Boo

Boo Dog
Species	Canis lupus familiaris
Breed	Pomeranian
Sex	Male
Born	(2006-03-16) March 16, 2006 (age 8) San Francisco
Occupation	The World's Cutest Dog

Boo is a Pomeranian that became an Internet sensation. Known for his short haircut, he has a popular Facebook page and is the subject of four photo books. As of July 2014, Boo has over 15 million Likes on Facebook.

Background

 

 

Boo the dog belongs to a San Francisco-based Facebook employee who created a Facebook page for the dog with a statement "My name is Boo. I am a dog. Life is good." He became popular in October 2010 after singer Ke$ha sent a tweet that she had a new boyfriend, linking to the page, and KhloéKardashian called him the "cutest dog on the planet".
Chronicle Books, noticing that Boo had 5 million Facebook fans at the time, approached the owner to write a picture book. In August 2011, Boo: The Life of the World's Cutest Dog, written by his owner under pen name J.H. Lee, was published. The book was eventually published in ten languages. A second book followed, Boo: Little Dog in the Big City, as well as a calendar and plans for a cut-out book and additional children's books. His merchandise includes a Gund stuffed animal.

Boo was appointed a spokes dog for Virgin America airline, which featured photos of him in an airplane along with advice for people traveling with pets. In April 2012, Boo was the subject of a death hoax after #RIPBOO appeared on Facebook. Tweets followed as Gizmodo writer Sam Biddle tweeted Boo had died. It was later confirmed by The Chronicle Book staff that Boo was well and alive. In July 2012, Boo was named the Official Pet Liaison of Virgin America.

 

 

Everyone loves Boo! His signature fluffy head and teddy bear like persona are irresistibly adorable. With nearly a million Facebook fans, and adding more each day, Boo is poised to become an international superstar. This charming book features exclusive new photographs of Boo doing all his favorite things: lounging around, playing with friends, exploring the whole wide world, and making those famous puppy-dog eyes. To know Boo is to love him, and this book is for anyone who loves the cutest dog ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Keep a Pet Squirrel

Squirrel

 

 

Squirre

Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, consisting of small or medium-size rodents. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, flying squirrels, and prairie dogs.

 

 

Scientific name: Sciuridae

 

Lifespan: 15 – 18 y (Alpine marmot, In captivity)

 

Rank: Family

 

Height: 18 cm (Alpine marmot, Adult, At Shoulder)

 

Gestation period: 44 d (Eastern gray squirrel), 33 – 34 d (Alpine marmot)

 

Mass: 2.8 – 3.3 kg (Alpine marmot, Adult, In Spring),

 

Tail length: 5 – 6 cm (African pygmy squirrel, Adult),

 

How to Keep a Pet Squirrel

 

Keeping a squirrel is a big job. You will usually only find yourself in this situation with a baby squirrel as the adults are a little too high strung.

 

Four Parts:

 

 

 

 

Housing Keeping

 

 

 

 

 

 

Build a suitable cage. Having some climbing room and some wood (preferably a stick of hardwood) to gnaw on for the squirrel. This is important for the squirrel's dental health and necessary for teething young. The Author made one out of 2 round pieces of wood, held together with 2X4's on the inside, wrapped in chicken wire. Keep in mind that squirrels need a lot of room and if they are not going to be allowed to roam around the house (which is not a good idea if there is anything you don't want chewed, such as electrical wires), you may want to consider an outdoor cage.

 

 

 

 Make sure to staple the chicken wire tight and secure to avoid gaps or sharp points. Set up a shoebox with a folded blanket or other soft bedding such as cotton as a place to sleep. Make sure there is plenty of bedding and a place for it to snuggle in like a pouch. Another idea is a bedding pouch, such as the type you would use for a ferret.

 

 

The squirrel warm

 

 

 

Help the baby squirrel to stay warm. A baby squirrel cannot thermoregulate itself, meaning that it cannot stay warm without assistance. Put a heating pad underneath whatever you are keeping it in, but make sure it does not exceed 100 degrees. Make sure the heating pad is underneath half of the enclosure, so that the baby has a cool half to move to in case the baby gets too hot.

• A good internal temperature for the squirrel itself is between 98 and 102 degrees, which means it should feel warm to the touch, warmer than your hand. A cold baby can die very easily, so this is very important.
• A cold baby can not digest food as well as a warm baby. Never feed a cold squirrel.

 

Feeding the squirrel

 

 

Feed your squirrel properly.

 

 

• Food for adults: store bought rodent block such as Harlan Teklad, Mazuri or Henry's Healthy Blocks are great along with fresh vegetables and limited fruits and an occasional nut as a treat.
• For babies: Fox Valley milk replacement is a must. Feed this to the squirrel using a syringe slowly as babies will often aspirate milk out through their nose while sucking which could lead to pneumonia. Esbilac puppy milk was once the food of choice and mentioned on many websites as good for squirrels, but the formula has recently changed and is no longer recommended.
  • For ages 2-3 weeks: feed 5 times a day, start at 1 1/2 cc of formula and increase to 3 cc.
  • Age 4-5 weeks: feed 4 times a day, start at 3 1/2 cc of formula and increase to 5 cc.
  • Age 6-7 weeks: feed 4 times a day, start at 6 cc of formula and increase to 9 cc.
  • Age 8 weeks: feed 10 to 14 cc twice a day. Begin weaning onto small pieces of solid food.

Give the squirrel water. Healthy squirrels will generally drink from a water bottle, such as the type you would use for rabbits and other rodents. If they do not drink from the bottle, set out a shallow dish for them to drink from, but be aware that they may make a mess.

 

 

Keeping the squirrel healthy

 

 

 

Keep the squirrel away from infections. If someone in the house has a cold or a virus, keep them away from the squirrel, just to be safe. Wash your hands before and after feeding, touching or cleaning around the squirrel.

 

Avoid too much physical contact the squirrel.

 

Take the squirrel to the vet for regular checkups.

Cat

Cat

The domestic cat is a small, usually furry, domesticated, and carnivorous mammal. It is often called the housecat when kept as an indoor pet, or simply the cat when there is no need to distinguish it from other felids and felines.

Scientific name: Felis catus

Gestation period: 66 d on average

Mass: 4 – 5 kg (Domesticated)

Daily sleep: 12 – 16 h

Lifespan: 15 y on average (Domesticated), 12 – 14 y (Newborn, Male, Domesticated)

 

Health

The average life expectancy for male indoor cats is around 12 to 14 years,with females usually living a year or two longer. However, cats have been reported as reaching into their 30s, with the oldest known cat,., dying at a verified age of 38. Feline life expectancy has increased significantly in recent decades. Having a cat neuter confers some health benefits, since castrated males cannot develop testicular cancer, spayed females cannot develop uterine or ovarian cancer, and both have a reduced risk of mammary cancer.The lifespan of feral cats is hard to determine accurately, although one study reported a median age of 4.7 years, with a maximum of 8.3 years

 

 

Cats and humans

Cats are common pets in Europe and North America, and their worldwide population exceeds 500 million. Although cat guardianship has commonly been associated with women, a 2007 Gallup poll reported that men and women were equally likely to own a cat.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, as well as being kept as pets, cats are also used in the international fur trade, for making coats, gloves, hats, shoes, blankets, and stuffed toys. About 24 cats are needed to make a cat fur coat. This use has now been outlawed in the United States, Australia, and the European Union. However, some cat furs are still made into blankets in Switzerland as folk remedies believed to help rheumatism.

 

Behavior
Free-ranging cats are active both day and night, although they tend to be slightly more active at night. The timing of cats' activity is quite flexible and varied, which means house cats may be more active in the morning and evening (crepuscular behavior), as a response to greater human activity at these times.Although they spend the majority of their time in the vicinity of their home, housecats can range many hundreds of meters from this central point, and are known to establish territories that vary considerably in size, in one study ranging from 7 to 28 hectares (17 to 69 acres).
Cats conserve energy by sleeping more than most animals, especially as they grow older. The daily duration of sleep varies, usually 12–16 hours, with 13–14 being the average. Some cats can sleep as much as 20 hours in a 24-hour period. The term "cat nap" for a short rest refers to the cat's tendency to fall asleep (lightly) for a brief period. While asleep, cats experience short periods of rapid eye movement sleep often accompanied by muscle twitches, which suggests they are dreaming

 
Play
Domestic cats, especially young kittens, are known for their love of play. This behavior mimics hunting and is important in helping kittens learn to stalk, capture, and kill prey.Cats also engage in play fighting, with each other and with humans. This behavior may be a way for cats to practice the skills needed for real combat, and might also reduce any fear they associate with launching attacks on other animals.
Owing to the close similarity between play and hunting, cats prefer to play with objects that resemble prey, such as small furry toys that move rapidly, but rapidly lose interest (they become habituated) in a toy they have played with before. Cats also tend to play with toys more when they are hungry. String is often used as a toy, but if it is eaten, it can become caught at the base of the cat's tongue and then move into the intestines, a medical emergency which can cause serious illness, even death. Owing to the risks posed by cats eating string, it is sometimes replaced with a laser pointers dot, which cats may chase. While concerns have been raised about the safety of these lasers, John Marshall, an ophthalmologist at St Thomas' Hostile, has stated it would be"virtually impossible" to blind a cat with a laser pointer. 

 

 

 

 

How to Care for Baby Fish

How to Care for Baby Fish

Perfecting the environment

 

Check the water quality. Guppy fry will grow fast when their water quality is good. To keep it pristine conditions use a test kit and test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Keep ammonia at 0 ppm., nitrite at 0 ppm., and nitrate at less than 10 ppm. Keep doing weekly water exchanges, but exercise caution not to suck up any fry.
Keep the water temperature at 75-80F. Do not let the water temperature get outside this range.
Use a sponge filter or a very low power mechanical filter to keep water clean. Make sure the filter has some kind of protective sponge over the intake to prevent small fry from being sucked in.

Survey the tank setup. Guppy fry are an excellent food source for most types of fish (even their parents). Separate fry from all adult fish if possible. Placing them in their own separate tank is best, but if you do not have an extra aquarium you'll need to get a mesh "breeding tank". These devices go inside your existing aquarium, and serve as a holding pen for the fry or the adults. If you are going to keep the fry in this container, make sure it is mesh, otherwise they might swim out.

Remove the female from the breeding box promptly. When the female gets a dark gravid spot and then becomes very puffed up and blocky and starts to get an uneven look around the torso, she's full of fry and about to give birth. Place her in a breeding box, which has a divider with slots in it. The breeding box floats in the aquarium. Have it floating before you catch the female. After the female has given birth, which takes up to six hours, and she is no longer producing young, remove her from the breeding box. She can go back with the other adult fish.

• If you have a separate tank for the fry, you can release them into it. (That's where they should be floating.) If not, you can remove the female and the divider from the breeding box and keep the fry in it for some time.
• If you do not remove the female, she will eat any fry that find their way back up into the top part of the box.

Be sure you feed them well. Baby guppies need high quality foods to grow and be healthy. When they are first born use fry food or finely crushed flake food. As they get bigger keep using flake food

Check for illnesses. Diseased fry have a very low chance of surviving. Remove any sick fry immediately. Do not medicate a tank with fry in it, as it is too difficult for a regular fish keeper to use the right dosage

Watch the fry grow. Monitor their growth, and place them back into the main aquarium once they are big enough not to be eaten. Make sure they are all growing fairly uniformly. Once they are all big enough, release them and watch them interact with their expanded world.

5 Things You Should Know Before Starting to Train Your Puppy

 5 Things You Should Know Before Starting to Train Your Puppy

Before you start training your puppy, there are a few things that you should know.

Training is important. It helps you bond with your pooch and show her what’s expected of her. It will also help her feel more secure, as she will understand what you want from her.

Training is based on reward and correction. Note the word correction, not punishment. When you correct your puppy’s behavior, you should never be angry or mean or hurt her in any way. Just say “No!” firmly.You can reward your puppy with something she likes. Most people use small bits of food, but you can also let her play with a favorite toy. You can even teach her to respond to praise, by giving her a treat while saying “Good girl” or “Good dog” in an upbeat voice. That way she’ll learn that praise is a good thing and in the future, you can just say the words without using the treat.



Simple training can begin at 8 weeks. You can teach your puppy things like how to wear a collar and how to respond to praise. When she reaches 12 to 16 weeks, you can teach her basic commands.

Training sessions shouldn’t last longer than 10 minutes at first, and they should always end on a positive note. If your puppy’s having trouble with a command, go back to something she does know, and reward her when she completes the task.

Don’t forget to have fun with this. Some aspects training can be very like playing—for both you and your dog.
Ready to get started?
Here are tips on teaching the "sit" command.
And learn how important it is for your dog to know how to come (and how to teach it) here.
Still having trouble? The AKC offers one-on-one guidance through its Good Dog!

 

 

 

10 Smart Dog Breeds

10 Smart Dog Breeds

                               

While all dogs are smart, certain breeds are more intelligent at specific tasks than others. Check out these ten dog breeds that excel at their jobs.

German Shepherd Dog: The German Shepherd Dog is extremely smart at police work. They are well-known to be the world's leading police, military, and guard dog. They're loyal and dependable.

German Shepherd Dog.

Bloodhound: Bloodhounds are the best at trailing. They are often used in police work and search and rescue. Their scenting abilities are so exceptional that a Bloodhound's mantrailing results are permissible in court.

Bloodhound.

Beagle: Beagles tend to follow their nose, which makes them exceptional at detection work. Bed bugs became a major problem for businesses and homeowners over the past few years, so the Beagle came to the rescue. Exterminators and business owners enlisted the dog's incredible noses to find where bed bugs were hiding so humans could get rid of them.

Beagle.

Border Collie: Known as the workaholic of the dog world and prized for its intelligence and working ability, the Border Collie excels at Agility. Border Collies have extraordinary instinct and need a job to do in order to be happy, which is why they're amazing at Agility.

Border Collie.

Labrador Retriever: Labs are the smartest guide dogs. They are highly trainable and are very eager to please. This is also why Labs make such great family pets and are the most popular dog according to AKC Registration Statistics.

Labrador Retriever.

Newfoundland: Newfoundlands are the smartest at water rescue. They have a large lung capacity that enables them to be masters at long-distance swimming, and they have true lifesaving instincts in the water. They are intelligent and easily trained.

Newfoundland.

Belgian Malinois: Belgian Malinois are extremely smart military dogs. They are strong, agile, highly trainable, and have a strong desire to work. They are confident and naturally protective, which makes them effective at military work.

Belgian Malinois.

Siberian Husky: Siberian Huskies excel at sledding. They were bred in Northeast Asia as sled dogs and have amazing endurance and willingness to work.

Siberian Husky.

Golden Retriever: Golden Retrievers are very smart assistance dogs. They have an innate working ability, are intelligent, and have an eager to please attitude.

Golden Retriever.

Australian Shepherd: Aussies are amazing herders. The breed lives for its job. Aussies are adaptable, energetic, intelligent and have very strong natural herding instincts.

  Australian Shepherd.

15 Largest Dog Breeds: More Dog To Love

15 Largest Dog Breeds: More Dog To Love

   

Some people live by the motto “bigger is better,” and it extends to their dogs too. There are many large dog breeds, each with different care and training needs.
Exercise
Most large dog breeds were bred for a purpose or function. Some breeds were meant to be hunters, others guard dogs. Dogs with great endurance brought livestock or produce to market or protected the farmer’s animals. Knowing the dog’s original purpose can be very important in determining the amount of exercise a dog will need. Large dog breeds that were bred to work all day will need daily activity to work off their energy.
Living Space
Where and how you live are important factors in considering a large dog breed. City dwellers have different considerations than rural residents, and many apartment complexes, while permitting dogs, can limit their size by weight. The best dogs for people in apartments are smaller breeds such as a Boston Terriers or French Bulldogs.
Training
While a four-pound Pomeranian can’t reach the chicken on the counter, a 100-plus pound Great Dane easily can! Without proper training, the cutest puppy can grow up into a terror. Large dog breed owners should teach their dogs good manners at home and in the community by going to a training class or taking them through the Canine Good Citizen® program.
Costs
In general, costs can grow along with a dog’s size, since many veterinary procedures, medicines and boarding are dependent on the dog’s weight. Not to mention, large dogs tend to eat quite a bit more than small dogs.
The largest dog breeds:

1. Great Dane: They may be extremely large and strong, but the Great Dane is known as a “gentle giant” because of its calm and loving disposition.  They make excellent family pets, needing minimal grooming and daily exercise.
   
   


2. Mastiff: Though one of the biggest dogs recognized by the AKC, the powerful Mastiff is a gentle and loyal companion.  Mastiffs love being around people and bond closely with their family.  They need light exercise and minimal grooming.
   
   


3. Neapolitan Mastiff: The Neapolitan Mastiff is a massive dog with its trademark loose, wrinkly skin.  They are strong, peaceful dogs that are very loyal to their families, but can be protective around strangers.  They have an easy to care for coat, but tend to drool a lot.  They need moderate daily exercise.
   
   


4. Bullmastiff: While strong and powerfully built, the Bullmastiff is docile and sweet-natured at home with its family.  They’re natural guardians that don’t bark too much and don’t require a lot of exercise or grooming.
   
   


5. Saint Bernard: The Saint Bernard is powerful and muscular, but has a mellow temperament.  They do really well with children, making great family pets.  Saint Bernards shed twice a year and owners should be prepared for drool.
   
   


6. Newfoundland: A large dog and hard worker, the Newfoundland has a very sweet disposition and is a devoted companion.  The breed needs daily brushing and exercise.
   
   


7. Cane Corso: The Cane Corso is muscular, large-boned, and powerful in appearance.  The breed originally hunted wild boar and guarded property in its native Italy.  These affectionate dogs are intelligent, athletic, and need lots of exercise.  Their short, light-shedding coat only needs an occasional brushing.
   
   


8. Dogue de Bordeaux: A natural guardian, the Dogue de Bordeaux is affectionate, calm, and patient.  The breed is powerful and muscular, needing moderate exercise.  Their short coat is easy to care for, and new owners should be prepared to deal with drool.
   
   


9. Great Pyrenees: Originally used as a guardian of sheep, the Great Pyrenees has a natural instinct to protect.  They’re independent thinkers and need daily exercise.  Their thick, weather resistant coat needs brushing once a week.
   
   


10. Bernese Mountain Dog: The Bernese Mountain Dog is a hardy dog that does well in cold weather.  The breed is strong, smart, and needs a moderate amount of exercise.  They’re also known for being gentle and easygoing.  Their long, silky double coat sheds and requires regular brushing.
    
    


11. Tibetan Mastiff: Tibetan Mastiffs are impressively large, extremely independent and intelligent.  They tend to be highly protective of their family and property.  They have an immense double coat that sheds once a year and needs regular brushing.
    
    


12. Black Russian Terrier: The Black Russian Terrier is large, robust, and powerful.  They were originally used as guard dogs, so they have a natural instinct to protect.  The breed is loving towards its family and reserved with strangers.  They need daily exercise and regular brushing.
    
    


13. Leonberger: While they resemble a lion and are large in size, Leonbergers are very calm, gentle, and sweet dogs.  They make excellent family pets and love children.  Their profuse coat sheds a lot and needs daily brushing.  The breed also needs moderate daily exercise.
    
    


14. Irish Wolfhound: Large, muscular, and the tallest of dogs, the Irish Wolfhound has a loving temperament.  Though they were originally bred to hunt wolves and elk, they are primarily family pets today.  Their harsh coat requires regular brushing.
    
    


15. Scottish Deerhound:  This large sight hound is one of the oldest breeds recognized by the AKC and is an excellent hunter.  The Scottish Deerhound is a quiet, dignified companion with a tendency to chase small animals that run past it.  Their easy to care for coat requires brushing and occasional bathing.
    
    

All dogs need love and attention. Read our 101 ways to be a responsible large breed dog owner.