Ah! So now you are looking for ape friend that seemed to be a pretty smart buddy in that latest Hollywood flicks you saw recently. You must be wondering if you could own one and keep yourself occupied with your new found friend. Well, take it slow buddy, because it isn’t as easy as it looks like on the screen. No I am not saying it would turn out to be another ‘The-Rise-of-The-Planet-Of-The-Apes’, but you would surely have  a tough time handling your monkey friends. Here is why.

Disciplinary Issues

While you may find baby monkeys and Chimpanzees irresistibly cute but as they grow up, the reality would soon strike upon you in the form of disciplinary issues associated with them. Look! They are not same as a dog or cat, which would wag its tail around you and listen to your orders. They are wild and certainly not the ones who would respond when you throw the stick. As kids, the apes learn all the monkey etiquette via social interactions by observing their elders and imitating them. This way of learning is obstructed when they live in human filled environment and tend to behave differently, which can be abnormal. As babies they can be easy to handle but as they grow up they can prove to be an uncontrollable liability that would chatter and roam around in your house defying your sense of peace and safety. It is difficult to teach an ape human behavior and etiquette and it obviously not preferable and expected.

Wild, Real Wild!

They are not domestic beings. Though they are vegetarians but they have got canines that can prove to be dangerous if not fatal. There have been many cases where a poor owner lost a finger or two as his pet lost his temper. By the time they are adults, that is around five years of age, they become quite stronger than humans. In any case if they become aggressive then even the most experienced care taker cannot help but watch the mess come into existence despite all the efforts. Apes, though can be handled to some extent when they are young but as puberty hits, they long for others of their kind and become ecstatic.

Space and Time

Apes, with chimps specially stay with their moms for more than five years. Even while sleeping, the mamma chimps keep in contact with their infants while sleeping. They are raised with affection and care which a human cannot relate to or imitate. Even devoting all the affection and care, owners often overlook the everyday needs of constant cleaning, developing new tricks to keep them occupied, feeding regularly etc. Petting a chimp is not only concerned with keeping a hold on basic needs, ample space and dedicated time devotion are a part of it. No matter how big your bungalow is, or if you have a huge backyard, for a grown up apes, it would never be enough. Apes like to roam around and explore new spaces, that way your whole house can turn into a mess. It is how you imagine a 3 year old powerful kid roaming across your house, pulling down curtains and moving tables and furniture.

Chimps can become irritated if neglected. You may be off your schedule or come late sometime only to find your pet friend really angry upon you, that may take the shape of a havoc. Oh and if you think you can take your pet on a trip with you then forget that, you won’t even find a proper caretaker when you are away all by yourself.

Communicable diseases

Of course we are not much different from them, they being our ancestors. What could be more dangerous than getting infected by a disease they carry, which can b easily transferable living with your pet. Any disease that harms them can affect us too, since we are so similar genetically. So either way, a disease can be bad for both you and your ape friend equally, no matter who is the transmitter.

Time to say goodbye

Finally after going through all the headache and back breaking struggles , you would realize that these big monkeys only belong to the forest, where they can be happy and stay healthy. It can come to you that no matter how much compassion and care you show towards your pet and all the time you devoted for it, all of it turned out to be a treachery. Well, then let it be clear, like you can’t stay in a jungle with a chimp family, climbing trees and eating fruits, similarly an ape cannot be tamed to be a domestic amuse. Though you might have bonded with the ape but you realize have to let go, well deep down you actually knew this day would come.

The Disturbing Truth

Many owners don’t know this but zoo keepers don’t accept apes that have grown under human influence as they don’t mingle up well with others of their kind. They cannot adopt to the character traits that are though small  but unique and equally important to stay alive among their own species. Thus as a misfit they are targeted by other apes and suppressed. Same is the reason why they can’t be let out in the wild, the conditions being tougher there, decreasing the survival chances.

One dark truth that follows is that, these chimps are sent to various laboratories for innumerable experiments that are conducted ruthlessly upon these creatures. The are subjected to pain and torture and kept in inhuman conditions. Though the owners are told not to visit their chimps and disturb them in their new and happy homes, they don’t come to know that their beloved friends actually become victims to various horrendous conditions they are kept in. Thus following this many countries and places have banned keeping apes as pets.

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As pet owners people always expects their pet to be unique and different from other pets. They always want them to stand out from the crowd. There are certain animals which if becomes a pet can definitely be a show to watch. It has the shape, the beauty, the intelligence, the play and the tricks that make him exceptional in every possible way. I am sure you might still be guessing who I am talking about. Well, it is none other than the most elegant and playful being of water i.e. the Dolphins. They are not just elegant but even considered as the national aquatic animal of India.

Dolphins belong to the cetacean mammal family who are closely associated to the porpoises and whales. We can find around 40 species of dolphins in 17 different genera. They range from 4feet and 40 kg to almost 30 feet and 10 tonnes. It is a fish that is available everywhere around the world. However, the majority of population is seen near the shallow seas of the continental shelves. They are flesh eating mammals (carnivorous) mostly surviving on fish and squid. When dolphins are in a group or herd they are called as a ‘pod’ or a ‘school’. A male dolphin is called as ‘bull’, whereas a female is a ‘calf’.

The different dolphins as per their taxanomy are – Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Spotted dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, Commerson’s dolphin, Dusky dolphin, Killer whales, Amazon river dolphin. Dolphins have a flat, fusiform body which helps them swim faster. The fin tail known as fluke is used for momentum while the pectoral fins provide direction control and the dorsal fin is the balancing factor while swimming. The head is shaped round as it contains the melon, an organ used for echolocation.  In many species an elongated jaw is a common feature. Some species have up to 250 set of teeth.

Dolphins are extremely social animals. They respond to human contact and activity quickly. But there are certain limitations to how we can correctly interact with a dolphin.

• THE WATER TEST: Get inside the water where the dolphins swim. Do not swim close or around them. This makes them know you are not aggressive or menacing. Make sure you do not perform this act alone and have a companion with you to keep an eye on. Dolphins can be unpredictable at times. Especially when you are a stranger and they are unfamiliar to the being. The safest way is to do this with someone who is well trained and has some knowledge about dolphins and their behaviour.
• THE FIRST STEP: Never take the initiative or the first step while petting a dolphin. Unlike other pets dolphins take their own time in building confidence in someone or considering them as a friend. Hence let the dolphin come to you instead of you going to him.
• NOTICE THE TENSION: As said earlier it is always safe to let the dolphin take the first step. It makes them realise that you are not to cause any harm to them. But if you think that the dolphin is not comfortable with your presence do not come in its way. Let it go. Or else it may even turn the dolphin aggressive.
• STRETCH YOUR HAND: The dolphins don’t like unnecessary touching unless they really want it. So do not directly touch the dolphins. Stretch your hand out and let the dolphin come near it. Make sure you stretch your dominant hand so that in case of worse scenario you are ready to reflex back. The dolphins investigate your hand and if comfortable let you touch them.
• THE TOUCH TEST: Once you are sure that the dolphin is comfortable around you go ahead for small, gentle touches. Pat softly on its back. Dolphins are otherwise social animals. They enjoy human company. Be careful that you avoid touching its dorsal fin as it is a sensitive area.

So these were some of the suggestions one must follow if you are going on a wild adventure with the non-captivated dolphins. However, dolphins can only be captivated in Dolphinarium. As the name suggests a dolphinarium is an aquarium for dolphins care specifically. Over here the dolphins are kept in large pools or other water bodies according to their body size. Generally dolphins are not animals that can be kept as pets as they need large space as well as natural environment to carry on with their daily activities. Certain fishes are kept in aquariums where they are displayed in transparent glass tanks. However, dolphins are not tank-fishes. They need space to jump and play which include in their regular activities. There are certain dolphinarium where dolphins are kept in one pool, where they perform in front of the public. Such dolphins are usually trained and safe to touch and play with. The most common breed of dolphins seen here is the bottlenose dolphins as it is easy to teach and train and lives longest in captivity. Other species even include the Orcas.

Apart from the facts about their lifestyle and their habitats the most and relevant reason why one cannot buy a dolphin is that they are extremely expensive living beings. It is sheerly impossible for a common person to buy a dolphin as pet. On the other hand, there are loads of legal obligations one has to face to get a green signal to buy a dolphin. Hence, it is practically impossible for one to have a pet dolphin but one can definitely enjoy its company in their nearby dolphinarium. It is cheap, legal and at the very same time gives you a chance of being near this beautiful creature. So next time you visit a dolphinarium make sure to follow the basic rules and stand out in the crowd.

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Everyone has a general USP or a standout point that differentiates him/her from the rest. Sometimes these unique things about certain creatures are nothing more than rumours or clichés that eventually get attached to them unknowingly. For instance Chinese people are always short or anything western/new is originated in America etc. These were some examples from human world but there is an instance that shows us this trend exists in the animal world too. Like a mouse is supposed to like cheese, or a cat should be lousy, the elephant and the ant and the very famous of the entire dog and its bone.

Although many among these may even be true as for the mouse and its cheese or the cat being lousy but the dog and its bone is a real controversial topic! I know this seems to be the most said and heard phrase and should not be debated on. However every coin has two sides and studies have revealed that the other side of this phrase is not really a healthy one. The basic rule of a dog going behind a bone being normal should supposedly change. Or else it may definitely lead your dog a veterinian visit, if not so.

There are many reasons why a dog should be kept away from an alien bone. Some of them can be explained as follows:

• DENTISTRY: A bone is usually served hard and brittle to the dog. This may lead to broken teeth of the dog in the process of eating it. The adult dogs may be used to the technique of chewing a bone, but a puppy may not be habitual to it. Hence care must be taken that the bone if served must be fed at the right age.
• MOUTH: Apart from the teeth, the dog may even have other mouth injuries while having a bone. This may include the tongue bites, the mouth infections which turns bloody and nasty if not treated at the right time.
• ESOPHAGUS: We usually experience difficulty in swallowing something large without munching it properly. We have a small windpipe and esophagus that takes the food to our stomach. Hence it is very essential to chew our food properly before swallowing it down. In the same way, if a dog mistakingly swallows the bone without chewing it can get stuck in its esophagus. This can be extremely painful and need a vets attention.
• CONSTIPATION: Even if the bone somehow manages to pass through the small pipes it can still get stuck somewhere near your stomach or intestines depending on the size of the bone gulped. This may stop the entire digestion and excretion procedure of the dogs body making him sick constipated.
• PERITONITIS: Well all these steps ultimately direct your dog to this messy difficult-to-treat bacterial infection. It is caused in your dog’s stomach. The bone your dog swallows pokes holes in his stomach and intestines leading to peritonitis.

Thus these were some health hazards your dog may suffer from if left with its bone unsupervised. However studies have even shown that bones are not all that bad after all. Little bit of guidance and attention may prevent from the future chaos. If it is so, you must be wondering what type of bones or how to feed your dog with bones?

Feeding your dog with the bone has certain benefits also. The continuous chewing of bones stimulates saliva. If they are given few minutes after your dogs’ meal they help remove the trapped food in its teeth. It not only prevents the plaque build up and gums diseases but also gives minerals and other nutrients to your dog. These are the nutrients necessary for the skeletal system to keep it regenerating. But as said earlier not all bones are safe. You need to determine which is appropriate for your dog. These are certain guidelines that will help you find it out.

• THE RIGHT BONE: Well, not all dogs can really chew a bone properly. Hence, care must be taken that you know the kind of dog you are petting. The right kind of bone that suits your dog basically depends on its jaw line. The teeth structure plays an important function in the chewing process.
• THE RIGHT TIME: Every time is not the right time to feed a bone. Make sure you do not feed the bone before meals. The obvious reason here is that you don’t want your dog to be hungry/ starving when he’s drooling over his bone. Even do not forget to wash the bone properly once your dog is done with it. Store it in fridge for nearly 3-4 days before giving it again to your dog. Until this time serve your dog with some other delicious items that distracts its attention from the bone.
• THE RIGHT SIZE: The size of the bone depends on the size of the dog. Breeds like the German shepherds, Labradors, Dobermans are large in size and hence need large bones which they can swallow all at once. Care must be taken that the size of the bone should not be bigger than the muzzle which makes it difficult to swallow. A beef bone is considered to be the best fit for the larger breeds.

So these three rules must be kept in mind before feeding your dog with a bone. A bone must never be cooked, baked, boiled or barbecued before serving as it dries it up and makes it more brittle to chew. Many of the nutrients it holds are also lost in the process. The next time you feed your pet dog with a bone do remember all these guidelines and make your dog happy!

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Pets in cities and towns are a much seen practice. People want them as an alternative for a friend and a companion which they elsewhere cannot find. However, more often you can even see people flaunting their pets as some sort of status symbol in front of their colleagues. The costlier the breeds you have the more respect you receive. Although these are just assumptions and ego bubbles that people have built around them. Irrespective of this entire show buzz there are people who need pets instead of wanting them. Well, the wordplay here is the leap between need and want.

Not everyone buys a pet as a friend to pass their alone time. Sometimes it is more than that. Why go away for an example! The most known and familiar person here is the farmer. A farmer is a person who earns a living for himself out of the little digging he does on the field with the help of his friends. The friends here am talking about is none other than his pets i.e. the domestic animals he takes care of and who takes care of him. Logically, it might be a question of argument whether a domestic animal can be counted as a pet but if you go by the pros and cons list you will definitely understand the similarities.

You must know the number of pets farmers holds, but hardly few people might know their role in his life. No need to worry at all, here is the right place to enlighten you! These are some of the very common pets and their chores that a farmer usually have:

• CHICKENS: These can even be called as domesticated birds which are commonly seen in every farm. There is even a huge poultry business that is conducted on the basis of these tiny creatures. There are over 150 breeds of chicken all over the world. Chickens are found at a farmers place as they provide him with eggs. For people who don’t know, another fact about chickens is that their waste product makes excellent fertilizer.
• GOATS: Goat is an amazingly versatile animal. Apart from the basic uses that we are familiar with – as meat, for milk and fibre. Goats are widely used for much other purpose. The soft and mild milk that we get from the goats can be used as soap too, especially for sensitive skin. Not just this, goats are even used as browsers. They eat all the weeds and clear the land for the farmers.
• DUCKS: Ducks similar to the hens/chickens are kept for eggs and meat. However, they are even kept for ornamental and pets value. Ducks make outstanding pets. They clean your homes of pest, slugs and other insects by eating them. They just need a water dish, big enough to swim. They usually are found near water based areas and hence are also called as “Waterfowls”.

• SHEEPS: Looking at sheep’s, the very first expression one might have is that these are expressionless creatures. Well as a matter of fact, it is not totally wrong. Sheep’s are docile and down to earth animals. They make very good pets and supply a lot to the farmer. They also provide with milk, meat, fibre etc. They are humble creatures, with very less maintenance.
• HORSES: Horses altogether fall in a very different category of work. They belong to the equus family, the same family of donkeys, mules etc. They are quick and strong mammals. They are usually categorized as working animals for treks, transportation and other such on road work. They make outstanding companion as studies show they can understand their owner.

• PIGS: Everyone has a kind of gross feeling whenever around a pig. People have this belief that pigs are dirty animals. However, this is not true. Pigs in reality are very clean animals. They roll around in the mud to keep their body temperature cool which they cannot do normally on their own like the humans. They are kept for flesh.
• LLAMAAS: These are hefty camellia that was first originated in North America and then later moved to South America. They are not seen in India or anywhere near Asia. They are disciplined animals and make excellent pets. The striking features of these domestics are that they look after your other pets as a guard and lowers you worries.
• HOUNDS: This is a type that falls in the dog category but is not really a dog. These are kept by a farmer for the purpose of hunting any wild creature wandering around your pets. They are wild but with proper training makes loyal pets

• COWS: Last but definitely not least, this is the most common and widely seen animal at a farm. It is like a farmer cannot function without a cow. There are several uses of a cow. The milk that it provides is used for making several dairy products like cheese, butter, buttermilk, ghee, oil, even cosmetics. They are strong and bulky animals and hence are even used in ploughing and harrowing procedures.

So these were some of the known domestic pets that belong to a farmer. These pets require less care as compared to the city pets that might require 24hrs attention. But they provide more than them in comparison. Since, they usually stay together in a shed like the cows, hens ducks etc, they even look after each other at times. We see how a cat and dog can’t usually stand each other, in a farm the case is vice versa. You need not worry about such clashes unless if there’s some unfamiliar new entry in the group. Thus, these were the farmers’ best friends that always support; help him in all his ups and downs.

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Pets are generally seen as a medium for company. People usually get a pet to make sure they are not alone, or bored, or to have a friend. Pets, animals have their own language of communication. They do not speak words but makes noise until it becomes familiar to their owners. This is their way of communicating with us. However, it often remains a question do they really understand what we are trying to say? Do they understand our language?

Even if they do, they always remain the listener in the process. But all of us hope that there must me some pet who can talk back at us. Someone like a talking parrot!!! There are many rumours and interpretations about a parrot being able to talk. Some believe it is a true phenomenon where as some just ignore. Yet, studies show that a speaking parrot is not a fictional story. It is a true event that happened and still occurs with proper training.

Well, it might be simply astounding for an owner to watch his parrot talk. But not all species of parrots can really talk. And even if they speak there are certain limitations to it. Parrots are able to imitate only the human speech and no other kind. Hence, their talking skills include sheerly words. Unlike human beings they do not have vocal chords to support their talking.  Still they have the correct type of anatomy which helps them speak. Our feathered friend has an organ called as syrinx situated at the lower most part of its trachea in the chest. It plays the same function as the larynx in our human anatomy. The sound is obtained by releasing air across the mouth of its bifurcated trachea. Thus, diverse sounds are shaped by variation in the depth and design of the trachea. This proves that the talking of a parrot is actually the whistling in various tones.

According to Steve Hartman of the Parrot University, parrots are counted among the six animals that use verbal communication to interact with others. Parrots are extremely social pets and yearn for attention and interaction from their human partners. It is believed that the parrot has more chances of talking if you start teaching them since a tender age. A well grown bird can be redundant in changing its talking habits. The necessary environment required for growing a talking parrot is just being a vocal person and having a very vocal family. This eventually develops the talking practice on your parrot.

There are different aspects that must be taken into consideration while teaching your parrot how to speak. Repetition is one of the prime factors here. Make sure you use similar and familiar words around the bird every day. This makes the bird known to those words and helps him generate it. Do not forget the actions while talking. This helps the parrot understand what is meant for what. Or else he will just learn the words without knowing its meaning.

Although not every parrot can be categorised as a talking parrot, still there are a few that can be listed. Some of them are:

• MONK PARAKEET: This is a colourful little bird which is actually a small parrot. It is also famous as Quaker Parakeet. Irrespective of their size, their intellectual abilities are higher. They are social and develop wide vocabularies of words and phrases.
• INDIAN RINGNECK: These are capable of speaking in complete sentences without any breaks. Though they speak in their own bird voice, they catch and understand the mood behind the speaking.
• BUDGERIGAR: It is also well-known as a Parakeet or a Budgie. It is a very common bird who can learn various phrases and even songs. They do not have clear and definite voices. Males are believed to be more proficient of talking than females.

• BLUE-FRONTED AMAZON: If you are planning to have a pet for lifetime than this bird should be on the top of your list. A blue-fronted Amazon can survive up to 100 years! They have a loud clear voice and are skilled to perfectly mimic human voice.
• ECLECTUS: The eclectus come in two different colours. The males are in green while the females are in bright red colour. They copy the human talking accurately. Not just the words but even the mood and tone of the language. However, its abilities are shaped to the best if it is trained since a young age. Otherwise it is just some other feathered parrot.
• HILL MYNA: The hill myna is a pretty little black bird that has an amazing ability to imitate the human voices. It not only mimics voices, but even has a soothing voice that makes the listening peaceful. They have an affinity towards singing.
• YELLOW-NAPED AMAZON: Among the Amazon birds, this one is credited as the best with its talking capabilities. They sing and are highly intelligent birds who can talk also.

• AFRICAN GREY: He can be tagged as the lion of the talking bird’s category. He is the smartest and the most intelligent in this genre in the animal kingdom. Experts say that these birds learn to speak and share to human concepts at the same level as a human tot.

So these were some of the talking birds/parrots one can pet. Though these birds standout as a pet and makes you look extra ordinary, care must be taken that they are not used as a medium of show-off. They must be adopted for companionship. Hence, their talking ability should not be stressed and pressurised. They are just birds with a quirky factor and must be looked at in the same way. They need the same domestication as any other bird and must be given accordingly.

The post Can Parrots Really Talk? appeared first on Pet Attack.

India raises its chest with pride in being the world’s largest producer of milk. It is probably the only place where milch animals are both worshiped and killed for meat in different cultures. Strange paradox and yet we exist together in a country undisputed most of the times if not all. Many eyebrows were raised when National Diary Development Board came out with figures that showed an increase in the monetary value of milk and meat from 2004-05 to 2011-12 by measures that cannot go overseen. Where at one moment it was a moment of contentment in the domain of production, it gave a shock to the country, when the veil was lifted off. The animals that bore the responsibility of making the country fit and healthy went through a sequence of their tortures and states of turmoils.If vegetarians are happy thinking that by not consuming meat they avoid invoking killings and suffering then this is to better inform them that they do the most.

Let me explain how. Everyone need proteins right? And apart from the flesh, vegetarians make up to their nutrient requirement by consuming more milk.

“So whats wrong in that?”, You might think! , “At least I am not killing anyone.” Well you are doing worse. Milch animals are treated as no more than just machine. The horrible truth goes like that.

Cows and Buffaloes, bred for milking, are inseminated many times over a short period of time. Since the milk production is more at the time the animal gives birth, cattle are impregnated at least once every year for cows and every 15 months for Buffaloes, to get maximum profit out of it. Sooner after birth, within days, the calves are separated from their mothers causing emotional trauma for both the baby and the mother, which leads to 15-30% increase in milk production, again feeding the greed for profit. All of the mothers milk is then sent for human consumption. The females are injected with oxytoxin shots and other hormonal shots so that their body produces much more milk than usual. It is literally forcibly sucking out the life of poor creature.

The repeated milking via machines causes the udders to swell due to unnatural suckling, sometimes even giving electric shocks to the cow and causing infections. The calves that get separated are frightened and bewildered. The female calves are reared for the same torture they would witness on maturing while most of the male calves are sent to slaughter houses or abandoned, probably left to starve. Few, healthy ones are used for breeding. Sometimes they are used for labor and undergo castration without anesthesia. Once they are old, the males are sent to slaughter houses. The number of male cattle account to just 35.57 % against 64.42% females and counts to 85.18 per cent female against 14.8 per cent male in buffalo, which clearly shows the undesirability of the male cattle.

To keep the production going on the animal husbandry manual provided by the government recommends re-impregnation around 60 days after the previous delivery. Any longer interval would cause loss and if it is shorter the milk production would be low.Ever wondered how it would effect health of a human female getting pregnant and giving birth at the same frequent interval?

With the females the same process of insemination, impregnation, separation, continuous milking followed by possibility of mastitis or breast infection. The cattle are stuffed in an unhealthy environment and subjected to tortures throughout their lives. They are treated more like milk producing machines than animals. Milk production reduces after three to four pregnancies, post which the females are sent to slaughter houses as well. Such inhuman practice is done in a country where cows are considered sacred by the most populating sect and carried out by the same people. If this is not ironical then what is. The ill-practices to innocent creatures spits on the pride that Indians show in being foremost in milk production. Diary production involves killing. Production of beef is just a part of this process. The annual report of Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries clearly states an increase of milk production from 102.6 million tonnes in 2006-07 to 127.9 million tonnes in 2011-12 referring to various plans and measures taken up. The truth finally lies in the fact that the poor animals undergo ill fated consequences of these plans and policies.

All in all, a milch animal has to go through more distress than an animal reared solely for meat. But that doesn’t bother us from having our filter coffee or bed tea. We take joy in the fact that we are taking in milk and hence treating our health well. The poor animals on other hand suffer throughout their lives and go unnoticed to their graves, one after the other. This seems worse than being reared for meat where the animals are fed well and finally terminated in one go.

Today we don’t talk here about milch pets. We take up an issue of absolute cruelty that has gone unnoticed for so many years and is projected as an achievement rather than a misdeed. Animals are not being taken care of as they should be. The question just circumferences around economical or uneconomical, overseeing the ill-fated lives of the milch animals.It seems there is no point in feeling good being a vegetarian if you have supplemented milk in your protein build-up diet.now.Taking care of a milch pet is a far cry here. The diary farming today is an issue of survival under struggle for these cattle. In the end it only clears the glass for the fact that the process followed in production of milk is as gruesome as in that of meat if not more. If you really want to extend a helping hand towards those milch animals, reduce that extra cup of tea or filter coffee which you have got addicted to, to begin with.

This piece of writing is not intended to focus upon caring for your milch pets rather it solely focuses on how to provide a better life to our bovine friends. After all they are also living and deserve to be treated far better and not so inhumanly.

The post The White Truth of Indian Diary appeared first on Pet Attack.

Most of the time when we think of owning a dog as our precious pet, few things that come to our minds are, low-maintenance, medium size, loving, caring, protective, intelligent, active, healthy & above all loyal. And so to look out for a perfect match, we give a look to countless breeds, and end up getting more confused about to even pet a dog or not! Most of the times our expectations are not met and we end up buying a life with whim sometime later many of us realize that we are not happy and start falling out of love, because of which the poor dog suffers & dies at the end.

So to make it easy for people those who expect out a little more than something in their pet, we present you a list of the best Indian Dog Breeds that comprise of all the traits one can ever dream of! An Indian dog is usually a medium sized dog, found in many villages or in the busiest streets of the country. These dogs are mostly known as the Indigenous or Indian Native Dogs in India. These dogs are the world’s healthiest & toughest dogs.
Let’s take a look at our stars:

Indian Pariah
This breed is the aboriginal landrace. This breed is found everywhere in the whole nation. Be it mountains or beaches, you’ll never miss the sight of an Indian Pariah. This breed is one of the healthiest breeds in the world. They are least vulnerable to any disease & are best to train, even in the toughest climatic situations. And their friendly yet highly intelligent nature makes them adapt the surroundings & people very fast. It is also popularly known as Indian Pie dog, Pi dog, Pye dog, Indian Native Dog & INDog.

Rajapalayam
This dog is mostly found in the Southern region of the country, where it gets its name from. This breed is found in milky white, solid black & dark brown. Rajapalayam breed is a heavy boned dog that is mostly used for hunting purpose. This breed is one of the most ancient times, and has been used for hunting wild boar. They are friendly & active which makes them very good family dogs. This breed is also known as Sightsound.

Combai
This breed is mostly found in the region of Tamil Nadu. Originally developed to hunt bear & other wild animals by the Indian royalties, this dog is multi-purpose working dog. This dog is almost like the Indian Pariah & has been serving as guard dog in many regions of the country. Their strong jaws, fierce temper & a tendency to be much more active makes them one of the best hunting dogs. The other name for this breed is Kombai and Indian Bear Hound.

Mudhol Hound
Mudhol Hound is a true companion, this breed has served as a companion, hunter & guard dog for both royalties & peasants. This breed is mostly found in the region of Karnataka, Maharashtra & Andhra Pradesh & is available in fawn, fallow, red, cream, black & mouse-grey. This dog is also addressed by the name of Caravan Hound, Pashmi.

Gaddi Kutta
This breed was developed from Tibetan Mastiff stock, and was developed for guarding encampments & livestock from predators. This breed is big in size, with a wide forehead & a deep bark just like a Tibetan Mastiff. This breed is on the verge of extinction due to the lack of dedicated breeders & dilution in the genes pool. This breed is mostly found in the hilly areas of the country, and is also known as Indian Gaddi & Gaddi Watchdog.

Kanni
Kanni the breed is found in the Southern part of India. This breed was basically developed for hunting. Kanni means ‘unmarried girl’. There is a belief behind keeping this breed as a pet, which is that it is gifted to the newly married couple in dowry, as it is raised in the bride’s family as someone who guards & protects, and so when the daughter gets married & goes to other house, this breed is gifted to the couple, in order to guard them from any evil. This breed is mostly raised as a family dog and looks similar to Doberman pinscher.

Chippiparai
Chippiparai was originally developed for hunting purpose. This dog is mostly found in Tamil Nadu, & is stated imminently on the verge of extinction by experts. They require minimal meal; have great stamina with gentle temperament, fast speed & extremely keen hunting skills. This breed is also known as Tamilian Greyhound, Tamilian Sighthound or Tamil Coursing Dog.

Rampur Greyhound
Also known as North-Indian Greyhound, this breed is 24”-27” in length, deep chest, sprung ribs with a long tail slightly curved upwards. This dog is mainly found in Northern India & was developed for the purpose of wild hunting. With the help of its strong jaws, it can bring down

Kumaon Mastiff
Next on the list is Kumaon Mastiff that has got its origin from Uttarakhand, a hilly state of India. This dog is said to be aggressive and require proper training. This breed is extremely bold in nature and enjoys the personal space. They act as perfect watch dogs because their presence can actually make strangers or intruders shiver down the spine. However, it is really saddening to know that Mastiff is on the verge of extinction.

Indian spitz
There comes the most adorable dog breed of India, the Indian spitz. This breed looks like Pomeranian but there exist some distinctive differences between both the breeds, for example Indian Spitz are heavier and bigger than Pomeranian. Indian spitz are quick learners and can be trained to perform various tricks. They possess the ability to hunt and often called as species of wolf.

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Relocating and have got a pet? Pet owners always freak out a little when it comes to taking their pets to a new place. Before you choose your dream home, make sure it is as good for your pet as it is for you. Your pet shouldn’t feel alien or uncomfortable in a foreign place. Make sure the dog in the neighborhood isn’t too aggressive or always kept loose, there might be chances of your pet getting into an unwanted fight unnecessarily.

1. Space

Ensure there is ample space for your pet as it was in the house before. If not possible at least make sure the pet is let out to roam around if you feel the space is too congested for it. Your kitty doesn’t love much change. Try to make it feel as homely as possible by keeping certain empty shelves for it to climb over and find a space for herself in some corner of the house.

2. Packing

When you are busy putting things in carton and taping them, or when the trucks arrive to take your luggage your pets might not like too much change and may freak out. For that on the day you are moving keep your pet in a quiet room and keep the doors closed until all the commotion is over. You can also send your pet to your friend’s place where it is accustomed to go, so that it doesn’t feel scared by the sound of trucks.

3. Moment

When you move your animals, in crate or a cage, you should be sure they are comfortable enough for a long journey and it doesn’t freak out or get impatient. For this you need to make sure your pet habitual to the crates and cages long before you move. You can first try to keep their food inside an open crate and repeat it periodically. Gradually you can shut the door and have them eat their meals with door shut. Try keeping your pet inside crate for some time or take it for a short drive. You can even keep their favorite toys or piece of cloth, so that they don’t feel alien.

4. Home

It may be exciting for your pet to explore the new house and roam around. For it to get accustomed to the new place start by making them comfortable in one room where they are going to spend their maximum time or where you would like them to stay. Place their favorite toys, food, water and other treats at that place so that they get adjust to the room and make it their home base. Gradually introduce them to other rooms as well, keeping the other rooms shut. Five days is usually enough for your pet to get accustomed to a new place.

5. Additional Tips

Like humans animals can get airsick too. Give your pet light meal the previous evening of travel, at most 12 hours before flight. Avoid giving anything liquid to your pet 4 hours before departure. Also keep in mind that your pet is done with peeing before it begins with the travel. If you are going on a long road trip, take some breaks in the journey for your pet to stretch and relieve itself. A big no to tranquilizers or sedatives during travel as this can hurt them during travel. You can put shredded paper or wood shaving inside the crate for comfortable bedding.

WHILE TRAVELLING BY:

1. Car

Your car can turn into an oven for your pet if leave your pet alone in the vehicle on a hot day. It can even distress and in extreme cases lead to death. Ensure that you don’t leave your pet in the car alone, whilst you are out somewhere. Make sure your pet is not super excited and disturbs you while driving. When you or anyone else exits from car, make sure they don’t follow you and escape from the vehicle. Cats, birds, rabbits and other such pets can be kept in crates or cages that have proper ventilation with enough space to sit up, stretch or curl around in their usual positions. The crate should be securely placed to avoid any accidents while applying sudden brakes and cause injury to your pet. Before taking them for the long journey, take them for small car trips so that they are accustomed to it. Make sure they don’t suffer from travel sickness, otherwise consult your vet. Make sure your pet has ample water to drink. Don’t feed them too much during the journey. A meal 2 hours before the journey should be fine enough. Take regular breaks in between so that your pet can go to toilet and stretch around a little.

2. Train

Travelling by train can be a little stressful looking at the sound and continuous movement. Try to make the journey as short as possible as your pet may not be accustomed to the sounds and the sights. It may be freaking or too exciting for him leading to unexpected reactions. You can contact the railway prior to journey to know the rules and policies of travelling with the pet. Again the crate or cage should be secure and robust and big enough for your pet to stay comfortably in. Travel when it is cooler, and when you expect less people around, may be early morning or late night. Again make sure your pet has plennty of water.

3. Ferry

In most cases you may not be allowed to accompany with your dog in the passenger area. Contact the travel people prior to arrangements for travel to know about their pet travel policies.  You would have to keep your pet in crates or cages, or leave them in the car if you feel it is cool and safe. Before doing that make sure your pet can’t escape and land itself into danger. Proper ventilation in and around the crate is a must along with ample water. Your pet might get sickness or may freak out in an alien environment, so take a look over a few times if your pet is comfortable. Keep it busy with his favorite toy and food and let him feel everything is normal. Let the ferry officials know you have a pet along with you so that necessary measures for its safety and comfort and advice some to you too.

4. PLANE

Your pets can’t travel with you in the cabin of the plane; they will be kept in the hold. Hold is usually temperature controlled and ventilated but while the plane is on ground t can become warm. Also if there is any delay in the flight the situation may worsen. Sometimes they do not allow the hold to be opened even during high temperatures. Considering all this you should decide upon selecting the mode of transportation for your pet. Choose the direct flight for your destination, don’t go for break journeys. Travel in early morning or late night to avoid warm conditions. Make sure the water is provided to your in non spill container or even gel water can be provided. Try to get your pet accustomed to flight containers if possible. Contact the air-transport people prior to journey so that they can take necessary measures for comfort and safety of your pet.

Above all make sure that you have got all legal rights and requirements to take your pet along if you are travelling to a different country altogether.

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I have always felt proud to have better knowledge about pets, especially my Angel, but my pride was hammered to pieces when I stumbled upon the images of what I thought was a ‘Dachshund’, but digging a little deeper, proved me wrong. In fact, I was looking at a ‘crossbreed’ between a Dachshund and a Rottweiler. All these years I assumed Angel to be a pure-line dachshund since I brought her home from the kennel trusting the owners’ words. The excitement of welcoming a pet into my life blinded me off from doing any background check. For a true pet-lover, it might not even matter if their dogs/cats were purebred or mix-breed, but for the exorbitant amount we shell out while buying our pets the research is worth every penny.   

Purebred dog (or a Pedigree) refers to a dog (from a modern dog breed) with a registered/documented ‘pedigree’. For Example Golden retriever, German shepherd, Rottweiler etc. are considered purebred. ‘Primitive Man’, in his quest to find help in his daily chores, understood that dogs are easily domestic-able. Some types of work needed certain inherent traits that helped dogs accomplish the work due to high energy, aggression, chasing, digging, barking and independent thinking. This helped the ‘Primitive Man’ decide which traits he wanted in a dog breed. Then he started breeding them selectively. Selective Breeding simply means that dogs with the ‘desired’ traits like herding, hunting and guarding were bred extensively. This kind of selective breeding is done even in the case of cows, buffalos, goat, sheep, pig, poultry, horses, donkeys, elephants, camels etc.

And what is a crossbreed dog? It is an intentionally bred dog of two or more documented breeds and a resultant of mankind’s ever persistent desire to own something a little different, a little fancy or in short supply.

A huge group of purebred dog breeders and dog clubs are adamantly against the creation of ‘designer dogs’ due to their assumption that, in the long run, such dogs are a danger to the whole ‘dog breeding world’. And almost all pro-cross-breeders believe that their practice of cross-breeding adds to the vigor (that got reduced due to in-breeding for several generations) to the existing genetic make-up of purebred dogs. As in case of Angel’s litter (a male puppy), he is a pure cross-bred pup. His mother, Angel, is a Dachshund (again a cross-breed of Dachshund and Rottweiler) while his father, Joy, is a pure-line Shih-tzu.

Choosing which stance is ’correct’ is not my priority here. My priority is to give potential pet-parents a fair picture of both the stances.

Negative aspects first:

Size: Pet-size is a very important factor for all the pet-parents concerned. Cross-bred dogs have, at times, unpredictable sizes. If both the parents are of comparable sizes, you may expect the puppy to be of a similar size. But you can never be sure of the ultimate size.

Litter-count: The litter count is very low in case of crossbreeding. It is approximately one-thirds as compared to pure-breeding. And the survival of the litter is even lesser, being one-fourths. In simple words, pure-breeding might fetch you 9 puppies while cross breeding would only produce 3 puppies. And for every 4 puppies born (in case of cross-breeding), only 1 puppy survives.

Congenital health issues: Since the mating process naturally leaves out the defective genes, a mixed-breed puppy is usually on the advantageous side of standing a much lower chance of being born with congenital diseases. However, many congenital issues, such as eye diseases, kidney problems, hip dysplasia, and epilepsy are found across crossbred dogs. This happens when both the parents are carriers (or victims) of one or more of the same genetic disorders.

Temperament: As discussed before, purebred dogs have been reared for different purposes, and their temperaments correspond to the purposes accurately. For example, Rottweilers are rather bold and \ aggressive because they have been bred to be watch-dogs and guard-dogs. Poodles, on the other hand, were bred to hunt and be wonderful companions. It is almost impossible to predict the temperament of a crossbred puppy, which these two dogs might produce.

Risky deliveries: A very high level of risk is involved in cross-bred pregnancies. Breeding dogs of different sizes (essentially breeds) can sometimes lead to complicated pregnancies and deliveries.

Positive aspects:

Undeniably unique looks: Most of us would prefer a dog that doesn’t resemble any other breed, and cross breeding can effectively produce such a ‘designer dog’. On combining two different breeds, it’s a coin toss as to how the genetics will combine. This means that each puppy in a litter, may look different from its littermates, and this, in-turn, can give us a very interesting-looking litter.

Future pure-breed: Many of today’s purebred dogs are successive crosses of different breeds, and have been refined through selective breeding, thus displaying their consistent characteristics today. Similarly, we can expect some of today’s crosses to potentially evolve into future pure breeds. The Cockapoo is one such potential future pure breed. Cockapoo is a designer breed resultant of an American/ English Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle.

Money matters: While the average purebred puppy often fetches breeders a mediocre $300 to $500 some cross breeds go for more than $1,000.

While there are advocates for and against pure breeds and cross breeds, we pet owners are spoilt with the abundant choice available! Probably, a day may not be far away, where in you go to the nearest kennel house/pet shop, and fill up an order form as to what combination of breed, colour, trait, temperament, height and size of pet you wish to have.

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While choosing a pet, one is very careful and alert. We need the best, the funky, the trendy and the coolest pet of all. Most of people prefer a dog over other animals for pet. But having a dog as a pet has been a popular choice since a long time. It’s now kind of a tradition. If you want to have a pet, dog it is! However, that is not the end of the story. Just deciding to have a dog as a pet is not enough. There are many more other choices to make.
Dogs have numerous breeds. You can just go on counting and the number will never end. And that’s the most difficult while choosing a dog pet. You need to be specific with the kind of breed that you will prefer. Well, the breed you select not only affects your petting procedure, but also your bank balance. Every breeds of dog has its specialty and uniqueness. And that is why a Pomelian is different from a German shepherd. They have different characteristics and different lifestyles. Hence you must be very wise while making one as your pet.
There are certain breeds of dogs that exceptionally expensive. It means you really need to be a big shot celebrity to have one or someone with stocked treasure. A normal person cannot afford to buy one. And even one actually buys it; he will make sure you run for your money. Because with expensive dogs comes their expensive maintenance and health-care.
Some of the classiest breeds of dogs are –

 IRISH WOLFHOUND: these dogs are known for their athletic abilities, especially in running. They are one of the tallest breeds of dogs. Irish people describe it as ‘gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked.’ This good looking dog costs no less than $1500 to $2000. Yes that’s too much. But if the breed demands it, you need to pay for it.

 SALUKI: these dogs have an elegant and graceful appearance. One might mistake it for a indoor kind of a dog. It looks thin and charming. But nonetheless, it has extreme amount of strength and endurance. He is a born hunter, a lure courser and not to forget a great show dog. So if you have heard the saying ‘looks can be deceiving’, Saluki is the perfect example for it. It ranges to nearly $2500.

 PHARAOH HOUND: the regal name of the dog itself suggests the dog’s classic abilities. A Pharaoh hound is a powerful, graceful pet. And yes, on the top of it, he is very fast. Not only this, but even he is a good hunter and makes an obedient and lure coursing pets. A very astonishing fact about these hounds is that they blush when they are overjoyed or happy i.e. their nose and cheeks turns rosy red in colour. No kidding! You can buy a Pharaoh hound from $2500 to $6500.

 AKITA: Akita is originally a Japanese breed of dogs. It was initially found in Japan, but now is spread all over the world. They are often projected as therapy dogs. They are good listeners and very loyal kind of a breed. Akita’s has thick coat of fur/hair, muscular build, lavish tails and a very smart personality. To know more about this kind of a dog, you can even watch the movie ‘Hachiko’ which is dedicated totally to him. They can cost up to $1500 to $4500.

 TIBETAN MASTIFF: A Tibetan Mastiff is truly a royal looking dog. He’s enormously healthy and has a legacy holding history. He is full of many of fur coat, which gives him the sophisticated royal look. By looks he might seem a bit dignified and no nonsense type of a dog. His characteristics include being a teacher’s pet and obedient in nature.

 LOWCHEN: Initially people believed that Lowchen was a dog who enjoyed the princess’s company. He was one of the dearest colleague of the princesses in past. So dear that he was even allowed in her bed. By looks Lowchen he was referred to as ‘little lion’. He is the best companion dog and is less of a active/working kind. He needs to be taken care of very luxuriously. Has a big maintenance budget. Once a week walk is enough for the dog. It ranges from $5000 to $8000.

 CHOWCHOW: these are mostly mistaken as a companion or show dogs because of their looks. But they are tremendously working breed. They are sturdy and powerful. They are immensely coated which gives them the lion appearance. They have this unique quality—they a purple/-blue kind of tongue. They cost $3000-$8500.
 ROTTWEILER: This breed of dogs is like the competitive category. They are strong, powerful, muscular, smart, intelligent and very loyal. Such a breed is usually seen in police forces where they come very handy. But their protectiveness and awful self confidence can make them really good companion dogs. They can cost you up to $2000 to $8000.

 SAMOYED: This dog can really make a hole in your pockets. You have to pay an amount of $4000 to $11000 for having these dogs at your side. These are good looking dogs but not the dumb kind. Their appearance doesn’t overshadow their abilities. They excel in hiking, conformation shows, weight pulling, sledding and nimbleness. Though these qualities acts as a feather in court for the dog, the royal price for the dog is hugely because of its stylish, breath-taking looks. It is the snow white dog sometimes in beige, black lips that highlights its ‘Samoyed smile’.

So if you think you can afford one, go get one. There is nothing more flaunting than an $11000 dog. Mark my words!

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