If you think that handfeeding means holding some seeds or pellets in your hand and convincing your bird to eat them, you are not alone. Quite a few other people think the same thing. However, handfeeding actually involves feeding a baby bird that is not yet able to eat on its own a soft diet. [...]

RHD or Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease is a condition that may occur in domestic rabbits. Some signs are easy to detect, such as a foamy, bloody nasal discharge or flipping excitedly inside their cage. Symptoms do vary and include lethargy, rapid and substantial weight loss, and others. Regrettably, it’s often the case that by the time [...]

The Cocker Spaniel is such a pretty, graceful dog in the show ring that it is hard to imagine that this breed was developed to be a working dog. However, before Cocker Spaniels were bred for their long, flowing coats, these bouncy little dogs were developed to be able to work tirelessly alongside hunters and [...]

If you watch television, you’ve probably seen celebrities like Paris Hilton toting around tiny dogs with big poppy brown eyes. These dogs, called Chihuahuas, are one of the smallest dog breeds in the world. The Chihuahua first appeared in Mexico and does well in warmer climates. Of course, a doggy sweater can make one of [...]

A Bulldog is much more than a pair of sad eyes and droopy jaws, but this dog’s appearance is a major reason for its popularity. The other reason these dogs are so popular is that they have a sweet and gentle nature.
This breed was originally created to help butchers slaughter bulls. Some people used the [...]

If you are a dog lover, you may feel that one dog is not enough. However, before you add a second dog to your household, there are a few important points you should consider.
First, you may want to consider your dog’s nature. If your beloved pet is a bit of a bully and the new [...]

Domestic rabbits spend most of their lives in a cage. That sometimes strike people as sad, but the rabbits don’t seem to mind too much. Unlike dogs or other pets, they don’t rebel at the cage, so much as see it as a safe haven. Rabbits like warrens.
But there is one difference between a real [...]

Have you ever purchased a car that was a lemon? Facing problem after problem robs you of the pleasure of enjoying your new car. Unfortunately, there are dogs that are lemons, too. A dog with health problems can lead to heartache and empty checkbooks. A good dog breeder will stand behind health guarantees and do [...]

Building a whelping box helps you prepare for dog birth. At least 4′ wide by 6′ long by 1′ high, will give the dam a place to feel comfortable and enclosed and keep newborn pups from wandering the first two weeks. Lining the bottom with newspapers over plastic will make for easy cleanup.
About 12-24 hours [...]

Some people take one look at the fluffy, immaculately groomed Standard Poodles in the show ring and discount them as silly, shallow dogs. However, the Standard Poodle is considered by many people to be the most intelligent breed in the world, with the reasoning ability of a three year old child. 
These dogs may look like [...]

Normally, a blue tongued dog would be a cause for concern. However, when that blue tongue belongs to your Chow Chow, it is completely normal. Chow Chows have a black tongue with a distinctive bluish tint.
The Chow Chow originated in China, where it was used as a hunting dog. Asian sailors brought these dogs with [...]

Do you need a protective dog that is intelligent and devoted to its owners? If so, you may want to consider buying a Rottweiler. These big dogs were bred to be very versatile working dogs. They guard their homes and families, excel in agility training, and think that they are tiny lapdogs when they are [...]

If you love the sleek, muscled appearance of the Doberman Pinscher, but you don’t want a big dog, you may want to consider a Miniature Pinscher. These dogs are very similar in appearance to Dobermans, but are almost one hundred pounds lighter.
The Miniature Pinscher may look like a miniature Doberman, but these dogs are not [...]

The breed is only just over 100 years ago, the deliberate product of a breeding program began by ‘The Father of the German Shepherd’, Rittmeister Max von Stephanitz. First gaining fame as working dogs in the German Army during WWI, the breed became truly famous with the introduction of Rin Tin Tin in the movies [...]

German Shepherds were bred over 100 years ago specifically to work at herding sheep. They’ve been earning their keep ever since. Shepherds have served as guide dogs, bomb or drug sniffing dogs and more. They’re the very image of a police dog. They’ve proven themselves in these roles and many more.
Training begins early in life. [...]

German Shepherds are often said to be intelligent, loyal and hard working. And that’s all true. But they’re often believed to be that way on the basis of temperament, which some claim is all inbred. That’s where the controversy begins.
It’s undoubtedly true that certain features of a dog’s personality, as with humans, derives from genetics. [...]

Socialization involves getting your dog familiar and comfortable with other dogs, pets and people in their environment. As natural pack animals it’s often easy to do, and sometimes even harder to keep them from interacting at inappropriate times.
Most dogs benefit from socialization. The people around them do too. But German Shepherds and a few other [...]

Within dog lover circles there is an ongoing controversy about whether it’s better to acquire a pure bred German Shepherd or one of mixed ancestry. The issue may never be settled to everyone’s satisfaction. But where you stand may depend heavily on the reason you acquired your dog.
For show dogs, police dogs and other specialized [...]

As with any breed, individual behavior will vary. But, also as with any breed, there are common characteristics that are typically shared by all members. Among German Shepherds those behaviors revolve around their ‘instinctive’ patterns, patterns that reveal a dual personality.
Bred at the end of the 19th century to serve, as the name suggests, to [...]

German Shepherds, like all dogs, are primarily carnivores. Their digestive systems are relatively straight and some parts are shorter than even other large breeds. That makes digesting vegetable or plant matter more difficult. As a result, the German Shepherd’s diet should be chiefly meat-based.
That doesn’t mean German Shepherds have to be fed nothing but raw, [...]