Dwarf Hamster Care

Dwarf hamsters can often be more delicate, skittish, and faster to make an escape. Their small size allows them to fit into small cracks and spaces so they need a secure enclosure. Hamsters make their homes in tunnels that they dig themselves in the sand and dirt of their native homelands. In a home environment, they thrive in the plastic tubular habitats that are available to purchase at most pet supply stores. But, because of their small size, the hamster habitats might be too large for them to be able to climb and maneuver in properly. Luckily, they now make tubular habitats that are built smaller and specifically for mice. These types of enclosures are better suited for dwarf hamsters. They will also do well in a 10-20 gallon tank or a wire cage. Hamsters are naturally active creatures. So a wheel that can be placed inside the cage and can be used to run on is extremely important. One study found that a typical hamster could run up to five miles on their wheel. There are smaller wheels specifically made for dwarf hamsters.

A substrate on the bottom of your dwarf hamster's cage will satisfy their natural burrowing instincts. Owners need to use a dust free and absorbent material like wood shavings but not cedar or pine based products due to the repertory problems these materials can cause. The substrate in the hamster's cage should be completely emptied out and replaced every week. Hamsters like to make nests out of the substrates in their cages. Owners can also offer their hamsters a number of other nesting materials like paper towels, cotton, shredded paper, or tissues. Often times they like to construct their nests in a small space like a nesting box. Because they are naturally shy animals, they like the privacy that these boxes offer.

Because of their high metabolism, dwarf hamsters eat as much as the larger Syrian hamster. They eat different types of pellets, seeds, dried fruits and vegetables. Although hamsters tend to hoard their food in their nests rather then leaving it in their bowls, they still need to be offered a constant supply of fresh foods and a fresh water supply. Another important aspect that owners need to be concerned about is ensuring that their hamsters receive chewing toys. Hamsters' teeth never stop growing so they feel the constant urge to gnaw on anything that is around them. Without soft wooden toys to keep them busy they are liable to chew on plastic accessories which could injure them if chewed to become rough and broken.

In addition to replacing the substrate of the hamster's cage on a weekly basis, the cage and all of its accessories need to be washed weekly. Owners can use a light solution of soap and water and make sure to rinse everything thoroughly. The cage should also be completely dry before new substrate is added to the cage. Never use harsh chemicals because this can irritate hamsters. Although they require a moderate amount of care, the joy of owning a dwarf hamster far out weigh the amount of effort that needs to be put into the care of these amazing creatures.

Jonathan Houss is a Dwarf Hamster enthusiast, You can read more about Dwarf Hamsters at: Dwarf Hamster Care but before you go anywhere now visit The Dwarf Hamster Center.

Summer adventures for pups & their people

With the warm weather beckoning, bonding with your best friend is as close as your backyard. Here are a few fun ideas for celebrating the sunshine together.

1. Hit the Trail. What better way to stay fit and bond with your dog than hiking together? Go to hikewithyourdog.com to find a trail near you.

2. Visit a Vineyard! Many wineries welcome dogs on their grassy grounds and we're sure your dog would enjoy a picnic there with you.

3. Catch the Show. Find outdoor concerts or movie night in the park in your area. Pack a blanket, some snacks and sit back and enjoy!

4. Hit the Open Road. Pick your destination and get out of town with your pup. Search for pet-friendly hotels at petswelcome.com

Source: www.dogster.com

Your Dog Understands More that your realize

Your dog may play dumb when you tell him not to eat the cat's food, but don't let him fool you. He understands perfectly well. Because not only is he smart, but your dog understands up to 165 words including signals and gestures, giving him roughly the same mental abilities as a 2-year-old person. We're not making this stuff up, we promise.

Leading canine researcher Stanley Coren, PhD, broke the news during his speech "How Dogs Think" at the recent American Psychological Association's Convention. As it turns out, some super brainy dog breeds can even master 250 words including signals and gestures.

Visit www.wolfreport.com for more information

Tips to improve your pet photograhy

Stay out of direct sun and shoot in the morning or late afternoon

Contrary to popular belief, bright sunlight is not a photographers friend. It wreaks havoc with your exposure and you typically end up with lots of nasty shadows in places you don’t want them. I avoid photographing subjects outside in direct light except first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon before sunset when the light is angled low.

Don’t wait for the perfect moment and don’t be afraid to take lots of shots but…

Most of us are shooting digital these days so you can essentially take as many pictures as you want. With pets, unpredictability is the rule of law. You never know how a shoot is going to go. All you can do is be there and hope you catch the moment. This requires taking a lot of shots in quick sequence and culling through them later for the best one.

…make sure you edit yourself

Some of the most important work happens after you shoot. It sounds cliche but less is more. It’s easy to become enamored of the 100 pictures you took of Spot playing with his new ball but chances are your friends won’t feel the same way. Limit what you show people to only the very best.


Source: dogblog at dogster.com

House Training Tips for Your Puppy - Finale

Puppy pads (especially those pretreated with pheromones) are a great way to train your puppy to go in one specific spot indoors if you live in a high rise apartment, if you live on a boat or don’t have a yard, or are somehow incapable of taking your puppy out every time it is necessary. Use natural, biodegradable pads and you'll be doing your part for the environment too!

It is very important that you clean up thoroughly if ever your puppy does have an accident. Just removing the stain usually isn’t enough, especially if you have carpets. Many cleaners take care of the odor to the point that humans don’t notice it, but those doggy noses can still tell that someone has gone potty in that spot. Left-behind smells are a cue to your dog that it is ok to go there again, and this will severely set back training. An enzyme cleaner will literally eat away the organic compounds that your dog can smell and remove the stain as well, leaving you with a clean carpet or floor and no cues to your pooch that it’s ok to go potty in the house.

Source: Next Day Pets

More Tips to House Train Your Puppy

• Always reward your pup with tons of energetic praise and a treat when he goes potty outside. If you wait until you get inside to give him his treat, he will have already forgotten what he did to deserve it. Keep a treat pouch stocked with yummy treats right with his leash and your clean up bags.

• Never let that puppy out of your sight. Puppies all display similar behavior before they go potty--they sniff and root around, and turn in circles, and appear restless. Keep an eye out for this behavior and take your pup outside before he ever has a chance to go potty in the house. Pet/baby gates are perfect for restricting puppies to one room where you can keep an eye on them.

More House Training Tips for Your Puppy

2. Crating a puppy when you are not around is the perfect way to keep him from going potty in the house and out of mischief. Dogs will instinctively not go potty in the same place where they sleep. However many months old a puppy is, he shouldn’t be expected to hold it more than that many hours. This is, of course, only a generalization, as all puppies are different. No dog should be left crated for more than 6 hours.

3. Always reward your pup with tons of energetic praise and a treat when he goes potty outside. If you wait until you get inside to give him his treat, he will have already forgotten what he did to deserve it. Keep a treat pouch stocked with yummy treats right with his leash and your clean up bags.

You can also use puppy pads.

Tips to house train your new puppy

House training a new puppy is not an easy task. We will be offering many tips that will hopefully make the process easier.


1. Be consistent.

Choose a spot where you want your puppy to go potty, take him there every time, and come up with a word that you will use every time you want him to go. Say “go potty,” then, when your dog does his business; follow it with “good potty” and praise. He will learn to associate the word “potty” and the potty spot with doing his business. A Simple Solution Pee Spot Pheromone Stick will help your dog learn the right place to go potty. It is treated with pheromones which make your puppy’s potty place a more attractive spot for him.

Should You Get Insurance for Your Pet?

Even just a few years ago your pet might have died from an injury or illness that medicine for humans could have solved. But veterinary medicine is quickly catching up. These days your vet has access to a whole range of sophisticated equipment, like MRI machines. Dogs and cats can get blood transfusions and ultrasounds. There are veterinary specialists that your vet might send you to if your pet requires specialized knowledge and equipment.

While this is great news to those of us who adore our pets, it comes with a price tag. Literally. Many pet owners say that they would pay whatever it takes to provide medical care for their beloved friend. But what if that's a completely unexpected bill in the thousands of dollars? Enter pet health insurance. But is it worth the cost?

Consumer Reports says no - that pet insurance will probably cost you more than it would save you. That's probably true for all insurance products. Insurance companies collect premiums from all of their customers, pay out claims from those funds and keep enough to make a profit and stay in business. By definition, they must collect more in premiums than they pay out in claims. So why do we buy insurance if the average person will spend more to do so? It's about predictability. Would you spend a small amount each month to avoid the possibility of a large surprise expense? Would you spend a little more each month for VIP Pet Insurance that covers more?

Actually, if your pet gets sick or injured you will have to pay whether or not you have insurance. All policies have co-pays, deductibles and/or caps. With insurance, though, you would be reimbursed for a big chunk.

The best answer for most of us is to put money aside for pet emergencies. Then if our pet doesn't have more medical bills than the average, we get to keep the money. It also avoids the issues of exclusions.

The questions you need to ask yourself are:

1) Would I set money aside regularly for pet medical bills that might arise? 2) What would I do if my pet needed medical care and I didn't have sufficient funds available? If the answer is borrow the money or put the pet to sleep, is that an acceptable situation for you?

by Coleen Bennett

Essential Dog & Cat Supplies

Pets bring joy to us & drive away our dullness & troubles. You can have a dog, a cat or any other animal as your pet. But the most important thing is the manner in which you treat your pet. It helps bring a huge difference in your relationship with them. Raising a pet is definitely an uphill task. It is considered as hard as bringing up your own children.

Your pets must be provided all the comforts needed & their needs should be attended to & fulfilled. Pets are supplied with many kinds of items required for their healthy growth by the wholesale pet suppliers.

Pet owners should see to it that their pets are made to feel good & given comfort in aspects such as health, entertainment, discipline, grooming etc. If your pet happens to be a dog, you must regularly give it a bath to keep it clean & hygienic, take him out for long walks as it will help it in getting proper exercise, make sure that you take it to the veterinarian for regular check-ups, provide it with a good & balanced diet. It is a prolonged list of tasks.

Whichever animal your pet may be, it is a must that you give them proper attention, entertainment, health care & much more. You can make these duties more convenient for you with the help of wholesale pet supplies where you can get nutritional & healthy food, bones & chews, grooming items such as shampoo, brushes, combs, dryers etc.

Another must for cats & dogs are training equipments. You can find them here at the pet supplies store. Flea & tick control products are considered to be a must, in case your dog or cat is too furry. You can find a wide range of pet's necessities for your pet at these stores.

by Sarah Jose