Rockhopper Penguins

The subject of rockhopper penguins, in relation to the general rockhopper penguin classification, remains to be one that is argued among experts, but this didn’t stop the 2007 CGI-animated feature entitled Surf’s Up in featuring a rockhopper penguin as its main character.

Telling the story of how young Cody Maverick, a rockhopper penguin, managed to be the top surfer in Surf’s Up, the animated feature took on a “mockumentary” approach in delivering its story.

Combining elements of humor, drama, adventure and romance, the family-oriented film delved into the world of penguins, particularly on the challenges they are faced to deal with in their respective circles or penguin groups, with the added zing of the general surfing culture.

Classified into three major types, rockhopper penguins are defined by their capacity to jump over boulders or cracks, thus giving them the rockhopper title. Argued to be a subspecies of three types, rockhopper penguin type variations includes the Western Rockhopper Penguin, the Eastern Rockhopper Penguin and the Southern Rockhopper Penguin.

As a species, rockhopper penguins aren’t the only penguin types known to be a capable of surfing, with different penguin types known to have been successfully trained on the rudiments of surfing. With modified surfboards, different shows and aquariums have had surfing penguins as feature attractions, with some penguins trained to actually do tricks while surfing.

As one of the few of the world’s flightless birds, penguins are more inclined to aquatic environments, typically found in cold climes, but certainly not limited to be found there only.

Popular among children’s stories, penguins remain to be one of the most easily recognizable birds in the planet, with different movies like Surf Up featuring penguins as key characters.

 Rockhopper Penguins Video

 

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The Rat-cha Dog Breed

The Rat-cha dog breed’s name may be one that isn’t as popular as German Shepherds, Dobermans, or Boxers, but they are actually quite commonly found in dog shows and dog competitions, given their “designer mixed breed” status.

Essentially a crossbred Rat Terrier and Chihuahua, a rat-cha or cha-cha played a central role in the 2011 Disney Original movie entitled Hounded, with the movie telling the story of how a “kidnapped” show dog turned out to be quite complicated to handle for its well-intentioned “kidnappers”.

Ending the movie with a positive tone, the movie mirrored how fickle keeping mixed breed show dogs can be, with their temperaments known to be unpredictable from one another. Though this doesn’t mean that they are impossible to keep as pets, most cha chas tend to require a lot of attention when talking about keeping them in households.

Typically found in white with than colored coats, cha chas are known to be medium sized dogs, with medium length tails and medium sized ears, mostly appearing as toy dogs. But though their size defines them as toy dogs, their physical characteristics define them as scaled-down athletic dogs, which is basically the physical attributes which has made them attractive in competitions and shows.

Small as they are, cha chas are known to be quite energetic, and are also known for their intelligence. Though their size would make them ideal for children’s company, having them around with children is not generally advised, along with keeping them in the company of other non-dog pets like cats.

But as dogs, cha chas can be quite affectionate, making them a unique dog breed choice for owners who can deal with their particular quirks and needs.

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The Reason behind Extreme “Meow-ing” of some Cats

Pet cats have their own way of communicating to their masters. Unlike dogs, they are more subtle in the way they express something. Head nudges, straight-forward stares, body brushes and even mere quick tail flicks can be their own form of communication.

As much as dogs bark excessively when they need to be attended to, in the same way, a cat’s “meow-ing” capability is the more obvious one when they have to demand a little more attention. It is very clear that they want something or perhaps they need food or just saying “hi”. According to Dr. Ilana Reisner, DVM, PhD, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist at Reisner Veterinary Behavior & Consulting Services in Media, Pa., if it's clear that the object of a cat's meow is a human, she likely wants something.

Obviously, there are cats that are distinctively quiet but most cats are downright “noisy” when they “meow” to the top of their lungs. Most often than not, excessive “meow-ing” of cats tend to be annoying. Original breeds of cats have the tendency to be chatty and noisy. This is really based on their genetic make-up, however many experiences and exposure to environment has led most cats to “meow” a bit more than others. What is the reason behind extreme “meow-ing” of cats?

The behavior of masters, tend to lead cats to become noisy. Whether we agree or not, there is a subliminal effect on cats with the way we treat them. For example, when they “meow” for the reason of asking food, we immediately give them something to eat. However, when they still want some more food, they “meow” again, and we give them some more. This goes on and on until the cat gets used to “meowing” as if demanding to be satisfied. This becomes a form of manipulation and control. Food reinforces the “meow-ing”, so the cat does it again and again.

Learning and training plays a pivotal role in bringing up the ways of the cat. Although they are genetically designed to “purr” and “meow”, excessive vocalization is usually reinforced by the nurturing process.

According to Dr. Reisner,"Vocal cats are usually vocal as juveniles and then through their lives, but learning plays an important role.”

There’s an important note to keep in mind with this new learning. For cat-lovers and owners, most excessive “meow-ing” is often brought about by an attention-seeking behavior, but if it persists, you may want to consider visiting a veterinarian for some indications of pain, sickness and other medical concerns.

 

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Who could be “The World’s Smallest Dog?”

As much as there are the superlatives of all kinds and categories, there are also, its exact opposite, the most minute and the smallest ones.

Last January, there was a pint-sized Chihuahua from Puerto Rico named Milly that was barely 3 inches tall at 3 months old. Then there was also news about a Puerto Rican small pup who can actually fit a tablespoon. After two weeks, its size was as big as an iPhone.

In in interesting news form ABC News, there’s another one considered to be the smallest, a cute and tiny terrier named Meysi from Poland. The minute pup weighed just about 1.58 ounces at birth, that was about three weeks ago. The weight and size may be record-breaking and set to compete with other small pups to be the “smallest” in Guiness.

Anna Pohl of Jarocin, Poland, Meysi’s owner told her local newspaper she didn't think her dog would make it and that it took all of Pohl's strength to keep Meysi going.

The tiny terrier was hanging on to dear life and it was terrible the first six weeks after her birth. Pohl had to feed Meysi with a syringe just to keep her nourished. According to the same article, "The worst was the first six weeks," Pohl, who fed Mesyi with a syringe, told Gazeta Jarocinska, according to a translation. "[I got] zero sleep. I was feeding her day and night, every half hour. Sometimes I ran out of
strength, had to call out of work."

The current weight of Meysi is now 3.25 ounces but the veterinarians have informed Pohl and the dog is not expected to grow much more – a few ounces perhaps, but not a dramatic change to be really considered as big enough.

Funny this is that there are now three dogs, including Meysi now vying for the title of The World’s Smallest Dog” by the Guinness Book of World Records. It could be among Meysi, Beyonce and Milly. The required age limit is one-year old, so Meysi has to wait a couple more months.

Who could be “The World’s Smallest Dog?” Let’s wait and see.

Who could be “The World’s Smallest Dog?”

 

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Dog Nutrition – What you need to know

Nutrition is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to taking care of your pet dogs. We want to make sure that they’re getting the best and have just enough vitamins and minerals to keep themselves strong and healthy. Dog owners would spend hundreds of dollars on dog food but aren’t really giving their dogs the right diet. The right diet helps make sure the dog lives a long and healthy life, keeping away from illnesses like degenerative myelopathy. Below are a few things to take note of when feeding your pet dog and creating a well-balanced diet.

Top class dog food

If you don’t want to bother yourself with cooking and preparing a meal for your dog, you can buy high quality dog food for your pet. Never gamble quality over price. You can find a lot of inexpensive dog food brands in the market, but these may be made from low class ingredients that don’t have the right nutritional value for your pet. Choose brands that have been trusted for years or if you want to go organic, some brands actually do make all natural dog food. Just make it a point to check the label or the content of the dog food.

Homemade meals

If you really want to be sure that your dog is getting nothing but the freshest ingredients and good meals, you might just want to make their meals at home. To most, they don’t have time to cook for their dogs, but creating meals for your pup doesn’t really take that much time. You just have to know what to prepare and prep it ahead of time. The main nutrients a dog needs to survive is protine, carbohydrates and fiber. When preparing their meals, make sure they get enough of each. Talk to the vet about serving sizes.

Food supplement

This helps make sure that the dog is getting enough nutrients. Food supplements aren’t just helpful in leaving off the nutrients, it can also help ease the recovery process of dogs that have illnesses such as degenerative myelopathy. These food supplements can be bought at the pet shop or even at the vet clinic. Before starting to give your pet food supplements, remember to talk to your vet and ask them if your dog can take in the additional nutrients. Too much nutrients is bad for you dog and may cause growth problems.

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Getting to Know a Cat’s Killer Instincts

They may be cute and cuddly, just friendly, docile and super tame, but beyond the beautiful façade
and grace lay a cunning and well-trained killing creature. Common house cats, simply called, domestic
cats may be trained and even play fetch but you are actually closer to a natural born killer than you can
imagine. This does not negate the fact that there are pretty good cats who can remain loyal pets to their
masters even completing their homes but could this cuddly species be a threat to your home?

To some people who have in some point in their lives owned a cat, they just know how cats get
unpredictable and mysterious. These cats can easily pounce on smaller preys like squirrels, chickens
and doves, their eyes always mindful and alert, keeping watch for any movements. Although they can
co-exist with some other domestic pets in the house, most often than not, they could not stand the
presence of hamsters, guinea pigs and mice. Even if a kitten grows up together with a hamster or a
gerbil, both animals should not be left unattended. Over stimulation of play coul lead the cat to attack
even its friend.

They are born this way. Something like, a Lady Gaga kind-of-thing. You can’t deny the fact. From the
smallest domestic and huggable kitty cat to the biggest "king of the jungle," felines are gifted in all their
bodily tools and techniques needed to chase prey in the wild or domestically speaking, bite and destroy
some things in the living room. These felines are gifted with speed, athleticism and the killer instincts.

Compared to dogs who are born and raised to do different tasks like herding cattle or guarding a home,
cats are born and raised to hunt, chase and kill. If you can even design something like a killing machine,
you would probably consider the cat’s agility and killer instincts. Their speed cannot be under rated.
They have the gold medals in a high-speed pursuit. Because of their survival in the wild, they have
adapted the natural abilities to stalk and do surprise attacks, something that most dogs were not raised
to do.

Many cat owners have understood the predatory nature of their domestic pets, accepted and in turn
showered these domestic pets with love, attention and care. However, it does not change the fact of
their real make-up.

An article from redOrbit showed a University of Georgia research that tested 60 or more cats. They were
allowed to roam around outdoors with the exposure of common prey.

“The results were certainly surprising, if not startling,” said Kerrie Anne Loyd, University of Georgia
student and lead author of the KittyCam study, speaking to the Detroit Free Press. In Athens-Clarke
County, (Ga.) we found that about 30% of the sampled cats were successful in capturing and killing prey,
and that those cats averaged about one kill for every 17 hours outdoors or 2.1 kills per week. It was also
surprising to learn that cats only brought 23% of their kills back to a residence. We found that house cats
will kill a wide variety of animals, including: lizards, voles, chipmunks, birds, frogs, and small snakes.”

Cat's Killer Instincts Video

 

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Why Lizards Always Have Safe Landings

It comes little to no surprise to us, when lizards land right on their feet without having to use much of
their energy. Well, its natural and becoming of these reptiles, we suppose. Call it instinct, or what have
they, but we do not really mind. Here’s something that might stir you up and give something to think
about. Lizards do not have wings whatsoever, why do most lizards have a knack for always finding the
perfect way to land on their feet, and safely at that. What propels them to leap as high as they could and
land ultimately on safe ground without having to inadvertently lie flat on its back?

Lizards, in fact have the innate ability to swing their tails one way to rotate their body the other, an
amazing kind of reptilian gymnastics! In an article from redOrbit, a research was presented at the
Society for Experimental Biology showing the science behind lizards’ safe landing techniques. The
remarkable thing about this experiment was not just limited to the lizards landing prowess per se. The
main goal was to look suitable application of such science to help engineers design air or land based
robots with better ground manipulation and perfect stability, something like what they achieved in Iron
Man.

What is the mechanism behind precise aerial righting? According to the study, the capacity to
manipulate aerial righting and recovering from falling in an upside down position may all depend on the
creature’s body size, morphology and mass distribution. Although not all lizards practically launch an air
striking pose, some have learned, adapted and developed a way to land safely on their feet without all
the parachutes and gears.

Along the way, lizards living in their natural habitats have to co-exist with others and adapt to their
changing environment. There are countless situations where they could put themselves at risk from
falling. To counter the risk, many times over they have adjusted their reptilian bodies and tails hard
enough to land with so much ease.

Although it would still take time to discover the strategies that lizards employ, one thing is helpful. By
swinging their tails in one direction and moving their bodied in the other, scientists have developed a
robot based on their understanding of the lizards’ aerial righting techniques. Named “RightingBot”, what
lizard can actually do, this robot is about to do as well! Amazing, isn’t it?

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Bearded Dragons

As exotic pets, bearded dragons are truly popular, regardless of the fact that they are not really fire breathing and capable of flying as dragon myths and legends would describe dragons to be.

The 1977 live action and animated feature Pete’s Dragon, produced by Walt Disney Studios, continues to be one of the many movies involving dragons and their interaction with human beings, with Pete’s Dragon telling the story of how an orphan and his magical pet dragon stay clear from the orphan’s antagonist adoptive parents.

As a movie, Pete’s Dragon is obviously a story that’s borne from fiction, given how magical dragons don’t really exist. Bearded Dragons, however, are real.

Bearded Dragons as Pets

The term “bearded dragon” doesn’t exactly define a particular species, but actually refers to seven lizard species found in Australia, officially known as the pogona genus.

Among the different lizard species, it is the central or inland bearded dragon that’s popularly kept as pets, a status which hails from their naturally calm natures, along with the relative ease involved in their care and upkeep.

Known to be generally friendly, the central or inland bearded dragon is known to be popular among children. As lizards, they can grow as large as 16 to 24 inches in length, and can weigh somewhere between a quarter of a kilo (250 grams) to half (600 grams).

Being omnivores, central or inland bearded dragons aren’t all the fickle with what they eat, but care should be given due consideration on what they are being fed with. Animals with bioluminescent chemicals, like fireflies, should not be fed to them since they are poisonous to bearded dragons.

Also, getting a bearded dragon from the wild is highly unadvisable, not so much because of their temperaments, but because of health and safety reasons involving viruses and parasites.

As dragons continue to be popular mainstays in tales of fantasy and adventure, the prospect of keeping a real live “dragon” continues to be a sought after dream. Though real dragons of fantasy don’t exist, the bearded dragon stands to be an ideal proxy as a pet “dragon”, one that isn’t all that complicated to deal with.

Bearded Dragons Video

 

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Safe Halloween Costumes for Your Dearly Loved Pets

Halloween is just around the corner. Maybe you have already picked for yourself the perfect costume, but how about for your pet? It will be way, totally cool for your cat to have a Tigger Costume and maybe a Kinkajou to have a Winnie the Pooh ensemble. How about a Wonder Woman Chihuahua or a Miss Piggy Tea-cup pig?

Yes, it’s just so fun just thinking about it and imagining how these cute, cuddly pets will look like as they don these colorful and unique Halloween costumes, but does your pet think and feel the same way, too?

Well, this is not to discourage you or something but pets, regardless of breed, do feel awkward and uncool when dressed. Although some pets like dogs and cats that join contests and shows are becoming used to the glamour and style, truth is, if they just have their own way, they’d wriggle and roll through it, just to sneak out of it!

1. First choose a costume that does not require any slipping over the head of your pet. This may sound not too possible but if you can find costumes that can just be easily wrapped around the body, the better. If it has to be slipped into the head and you do not have a choice, make sure the neck of the costume is big enough to slip the pet’s head easily and comfortably. Turtleneck sweaters are a NO-NO, please!
2. Second the costume has to be generally loose and should not be too tight. Constriction can be too harsh for them and you’d be left with no pet to bring for the Halloween revelry.
3. Third the seeing, hearing senses should not be obstructed most especially its breathing. The costume should not include goggles, ear muffs and masks.
4. Fourth make sure that the costume parts have no small and tiny pieces that can choke your pet like beads, sequins, strings, attachments, pins, ribbons and other paraphernalia.

Dressing up your pet up for Halloween can be very simple but fun! Settle on the safer and more comfortable costumes to ensure your pet’s safety and comfort. Happy Halloween!!

 Safe Halloween Costumes for Pets Video

 

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Irish Red Setter

As a dog breed, the Irish Red Setter is famous among dog shows and competitions, defined by its silky coat shaded by chestnut reddish hues.

Also known simply as Red Setter, “Big Red” stands to be one of the world’s most popular Irish Red Setters, with the character being the main protagonist in Big Red, a novel written by Jim Kjelgaard, released in 1945.

Telling the story of how an Irish Red Setter expressed his desire to simply be a dog – and not a show dog – a big screen adaptation of the novel was released in 1962, with the movie successfully retelling the novel’s story. Produced by Disney Studios, the movie falls in the family-oriented feature genre, inspiring its viewers with Big Red’s tale.

Apart from being mainstay show dogs, Irish Red Setters are known for their calm and composed natures, with the breed infamous for its healthy and complementary relationship with children and other household pets. Described to be domestically affectionate, the Irish Red Setter’s natural personality has deemed the breed as one of the best breeds for animal and human companionship.

Physically characterized as dogs with “deep chests and small waists”, Irish Red Setters are generally active as a breed, known to enjoy long regular walks and trips in open spaces. With some Irish Red Setter owners keeping them as hunting dogs, the breed was originally kept for its “pointer tendencies”, along with its sustained physical stamina for day-long physical activities.

With their affectionate natures and physical size, the Irish Red Setter continues to be a well loved dog breed, found in different households, with their attributes defining them as the perfect match for families with children and other domestic pets.

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How Can You Stop Your Dog From Too Much Barking?

Dog barking is often misunderstood. Every dog owner must understand the fact that barking is a
completely normal behavior for dogs. What good is it when a dog does not bark at all? Fact is, dog
barking is a form of dog communication - a sign of protecting the territory and guarding the people and
things that belong to it. Other reasons for barking may be boredom, stress and anxiety, fear, warning
sign, or just the invitation to play. Greeting can also be a form of barking, so there is no need to worry.
However, too much barking becomes annoying and disturbing and many dog owners’ attention is called
which usually causes serious problems for them.

So normal barking is totally acceptable but excessive barking is already deemed inappropriate and
unacceptable. At this point, it is crucial for every dog owner to find and know the cause of too much dog
barking. In fact, it is the key to be able to finally stop it.

No one can stop the barking but you, his best friend and owner can. You cannot just demand and
say, “Stop Barking” or say “Be Quiet!”, because they will definitely still continue to bark. Here are some
tips to quickly stop your dog from too much barking.

Give Attention – Find out why your dog keeps on barking? Is he responding to a stimulus, like a doorbell
ringing perhaps? Is your dog confined in a kennel, an enclosure and he is just merely relaying that he
wants to be outside? What about defecating? Does your dog want to remove out of the kennel than
usual? There are so many reasons why they bark and if you are just sensitive enough and find time to
attend to his needs, he will cease from too much barking.

Go Back to Basics of Dog Training – Perhaps you may have overlooked this and have not reinforced the
training you have given to your dog the first time. Train again and provide positive rewards. Start by
training to come when called.

Provide Adequate Amount of Exercise – Dogs also become stressed out when they lack exercise. A
simple walk-the-dog at the park can be stress-reliever, solving some behavior problems in the long
run. Jogging and running can also help because it increases the heart levels and producing the calming,
sedating hormones that can lead to less barking

How to train a dog to stop barking -Video

 

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Thai Ridgeback

As a dog breed, Thai Ridgebacks have only recently become popular, with the breed owing its current rise to fame to the release of the Thai movie, Ma-Mha.

Released in 2007, Ma-Mha is the first Thai live-action movie which featured animals as its main stars, telling the story of a group of stray dogs, and how they embarked on an adventure in search for a better life.

With its main protagonist being a Thai Ridgeback, the movie had brought significant attention to the breed, which is defined by its muscular, athletic build, along with a ridge of hair that runs along the dog breed’s back.

Categorized as a medium-sized dog, the Thai Ridgeback’s physical traits includes triangular upright ears, wedge shaped heads, and short but smooth coats. In terms of coat colors, Thai Ridgebacks are known to come in solid red, solid blue, solid fawn or solid black hues, with the breed known to not have undercoat layers.

Like any other dog breed, Thai Ridgeback’s are commonly kept as domestic pets, with their specific care and dietary requirements not all that different from other general dog breed requirements.

But unlike any other dog breed, Thai Ridgebacks are actually part of a class of older dog breeds, with the Thai Ridgeback being one of the three known breeds which sport hair ridges on their backs.

Argued to be an exotic breed, the Thai Ridgeback’s line of fur along its back certainly gives it an exotic flare, one which matches with its generally calm and playful nature as a medium-sized dog.

  Thai Ridgeback Video

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Let’s Talk Crabby: Hermit Crabs as Pets

There are many unusual pets out there, which one can you possibly have as a pet? If you are tired of
having a dog and there’s not enough space in your home, then a pet that requires very little space
is most suitable. Depending on your personal preference, there is a wide variety of interesting, low
maintenance, easy care companion and space-saving pets that you can find.

Hermit crabs are among the more uncommon pets but they can be fun to have, too. These are decapod
crustaceans coming from the superfamily Paguroidea mainly identified to possess an asymmetrical
abdomen which is concealed in an empty gastropod shell that is being carried around by the hermit
crab wherever it goes. Classified as decapod crustaceans, hermit crabs have 10 legs. Most decapods are
scavengers, and hermit crabs are not exempt. They eat anything and are not used to being fed, but given
some time and routine, hermit crabs can get the hang of it.

Hermit crabs are not “real” crabs basically because of their soft abdomen which they carefully protect
by practically living in empty, borrowed cave-like shells. Just like the alienated and ostracized hermits
that live in caves and mountains, so too are these crabs, being names as such. With about 500 known
species of hermit crabs spread all over, they grow well in different environments depending on the
climate. Some crabbies live in shallow coral reef and beaches while others thrive deeply in sea water.
There are also other hermit crabs that stay on land and would often climb trees just like the ones seen in
the Caribbean islands. Since these crabby creatures both survive on land and in water, they usually feed
on both plants and animals, thus categorically grouped as omnivores.

Hermit Crabs are like nomads with no permanent address, transferring and relocating from one shell
to another and when they grow bigger, they also go to a more spacious, vacant shell. New owners and
hermit crab owners-to-be should be able to provide a larger shell to give ample space and more time for
the crabby to thrive in one shell.

If hermit crabs interest you, then you can care for them as a pet but you need to prepare a home for
them first before buying one. They only require a small place, so having them around is easy. Taking into
account the most suitable enclosure, humidity and temperature, water dish, food bowl, calcium and all
other requirements, then you are ready to have a hermit crab as pet. It is low maintenance, so there
won’t be worries on vet fees, food expenses, grooming and immunization. Now, we’re talking ‘crabby’.

 Hermit Crabs as Pets Video

 

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