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Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research Frequently Asked Questions The Coton de Tulear is a small non-sporting dog breed from Madagascar that has a long, wavy coat that’s said to be as soft as cotton. Cotons were bred to be friendly companion dogs. They generally form incredibly close bonds with their family and are good with kids, strangers, and other pets....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Golden Retriever Overview Further Research Frequently Asked Questions The golden retriever is a medium-sized breed boasting a golden coat—reflective of its name— originating from Scotland. Known for their kind eyes, loyalty, and enthusiasm for life, the golden retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. Though historically bred as hunting dogs in the Scottish Highlands, goldens also make excellent family dogs....

The first thing on any new puppy owner’s mind is housebreaking. I recommend you switch the word ‘breaking’ for the word ‘training’. I will, however, sometimes use it in my writing because that is what people are accustomed to saying. Doesn’t ‘breaking’ lead you to think of doing something to your puppy to teach her? The word ‘training’ reminds you that this is a learning process for you and your puppy....

Once you understand the language of dogs and what your puppy “says” with barks, wagging tail talk, and other body language, you’ll know how to talk to a dog with effective puppy communication. Remember that your puppy is not a mind reader and what’s “normal” behavior for people may be a totally foreign language and offensive to dogs. Instead, you can use “dog talk” to get your message across. Humans are primates that touch and hug, gesture with hands, and have a loud and higher-pitched tone of voice when upset....

Dancing is one of the funniest and easiest tricks to teach your bird. This behavior comes naturally to many of our feathered friends, with highly intelligent birds such as cockatiels and parrots among the easiest to train. Not only will teaching your bird to dance be entertaining, but it will also offer your pet some extra exercise and mental stimulation, both of which can improve its overall health. 01 of 06 Choose an Appropriate Training Space Juana Mari Moya / Getty Images Before you begin to teach your bird any sort of trick, it’s important to take the time to choose the best area of your home to use as a training space....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The Lancashire heeler is a small herding dog breed from England with a short, dense coat that comes in either black or liver with tan. Despite its petite size, this is a sturdy and athletic dog. Its eyes are almond-shaped, and its ears are either upright or tipped. And when it’s at ease, the dog tends to draw back its lips in its trademark “heeler smile....

Angora rabbits and their cousins, the Jersey Woolly and The American Fuzzy Lop, grow wool instead of “normal” rabbit fur. Grooming an angora rabbit regularly will lower the chance of your pet ingesting wool and help keep dander and allergens to a minimum. Although angora rabbit breeds are docile by nature, coat care is complex. Few children will be able to take on the care of Angoras without the involvement of an adult....

Did your cat go into heat before you had a chance to have her spayed? Perhaps she was an early bloomer and the onset of estrus was a surprise to you. Or, maybe you waited longer than ideal to schedule the surgery. Either way, if you want to avoid an accidental pregnancy, you will need to have your cat spayed soon. Can a cat be spayed while she is in heat?...

When you walk your dog, you need sturdy, reliable dog poop bags for your journey. Many cities have local ordinances requiring dog owners to pick up after their dog, but it’s the polite and sanitary thing to do, regardless of the laws in place. We tested 20 of the most popular dog poop bags, evaluating them on size, sturdiness, and smell, as well as how easy they were to tear off the roll, open, scoop, and close....

Looking for a small addition to a new or existing freshwater aquarium? We have the best of the small aquarium fish species for your tank. All of these fish grow to less than 3 inches, but note that many of these species do best when kept in a small school of a minimum of 3 to 5 individuals. Before adding new fish species, do your research thoroughly to make sure the required environmental parameters of the new fish species match the existing conditions in your aquarium and that all the fish are compatible....

When you think of sled dogs, Arctic-loving breeds, like Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and Samoyeds most likely come to mind. But did you know many non-sled dog breeds, like Labrador Retrievers, Poodles, Irish Setters, German Pointers, and St. Bernards—among other breeds—have been employed to pull sleds across snowy terrain, too? Whether you’re adding one of these athletic breeds to the family, love the history of sled dogs, or simply want to add a little bit of adventure to your everyday, these sled dog-inspired names just might be the perfect pick for your pooch....

How puppies play depends on a great deal. Socialization and age are huge factors, but dogs also have their own preferences. Some dogs react more to seeing objects move, while others relish tug-of-war or “hide and seek” type play. Canine play is composed of exaggerated and highly ritualized gestures used in doggy communication. That allows dogs to “play fight” for instance, yet avoid misunderstandings that might result in real fights....

Many people adopt pairs of kittens and puppies with the idea that multiple pets will keep one another company while their human companions are off at school or work. In some cases, paired pets are expected to mate. Most of the time, though, pets are just pals that may (or may not) come from the same litter. If it’s tricky to choose a name for one pet, you’d think it would be harder to choose names for two....

What Is Dry Skin? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Frequently Asked Questions Dry skin in cats can lead to flakiness, dandruff, itchiness, and general discomfort. It can also make the skin more susceptible to infection. Dry skin is symptomatic of a wide range of conditions and environmental factors, so it is essential to take your cat to the vet to receive a proper diagnosis as soon as you notice dryness....

Among aquarium enthusiasts who keep bettas, it is usually the male fish that are known as the “colorful ones.” Oftentimes the males are favored over the females not only for their color, but also because males have longer tails and more dominating personalities. But this doesn’t mean that the females are all drab, colorless fish. The betta fish is native to Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia, and while most bettas sold in pet stores today are only distantly related to the natives of Southeast Asia, they still have some features in common....

Your pet ferret can be litter box trained. With patience and consistency, you can get your ferret to use a litter box and reduce messes during play time. It’s easier than you think. Litter for Ferrets The litter box or pan must be big enough for the ferret, but it can be shallow. Ferrets don’t bury their feces, so you only need a thin layer of litter. Ferrets tend to dig around in their litter, so it is best to select litter that is unscented and dust free so they don’t end up with irritated respiratory systems....

House soiling, or eliminating outside of the litter box, is one of the most common issues for cat parents. It is estimated that about 10% of pet cats struggle with this behavior. However, house soiling can either be a behavior in which a cat is truly peeing outside of the litter box or it can be urine spraying, sometimes also called urine marking. What Is Spraying in Cats? On the surface, spraying seems similar to urinating outside the box....

Characteristics Origin Colors and Markings Tankmates Care Diet and Feeding Gender Differences Breeding Further Research If you’re looking for an easy-to-care-for freshwater fish that doubles as a conversation piece, you can’t go wrong with the Mickey Mouse platy (also known as the golden moon platy or moonfish). The Mickey Mouse platy boasts a “hidden Mickey” design located near its tail, is tolerant of a wide range of water conditions, and is relatively easy to breed....

History Temperament Speech and Vocalizations Colors and Markings Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Exercise Where to Adopt or Buy Further Research Eye-catching and charmingly easy-going, severe macaws are the largest of the mini macaws. These birds pack a lot of personality into a smaller, easier-to-care-for package. They are also among the best talkers and enjoy socializing with their human flock. Origin and History The severe macaw is native to southern Central America and northern South America....

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for most animals, including humans and dogs. While humans and certain animals are able to synthesize Vitamin D from the sun via their skin, dogs mainly get Vitamin D from their diets. Although dogs need Vitamin D to survive and thrive, too much Vitamin D can be toxic to dogs. Dogs and Vitamin D Dogs need a certain amount of Vitamin D in their diets to maintain a healthy balance of calcium and phosphorus in their bodies....