Article From SubmitYOURArticle: French Country House Plan: How to Get It Right and How to Screw It Up

Hi Richard

Please accept the following article for possible
publication in 'http://aboutdoghealth.blogspot.com/',
or wherever you feel may be appropriate.

Title: French Country House Plan: How to Get It Right and How to Screw It Up
Word Count: 938
Author: Ralph Pressel
Category: Home & Family
EasyPublish: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=16765

It is preformatted to 60 CPL.

You have permission to publish this article electronically
or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated - send to jrp2h2000@yahoo.com.

Best regards

Ralph Pressel
http://www.beforethearchitect.com

French Country House Plan: How to Get It Right and How to Screw It Up
INTRODUCTION

French Country is a popular home design style nowadays,
both exterior and interior.

This article addresses the French Country home design style
on the exterior.

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

Do you think that French Country, or the effected Country
French, is a home design style? We'd say, "Not exactly."

French Country is a range of home design styles –

1. From an early French farmhouse to not quite a French
embassy

2. From residential design styles, including but not
limited to Rustic French, Rural French, French Provincial,
French Eclectic, Chateau (French version of the English
Manor House), and the namesake French Country

3. From in-between Cajun style and Louisiana Plantation
style

4. From the time period in America bracketed roughly by
WWI and WWII

Comment: There is a stylistic kinship of sorts with other
home home styles that are casually (and incorrectly) taken
as singular and not as a set. For example, American
Victorian is a/k/a (Victorian, in each instance) 2nd
Empire, Gothic, Italianate, Queen Anne, Folk, Stick,
Shingle, and Richardsonian (Romanesque). Or for example,
Southern Colonial ranges from Warburton House (1680) in
James City County, VA or Christ's Cross (a/k/a Cris Cross)
(circa 1690) in New Kent County, VA and simpler, all the
way up to Bacon's Castle (1650) in Surry County, VA and
Stratford Hall (1725) in Stratford, VA [noting that other
examples abound either standing, or artistically captured
earlier-on or reproduced, the author having chosen these
for their geographical and temporal proximity,
Post-Medieval English roots, and breadth of character].

You'll find beaucoups publications about French Country on
Amazon.com and at your local bookstore. To wit, along with
a slew of other design-oriented books, a while back we
ordered Provencal Inspiration: Living The French Country
Spirit by Home Planners, and immediately received a notice
that Amazon's out of stock. French Country is back bigtime.
As another, more recent example, our just completed custom
house plans in French Country Style for a property in
Asheville, NC will be offered later this year at $4+
million [and the facades really do have a rural sense to
them].

French Country style reminds us more than most of Craftsman
style – multiple roof slopes; windows of different sizes
and heights; broad overhangs and soffits; knee braces and
other exposures of construction structure; front-facing
gables; a mix of gable, clipped gable, shed, and hip roofs;
natural materials; masonry exterior, especially stone; a
mix of finish clads; restraint in exterior accessories and
adornments. French Country style can be comfortable and
inviting in its more relaxed presentations.

However, French Country home design departs from the Arts &
Crafts Movement in several respects: high-peaked, steeply
sloped roofs at pitches way above Craftsman's; a refinement
in exterior trim particularly in rakes; an understatement
of observable structure; gutter systems sometimes with
gussied-up copper appointments; curved rooflines to
accommodate steep slopes, larger windows, unpierced
ceilings and interior walls; broad soffits; arches and
curve-topped dormers, elaborated ironwork; balconies;
turrets; Classic columns; masonry accessories in relief,
some interest in symmetry, etc. Simplicity and elegance.

There are ways to botch French Country home design, e.g.,
hold rooflines to one pitch to assure consistent soffit
depth and single-level eaves – in the name of cheap, easy,
and stylistically insensitive; apply Corinthian columns in
lieu of, say, Tuscan, or flute the Tuscan columns; confuse
French styling with English, unbalance vertical and
horizontal to favor horizontal; not mullion grouped
windows, not apply true French casement windows; use
plastic shutters, S-dog the shutters, not apply true French
doors, asphalt shingle the roof, insist on broad facia and
frieze boards, etc.

And there are ways to develop French Country home plans by
using - contemporary technologies, among them, e.g.,
cost-efficient cultured stone, particularly in its
fieldstone representations – perhaps by Owens Corning; and
by using artistry, e.g., the half-round copper gutter
systems of A. B. Raingutters, Inc., Classic Gutter Systems,
L.L.C., the gas or electric luminaires of Charleston
Lighting Company or the aluminum wrought-like railing of
Southeaster Architectural Metals, the garage doors of the
Carriage House Door Company, and the like.

French Country style encourages applying design principles
of excellent residential design, such as, Russell Versaci's
Creating a NEW OLD HOUSE: Yesterday's Character For Today's
Home, The Taunton Press, 2003, and Jacobson, Silverstein,
and Winslow's Patterns of Home: The Ten Essentials of
Enduring Design, The Taunton Press, orig. 1941, reprint
2002; and, separately, sacred geometry. Here again, you can
embrace and succeed or disregard and fail in the design
effort.

Take, for example, the layering and other arrangement of
finish clad, notably in steeply sloped gable ends. In
Versaci's realm of signaled, or suggested, age, it is the
wise designer who specifies supposedly older, heavier
(looking) materials – fieldstone and the like – from grade
up to, say, L1, and then some lighter material higher up.
Such arrangement and layering would be particularly
in-keeping with more steeply sloped roof gable ends which
would most unlikely be originally run up 2 stories under
high, hard to support roof pitches. That is, L2 should and
would appear to be of more recent vintage than L1, and
presenting a story of age without such attention to detail
is to send the gift horse packing.

Finally, in the vernacular of Patterns of Home, again for
example, the French Country style readily lends itself to
creating a courtyard, or "Creating Rooms, Outside", and to
dormered space demonstrating design keystones of "Refuge
and Outlook" under a "Sheltering Roof," particularly if the
rooflines are low-profiled and trimmed more simply on L2
than on L1.

----------------------------------------------------
Before The Architect designs and drafts custom home plans
nationwide. Its principals Ralph and Jean Pressel have
worked hands-on together since the '60s in custom home
design, drafting, consulting, plus building and repair in
every major trade. The e-book Home Design Standards - Home
Building Standards and the website
http://www.beforethearchitect.com are enterprises of Before
The Architect's principals.

Article From SubmitYOURArticle: Dispelling Some Common Hydroponics Myths

Hi Richard

Please accept the following article for possible
publication in 'http://aboutdoghealth.blogspot.com/',
or wherever you feel may be appropriate.

Title: Dispelling Some Common Hydroponics Myths
Word Count: 847
Author: Katie Brown
Category: Home & Family
EasyPublish: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=16762

It is preformatted to 60 CPL.

You have permission to publish this article electronically
or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated - send to sotiris@greenlightsearch.com.

Best regards

Katie Brown
http://www.cnidr.org

Dispelling Some Common Hydroponics Myths
Hydroponics growing is riddled with myths and false
statements which get spread around the growing community in
the ever elusive quest for extra yield. Some of them stem
from lack of growing knowledge whilst others are created by
unscrupulous companies attempting to sell products which
don't actually work.

Water temperature – Your nutrient solution should feel COLD
at 21oC NOT WARM. 21 degrees centigrade is the ideal
temperature, it's warm enough to stimulate good growth
while cold enough to be able to carry the maximum amount of
oxygen (O2) for our purposes. As the water rises above this
temperature the water can carry less and less oxygen.

Timers on NFT systems – Once the roots are out of your 3"
cubes or baskets, you should run your nutrient pump 24
hours a day, certainly never have it off for more than 15
minutes at a time, even during lights off. Otherwise brown
coloured cell damage may occur on the root surface as the
cooling caused by evaporation of moisture off the roots
damage it's surface. It's often better to run the solution
all the time, this also helps maintain constant root zone
temperature.

CO2 and Carbon in your nutrient solution – The vegetative
leafy part of the plant above the surface feeds on Carbon
dioxide. The roots feed on and in association with Oxygen.
There is no benefit to putting carbon or carbon dioxide
into the nutrient solution on it's own. However some of the
additives do contain some carbon based compounds in
association with other ingredients.

Nutrient meter reading – Because everybody has tap water
with a different start cF and the fact that plant needs
vary from room to room, it's hard to just give people
optimum readings to aim for. cF meters are more useful for
maintaining the correct strength on a day to day basis in
re-circulating hydroponics systems once the optimum has
already been determined. After evaluation of the plants
reaction to the strength, small adjustments can also be
made using the meter.

Feed strength – Not all plants feed the same amount, not
even close relatives of the same varieties so don't believe
anyone who tells you otherwise! Environmental conditions
also affect feeding, more light = more food. As a general
guide use 1/4 to 1/2 strength hydroponics nutrient solution
for young plants, and ½ to ¾ strength for larger plants.
Most manufacturers full strength is equivalent to about
1200ppm or cF17 (with water cF 0), this is good for most
species and varieties of plants. Some tomatoes may need a
bit more, and lettuces would require a chunk less but you
realy need to experiment with the specific variety of plant
you are using to determine the optimum feed strength.

Leaf colour loss and associated rusty spots – These two
things, particularly when associated together are usually
caused by some environmental factor and NOT a nutrient
deficiency. Unless you are seriously underfeeding or
overfeeding, the feed strength you use will generally not
be the cause. It is more likely to be the light too close,
nutrient too warm, not enough air exchange, too cold
nights, wind burn, grow room too dry or another
environmental factor. Don't always believe the worst and
assume that your feed strength is wrong.

Stretching – Plants can stretch or elongate. They may do
this if there is not enough light, they may also do this if
they have too much light or heat because the light is too
close. Or it may be just genetics. There is no single
reason that can be pinpointed as the cause of your plants
stretching – don't believe anyone who tells you there is!

Input Air – As a hobby grower, for the best results,
ideally use indoor air as input air for your grow room and
expel to the outside. Outdoor fresh air inputted into the
grow room can cause temperature, humidity and bug problems.
Indoor air from a house has a better temperature and higher
CO2 content, the extracted air should then ideally leave
the building or be extracted to another room or area. Don't
assume that input air from outside will be "cleaner" or
better for your plants – it's simply not the case!

Air Cooled Shades – In line fans attached cool shades/
Jetstreams/ air cooled lights must blow through the shade.
Sucking air through the shade will NOT work as well at
cooling your lamp.

pH Adjustment in re-circulating systems – in re-circulating
hydroponics systems including gro-tanks and particularly
when using systems with rockwool slabs and hard water, the
pH will often rise on a daily basis. Don't adjust it right
down every day or you may end up with nutrient lock out
from excess phosphoric acid. Instead don't be afraid to let
it drift up for a day or two, this may be the lesser of the
two evils. Constant adjustment will damage your plants, not
help them!

Cold – Too cold a nutrient solution or air temperature at
night (lights Off) can seriously affect your yield. Try to
keep water and air temperature up to 21 degrees centigrade
to avoid damaging your yield.

----------------------------------------------------
Hopefully this will destroy some of the more common
misconceptions, but if you have any questions or aren't
sure if you've fallen for a growing myth then please call
Growell, Hydroponics and Plant lighting, by visit our
website at http://www.growell.co.uk .

Article From SubmitYOURArticle: Stop The Bullies

Hi Richard

Please accept the following article for possible
publication in 'http://aboutdoghealth.blogspot.com/',
or wherever you feel may be appropriate.

Title: Stop The Bullies
Word Count: 991
Author: Gary Crow
Category: Home & Family
EasyPublish: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=16725

It is preformatted to 60 CPL.

You have permission to publish this article electronically
or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated - send to gcrow@alltel.net.

Best regards

Gary Crow
http://www.leadershipvillage.com

Stop The Bullies
"I just want the bullying to stop. That is all I ever
wanted. I used to love going to school. Now I hate it." --
Verity Ward

What is a bully? When does the typical behavior of children
(younger and older) stop being normal and expected and
transcend to bullying? Those seem like fairly easy
questions and they used to have fairly easy answers. We
used to know which children were bullies and were
reasonably clear about when normal behavior crossed the
line into bullying, but no more.

What is a bully? That is a child who frightens or tries to
dominate other children by threatening or intimidating
them. Bullies use threats or implied threats to compel or
deter behavior, compliance, or whatever else the bully
wants.

Fundamentally, bullying is a psychological strategy used to
exercise power and control over other children. The bully
may need to occasionally follow through with the implied
threat to maintain credibility but only does that when the
victim is clearly weaker. For the most part, though, the
threat remains implied.

There are, of course, children who are violent and whose
aggression is not mediated by social norms, values, and
interpersonal influences. Their interest is not in
intimidating and controlling. Rather they attack anything
or anyone who stands between them and what they want,
whenever they want it. They are truly dangerous but the
behavior is not bullying. It may be a product of severe
emotional disturbance, socialization and life experience,
or a myriad of other factors. Whatever the cause, to call
it bullying is to miss its significance. These children are
a very real menace to other children and to the community.

Bullies may use physical threats or intimidation as in, "If
you don't comply with my wishes, I will hurt you."

They may use positional intimidation as in, "If you don't
comply with my wishes, I will tell on you, get you in
trouble, get other people to reject you… and I can do that
because I am in a position to be more credible than you."

They may use personal intimidation as in, "If you don't
comply with my wishes, I won't like you, won't hang around
with you, won't be your boyfriend/girlfriend..."

Bullying ranges from mild and occasional to serious and
chronic and for some children, it may evolve into more
violent behavior. For most children who bully, though, the
tendency may continue into adolescence and adult adjustment
but does not go beyond bullying and persisting use of
intimidation strategies and approaches with people who are
not in a position to do much about it.

That was the easy answer to the "What is a bully?"
question. The more difficult answer is to the secondary
question, "Which children are bullies?" It would seem that
we would only need to identify those children who frighten
or try to dominate other children by threatening or
intimidating them but it is no longer that simple.

Within society in general and schools in particular,
bullying has become a major focus for concern, discussion,
educational emphasis, and disciplinary intervention. This
is likely prompted by much more attention to youth
violence, well-publicized tragedies in schools and
communities, and an insidious discomfort with and fear of
young people. Whatever the origin of the increased emphasis
and whether it is warranted or unwarranted, there is an
unintended but nonetheless unfortunate outcome. The use of
the bullying concept is expanding to include more and more
children. Behavior that was previously seen as normal and
as part of the typical development and socialization of
children is being redefined as bullying and thus as
deviant. Normal children who are struggling with normal
social and emotional issues are being reclassified as
having behavior and adjustment problems that require a
variety of adult interventions.

The problem with this expanding inclusion of more and more
children into the bully circle is twofold. First, children
whose development and adjustment are quite normal and
healthy as they struggle along the often confusing and
conflicting path to adulthood are confronted with the added
pressure of being classified as bullies and being treated
as if there is something wrong with them. They need
support, guidance, and direction but do not need or benefit
from being grouped with children who do need corrective
intervention.

Second, by expanding the definition and concept, children
who do frighten or try to dominate other children by
threatening or intimidating them and who need corrective
intervention get less attention and focus. Additionally,
their behavior is interpreted as more deviant than when the
bully concept was understood more narrowly. When large
numbers of children who do not frighten or try to dominate
other children by threatening or intimidating them are
included, those who do are immediately more deviant than
most members of the group. Instead of being bullies, they
are now the "worst case" bullies. In that position, they
are likely to be punished more severely and treated less
sympathetically than they would have been before the bully
concept expanded.

The result of this is that far too many children are being
counseled and subjected to interventions they do not need
and find confusing. At the same time, children who do need
thoughtful and careful evaluation and intervention are
being treated with a punitive and harmful degree of
insensitivity that may exacerbate their adjustment problems
instead of correcting them.

Everyone would do well to refer to a child as a bully only
if he (or she) repeatedly frightens or dominates other
children by threatening or intimidating them. The majority
of children who occasionally are insensitive,
inconsiderate, rood, inappropriate, socially and
emotionally hurtful, negatively impulsive, and who
sometimes have bad judgment and are not very nice need to
stay in the "normal kid" classification where they receive
the firm and understanding support and guidance they need
and deserve, without being seen either by adults or by
themselves or other children as deviant.

----------------------------------------------------
For more articles by Gary Crow, visit
http://www.LeadershipVillage.com
or http://www.ParentsLead.com

Article From SubmitYOURArticle: Keep Your Kids Learning All Summer

Hi Richard

Please accept the following article for possible
publication in 'http://aboutdoghealth.blogspot.com/',
or wherever you feel may be appropriate.

Title: Keep Your Kids Learning All Summer
Word Count: 780
Author: Sheryl Wood
Category: Home & Family
EasyPublish: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=16702

It is preformatted to 60 CPL.

You have permission to publish this article electronically
or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated - send to admin@alleducationalsoftware.com.

Best regards

Sheryl Wood
http://www.alleducationalsoftware.com

Keep Your Kids Learning All Summer
School may be out for summer, but the learning doesn't have
to stop there. In fact, the real challenge of summer is to
let your kids relax, enjoy their leisure time with friends
and family and still keep their minds sharp and their
curiosity piqued. How can a parent help make that happen?
Read the tips below and find all kinds of activities, some
that the entire family can enjoy, that will keep your child
learning all summer.

1. Encourage daily reading. Kids don't have to read
textbooks or the classics to maintain reading skills over
the summer. Summer is for fun. Take them to the library
or the bookstore and let them choose anything that
interests them. If you are going to the beach or to visit
relatives for vacation, somewhere you know they won't have
the distractions of home, they might even welcome reading.
Give them a fun novel about kids their own age. Young
girls still love the Nancy Drew Mystery series. It builds
curiosity, problem-solving and strategy skills. If comic
books are all they will read, indulge them.

2. Summer is the perfect time to visit a museum with your
kids. Build a family outing around a favorite theme, such
as space and visit a local museum, space or science center.
If you need to be more subtle, stop by a museum
spontaneously on the road to somewhere else! If your young
child is enraptured by dinosaurs, scour the web for special
showings that you could make a trip to. Prepare for the
trip by reviewing all the different dinosaurs and facts
about them. Discuss with your child what they might see,
learn and get to do at the museum.

3. Help your child to learn about their surroundings. Do
you pass a historical marker on the road every day, but
have never stopped? Stop and read it with your family. Go
home and look up more about it. Is there a famous
homestead near you; maybe a president's birthplace. Take
the tour and learn more about it.

4. Visit a working farm, cheese, soap or candle factory.
Feed their curiosity in how things are made and how they
run. If your child has a special interest, check the web
and yellow pages and see if they can stop by for a tour or
a work shadow day.

5. Choose day or overnight camps with learning in mind.
Camps that teach about nature, wildlife and conservation do
double duty. NASA runs a space camp and there are numerous
others. Again, your web is the best place to look. You
may have missed out for this summer, but plant the seeds of
interest in your child for next year. Make it a goal for
next year. Plan, read and discuss what the experience will
be like.

6. Catch fireflies and look up with your child what makes
them light up. If your kids catch frogs, encourage them to
look up how to care and feed them. Build a fort and teach
your kids about angles and construction. Create the habit
of using reference materials to learn more about everything
around them.

7. Encourage activities that broaden your child's
perspective of the world. Ask them to volunteer to help an
elderly neighbor with their lawn or garden. Clean up your
town's park or your own roadway. Clean their room and make
a trip with them to donate their good used clothing to a
family shelter. Caring about others and spending time in
service to others is one of the best lessons your child
will ever learn.

8. If your kids spend hours with video games, barter with
them. And the younger they are when you start this, the
better. Provide them with educational software and require
that some of their computer time is spent using any of the
learning software that's now available. Not all
educational software is going to put your kids through the
rigors of learning algebra, although if they need the extra
help, that is certainly an easy source. There are numerous
computer learning games out there that teach
problem-solving, critical thinking and strategy building
that are disguised as fun, adventure games. Search some
sites with your kids and let them choose what they'd like.
They will be learning without even realizing it. There are
even clever educational software games that use cartoon
characters like Spongebob to teach kids to type.

It is by exposing your child to sights, sounds and smells
that they don't get in school that their horizons and
interests are broadened. Creating and feeding a healthy
curiosity in your child will give them a thirst they will
never outgrow.

----------------------------------------------------
Sheryl Wood is co-owner of All Educational Software, an
online store with a wide selection of software for learners
of all ages. Find software the entire family can use to
learn to type, learn a language, help with homework and
more at All Educational Software.com.
http://www.alleducationalsoftware.com

Dog Food Allergies: Saving Your Pet From Discomforts

Article Title: Dog Food Allergies: Saving Your Pet From
Discomforts
Author: Ann Marier

Are you fond of sharing your food with your dog? According to
experts, giving your dog some of your food may not be a good
idea. Some of the tasty food that we like to eat and even those
dog food that we often buy in the market could cause a lot of
miseries to our pets.

In fact, dog food allergies have been tagged as one of the
leading cause while many dogs get sick every year. If your dog
happens to be one of those breeds that are sensitive to food,
you need to be extra careful when giving him or her any times
of food. Dog food allergies can bring about some complications
that could be very harmful to your pet.

Preventing Dog Food Allergies

Almost all types of dog food allergies can be easily prevented
by proper care. Different dogs may be different allergy
triggers so be sure that you know what types of foods could
cause dog food allergies in your pet. You can easily determine
the types of food that are harmful to your per through a
process of elimination.

If you have been giving your dog a specific brand of food for
sometime and you noticed that your dog keeps scratching itself
even when it does not have any pest infestations, there is a
big probability that your dog is having some kind of allergic
reaction to the food. Try to stop giving your dog that same
kind of food and see what happens. If your dog stops scratching
itself after a few days, then do not give attempt to give it
that brand of dog food anymore.

When trying to find out what triggers dog food allergies in
your pet, you should keep a record of your findings. List down
all the types of foods that does not cause any allergic
reactions from your dog as well as those types of foods that
caused some allergic reactions.

If you happen to have somebody who takes care of your dog while
you are away, make sure that your dog caretaker knows that your
pet has dog food allergies and what are the types of foods that
triggers the allergic reaction. In case you have to go away on a
trip for a couple of day, give a list of things that could
trigger dog food allergies in your pet to your caretaker along
with the name, telephone number and address of your vet.
Instruct the caretaker to take the dog to the vet immediately
if he or she notices that the dog is not feeling so well.

About The Author: Ann Marier writes informative articles about
family life and general health issues, Her latest are about
losing weight . Click on
http://foodallergies.ultimatehealthinfo.com to read her
articles on allergies. Click on
http://www.ultimatehealthinfo.com for other articles on general
health issues

.

__,_._,___

Puppy Crate Training Is Easier Then You Think!

Article Title: Puppy Crate Training Is Easier Then You Think!
Author: Abigail Franks

For many of us, when we picked out a pet, crate training a dog
was probably not on our minds. No matter if your pet is a
puppy or an older dog, we usually had some very specific
thoughts that made the decision to get a pet easier.

Thoughts of simply having a companion around all the time and
someone to keep you company on those long walks may have
started you down the road to animal ownership. While crate
training wasn't the most important consideration in making this
decision, you probably were thinking more of all the positives a
pet can offer. Remember those dreams and desires as the only
way to have a great companion is to be able to have them be
with you and that means being in your home.

Be aware that there are some people out there that think crate
training is wrong. They do this out of ignorance and don't
truly understand the nature of dogs and canines in general.
These animals need a leader and are very social.

Crate Training is not Harsh or Callous toward the dog. and is
also not...

Pet Storage until you want to play with them again nor is it
kenneling.

Unless you plan to keep your pet outside for the rest of their
lives, it's necessary that house breaking begin almost
immediately to limit the chance of puppy accidents in the
house. While puppy accidents are not a big deal while the
excitement of a new pet is happening, it gets old and
frustrating if it continues long term.
It's better to safely confine your dog and use effective potty
training methods than to end up with an unruly animal that
cannot be trusted to keep your home urine and poop free.

Don't make the mistake of leaving house training for later.
Potty accidents and bad habits developed by your puppy can
increase the difficulty in having success with crate training a
dog later. You want to limit the chance of your dog relieving
himself in your home. It only takes about 5 seconds for a dog
to find an acceptable place, squat and you end up with a mess.
So if you cannot keep watch 100% of the time, your pet needs to
be confined. This idea forms the basis for successful potty
training.

Visit the link below for more information on the easiest way to
house train your dog.

They are fast bathroom animals and only need a few seconds to
seek out a place and go. Accidents in the house are caused by
inattentive pet owners who aren't paying enough attention when
your pet is out of his crate. Some owners think that dogs have
the same reasoning skills as humans. This lead them to believe
that accidents aren't their fault but the animal is relieving
themselves purposely in the house for spite.

Crate training a dog is key if you want to have a reliably
trained companion. Start the training off right by limiting
the possibility of developing bad behaviors before they happen.
One good idea is use a lightweight leash to control your puppy
when bringing them inside your home. This way you can move
them directly into the crate.

Although some dogs may seem to have an obstinate personality
and can be difficult, this is yet another opportunity for you
to keep control. A headstrong dog will soon associate that
being good and having your approval equals freedom and being
near you. This is a big benefit of confinement and the use of
housebreaking methods to establish who is the alpha dog or
leader of the pack.

Your end goal is to get your dog trained to be a follower of
you, the alpha or leader of the pack. During this very
critical time of crate training a dog, you need to focus on
consistency in your behavior so your pet can learn what is
expected of him.

So take the time to learn how to teach your puppy what is
expected of him. You won't be sorry and the lifetime of
enjoyment can't be measured.

About The Author: Abigail Franks writes on a variety of life
issues from a personal perspective including house breaking
dogs and puppies. Visit her site at
http://www.doggiecrates.com/puppy-potty-training/puppy-potty-training-index.html

.

__,_._,___

Why Do Dogs Bark?

Article Title: Why Do Dogs Bark?
Author: Connie Limon

Barking is probably one of the most negative qualities
attributed to dogs and/or Shih Tzu. Incessant barking is always
irritating to owners and anyone surrounding the incessant
barking dog or Shih Tzu.

Shih Tzu barks for a variety of reasons. Owners need to find
out what is causing the barking before the problem can be
successfully addressed.

Some twelve thousand years ago primitive man and the domestic
dog's ancestors coexisted rather than shared intimate
relationships we enjoy today with their descendants. As dogs
begin to show friendliness, playfulness and alarm barking
humans began to domesticate them. As humans began to appreciate
the dog's presence a bond was woven between humans and dog
companions over time.

Barking due to territoriality most likely served as an alarm
function in days when it was even more important that it is
today to know when someone or something was encroaching upon
human territory.

Another characteristic "some" dogs, and definitely includes our
Shih Tzu is its appearance to the human eye. Dogs that are cute
with infantile facial features which stimulate human parenting
instincts provide additional bonding.

All domestic dogs bark, including the Shih Tzu. Once a chorus
starts every dog within hearing distance will join in. Soon you
have a "barking" orchestra, and if you are lucky enough to be
hard of hearing at that time wearing your hearing aids, just
simply pull them out until the concert is over……..

Barking is one way dogs and Shih Tzu communicates with each
other and with their human companions. I have heard some of my
Shih Tzu actually say words during their barking sessions. Duke
will say: "I'm Mad." "I'm Mad," and at that time I am certain
his barking is most definitely because he is mad about
something. His word was toward one of his buddies. When Duke
wants to be where I am and he is in a spot in which he feels
"trapped," cannot get to me, his bark is much different. It is
more like a "scream." He has not put words together yet, but I
feel fairly certain he probably is saying to me: "let me come
in there, I can't wait any longer, I want in there now!" Once I
allow him his wishes, his barking stops.

Owners need to find out the cause of their Shih Tzu's barking
and then proceed with steps to solve the problem. There is no
way around it. All dogs, including Shih Tzu, bark from time to
time. Some are more vocal than others, just as humans, some
humans talk more than others. I have Shih Tzu that rarely if
ever bark for any reason.

This article is FREE to publish with resource box.

About The Author: Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She
publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. Sign up at:
http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

.

__,_._,___

Training Yours Dogs To Develop Desired Behaviors

Article Title: Training Yours Dogs To Develop Desired Behaviors
Author: Doris Ekpere

It is really significant to tutor a dog the appropriate conduct
while it is yet inexperienced. We all know the importance of
playing and having fun with an original pup or dog, what is too
as significant is the demand to tutor this animal expected
behavior, which is for it to recognize behaviors that are
satisfactory and those that are not.

The better warranty that the dog will hear and keep all it has
been taught, is that the lessons must be taught while the dog
is yet a pup. Dogs are known to learn rapidly and every style
of interaction between the dog and its proprietor, is ever
teaching the dog something. As the dog owner, it is your
obligation to teach the dog the correct lessons.

In order to guide the dog as easily as the household and the
community at large, appropriate training strategies are really
significant. If a dog is not decently trained, instead of it
being caring and overprotective, it becomes really harmful and
wild. You as the owner must also take the responsibility for
the dog to become a friendly companion and not a hostile one.

The tie between humans and dogs goes backwards for many
thousands of years, and dogs have been domesticated longer than
any other animals. Therefore, humans and dogs have developed a
bail not shared by many new domesticated animals. This powerful
bail is really helpful when training any dog.

Every prospective dog owners and would-be trainers should
realize how dogs act in the absence of humans. It is
significant to realize the pack hierarchy, and to take that
hierarchy to your reward as you educate your dog. All pack
animals have a lead creature, in the dogs' case it is the alpha
dog. All other members of the pack get from the alpha dog,
instruction and counseling. The alpha dog in turn provides
significant leadership in hunting, fending away other
predators, protecting their territory and new essential
endurance skills. This pack agreement is what has turned wolves
and wild dogs to be such productive predators; even as other big
predators have been driven to extermination.

What all this means to you as the dog trainer is that you must
establish yourself upward as the pack leader – the alpha dog if
you will – if you want to increase the regard and confidence of
your dog. If the dog does not know you as its superior and its
leader, you will not go really far in your training plan.

Respect is not something that can be forced. It is quite
something that is earned through the interaction of human and
dog. As the dog learns to honor and believe you, you will start
to make good progress in your training plan. A training plan
based on mutual regard and confidence is often more possible to
win in the lengthy streak than one that is based on concern and
intimidation.

A scared dog is possible to at one level change to a dog that
bites, and that is unquestionably one matter you do not need in
your life. Rewarding the dog when he does the right thing,
instead of punishing him for doing the wrong thing, is vitally
significant to the success of any training plan.

Punishment simply confuses and further makes the dog more
afraid, and it can set a training plan backwards for weeks if
not months. It is important to give the dog the option to do
the right thing or the wrong then, and to reward the dog when
it makes the right decision. For example, if the dog chases
joggers, have a friend jog by while you hold the dog on the
leash. If the dog attempts to run after the "jogger", sit him
back down and start again. You are not punishing the wrong
decision; you are merely providing the choice. When the dog
remains sitting calmly by your side, offer him a goody and lots
of kudos. The dog will quickly learn that sitting is the right
choice to take and chasing the jogger is the wrong choice.

About The Author: Doris Ekpere is a lover of pets, and she has
been working on training pets the right way. She has a website
full of tips to ensure you become a success at your dog
training programs. You can also get a free copy of her Dog
Training Tips by visiting her website:
http://www.easydogtrainings.com

.

__,_._,___

Natural Flea Remedies For Your Pet

Article Title: Natural Flea Remedies For Your Pet
Author: Dr. Stan

Commercial chemical flea treatments usually work rather quickly
and are easy to use, unfortunately, some pets and their owners
are allergic to them and need a natural flea remedy.
Fortunately for both the pet and pet owner, there are a number
of ways to get rid of fleas naturally. These remedies work for
both dog fleas as well as cat fleas.

The first thing you'll want to do is wash all of your household
bedding, rugs and furniture covers that your pet may have come
into contact with, which will probably be just about everywhere
in your home. Then sprinkle a natural flea remedy of a powdered
form of dried pennyroyal, of the mint family, or pyrethrum
powder on your carpets, furniture and any place where your pet
often sleeps. Repeat this for the next three to four days.

Now it's time to wash your pet using a natural shampoo made of
one cup of a very mild dishwashing detergent and two teaspoons
of eucalyptus oil. Before you wash your pet in this natural
flea remedy, steep pennyroyal leaves in boiling water and then
let it cool. Once you have shampooed your pet and lathered it
up with the shampoo, use the pennyroyal tea to rinse it off.

Prevent Fleas Before They Bite

Pennyroyal planted outside your home will stop a flea
infestation before it has a chance to get inside the house. If
your pet spends part of the day outside and part inside, plant
it where your pet usually hangs out while outside. As a natural
flea remedy, pennyroyal will continue to grow as a ground cover
and is attractive and has a pleasant flowery smell to it as
well.

Another natural flea remedy is to make a small tube for your
pet to wear around its neck and stuff it with pennyroyal and a
few drops of eucalyptus oil. Your tube will have to be
re-stuffed and oiled every few days to keep it fresh.

A homemade flea trap can be created that will serve as a
natural way to get rid of those pesky cat and dog fleas. Fill a
pan similar to a cookie sheet with water and place it under a
light close to the ground. At night, the fleas will jump
towards the light and fall into the water and drown.

Another good idea to prevent flea infestations is to keep your
grass cut short. The heat from the sun will kill flea eggs
before they can hatch. Also, keep your pets away from dark, wet
areas where fleas often lay their eggs and the conditions are
ideal for hatching.

About The Author: This article is brought to you as a courtesy
of http://www.allergicpet.com/dog_fleas.html, a member of the
http://www.allergicpet.com network.

.

__,_._,___

Shih Tzu - Getting Shih Tzu Puppies Start

Article Title: Shih Tzu – Getting Shih Tzu Puppies Started
Author: Connie Limon

It the absolute best that Shih Tzu puppies nurse from their
mother right away.

Shih Tzu puppies are born incompletely developed their ears and
eyes sealed. Shih Tzu puppies can smell at the time of birth.
Newborn Shih Tzu puppies are somewhat aware of their siblings.
Shih Tzu puppies will vie with each other, seeking heat and
life-giving colostrums and milk from their mother. Early Shih
Tzu nursing is highly important because colostrums antibodies
are absorbed only the first two days of life. The Shih Tzu dam
also receives benefit from the first Shih Tzu puppies' nursing.
The Shih Tzu puppy nursing action aids uterine contractions that
help her deliver the rest of her Shih Tzu puppies.

Because of the Shih Tzu dam's abdominal distention, the first
one or two Shih Tzu puppies may not be able to nurse right
away. A Shih Tzu dam's breasts are often taut during the
whelping process. Shih Tzu puppy nursing can be difficult until
pressure impeding the Shih Tzu dam's flow eases and the glands
become relatively flaccid. Usually by the third Shih Tzu puppy
delivery, enough pressure has been relieved in the dam that
sufficient Shih Tzu puppy nursing may begin, aiding her uterine
contractions. If the Shih Tzu litter is small, the dam may not
encounter this problem.

If a Shih Tzu puppy fails to nurse right away, but continues to
nose around, you will need to help the Shih Tzu puppy along. Put
the Shih Tzu puppy to one of the dam's teats and express a small
amount of colostrum. If the Shih Tzu puppy continues to nose
aimlessly, open the Shih Tzu puppy's mouth to initiate sucking.
Express some colostrums from one of the Shih Tzu dam's mammaries
and rub a small amount on and around her nipple area to help
entice the puppy in the correct direction. Gently insert her
nipple into the Shih Tzu puppy's mouth while expressing
additional colostrum/milk. Do not worry if the Shih Tzu puppy,
being one of the first born, still refuses to nurse. Shih Tzu
puppies can go one or two hours without nursing and remain
healthy.

Not every Shih Tzu puppy is born vigorous toward nursing.
Sometimes Shih Tzu puppy sibling rivalry stimulates a newborn
Shih Tzu puppy. If a Shih Tzu puppy is reluctant to nurse two
hours after birth, one or two tube feedings may be necessary to
prevent dehydration.

Any instinctive Shih Tzu puppy behavioral aberrations from the
norm should be reported to your vet. The Shih Tzu puppy could
have an unnoticeable birth defect preventing an ability to
nurse properly. Such Shih Tzu puppies should be mercifully and
humanely put to sleep as soon as possible.

Shih Tzu birth defects are not necessarily either congenital or
hereditary. In some cases, they can be caused by an
insufficiency or surplus in diet. Two beautiful and health Shih
Tzu dogs can be brought to a union that looks good, genetically
speaking, on paper. Genetics is a science. It is not exact.
Because both desirable and undesirable Shih Tzu genes are
passed from one generation to the next, one can never be
certain what will be presented in a Shih Tzu litter. There is
always some risk in Shih Tzu breeding. Shih Tzu breeding is not
for the fainthearted or for those not willing to devote a lot of
time, money and energy.

This article is FREE to publish with resource box.

About The Author: Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She
publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter
with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets.
Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at:
http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

.

__,_._,___

Dog Food Label Regulations

Article Title: Dog Food Label Regulations
Author: Tracy Phillips

The label on a dog food product gives a great deal of
information about the product inside the bag, box, can or
carton. To interpret this data properly, it is necessary to
know and understand the various parts of the label copy and the
regulations involved. The purpose of this article is to explain
current pet food regulations, and what the dog owner can
determine from information provided on the label.

Manufacturer's Information

Each label shall show the name and address of the manufacturer,
packer or distributor of the dog food. If a manufacturer has
several locations where dog food is produced, the name and
address of that manufacturer's principal place of business will
be used.
Net Weight

The net weight statement must be shown on the principal display
panel. The declaration of the net weight shall be made in
conformity with the U.S. Fair Packaging and Labeling Act and
the regulations promulgated there under.

The figures for net weight will be in the lower one-third of
the display panel, and the size of the numbers and letters will
be determined by the package size.

Net weights may appear on other parts of the label as well as
the principal display panel, particularly on larger package
sizes. Net weight statement must include weight in metric
conversion.

Nutritional Adequacy Statement

The label shall show whether or not the product provides
complete and balanced nutrition, and if it is adequate for all
life stages or just for a particular life stage, such as
maintenance of the adult cat or dog.

Toll-Free Consumer Information Number

Although this is not a required element, some manufacturers
include an 800 number on the label. This is an important
element for consumers because it can be a source of information
not available on the label and a way for dog owners to learn
more about the product they are feeding.

Who Establishes and Governs Label Requirement Policies?

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)
develops the regulations for livestock and companion animal
foods. The regulations are published annually in the AAFCO
Official Publication.

About The Author: The label on a dog food product gives a great
deal of information about the product inside the bag, box, can
or carton. To interpret this data properly, it is necessary to
know and understand the various parts of the label copy and the
regulations involved. http://www.linkbrander.com/go/45132

.

__,_._,___

Pet Odor Removal: Doing Away With Chemicals

Article Title: Pet Odor Removal: Doing Away With Chemicals
Author: IPRWire Staff Writer

Have you just finished potty training your new puppy? There is
often great relief when your young dog finally gets that they
are supposed to go outdoors to use the bathroom, but with that
relief often comes the realization that in your home you have a
huge pet odor removal problem. When your new puppy goes to the
bathroom around the home, it can be difficult to get the stains
out of the floor, let alone get all of the smells out of the
carpet and carpet padding.

The problem with puppies is that they often might use places
that you did not even see, so you may have missed the
opportunity to keep the urine from soaking into the carpet
padding. If you have linoleum floors, the urine can also seep
down below the surface of the floor and into the flooring,
causing unwanted scents. While your puppy may now be potty
trained, your house might smell more like a kennel than ever!
Who wants to return to the home after a long day at the office
only to find that their home is almost uninhabitable? This
unwelcome greeting upon entering the home is generally the
beginning of the pet odor removal process for most homeowners.

As dogs age, they often are not able to get outside before they
have to urinate. This can bring back all of those bad memories
of getting rid of the lingering scents of potty training
puppies. The problem with older dogs is that they usually do
not mean to go in the house, but they simply cannot hold it for
as long as they once could, or they simply are not aware enough
to realize that they are doing something that they normally
wouldn't do. Pet odor removal can again become a problem for
the pet owner, especially if the dog is an inside dog and
spends a lot of time alone. What can you do?

If you visit any store you will find that there is probably a
whole aisle dedicated to eliminating the lingering scents
associated with the accidents that your puppy has left behind,
as well as with the messes that older adult dogs leave around
the house. Unfortunately, most of these products are chemical
based and will only cover up the problem and not really
eliminate it. This is annoying because you will think that you
had gotten rid of the smells, but then after a couple days or
weeks the scent is back, with the addition of a faint chemical
smell.

If you want a true pet odor removal technique, you may want to
check out Quantum Pure Aire Products. This is a company that
offers a wide variety of air purifiers that will help dog and
even cat owners eliminate unwanted scents in their home for
good. The reason is that these air purifiers remove all of the
toxins and bacteria that are causing the dirty scents, leaving
the home smelling fresh and clean like it should. To learn
more about these products or to find a dealer near you, simply
visit http://www.quantumpureaire.com.

About The Author: http://www.QuantumPureAire.com is based in
Warwick, Rhode Island and is the leading manufacturer of Ozone
Air Purifiers. For more information on smoke odor removal and
pet odor removal please visit our site.

.

__,_._,___

Saving Orphaned Shih Tzu Puppies

Article Title: Saving Orphaned Shih Tzu Puppies
Author: Connie Limon

If you want to save your orphaned Shih Tzu puppies you must be
totally dedicated to them on a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week
basis for the first few weeks of life. Raising orphaned Shih
Tzu puppies is the most challenging and taxing task any Shih
Tzu breeder could undertake. Success is gratifying.

Maintain the Shih Tzu puppies in an incubator environment with
a temperature of at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit to start out.
Reduce the temperature to 85 degrees after three or four
successful days and you see the Shih Tzu puppies are stable.
Slowly decline the temperature by small increments. After a
week the temperature can be slowly declined to 80 degrees
Fahrenheit. Maintain this temperature until the Shih Tzu
puppies are three to four weeks of age. After four weeks the
temperature may be reduced to 75 degrees.

Orphaned Shih Tzu puppies are prime candidates for
failure-to-thrive syndrome. Under normal conditions, the Shih
Tzu puppy is bumped and shoved instinctively with littermates.
These natural instincts insure that the Shih Tzu puppies use
their body, pushing toward the dam for nursing, pushing in
rivalry against littermates. The dam vigorously washes her
offspring, cleaning the Shih Tzu puppies and bringing about
elimination. This tactile stimulation is crucial to the
development of a strong healthy puppy.

You must effect stimulation by gentle periodic stroking with
one or two fingers, awakening the Shih Tzu puppies directly
prior to feeding. During feeding periods it is necessary to
snuggle the Shih Tzu puppies to simulate the same type of
nurturing the dam would have provided. You become a surrogate
dam to orphaned Shih Tzu puppies.

Shih Tzu puppies are born with sealed eyes. The Shih Tzu puppy
is unable to hear at birth. You as the surrogate dam will need
to artificially stimulate the orphaned Shih Tzu puppy to
defecate and urinate. You can do this easily by using a cotton
swab dipped in baby oil. Gently swab the genitalia and anus
area until the Shih Tzu puppy urinates and defecates. The
surrogate dam must stimulate Shih Tzu puppies to elimination on
the same regular basis as feeding intervals. The orphaned Shih
Tzu puppy must be stimulated to urinate and defecate at each
feeding interval until able to independently perform these
functions.

Consult with your vet as to which puppy milk formula you should
use, and the type of feeding method.

This article is FREE to publish with resource box.

About The Author: Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She
publishes a FREE weekly newsletter with a focus upon health and
wellness for you and your pets. Designer dog clothes are offered
on the website. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up
at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

.

__,_._,___

Remote Dog Training Collars-does Your Dog Need An Attitude Adjustment

Article Title: Remote Dog Training Collars-does Your Dog Need
An Attitude Adjustment
Author: Karen McLean

Who wouldn't want a well trained dog that everyone enjoys
having around? Let's face it. No one wants a dog that bites,
nips, barks, digs, jumps, begs or growls, but how do you
achieve the preferred behaviors and eliminate the unwanted
ones? Simply put, the answer is training. At the very least,
you want your dog to know and obey the basic commands of sit,
stay, come, down and heel.

Maybe you can get your dog to obey when he is on a leash but
the second he is loose, you have lost all control. Not only is
this a cause for major frustration, it also puts your dog at
risk from any one of a number of hazards. So how do you train
your dog to obey on and off the leash? The simple solution is
a remote dog training collars.

Having been used by professional trainers for years, remote dog
training collars are gaining recognition and popularity with pet
owners as a means of achieving their goals of owning a well
trained dog who listens on and off the leash.

Unfortunately, for many years, the only type of remote dog
training collars available were shock collars. However, with
the breakthrough technology of citronella remote dog training
collars a few years ago, another option was made available. You
can now have an effective, humane aid to train your pet. A
citronella remote dog training collar is the safe alternative
to a shock collar. Dogs will respond faster when using a
remote dog training collar that does NOT cause pain or anxiety.
A shock collar causes both. Although the citronella remote dog
training collar is an electronic dog training collar, it is not
a shock collar. It uses a gentle spray of citronella which
causes a disruptive stimulus. It has been found that using the
citronella spray collar along with positive reinforcement is
more than twice as effective as an electric shock collar for
behavior modification. When you inflict pain with a shock
collar, you may very well increase anxiety and aggression in
your dog, making behavior problems even worse.

According to current statistics there are approximately 74.8
million dogs living in 44.8 million households across the
United States. Train your dog to be one of the well behaved
ones. To teach a new behavior, reward your dog 100% of the time
he offers you the correct response. To maintain a behavior that
has been learned, reward your dog intermittently and
unpredictably. Remember that perseverance and consistent
training will help you achieve your goal of the well behaved
pet.

About The Author: With a house full of abandoned and or abused
animals, I found the need to start
http://www.mypetspecialties.com , a website dedicated to
providing safety products and humane training aids like
citronella remote dog training collars to responsible pet
owners.

.

__,_._,___