“It’s Magnum here with probably the simpliest of all the tricks we are going to teach you and it’s all about being prepared for something you can’t normally plan for. I hear the Humans say that pets and children have some similar traits. For example, both do things with little or no notice so it’s a pretty good trick to keep your camera handy for those sudden, unexpected photo opportunities.”

Magnum is right.

You never know when your pet is going to do something so cute and adorable that you wish you had your camera with you.

“It would be a cute and adorable thing if I did it. If Eddie actually managed to make that happen at all, we’d have to refer to it as clumsy and uncoordinated or a fluke.”

Not exactly true my hairball hacking friend. But consider this: they don’t call some cameras ‘point and shoot’ because they are complicated.

Some of us actually do those cute and adorable things when you don’t have your camera with you because we know how much it bugs you. It’s sort of us playing fetch with you, only instead of throwing a ball or a toy, we just turn the cuteness up a notch.

“Eddie, some of us don’t need to do that to get attention, you know.”

Magnum is right again.

So remember, we are pretty unpredictable and with your camera nearby you may just capture that unbelievably amazing photo of your pet.

Believe me, when it happens you’ll be glad we taught you that trick!

Watch your inbox because I’ll teach you Trick #5 in a few days, which will give you some time to practice today’s trick.

By the way, how are you doing with these tricks? I hope you are finding them easy and are able to master them quickly. Write me at eddie@frameyourpets.com to let me know.

You can also write to Yogi or Magnum as well.

My blog is located at: http://bengelonlinestore.blogspot.com/ where you’ll find updates on what we’ve all been doing along with photos, polls and and other fun stuff!

In fact, Magnum may say the next trick is purr-fect for her!

Copyright 2008 - Bengel Publishing Inc.
Source: www.frameyourpet.com

(NC)—Recently groomed dogs have a certain look about them, a certain bounce in their step. Giving your dog that shiny coat doesn’t have to mean a trip to the groomers. There is lots of grooming pet owners can do at home to improve their dog’s appearance and health.

• Brush your pet’s coat on a weekly basis to loosen dirt and keep their coat shiny and dirt-free. This is also a good time to inspect your dog’s body more thoroughly. Look at the belly. Are there black specks? This may indicate the presence of fleas. To prevent fleas from becoming an issue, talk with your veterinarian about using a protective treatment such as Revolution.

• Overgrown nails can be a nuisance for you and your pet. Long and sharp, overgrown nails can get bent, causing your pet pain, not to mention the damage to your furniture or floor. If you are unsure how to clip your pet’s nails, ask your groomer or veterinarian for guidance.
• Turn your attention to your pet’s eyes. Are there eye stains or eye debris? Gently wipe stains and debris away with a damp cloth.

• How does your pet’s breath smell? Like humans, pets can develop dental problems, and bad breath can indicate the onset of such problems. Plaque that solidifies at the gumline can irritate gums and lead to tooth decay. Build up of plaque can be prevented through daily tooth brushing. Look for pet toothbrushes and toothpaste at veterinary clinics.

Of course, grooming your pet also gives you a chance to strengthen your bond. If you make a regular grooming date with your pet and approach it with a positive attitude, it may just become – for both of you – your favourite time of the week.

Source: www.newscanada.com

(NC)—It’s that time of year again. You’ve begun the countdown to another year of homework and field trips. Even the kids are restless having had all those weeks of summer vacation and spare time on their hands. Getting your household ready for the school year is no simple feat. A lot of preparation is required to ensure the kids get their back-to-school clothes, school supplies and a healthy assortment of lunchbox treats, not to mention fitting in their annual check-ups. Once you have looked after your kids, don’t forget about the other family member, your dog, who may also be in need of some quality classroom time at obedience school.

Obedience class will create a lasting relationship between you and your dog, and is a great way for you both to socialize with other owners and dogs outside of the neighborhood dog park. Before your dog gets some lessons in good behaviour, it is important to remember that interacting with “classmates” may bring your dog into contact with fleas. Think ahead. Before classes start, talk with your veterinarian about using a preventative treatment like Revolution, an easily applied, monthly treatment for protection against fleas, ticks, heartworm and other unwanted parasites. Fleas can be transmitted from one pet to another, and can even be passed on to humans so it’s best to come to class prepared.

Protect your pet, so no lessons are missed and no one falls behind in school. Here’s to a great school year – for the whole family!

Source: www.newscanada.com

Work from home/Own your own business/Post Secondary Education…visit http://www.bengelonlinebusiness.com for the details!

(NC)—As the human obesity epidemic grows many people are forgetting about our four-legged friends. According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), 35 percent of Canadian pets are overweight*, a statistic they, in partnership with Hill’s Pet Nutrition, would like to change.

Many pet owners may wonder why it matters if their pet is a little “soft” around the middle, but an extra eight pounds on a pet equals an extra 30 pounds on a human adult**. Couple that with the increase in associated health issues, including diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and high blood pressure, and our pet’s pudge actually poses a real risk to its overall health and quality of life.

One of the easiest ways to begin fighting the battle of the bulge is with the right nutrition and feeding practices. The following feeding guidelines are recommended for overweight or obese pets:
• Feed your pet only the recommended amount of food, as indicated by your veterinarian or on the food package
• Use an 8 oz measuring cup when serving the food to avoid overfeeding
• When choosing a weight management or “light” pet food, check that the product meets the labeling standards outlined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
- Dry formulas must not exceed 3,100 kcal (canine formulas) and 3,250 kcal (feline formulas) per kilogram of food, while canned formulas must not exceed 900 kcal (canine formulas) and 950 kcal (feline formulas) per kilogram of food.
• This ensures your pet is actually eating a true light product. Hill’s Pet Nutrition offers a variety of Science Diet® and Prescription Diet® pet foods designed to aid in weight loss and weight maintenance in pets, which meet the AAFCO light labeling standards.

Other ways to alter feeding practices include replacing traditional treats with other rewards such as a long walk or game of fetch in the park and not giving in to begging for extra treats or table scraps.

“You may be met with some initial resistance when changing both the rewards system and feeding practices,” says Dr. Diane Frank, Veterinary Behaviourist and President-Elect of the CVMA. “Pets are highly adaptable and will learn new behaviours quickly. They will be happier and healthier animals because of it.”

Pets can’t choose what they eat or how much they are given, so it’s up to pet owners to make the right decisions for them.

For more information please visit www.petfitness.ca and www.animalhealthcare.ca.

*Lund et al., International Journal of Applied Veterinary Medicine, 2005.

** Comparison based on 150-lb (68 kg) human and a 40-lb (18 kg) dog.

Source: www.newscanada.com

Guess who! It’s Eddie the Dalmatian with another trick you can learn to take better photos of your pets.

Last time Magnum and I discussed a camera-related item. Trick #3 continues with that theme but involves using a zoom or telephoto lens.

Magnum, I thought zoom meant to go fast. So fast that it makes my spots move. So why are we on this subject?

“That’s an easy one. Using the zoom on your camera will allow you to capture a good close-up shot of your pet without having to get too close to your pet.”

That’s right and although some pets don’t mind, I know that whenever anyone gets close to me with a camera I get distracted. Don’t ask me why. I’m not scared or anything like that, but when the Humans are in my space it bugs me for some reason. I don’t understand why it makes me forget what I was doing or was going to do but it does.

That distraction will most likely bring an end to whatever photo you were trying to take.

“You know, Eddie, I’ve seen it happen to you. When the Humans get close to you, you think it’s time to play or go for a car ride or whatever.”

No I don’t!

“Yes, you do.”

Regardless, it is a good point to keep in mind. So remember, if you plan on taking close-ups, try to just use your zoom lens and you’ll get some good shots without much fuss. Although it isn’t a bad idea to take us out on the odd car ride either!

Keep an eye on your inbox because I’ll teach you Trick #4 in a few days, which will give you some time to practice today’s trick.

By the way, how are you doing with these tricks? I hope you are finding them easy and are able to master them quickly. Write me at eddie@frameyourpets.com to let me know.

You can also write to Yogi or Magnum as well.

Next time Magnum will share a top secret trick that will be so easy you won’t believe it!

Don’t forget to visit my blog at: http://bengelonlinestore.blogspot.com/ where you’ll find updates on what we’ve all been doing along with photos, polls and and other fun stuff!

Copyright 2008 Bengel Publishing Inc.
Source: www.frameyourpets.com

(NC)—Obesity is a growing concern for humans as well as pets – and, eating right and daily exercise is essential for all pets to lead happy and healthy lifestyles. However, a survey conducted on behalf of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) in partnership with Hill’s Pet Nutrition revealed that more than half of Canadian pet owners don’t exercise their pets regularly.

It’s time to stop calling an overweight pet “fluffy”

It’s up to the pet owners to get their overweight cats and dogs moving. Take advantage of the warmer weather and get outside for some much needed exercise – your furry friends will thank you for it.

Whether it’s for a dog or cat, exercise is imperative everyday and it’s as easy as a walk in the park, a game of fetch or chase, or just a few minutes of rolling around on the floor.

According to CVMA, dogs need a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes of exercise three times daily while cats need the same amount twice a day. Exercise, along with proper nutrition, not only helps prevent obesity in pets, but it also decreases health risks including arthritis, diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, and high blood pressure. Ask your veterinarian to develop a suitable exercise regime that will fit your pets’ needs and get you involved as well.

Feeding a pet the right kind of love

To help a pet lose weight and improve overall health, further attention must be paid to both the quantity and quality of food they are eating, including treats and snacks.

Start with a visit to the veterinarian to determine how much food the pet needs (life stage and breed are deciding factors in the type of food and amount of food a pet should be eating).

And, when choosing a weight management or “light” pet food, ensure the product meets the “light” labeling standards outlined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Dry formulas must not exceed 3,100 kcal (canine formulas) and 3,250 kcal (feline formulas) per kilogram of food, while canned formulas must not exceed 900 kcal (canine formulas) and 950 kcal (feline formulas) per kilogram of food.

Daily exercise along with a balanced healthy diet can prevent obesity in pets and their owners. It’s time to get moving Canada!

For more information please visit www.petfitness.ca and www.animalhealthcare.ca.

Source: www.newscanada.com

It’s Eddie the Dalmatian barking at you through your e-mail with another trick you can learn to take better photos of your pets.

This trick has to do with the burst of bright light that shoots out of your camera. I’ve heard Humans call it flash. I guess because it happens so quickly. It’s a handy tool for a lot of different photo opportunities, but I’d like to take this opportunity to suggest you don’t use it when taking photos of your furry friends.

In fact, with basically one exception, the flash can ruin future photos.

Let me explain, Yogi really likes to have her photo taken. She’s sort of a ham, actually. I heard the Humans say the other day it would be hard to take a bad photo of her, but I know one way you can. Use the flash. What happens with Yogi is that burst of light spooks her and she eventually turns away or tries to hide her head or just leaves.

This fear could ruin future photo opportunities if your pet connects your camera to that bright light that scares them. If this happens, expect a bad reaction every time you bring out your camera.

Magnum, what’s the exception to this rule?

“Action shots! You need the flash to speed up your shutter to capture that photo of Eddie racing to the gate to bark at the garbage man or to scare birds off the fence. And often with action shots, your pet is so busy they won’t notice the flash going off.”

That’s right, and there are some pets who won’t mind the flash. Magnum is one. It doesn’t seem to bother her one bit, but still, we don’t recommend using your flash near your pet.

So to review today’s trick, remember to not use your flash unless it’s for an action shot and not near your pet or you may end up spooking them.

I’ll teach you Trick #3 in a few days, which will give you some time to practice today’s trick.
Remember, if you’d like to let me know how you’re doing with these tricks, why not send me a note to eddie@frameyourpets.com? I’d love to hear from you.

You can also write to Yogi or Magnum as well. Magnum’s contract states her e-mails will be screened by a Human. Speaking of Humans, I’d like to thank ours, George, for helping us with the keyboard work. When I get near the computer I’m all paws!

You can also visit my blog at: http://www.frameyourpets.com where you’ll find updates on what we’ve all been doing along with photos, polls and and other fun stuff!

Copyright 2008 Bengel Publishing Inc.
Source: www.frameyourpets.com