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What Are The Characteristics Of Collies?
Collies were initially bred
to herd sheep. The AKC classifies
the Collie among the Herding Group.
This breed
is graceful
and has plenty of endurance.
They weigh between 55
to 80 pounds
and stand from 22 to 26 inches tall. Whether brown or blue in color, their almond shaped eyes appear to gleam with intelligence. The prick ears of the
Collie give it the appearance of always
being alert. They can be smooth or
rough coated. the rough coat of
a Collie
is fuller and longer
than a smooth
coated Collie. The Collie comes in white, sable, tricolor or blue merle colors.
They are
very active and
have a protective instinct which makes this breed an excellent family dog. The Collie takes its duties as a watchdog very seriously. He barks at
all intruders, whether people, animals or pieces of trash
that is blowing around in the yard. Not all Collies are diligent protectors. Some of these dogs can be nervous and very high strung. Most of them are wonderful with children, however. A Collie loves to spend time outside and therefore would not be a good choice
for apartment living.
The Collie can be headstrong and can get into a
lot of
mischief while a puppy. It is recommended that you
attend obedience training with
your Collie. It is easier to train a puppy that hasnt developed bad habits than an
older dog. It is important to be firm with your Collie
if you dont want him
on your furniture. If allowed on your furniture
he will feel he has the right to be there.
The Collie has
minimal health problems. PRA and
eye diseases are the most common problems for these dogs.
Your Collie is much more likely to be taken to the veterinarian
because he has injured himself while jumping around and exploring his surroundings than for a health problem.
Collies have a
tendency to overeat and can pack away a lot of
food. It is recommended that they be given three small meals each day. If he develops a bulging middle, speak with your veterinarian about possible dog
foods that promote weight loss.
Collies do not require
extensive grooming, but you want to brush through their coats several times a week to avoid matting.
Pay attention to the hair around his face, around his legs and behind the ears.
If youre looking for an intelligent family dog, one that will protect your family and play with your kids, then the Collie is the
perfect pet for you.
George Adams is a
staff writer at
http://www.pets-digest.com and is an
occasional contributor to several other websites, including
http://www.recreation-digest.com.
Herbs For Your Dog
Herbology, basically,
is the use of herbs
in the treatment
of many types
of illness. Herein
the emphasis
of treatment is based strongly on the
specific use of herbal roots, flowers
and leaves to stimulate the healing process. Keep
in mind that these herbs
are not
a form of drug(as in man-made forms, such as
aspirin) but are strictly
natural in content. Practiced
for centuries, herbology is
probably one of the
most primitive
and fundamental uses of specific remedies to
treat various illnesses, known today.
How, though, does the knowledge of herbal
alternatives tie in
with owning
an animal? Think about it for a moment. What
do wild animals, or even your pets, typically do when they are not feeling up to par? Most instinctively seek out appropriate herbs when they are
sick. How many times
have you witnessed your dog eating grasses?
Many man-made drugs are simply compounds based upon active principles found in many herbs.
One simple example could be caffeine found in coffee. Herbalists differ from most traditional medicinal methods at this point however. Herbalists
believe in the use of the entire substance- not in simply the use of one part. They believe the whole is
much greater than the sum of one or
more parts.
Basically, herbs work much slower than traditional
medicines(t.m.s) though they do many
things t.m.s dont- such as detoxify the body, stimulate movement of the
bowels or urination, and add vitamins and minerals to the patients system which are already greatly needed.
Herbal remedies have also been used to treat animals over the
centuries for such
illnesses as arthritis, worms, diarrhea/constipation, diabetes, epilepsy, mange and cataracts, among others. Juliette de Bairacli-Levy is an author who
emphasizes the use of herbs in the treatment of many ailments in connection with pets. She also emphasizes the importance of freshly gathered herbs, natural diet and fasting.
Probably the biggest drawback to herbal therapy
would be the amount which
must be administered, the very frequent intervals of administration and the extended periods of
time over which administration must occur. Additionally, many herbs do not taste
good in their natural state and must be
disguised in food. Still, if you are willing to carry out a complete program, administering medications at their proper intervals, herbal alternatives are very effective in treating and curing many types of ailments. For more information concerning herbs and their uses, contact your nearest herbalist or herbal store.
Article written and reprinted with
permission of:
http://www.pedigreedpups.com/Purebred Dogs, Puppies and Dog Breeders - "Your New Best Friend"
Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.
Debbie Ray, owner of
http://www.pedigreedpups.com and
http://www.total-german-shepherd.com, is a lifelong animal lover and dog enthusiast. Interested in more dog information?
Training and health tips? Thinking about getting a purebred dog? Interested in the German Shepherd Dog in particular?
Need to promote your dog related website and get additional in bound links?
Check out pedigreedpups.com , total-german-shepherd.com or
http://www.pedigreeddogs.com (purebred dog breed directory) for more information.
A Rangers Fan's View
Many people will have seen
the Rangers fans. You cannot miss them,
they travel
in large groups,
they are noisy
and yes they like
a drink. But what makes
a real Rangers fan? I think I have found one. He
has a blog
and uses it
to publish to
the world his love
for his club.
Why
write an article about
this guy I hear you ask? Well simple, this is a real fan
who reflects
the average Rangers supporter. Maybe he does not come
with the drunken caveman image that often comes with
supporters of this
club, but is this image the whole truth? Take a look on this blog and judge for yourself.
http://www.fallowfallow.blogspot.com/The article might lack the
polished prose of those in the usual websites but they are honest and I believe
reflect the
true nature of Rangers fans. Maybe he does not write with
great insight and does not have a deep
understanding of
football tactics, but the insight is to be taken by the reader from the articles.
A simple man with simple knowledge and reflects, in my opion, the average Rangers fan. Just a bunch of guys ith a simple love for
their club.
Currently Rangers are
being investigated for their
fans sectarian behaviour and their recent reaction to a player blessing himself during a match did not reflect
well on the club. Yes
there are some
fans who belong in the middle ages but this guy shows that there are fans with only the club and the
sport on their mind. These guys are the blood and soul of football (soccer in the USA).
His
articles do not simple
praise the club and follow the hype, he asks questions of the manager and his decisions, especially when it comes to their midfield player,
Buffel. A player he has a very close affection for.
I admire the simple nature of this fans and his
ilk. Don't expect to learn about soccer tactics
or to be drowned in the more radical
views of other blogs and websites. Just read the
articles and get to know a simple fan with simple views.
Billy Blue is just the average Rangers fan. He cares about his club, in fact it is his life, nothing else matters. He uses the internet to get across his team and
its ethos.