The 5 Most Dangerous Legal Pets Ever

We pets are cuddly. Fuzzy. Loyal and cute. Well, most of the time.

But just because you love us doesn't mean we're safe to be around! Let's face it, our animal natures can make our behaviour unpredictable, and sometimes downright dangerous.



Throughout history, humans have kept animals for reasons beyond companionship. Men have kept rare, exotic creatures to demonstrate how worldly and rich they were; great beasts have roamed about castles, showing just how strong and virile their owners were.

Thinking about keeping an exotic, dangerous animal into your home? Chances are you can find, purchase and have it, er, snuggling up to you (probably with a cage between you) in no time. But you may end up housing an animal that can end up harming you or your child, or worse: cause grave injury and even death.



The 5 Most Dangerous Legal Pets, And Why!

Here is a list of pets that you shouldn't even think about owning:

Snakes - Some are deadly poisonous, and some are bone-crushingly strong. If you like living on the edge, then sleeping next to a python may thrill you to no end. You've heard the horror stories of the missing snake waking up its owner with a "hug"? Don't let that be you!

Worse, you may end up being poisoned by the jaws of your precious snake. For those of you who would think nothing about leaving your cage open, dropping prey into cages without protective tools (rather, your bare hands) and grabbing your snake whenever you feel like it, then power to you. You're the kind of crazy who probably french-kisses your dog while you drive, too.

Scorpions - For the yap of me I can't tell why anyone would want to "take care" of a scorpion! But some people keep them in cages at home. They are sold through stores and dealers who cater to humans who want to be "different" and "unique". I thought all humans were different and unique?! Well, I never.

These scary things are super strong: they can lift lids, squeeze through tiny openings and climb over obstacles. Not only are their stings painful and poisonous, they can be deadly. Save your love of this stinger for the rock band!

Monkeys - Some humans believe that they are descended from apes. So it makes sense that some of you humans think that living with a monkey would be the same as living with another human! So many people have trouble living with others, I have no idea what makes them think they could live with a monkey.

Monkey tricks aside, apes can also be extremely dangerous! First of all, they can share diseases with you humans, since the viruses are transferrable. And once they reach maturity, they can be very aggresive - and even small monkeys are really strong. Monkeys develop strong attachments to their caregivers, and can be territorial - attacking friends and other family members in a jealous rage is common. Add to that their strong canine (ahem) teeth, and you've got a dangerous, wild animal on your hands (if you didn't already know that).

Lions and Tigers and... - Seriously folks, this one is a no brainer. I'm already a little biased against kitties gaining entry into the home, but a 450+ lb. cat? With knive-like teeth and razor sharp claws? Take a tip from the famous Siegfried & Roy incident, when Roy Horn (one half of the training duo) was attacked by his tiger during a live show. The 600 lb., 7 year-old tiger had been raised from 6 months old to perform with the duo, and no one suspected he would ever attack anyone. Roy suffered a stroke directly after the attack, and needed 2 surgeries to recuperate.

Still, according to the Humane Society of the United States, "the number of captive tigers living in the United States is roughly the equivalent of all the tigers living in the wild. Between 5,000 and 7,000 captive tigers are estimated to live in the U.S., where less than 10% of them are kept in professionally run zoos and sanctuaries. " Translation: they're house pets. Yikes.



Dogs - Now, I love my brothers and sisters. But not all canines are created alike, and some of my sibligs just aren't family pet material! Many dawg breeds are trained as attack and guard animals for a reason. They strike mean and hard. Little children, other animals and even big humans can risk their lives if one of these pups go crazy!

Below is a list of dogs that have been described as having "man-stopping" capabilites, meaning an attack by any of these can be fatal:

Boxer
Chow-Chow
Dalmatians
Doberman Pinschers
German Shepherds
Husky
Pet Bulls
Rottweillers

Pet legislation varies from state to state. In some places, exotic animals must have permits, and in other places tough bylaws make sure that vicious dog owners pay steep insurance rates. Still, dangerous pets are available to the humans who want to keep them! If you are considering an exotic pet, here's a link to tell you how to find out if you can actually house one. In my opinion, this doesn't make it a good idea!

Dangerous animals are dangerous, no matter what. Stick with us domesticated dawgs and cats, and stay safe!

Love, Buster

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Why Does My Pet Eat Grass?

Many, many, many humans have been dogging me with these questions lately: "Why is my pet pal chomping down in the garden?" and "my kitty took an extra long prowl through our lawn today, and - hey, what the heck that big green mess on my carpet?!". Shtuff like that. So I thought that today I would discuss a very common occurance: why pets eat grass.

Why Does My Pet Eat Grass
The answer is not, pardon the pun, clear cut. It seems as though some mammals can't digest grass, but one class of mammals can: the ruminants. These are grass-eating mammals that digest their food in two steps. First, the ruminant chews and swallows its food, then brings it back up into the mouth to re-chew before swallowing again. We refer to this second stage as "chewing the cud". Ruminants include cattle, goats, sheep, camels, alpacas, llamas, giraffes, American Bison (buffalo), European bison, yaks, water buffalo, deer, wildebeest and antelope.

Obviously we dogs and cats are not in this special class of mammals (although my next-door neighbor's cat can be a real cow sometimes). Still, you do find us from time to time out in the fields (or lawn, or grass patch) mowing away.

We Like The Taste
Some of us simply like the taste (I know some of you do too, as well as the smell). It's pretty darn yummy.

It Has Nutrients
Grass provides some pets with nutrients, which can be missing from commercially prepared pet food (remember this post? Dawg mark it, yaw'll!). We dogs tend to be able to use the nutrition in grass more than cats, but on the whole most commercially prepared pet food is mostly grain-based, with little to no nutrients. Make sure your pet food is mostly protein and vegetable based, with little or no grain products. We may still head for the hills, but it won't be to vomit up bad foods.

Which is another reason we eat grass.

Grass Induces Vomiting
When one of us has a little too much to eat, or something that doesn't agree with our tummies, we'll chow down on the green stuff. It really helps to bring up and out anything that is disturbing our digestive systems. Ain't we smart?

And kitties eat a ton of their own fur, so eating grass can help them hack it up better.

It Should Be Organic
If we're eating grass to get rid of poisons in our system, what's the point if the green stuff isn't "green"? Take another tip from another one of my posts: please don't treat your lawns and gardens with chemical pesticides. See, we love rolling around in that green stuff. We bury things in it. And to the point of this post: we eat it.

If you don't have a yard, you can actually buy specially grown grasses for pets to eat inside! Or try sprouting your own: I know of a great grass site HERE!

Know Your Greens! The Difference Between Grass And Toxic Plants
So there we go, the answer to your questions about furry friends and our love of grass. On a final note, I think it's a good idea to mention that not all green stuff is ok for us to put in our mouths! Grass aside, many house plants can actually be toxic for us. Here's a list of plants we pets (and kiddies, too!) should stay away from.

Heading out to graze, Buster

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Congratulations Lisa H., You've Won Testimonial Of The Month!

YapYapYap! I've read the most incredible testimonials this month, but this one made me put my paw to my heart in gratitude. Thanks to some herbal-lovin', a kitty's life was saved! Congratulations Lisa the Naturalist, from Madison, Tennessee - you've won this month's testimonial of the month! Look for your prize in your email inbox! Here's what Lisa has to bark:

"My kitty was slowly starving to death.

My kitty is 15 yrs. old. About 5 years ago she started losing weight. She was diagnosed with feline hyperthyroid disorder. Her weight dropped from 9 lbs. to less than 5-1/2 lbs. with most of that loss in the past 2 years. The vet wanted to put her on thyroid medication that had horrible side effects, or cut out part of her thyroid, or give her radioactive iodine. At her age, all of those options scared me. I refused, and have been treating her with supplements. The weight loss slowed drastically but still did not stop.

The situation became critical during the holidays. Her bones were prominent, her appetite was gone, and she felt like a feather when I picked her up. She was starving to death right before my eyes, and I couldn't figure out what to do.

A few weeks ago I was searching again on the internet and I came across testimonials for Resthyro. What these people had to say sounded like hype and was just too good to be true, so I went on with my search. However, the more I looked the more references and testimonials I found for this product.

I finally decided that God must be trying to tell me something, so I ordered a bottle not really expecting much. I began giving her the drops on January 8. After only a few days her appetite improved. I waited 2 weeks and weighed her on January 24. You can't imagine my shock to find that she had gained 6.75 ounces. I just sat down and cried. I weighed her again on Jan. 30 and she has gained another 2 ounces. I believe that we have turned the corner, and that given time she will recover completely.

I can't thank you enough for providing this product. It is easy to use, has no side effects, but more importantly, it works fast. I would recommend this product to anyone who has a cat with hyperthyroid disorder. You have a customer for life. Thank you again for saving my kitty. "

Lisa and kitty, many more warm, healthy, best wishes to you! Keep us on the update!

Love, Buster

Each month I post one of your inspiring stories, so have your human send me one! Email them to me at

IIf I post it, you get treats. Who doesn't love that? Love ya, Buster

2010 Doggie Olympics - Everything You Need To Know About Best In Show!

It`s that time of year again, when we`re all watching some sort of sports. Well, my human is watching the 2010 Winter Olympics, while I watch the 134th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. This year`s all around winner: a bitch named Sadie, the Scottish Terrier! I have to admit, she really was top dawg (sorry red-hair, I still love you!). The Proud Princess was crowed last night, and has begun making the various laps to promote her win. She`s already appeared on CBS`s The Morning Show, The View, and apparently was off to meet Donald Trump today. Ah, it`s a dog`s life after all, bitches!

Highlights!

In case you missed yesterday`s show, here`s a round up of highlights.



What stars, what class! These pooches are practically perfect! All that hard work really pays off.

Want To Become A Show Dawg?

Many of my pals want to know just what makes a show dog a show-off! The American Kennel Club has a great listing of info, for the new dawg and old, alike. Here`s the low down on how to get started (courtesy of the AKC):

The best place to start is by joining a local kennel club, whether an all-breed kennel club or a breed-specific specialty club. A listing of clubs by state can be found on The American Kennel Club Club Search page or through their customer service department by calling (919) 233-9767.

Local clubs will have information on training classes for the show ring, and for obedience and agility classes. It`s a great place to start the doggie/human relationship, and to practice with your other pooch pals. Handling your dog is an exceptional and enjoyable experience. From the grooming table to the show ring, you and your dog will develop a bond. While training classes offer the best hands-on way to practice for the show ring, attending shows and observing your breed is also a great way to gain understanding of what judges and other competitors do. If you do not wish to handle your dog yourself, or have a friend or family member do it, you may contact a professional handler who charges a fee for showing your dog.

Tips For The First-Time Exhibitor

• Make sure your dog is registered with the AKC.
• Be sure your dog is current on all inoculations.
• Learn the proper techniques for grooming and for presenting your dog in the ring.
• Join your breed Parent Club, or a Local Specialty and or All-Breed club in your area.
• Become familiar with the AKC rules and regulations for dog shows.
• Attend some dog shows to observe your breed being judged and how others present your breed.
• Get a Judging Program at the show to find out ring number and judging time.
• Use the knowledge of your breeder.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions.
• Attend handling classes with your dog.

Tips For The First-Time Spectator

• If the grooming area is open to spectators, visit it and talk with professional groomers to get tips on keeping your dog looking his best.
• However tempting, do not pet a dog without asking for permission first. The dog may have just been groomed in preparation for being judged.
• At each dog show, you will find vendors and information booths. Many club booths offer helpful information to the general public.
• Wear comfortable shoes - you will be doing a lot of walking. Unless you bring a chair or arrive early, be prepared to stand most of the time, as seating is usually limited.
• If you are considering getting a purebred dog, talk to the breeders and exhibitors - they are experts in their breeds
• If you bring a baby stroller to a dog show, be careful that you do not run over any dog tail, and that your child does not grab or poke the dogs it can reach. Avoid having them near ring entrances, which are especially crowded. Some shows prohibit baby strollers.

Dog Show Terms

Angulation - Angles created by bones meeting at their joints.

Baiting - Using liver or some treat to get the dogès attention and have him look alert.

Bench Show - A dog show at which the dogs are kept on assigned benches when not being shown in competition, so they can be viewed and discussed by attendees, exhibitors and breeders.

Exhibitor - A person who brings a dog to a dog show and shows it in the appropriate class.

Fancier- A person who is especially interested, and usually active, in some phase of the sport of purebred dogs.

Gait - The way a dog moves, movement is a good indicator of structure and condition.

Groom - To brush, comb, trim or otherwise make a dogès coat neat.

Handler - A person or agent who takes a dog into the show ring or who works the dog at a field trial or other performance event.

Heel - A command to a dog to keep close beside its handler.

Match Show - A usually informal dog show at which no championship points are awarded.

Miscellaneous Class - Transitional class for breeds attempting to advance to full AKC recognition.

Pedigree - The written record of a dog's family tree of three or more generations.

Points - Credits earned toward a championship.

Soundness - Mental and physical well-being.

Stacking - Posing the dog's legs and body to create a pleasing picture.

And there you have it, yapalots! Think you have what it takes to be Best In Show? Go for it! I will be watching for you... And remember, winning is not everything. Sometimes you just have to laugh:

Love you like ham, Buster

Healthy Hearts Part II - How To Tell If Your Dog Is Having A Heart Attack

Yes, we dogs celebrate Valentines Day, too. And we do so with happy, healthy, strong hearts! But keeping our hearts strong isn`t just all about filling them with love, pals. I wish it were that easy, but it`s not! As we`ve learned, many pets have some form of heart ailment. Today, I`d like to talk about a dog`s life, and our hearts. Is it possible for your doggy to have a heart attack-ack-ack?

Common Heart Ailments In Dogs

Unlike humans, dogs don`t usually have heart attacks - although they can suffer from cardiac troubles. Some common heart ailments in dogs are:

• Heart disease
• Tachyarrhythmias
• Bradyarrhythmias
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)

Is My Dog Having A Heart Attack

Heart trouble dog-ifests itself differently in dogs then in humans, so chances are no. If you think your dog is suffering from a heart attack, here`s more likely what`s happening:

Syncope is what we call a fainting or collapsing episode that is related to a heart abnormality, or low blood pressure. During a syncope, you may notice:

• a very slow heart-rate (bradyarrhythmias)
• fast heart-rate (tachyarrhythmias)
• limp or stiff limbs during a spell that return to normal very quickly (seconds to minutes)

Seizures can be like a syncopal spell, but:

• dog has jerky limb movements
• dog remains abnormal for minutes to hours after the episode

What To Do If Your Dog Has Syncope Or Seizure

Watching your beloved friend have a syncope or seizure can be terrifying! So most importantly, humans: STAY CALM! Seizures and syncopes are almost never fatal, but we will need vet care right away. Here are a few tips to know if we have an episode:

• gently place a hand on your dogs chest, to check for fast or slow heart rate
• dog should be moved to a safe place or laid on a rug to minimize the chances of injury
• time the length of the seizure, and take note of everything so that you can relay it to the vet later
• if the episode lasts longer than a few minutes, transport dog to vet - pronto!
• after, keep us calm and cool - many vets say that stress can aggravate recovery.

Treating Heart Troubles Naturally

Once heart trouble in your precious dog has been identified, there are natural treatments available. Conventional vets will often prescribe drugs called ACE inhibitors, which reduce blood pressure, or a digitalis-type drug to control an excessively fast heart rate. Ack!

Natural vets treat more holistically, using herbal formulations and prescribing healthy lifestyles - including lots of exercise! Yes, there is healthier heart help for hounds.

Love you guys!

Cross my heart and hope for pie, Buster

Photo Credit: motherscratcher

Healthy Hearts Part I - Keeping Our Hearts Healthy

Today my human, Sage, posted about heart disease. Well just like in humans, pets too can suffer from unhappy hearts! When we're pooping like crazy or have skin problems, its so easy to tell that we have an ailment. But not so with our thumping hearts. Unless we exhibit certain symptoms of cardiac distress, there's not a lot telling you that we have heart trubb!

Does Your Pet Have Heart Disease?

To the vet! To the vet! To the vet! I can't yap this enough: take your pet to the vet at least once per year. Part of a vet visit is checking out our hearts, which can detect most ailments.

Some symptoms you can look for:

• coughing or hacking
• wheezing
• decreased energy or stamina
• edema
• abdominal bloat
• signs of poor cirulation
• fainting

Preventing Heart Disease In Pets

Luckily, preventing heart disease can be simple. Just like managing your own lifestyle, doing the same with pet can work wonders!

Common causes of heart disease in pets include:

• Eating foods that are high in saturated fats and cholesterol
• Leading an inactive lifestyle
• Being overweight
• Unhappiness and stress

Take a tip from your own lifestyle, humans! Feed your pet a healthy diet, give them plenty of exercise, and supplement with an herbal blend to keep your pet healthy! Take these tips to your own heart, too. You'll all stay healthy together, longer!

And by the way, taking care of us pets can lower you human's risk of having a heart attack, too. Lovely!

I heart you, Buster

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Pets In Lurve!

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How To Keep Pet Fit - Exercise Tips

Like all living creatures, the keys to a long and healthy life for us pets are clean water, healthy food, low stress, love, and of course, exercise.

Now, I've heard it said often that you pet caregivers (especially dog lovers) chose a pet to not only have as a companion, but as a fitness partner. We are FANTASTIC fitness partners! Heck, any chance I get I love to run around, jump, spin, circle, whatever. It is so fun, and it is so fun with my human, Sage. And boy, does it make her go! We never miss our daily run around the block.

But it goes both ways, people. We need you to help us keep fit, too! I mean, what happens if you've had a long day and you're too pooped to play? Or you're not well enough to run around with us - let alone walk us around the block?

For those of you who maybe don't have the ability - lack of time, health, whatever - to keep us moving together, I've compiled a list of indoor exercises that we pets can do at home. These are also great things for indoor pets to do, too!

Exercises Pets Love

• The Stairs: Unless you have a dachsund (these guys should not be running up and down stairs), kitties and dawgs can get great benefit by climbing! Sit at the top of your stairs and throw a bouncing toy to the bottom, and let your pet play fetch.
• The Stalk: Kitties love to stalk, even more than they love to talk (meyowls). Something as simple as a piece of string pulled down a hallway can make a cat go crazy. Try it! Just watch your heels - them claws are NASTY.
• The Chase: We pets LOVE to play chase! Let us chase you around the house, and then just as we're about to catch you turn on us - watch us jump and scamper!
• The Pull: This is perfect for larger dogs. Grab a rope, and sit on your floor (avoid carpets for this one, yaw'll). Let your dog grab the other end of the rope, and pull you! Great exercise.
• The Intelli-Hide: We pets love to find things, especially: treats! Try hiding dry food in a cardboard box, with the lid folded in on itself. don't use tape-dangerous! Punch a few holes in the side, so we can get a good sniff. Watch us figure out how to get at it, using our brains and our braun!

Keep us happy, healthy and hopping, with fun indoor exercises. Hey, we're not the only ones who can do push-ups and sit-ups during commercial breaks!

High-five, Buster

Photo Credit: emeryway

Pets Do Not = Children: The Cons Of Treating Pets Like Kids

We love you, humans. We, the family pet, are just that: family. We are one of your own, one of the children. And you sometimes treat us as such, too. Of course you do! While we are a different species, from a developmental perspective we pets are very similar to children. So it makes sense that you should love us in the familial way.

Loving us is crucial to our lives being full of happiness! But treating us like children can sometimes actually be bad for our, and your, health. Here are some reasons why NOT to treat us like kids!

Pampering Breeds Jealousy

Chances are, you let us sit on your laps. Of course. You may let us kiss you on the lips (even a get a little lickie, too!), and you probably even let us sleep with you. Hold it: ain't all that shtuff supposed to be saved for your mate? Allowing your pet to engage in extra-intimate activities can throw a wrench in your other intimate relationships, namely your marital one. If you have a spouse, save the smooches for them. If you're single, wondering why, and engaging in the above activities, then wean your fuzz-ball from your futon and make a date.

Saying "No" Does Not Hurt Our Feelings!

Yes, we have feelings. Yes, we feel pain. Yes, we jump with joy. But no, reprimanding us and denying us certain things (ie. sleeping in your bed) will not make us feel "bad". Nothing makes us feel bad, but ourselves. C'mon, you know that. You're in control! Doesn't that make you feel good?

Anyhow, when you let us do whatever we want, we tend to get unruly and disruptive, and take over the whole house. We don't listen (why should we? You let us do whatever we want), we wreck things, we help ourselves to the refrigerator... it's just bad news all around. Sound like a spoiled toddler? Yeah, we're so developmentally similar.

Showing us who's boss will actually be good for us: it helps us feel safe, as though someone (you) are taking care of us. Looking out for our best interests. We feel calm, safe, protected. So just say no!

Don't Make Me Mad

What do little children do when they don't get their way? They throw things, they throw tantrums. They scream. They kick. Sometimes they pee. Well, again, developmentally we pets are the same. Except that we have jaws, and claws, and sometimes razor sharp teeth. Throw in some untouched testicles or some heat, and you've got yourself one crazy Tazmanian Devil. If you don't want to make us mad, start by teaching us the word "no". Yes?

Solution

Don't spoil us! Wean us! Make sure we know you're the Alpha Pet, the leader of the pack. And we shall remain obedient, for life.

Your Loyal Servant, Buster

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I Like It Doggy Style - A Human's Guide To Catching your Pet Some Tail

Well, kitties and pups, it's that time of year again! That's right fuzzy-folks, the amorous month of February has us chasing tails - and not just our own - just in time for spring.

Just like our human friends, once the sun starts warming things up we start to get a little hot under our flea collars, too. As in, we want to get it on! But don't get me wrong: just because we're hawt-to-trot doesn't mean we'll do it with just about anything. And so, I've compiled a guide for our humans, to help them help US mate. Throw a dog a bone, pals!

Chemistry Is Everything - Not All Breeds Can Breed!

First of all, take your job, human, as match-maker responsibly. Be choosy! Finding us the right mate takes time and patience, and a lot of research. Mixing breeds is just like mixing personalities: chemistry is everything! So make sure you know what breed your pet is compatible with. For more on this tip, check out what my Professor has to yap!

Health Is Wealth

Just like choosing a mate, making sure our mates are healthy is key! After all, our potential mate's health will impact our litters to come. Make sure you obtain a full medical disclosure, and research the breed. Some breeds are more prone to pawticular ailments, so beware!

It's All For Show

I'm no show dawg, but if I were I'd want a bitch with class. That is: her papers! But then I'd have to be a stud dog (which I am, but if you're a breeder you know what I mean), which requires so much work. I hear the human equivalent is called "metro-sexual", a man who is constantly groomed, but to me that's too much work. Where's the fun in not being able to roll around in the hay - in the dirt? But anyhow, if you're breeding for show, get the papers. Enough said.

Leave Us Alone

Once you've found a great tail for us to chase around, introduce us and then leave us alone. We'll do our business, and you'll have done yours. I'll be one lucky dog!

In Love, Buster

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Happy Birthday Aquarius!

Aquarius, my airy-fairy friend, you are the most pal-lovin' fun-doggin' one of the bunch! If I ever feel bored, you're the one who thinks up fun shtuff. If I feel the need to escape and get away from it all - you're my partner in flight!

You're such a high-flyer, that sometimes I feel like I'm flying to the moon with you - you're the one who would get me there, with a space-ship you just happened to dig up in your backyard (you inventive thing, you). Why are you reaching so high, Aquarius? It's freedom you seek, for all of us. Well, my freedom-seeker, you need strong healthy bones to keep you moving! Old Timer you ain't, with a supplement to help you stay strong.

Don't stop reaching for the stars, Aquarius!

Love, Buster
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