetic knowledge or do some reading before you begin to bred any breed of dog. Also seek the help of other sucessful breeders in your breed of dog that have been around awhile, most good breeders are willing to help and give advice to all novice dog breeders and new comers.

Lets talk about Line Breeding - Line breeding is the breeding of related dogs bred down from a certain breeding line of dogs. Many breeders think line breeding is close breeding of related dogs and it should be avoided. Nothing is farther from the truth. Good line breeding will produce your best dogs who will in return produce even better dogs if done right. Line breeding will give you much higher constant results producing dogs of the same type, size, quality, traits and temperments. That is if the breeder is starting out with everything being good and the line there breeding back into is good with all things they want in there breed of dog. Line breeding will quickly show a breeder just how good the line of dogs they are working with is but line breeding will also show the breeder any faults or problems they may have in there breeding program. There are many formulas for line breeding and these are discuss in many good books on dog breeding, there are differnt degree’s of line breeding as well. So it is not my attenion to go inot all these formulas here. However two which have proven very sucessufl to me over the years are when you breed a grand dauther to her dams sire, (i.e. grandsire) this does require some advanced planning and does require both dogs to be of very high quality with all the good traits you want and within there breeds standard. Half borther and half sister breeding with a out cross line in the middle of there pedigree has also proven very good results if the dogs used are of very good quality, sound and have great temperments. Line breeding does require knowledge and research. Its is allways recommended that you due this before any breeding of dogs. Line breeding in most cases will produce you better and higher quality of dogs in any breed as long as you are starting out with very good bred stock of the breed of dog you are trying to breed. Line breeding has been proven by many top breeders and top kennels around the world as one of the best ways to produce better dogs.

Lets talk about Inbreeding - Inbreeding is the very close breeding of line bred stock to each other. Example of this are litter brother to litter sister, Sire to daughter, or mother to son, etc. This type of breeding should never be done by most. Some very expereienced breeders may on occasion pull a inbreeding to set in a trait or type but than the breeding of these dogs down from this point must be used carefully and within the aims for which they were bred for. Inbreeding is only for very knowledgeable long time breeders to even under take as this type of breeding will truely intact the good traits as well as bring out any bad traits or problem to a very high degree. Inbreeding has however produce some very great top quality dogs who have in return produce other very high quality dogs however many inbreedings due results in breeders have to put down many puppies also and it is not for the weak at heart. Inbreeding is not a recommended form of breeding dogs expect in certain very experience breeders programs, usually done one time only for that one purpose.

The breeding of purebred dogs should not be taken lightly, and every breeder should always try to gain as much knowledge as they can on there breed of dog, its type, breed standard, soundness and health not for getting its true temperment. Keeping this in mind and do your reseach as a dog breeder it will insure that you breed better and healthy dogs for many years to come. After all breeding prue bred dogs is a true art form and breeding better dogs should always be you goal. Don’t purchase you next dog from just anyone, seek out a good breeder of that breed of dog you want who has been around and breeding for a while. You will be much happier with your puppy purchase and so will your puppy and dog be happier and healthy for many more years to come. Today most good breeder also offer health guarantee’s on puppies they sell and good breeders stand behind there dogs because they know what has gone into producing them.

Do you reseach, read about your breed, talk to breeders, you will be glad you did!

About the Author - Ed Strand is the breeder of the world famous line of the Guardstock Staffordshire Bull Terriers, he has been involed with breeding them for over 30 years. Guardstock Staffords has produce the very first BIS All Breed Winner in Staffordshire Bull Terrier History Champion Guardstock’s Red Atom, who is one of the all time winning Staffordshire Bull Terriers, as well as many other top winning Staffordshire Bull Terriers through out the years. Ed and wife Donna have been involed with American Bulldogs for almost ten years now and breeding them since 2000. Ed and Donna also have a love for the Austalian Shepherd breed in which they have been involed in and breeding for over five years now.

Many people who choose to go on a vacation have to decide whether or not to bring the family pet along. Some people choose to leave their pet at home and pay someone to come and care for it. Some people choose to board their pet at a location away from home. Other people choose to bring their pet with them on vacation. For people who choose this option, finding pet friendly vacation rentals becomes a necessity. Some rentals forbid pets altogether. Other rentals will allow pets for an additional fee. Still other vacation rentals will allow and even cater to pets. These rentals may offer babysitting for your pet or activities to keep it busy while you are off sightseeing. If you are looking for pet friendly vacation rentals, here are some tips for finding them.

Your first stop in the search for pet friendly vacation rentals should be the internet. A simple search for pet friendly vacation rentals will undoubtedly bring up several choices in your desired area. There are also online directories available that will discuss different aspects of each rental and other characteristics that you might look for. In general, the internet is the best place to begin your search for a rental that will allow you to bring your family pet along for the trip.

Visit www.rentalads.com for rental properties, Pet Friendly Rentals section 8, mobile homes for rent, townhouses for rent, pet friendly rentals and houses for rent!!

Holistic Vs Traditional Vet Care

We have to understand that our bodies have more control over it’s own health than our medications in certain situations. By understanding the basic health mechanisms of our bodies, we can significantly improve our responses to illnesses and adverse factors. The same is true for our pets, and a holistic approach torwards their health might be the right choice. Holistic pet care is based on understanding the pet’s needs and problems as a whole. Holistic veterinarians will approach a pet illness from a multi faceted point of view, not just treating a single health problem in comparison to traditional pet health care systems which aim straight at one problem, almost ignoring other related factors.

Differences between a holistic veterinarian and a traditional vet

In traditional pet medicine, if your dog or cat has a sore paw, the vet will look mostly at the leg. It makes sense, you will say. It does, but this also limits the doctor’s chances of finding correlated problems that might have lead to the sore paw. A holistic pet care approach will have a look at the “whole” rather than the “individual”. This means that the holistic vet will look for other potential, inner and outside factors that might contribute negatively to the problem.

Holistic pet care – a different approach

Holistic pet care aims to bring a multitude of healing elements for a multitude of potential problems, while classical vets target a specific element, using a one on one approach. This is not to say that traditional veterinary practices are obsolete – they do work well in most cases. However, the issue here is: can they be improved? Holistic vet care tries to find hidden factors for the problem, so that it will not become a reoccurring issue looking at the whole process, from past, to present and future. While traditional medicine focuses mainly on the consequences of an illness.

Work methods of the holistic veterinarian

A holistic veterinarian will show a more open-minded approach to an affliction. He or she will try to face the problem from a multitude of different angles, not just a one on one approach. Of course, the holistic veterinarian knows, as well as the pet owner does, that the treatments will not get a 100% response from the pet. However, since the problem is faced from different perspectives, chances that treatment will be successful are a lot higher. While traditional medicine should not be disregarded, every pet owner should consider a holistic approach to pet problems in order to ensure the highest chances of success and to improve the overall life quality of their animal companions.

Holistic pet care – is vaccination necessary?

Yearly vaccinations for our pet have become a usual thing, especially since traditional veterinarians tell us that this is the best action against all sorts of pet diseases. Many holistic pet care specialists have studied the effect of vaccinations on different sorts of pets and they found out that there might be more harm involved in regular vaccination than we would think. Most vaccinations occur in the multi dose pattern – which means that our pet’s immune system receives a large dosage of the vaccine. Repeating this process year after year may increase the side effects of the vaccine on your pet’s immune system. While holistic pet care is not against vaccination, many holistic veterinarians suggest more caution when vaccinating your pet.

Vaccination of young animals

In their early life stages, pets are supposed to get increased doses of vaccine, so as to develop a stronger immune system. Holistic pet care systems know that the baby animal gets the highest part of their immune system from their mother. This also means that a natural diet will help build a proper immune system, as the mother’s milk will have all the necessary nutrients. Holistic pet care focuses on natural nutrition as a way of eliminating many of the problems that plague our pets. Chemical and unnatural food, mostly used by pet owners today, diminishes the potency of the immune system, both in baby animals and in adults. Combined with pesticide prevention drugs, vaccines will only add to the dosage of unnatural elements in your pet’s life, thus actually reducing the strength of the immune system, instead of making it stronger.

Holistic pet care – why are vaccines potentially dangerous

Although our pets’ bodies do sometimes need outside factors to help their healing, in most cases, given the proper conditions, our pets are able to self heal. Vaccination brings a series of foreign elements in the pet’s bloodstream – and, as you know, vaccines actually contain a part of the disease they are supposed to prevent. The natural process would be for the pet to come in contact with the disease, get passed it and develop it’s own immune system then. Yearly introduction of the controlled disease found in vaccinations may have a series of adverse factors.

The pet owner’s choice

By constantly receiving small doses of the “disease”, through vaccination, your pet’s immune system is under constant pressure. Although this helps it get stronger for the actual encounter with the disease, it also wears out the immune system in time. Holistic pet care also notices several forms of negative responses to the forced immunization procedures. Allergies and skin irritations are sometimes found with pets whose immune system is unbalanced by the vaccination. Although the holistic pet care approach does not encourage vaccination, you, as a pet owner, should decide which option is best for your favorite cat or dog.

Pets are part of people’s lives. They have a lot of benefits that can be profited by human. Pets make lives easy and comforting. There are people that consider pets as a member of their family and they even sacrifice for their pets. Having pet likes dogs and cats are very comforting in times of trouble or failure. In taking care of pets there are things that you need to consider, especially their personal things. Dog bed is available in the market that can provide the comfort that your dogs needs. It is very important that your dog is comfortable when they sleep.

Dogs are considered as mans best friend. There are people say that dogs can be your best friend or enemies because they have an attitude that if they don’t like their environment they usually become rebellious. It is very important that they are comfortable with their things. Dog bed are available that can make your them more comfortable when they are sleeping. They want their beds to be warmed so that they can sleep well. There are some that sleep with their master because the beds of the human is warmer compared to their beds.

There are different styles and designs that are available in the market. You can choose whatever will fit to your pet. The design and style of their beds can affect their lifestyle and personality. You can go to the dog store near you or even search in the internet for more ideas about dog bed. It can help your dog to be healthy. During cold season there are some that become sick because of weather. Dog bed can give them the relaxation they want in order to avoid sickness. Like human dogs are also sensitive in weather condition.

That material that your dog bed is made of is very important to consider when you buy one. There are dogs that are allergy with feather. It is best to choose materials that can provide warm and it doesn’t fly in the air. Taking care of pet symbolize your personality as a person.

You can make your own dog bed if you want. You just need some used clothes in your garage. You can put them together and make your own style of dog bed. Just make sure that it is arranged properly so that your dog can comfortable when they sleep.

Pets are such agreeable friends, they ask no questions and they pass no criticisms” said George Eliot about pet animals. Pets often reciprocate the love that their masters lavish on them by demonstrating various forms of affection including licking, hickeys, even love-bites.

There’s no other job quite like keeping a pet. Pet care is in fact a permanent job, and includes the very important functions of grooming and striving to maintain good pet health care. General pet supplies could be considered a definition of useful tools for grooming and keeping your pet in good health.

Pet Supplies:

An essential list of pet supplies for purchase could include the following: pet food and food dishes, pet id tags and collars, pet medications, supplements and tonics, etc. Some other items to consider are animal carriers, pet houses and furniture, pet beds, clothes, and pet jewelry.

Online Pet Supplies:

Online pet supplies are supplies that can be purchased from pet stores over the Internet. There are numerous pet grooming product manufacturers and pet-grooming stores selling their products online through their individual official websites.

Pet Grooming Supplies:

Pet grooming supplies include items such as grooming clippers, pet hair care products, soaps, shampoo and perfumes.

Pet Health Care:

Pet health care is a very important responsibility of pet ownership. For puppies and kittens, or any other four-legged pets, important treatments would include giving a hygiene bath, cleaning, combing, brushing, checking ears, paws, teeth and underside of the tongue, nail trimming, removing fleas and insects, and fixing regular meetings with a professional veterinary. A good pet owner should follow a regular schedule of grooming sessions.

Pet care can require a lot of patience. Like children, pets often require special attention. A puppy, kitten or any other pet in its infancy needs to be handled with extreme care. In particular they must be groomed properly, fed carefully, and bedded properly.

Choosing A Pet:

The process of choosing a pet is very important. Choosing a pet depends on one’s preferences, but there are still some important things that should be kept in mind. One should always choose an animal of good breed. Secondly, the pet should be healthy especially if it is still in the initial stage of its life. A healthy young pet shows good fast growth.

Pet Grooming Business:

The pet grooming business is a flourishing business today. There are numerous pet grooming schools offering the equivalent services of a pet grooming professional. People hire the services of these professional experts for the proper grooming of their pets. Professional pet grooming is becoming quite popular in United States, Canada, and European countries.

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Where will you go when the time comes to say good-bye to your beloved pet? Most people will go to their trusted Pet Care Provider who will hopefully usher them through this crossroads of emotion and decision making with love, support and dignity.

Surprisingly, this is not often the case. Recently when I picked up my dogs at the grooming salon, the dear lady shared with me that when she lost her most recent dog, her husband handled all of the decision making as she was just too emotional. After spending nearly $350.00, it turned out that he had mistakenly ordered a mass cremation and therefore this couple never did receive the ashes of their beloved pet. He was told by his Pet Care Provider “don’t worry, we will take care of everything; this is the option most people choose…” He had assumed, incorrectly, that he would be receiving his pets ashes in return.

While pet cemeteries have been available in many communities, burial within a pet cemetery can be a very expensive option. Many may still choose to bury their pet in their back forty but most communities now have very strict health department zoning restrictions on pet burial. Today families have become more mobile and may desire the ability to take their family pet’s remains with them when they re-locate or they may feel more comfortable with a visible, tangible memorial for their beloved pet. All are reasons that more and more pet owners are choosing cremation and as many as 70 percent of those owners are choosing to receive their pets ashes after the cremation. Just 10 years ago only 25 percent chose this option to receive the ashes back after cremation.

Knowing that cremation is your choice is not the last step in this decision. Many pet owners do not realize, as my poor dog groomer did not, that there are many options for the pet cremation and deconstructing these options and the variety of terms in use for these options is the most important aspect of the pet cremation choice. Pet cremation usually falls within three main categories; mass cremation, individual cremation and private cremation.

Mass or Communal Cremation – As the name implies this is the cremation of many animals at one time, within a single cremation session. Pet cremators (the actual pet cremation equipment) can be very large with a capacity of several hundred to thousands of pounds of weight. The animals included in a mass cremation may come from a variety of clinics, animal shelters, etc and when the cremation session is completed the ashes are gathered and taken away to be disposed of by the crematory company, generally in their private landfill. This option should be the least expensive option for the pet owner and is a sanitary and decent way to dispose of the pet if retaining the ashes is not desired.

Individual Cremation – The individual cremation is a source of much confusion for pet owners and often uninformed Pet Care Provider staff. Individual cremation simply means that the ashes that are returned to the pet owner are intended to be only the ashes of their beloved pet. Generally with an individual pet cremation, the animal is tagged with a metal tag and placed within their own individual metal tray within the cremator. Depending upon the volume of the particular cremator there can be many animals within one session, however the animals are identified and separated. When the session is complete, the ashes within each individual tray are processed, bagged, and readied to be shipped back to the Pet Care Provider or individual pet owner depending on the circumstance of its arrival to the crematory. Many pet owners believe that an individual cremation means that their pet was cremated in a single session by itself and then given back to them as a guarantee that these ashes are their pets ashes alone. The only way to make absolutely sure that is the case is with the following option and that is the Private or Witnessed Private Cremation.

Private Cremation and Witnessed Private Cremation – A private cremation provides the option for the pet to be cremated entirely alone within the cremation chamber or cremator ensuring that there are no other ashes mixed in with the singular pets ashes. Often there will be a tag with identifying numbers that will be placed on the pet and will go through the crematory process with him and returned with the obvious characteristics of the crematory process on the tag as an extra assurance. Many times the crematorium facilities will allow for a special blanket or toy to accompany the pet and some crematoriums now have waiting room facilities or facilities that allow for a witnessed private cremation.

Many of these Pet Funeral Homes even offer wonderful viewing areas and are set up to conduct private memorial services as well. Private cremations are becoming more popular as pet funeral homes are beginning to pop up across our landscape. Pet funeral homes often can arrange for pick up of the pet at the private home or Veterinarian facility as well. While all Pet Funeral Homes will make arrangements with the individual pet owner, sixty five percent of private cremations are from Veterinary affiliates so it is important to discuss with your Veterinarian what crematory company he has an affiliation with and/or does he have a pet funeral home that he would recommend if what you require is the absolute assurance that a Private Cremation will take place.

Pet Cremation costs vary greatly and are largely dependent upon the above choices and whether the arrangements are scheduled through an intermediate source such as the Pet Care Provider. Mass or Communal Cremation generally costs from $75.00 – $125.00, Individual Cremation can cost $100.00 – $200.00 and Private and Witnessed Private Cremations can cost as high as $500.00 or more depending upon whether the family chooses private pick up, private viewing and/or a memorial service. Many Pet Funeral Homes are offering preplanning and prepayment options to the pet community just as are offered in the human funeral business.

While it is a difficult subject to contemplate for every pet owner, it is best to be prepared with as much knowledge as possible before the time comes. Take the time to discuss your crematory options with your Pet Care Provider or with your local pet funeral home or crematory, make sure that you are clear on what it is they provide, have them describe their processes in detail and make sure that those services meet your expectations.

Patricia L. Moore is the owner and founder of Soft-Hearted Products LLC, the developer of the Soft-Hearted Pillow Pet Urn. When Patricia lost her 15 year old companion dog, Samantha, she chose cremation as her option. Her family has always been mobile and it was important to her to have a visible reminder of Samantha as well as a place to keep her near. Patricia soon realized that a traditional cold, hard urn to be kept upon a shelf was not an appropriate placement or tribute to Samantha; a dog who had never left her side for 15 years. Patricia created the Soft-Hearted Pillow Pet Urn.

A soft, huggable, beautifully designed pillow which encloses a pet’s cremated remains in a safe, secure included pouch that is tucked discreetly deep inside the pillow. The Soft-Hearted Pillow Pet Urn is made from a choice of beautiful, soft fabrics with decorator trim and can be customized with a pet’s name, important dates etc. The pillows are functional as a safe, secure receptacle for a pet’s ashes yet are discreet enough for any setting.

Soft-Hearted Products LLC offers the Soft-Hearted Pillow Pet Urn in the finest pet boutiques and on their website at http://www.soft-hearted.com where pet owners can view the pillow options, read customer testimonials and find other valuable pet loss resource information.

There are times where a pet sitter may be a good choice for you and your pets when you travel without them. Unlike a boarding facility or kennel, your animals stay at home and the pet sitter comes to your house (usually once or twice a day). If you have a single pet or a highly social animal, such as a dog, it is better to board them at a facility where they will have lots of attention. However, if you have several cats, horses, birds or an animal not suited for a boarding facility, a reliable pet sitter may be the best choice for your pets. Multi-pet households often benefit from pet sitting services because it’s usually less expensive and less stressful to hire a pet sitter rather than transporting and boarding all your animals. The following suggestions are designed to help you find a good and reliable pet sitter.

Ask friends or veterinarian for a pet sitter referral.

Even if you are new in a neighborhood, or don’t know your neighbors well, it’s pretty easy to identify people who value their pet. Ask several neighbors for recommendations. Try to find a little bit about your neighbors pet and their pet sitter experience. This will give you a good indication as to the level of care you can expect from the people they recommend. Many veterinarians, in addition to having boarding facilities, may have a veterinary technician on staff that also provides pet sitting service, or they may know of a high quality pet sitter.

Research your pet sitter.

As you call potential pet sitters ask them the type of animals they like to work with, how long they’ve been in business, how they got started in business, and specific questions about your pet’s needs. People who have some experience as vet techs, animal shelter employees, or veterinary students often supplement their income by pet sitting. Some excellent animal care workers start a pet sitting service if they’ve suffered from career burnout. Pet sitters with these type of credentials can offer the best type of service because they are more likely to recognize illness in your pet, and may be more experienced with administering medications or tending special needs. However, the most important thing is to find someone who will be attentive, reliable and responsible with your pet. Once you feel a level of comfort with a pet sitter, ask for three client referrals. Follow up with the referrals, and use your intuition before you provide the pet sitter a key to your home. If you are not able to get a pet sitter referral in your area and you cold-call a potential pet sitter, I’d recommend a criminal background check on your pet sitter. A quality sitter won’t mind your concerns for safety.

Shop around for services and fees.

Most pet sitters charge a per visit fee, regardless of the number of animals you have. However, if you have more than three animals or an animal that needs medication, it’s normal to expect a slightly higher fee per visit. Ask the pet sitter how much time they will spend with the pet, and what they charge per visit. Some pet sitters give a break if they are doing two visits a day, or if you are taking a long trip. A few pet sitters offer overnight visits-where they sleep at your home. If your trip is long, ask them if they will call or email you every few days.

Meet your pet sitter.

Several weeks prior to your trip, have the pet sitter stop by so she can be introduced to your animals. Watch how they are with your pets. Are they gentle, and non-invasive? If the pet sitter breezes in and out of their first visit with you, most likely that’s what they’ll do when you are paying them to care for the pet. If you have any negative feelings or thoughts, do not give them a key-trust your instincts. However, if you feel comfortable, provide them with a key, and show them around your house; pet food storage, where pets are feed, how to administer medicine, toys, alarm system, and anything else that will make them comfortable. I always encourage my pet sitter to feel free to watch t.v. or take a nap at my house. The more time they spend with the animals, the better.

Final Tips

The day before your trip, call the pet sitter and confirm your travel plans. Inform them of your expected return, but ask them to continue pet care until you call them to say you’ve returned. Leave a note on your kitchen table or refrigerator that has a brief description of each pet, your veterinarian’s name and phone number, unique habits or medical needs, how to reach you, where you will be staying, expected return date, and who to call in case of an emergency-such as your trip being severely delayed or if you have a health emergency. I typically check do a quick check in with my pet sitter every two to three days. This gives me peace of mind. If you require a daily call from your pet sitter, please be respectful of their time and give them a generous tip upon your return. Pay all pet sitting fees promptly. When you consider gas, travel time, and the initial and post visit key exchange, you’ll realize most pet sitter charge a low fee for their time. Also, let your closest neighbors know what your pet sitter looks like, so they won’t be concerned when they see a stranger going in and out of your house or apartment.

If your travel plans are more than 10 days, or if you travel frequently, you may want to consider whether or not you should have a pet, or you may want to find a roommate who loves animals and does not mind taking care of them for you as you travel. Having a pet and finding quality care is similar to being a parent. A reliable pet sitter can make travel plans fun and relaxing.

According to Jupiter Research, by 2007, Online Classified Advertising will reach 3.5 Billion Dollars annually. Pet classifieds are expected to triple in numbers every year as more and more Internet users seek classified listings online for their pet needs. Pet and pet services classifieds online are creating new marketplaces where non-profit pet organizations, pet service providers, pet breeders, and pet owners are meeting and doing business 24 hours a day, seven days a week using the internet.

Currently, there are thousands of online websites that offer Pet classifieds services that can help you find new homes for Pets, showcase your pet products or pet services. However, not all of them are effective and you can end up getting nothing out of them. After being extremely successful running a Pet classifieds website for over two years, we know what works and what does not.

With online Pet classifieds, the more information you provide the better it is. People who are serious about pets have already done their research before making a decision to adopt or buy a pet. Most people looking for pets know exactly what type of pet would be a good fit for them. Information you include in your pet classifieds description can help them make decision quicker. As an example, keep your ad title very specific. For example, if you have a Golden retriever that you like to advertise in Pet classifieds, use titles such as:

* Golden Retriever For Sale or Adoption
* Golden Retriever for Sale or Adoption in Miami, FL
* Six Months Old Golden Retriever For Sale or Adoption

Post a Picture Of Your Pet
Pictures talk more than words. Pet classifieds with pictures receive approximately 5 times more responses than classifieds without a photo. People interested in your pet will almost always ask for pictures of the pet before making a decision. Always, keep extra pictures of your pet ready.

Your location information
The first preference of anyone looking for pets would be from the region close to them. So always provide the location of your pet. This also helps to bring your pet ad rank higher when someone searches on a specific location; thus giving your ad more exposure.

Shipping Information
Advantage with online Pet classifieds is that they get people interested in your pet or pet product from coat-to-coast. So be very clear if you would be able to ship the pet or if it is a local pickup only. If you ship, be specific about your shipping policies.

Choose Pet classified sites that can get results
Today, there are millions of classifieds sites where you can advertise your available Pets, Pet Services or Pet Products. In fact, as of writing of this article, Google returns more than 29 Million links for a search on the keyword “Pet Classifieds”. Visit Google.com and enter keyword “Pet Classifieds” to check for yourself.

According to the Search engine statistics, most people do not go beyond 3 pages to find what they are looking for. In fact, majority of people don’t go beyond the first page of search result. What does that mean to you? It means, you should only advertise your on websites that ranks high on the three major search engine that drives more than 80% of Internet traffic. These search engines are Google, Yahoo and MSN in no particular order. The sites that rank high on these Search engines can provide a wider exposure to reach highly potential people who can purchase or adopt pets, pet services and pet products. Your return on investment is much greater and faster by advertising on sites that rank high.

Beware of Online Classifieds Scams
While online Pet classifieds offers the most cost effective and convenient ways of advertising your Pets, Pet Products and Pet Services,
it also attracts more and more scammers who pose as potential buyers. Always remember that not all inquiries you receive are from the
legitimate buyers who are interested in what you offer. Always be careful online, especially if the transaction is long distance.
For more information on Online Pet Classifieds and how you can protect yourself from such scams, read our Scam Alert.

Petboro.com was established in 2004 and has been serving the pet needs of its members proudly for over 2 years. With a continuing commitment to excellence in the pet classified listing services and a strong desire to prevent pet classified advertising fraud, petboro.com remains a “safe haven” for advertisers of pets for sale ads, pet adoption ads and pet services ads.

If you have ever tried to take a picture of your dog, you will realize how hard it is to capture the pups full personality and beauty in a photograph. Dogs aren’t human, and they don’t understand what we are doing when we try to take their photo. They may think that the camera is a toy and charge at you, instead of striking a pose. If you follow these tips, and take your cues from your pet, you can be assured of great photos of your pet.

Pets come in all colors. If your dog is dark, you will need to make sure that he doesn’t get lost in your photo due to a dark background. Dark animals photograph best with light colored or neutral backgrounds. You can use white, grey, or creamy beige backdrops. You should never take a photo of a Black Lab, or a German Shepherd, against a dark background. It conceals the true color of your dog, and the dark background can also conceal the true size, shape and proportions of your pet.

The same rules apply with pets that have light coats. If you have an apricot or white puppy, you would not place her in front of a white wall for a picture. Photographs of animals need to capture the color and texture of their coats. If you have a white toy poodle, you would want to place her on, or in front of, a black, blue or brown backdrop. This will assure that the poodle’s springy white curls are the focus of the picture. It is important that you choose a background that compliments your dog, and doesn’t hide its beauty.

The hardest thing to do is to get your pet to sit still for a photo. The best time to arrange a photo session with your pet is when they are tired, or sleepy. One trick is to lay the correct color of sheet or blanket over your couch or chair. Allow your pet to lie there after he has had a good half hour of vigorous play. Once your dog appears to start dozing off, get its attention by a low whistle, a squeak from a squeaky toy, or the sight of a treat. The animal will perk up immediately and appear to be wide awake. It is important that you are ready to snap the shots immediately. For a larger dog you can drape its bed with the correct color of sheet or blanket. It is also best to take your pet’s picture when they are well fed. That way they are not distracted by wanting food while they are modelling for you. The treats you hold up will be more a curiosity item to them, instead of a hopeful dinner.

In professional animal pictures, usually the full body of the animal is shown. This allows the viewer to get a general idea of the size and proportions of the animal. It also will allow the viewer to get an idea of the animal’s general health and appearance. You wouldn’t want to have just a head shot of your pet if it had unique colorings that made it cute. Some animals appear to be wearing little white socks on their paws, or the ends of their tails may appear to have been dipped in a paint bucket. Be sure that your picture captures all of the unique things about your entire dog. However, if your dog just has an irresistible face, you can take head shots. Some pets will appear to smile when they are very happy. Nothing says “love me” like an innocent puppy face. You need to be conscious of the background. Even if the color is right, if it’s cluttered it will be distracting and take away from the pet. It is also important to make sure that your pet is in the center of the shot, and that it is not cropped off just before the tip of the ears, or tail.

When you are taking photos of your pets, it is important that you are at least at the animals eye level, or below. This gives the picture the sense of being from the dog’s viewpoint. You can accomplish this by elevating your dog to a higher position, like the staircase, or furniture. Or, you can lie on your stomach to achieve the same results. You need to zoom in as close as possible, while still capturing the entire body of your dog. You can edit out any red eye, later.

It is best to use a digital camera when you are photographing animals. With digital cameras you are not out any extra money for the photos that didn’t take because Spot looked away. With a digital camera you are free to take as many pictures of your animal as you like, so snap away. You can choose the best ones later, and delete the rest. You have more freedom with a digital camera. You are not constrained to just a set number of pictures, and you do not have to sit and wonder if they worked while they are getting developed.

If you plan to take pictures of your pet outside, it is best to do this early in the morning, or late in the evening. The natural lighting is better for photographs during these periods of the day. You still need to keep in mind the color choices of your background. You can take a picture of your black puppy sitting on a white patio, or in front of your home if you have light colored siding, or brick. You can take a picture of your white dog in a flower bed that has black mulch, or sitting in front of a dark brick wall. Most animals can obey the command of sitting. Some animals will even sit if they have a leash on, even if it is not being held. Outdoor, natural lighting works the best when you want to show the texture of your animal’s coat.

The expression of your dog is one of the most important things you need to keep in mind when you are photographing your animal. If your animal is ill, or having a bad day, you may want to reschedule your photo session to a later time. A wet and moist looking nose is a must in all pet photos. If your pet is feeling unwell, they probably aren’t up for their photo being taken. If your breed of pet should have perky ears, and they are laying down because the pet is not as cheery as usual, you should postpone your picture taking, as well. You should never take a picture of your pet if they have runny eyes due to an infection. Wait until your pet is doctored and feeling more like their cheery, upbeat self.

You can take action shots of your pet. Does your pet like to catch frisbee’s or herd sheep? To capture your pet in action you must learn what photographer’s term “panning.” The key to panning is to follow along with your pet as they are moving. You need to click away capturing them throughout their activity. You can choose a film that is made for action shots to get good results.

You know your pet and what excites them. Does your pet like to stand on two feet and beg for a certain toy, or treat? If so, then get someone to assist you during this photo. They can interact with the dog while you snap the pictures. These shots are great ways of showing the personality of your dog. Does your dog like to tilt its head when it hears a certain noise? Then be ready to capture their photo while your assistant provides the noise. Does your dog like to hide in the shrubs, or get playful with a ball? You can also capture these types of photos if you are tuned in and ready with your camera.

Photographs are a great way of preserving the beauty and personality of an animal. Just keep in mind background color, and try to photograph your pet for still shots when they are well fed and somewhat sleepy. If you photograph outside, try to arrange your photo time in the morning or late evening hours, and don’t take their pictures directly facing the sun. Make sure your pet is feeling physically well so that their personality can be captured, and if you use a digital camera you won’t have to worry about wasting film. If you take action shots, practice the panning technique. If your pet performs tricks, enlist the aid of a helper and photograph your animal performing. Photographs will be around forever, and if you do them correctly they can reveal a lot about your pet. Take your cues from your animal and you will have wonderful photographs every time.