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Horse riding holidays combine recreation, relaxation, and adventure all in one. It was once necessary to forfeit all three due to the rigors and hardships in the not so distant past. The quality of life was determined by how many horses a family owned. Visits to relatives and friends were made possible only if one had access to transportation; thus, a horse and carriage, the carriage being quite the luxury back then, were not only a matter of necessity but an indication of social standing as well. Perhaps that is the true origin of the term “horse power.” Actually, in this day and age, it would be hard to imagine not having a car. Yet something ineffable was lost when the era of horse and buggy passed; luckily, all the best about spending time with a horse is possible on the horse riding holiday.

The often-overlooked pleasure at being outdoors is quickly discovered as horse and rider develop a close communication with nature. Whether you prefer sleeping under the stars or sinking into a comfortable bed at day’s end, careful attention to the accommodations most pleasing are always a priority. The ride consultants (some with over twenty years experience) are so thoroughly familiar with the rides they handle they can always inform you in detail what to expect. Whether you prefer a slow canter or an exhilarating gallop, the therapeutic benefits provide lungs, heart, legs, and virtually every other part of the body a wonderful workout. People find their appetites are increased and their sleep peaceful and deep. It is stirring for both horse and rider to breathe the fresh air and feel the contentment one is left with after a satisfying recreational workout.

The Dalmatian is an active dog capable of great endurance, consequently he needs plenty of exercise. They were originally bred in England during the 1700’s to guard the coaches of noblemen. Dalmatians and horses worked well together. So it was natural then that they became popular with firemen, and a familiar sight running alongside their horse drawn fire wagons.

The stamina needed for this type of work means that this breed is well muscled without being stocky. The American Kennel Club eventually classified the Dalmatian in the Non-Sporting breed group. He weighs in at 45 to 65 pound and stands 19 to 24 inches in height.

Their eyes can be clear blue, dark brown, or amber. When they are new born puppies they are pure white, and gradually the distinctive black or liver colored spots begin to appear.

This is a very energetic breed. Hyperactive behavior is common, and separation anxiety can be a problem as they love human companionship. They are playful, loyal and sensitive dogs. Sitting about in an apartment, or wandering aimlessly about in the yard, is not what this breed wants, or needs.

He needs to be able to burn up all this energy. You will need to be prepared to take this dog for a good, long romp in the park on a daily basis. If your a jogger your Dalmatian will adore you!

Inexperienced owners may have a problem in handling these beautiful dogs, as they have a tendency to be a bit willful. If you do decide to buy a Dalmatian puppy check out a good dog training program.

A good idea is to find out where your local puppy training classes are. Socializing your puppy as frequently as possible is important, since these dogs have a tendency to be a bit shy around people they don’t know. They are intelligent dogs, and can be trained to a very high level of obedience
Being such a high energy breed, Dalmatians will burn up a lot of calories, so a nutritious puppy food is a must. It’s a good idea to check with your veterinarian about which vitamins and supplements are best to give to your dog.

Every puppy should also be BAER-tested for deafness, as it affects 10-12% of the breed. Your veterinarian may also recommend a low protein diet, since this will help to reduce the chance of bladder or kidney stones, as these dogs can sometimes suffer from this problem.

Grooming is an easy, but regular job. Brush him once or twice a week to remove all the loose hair, and dirt. Without this you will be spending quite a lot of time cleaning up, as they shed quite heavily twice a year.
A healthy, well bred Dalmatian can be a true joy to own. If you like the striking good looks of this breed, and an active, fun loving dog would fit in with your family and lifestyle, then the Dalmatian may just be the right dog for you.

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BREED FOCUS - Labrador Retriever

History

Labradors originated from the coast of Newfoundland in the 17 th
Century. They were trained by fishermen, to collect the nets
from the icy waters and for this reason, were bought to Poole
Harbour in the UK in the 19 th Century.

With such an attractive dog, the fishermen were often offered
money for them and they very soon were found to be extremely
effective as gun dogs.

The Earl of Malmesbury was a huge fan and began breeding these
dogs, and named them ” Labradors”

Appearance

Labradors are extremely attractive dogs, with kind faces and
gentle eyes. They are strongly built and broad through their
chest and rib cage.

According to the Kennel Club, Labradors should stand at
approximately 55-56 cm tall for females and 56-57 cm tall for
males.

Labradors have a short, dense coat which has a waterproof
undercoat. They come in 3 solid colours; yellow, black and
chocolate. Yellow Labradors can range in colour from a light
cream to red fox.

Temperament

Labradors make one of the best family pets, being friendly, kind
patient and very forgiving. They will bond with children and
adults alike and just love to be a part of the family. They are
not a good guard dog, and will welcome strangers like old family
friends. They like other dogs and are good with other animals
too.

Grooming

With their short coats, they will only require a minimal amount
of time spent on grooming.

Exercise

Labradors love to be outside; they appreciate long walks where
they can run off lead. But do beware; because of their love for
water, it is likely that they will become oblivious to your
shouts of “NO”, as they head for the nearest muddy water hole,
to wallow like a hippo! Care should be taken around large
expanses of water, as they will swim and swim!

Health Problems

When you purchase a Labrador puppy, you must check that the
breeder screens for hereditary problems, especially Hip and
Elbow dysplasia. You should also be aware that progressive
retinal atrophy and epilepsy are also hereditary problems.

Henry’s story

Henry is a 7 year old typical Labrador who lives with Kim and
Leon, and their 4 year old son, Max. Henry is extremely patient
with Max, who has been known to use Henry as a step up to the
settee and often follows Henry around, grabbing him and stroking
him and generally giving him no time to himself!! Henry
sometimes sneaks into Max’s bedroom at night and falls asleep in
there - maybe he wants to keep an eye on his buddy.

Henry loves his walks with a passion, but will head straight for
any patch of water or muddy hole, and will lie down in it so
that his perfect, pale yellow coat turns muddy brown - whatever
the weather!!

With just about everything available on the internet it is no
surprise when you hear that dog training online is available.
Many sites are offering tips and helpful hints to training your
dog and many of them are fabulous! Just search for “dog
training” online and up comes at least 100 pages full of
exciting and hilarious ideas to try and train your dog with. You
don’t have to take them all seriously just have a glance over
them all and see what tickles your fancy. Why not try a few?

You do have to be careful though because some of the sites are
just people trying to make some quick money. There are sites
which make you pay to download E-book’s but I wouldn’t advise it
as there are plenty of sites out there offering the same advice
for free. Many sites come with helpful pictures and video clips
which all help in the road to a happily trained dog. Other sites
even offer forums and chat room options so you can talk with
other people and get some tips off of them.

Dog training online is like purchasing a video or a book, but
without the hassle and expense. The results online are instant,
and you can have them to hand when you are training you dog.
Some of the dog training online sites offer products to go with
their services, the products are available at an extra charge of
course, but can be shipped anywhere. There are real experts
available each with their own website so you can be sure of
great training exercises. You do like I said have to watch out
for bogus claims and people making you pay for their advice.
These sites are not recommended.

There are other types of online dog training websites e.g. sites
where you can actually hire a personal trainer and book a week
of their time, they then come out to your house and spend a
week, or whatever amount of time you have booked and paid for
and spend that time with you and training your dog.

Many handlers are now turning to the internet to find some
practical, inexpensive and quality advice. When searching for a
good site always check the writers credentials and reviews,
especially if your paying for their services. At the end of the
day training your dog is supposed to be about fun, so kick back
relax, have a good read at the tips available on a website then
have a go!

Every year, hundreds of thousands of cats and kittens are destroyed because they are unwanted. Animal shelters that take in these animals and try to find them homes are overcrowded. With so many animals in need, they cannot support all animals indefinitely. The solution is not to open more shelters, but for cat owners to become more responsible about spaying and neutering their pets.

A female cat can have two litters of kittens each year. The average survival rate is about 2.8 kittens per litter. If her offspring are not spayed or neutered, the result is 12 cats the first year, 66 cats in the second year, and at the end of ten years, the total would be 80,399,780 cats.

“Spay” is the term used for the surgical removal of a female animal’s uterus and ovaries. When a male’s testicles are removed, it is called “neutering.” Both procedures leave the animals unable to reproduce. Besides preventing unwanted pregnancies, spaying and neutering of pets has other benefits for cats and their owners.

Benefits of neutering a male cat

* Neutered cats are less likely to spray strong urine

* Neutered cats will lose the urge to fight

* Neutered cats will be less likely to try to escape

* Neutered cats will not suffer the abscesses from fighting

* Neutered cats will be less likely to contract diseases such as FeLV and FIV

* Neutered cats will not be subject to testicular cancer

* Neutered cats will not likely develop “stud tail,” caused by overactive glands in the tail

* Neutered cats have a decreased risk of mammary cancer

Spaying a female cat prevents mating behaviors such as fighting and yowling/hyperactivity in females. Spayed cats don’t roam the neighborhood as much, protecting them from the dangers of vehicles and aggressive dogs. Their tendency to stay closer to home also provides protection against deadly diseases such as FeLV and FIV. Finally, “fixed” pets tend to be more loving, because they are not subject to the erratic effects of hormones.

One of the biggest benefits of spaying/neutering is that it dramatically reduces the cat’s risk of developing cancers of the reproductive system. A female cat spayed before her first cycle, or heat, has a greatly reduced chance of mammary cancer.
Less than a decade ago, conventional wisdom dictated that pets should be neutered at between 5-7 months of age. Recent studies have found that it is not only possible to spay/neuter cats at a younger age, it actually is better for them. Today, cats undergo spay/neuter procedures at about 7 weeks of age. They recover much more quickly than if it was done later, and ensures that a female does not become pregnant with her first heat.

In the past spaying was limited for a number of reasons

* It was better to let a female cat give birth to one litter of kittens before spaying.

* That female cats in particular, might later develop incontinence as a result.

* That certain behavioral problems might result.

However, these theories have since been disproven.

In the past, animal shelters and humane societies sent unaltered cats/kittens to their new home because they wanted them to start their new life as soon as possible. Usually, owners signed documents promising to have the animal neutered. Some facilities took it upon themselves to follow up with phone calls to make sure the owners were living up to their commitment. The overwhelming number of animals coming and going in a shelter today makes this unfeasible. Instead of allowing their charges to add to the overpopulation problem, most animal welfare/adoption groups routinely spay and neuter animals before they are made available for adoption. A number of municipalities have passed laws so that no animal can leave a shelter unless it has been spayed/neutered.

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Using Food Daily to Promote Good Obedience

Can you guess why feeding time is so important? Simply put, feeding time means your dog is HUNGRY and will therefore do almost anything to get fed. Since you, his loving owner, have the power to either feed or starve your pet, your dog looks to you as its only supplier of food. This means you play a vital role in your dog’s life. Now, learn how to use this to your advantage.

Your Advantage

Since you possess this role, it is time to use it to your benefit. No longer look at feeding time without the element of training involved. This means that whenever your dog is to be fed, he is also expected to do something for the food. Never feed your dog without some sort of request from him. In this case, we want our dogs to do something pleasant such as not jumping or barking, but rather sitting down patiently and waiting for us. This is especially important when dealing with energetic dog breeds.

TIP: Consistent Feeding

Feeding times should be scheduled at the same time daily for sake of consistency. Nothing is worse than a confused dog wondering when it will get his next meal. Feeding time can be in the morning before work, and in the evening after work. The same person should feed the dog as much as possible to reinforce that person as the Leader — the one your dog obeys and listens to above all others. This is especially important for growing puppies, as they must know who is the leader from an early age.

Feeding Time

When it is time to feed your dog, use a command word like “Food?” each time to remind him what to expect. As you begin to fill the bowl and bring out the food, notice the dog’s behaviour. Is he jumping on you? Barking? Give him a stern NO and wait. If your dog persists, ignore him until he stops. Your dog will quickly realize that barking and jumping only prolong feeding time.

Before you lay his bowl down, tell him to sit. Do not feed him until he is sitting and quiet.

Be Persistent!

Don’t be discouraged if your dog isn’t an angel immediately. As long as you continue to encorce good habits, he will eventually learn. Soon your dog should be waiting patiently every time is it to be fed because he will understand that the quickest way to get fed is to obey!

It Doesn’t Stop At Feeding Time

Use other opportunities other than feeding time to encourage good habits. Before you bring him for a walk (You remembered to give him the keyword “Walk?”, didn’t you?) make sure he is also sitting patiently for you — otherwise don’t leave. Dogs are intelligent pets and they learn from experience. If sitting and waiting patiently mean a bowl of food, then your dog will be more than happy to comply. Just don’t forget to give him praise from time to time to further encourage dog bonding and good behaviour.

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