Mr Snugs Outdoor Cat Kennel

Made from durable plastic, and in a variety of contemporary colours, the Mr Snugs Outdoor Cat Kennel is a ‘must have’ for all cat owners.  Cats are usually very independent animals and many spend a lot of time outside so having a nice waterproof house somewhere in the garden is a great idea. Mr Snugs Cat Shelter comes ready assembled, have a recessed door, overhanging roof, have no joints for draughts or water to get through and, being made from one piece of moulded plastic, do not rot or attract parasites. The slightly smaller Mr Snugs Cat Palace is also the perfect home for cats and is made exactly the same as the Mr Snugs Shelter for cats. It also comes in a similar choice of 10 colours and can be bought at the online pet supermarket of Home Pet Shop. Another added benefit of these cat houses is that each has a drain hole for ease of cleaning and they also make a great indoor cat house.

Dogs and food

You would like your dog to live a long and wholesome life then one of the best ways to ensure this is to feed him a diet that meets all of his nutritional needs. While many individuals will just go to the supermarket and select a few popular foods, you really need to do a little bit of research first, in order to find out precisely what the best food to give your dog is.
Essentially, you want to feed your pet a diet which is loaded in high quality protein, although protein is in no way the only type of food your dog should be eating. About half of your dog’s diet should consist of meat and approximately 25% should be grains with the remaining 25% being vegetables and fruits.

The calibre of the meat, grains and vegetables you feed your dog is important. After all, he’s a member of your family so you want to be sure to supply him top quality food just like any other family member. This implies paying attention to the dog food you buy together with staying away from the cheaper brands simply because these are normally loaded with fillers which possess very little or no nutritional value.
When shopping for dog food, you want to search ones that are natural or organic having no preservatives or chemicals. The additional thing to look out for is the ingredients - you want to be certain that chicken, beef or lamb is stated as the first component and avoid foods that list meat by-products as the main ingredients. You also want the food to contain a small amount of fibre as well as a little fat. Brands such as Hilife Nature’s and Arden Grange adult dog food are available, amongst others, from the online pet supermarket of Home Pet Shop. A high meat content can be found in Naturediet which is also wheat gluten-free.

Dogs are able to eat the same proteins that we do - beef, chicken, lamb, and maybe fish are excellent protein sources for your dog. There is a small amount of conflict among experts as to whether you should feed dogs raw or cooked meat (after all, dogs ate raw meat prior to them becoming domesticated) but if you cook the meat, you can certainly ensure that you are destroying harmful bacteria so cooking it is a good idea.

As you need to feed your dog a balanced diet, giving him just meat is not really a good idea so add to it some grains like oats, barley or pasta and some veggies like carrots, green beans, peas or green leaf and you’ll be assured that you’ll be feeding your dog the finest diet possible.

Keeping Parakeets. Part I

You should think ahead when first purchasing a parakeet cage such as the Mayfield starter parakeet cage and preparing it. Line the cage with a decent quality cage liner and renew often. Design the cage with perches, water, food and toys. Obtain your parakeet from a reputable bird supplier where the birds are seen to be very well cared for. Ensure the birds are not overcrowded on the perches, and examine they are being fed good, clean, quality food. Be sure that the birds appear happy, vigorous and in excellent condition. Bring the bird home to a quiet home and play soft music for a few days. Caged bird toys are essential to keep the bird occupied and contented.Always keep the water fresh and clean and, with the food, change on a daily basis. Let the bird get accustomed to you and the surroundings, doing nothing but looking after his food/water and cage, before trying to teach him to perch on your finger. From the start you must try feed your bird a healthy pellet diet. Some seed may be ok as a treat but sometimes it can result in  bacterial infection and, consequently too much may affect your bird’s health.
Birds get accustomed to pellets at different rates, and at first may decline them, perhaps strenuously. Nevertheless, as a rule 90% of Parakeets will convert within a couple weeks by using the following program:
Leave pellets in a food bowl in the cage at all times. Give birds seed for just 1 hour each morning and 1 hour at night. The rest of the time they need to snack on pellets. Generally, the 10% of parakeets which don't switch in 2 weeks will switch after a short period of reverting to a seed diet.
Add fresh food regularly. Feed fresh vegetables such as kale, beets, peas, carrots, parsley, cooked yams, sliced apple, mandarin oranges, citrus, and so on. Food may be attached to the bars of the cage or chopped up small and put in a bowl. Offer snacks. Millet sprigs certainly are a favourite treat, but do not feed too much of it (about 1/2" per day), as it really is fattening just like junk food. Steer clear of sweets or excess oats, both of which are fattening. Caged bird products are available to buy at the online pet supermarket of Home Pet Shop.

Keeping Guinea Pigs-Part 2

If you'd like your guinea pig to get used to getting picked up and petted, it is better to begin whilst very young. A trustful guinea pig, which has been handled in a caring manner from a young age, hardly ever scratches or bites. As your friend learns to recognize you, it may start to whistle as it hears you coming. Various guinea pig accessories can be found at the online pet supermarket of Home Pet Shop.

Since the guinea pig is a sociable creature, it would rather live in groups. For those who have enough space it is better to get a group of two or more; they'll keep each other company when you’re out. Guinea pigs also like to perform social grooming in addition to grooming themselves but of course this is simply not possible for those who keep a single specimen. It's possible for instance keep two or several females with each other or house one, two or more females with a neutered male. Housing males as a group will require more room, they will need to have bonded with one another from a young age, and there can be no females present. Males are known to create a pecking order within the group by chewing one another's coat, gnawing on one another's ears, pushing their heads, raising their fur, making aggressive noises, and carry out leaping attacks and non-sexual mounting.

Unlike their wild relatives, who are most active during nightfall and daybreak when they are less likely to be spotted by predators, domesticated guinea pigs have developed a different biological rhythm consisting of extended periods of activity spread throughout the 24 hours of the day followed by short periods of sleep in between.

Worming Dogs

Worm (endoparasite) infections in pet dogs are frequently found in the British Isles. Adolescent animals have got a lower ability to resist infection and given that unborn pups may be infected whilst still in their mothers' womb through the blood, or immediately after their being born through the colostrum, it is essential to start worming puppies from around a couple of weeks of age.
What Types Of Worm Infections Are There?
Roundworms:This worm is spaghetti-like in appearance and is non-segmented. Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina are each found in the U.K. A large infestation can result in a pot-bellied appearance, diarrhoea and result in a poor rate of growth.

 Wormers for dogs are available from Home Pet Shop at their online pet supermarket.


Tapeworms:This type of worm is segmented and can end up growing to several feet long. The compact head of this worm fastens to the lining of the small intestine and the remainder body of the worm trails downstream. The mature worm sheds sections, which are full of eggs and will often be spotted around the anus or on the stools. They resemble grains of rice.

Hookworms:
These worms draw blood from the lining of the stomach and may cause serious anaemia as well as internal blood loss. Hookworms may also lead to skin disease since infective larvae have the ability to burrow into the uncovered skin.

Whipworms:Like hookworms, these worms are blood-suckers residing in the lining of the small intestine. They can bring about bloody diarrhoea and weight loss.
What Things Can We Do To Control Worm Infections?Considering that worm infections are so common in the UK, preventing infection is practically impossible. Control is dependent on a regular 3 monthly treatment with a substance that will kill worms. These may be given by mouth as powders, tablets or suspension as well as
by 'spot-ons', and even injections in some cases. It ought to be mentioned that not all worm groups are killed by all of the available worm treatments; therefore it is best to obtain advice about which products are suitable for your pet dogs needs.

Aquarium starter kit

Setting up  your own aquarium has never been easier. The 15L Baby Biorb Aquarium from Reef One is compact and has exactly the same filtration system as their larger aquariums. Other than fish, the Baby Biorb Aquarium comes with all that is needed to set up your first aquarium whether it be for your office, in a child’s bedroom or a room in the home.
Made from acrylic, the bowl has a 15L capacity and operates through a safe, low voltage electrical system of just 12 volts making it safe for adults and children alike.
The Baby Biorb filtration system keeps the water clean and crystal clear and is easy to maintain with its easily replaceable cartridge.
Of all of its features the Baby Biorb’s ‘piece de resistance’ has to be its automatic moonlight feature, a concealed halogen light in the lid that will help light up any dark corner. A replacement halogen bulb is also included in this aquarium starter kit as is food and water treatment together with  full instructions.
The Baby Biorb Aquarium comes in two colours, silver and black and along with a number of other fish aquariums and aquarium accessories,  can be ordered from Home Pet Shop at their online pet supermarket.

Crufts 2011

Crufts 2011 begins at the NEC Birmingham on Thursday 10^th March through until Sunday 13^th March when the ‘Best in Show’ is finally announced. Over the four days there will be lots happening within the outside halls and the main arena which has seating for up to 6,000.

Day 1 in the main arena shows a variety of Sporting & Gun Dogs such as Pointers and Labrador Retrievers with various capabilities on display from agility to heelwork culminating in a parade of gamekeepers’ finalists when they will be judged and presented with their prizes. The obedience ring is located in Hall 5 and here you can view the Obedience World Cup with challengers from across the globe competing for the coveted trophy.

Day 2 sees working and pastoral dogs, such as German shepherd and Rough Collie breeds, being put through their paces with great entertainment from the challenges put to these tireless animals. The obedience ring is located in Hall 5 and here you can view the Obedience World Cup with challengers from across the globe competing for the coveted trophy.

Day 3 is the turn of the terriers and hound group breeds with a whole host of dog displays and competitions including everything from agility to Best in Show. The obedience ring is located in Hall 5 and here you can view the Obedience World Cup with challengers from across the globe competing for the coveted trophy.

Day 4 is the final day at Crufts and features Toy and Utility breeds such as the adored Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Miniature Poodle breeds. The obedience ring is located in Hall 5 and here you can view the Obedience World Cup with challengers from across the globe competing for the coveted trophy.

Each day on the dog activities stand in the dog activities ring you will find lots of information telling you how to become involved in dog activities which is something that the Kennel Club is passionate about and will have experts on hand to tell you about getting started.

There is also the YKC (Young Kennel Club) on hand for the younger generation of dog lovers and owners. This club is for 6-24 year olds and has a full programme of high class competition for its members to be enjoyed at Crufts 2011.

In the outside halls will be lots of exhibitors showing many dog products from dog foods to other dog equipment but before you buy anything check out Home Pet Shop where you can buy pet products online at their pet supermarket and get free delivery on orders over £35!

Feeding peanuts to small pets and birds

It's important when feeding birds and small pets peanuts that the nuts are fresh and have been tested for aflotoxin. Aflatoxin is produced by a kind of fungus named Aspergillus and can cause liver disease and cancer in both birds and animals.

It can be present in many grains as well as peanuts and can affect wild birds and poultry as well as caged birds.The same applies to hamsters and other small animals which might be fed peanuts in their diet.

Therefore only buy best peanuts that have been tested and approved and where this has been verified on the packaging as high levels of toxin can kill.

See Home Pet Shop for safe peanuts on offer.

About Dogs-The Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was originally developed as a fighting dog in the 19^th century by breeding Bulldogs with a number of different terrier breeds. However dog fighting in the UK was banned in 1911 and with the ban came a huge decline in the Staffordshire’s popularity.

In spite of this it managed to survive as a breed and today, through selective breeding, its temperament has somewhat mellowed and its popularity has increased considerably over the past decade.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, otherwise called a ‘Staffie’ is a compact, muscular dog that can make a very loyal and affectionate companion but remains fearless amongst other dogs and can be very strong-willed.
Its height should be between 14-16 in (36-41cm) and weight 25-38lb (11-17kg) with a life expectancy of between 12-14 years.
Home Pet Shop has a great range of products to buy online for Staffordshire Bull Terriers including, collars, leads and harnesses.