The Shih Tzu breed was originally a dog of the Chinese people. Believe it or not, they were at once considered royalty to this culture. Kept inside as the palace pet; the Shih Tzu was highly valuable. Still today, this special breed carries itself in a high manner. The Shih Tzu prances with their heads held high and their tail curved upwards over their back.
Not much training is needed to instill a sense of pride in this breed. Enjoyable as pets but also very competitive in shows; the Shih Tzu has been paraded in several of the top dog show competitions. The Shih Tzu is definitely a fine pet for a small town house, or for someone looking for a small companion.
The temperament of this breed is calm yet affectionate and playful. They are not too territorial with other dog breeds and are trusting to those around. Many people define the Shih Tzu as the perfect playful animal that barks only when needed and relaxes with the best of breeds. Their sense of danger is keen and they are able to detect noise or alarm their owner if someone is at the door.
This small sized breed usually ranges between ten to twelve pounds and reaches no more than ten inches in height. They have also been bred in recent years to be anywhere from three to five pounds, known as a teacup. This small, compact dog has other special characteristics to its name.
The coat of a Shih Tzu is unique to all. This breed has a double coat and if not kept groomed can grow to great lengths. Most owners interested in keeping the coat at a medium maintenance find grooming every ten weeks to be standard. It is standard to keep the coat short or if interested in higher maintenance can be grown out to full length. If the coat is grown long, it must be kept brushed daily and somehow tied up around the face. The Shih Tzu has large eyes and often the eyes are very irritated if the hair is not kept cut and out of the face.
Trimming must also be done around the feet, belly, and anus to permit movement and allow neatness. The short snout of a Shih Tzu is comparably sizeable to their small trunks, however can, at times, cause complications to breathing. On a cold day, it may be hard for this breed to take in the brisk air and can possibly cause a form of asthma. To help calm the dog’s breathing, an owner may put their fingers on the Shih Tzu’s nose holes to force them to breath from their mouths. This will remind the dog they may use their mouths to help them breath in circumstances where air is thicker and harder to take in.
Colors of this breed vary from black, white, and brown. They may have all three colors or variations of the three colors. It is rare for a Shih Tzu to have an all black coat, but not impossible to find. Finding a good breeder is like finding any other good dog breeder. If you want a particular size or color make sure the parenting dogs are of this caliber.
Make sure you look at the parenting dogs and the environment in which they are kept before making a purchase. If you are having a puppy shipped from across the United States then ask for references. It is important not to purchase from a breeder who breeds related dogs or who over breeds their dogs; once a year for each dam is permissible. It is also important to pick a breeder who values their dogs and takes good care of them. Try to find owners who breed for the love of dogs instead of owners who breed to make a living. All in all the Shih Tzu is the perfect companion for someone looking for a dog that is affectionate, happy, somewhat playful, and very trusting.
Technorati tags: shih breed coat kept small
Virtually every culture on earth has an oral tradition of encounters with large, strange beasts-creatures different from those we know. Were they dragons? Why don’t we still have dragons among us? Or do we? Will we ever know for sure?
Part 1
What are dragons?
From the fossil record, we have a sizeable body of knowledge about huge animals that are no longer represented in the animal kingdom. Though these creatures varied greatly in terms of size, shape, diet, habitat, mode of motility, and probably every other characteristic, we collectively call all such anciently extinct species “dinosaurs.”
As to what ended their presence on earth, we have only speculation, with people of differing opinions being equally adamant about their points of view. Standard evolutionary theory favors the explanation that a devastating meteorite hit the earth about 65 million years ago, causing extended darkness from dust and debris thrown into the atmosphere, thus snuffing out many life forms.
The creationist perspective, however, tends toward a much more recent time frame for the collective demise of the large ancient animals. How recent is a subject of debate, even among those who share the same basic Biblical philosophy, with “old-earth” creationists occupying something of a middle ground between the evolutionists and the “new-earth” creationists, who date the earth at somewhere around 10,000 years. These two groups agree that the death of the dinosaurs was caused by the Genesis Flood and/or the global geological and climatic changes that transpired thereafter.
Those who would like to believe that dragons really lived (and who wouldn’t?) might seriously consider a possible link between dinosaurs, the Loch Ness monster, and a great flood (or the Great Flood).
Dragons around the world
Both Old and New Testaments talk about monsters-the books of Job, Psalms, Isaiah, and Revelation. Dragons appear in the Babylonian creation story; Nebuchadnezzar built the city of Babylon with carvings of dragons all over the walls, and put a dragon on his seal. Ancient Egyptians used images of dragons to protect their palaces. Both ancient Greeks and Romans had dragon mythologies, as do China and Japan, Mesopotamia and India.
Europe has an especially rich tradition of dragons. The Vikings carved dragons on their ships. Celtic kings in Britain were called “dragons.” Pendragon means “chief dragon,” or head of all chiefs among the ancient Britons. Scotland and France have dragon connections. Wales has the dragon as its national symbol. Britain alone has nearly 200 sites identified with dragon lore.
As a land comprised of islands, Great Britain has an obvious appeal to creatures that thrive in or near water, which may explain its particularly strong association with dragons-an association that makes sense in the Flood scenario. Several local festivals of ancient origin continue to re-enact the killing of the resident dragon. All over England are places named for dragon slayings. Dragon Hill is where St. George, patron saint of England, is said to have killed a dragon. Legend says that grass has never since grown where the dragon’s blood was spilled.
North America has its share of dragons. Mexican history has Quetzalcoatl-part serpent and part beautiful bird-the god of wind, wisdom, and life. The Algonquin Indians of North America worshipped a dragon named Piasa; the Apache tribe had one called Chiricahua.
According to dragon lore, many and varied types of dragons once graced the earth. Some have two legs, some have four, some none. Some have wings. Some breathe fire, some have poisonous stingers on their tails. Some have body parts of another animal or of a human. Some have scales; some have smooth, leathery skin. They come in all colors and a range of sizes. Oral history is important here, as features like color and skin texture cannot be determined from fossil examination. These descriptions could be superimposed upon those of dinosaurs without taxing the imagination.
Interestingly, while Western dragons are portrayed as man-eating and evil, Eastern dragons are considered good, kind, and intelligent.
How does Nessie fit in?
Much as the traditional land-based dragon, the swimming monster also enjoys a worldwide reputation. Of these, the Loch Ness monster is arguably the most famous.
Reports of Loch Ness monster sightings pretty much agree on what Nessie looks like. She (I’m going to call it “she” for simplicity’s sake) is a large animal, 20-60 feet long, with a thick, rounded back and a muscular-looking tail. She has a small head with large eyes and a long neck, a little thicker than an elephant’s trunk, forming a number of arches. She has elephant-like skin and two very short forelegs or flippers. Her body may have a fin as well, and is grayish-black. She is reportedly a fast swimmer.
Nessie has been spotted periodically for over 1400 years. The first recorded sighting was by St. Columba in 565 AD.
Loch Lochy, Loch Lomond, and Loch Shiel all have been sites of possible monster presence. Ireland has a lake beast they call Plasts; Wales has one called Afanc. Britain’s deepest body of fresh water, Lake Morar, over 1,000 feet deep, has Morag.
Sweden has the Great Lake Monster. Russia has several lakes with long-necked creatures. A lake in Japan now claims a lake monster, as does Lake Van, a saltwater lake in southeastern Turkey.
Lake Okanagan in British Columbia is home to Ogopogo. In the United States, Lake Champlain has Champ, Wallowa Lake in Oregon has Wally, and California-Nevada’s Lake Tahoe has had a number of sightings of strange water creatures.
What Nessie et al. might be
Most arguments against Nessie being any known species of creature begin with an assumption of the evolutionary scenario. It has been suggested that Nessie might be a member of the supposedly extinct group archaeoceti, a suborder of Cetacea, the order including whales, porpoises, and dolphins.
It is not uncommon for animals believed to have gone extinct to turn up alive and well. One example is the coelacanth, a fish of the order crossopterygii, the order that includes a fish thought to have been the ancestor of land vertebrates. The discovery of a live coelacanth necessitated a rearrangement of the “family tree.”
In addition, the animal species we have do not always fall into neat groupings. The platypus and the spiny anteater (both mammals) lay eggs. Bats (also mammals) fly. The lungfish and the mudskipper (both fish) walk, and the walking perch can live for a day without water because of a supplemental respiratory chamber that enables the fish to use air. Some snakes lay eggs, others give birth to live young, yet all are reptiles. Indeed, the basic problem with taxonomy (the classification of organisms in an ordered system) is that it presupposes a correlation between the various levels of classification and the geological time periods at which they differentiated from one another.
Nessie could be an aquatic animal like a hippo or crocodile that breathes with just her nostrils above the waterline, or an amphibian with gills, or any other unique creature.
While many descriptions of Nessie are similar, differing photographs taken of her might suggest different species of lake creatures. The presence of more than one species is not unlikely.
To be continued….
Technorati tags: dragons lake dragon nessie loch
It gets hot in Texas. The air shimmers and dances above the plains, and the baking sun draws a spider’s web of foot-deep cracks in the hard-packed clay. Lizards dig in under the biggest rocks they can find, and even the prairie dogs hide deep in their burrows, venturing out only in the late evenings to scrounge for seeds and dry grasses. And cats? Well, cats mostly stay indoors, if they have a choice, in the cool, comfy world of air conditioning and ceiling fans.
The early mornings are nice, though, for strolls in the garden and for long, leisurely baths on the patio swing. Kiki’s stitches were by now completely healed, and the fur on her belly was rapidly growing back. She was certainly glad to be rid of that horrible funnel collar, too. What a nuisance that was! For nearly two weeks she hadn’t been able to wash anything but her front paws and half of her tail, and eating or drinking anything was a major challenge.
After her bath came the usual rounds of the garden and then the prairie dog colony. The first mound had fresh scent, and she probed it with one forepaw. Nothing down there but air. The second and third mounds produced the same result. Rats! After all this time you’d think she’d be able to catch at least one of the wily critters, but she hadn’t even come close.
Beyond the last mound, a scraggly creosote bush squatted next to a cluster of sand-blasted rocks, half concealing them with its twiggy umbrella. She hadn’t been out there yet. Maybe it was worth checking into. Her approach was casual but cautious. There was nothing particularly menacing about this particular rock formation, still, one can’t be too careful when venturing into unfamiliar territory. She nosed around the base of the largest boulder and placed one paw on the smooth stone. It was still cool to the touch, though the sun had just begun to caress its crown with one golden finger.
One easy bound brought her to the peak, where the sparse leaves struggled to provide just a bit of shade. Clusters of small yellow blossoms adorned the branches, and a lone honeybee clambered over the delicate petals, its leg-baskets heavy with pollen. Kiki sniffed at the spray of flowers it had just left, but the fragrance frankly left a good deal to be desired. In fact, the whole plant had a vaguely oily smell.
Kiki slid down the shady side of the boulder and instantly froze in her tracks. She stood motionless, hypnotized by the wedge-shaped head that undulated before her, jaws agape, hooked fangs bared. The dusky brown and grey coils of its long, lithe body churned restlessly, and its upraised tail rattled a stern warning. The menacing head flashed toward her. She leaped aside, feeling the brush of those fangs against her shoulder.
A more sensible cat would have probably high-tailed it for home and counted herself lucky, but something about this creature challenged her to stand and fight, and Kiki was never one to back down from a challenge. She’d had run-ins with snakes before, but a garter snake isn’t much more troublesome than a lizard when it comes down to a pitched battle. This was different. She knew instinctively that this was a dangerous, even a deadly foe.
Kiki circled to the side, looking for an opening. The serpent turned with her, its rough scales rasping like footsteps in dry leaves. It lunged again. Another near miss. Kiki retaliated with two sharp thwacks to the back of its prostrate head. The snake pulled back into itself and regarded her with cold, yellow eyes. Its forked tongue flicked in and out, testing the air for her scent. Again she circled and again it struck, this time a glancing blow to her flank. Close. Too close. She backed away a few feet to consider her strategy.
Her foe was quick and unpredictable, and she had only her reflexes to keep her alive. On the other hand, it seemed to have a fairly limited striking range, much less than its overall length might suggest. If she stayed just beyond that strike zone, she should be pretty safe.
Kiki paced back and forth just outside what she judged to be the danger zone, teasing it into another strike. It worked. This time it fell several inches short of its target. The snake pulled itself upright and fixed her with a baleful glare. Its tail rattled furiously. Try that again, it hissed. She did. The result was the same. Now it was just a matter of time and patience. Kiki’s was strong. The snake’s was wearing thin. Another strike and another. She could tell it was tiring. Two more futile lunges and she made her move.
Choosing the moment after a strike when the reptile lay prone and vulnerable, she sprang. She seized it a few inches behind that treacherous head and shook it savagely. The long body twisted violently, flipping her off her feet, but she hung on desperately. She didn’t dare let go now. She clamped down harder and jerked her head from side to side. Her jaws ached, and her shoulder was painfully bruised from being slammed against the ground, but still she held fast. The snake was almost finished. It twitched a few more times and lay still. Cautiously she released her grip and stepped back. One more spasm and it was over.
Kiki tapped it with one paw just to make sure. Nothing. A few licks to her sore shoulder and she was ready to attempt the next step - getting it back home. After all, she had to show off her prize, didn’t she?
Preferring to avoid those still-gaping jaws, she seized the beast by the tail and started dragging, or should I say trying to drag? That sucker was heavy! She braced with all four feet and pulled with all her strength. It moved just a little. One step backward, brace and pull. Step back, brace and pull. Slowly but surely it was coming.
The sun rose ever higher in the sky, and the hard-packed earth grew hotter and hotter. Every rock, every tuft of grass was a major obstacle. Nearly an hour had passed before she finally reached the edge of the garden. Another twenty minutes or so brought her to the back door. She meowed and knocked for admittance. Mama Morales was the first to respond.
“Ay, Dios mio!” she shrieked and slammed the door in Kiki’s face. Some welcome! Slightly exasperated, she knocked again. From inside she could hear Mama’s voice, still frantic, and Delia, trying vainly to soothe her hysterical mother.
“Calmase Mama. Take it easy! You give yourself a heart attack. Now what on earth ….. ” she was saying as she opened the door. “O-o-o-oh!” and once again the door slammed shut. After a moment it opened again, just a crack, and Delia peeked out. “Oh my goodness.” Closed again. This was getting real old, real fast. After all the trouble she’d gone to to bring them this magnificent trophy, this was the reception she got? She knocked again and meowed loudly.
The door opened a fourth time and out came a broom handle. Delia poked at the snake a couple of times to satisfy herself that it was truly dead. Then she opened the door a bit wider, snatched the cat inside, and slammed it shut again, leaving the hard-won prize on the patio. Kiki protested loudly but in vain. The door stayed closed.
“Kiki, what in the world….How in the world….Kiki, are you out of your mind? You could have been killed! Kiki, don’t you ever do that again, do you hear me? Not ever!”
“Ay Dios mio.” was all Mama Morales could manage.
The End
copyright 1998
Adapted from Catwalk, an exciting feline adventure tale.
For the rest of her story visit http://home.att.net/~kathfreeman/book.html
Technorati tags: kiki just again back after
Virtually every culture on earth has an oral tradition of encounters with large, strange beasts-creatures different from those we know. Were they dragons? Why don’t we still have dragons among us? Or do we? Will we ever know for sure?
Part 3
Dragon slayers become saints
In the Western world, where dragons were “evil,” dragon killers have been celebrated, and several made into saints. The western church had no fewer than 40 dragon-slaying saints, the best known being Saints George, Michael, Catherine, and Margaret.
St. George died circa 303 AD, was first identified as the patron saint of England in the 14th century, and is thought to have been martyred for his Christian faith.
He was a popular saint in many parts of Europe. About 20 countries, provinces, and cultural groups have claimed him as a patron saint. Nearly 100 wall paintings are known, invariably depicting him in combat with a dragon.
St. George allegedly killed more than one dragon. Of particular note is one he battled in Libya. It ate from flocks of sheep until the sheep population was depleted; then children were sacrificed, two per day, chosen by lottery. In time, the lot fell upon the king’s daughter. As she went to her fate, George happened by, saved her, and told the village his faith in God had helped him defeat the dragon. The village converted to Christianity.
In Medieval times, the dragon was considered a symbol of paganism and non-Christian beliefs, even of evil or the Devil. Often places associated with the killing of a dragon have become sanctified; sometimes a church is built on the spot.
The gargoyle-gargouille in French-began as a dragon that “gargled” (spouted water) in an attempt to flood a French city. An archbishop disempowered the beast using the sign of the cross, and the gargoyle became a sign of protection that has adorned churches and other buildings since the Middle Ages.
It is possible that George’s connection with the dragon, which seems to have appeared long after his lifetime, is a metaphorical depiction of the defeat of the heathen emperor. Hero rescuing maiden from dragon could symbolically represent a Christian hero rescuing the Church from the Devil.
Dragon tales sometimes stretch credibility
Many dragon stories defy probability. Of these, many have Christian themes blended with magic. The influence of the contemporary belief system is also evident.
In Brent Pelham, England, the Devil demanded the soul of a knight who had killed a dragon, but the knight was saved by being buried half in, half out of holy ground. In Wormesgay, England, St. Guthlac intervened to help a knight kill a dragon by blinding the monster with a lightning flash, enabling the knight to reach a vulnerable spot (a wart).
St. Margaret of Antioch, daughter of a pagan priest, was thrown out of her father’s house for embracing Christianity. She was imprisoned for refusing to marry the prefect and devoured by a dragon in her cell, but the cross she held punctured it from the inside and she emerged unharmed. (She was later beheaded.)
France’s aquatic dragon, Tarasque, lived near the Rhone River and sank boats in order to feast upon their passengers. St. Martha used her cross and holy water to lead it to a nearby village where it was put to death.
At Spindleston Heugh in England was a maiden transformed by sorcery into a dragon. Her brother came to kill her, but she persuaded him to kiss her; thus the spell was broken. At Long Witten, an invisible dragon lurked near a well; a knight used magic ointment to see it, and killed it with his lance. In Penmynnedd, Wales, a dragon was lured into a pit containing a bronze mirror, and it exhausted itself to death by fighting its reflection.
Many dragons are said to have guarded treasure. Since only humans use currency, it’s a curious attribute for a dragon to value precious metals and gems.
Modern dragons
In January of 1909, over 100 witnesses in at least 30 towns in the New Jersey-Pennsylvania area reported seeing the “flying devil.” Various witnesses claimed it had a piercing scream and glowing red eyes.
In the 1950s through the 1970s, a bipedal reptilian creature, nicknamed the Loveland Frog or Lizard Man, was reported in Ohio, New Jersey, Kentucky, and South Carolina. Witnesses say it was over seven feet long and ran at speeds up to 40 miles per hour. At about that time appeared Mothman, a creature resembling a bird, but missing its head, with red eyes where its shoulders should be. This one flew after the fleeing witnesses at up to 100 miles per hour. (Mothman became the inspiration for the 2002 movie The Mothman Prophecies.)
Mexico and Puerto Rico have Chupracabra-”goat sucker.” Mongolia has the Death Worm, which is two to four feet long and kills its victims with venom or electric shock.
And of course, Nessie sightings continue to appear up to the present.
Recent Nessie developments
In the early 1930s, a new road was built around Loch Ness; thereafter the frequency of sightings increased. There have been about 3,000 sightings since 1933. Until that time, stories of the monster had circulated mostly locally.
In 1933, 50 sightings of Nessie were reported. On 22 July, 1933, a London couple was driving down the road when a large, cumbersome animal crossed the road in front of them, perhaps 20 yards from the water. This incident was unusual because it was the first recorded sighting of Nessie on land. The report appeared in the Inverness Courier, and then in the Scottish national newspapers. After this, interest in Nessie grew internationally. Three more important sightings occurred in 1934. One of these produced a photograph taken along the new road by a London surgeon, and a privately funded investigation led by Sir Edward Mountain resulted in five shots of Nessie.
During World War II, the Navy secured the Loch area. In May 1943, a member of the Royal Observer Corps saw a monster raise its head from the water and then submerge again.
A huge underwater cavern has been discovered in the Loch and named “Nessie’s Lair.” George Edwards, a local tour boat operator and member of the Auxiliary Coastguard, has seen many strange shapes on the loch over the years; he believes there must be more than one creature, and that this “new” cavern could lead to a network of caves. Experts call his findings “the most significant in years.”
The number of sightings has decreased recently, despite that the loch has been watched more closely and that increasingly more people carry cameras and video recorders. This does not necessarily suggest that Nessie is less likely to be real. It more likely suggests that the population of creatures is declining.
Conclusion
Whatever their identity, dragons have undeniably secured their place in our cultural history. Are they real or not? Arguably, the truth about dragons is inextricably intertwined with the fate of the dinosaurs. Virtually no reasonable doubt exists that dinosaurs once lived-only whether or not they coexisted with humans.
But the fact that so many tales of human-dragon interactions have endured through the ages is too compelling to ignore. I propose this as a definition of dragons: dinosaurs that have co-existed with humans. As such, either they are real, or they are not. But, since one can never prove a universal negative, we can say with certainty only one of two things-either they are real, or they might not be.
The fact that no dragon has ever lent itself to modern scientific examination means little. Obviously, these relics from antiquity are not well suited to 21st-century life. If we accept that most of the dinosaurs died in a flood, or the Great Flood, it is not surprising that the numbers of those few survivors are dwindling.
And of course people feared and hated them. Antediluvian dinosaurs of the carnivorous persuasion ate each other. Postdiluvian ones, having fewer menu selections, naturally resorted to eating livestock-and, when necessary, humans. Flying dragons? Why not? Arhchaeopteryx and Pterosaurs flew.
Why were dragons of the Far East revered instead of feared and hated? Perhaps, by fluke of geography or some other factor, herbivorous dragons tended to settle there. The fact that dragon tales overlap with fantasy makes them no less likely to be true, just as the certainty that reindeer don’t fly and fat guys can’t go down chimneys doesn’t mean that there was never a real person named St. Nicholas who gave gifts to children.
Why in particular are Medieval and Renaissance times linked with dragon activity? Maybe dragons were enjoying a resurgence in population at that time; maybe, because of the prevailing social-cultural-religious climate, humans in Western civilization needed something big and bad to conquer.
To believe, or not to believe? Given the evidence, we have ample reason to believe in dragons.
Technorati tags: dragon dragons george nessie sightings
If I weren’t bit by a fireant the other day, I would never have thought of writing about ants. Despite the cortisone cream, fireant bites itch, burn, and take quite a few days to heal.
In primitive human societies, ant bites were considered as having healing powers; therefore, ant bites were used in initiation ceremonies as a test of endurance. That must mean, I am initiated to something without my consent and not for the first time either.
Taking their viewpoint into account, I really don’t blame the ants much. To them, we must seem so careless and so much bigger than Gulliver’s giants. They must suffer multiple casualties everyday, even if our clumsy feet commit their murders unwittingly. When we step on an ant, the crushed ant emits an alarm pheromone in high concentration. That sends other ants nearby into war frenzy and causes them attack anything and everything around the nest.
This waste of ant-life is increased thousands-fold under Florida’s sudden showers that flood their commune and by the pest-control man who pays a visit once a month causing ant-martyrs because of the extermination industry. I watched that Terminex guy at his work, fighting a biological warfare at its best. Wherever he found an ant hill, he put in some granules and watered it. This much stress would make any species go crazy and strike back with vengeance.
To top their aggravation, fireants’ forefathers play a role in their behavioral genes. It is believed that ants have evolved from the wasps and they must have kept the aggressive behavior of wasps somewhere in their DNA structure because their bite hurts and gets swollen just like a wasp’s bite. Worse yet, some ant species, called killer ants, have a tendency to attack much larger animals during their foraging or in defending their nests.
The ant colony works as one unit. In that unit are many ants that act, according to their individual function, for the whole colony to make the ant life practical and effective. Even if there is separateness among the ants, their existence is one complete element. An ant colony does not consist of tiny whole things linked together as in human societies; each ant is a part of the whole without being separate. The ants’ oneness is in harmony with the forces of nature.
Imagine being without legs or arms and needing total care from the others in your youth. Well, that’s an ant’s life for you. Ants do not develop their legs until fully grown; they depend completely on the nurse-ants. When the baby ants develop, they get six legs with prominent elbows, or should we say knees, and off to work they go. The worker ants spent their internship of few days in caring for the queen and the young. After that, they graduate to harder and harder tasks, from digging and nest work to foraging food and defending the nest.
Most of these worker ants are females. Maybe the ant colonies, too, depend on women’s volatile and high-strung view of things. Yet, there’s a place for males in the commune also. The males act as drones and work with the queen to pad up the population. That must mean the females are the fallen soldiers who go out to face the world daily and possibly perish in the path of duty.
The queen–in the beginning of a colony–has quite a few jobs, but as the colony enlarges, her duties are delegated to others, and she becomes the mother of the commune who just lays eggs. Motherhood must have a very respectful and an almost divine throne, since ants appoint body guards to the queen and the body guards form a ring around her. That ring moves with her and expands or contracts according to the situation.
The eggs, or the ant-children, do not belong to the queen, but are the communal possession. As soon as the eggs are laid, they are carried to a separate room to be cared by attendants or nurses. These ants, though not a separate caste–being vigorous and efficient–are at the prime of their lives, and their care of the young, as witnessed by observers, is meticulously and very lovingly administered.
As soon as each young ant is out of the nursery, it gains responsibility and the spirit of the commune directs her to a chosen occupation. The young ant’s role in life is not haphazard and directionless like the young of the human.
If we pause and think, we may understand that, from many angles, there is enlightenment to be gained from the ant colonies, but the most important point is, all ants of the colony act as one whole, making separateness an alien concept. Separateness causes discord in the harmony of life, allowing the ego to abhor or look down upon others.
Technorati tags: ants must colony commune work
Even though I try not to go down memory lane too often, every once in a while something happens that triggers my memory, and I am carried backwards in time. Today I took my three dogs for a long walk. I had my Nikki, Benny and Dukie. Nikkie is my 2 year old golden retriever and Benny my 5 year old black lab. Dukie is my 10 year old blind black lab.
They were all pretty hyped up today so walking them was a challenge. And that is what triggered my memory.
Two of my dogs are involved in dog therapy programs; that means I go visiting the seniors with my dogs. This particular day of the great escape I had all three dogs in the jeep because we had been out for a walk in the park. I had decided to make a quick stop and visit one of our senior friends on the way home.
My dogs have been trained never ever to leave the vehicle until I say “OK”. They have always been very good in obeying this command. But, not today, nope, today they are getting ready to freak me out. As my dogs tend to do every once in a while.
I arrived at HOME ON THE HILLS, that is where Benny and I go visiting. I will leave Nikki and Dukie, the blind one, in the jeep. Today we will only stop by for a short visit.
I reminded my dogs that they must stay and not come out of the jeep. The parking lot is full and since it is a beautiful day, many of the seniors are “hanging” around outside the front door. There are seniors in wheel chairs, with canes, or just standing around.
I opened my jeep, and what happened? I just could not believe it! All of my dogs jumped out. Just like that, they jumped out. Nikki, the leader of the gang is running at full speed towards the front door. Benny is of course running right behind Nikki. And, my Dukie is also running, he just doesn’t know where to run to because he cant see where he is going.
Well, I freaked and screamed and chased my dogs. Of course there is no way I can catch them. I could just picture those poor seniors being knocked over like bowling pins by my fast approaching excited dogs, ready to greet everyone they see. “Wow, look at all the people to jump on.”
I screamed some more, and luckily some nurses were outside and heard me. They helped round up my dogs. I cant believe that no one was hurt or knocked over. Wow, someone was looking out for us.
Meantime, I am shaking. I am also not wearing running shoes. Heck, I didn’t mean to go running today, just walking. I slipped in the parking lot and lay there like an idiot, still screaming for everyone to be careful. Of course I was also terrified that one of my dogs would get run over.
I am a diabetic, so my sugar level went haywire on top of it all. When we finally got all my dogs leashed and put back in the jeep I was exhausted. I did not know whether to cry or laugh, or just pass out. Or maybe do all three of those things.
Anyways, we did survive this ordeal. And it taught me a lesson. Never ever assume my dogs will listen all of the time. I never did go back in to visit that day; I was too shaken with what could have been. Thank God nothing did happened that day.
We all drove home and calmed down. Soon this incident was forgotten. Except for every once in a while when those memory triggers hit, and then my heart beats all over again.
Dog Therapy Visiting has been a passion of mine for 5 years. I first became involved in this work when visiting a friend in the hospital. A beautiful Golden Retriever silently walked into the room and instantly brought comfort. That was Tasha. Tasha and her owner became my mentors.
Technorati tags: dogs just today running benny
If you are reading this, I guess you have a pet, need a holiday and don’t want to waste your next hard-earned break watching round-the-clock rubbish on televsion. In days gone many pet owners simply did not go on holidays! “Why”, I would ask them, and the answer was always the same: “Because we own a pet.”
Fortunately pet owners have more options than they used to. These days you can often take your pet with you. Otherwise you can leave it in a secure boarding kennel or cattery, or even commission a pet minding service to visit and service your pet in its familiar environment. But which option is right for you and your pet?
So now you’ve taken the first step and put in for some annual leave. Your vacation is coming up… but what are you going to do with the family pet?
Option One: Pet Friendly Holidaying
Taking your pet with you on holidays is an option particularly popular among dog owners whose charges travel well. Gone are the days when travelling “pet friendly” meant rotting linoleum and a leaky roof. Many holiday venue operators now recognise that most pet owners are responsible adults who will look after a nice house in order to be invited back.
When travelling don’t forget to take frequent rests, pack water for the travel along with your dog’s water bowl, and don’t leave your dog to bake in your car! You’ll generally also be required to bring your pet’s bedding, food and food containers.
Your pet should also be fully vaccinated, wormed and on a current flea treatment program. A first aid kit including tweezers or tick removers as well as antiseptic makes good sense, especially if there are likely to be ticks in the area.
Other pets can make excellent travel companions - cats and horses, for example, are welcomed at many holiday venues these days.
FOLLOW THE RULES: If you will be having your pet with you on holidays there are likely to be conditions. Find out what they are and follow them or you will not be welcomed back!
AVOID THE TELEVISION. Hopefully there isn’t a TV there, but if there is, don’t turn it on. You can watch TV at home and there are too many exciting things to do with your pet, friends and family, like bush walking, swimming… no, don’t reach for the remote control. Make the most of your holiday and enjoy the Great Outdoors!
There are times when you can’t take your pet with you, such as overseas holidays, business trips and when you are holidaying in regions that don’t permit pets. So what are your options?
Option Two: In Home Pet Minding Services
If your pet is unlikely to fret excessively in your absence it can make sense to leave them in their familiar territory. A Pet Minder can visit your pet in your home or garden, supplying food, entertainment, a walk and maybe even a bath in your absence.
Leaving a pet in the house can even assist with security - who’s going to break in when Cujo’s guarding the front door?
As an added bonus a pet minder will often undertake additional duties including collecting mail, putting out the garbage and watering the plants. They can often attend to the other members of your family including fish, mice, birds etc.
Keeping up your dog’s exercise regime is important. If your chosen pet minder cannot exercise your pet then arrange for a family member or professional dog walker to look after this for you.
When interviewing for a pet minder, it is OK, and expected that you will ask for references.
Not all dogs and cats are suited to staying home while you’re away, especially if you’ll be gone for an extended period. If your pet is likely to fret terribly, howl through the night, disturb neighbours or go wandering, then a boarding facility might be a better option for your pet’s safety and security!
Option Three: Boarding Kennels and Catteries
A boarding kennel or cattery can provide a safe environment in your absence. Your pet will be fed according to the diet that you have prearranged - many boarding services can cater for the fussiest of animals.
Most boarding kennels have excellent exercise options available as well as ready access to a vet in case of emergency.
Know what to look for! Most boarding kennels and catteries are happy to show you through their premises if you make an appointment, but I favour boarding facilities that welcome your inspection without an appointment. Who knows what might get swept under the rug!
Your holiday - Relax and enjoy yourself
Now that your pets are taken care of, go and enjoy your holiday! Hang on a moment… what about the kids?
Technorati tags: boarding holiday dont option owners
The world as we know it is in balance. Animals breathe in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. Plant absorbs carbon dioxide and give off oxygen as part of there process of photosynthesis. Animals eat plants and animals wastes, feed plants. Water evaporated from the seas and come back to freshen the earth.
The absolute balance of an aquarium world is not usually possible for a beginner. Usually the fish give off more waste matter (both in gas and solids) than the plant life can absorb. And plants almost never provide sufficient food for fish life in an aquarium tank (the things that the aquarium keeper must provide to maintain plant life). But too much encourages the excess growth of algae, causing green water and green-coated tank walls.
Below are the 4 things you as an aquarium keeper must learn to balance:
Food:
It must be a balance of vegetable and animal matter. The reason is that insufficient food stunts the growth and lowers the resistance of fish to disease. On the flip side too much food can also harm the fish by polluting the aquarium.
Size of tank:
The tank must be larger enough to provide space according to the number and size of the fish. It mustalso have sufficient surface so that oxygen can be absorbed to satisfy them.
Temperature:
This poses no problem for us in this part of the world as the range of 24 degree centigrade to 30 obtainable here is most ideal for tropical fish.
Gravel:
One or two inches of sand gravel is all that is required to anchor plants. However be carefull because too much gravel accumulates waste matter that tends to pollute the aquarium.
Master balancing these 4 elements of your aquarium and your tank will look great and your fish will live a long happy life!
Technorati tags: aquarium fish tank must world
If you have ever had a puppy you know that there will be some problem behaviors that have to be corrected. These are always much easier to nip them in the bud while they are young rather than trying to break the bad habits as they grow older.
Jumping up on people is one of the problem behaviors that lots of people inadvertently encourage by mistake. It is cute when it is a small puppy that is jumping and all excited to see you. It makes you feel good that your new puppy has this much affection for you.
While this may be cute on a little puppy when they grow into a large dog it can be quite dangerous for a child or even an adult.
To stop this behavior place the puppy down on its feet gently as soon as it jumps up. Once your puppy remains still for a bit praise them extensively.
It is also helpful to give the puppy an alternative to jumping such as giving you his paw. This allows them to get your attention in a positive way.
Another problem that is much easier addressed earlier than later is teaching your puppy not to pull on the leash. It is definitely much easier to control and train a 10 pound puppy than a 100 pound dog.
The first thing that needs to be taught in any training of a puppy is to heel or walk by you on a loose leash rather pulling and tugging. This is much easier to do by employing a head collaror training collar.
To start just start walking and anytime your puppy decides to charge ahead just change direction and allow some slack as soon as the puppy changes direction to follow you. It is important that you don’t allow the puppy to pull at the lash and try to hold them back as this will teach them the wrong lesson.
Once your puppy understands the heel command you can then consider further training.
Technorati tags: puppy much easier problem than
Although collars are generally thought to be for the canine kind, many cat owners choose to purchase collars for their favorite felines. There are many different kinds of cat collars on the market, so it is imperative that you choose the best option for your cat’s needs and body. Consider taking your cat along on a shopping trip to your local pet store-most welcome animals of all types-and try on different models to find the perfect fit. Keep in mind that although color, material, and style is important, these aspects should come second to the fit of the collar.
Traditionally, cats wear collars that hold their identification information and a bell. Ensuring your pet is properly identified is critical for any animal, especially one that you intend on letting outside. In case your cat becomes lost, you will have a much better chance of finding your lost loved on if he or she has the appropriate information securely attached to the collar. Most cat owners choose to attach a small bell or another type of noise making device in order to make small animals or birds aware of a predator’s presence. Cats tend to have retained more hunting instincts than domesticated dogs, so this is a viable concern with many cat owners tired of finding their feline bringing home helpless animals.
A buckle collar is the easiest type for a cat to wear, since it can be put on and taken off quickly and easily. Try the collar on your cat to ensure he or she cannot wiggle out of the collar. Just as a loose collar is unacceptable, having a collar fitted too tight can cause discomfort or even pain if your pet feline. For a younger cat that will need a collar that grows with them, consider choosing an adjustable collar to save you from purchasing new ones in the future.
Some owners choose elastic collars that slip on and off over the cat’s head. These are great for cats that do not need the extra weight and bulk of a buckle. Keep in mind that any elastic collars should be fitted to your cat to ensure the collar is not too loose or too tight.
For indoor cats, consider choosing collars with breakaway panels or buckles that will immediately free the cat if he or she becomes caught on something inside your house. Similarly, you should choose collars made of materials that can easily be cut in case the animal becomes caught.
If you have an outdoor cat, look into a collar that uses reflective materials. These reflective materials will keep your precious feline safe at night. This is quite important, since animals are more likely to become injured or even killed since they cannot be seen. A reflective collar is also a good idea for indoor cats, since you can see the animal in the dark to avoid stepping on your pet.
Some cats enjoy taking walks in the great outdoors, but owners do not want them to be outdoors unattended. Outdoor cats can easily become lost, stolen, injured, or even killed. To solve this problem, some cat owners choose to walk their cats on a leash just like a dog. Instead of a regular collar, leash walking cats require a harness to prevent spine issues. If you are in the market for harnesses, there are two main types: the figure eight and the H-style. Depending on your individual cat and the fit, these harnesses are excellent for any cat that enjoys a walk in the park!
Once you have determined the specific type of collar for your cat, choose a color that fits his or her personality. Whether your feline wants a rocker look with black leather and metal studs or a pretty princess with pink rhinestones, the options are limitless!
Technorati tags: collar cats collars choose owners