Frame Your Pets - Info

You’ve got mail and it’s from me, Eddie the Dalmatian! I’m back again with another cool trick to help you take better photos of your pets.

Magnum, how tall are you?

“I’m not sure, Eddie. I know Yogi is a little taller than me and that you are just a bit taller than her, but I don’t know the exact measurements. Why do you ask?”

It’s got to do with today’s trick. How tall do you think the Humans are?

“Beats me. I know both George and Brenda are a lot taller than any of us, but I can look them straight in the eye when I’m on the steps. In fact, I can go where I’m taller than them. Come to think of it, if I sit on the clothes hamper in the hallway I’m taller than both you and Yogi. What’s this have to do with a photo trick?”

Well, Magnum, it turns out that you have helped me explain the why part of today’s trick, which is to get down to our level when taking pet photos.

We aren’t as tall as you, and sometimes you really don’t want a photo of your dog or cat straining to look up at you in a photo. We also like it when you crouch down as it makes us a little more relaxed to see you down at our level.

“I doubt I would ever stoop down to your level, Eddie.”

Very funny, very funny.

It turns out Magnum also explained an exception to the rule with some of us smaller animals who like to be on things that elevate our height, like stairs or a table or whatever. It still puts everyone at an even height and makes for good photos.

By the way, we are getting a lot of e-mails and read every one of them! To write to myself or Magnum or Yogi send your note to eddie@frameyourpets.com and to see photos of all of us and to find out what we’ve been doing visit my blog located at http://www.frameyourpets.com and leave a comment.

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

Visit my Front Page News Blog at: http://www.princetonbcnews.info

(NC)—Just like their owners, dogs can put on extra, unwanted weight. Next time you’re out for a walk with your pooch, have a look at the dogs around you. Do they look a little too well fed or well padded? How about your own dog?

Canadian veterinarians estimate that 56 percent of all dogs they see are overweight or obese. More often than not, that extra weight goes unnoticed by dog owners, sometimes leading to serious health problems such as heart and respiratory diseases and arthritis.

Being mindful of your dog’s weight is an important part of ensuring that he lives a long and healthy life. How can you tell if your dog has a weight problem? Following are some questions to think about or visit www.ismydogoverweight.ca and check out the assessment tools to see if your dog is overweight…or headed in that direction:

1. When your dog is standing, can you feel his ribs? Place your hands on his rib cage and gently feel his ribs. If they’re well padded and hard to feel, your dog may have a weight problem.

2. Do you find your dog has less energy and stamina? Dogs often can’t move as quickly or for as long if they are overweight. Carrying around excess weight is hard on the lungs, which may lead to huffing and puffing.

3. What does your dog eat? Excessive feeding can lead to weight gain. Don’t leave food in your dog’s dish all the time, make sure he eats at designated meal times and measure the food every time.

4. When you look at your dog from the side, is there a visible tuck in the belly area between the ribs and hindquarters? If so, great. If not and your dog is “square-shaped” in this area he may be carrying excess weight.

5. What breed of dog to you have? Although dogs of any breed or size can be overweight, Labrador and golden retrievers, beagles, basset hounds, cocker spaniels, dachshunds, pugs and even Chihuahuas are more susceptible to weight gain and should be closely monitored.

Now that you know what to look for, talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s ideal weight – it will depend on his breed, age, gender and build – and help to make sure your furry friend is not at risk.

Source: www.newscanada.com
Visit us online at: www.thenewsleader.ca

(NC)—While the two-legged, seven-year-old in your family is just getting started, the four-legged one is starting to slow down; for small breed cats and dogs, age seven signals the beginning of their mature years, while the golden years start at age five for large breed dogs.

“Seven seems like such a young age,” says Dr. Diane Frank, President of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). “But many owners forget that seven actually means middle-aged in pet years. Just like we all aspire to be fabulous at 50, owners can help their pets remain healthy and strong despite their older age.”

The CVMA, in partnership with Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada wants to help owners understand that having a “mature adult” pet doesn’t mean their pet’s quality of life has to dramatically change. With a few easy adjustments and considerations, they can live as strong and happy as ever – both body and mind!

Body

As your pet begins to age there are a number of health factors to take into consideration. Careful attention should be paid to their oral, heart and kidney health as these are all areas where issues can arise. Mobility is also a concern, especially in larger dogs. Consulting with your veterinarian is one of the easiest ways to ensure you are properly looking after your aging pet.

Here is a list of tips to help keep your mature adult dog in top physical shape…

• Keep your dog at a healthy weight and look for foods enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joints and cartilage
• Ensure good oral health through regular teeth brushing, feeding a premium dog food and through regular visits to the veterinarian
• To maintain a healthy heart, avoid foods with excessive sodium
• To help maintain kidney health, feed your dog foods that contain low levels of both sodium and phosphorous
• Maintain a healthy weight for your dog through consultation with your veterinarian and with regular exercise and an appropriate pet food

To keep your aging cat healthy, the following tips apply…

• Regular teeth brushing and cleanings at the veterinarian will help maintain overall oral health
• For a healthy heart, feed your cat a premium food that contains essential amino acids including taurine and low levels of sodium
• Avoid high levels of phosphorous to help maintain good kidney health

Mind

The adage, ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ simply doesn’t apply to mature pets today. Challenge your cat or dog with active play and take them for walks. Your veterinarian can discuss the appropriate level of physical activity for your pet but remember, an active pet is a happy pet!

Adjustments do need to be made, whether it is moving a pet’s sleeping area to the main floor to help them avoid stairs or providing your pet with a quiet place they can go to when there are visitors or young children around, but these small changes can result in a stress-free and content companion who can live out their golden years in comfort!

Source: www.newscanada.com

It’s Eddie the Dalmatian sneaking up on you in your e-mail. Believe it or not, we are half way through the tricks we wanted to teach you and by the sounds of the feedback we’ve been getting, some of you are learning a whole lot of new tricks!

This time around we are going to talk about the setting for your pet photos. Speaking from experience, I know I’m my most comfortable when I’m somewhere I recognize or remember being before.

Magnum, what’s the trick for today?

“You touched on it already, Oh Dotted One! The best place to take photos of your pet is a place they know. This could be the livingroom, the yard, a favourite walking path, a dog park or whatever. Somewhere familiar will take the stress out of the equation for both you and your pet and may even make it a fun experience.”

Thanks, Magnum. I know that if I’m in a strange place I get a little scared and I feel a little weird. The last thing I want is to stay there to get my picture taken.

So today’s trick is to keep us calm by taking us somewhere we know and are comfortable being and you’ll get some great photos!

Keep watching your inbox for more great tricks. Another one will be coming your way in a few days, which will give you enough time to practice this one.

You can write to any of us to let us know how you’re doing with our program by sending an e-mail to eddie@frameyourpets.com. You can also leave comments at my blog site http://bengelonlinestore.blogspot.com/ where we even have some photos for you to enjoy from all of us at Frame Your Pets.

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