With so many types of dog collars, which one should you choose?

Strap collar:

If you can add two fingers between the collar and the dog’s neck, then this is the most suitable width. With this width, the dog will only feel the pressure when it bursts, and it is very comfortable and not easy to break free at other times. In addition, for long-haired or curly-haired dogs, the owner can choose a cylindrical dog training collars, which will reduce the occurrence of hair jams.
1. Try to choose a collar made of leather or nylon. I have seen a lot of fancy collars, which are okay to wear at home or when you want to take pictures. But it is not suitable for use when walking the dog, because the comfort is poor and not strong, and there are potential safety hazards.
2. Try not to put bells or other oversized decorations on the dog’s collar. The bell is because the distance between the collar and the dog’s ear is very close, especially the kind of copper bell that is particularly loud. And the sound is really loud. Wearing it for a long time will cause great damage to the dog’s hearing.

Strap collar:

The strap style is a very popular style in recent years. When the dog bursts, you pull on the leash, and it will naturally turn in the direction of your pull, instead of pulling back this negative reinforcement. Turning will bring the dog’s attention back to the owner, so that the behavior of rushing forward desperately is interrupted. So as to play the role of adjustment. Using this kind of collar with the correct way of walking the dog can be a good way to train the dog’s state of walking.

Suppression Adjustment Collars:

There are many kinds of such collars, such as p chains, spike plate chains, electric neck rings, mouth collars and so on. This type of collar is more suitable for dogs with explosive, aggressive, aggressive tendencies and aggressive dogs. But the premise is that it is used under the guidance of professionals. I will recommend them to use the p-chain, but there are several points in the use of the p-chain.
1. The p-chain needs to stimulate the dog when it bursts, and generate warning and pain impressions for the dog’s bursting behavior. So as to correct the dog’s bursting behavior. But we must pay attention to the strength when using it. That is to say, pay attention to observe the state of the dog, and when it has the desire to burst, pull the p chain first. It is both a reminder and an act of interrupting its current attention.
2. The technique is very important. When wearing the P chain, we must ensure that the long end is in our hands. After putting the dog on the p chain, when walking, make sure that the dog is beside us instead of in front of us. That is, the kind that fit snugly around the base of the dog’s ears, but don’t grip too tightly.
3. When using the p-chain to hold the dog, it must be pulled upwards rather than backwards. Relax immediately after a short, quick application of force, mainly to stop the bursting behavior and give it a momentary stimulus. It cannot be lifted up all the time, it will be very dangerous to the dog. At the same time, it must be remembered that the p-chain is only used during training. When the dog’s behavior is corrected, it should be replaced with a normal collar in time. Long-term use of the P chain may cause psychological shadows on the dog.

Advice on wearing and taking off horse clothes

Horse clothing is no substitute for shelter in extreme weather. You may need to provide both your pony’s coat and shelter.

Remove the horse blanket every few days and check the horse’s weight and condition to make sure there are no abrasions.

If the coat is too thick, the heat will cause the horse to sweat, and the sweat may eventually cause the horse to shiver from the cold, destroying the purpose of the coat.

A coat that is too thin may simply allow the horse to sag, in which case its insulating effect will be limited and the horse’s discomfort will be increased.

Once you put a winter coat on your horse, it shortens the length of the horse’s winter fur growth, so you have to wear it until spring.

There is no fixed time of year when you start and end wearing horse clothes. It depends on your geographic location and the unique weather that year.

If the temperature difference is too large, once the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius, the horse may need shelter in addition to the horse coat.

After riding or washing the horse, wait for the horse hair to dry before putting on the horse coat. After strenuous exercise, you can use a thin horse coat to absorb sweat and speed up the drying of fur.

If it is an area with large temperature changes, a heavy horse coat is not the best choice. Several layers of light horse clothing may work better than just one.

When transporting horses, you probably don’t need a lot of coats. A coat may be required when transporting a single horse, but may not be necessary for a group of horses.

Bird Lovers: Attract More Birds By Feeding Peanuts

Serving peanuts on your squirrel proof bird feeder will attract more birds
For bird feeders, peanuts are their exclusive secret weapon. Regular offerings of peanuts can be expensive, but they lead to a wide variety of new birds. Jays seemed to be able to sense the presence of peanuts within a 5-mile radius. You may not see them appearing in your yard for months or even years, but once you get out the shelled peanuts, they may appear within days or even hours!
It’s true that squirrels love peanuts as much as birds. There are some peanut feeders, though, that are designed to be squirrel-proof. If you don’t like squirrels or mice, find a squirrel baffle to keep these furry critters away. Another option – buy a squirrel proof bird feeder designed for squirrels (may also attract mice).
At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter if there are peanuts in the shell or not – they will be eaten. But it’s also interesting to watch the birds, attracted by the large peanuts in their shells, peel or hide them.
First of all, don’t give salted peanuts to birds, and don’t give them expired peanuts. Next, if your area is wet or rainy, clean up the feed, because like other foods, peanuts can get moldy. If you know it’s going to rain, put in less peanuts and learn how to clean bird feeders.
Have you heard that nuts are a good fat? So are birds. Peanuts not only provide protein for birds, they are also a good source of unsaturated fat.
If you like to serve peanuts but find them a bit pricey, you can mix shelled peanuts with black oil sunflower seeds.

Why do you need a cat cage at home?

A cat cage is an indispensable thing in the process of raising a cat. Do you know why? Reasonable application of cat cages in cat life, and the reasons why cat cages are necessary. Some people say that putting it in a cat cage is very cruel and deprives you of freedom. Please read on, and you will understand after reading it.
1. Physical discomfort is easy to observe
If the cat is unwell, such as fever, diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms. At this time, put it in the cat cage, where you can see it at a glance. I think it is more convenient to observe the symptoms. If you are not in the cat cage, you may not be able to observe its physical condition at the first time. When cats are unwell, they may lack a sense of security, increase their awareness of protection, and stay in a corner of the house and cannot come out. I think the cat cage is the best.
2. Disease treatment
This refers specifically to the treatment of cat moss. Everyone knows that cat moss needs to be exposed to the sun. But if there is no regional restriction, many cats will run away without basking in the sun. So the cage is still more important and useful. Although the movement is limited, it works.
Tips for cat moss: Putting two drops of vitamin B in the water every day is also effective for the recovery of cat moss.
3. Improve bad habits
If your cat has the habit of urinating indiscriminately, then you have to prepare a cat cage. The cat cage can prevent it from peeing everywhere at home, and it will obediently go to the toilet in the litter box in the cat cage. And in terms of improving this bad habit, a half-month cage is a good way.
4. Relieve the embarrassment of foreign guests
Some customers don’t like cat fur, and don’t like cats. At this time, a cage can play a very good role. Put the cat in the cage temporarily, the guests will not be affected, and there is no need to worry about the safety of the cat, and there will be no embarrassment because of the cat.
5. New Cat Isolation
When a new cat comes to the house, isolation is very necessary in order to prevent the spread of disease. If the home is relatively small, then you need a cat cage.
6. Female cat lactation period
Many shit scavengers will choose to let their cats give birth once. Some new cat mothers don’t like to take care of their babies and always want to go out to play, which leads to insufficient milk and stunted growth of their babies. If you prepare a cage, you can reduce the occurrence of this kind of situation. I saw that many cat mothers like to pick up their babies, and putting them in a cage can also give them a stable home.

6 Steps to Collar Training Your Dog

  1. Choose dog training collars that are wide, smooth, and easy to put on; it should not be too tight, as this can choke the dog and impede their breathing. It should not be too loose either, as the dog may be able to slip out of it. It is best to fit two fingers between the collar and the dog’s neck. A buckle or clasp is recommended for a secure fit.
  2. When putting a collar on a dog for the first time, select a calm and quiet environment. Place the collar onto the dog gently and quickly. Most puppies will feel discomfort when wearing a collar, so they may scratch, shake, and try to take it off. In this situation, it is best to ignore the puppy and not laugh or aggravate them, as this can encourage their behavior. With time, the pup will eventually become accustomed to wearing the collar.
  3. If a dog shows particularly strong resistance to wearing a collar, it is helpful to distract them with food or play. It is ideal to put on the collar before mealtime, or to play with toys afterwards to draw attention away from the collar around their neck.
    Gradually increase the amount of time the dog wears the collar. On the first day, put it on for five minutes at a time, repeating multiple times in an hour. On the second day, increase it to every 10 minutes, and on the third day to 20 minutes. Continue extending the duration until the dog can comfortably wear the collar all the time.
  4. Be mindful of the timing when removing the collar. Only take it off when the dog is peaceful and relaxed. Doing so when they are attempting to escape the collar will only reinforce their behavior, giving them the impression that you will help them take it off when they struggle.
  5. Timing of the reward is critical. Providing treats when first putting the collar on will help your dog associate it with something positive. Offer treats when the dog scratches or attempts to take off the collar, as this will help distract them from their behavior.

Conversely, do not offer treats when taking the collar off, as this will give your dog the impression that they are being rewarded for taking off the collar. Although it is possible to employ an aggressive approach to introducing your dog to the collar, this is not the recommended method. Instead, take your time and be patient; the results will be better in the long run.

How to measure and choose a horse coat?

First, you want the horse blanket to be flawless, with no chafing, especially around the corners of the coat. The coat should cover the horse’s elbows (elbows) and knees (stifles);

Measure from the center of the horse’s chest to the tail of the horse, stopping at the desired length of the horse’s tail. This is the size you will use when buying your horse coat;
Any fur that is clipped will not grow back until spring;
If your horse coat fits well but rubs against the horse’s shoulders, try using sewn cashmere pads or baby diapers to reduce friction;
You can also spray silicone on the bottom of the horse coat to achieve the same effect;
Make sure the harness straps are not too tight, but not too loose so that the horse’s legs don’t get caught in the harness straps;
When trying out new harnesses, it’s best to take a good look at your horse first to make sure your harness straps are properly adjusted.
Find the most breathable fabric;
Dirty horse clothes are less effective at keeping out the cold. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether the cloth of the horse clothes is easy to clean. If you must dry the coat, you may need to purchase a second spare coat;
Try to find a fabric that resists tears and stains.

Are feeders safe for birds?

Squirrel proof bird feeder is hard to miss. They are designed to attract hummingbirds to visit.
But it’s easy to forget about maintaining your feeders. Sure, you refill the water, but do you wash it out? If not, are you doing the birds more harm than good?
Microbiomes, like pathogen populations, are ubiquitous, and they vary from place to place, from body to body. In this case, the birds themselves, the food we feed them and the flowers they seek out have unique bacterial and fungal microbiomes. Colonies interact as birds migrate from one place to another.
For the study, the researchers drew two different species of hummingbirds, the Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte Anna) and the Black-jawed Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri), to to a private home in California during the winter to determine how different types of water affect microbial growth. They found that deionized water in the feeders led to more fungal growth, while tap and bottled water promoted bacterial growth.
Hummingbirds and flowers tend to retain microbes that are common in their respective species. So hummingbirds have the same bacteria found in other birds in their beaks or in their droppings. Flowers also showed the same species-specific consistency.
According to the researchers, the bacterial and fungal communities the researchers found in the feeders were not the ones that made the little birds sick.
If you have a hummingbird feeder, keep it clean. If you’d rather rely on natural habitat, plant plants that hummingbirds love.

 

bird feeder

How to find the right jacket for your horse?

Situations that require a horse blanket
Whether in northern Canada or the mountains of New Zealand, horses’ natural fur is used to protect themselves from extreme weather. If your horse grows a full coat over the winter, it usually does not need a horse coat, and as long as the living environment meets the following conditions, there are no other special needs.
According to experts, if you’re not going to coat your horse, in addition to making sure he has his natural winter coat, you need to make sure you have these four things around your horse: Shelter, such as a wall or a Three-sided structure or windbreak with dense rows of trees; open water, readily accessible (not surrounded by frozen ground due to spills); hay or hay to help horses retain heat; no rain or sleet, as this Type weather will reduce the insulating properties of the horse’s natural fur.
The following 3 situations need to put horse clothes on the horse
1. Horses that do not have a natural winter coat need a horse coat when temperatures drop; very young and very old horses as they generally have a harder time maintaining body temperature; horses that are sick or in poor physical condition, such as weight Underweight horses need to focus their energy on maintaining basic health rather than keeping warm.
2. Horses that have recently migrated from warm to cold climates may not have adapted to the current temperature.
3. Any horse at risk of hypothermia as advised by a veterinarian.

8 Common Bird Feeder Mistakes You Might Be Making (and How to Fix Them)

Wild birds such as finches, robins and cardinals are a fascinating part of many gardens and landscapes. They are so much fun to watch, especially when you pull them out to your yard with a squirrel proof bird feeder so you can get a closer look. The flocks you’ll see congregating at the feeders change with the seasons, but their lively antics will be a constant pleasure. Attracting wild birds is usually easy. However, there are some common mistakes that can frustrate, injure, or even kill birds, undermining your well-intentioned efforts. Make sure to avoid the following bird feeding traps so you can keep your winged visitors healthy and happy year-round.
1. Not enough variety
To encourage the greatest diversity of birds in your yard, use a variety of feeders. Tube feeders, platform feeders, suet feeders, fruit feeders, and nectar feeders are some of the most common types and will satisfy a wide variety of bird visitors. The small songbird feeders attached to the windows are especially fun; you can observe visitors up close without disturbing them. Make sure the feeder has no corners or crevices where birds can get stuck.
2. Infrequent cleaning procedures
Feeders should be thoroughly cleaned at least every two weeks, and more frequently in wet weather. With hummingbird feeders, mold and bacteria can grow rapidly in the sugar water solutions they use, which can make birds sick. Clean these feeders at least once a week, or more often if the nectar looks cloudy. Scrub all parts with a bottle brush in hot soapy water, followed by a mild bleach or vinegar solution, then rinse thoroughly and dry.
3. Using Poor Quality Seeds
Buying cheap seed, or not storing it properly can lead to some serious problems. Two favorite seeds for wild birds are black oil or striped sunflower, and white millet. Use the freshest seeds possible (not last year’s leftovers), and always keep stored seeds dry.
4. The feeder is empty
Birds seem to know quickly where their next meal will come from and will return to well-stocked feeders time and time again. But if the feeder is left empty for long periods of time, the birds will look elsewhere.
5. Forget water
Birds seek water to drink and bathe in, so water basins placed near feeders will attract more birds to the area. It is very important to change the water regularly to keep it fresh and clean. In the winter, you can use a basin heater to keep it from freezing. Never use antifreeze, it can be fatal to birds.
6. Poor feeder placement
Places that birds prefer to roost, such as the branches of trees or shrubs, until they are ready to turn at the feeder. But don’t place the feeder under a sturdy tree branch that can be used by cats, as they may wait for unsuspecting birds.
7. Use of harmful pesticides
Even sublethal pesticide exposure can harm birds by disorienting them during migration, reducing their ability to maintain body weight and reducing their ability to avoid predators.
8. Allow outdoor cats
The American Bird Conservancy says outdoor cats are the single largest source of anthropogenic (human-induced) mortality in birds.
So keep these feeders clean, filled with good seeds, and in a protected location. Then, sit back and enjoy the show!

bird feeder

Dog training collars – The role of Dog training collars

It is indeed a nerve-wracking thing for dogs to keep barking and making noise, so some businesses have found business opportunities in it, and the product of dog training collars was born from this.

The Risks of Using an Electric Shock Collar on Your Dog

Although it is claimed that this current voltage is weak, it will not really harm the dog. But this is not a good way to improve this problem. If you continue to use the electric shock collar, the dog may become anxious due to stress, which will lead to symptoms of mental instability such as licking feet and chasing the tail in circles.

When a dog is stressed, it may cause generalized or localized hair loss. Because they don’t know when they will be shocked next time, dogs will be very concerned about their every move and become extremely nervous.

For dogs that bark, finding the reason is the real solution. A dog trainer in Japan believes that finding out the reason and prescribing the right medicine is the key.

Dog barking can be roughly divided into three types: “required barking”, “warning barking” and “happy barking”. If the dog is barking because of a request, the owners should not immediately satisfy their request, but wait until the dog calms down before acting. The most common case of barking due to alertness is to hear the doorbell.

The owner can desensitize the dog to the doorbell, that is, let them get used to the doorbell, and it will naturally improve. Barking because of happiness is actually caused by insufficient exercise.

Dogs are too energetic, so they will vent their energy by barking. Owners can effectively improve the dog’s exercise by increasing the amount of exercise.

Sometimes dogs bark to attract the owner’s attention. If we get close to them at this time, the dog’s purpose will be achieved. This will make them more eager to bark to attract the attention of the owner, so the best way is to ignore it.