How can two dogs be so different with their toys?

Cookie, our Chocolate Lab has been with us since he was a puppy of just 12 weeks.  You can imagine as new 'puppy parents' we spoiled him with toys of every type: squeaky, plush, tuggy, chewy....you get the idea!  That was just his indoor collection.  For out of doors we had flying discs, ball slings and anything else we thought he would fetch.  Of course they are certainly not as attractive to chase as your garden variety stick and while Cookie loves to run after thrown objects, for a retriever his 'bringing back' skills leave a lot to be desired.  While he certainly has favourite toys, which I will talk about later, he seems to like different things for different reasons.

Cookie

Maddy, our Lab/Collie cross, has been with us since she was approximately 4 years old and while the shine of new puppy parents had slightly faded we spoiled her with toys just as much as we had Cookie.  The only difference is she really had no interest in them, until recently.  Indoor toys were largely ignored and same as Cookie she prefers a stick to chase outside...as well as squirrels, a habit that took a long while to break!  Even though it has been more than 4 years we have finally found a toy that peaks her interest and gets her to play.  Maddy has discovered a long-tailed Cuz toy is very much to her liking and she will 'possess' it and squeak it for ages.  It also doubles as a pillow when she is at rest...very cute indeed.  We aren't sure why this toy above all others has done it or if it is simply a matter of persistence.  Of course it does ever so slightly resemble a grey squirrel..........????!!!???

Maddy

Until recently we never really had to worry about jealousy over toys but now that Maddy has a favourite we wanted to be sure that no disharmony ensued.  In fact we have adopted a stance where the toys actually belong to us, the people, and we allow the dogs to play with them when we choose.  That isn't as cruel as it may sound; it gives the doggies boundaries and teaches them which toy goes with which dog.  Since Maddy can tend towards dominance over Cookie this approach has seemed to work.  Maddy will occasionally allow Cookie a sneaky play with her Cuz but she gets it back from him when she thinks he's had enough.  Cookie on the other hand would happily share his toys with the world.

Cookie's favourite toys of the moment are plush and squeaky and he alternates between a polar bear and a duck.  When he first gets something new he will carry it around for hours, wagging his tail proudly and whimpering with delight.  He is always so grateful when he gets a gift from his people.  But this little angel wasn't always so good with his toys.  From puppy up until about age 2 his first instinct was to rip a toy to shreds as soon as our back was turned.  Unfortunately this included the biggest toy of all a leather 3 piece suite, but I digress.

It took a lot of patience, trial and error with Cookie to get him to the point of now treasuring his toys rather than eating them.  We had to develop lightening quick reflexes and eyes in the back of our heads to quickly snatch toys away the moment it looked like he was going in for the kill.  Even toys that are billed as indestructible are no match for a determined dog and his teeth as we found out.  Although both dogs are now mature we do not allow them to play with toys unsupervised so that we can control potentially destructive play and to ensure they don't accidentally swallow any bits that could result in such play.

I am not sure if Cookie and Maddy have developed such a different relationship to toys as a result of either nature or nurture.  It isn't really possible to draw a scientific conclusion as they came into our life at very different times in their lives.  However, in Maddy's case it seems it is possible to teach and old dog new tricks!





    

So how do you decorate your fish tank?

I really envy those folks who can manage to create fantastic aquascapes with live aquatic plants.  I can grow weeds of magnificent proportions in the back garden but I just don't seem to have the green fingered touch when it comes to my aquarium.

Fortunately for fishkeepers like me there are plenty of ornaments and artificial plants on the market to help me achieve the look I want.  From the resin tree root meant to replicate nature to the downright whimsical fluorescent castle there really is something for everyone.  You can pretend all you like that that Spongebob ornament is 'for the kids' but it is OK to admit that you enjoy it too!

Twin Aquarium Tree Root

But a word of caution, don't just put any old thing into your fishtank.  Genuine aquarium ornaments and decorations are made from special materials that do not leach harmful elements into the water.  If you have gotten hooked on watching Tanked or Fish Tank Kings (and I really envy some of those installations) you will note they take great care to properly seal anything unusual that goes into the tank.  And lets face it most of us just don't have that kind of stuff lying around the house.  So if Junior wants to make a feature of his old Hot Wheels collection at the bottom of the tank do not let him...it won't take long for the metal to wreak havoc with the water and do great damage to the fish's health.

Aquarium Artificial Plant Rings

Have fun with your tank and decorate it as you wish.  As long as the things you put in aren't harmful then frankly the fish aren't really that bothered.  They are just interested in having places to swim around and in and out of.  An ornament or plant can also provide shelter for a shy fish that needs a break from more boisterous tank mates.  The bubbling ornaments that you connect to an air pump not only add interest for you and the fish but can also help to keep the tank well aerated.  

Galleon Ship Wreck Bubbling Ornament

We have a great selection of ornaments on our website DLS Aqautics and Pets and from now until the end of June use discount code AMJ13 for 10% off your purchase.

If you would like to share pictures of your fish tank please email them to sales@dlsaquaticsandpets.co.uk and we will feature them on an upcoming blog post!

Are you and your dog ready for summer?

For the past several weeks we have been focussing on our swimming pets but with summer just around the corner we thought we would turn our attention to the dogs!

Now that spring is finally in the air (said hopefully while looking out the window on a rainy 11° morning) we need to consider what affect this change in season has on our dogs.  Just as we change our habits and want to look our best for the summer we need to consider how our furry friends fare as well.

Those bitterly cold mornings and dark afternoons don't really lend themselves to enjoyable trips around the park and, whether or not we like to admit it, we probably didn't get the dogs out quite as much as we would have liked.  As spring and summer finally arrive we are naturally drawn to spending more time out of doors which means the dogs will be doing so too.

It may be really tempting to blow off the cobwebs by breaking out the boots and grabbing the lead to take Fido out on a 10 mile ramble over the dales.  Unless both of you have kept up a similar fitness routine through the winter, then that hike is probably not a great idea for either of you.  Just as we need to break slowly into a new regime our pooches are the same.  Even though their fitness and endurance will get up to speed a lot more quickly than yours, they still need breaking in gently. 

Once you have built up some endurance by all means get out and enjoy the countryside or local park (if in the city) for nice long stretches with your faithful companion.  Just a few other things to keep in mind while you are out and about to help keep your doggy in top condition... 

• Keep the flea and tick treatments and worming remedies up to date as it isn't just us coming out of hibernation!
• Make sure your dog has plenty of access to shade on bright and sunny days, wouldn't want them to overheat!
• Pack plenty of chilled water for both of you and take frequent breaks to keep hydrated!  

If you don't have access to a park or nearby countryside you can still enjoy more time out in the back garden playing fetch after a stroll around the neighbourhood.  Even though you are close to home it still pays to remember to take frequent breaks, rest in the shade and give your dog plenty of chilled water to keep cool.

Have a great summer and please feel free to comment below on any plans you have for you and your doggy!  Maddy, Cookie and I are off to the park shortly as the weather has finally turned!

Why you should join a local Fishkeeping club

I still remember bringing home my first fish tank in all of its 2 foot glory, setting it up and religiously waiting the 10 days for it to cycle so I could purchase its first inhabitants!  I am sure many of you are having a nostalgic moment right now.

As time went on my collection of tanks grew bigger and I even caught the breeding bug after witnessing the miracle of birth amongst my Platty population.  I can picture some of you now with that wry smile, shaking your head and remembering your first spawn.  Most likely same as mine and completely accidental.    I can look back with hindsight and realise a Platty could probably spawn in a mud puddle and this spawn had nothing to do with my newly acquired fishkeeping super powers.

Fortunately when I started out on my new adventure the internet was teeming with information so I could sort out most minor problems with the help of Google and some advice from my local fish store.  What I couldn't do so well was figure out which information was useful and which was a load of old *carp*!  It took a lot of trial and error to figure out which was which.  What I lacked was contact with experienced fishkeepers, which brings me to my point.

Somewhere along the way I discovered that there were people in my city meeting every month to talk about...FISHKEEPING!  In my case this happens to be the Derby and District Aquarist Society (Hello to Simon et al) which meets once a month at Mr Grundy's Tavern.  What I found was a welcoming group of people interested in talking about the same thing as me; all the great stuff happening in my tanks.  Many of the group had been meeting and sharing stories and experiences for a very long time.  I can tell you that my knowledge of the hobby skyrocketed by being around people who had 'been there, done that and got the T-shirt'.  Imagine my delight being able to discuss Ph levels, a new filtration system or the latest shipment of livestock at the local fish store with people who didn't just glaze over at the slightest mention of fish.  You know the look I mean.

If you are in the Derby area the club meets on the 2nd Monday of the month at 8 PM at Mr Grundy's on Ashbourne Road Derby.  The group has a Facebook page which you are welcome to join Derby and District Aquarists and their email address is Derbyaquarists@aol.com if you would like to get in touch for any reason.

Fortunately, again, the internet makes finding a club in your local area easy to to do.  You can find clubs listed on both Aquarist Classified's Fishkeeping Clubs  page or on Practical Fishkeeping Magazine Forum as an example but a good Google search will bring plenty of other results.  You will also find a variety of online fishkeeping forums to join but it can be tricky deciding which one is right for you.  I will cover the pros and cons of the online community in an upcoming post.

Over the years the number of fish tanks in my home has decreased but not the enthusiasm I first felt when I took up the hobby.  I don't get to my local club meetings as often as I would like but please be assured there is no substitute for being in the company of like-minded individuals who are as passionate about their hobby as you are.

Back to Work

What a great Easter weekend we had but now that’s over and today we all had to go back to work.    Our business is all about selling pet products via the internet and work from a warehouse/unit which means the dogs get to come with us every day!  Work is a brisk 34 mins away from home and on the way we go through a park which pleases the dogs very much!  When we get to work the dogs have their own jobs to do such as meeting and greeting anyone who gets within 100 yards of the building and when it’s sunny, they guard the entrance.



They both get a wage each day of a few dog chews and they seem very happy about that :) 

Oh well see you again soon!