Archive for September, 2008

How To Tell Bad Shih Tzu Breeders

by Rebecca Simpson

When you decide it is time to bring home a Shih Tzu for you and your family you want to be certain that you are getting the best start you possible can when you start life with your new pet.

You are going to need to find a good Shih Tzu breeder and this first step is one of the most important steps in the process. Finding the right breeder can make your experience in owning the dog that much better.

The first thing you can do is check with the National Kennel Club to find a reputable breeder in your area. The National Kennel Club will have a listing of most of the very good breeders near you and also some information about the dogs that breeder offers. There are other breeder registries that you can also look into and check out any potential local breeder you may want to deal with. If they are not listed with a registry then you may want to avoid them.

A good Shih Tzu breeder will be there for long after you take your new puppy home. A good breeder will be available to answer your questions and advice while you are raising your puppy.

If you are having a difficult time getting a hold of a particular breeder, or they don’t seem too anxious to answer questions, then you may need to move on to a different breeder before you make a mistake.

Every good breeder is very concerned about your dog’s health so a good breeder will make sure you leave their property not only with a healthy dog but with detailed care and feeding instructions so you know exactly how to care for your dog. Many of the more reputable breeders will also send you home with a sample of the type of food your dog will need so you know exactly what to get.

A reputable Shih Tzu breeder will offer you free pet insurance that will begin as soon as you take ownership of the dog and extend for six weeks. They are given the insurance for free from insurance companies in the hopes that you will see how convenient it is during that first vet appointment and you will extend the coverage. If you are not offered free pet insurance then you are probably not dealing with a reputable breeder.

There are so many ways to tell if you are dealing with a fake Shih Tzu breeder or not and you should take the time to use them all to find out for sure. There is one more thing a real and reputable breeder will do for you that a shady one will not. A reputable breeder will offer to take your dog back, with no refund, if you ever decide you do not want it anymore or cannot have it. A real breeder is very interested in the health and well being of the dog.

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Rebecca Simpson on September 30th 2008 in Home

Tell Tale Signs Of A Fake Shih Tzu Breeder

by Rebecca Simpson

When you decide it is time to bring home a Shih Tzu for you and your family you want to be certain that you are getting the best start you possible can when you start life with your new pet.

The best way to insure you get the best dog you can get and a breeder you can trust is to do some research and make sure you get a reputable Shih Tzu breeder. A good breeder makes all the difference in the world, so take your time and make the right choice the first time.

Your first stop should be the National Kennel Club or any other national breeder registry that you can usually find on the Internet. These registries will point you to only the most reputable breeders in your area and also give you some information about how they do business and what you can expect. If you cannot find a particular breeder in a national registry then they may not be someone you want to get a dog from.

The relationship between you and your Shih Tzu breeder extends way beyond the transaction itself. A good breeder wants to make sure you have a positive experience in owning the dog so they will make themselves available for consultation or whenever you have a question at all.

A good breeder encourages owners, especially novice owners, to contact them if they have any questions or concerns or if they feel they need any advice for the raising of a new dog. A good breeder knows that a good relationship between breeder and owner is essential to the ongoing good health of each dog.

Another good sign of a breeder is how helpful they are with your new dog’s diet. A good breeder will offer detailed advice on care and feeding of your new Shih Tzu and they also offer their own personal advice as well, based on their experience. Most breeders will also send you home with a food sample so you know what to get your dog for the future. If you are not getting any of this kind of help from your breeder then you may have a bad breeder.

A reputable Shih Tzu breeder will offer you free pet insurance that will begin as soon as you take ownership of the dog and extend for six weeks. They are given the insurance for free from insurance companies in the hopes that you will see how convenient it is during that first vet appointment and you will extend the coverage. If you are not offered free pet insurance then you are probably not dealing with a reputable breeder.

A good breeder can mean many things to an owner and you should make sure to discuss all of these things prior to investing in a dog from any breeder. A good breeder will also offer to take back the dog, without a refund, at any point in the dog’s life if you can no longer care for it. A good breeder is interested in the health and happiness of the dog and the satisfaction of the family that bought it.

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Rebecca Simpson on September 30th 2008 in Home

Shar Pei Training Information

by Melissa Coleman

Of all the breeds of dog to choose from, the Shar Pei is definitely one of the very best. This is an incredibly popular breed of dog, and for good reason. They are loyal, loving, and make a great family pet, as long as they have been trained properly. Shar Pei training is incredibly important, and although it is going to go over better if you start when still a puppy, you can do this at any age.

Especially if you have children you are going to want to ensure that your Shar Pei is well behaved, and remember that even if you buy an adult Shar Pei you can still train them properly, although it will take a bit more time and effort. As long as you are willing to put in the time and effort required, you are going to come out with some great results and have a well-behaved dog.

When it comes to Shar Pei training, you may not know where to start. The first thing you should do is gather together the tools and equipment that you are going to need.

This includes electric dog clippers, dog balls, dog beds, dog bones, dog bristle brushes, dog collars, dog conditioner, dog dish mats, dog dishes, dog flea control medication, dog grooming sprays, dog leashes, dog shampoos, and dog tags. You can purchase additional items as well if you want, but these are the basics.

Aversive training is the type typically used with Shar Pei, and this includes methods that will teach your dog to obey you in order to avoid something bad. Positive training is also very important here, as the Shar Pei respond better to positive reinforcement and kind words. You want to make sure that you stay firm and consistent to get the best results but at the same time never get angry or yell at the dog to try and get them to do what you want.

Shar Pei potty training is going to be a challenge, but by no means impossible. Using a crate at night and when you are away from home can go a long way in training your puppy to hold its need to go until you can take it outside.

As long as you are consistent and remember to take the puppy out every hour or so and after each meal, success should be easy. Teaching the puppy to ring a bell on the doorknob when it has to go is a good idea. And using a crate at night and when you away from home can be the best training support you can buy.

Potty training your Shar Pei should not take too long and then you can go on to other kinds of training. For help you should contact your vet, a trusted breeder or even a professional dog trainer.

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Melissa Coleman on September 30th 2008 in Home

What You Need To Know About Yorkshire Terrier Nutrition

by Susan Bailey

Just as it is extremely important to make sure that you put only the best of the best food into your body, for the same reasons, you want to make sure that only the best foods and treats go into the little body of your dog. Yorkshire Terrier nutrition is one of the most important parts to consider and focus on when thinking of proper pet care. While there are many choices of food on the market and this may seem like an excellent thing, it can make it a lot more confusing when trying to find what will be best for your individual dogs needs.

Besides the fact that you just want your new little Yorkie to have the best of the best, it is important to understand that there are many more reasons to take advantage of the many benefits of selecting the best Yorkshire Terrier nutrition. It is also very important to not let advertising or even the price of a product make your decision for you, as you can never be too sure and too trusting. It is important to do your homework to ensure that you are getting exactly what you want.

When making sure that you are providing the best Yorkshire Terrier nutrition plan it is important to understand your breed of dog to understand their particular needs. The Yorkie in general, does not need a lot of food to begin with so overfeeding can be an issue if it is not monitored properly. This breed is highly prone to digestive problems and other health issues that arise from that so watching what and how much is going into their stomach is extremely important.

Most animals will stop when they are full, but just as some humans face the problem of overeating even when their body is not in need of more food some dogs face the same issue. It is important that you closely monitor the food and food portions that your Yorkie receives so that there are no problems down the road. Helping to control the food by not leaving food out all of the time would help keep a possible over eating problem away.

When trying to look through the different types of dog foods at your local grocery store or pet store, it can be completely confusing. There are so many options to pick from with each and every brand stating that they provide the best Yorkshire Terrier nutrition.

Not all dog foods are made alike so how do you know you are picking the best for your furry little friend? It is hard to pick, as they all seem to offer a little bit of something different.

By speaking to your dogs vet, they will be able to guide you in the right direction as to what brand or type of dog food. Also, there are many websites that can be visited to get some tips and hints for creating and cooking your own dog food for your Yorkie or the particular Yorkshire Terrier nutrition that they need.

Taking the appropriate steps now will make sure that you will have a long and healthy life with your Yorkie. It isn’t hard to take that few extra moments and try something new in order to benefit your pup.

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Susan Bailey on September 30th 2008 in Home

Spotting Fake Shih Tzu Breeders

by Rebecca Simpson

When you decide it is time to bring home a Shih Tzu for you and your family you want to be certain that you are getting the best start you possible can when you start life with your new pet.

The very first thing you are going to need to do is be certain that you find the right Shih Tzu breeder and one that you can trust, as your relationship will extend way after you leave their property with your new puppy. Choosing a breeder is important so take your time and consider many.

The place you can start is any of the national breeder registries you can find on the Internet or just skip right to the National Kennel Club, which is the standard by which many breeders go by in the United States. The registry will point you towards a quality breeder and help you start your search off on the best foot possible to get the best results.

A good Shih Tzu breeder will be there for long after you take your new puppy home. A good breeder will be available to answer your questions and advice while you are raising your puppy.

If the breeder you are dealing with is not very accessible and seems unable or unwilling to answer questions then you may want to pick a different Shih Tzu breeder to deal with.

Every good breeder is very concerned about your dog’s health so a good breeder will make sure you leave their property not only with a healthy dog but with detailed care and feeding instructions so you know exactly how to care for your dog. Many of the more reputable breeders will also send you home with a sample of the type of food your dog will need so you know exactly what to get.

A reputable Shih Tzu breeder will get an extra incentive from insurance companies that the more shady breeders do not get. A registered and reputable breeder will get the option to offer new owners free pet insurance on their dog that extends for six weeks after the purchase date. The insurance companies want you to use the insurance just once on a vet appointment and then extend the insurance. The breeder just wants to make sure the dog is covered.

Any good breeder will offer many options and pieces of advice to any new or experienced owner. You should discuss with your prospective breeder any of these conditions to see if you are dealing with a reputable breeder or not. A reputable breeder will offer to take the dog back at any point in its life if you can no longer care for it, with no cash refund. That is something you do not get from a shady breeder.

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Fiona Kelly on September 30th 2008 in Home

Choosing the Right Murder Mystery Troupe for your Party

by Eric Sharp

Murder Mystery Theater, the kind that you can hire to come to your company party or large event, is growing in popularity every day. It seems that new troupes are popping up every day in cities across America. There are several to choose from now. Why this explosion in popularity?

One reason is that the quality of some murder mystery troupes is getting so much better. A good mystery is intriguing and challenging. Believable actors can transport your guests to another time and place, leaving their worlds behind. A night of suspense and thrills is so different from the mundane company event or holiday party.

So how do you choose the right murder mystery party for your guests? It depends on your tastes; there are many styles to choose from and many questions to ask. Do you want a real mystery that is a challenge to solve and keeps them guessing? or do you want a campy comedy show that is light and silly? Or a little of both? Would you like the setting to be contemporary, or shall we transport your guests back to the Forties or Victorian England? Do you want actors that blend in with you guests, or center stage campy actors? Would you enjoy a Sopranos parody, or a classic gumshoe detective story?

I joined the mystery performance world when I was 23, back in 1989. The concept was still new, they called it Audience Participation Theater. I joined a group in NJ and the style was all camp: madcap hijinx, outlandish costumes and characters, hokey but fun. Working the tables, making people laugh, I had a blast. I even wrote my own silly script that company is still using today.

When I later moved to Los Angeles, I found the murder mystery theater to be more serious out there. Actors would be placed like regular guests, you would not know who was hired and who was a real guest. The scripts had serious plots and twists. This was more compelling for the audience, with surprises and intrigue, but I noticed a lot of down time in between the excitement.

The detective in these scenarios was the only one that was not meant to blend in, and soon I won the role of the Lead Detective. I traveled all over America with my “COLUMBO meets JAY LENO” style character. Literally hundreds of times I performed as that character with this very popular mystery company.

Finally I started my own Sharpo Mysteries, with my wife Nora. We have crafted the company to be a perfect mix of fun comedy and serious sleuthing. We write mysteries with diabolic motives, some characters that blend in, and some that are over the top to keep everyone entertained. It’s a perfect mix. The mysteries are intense and clever, but the main focus is for the participants to truly have fun. We like to add strolling magic and party starters during the cocktail hour, it’s an all encompassing entertaining night.

By asking the right questions, you can find a murder mystery company in your city that truly provides a one of a kind experience. This perfect mix of mystery and comedy will leave your guests talking about this event for years!

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Eric Sharp on September 30th 2008 in Home

Fantastic DIY Gift Ideas

by Leroy Calstard

It can be very difficult to know what to get for your husband as a present, one idea is to buy tools. However how do you know what tools you should buy for your man? Christmas is quickly approaching and I never know what to buy. Someone I know suggested that I get the black and Decker firestorm set, I’ve never heard about this and so decided to check it out.

As soon as I saw what this actually was I knew I just had to buy it! As soon as possible I took a trip to sears to check it out in the flesh. I was amazed to see the special offer, it was a lot less than $170! I almost purchased a set of cheaper drill and flashlight for $160 so this is a fantastic price for a brand name kit.

I fell in love with the firestorm kit, it was amazing! I brought it there and then and walked out with it in a huge bag. This was a lot less than I was prepared to pay, so I was very pleased. The carrying case was pretty heavy and so it was quite difficult to manhandle into my car, but it was defiantly worth it.

It is quite a large box and so it can be extremely difficult to stop your husband from finding the present. However it is possible, you just have to be creative! My husband either never found it, or pretended that he didn’t. I left it in the trunk of my car so it was out of view! He was very surprised when he saw a huge box sitting under our Christmas tree!

This kit includes some very useful cordless tools including a flashlight which is very important when your lights go out. You can come across wiring even if you don’t expect to find any, using a flashlight allows you to easily see into the wall crevices to find out if you come across any cables.

The kit includes a high quality cordless drill which is extremely useful, my husband won’t be parted with it! Sometimes I think he’d bring it to bed with him if I let him! He walks around with his tool kit looking for jobs to do, it’s amazing how quickly the jobs around the house get done! Well that’s if he can use the power tools anyway! If it’s just a simple job then he’s not interested. The batteries can take a long time to charge, so you do need to plan ahead.

I think this black and Decker firestorm kit was a fantastic gift for my husband! I don’t know how I’ll be able to find something to give him next year! I just hope they come up with something as exciting for him next year.

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Leroy Calstard on September 30th 2008 in Home

Handling Financial Decisions for Elder Parents

by Alexi Jensen

Your parents have taken care of you from the very day you were born. Ah, but what happens as you all get older? The pendulum swings and suddenly you need to consider helping them out when it comes to money matters.

Financial scams focused on elders are becoming more frequent every year. Many cities now have an entire section of the police department devoted to stopping elder scams because the situation has become so bad.

When it comes to financial crimes, most criminals are not idiots. With seniors, they look for specific targets. This is usually a spouse who is not used to dealing with money, but has to because they lost their husband or wife.

Scams come and go, but all have the same desired result. To get a person to voluntarily hand over the keys to their money. As a concerned child, you have one way of always terminating such scams.

Taking the ability to make financial decisions away from a senior is the way to put an end to the scams. The power of attorney does just that. If anyone tries to move money, you will get a call from the bank or investment institution first.

The power of attorney has been around for a very long time. Most of us know of it in regard to medical care. It is used all the time to establish who has the right to make medical decision if a person is in a coma and so on.

With a financial power of attorney, you can control a wide variety of things. The most important is probably the bank account of a senior. When the bank is given proper notice, the senior essentially loses the authority to write checks, which stops scams.

The power of attorney is a relatively short document, but it packs a huge punch because of the fact it grants vitally important rights to someone. A power of attorney is highly regulated and you should use an attorney to form one so you get it right.

Discussing legal issues with mom and dad is not easy. That being said, it has to be done. If you do not address the issue, you run the risk of one or both of them being scammed and having major financial problems. It is not a risk worth taking.

With some parents, the decision to sign a power of attorney is not a big deal. They realize things have changed and accept it. With other seniors, the process is not so smooth. Ultimately, your parent has to make the decision, so you can only do so much.

As baby boomers enter their later years, financial scams are on the rise. While a power of attorney is not a mandatory tool, it makes sense in a lot of cases.

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Alexi Jensen on September 30th 2008 in Finance

What To Know What Raising A Beagle Pup

by Michelle Adams

A beagle pup is a great thing to get for you and your family as they make great family dogs and can be a lot of fun to raise and watch grow up. But beagle puppies require a lot of patience and beagle puppy care is not as easy as it may seem. Take the time to do some research on how to raise your beagle pup the right way so that it stays healthy and grows into a great family dog. Always keep your vet involved with regular appointments and consultations if something should go wrong.

A beagle pup develops in stages just like any other new born animal and if you expect your three month old beagle pup to be doing things it shouldn’t be able to do until it is ten months old then you are setting yourself and your puppy up to fail. Find out what the correct developmental expectations are for your beagle pup and keep them in mind as you try and train your beagle puppy to be what you want it to be and do the things it will need to do to get through life.

Sometimes beagle pups cannot be housebroken by traditional means and this is when a little dedication comes in to play. People usually housebreak a beagle by caging it at night, and during the day while they are gone, under the assumption that a dog will not go where it sleeps. If this does not work then try taking the dog out every hour on the hour for two days always reinforcing the notion that outside business is good and inside is bad. This may work better over caging.

Dogs respond better when they understand what is going on rather than fearing what they consider to be random violence. If your puppy barks constantly then point at it and tell it to stop with consistent but short one-word commands. Never beat your dog and never run at your dog in anger as the dog can sense this and fear is a lousy trainer.

Most, if not all, of the behavioral patterns required for beagle pups need to be taught to them while they are still pups. Walking on a leash, for example, may seem like an easy second nature thing to do but beagle pups are not born with the ability to walk on a leash, you need to teach them.

It takes patience but you need to make sure that all negative behavioral traits are eliminated when they are still young enough to learn.

Beagle puppies take a lot of patience but the more work you put in with them when they are younger the better behaved and adapted they will be when they are older.

Remember that when they are puppies they are a clean slate than is waiting to be filled, if you wait until they are too old to correctly address their behavioral issues then you will be spending the rest of your beagle’s life constantly trying to back track in its behavioral training.

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Michelle Adams on September 30th 2008 in Home

Try Adding a Touch of Color to Your Landscape Designs

by Keith Markensen

The role of color in any landscaping design is a vital one. When color is not used properly, it can destroy the integrity of the design, causing visual confusion and chaos. The correct use of color however can enhance even the simplest designs, resulting in a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.

Using Color Theory for Effective Landscaping To be able to effectively use color, knowledge of color theory is necessary. Do you know the difference between primary, secondary and tertiary colors? What about neutral colors? Using the following table will help.

Primary Colors include red, yellow and blue. Secondary Colors include green, violets or purples and oranges. Tertiary Colors are blends of the primary and secondary categories. Neutral colors include white, grays and silvers. Note: Black is not a color - it is the absence of color!

Creating Harmony between Colors The harmonious use of color occurs when colors are used properly. In order to achieve this harmony, it is necessary to study color combinations and work out which ones go together well. It is a good idea to match warm colors with other warm colors and cool to cool. Whilst there are cool and warm tones in all colors, it is generally accepted that the “cool” colors are blue, pink, purple and green, whilst the “warm” colors are red, yellow and orange.

Using colors based on your needs Select colors that reflect the purpose of the landscape design, for example, if you are after a relaxation area, greens, violets or pinks are the ideal choice. If you are looking for a vibrant space, choose bright colors such as reds, yellows and oranges. To create diversity and depth, mix neutral colors such as white or gray with primary or secondary colors, whilst tertiary colors are used to link or separate primary and secondary colors. Use a color wheel to help you match colors.

Exterior colors complimenting your interiors Matching the color scheme of your garden to that of the interior of your home allows a transition or flow between the landscape and the building. Colors in the garden that when seen from the inside of the house are complimentary and allow for harmony.

Using Seasonal Colors Choose your very own unique set of landscape plants carefully and you will ensure that there is color in your garden all of the year as well as adding interest for the viewer.

Using warm colors cautiously Unlike some people who are blessed with a brick patio and some large area to landscape, then you should be careful how you use “warm” colors such as red, yellow and orange. Their vibrancy gives the illusion of being closer or bigger. “Cool” colors will soften the effect and give the illusion that any garden even a stone patio is bigger.

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Gary Antosh on September 30th 2008 in Gardening