There is a right and a wrong way to pick a pooch. The process is a little like dating. The few who find fulfillment in love are those who use their hearts and their heads. There is a special kind of nirvana when a person connects with their canine soul mate. They weren't fooling when they called dog "man's best friend." But such unions don't happen by mistake. A little careful preparation will go a long way. And to simplify your search, we have five suggestions. we've borrowed a little Hollywood lingo to make the tips more memorable.
TAKE ONE! That is, take stock: This is the time to look around you, before you even start thinking of bringing home Buddy. Let's consider your life from a dog's eye view. Who lives in your house? Are there members of the household under twelve or over seventy? What about other pets? Analyze the chemistry of your household for a moment. What words describe your family? Are you fast-paced and active, or low-key and friendly? In case you didn't know, getting a dog is a little like adopting a child. They have their own personalities. Think about what personality would jibe best with your bunch.
Next evaluate your living space. Dog owners exist as apartment dwellers or cattle ranchers. While the size of your pad shouldn't ultimately determine whether you're canine-compatible, it should at least be a consideration. Take Phoebe for example, a spoiled golden retriever who lives comfortably in a tiny Brooklyn brownstone. The arrangement works because her owner is an active walker and doesn't mind taking three or four spins around the dog park every day. And don't think that just you have a huge backyard means you're best fitted for a border collie. Even hyper-active dogs will mope around waiting for someone to play with. Whatever your accommodations, if you rent or belong to an HOA, you may need to check the pet policy before entertaining the notion of getting a dog. (Many renters allow dogs, but limit size or breed.) While looking at your house, consider your neighborhood. What is the noise level on your street, and how close are your neighbors? Your dog won't be living in a bubble. Social by nature, dogs react to the environment all about them.
Now that you've inspected your digs, how much time do you spend there? Is there someone home all the time? In this day and age that's highly unlikely. Look at work and school schedules, and don't forget holidays! How often do you vacate the property? Do you plan on taking the dog with you, or do you need to check out the local kennels?
Before you move on to take two, it would be prudent to anticipate future lifestyle changes. How likely are you to move? To get married? To break up? To have children? Dogs don't disappear when your life takes a turn. You don't want to end up leaving Poopsie at the pound just because you didn't think that far in advance. Dogs live ten to fifteen years or more. While it's impossible to know for sure, it's wise to consider where you think you might be.
TAKE TWO! Take advantage: There has never been a better time to learn about dogs! The world is at your fingertips. A thousand on-line quizzes can quickly narrow the field and recommend breeds that would fit your particular lifestyle and limitations. Your search just got a thousand times easier. Jot down the top ten, and do some research. First, look at pictures. What do you think? Is that a face you can love? Physical attraction, after all, does factor into finding a soul mate. Read as much as you can about the breeds you feel drawn to. Don't stop at the internet. The library and the pet store have an endless variety of books, magazines, and videos to assist you in your search. Even better, talk to other dog owners. Ask them what they like (and don't like) about their dogs. Go to a dog show, sit in on an obedience class, or call a local breeder. Take advantage of every resource you can to learn more about the breed.
TAKE THREE! Take interest: Get involved in the dog community. Make it a family affair. Volunteer at a local shelter. This gives the kids a chance to experience the responsibility of a dog. You may even consider fostering a dog looking for a home. Attend adoption days; ask the neighbor if you can play Frisbee with her whippet. All this interaction with dogs will allow you to see quirks that may not have been so apparent in your reading. Hidden expenses should also begin to be evident. What kind of equipment is needed to keep this kind of dog happy? Make sure to ask about health and grooming-related costs. Different breeds have different needs.
TAKE FOUR! Take your time: Now is not the time to rush into a relationship, but you are getting closer to a commitment. Start putting out feelers. If you plan to get a pup from a breeder, find out when the next litter is due. If you have your heart set on a particular breed, but want a mature dog, you may want to look into breed rescue groups. They have some great animals that already have some training, and are a fraction of the price. And don't forget that sometimes those mixed mutts lead the pack! Spend some quality time in the kennels. Many shelters allow a few days or a week adjustment period before tying the knot.
TAKE FIVE! Take cover: You think you've found the one? Hurray! Just remember that every relationship takes time and effort. Sign up for obedience classes and arm yourself with a little more patience than normal. Take it easy on yourself, knowing that if you've taken our advice, you'll be just fine!
------
Emma Snow, an animal lover, works in marketing for Dog Pound http://www.dog-pound.net and Horse Stall http://www.horse-stall.net leading portals for pet management.
Good Nursery Furniture – A Gift for your Bundle of Joy
Shopping for the child in the mother’s womb or a newly born baby is an experience to hold on to. The feeling of giving birth to life is unparalleled and the emotional bond shared by the child and its parents is beyond explanation. The first thought that runs across the minds of new parents is that of providing every comfort in the world to their bundle of joy. You wish your child were bestowed with all the worldly comforts that one can think of. Quality nursery furniture becomes the immediate necessity in your plans for the kid.
After you are done with giving attractive paint to the walls of the room decked up with baby themes like Disney characters or nature, it’s time for buying the right nursery furniture for your child. The first item on the top of your list is the crib. The styles of baby cribs have undergone sea changes from a simple crib to multi-functional and multi-featured cribs. The folding features enable the cribs to become rocking cribs to small bed to big bed.
A very small child requires lots of clothing, such as diapers and blankets that need frequent changing. Multi-storey bassinets, that form an indispensable part of nursery furniture, meet this requirement. A baby hammock is another vital equipment that pleasures your baby gently with rhythmic movements. Modern baby hammocks come with all the paraphernalia like frames, slings, and mattresses to keep your child cozy and comfortable.
The latest Amish furniture comes fully loaded with every multi-functional system. Amish made furniture provides the missing link in the modern nursery furniture. Your child needs the strength of Amish oak furniture to ensure that it can bear the load of your loved one. Moreover, the child will grow up appreciating the artistic work of Amish craftsmen that produce quality furniture articles by painstakingly working on every single piece.
Coming back to the most important nursery furniture article – the crib, make sure that it has no loose ends that could hurt the baby. Any protruded nooks in the crib mean a potential injurious situation for the child. The crib must be such that even an accidental fall is not possible. A crib with adjustable height enhances the safety of the child. The safety aspect of the crib is most vital to look out for. Always insist on the furniture that complies with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association guidelines.
The baby is your most prized possession and you’ll never want your child to accidentally lick some toxic paint on the furniture. Always insist on non-toxic paint finish on every furniture article accessible to the child. If the baby has not yet learnt to balance its own weight, use the strapped furniture articles. The chairs and tables for the kids usually come with straps that can protect the baby from accidental fall.
Here’s a list of common nursery furniture items that are an absolute must to pamper your child to the hilt – crib, bassinet, rocking chair, baby hammock, stroller, perambulator, high chair, baby swing, baby carrier…Cannot stop because you want everything for your bundle of joy!
The author has been using Amish handcrafted furniture for her home and office. Wholesale Amish furniture is made with premium quality hardwood. You can see some wonderful Amish furniture here.
Types of light bulbs
Before you install any lighting in your home, you should make sure that you know what type of lights are going to work the best for you. There are several different types of light fixtures and usually these will vary based on the types of light bulbs you put in them. Each separate light bulb has its benefits and disadvantages, so you should research them thoroughly before you make your final decision.
The two types of light bulbs that you're most likely to use in a home are incandescent bulbs and occasionally fluorescent. These bulbs work in entirely different ways. The incandescent bulbs will not last as long as the other bulbs, but they are less hazardous, are easiest to dispose of when they have burned out, and are less likely to cause a fire.
Incandescent bulbs consist of a filament of tungsten inside of a glass bulb. The bulb can be frosted or clear, depending on the bulb. The tungsten is heated until it glows white, and that is where the white incandescent bulbs come from. While the tungsten is glowing, parts of it are actually burning off. As a result, after a while, the filament will break, and a new bulb will be needed.
Fluorescent bulbs are tubes with gas in them. Usually the gasses used are argon and mercury. The electricity will cause UV-rays inside of the glass tube, which will then hit a coating of phosphorous and cause light. Originally, there were only the tube-style fluorescent bulbs, and you required a separate light fixture to install them. Now, however, you can also purchase fluorescent bulbs that have the tube coiled up into a size and shape that is similar to the incandescent bulb. These will last much longer, but make sure that you dispose of them properly when they do burn out.
Halogen bulbs are very similar to incandescent bulbs, but they are designed to preserve the filament of tungsten. As a result, they have a much smaller glass bulb around the filament and have a tendency to get much hotter. Therefore, halogen bulbs are rarely used in the same places as regular incandescent bulbs since they could be a potential fire hazard.
Get home design and decorating ideas by watching homes from all over the world - please visit http://www.dwank.com
