The Naughty Kitty Chronicles

The Naughty Kitty

By Rocky Williams

That evil Warden of mine says when she looks in the dictionary under “Naughty Kitty” there is a photo of me. She also wants me to believe that under “Angel” there is a photo of Annabelle. Gag. Excuse me while I hack up a hairball and leave it where the Warden is sure to find it…with her bare feet!

I will admit that I probably am the naughtiest kitty on the planet. But I’ll bet you I have a lot more fun than my goody two shoes sister; wait, wouldn’t that be goody four-paws? Anyhoo, Annabelle is a good kitty and I am a naughty kitty. I DO know the difference, but I choose to be naughty because like I said, it makes life so much more interesting! What’s the point of being a feline if you can’t have a little fun?

Just in case there was any doubt as to what constitutes a good kitty versus a naughty kitty, I’ve put together a little primer.

The Good Kitty Versus the Naughty Kitty

A good kitty (Annabelle) doesn’t pay a lick of attention when the human is eating her food. A naughty kitty (me) gets their fluffy self in her face and tries to snag food from her plate right in front of her. My signature move is called the “grab and go” and I’m successful 9 times out of 10 because my paw is quicker than the hand.

A good kitty comes when called. A naughty kitty answers to none…unless there’s food involved, then we “pretend” to be obedient so we’ll get a snack. The Warden’s favorite trick to get a naughty kitty to come is to shake the tub of FELIDAE crunchies. Works like a charm!

A good kitty leaves all the pens, keys, note pads, remotes, and other miscellaneous stuff on the coffee table, right where the human put it. A naughty kitty pushes them all to the floor, then bats them around until they get lost under the furniture.

A good kitty barfs on the easy-to-clean linoleum or tile floor. A naughty kitty chooses to do the deed on the carpet or the human’s important work papers. Extra credit if your furball ruins some prized possession that “just happens” to be in the way.

A good kitty sleeps in their cat bed so as to keep their fur in one place. A naughty kitty catnaps on their human’s clothes, couch, chair, desk or anyplace they please.

A good kitty goes right into the cat carrier. A naughty kitty hightails it to a place inaccessible to humans at the mere sight of the PTU. When that fails, a naughty kitty squirms and contorts such that the human can’t possibly stuff them into the carrier.

The Good Kitty

A good kitty takes their medicine and tolerates a bath or a claw trim without a fuss. A naughty kitty puts up the fight of their life and leaves their human scratched, bitten and so traumatized they’ll never try that again!

A good kitty makes sure the gopher is a goner before bringing it inside to show the human. A naughty kitty knows that a real, live gopher makes a much cooler “present” and is sure to get a much better reaction!

A good kitty waits for the human to get up before demanding breakfast. A naughty kitty sits on their face, pulls their hair, digs their claws into whatever flesh they can find, and meows loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood.

A good kitty doesn’t bother anything in the human’s garden. A naughty kitty sees the prized roses as a delicious snack, the dirt as a perfect place to do their business, the leaves of every plant as a fun thing to shred, and the green beans as a great cat toy!

A good kitty pays no attention to where the human stores the bag of FELIDAE cat food. A naughty kitty gets up on the coffee maker, opens the kitchen cupboard, stands on his hind legs, chews a hole in the bag and feasts away!

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Mako Sharks

Sharks are the stuff of nightmares for many people, and while most of us may have not have even actually encountered a real shark, just watching movies and videos about them sends chills down our spines. The movie Deep Blue Sea, released in 1999, captured audiences with its jaw-dropping portrayal of sharks.

One of the sharks showed in the movie was a mako shark. This shark, also known as a shortfin or longfin mako shark depending on the subspecies, is a huge mackerel shark that lives in almost all of the world's oceans and seas. Shortfin sharks are known to dwell in tropical and temperate waters while longfin sharks prefer to live near gulf stream waters. 

Many mako sharks are known to dive deep, about 490 ft or 150 m from the water's surface. However, these sharks also have a tendency to stay near by the island shore or at coral reefs especially when hunting. 

Around the western parts of the Atlantic, these sharks can be seen in the Maxican Gulf ,Nova Scotia and Argentina. Up north in Canada, they are common but not abundant. It’s been observed that if there are many swordfish in one area of the ocean, you’re more than likely to find multiple mako sharks nearby. Swordfish more or less live in the same environmental conditions as  mako sharks and they are their natural prey.

Mako sharks are known to take long travels and swim rapidly when hunting. A female mako captured and tagged in California was recaptured in the Pacific after just a few days. It’s estimated that the mako shark can swim, at an average, over 58 km in a day.

Mako Sharks Video

 

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Mako Sharks

Sharks are the stuff of nightmares for many people, and while most of us may have not have even actually encountered a real shark, just watching movies and videos about them sends chills down our spines. The movie Deep Blue Sea, released in 1999, captured audiences with its jaw-dropping portrayal of sharks.

One of the sharks showed in the movie was a mako shark. This shark, also known as a shortfin or longfin mako shark depending on the subspecies, is a huge mackerel shark that lives in almost all of the world's oceans and seas. Shortfin sharks are known to dwell in tropical and temperate waters while longfin sharks prefer to live near gulf stream waters. 

Many mako sharks are known to dive deep, about 490 ft or 150 m from the water's surface. However, these sharks also have a tendency to stay near by the island shore or at coral reefs especially when hunting. 

Around the western parts of the Atlantic, these sharks can be seen in the Maxican Gulf ,Nova Scotia and Argentina. Up north in Canada, they are common but not abundant. It’s been observed that if there are many swordfish in one area of the ocean, you’re more than likely to find multiple mako sharks nearby. Swordfish more or less live in the same environmental conditions as  mako sharks and they are their natural prey.

Mako sharks are known to take long travels and swim rapidly when hunting. A female mako captured and tagged in California was recaptured in the Pacific after just a few days. It’s estimated that the mako shark can swim, at an average, over 58 km in a day.

Mako Sharks Video

 

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Dealing with a Neighbor’s Noisy Dog

By Langley Cornwell

Have you ever lived in a neighborhood where a nearby dog barks incessantly? Where relaxing chores like watering your garden or refilling your hummingbird feeder is interrupted by aggressive snarling, growling and barking? Where the neighbor’s dog rushes the fence when you walk by and you’re sure he would attack if there wasn’t a barrier? If you have, you know what a nuisance it is. But what would you do about it?

I posed the question to my friends and fellow animal lovers. The answers were thoughtful, helpful and sometimes silly but offer a variety of ways to deal with the problem. Here are some of the responses:

Diane at CANIDAE said: “I have problems with this all the time. My solution usually involves squirting water over the fence when the dog is barking. If I’m lucky I actually get the dog wet. Usually this stops the barking. Of course I try to make sure the owner isn’t home at the time I do this. LOL! After a while, the dog gets conditioned to stop barking when he hears me open the patio slider and only needs a “reminder” once in a while. Of course, this isn’t the best way to deal with the barking and it doesn’t work with small dogs because they are a smaller target.”

Many people report success with distractions including squirting water (like Diane), sounding an air horn or rattling a tin can full of pennies when the dog barks.

Another friend of mine, Charles, lives beside a barking dog. He says: “Our next door neighbor’s dogs bark a lot, but they are not aggressive. Because the neighbors are very nice people, we just tolerate it.”

Caren offers this response: “Depends on what kind of fence it is. If it is a chain link fence, I'd build my own privacy fence to run alongside it – so I wouldn't have to see the dog every day.”

My friend Juniper has memories of a childhood incident that influences how she would react today. “I'd talk to the neighbors about it in a personal and friendly manner. If it continued long after that and was significantly disrupting my life (waking up my family, threatening my daughter, etc.) I'd call animal control as a last resort.”

She goes on to explain, “When I was a kid, there was a free-roaming dog in my neighborhood that attacked two children and killed three other neighborhood dogs before someone finally demanded that the proper steps be taken. That wouldn’t be my first option, but I would call Animal Control if the dog was getting out of its fence, off its property, or appeared to pose an actual threat to anyone.”

Toni is in the process of working out a creative solution. “Talk to the neighbor! That’s what I did with my dog problems. My dogs and their dog had an ongoing fence battle and theirs jumped the fence between our yards and attacked my dogs on three different occasions. We talked, we made a plan, and we are now walking all the dogs together so they feel like one pack. If that doesn't solve the problem, we plan to take down part of my fence and add a gate, making it one yard instead of two.”

Rewarding desired behavior also seems to work. Jill says “We had a problem with the dogs that live next door. I solved the issue by calling the dogs over to the fence when they were not barking and giving them a few dog treats, like CANIDAE Snap-Biscuits. I’m careful to only give them the treat when they’re not barking. Now when they do bark, I open the door or window and say ‘No’ and they stop.”

A thoughtful response from Anna suggests this: “Ask the owner if you can walk the dog or spend time with him, because the dog may be barking out of boredom or loneliness. You could also ask the owner if you can provide the dog with toys to keep him busy and, hopefully, quiet.”

Every dog and every situation is different. The trick is figuring out what works with the dog and the neighbor. Have you ever been in this situation? What did you do?

Photo by Steve Baker

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Komondor Dog

Komondor Dog is a different type of Dog, it looks cute and very funny naturally. Females Komondor is 27 inches (69 centimeters) at the shrivels. Male Komondorok are the minimum of 28 inches at the withers, but the majority are more than 30 inches high, generating this particular one of the bigger typical types of dog. The body is not extremely rough or weighty, nevertheless, and people not familiar with the kind are usually amazed by how fast and nimble the dogs are. Check some of Komondor Dog funniest and cutest pictures-images given below, hope you would like and have fun.

 Komondor Dog

 Komondor Dog Funny Pic

 Funny Komondor Dog

 Komondor Dog Taking Rest

 Komondor Dog Funny Pic

 Komondor Dog With Baby Funny Pic

Komondor Dog

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Molly Fish

If you are still trying to master your fish-keeping skills, then start with an aquarium with a couple of molly fishes. These fishes are the ones you commonly see in aquariums, aside from goldfishes, and are the ones that used for feeding larger fish.

Due to their prolific breeding traits and growth, mollies are known to be a highly sought-after feeder fish. They are commonly placed in an aquarium to feed larger fishes like Arowanas. They swim in groups or schools, often with four or more pairs. 

Much like other tropical fishes, they prefer to be placed in a warmer tank. A water temperature of 80 degrees F will work nicely with them. They also need a high PH level, more or less about 8 PH, for the water. Many fish keepers would advise to place about a teaspoon or a teaspoon and a half of salt for every gallon of water in the tank. These fishes breed very rapidly, so expect your female mollies to get pregnant in no time.

Mollies give birth to their baby fishes directly, which means that they do not have to lay eggs as most fishes do. Most aquariums acutely sell pregnant mollies, so you will not have a hard time starting out. Pregnant mollies are identifiable with their giant, round abdomens. Remember to get your mollies in pairs so that they continue to breed after the female molly gives birth.

It’s very easy to identify if the molly is male or female. Female mollies have larger bellies compared to males and they are noticeably larger in size. They all have the same color, commonly a dark brown or copper brown. The tank needs to have plant material where the molly babies can feed on. 

 Molly Fish Video

 

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Molly Fish

If you are still trying to master your fish-keeping skills, then start with an aquarium with a couple of molly fishes. These fishes are the ones you commonly see in aquariums, aside from goldfishes, and are the ones that used for feeding larger fish.

Due to their prolific breeding traits and growth, mollies are known to be a highly sought-after feeder fish. They are commonly placed in an aquarium to feed larger fishes like Arowanas. They swim in groups or schools, often with four or more pairs. 

Much like other tropical fishes, they prefer to be placed in a warmer tank. A water temperature of 80 degrees F will work nicely with them. They also need a high PH level, more or less about 8 PH, for the water. Many fish keepers would advise to place about a teaspoon or a teaspoon and a half of salt for every gallon of water in the tank. These fishes breed very rapidly, so expect your female mollies to get pregnant in no time.

Mollies give birth to their baby fishes directly, which means that they do not have to lay eggs as most fishes do. Most aquariums acutely sell pregnant mollies, so you will not have a hard time starting out. Pregnant mollies are identifiable with their giant, round abdomens. Remember to get your mollies in pairs so that they continue to breed after the female molly gives birth.

It’s very easy to identify if the molly is male or female. Female mollies have larger bellies compared to males and they are noticeably larger in size. They all have the same color, commonly a dark brown or copper brown. The tank needs to have plant material where the molly babies can feed on. 

 Molly Fish Video

 

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The True Story of Rin Tin Tin

By Linda Cole

Rin Tin Tin is probably the most recognized and famous German Shepherd dog of all time. In the 112 year history of the breed, his bloodline is the oldest continuous line and has remained relatively unchanged over the years. Had it not been for a corporal in the United States Army during WW I, Rin Tin Tin most likely would have perished in France.

Rin Tin Tin was just five days old when he and his four siblings were found in a bombed out dog kennel outside of Lorraine, France. It was September 15, 1918; Corporal Lee Duncan and his battalion were walking through the area when he noticed the damaged dog kennel and convinced the others they should check it out. They found five pups and their mom alive in the kennel. They had survived an aerial bomb drop. Duncan picked a male and female from the litter. The three other pups and mom, Betty, were taken back to camp by the other soldiers, but sadly none of them survived.

Duncan named his pups Rin Tin Tin and Nannette after small French puppets called Rintintin and Nenette that were given to the soldiers by French children for good luck. Corporal Duncan was impressed with how the German war dogs performed, so he started working with Rin Tin Tin and Nannette to train them to perform just like the dogs he had seen. The German Kennel Master in charge of the kennel where the dogs were found had been captured by the Americans. Duncan went to visit him in the prison camp so he could learn more about the German Shepherd breed and Betty and her pups.

After the war, Duncan made arrangements to have his pups sail home with him aboard a ship on a 15 day trip to New York. During the voyage, Nanette came down with distemper. By the time the ship sailed into New York harbor, she was very sick and died before he could get her proper care. Duncan went on to his home in Los Angeles with Rin Tin Tin, the only survivor from the bombed out kennel.

1928 movie ad

Rin Tin Tin began his movie career in 1922. While at an unsanctioned Shepherd Dog Club of America show, he wowed the crowd with his ability to jump a fence 11 feet 9 inches. A man named Charles Jones paid Duncan $350 to shoot Rin Tin Tin in action with a new moving picture camera and afterwards, Duncan decided to pursue a movie career for his dog. Duncan knew his dog was talented. Convincing Hollywood, however, turned out to be challenging.

Rin Tin Tin got his big break after Duncan saw a film crew trying unsuccessfully to shoot a scene with a wolf. Duncan insisted his dog could do the scene in the first take and persisted until the crew gave him a chance to prove it. True to his word, Rin Tin Tin did the trick the first time, which impressed everyone. He was given the role in the 1923 silent movie “Man From Hell's River.” The movie was a hit and moviegoers fell in love with Rin Tin Tin. The studio that produced the film, Warner Brothers Pictures, was in dire straights financially. Rin Tin Tin is credited with saving the studio from financial disaster.

By 1926, Rin Tin Tin was one of Hollywood's biggest stars; he starred in 26 movies for the studio he saved, and earned $6,000 a week. He received 10,000 fan letters a week and ate tenderloin steak prepared by his own private chef. To help his digestion, classical music was played while he ate.

According to rumor, Rin Tin Tin received more votes in the first year of the Oscars than any other actor, but the Academy gave the award to a human to avoid being embarrassed. Warner Brothers referred to Rin Tin Tin as the mortgage lifter and fully understood their success was because of a dark grey German Shepherd born in a bombed out kennel during wartime. Rin Tin Tin provided sound effects for his own 1930 radio show called “The Wonder Dog.”

Rin Tin Tin died in the front yard of his home on August 10, 1932 at the age of 14, his head cradled in the lap of Jean Harlow. Harlow lived across the street from Duncan who had given her one of Rin Tin Tin's pups years earlier. Rin Tin Tin's body was returned to France and he was buried in the Cimetiere des Chiens, a famous pet cemetery in the Paris suburb of Asnieres-sur-Seine.

Some breeders claiming their German Shepherd dogs are direct descendants of Rin Tin Tin are not being truthful. There's only one breeder, Rin Tin Tin Incorporated. To protect the integrity of the lineage of Rin Tin Tin, their breeding program is a “closed program.” Anyone buying a pup enters into a non breeding agreement and their pups must be spayed or neutered. The Rin Tin Tin line is not related in any way to Shiloh Shepherds.

It was Rin Tin Tin II who starred in the 1954-1959 TV series “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.” There have been several books written about the story of Rin Tin Tin, including an “official” biography and an unauthorized one. Many of Rin Tin Tin’s old movies are available on Amazon.

Photos courtesy of rintintin.com

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Discus Fish

Many movies and books have featured the wild life found of the Amazon River, usually portraying them as terrifying man-eaters (think anacondas, alligators and piranhas). However, the number of harmless fauna that inhabits the Amazon far exceeds the number of those that pose some degree of harm.  One such animal would be a very common fish that lives in these waters known as the discus fish. The discus fish is a very colorful flat fish that many fish lovers and aquarium enthusiasts have taken a special liking to.

There are originally three species of discus fish, the Common discus, Symphysodon tarzoo and  Heckel discus. However, recent research suggested that this genus holds these species, the green discus or s. aequifasciatus, the brown/blue/common discus or s. haraldi  and the heckel discus or s. discus. There have been other proposed subspecies, but these individuals were more on exceptions than separate species of their own.

Discus fish can grow to about 20 to 25 cm in diameter and come in a staggering array of colors. As such, many consider these fish to be the crème de la crème of tropical fish, having the ability to add color and life to any aquarium tank.

As juveniles, they tend to eat a lot and become wild when fed. They change their eating habits as they mature and take their time when eating. They are very graceful fish but are very easily frightened, swimming for cover the moment they feel threatened.

Both parents usually care for baby discus fish, which is uncommon amongst tropical fish. Mother and father discus fish take turns in watching over their fry and feeding them. When taking care of discus fish in an aquarium, you will need to place in a little investment in making sure that you provide your discus fish the right environment to grow in.

Discus fishes need water with a low PH level, so you will need to “soften” the water before using it in the tank. In addition, make sure you place plant matter to mimic their natural environment in the Amazon. You might also need something to make sure the water in the aquarium is not too hot or too cold.

 Discus Fish Video

 

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Discus Fish

Many movies and books have featured the wild life found of the Amazon River, usually portraying them as terrifying man-eaters (think anacondas, alligators and piranhas). However, the number of harmless fauna that inhabits the Amazon far exceeds the number of those that pose some degree of harm.  One such animal would be a very common fish that lives in these waters known as the discus fish. The discus fish is a very colorful flat fish that many fish lovers and aquarium enthusiasts have taken a special liking to.

There are originally three species of discus fish, the Common discus, Symphysodon tarzoo and  Heckel discus. However, recent research suggested that this genus holds these species, the green discus or s. aequifasciatus, the brown/blue/common discus or s. haraldi  and the heckel discus or s. discus. There have been other proposed subspecies, but these individuals were more on exceptions than separate species of their own.

Discus fish can grow to about 20 to 25 cm in diameter and come in a staggering array of colors. As such, many consider these fish to be the crème de la crème of tropical fish, having the ability to add color and life to any aquarium tank.

As juveniles, they tend to eat a lot and become wild when fed. They change their eating habits as they mature and take their time when eating. They are very graceful fish but are very easily frightened, swimming for cover the moment they feel threatened.

Both parents usually care for baby discus fish, which is uncommon amongst tropical fish. Mother and father discus fish take turns in watching over their fry and feeding them. When taking care of discus fish in an aquarium, you will need to place in a little investment in making sure that you provide your discus fish the right environment to grow in.

Discus fishes need water with a low PH level, so you will need to “soften” the water before using it in the tank. In addition, make sure you place plant matter to mimic their natural environment in the Amazon. You might also need something to make sure the water in the aquarium is not too hot or too cold.

 Discus Fish Video

 

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How to Succeed at Treat Training with Your Dog

By Tamara McRill

Have you been trying to positively reinforce good behavior in your dog by treat training, but it just isn't working? The problem could be in your technique. Simply giving your pet a bit of food without these best practices could be just a waste of both your time. I know, because I've been there and had to refine my technique.

Eliminating these common treat training mistakes from your routine will help you get your dog sitting pretty.

1. Sub-Par Treats

Dogs may have a reputation for eating any and everything, but any old treat may not be enough to motivate them to pay attention. My three dogs each have treats they just don't like. Dusty won't take anything that isn't meaty. Although most treats for training purposes should ideally come from your pet's daily food allowance, make sure what you are using as a lure or reward is actually a dog treat your pet desires. Otherwise there is no incentive for them to complete a desired action.

2. You Don't Mix It Up Enough

That's not to say you should be giving your dog his favorite snacks every time—you shouldn't. It's best to try and alternate treats so your pet isn't sure when her favorite will appear. My dogs love to be rewarded with CANIDAE Snap Biscuits, but I use a variety of treats so they stay focused on the task and don't get bored. In addition to the Snap Biscuits, CANIDAE also offers Snap-Bits and TidNips in three different flavors, so I have a lot of great options!

3. Lack of Praise

Every time you reward your pet with a treat, you should also positively reinforce the reward with genuine praise. This does double-duty by further establishing that they are doing good and placing a higher value on your praise, as it will be associated with a food reward. Soon enough, you'll be able to sometimes substitute praise as a reward, instead of a treat.

4. Always Using Food

It can be shocking, but sometimes your dog just isn't hungry. So, along with treats and praise, be sure to mix in some play and petting as rewards. This way your pet is still eager to please when they are full, because it could be some other happy action they receive.

5. Treat is Always Visible

Keeping food in sight as a lure is fine at the beginning steps of training, but it should be hidden once you move on to rewarding after good behavior. Always having a treat in hand while teaching your dog tricks, can erroneously give your pet the impression that the treat itself is the signal to do something, instead of the actual command.

6. Rewarding No Matter What

Guilty. Even when they refuse to do what is asked of them, my dogs can still sometimes score a tasty morsel. It has something to do with those beguiling doggy eyes and cute antics. It's just easier to toss them the treat, instead of look at their sad faces when I put it back. Of course that negates any progress made in training, because they think they'll get the snack no matter what they do.

7. Inconsistency

Not being consistent in your training is begging for failure. On your part, that is. Your pet can't be expected to remember and follow cues that are sometimes rewarded (even if it is just praise) and sometimes not.

Have you had success treat-training your dog?

Photo by Audreyjm529

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AnglerFish

The ocean is a giant body of water filled with mysteries still waiting to be discovered. There are millions of species of fish that look very scary to humans. In the movie Finding Nemo, Marlin and Dory end up swimming in the dark and encounter one of the strangest looking fish in the ocean, an anglerfish. 

Anglerfishes are part of the order Lophiiformes. These fishes are boney and are named after the way they catch their prey. They use a thin fleshy growth, found on their heads, as a lure, in a method that’s very similar to angling, or even fishing. 

Anglerfish subspecies have different habitats. Some are pelagic, or they dwell in open water, while some are benthic or bottom-dwelling. Others live in deep seas and trenches and some are found on continental reefs and shelves. They are found all over the world and are even considered as a delicacy in some areas.

Anglerfishes usually have one long thread-like growth on the middle of their heads. This is called the illicium and is actually the first three bones of their spines. The filament starts to grow above the eyes and can be moved in different directions. It contains an irregular flesh growth, called the esca, at the tip. The fish uses this by wiggling it around and catching the attention of its prey, as it resembles a worm that the smaller fishes try to catch. Once the smaller fish gets close enough, the angler then jumps up and eats its prey.

Many exotic pet owners have taken a liking to keeping angle fishes as pets. Since they are salt-water fishes, a special solution is needed to ensure the water stays at the right salt and PH levels. 

Angler Fish Video

 

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