Misrelate

This has been one of the most rewarding adventures I have ever volunteered to do.
First, let me tell you just a little bit about my two dogs, a short little Bio on each. There are pictures on my dog therapy page. <www.mimfreedom.com/dogtherapy.htm>
Benny, my black lab, is about 5 years old now. (I never seem to remember exactly how old he is.) Benny is a wonderful dog (even though he likes to steal my pillows). He loves visiting our friends in the home. Clearly, this is where he loves to be.
Then there is Nikki, my 2 year golden puppy. Nikki is a typical 2 year golden. She is full of life. She keeps me hopping. And, just like Benny, she brings pure gold to our friends.

It has been an extremely busy summer so far. Unfortunately, with work demanding more and more of my time, and with home issues demanding more and more of my time, my volunteering has lapsed this summer. This has created a void in me.

The one thing I have learned about this situation is how much I love the dog therapy visiting programs.

Benny has been a visiting dog for a number of years now. We have always gone to the same home, so we have made many wonderful friends.

Well, after my “sabbatical” I went and took Benny to see our senior friends last Saturday Night. This was an unscheduled visit. I could have cried. They were so very happy to see him again (not me so much). We had a “Benny” party in the lobby.

What a wonderful time my Benny had. Of course! Everyone was petting him, and talking to him. Wow, he was being treated like royalty. A true friend come home.

It was just great to see this joy. We all talked and laughed and joked. Everyone talked about their summer, how they were doing, what was going on in their own world. I felt better then I had for a long time. My new resolve is to go back to my weekly visits. I do not want to miss out on these opportunities anymore.

So, my advice, as always is: If you have the inclination to visit with seniors, if you have a dog that loves to be petted, a dog that loves the human touch, then please go to your local Dog Therapy Group and find out how you can join this wonderful work. It is not difficult to get your dog certified.

The three most well known organizations that offer certification; Delta Society, Therapy Dog International and Therapy Dogs, Inc.
There are other therapy organizations and you may find an organization in your area via the internet under dog therapy, pet therapy or animal assisted therapy.
And, for us Canadians, there is, Therapeutic Paws of Canada (my dogs belong to this wonderful group). They offer a volunteer based therapy dog and cat visitation program for senior’s facilities such as retirement homes, nursing homes, Alzheimer day away centers, hospitals and where there is a need. The medical establishment has long recognized the significant benefits of a therapy dog and cat program. The petting and stroking of a pet helps to calm the most agitated resident and stimulates wonderful conversations about the pet they once owned. Recovery from surgery is quoted as being accelerated when there is continued contact with a pet.
As a result of the many government fiscal cutbacks, the facility’s staff is stretched to their limits. The positive impact of our programme on the day-to-day life of each senior throughout our community and beyond cannot be calculated.
There are more links on my personal dog therapy page:

About the Author

My name is Ruth Bird, and I am the owner of 3 dogs, 2 are Registered Therapy Visiting Dogs, my third dog is blind. My passions are health for people and pets and promoting a happy, healthy and wealthy lifestyle.

Comments Off

Keeping a fish tank is a wonderful and relaxing hobby, but it can turn stressful if your fish start to die off. The most common cause of fish disease is poor water quality so it is vital that you perform regular maintenance on the tank, making sure you do a partial water change periodically and clean out any waste or uneaten food so it does not decay and poison the water.

Many fish disease can be halted if you provide treatment as soon as you see any signs of your fish being sick. Therefore, it is important that you monitor your fish each day to see if there are any signs of illness.

Some common symptoms of disease are listed below.

White dots - sometimes fuzzy looking, almost like grains of salt on your fish. This disease is called Ichthyophthirius), or simply Ich. It is a rather common disease and is caused by poor water quality or can effect your fish when it’s immune system is not functioning up to par due to stress. It can be treated easily if you catch it in time. There is a special solution you can buy at the pet store to medicate your tank and, hopefully, get rid of this problem.

Gray patches on the skin, looks cottony and can be around the gills. This is a fungus also caused by excess fish waste and food decaying in the bottom of the tank. You can buy treatment for it and it should clear up easily unless you have let it go too far. In the future remember to clean the tank each week so you do not have a reoccurrence.

If your fish seem like they are gasping for air, this could be simply due to lack of oxygen in the water and not necessarily a disease. You could add an airstone to see if that helps the problem. Make sure you do not overcrowd the tank with too many fish.

If you see your fish scraping itself agains the bottom of the tank or the decorations, it’s possible that he has a parasite called Flukes. These attack the gills and skin and are rather difficult to get rid of once your tank is infected. Again, poor water quality will make this much worse. They do sell medication for the tank and you may be able to clear it up if you treat the tank at the first sign of trouble.

Rotting fins are sometimes seen if the fish is under stress and also if the water quality is substandard. It is a bacteria that is attacking the fins and you must treat the tank at the first sign of this problem. If possible, isolate the affected fish to another tank to prevent the bacteria from spreading.

To insure that you always have healthy fish, you should keep the tank clean and religiously perform partial water changes. This will not only keep your fish happy but will make for a better looking tank as well!

About the Author

Lee Dobbins is a pet lover and owner of http://www.fish-tank-guide.com where you can learn to setup your freshwater aquarium. Find out more about fish disease at http://www.fish-tank-guide.com/fish-disease.html

Comments Off

Dog Travel Supplies

Buy dog travel supplies online

The shopping part along for dog travel supplies is amusing for sure. The trinkets, toys and accessories for pet product travel are a blast. Grab your favorite drink, your mouse and grease up that shopping finger and off we go to review those dog travel supplies.

We found, while shopping for Charlie pet harnesses that combine safety with convenience. The step-in padded harness is easy to fasten to your best pet friend and can also be used as a walking harness. The strap plugs into the car’s seat belt buckle receptacle. It’s recommend that for all pet travel you harness your doggie while driving for the protection of passengers and your little best pet friend.

Then add a nice durable car seat cover to protect your upholstery and everyone’s a happy camper. These covers fit most vans, trucks, SUV’s and cars with bench or fold-down seats. The outer shell is 100% polyester with a layer of foam for cushion and comfort. One side is a tan, soft pile and reversible to a durable gray polyester weave. Easy to care for, simply hand wash with a mild detergent soap and line dry. Measures 48″x 60″.

Tip: Vehicle barriers and harnesses should always be used when traveling with your dog in a car, van or SUV. They not only protect your dog, but you and your passengers as well.

Pet barriers will fit either your Car, Van or Suv. Vehicle barriers should always be used when traveling with your doggie in the car, van or SUV. They not only protect your best pet friend, but you and your passengers as well. The different styles of pet barriers will allow you to fill your needs. There are barriers for small cars, mini and full size vans and SUV’s.

We also needed a pet ramp and found training Charlie to use it was pretty simple:
Charlie adapted to the ramp easily but we’ve been told that some of our doggies don’t, we suggest you put the ramp flat on the ground & walk your pet friend over it (a reward placed on the ramp also helps or you might try feeding him on the ramp once or twice). When you raise the ramp, your pets favorite treat placed towards the top of the ramp also works the first time.

We had fun snooping around for dog travel supplies. Our pets always have softened our hearts, put smiles on our faces and even released stress as our minds went shopping for our family’s best pet friend. Sit back, relax and enjoy yourself after-all think of all the joy those lovable pets of ours bring into our lives.

About the Author

More dog goodies and information can be found at www.dog-stuff4u.com

Comments Off

Many a gamer has asked me “Why should I gain from a Full Tilt Poker rakeback? I only play at poker websites when I have a bonus to clear.” What if you resolve to take card playing up professionally? There are numerous gamers who kick themselves for overlooking Full Tilt Poker rakeback however today they have opted in for all the major poker rooms. Don’t make the same mistake.

If you are a gamer that stakes below $1/$2 and just bets if you are clearing bonuses, you should be taking usually around one hundred percent rake back for the bonus payment on the bet. A certain leading website recently closed accounts of poker players who employed the web site entirely to bet like this. It’s anyone’s guess whether this might initiate a new trend. Should this materialise then a poker rakeback is an essential.

One day you may just find your best game and grow very successful, that is if you are not already. I was hurt in an on the job accident then poker came along during my recovery, I have never had any regrets. That happened the best part of two years ago now however I haven’t needed to work since thanks to internet gambling and of course rake back. Planning beforehand is always a great plan. Consider it an investment for tomorrow, even if you do not suppose Full Tilt Poker rake back is suitable for you today it might become a great investment before long, there is no danger involved. If you are thinking about signing up for a new poker rooms you must sign up for rake back deals.

Rakeback Professionals is glad to be associated with so many ethical affiliates. Opting in is as effortless as visiting a The gamblers’ interest association Rakeback Professionals affiliated internet site or even as simple as sending an e-mail. Every associate can easily get anyone started at once. You will be ready to start playing straight away. Should you sign up with an affiliate through Rakeback Professionals you can always rest easy as every single affiliate will have been checked out and in addition agrees to allow The online poker players’ help site Rakeback Professionals to arbitrate any dispute which might occur. Granted that we investigate every one of our affiliates, we have had hardly any problems and we always move right away to get to the cause of each concern to protect any betters.

Full Tilt Poker Rakeback

Comments Off

Your dog’s mental health is just as important as their physical health. Keeping your dog happy and healthy is your main goal. Keeping your dog healthy also includes his mental well being. We will be talking about a few of the mental problems that your dog can have and ways to help your dog with his mental health.

Do dogs get depressed?

Of course, dogs get depressed. They go through bouts of depression and you will notice your dog moping about and not wanting to play, only drinking small amounts of water, and you may even notice them losing a lot of weight. You want your dog’s mental health to be good, but how can you tell what is causing this depression?

After you have ruled out a physical aliment by taking your dog to the vet; now you can look around and see what may be causing this change in your dog’s attitude and help get your dog’s mental health back on track.

Grief can cause depression in dogs just as it can in the human race. Has your dog lost a playmate recently? Maybe a dog down the street has moved away. Or maybe the child in your family has gone off to college. Your dog longs for that companionship and now it is gone. If you have moved or have left your dog in the care of others while you were on vacation this can also be the root of your dog’s depression. Start helping your dog enjoy life again. Give him extra attention and love. If he has lost his doggy playmate, take him to the park or to the doggie daycare so he can play with other dogs and maybe make a
new friend that will help him over this depression. This may just pull him out of his depression.

Depression untreated can lead to more serious physical problems that you are sure to want to avoid. If you can not seem to bring the zing back into your dog’s life you may want to ask your vet for some anti-depression medicine.

Anxiety is probably one of the most common mental disorders in dogs all over the world. It is your responsibility to notice when your dog is stressed and what causes his stress and to keep him out of these types of situations for his protection or to help him overcome his
anxieties.

The different signs of anxiety and stress are excessive drooling, whining, panting, moaning, shivering, or reluctance to move.

The different types of anxieties and how to know them:

Separation Anxiety

This is probably the most common anxiety in dogs. Your dog will be soiling the floor, chewing up furniture, and their barking or howling can be heard clear down the block are sure signs of separation anxiety.

Noise Anxiety

Noise Anxiety is a problem for thousands of types of animals. Dogs that are afraid of loud noises often run to hide, but because of their fear they do not pay attention and may endanger themselves by running into oncoming traffic, etc.

Social Anxiety

This anxious behavior is seen in dogs that as puppies were never around other dogs or a lot of people. This can be seen when your dog is around others if he tries to cower in a corner to hide. He is feeling overwhelmed by his surroundings and all the commotion from the other dogs or extra people.

These are just some of the problems that your dog may have. Remember to pay attention to your dog; he is your friend and companion. He needs your protection as well as your love.

http://www.dog-pictures.co.uk/dog-supplements/dog-mental-health.shtml
Visit http://www.dog-pictures.co.uk/ for all you and your dogs pet supply & dog breed info!

About the Author

http://www.dog-pictures.co.uk/ A dog lovers website with plenty of dog breed information and pictures.
http://www.dog-pictures.co.uk/dog-supplements/ provides dog supplements and dog health care information.

Comments Off

Search engines will be a way for you to generate from as little as 20% to as much as 60% of your business online (depending on what other marketing techniques you use). Since there are over 130,000,000 webpages in existence (yes that is 130 million!), it is extremely important to understand how they work and how to increase your chances of being placed in the top 20 of the search results. For example, if you were to type “music” and “CD” into the AltaVista search engine as a keyword the result would be over 1,000,000 related site URLs.
Search engines are a very powerful tool if you are in the top 50 results (preferably the top 20), but are completely useless if you are listed further down. You can bet that if you are further down than the 50th result, the searchee will not even see your site listing, much less be able to visit it.
As we all know, the beauty of search engines is that they can bring you a large amount of targeted traffic and it will not cost you a cent!
It is crucial you understand the basics of how search engines work if you want to get traffic to your site from them. There are three main types of search engines/directories. The first is a directory (sometimes called a category database). This is not a true search engine, but a listing of webpages by category. Many directories allow you to enter in the description and keywords for your site exactly as you would like them to appear. You usually have to select the category you want it cited under, too.
A directory will not list your URL and will never become aware of your site if you do not register with them. They do not make use of “indexing software” (robots that crawl the web looking for new sites and indexing them). An example of a directory is Yahoo.
Search engines (also called crawlers, spiders, robots, and worms) vary to a large degree. They will automatically index your site using “indexing software” or “indexing robots”.
Depending on the complexity of the software, here is what different search engines might do:
1.Index the webpage (not the entire “website”) you give them.
2.Index every word of every page at that site.
3.Visit external links to crawl through the web looking for any new sites 24 hours a day, 7 days a week going from URL to URL until they have visited every website that can be found on the Internet.
By simply telling the search engine what your URL is, its software robot will go there automatically and index everything they need. Every search engine has different criteria for returning search results which makes a difference on how you want to submit your site as it can drastically effect your ranking in search engines (we discuss this quite extensively in the course, but it takes up over 30 pages, so we will skip it in this newsletter).
It is important to realize that many search engines change their algorithms on a regular basis (i.e. weekly, monthly, etc.) - if you’re listed prominently today, that may no be true tomorrow.
There are also META search engines. These perform searches on multiple search engines simultaneously. In this instance, your ranking for the keywords inputted is calculated by the combined ranking of all the search engines simultaneously used. The key to getting ranked high is to make sure you’re listed in all the search engines used by the META search engines (They use: OpenText, Lycos, WebCrawler, InfoSeek , Excite, AltaVista, Yahoo, HotBot, and Einet Galaxy).
It is not necessary to submit your site to META search engines since they use the results of the major search engines (not their own).
I hope this helps in your future marketing decisions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Bell is Manager, Online Marketing, at http://www.wspromotion.com/ , a leading Search Engine Optimization services firm and Advertising Agency.

Comments Off

Declawing Your Cat

This is a very controversial topic which has a lot of emotion behind but it needs to be looked at. As a cat owner who has experienced difficulty dealing with the cat scratching issue in my home it is difficult not to be biased but let’s give the issue of declawing its due and see what exactly the pros and cons are.

There are 2 types of surgical procedures which are commonly done to eradicate this problem. One involves cutting the tendon that attaches the claw to the bone in a cats foot. The claw stays intact but the cat can’t use it at all because it is no longer attached to the tendon that works it.

The second procedure employs the use of a laser for cutting. This procedure removes the lateral attachment. The claw is then removed.

Proponents of both these procedures claim there is minimal blood loss and discomfort. They also state that most cats are up running around in no time after the surgery. Great!

However, what they fail to mention is that both procedures are invasive (any surgical procedure is), both require general anethestic, and both can result in complications especially for older cats. The second procedure is quite plainly amputation. They also fail to mention what many people have stated - that post-surgery their cat developed a biting problem that was not prevelant prior to the surgery. What I have read also doesn’t account for the many reports of people’s cats undergoing drastic behavior changes afterwards.

One such advocate I read about stated that “there will be medical reasons and other circumstances where this procedure will be necessary.” But it fails to cite any of those reasons.

For me at least, it all comes back to the question - “How would you like to have part of the anatomy God gave you amputated?” For me, there is only one “pro” After declawing, no matter what procedure you opt to have done, your cat will no longer be able to claw your furniture and carpets. The “cons” however, are still stacked against this and they are many!

We had a terrible experience with our cat Milo, when he recently developed a lower urinary tract infection and had to be admitted to stay 2 nights in a local vet clinic while he underwent surgery and monitoring for this common cat health problem. After seeing how terrified he was at the clinic and then worrying whether he would live or not because he refused to eat anything for a week after we got him home and had to be forcibly fed water to keep him hydrated, we simply could not bring ourselves to consider the idea of declawing no matter how stressful his clawing behavior was.

Milo is part of our family. God gave him all the parts he has for a reason and declawing to us is tantamount to saying he is less important than any other member of our family; something that we couldn’t bring ourselves to think.

Pets count on us to look after their best interests. When we take on the responsibility of owning a pet we make what should be a statement of promise to protect them, nuture them and ensure that they are looked after. If you are considering declawing as a way to deal with your cats clawing behavior, I would urge you to please try some less invasive methods first before you resort to such a drastic measure. Why risk potential side-effects and the trauma that can accompany any surgical procedure if there are clearly other, less invasive ways of dealing with this problem?

About the Author

Brad Knell is the webmaster at http://www.stopcatscratching.com and several other websites designed to help people solve their pet problems.

Comments Off

So you’re buying a Rottweiler puppy? Here are some general tips to help you choose a healthy, happy Rottweiler puppy.

Note: These are only general tips to help you choose - especially for first-time owners. (There are always exceptions to the rule and I believe every Rottweiler should be given a chance to show that he/she can be a well-adjusted, happy dog.)

#1) Choose one that approaches you or doesn’t shy away when you approach.

Don’t choose one that seems overly fearful or aggressive. Don’t choose one that shrinks back when you come near it or nips your hand. Choose one that seems friendly, lets you hold him/her and handle him/her.

When we went to choose our first Rottweiler puppy, I was convinced that I wanted a female Rotti. When we got to the breeder’s home there were 3 females and 1 male puppy available.

All of the females however, shrank back when I put my hand near them. The male puppy walked right up to my hand and began to happily chew on my diamond engagement ring. I fell in love on the spot and have never since regretted choosing my male Rotti.

#2) Insist on meeting the parents if possible.

Meet the parents first and observe their behavior before getting attached to a puppy. Do they seem friendly, well behaved, easy to touch and get along with?

If the parents are well adjusted chances are high that the puppies will turn out the same way with proper training.

#3) Ask the breeder how many times the mother has had puppies.

The general rule seems to be that a female rottweiler should have at most only 3 litters in her lifetime for optimal breeding results. And, as our breeder told us, it’s also best that she is given adequate time to recover after having a litter, before she is bred again.

If she is being overbred, you might run into some problems, health wise and behavior wise with your Rottweiler.

#4) Examine the back legs.

Rottweilers - and large dogs in general - can have problems with their back hips (hip dysplasia). Hip problems can be extremely costly to fix and heart-breaking, both to the dog and to you.

To find a dog that is less likely to have these problems, examine their back legs. The legs should not be grossly turned out (or in) but for the most part, face forward. (Again, this is a general rule)

Also, ask the breeder about the parents. Do either of them have a history of hip dysplasia? Since experts say hip dysplasia is hereditary this will give you a good idea of whether the puppy you are looking at will run into these types of problems later on in life.

#5 Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Most reputable breeders will be helpful, eager to answer your questions and know many of the above facts already (without you telling them). They will allow you to ask questions and (if possible) meet the parents to assess their traits.

They will not be pushy (if any breeder is pushing you to buy their dogs, ALWAYS be suspicious) and may even be a bit cautious about allowing YOU to take one of their precious puppies!

Ask the breeder about any health problems in general in the parents or in the breeding line, not just in regards to hip dysplasia. Heart problems? Cancer? Temperament problems? Don’t be afraid to ask.

#6 Keep An Open Mind

When we went to purchase our rottweiler puppy, the breeder was - to the human eye - slightly eccentric. He was more of a dog-person than a people person and we were a little thrown off by his appearance and the state of his home in general.

But he loved his dogs.

And it was plain that he knew more about rottweiler breeding and training than most rotti owners put together. Once we got over our initial reaction and saw the way he treated his Rottweilers and the puppies, we knew that we wouldn’t have any problem with our chosen sweetie.

Make sure you keep an open mind when choosing a puppy. You might walk into something you don’t expect but you also might find the best companion you’ll ever have!

Those are 6 tips to keep in mind when choosing a Rottweiler puppy. Good luck and remember - although they are cute now, Rottweilers grow up to be VERY large dogs. You absolutely MUST start a good training program with them while they are small (and controllable).

It will save you a lot of time, trouble and stress.

Good luck and have fun!

About the Author

Kathryn O’Neill is a Rottweiler lover, owner and chief editor for Rottweiler Training.

For more tips and information about training your Rottweiler, check out Rottweiler Training at:

http://www.rottweilertraining.homestead.com

Comments Off

If you don’t want to see your Pitbull put to sleep or even shot, please read this article.

I’m sure you’re aware of the bad reputation Pitbulls have. That reputation is mostly based on ignorance and irresponsible owners that don’t take the time to learn about the breeds special needs.

You see, alot of people buy a Pitbull and expect it to naturally turn into a perfect pet without any work on their part. That’s exactly why you hear so much about Pitbull attacks in the news… Irresponsible and Uninformed Owners(as well as neglect and abuse in many human attack cases).

As a well known Pitbull expert, I receive up to 40 emails a day from normal people all over the world. Most of the emails are from people that are desperate for help with their Pitbull.

Unfortunately I don’t have time to answer every email I get, but I often spend as much as 5 hours in a day answering as many as possible. It’s because of this fact that I wrote The Pitbull Guide. The goal of my book is to help people before they get into a bad situation that requires them to give their Pitbull away, or put it to sleep.

You wouldn’t believe some of the emails I get(It’s depressing sometimes)… These are some of the common types of email messages I get:

Emails from People that believe you have to physically beat the heck out of Pitbulls to get them to behave. This is incredibly stupid because it leads to them being more aggressive toward strangers and terrified of their owner.

Emails from People that are upset that their Pitbull might be put to sleep or taken away because of an animal or human attack. It should never get to this, there are several simple things you can do to seriously reduce the risk of your Pitbull ever attacking.

I’ve even received quite a few emails from upset owners that had their Pitbull SHOT by a neighbor or Police Officer, simply because it was roaming, or because it attacked another dog. Pitbulls were bred as fighting dogs and if you don’t take the necessary steps to prevent it, there’s a very good chance your Pitbull WILL attack another animal, and it will almost certainly maim or kill that animal.

Don’t get me wrong, Pitbulls are not human aggressive by nature. However, there is a huge demand for Big, Mean, Aggressive Pitbulls by people that shouldn’t be allowed to own any animal. Because of this demand, people have started breeding Pitbulls with bigger and more aggressive breeds. They still call it a Pitbull but it’s behavior is far from it.

I know alot about Pitbulls, and due to the amount of email I’ve received, I’m possibly the leading expert in the world on the problems people have with them. Most of the problems can be solved or prevented very easily if you just learn and use some simple techniques.

I want you to ask your self the following questions and really consider them:

What if your Pitbull gets out and kills a neighbors dog? What if that neighbor sues you?

What if your Pitbull gets out and approaches a police officer that has the common misconception that Pitbulls are viscous dogs?

What if a child chases a ball into your backyard? Are you confident that child will be safe?

You might be thinking “that’ll never happen” or “my sweet Pitbull would never attack another animal.” I more than anyone, am qualified to tell you that it can and does happen all the time. I get the emails from people that are desperate and depressed, seeking my help because these things did happen to them.

It is true that Pitbulls are naturally loving toward people, but don’t dare think, for even one second, that Pitbulls aren’t naturally aggressive with other animals. Sure your Pitbull may get along great with your two Yellow Labs and maybe even your cat, but when your Pitbull stands face to face with another animal that it’s never met, there’s no one on earth that can guarantee the safety of that animal! But you can greatly reduce the chances of your Pitbull ever attacking another animal if you know how.

You need to face the fact that Pitbulls are high energy, animal aggressive dogs. You need to know that Pitbulls are incorrectly viewed as viscous, child killing dogs and that people have shot and killed Pitbulls just for coming on their property(even when the Pitbull was wagging it’s tail, looking to be pet).

I know some of this is a little scary, heck I’ll probably even get some hate mail from Pitbull lovers because of it. You see, Pitbull lovers hate to read anything negative about Pitbulls. But due to the increasing trend of outlawing Pitbulls(It’s happening all over the world), their future isn’t looking very bright. The purpose of this article is to slap Pitbull owners in the face with what has happened to other Pitbull owners, so they don’t have to experience it.

You need to learn how to properly care for, and train your Pitbull so that it doesn’t attack other animals or people. You need to learn how to keep your Pitbull from roaming. You need to understand why your Pitbull has certain behaviors. How to manage it’s energy level so that it doesn’t dig and chew everything in sight.

I want everyone to understand that Pitbulls have special needs and that a little bit of work on your part could end up saving you thousands of dollars as well as a lifetime of heartache.

We Pitbull owners tend to blame the Media for the bad reputation Pitbulls have, but it’s really the fault of irresponsible owners and breeders. People need to know how great this breed is, but they also need to know that this breed has special needs and requires a responsible owner who is willing to put in the effort needed to ensure their Pitbull doesn’t ever need a second chance.

I really don’t want to receive any more depressing emails, so please do yourself, your dog, and your community a favor and learn how to properly raise, and train your Pitbull. With a little effort on your part, your relationship and time with your Pitbull can be better than you ever imagined.

About The Author

Chad Zetrouer is a leading expert on Pitbulls and is the author of The Pitbull Guide, which has long been the best selling book in it’s market. His goal is to teach people about Pitbulls so that they can avoid common problems and enjoy them to their fullest. His book can be found at http://www.PitbullGuide.com.

Comments Off

Most people have limited knowledge when it comes to search engine ranking and the various
types of services on offer. We all know that having top 10 positions on some of the leading
engines can bring all the traffic we can handle, and then some. But how do we get those top
10 listings and what should we expect to pay to get them?

A simple way to approach this is to look at your competition. Do a quick search on one of the
leading engines like Google or AltaVista, using a search phrase that people might use when
looking for your products or services, and see what comes back.

As a basic ‘rule of thumb’ guide -

Between 100 and 5000 puts you in a ‘low competition’ category.
Between 5001 and 25000 puts you in a ‘medium competition’ category.
Between 25001 and 250,000 puts you in a ‘high competition’ category.
Over 250,000 puts you in a ‘Extremely high competition’ category.

Here are some examples we found on AltaVista:-

“detroit real estate” - 2.7M
“curtain fixtures” - 817,000
“auto parts” - 130,000
“mortgage loans” - 84,000
“coin collecting” - 14,000
“wedding accessories” - 9,000
“florida vacations” - 5,000
“model railways” - 5,000

Based on the above, determine the competitiveness of your category, then research the level
of service necessary for your site.

Once you have determined the level of competition for top positions in your business category,
use the following as a basic guide:

1 - Low to medium competition with no previous ’search engine optimization’ - Locate a good
submission service who will give your home page a ‘tune-up’ then submit your site ‘manually’ to
all the leading engines and directories. Expect to pay around $25 to $65 per month.
2 - Medium to High competition on restricted budget - try to locate a service that will go
beyond basic Meta Tag revisions. Not all search engines pay much attention to what is in your
Meta tags, so look for someone who will make changes to the HTML on your key content
pages to give them a boost. Expect to pay around $55 to $95 per month.
3 - Sites with high or extremely high competition - you will encounter various approaches at
higher service levels. Most common is to use ‘Doorway’ pages and a separate ‘Hallway’
domain. Think about Doorway/Hallway pages as pages that focus on a specific search phrase,
each targeting a specific search engine. It is common to have sites with over 100 custom
designed Doorway pages targeting multiple search phrases and multiple search engines.
Pricing varies greatly at these levels, and almost always include a setup fee then ongoing
monthly service fees.

Developing a better understanding of how it all works will help you decide the best approach for
your web site, and will help you make an informed decision based on realistic expectations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carl Hruza operates a successful web promotion and search ranking business, and offers
advice on all aspects of Internet Marketing and Promotion. Email Carl at carlh@netnet.net or
visit his site at http://topwebpromotion.com

Comments Off