I used to think that there was nothing like a German Shepherd or a Rottweiler (or bullmastiff training geeks) to make me feel safe. I had a sense of security when going to be at night. A small dog would never have given me that sense of security when it is dark outside and I hear things that go bump in the night. My big dogs would have used a small dog as a squeaky toy.

I like to go out for walks and have people size up my big dog before approaching. I never feared being attacked when I was out walking. If I had a small dog, I would not have had that secure feeling. After all, what would a small dog do if I were being mugged? Bite their ankles and yap at them?

My best friend brought home a baby Yorkie one afternoon. I turned up my nose wondering why in the world she would buy such a small dog. She raved about this cute little bundle of fur and talked about how he would make such a great companion. I just hoped that if we walked our dogs together, my dog wouldn’t eat her small dog. That thought made me nervous. I had to admit though, for a small dog he was awfully cute. Of course, most puppies are cute. Before too long, he began to grow. He was still adorable and ended up having a very sweet personality. Much to my shock, my large dog didn’t pay him any attention and was not interested in eating him. My dog normally would enjoy chasing a small dog just for entertainment.

This small dog went everywhere with her. He’d jump up in the backseat and lay down, leaving almost no traces of a mess. She could carry him around if she wanted too. I was starting to think that a small dog wasn’t so bad afterall though there are plenty of annoying small dogs out there that I could do without. For a small dog, he was very intelligent and energetic. He could run circles around my aging large dog who was more content to sit and watch him than chase him. My best friend adored him immensely.

As time moved on I realized how many advantages there are to having a small dog. A small dog eats less and requires less money spent on dog food. A small dog can go with you anywhere without disturbing too much and might not create such a mess wherever it goes.

They can jump right up into your lap just like a cat and snuggle. I hated to admit that I was starting to grow rather fond of this small dog. Within the first year, my big dog and her small dog were the best of friends. My dog was more than happy to share his squeaky toys, instead of treating him like one.

Additional housebreaking tips at:  dog potty puppy training.

Courtesy of Animal Articles:

Choosing the best wildlife safaris company can be difficult. Shop around; look carefully at the cost, itineraries and equipment inclusions. Even if a safari company is highly regarded, your trip can be spoiled by a poor guide, bad weather, an absence of wildlife or insufferable fellow travelers.Your best bet is to book through a respected Australian-based adventure travel company. These include Peregrine Adventures (663 8611), African Wildlife Safaris (696 2899), World Expeditions (670 8400), Adventure World (670 0125) and Outdoor Travel (670 7252).They will have up-to-date information on safaris, lodge-based and overland trips. Most also have film or slide evenings, which allow prospective travelers to see what they will get for their money.I have traveled with Karibu Safari, represented in Australia by Peregrine, and found them outstanding. Our guide, a Zimbabwe-born former overland driver, Ian Brown, was well-informed, great company and the best bush cook imaginable. He was aided by a native Botswanan, John Kutenda, and while in remote areas, used local trackers and mokoro men who adopted names such as John White, Tin Man, Water and Oscar. Lodges or camping safaris? Many people favor lodge-based safaris for the extra comfort and security, but you may miss the sense of being in the wilderness environment.There is nothing like lying in your tent while a hippo wallows in a pool a few meters away, a big cat pads through the campsite, an elephant chews its way noisily through a tree, or a baboon roars out its piercing cry, “Wahoo!”. Lodges are much more expensive than camping safaris, but because they are often in private game reserves, animals are guaranteed to be seen.What you will pay

The cost for your land-based activities depends on the style of trip you choose. Generally speaking, a camping safari will run to about $100 a day, with meals, tent, park fees and guide service included, although some are a little cheaper.A lodge-accommodated tour may cost $300 a day or more, depending on the level of luxury. Cheapest of all, in daily expense terms, are truck or bus overland trips, which range from about $60 a day, plus food kitty costs. Return airfare to Harare or Johannesburg will cost about $1500.

More tips at:  caring for dogs.

A lot about caring for kittens is actually about caring for yourself. Cats are animals, and they have all the problems that animals have. You need to deodorize the cat litter, change it frequently, and take care that the cats don’t make a mess around the house. This means that you have to either declaw them or teach them not to claw up the furniture, as well as making sure that they are not coughing up hairballs in hidden corners. As you can imagine, mastering all of these things can be a chore, but it is chore that is well worth it.

I have found these online resources very useful.

University of Nebraska Guide to worm composting toilet.

Ohio State University Guide to Common Earth Worm Pests.

New Mexico State University Guide to Worm Composting (PDF File).

Vermicoast.com is a website promoting a book and a video about composting with Red wiggler worms.

Cityworm is a website that talks about worm composting in urban areas.

WormWoman.com has lots of worm composting information.

www.recycledorganics.com offers a pamphlet called "Best Practice Guideline to Managing On-site Vermiculture Technologies"

City Farmer Guide to Buying Worms in Canada and the U.S.

New Mexico State University lists the chemical characteristics of garden compost and vermicompost in a chart on this website.

As properties become smaller and smaller, fewer people are able to have flower gardens.  In addition, people living in cities may also feel challenged when looking for ways to have a garden.  As a result, many people have taken up planting flowers in windowsill boxes.  Aside from being very attractive, they are the perfect place to put decorative birdhouses.  Even if you choose unusual birdhouses as accent pieces, they are sure to brighten up your day and make you feel better. 

Most dog lovers think that taking care of a dog may be like a walk in the park. Although this is far from true, the dog training collars might help make it reality. In fact taking care of a dog involves not just taking care of the food as well as the sleeping habits of the dog; grooming is a very vital part of keeping a dog in the house as well. This is where the role of dog training collars can come in as really helpful. These collars can help you train your dog effectively.

If you work outside the home and have to leave your puppy for several hours at a time, crate training can be very effective. If you place a dog in a crate while you are gone, you do not have to worry about your new slippers or your couch being chewed up while you are away. Housetraining takes time and patience. There are several methods that can be followed to successfully housebreak a puppy. A dog will not go to the bathroom where he sleeps, so if you use crate training, the dog will not go to the bathroom in the crate. Crate training a dog can ensure that your pet does not destroy things in your home while you are away. It also keeps the pet safe while you are gone. And, it can be very useful in housetraining your dog also.