Friday, August 29, 2008

Turkish Van

The cat known in the United States as the Turkish Van is a rare and ancient breed that developed in central and southwest Asia, which today encompasses the countries of Iran, Iraq, southwest Soviet Union and eastern Turkey. “Van” is a common term in the region that has been given to a number of towns, villages and even a lake - Lake Van - so it is no surprise that the uniquely patterned cat native to the region was named the “Vancat” by the residents. They were first brought to England in 1955 as the Turkish cats, but this was later changed to Turkish Van to avoid confusion with the Turkish Angora. Although the breed has an ancient lineage, the Turkish Van is a relative newcomer to the United States, arriving in 1982. They are considered regional treasures in their homeland, and are not readily available for export to other countries. Even in areas where the breed has been known for centuries, they are still relatively rare.
The breed was first brought into Europe from the Middle East by returning crusaders, and has been known by a variety of names over the centuries such as the white ringtail and the Russian longhair. A common misconception is that the Turkish Van is simply a color variation of the better known Turkish Angora. In reality, the Van and the Angora are distinct breeds that developed in geographically distant regions of Turkey. When seen together, the differences in type, size, boning and coat are readily apparent.

From: http://petsite.phpbb3now.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Allergies in dogs

If your dog seems to be really itchy, is constantly scratching him or herself, has a rash, or is losing fur, he or she may have allergies. Unlike humans who react to allergens with sneezing, running noses, and sinus symptoms, dogs usually react with skin allergies. In the allergic state, the dog's immune system overreacts to a foreign substance (the allergen or antigen) to which it is exposed. The most common way those ‘overreactions' are manifested is through the skin, and can involve into everything from itchy skin, a red bumpy rash, hot spots, fur loss, and/or a poor coat texture. Dogs themselves may react to an allergen by simple scratching or licking, or more seriously by biting, chewing, or gnawing at their skin merely because they are irritated or uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, skin and ear related symptoms are probably the most common problems seen by veterinarians in dogs today, and both can lead to infections. On a more positive note, there are various different forms of treatments available for dogs with allergies, but it is important to begin with a proper diagnosis. After all, the method of treatment will be dependent on the form of allergen; but finding out just what is irritating your dog can be a very time consuming process. It is of primary significance, however, to rule out other possible ailments, such as bacterial infections, ear infections, and even thyroid disease.
There are a wide variety of different substances that may be bothering your dog, and the following categorizes them to make them somewhat easier to discover and diagnose. For some dogs, however, it can be almost impossible to find the exact cause of disturbance, so do not become too disappointed if you cannot find the allergen responsible — many treatments are still available.
http://catillness.today.com/2008/08/25/dog-types

training your dog

You’ve got your brand new puppy home. The kids are gushing over the new family member, pampering it’s every move. You, too, are pleased at the new addition. In the back of your mind, however, is one nagging question – how do I go about toilet training our new dog? Well, don’t despair – as long as you arm yourself with plenty of patience and perseverance, you can successfully train your pup to do his business outdoors. Here’s how:
(1) When you first get the puppy home, give him time to get used to his new surroundings. Let him explore his way around quietly. After a while offer him a bit of food and water. Now take him outside to an area that you have decided would be most appropriate for him to do his thing. After he has performed, give him some praise.
(2) Keep an eye on the times when you anticipate your dog will be needing to use the toilet. Obviously this will be after meals, upon waking, and if he’s been indoors for more than an hour. Always take him to the same outdoor spot. This will allow your dog to condition himself to the aroma and sight of his toilet environment. Always praise him afterwards.
(3) Think of a trigger word to use when calling him to go out to the toilet. The dog, of course, will not understand the meaning of the word, but he will learn to associate the word with the process of going outside to do his business. http://www.indoblogger.com/msary50/20049
(4) Be resigned to the fact that it will take some time for the dog to perfect the process. Accidents, naturally, will occur. Don’t, however, get angry with the dog. Rubbing it’s nose in the mess will do nothing but confuse the animal. Also, if you clean up the mess in front of the dog, he may get the wrong message, thinking that you are interested in this new toilet spot. This may encourage him to use it again.
As an alternative to the above method, set out newspaper over the floor. Allow the dog to do his business on the newspaper and then praise him for doing so. As your dog gets used to using the newspaper begin to slowly remove sheets of paper. As you do so move the paper towards the back door. Then, move the newspaper to just outside the door. Finally, move the paper to the area outside where you actually want the dog to use as his toilet area. Remember to continue both praising the dog and using your trigger word as the dog performs.

Pet training

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

how to stop chewing

We have already addressed part of the reason for your dog chewing. Your dog chews because it is natural for him to do so. Yet that is not the sole reason for chewing. Dogs chew because they have physical problems, because their teeth are causing them pain, or because they are bored. Dogs with allergies or fleas might chew themselves raw in an attempt to stop their itching.
One thing that is important to keep in mind is that dogs do not chew to spite their owners, or to get "revenge." Dogs do only what is in their best interest. They honestly don't care much about the feelings of other creatures-including their owners-so those feelings don't enter the picture when they choose their actions. Your dog doesn't think, "if I chew that afghan, Mommy will be very upset. She deserves it for leaving me alone today." Your dog probably thinks, "that afghan looks as though it will clean my teeth quite nicely as it shreds." When trying to deal with a chewing problem, or any problem with your dog, it is important to step away from the anger at imagined revenge motivation. Once you understand that your dog is simply being a dog, then you can find the cause for the behavior and try to determine a way to correct it.
What is my dog chewing? http://catlifespan.ohlog.com/sick-dogs.oh46084.html
One of the most important things to determine first is "what" your dog is chewing. Is he chewing himself? Is he chewing hard substances that rub against his gums? Is he chewing on a door, the siding, a cabinet, the remote control? What is it that appeals to your dog in his moments of destruction? See if you can find a common thread in all of the objects that your dog selects to chew. If there are only one or two objects that your dog focuses on, ask yourself why he focuses on those objects.
Why is my dog chewing what he is chewing?
Your dog chewing on himself, or "self-mutilation," seems like a serious problem that needs immediate correction. In many cases, self-mutilation is actually a symptom of a more serious, underlying cause. Your dog may have a skin problem or allergy that is causing him to itch. Some dogs have serious food allergies or deficiencies that cause itchy skin. Others might have reactions to irritants in their environment, just as people do. If it seems that your dog could have one of these problems, a visit to the vet is in order to determine the best course of action. Flea allergy dermatitis is another, temporary skin problem that some dogs face. Flea treatment, followed up by application of shampoos or lotions designed to soothe raw skin is a good way to deal with this problem. Once again, your vet can best advise you on a course of treatment.
Chewing on hard objects, or other objects that massage your dog's gums, could indicate he has a gum or tooth problem. If your dog is under a year old, it may mean that he is teething. Toy breed dogs occasionally retain baby teeth for a long time, due to the size and shape of their mouths. If you have a young dog, check his teeth for any sign of a retained tooth that might be causing pain or irritation. If you have an older dog, or if you see no sign of retained teeth in a younger dog, check your dog's teeth for any sign of cracks, decay, or tartar. Also, check to see if anything is stuck between the teeth. If there is a tartar build-up, or if the line of the gums is red or white along the teeth instead of pink, then your dog probably has some mouth problems. Once again, your vet can best advise you of what treatment your dog may require. Serious mouth problems need immediate treatment to prevent tooth loss.
What if your dog is chewing on other objects, however? The remote control or the paperback book you left on the table don't seem to fill any need that your dog might have. Neither does the cabinet door or the leg of the couch. The remote control might have other appeal. Are the buttons removed from the plastic cover? Imagine the challenge they provided when your dog took them out. And oh! The sound that paper made when it shredded! Pure ecstasy to the canine ears. That cabinet door? It's keeping your dog away from his food or treats. That couch leg, too, is in perfect reach of his head when he stretches out in the sun that comes into the living room in the afternoon. Was that pair of pantyhose taunting him as it dangled from the edge of the dresser? Obviously it wanted to play! There are many reasons our dogs choose the items they wish to chew on. It is important for us to think like dogs and find out what was so appealing to them when they first chose to mouth that object. What was it that was in your dog's best interest when he chose to chew what he did?
Tricks to teach your puppy
There are few things more entertaining than seeing a well-trained dog performing various tricks that its master has taught it. Many people buy young puppies with the intention of teaching them to do various tricks, but their plans often fall apart when they realize that they don't know how to teach the dogs to do what they want.
Puppies are often best when it comes to teaching them to do tricks; while the adage, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" isn't completely true, it is definitely much easier to teach them when they're young than when they're several years old and set in their ways.
Below are several common tricks, along with brief explanations of how to teach them. Remember that your dog won't pick up the trick right away; you've got to keep working with it if you want it to perform consistently.
Leash/Collar training: In the modern world, leash and collar training is almost a necessity. Almost as perilous as the dangers of letting your dog wander free are the fines in place for unleashed and uncollared dogs. To teach it to wear a collar, start by putting the collar on for short periods of time around the house. Some dogs won't mind the collar, while others will yelp and fight to remove it. Leave the collar on for longer periods of time, until the dog becomes used to it; repeat this method with the leash to get the dog used to being restrained by it. Once the dog has learned the limits of the leash and doesn't try to pull against it, you're ready to take it out for leashed walks.

Care for dogs

It's extremely important to walk your dog at least twice a day. Some dogs only require it once, but most two or more walks are needed. The best situation would be to have a backyard with a fence. Then you could just let your dog exercise and do his business there, instead of having to walk him. Even if you do have a great backyard, you should still take him for a trip around the block when you can.
Feeding is an important job as well. If there is a young child, older than 8, it would help encourage responsibility if you let them take care of the feeding. Make sure the dog has its own dish for food and for water. This is especially important if you have multiple dogs, as they will fight for who gets which dish. Make sure to follow directions on the package for the food. For most dogs one feeding in the morning should be good, along with some snacks and treats in the afternoon. Also, most young children will try and feed the dog chocolate. Do not, under any circumstances feed a dog chocolate. It's not a pretty thing to clean up after he vomits.
There is also lots of cleaning involved. A bath on the weekends is good, but be prepared for everything to get wet. If you have a backyard and a hose, a low-pressure shower for him would get him pretty clean. It's also a good idea to run a brush over him every day. This is very beneficial because it will keep him clean, get hair from shedding before it goes around the house, and will make his coat nice and shiny. Only in extreme cases is scrubbing and soap necessary.
You have several options on how you should deal with fleas. There are collars, creams, drops, food, and several other over-the-counter products. You should probably consult a veterinarian to find which method would be best for your breed. If you can't do that, most flea and tick collars work well and for a good period of time. Please, make sure to do something for fleas or else you will regret it.
When you first get your new dog, you should go to a vet and take care of any vaccinations and shots that he needs. If you do anything for your dog medically, this is the most important. You need to protect him against disease not only for his health, but also for the family and neighbors.
These are the essentials for taking care of a dog. If it seems like too much to handle, maybe you should rethink getting one. But if you do decide to get a dog, make sure he's healthy and happy, he'll understand your care.

From: http://catlifespan.normblogs.com/4696/About+dog+health.html

Friday, August 22, 2008

Puppy care

Bringing home a new puppy is can be such a joyous event. To keep it as such, your new puppy will need special care and attention over the next several months.
Unless the puppy is a stray, find out from the breeder, kennel or shelter what brand and type of food has been fed up until this time. Sudden changes in diet can cause digestive upsets so make sure you start your puppy out on the same food as he or she has been getting. If a change is to be made, space it out over the course of a week. The first two days feed 75% of the original food and 25% of the new. The next two or three days feed in 50/50 increments. Towards the end of the week switch to 75% new food and only 25% of the old and finally end by feeding only the new type of food.
If you don’t live in the same area and use the same water supply as where you get your puppy, it is recommended you get a gallon or so of water to switch over in the same manner as described above. Different levels or lack of chlorine, fluoride and other components can also cause upset stomachs.
Physically, puppies are not able to hold urine and feces for extended periods of time nor will they remember five minutes after the fact what they have done to upset you. The best way of training you puppy to go outside is to take him out as soon as he wakes up in the morning, right after each feeding and nap as well as right before bed at night. Positive reinforcements such as praise and treats will work better than harsh words, rubbing their noses in the mess or beating with a paper. Many times harsh training methods not only harm the owner/dog bond, it can actually exacerbate the problem you are trying to solve. There are several breeds, which have trouble holding their urine during excitement or fear. This “tinkling” will further exasperate the owner and cause a never-ending cycle of disappointment and correction. With any form of training, consistency is the key.
http://i.cn.yahoo.com/catwebsite/blog/

Cat Safety Tips

1. You know your cat. If she's acting strange, err on the side of caution: Take her to the vet.
2. Antifreeze is sweet but deadly. If your car leaks, get it fixed, and keep antifreeze far out of reach from your pets. Even one teaspoonful is fatal.
3. Do not underestimate your cat; it can fall out of a window, says Pat Coughlin, a cat owner in Norway. Install protective screens or storm windows to let your cat safely enjoy the view.
4. If your cat tends to chew electrical cords, keep her in a cord-free room when unsupervised, says Larry Lachman, an animal behaviorist in Carmel, Calif. Also, spray cords with safe spicy or bitter-tasting products.
5. If you use clumping litter, groom your cat frequently to remove particles that may accumulate and interfere with elimination.
6. Keep your cats indoors. They'll be healthier and happier, says Ceridwen Attwood, a cat owner in Washington. Outside they're exposed to other animals, risk getting run over by cars and are exposed to the elements.
7. Do not let in strays just for the heck of it, Lachman says. Having strange cats around can overstress your own cat, which may lead to fighting, biting and soiling or spraying around the home.
8. Never hit your cat. Use spray bottles with water if discipline is necessary. Physical punishment doesn't teach your cat appropriate behavior.
9. Consider using clay litter for kittens. If your cat accidentally ingests some litter particles, clay is nontoxic in small quantities.
10. Safely confine your cat when workmen or visitors are in your home
Lachman says. A bathroom, laundry room, bedroom or cat carrier is ideal for this purpose.
http://www.yourblogs.net/catdisease/34563/Funny+cat+names.html

Dogs skin

Abscesses are pockets of pus under the skin. They are often caused by a bite or puncture wound that closed up trapping bacteria inside. Snakebites are notorious for causing abscesses. Occasionally an abscess will burst open on its own and allow for drainage, others will need a veterinarian to lance and clean it out.
Bacterial infections are often a secondary infection to another conditions. A dog that has scratched or rubbed at an area and left opened skin without proper cleansing or antibiotic treatment will often have a bacterial infection set in. The infected area or wound becomes red, swollen, warm to the touch and very painful. This infection can worsen and cause a discharge of pus that will require a veterinarian to treat.
Calluses are typically seen in the larger breeds that regularly lay on a hard surface such as concrete. These calluses usually occur on the elbows, outer sides of the hocks, hips and legs. The skin will thicken and become gray, wrinkled and the dog will lose all hair in the affected area. The best prevention against calluses is to provide the dog with a soft, padded bed area.
Hot spots are usually seen in dogs that have heavy, dense coats like the Collie, Samoyed, German Shepherd and so on. They can appear in others but the heavy coat actually aids in worsening of the problem. Hot spots seem to appear overnight and without warning. They worsen quickly as the dog licks and chews at the skin to find relief from the pain caused by the moist, swollen, foul smelling area. Treatment should include clipping or shaving the area as well as a portion of the unaffected area around the hot spot, cleaning and medicating as soon as the symptoms appear. Owners need to use caution if they attempt treatment on their own. Hot spots are extremely painful and even the best natured dog may attempt to bite during the clipping and cleansing process.
Hypothyroidism is the cause of many of the skin problems seen by veterinarians. Certain breeds even seem to have a prevalence towards the condition. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t secrete enough of the hormones that control the metabolic rate of the dog. When an insufficiency occurs, the dog will often gain weight, become less active, and lose hair from the main portion of the body. There will often be a darkening of skin pigmentation while it also becomes scaly. Bacterial and ear infections often set in as well. To determine whether your dog suffers from hypothyroidism, a veterinarian will do testing on a sample of blood. If thyroid insufficiency is proven, the veterinarian will prescribe a hormone replacement such as Soloxine. The initial dosage will be educated guesswork and will require follow up blood testing to ensure the proper blood levels are reached. Once started on the thyroid medication, the dog often shows miraculous results in as little as two to three weeks. The time for re-growing of hair may take up to several months.
Ringworm isn’t an actual worm but a contagious fungal infection. The hair is lost in a circular pattern and scaly lesions appear. These lesions can be small or encompass large areas of the body. If left untreated, crusty areas will often occur. Ringworm treatment is an involved, drawn out process that often requires several days of oral medications. Owners need to be warned that ringworm isn’t just contagious between dogs. It is a Zoonotic infection that can be transmitted from dog to other animals as well as to humans. A veterinarian will use several ways for diagnosing ringworm such as skin scrapings, fungal cultures and a Wood’s lamp. Owners are very fond of the latter procedure since the Wood’s lamp is similar to a black light. A technician will usually hold the dog, the veterinarian will pass the lamp over the dog in a darkened exam room and the owner can actually see infected areas on the dog. Fungus such as ringworm will glow under the Wood’s lamp but all too often; the owner is horrified to find spores also glowing on them.
http://www.yourblogs.net/catdisease/34562/Pet+disease.html

Monday, August 18, 2008

Bombay cat

The Bombay achieved CFA Championship status in 1976, eighteen years after it was created. Outcrossing to Black American Shorthairs and sable Burmese is still allowed.
It has been said that if you want a dog, a cat, or a monkey, you want a Bombay. Bombays can often be leash trained, most enjoy playing "fetch," and all are fond of inventing new ways to entertain themselves and the folks that live with them. Bombays are congenial and utgoing, and make intelligent, affectionate companions. They do well with children and will often act as a "greeter" with visitors. They live compatibly with dogs and other pets as well. The Bombay generally combines the easy-going temperament and robust nature of the American Shorthair and the social, inquisitive, lap-loving character of the Burmese.
http://pieceoftexas.com/petblog
With the exception of color, the Bombay and Burmese standards are very similar. Whereas the Burmese body presents a compact sturdy appearance, the Bombay body is of medium length, neither compact nor rangy, presenting a more lithesome appearance then its Burmese cousin. The Bombay's head is rounded with a short muzzle, but there should not be a "pugged" or "snubbed" look. The coat is the most defining characteristic of the Bombay. Its short, flat, gleaming, black-to-the-roots coat accentuates its rippling muscular form. And, along with its conspicuous gold to copper eye color, leads to the Bombay being described as the "Patent leather kid with the copper penny eyes."

Dog health

The biggest sign that your dog is happy and is living a good life is simply by observing its personality. If your dog is generally in good spirits, alert, and playful, that’s definitely a good sign. A happy dog is a playful dog. The next sign that your puppy is happy is a bright shiny coat of fur. Dogs with shiny coats have been given proper levels of nutrition and have been well loved. These dogs are quite happy.
A happy dog is also one that can trust its owner. A dog that doesn’t trust its owner likely is unhappy, as it is living life scared. There are a few simple things that a dog should trust its owner to do. The first is often known as the “flip-flop test.” You should pick up the dog with your hands support it underneath its stomach, then flip it over, cradling it in your arms. You should be able to rub its belly like that without it kicking or squirming to get away. If it abides, it likely trusts you.
Further, you should be able to look inside its ears and put your finger in its ears for an inspection. It might squirm a bit because it’s uncomfortable, but ultimately it should let you do what you need to do.
http://e1blog.com/catdisease/3633/Dog+health+info.html
The other thing you should be able to do is open your dog’s mouth and run your fingers on its teeth and check out its tongue. You should do this regularly anyway in order to look for health problems in your dog’s mouth, but you need to be able to do this inspection in order for your dog to feel as if it trusts you. After all, that’s when it’s happy.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Manx cat

The Manx cat is believed to have originated hundreds of years ago on the Isle of Man, off the coast of England. Since many trade ships docked on the Isle, and all had ship cats, it is hard to tell just what the parent cat really was. Obviously, both longhair and shorthair were represented in the original mutation. Many longhairs were seen on the Isle along with the shorthairs.
Records have been found on the Isle of Man that describe the cat as a mutation of the island’s domestic cats. It is believed that the island cats were involved, however, did some of the island cats come off the ships? We will never really know.
CFA has recognized the Manx as a breed for many years. The oldest stud book on hand, Vol. #19, list Manx as one of the breeds that CFA recognized back in the 1920s.
Since the Manx (or tailless) gene is dominant, kittens that inherit it can have a full tail, a short tail, a rise (known as a “rumpy riser”), or no tail (“rumpies”) at all. Breeders have found that it is possible to have all these tail lengths in one litter! Only the rumpy or the rumpy riser are eligible for competition in the championship category at CFA shows. All other tail lengths are eligible for the AOV (any other variety) Class. Many of today’s top breeding females are those that had a long tail when born. Numerous Grand Champions have come from a tailed cat, either male or female. The introduction of a tailed Manx into a breeding program provides a necessary sturdiness. http://blogs.bootsnall.com/cat-lifespan/cat-breeds-selkirk-rex.html
Manx cats today are much healthier and have fewer health issues related to their genetics than the Manx of years ago. This is due in part to the careful selection of breeding stock, and knowledgeable, dedicated breeders. Manx have been known to live into their mid- to high-teens and are no less healthy than other cat breeds. Like any other cat, keeping Manx cats indoors, neutering or spaying, and providing acceptable surfaces for the cat's normal scratching behavior are vital to lengthen the life of any cat.PersonalityThe Manx breed is a highly intelligent cat breed, it is playful, and in its behaviour, bizarre, but very reminiscent of dogs; for example, some Manx cats will fetch small objects that are thrown. It is considered a social feline, and the breed loves humans. This attribute makes them an ideal breed for families with young children and people who prefer a companion. Some members of this breed tend to like water, many times even playing with it. This trait makes it very easy to give some Manx cats a shower for hygiene purposes, unlike most other cats. Although not as trainable as dogs, Manx cats can learn simple commands. Other cat breeds that share similar personality traits are Bengal and Ocicat. If there are multiple Manx cats in a household, an owner might notice that they chase each other frequently. This is common behaviour for Manx cats; they like to chase anything, be it an animal or leaf caught in the wind. Their 'meow' often resembles a long, monotone grunt or rapid chirping. However, Manx cats are usually very quiet.
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/cat-lifespan/how-long-is-a-cats-lifespan.html

Dog health and disease

Types of vaccines
Vaccinations work by priming the pump, that is, they stimulate the dog’s immune system to produce specific antibodies to fight a subsequent attack by the disease. Vaccines come in two forms: modified live formulas that include a weakened form of the disease and killed or inactivated formulas that have an additional substance called an adjuvant added to boost the immune response. Each has its advantages. Modified live vaccines can cause swift development of long-lasting immunity but may produce mild cases of illness. Killed vaccines are more stable, have a longer shelf life, and do not produce mild infections, but the protection may not last as long. http://catforum.realmsn.com/cat-illness-disease-f3/dog-disease-t32.htm
Distemper
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, distemper is considered one of the worst viruses to strike a dog. In 80% of cases involving a puppy, death is inevitable. 50% of adult dogs suffering from the virus will also lose their life. All canines are highly susceptible to contracting the disease and should be vaccinated with future boosters to continue their immunity.
Rabies
A commonly talked about and feared fatal dog disease is rabies because it not only threatens the life of dogs, but also their owners. The rabies vaccination is required by state and local law, which helps to lessen the numbers of infected domestic pets.
Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease is a bacterial infestation that is spread by ticks, causing dogs to display and suffer from lethargy, fever, joint pain, lack of appetite, as well as lymph node enlargement. Antibiotics, such as tetracycline will help treat this disease.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Akita Breed

The Akita is a double coat, waterproof breed. The outer coat is harsh, straight, and stands slightly off the body. The under coat is dense, soft, and close to the body. The hair on the head, legs, and ears is short, while the hair on the tail is long and profuse. They typically shed their coat twice a year. The Akita coat colors include pure white, red, sesame, and brindle.
Overview: The Akita originated in Japan. Unchanged for centuries, this breed is considered the national dog of Japan and a natural monument. They were highly prized, revered, and only owned by nobility and aristocracy. They were used in various capacities such as Imperial guards, hunter of bear and boar, and waterfowl retrieving. They are the largest of the Spitz-type breeds. Today, the Akita is a faithful companion, therapy dog, and guard dog.
Character: Akitas are large, sturdy, and muscular. The paws are webbed which makes them excellent swimmers. They have a reserved manner and carry themselves with great dignity. They are powerful and alert, responsive and courageous. The Akita is a noble and dominating breed.
Temperament: The Akita is highly intelligent, fearless, and spontaneous. They thrive on human companionship. They are extremely loyal to their family and those they know, but are wary and aloof of strangers. They are exceedingly protective of their family, their territory, and of their food. They are particularly aggressive toward other dogs and pets. They will get along with older, very well behaved children within their family unit, but will not tolerate children they don't know. They make excellent guard dogs, although they are not excessive barkers. They do not do well if left alone for extended periods of time. For this reason, they are not well suited for a two career family. They require an inordinate amount of attention. Akitas are not recommended for the novice dog owner, or owners who are placid and submissive.
http://www.hyperblogs.net/catbreeds/20044/About+dog+health.html
Care: The Akita requires significant grooming with a firm bristle brush on a daily basis. Bathing should only be done when absolutely necessary with a mild shampoo to prevent stripping the coat of the natural oils. It is important to keep the hair on the bottom of the paws trimmed to preserve their characteristic of webbed feet. They are prone to hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, eye problems, and lupus.
Training: The Akita requires intensive and extensive socialization and obedience training. It is absolutely imperative that they know who their master is or they will take charge. They do not respond to harsh or heavy-handed training methods. They do best with patience, kindness, firmness, fairness, and consistency. Akitas typically prefer to be clean and is easier to housetrain than many other breeds.

Akbash breed information

The Akbash has a double coat. The undercoat is dense and soft, the outercoat consists of longer, coarse hair. The Akbash's coat comes in two different lengths: Medium or long. The medium coat is flat and gives the Akbash a sleek appearance. The long coat is often wavy, never curly, with pronounced undercoat. There is profuse feathering on the thighs, forelegs, and tail; with the fur more distinct at the ruff. Either coat is non-matting and weather resistant. The Akbash emits very little odor and are above average shedders.
Overview: A rare and elegant breed, the Akbash breed originated 3000 years ago in Western Turkey. Developed by shepherds as a livestock guardian, the Akbash was bred selectively for the white coloring so as to be discernable from predators. This breed was introduced into the United States during the 1970's and recognized by the UKC in 1998.
Character: The Akbash possesses a striking appearance and proud demeanor. They take their guardian position very seriously and have the strength, courage, and size to challenge and chase predators. The Akbash breed is ever watchful and protective of their territory, family, and livestock.
Temperament: Akbash's are not recommended for first time dog owners. They do best in a home with older considerate children or family members and pets they have been raised with. The Akbash will react aggressively toward intruding dogs, and remain suspicious and aloof thoward strangers. This breed is affectionate, loyal, independent, and gentle. Akbash's are ideal as home guardians, family pets, and workers.
Care: Frequent brushing is required to keep shedding to a minimum. Bathing should only be done when absolutely necessary using a mild shampoo to protect the weather resistant coat. Dry shampoo will suffice. Known health problems for the Akbash breed include hip dysplasia and OCD. http://ourhelp.mylivepage.com
Training: If kept solely as a companion, the Akbash requires early intensive and constant socialization. This breed has an independent nature and will often hesitate briefly when given commands by their master. Akbash's are not well suited for advanced obedience training. The Akbash does do well with basic training, although the breed matures slowly. They respond best to firmness, fairness, and consistency. http://ourhelp.mylivepage.com/link/index
Activity: The Akbash breed is not suited to apartment living. They do best in a securely fenced yard or a rural setting where they are able to roam. Akbash's thrive on having a job to do, as well as family companionship. http://ourhelp.mylivepage.com/wiki/index

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

About Lefora Team

The Lefora Team got fed up with the lack of features available in message boards, such as vbulletin and phpbb forums. We use them everyday, from art forums, to game forums, to tech forums - we couldn't get over just how old school they were. Something needed to be done! So we created a free forum hosting service. http://msary.lefora.com/forum/category/all/page1
We've taken our development experiences and put them together to create what we believe is how discussions should happen on the web. Our forums are social, engaging, easy to use, free, and most importantly - fun. We dread things like clicking through multiple pages, not being able to filter out annoying posters, dealing with spam, the necessity to create an account just to make a quick comment, staring at butt-ugly templates, never getting notified of responses to our questions, not being able to embed YouTube videos... The list just keeps going on, we're sure you're familiar with our complaints.We also know how hard it has been up until now to find a simple forum hosting provider. It takes just a few clicks to get a blog going; why can't a forum hosting be that way?We provide free forum hosting, the forum software, forum installation, and promotion of your forum.
http://msary.lefora.com/2008/08/10/funny-cats

Sunday, August 10, 2008

ISeekBlog

ISeekBlogInstant AccessRegister and start blogging. The blog entries are published right away without any delay unlike some other top blogging websites in the cyberspace. This service is 100% Free and we give prizes to our top bloggers monthly.
Entry CategoriesThe blogger can create his/her categories to group the blog entries.
Draft EntriesIf you could not complete your blog in one-go owing to time constraints, save it as drafts, and come back and finish it at a later time.
PreviewYou can preview the blog entries before you actually publish it.
File UploadsISeekblog lets the Bloggers upload images and other files. Other users in turn can view these files provided they are set to be open for public access.
Templates The users can select from the 30 odd default templates available. They are customizable as well so that one could give a personalized touch to their pages.We will assist you if you wish to customize it and put another skin up.
Multi-Author BloggingIseekblog users can invite others to co-author their blog entries, meanwhile retaining complete control over one's own blog settings.
Friends List & Mailing ListAdd your blog friends in the Friends List. You can also maintain a 30 strong mailing list, and an email will be sent to each one of them whenever you make a new blog entry.
CommentsYou, the blogger, can choose to let or not to let others comment on your entries. You can also set different permission levels for each blog entry.
Private MessagingIseekblog users can make use of the website’s private messaging system to communicate with their friends/other Iseekblog members.
Ping You can ping to Technorati, Weblogs.com, or Ping-O-Matic, thereby attracting more traffic to your blogs.
AvatarsUpload small icons to personalize your profile and blogs.
Time Zone Registered users have the option to login to their respective accounts and change the time zone settings so that it precisely reflects their position on the globe.

http://www.iseekblog.com/catfood/53093/About+dogs.html

Yahoo - 360

Yahoo! 360° is a personal communication portal operated by Yahoo!. It is similar other social networking sites and is technically still in beta testing, though unsupported by Yahoo! any more. 360° includes social networking, blogging, and photo sharing services.
Users can create personal web sites, share photos from Yahoo! Photos, maintain blogs, lists of local reviews, supply profile information, and see which friends are currently online. 360° also, by default, features a 'friends updates' section, under which each friend's latest update is summarized
Yahoo 360° initially launched as an invitation-only service on March 29, 2005. After the full launch on June 24, 2005, it became available to any Yahoo! user over the age of 18 in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, Japan and Vietnam.
From September 2006 through September 2007, the US-based web traffic visiting 360° dropped by more than half. Despite the service having had a more global appeal than some of its counterparts, its global visits also saw a significant drop during the same time frame.On October 16, 2007, Yahoo announced that they would no longer provide support for or perform bug fixes on Yahoo! 360° as they intend to abandon it in early 2008 in favor of a "universal profile" that will be similar to their Yahoo! Mash experimental system. They have, however, said, that it will not be replaced with Mash itself.
On May 6, 2008, Yahoo announced that they have several Vietnam-centric initiatives as part of their Southeast Asia business strategies. One of these initiatives is called Yahoo! 360plus - A new Vietnamese blogging application. The 360plus product is specific to the Vietnamese market.
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-EsNniM88aKdfK_Qr05Lm8w--?cq=1&p=12

Simple Forum Hosting

Before the days of Twitter and Facebook, forums were the place for people who wanted to share with others through the internet. If you still believe in the power of forums, then you should take a look at Lefora.com. On this site, you will be able to find the tools necessary for you to create, host, and manage your forum for free. This will allow you to quickly get on the right track towards having a forum on your website. The key feature of the Lefora forums has to be the Community Moderation feature. This will allow the users of your forum to either positively or negatively rate a thread, so you won’t have to constantly moderate every conversation. Your forum will be formatted to comply with all the major search engine algorithms, allowing you to be ranked on top of your competitors. With the extra newsletters, notifications, and cross forum advertising Lefora offers, you’ll be able to create a community from your forum.
http://msary.lefora.com/2008/08/10/funny-cats
Lefora has put a new twist on the old school forums platform, so it should come as no surprise that these forums radically change the boring format of regular forums.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Flixya - Share Everything

Started as a video sharing site in July of 2006, Flixya has grown from a dedicated and loyal member base (all through word of mouth) and has quickly evolved into a thriving social media community. Flixya makes it fun and easy to share videos, photos and blogs. We thought, why stop there? So, we set out to offer a platform that changes the way people think about social networking and goes beyond video sharing. Flixya.com - A Social Networking Platform that Pays Members 100% Ad Revenue By offering similar elements of popular social networking sites and combining a monetization method for content producers in one solution, Flixya.com enables any individual who qualifies for Google AdSense a rapid and powerful method to publish and monetize their online content and keep all the revenue. "Our belief is that the true value of social networking is the community, and we continue to strive to promote member ownership with our platform," said Adam Oliver, Flixya Co-founder and CEO. "By rewarding the community of contributing members at 100%, we feel Flixya represents the second generation of social networking and raises the bar by setting the standard for the future of online social responsibility." Unlike any other website on the Internet, Flixya combines a social media networking platform that leverages a long feature set for sharing digital media content. In addition, a scalable and effective method to monetize members content at 100%. Above all else, we continue to focus on building tools for the Flixya community to consume, distribute and monetize digital media.
http://www.flixya.com/post/msnty1/883886/Dog_disease

Sunday, August 3, 2008

44-pound homeless cat

A 44-pound feline was found waddling around Saturday without a collar in Voorhees, and officials at the Camden County Animal Shelter hope she gets a nice — hopefully, diet-friendly — home.
“She’s built like a quarterback,” said Deborah Wright, a shelter volunteer and current foster owner of the kitty. “I mean, how do you lose a 44-pound cat?!”
Shelter officials are calling the porky cutie “Princess Chunk.”
The largest tabby on record weighed 46 pounds, 15 ounces. That cat, who lived in Australia, died in the 1980s. The Guinness World Records has since dropped the category, fearing cat owners might harm their animals in an attempt to break the record.
Princess Chunk’s owner has until Saturday to reclaim her. After that, the weighty pet will be eligible for adoption.
Wright plans to speak with a veterinarian to put Chunk on a diet. For now, Chunk’s diet consists of dry and wet cat food.
“I’m about to put a leash on her and walk her,” said Wright. “She could pass for a dog!”
http://www.freeforum101.com/catsky
http://catforum.realmsn.com