Pampered Pets

Why do people become addicted? What is the fundamental mechanism? Of course, this question has been answered to varying degrees and in varying ways. Whether you consider the physical aspects of addiction where changes occur in the brain, or the psychological mechanism that triggers an addiction many theories already exist.

This article is strictly my opinion. It is my personal attempt to understand addiction and I don’t claim to have any scientific backing for my model of addiction. Nor do I seek any. I’m merely trying to understand addiction in terms that make sense to me personally. If this is useful to you in some way, then so much the better.

Addiction can be a powerful force in our lives. I hold that addiction occurs with each of us to varying degrees. Drug and alcohol addictions are the most obvious to us because their destructive effects are very evident. But what about those addictions that are not so obvious. Do you have a favorite food? A favorite song? Why do we choose one thing over another? Why do people choose differently?

On a purely physical realm it appears that our brains become stimulated in a certain way that we enjoy and therefore we are left with a memory that is pleasurably associated with a certain stimulus such as a sound or a taste or a sensation. Could this be the basis for addiction?

Since we are beings with an organic component, this makes complete sense. Once an impression is made on us it is either postivive or negative and we have a ‘feeling’ that goes with that. Being creatures that enjoy pleasure over pain we naturally seek to relive positive experiences and avoid negative ones.

Therefore, if we had an experience that triggered a negative feeling, such as the taste of garlic, then we may forever hate the taste of garlic. Yet, someone else’s early experience or experiences with garlic may have been quite pleasurable. Therefore, they actually enjoy the taste and smell of garlic even to the point that they always use it or cook with it.

Being similar in our organic components, how can such divergent reactions occur?
The only differential seems to be the original experience itself and how we reacted to it. That experience and reaction creates a record in our brains. This must be how two different brains can have such different reactions to the same substance or experience.

Then are we at the mercy of our first experience in regards to any particular stimuli?
Yes, if we don’t do anything about it. However, if we really exert our will, we should be able to change our reaction to virtually anything.

Therefore, through exertion of willpower an addiction, any addiction, should be defeatable. Of course, things are not necessarily that simple in the real world. But in principle and in my opinion, it seems to be this way.

Otherwise, we would simply be robots at the mercy of these addictions that exist to varying degrees. I think most people would agree that is not the case. Also, it would contradict the gift of freewill that I believe we all have been granted. There are some things that we don’t get to choose in this life yet there are many things that we may exert our personal choice over. I believe that addiction is one of those things we can choose not to have. Maybe it takes hard work to beat an addiction but I think we do have an option in this regard.

If I’m correct, then the most important component to beating an addiction is the willingness to do so, coupled by the intensity of the desire to beat the addiction. It seems certain that the person must be willing at some level to be rid of an addiction in order for that freedom to occur.

Author:  David S.

*If you have or think you might have a drug, alcohol or other dangerous addiction, you should seek the help of a qualified physician and get proper treatment as soon as possible.
 

If you have a large dog that enjoys spending time outside consider purchasing a dog outdoor large bed for them to enjoy. They can take a quick nap on their large outdoor dog bed while still enjoying the fresh air.

If it is a warm sunny day a large outdoor dog bed will be particularly nice for your pup as he or she will have plenty of space to stretch out during their nap. In the colder months dogs typically sleep in smaller balls so size might not be as much of an issue.

There are a number of large outdoor dog beds to choose from. Picking one that will best accommodate your dog can be a challenge. Each dog sleeps in their own unique way and there are beds designed to accommodate just about everything.

Different Types Of Large Outdoor Dog Beds

If your dog likes to sleep with their head propped up on something look for a large outdoor dog bed that has a bolster attached to it. Some dog beds will have a bolster that wraps around all edges of the dog bed which helps them to get extra cozy. Other styles of dog beds only have a bolster that wraps half way around the dog bed. This gives your dog some options. If your dog wants to just lay out flat or elevate their head they will be able to do so with ease in this type of dog bed.

Other large outdoor dog beds were simply designed to act as big pillows. They will be big enough to allow your dog to fully stretch out. If your dog likes to curl up in a ball during their nap they can do so as well. When curled up in a ball this type of big pillow bed will snuggle in around your pup which will help to keep them not only warm but cozy.

Another type of bed is the outdoor canopy dog bed. This type of dog bed provides a luxury environment for your dog as they stretch out to take a nap in a nice shady spot created by the canopy of the bed.

Many of the largest outdoor dog beds are just simple squares or rectangles that have some type of foam core inside of the cover. These are pretty basic and generally offer no frills for your dog. The bigger dog beds get the more expensive they can be so this can be a budget friendly option as well.

About Author: James Shaw is a plastic packaging expert. He also offers top Dog training and puppy training tips online.

An untrained dog can and does cause his owner a lot of stress as well as also endangers the very life of the dog as well. It is consequently required for every dog owner to start dog training as soon as their dog or pup is old enough to be given directions. The first part of dog training involves teaching your pet essential commands after which your pet will get to learn to do simple things like ‘sit’ when told to do so and to ‘stay’, and ‘go’ when so commanded.

An Early Start Is Recommended

The most important aspect to dog training is to start him off as early as is possible because once your dog has grown older it will then become harder to break his established habits. Early training will ensure that your dog learns how to behave properly and it will also be easier to train your dog. At the same time it is also necessary to understand the value of imparting dog training in short bursts rather than in long boring training sessions.

Dogs are identified to have very short attention spans and so to use this trait of theirs to your benefit requires that you only execute the training while his attention is focused on what you are teaching him. In addition, you need to create a routine for him to follow which can consist of five minute training sessions in the morning followed by the same duration in the afternoon as well as in the evening.

Training my dog is not always a smooth process and there are many times when common problems will arise. One of the reasons for such problems arising is that you have not managed to earn the respect of your dog. As harsh as this may sound it is nevertheless a very real reason why dogs won’t follow your commands. It will take a lot of effort to teach them that you are the master and not they.

Another common dog training problem that you will need to overcome is that your dog jumps too much. In order to rectify this behavior you should try and turn your back on him to show him (who is a pack animal) that such behavior is unacceptable and your dog too will soon come to realize that when he jumps on you and you turn your back to him he is being shunned. Optimistically, this will help cure him of this regular dog training problem.

You need to reflect on sending your dog to a dog training school in case you don’t have the additional time to spare to train your dog or you feel that you want your dog to be trained by professionals. Even when it proves to be hard to get your dog to obey you, taking professional help in the matter will soon help rectify the situation.

Please visit my website to find out more about dog training videos at http://dogsology.com, thank you for reading!

Today, due to the economic climate it seems that more people are under deeper stress than before.  Life is definitely tough sometimes but with the US unemployment rate at or over ten percent, many believe the true number is higher, individual stress levels appear to be increasing.

So, what are some simple things we can do to alleviate stress? These may be obvious, but sometimes a little reminder is helpful.

1. Listen to your favorite music

2. There are alpha wave attunement CDs that allow your mind to move into an alpha wave state – also known as ‘relaxed alertness’.

3. Meditation – The most powerful and relaxing set of meditative exercises I know of are from Falun Dafa to be found for free at FalunDafa.org

4. Take time to quietly sit and think of nothing in particular – this is close to, but not as good as the meditation mentioned above. 

Another thing to be conerned about during times of higher stress is yor oral health.  Stress is a contributing / risk factor for gum disease.

To help counter act this use an oral irrigator like the hydrofloss.

Gum disease is a big problem anyway, and people need to know what they can do about this silent epidemic that may afflict up to 75% of all people according to statistics.  Some say the numbers are even higher.

Take a look at the special mouthwash made by a company called therabreath.

Finally, some people prefer a more natural approach to fighting oral health problems.  In that case, there is an essential oil blend known as oramd that you may find helpful. 

When stress levels are high, it is much easier for verbal and even physical conflicts to occur between people. Now is the time, more than ever, to keep a cool head and be kind, forgiving and compassionate to our fellow man.  As high as our personal stress level may be, remember your neighbor’s could be even higher. 

Forgive and forget and move on.

Finally, reward yourself by watching a cool, exciting and yet relaxing show called Shen Yun : ShenYunPerformingArts.org
 

The positioning of a guinea pig nosing around during a pile of contemporary shavings is a picture that brings a smile to both parent’s and youngsters alike.

A giant population of adults have fond recollections of the guinea pig they raised as a child. It does not take a ton of encouragement before they are describing the approach it looked and recounting the adventures they shared. Most parents who had guinea pigs during their childhood are normally quick to make certain that their youngsters have a pet guinea pig to decision their own.

Folks like the concept of guinea pigs as a kid’s initial gift for a variety of reasons. Compared to cats and dogs, guinea pigs are a low cost pet. Even rescuing a kitten from an animal shelter can price additional then fifty greenbacks, a young, well cared for guinea pig can be purchased for fifteen dollars. The typical guinea pig does not need as abundant veterinary care as a dog or cat. A guinea pig can be kept in the kid’s bedroom, it doesn’t run around the house, disrupting the entire household. Briefly a guinea pig could be a smart alternative to show a child about the responsibility needed to care for a pet.

One amongst the skills that kids can develop after they are raising a guinea pig is pet grooming. Despite their diminutive size, guinea pigs, like dogs and cats, want to be groomed on a regular basis.

Parents who are concerned that their child can be lax about grooming their pet guinea pig ought to create sure that they purchase a brief haired breed of guinea pig. The short hair can not tangle and mat like their long haired counterparts. Brushes that have soft bristles are the simplest for brushing guinea pigs, the soft bristles wont hurt the guinea pig’s skin.

When you guinea pig comes home, teach your kid how to look at its eyes and ears and nose, to make positive that they’re clean and freed from debris. Show them a way to use a heat slightly wet washcloth to carefully wipe any mucus which may be accumulating within the corners of their eyes.

Guinea pigs do not need a great deal of of brushing, and they should not be bathed. They are doing want to possess their nails clipped. This is an activity {that the} parent needs to supervise. Explain to your kid that they’re not suppose to remove the guinea pigs entire nail, that the sole factor that’s going to be removed with the nail clippers is the sharp tip of the nail. On a guinea pig that has white nails you must be ready to see the tiny blood vessels that run through the nails, justify to your kid {that the} blood vessels represent a living part of the nail, {that the} goal is to trim the nail with hurting the tiny blood vessels. If your pet guinea pig has dark nails your probably wont be able to determine the blood vessels, on dark nailed guinea pigs the rule of thumb is to trim approximately 1/four of an in. of the guinea pigs nail.

The biggest downside with guinea pigs {is that they} stink.  The scent of an unclean guinea pig cage will quickly drive the complete family from the house. It’s necessary to form sure that your kid perceive that it is very important to scrub the guinea pigs cage every day. Justify {that the} health of their guinea pig still because the family harmony depends on them keeping the cage clean and also the bedding fresh.

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We all know that the reasons to train your dog are many and Crate Training Your Dog is essential one among them. Crate training is an useful way of housetraining your dog and I’m going to expose you the top 5 reasons for that fact.

1. Fundamentally, dogs are extremely clean animals and they do not like to urinate or defecate in the region where they slumber. What will maintain this thought is putting them in a crate. The fact is some individuals think that it is cruel to put your pet inside a crate, but you have to be conscious that you only need to keep him there only as long as it needs to be trained controlling his bladder and bowel activities.

2. Keep in mind the evident fact that crates can protect your dog and your belongings. Be conscious that crates are moderately cheaper compared to replacing furniture and other personal property in case your dog or puppy chews or destroys these.

3. Another good thing your dog will find out while kept in a crate is to enjoy. In factCrate Training Your Dog – Some Training Techniques control disconnection concern. It is suggested to place some toys with him in the crate and he should be amused for particular time.

4. Dogs that are used to a crate are also easier to move. This will give you less of a problem when you want to go to your Vet or to another place.

5. In addition, the crate can operate as your dog’s shelter. It can be a location where your dog can rest and get pleasure from a certain period of time.

Crate Training Your Dog is a fun way of getting to be familiar with him. This way you’re setting your connection as a master and a pet. A well trained dog should be an achievement for the dog itself and not only your personal success. Prizes your dog achieves make him mostly a happy dog. It’s essential to recognize that a well trained dog is certainly less of a hassle than a dog left to its own plans. This actually means you should spend more time to take pleasure in with your dog. Crate Training Your Dog also teaches him a valuable lesson and beginning period as it becomes part of his new pack or family.

Not so long ago, dog crates were merely utilized for replacing animals from one place to another. Dog owners and trainers were hunting for civilized teaching techniques and they discovered that dog crates are ultimate for resolving many issues. In fact, many pet owners these days are discovering that Crate Training Your Dog is important when it comes to ensuring that their canine companions stay sensitively healthy. So, don’t delay to use dog crates if you do not have much time to spend with your dog. Take into consideration that it may supply just enough safety to help inhibit a wide collection of bad canine behaviors.

To discover more practical information and to be more successful in housetraining your puppy visit Crate Training Your Dog.

This is one question i had posed to people, and would like you to think about, would you take your pet on your vacation? After speaking to a lot of people about this, i did get some very clear answers. I thought that it would be interesting to see what you think about this, and then gauge what you have to say about it.

There was a clear winning response, which actually took me surprise, many people said “No”. There are those that did mention, taking the pet with them on their vacation, could actually add more stress to “their time”. Some people actually suggested, that looking after their pets was considered to be like work. Surely a pet was bought as form of release from work, and I would have thought that people would have invested a little more take them with them?

There were quite a few people saying, “what is the point in taking your pet on holiday”. People started to weigh up the monetary values of their pets, suggesting that they are not welcome on the holiday because they are not human. There are checks and procedures that need to be active before you can even take your pet with you, many things need to be looked over.

It was noticeable though, that some people were interested in this idea, and seemed to welcome it. They suggested that a pet that has been in the family for a long time is like one of the family, almost like a child or sibling. Some people get very attached to their animals, and insist that they go with them everywhere. There were of course the people that said the dog or cat was a family member, but because they were animals, didn’t need to go on holiday, because they are “already on holiday”.

It was amusing to see so many alternative views on this, especially when people were chatting about Egypt holidays, or even Maldives holidays, this showed that people were prepared to take their dogs to places, even though they wouldn’t have much mobility, so is this right or wrong? Maybe Caribbean holidays would be better suited to the cat or dog?

Life as a pet sitter is a good job, for others it would be totally incompatible. A great pet sitter requires to adore animals, all animals. It is not just a need, it ought to be a natural love. Whether it is a cat, fish or one that some folks may have a terror about. Normal pet problems for potential pet sitters are scorpions, spiders, lizards, snakes and reptiles. In a larger team, they may be able to handle this, but typically pet sitting is a small business with only a few people, so you will need to deal with these animals as a pet sitter. Luckily these animals require minimal care, but as a pet sitter you will still need to feed and water them. From time to time the owner may require the pet sitter to give small live animals to the pet. In my experience other animals that cause possible issues for pet sitters include rats, “I don’t like the scaly tail”, particularly as the rats and owners love the frequent fussing and handling of the pet.

The requirement for pet sitters is in general normally during the major holidays of Christmas, Thanksgiving and summer holidays. There is also a demand for pet sitting at weekends throughout the year. Due to this seasonality, pet sitting also includes dog walking which is often needed all year.

Dog walking in a first-class pet sitting company will limit the highest number of dogs to four or less. Superior companies such as London dog walking will give you T-shirts, sweaters and rain protection. This is of common benefit, as the free clothes are branded, dog walking is one of the best adverts for their pet sitting services. You will not however be allowed to have these on view when pet sitting, as it will announce that the owners are away on holiday. Though one of the benefits of pet sitting with someone entering and exiting and doing other things such as emptying the mail box, reduces the probability of burglary.

Pet sitting often requires the pet sitter to do other odd jobs around the house. A pet sitter will often tend the garden and indoor plants. Pet sitters regularly look after cats, who due to their territorial origins, often do not like being separated from their home. Cat lovers dislike parting from their feline partners, so businesses such as London cat sitting will upload photos and a diary on their web site for the pet owners.

Good businesses such as London pet sitters and customers request that a pet sitter be police checked as they are habitually visiting homes alone

So pet sitting is a great job for those whom it fits, give it a try!

According to surveys made by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the third most common problem that veterinarians treat among dogs that are brought to them is canine diarrhea. If your pup has ever had this issue, you know how much your day is changed around. Canine stomach problems may results from an overgrowth of bacteria in their digestive system or intestinal tract, or they may simply be due to excessive feeding and dietary indiscretion. More troublesome cases can include bloating of the stomach and intestines or stomach cancer.

If your doggy’s tummy problems are not showing up with vomiting and/or lack of appetite, the problem might be mild and you can handle it yourself. Here are some helpful tips you might use to help your dog’s diarrhea. But if your little dog is vomiting or showing blood in his feces, you need to put him in the car and drive directly to the vet’s office.

But sometimes stomach problems and loose bowels are just side effects from diet changes, super snacking or digging through the trash in the kitchen. Other reasons for this might involve worms that can make bacteria grow in your dog’s intestinal tract.

If worms are present in your dog’s tool (its gross to think about, but you have to look for these) like spaghetti-like roundworms or rice-like tapeworms, an over-the-counter dewormer can be purchased and these meds usually would be enough to do the trick. However, certain parasites like Giardia and other non-visible worms are not easily treated by dewormers. This could lead to more stomach problems and more loose bowel movements. In such cases, you need to bring samples of fresh stool to the vet for further checking and verification so appropriate medicines can be administered.

Its possible that you can handle mild stomach problems just by withholding food from your pet for a day. This is with the assumption that everything else with your dog except the loose bowel movement is normal and there are no unusual symptoms being exhibited.

After a day of no food at all for your dog, give him or her a meal made of boiled hamburger, chicken and white rice with all the fat drained off of the meat. Give your dog small portions of food 5 or 6 times a day until his bowels are normal and the stool turns firm again. In some cases, vets would recommend the addition of small quantities of yogurt to the diet to add beneficial bacteria into their digestive system.

Bonfire Night is a time for fun and celebration, but can also be a distressing time of year for household pets. Fireworks can be dangerous as well as scary, and you need to plan ahead to keep your pets safe.

Bonfire Night or also known as Guy Fawkes Night is on November 5th and is an annual celebration. The celebration dates from the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 to overthrow the English monarchy. Guy Fawkes and a number of Catholic conspirators attempted to blow up the House of Parliament in London.

This event takes place all over the United Kingdom with both private and public celebrations. There are firework displays and bonfires, not just on the night itself but often spanning an entire week or more. There are many traditional foods that are eaten on Bonfire Night. These include bonfire toffee and parkin. You can also eat toffee apples, jacket potatoes and black peas and vinegar. This is a wonderful and fun British custom that the whole family can enjoy.

The RSPCA says about 45% of dogs in the UK will show signs of fear when they hear fireworks. You should never show anger towards your animals if they are afraid; it will only confirm to them that it is something to be afraid of.Bonfire Night is a time where many pets are reported missing. They can scare easily from firework noise and run away.

To prevent your dog from becoming one of the missing animals during this celebration you should keep them indoors when fireworks are going off. You will want to make sure all doors and windows are firmly shut so your dog can’t run outdoors. Remember to secure the dog flap too. To prevent your pets from becoming missing you should have them tagged or micro chipped to ensure they will be returned if they are lost. You can prevent your dog from being distressed on Bonfire Night by planning ahead and making sure your pet is indoors and comfortable.

All animals can be terrified of fireworks and you can eliminate some of the stress by following some general guidelines. Also remember that small animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits can also be frightened by the noise. If possible bring small animals indoors. If that is not possible then you should put them inside an outhouse or garden shed to give them more protection from the noise.You could have the TV on or play some music to muffle the noise. Try playing games with your dog whilst fireworks are being let off, or stroking him to calm him down. If you pay attention to them they will associate the noise with something nice and not scary.

Horses have to be protected from fireworks too. Noisy whizzes and bangs can easily spook a horse into bolting and they could become injured. You should make sure that all of your horses, donkeys and ponies are stabled during fireworks. You should close the stable door so the fireworks can’t be viewed by your equine companions.

You will want to keep your cats indoors too, and make sure all cat flaps, windows and doors are shut tight. You might want to have your cat tagged or micro chipped in case they are lost or go missing during Bonfire Night. Your cat may want to just hide and take refuge somewhere she feels safe, and as long as you know when. You can cause them more stress if you try to coax them out of hiding.

To make this night as easy as possible on your pet dogs and cats you will want to plan ahead. During the day you should make sure you give your dog plenty of exercise before putting them indoors for the evening. You should never walk your dog while fireworks are being let off. Pets can easily become scared and run out into the road, or get confused and lost. Your feline friend may need lots of attention and soothing if of a nervous disposition.

If your dog is prone to becoming overly stressed during fireworks you might want to consult your vet. There are long term solutions for desensitising pets to fireworks. You can get information about these at your vet’s office. Your vet will be able to tell you what treatments are available for your pet. They might prescribe a sedative to help your dog stay calm. If you are going to use a sedative make sure you give it to your dog before the fireworks even begin. This way the medication will have time to take effect.

The RSPCA has a downloadable leaflet on the use of sound therapy to calm your pet. They have also teamed up with Sound Therapy 4 Pets to endorse the Sounds Scary CD Therapy. Many pet owners do not think that there is much they can do to treat this problem. There is a multitude of advice available which can help you and your pets through this difficult time.

Bonfire Night can be a fantastic night of fun to look forward too if we know that our pet’s wellbeing is in hand. With a little planning and preparation not only can you protect your pets from some of the traumas and potential injuries associated with fireworks but also your pocket from unexpected vets bills with dog insurance, cat insurance and even horse insurance by Animal Friends Insurance