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Before you bring your new hedgehog home, set up suitable housing for him. That way he can immediately start acclimating himself to his new environment. He requires a few accessories in his new domain, for health and exercise. Because hedgies are sensitive to cold, place his home in a warm, draft-free part of your house, although not in direct sunlight.
More than 150 species of chameleons, a specialized branch of the lizard family, exist in the wild. Chameleons have unique stereoscopic eyes that can move independently from one another. They come in a range of colors and live in a variety of climates, from tropical to dry. Not all chameleons make good pets; those who do require owners experienced in herpetology. Among the 150 species, only a few are good choices for domestic pets in the United States -- partly because of their ease of care and partly because of their ready availability.
Sweet, sleepy babies are easy to protect, but once your little one learns to toddle, the world is a much more dangerous place. Outdoor exploration is an essential part of your child's emotional, social and physical development. He'll learn to kick a ball, play with other kids and build a sand castle. Still, it's much harder to baby-proof the backyard than the living room. The best way to keep your toddler safe is to supervise him solicitously. Put down the glass of lemonade and novel, and enjoy the sights and smells of Mother Nature with your child. He'll show you…
Aggressive protecting of food is well-documented in dogs, but resource-guarding isn't exclusive to the canine world. Cats, too, can have intensely possessive food behaviors. If a feline fears the food in front of him is in jeopardy, he may get aggressive.
When you have a brand-new addition to your family, it's natural to want to show her off to all your friends and family. But show-and-tell can turn dangerous when your little one is exposed to harmful germs. While your newborn does have an immune system in place, it's immature when compared to older kids and adults. By keeping your baby away from germs, you can help keep her well while her immune system develops.
Photographing dance portraits is a great way to capture a fun memory for years to come. Photograph dance portraits with help from a talented photographer who has masterfully honed his craft over the years in this free video clip.
If you're a portrait photographer, a few key pieces of equipment are going to make your life a lot easier. Learn about what equipment every portrait photographer should have with help from a professional photographer in this free video clip.
Picking a name for your new family member is an important decision. Whether your furry friend was born on the Fourth of July or adopted over Memorial Day weekend, incorporating a patriotic name can help you remember the special occasion. You may want to keep a common theme in your household and give all of your pets patriotic names.
Building a ramp for a set of stairs is a task that can provide you with easier access to the house. It can prove especially helpful if you have a loved one with a physical impediment that prevents her from climbing stairs. Building this type of ramp is not difficult. It simply requires a little planning and basic carpentry ability, in most cases.
While stairs are meant to help individuals get into a home, they can make the task difficult for those who have mobility impairments or are in a wheelchair. Hiring a contractor to replace a staircase with a ramp can be an expensive endeavor. However, if you have intermediate carpentry skills and basic tools, you can make a ramp that goes over the current set of stairs.
In the search for more strange and interesting pets, triops have captured the attention of people of all ages. Essentially the "Sea Monkeys" of the 21st century, triops are species of crustacean, commonly known as tadpole shrimp. Triops have a relatively short lifespan, lasting from 20 to 90 days. Additionally, other than clean water and food, triops don’t need much by way of attention or special care, making them a good starter pet for children.
Incorrectly disciplining your puppy after he has an accident in the house can confuse your pet companion and make him afraid of you. It is known worldwide among trainers that negative reinforcement doesn't work. To successfully housebreak your pup, have patience, be consistent and incorporate proper disciplinary action. Learning to properly housebreak your puppy can be the difference between having your puppy relieve himself in the house or outside the house for years to come.
Tony Hawk is the most recognizable name in the skateboarding world. He uses a simple inclined plane, known as a ramp, in the execution of his tricks. The use of ramps isn’t restricted to skateboarders. In your home, a ramp placed over garage stairs allows you to move things in and out of your home without lifting, gives your children a place to race their toy cars and trucks, and offers safe and easy access to your home for wheelchair-bound loved ones. Making a custom ramp is an inexpensive project you can complete in an afternoon.
If you have difficulty climbing stairs, or a member of your household does, you may construct a ramp alongside a set of stairs to improve access to your home. Building a ramp is a fairly extensive process, and the finished ramp should conform to Americans with Disabilities Act standards to optimize safety. Before you construct and install the ramp, you will need to cut the lumber sections for the ramp. Proper cutting promotes ease of construction and installation, and can help reduce the time needed to complete the ramp.
A gate is an essential fencing feature that serves as an entryway into the enclosed space and increases security. Although you can purchase a wooden fence gate door or make it to order, constructing one using lattice panels allows for instant personalization and saves up on extra costs. Before you begin, check your local building codes for any specifics you need to take into consideration regarding the dimensions of the gate, or any permits you are required to obtain.
Photographing people for portraits, particularly with more than one subject, is sometimes frustrating. Giving directions to the people posing allows you to snap photos without having to approach the staging area to create the right look. Good direction techniques provide more success when photographing portraits because your subjects will know what you want right away.
The Innotek UltraSmart in-ground pet fencing system is available in two models, the IUC-4100 and IUC-4200. Both offer identical in-ground wire networks, but the IUC-4200 provides two other products: a lifetime-guaranteed external lightning protector and 100 extra feet of pre-twisted, 20-gauge wire.
PetSafe doggie doors use a thick vinyl flap as the door. Over time, the flap develops cracks due to weather and the constant back and forth motion from your dog coming in and out. When this happens, it is necessary to replace the PetSafe doggie door flap. Measure the length of the door flap and purchase a replacement that matches the measurement. Replacement doggie door flaps are available through PetSafe, PetSmart and other pet supply stores.
Electronic brake distribution is a safety enhancement that improves a vehicle’s stopping performance, working in combination with an antilock brake system, or ABS. An electronic brake-force distributor is the computer-controlled device that makes this possible. EBD configures the needed percentage of braking force deployed to the vehicle’s front and rear wheels. This allows the maximum safe amount of braking force to the wheels, without the risk of too much stopping power causing the rear to step out and send the car sideways down the road.
"MapleStory" is an online game set in a fantasy world, where single or multiple players can build a universe with knights and mythical animals. If you have a pet dragon and are just getting started, you will need to understand the strategy for controlling the animal. The technique is simple once you've got it down, and understanding how to move your dragon around will help you get the most out of your "MapleStory" playing experience.
Packing. Booking the moving van. Obtaining kids’ school records. Remembering your passport. When you’re planning a move from the United States to Canada, you must make many arrangements. Add meeting transport requirements for your pets to the list. Although Canadian officials will welcome your dog, cat or exotic bird, you must know the regulations well ahead of your move. Leave yourself time to gather required paperwork and fulfill all criteria so that your pet can cross the border with you. And, If you're flying to Canada, contact the airline to determine if it requires additional documents pertaining to your pet.
Bantam poultry are popular as pets due to their small size, letting them fit in small backyards. They're also common in shows because of their exotic colors and feathers. Hatching bantam eggs in an incubator provides you a high level of control over the environment, hopefully producing a successful brood. The most important part of incubation is maintaining a safe and constant temperature for the eggs to develop.
There are over 200 species in the Old World Jasminum genus, of which many are vines or rambling shrubs. Jasmines are grown for their highly fragrant flowers, which can be white, pinkish or yellow. Some species are not frost hardy, but others survive freezing temperatures and flower during the winter. Even frost-tender jasmine vines can be grown in areas prone to frost if cultivated in containers or protected during the winter. Ask at point of sale about the frost-hardiness of the particular jasmine vine you buy.
The rear of a sport utility vehicle or passenger van provides plenty of space for hauling suitcases, packages, pet carriers and other items. When the large area is not completely filled, though, the items can shift or tip during turns or stops, potentially resulting in damaging. To protect your items, you can install an aftermarket assembly to create a cargo zone partition. The partition divides the open space and allows for safer and more efficient packing.
The odds are good that your home has a sash window and it gives you an opportunity to install a quick and simple pet door. Sash windows are the kind with two pieces on two tracks. The outer track has a window pane fixed in an "up" position, while the inside track has a window pane that slides up and down, allowing you to open the window or lock it shut. Just like installing a window screen, you can slide a pet door into place at your window, allowing you to let your small pet in and out without cutting…
Growing up to 4 feet in length and 25 inches tall, the capybara is the world's largest species of rodent. Originating in South America, capybaras are growing in popularity as pets -- even though full-grown adults typically range from 75 to 150 pounds, and some grow to 250 pounds. With their mix of guinea pig and dog-like traits, capybaras can make fun and sociable pets.
Many animal lovers consider pets a part of the family and deal with the loss of a pet in ways similar to when losing a human family member. One way to honor the memory of a lost pet is to keep its cremated remains in a wooden urn. At the time of publication, a wooden pet urn can run as high as $100. You can save a considerable amount of money and still honor your pet by making your own custom urn.
High-capacity freezers are often too large to keep in the house with other kitchen appliances so many people install them in the garage or basement. Although freezers operate with extremely cold internal temperatures, strict limitations are imposed on the climate around the appliance. To safely keep your freezer in a garage during the winter, you must ensure certain conditions are met.
For some pet lovers, a fluffy cat or energetic dog just doesn't cut it. Whether you're a frog lover, an amphibian aficionado or just someone looking for an interesting pet to keep in a tank, a bullfrog may be the perfect pet for you. Like any animal, owning a bullfrog requires a great amount of care. With the right habitat, proper nutrition and good overall care, a bullfrog can be a great pet.
Dogs, cats, and even guinea pigs have sensitive ears that encounter dirt and debris every day. Whether furry, floppy, pointy or perky, your pet's ears require regular care to avoid problems like wax buildup, mites or infection. These can be painful conditions for your pet, so cleaning the ears is an important part of grooming and should be done weekly. There are commercial solutions available for doing the job of getting down in the ear canal, but you can also make your own at a much lower cost and it is just as safe and effective.
“Flyff” is a multiplayer online role-playing game that allows you to create and develop a character in an online fantasy world. Your character can raise pets that become your companion and help you in your battles. To give your raised pet a new name, purchase the “Scroll of Pet Name Change” from the “Flyff” online store. The scroll costs 280 gPotatoes, which is the game’s real-world currency. Earn gPotatoes by completing surveys and other online offers, or purchase them with real money.
You cared for your hibiscus plant all summer and it rewarded you with an abundance of large, colorful blooms. As winter approaches, you don't want to lose the plant to cold temperatures, snow and ice. If your hibiscus is a hardy variety, it will survive a mild winter outdoors. Tropical hibiscus, though, needs warm weather to live. To help your hibiscus survive, bring it indoors to force it into semi-dormancy.
Lovebirds are small, colorful and playful birds with personalities similar to those of parrots. Contrary to popular opinion, lovebirds do not have to be raised or kept in pairs. These affectionate birds are happy to interact with their human owners for hours. However, if you don’t plan to interact with your bird much due to work or other responsibilities, getting a mate for this highly social bird is advised. After choosing which one of the nine species of lovebirds you want to raise, you can be there from its very beginning by caring for your lovebird when it is still…
People love their pets. That’s why young and old entrepreneurs alike may find success learning how to be pet shop operators. Whether your passion for taking care of pets started when you were eight-years-old and walking every neighbor’s dog on your block or you developed a love for pets later in life, there are a few basic steps you can take to operating your own pet store.
Many dogs are diggers, and some plants smell appealing and taste good to them. Digging is instinctive for dogs, especially in breeds such as terriers who were bred to dig and seek out mice and other vermin in the ground. Digging is fun for your dog, and instinctive behavior from the wild. So discouraging your dog from digging requires retraining. Cats are not diggers by nature, but will dig when they want to use the yard for a litter box. Cats will dig in the yard to eliminate, and sometimes they'll choose your freshly dug garden, where the dirt is…
A Tamagotchi is a handheld device that allows you to interact with and care for a virtual pet. Discipline includes both positive and negative reinforcement and is achieved through “Praise” or “Punish” interactions. By giving your pet praise, you can cheer it up. When your pet misbehaves, you can punish it. Over time, your Tamagotchi’s discipline rating will increase as you train your pet.
An alligator snapper requires a large habitat and a variety of foods when you keep it as a pet. Since alligator snappers are the world's heaviest freshwater turtles and can bite people, they can be difficult to handle. Only experienced turtle handlers should attempt to care for alligator snappers. These turtles can grow to be 26 inches long and can weigh up to 150 pounds. Alligator snappers have three ridges on their shells and triangular heads.
"Littlest Pet Shop Biggest Stars" is based on the popular children's toys and cartoon. Throughout the game you complete quests to unlock new pets and challenges. To keep your energy up, the pet you play with must consume apples. These apples are found in trees, but are only consumable when you knock them off of the branches. This is not done with a button sequence or touching the tree with the stylus. It is completed with your actual pet.
The Littlest Pet Shop, or LPS, franchise expanded into the DS marketplace with games like "Littlest Pet Shop Jungle" and "Littlest Pet Shop Garden." Players complete tasks to unlock different items or features of the "Littlest Pet Shop" games, and earning ribbons is one way to earn unlockables. Ribbons are earned by playing 16 different mini games available in the game's arcade, where players can play alone in single player mode or with friends in multiplayer mode over a Wi-Fi connection.
The Internal Revenue Service allows taxpayers to deduct their business travel expenses only if they were incidental to traveling for professional or business purposes. If you incurred pet daycare or boarding expenses as part of your business travel expenses, those expenses are typically nondeductible. Specifically, the IRS does not allow you to deduct personal expenses or expenses that are lavish or unnecessary.
The Woolrich company, known for high-quality clothing and furniture that represents the outdoorsy lifestyle, also makes pet beds that come in an assortment of styles and fabrics, such as buffalo plaid, sherpa and herringbone patterns. The pet beds usually have a round or rectangular foam cushion with a removable cover, and are machine-washable. Maintain pet beds through a combination of minor weekly cleanings, spot cleanings and more thorough monthly cleanings. Use a mild detergent, and avoid fabric softener and dryer sheets, which can cause skin irritation for your pet.
Many animals at one time or another come home with a small scrape or wound. If the scrape is topical and your pet does not appear to be in pain or acting out of character, you can fix the scrape yourself instead. However, before you decide to fix the scrape yourself, look for signs of a larger problem such as heavy bleeding or broken bones, which require the help of your veterinarian.
"Happy Pets" is a game on Facebook in which you adopt pets and build a home for them to live in with their other pet friends you adopt. You must keep the pets happy by feeding them and keeping their house and living areas clean. Take your pet to the park to dig up gems and rare items.
A PVC pet gate is a simple and inexpensive way to limit your pet's domain to certain areas of the house. Limiting the areas to which your pet has access is a way to keep your pet away from plants and other substances that could be hazardous if ingested, and it is also a simple way to limit the amount of trouble your pet can get into while you are away. PVC pet gates can be constructed in a matter of minutes, and they can be installed quickly and even moved from room to room if necessary.
Allowing your pet to cuddle with you in bed might put your health at risk. Letting your pet sleep in your bed can increase your risk of contracting diseases, bacteria and parasites from your pet. Close contact with your pet allows whatever the pet is infected with a greater chance of infecting you as well. Banning your pet from your bed and bringing your pet to the veterinarian office for regular checkups and vaccinations is the best way to prevent this from occurring.
Taking portrait photos of people can be challenging for a novice photographer. Quality portraits combine many different elements, such as showing a subject’s personality, using flattering poses and arousing viewers' interest in the photo. When taking a photo of a subject, follow a few basic tips and techniques in order to take your best portrait photo.
Whether or not your pet is allowed to, it may occasionally nap on your bed; it may also sometimes urinate on it. These instances can leave strong odors behind in your bedding. You may have just a faint dog smell in your sheets, or you may have strong urine odors caused by accidents during training or illness. Newer smells are easier to remove than older, but you can clean most pet smells away from mattresses and other bedding.
When designing the entryway to a home, or considering ways to transition between floors at different heights within a home, the most common options are stairways and ramps. However, determining whether stairs or ramps are best suited for your particular situation can be difficult. By evaluating the pros and cons of both, as well as your mobility needs, getting up or down will be a breeze.
During the winter months, keeping the sleeping rooms toasty is a top priority. However, it can be difficult to keep the upstairs warm without breaking the bank. Consider installing an automated thermostat that allows you to set the temperature on a timer. That way, you can save money by programming the heat to shut off while you're gone during the day and turn back on an hour before you return. If that doesn't work, invest in heavy blankets, thick socks and thermal pajamas.
Children of all ages enjoy playing with Zhu Zhu Pets. These plush, electronic hamster toys come with outfits, accessories and habitats that are sold alongside the Zhu Zhu Pets. However, children like making additional objects and clothing for the pets, such as hats and blankets. A Zhu Zhu Pet bed is easily made with a sewing machine and fabric of your choice. Delight the child in your life with custom bed for her Zhu Zhu Pet to snuggle in.