Freedom From BigBrother Now!

A pocket sugar glider is a little creature that can be a good pet.

First of all, your sugar glider can be a very fun and loveable pet. Although at first they may seem scared of you, after a few weeks, if you spend time with them regularly, they will get used to you and are able to recognize your voice and face. The best way to bond with your sugar glider is simply by being patient and consistent. If you can bond with your pocket sugar glider, you will see that they are very adorable and fun to play with.

When you want to bond with your pocket sugar glider, you must remember that you should not do any sudden movements that can frighten them. You should not be afraid of your pocket sugar glider, because they will not hurt you. You need to feel that you are safe to play with your pet, so that they will also feel safe with you.

You should also let your pocket sugar glider smell and touch you. They will trust you more if you touch them regularly and lovingly. However, you should remember that pocket sugar gliders are small and fragile creatures, so you should not use too much force when touching them or they will get hurt.

Once your pocket sugar glider has completely bonded with you and is comfortable in its surroundings, you can attempt to teach it to glide to you. You can place your pocket sugar glider in a location that is higher than your shoulder. If he cannot get down by any other route than by jumping to you and climbing down, he will glide to you. Place a treat on your hand to encourage him. Once your pocket sugar glider has learned this trick, you can proudly show him off to your friends.

Taurine, a water-soluble amino acid, has recently become the topic of conversation when referring to the nutritional composition that makes up the human and animal physical structure. Once thought of as an unimportant A.A. recent studies prove that this amino acid has metabolic properties that are very beneficial to various components of the mammal skeletal system. (heart, kidneys, blood)

Taurine - “A colorless crystalline substance, C2H7NO3S, formed by the hydrolysis of taurocholic acid and found in the fluids of the muscles and lungs of many animals.” (dictionary.com)

Taurine’s main purpose is to act as a catalyst facilitating the flow of vital elements to and from cells. Elements such as Sodium, (Na) Potassium, (k) and Calcium (ca) depend on Taurine in order for them to move from one cell to another.

Taurine has been a present element in cat food due to its vital properties and just recently pet food manufacturers have been implementing Taurine into dog foods also realizing that this A.A. can be very beneficial to dogs as well as cats. Taurine is most abundantly found in the retina and cases of blindness have been linked to Taurine deficiency in kittens, however in most cases, the same studies showed a reversal of the blindness when Taurine supplements were administered. Taurine is also very beneficial for the heart, and cases of dilated cardiomyopathy

(A disease or disorder of the heart muscle, especially of unknown or obscure cause.) have been linked to low Taurine levels in kittens.

I know the average dog owner may look at what I just wrote and say something to the effect of “why are you telling me this? I’m sure if this Taurine is so important, my dog food manufacturer will add it to my dog’s food.” Well I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but in actual fact, most dog food manufacturers are out to make a buck, not to make sure that your dog is getting the best optimal diet. That is why doing research and knowing as much as you can about what you are feeding your dog is so important. Dogs will usually eat anything that you give them, that is why in my case, I will always ensure that I familiarize myself with every component that makes up my dog’s food, to ensure that he is getting a stable diet enriched with all the required components to allow him to function at the top of his game.

Whether you realize it or not, research takes time and money. In some cases to compete with competition, dog food manufacturers taking the time and using the resources that are necessary to properly study a potential additive, is just not an option. In today’s world where manufacturers are vying for your attention time is of the essence and this can sometimes be a hindrance when it comes to properly researching and analyzing potential additions to the given product. Sometime when its cold and rainy and you cant face the outside world, you might find it beneficial to “google” a known shady dog food manufacturer and compare their dog food with what you feed your dog. Then “google” a known high quality manufacturer and do the same comparison. I am certain that you will find this simple exercise quite fascinating, I did.

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The decision to buy or to adopt a dog is not one that should be
taken lightly. It is a serious commitment and there are several
factors to consider. Are you really ready to have a dog? As fun
as dogs can be, it is a serious decision. You are planning to
take responsibility for a living creature that is completely
dependent on you. Dogs require food, shelter, health care,
exercise, attention, love, time and money. If you’re not
completely prepared to provide all of these things, you’re not
yet ready to own a dog.

Your lifestyle should be probably one of the biggest factors to
consider when planning to get a dog. All dogs require attention,
but some need much more than others. If left alone, these dogs
will not do so well and are more likely to destroy items in your
home. The same can be said for exercise. Some dogs require much
more time to run around, while others can get by with less
physical activity. If you’re the type of person who is away from
home more often than not, you should choose a dog that will
manage well in your absence - independent breeds like
Dachshunds, Mastiffs, or the Yorkshire Terrier.

Everyone loves puppies. They’re adorable. But how adorable will
you think your puppy is when you find him in the middle of a
mess that used to be your favorite pair of shoes. Puppies, like
babies, require an enormous amount of attention and effort -
from housebreaking and socializing to teaching acceptable
manners. If you don’t have the time to keep a steady training
schedule, perhaps you should look into getting an adult dog.
However, adult dogs come with their own “baggage.” Some adult
dogs have been abused or neglected. As a result, these dogs have
acquired some less-than-ideal behaviors of their own.

Once you’ve got an idea of what you want, there are generally
two options you can take to get your new puppy or adult dog. You
can buy a dog from a reputable breeder, or you can adopt or
rescue a dog from an animal shelter. Unless you’re looking for a
purebred dog that you possibly plan to breed in the future,
adoption from a shelter is one of the best ways to go. Adopting
a pet from a shelter is not as expensive as buying a pet from a
breeder.

Animals from a shelter are usually screened for health and
temperament, so you can be sure that while you’re giving an
animal in need a home, it’s the right animal for your home.
However, if you’re looking for a specific breed, a breeder (or a
specific breed rescue) is the way to go. Ask for references from
your breeder, and ask about how many times of year they breed. A
good breeder generally only produces one to three litters a year
and will guarantee their dogs against most major health defects.

Pet stores offering puppies are not good options, as they tend
to purchase their puppies from “puppy mills” - breeders that
produce many litters a year with no apparent concern for the
health and well being of their dogs. These puppies tend to be
more likely to have strong health concerns due to neglect. When
chosen for all the right reasons, the ownership of a dog can be
wholly rewarding and a very satisfying experience.

Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky for us there are
endless choices.

But did you know how important toys are for your dogs - puppies
especially.

Toys play a great role in the emotional and mental development
of puppies. They also act as solutions for inappropriate
chewing, boredom, and separation anxiety. In fact most dog
trainers recommend that new puppy owners buy lots of toys for
the newest member of the family.

Variety is the spice of life. Most experts recommend buying
different kinds of toys for your dog so that you can discover
which ones he really likes.

You might be surprised with the answers. Berry, my 95 pound
German Shepherd just loves cuddling up his stuffed animals. Who
would have thought!

Trainers and behaviorists recommend that their clients have
three sets of toys.

Primary toys are your dog’s favorite. Leave these out for your
dog when your not around. This helps reduce separation anxiety
because your dog associates you leaving with his getting his
favorite toy.

Secondary toys are the toys to have out when you are home. Be
sure to pick up the primary toys.

And finally the third set of toys is used to rotate with the
the first set. Trainers recommend swapping toys every 3 days
or so. This helps keep your dog interested in all his toys.

And always choose toys wisely. Try to buy toys that match your
dog’s size. And always make sure there are no dangerous small
pieces that your dog can chew loose and swallow or worse yet -
choke on.

Margaret Svete, best-selling author, television and radio personality, and dog rescuer helps dog owners discover easy dog care tips. Subscribe to the premiere dog care ezine, The Dog Enquirer, at http://www.allaboutdogcare.com

Dogs are descendent of wolves. To study the psychology of dog training and understand the pack hierarchal system of dogs, we must go back and examine their ancestor - wolves.

Wolves live naturally in packs of at least 2 and more… They live in a dictatorship system with strictly defined hierarchies of males and females. In their system, a leader - usually always a male, the biggest and toughest wolf also known as alpha leader would be in charge of the pack and will have the right to everything. The rest of the dogs in the pack would be followers and follow their leader willingly. This hierarchy system is not static and would change when another dominant member challenge the leader’s authority and win.

For your dog, your family is the pack and every member is part of the hierarchy system. From the moment a new puppy or dog is introduce to the family, the new dog will start to pick up signals and indicators to figure out his own status in the family and who’s in charge. If your dog see you as a “alpha leader”, he will follow your commands willingly and this will allows you to train him easily.

On the other hand, if your dog is very dominant (because you allow him to pick up the wrong signals) and starts to challenge your “alpha leader” position, he may refuse to follow your command and turn aggressive against you easily. This situation usually happens in children where dogs see their chain of command higher than that of them. This also explains why children suffer more dog bites than adults do.

If you would prefer to own an obedient dog that pay attention to your command, assuming the role of the “alpha leader’ and establishing control over your dog is extremely important!

Your dog must learn that he is the lowest ranking in the family, subordinate to you, to the children, and must recognize you to be the leader. If such hierarchy is not set up properly, the dog will try to take charge and assume the role of the leader. This’ll eventually lead the dog to turn into “dominant dog” and thus tend to misbehave. If this happens, you’ll face an uphill task to properly train your dog.

As we live in a democratic society, most of us will find it hard to understand the dog’s concept of dictatorship. Nevertheless, it is necessary that we adjust ourselves to understand how the dog live and think. By being dictating, you would think that this is cruel or even inhumane to the dog. If you think so, you are very wrong!

In fact, dogs are more than happy to be a follower and taking instructions from a leader. You have to give your dog directions, organize his space and activities for him, and he’ll be more clued-up and know his boundaries of life, which means knowing what is expected of him when he’s indoor or outdoor.

Your dog will be able to lead a less stressful and happy life and so will you.

About the Author

Moses Chia is a dog lover and owner of http://DogsObedienceTraining.com - The dog training resource site for a happier and healthier dog. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.