Many people would rather stay at home when their beloved dog or cat is not feeling well. According to a new survey by M&S Pet Insurance, people will cancel their dates if their pet is not well.

According to the research, 52% of the respondents would choose their pet over their partner in cases where there is unexpected illness. Only 26% of men will choose relationship which shows that people love their pets so much.

David Wells, the head of the insurance said that he was not surprised with the results.

“Pet owners often have a close bond with their animals as they are often a predictable presence in our ever-changing lives, providing unconditional love, emotional support and companionship,” he pointed out.

“Therefore, when a new partner comes along it is not surprising that they need to love the pet as much as the person.”

There are also people who are willing to put their work at risk for the sake of a sick pet. It was found out that 11% of the owners stayed at home to nurse a sick pet and a similar proportion have taken time to grieve for a lost pet.

Technorati Tags: Animal, Cat, dog, Pet, Recreation

Hilary Duff found her dog DuBois who was previously thought to be missing. Duff asked the paparazzi outside her home to help her look for the missing dog last February14.

The next day, Hilary’s sister, Haylie let people know via Twitter that their pooch has turned up safe and sound. “Yes, DuBois was in the house the whole time,” she wrote. “Thank you for all the wishes and good lucks.”

Hilary was afraid that her dog might meet the same fate as Jessica Simpson’s dog which was said to be taken away by coyotes from her garden. Search was eventually given up after accepting that Daisy, the caramel-colored Maltipoo, was gone for good.

Technorati Tags: dog, Entertainment, Haylie Duff, Hilary Duff

There was a woman in New York who said that her doggy coat was stolen. Donna McPherson said that she tied up Lexie, her 10-year-old West Highland terrier outside a supermarket in Brooklyn for just 2 minutes as she bought milk.

She said that she heard a funny bark and when she checked, she found her little white dog shivering in the cold. The green wool coat that he was wearing together with the leather trim and belt was nowhere in sight.

McPherson said that the dog coat was $25. Good thing that Lexie was not wearing his Burberry.

Technorati Tags: dog, Pets, West Highland White Terrier

In Michigan, a man who was found to have hundreds of both live and dead Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes has been sentenced to 5 years of probation in a mental health program. He was ordered not to have any animals.

During his sentencing hearing in Wayne County Circuit Court, Tuesday, Kenneth Lang Jr. told Judge Timothy Kenny that he loved the dogs like his own children but that he had just so many of them.

Lang pleaded guilty to a single count of cruelty to 10 or more animals. It was in July when authorities found out about the dogs that Lang kept. They said that there are dead dogs in the freezer which may have been killed with an injection.

Technorati Tags: Chihuahua, dog, Michigan, Pets

Seven guide dogs need homes temporarily while their owners are away. Volunteers will be trained so that they can look after the dogs.

According to the local Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, it would be better if the boarder will be able to look after the dogs all of the time. The candidates would be those who are retired, working from home, or those who are able to take the dog to their workplace.

Homes must be big enough to house a large dog and the garden must be safe and secure. It is preferred that there are no other pets.

The guide dog will have to walk at least twice a day and must follow a set of rules on exercise, grooming and diet.

If there is any variation in the routine of the dog, it can affect its ability to guide and if the rules are broken, the dog may have to be retrained which costs quite a lot.

At the moment when their owners are unable to look after them they’re flown to a guide dog training centre in Exeter, which is time consuming and expensive.

Ken Syvret is chairman of the Jersey branch of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. He said that,”It’s not a difficult job we’re asking people to do but it is one that is important as far as the dogs health and care is concerned.

“There are three things we need to look at, the feeding of the dog, the grooming of the dog and more importantly the walking of the dog,” said Ken.

Technorati Tags: Add new tag, dog, dog training, Guide dog, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Pet, Service Animals, Training

If you have been reading up on how to stop puppy biting then you may have found an entire crop of resources that you can use with a massive range of methods and opposed recommendation. There are plenty of tips out there, many from owners that have experienced some success to stop puppy biting and trainers that have learned the best techniques through their job over time. However , if you’re to stop puppy biting then you need to find the best techniques for you and bear the following three necessary tips in mind :

1. Never allow the little puppy to bite clothing – If your puppy bites clothing or shoes when you are attempting to stop puppy biting then it should be stopped straight away because you cannot tell how hard or soft the bites are and thus can’t control them. You’ve got to be in a position to draw the line so your dog must only be permitted to bite your hands.

2. Control play biting by only permitting it to happen during play – Biting of any kind should only be put up with during play time when you’re making an attempt to stop puppy biting. It should not be allowed at any other time because your puppy will not be ready to differentiate between when he’s permitted to play bite and when biting isn’t satisfactory at all. By limiting play biting, your little dog will learn more then he otherwise would.

3. Do not punish your dog for biting as it is not effective – Puppies will not make a response to negative feedback if they are trying to learn something. Try using positive beefing up instead.

Technorati Tags: dog, puppy biting