Posts Tagged ‘Creatures’

Design Crisis » Blog Archive » Fish Are Not Decoration

The New York Times is running an article online about extravagant fish tanks: $200,000 tanks with $1000 monthly maintenance fees.  What I find particularly jaw dropping about the story isn’t the cost of the homeowner’s decor, it’s the fact that the homeowners consider fish decor in the first place.

Fish are animals.  They do not belong in little glass boxes and they do not exist to decorate your room or to amuse you.  They are living creatures.  And seriously, before I get a bunch of hate comments (I’m not changing my mind) yes, yes it is different from having a cat or a dog, both of which are allowed outside to roam and coexist in a mutually beneficial relationship of companionship with their care givers.  I do not own a cat so that my living room looks prettier.  In fact, my cats make my space look much worse, but I love them more than my things so I manage.

(sorry for the long disclaimer, I just really don’t want to fend off hate comments today.)

The designers interviewed in the article note that aquariums answer the age old questions: “How do you humanize this space, how do you introduce natural elements? how do you make it feel like you’re not standing in a white, pristine, soul-less box?”

8 fish swimming endlessly around 2 rocks doesn’t feel soulful to me.  Fail.

The owners of this 6,000 pound, $200,000 suspended tank “get lost in it” at night rather than the television set.  I’m so so glad that nature’s creatures are able to provide you with endless entertainment.

It is noted that the owner’s of this tank’s other point of pride in their home is the tanning bed in the basement.  need I say more?

Ok, really, I’m sure there are lots of people who will disagree with me today.  I’m sure several of you have aquariums and love your fishies and I’m sure you make great homes for them.  And, no, they are not being hunted and eaten.  I know there are several sides to the fish-in-home debate, and I could probably be persuaded to accept several of the gray areas, but the bottom line is that fish as decor creeps me out.  Please try not to get too hatey today.  Besides, this whole look is really 80s, and not in a good way.  xoxo

Design Crisis » Blog Archive » Fish Are Not Decoration


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    Canine Crate Training Made Simple | Older Dog Training

    The following technique of housebreaking is centered on preventing “accidents” as a replacement of waiting for incidents to occur. The goal is to make it simple for the dog to carry out the proper idea in the first place. Schooling in this specific method is swifter as well as a lot more powerful compared to punishing the puppy for errors. You will execute the most critical part in the success or disappointment of this method — you should be diligent, serious and reliable for it to work. Consult any dog owner precisely what is the most vital factor that their new puppy discovers and 9 out of 10 will probably say that they prefer their dog to be housetrained. The challenge is that there tend to be a lot more dogs that are not housetrained than are. The explanation for that is due to the fact many dog owners are generally not patient enough to teach their dogs, so they give up.Dogs basically do want to satisfy their owners. They are pack creatures and due to the fact you usually are the one that supplies food and housing you are the alpha dog; you are the pack chief. But you have to think such as a dog and work together with them. House-breaking can be done in 4 uncomplicated guidelines as follows:Confine the actual area in which your dog is permitted to openly roam in. This need to be simply no more than the spot that you can keep look at over. Through restricting the spot to what you can supervise you will be able to strongly watch your canine.Be conscientious pertaining to taking your dog outside as you ought to. Puppies will have to go out much more often compared to older dogs. Constantly be in a position to promptly take the dog outside whenever he wakes up. This is a occasion that you count on that your dog will look for a area to ‘go’. Canines likewise ‘go’ after feeding, drinking, and exercising. Once again, older dogs can easily wait much longer than pups.As soon as you get the dog outside be positive to state whatever term or phrase you would like him to relate with the action. Just keep in mind that you may be saying this in public at some point in time so make it something that is definitely not awkward. Taking your canine to the same area every occasion helps him to connect the spot with the deed. Do not have fun with with your dog in the course of these types of trips outdoors. He or she should get to fully grasp that the journey has a reason. Any time your dog finishes you need to lavish encouragement on him, let your pet know he did good.Repeat until finally your dog gets the idea and starts signaling to you that he desires to go out. Whenever your dog creates a blunder indoors it indicates that you were not overseeing as closely as you ought to have been. Under no circumstances punish your dog for accidents. Just continue with the instruction and anticipate that there will be a handful of accidents along the process. Several dogs continue to have periodic accidents but others will do all sorts of things not to ‘go’ inside.

    Canine Crate Training Made Simple | Older Dog Training


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    Crate Training a Dog a€“ How do You do It? « nike air force 1 …

    Crate Training a Dog a€“ How do You do It?

    Crate training a dog is an effective way of training your new dog and teaching him the basic manners at the same time. Moreover, it can help your dog get started with his new life.

    What is crate training? This is an efficient way of house training a dog. From what the name says, this form of training is the process of teaching your pet dog to accept a dog crate as his personal sanctuary and a safe location. Dogs are naturally den-dwelling creatures and some advocates claim that dog crates are great substitutes for dens. Those people who promote the use of crates that crate training a dog will be beneficial to not only the pet but the owner as well.

    Crate training a dog basically requires rewarding whenever he enters and stays in the crate, uses the crate as a playing spot and feeds inside it. This way, the dog will get some incentives and would be more motivated to familiarize himself with the crate. Once your dog begins to explore and use his crate, he will find in time that it is not intimidating at all.

    Remember, however, that dogs do not want to soil their resting spots if they have the chance to release feces in another place. Confining your dog temporarily in an enclosed area strongly holds back the tendency of dogs to defecate and urinate. If your pet does not defecate while she is curbed in one spot, then there is a high probability that he will eliminate once he is released, i.e. he will eliminate in your presence so that you will be able to reward or praise him.

    But confinement should be done correctly. Before you confine your dog in a crate, you first have to understand the difference between temporary training and long time confinement when you are away from your home. Confinement is done while you are away so you can prevent mistakes from happening to certain areas of your home. The purpose of crate training a dog, however, is the other way around. Temporary confinement in a crate hinders your dog from eliminating while confined so that he will eliminate once he is released. It helps promote bowel and bladder control so that your dog will learn to hold it until he gets to the appropriate place.

    Just remember that crate training should never be abused or your dog problems will worsen. The dog crate is not intended to be a place where you can lock your dog up and forget her interminably. When your pet soils her crate because you left her confined for too long, the training process will be ruined.

    Success with crate training a dog will not happen overnight. You need to have patience throughout the whole training process. Never scold your dog if he makes mistakes (e.g. soiling his crate, eliminating somewhere else). Eventually, your dog will learn the right and wrong things to do.

    Gerald has been involved in many aspects of the dog business for a good number of years. Dogs are his passion and he is always trying to learn and share more everyday. For some good solid advice on dog and puppy training or help with dog behavior problems, please visit http://mydogtrainingadvice.com

    Crate Training a Dog a€“ How do You do It? « nike air force 1 …


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    How to Crate Train a Puppy at Night – The Dos & Don'ts

    If you are looking for information on how to crate train a puppy at night, I’ve put together some helpful information to get you started.

    Utilizing an indoor crate can be an effective house training tool, as dogs are den dwelling creatures, which makes them avoid eliminating where they sleep. So when trying to figure out how to potty train a puppy, you should consider crate training. When you introduce the crate early on in your dog’s life, as they grow they will tend to prefer their crate. It offers security and familiarity for them. Therefore, it is of the utmost important that you never use the crate as a form of punishment. It needs to remain a safe haven for them.

    Make sure to take note of the following tips on how to crate train a puppy at night:

    First, when you crate train a puppy at night realize that puppies under the age of 4 months have very little bladder or sphincter control. Puppies under 9 weeks of age should not be crated, since they need to eliminate quite often. When you do introduce your puppy to the crate, place something soft and comfortable at the bottom of the crate and you can also place a few treats inside. Allow your dog to enter of their own free will. Praise them when they go inside. Make sure to keep the door open and allow your dog to wander in and out until they seem comfortable.

    Second, when it comes to puppy crate training, you need to realize that the crate isn’t intended to be a place you can lock your dog up and leave them for extended periods of time. If they soil the crate, they’ve been left in there too long and the this can really interfere with the house training process.

    Third, at night it can be helpful to place the crate in your bedroom, as it will provide comfort to your puppy and encourage them to form a similar sleep cycle.

    Lastly, once your dog is comfortable in their crate you can try closing the door. Wait to see how your dog reacts and as long as they are remaining quiet, you can let them out of the crate. Never let them out if they are whining or barking, this teaches them that when they do this you will always let them out. From then on, try extending the amount of time you leave them in the crate while you are around. Then when your dog is in their crate, try leaving the room for a few minutes and then come back in. Start increasing the amount of time you are out of the room.

    These are just a few basic and simple tips that can help you when learning how to crate train a puppy at night.

    How to Crate Train a Puppy at Night – The Dos & Don'ts


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    How to Crate Train a Puppy at Night – The Dos & Don'ts

    If you are looking for information on how to crate train a puppy at night, I’ve put together some helpful information to get you started.

    Utilizing an indoor crate can be an effective house training tool, as dogs are den dwelling creatures, which makes them avoid eliminating where they sleep. So when trying to figure out how to potty train a puppy, you should consider crate training. When you introduce the crate early on in your dog’s life, as they grow they will tend to prefer their crate. It offers security and familiarity for them. Therefore, it is of the utmost important that you never use the crate as a form of punishment. It needs to remain a safe haven for them.

    Make sure to take note of the following tips on how to crate train a puppy at night:

    First, when you crate train a puppy at night realize that puppies under the age of 4 months have very little bladder or sphincter control. Puppies under 9 weeks of age should not be crated, since they need to eliminate quite often. When you do introduce your puppy to the crate, place something soft and comfortable at the bottom of the crate and you can also place a few treats inside. Allow your dog to enter of their own free will. Praise them when they go inside. Make sure to keep the door open and allow your dog to wander in and out until they seem comfortable.

    Second, when it comes to puppy crate training, you need to realize that the crate isn’t intended to be a place you can lock your dog up and leave them for extended periods of time. If they soil the crate, they’ve been left in there too long and the this can really interfere with the house training process.

    Third, at night it can be helpful to place the crate in your bedroom, as it will provide comfort to your puppy and encourage them to form a similar sleep cycle.

    Lastly, once your dog is comfortable in their crate you can try closing the door. Wait to see how your dog reacts and as long as they are remaining quiet, you can let them out of the crate. Never let them out if they are whining or barking, this teaches them that when they do this you will always let them out. From then on, try extending the amount of time you leave them in the crate while you are around. Then when your dog is in their crate, try leaving the room for a few minutes and then come back in. Start increasing the amount of time you are out of the room.

    These are just a few basic and simple tips that can help you when learning how to crate train a puppy at night.

    How to Crate Train a Puppy at Night – The Dos & Don'ts


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    A Dog’s Den in the Human WorId

    A dog crate if used correctIy can be your dog’s den in the human world. vve shouId be vviIIing to Iearn proper training techniques to better our reIationship vvith man’s best friend. Using positive reinforcement, such as giving your dog treats for entering his crate, can be overvvheImingIy beneficiaI in the crating process. Dogs remember associations, and associating going to his or her crate vvith a revvard, vviII pIant a positive image of that pIace in your canine friend’s brain. Remember that this can be reversed as easiIy as it is impIemented. Never make your pet go to his or her crate as a pIace of punishment. It vviII onIy Ieave a bad association of that pIace for your dog. If his or her crate is aIvvays associated vvith a positive pIace, that crate vviII eventuaIIy become a safe haven for your dog, a human repIication of the den. He or she vviII vvant to go there to sIeep and reIax.

    With aII of this said, beIieve me that there vviII be difficuIt times. The first fevv nights vvith a puppy can be treacherous. Don’t Iet the crying and hovvIing break you. It is hard. I knovv from many personaI experiences, but vvhatever you do, don’t give in. It vviII onIy make matters vvorse. Not onIy vviII it make it difficuIt to associate the dog crate vvith a positive experience, but you vviII emuIate a sense of vveakness to your canine. Dogs are Iooking to you to Iead them, teach them, and be their guide just Iike your chiIdren do. You don’t give in to every temper tantrum and crying fit your chiIdren throvv, do you? Stay strong, be positive, and your dog vviII not onIy respond to crating vveII, but vviII aIso be vviIIing to obey and Iearn anything you vvant him to. Dogs are inteIIigent creatures, and the sky is the Iimit vvhen it comes to teaching them. ImpIement a dog crate earIy on, and you vviII simpIify aII training that foIIovvs.

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    How to Turn the Mini Jail Crate into Your Dog’s Natural Den

    There is more to the crate than meets the eye. It provides a safe haven for your puppy and frees up time for you to go about your daily chores without worrying for the security of your new pup. Those who are not aware of the usefulness of a crate will see it as a form of torture for dogs, however, if crate training is carried out properly, it can be a fun and rewarding for both you and your puppy. It’s effectiveness cannot be denied, as shown by the number of professional dog trainers who swear by it when potty training.

    Getting the Right Crate Size – An ideal dog training crate should be large enough to allow your dog to stretch out without hitting his head and allow him to be able to turn around easily. The size of the crate is consider too large if you find your dog relieving himself in one corner and playing and sleeping in another. You can block off and make the crate smaller by blocking off certain section with wooden cardboards if your pup is still young.

    Critical Crate Training Rules – You must introduce the crate slowly to your dog when you begin crate training. Crate him in short intervals, about 10 minutes, and gradually increase the duration over time. All dogs need some time to get used to staying in the crate. Do not leave your dog in the crate for more than thirty minutes when you begin to crate train him.

    It is not recommended to left a pup in a crate for long hours. Your puppy should have the chance to exercise and urinate before being crated. Dogs are fastidious creatures and have no desire to soil the surroundings of their private spaces. However, he might be forced to relieve himself if you cruelly lock him in for longer than he can hold it in.

    A rule of thumb to gauge how long your puppy should be in his crate is to add an hour to his age in months. For example, a puppy who is two months old must not be left in a crate in excess of three hours.

    It’s common for pups to bark and moan to attract your attention while in the crate. If any of these things happen when he is in the crate, do not give him any attention! Yes! Do not even look in his direction.

    Dogs are intelligent animals. Do not let on that he will be able to get your attention and change your mind when he is upset. Simply ignore him. Reward your dog with a little treat or praises only when you find him behaving well in the crate.

    Offer a treat or toy to distract and calm your pup down if necessary. No matter what you do, you must not let your pup out of the crate, this is a very critical moment where you must not give in.

    If you notice that your dog displays hyper active behavior as compared to before, you might be crating him for too long. If your dog starts to chew on himself, let him out immediately and consult a trainer or behaviorist.

    Below are some suggestions and tips to aid you in crate training your puppy:

    1. To make it easier for your pup to accept his crate, play with him there, or spent time near the crate doing whatever you like, reading or playing video games while he is busy playing with his new toy. If he is there all by himself, he begins to associate the area with isolation and may resist being there at all.

    2. Start crate training at the start of dinner. Give him his food, one piece at a time, by throwing bits of kibble in to the crate and making him search for it. This is one of the many ways that you can do to make crate training fun for him.

    3. You can place his favorite toy, or even surprise him with treats hidden in the crate for him. To surprise him, you can even hide a biscuit in the crate – that’s fun!

    4. It is not advisable to keep him in the crate for long periods until he is pressured to relieve himself. If you are gone for long periods each day, you should consider a larger confinement area such as an exercise pen or a small room.

    5. The best place to place the crate would be where your puppy can see the environment and family members, hear and smell you, the owner.

    6. Do not punish your dog in his crate, it will backfire. Your pup will tend to enjoy his stay in the crate more readily if you can make him associate crate stay with a time for fun. The crate is suppose to be your dog’s natural den where he feels safe and comfortable, not where he’ll be punish and associate it with “bad things”.

    7. Crate training cannot be used as a permanent solution to ensuring your dog is kept safe without supervision. Pups must not be left in crates alone for long period of time. Your training duration will be affected greatly if you crate him for too long and he urinate in the crate.

    In sum, crate training is a necessary training tool when instilling obedience. The main benefits are to provide the owner with a peace of mind knowing that the dog is safe, reduce unwanted destructive behaviors in the house and make it easier to travel during short term confinement, whenever the owner requires it

    security, safety, reduce potentially destructive behaviors, add to the ease of traveling and protection for short term confinement, whenever the owner needs it. It is a vital lesson that all pups should pick up since young.

    Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com

    Moses Wright is a dog lover and owner of Dog Obedience Tips site. He loves to help dog owners with their dog problems and do so by consolidating his years of dog ownership experience into a free book filled with simple yet powerful dog training tips: Free Dog Problems Book

    Crate Training Puppy – The Correct Setup

    Crate training is one of the most effective method that you can use to train your puppy to eliminate according to the schedule that you want. Of course, an animal still makes mistakes sometimes. But with commitment and discipline, you can save yourself a lot of hassle. Your puppy will never inconvenience unnecessarily again. Here is how you can setup crate training for your puppy.

    Step 1: Choose the right crate size.

    Puppies are very small creatures. The whole goal of using a crate is to force your pet to learn how to control its bladder. Dogs don’t like to dirty its own resting place naturally. So when in a crate, it tends not to urinate. So you have to be choose the right crate size in order for the training to be effective. A crate that is too huge defeats the purpose. The dog will just eliminate in one corner, and go rest and play in another corner. Too small, and it’s not good for the dog either. The crate is a training tool. It’s not meant to be a prison. It has to be comfortable enough for the puppy.

    Step 2: Setting up your crate.

    Note that your puppy will be spending several hours each day in the crate. Therefore, you need to make it as comfortable as possible for the pet. Otherwise, you will have problems getting it to go into the crate later on. Place some used blankets, paper or soft materials in the crate. Line the crate with some toys to keep the puppy occupied. It doesn’t has to know that it is undergoing training. Also, remember to include some water in the crate so that the dog can drink whenever it wants to. You need to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for crate training to work.

    Step 3: Starting the actual training.

    If your puppy is still very young, start the training by keeping it in the crate for 1 to 2 hours max. You, or a family member, should be around the puppy in the beginning to prevent any separation anxiety. Let the dog know that someone is around. If the puppy starts protesting, don’t give in immediately. It just needs some time to adjust itself. As the dog grows older, you can increase the duration of keeping the dog in the crate. This is because older dogs have better ability to control their bladders, and they don’t eliminate as frequently.

    Final tip: pay attention to timing!

    Your dog eliminates based on when it consumes food and drink, and its own age. The older the dog, the less frequent it needs to eliminate. You can cultivate good habits just by paying more attention to when you feed the dog. If you have been with the pet long enough, you can make rather accurate guesses as to when the dog needs to let go.

    Crate training is one of the most effective method that you can use to train your puppy to eliminate according to the schedule that you want. Of course, an animal still makes mistakes sometimes. But with commitment and discipline, you can save yourself a lot of hassle. Your puppy will never inconvenience unnecessarily again. Here is how you can setup crate training for your puppy.

    Step 1: Choose the right crate size.

    Puppies are very small creatures. The whole goal of using a crate is to force your pet to learn how to control its bladder. Dogs don’t like to dirty its own resting place naturally. So when in a crate, it tends not to urinate. So you have to be choose the right crate size in order for the training to be effective. A crate that is too huge defeats the purpose. The dog will just eliminate in one corner, and go rest and play in another corner. Too small, and it’s not good for the dog either. The crate is a training tool. It’s not meant to be a prison. It has to be comfortable enough for the puppy.

    Step 2: Setting up your crate.

    Note that your puppy will be spending several hours each day in the crate. Therefore, you need to make it as comfortable as possible for the pet. Otherwise, you will have problems getting it to go into the crate later on. Place some used blankets, paper or soft materials in the crate. Line the crate with some toys to keep the puppy occupied. It doesn’t has to know that it is undergoing training. Also, remember to include some water in the crate so that the dog can drink whenever it wants to. You need to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for crate training to work.

    Step 3: Starting the actual training.

    If your puppy is still very young, start the training by keeping it in the crate for 1 to 2 hours max. You, or a family member, should be around the puppy in the beginning to prevent any separation anxiety. Let the dog know that someone is around. If the puppy starts protesting, don’t give in immediately. It just needs some time to adjust itself. As the dog grows older, you can increase the duration of keeping the dog in the crate. This is because older dogs have better ability to control their bladders, and they don’t eliminate as frequently.

    Final tip: pay attention to timing!

    Your dog eliminates based on when it consumes food and drink, and its own age. The older the dog, the less frequent it needs to eliminate. You can cultivate good habits just by paying more attention to when you feed the dog. If you have been with the pet long enough, you can make rather accurate guesses as to when the dog needs to let go.

    Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com

    Puppy training tips – Comprehensive crate training puppy information available. Expert advice and tips on how to train your pet to be the perfect family pet.

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