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History Temperament Speech and Vocalizations Colors and Markings Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Exercise Where to Adopt or Buy Further Research Strikingly beautiful and intelligent, the Victoria crowned pigeon is a fascinating ground bird to watch. It is common to see at a zoo or aviary. Although this is a gentle bird, it is not a bird for novices. Even pigeon fanciers and experienced bird owners need to ensure they have the dedicated space and time required by these majestic creatures....

Baking soda is a versatile household item that can be used in a variety of ways. From cooking and baking to cleaning and deodorizing, this staple is a must-have for all homes. Is baking soda safe for dogs? There are situations where baking soda is actually helpful to use around dogs. Small amounts of baking soda are considered harmless to use around dogs, but feeding it to them is not recommended....

If you are planning on showing your horse in an English horse show, you will need to make sure you are properly dressed. The presentation is important. Looks can make or break how well you do. You should be wearing the correct clothes to make the best impression on the judge. Specific shows may have rules about the dress and tack (horse equipment and accessories) they require and you should peruse all rules to make sure your horse complies....

Although it’s been 10,000 years since cats were domesticated, their instinct to hunt remains strong. That’s good news for people who own cats as a form of pest control, but not quite as pleasant when your furry indoor cuddle companion finds a lizard somewhere in the house and brings it to the foot of your bed. If you’ve ever wondered why cats leave “gifts” for their owners in the form of dead animals, chalk it up to their instinct to hunt prey and feed their loved ones....

Rich in diverse cultures and languages, Africa is a great source of inspiration for dog names. If you’re bringing home a new puppy or rescue dog with African roots—like the Rhodesian ridgeback, basenji, or Chinese crested (yes, this powder puff is rumored to have origins in Africa), an African dog name might seem like an obvious choice. But if you’re just looking for a unique name with rich meaning, you’ll certainly appreciate these dog names....

Behavior and Temperament Housing Heat Light Humidity Substrate Food and Water Hibernation Health Problems Choosing Different Species Hermann’s tortoise—along with the spur-thighed tortoise and the marginated tortoise—is a Mediterranean tortoise that hails from the rocky hillsides and oak and beech forests of Mediterranean Europe. This attractive tortoise, with a yellow and brown carapace, thick scales, and strong legs, is highly coveted for its mild temperament and its sheer beauty. Care for this tortoise is relatively easy if you live in a suitable climate with plenty of outdoor space....

Air pumps are widely used in aquariums to drive filters, air curtains, and other equipment. To effectively use an air pump, several accessories are useful. Those accessories may include a check valve, which should be considered mandatory with all air pumps, as well as airline tubing, gang valves, and pipe valves or T-connectors. This accessories primer explains how to use them and what to look for when choosing them.​ Pipe Valve Pipe, control, or T valves, are simply connectors that allow the tubing to be connected to various pieces of equipment....

Behavior and Temperament Housing Diet Vet Care Similar Pets Purchasing Frequently Asked Questions The Syrian hamster, also known as the golden hamster, is among the most popular choices for small pets. It’s generally easy to tame, fun to watch, and fairly low-maintenance, making it a good pet for beginners. These hamsters come from arid regions of northern Syria and southern Turkey. Most are golden brown with a lighter belly. But selective breeding has given rise to several variations in color, pattern, and hair length....

Not being able to catch your horse is really frustrating. Chasing your horse down, or tricking it before you start each ride, is not a positive way to begin your time together. It’s worth spending a little time teaching your horse to be safely caught. There may be a time when you absolutely must catch your horse—such as for visits from farriers and vets, or even something extreme, like an evacuation order....

What do you do when you need to travel and leave your cat behind? Knowing that a trusted caregiver is watching your precious cat gives you peace of mind when you have to be away. But how do you find someone you can trust? Luckily, many options are available to you, from pet boarding facilities to pet sitters, both professional and more causal like friends or family. Depending on your desires and your cat’s needs, you might be better off boarding your cat outside of your home or hiring someone to look after them in the comfortable surroundings of your house....

Why Do Kittens Scratch and Bite? Stopping the Behavior Trim the Claws Yell “Ouch” Give the Kitten a “Time-Out” Redirect the Kitten’s Attention Next Steps Kittens often scratch and bite while they’re playing and become overexcited. This behavior is natural to kittens and is not a sign of hostility or fear (most of the time), but if left unchecked, it can become a serious problem. This is especially true when your kitten’s playmate is a young child....

Even though they aren’t able to hear commands, deaf dogs can be trained to obey their owners. Of course, this process is different from training a hearing dog and comes with its own set of challenges. Training a deaf dog requires a bit of extra patience, but it’s not outside the capability of most dog owners. Some dogs are more prone to deafness than others. Dalmatians, English setters, and Australian cattle dogs seem to have high instances of congenital (present at birth) deafness....

Whether you already have a dog and you are considering a pet bird, or you already have a bird and are considering a pet dog, it will take a bit of work to integrate them into the same household. While it can be a challenge to train dogs and birds to get along, it is possible as long as you are patient and always make provisions for the safety of each animal....

Why Do Dogs Jump Up? Stopping This Behavior Withhold Attention Reward Good Behavior Practice Add a Sit Command Involve Others What Not to Do Jumping up is a common behavior problem among dogs. You may be annoyed by your excited, overly exuberant dog jumping to greet you the minute you step through the front door. But it can actually be dangerous for small children, people who have physical disabilities, some older people, and people who aren’t expecting your dog’s greeting....

Is it OK to Own a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach? Behavior and Temperament Housing Diet Vet Care Size Information Purchasing Similar Pets and Breeds Have you ever considered keeping a cockroach as a pet? Madagascar hissing cockroaches, otherwise known as “hissers,” are a dark reddish-brown to black color with a hard exoskeleton. Unlike most cockroaches, they have no wings for flight or jumping. The hissing cockroaches make pretty fascinating pets, and they don’t even mind humans petting their brittle exoskeleton....

Is it OK to Own a Sugar Glider? Behavior and Temperament Housing Diet Vet Care Purchasing Similar Pets & Breeds Frequently Asked Questions Sugar gliders are popular exotic pets, as they’re small, cute, and unique little marsupials that are native to Australia and parts of Indonesia. Their bodies are similar to squirrels with gray fur and black markings. They also have a gliding membrane—a thin, skin-like structure that extends from the front to back limbs on each side, almost like wings—that helps them travel among trees....

Maintaining good water quality is an essential component of keeping an aquarium. A great tool to help you keep track of your tank’s water is an aquarium test kit. These helpful kits give you physical numbers for your nitrogen cycle, pH, KH, GH, oxygen, and temperature so you can get a better idea of the unseen health of your tank. And keeping track of these numbers could mean the difference between having a thriving aquatic community with fish and live plants or coral and one that is deadly to your aquatic friends....

It’s not uncommon, but not normal, for female birds to lay eggs without a male bird being present. If you find an egg in your parakeet’s cage, you’re probably wondering how it happened, what to do with it, and whether or not it will hatch. If you have a female bird who lays eggs without a mate, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to see a baby bird or that the egg will hatch....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research Frequently Asked Questions The wirehaired vizsla is a medium-size sporting dog breed from Hungary that has a short, wiry coat with a longer beard and eyebrows. It is a close relative of the smooth-coat vizsla but is a bit hardier—largely thanks to its thick, protective coat. These dogs are generally lively but gentle, and they are strong athletes....

Exotic pets are often compact, quiet, and don’t require outdoor space, making them ideal pets for apartment living since they don’t bother nearby neighbors or damage your home. They are also just as fun and loving as traditional pets like dogs and cats. Browse through 12 types of exotic pets and why they are suitable for apartments, condominiums, and other small living spaces. Tip Local laws also might prohibit certain exotic animals....