Today we discuss what a spiritual journal means to people and how to use Google alerts to find out when new things are added to Google.
- Brad and Chaz
Today we talk about what the Bible has to say about animals in heaven. This question has probably been asked a bazillion times in the past, but what is the real deal and what is the noise that everyone leans on when the fur hits the fan?
- Brad and Chaz
Choose the Right Puppy for Your Family
By Ian White
Purchasing a puppy for your family is a very big decision. It should never be approached casually, or lightly. A new pet becomes part of your family. You should do everything you can to educate yourself about the breed of puppy you are considering and its personality. You should also explore how much grooming or maintenance each new addition to your family requires.
The worst thing you can do when selecting a puppy is simply choosing one because you think it is cute. Most dogs are cute. Cuteness alone does not make a good pet. Even the sweetest looking dog can bring havoc to your home if you are not set up and prepared for it.
Each breed of dog should be investigated. You do not want a dog with herding instincts around small children. They may truly take to rounding up the kids and nip and bite at their heels during play. Breeds which have the hunter instinct in them may not work well in homes where there are other pets, such as cats, hamsters, rabbits and birds. Dogs which require constant grooming may not work well in a farming family, or living outside. Research the history of the breed you are considering before you purchase your animal. If you are purchasing a beagle to hang out in the house, you may be upset when he decides to take off after that aroma that is beckoning to him from the woods.
Terriers are favored choices by pet owners because this breed comes in various sizes, from large to small and they have much personality. The Cairn Terrier, for instance is wire-haired. This breed sheds very little. You should keep in mind the Carin was bred to be a ratter. You should be prepared for a pet that loves to dig and burrow. This breed is very trainable, and if you supply him a patch of ground for digging all should be well. However, if you plan on keeping a Carin in a quiet apartment complex, you should keep in mind this breed is prone to barking. Find a breed which matches the personality of your home. Be realistic and do not assume you can change a dogs nature.
When you go to observe a litter of pups, you should take in the kennel cleanliness and the health of the parents. If the kennel is smelly, dirty and unkempt, you can assume the mother dog may not be in the best of health or she probably hasn’t had the best care. You should never assume because the mother is thin she is unhealthy. Most mother dogs do go through a thin stage after birth and during the weaning process. However, signs of malnutrition are obvious. If the mother dog is in bad shape, you should not purchase a pup from her litter. If she is aggressive toward you, you should also reconsider purchasing one of her pups.
Don’t jump right in and start picking up the pups. When you go to choose your pet, you should observe him as he plays with the rest of his litter, first. Is there a pup that dominates his family? Is he pushing the others aside, or being rough toward his siblings? This pup should be considered the alpha dog of the litter. This dog knows who he is and what he wants. You should keep in mind these dogs tend to push their boundaries. If you purchase one, you will have to be very diligent with your training. He can never assume he is dominant over you, or the children in your family. These dogs do make wonderful pets for the family who has enough time to give them the consistent loving but firm attention he will require. However, they can be stubborn.
What about the pup who is cowering in the corner? This pup may be the runt, or the shy one in his family. If you are wanting to purchase a pet to serve as family protection, this dog is probably not for you. This dog will scare easily and will most probably beat you to the hiding place if an intruder bursts into your home! However, it should be said these pets do work well with children. They tend to be gentle, and they will come out of their shell if they are lavished with love, praise and the proper training. These dogs are lovers, not fighters. However, if these pups are not worked with, their shyness will turn to fear. This could lead to snippy dogs, or ones that actually bite. Children should not be allowed to mistreat animals, especially ones which are timid or shy by nature. Their sweet, loving pet may turn on them.
If there is a pup in the litter who is barking at your presence, you should carefully observe it. Is it barking simply because you are a stranger? Is it barking because he wants your attention? Or, is it barking because he is afraid? If he is afraid, this dog could possibly grow up to be aggressive and possibly dangerous. Fearful dogs protect themselves through barking and barring of their teeth. If the pup is aggressive, it will most probably grow up to be even more so. Just because a dog barks doesn’t mean he is aggressive, though. Some dogs bark to be friendly. You should be able to tell if the pup you are observing is simply saying “hello” or “get out of here and leave me alone.”
The middle of the road pups are usually the best. These are the pups which come up to you. They are friendly. They may playfully pull on your shoe strings or climb upon your lap and start licking your face. These puppies are already trusting by nature. They are willing to socialize with you and they want to make friends.
You should take each pup you are considering purchasing away from its litter to a different area for observation. How does it react away from its family? Is it jumpy and nervous? Is he confident and happy? Does it cower? Do loud noises send it scurrying to hide, or is he simply startled and then full of investigation instincts? When you talk to the pup, does he seem interested in you, or is he simply ignoring you and doing his own thing? All of these little clues will give you an inside peek as to the personality of the pup.
When you hold the pup like a baby, what is his reaction? Does he struggle, lash madly and try to nip at you? If so, this pup is probably very stubborn and will require a firm hand to get it to obey. Does the pup stare at you wild eyed and it fright? This pup is probably very skittish and will require a lot of love and coaxing. The pup who tries to right itself, relaxes, then tries again, off and on while you are holding him should be considered a middle of the line dog. This dog should be fairly easy to train with the proper care and training.
Try walking away from the pup. If he doesn’t follow you and is more interested in doing his own thing, this dog will be very independent. He may not be interested in training at all, and it may be a challenge to get this pup to focus on you. If you call him, he looks up and continues about his business, this is also a sign that you have a little prince or princess on your hands who may be oblivious to rules.
Choosing a puppy for the family should be an adult decision. Children can easily be swayed to choose a pet on a whim. Parents can easily check out the litter first and choose a suitable pup or two for the children to choose from. You should also keep in mind that children will be happy with a pet you simply bring home, even if they had no say in the selection process.
Author Ian White is founder of http://www.dog-Breeders.biz This extensive online directory includes listings by private breeders, kennel clubs, and occasional hobby or family breeders. Those seeking dogs can locate and match with appropriate breeders. Dog-Breeders.biz automates the matching of dogs for sale with dog wanted entries, with daily email notifications to all parties. Dog lovers and breeders can find more informationArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_White
Today we talk about how this life creates a false reality that begins to break down when we compare it to our eternal life. Death can steal our security, but when we view it in light of salvation we see that it no more than a milestone on our journey home.
Most dog lovers see their animals as a member of the family, someone to bring them joy, make them laugh and quite possibly as a major stress reliever. Although it might be misunderstood by people that have never had a dog, the loss of your best friend by natural causes or by an accident may turn you and your family’s world upside down. The emotions may be in line with those felt by someone losing a human family member but with a lot less support from those around you. How do you cope when this furry member of your family dies?
As with all sad things which come to pass in your life, there is a grieving process and this very closely relates to the loss of an animal. At first you may experience extreme sadness because after all, most dog lovers have a very special relationship with their animal. They are a part of your everyday lives and it may feel like a big part of your home is missing when you expect the canine to be around the house and he is no longer there.
You’ve probably heard before that “time heals all wounds” and there is no greater truth than when you lose a pet dog. You cannot will yourself to feel better, less depressed or happy because it will take quite a while for most people. The best you can do for yourself and your family is to try to remember the animal fondly and to keep yourself busy. It is helpful when you have children to spend time talking about what a great dog your pet was and perhaps make a special scrapbook honoring how much the animal brought to each of your lives. Some people have a designated place in their homes, such as a shelf, where precious pictures of the dog and his favorite things are displayed. Many pet stores have special memoriam items that can be purchased to celebrate the dog.
If you are still having a hard time dealing with the loss, many local humane societies have pet loss support groups that meet weekly or monthly. There are certified people that can help guide you through this difficult time and give you tips on how to overcome the emotions that you are feeling. Sometimes this is a very helpful activity because you are with other people that are experiencing the same things that you are. When other people in your lives may not be understanding you are sure to get the support you need from other group members.
The loss of a dog is an extremely traumatic life event to the people that love and miss them. Each person deals with the sadness differently and all forms of grief should be honored in a legitimate way. The best thing you can do in this time period is to find your own unique way to honor your beloved pet, deal with the individual grief of each family member the best way you can and celebrate the life of your animal.
Last Wednesday our family dog was killed by a car on Maggies 4th birthday. Today we talk about what death means to each of us and how our experiences can differ greatly.
- Brad and Chaz
Offering A Helping Hand During Deep Personal Loss
By Vaughn Balchunas
“My friend of 15 years has just lost her husband to a terrible accident. I want to support her in any way I can, but I’m not sure how to help.â€
“My favorite aunt has just passed away. My niece is devastated by the loss. Though we have been very close in the last few years, I am unable to help her get over her loss.â€
A grieving person is often a dilemma to those around him/her. On the one hand, there is a lurking fear of offering trite words of sympathy; on the other, close friends and relatives cannot step away from the grieving person compelled as they are by their own immense sense of love, loyalty and duty. Not everyone needs the same kind of support and this seems to be the crux of the problem.
A grieving person does not need a lot of advice, although a very few do. At the moment of grief, he or she needs to manage the difficult experience of parting. Simply listen, hold hands or sit quietly. When we are faced with someone else’s grief, we scramble in our minds groping for the right things to say. We forget that people dealing with loss often have a great urgency to communicate their powerful emotions. A willingness to listen and to simply be there may sometimes be the most solid support you can offer.
Contrary to what popular Hollywood flicks show us, telling a grieving person to ‘be strong and hold on’ is not the best advice to share. Most people in grief are overwhelmed by the intensity of their own emotions. Asking them to ‘hold on’ encourages them to bottle up their grief and put up a brave front. This only makes matters worse. Instead, persuade your loved one to share and express his or her deepest fears and emotions.
Even when a person is grieving, there are practical necessities to be taken care of. But at such a time, the demands and tasks of daily living can become overpowering. You can express your support by offering to do odd jobs like gardening, babysitting, paying the bills, cooking or cleaning. Encourage your loved one to take you up on these offers.
In the majority of cases, grieving does not take a linear path; it undulates and fluctuates with the passing of time. It may take an individual several months or years to get over his or her loss. Contrary to what most of us believe, people feel their loss most acutely - not immediately- but a few weeks after all support systems have been withdrawn. That is why it is common to find people mourning their loss most intensely during an anniversary or birthday. Re-engaging in life is perhaps the only long-term solution to get over the most bitter pangs of grief. As a friend or loyal supporter, help your loved one discover new experiences and events. Encourage him or her to find healthy ways to release feelings of pain and anger - such as writing a journal, exercising or volunteer work. Even when a person seems to be moving on, take care not to brush away memories of the past in a casual manner.
Depending on how much trauma a person has gone through, he or she may exhibit physical and mental reactions to grief. Depression, lack of concentration, anxiety, feelings of guilt and hopelessness may follow the loss of someone dear. Common physical symptoms include headaches, loss of appetite, fatigue or insomnia. Extreme symptoms may include chest pain or the total loss of appetite, in which case a physician must be consulted. A person weakened by grief may overlook his or her own problems. As a friend you can help by providing the necessary support.
We all live our lives with the awareness of approaching death. Still, whenever it occurs, death finds us totally unprepared. So it is common for grieving people to react in a seemingly illogical manner. As an onlooker, you have to understand that you cannot take grief away from anyone. You can only help them face their feelings and overcome them.
Memorial Urns provides the information and resources to help people with end of life planning and details. We offer a wide selection of unique cremation urns and pet urns.
