Announcing the Indian Launch of Hagen’s Elite Tropical Aquarium Tanks & Elite External Canister Filters for Indian hobbyists.Your favorite online pet store is the first to launch the online sale of Hagen products in India and the following Hagen Products are available for sale.

•          ELITE Style Glass Aquarium Tropical Set - 3 Sizes Available
•          ELITE External Canister Filters - 4 Models Available

We are working on many more products like this to be included in our online store. If you have any feedback, Let us know.

Everyone who used to see my lab mishti wanted to own her. They always used to comment on how good she looked, what a shiny coat she had and how she never used to itch. Similary my spitz too never had a bad hair day, no tangling and surprisingly no ticks. somewher down the line (I have been having doggy members for the past 14 yrs ) it stuck me that my pets lived longer and happier cause they were not just well fed and cared for but also very very well groomed. After a few requests and suggestions by friends with pets for whom i used to take care of all pet grooming and shopping requirements i decided to start my own pet grooming service. And surprisingly there turned out to be a huge demand for the same.

Right now i am operating within north west delhi and loving every momment of the same. I love my cannine friends who are so happy to see me on each visit, enjoy a bath and brushing and destressing massages. it is not just paying job but a love for animals which has become a rewarding career.

In case you have any pet queries then do blog me

Hey hi!! This is Fancy!! I am a Labrodor Retriever, six months old today and here is my tale of how I got here to Mummy, Daddy and Chinnu!! (I have realized that I am growing up to be quite a lady off late!!)

 I will keep coming back and keep pawing in whatever I can, whenever I can sneak up to mummy’s lap top. She is on the lap top very often now-a-days. I need to sneak up and paw up my diary, whenever mummy forgetfully leaves the lap-top on and goes to catch a quick nap. I have honed my keyboarding skills, so even if I manage to get a few minutes, I promise you’ll all hear from me.

Well, well, I don’t even remember how long ago, but it was very very long ago that I found myself being on a motorbike, being virtually squeezed by one of them and in thick of traffic. Was I scared? I was petrified. I was trying to scramble up the guy in the front, I was trying to scratch him, but I could hardly reach his shoulder bone, finally one beautiful opportunity - the guy stopped his bike (now I know it as a traffic signal), I bit the guy who was squeezing me hard and he loosened his grip a little and I jumped out. But before i realized - I had to stop - there were hundreds, no I think it was thousands of big wheels going fffffaaaaaassssssssttttttt. I was scared, I wanted to go back, but hello, where were these guys, I was almost desperate and then the same fat chap picked me up.

 Was I releived? You bet I was! I wanted to kiss him out of sheer relief, but he was squeezing me (now I know) he was scolding me. What a dirty man this man was, see I surrendered back to him, despite him squeezing me,  and he is screaming at me.

 Finally we entered into small roads, then very small roads and hey, stop, stop we will all go into the stream. Whew, these guys stop just short, what if the brakes had failed? How can these fat men be so careless? I need to teach them a lesson or two, may be later.

 Then I see this man come and coochcooing to me. Oooooh he is picking me up, will this fat guy squeeze me now? I’ve had enough for the day…. Hey he is very gentle. He is carrying me with so much care….

Hello, Hello why are you putting your lips to my forehead? Hello? Don’t you know how to kiss? If you need to kiss, you need give a very very wet and warm lick. These humans don’t know anything!!

 Oh he puts me down, (that was daddy - I came to know later) and then there are so many million people, including one small people there. Small people seems to be scared, but I like him and move towards him - he is so cute - he is running away - oh that must be Chinnu, the way daddy is asking him to pick me up. I am very smart, I learn people’s names very fast. Then this lady comes in, wow what a nice and beautiful lady, all well dressed in a saree, nice bindi and lots of flowers (it actually looks like a garden and I want to really go and play there!!! - please don’t tell her!) Yeah man that is mummy - she picks me up carries me away and puts a nice feeder bottle with warm mild in to my mouth.

 I’ve had enough for now, I think it is Chinnu’s birthday and I am the gift. Daddy does not have any sense at all. How can he gift me to Chinnu, when Chinnu is so scared of me? Daddy, naah he needs to learn from mummy…

Anyway I think mummy coming back….. let me hurry up and close here. Next time I am around I will definitely tell you more and more.

Bye….bbbbbbbbbbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

 Lick, lick, lick…..

What Causes Dog Chewing?

Like a child, your dog can experience separation anxiety. If he is left alone for too long or if you aren’t paying him enough attention, he will start to act out by chewing things.

Most often, dogs chew to get attention. They are just like kids in that they like attention, even if it is bad attention. Get to the bottom of the problem to see what your dog is trying to tell you when he chews.

Destruction from Dog Chewing

The problem may begin with little things like gnawing on your shoes and nibbling on pens, but it can escalate to a more serious problem, particularly if they’re trying to whittle down the legs of your kitchen table, eat the cushions of your couch, or tear up your carpeting.

Another problem with dog chewing is that your dog is ingesting a lot of non-food materials. There is the risk of choking as well as possible internal damage from eating non-digestible items.

The ironic thing is that your dog will probably get even less attention after tearing up your things. Their destruction can be costly and repairing the damage can be time consuming. You may find yourself distancing yourself from your dog because he’s causing you so much trouble, but if his behavior is caused by a lack of attention, you’ll only end up making the situation worse. You must find out what is causing your dog to chew and take care of the root of the problem, not just fix what damage he has caused.

Solutions for Dog Chewing

1. Make sure to put your things up and that your dog can’t reach items that he isn’t supposed to play with.
2. Provide plenty of toys that are specifically made for dogs, including ones you can fill with food to hold their attention for long periods of time.
3. Confine the dog in a crate when you can’t be there to watch him and correct his bad behavior.
4. Take the dog on daily walks to break his boredom.
5. Spend lots of time playing with your dog and giving him the attention he needs.
6. Create a den-like environment that the dog can use when he is scared or lonely. It should contain things that are familiar and comfortable for him and it should be a place where no one else - person or animal - is allowed.
7. Don’t punish the dog for chewing your things. This can only worsen the problem if he is looking for your undivided attention. Distract the dog from chewing and offer treats and praise when it’s deserved.

Your dog is trying to tell you something, and nothing makes a better statement than a pair of $400 pumps turned into chew toys. Before you blame your dog, though, you need to make sure it’s not something you’re doing - or not doing. With a little time and patience and lots and lots of love, you’ll find yourself the owner of a wonderfully well trained dog - not a dog chewing everything in your house.

If your dinner invitations to family and friends haven’t been met with much enthusiasm lately, you may have a dog jumping problem. Everyone loves a happy, playful pup, but no one wants to come home from a dinner party only to spend the evening fighting paw prints on their new blouse or pants with a stain stick. Here are some steps you can take to discourage dog jumping.

Greet Them Sitting Down

If you train your dog to sit when he greets people you’ll have the problem licked. Start by teaching your overzealous pooch the ‘sit’ command. Begin at home when it’s quiet and there are no distractions. Make sure your pet is rested, fed and doesn’t need to go for a walk. Hold a small but delectable treat in your hand right at your dog’s nose. Say “sit.” Move your hand up and back so your dog backs up a bit and his rear goes to the floor. Give him the treat and lots of praise. If you repeat this training during several short sessions over the course of a few days, he should be sitting reliably at your command. In fact, he will probably begin greeting you sitting down in anticipation of a tasty tidbit.

Bring on the Family

Once your dog has mastered sitting for you, it’s time to have him practice for others. Hopefully by now your dog has figured out that sitting in front of people can get him a treat. But greeting people at the front door can be very exciting — a member of the pack is joining you or returning! Until you can rely on your dog not to jump up, keep him on a collar and leash when you’re answering the door. Be firm but calm and be ready to reward him and offer a little treats if he sits when greeting someone to your home.

As he controls his dog jumping urge to use your friends and family as a backboard, you can back off on the treats and vary your rewards. Offer praise or playtime sometimes instead of a treat so you can get him to sit even when no treat is offered. Keep him guessing so you can keep him down on the floor where he belongs. And get those dinner invitations ready — you’re going to need them once you’ve taught that lovable canine to stop his dog jumping problem.

All dogs bark from time to time, but continuous dog barking or barking that occurs at inappropriate times is a problem. Excessive barking is usually a symptom of boredom, under-stimulation, aggression, or fear. Excessive barking is not only a symptom that there’s something not right with your dog, but it can get rather annoying to those who have to listen to it.

The consequences of constant barking are twofold. If your dog is barking for a valid reason and you ignore it, it could be dangerous for your dog. On the other hand, if your dog has developed the habit of excessive barking out of boredom and you ignore it, it will likely become very stressful for you, and perhaps even for your neighbors.

The first thing you need to do is make sure your dog is not hurt, sick, hungry, or scared. If not, then think about how much time you’ve been spending with him. He could very well just be bored or missing your attention. Check your pet’s surroundings carefully to make sure that’s not the problem. Look for inadequate or damaged shelter, bedding that is missing, torn, or uncomfortable, or contamination of or problems with their food or water.

Environmental factors are often temporary, but can still be important. Watch for thunderstorms or weather that may be scaring your dog, unusual activity near your house (construction, for example), or strange animals in the area. More permanent factors include neighboring animals, or taunting children.

To stop dog barking, changes may have to be made. If you’re unsure what the problem is, try changing one thing at a time.

1. Take your pet to the vet right away if you think there is a physical cause for his barking, or if there’s no obvious cause that you can find.
2. Though there’s not much you can do about environmental factors, try to soothe and reassure your dog as much as you can. He will likely either become accustomed to the distraction, or the problem with resolve itself with time. Consider moving your outdoor pet away from the distraction if you can.
3. Fix any problems you find with your pet’s bedding, shelter, or food or water.
4. Spend as much time with your dog as you can. Perhaps even adopt or buy another dog to keep him company. When you do have to leave him alone, try leaving a radio or TV on so it’s not so quiet in the house. Also, make sure there are plenty of toys well within his reach.
5. If your dog is barking out of habit, distract him as soon as he starts barking. Praise him lavishly when he is quiet, but don’t give in to him when he is not. Be firm with him, but soothe him and do what you can to stop his barking. Remember, the longer he’s had this habit, the longer it will take you break it.

Your veterinarian will make sure there’s no physical reason for the dog barking, and may be able to advise you on alternative ways to stop the barking. If your dog is barking purely out of habit, a qualified pet trainer might be the perfect solution to the problem.

Dog agility can be great fun, whether training for competitions or just looking for a new activity to do with your dog. Dog agility provides structured training activities and exercise for both dogs and human companions alike. In agility trials, dogs compete off-leash with their handlers on timed courses.

Dog agility is based roughly on equestrian stadium jumping competitions, and was first introduced at the Crufts Dog Show in England in 1979. Dog agility was originally intended purely as entertainment for spectators at the show, but interest in competitive dog agility quickly grew.

Dog agility equipment includes obstacles such as jumps, tunnels, and closed tunnels, weave poles, pause tables, A-frames, dog walks, see-saws and tire jumps. Dog agility equipment is made from a variety of materials and can be intended for short-term use (for example, backyard fun or if you are just starting out and unsure agility training is right for you and your dog) or competition-caliber equipment. Resources abound to purchase ready-made equipment, or you can find instructions to build some obstacles on your own using common materials such as PVC pipe. Since dog agility equipment is used in competition, most equipment and instructions to build your own equipment are standard.

In dog agility competitions, the obstacles are arranged in a different order and different configurations for each competition. The dogs and handlers have a set amount of time prior to the competition to familiarize themselves with the course. Handlers may give any verbal or hand signal to their dogs, but cannot touch the dogs or the equipment in any way. The difficulty of the course varies depending on the level of the competition. Dogs are divided into classes based on height; these classes determine the height of various obstacles on the course.

Whether you want to train your dog to compete or just have fun, agility training can provide hours of fun and good exercise for you and your dog. Training a dog to use agility equipment takes time and patience. Be sure your dog is in good physical health before beginning training. Always monitor your dog carefully and take care not to push too hard in training. You will want to be sure you have plenty of treats or non-food rewards to praise your dog for a job well done. Many dogs, when rewarded with praise or treats, perform very well on agility equipment.

Dog flea and tick control is a must with approximately 68 million dogs in the United States. Fleas and ticks consume your pets’ blood and can be dangerous to both their and your health. Flea bites can cause an allergic reaction called flea allergy dermatitis which can lead to permanent hair loss and other skin problems because of the constant scratching as your dog tries to rid himself of fleas. If a pet is overwhelmed with fleas and/or ticks, they can suffer from anemia due to the loss of blood, as well. Fleas and ticks can also carry other parasites and diseases including tapeworms, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever that can be transferred from one animal to another.

Dog flea and tick control products are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and are available through pet supply stores, catalogs, the Internet and through your veterinarian. You will need to determine the best product for you and your dog based upon the age, health, ease of use, how often you need to apply, etc. It is best to discuss prevention with your veterinarian, always read product labels carefully and follow application directions exactly.

Many of these dog flea and tick control products act as repellents to keep the fleas and ticks from coming in contact with your dog. Others only act to kill adult fleas and ticks after they are already on your dog. Some products attack the immature fleas, preventing them from developing into adults. A few of the products are capable of preventing the fleas and ticks from settling on you dog and killing both adult and immature pests. Finally, some products have the advantage of preventing heartworm as well.

Products that aid in dog flea and tick control come in many forms including shampoos, spot-on, sprays, wipes, dips, collars, foggers and dusts. Spot-on products are applied directly to the dog’s skin on the nape of the neck. Shampoos, dips, wipes and dusts require the product to be applied to the entire pet. Spot-on, shampoos, dips, wipes and dusts will need to be reapplied every few weeks. Dog flea and tick control collars will need to be replaced after a certain period of time. Sprays are used on carpets and throughout the house to kill fleas and eggs. Foggers are used to rid a house of fleas and should be only used when all pets and humans are safely out of the house. Sprays and foggers are generally used at the same time as products on the dog to treat both your house and your pets simultaneously.

Many dog owners prefer more natural, non insecticidal flea control methods such as combs, eucalyptus oil, neem oil, sonic collars, flea traps, garlic and brewer’s yeast etc. These methods tend to work better at keeping fleas away rather than killing or eliminating present infestations.

If you wish to treat outdoors for fleas, make sure to treat where fleas live - shaded areas like under porches or decks, at the edges of woods, and in places where your pets lay outdoors. Diatomaceous earth, boric acid and silica aero gels can be used to treat your lawn for fleas and ticks.

When you treat a pet for adult fleas and ticks you are only treating part of the problem. Once a home becomes infested, flea and tick control can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive. The best defense is both ongoing treatment and prevention. It is advised that you continue your flea, tick and heartworm treatments year round. Dog flea and tick control is necessary to maintain a healthy and happy canine companion.

Dog micro chipping is one permanent way to identify your dog in case it ever gets lost. Many owners feel that it is sufficient to have a collar and identification tags around the neck of their dogs. Unfortunately, dogs can lose their collars and tags, so they are no help when they are lost. So many healthy and presumably well cared for dogs are euthanized in shelters because the shelter is unable to locate the owners and the owners do not contact the right shelter.

Another means of permanent identification is tattooing. Tattoos have the drawback that they may be hard to find under your dog’s fur, a scared dog may not allow a shelter worker to search for a tattoo, tattoos can blur over time and if your dog is stolen, tattoos can relatively easily be altered.

Dog micro chipping provides a form of identification can not be lost, altered or intentionally removed. Dog micro chipping involves the placement of a micro transponder about the size of a grain of uncooked rice under the dog’s skin near the shoulder blades. Placement is as easy as a vaccination. Microchips have no power supplies and have a life expectancy of about 25 years.

Two companies, AVID and Home Again, share the bulk of the microchips available on the market today. Each microchip has a unique code that can be easily read by most shelters and veterinarians with a hand held scanner that emits low-frequency radio waves. All the shelter or veterinarian needs to do is to contact the appropriate national database to learn the name and number of the owner. Most microchips and scanners in the United States operate at a frequency of 125 kHz. One microchip by Banfield operates at a frequency of 134.2 kHz which is frequently used in other parts of the world. The one drawback is that not all scanners can read every microchip on the market.

Generally, a veterinarian will charge about the cost of an office visit for dog micro chipping so it might be less expensive to have your dog micro chipped while at the veterinarian for routine treatment. After a dog is micro chipped, the unique number is placed in a national database and registered to the clinic that implanted the microchip. There is a one time enrollment fee for the national database registries for their 24-hour recovery service for owners. This enrollment fee is usually about $20.00. Enrollment by the owners in the 24-hour recovery service means that the shelter that finds your lost dog can contact you directly. If an owner is not registered with 24-hour recovery service, the shelter can only be given the name of the veterinarian or clinic that implanted the microchip. The shelter will then have to contact the veterinarian to obtain the owner’s contact information.

If an owner is registered with a 24-hour recovery service and the contact information in the national recovery database needs to be changed at any time, all the owner needs to do is make a phone call or go online to update the information. Information can even be updated for vacations! Dog micro chipping companies may also provide a special identification tag with the chip code that alerts the shelter that the dog has been micro chipped.

Annual confirmation of your dog’s microchip information is strongly recommended. This can be conducted easily during your dog’s annual examination. Dog micro chipping provides for a safe, quick and painless form of permanent identification.

Why Some Dogs are More Aggressive Than Others

Some dogs, such as Dobermans and Rottweilers are generally bred to be somewhat aggressive. Along with that, male dogs tend to be more aggressive than female dogs of the same breed. Others are the product of inbreeding, which can result in erratic temperaments.

Environment also plays a role in dog aggression. Aggressive behavior can surface when a dog is protecting something, such as a Puppy, litter of puppies or an owner’s property. Poor socialization will oftentimes cause a dog to be easily spooked and thus aggressive and overly territorial. Abuse such as teasing, physical abuse, or simply ignoring the dog can also lead to aggressive and protecting behaviors.

Signs of Dog Aggression include the following:

1. Growling
2. Hostile barking
3. Ear dropping and flattening
4. Slow, guarded, and stiff movements

Addressing Aggressive Behavior

Excessive aggression in a dog should be dealt with early on. This means that a dog should be corrected at the first sign of a growl when someone walks near its food dish. While dogs are innately dominant, hostile behavior should not be tolerated. A dog should never be allowed to show inappropriate behavior when you’re trying to train them.

Proper socialization of a dog can help eliminate most aggressive tendencies. This is a result of instilling your dog with confidence and security in both its owner and surroundings. Introducing your dog to new and unfamiliar people, places, and animals will equip him or her to deal with unexpected situations in an appropriate manner.

Testing can also be done by the breeder to predict the likelihood of aggressive tendencies. These tests assess the social aptitude and level of dominance a puppy displays early in life.

The Importance of Temperament

When adopting a dog, pay particular attention to their temperament. Choose a dog with a temperament that matches your needs and expectations. You shouldn’t chose an aggressive or overly assertive dog if you are looking for a child-friendly animal, for example, just as you shouldn’t adopt a high-strung dog if you enjoy living a quiet and slow-paced lifestyle.

If your dog unexpectedly begins to act aggressively, and there aren’t obvious reasons for it, check with your veterinarian right away. A sudden change in temperament may be traced back to a developing medical condition, and time is critical. If your veterinarian has ruled out any physical problems, seek the help of a professional trainer to help you control your dog’s aggressive behavior.

Encourage your dog to enjoy the company of other people and animals. Teaching your dog to be friendly in all situations will allow you peace of mind no matter where you take him or who you’re with.