We pet owners have a habit of boasting about our dogs’ extra-sensory-abilities, or, in simple words- sixth sense. Now, please don’t think that this article is a revamp, extension or revised edition of onr of my previous articles: ‘Sixth Sense or Non-sense’.

The reason for attributing their extra-sensory-abilities to the so called sixth sense is unknown, but we know one thing for sure – dogs have an uncanny understanding of human emotions. In the world when we humans complain that our fellow humans fail to understand our feelings, it is quite surprising that dogs can, not just interpret complex and intense human emotions, but react to them accordingly. This ability can be attributed to the lifestyle of their ancestors. Erstwhile dogs were highly social, lived and travelled in pack and shared very strong emotional bond with other dogs. Surprisingly, they even had rituals that helped them bond and many such social structures that seem to correspond to human social interactions. This is the reason why we humans consider dogs to be our best ‘animal’ friend – if I may say so. The same set of abilities that helped dogs establish emotional connect in a pack, is inherited by the 21^st century dogs due to which we still pet them.

Food for thought: Even as monkeys, apes, chimpanzees, gorillas etc are more related to humans than dogs or any other species, we still connect better with dogs, why?

In this article series, we will look at some of the various emotions/feelings/attitude that dogs comprehend and react to.

Before I continue, I want to clarify that some parts of this article are mere observation and may/may not be backed with appropriate statistical data to come to a concrete conclusion. Reader’s discretion is of utmost importance.

1. They can sense your intentions

Ever wondered how your dog knows you are going to bathe him even before you search for his towel or switch on the heater?

The moment you decide to bathe him, and stand up to make your move, he’ll run for his life and hide. This was a negative response to a positive stimulus.

On the other hand, when he is hurt and you try to attend to him or nurse him, you might unintentionally hurt him but he knows that your intentions are clean and you want to help him. This is a positive response.

But the million dollar question is: “How does the dog understand your intentions even before you implement them? And more importantly, how do they react accordingly?”

One study shows that dogs do this by observing your body language. “Learning & Behaviour”, a study published in 2011 found that pet dogs are as intelligent as a 2-year-old human. Amazing isn’t it? This implies that your pet-friend can potentially understand the meaning of approximately 160 odd words. Not just this, they can also sense changes in your body language and react to these changes.

For dogs, your tell-tale signs are eye-contact, and hand gestures. Let us come back to the ‘bath’ example, when you think of bathing him, you inadvertently glance at the bathroom or his bathtub, this visual queue is enough for him to ring bells in his mind. These bells tell him that you are eager enough to clean his skunk-like fur odour that he is proud of.

2. They can sense your fear

Have you ever been afraid of darkness and at that instant, your dog leaps onto your lap and licks you as if to say: “I’m here, do not worry!”? I would not be surprised if I get mixed responses for this question because, in such situations, smaller dogs seek for your lead while larger ones will come to your rescue.

They do this with the help of their sharp olfactory sense (nasal sense).  They can smell the change in concentration of adrenaline in your sweat and they associate it with fear.

How do they know what fear is?

Fear is an emotion/feeling that is shared and experienced by almost all cognitively-able animals. In fact, it is one of the basis of their survival. We are well aware of the three Fs induced by fear: Fright, Flight, or Fight. Imagine an animal that has no fear, it would face all other animals, be it mightier or meeker in comparison to it. This would amount to underestimating the opponent, and if the foe is stronger, then the fearless animal is at its own peril.

Dogs can smell fear and can intuitively recognize our body language associated with it.

They too have a template reaction to fear. Some of the template reactions which both humans and dogs share are: Goosebumps, dilated pupils, change in stance or posture, and curling of lips etc. They can associate their fear and ours, and hence understand what our reaction to it looks like. In combination with their ‘smell’ sense, you’ll have no doubt that they can sense your fear.

3. They can sense shift in your priority (and feel jealous about it too)

Take a look at this conversation and you will understand what I’m trying to imply.

Pet parent: “My dog has been acting weird all of a sudden. I do not know what to do!”

Me: “Has he been like this before?”

Pet parent: “No, he has started behaving like this only after I have bought a new gadget.”

Me: “Aha! There’s your problem. Your dog sensed a sudden shift in your priority after you purchased a new gadget and he might as well feel jealous about it.”

If your dog has been acting weird after you have joined a new job/ brought home a new pet/ bought a new gadget/ anything that could shift your focus from him to the new thing; then it is a classic case of jealousy!

Jealousy is one part and being left out all alone is totally another, It is a sincere request to all pet parents, please do not neglect your pet. The most important thing in your pet’s life is you.

The only remedy to a jealous dog is to give his ‘me time’ back to him. Try and spend more and more time with your dog and make it a point that you use positive assertions/adjectives to make him feel better. Praise and reward him often so that you win his confidence and trust back.

The next article in this series would talk about some other emotions/feelings/attitude that dogs comprehend and react to.  

The post Sensible Dogs – Part 1 appeared first on Pet Attack.

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.

The post The Ape Gape appeared first on Pet Attack.

Why do people keep pets? What is that pushes them to spend their extra time, attention, expense on some random animal? Why people are ready to make a pet a part of the family? Some of the obvious reasons can be to shed boredom, to make their children happy, to establish a status in society owning a pedigree or may be just to get a companion. They don’t speak human yet we try to bind them into an owner-pet bond, which not only provides a love-affection binding but a lot more. Though they are categorized as animals and claimed to not understand human emotions, they still and time and again have proved to be our best friends.

So how keeping a pet helps us live better? Let us have a look.

7. Human needs and Benifits

Pets were basically used to fulfill needs of humans, for domestication. The poultry and dairy pets are kept for wool, flesh, milk and eggs. The horses and donkeys carry our loads. Some are even for leisure and sports. A dog for protection and cats and other small pets are for companionship and leisure. The basic need was to fulfill our own day to day needs that we began petting animals. With time it has developed from a benificial relationship to a good companionship.

6. Routine your Life

Once a pet comes into your life, you get to shed off the procrastination you carry out every day. No matter how lazy you are, you need to get up to feed your pet, clean it up, play with it, may be take it out for walk but overall you will enjoy all of it. With the well on time feeds and walks, regular cleaning and grooming, you will surely end up retuning the clock of your life while doing it for your pet.

5. Increase your social circle

Yes that’s true! When you take your pet out for a walk you will always meet up other owners and tend to interact with them. You meet people in training centers, clubs, pet stores, pet shows and public parks. Believe me, you end up going out and making new buddies when you are out there with your pet, the conversation starting by talking about each others pets and their behavior. You may progress from having a cup of coffee together to being really good friends!

4. Family Bonding

Children love playing around with pets. They can be one of the reasons for your kid’s joyous day to day activities. Kids can learn to develop affectionate and caring nature from the very beginning, by regular petting and pampering their pets. Even the elderly, who sometimes feel lonely and don’t mingle up with other members of family, get to have a companion and to enjoy lives by spending time with pets. A pet generates affection, laughter fun and exuberance among the people it lives around and hence gets the family together.

3. Relieving Anxiety

Touching, petting, pampering, cuddling your pet can reduce stress levels considerably low. Remarkable behavior changes have been observed in prisoners who have been exposed to being with pets. A sense of comfort and satisfaction is observed in spending time with pet. Your pet always tends to divert your mind and attention to pull it towards it. It is scientifically proved that pet owners are less likely to suffer depression than those who don’t have one. There have been many good outcomes of keeping a pet considering health, behavior, fitness stress etc. Also it is very satisfying to take care of another living creature. According to a research, presented in American Heart Association, the stress and blood pressure levels in stockbrokers, who had been on medication, had come down significantly come down, after they took to petting an animal along with medication. The affectionate bond and support can help in reducing stress that is a major contributor to cardiovascular problems.

2. Exercise

Well, not all pets can help you stay fit but most of them can. Take for example of your pet dog or cat. Regular morning and evening walks is good for your pet and healthy for you too. If you are not a regular gym person then make a habit to go for regular walks with your pet or chase your kitty around playfully. That will not only keep you healthy physically but mentally too you will stay off stress and diverted and devoted towards your pet.

1. Companionship

That is one of the most considered reasons for keeping a pet. A new member in family is always welcomed like a guest and so is a pet. Why because you always look forward to develop that bond with your pet. Sometimes even the closest people betray you and you seem alone and lost. But when you have a pet along it gives a sense of comfort and company to be with. A good pet will always try to interact with you or least keep you busy and try building a bond with you if taken well care of.

The post Why you need to have a Pet? appeared first on Pet Attack.

When you think of chicken, what comes to your mind? In one go, all the non-vegetarians out there would think of all kinds of mouth watering chicken cuisines. Well if you are what they say as ‘pure-nonvegetarian’, then why not have your own farm of poultry and raise your own healthy chickens, so that you never have to go to the supermarket to buy eggs and flesh and get a fresh supply from your own backyard. Keeping poultry pets is not so popular in suburban areas but here are few reasons as to why and how you keep a flock in your backyard.

Why?

1. An omelette in morning and a chicken cuisine for dinner would be something quite common for you, and that includes the family dinners and parties as well. You will be happily feasting with your friends and relatives.

2. Keeping chicken is fun. They are active, alert always ready to run around. You can cuddle them, pamper them only if you take care of them and bond well. They are unique! Yes, every chicken is unique in its personality trait, apart from varied feather colors and sizes. Chicks are equally adorable. You will love to play around with them and raise them in your backyard.

3. Keep them if you have pest problems in your garden. They can turn it into a fertilizer. No need to use pesticides also. Chickens love to roam around freely and forage. They can eat almost anything, even the grass that has grown too long. So stop caring about mowing your gardens and let those chickens go loose.

4. Low maintenance is what is synonym to keeping chicken. No walking, no brushing only feeding twice a dy. With minimal needs and plethora of benifits what more you can ask from your pet, than an egg every morning. The cleaning and bedding is a once in a while effort.

5. Save a chicken from the farm-factory where they follow ruthless and cruel farming of poultry and diary animals to produce higher output. High epsticides and antibiotics are used to rpevent spread of diseases in the stocked up innumerable poultry animals. Here you keep chickens, there one less chicken is put in a gruesome situation plus even you prevent yourself from ingesting those chemicals.

6. Its not just about chicken and eggs, in the end you get a pet to whom you can cuddle, scoop around, comb and pamper. Amaze others as you make your chicken fall asleep in your arms, they can be good pets if bonded well.

Now that you have got enough reason to keepp them, lets see the how part.

HOW?

DIET

FOOD

Chicken diet depends upon the breed and the age. Feed should be well balanced and the containers should be regularly cleaned to avoid any chances of illness. Chickens need insoluble grit in their diet like hard flint grit. Chicken feeders are equally important when keeping chickens as pets.

Water

Constant clean and fresh water is a must in your poultry house. The drinkers should be cleaned regularly. Care should be taken that drinkers are not too deep to prevent the chicks from falling into them.

HOUSING

The place where your chicks will grow up and thrive has to be warm, dry and well ventilated. The area needs to be cleaned and disinfected regularly to remove parasites and other insects. The feeders and drinkers should be placed in one corner of the house and if you have more number of chickens, two or more feeders can be kept per chicken coop.

Flooring

The flooring should be made of dry material like wood shavings or straw that should be topped up. Chicken like to forage and dust bath around so the toppings can be replaced when required. The floor should be dry to avoid habitats for parasites to grow and cause unwanted diseases to your pets.

Space

Chickens require ample space to stretch their wings, run and hop around. If you have 30 birds in your coop, roughly 12 square meters of space would be enough for them. But this also depends on size and number of chicken pets you have. You can fill the space with perches, about 3 to 5 cm in length with round edges to avoid the chicken getting hurt.

 Nest Boxes

When the hen is getting ready to lay eggs it needs quiet places. Make sure you provide the would-be moms with warm, serene enclosed nest boxes where they can lay eggs in peace without any disturbances from humans and other male chickens. The flooring can again be straw or wood shavings, in short, something dry and comfortable.

Outdoor Environment

Provide an overhead cover over the coop, like a small tree or a shed to protect your pets from sun and weather. Chicken constantly sun bathe and forage so enough space should be there for them to do so. Feeders and drinkers should even be kept outside for easy access to food and water. Proper fencing should be there to protect your pets from wild animals or other pets in your house. Make sure the bird doesn’t get out of the fence or not hurt itself getting stuck in it.

HEALTH

Healthy chickens are easy to notice. They have bright eyes and alertness in their movement. Poor health symptoms include hunched posture, reluctance in movement, erect feathers, hiding in corners etc. The chicken seems dull and less interested. Always contact your vet if you think your chicken is not doing well. Late response may make other chicken unwell too. Chickens should be checked for lice and red mites, generally found under the wings or in the crevices of the coop. Chickens need regular de-worming, if kept outside in the same area over a long period of time.

Chicken Company

Feather pecking can be a cause of serious trouble while introducing new chicken to the flock. Cockerels who haven’t grown together should be kept separate to avoid rivalry. Even hens peck and pull at the feathers of other hens causing injuries. This can occur anytime and may even lead to cannibalism. Care should be taken to separate any newly introduced member into the flock if they break into a fight.

Before getting yourself a flock of your own birds make sure you have ample space and can devote enough time and care towards them.

The post Poultry Pets: Chicken appeared first on Pet Attack.

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.

The post Pet Transport appeared first on Pet Attack.

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.

The post Purebreed and Crossbreed appeared first on Pet Attack.

The smallest breed of dog in the world, Chihuahua got its name from the Chihuahua state in Mexico. The progenitor of the breed was found in the same place in 1850s though the origin of the breed is still deduced from many different theories. Right from the traces in the Great Pyramid of Cholula and ruins of Chichen Itza to the discovery of a similar looking dog effigy to 1325 AD in Georgia, there are various arguments over the breed’s origin. History is by-gone, now these little dogs have become the most popular breeds as a toy dog. A litter may have pups that may differ drastically in weight and size. Chihuahuas give you a good long company of up to 20 years if cared well for. They are good pets to keep and easy to take around. They are feather light so just hold them into your arms and carry on. A quirky breed, it doesn’t need much exercise. If not anything it will be a loyal protective companion at least.

Appearance

There are two breeds of Chihuahua, recognized by the hair length- the short haired and the long-haired. The height ranges from 6-9 inches however some breeds even grow to 12 to 15 inches tall while the weight of around 1.8 to 2.7 kilograms is considered healthy. They have big round eyes, ears that stand erect and round or sometimes deer like skull. Their furs can have velvety touch or can be upright like whiskers. Surprisingly the short haired breeds shed more hair than the ones with long hair. The fur color is a mix of hues that range from solido red, cream, brown and spotted.

Temperament & Traits

The behavior of the owner greatly affects the behavior of the Chihuahua. Temperamental Chihuahuas can get provoked easily and may even attack, so it is better not to have this breed in a family with small children. Sometimes they may become possessive towards their owner and may even attack in the act of protecting them. Children of 13 years or above can manage with the dog if properly taken care of. Chihuahuas don’t get along well with other breeds as much as their own breeds. Despite being the smallest in the canine family of dogs, they dare to show their bold side at other dogs. They usually sneak into small places making their own den kind of thing. They also love to bury themselves under pillows, blankets, clothes and bottom of beds. Many people treat Chihuahuas like a doll or a baby, carrying them everywhere along, shushing them playfully, ignoring signs of aggressive display and swaying it all off in one or two excuse maybe. But the reality is the temperament of your dog totally depends on how you raise it. They generally get suspicious towards strangers. A  Chihuahua cab be trained to various things including not barking at anyone and everyone. They bark because they usually get suspicious about strangers which is the first sign towards building a tendency of biting.

Health

Chihuahuas require extra care in case of births and dental care. They also have tendency to have some genetic disorders generally neurological like epilepsy and seizure. They don’t grow equally in a litter, with drastic variations in weight and height among their siblings. Chihuahuas have larger eyes hence more chances of eye infections and watery eyes due to dry air or air-borne allergies. They also shiver when excited, stressed or feeling cold. The ones with shorter coats are less tolerant than their counter breeds. They usually like to be in sun or under blankets to get warmth. They would look for the tiniest sunspot and gather themselves there to warm up. It is recommended to make them wear something warm during winters, specially the breed with shorter hair.

Taking Care

People buy toy dogs out of wish, of just to have one, but they don’t realize that a breed this small can be easily injured or stepped over. Now that you know they have tendency to hide under pillows and blankets, you might sit on one, unknowingly or maybe hurt him, while he has slit under the sofa pillow.  Proper care is required towards the breed and they should be always kept under your eyes so that you are assured, they don’t run away and injure themselves. It is better to put them on leash and getting themselves to injury. They jump around and use their front claws like cats, so if you have leather furniture just be careful with this little devil, as they even have tendency to chew off your possessions. Your home should be comfortable enough with not too many holes and spaces as these dogs tend to snug themselves almost everywhere. Chihuahuas shed a lot of hair, but that also depends upon which is it.

Like every dog or any pet for that matter, your Chihuahua requires a lot of attention. If you work late and have  little time for your pet then this breed is not the right choice. Your pet will gift you with its tremendous loyalty and compassion.

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According to Wikipedia “Purebreds, also called purebreeds, are cultivated varieties or cultivars of an animal species, achieved through the process of selective breeding. When the lineage of a purebred animal is recorded, that animal is said to be pedigreed.” In other words, if a German shepherd mates with another German shepherd, their pups will have similar characteristics to their parents and not to other breeds in their gene pool. However, just like human babies may have congenital defects due to their parents being related, breeding from too small a gene pool, especially direct inbreeding, can lead to the passing on of undesirable characteristics. It may even cause a collapse of a breed population due to inbreeding depression. Therefore there has always been a debate about when to allow ‘outside’ stock for breeding purposes as this can improve the overall health and vigor of the breed. Purebred animal breeds are also susceptible to a wide range of congenital health problems. Then why do humans demand for purebred pets? Why is an animal, whose ancestry has been recorded, considered a better pet than a mutt? These questions are simply beyond me, especially after knowing the ill effects of pure breeding. My article is going to focus on the effect of this, especially on dogs.

Genetic conditions are a particular problem for dog breeds that do not accept any outside breed or blood. Most kennel clubs make a dog breed with its parents or siblings, which is morally as well as genetically disgusting. Some of the most common conditions arise from inbreeding. These include hip dysplasia, seen in large breed dogs, von Willebrand disease, a disease that affects platelets that is inherited in Doberman Pinschers, entropion, a curling in of the eyelid seen in Shar Peis and many other breeds, progressive retinal atrophy, inherited in many breeds, deafness, and epilepsy, known to be inherited in Belgian Shepherd Dogs, German Shepherd Dogs, Cocker Spaniels, and St. Bernards. Many dogs are bred with exaggerated features to please dog show judges! In reality, not only do ‘purebred’ dogs riddle with genetic diseases, but dog breeds are not even a real thing! We have made them up! We often talk about dog breeds as if nature created them that way and as though every mutt were just a mix of different purebreeds. But in reality, mutts are healthier than the so called ‘purebreds’ and pure-breeding is a sort of genetic manipulation humans made up just to amuse themselves. 90% of all dog breeds have been created in the last century! Because our ancestors thought that dogs should live upto our arbitrary standards, even though it causes them to get sick and die.

In 2008, the BBC ran a documentary on the health problems in pedigree dogs.A summary of the main points of that documentary are as follows:

• 60% of Golden retrievers die of cancer.
• 1 in 3 of King Charles’ Spaniels have skulls that are smaller than their brains!
• Great Danes are so huge that their hearts cannot support their bodies!
• Male Dalmations have difficulty in urinating due to stone formation.
• Bull dogs are a total genetic failure and are victims of borderline animal abuse! They can barely breath due to their squashed noses, their heads are so big that they can only give birth through caesarian, their tails can become ingrown, they have hip dysplasia and their average life expectancy is 6 years!
• The Bull Terriers have respiratory diseases due to their oversized snouts, supernumerary teeth and are compulsive tail-chasers.
• The Basset Hound has suffered too many changes to its rear leg structure that has made it stand so low that its stomach nearly touches the ground! It also has excessive skin, vertebra problems, droopy eyes prone to entropion and ectropion and excessively large ears.
• The Boxer have an extremely short snout, has difficulty in breathing, has lower hindquarters and has difficulty controlling its temperature in hot weather. It also has one of the highest cancer and many of them suffer from seizures.
• The Dachshunds are prone to dwarfism and do not have properly functional legs or necks for their size. There is barely any clearance between their chest and the floor.
• The mutations in German Shepherd Dogs serve no purpose but have made it an imbalanced breed that is more prone to cancer.
• The St. Bernard is oversized, has difficulty breathing and has too much skin due to which it quickly overheats and cannot work like thebreed was meant to. Their common diseases include entropion, ectropion, Stockard’s paralysis, hemophilia, osteosarcoma, aphakia and fibrinogen deficiency.
• Pugs have high blood pressure, heart problems, low oxygenation, difficulty breathing, tendency to overheat, dentition problems, and skin fold dermatitis. Even their double curled tail is a genetic defect that leads to paralysis in serious cases.

When new born puppies don’t fit the ridiculous and harmful breed standards imposed by us humans, who like to play God all the time, they are culled by the breeder. Completely healthy puppies are euthanized, just because they don’t look perfect. This is sick. The next time you feel like bringing a pup home, pick up a stray or adopt one from the animal shelter. But I beg you to not ask for a ‘purebred pedigreed’ dog, because that is just wrong and against the laws of nature.

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Birds make good pets, but before I begin I would like to add a personal note to it. If you really want to keep birds as pets don’t cage them all the time. They have got wings for a reason. So if you saw your neighbor getting a pair of love birds home and you wish to get a bird friend too, go for a parrot. Parrots are social and intelligent birds. They are trainable and develop very strong bonds with their owners. You can cuddle them; play with them, they simple love interaction, be it with their owners or other parrots. Now that you have decided upon buying a pet parrot, you have got a number of species to choose from.

 Parrots as Pets

There are a lot of things to keep in mind if you have decided to keep a parrot as pet. Some of them include cost, space available in house, interaction and time spent with your pet. Generally parrots’ diet includes a variety of fresh fruits and veggies, sprouts, nuts and seeds. Parrots create a lot of mess while eating; one has to be patient to clean the cage regularly. Be careful when you let the parrot out of cage, usually parrots have tendency of chewing upon things like furniture. Protect your belongings before you let the parrot out of the cage. Parrots need exercise and should be left free to roam around in the house. May be you can make a place to play around. Parrots screech and create lot of noise. The owners should be committed towards the pet, and should give enough time and attention to the pet. Parrots are social birds. They need attention from their owners. They might get irritated and can cause a lot of destruction if not comfortable. If you think you can’t pay required attention to your bird pet, then better by it a companion.

Parakeets

These tiny parrots are about 7 to 12 inches in length. Caring for parakeet involves going for regular round to a veterinarian, even at first signs of illness. Also parakeets shouldn’t be kept with other species of parrots, they don’t along much together. It might lead to behavioral problems. Parakeets are good at learning and can be easily trained. They can be trained to talk, sit on owners shoulder, perform tricks etc. But all of this is only possible if your pet is comfortable with you. A strong bond needs to be built before you start making him learn things. They love petting and pampering. Care need to be taken care as they get ill easily. Proper cleaning of cage, regular change in water, washing of food and water dishes, regular exercise, and proper nutrition needs to be taken care of. The bird’s cage should be placed at some secure place, away from too much noise and direct sunlight.

Cockatiel

They are usually grey or cream yellow in color with blushing cheek patches. The difference between male and female is so undistinguishable visibly that a DNA test needs to be done. Cockatiels require more seeds in their food. Some other food items include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, corn and few fruits like apple, mango, pear and pineapple. Chocolates, ice-creams, pastries etc should be strictly avoided. These birdies require big cages, preferably longer in length than in height. Cockatiels don’t usually learn to talk but males can be made to talk and whistle more likely than females. Patient and soft training sessions can possible earn good results. Breeding is a little difficult and requires time and commitment. It is best practice to delay breeding until your pet is mentally and physically mature enough.

Parrotlets

The most popular parrot species is a beautiful blue colored Pacific Parrotlet as the name justifies. Now several colored mutations have been developed though. These species though puny are bolder than expected on seeing their size. There are different species even in Parrotlets based on their color and size. Green Parrotlets are a little smaller than Pacifics and slightly intimidated by new things while Spectacle Parrotlets, which are similar to Greens in size, turn out to be more curious and inquisitive. The cage size for parrotlets should be 18” in length breadth and height on an average. The cage should be longer than being tall. These species require a lot of food in contrast to their size. This mostly includes fresh fruits and veggies, grains, seeds and high protein foods. Fresh clean water is must for you pet. They bond well with person who spend maximum time with them.

African Grey

Considered to be the most intellegent of  all parrot species, it originally belonging to Africa, is about 12 to 13 inches in length from beak to tail. A big bird, if you have decided to pet it, you should consider having a big cage and spacious living place for your parrot. They will give you company till 50, although some can even live till the age of 70+. These are intelligent beings and that shows in their behavior. They are affectionate towards their owners, but if bored or frustrated it will create havoc. As the name says they have grey feathers, with threads of white over the fur and black beak. They have shiny red tail color in contrast to old grey look. Like other parrots their diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables but they can even be fed pelleted food along with egg, cheese bits and nuts and seeds. They provide a good company and can easily be trained to talk. If properly cared for they develop strong bond with their owners. But care should be taken as to what you speak in front of them as they tend to repeat everything and remember it too all thanks to their high IQ levels. That may land you in trouble later.

Macaws

Macaws are large, colorful parrots named after their feather colors like scarlet macaws, blue and gold macaws, military macaws and hyacinth macaws. There also exist mini-macaws which include species like Hahn’s noble and yellow colored macaws. They reach to a length of 20 – 40 inches depending upon the species. The life span is about 30-50 years though if cared well they live beyond that. They are playful, exuberant, and affectionate and remain happy when they get enough attention from their owners. Yes they screech, they are loud and noisy. They have excellent ability to imitate but not as good as African Grey. Macaws need large cage about 24”x36”x48” for an average size macaw. The cage must be strong enough to withstand their strong beaks. Since they are quite playful, you can get them wooden toys to chew upon and play with and some hangings to climb upon. Their diet can include pelleted food with usual fresh fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds.

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In humans, the pregnancy period is quite a delicate time, so is for animals. Proper attention care is required towards the animal whether it is diet, safety, exercise or meds. First thing to keep in mind is that, you should not breed your pet unless are ready to take up the responsibility of the litter. Just for the matter that your dog/cat should have the experience of having a litter is not a reason enough for breeding your pet. Also if you have already planned for it then you should go to a responsible breeder who has considerable knowledge about your breed. You can also consult the vet first to get the breeding done.

After your dog/cat is in the gestation period, a lot of attention and care is required from your side being an owner. Below are few important points that you should realize while taking care of your pet.

Diet

This is the first and the most important thing that your dog/cat needs good nutrition. Now that she is carrying babies, she needs to intake extra calories, to feed more than one. Improper diet can even lead to death of newborns. After mating and while gestation, you should make sure that your pet eats properly. During the first few weeks dogs eat in normal amounts but as the weeks precede so does their requirement. By the end of the gestation period they tend to eat 1.5 times their initial diets. Same applies to your cat so increase the amount of food you provide to your pet. Give your dog/cat commercial dog/cat food that is high in calories. Also talk to your vet about the dietary habits for your pet and how to make it better. Most importantly provide ample amount of water at all times.

Exercise and Fitness

You dog should undergo sufficient exercises though not vigorous ones. The target should be to ease the complications during delivery and not weight loss. Regular outdoor walks should keep your pregnant dog fit and fine. Cats usually take care of themselves on their own during pregnancy. They may undergo morning sickness like certain behavior changes, not having food on time, vomiting and restlessness. But worry not this is a part of the hormonal changes going inside her body. Sometimes you might not even notice such changes. If the cat doesn’t eat food for a long stretch of time do consult your vet. Weight loss is not recommended for your pet and a lot of rest and sleep is required, so don’t try to tire your pet, in the name of exercise. Again plenty of water is a must.

Discharge

Your pet both dogs and cats experience discharge from genital area during pregnancy. The discharge is often pinkish in color in case of dogs and transparent in case of cats. If the color of discharge differs, it can be pus or blood. You should immediately contact your vet in this situation. In case of cats, if the discharge is pink it is a fungal infection while green discharge indicates bacterial infection.  After delivery discharge is normal in case of cats, which can be thick and either punk or brown in color. This continues for 10 days so no need to worry. Discharge during pregnancy should be taken seriously ignoring certain conditions can even lead to abortion or premature delivery.

Surroundings

To make your dog/cat go through the gestation period comfortably you need to ensure that their surrounding environment is stress free and tranquil. Make separate bedding for your cat, some time before her due date like a box. Provide comfortable bedding or base, by putting a soft towel, blanket or may be an old launder that makes them feel warm and cozy. Place it in a silent location; make it a point to keep it away from other pets and children in the house so that your cat/dog may rest silently without any disturbances. Let her know where the box is kept but don’t force her to be there. She may end up choosing some other location to give birth or may even make changes according to her wish in her newly made space. Keep your pet away for three weeks after parturition so as to prevent transmission of any potential diseases.

After Birth Care

You should make sure that your pet feels comfortable and secure around people in the house. Keep a separate den for the new mommy where she can feed and tender to her litter without any trouble or disturbances. Keep a bowl of water close by, but make sure that pups don’t fall into it by mistake. Change the bedding regularly to avoid smell and maintain hygiene in their resting place. Clean the puppy poop from time to time, although in case of cats, the queen, that’s what the new mommy is called, tends to eat up her baby poop, clean and groom them simultaneously. This behavior is sometimes seen in dogs too and is fairly normal. Ensure that your pet has proper food even during lactation. Whenever you feel any abnormal changes like loss of appetite in your pet, insatiable thirst, discharge etc contact your vet.

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