Jack Russel Terrier Or Parson Russel Terrier

Our Jack Russel Terrier dog, Champ, is  a  very  energetic dog.  He would  play with you all day long if you will.  Whatever you do, he is there with you.  Sometimes he is always in your face that it gets annoying lol.

According to Wikipedia:

The Jack Russell is an energetic breed that relies on a high level of exercise and stimulation and is relatively free from serious health complaints. Originating from dogs bred and used by Reverend John Russell in the early 19th century, it has similar origins to the modern Fox terrier. It has gone through several changes over the years corresponding to different use and breed standards set by kennel clubs. Recognition by kennel clubs for the Jack Russell breed has been opposed by the breed's parent societies – which resulted in the breeding and recognition of the Parson Russell terrier. Jack Russells have appeared many times in film, television and print with several historical dogs of note.

Champ is almost 4 years old and he is showing  an eye disorder called ectopia lentis, a common heriditary disorders among JRTs that frequently appear  from ages 3-8.  Jack Russel Terriers are believe to have a long life span of 13-16 years.  Jack Russel Terriers are good with fox hunting. We have never taken Champ hunting but whenever there is a mole in our backyard, he always gets them.

Aside from being playful, Champ  loves to cuddle.  When the family is seated in the living room watching TV, he would jump  and   would cuddle with us.  When you are trying to work out, he is there tossing the ball at you lol.

Celebrating St. Patrick with our Fur Babies

This is our second year celebrating the St. Patrick at home with our fur babies.  They don't mind wearing the hat lol.

It is so nice to have pets at home.  It makes playtime so much fun.  On Winter days,  we make them run around our house to have their exercise.  Our bunny is also getting used to  being held which is a major plus.

Fetch Ball

Our Jack Russel Terrier, Champ is like in ecstasy whenever he is   playing with his fetch ball.  For every occasion, we always get him this kind of  ball from Chuck it.  It lasts very long and he never get tired of playing with it.  He love to play goalie with this one. 

That's what he got for Christmas last year.

Find Out Why Your Cat is Itching Once and For All

Does your cat seem to constantly have some kind of skin problem? If it’s biting, scratching, and licking itself on a regular basis, and you aren’t sure why, you’re not on your own. There are pretty much 6 reasons why your cat will be constantly itching. Whatever conclusion you’re going to come to, it’s important you get it sorted as soon as possible and don’t allow them to suffer. Let’s find out why your cat is itching once and for all:

Photo Source

Whenever a cat has a skin problem, there are 6 different categories you should look at to find out what it is:

• Environmental.
• Nutritional.
• Parasitic.
• Allergic.
• Neurogenic.
• Infectious.

There is a wealth of information out there about each of these categories, literally textbooks and textbooks; so we couldn’t possibly go into that amount of detail here. However, you should be able to determine what is wrong with your cat so you can tell the vet what you think using the following information.

Environmental Dermatitis

• Patients who are in this category appear physically normal, but with signs of itching and scratching. 
• This can be caused by something as simple as playing in the garden a lot. 
• Moist eczema is a good example of this, sometimes called a ‘hot spot’. 

Nutritional Dermatitis

• This can be caused by not feeding your cat the right kind of food. Many foods can be misleading, so even if your cat’s food states that it’s complete and balanced, it could still be the cause.
• By providing your pet with a high quality diet, you won’t believe the difference you’ll notice. 
• If your cat isn’t eating a great diet, then their body will be in a constant state of stress.

Parasitic Dermatitis

• Fleas can sometimes be the cause of your cat’s scratching, and it’s often the first thing owners think of when they see their cat scratching. Spot on flea treatments can help. 
• Mites can be the cause too, and they can cause much more serious conditions in cats like mange. 
• Some parasites burrow under the skin.

Infectious Dermatitis

• Ringworm is an example of this.
• Bacterial, fungal, and yeast organisms can be the cause of coat and skin problems.
• Cats can lick the healing taking place and stop the process.
• Treatment for this could be trimming the fur away from the area to allow it to air dry.

Allergic Dermatitis

• Dust, and plants can trigger allergic dermatitis, however; there are many causes and vets attend whole seminars to learn more about it. 
• Even bacteria on your cat’s skin can cause them to have an allergic reaction to themselves.

Neurogenic Dermatitis

• This is the most complicated possibility, so should only be explored once everything else has been rules out. 
• It could be due to frustration, separation anxiety, confinement or boredom.

Do any of these statements ring true when it comes to your cat? If so, you need to take your cat to a vet straight away so they can nurse your cat back to health and give you advice on how to care for them. Don’t let your cat suffer any longer!

Pigeon #Mourning Dove

Sometime in September, we glanced over our porch from our living room window and saw this  dove or pigeon.  He was just calmly sitting on the railing of our porch.  I took some photos of him through the glass door but they are blurry so I gambled and open the door hoping that he won't fly and he would let me a good  shot of him and I did.

When morning came, we all thought that he would be gone by then but we were wrong.  He was still sitting there, in fact he appeared to be sleeping still when I peeked at our door.  However, he woke up  when I opened the door.  He moved around while I took  some shots but did not fly right away.

I think that somebody owns this dove because he has a tag in his  right leg.  He flew away eventually when I got so close to him but it was nice that he  stayed the whole night and let me captured some  photos of him before he left..

Diet and Nutrition Tips for a Healthy, Happy Dog

A nutritious, balanced diet is very important for a healthy dog, just the same as it is for humans. It’s important that you know exactly what you should be feeding your dog and what to avoid feeding your dog so that they can happy and healthy, so read these diet and nutrition tips to make sure you get it right:

Deciding If Food is Right for Your Dog

You’ll know if the food you’re feeding your dog suits it because of the condition of it’s body and coat. If your dog has a nice glossy coat and bundles of energy, the food should agree with the dog. If your dog seems to be lacking in energy, you should try another kind of food. 

How Much Food Your Dog Should be Eating

The amount of food your dog eats totally depends on it’s age, size, and how much exercise it usually gets. You should use feeding charts on pet labels as a guide. Heavier dogs generally need more food. You should use pet labels as a guide, but adjust them if you need to.

Guidelines for Knowing If Your Dog is too Lean, Just Right, or Too Heavy

The body condition of a dog can range from emaciated to obese. If your dog is emaciated, you can see it’s ribs, vertebrae, and pelvic bones from a distance. Dogs who have been underfed or are fed unbalanced diets may suffer from this. Dogs who are emaciated may have a lack of energy, and will be more susceptible to illnesses.

An adult dog is considered in good condition if you can feel it’s ribs easily and see the waist when looking down at it’s back. Your dog is overweight if if it’s difficult to see or feel it’s ribs or see it’s waist. Fat dogs are more likely to develop diabetes and osteoarthritis. 

What to Do if Your Dog is Overweight

If you think your dog is overweight, you should give them less food or swap their usual food to a lower calorie food. You should try your best to cut out any table scraps you feed your dog, or high calorie treats. You should also make sure that your dog isn’t eating food you put out for other pets. You don’t want your dog to lose weight too quickly though, or it can get sick. 

How Often Should My Dog Be Eating?

Many dog owners feed their dog twice per day. However, sometimes a dog can eat just once a day. We recommend you feed your dog twice per day as this will help to control a dog’s hunger and make it easier for them to digest their food. 

Dog Treats

Treats are ok, but you should definitely limit them and only feed them treats that are safe. Lower calorie or low fat treats are the best kind. You could try vegetables such as peppers or carrot!

Should I Feed My Dog Table Scraps?

Sometimes feeding your dog things from your plate is ok, but you shouldn’t do it too regularly, and you should always put it in their bowl. Otherwise, you might find they constantly bug you when it’s your dinnertime. Take a look at the foods that your dog can eat and the foods you should avoid giving him for the best results. If your dog is overweight, avoid giving him table scraps all together. 

A Feeding Guide from Puppies to Adults

• First 8 weeks - puppies shouldn’t be separated from their mother before they reach 8 weeks old. Their mother’s milk will provide them with nutrition at this point, then at 3-4 weeks they can eat small amounts of solid food. 
• 6-8 weeks - Your puppy should be fed 3-4 times a day. Puppies have totally different nutritional needs over adult dogs. The puppy food you choose should have a good balance of nutrients as it needs the right amount of protein, calcium, and calories. Wuffitmix does a great puppy food, found at www.wuffitmix.co.uk. 

• After 8 weeks - you should feed your puppy twice a day.

• 3-6 months - At this point your puppy will be teething, so he may become a fussy eater or lose his appetite. You should still feed him nutritious food twice a day, but if he appears to have a poorly tummy for longer than 2 days, take him to a vet. 

• 6 months - 1 year - Your dog might look fully grown at this point, but he’s still a puppy. High quality food still needs to be given for the nutrition. 

• 1 year plus - you should continue to feed your dog twice a day. Some dogs are fine with once a day, but the majority will benefit from being fed twice. 

Human Food You Can Feed Your Dog Occasionally

These human foods make a nice, occasional treat for your dog:

• Peanut butter - raw unsalted peanut butter is a great source of protein for dogs. By putting it inside of a kong, you can keep your dog busy for hours and hours!
• Cooked chicken - cooked chicken can make a good meal replacement if you’re out of food.
• Cheese - just beware your dog isn’t lactose intolerant.
• Baby carrots - great for your dogs teeth.
• Greek Yogurt.
• Salmon.
• Pumpkin - a good source of fibre.
• Eggs - a great protein boost, and healthy snack. Try scrambled - my dog loves them!
• Green beans - filling and low calorie!
• Apple slices - can help to freshen the breath of your dog. 
• Oatmeal - plain oatmeal is great for older dogs. 

Toxic Foods

Toxic human food you should never feed your dog include:

• Human chocolate.
• Grapes.
• Raisins.
• Bread dough.
• Avocado.
• Alcohol.
• Nuts.
• Onions and garlic.

These foods can upset a dog’s digestive system, so avoid letting your dog have them at all costs.

As a dog owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure your dog is happy and healthy, especially when it comes to food. You need to make sure you’re feeding your dog just enough, and that the food agrees with him in order to keep him in tip top condition!

Image Credit

Photo-Bomber Champ & Bolt

Having a self timer camera is great because you can use it for selfies but there's a disadvantage to it. You never knew what's in the background that you don't see when the camera clicked. Here are classic example of it lol.

 Our dog, Bolt, doing his business

With Champ, taking a dump lol.

This will make great memories when our fur babies are gone.  What do you think?

Can a Cat and Dog Be Best Friends? A Guide to Introducing Your Pets

Dogs and cats are famous for not getting along, hence the saying, ‘fighting like cat and dog’. However, there are certain ways you can introduce your pets in order for them to get along, and perhaps even become best friends in the process! It doesn’t matter if you’re introducing a dog to a cat or a cat to dog, it doesn’t have to be a chore. Here’s what to do in our guide to introducing your pets:

Keep an Eye on The Dog

If there’s going to be an issue when introducing your pets, 9/10 it’s caused by the dog. So make sure you keep an eye on him! Most dogs like to chase objects that move quickly, so if your cat gets scared and runs off, your dog will likely try to chase it - nip this behaviour in the bud before your cat gets injured. 

Make Sure Your Cat Can Run and Hide

Regardless of whether your cat is the newcomer or the older pet in your house, you need to make sure the cat can move freely when you introduce them to the dog. There should be perches and cubbies for hiding, as an elevated resting place will allow the cat to settle in. 

Make Sure Your Dog/Puppy is Restrained

Your dog should never be allowed to chase the cat. If you have a herding dog, it’s in their instinct to chase, so you may have a bigger problem. 

Think About Installing Baby Gates

Installing baby gates can help to gradually introduce the pets, and also minimizes danger to the cat. 

Remember Age Can Make a Difference

When introducing cats and dogs, youth can be helpful. Puppies are much less dangerous to adult cats, and kittens can be much braver when it comes to adult dogs. The same rules should still apply however; and you should give your supervision for as long as necessary. This is because kittens have a tendency to scurry which entices dogs, and puppies have a playful nature so will want to pester the cat. 

Mistakes to Avoid

Forcing the Animals to Get Close

You should always let the cat decide whether or not it will approach the dog. By holding the cat up to the dog in close proximity, you encourage the cat to lash out and scratch the dog, and the dog to dislike the cat. 

Failing to Know the Background of Your Dog

If you want to bring a dog into a household that has a cat, it’s highly recommended you choose a puppy, rather than a shelter dog. Puppies behaviours can be corrected and learn the proper way to act around cats, while shelter dogs may dislike cats and be unwilling to change their mind. 

Failing to Prepare Your Pet for a Change

Make small changes, like installing baby gates, moving litter boxes, and closing certain doors before you bring home the new arrival. That way, the pet you’ve had for a while can get used to small changes before the big change shows up. If you don’t, buying westgate worm count kits when your pet needs treatment will be the least of your worries!

Remember, that it can take weeks for your new pet to become accustomed to their new home. However, if you’ve tried everything above and you still can’t make your dog and cat get along, speak to an animal behaviourist who may be able to give you advice. Good luck!

Image Credit