Lionhead Bunnies, Our New Fur Babies

Ever since our bunny, Wubzy, died, I told  myself I will never get a bunny anymore because it was hard losing  a pet that we truly loved.  But then we saw these two  lionheads rabbits at a tractor supply and we fell in love with them right away.  We named them Plumley and Pippin.  

 These lionhead rabbits have a very soft hair and just like our beloved Wubzy, they too are  fun to have around the house.  They  love to hop around the house and they are now getting braver everyday.  They used to  be scared around the  dogs but not anymore.

 Since  lionhead is a different breed from what we had before, I  did some research about them on how to take care of them and  found this article to be very  helpful.

 According to the article I read, the cost of lionhead is  between $20-$125 .  We  got ours for $12 each.  My husband is  planning to build a new  bunny house for them come Spring, just like what he built for Wubzy and Matilda before.  

 I can't wait to see them run around in the backyard when we  get our fence up.  Fence is our  new project  goal this summer.  I really want a fence around our backyard because we have dogs and now  these bunnies.  Caring for the dogs is easier  when you have a fence around  the yard.

 My kids just love  these two  new fur babies.  I have learned that I need to  brush their hair   everyday because if left unattended, the knots on their hair can cause pain and  infection.  

 One thing I  learned is that, both Plumley and Pippin loves  apple and lettuce.  We give them  fresh hay regularly and  of course their regular diet is pellet.

 They love to cuddle which the kids really  like.  When they come home from school, they immediately take them and put them in their lap or watch them run around.  

 The article said that  the life span of a lion head is up to 8 to 10 years depending on how you take care of them.  

 Plumley is the  male and he has big brown eyes.

 Pippin on the other hand have small eyes.

Here's a brief history of a lionhead  rabbit according to the lionheadrabbit.com website.

Lionheads were first created in Belgium by crossing two different dwarf sized breeds, although the debate of which two breeds were used, exactly, has left many scratching their heads in wonder. However, in doing the specific breed-crossing (quite possibly being that of a Swiss Fox and Netherland Dwarf) that was used, there was a gene mutation that occurred, causing this new breed to consistently produce a line of wool around the head region, and often times the flanks as well. This mutated gene is now referred to as the “mane” gene.

Night-Time Walkies - Stay Safe Once The Sun Goes Down

Source

All dog owners know the importance of taking out their pup for a daily walk. In fact, many dog experts recommend going out twice a day to try and get as much exercise as possible, and so that the dog is able to do their business. Lots of dog owners head out with their pet in the morning and evening. That way, the dog can do their business as soon as they wake up and just before they go to bed.

Even though lots of dogs and their owners go out for evening strolls, there are quite a few people who aren’t keeping their pooches safe out on the streets at night. It is incredibly important that you take some extra safety precautions when you go for your walkies on a night, as it can be very dark and your dog could be difficult for drivers to see. Here are some safety tips that can help you and your dog stay safe once the sun goes down.

Source

Let Your Dog Be Seen

If a driver can see your dog, there is no way they will hit them by accident. The best way to make your dog as visible as possible is to light them up. You can do this with numerous accessories, like reflective jackets, a Nitey Leash, and even by adding bike reflectors to their collar. It’s a good idea for you to wear something reflective and visible as well. If you don’t have any reflective clothing, you can use the torch on your smartphone.

Source

Watch Out For Nocturnal Critters

A lot of animals come out onto our streets at night, such as foxes, raccoons, and hedgehogs. Ideally, your dog shouldn’t try to pick a fight with these creatures. Even the ones that aren’t particularly dangerous could be problematic. For example, a hedgehog isn’t going to attack your pup, but if the dog tries to bite it, it is going to get a mouthful of spikes! So, you should always have your dog on its leash at night. Stick to well-worn footpaths too. Wild animals will want to stay out of the way of people, so won’t risk wandering down busy paths.

Source

Acclimatize Your Dog

Even if it was a really nice sunny day, the temperatures could significantly drop after sunset. You should keep your dog as warm as possible on your walks, so you need to always take the change in temperature into account. You might find that it is necessary for your pet to wear a coat, depending on the exact temperatures. Some owners like to take a bag with their dog’s coat in, just in case. This way, they can judge the temperature better once they are out walking and can put the coat on their dog if needed. It also saves you the hassle of turning back and heading home for the coat if you do realize that it is very cold!

@ryestein_ is dog sitting Mandy this week. Glad it is nice out for a walk. #dogSitter

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Feb 21, 2017 at 12:03pm PST

The night can be a scary time for both you and your pup. But there shouldn’t be anything to fear if you remember all of the tips in this blog post!

The Best Pets For Young Children

If you have children, then you know just how difficult it can be to constantly be hearing “can we have a pet?” To be fair, the appeal is completely understandable. If you were young and you saw an animal, wouldn’t you want one too? Didn’t you want one, when you were their age? Now, there are ways to settle your kids down and the questions will stop (eventually!), but take a step back: why don’t you want to get a pet? They’re often more manageable than you’d think, and can bring a ton of benefits to the family household. And there are also plenty of animals to choose from, as our examples below show…

Small and Fuzzy

The biggest arguments against getting a pet are that you might not have enough time to take care of it properly, you don’t know what they’ll get up to when you’re away from home, and that your children will get bored of them and you’ll be stuck with a pet you didn’t even really want in the first place! Enter: small rodents! These cute little creatures are small enough that they won’t cause you any worries; stay almost exclusively in their cage and couldn’t destroy your home even if they wanted to; and, besides from offering hours and hours of entertainment (what will they do next?), don’t live all that long. Of course that last point is a bit sad, but they are nature’s rules - not ours! Rodents came in general just one shape and size, but they do vary - you can get a hamster or gerbil (similar but not quite the same), a mouse, or a rat (eek! No need to be alarmed; they’re cool).

Can’t Touch, Won’t Touch

If you’re concerned about how your children will interact with your new pet, then you could consider getting a creature that they either can’t touch, or a creature that they won’t touch, but which they’ll also be entertained by and learn good life skills from. Specifically, for the ‘can’t touch’ angle, we’re thinking fish - visit this website to see the weird and colourful creatures that are available. On the ‘won’t touch’ front, we’re thinking along the lines of reptiles (endlessly fascinating!) and creatures from around the world. Great African snails, for instance, are a complete curiosity - they’re different to what you might think of when you think of a pet, but they’re great to watch and can broaden your child's horizons.

Source: Pexels.com

The Dog Question

Yeah, you knew this was coming - your children don’t just want a pet, they have their heart set on a dog. In those cases, all you can really do is: get one, or don’t. Obviously, getting a dog is a much greater investment than getting a hamster or a gerbil, and you’ll have to personally want one yourself. A dog that is only acquired for the children will end up being more hassle than it’s worth - and ultimately that won’t be fair on the dog or anybody else. Remember - a dog is for life!

Dog Owners: 4 Essential Items You Need to Have

No matter what kind of dog you might have, there are certain things that all owners need to ensure they have before even bringing that puppy home. Getting a dog is one of the most exciting things you can do, but you need to be prepared for the arrival, otherwise you never know what might happen. Fortunately, there is not a great deal that you need in order to properly look after your new dog, but you do need to make sure that you have the following essentials. Let’s take a look at what they are, so that you can better look after your pet.

Image Source

Bedding

There are few things more important than ensuring that your dog is as comfortable as possible. And this is especially important when it comes to their sleep, as getting enough sleep is an important health issue, as it is for humans or just about any other animal on the planet. Make sure that your dog’s bed area is plenty comfortable. You will soon know if it isn’t, because they will probably let you know in quite a vocal manner! If they are uncomfortable, consider adding a blanket or two in order to help them sleep. But don’t feel you need to bring them into your bed. Some owners do this, but pet psychologists have suggested that it might not be the healthiest move you can make. Better to keep them comfy in their own area.

Collar & Leash

Before long, you will need to start taking them for long walks, and when you do you want to ensure that you still have a hold on them. Particularly when they are young, and untrained, dogs can easily find themselves running away before either of you even know what’s happening. Make sure that this nightmare situation doesn’t have a chance to occur by investing in a good quality collar and the best retractable leashes. That way, you will have the control that you need when you are out walking your dog, and that is hugely important for any dog owner.

Image Source

Grooming Equipment

Any dog owner will tell you that one of the most important concerns of all is keeping your dog well-groomed. Grooming can sometimes be something of a nightmare, especially with certain breeds like the Hungarian Puli, but it is an essential and it is worth getting used to it. In order to make it easier on yourself, you might want to invest in some decent grooming equipment, such as hard-wired brushes and possibly even clippers if you plan to cut the fur yourself. Of course, you might also want to consider them getting their fur professionally trimmed from time to time, as this can really make a huge difference to their appearance.

Bowls

Finally, remember the very important act of feeding and watering. You will need at least two bowls for your dog - one for food, and the other for water - as without these, the process of feeding them will be much more difficult. However, they don’t have to be anything fancy. Particularly for the water, as long as it is easy for your dog to drink from without spillage, then that will suffice.

Image Source

Puppy Love

Image source

So you’ve decided to take the thrilling and life-changing step of getting a puppy for you and your family – congratulations! It seems logical to head to a breeder or shelter and just pick out the one little dog who comes over to you, or who instantly catches your eye. But don’t choose the first one you see, follow our guide on how to get the best pet for you and your home. After all, he’s going to be part of the family for years to come – so you want to make sure you get it right!

If you’re going to get your new pet from a breeder, you should wait until he is at least eight weeks old. Puppies who are younger than this still need their mothers and brothers and sisters as an important part of their development. Your breeder should be someone that you know and trust, or failing that, someone whose reputation you have researched and who is a respected professional at producing great pups that you’ll be happy with.

Find out about what kind of dog your puppy will be as an adult by doing your research on the breed you have chosen. Read as much as you can, and visit dog shows and training schools to meet dogs of the same breed. Spend time playing with them, and ask expert trainers and dog handlers about what you should know about this kind of pooch.

Image source

Talk to your local vet about the breed of puppy you are hoping to get. He will be able to advise you of any specific issues that you should be aware of, including potential health problems and concerns. Doing this can save you a lot of time and trouble later on, so it’s worth making that call.

Do you have a friend or family member who is a self-confessed expert on puppies and dogs? Bring them with you when you are going to pick out your pet. The more advice and help you can get, the better. Get advice on travelling with your pet at Canine Trip. After all, this pup is going to an important part of your family, so you want to be sure that you’re making the right choice.

Make sure you find out about any problems or illnesses that are specific to the breed of puppy you are hoping to get. Knowing what to look out for can help you to prevent any issues from getting out of control, and allow you to take action to keep your new dog happy and healthy.

Take time to have a look at the older dogs when you visit your breeder, as they will give you a good idea of what your puppy will be like when he’s older. Check that all the dogs are living in good conditions, and appear to be happy and well cared for.

When you’re getting a puppy for the first time, the most important thing is to be as well-informed as possible. Taking your time to do your research and talk to the experts will make all the difference. Find out here how to make friends with your new pet, and have fun!