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Lawyers, Guns and Money

2008-03-30T01:13:00.000-07:00

The cry for help by Warren Zevon to send lawyers, guns and money was intended to help him.

Today the cry is from the lawyers and it goes like this send clients, time and money.

Maybe the legal industry should consider asking Warren to re-write his song especially for them. A song that will help lawyers obtain new quality clients who can pay their bills while giving lawyers more time.

The ultra-ultra competitive legal industry is awash in all kind of headaches which make the day-to-day life of practicing law not much fun.

Finding new quality clients is almost a full-time job. There are so many legal specialties flooded with other lawyers offering the same specialty that the public is taking the Wal-Mart approach and buying from the lowest-cost provider.

Unfortunately this pattern just makes things worse, as lawyers feel the pressure to compete on priceso they lower their fees, which causes their competitors to do the same.

Ultimately this produces a downward spiral for legal fees which benefits the public (maybe) but hurts law practices.

Todays legal client has the same problems as yesterdays legal client had but they want more-for- less and they dont even want to pay for it.

These new clients are well informed, theyre internet savvy, they ask for discounts and they shop for lawyers like they shop for a new TV.

When they finally make a decision to retain a lawyerthey start acting like they are the only client the lawyer has. They expect their new lawyer to take their endless phone calls, get their case filed or settled overnight, balk at retainers and slow pay or no pay on future invoices.

But wait there is morebecause many lawyers feel forced into taking these new clients at low fees, they often find themselves working on cases which wont make them any money.

Once a lawyer gets to this pointits not good for the client or the lawyer. The lawyer realizes that they cant put anymore time into a case, as the client is not going to pay moreso they want to end the case as soon as possible and get it off their desk.

The client is still thinking (hoping) for the best possible outcome (typically very unreasonable) and the lawyer simply wants the case over. The lawyer feels bad about the case as its become a financial train wreck and they realize they should have charged the client a much higher fee.

The bottom line is most Lawyers are working harder today and making less than they were 10 years ago. The hourly rates they quote are often not realized and if they are its because of a huge amount of personal effort being expended each hour. Something most lawyers cant keep up for long.

If youre sick and tired of cash flow issues, trying to find clients while collecting your billingsthen you need The Most Magical Skill That Turns Almost Any Struggling Law Practice Into A Stress-Free, No-Work Profit Making Machine!

Jack McDonough is a speaker, author and consultant to attorneys who desire to make more money while working less hours. Jack is President of US Tax Marketing Corp. http://www.ustax.com

Choosing The Best Dry Dog Food

2008-03-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, the best dry dog food is the one that your dog will eat the most. It is easier to buy something that your canine will eat as opposed to having them eat dog food that may be better for them, but one that they may not necessarily like. However, there are a few things you need to consider when you walk down the pet food aisles at your local retailer.

Consider the price of the dry dog food. Often, dry dog food that are cheap or are not branded are made with ingredients like fillers and seasonings that are not necessarily good for dogs. These ingredient may be tasty, but they can be harmful to your dog. These dry dog food often have too much preservatives, which can cause your dog to develop health problems that may eventually cause them to suffer later on in life.

To increase the vitality and life expectancy of your dog, go with good quality dry dog food. You don't really need to purchase the most expensive dry dog food there is, but it is best if you stick with dry dog food that is manufactured by a reputable dog food company and is priced reasonably.

The main ingredient in the best dry dog food is rice, corn or soybean. High quality dry dog food will also have other ingredients such as beef and chicken. Stores also sell dry dog food formulated specifically to a dog's age. Manufacturers classify the different types of dry dog food as being for puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs. Purchasing the dry dog food that's most suitable for your dog's age is always important.

If you want to know what are the best dry dog foods, ask your veterinarian. Veterinarians would often recommend the branded dry dog foods. These brands are more expensive, but if you have an older dog, it may be to your advantage to pay a little more for the best dry dog food.

You will know if you've picked the best dry dog food by the way your dog looks and feels. When you take your dog for yearly shots, his coat should be healthy, his eyes should be clear and he should be full of energy. If your pet doesn't look well and seems lethargic, there could be something wrong with his diet. It is always wise to keep notes about what your dog is eating on a daily basis. This way, a veterinarian can diagnose your dog more quickly and recommend the best dry dog food for your pet.

George Chao, owner of Digital Excellent Free Online Magazine - http://www.digitalexcellent.com/

How And When To Teach Your Kids About Money

2008-03-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

As a child, money seems to somehow grow on trees as mum and dad always appear to have money to buy things.

Even though this is clearly not the case, its unfortunately the perception of children who live in a very consumer oriented world.

Rather than letting your child grow up thinking that money comes easily, you need to institute some form of education that teaches them how to understand and use money wisely.

Teach them young and they will carry forward that knowledge and live a better financial life. Heres a few tips how :

From ages 3 - 7

1. Show them the value of money by explaining what $2 can and can't buy. It may be an idea to do this whilst walking down the super market aisle or toy aisle (if you are game!).

2. Let them watch you pay for things. You may even start by letting them hand over the cash or pressing the OK button on the ATM.

3. Do not give them notes. Pay their pocket money in coins as your children need to understand how to allocate their money.

4. Show them how to visualise their goals. Get them to draw what they want to save up for. Keep the goals realistic otherwise they will very quickly lose interest.

What they learn -

Different things have different values.
Money simply doesn't grow on trees and that you have to work for your money.
You have to allocate your money for different things

From ages 7 - 12

1. Encourage them to participate in the school banking programme. This will give them a sense of regular commitment to savings.

2. Get them interested in looking at their bank statements and following how much money they are saving. This will get them used to scanning banking paperwork.

3. Get them to start thinking of a long term saving goal and work out how long it will take them to reach that goal.

4. Give them a combination of notes and coins for their pocket money. This will really strengthen their allocation abilities and efficient usage of spare change.

5. Start showing them the family bills and explain positively that the bills have to be paid to keep the family going.

What they will learn
Saving is a planned activity and something that needs a bit of thought rather that just putting away what's left over.
The value of small change
It takes a fair bit of money and good money management skills to keep a roof over their head.

For Teenagers

1. Encourage them to set up their own bank account and use internet banking.

2. Direct debit their pocket money into their account. This will get them used to dealing with intangible payments, and that electronic money is not just a set of numbers.

3. Make them responsible for their own bills such as mobiles. This is a very quick way to teach them how to spend wisely.

4. Try not to lend money to them for purchases that are of an extravagant nature. If they really want it, encourage them to get a part time job to save up enough. If you do loan money to them, do so only on the grounds that you will reduce the amount of their pocket money until the loan is paid.

5. Charge them board if they have a part time job - this will start getting them into the habit of paying their way for things they take for granted - like food and shelter!!

6. Introduce them to the concept of return on investment. Show them the value of putting some of their money into high interest savings accounts or even into managed investments.

7. Highlight the fact that if they start now they will be so much better off down the track.

What they learn

Not only will they learn more modern and more efficient banking techniques they will also learn how to curb their wants, or find ways to earn rather than going into debt for something that is not totally necessary.

It takes money to create money.

Greg R Smith is money expert from Australia who is recognized for his gift to translate the often complex money world into simple over the kitchen table language. He is a qualified financial planner with over 20 years experience and is also a best selling an author, TV presenter, columnist, public speaker and radio presenter. He is also the inventor of a revolutionary money box that will change the way children learn about money forever - visit http://www.moneyedbox.com for more.

The New MLB Drug Testing Policy

2008-03-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

If youve been following the news lately, no doubt youve heard about the new MLB drug testing policy. While you may have heard about the policy you might not understand the specific implications of the policy and how it may affect your favorite players and teams.

The new policy was brought about by threat of legislation from Congress. Under the policy tougher penalties for steroid use are implemented. Under the new policy the players are to be tested during their spring training along with at least one additional test during the regular season as well as being subject to random testing throughout the regular season.

Under the previous policy, penalties were much less severe. For example, for a first offense a player would be subject to a 10-day suspension and then 30 days for a second offense. A third offense would rate a 60 day suspension. The new policy calls for a 50 game suspension for the first offense and a 100 game offense for the second offense. For a third offense the player will receive a lifetime ban. Additionally, after the first offense the player will be subjected to amphetamines testing as well as steroid testing. This is the first time the problem of amphetamine use will have been addressed by a policy with MLB. Under the old policy a player could not receive a lifetime ban until he had been hit with at least a fifth offense.

Under the previous policy testing was also conducted on a much less frequent basis. Testing was conducted at the beginning of spring training with no additional testing through the regular season other than random testing. Under this policy, it was quite possible for a player to only be tested once from the beginning of spring training throughout the regular season.

The policy stipulated that players who tested positive for steroid the year prior to the new policy taking affect would be treated as first time offenders under the new policy if they should test positive again.

It should be noted that in the event a player is banned for life after a third offense under the new policy, a player can apply for permission to return to the game two years after receiving the ban. An independent arbitrator can be assigned for the purpose of reviewing the Commissioners decision in this instance.

The policy also takes a stab at possession of illegal steroid use in addition to use of illegal steroids. Players convicted for the possession of illegal steroids are subject to a 60-80 game suspension for the first offense and 120 games to one year for a second offense. A lifetime ban is on the table for a third offense. Players who are convicted of steroid distribution face tougher suspensions for the first offense and are subject to a lifetime ban after the first offense.

Penalties for amphetamine use are slightly less severe than for steroid use. Mandatory follow-up testing is dictated for the first offense with a 25 game suspension for the second offense. An 80 game suspension will be given for the third positive test and at the fourth offense the penalty is left up to the Commissioner, which could include a lifetime ban.

Joe Kenny writes for the UK soccer forum site, FootballTalk.org. Join the football forum for free today and have your say!

What Is Your Online Business Model?

2008-03-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

What does your perfect business look and sound like? Are you one of those that is looking to make money at home for doing nothing? Or, do you plan to work hard to earn this income in such a way as so that it can actually replace the income you are currently making? While some individuals look at the opportunities and worry if in fact it is possible to not get ripped off, others take the time to actually learn what makes them work. These are the individuals that will succeed in their online business endeavors.

You Can Make Money Online

You just need to know how. Step one in the process is learning about some of the options out there that are available. We are not talking about scams and games but legitimate businesses that you can make a great deal of money with. Once you learn what is available, you'll need to analyze which project fits with your specific being. What makes you tick, in other words? Finally, you'll need to get yourself motivated and get your products out there.

What's Out There?

There are many various types of businesses that you can secure. Many of them include selling products, software, ebooks, or the like. In some cases, you will want to produce and sell your own product while in others you'll want to use another's product to make a profit from. One this is for sure, you'll probably need to set up a website to sell it.

In most cases, individuals will set up a website for the product that they are trying to sell and then promote that site. To do this, there are a number of means that will work for them. They can use ads from the search engine Google for example. Some like to fill their website with great content so that the search engines stop there when someone does a search for their product. You can create good articles about the products you are selling and submit them to article directories which will allow others to use them. This allows people to come to your site for their product needs. Still, there are many ways in which you can promote your product through a website.

Now, before you worry that you are not Internet savvy enough to actually make a website, there is just nothing to worry about. There are simple to use software programs that will basically do the work for you. These are not overly expensive and can easily help you to create a website within a matter of minutes.

What Works For You

The best advice that you can get is to take the time to look for opportunities that appeal to you. Ask which ones actually sound good to you and determine if you could get behind selling that product or working that business. If you can put your heart into it (not necessarily a lot of money!) then you can make it work.

After you have taken the time to find out which opportunities are available, look at them side to side and stay focused. You do not want to overwhelm yourself by trying to do too many things all at once. Instead, you need to determine which one you want to start with. You can always go back for more later! Then, you'll want to build on your business through knowledge. This is very powerful to have. You can learn a lot about why a business works right online without paying a dime for it. You may want to purchase a product that will teach you, but even this is not necessarily going to make your business.

You have to make your business work. You have to invest your time in doing so. You may also need to invest a little money to earn money. But, the rewards from working your own business can be amazing. Thousands of people get started every day at a new online venture. Most of them fail not because the business will not work, but because they do not know what to do, don't put their best foot forward and they simply do not step into it with the best attitude. The best attitude is that of keenness and enthusiasm to "have a go" and put some realistic time and effort into making money. For those that are ready and willing to change their life, there is a business out there with their name on it.

Keith Lee is a motivational speaker, a life coach and a fitness instructor for the past 10 yeras. He study and did research on the Internet Marketing Industry for years. Go to his webiste http://www.MyInternetMarketingSuccess.com for some superb tips.

Choosing The Best Dry Dog Food

2008-03-28T02:10:00.000-07:00

The Vets Examination What You Should Know Before Visiting Your Veterinarian

2008-03-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

Nobody likes surprises, so it's always nice to know what to expect when you take your pet to the veterinarian. A good physical exam usually begins by weighing and recording so that a continuing record can be formed. An increase or decrease in weight can indicate a problem. Next, the temperature is taken, usually rectally with a normal temperature of 101 to 102.5 degrees for both dogs and cats.

Coat and skin are examined next as poor hair coat or skin can indicate a poor diet or dermatological infection. Coat should be shiny, not brittle and coarse, and the skin, clean and not greasy. While handling your pet, the bones, muscles, and joints, nails, feet, and lymph nodes are checked for any abnormalities. The chest, heart, and lungs are examined with a stethoscope, along with the rate and nature of respiration.

At the head, both ears are examined deep into the ear canal for infections. The visible eye structure and lids are examined and the interior of the eye is checked for cataract formation, and an examination of the mouth and throat for infected gums, loose teeth, tartar buildup on the teeth and any damage or swelling in the throat.

Lastly, at the rear, the anus, anal glands, prepuce/penis or vcalva are checked for any abnormalities, and the anal glands cleaned if they are compacted. During the examination the vet will usually ask the name of your pet's food and any other treats or vitamin supplements, along with any medication you may have given your pet.

A fecal sample will be taken for examination to check for intestinal parasites, such as hookworm and roundworm, and a blood test may be recommended if heartworm is suspected. No checkup would be complete without a flea and tick prevention/treatment with a choice as to who will administer the treatment, you or the vet. As you can see,the vets examination is one of the most important things you can do for your pet. Whatever you do, do not ever skimp out on your pets care. While the exam may sound involved and complicated, the entire process usually only takes about 30 minutes and guarantees your pet a healthier happier life.

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can read articles about anything pets as well as shop for the latest pet supplies, dog collars and more for their best friend. Feel free to check out the site at http://www.joncopets.com

Dogs And Kids

2008-03-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

Dogs and kids can live together harmoniously, if the situation is properly understood and carefully handled.Friendships between dogs and kids are both wonderful and character building for the children.

Most dog bites inflicted on kids are by the family pet, or a neighbours dog. It is not that the dog is aggressive, it is just that Mums and Dads do not understand that children, and particularly babies, act very differently to adults, and it is this unusual behaviour that upsets the dogs.

My own children were brought up with German Shepherds, supposedly well know as aggressive dogs. The dogs were fairly anti-social to strangers but to the family they were totally trust worthy. I like to think that it was because I taught the kids to behave properly around and towards the dogs.

When dogs and kids are living together it is the kids that need to be taught to treat all dogs with the greatest respect, and to understand that dogs are not toys. As soon as babies are crawling they need to be told to be kind to the family dog. Puppies are never too young to learn, neither are babies. If you have just acquired a new puppy do not let it chew you or play nip, good training for when it is a fully grown dog.

Dogs protect all things that they care about, whether that be the house, their diner, the car, their bed, kids have to understand to leave dogs alone at certain times or certain places. Some dogs are, by nature, herding dogs, so these may chase a child if it runs away. This could excite the dog to attack.

Some dogs would get defensive if they are cornered or have some one standing over them. Kids should be taught to not scream, cuddle the dog tightly or pinch them. It should be remembered that as a dog gets older it could become less tolerant, so the family dog that has always been so good with the kids suddenly nips a child. Old dog get deaf so cannot hear a child approaching, so may nip out of surprise. It is not the dogs fault!

Kids need to be told to never approach a strange dog, without asking permission. If the dog is out without its owner leave it alone.

To always approach in a steady quiet manor.

No teasing, yelling, hugging, pinching, pulling or chasing.

Always leave mothers with young alone.

Never try to stop a dogfight!

If you are approached by a strange dog, stand still; let the dog sniff you, no wriggling fingers, put them in your pocket if you have one.

Do not stare at the dog, and never run away.

If the dog is barking or growling, slowly walk away, keeping the dog in view.

Be sure your kids understand the difference between your own dog and a strange dog.

It is wise to never leave a baby or very young children alone together, no matter how well you think you know the dog.

This all sounds a little forbidding but dogs and kids really can have lots of fun together.

Valerie Dancer

More Money For Pensioners

2008-03-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

If you are dissatisfied with your pension or even
your anticipated pension, and need more money
without constantly working then this could be
your solution, it is not as impossible as it may
seem at the moment.

You need to develop a positive attitude to life
and decide that you will not be put down. Yes you
can do it and here is how to go about it. Now
with this positive attitude to life start looking
at an alternative that is not so easy to dismiss.

First to help you believe in yourself, list down
all things that you can do, list all types of
jobs you have done, the paid and unpaid, and
voluntarily and your hobbies.

This preparation will be the foundation of you
newly to be acquired skill. That skill being the
ability to generate real cash from ebay. Yes you
can make a lot of money but you need to know how
to go about it.

I have some free advice on this on my web site.

You will see lots and lots of adverts for showing
how you can make a fortune working from home only
the good ones give you really free start-up
information.

Working direct from your home on items that can
be sold and delivered electronically by email is
the route to consider. The list from above which
you have created is the key. Because electronic
books (ebooks) sell easily and well on ebay so
this is where you need to concentrate your
efforts.

So if you to want to look at ebay for yourself
tread carefully don't spend vast fortunes on
packages that offer tens of thousands per week
without any effort. If it sounds too good to be
true, then it probably is too good to be true.

Instead find guides that get you going free of
charge, then if you like what is on offer follow-
through and buy their package.

So Focus your thoughts on the future, the past is
past and cannot be changed, but in deciding where
you want to go in the future, you will increase
your chances of getting there. Always aim high,
and you too can make it a success.

If you want some free advice and guidance on to
ways to work for yourself without spending a
fortune then have a look at my web site.

In the comfort of your own home you can then read
of exciting ways to develop your own ebay income
and only when you feel comfortable with it do you
need to do anything more about it.

This could be the big solution you have been
waiting for.

John Harriyott runs Quality Solutions (UK), developing tools for the layman who wants a better life. To find out more on this visit http://www.quality-solutions.co.uk/pension.htm

How To Walk Humans

2008-03-26T06:14:00.000-07:00

The problem with many dogs nowadays is that they forget that a human is not just for Christmas, it is for life. Shortly after being born, many puppies (with the naivety and inexperience of youth, I must add) impulse buy a human. They seem to think that owning humans will be all play, forgetting that the first few months are the hardest and that theyll have to work like ahard worker.

This essential guide will help you through those first months and hopefully, provide all first-time people buyers with some invaluable insight into the bizarre workings of the human mind.

1. Entering the house. Once you walk into the house (an over-sized kennel), mark your territory immediately. Ideal locations for doing this include any expensive looking rugs or elderly relatives that are lying around. If the humans yell at you, do it again. It is important that you let them know who is boss.

2. Make yourself at home. Humans love home improvement, so try to add a bit of yourself to the house by altering the furniture. This is very easy to do, just nibble off the corner of a coffee table or scratch a door to pieces. Dont be afraid to use your imagination and try something new; my personal favourite is moving lots of human food from the inside of their fridge to the adjacent floor. When the humans discover your work, make sure you sit next to it and wag your tail so that they realise whom to accredit the alterations to. If they become over excited, mark your territory.

3. Avoiding danger. Shortly after you have settled in your new home, many humans will come to visit you. However, you need to be careful as you will inevitably encounter Children (mini humans; remember, the smaller the human, the more dangerous they are). Many children will insist on attacking you; theyll either rapidly tap you on the head or scratch your ear. This may be painful, or even just plain annoying, but please, please do not run away. Stay still (perhaps wag your tail as a sign of impatience) and pray that the mini-humans will lose interest. If you do attempt escape, the children will rapidly pursue you. Indeed, nature knows no worse predator than a determined mini-human. Upon cornering you, the children will awkwardly hoist you in the air and scratch/tap you some more. For emergency escape, mark your territory. The child will quickly abandon you. (This is not strictly true, the smallest mini-humans, the variety referred to as Bairns, Babies or Lil Tykes will probably mark their territory as well and then continue harassing you. Whimper to let them know that they have won and they will hopefully abandon you)

4. New Tricks: The older you get, the harder these are to learn, but humans will try to teach you certain performance pieces. They will often spend seven laborious hours with you (one in human time) getting you to act like them for various delicious rewards. Remember: the more you fail, the bigger the reward. It is imperative that you let the humans know that you will only perform for them if they pay you with treats. The famous actress Lassie infamously forgot this golden rule. Apparently, she started off performing tricks such as sit without edible rewards, and before long was rescuing mini-humans from mine shafts for little more than an affectionate pat on the head.

5. Exercise: Take your humans for walks regularly. Humans are notoriously lazy so will need much encouragement. When walking, you will have your humans on a lead (a cable designed to enable dogs to tow and guide their humans to various destinations). The humans will frequently pull on this lead and slow you down, but you must not let them walk at a normal pace; they will not get proper exercise if they go too slowly.

Once you are off the lead, you must protect your humans from any passing cats or cyclists. Furthermore, many humans suffer from acute amnesia in open spaces. Indeed, they very often drop a ball or a stick on the walk, which you have to return to them. Moments later, they will drop the object again. Make sure you are patient and bring the discarded object back to them each time, otherwise they will forget it.

When you return to the house, demonstrate that you realise that you are home by marking your territory.

6. Conversational English: Here are a collection of human phrases that you will find useful (do not repeat them, humans find it disturbing if their canine owners talk back to them in the same language).

Sit! - Take the weight off your feet and rest on your haunches.

Dinner! I have poured some dry, meat flavour biscuits into a bowl. Please try it. Din-dins!

Walkies!- Please take me outside.

Good Boy/Girl Congratulations are in order.

Vet- Run for your life.

Wilmas next article will be published soon. For the mean time, dogs are welcome to try her earlier work, the self-help book Finding Your Inner Puppy

Wilma Woof is the author pen name for pet humour articles published on http://www.allpetservices.co.uk, a free directory for pet services, pet sitting, dog walking, and more.

First Aid For Your Dog

2008-03-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

Most people understand or know a bit of first aid for humans but many dog owners are not as familiar with the basic first aid for their dogs. While several of the techniques are very similar it is important to review them and to keep basic first aid supplies for dogs in your house or with you when you are on an outing. A small first aid supply kit kept in your car can be a live saver for your pet.

There are several fairly common issues that can arise when you are out with your dog that require first aid attention. As with all injuries it is important to get the dog to a vet as soon as possible.

Heat stroke many dogs, especially those with short muzzles (brach cephalic) dogs such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Boxers and Pekingese can suffer from heat stroke. This occurs because the nasal passages are not long enough to allow proper cooling of the air. If you notice your dog begins to wheeze or even stagger and cough immediately discontinue the activity and get the dog into the shade or in a cool area. Sponge the dog with cool water and encourage them to drink small amounts.

Burns burns are relatively rare on dogs but occasionally happen when camping and when there are fires. Be sure to immediately apply a wet, cold compress to the burn area and apply gentle pressure. Do not use a dry cloth as it can cause problems if the area seals over with the cloth in the tissue. A moist cloth will prevent this from happening as much as possible. Never use butter or other fatty or oily substance on a burn. Keep the area clean and free from debris until it can be treated by a vet.

Cuts cuts to the body, head and feet should immediately be covered with a sterile bandage or cloth and gentle pressure applied to stop the bleeding. The dog should be immobilized in a blanket or towel to prevent any movement. Wrapping a dog in a towel or blanket can be difficult and it usually requires more than one person, especially if the dog is panicking or in pain.

Objects stuck in the mouth or throat often dogs will find bit of bone or even sticks that splinter and cause choking. If your dog is pawing at its mouth, drooling or salivating excessively or constantly working its jaw there may well be something stuck in the back of the mouth or throat. Do not attempt to pull out the object, rather immobilize the dogs muzzle using a strip of cloth or a muzzle. Never make the bandage too tight as this can cause breathing problems. Immobilize the dog and take them to a vet immediately.

Eating Poisonous substances Locate the item the dog ate and bring it with you to the vet. Do not attempt to force the dog to vomit as this can burn the esophagus and stomach and cause further complications. Immediately transport the dog to a vet. Calling ahead to let the vet know what the dog has eaten helps the vet prepare for the emergency. In addition the vet may be able to give further instructions on what to do.

Frostbite dogs that are left too long in cold conditions can get frostbite, usually on their ears, tails and feet. Bring the dog immediately indoors and apply warm, not hot, compresses to the area. Do not use a hair dryer or other direct heat source. Immediately take the dog to the vet to avoid tissue loss and permanent damage.

Many vets, colleges and grooming and training professionals offer courses in pet first aid. Plan to attend one and learn more about what you can do to help your dog in an emergency situation.

Kelly Marshall is a popular contributor at http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com - where you can find dog beds, dog steps, pet ramps, and more unique dog gear that you'll never find at your local pet store.

Training With Treats: Do It Right!

2008-03-25T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hey even Im willing to learn new things if theres a broiled lobster in it for me.

When Im hungry that is.

If Im not hungry, or if Im so distracted that a lobster wont tempt me, then Ill blow you off to continue doing what I want, not what you want.

Thats pretty much how your dog sees the issue when you train with food. If hes hungry at the moment, and if theres nothing more compelling going on, food can be a great way to reinforce behaviors you teach your dog. On the other hand, if Fido isnt food motivated, or if hes got something better to do, he wont be interested.

Nonetheless, training with food has its benefits when used as a motivator and a reward. For those dogs who just arent normally interested in treats, you can substitute play with a toy if that motivates them.

The first thing you have to know about using food in training is how NOT to use it. The primary rule is not to use it to stop an unwanted behavior. Instead, use it to create a new behavior you want to teach.

With those rules in mind, you wont teach your dog to stop growling at other dogs by using food. But you may be able to teach him to sit more quickly if theres something tasty in it for him.

Before I tell how you to deliver food treats when training, let me tell you WHY you should not use food to try and stop an unwanted behavior. The answer is because you can accidentally reinforce the very behavior youre trying to stop.

For example, lets say Fido growls at other dogs on his walks. If you tell him to stop growling, and distract him with a treat, what has he really learned?

Heres what YOURE thinkinghe stopped growling so I rewarded him for that with a cookie. He wont growl again.

Heres what FIDO is thinkingthis is cool, I growl, then mom pops me a cookie. Lets see if this workslets growl more!

Think of food as a directional reward. How, when and where you deliver it all determine whether the treat teaches your dog what you intended, or something else altogether. For example, you tell Fido to sit, and you hold a treat six inches over his head, while pushing down on his butt.

Sound about right? Wrong! By holding that treat six inches over his head, youre really teaching Fido to sit then immediately break that position in favor of jumping up to get the cookie.

Instead, start Fido standing on a closely held leash. Show him you have a cookie, by holding it at nose levelonly an inch from his sniffer-- while hes standing up. Direct his attention, and nose, slightly higher by raising the cookie only enough so that he must tend toward a sit to view it. While hes focusing upward only a couple of inches over his nose, use your other hand to push his butt down, while your cookie hand keeps the treat only a couple of inches from his nose as it moves.

As soon as he is sitting, deliver the treat to him just slightly above nose level, and slightly toward his rear. This means that to collect the treat, Fido must actually lean back into the sit more to reach it.

Mission accomplished! Food hasnt been just randomly delivered to your dog, leaving him wondering why he got it. Instead, the food has clearly communicated how he can get this treat even faster next time, by sitting when you ask.

Anyone getting hungry?

Marc Goldberg is a dog trainer specializing in the rehabilitation of difficult dogs and improving relationships. He is Vice President of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and Editor of SafeHands Journal. The author also educates professional dog trainers in his techniques. Visit him on the web at http://www.chicagodogtrainer.com or http://www.dogtraininginchicago.com.

Everything You Need to Know About Fencing

2008-03-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

Is there such a thing as fail-safe fencing and gates? Maybe someday! In the meantime, there are certain steps you should take to make sure your horse not only remains in his enclosure, but remains there safely.

First of all, consider visibility. Your horse must be able to see his fencing, otherwise injuries are imminent. While your horse shouldn't have any trouble seeing a wood or PVC fence, wire fences pose more of a problem. Colorful tape or ribbon tied to the fence every foot or so makes the horse aware of the fence.

Next, consider the height of the fence. Fencing must be high enough to deter the horse from going over, and low enough to deter him from going under. How high is high enough? About nose high (the horse's nose, that is!) should do it. If you have more than one horse in the enclosure, put it at the height of the tallest horse's nose.

There are many different types of fencing to choose from, but electric, wood, and PVC are the most popular.

Electric fence is the most economical for horsemen on a budget. The most popular forms of electric fence for horses are galvanized wire, plastic-coated wire, 1/2-inch electric polytape, or 1 1/2-inch electric polytape. A good way to make wire fence visible to your horse is to tie brightly colored cloth on every strand every three feet or so. In addition to the wire you'll need insulators, posts, hardware, and a charger. For about $200, you can buy everything you need to build a small electric fence corral.

If your budget is larger you might want to investigate woodeither board, slipboard, or rustic rail. While lumber prices will vary from area to area and do fluctuate, wood is always more expensive than wire. Wood fencing is more aesthetically pleasing than wire and will add value to your farm, but it will also cost you time and money in upkeep. Fences made out of non-pressure treated wood must be painted or stained on a regular basis, and broken or dangerous boards must be replaced as noticed. When installing board fencing, make sure you nail the boards to the inside of the posts, and not the outside, to prevent them from popping off when a horse leans against them. Nail heads should be flush, and the fence posts should be stable. If you are in a situation where it is imperative that your horses don't get outyour pasture borders a busy road, you want to separate stallions from mares, etc.you might want to consider running a strand of electric wire along the top rail of the fence.

If money is no object you can get attractive fencing with little or no upkeep. PVC fencing is aesthetically pleasing as it looks like wood from afar, but it never needs painting and won't rot, rust, splinter, or break. Some manufacturers claim it is stronger than wood.

Regardless of what kind of fence you choose, once you have it up it is important to walk it frequently for safety reasons. Make sure there are no downed wires or boards that horses could get caught in or escape through. All fencing must be free of any protruding wires, nails, or pieces of splintered wood that a horse could injure himself on. As you walk your fence, replace any broken, sagging, or splintering boards and downed wires as you notice them. Always check your posts for sturdiness by grabbing them and giving them a good tug; if you live in an area where the ground temperature changes frequently you'll need to do this more often.

Remember, function is important when it comes to fencing, but so is safety!

Ron Petracek is the founder of Equine Internets vast 15 site classified and social network. You can view its amazing size here Http://www.equineinternet.com/network.php or to further your equine habit please visit our forum by clicking here http://www.horsechitchat.com/equineforums and start posting Need to sell a horse or tack? place a free ad here http://www.click4equine.com and always the barn door in left open on purpose.

Top 10 Ways to Save Money When Youre Traveling

2008-03-24T16:12:00.000-07:00

With all of the costs of getting to wherever you are going, wouldnt it be nice to actually learn how to save money when youre there? Besides hunting for the best tickets and times to travel, you also need to learn about how to make the most of every dollar/rupee/yen/euro/etc. when youre actually there.

1. Learn the exchange rate This seems like common sense, but knowing the exchange rate will allow you to tell when youre paying too much or at least more than you want to be spending.

2. Make a budget By just setting yourself a limit on what you can spend each day, youll start to subconsciously limit yourself.

3. Make it a game If youre traveling with someone, try to make it a game to see who can spend the least amount of money. Youll be surprised at what you can do.

4. Walk Instead of paying for transportation and taxis, why not get a little exercise and save money at the same time? Or, you can always walk part of the way and pay for the rest at a much lesser fee than you would have with the whole route.

5. Eat where the locals eat Think about it. When youre at home, you have certain places that you eat because theyre good and theyre cheap. So do people in other countries.

6. Take some risks Head into the smaller stores that you find but arent all that crowded. You will find beautiful things at lower prices because theyre not catering to the tourists that are going to be there.

7. Talk to locals When youre interested in something, talk to the locals about where you might be able to find it. You will learn things that you wouldnt get out of your guidebook as well as where these activities are cheaper.

8. Dont drink your money away Try to limit your alcohol wherever you can or save it for a few special days. Its easy to spend too much.

9. Choose one thing And then spend a lot of money on that. If youre heading to Italy, for example, you might want to save your money up for a day of shopping, but be thrifty the rest of the time.

10. You only live once When all else fails, just spend a little more than you thought that you would. You arent going to be there everyday, so why not make the most of it when you are?

Matt Reider is the manager of http://www.CanuckAbroad.com, a site for finding cheap flights, talking with other budget travelers and finding out everything you need to know before going abroad.

How To Identify Money-Making Properties!

2008-03-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of the properties listed for sale each and every day. So many, that it can be overwhelming to decide on which properties might be good to buy for an investment. Maybe you are one of those individuals thinking about getting into real estate investing. Or maybe you are one of those individuals who already are investing, but have not been all that successful in finding those "diamonds in the rough". In either case, please read on and discover how to correctly identify money-making properties that will help you to realize huge profits time and time again.

Finding a realtor that you can trust is essential if you want to be successful in real estate investing. Without this "external" team member you are left using your gut and more than likely a lot of your time researching the market to help make your decision. Realtors can access information on properties in minutes that may take you hours or days to access, so use them!

When you do find a realtor that you can trust have them assist you with the following:

The property's asking price. Could you get it for less than what is being asked? A realtor can tell you.

The property's selling price and what repairs are going to be needed to get it sold for the same amount as other like homes in the area are selling for. You want to make sure your property is just a "notch above" the others in your market at your price range.

Find out how long like properties in the area have been on the market (on average). This will tell you the amount of time that you can expect until you flip it (if that's the route you're taking).

Find out the average sale price for like properties in your area also. This will help you decide how much to rehab (dollar amount and quality), and how much you can expect your house to sell for.

Next are some suggestions on how to identify a property. These tips will put you ahead of the competition in your area and help you to buy smart for huge profits:

Look for properties with large bedrooms. People like space. They don't want to walk into their bedroom and fall face down into the bed.

Look for openess in a floor plan. A very open floor plan can give the illusion of more space.

Try to locate properties with bigger kitchens. Why is this important, you may ask? The next time you have a party, take a look at where everyone gathers (understand?).

Make sure that the property you are considering has a dry basement and that the foundation is straight with no bowing. Wet basements mean leaks and leaks mean repairs, and repairs mean EXPENSES! In addition, wet basements can mean the dreaded four letter word, M-O-L-D. Steer clear of wet basements!

Find a property that has a maintenance-free exterior, such as a brick or maintenance-free vinyl siding. They're out there, you just got to look.

Consider the neighbors and the neighborhood. Come by at different times of the day to see how the neighborhood is. Is it loud? Are there a lot of kids who should be in school or people milling about who should be at work? Are there any abandoned cars? Are the neighbors' homes next to the property, across the street from the property, and behind the property in disrepair? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions--FIND ANOTHER PROPERTY!

Run a registered sex offender search for your area. You don't want to rent to a family and then find out that there is a sex offender living right next door.

Look for a property with a newer roof and mechanicals.

Find a property with some curb appeal.

These tips offered in this article should have you on your way to identifying money-making properties in no time. Once you get it down to a system, there will be no stopping you from making huge profits each and every time!

Matt Bodeman and Scott A. Rozanski are the "Millionaire Real Estate Pros." They have been helping others discover how to make huge profits in the acquisition of undervalued properties for years. In just the last year and a half alone, Matt and Scott have purchased over 50 properties using no money of their own and made millions of dollars.

How To Use Golf Training Aids To Improve Your Putting

2008-03-23T23:29:00.000-07:00

Drive for show, putt for dough. Relax the nerves, trust your line. Eyes over the ball, smooth take away. Accelerate through the ball, and...

Klinka tinka tinka -- yes! The sweet sound of a birdie putt, or even a 6-footer for par, dropping into the cup. It's a great feeling, especially if you just finished the 18th for a personal best round. Or if you just won 5 skins to make your buddies shell out some serious coin. A hot day with the putter can make you feel like a million bucks. Actually, in the case of a PGA tour pro, it can earn you a million bucks.

Too bad that for the average golfer those days seem to come so infrequently. The average Joe uses up anywhere between 32 and 40 putts per round, while the best pros average around 30. Tour pros make just under 90% of their putts from 4-5 feet, while average guys make around 50%. That's a lot of shots to give up! Think about this: if you are a thirteen handicapper, your average score is around 85, and you average 36 putts per round, then 42% of your shots are putts! And what do you spend most of your time doing at the range? If youre like most guys (and gals) then you spend most of your time beating balls with your driver or mid-irons. Yet, according to the numbers you should be spending almost half of your time on the putting green.

So how can busy people with little time for golf practice still improve their putting game without doubling practice time or drastically reducing the amount of time spent practicing their full shots? Golf training aids are the answer. Many training aids exist that can quickly improve your putting stroke and green reading without spending hours on the putting green. Just 10 to 15 minutes per practice session is required for most golfers to drop strokes quickly. Here are some tips for finding right training aids or a combination of training aids to maximize your results:

1. Look for training aids that allow you to easily see the following things: square clubface, shoulder alignment, eye placement (over the ball), foot alignment, and stroke path. Some devices use mirrors, some use low-power lasers. Most training aids have physical barriers that keep the putter on the right path during the stroke.

2. For eye alignment you can always do this: line up the putt and address the ball as if you were going to hit the putt. Then take a ball from your pocket, put it between your eyes, and allow it to drop straight down. Wherever the ball lands is where your eyes are lined up. They should be directly over the target ball.

3. Whatever device(s) you choose, make sure that they are not too large and/or awkward. My experience is that you don't use the device unless it is convenient.

4. Follow through is also important, so make sure that the training aid gives you feedback for the whole stroke. You need to see that your stroke path is straight and putter face releases properly after contact, otherwise you will have consistency problems.

5. Use the golf training aid consistently, every time you practice. You need to groove the stroke and you can't do that unless you keep at it. Also, if possible, use the device at home or at the office when you have a spare minute. This extra practice time really helps.

I wish you good luck and a hot blade!

Mike Gelhaus, once racquetball professional and published author for Racquetball Magazine, has turned his attention back to the game of Golf. With the use of golf training aids, he achieved a handicap of 3 only weeks before back surgery. Check out his site at http://the-best-golf-training-aids.com.

Make Your Money Work For You

2008-03-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

Do you want to know the real truth about how to get wealthy? The answer is very simple. All you need to do is make your money work for you, instead of you having to work for your money.

Talk to all the people who have become wealthy and I bet theyll all tell you that they make their money work for them. They may not have started out with any money but they learned that if they were smart with what money they did earn they could make it work for them instead of the other way around. This rule does not discriminate. Every one has an equal chance to do this and it is never too late to start.

Why hasnt someone explained this to you before you ask? Why didnt you learn this at school? You are probably like the majority of people who went to school. You went to learn how to get a job and work for money for the rest of your life. Wouldnt you rather have been taught how to make your money work for you? Did any of your teachers show you how to do this. Not likely. They probably didnt know how to do it either.

You were probably told from a very early age to get a good education so that you could get a good job. This good job would assure you of a steady income for the rest of your life. If you were lucky, and got a really good job where you earned lots of money, then you might be able to save up enough money for the deposit on a house. Then you could spend the rest of your life paying off your mortgage and hopefully have a few dollars left to save for your retirement.

Did anyone tell you that by the time you get around to retiring, your savings probably wont go very far. Forget about a pension because there probably wont be one by the time you retire. Well, if thats the case then once you retire it wont be too hard to have to start scrimping and economizing as youve done that all your life anyway so you are well qualified. Your only worry now is that you hope that your money wont run out before you do.

Well before its too late, just how do you go about making your money work for you? Well there are dozens of ways you can do this. The first thing you need to do is find out from the experts how they do it. You need to be prepared to start educating yourself on the different options that are available out there.

Jamie McIntyre of the 21st Century Academy offers a free DVD and e-book that will give you some great ideas on how to get your financial intelligence off to the right start. Find out what hundreds of others are doing to transform their lives by learning how to make their money work for them. To check out Jamies free offer go to www.learnwealthysecrets.com and click on the 21st Century link.

Alison has been studying and teaching self improvement and wealth creation including teaching business and personal development for over 20 years. Alisons passion is researching and sharing the wealth of resources and knowledge she has acquired . For more information as well as free tips, articles and links to other inspirational sites plus a Free 21st Century DVD or EBook or 7 Free lessons from the Teachers of The Secret visit http://LearnWealthySecrets.com

Getting Your Online Money Making Business Started

2008-03-23T05:43:00.000-07:00

For the absolute novice the foray into creating a money making online business can be quite daunting. Most don't know where to start let alone know what to do or how to do it. The one common theme, no matter what their circumstance, is "I want to make money!"

The key to having an online money making business is a change of mindset from employee to business owner or entrepreneur.

The employee clocks in every day, does the required tasks, clocks out again and spends their pay check; sometimes years in advance if they have accumulated credit debt.

The business owner however takes a wider view. He or she has a business plan, sets goals and initiates strategies to achieve them. The business owner forecasts their income in advance.

One of the first things to do, to avoid information overload, is to sit down with pencil and paper and plan your business.

Begin by defining what sort of business you want:

1. Physical products

This could be based on something as simple as your favourite craft or hobby. My teenage daughter, for example, loves making her own jewellery; so much so that our home is literally littered with her "creations". Therefore I built a website for her to sell it.

2. Electronic Products

If "making" a physical product to sell seems like too much work, how about creating a "How To" ebook about all you know on your favourite hobby, craft or area of expertise. Electronic products are very popular with those who want information but don't have the time to do all the research. Gather all your knowledge up in one package and sell your efforts again and again and again.

3. Affiliate Program Products

If you are really stuck for an idea of a product to sell, affiliate marketing is a good place to start. Affiliate marketing is selling someone else's product for a percentage of the sale. The secret to this kind of business is find products that you really love; it will be easier to succeed if your heart and soul is in your business.

There's no reason why you can't do all three - eventually - but for a start choose just one. Once you have decided, plan out ways to implement this new business. Break the plan into smaller, easy to achieve tasks. For each stage of implementing your money making business work on bite size pieces.

For example: "I need a website" can be refined into:

- Registering a Domain Name
- Find a web host
- Find an Auto-responder service
- Find a web designer or for the do-it-your-selfer, lessons on website building
- Find a payment processor

A certain amount of single-mindedness is required as it is easy to become distracted. You might find ideas popping into your head as you are working away. Great! Write them down in your ideas vault and get back to business. They can always be developed later when you have finished the task at hand

All good business owners work within time-frames. Use this to measure your effectiveness and productivity. Schedule time for your tasks, set a completion date, review your progress, and then adapt to make improvements.

While overseeing your business as a whole and focusing on the tasks required, your online money making business will take form and you'll find you will make money.

Dee-Dee MacLeod-Wilson (http://www.wanttoworkfromhome4life.com) is a Kiwi work from home mom with a holistic approach to helping like minded parents become successful work from home families.

How To Earn Money Online

2008-03-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

I swear, my former housemate was the biggest dummy on the planet. His name was Amos, and he was the epitome of the word slacker. Most of the time, he would sit around and do nothing but smoke pot, while incessantly blasting reggae music is loud as the stereo could play it. I swear, one time we had to turn off the power to his room on the surge suppressor just to get some sleep, and boy, the dummy never even got wise that was us that killed the power. He made his living selling drugs, and incense down on Teleride avenue in Colorado Springs, where all of the hippies, street punks, and freaks come together and do, more or less, not a damn thing.

One of the stupider (although by no means, stupidest) things that I saw him do was to buy a earn money online kit off of the internet. This was one of those deals were promised him that he could earn money online by setting up his own business with things he already had. This was a look to draw people in because they didn't have to expend a lot of money to do it. It advertised it as if all that he would have to do was to sit back and watch the cash roll in. Of course, the this was old fiction and he got burned.

I mean, how could you earn money online selling crappy hand dipped incense? Who in their right mind could think that? He must have actually thought that there was a market for because in his own little world he thought it was cool. Like there weren't already a million other people trying to earn money online selling the same substandard products. Could you imagine trying to sell incense and a brick and mortar business where they can't even smelled the product, to say nothing of making money online with it.

It isn't even like he had a nice, or interesting web page. He just bought a stock web design out of a box, slapped it up on the Internet and thought that that was all it would take to earn money online.

To earn money online is much more complex than most people think and we try to explain that to him, but he'd just give us that blank, irritated look that was permanently affixed to his face. He was pretty much clueless about how the marketplace ran and he surely did not want to hear about how there were already enough people trying to earn money online, and failing at it, selling the same kinds of crappy things that he was. After a while we just gave up and let him do whatever he wanted because sometimes you get tired of banging your head against a brick wall, and he was our brick wall. People definitely to earn money online, but you have to have a clue first.
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning money. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.makingmoneymanual.com/making-money/making-money/how-to-earn-money-online.html

Bones For Your Dog - Delicious Treat Or A Deadly Snack?

2008-03-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

There is a difference of opinion among canine experts as to whether bones should be given to a dog raw, cooked, hard, or soft, and even whether they should be given at all. On one point, however, there is total agreement, never give a dog splintering bones from chicken, pork, fowl, and rabbit, (although chicken bones that have been cooked in a pressure cooker until they are very soft can be quite nourishing and safe).

A marrow bone is the traditional symbol of a treat for a dog, and he obviously appreciates it. It may be too big and hard for small dogs. In fact, large breeds generally handle bones much better than small ones. Bones that are mostly cartilage, such as spinal and shoulder bones of veal, knuckle bones, and soft rib bones, are good chewing material that can be entirely consumed.

The real danger is intestinal compaction, especially in small dogs, if the masticated bone has not been mixed with other residue in the dog's stomach. A small amount should cause no trouble if it is given right after a meal. Chop and steak bones are more dangerous. Careful eaters simply clean off the meat and fat, but greedy gobblers run the risk of internal injury from jagged bone splinters. The same is true of a leg of lamb bone.

What is the best policy to follow with a dog of your own? A teething puppy between four and six months of age should always have a bone, real or imitation, to chew on. You might give an adult dog a suitable bone as on occasional treat - for example, once a week. It will give him enormous pleasure, will help to keep his teeth clean and free from tartar, and will occupy him for several hours. But a nylon bone offers the same advantages without the risk!

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed http://Joncopets.com.On the site, customers can shop for the latest dog collars and more for their best friend.

Getting to Know your Bloodhound

2008-03-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

Getting to know your dog starts by getting to know its breed. At Kingdom of Pets, we keep a large database of detailed information on the appearance, personality, and health requirements of individual dog breeds. Here's what you need to know about Bloodhounds:

Bloodhounds are traditionally known for their work in trailing escaped prisoners. However, in todays world, we also see this breed used for trailing lost people in the mountains, someone kidnapped, a child separated from a family, and so on. Considered a cousin of the Scent Hound, the Bloodhound is a dog of patience, tolerance, friendliness, and an easy-going attitude. What amazes people most is that when it comes to choosing a dog for children, the Bloodhound is truly an exceptional choice.

The only drawback to owning a Bloodhound is that the breed is considered a little on the messy side. With a long tongue that laps up water, they tend to splash and even drool. Sometimes called a St. Hubert Hound, this large breed dog has an unrivaled ability of scent, often used for finding humans in collapsed buildings, hurricanes, and other natural disaster situations. Many times, the Bloodhound is called a Gentle Giant, as a term of endearment that certainly fits.

Physical Appearance

The Bloodhound breed usually weighs as much as 110 pounds although they can be somewhat smaller, between 80 and 90 pounds. From the withers, this breed is between 23 and 27 inches tall with a beautiful smooth coat. In addition to being recognized by the American Kennel Club, this breed is also recognized under the FCI, UKC, NCA, and many others. As far as colors, the following are acceptable.

* Black and Tan
* Liver and Tan
* Red

Temperament and Personality

Different from common belief, the Bloodhound is very cheerful, mellow, and affectionate. The one aspect of owning this breed you need to remember is that Bloodhounds can be a little difficult to train, but if you put in the time, you will end up with a great all-around dog.

Without doubt, a Bloodhound is loyal to his master. In fact, when away from the owner, a Bloodhound has been known to become depressed, actually showing signs of mourning. As far as a family pet, this breed is one of the best, with a gentle spirit, even temper, and affectionate nature.

Health

Typically, a Bloodhound can live between 10 and 12 years. Because this breed is large, they are prone to developing Hip Dysplasia. Other than this, proper care with diet and exercise should keep this breed happy and healthy.

Daniel Stevens is the renowned dog trainer and author of SitStayFetch, a leading dog training guide having sold over 21,000 copies (and counting). See http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/dogbreeds/bloodhound.php for more on dog breeds.

Andy Warhol's Cats & Dogs

2008-03-21T23:45:00.000-07:00

In 1954, Andy Warhol, a renowned cat lover, published a series of 25 cat portraits in book form. Printed on limited edition, hand-colored Arches watermarked paper, the prints were privately printed and made as a Christmas keepsake. He named his book 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy. He had originally meant it to read "... Named Sam" but his mother, who did the lettering, left off the "d" and Warhol thought that the final version was fine.

In the 1950s, Warhol bought a brownstone where he and his mother resided. And, although they had owned cats for twenty years, his series of cat portraits were not based on the cats he lived with and knew. Instead, they were based on the photographs of New York Cat Photographer Walter Chandoha.

In the 1970s, Warhol 's interest with cats faded and his interest in dogs rose. His boyfriend decided they should get a short-haired Dachshund puppy. They named the dog "Archie". Warhol became so enthralled with Archie that he became his alter ego. As he held Archie during interviews, when Warhol did not want to answer a particular question, he would simply deflect the questions to Archie. Warhol took the dog everywhere - to his studio, to art openings, to dinner, to photo shoots, and to London when his work took him there.

When Archie was almost three, another Dachshund came into the picture. This dog, they called "Amos". The three of them got along famously. Amos and Archie would run around the townhouse barking, chasing and playing with one another while providing constant entertainment for Warhol. All was well, except now Archie would stay at home with his newfound friend Amos instead of gallivanting the city with Warhol.

In 1976, the art collector Peter Brant commissioned Andy Warhol to paint his Cocker Spaniel named Ginger. Andy made two paintings of Ginger, as well as drawings. Peter Brant liked these so much that he thought Warhol should do a whole series of cat and dog drawings. Andy liked the idea too. It would open up a new area of commission portraits and would give him a chance to use Archie and Amos in his work. All he lacked was a cat that would fit the modeling mold.

Warhol liked to work from photographs. He had a difficult time staging his pets and having them remain still. He decided to use stuffed animals for his first cat and dog photos. Vincent Fremont at Artnet called the finished paintings of these stuffed creatures "spooky and macabre". The paintings; however, that Warhol completed from photographs of cats and dogs are said to be vibrant and infused with personality.

After some time he began dabbling in other arts, including underground films that explored the shock value of nudity, greed, and sexuality. In 1976, after his hiatus from regular, mainstream art pursuits, Peter Brant arranged for Warhol's dog and cat series to be shown in New York and in London.

After Warhol's period of drawing and painting cats and dogs, he started on artistic renditions for Campbell soup cans and his focus on pop-culture as seen in his works centered around Marilyn Monroe. After his mother's death, Warhol became more distant from the public's eye. Warhol left his diaries behind that were later published into a book. While many say his entries are "mundane", those who study his art find that they leave a history - a post-modern history much reflective of his beliefs, ties to, and a life dedicated to explorative arts.

Melanie Light is an artist and site owner of Pet Lovers Art & Resources at http://www.artzpet.com and Petz Classic Dog Art at http://www.cafepress.com/petz . Her portfolio site can be found here: http://mlightart.com . You will find more artwork, gifts, and information on these sites.

Supplements And Their Affects On Dogs

2008-03-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Dogs can exist on a diet of meat, fruit, and vegetables. The benefits of supplements are overwhelming and can add several healthy years to your dogs life. Lifestyle and the foods and nutrients our pets receive make up 70 percent of their longevity, and 80-90 percent of the diseases in dogs are due to the degenerative processes that come with aging.

Major health changes occur in a short amount of time in dogs, as they age seven times faster than people (on the average). Aging is a process in which the bodys systems deteriorate faster than the body can repair them, and dogs have different nutritional needs at different life stages.

Supplements can pick up where dog foods leave off with the added benefit that some medical conditions, like arthritis, and hip dysphasia can be treated with supplements. Vitamins such as A, B1, and Folic Acid; and minerals like potassium probiotics can help dogs live longer, healthier lives. The ideal supplements for your dog are those targeted to your dogs particular health needs, as determined by your vet.

Supplements are available in many forms, including liquid, pill, and powder forms. Features to consider in dog supplements are; the ingredients, efficacy , form-powder, pill or liquid, easy to give, veterinarian approved, and most important, appropriate for the age, weight, breed, and health of your pet.

Always remember to consult your veterinarian before choosing or giving supplements to your pet. Make sure the supplements you choose are for dogs, not cats or people, there are differences, and a follow-up exam by your veterinarian would give you a better indication of how well your dogs metabolism is benefiting from the supplements. Once the ideal supplement is found, regular use is the key to success for good health.

Supplements can be the key to good health for your pet. But remember to always use them in moderation and do not mix supplements, this could be potentially dangerous to your pet.

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed http://www.joncopets.com. On the site, customers can read articles about anything pets as well as shop for the latest pet supplies, dog collars and more.

Do You Want A Job Or A Home Business?

2008-03-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

Which one are you looking for: a work at home job or a home based business? Did you answer "work at home job"? Most people will give the same response, not because they really want a boss breathing down their neck, just because they never realised having their own business was an option.

The sad truth is that just about all the people who don't consider anything beyond a traditional salaried job are going to be disappointed. No matter how hard or long they search, they won't find what they are hoping for. The reason for this is very simple: there are just not enough home based jobs to go round, there never have been. The work at home job opportunities you see advertised online will, on investigation, turn out to be freelance work or self-employed commission only work or, worst of all, scams. There are even unscrupulous website owners who will demand a fee from you to let you view a list of non-existent jobs.

The good news is that you can earn money at home even if you don't have a job. The Internet offers so many different ways to make money, you don't need to worry about whether you are working at a home based job or running your own home business. Here are some suggestions for different types of Internet work at home opportunities that can all be done on a part time basis to suit your commitments and personal preferences.

Online Surveys

Getting paid to participate in online surveys and focus groups is about the easiest way to earn money at home. You need absolutely no previous experience, special skills or knowledge. Market research companies just want to know the opinions of ordinary people and they are prepared to pay to get those opinions. The process is simple: you sign up with a company, they will notify you via email when a survey is available, you complete the survey, they pay you. All from the comfort of your own home.

Get Paid To

There are companies who will pay you to perform various online tasks such as reading commercial emails, signing up for free offers and playing games. This really is as easy as it sounds and you can perform these tasks at any time that suits you. You can sign up to individual companies who offer a particular variety of this type of work (eg get paid to read email companies). Alternatively, there are companies online where membership includes access to a selection of all sorts of different money earning opportunities. The individual tasks only take a matter of minutes to complete, so they can easily be done in your odd spare moments.

Online surveys and "get paid to" programs are about the closest thing to an employer-employee relationship we will be looking at in Internet opportunities. The companies send you tasks, you perform them and the companies pay you. The situation with the following work at home opportunities is different insofar as your earning capacity is limited only by your preferences and capabilities. In short: the more you do, the more you can earn.

Data Entry

Data entry programs are a little more advanced than online surveys but full training is included in the package and, if you have average typing skills and the ability to follow simple instructions, it is possible to earn a great deal of money doing online data entry. Online data entry is not the same as the old-fashioned boring and time consuming data entry work. The work can be completed in a spare half hour here and there to fit in with your day to day routines. You don't need any previous experience to do this work and, with the aid of the training provided, you can start earning money straight away.

Affiliate Marketing

Internet affiliate marketing offers a way to make money online without needing to have your own website. The way it works is simple: you promote other people's products and receive commission on the sales you achieve. It is possible to earn large sums of money through affiliate marketing. In order to be successful, you will need to learn how to market products effectively. It is, therefore, better to find a company offering training for affiliate when you first start out.

Multi Level Marketing

Multi level marketing is usually referred to just as MLM and, although it is frequently confused with illegal pyramid schemes, it is different. MLM is legitimate and can be a good way of earning money from home. The way it works is that you join the company and earn commissions for selling the company's products. ( The product could be just about anything you can think of eg satellite TV, phone services, cosmetics, wellness products, downloadable ebooks, insurance etc). You also recruit other people into the company. These people are placed in your "team" and you get paid a percentage of any sales your recruits generate. When choosing an MLM company, don't be swayed by promises of huge earnings. Obviously earning potential is important but the first thing to look at is whether you will feel happy to endorse the product. You won't be able to convince other people to purchase the product or to join you in your team if you don't have faith in the product.

You can earn money at home doing one or a combination of several of the above opportunities but none of them is a job by the usual definition of the word. You don't have a contract of employment, you are responsible for your own tax liabilities and you don't get paid holidays or sickness benefits. What you do get is your freedom and the chance to shape the quality of your own future both in financial terms and in terms of how you spend your time. Are you sure it's really a job you want?

Copyright 2006 Elaine Currie

Visit Elaine Currie at her Work At Home Income Directory Website to start your Home Business today.

Make Your Wedding Favors for Cheap!

2008-03-20T21:41:00.000-07:00

The question most brides-to-be or couples getting married have is How do I make wedding favors for cheap? Before I begin to answer this question, I want to establish one thing. When using the word cheap, it doesnt mean that youre not giving it all you have. Youve already spent a lot of money to make this day perfect. Therefore, here are some cheap or inexpensive ways to make wedding favors. Save yourself a little money, you could even use it on the honeymoon!!

Here are some really cool ideas to save money and get two things done at once:

Flower Arrangements

Make a small flower arrangement for each table setting. This can serve as both a favor for your guest and decorations for the table. You can normally find little glass containers at Wal-Mart or the Dollar Store for pretty cheap. Add some of your favorite flower(s) or a flower of your favorite color. You can even make it seasonal depending on when your wedding is. Have fun! Be creative!

Candles

I know, everybody suggests candles for wedding favors. But find your favorite shape or scent and give each of your guests a small candle. This will make it personal for your guest. It will tell your guest you wanted them there and make them feel special. Use tulle and/or ribbon to make it more festive!

Small Frames One of my favorites!

You can find small frames and make them place card holders. Each of your guest will have a frame to take home with them. If you dont want to assign seating, put a special message or quote in each frame. Your guest will have a special way of remembering you!

Wine Glass Markers

Make wine glass markers with some wire and beads. Then find a small box and wrap ribbon around it. You need one for each guest. It will also be helpful to keep each others wine glasses separate!

Personalized CD of you and your fiances favorite songs!

You can buy CDs at Office Depot, Staples, Wal-Mart, etc for cheap. Then decide on 10 or so songs to put on there. Burn them to the CD; attach a label or write on each one. You can buy print-on labels wherever you buy the CDs. Then give each guest one! Its a cool personal gift.

You can pull off your big day and save some money. Dont make it look cheap either. Make and create your wedding favors for cheap!! You can do it!! Remember to have fun and be creative!!!

Ashley Beck, President of AffordableWeddingSecrets, looks over all the resources on saving money on your wedding and shares the best with you! I want to give you a free report on How To Save Money on Wedding Favors at http://www.AffordableWeddingSecrets.com.

How To Make a Money Tree

2008-03-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

Would you like to make money even when you are not at work? The secret is to design a business at home that will continue to pay you even if you stop working. This is what's called residual income. You can learn how to make a money tree that, once cultivated, continues to make you money with just a little bit of maintenance.

Residual income is a lot like earning royalties for writing a popular book or creating a pop song. You just work hard on it in the beginning and let the money flow in day and night for years to come.

Is residual income just a foolish dream? There are many enterprising people that turned their dream of earning residual income into reality. They learned how to make a money tree by understanding the business models available about creating residual income. You can also start learning these principles and start making your own residual income.

Writing a book is one of the most popular techniques of creating residual income, but there are many types of products that you can make such as software programs or even a physical product. The secret ingredient is to design your business of selling your product to be as automated as possible. One of the best methods on how to make a money tree is to set up your business so that you don't have to continue working as hard later.

You already have an idea of how this works when you write a book. Traditionally you would sign up with a publishing company to earn royalties or sell your book by yourself. You did the hard part of writing and perfecting the book. Then the fun part happens when you publish your book and collect your profits each time your book sells.

You can also sell a product by creating an online sales page on the Internet that will convince your audience of the benefits of purchasing it. The online sales page will continue to sell your product for you once you complete setting it up.

Everyone usually has a special knowledge or skill about a particular topic. Anyone can most likely find a topic worth writing about. If the thought of getting your book printed and shipped to your buyers seems a little daunting, then you can easily write your book in PDF format that buyers can download from your website immediately after purchasing it.

Create a professional sales page to share lots of information about your product with your prospective buyer. Brush up on your marketing skills and remember to automate the system as much as possible. Learn how to make a money tree and you will make a system that will sell your work even when you don't.

If you are not ready to create your own product yet, you can make an online system selling other people's product and earn commissions. Many online businesses make use of affiliate programs to easily grow their sales force. Joining an affiliate program is free and the businesses will share their profits through commissions.

Once you do develop a book or product of your own, you can get your own sales force by starting your own affiliate program. The affiliates you recruit will refer customers to you and you compensate them through the sales they generate. This is another great example of residual income. Learn how to make a money tree and you will have the knowledge to build another on top of another until you have an orchard of money trees all earning you multiple streams of income. You could be living your dream life so learn how to make a money tree!

Copyright 2006 Antonio Jimenez

Antonio Jimenez is obsessed for information about helping others achieve financial independence. He maintains an informative blog filled with his personal advice and experiences about starting and maintaining successful online businesses. Visit http://www.inner-ambition.com.

Housebreaking 101

2008-03-20T04:54:00.000-07:00

Remember that dog who just knew you didn't want her piddling in the house? Some dogs just need a slight sense of disapproval from you, and they virtually housebreak themselves.

But you dont have one of those dogsor you wouldnt be reading this!

So how do we house train the dog who just doesnt seem to get it? Believe it or not, its simple.

I have two key words for you:

Confine and Observe.

While there is a great deal to know about food and water scheduling, timing can vary from dog to dog. So well just concentrate here on the main concept which is to confine your dog to an appropriately sized crate when you cannot observe her.

A properly sized crate is large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around, but hardly bigger than that. If you have a puppy in a large crate, shell think shes got a bedroom with a bathroom built in. Shell wee in one corner and sleep in the other.

The correctly sized crate consists of bedroom only with no bathroom. So if your crate is too large, go to the pet store and purchase a crate divider so you can temporarily reduce the accessible area.

Fido should be in her crate unless you can observe her 100%. This means that when the dog is loose, she has your undivided attention. Consider attaching a 6 foot light cord to the collar so you can more easily locate the dog, and prevent her from leaving the room without you. Simply step on the cord to stop her.

At the first sign your dog needs to go, whisk her outside. Those signs include circling, sniffing, anxiousness, whining among other symptoms.

When youre not observing your dog with full attention, you confine her to the crate. That being said, you do need to ensure your dog has liberty periodically so shes not all day in the crate. By being diligent now, youll be able to give Fido years of liberty with no worries. So its well worth the investment in time at this stage.

Be sure you spend time playing with your dog, and also let her wander outside the crate. Avoid tossing her in the crate as punishment. Alleviate your guilt feelings by placing bones smeared with peanut butter in with her.

This method makes it impossible for your dog to have an accident. Youre either right there to take her out, or shes in the crate where she wont want to go. When youve had a month with no accidents, you can begin to let the dog earn a little more liberty, five or ten minutes at a time.

That means she can be out of your sight for a few moments at a time. But only a few. You want to build slowly on a record of success until your dog literally forgets that the house ever contained a bathroom.

For each week with no accident, you can give Fido a few more moments of liberty at a time. However, if there is an accident, go back a step, and reduce that liberty. One accident in the house erases progress made for the several previous days.

Confine and Observe your way to house breaking success. In the course of just two or three months, youll have a dog you can trust in the home. Its going to be worth the effort!

Marc Goldberg is a dog trainer specializing in the rehabilitation of difficult dogs and improving relationships. He is Vice President of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and Editor of SafeHands Journal. The author also educates professional dog trainers in his techniques. Visit him on the web at http://www.chicagodogtrainer.com or http://www.dogtraininginchicago.com.

Casino Free Bonus --- Up To What Extent Is This True?

2008-03-19T20:19:00.000-07:00

Free casino bonuses is a really a buzzword in today's casino world. Play who is interested in the online casino games and people who play online casino games will be quite familiar with this term at least in the recent past. Before exactly going into the details of these free casino bonuses, we should see why online casinos are getting popular day by day.

The main thing lies in the legal norms. An online business is definitely less affected when compared to the physical ones and hence the margins are high in the online versions. So, here the businesses are happy to share a bit of their profits with the players to get ahead of competitors. Hence arises the scenario of casino free bonus in the online games.

Online casino bonuses can be classified into some categories. Bonuses without any deposit, Bonuses with first deposit reward and the bonuses associated only with poker rooms. All these three types along with some other variations are equally popular in the online casino world.

Mainly the new entrants into the market will use the first type. They will just give bonus freely. How ever, the amount will be released only after you make at least one legitimate deposit. But you can use the bonus amount to play on the same casino. This is certainly fair enough.

The second type of bonus is a bit more popular and it easily attracts players. Here the company offers bonus in two forms. The first one is in terms of cash and the second one is in terms of the percentage. Both are just two logical views. If seen closely they seem to be very same.

The third type is more popular among the casinos, which are already established. Here you have to play a minimum number of games before you actually get some bonus.

Hence all the types are definitely legal. However, you should be knowledgeable about them before going to opt for any one of those bonuses. This helps you in getting what exactly you are looking for from that casino.

Darren Dunner is a professional writer currently writing for Casino Free Bonus and Online Slots. Visit http://www.casinofreebonus.com and http://www.online--slots.com for more information on the subject.

Make Easy Money Fast By Placing Ads

2008-03-19T00:02:00.000-07:00

You can make easy money fast by placing ads . Whether you are promoting a new business opportunity or a new product, placing ads offline and online can greatly help your sales. There are a number of different things that go into placing ads from where you place your ads to your ad content.

First we will go over your ad content. When placing your ads you want an ad title that jumps out to the reader. Go over ads in the newspaper and other places that ads are posted. Read the catchy titles that jump out at you. That will give you a better understanding of what ad titles should look like. Next you want to test out your ad titles, so track every ad you put out there. Once you have your results then use the most effective ad titles in your main ad marketing campaign. Next you should work on the subject for your ads. The subject should not give away to much information, just enough to arouse curiosity.

You can place your ads offline and online they both work effectively. I would suggest using both methods. Placing your ads offline is pretty simple. Most people just post their ads everywhere but in reality you should target where you place your ads. If you are marketing a business opportunity then place your ads where people are, who would be interested in your type of opportunity. The same goes with your product, place your ads in places you would find your target market. Conventions and swap meets are pretty good places to place your ads. Placing your ads online is easier because you can post your ads in more places in less time. When placing your ads only to get sales place your ads everywhere available online. If you wanted to get more links for your website then I would suggest placing your ads in high ranking classified ad sites. Every week you should replace your old ad with a new one if allowed because the older ads tend to get dropped towards the bottom of the ad site.

The more ads you place the easier it will become to make easy money fast by placing ads .

Eric Fields wrote Make Easy Money Fast By Placing Ads. To learn more marketing techniques go to http://leadgeneration100.blogspot.com/.

Cancer and Your Pet

2008-03-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

Just say the word cancer and any of a host of undesirable thoughts will pop in your mind- and with good reason. Cancer is one of the most common of diseases among pets and increases as the pet ages. In dogs, the frequency of getting cancer is equivalent to that of a human being getting cancer. Additionally, it accounts for close to half the deaths of pets over the age of 10.

Just what is cancer and what causes it? Basically, cancer occurs when cell growth rates go out of control on, or inside, the body. What causes this chaos inside the system of the cell is still unknown-but the results have been well documented and the reputation is well known.

Some cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer or testicular cancer can be largely prevented by spaying or neutering your pet while it is still very young (6-12 months or so). Other types, however, are not as easy to detect, causing difficult preventive methods.

Following are many common types of cancers seen in pets. Skin tumors in dogs should always be checked by a vet. Breast cancers have a high rate of malignancy in dogs- often 50%. Lymphoma is common and is characterized by an enlargement of the lymph nodes. Testicular tumors are common in dogs - especially those having retained testes. Cancers occurring in the head and/or neck are common in dogs and often malignant. Aggressive and quick therapy is required. Abdominal tumors are harder to detect and very common. Watch for weight loss or abdominal enlargement.

Testing for cancer can be done in a variety of methods - from x-rays or blood tests to actual biopsy samples(tissue samples). Most often, biopsies are required to diagnose cancer.

Treatments run the gamut in cancer therapy. Since each cancer may be of a different type from animal to animal, and each animals system may react differently to the same drug, the care is highly individualized. Your veterinarian may choose from such options as chemotherapy, radiation, hyperthermia, surgery, immuno-therapy, or cryosurgery(freezing) to treat your pet, although combinations of the above methods are quite common.

Now for the big question. Just what are the success rates of these methods in treating my pet for cancer? Just as in humans, the success rate depends on a number of variables- what type of cancer your pet has, how early you detect the cancer,how you treat the cancer and how strong your pet is - just to name a few.

Sometimes the cancer can be cured if response is quick and the treatment aggressive but all pets may receive a better quality of life from therapy received. The best therapy seems, however, to be early detection through regular vet visits and keen knowledge of your pets overall rate of health at all times. Watch for changes and be aware should any unusual symptoms pop up.

COMMON SIGNS OF CANCER SEEN IN SMALLER ANIMALS

Loss of appetite
Sudden weight loss
Slow,or non-healing sores
Offensive odor
Abnormal growths or swellings
Loss of stamina
Hesitation in exercising
Persistent lameness or stiffness
Difficulty in eating or swallowing
Difficulty in breathing, defecating or urinating

Article written and reprinted with permission of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com/
Purebred Dogs, Puppies and Dog Breeders - "Your New Best Friend"

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.

Debbie Ray, owner of http://www.pedigreedpups.com and http://www.total-german-shepherd.com, is a lifelong animal lover and dog enthusiast. Interested in more dog information? Training and health tips? Thinking about getting a purebred dog? Interested in the German Shepherd Dog in particular? Need to promote your dog related website and get additional in bound links? Check out pedigreedpups.com , total-german-shepherd.com or http://www.pedigreeddogs.com (purebred dog breed directory) for more information.

Dog Kennels - What to Look For

2008-03-18T03:21:00.000-07:00

We all hate to leave our pets behind if we go on vacation or have to leave home for a few days. However, we can't always take them with us so if you don't have family or friends that are able to take care of them you most likely need a dog kennel.

To find a good kennel ask for recommendations from friends, family, your veterinarian or grooming shops.

You should then visit the kennel and look for these things.

License

Staff - are they friendly, knowledgeable, seem to care about the dogs there?

Sanitation - Are the runs clean? Do they look like they have an effective system? Do they have barriers high enough to prevent male dogs from urinating into adjacent runs?

Facility - Is it in good repair, neat, clean, smell clean and clear of debris?

Exercise area - Do dogs have freedom of movement? It the floor concrete so it can be easily disinfected? How much time do they get outdoors?

Climate - Is there proper temperature control and is ventilation good with no draughts?

Sleeping area - Is there clean, dry and large enough for a dog to stand, stretch out or turn around? Do they have solid dividers between kennels? Is the bedding clean?

Cages and gates - Are they secure and in good repair?

How many dogs in facility - Are there to many?

Food - You may want to bring food that your dog is already eating if they don't have it. You don't want him to get sick from a change in diet.

Water - Is it available at all times, does the water look clean in the bowls and are the bowls clean?

Veterinarian - Do they have a vet on call? Will they contact your vet if needed?

Find out the cost, drop off time and pick up. How far in advance should you book?

When you do take your dog for his stay take along:

Vaccinations records

Emergency contacts - veterinarian and your numbers.

Pet schedule - also pet medications with instructions.

Take something from home like a blanket or toy.

Food if needed

Usually if a dog is introduced early in life to kennels be doesn't have a problem. Of course all dogs are different and it's hard to predict how they will react. You should start with a weekend to see how he does. Ask the staff how his behavior and appetite were so you can judge how it went. Of course check his general condition and grooming to see how well he was taken care of.

If they do have trouble maybe next time you should look into a bonded pet-sitting service. Maybe you know someone who does pet sitting in your home. Check out your options.

Lastly, ask your veterinarian if your dog needs kennel cough intra-nasal vaccination.

Sandy Oberreuter has a web site on small dog breeds with articles on popular small dogs, dogs good with children and seniors, breeders, dog diseases, dog day care, hypoallergenic dogs and more.

Dog Training Collar Basics

2008-03-18T00:22:00.000-07:00

Dog training collars can be really helpful for many dog owners. There are various different styles to choose from and they are all there to help you to control your dog.

The Main Features of a Dog Training Collar

As mentioned, each different dog-training collar is different from the next. There are some that are designed to fit around the dogs noses, which control the direction of the dog. They are generally attached to the lead and every time the dog is pulling or you need to reprimand the dog for something, a quick, sharp yet gentle tug on the lead will turn your dogs head towards you, shocking them into doing what you want them to do. An example of this includes:

The Canny Collar A really good collar that has a pressure and release system. It comes in seven different sizes so it will fit all breeds of dog snugly.

Others are less humane and a lot of critics say they are cruel. These include electric shock collars. Electric shock collars do exactly as they are called - they give the dog an electric shock whenever they do something wrong. Obviously this is really cruel and as safe as most companies say they are, they should never be used over other types of dog training collars. Unfortunately, there are a lot of collars like these on the market including:

Petsafe Yard and Park Trainer The collar comes with a handheld device for the owner. When your dog is wearing the collar, all you have to do is push the button on the handheld device and it will send a shock to your dog up to 400 yards away.

Again, electronic collars really should not be used at all and they can be extremely cruel!

There are also collars that are fitted with devices that aim to stop them barking. These include the:

Static anti-bark collar This collar has a built in on/off system that you can control. It also has a built in system which detects the vibrations within the dogs bark and it can determine whether the dog is barking or whether it has suffered a knock or a scratch.

The Cost and the Techniques Involved

If you choose a collar that is similar to the Canny Collar, you can expect to pay up to $30. However, for the electronic collars you can end up paying around $280! It all depends upon the size of your dog, what you want the collar for and how far you want the device to be able to reach.

The best way to use a collar is only when the dog is doing something you do not want them to do. They shouldnt be used too frequently, as, although the shock may be unpleasant for them, they tend to get used to it and so will ignore what you want them to do. Also, always be quick to reward the dog when they have done something correctly. As long as you are gentle yet firm, the dog should learn quite quickly what is expected of them.

There are some books out there that can help you find the right techniques to help you use the dog training collars more effectively. So it is worth checking out your local library or even picking one up online.

Overall, dog-training collars can be really effective if used properly. You just have to do your research first!

Simon Oldmann is an avid dog lover, now living in the countryside he setup a dog kennel for his dogs, Simon currently writes tips and advice about dog training at http://dogtraining.zupatips.com

Are You Struggling To Make Money Online? Heres Help

2008-03-17T18:57:00.000-07:00

Do you wish there was an easier way to make money online? Of course we all do. But while there are dozens of ways to make money online, still 95% of those starting up internet businesses fail.

One of the easiest ways to make money online is selling digital products. Digital products could be an ebook, an MP3, video or software. Selling these products is fast, easy and commands big profit margins. No inventories to watch, delivery trucks are non-existent and most of all it works 24 hrs a day 7 days a week. Really an entrepreneurs dream come true.

What are the exact steps involved to make money online with selling digital products? The following steps have been proven to be effective:

1. Choose the right product.

The first thing that you need to do is get a product that you can sell. Be certain that you choose the right product to sell. In choosing a product, you can either create your own or sell other peoples product. However, you must ensure that the product you will sell is in demand and that it is something that many people want or need.

You may check clickbank.com to see and get a feel of what products are in high demand. If youve been in the internet for three to four months and have been subscribing for those newsletters from sites you visited, then you may now have an idea of what topics attract large crowds. Subjects on golf, search engine traffic, weight loss, marketing, adsense, dog training, personal improvement and make money online have proven well overtime. There are some niche subjects which also have been drawing huge following.

Remember, the number of people looking for that particular topic, product or subject is extremely important. You cant make money online if only a handful is interested with that product you are trying to sell. The number of competitors also plays an important role. As much as possible, choose an area with lesser competition. If youre just starting out, it is hard to compete with guys who are the McDonalds of the industry. If youre a bit sophisticated, there are tools available to figure this out. You can try the keyword tools and look for topics that have been searched by volumes and volumes. These tools also provide you with the number of competing websites. There is wordtracker.com, inventory.overture.com that you can start with.

If you dont want to create your own product, you can easily find hundreds of products with master resale rights. What are master resale rights (MRR)? If you own a product with MRR, you have the right to sell it to others and keep all the profit for yourself! With master resale rights, the person who buys from you can also get the resale rights to the product.

There are also products with private label rights. Private label rights give you freedom to alter the product or change the content and put your name on it as the author or originator. You may try warriorforum.com and look at the warriors special offer (WSO) for great deals on resale rights.

2. Build your website.

Now dont scratch you head yet. You will not be building a full blown website but a very simple three page site. The pages are: Sales letter Page, Thank You Page and the Download Page. Trial and completely free web building softwares are available for download. Theres the 123WYSIWYG and NVU which are both easy to use. If youre not that tech driven then you can hire some college kids in your neighborhood who might be good at building websites. Or you can try elance.com and rentacoder.com to find somebody to do this. Just focus on your goal to make money online.

To accept payment, just use Paypal. Its easy to get. Using the standard Paypal button is okay. Paypal will ask you for the redirect page, in this case, use your Thank You Page. Don't put the download link there. Put an opt-in in box instead. Say that you will send the download link in the email. The opt-in box is extremely important if you want to build a business. You will have the chance to capture customer information here. You can make money online over and over again once you have a large list of customers.

In the email that goes out after a person subscribes to your opt-in, you will tell them where to download the product. Your download page should contain a link to your product with a few directions on how to download and how to use it. If you are selling an ebook in PDF format, tell them that Adobe Reader is required and point them where they can download it.

3. Generate traffic.

Once you have chosen your product and created your website, you must attract visitors. You cannot make money online if your site doesnt have visitors. You can get traffic to your website in many different ways. However, you want to be certain that you bring in the right kind of traffic. What is the right kind of traffic? Targeted! You want visitors to come to your site because they want to, not because they are forced to. You want visitors that are interested in your product.

One of the ways to attract traffic is search engine marketing (SEM). SEM is a set of marketing methods to increase the visibility of a website in search engine results pages. Yahoo and Google are the top two sites where most of the web searches come from. Experts estimate that Google account for 45% of the searches while Yahoo gets 30%. In order to make money online, your website must be listed in the top 30 results of the search engines. Do you think anyone would bother to look on page 97 of the results? or page 110?

Your sites ranking on the search engines will depend on how optimized it is with the keywords you choose and the number of competition it has. The lesser the competition for the specific keyword, the higher the chance of your site to get to the top of the search engines and the chance to make money online is significantly increased.

Another way to get visitors to your site, and this is the quickest one, is by pay per click advertising (PPC). You can try the Google adwords program, Miva and Goclick. Be very careful, however, as PPC advertising may burn your pockets and your plan to make money online would be affected. Make sure to set your daily budget when doing PPC.

These three simple steps to make money online when followed would get you the results you want. There are dozens of ways to make money online. What separates the successful online entrepreneur from a failure is focus and consistency of efforts. Most of the people starting to make money online get sidetracked with every new program that comes to them. If you want to make money online, choose one specific way, and then follow that way until you succeed. Dont jump from program to program. Author is giving ebooks at http://www.homebusinesstoday.name

Alan Ocab specializes in teaching real people how to start profitable Internet businesses. To get instant access to some of his most profitable marketing campaigns, strategies, tools, and resources, visit his work at home website at http://www.grandstart.com.

Good Times To Be Had In Charlotte

2008-03-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

Charlotte, North Carolina boasts some very significant statistics. It is the largest city in the entire state of North Carolina and also the 20th largest city in the entire United States. Charlotte's name is steeped in history due to the fact that it got its namesake from Queen Charlotte, who was a wife of King George the third in England. The name "Charlotte Hornets" was given to the NBA team that resided in Charlotte, which also has a historical significance.

During the Revolutionary War, British invaders of Charlotte were driven out by the fierceness of the city's residents. General Cornwallis, a prominent revolutionary figure, called the city "a hornet's nest of rebellion", which resulted in the moniker of the popular basketball team. In 2002, the Hornets were moved to New Orleans, and a new team was forged for Charlotte.

Dubbed the Charlotte Bobcats, tourists can catch them playing a game at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, built in fall of 2005. Charlotte is also a football fan's delight. The Carolina Panthers are based in Charlotte, and games can be attended at the city's Bank of America stadium.

Charlotte offers extensive accommodations for those who would vacation there. Quaint bed & breakfasts can be found throughout the city, as well as world-class hotels for those who wish to have an elegant experience in the city. One unique thing to do on a trip to Charlotte would be to visit the Mint Museums. There are two: the Mint Museum of Art and the Mint Museum of Craft & Design.

These two attractions feature a range of fine art, giving visitors a unique chance to view some truly classic works. Visitors also often delight over simply walking around Charlotte's historic Fourth Ward district, which features unique architectural works such as "Grand Old Ladies", a type of home that was predominantly built in the 1800s. Downtown Charlotte has everything a bustling city needs: by simply walking the streets, you can see how wonderfully Charlotte is managed.

It is a very clean city with beautiful, towering buildings and numerous outdoor cafes due to the great weather that Charlotte features. The financial district is also of note to those who would like to explore the city; Charlotte's history is steeped in finance, and to this day its influences can be seen. Southern hospitality is definitely in full swing in this city, and there are plenty of things to keep you busy. I highly recommend that everyone should visit Charlotte at least once in their lives.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://thetravelinglifestyle.com/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://parorbetter.com/ and http://recreationsource.net/