Taking pictures of our pets comes second only to photographing children in terms of popularity, so some basic tips can go a long way. Understanding digital cameras and their various settings is important, but it’s not as vital as knowing and anticipating what your pet can do – or will do! Whether it be a cat, dog, rabbit or even a ferret, this basic guide will go a long way to helping you get the cutest images of your pet.

Shoot candid pet photos and be patient

Chances are your pet won’t fully co-operate with your picture-taking efforts. So the best bet is to take pet photos when they don’t expect it rather than asking them to “sit” or “stay”. Wait until they are sleeping, resting or playing for the best results. It will come down to the obedience of your pet as well. A hyperactive animal is never going to stay still long enough for a posed shot whereas a well-trained dog probably will. Patience is certainly a virtue when taking photos of pets as well. If it’s not working for you this time, try again later. Animals are naturally curious as well so this can often work in your favour. Don’t get angry or impatient with the animal, who most likely thinks your picture-taking is all part of a game.

Get down on their level

Impressive images often call for a little sacrifice, and in the case of pets it can mean getting down and dirty. Sit, kneel or lay down on the ground so you are at eye level with your pet, depending on their activity. The results will be far better than standing over the animal and shooting down on them. There will be times, however, where changing the perspective can have a creative effect.

Take lots of pet photos

Most brands, such as Canon cameras, have a continuous shoot option that will fire off multiple frames in quick succession, meaning the chances of getting the right shot increase markedly. It can also lead to great sequences of shots. Resist the temptation to delete images off the camera when taking lots of pictures though. Wait until you have downloaded them onto your computer before embarking on a cull – ordinary images can become great pictures with some work using a photo editing program.

Focus on the subject

The pet is the star of the photo so consider the composition of the image. Avoid distracting backgrounds and foregrounds that draw the focus away from the animal. Close-ups usually make the best pet photos but be aware of what parts of the animal you get in the frame. Sometimes chopping off an ear can ruin what would otherwise be a perfect portrait. Take multiple photos and change angles for different results.

Avoid using the flash

Bombarding your pet with the camera’s flash is likely to lead to shadows and uneven lighting, ruining what would otherwise be a cute picture. Choose somewhere with lots of natural light, or preferably head outdoors for your pet photos session. Hitting the animal full-on in the face with flash may make them a little unhappy as well!

There are so many ways that one can help disadvantaged animals. You don’t need to be a vegetarian either. There are heaps of ways that we can make a big impact on disadvantaged animals simply by the choices we make everyday. From purchasing items from your local animal shelter to refusing to buy products that are intensely farmed, we’ve got a great list no animal lover should miss:

Boycott companies that have cruel practices 

There are a number of ways you can do this. Some of these include:

• Only buying free range meat and chicken
• Only buying free range eggs
• Not buying any items that are tested on animals
• Only buying clothing, shoes and accessories made from synthetic materials as opposed to leather and fur

Volunteer To Help Disadvantaged Animals 

Volunteering your time at a local animal shelter is a great way to give back and help disadvantaged animals. Even if it is just walking orphaned dogs and puppies once a week it will make all the difference.

Don’t support circuses or zoos with a poor reputation 

There are many zoos and circuses that treat animals in a proper, loving manner. But unfortunately there are plenty that don’t. Boycott all circuses that have wild animals such as lions and elephants and don’t visit zoos that are known for their poor treatment of animals.

Support Charities That Help Disadvantaged Animals 

Regularly giving to an organisation that helps animals is a great way to give back and help disadvantaged animals all over the world. But it’s not just through donations that you can support a charity. Why not buy your Christmas cards this year from a business that allows you to elect a charity to donate some of the cost of the cards to? Also, if the charity has an online gift shop, why not do some of your Christmas shopping online through their retail store? Every little bit helps.

Choose carefully where you adopt pets from

Rather than buying your pet from a pet shop or breeder, why not go to your local animal shelter and choose a furry friend from one of the many disadvantaged animals that are in desperate need of a home?

Report cruelty

If you are witness to animal cruelty, report it. Animals rely on people to be their voice which is why it is so important that if you see cruelty taking place, you should immediately take action and phone the RSPCA. If you are worried about a backlash from your complaint, you can remain anonymous.

There really are so many ways that you can help disadvantaged animals in need. I hope our list of ideas has given you some inspiration to get out there and join forces with others standing up for our furry friends, many of which are in desperate need of our help.

Within the Highland Lakes area, Lake LBJ is considered a treasure. Its refreshingly cool waters are ideal for fishing, kite surfing, jet skiing, swimming, and land-lovers can relax on the shore’s sandy beaches. When traveling, people often are forced to leave their beloved pets behind, but in Texas, all are welcome. A number of places around the lake offer pet-friendly accommodations, and a few restaurants happily allow pets, as well.

Affordable Pet-Friendly Lodging

La Quinta Inn & Suites – Marble Falls

Travelers can avoid pet fees when staying in one of this hotel’s well-appointed rooms. Up to two pets of any size are permissible, but they need to be on a leash in the common areas of the facility. Located in the heart of town, this is a great central location to all the great shopping and activities in Marble Falls.

Quality Inn – Marble Falls

This facility allows three pets up to 100 pounds to share accommodations with their owners. The pet fee is only ten dollars, which is remarkably reasonable among the industry. Nearby, visitors will find Johnson Park, where an off-leash play area has been established for dogs to give their owners a workout.

Where to Dine with Furry Friends in Nearby Spicewood

When it is time to locate somewhere to dine after a fun-filled day lake activities, finding a place that permits dogs can be challenging. The town of Spicewood is only six miles from the southern shores of Lake LBJ, and clearly, hosts of animal lover’s reside there because a number of great places to grab a bite welcome pets to join their owners.

Head to Opie’s

Opie’s Barbecue is conveniently located right on Highway 71, and they serve up tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs, smoked brisket, and other meats that guests select right off the smoker. Pets can join their owners out back on the cozy covered porch to take advantage of a great opportunity to gnaw on some leftovers and rib bones.

Pets are Family at the R.O. Outpost

A bit further down the highway, visitors will encounter the R.O. Outpost, which also served up superb Texas-style barbecue and homemade side dishes. The friendly staff enjoys welcoming pups, and they even bring out a bowl of cool water especially for four-legged friends.

Embrace Germanic Heritage at Ilsa’s

Just past the R.O. Outpost, sits Ilsa’s Kitchen, which offers authentic German cuisine and a small market for grabbing some goodies to take home. Pooches are not allowed inside, but they are welcome to join their masters outside on the restaurant’s porch. Dynamic views of granite cliffs and Lake Travis can be enjoyed while patrons dine.

Party with Pooches at Angel’s

Angel’s Icehouse is also accessible via Hwy. 71, and it is one of the best places to kick back and feast on traditional fare. They feature a lovely outdoor shaded area with picnic tables and a play area for children. Leashed pets are welcome outdoors, and in the evenings when the lights in the trees start up, it provides a serene setting for all. During warmer weekends, there is live music to entertain folks.

Rest assured, pets enjoy visiting Lake LBJ as much as people do. Splashing in the water with the family is much more exciting than sitting in a kennel while the family is away. With these pet-friendly lodging and dining options, there is little reason not to bring the entire family, including members that walk on four legs.

The world has gone mad for virtual animal games of late and it is easy to see why. Not only can you choose the pet of your choice but you can dress, style, feed and play with them too. What’s more, you can spend virtual cash on brand new accessories, explore exciting new lands and even interact with other animals — how cool is that!?

These days it is possible to enjoy all the good parts of having a pet without having the responsibility of a real-life creature. You don’t have to endure long walks in the snow, hear barking every time the post man calls or worry about your curtains getting ruined.

So to celebrate the wonders of technology here are ten of the best virtual pet games around:

1. Tamagotchis

A virtual pet housed in an egg-shaped computer, Tamagotchis were all the rage when they first hit the market in 1996 and are still popular today. Designed in Japan, they are small, easy to carry and incredibly fun to look after no matter what your age. From the moment the Tamagotchi hatches the owner can give it a name and raise it to good health. Tasks include keeping it at a healthy weight, cleaning up excrement, punishing or praising it, giving it medicine and shutting out the light when it goes to bed. If the owner is neglectful the Tamagotchi will die.

Tamagotchis produced in recent years can even communicate wirelessly with other and make friends. Owners can also log into an interactive website called Tama Town where they can win points and items to use on their Tamagotchis.

2. Nintendogs + Cats

Nintendogs + Cats is a virtual pet game for the Nintendo 3DS™ system. The cleverly designed touch screen, camera and microphone of the device enable you to interact with your animal and the more you play with them the more they will get to know you. With this great game, you can pick your favourite breed, select toys to play with and enjoy many fabulous places to explore — why not even show off you pet to other players? If you put your face up close to the screen, your new pal may even recognise you and try to lick your face.

3. Paws & Claws: Pampered Pets

Paws & Claws: Pampered Pets is a fantastic game for the Nintendo DS, designed to spoil adorable animals rotten. Welcome a host of precious pets to your Pampered Pets Spa where they can enjoy luxurious and extravagant treatments including massage therapy and oxygen tents. Create wonderful collars out of emerald, quartz and topaz as well as sequined bags in your very own Pet Shop and make your clients look and feel a million dollars. Invite your guests to stay in their very own luxurious themed rooms including the Pretty in Purple and You’re a Movie Star and even treat them to limo rides from the airport.

4. Kinectimals

Use your voice and body to teach your cute cat loads of tricks with this brilliant game for the Xbox 360. With the technically brilliant Kinect system you can move around the room just like an animal and your precious pet will copy you. Based on wild cats, you can choose one of five cubs to start the game with and unlock up to 11 strong and noble beasts. Discover the secrets of Fur Town, interact with other animals, guide your creature through obstacles and enjoy free play.

5. FarmVille

FarmVille is a fun-filled social network game by Zynga, centred around elements of farm life. You will start off with an empty farm, but the idea is to build it up into something really impressive by ploughing land, growing and harvesting crops, harvesting trees and bushes and trading livestock.

You will be given a fixed number of farm coins at the beginning but can earn more as the game progresses. You will also be able to gain experience points which will help you buy more items at the market. Invite online friends to be your neighbours, send gift supplies to each other, complete tasks for rewards and even grow crops together. Why not also decorate your land with hay bales and fences which can be brought or sent as gifts?

6. FishVille

FishVille is similar to FarmVille in the sense it is a social network game which allows you to customise your own aquarium and rear your own fish. Choose the background and gravel of your choice and discover an array of wonderful creatures that live under the sea. Sand coins, sand dollars and experience points can be earned throughout the game and when you have collected enough points the level will rise. As you progress through the levels more and more items such as fish, decorations, creatures and plants can be brought at the store, to make your underwater world even more awesome.

7. Neopets

Neopets is a virtual pet website where you can create your very own account and play until your heart is content. Look after any four pets at one time and explore the virtual world of Neopia, a fantastical land with its own economy and stock market. Take good care of your cute creatures by buying them food, toys clothes and a range of fabulous accessories using Neopoints or the game’s virtual currency Neocash. Neopoints can be earned by playing games, investing in the game’s stock market, trading and winning contests, while Neocash is normally purchased with real money. Read books to them, play with them or even train them to battle other users’ Neopets.

8. Ponystars

A fantastic online application, Ponystars is a great game for anyone who loves ponies! Look after and train up to 75 magical and innocent Ponystars from the The Grasslands of Fairy Valley and use Fairy Gold earned throughout the game to make your ponies even more beautiful by selecting special manes, hooves, brand marks and exciting coats. Purchase other special traits from the market place with acclaim coins and build your herd by selling and buying Ponystars entrusted to you by mysterious fairies. Compete in challenges, tournaments and games, complete exciting and rewarding quests and even travel to six lands where Ponystars run wild.

9. Spore

Spore is a fabulous video game where you can build your very own creature and control its development from a microscopic organism to an intelligent, social virtual being which eventually ascends to space and can interact with alien species. A private virtual world populated by creatures designed by other users, the game is incredibly intelligent and utterly fascinating. You can interact with creatures you encounter and choose to befriend or kill them; however, your reactions will affect how those around you behave.

Ultimately, the idea of the game is to reach a black hole located at the centre of the galaxy and one of the biggest challenges is defeating or making friends with the Grox, a cyborg guarding the core. Each phase is effected by the previous phase and is more difficult than before.

10. Moshi Monsters

A social networking game and virtual pet site aimed at kids Moshi Monsters is fabulous entertainment. You can adopt a monster and look after it by keeping it well fed, happy, healthy and entertained. A currency called Rox can be earned by solving puzzles an can be used for buying food, clothing and home decor.

Virtual pet games can be really fun to play and many are now applications on social networking sites, so you can have fun with all your friends too. Enjoy the ten listed above and keep your eyes peeled for plenty more online games.

As a parent the day will come where your children will ask to get a pet. Understanding the responsibility that comes with a pet is important to both the parents and children. What happens many times is that the child will want to get a pet and once the new glow of being a pet owner has worn off it then becomes the responsibility of the parents. If you are a parent that decides it is okay for you to be the responsible caregiver then this is all good. If you are a parent that wants to teach your child responsibility then there are a few things to think about.

• How old are your children? The age of your children will have a great influence on the type of pet that is appropriate. For a smaller child or children beginning with a pet that is easy to handle and care for will not only teach responsibility but also not be a huge burden if the children change their minds. One of the best examples of a small pet is something like a hermit crab that stays in a small container and does not require a lot of care.

• For the children that are a bit older but have never had pets a guinea pig or hamster is a good start. These pets do require a bit more care. They are also a bit more costly then something such as a hermit crab. The hamster or guinea pigs cage will need to be cleaned at least once a week and they will require more food. These types of pets should also be socialized which means they will need to have some time spent with them. If the cage is not kept clean it is important to explain that the pets can get sick very easily and this is a very important responsibility.

Getting a pet for you children can be a very rewarding family experience. If the responsibilities are followed then the pet can be enjoyed without the bickering of who is responsible to do what chore.

One of the best things that many parents do is before the pet is even brought home a “contract” is drawn up. If there are multiple children each child can be assigned a task. The task should be age appropriate and gentle reminders might be needed. In the beginning the reminders are fine but it should not have to be a constant thing to be reminding the child of his/her responsibility multiple times a day.

For the pets that require more attention such as a puppy it is important to realize the care and attention that will be needed. If Johnny has agreed that he will walk the puppy at certain times of the day then decides he is too busy the puppy will still need to be walked. This is where getting a family pet can cause some stress in families. The puppy still needs to be walked and almost always becomes the responsibly of one of the siblings or the parents.

With careful consideration the perfect pet can be picked for children. The cost and work involved in having a happy and healthy pet need to be first priority. If you are seeking a pet to teach your children responsibility be sure it is something you are still able to care for if things do not work out and the children become “tired” of the newest family addition.

Dogs, cats and other furry friends really do become a part of the family. But what do you do when they seem to be having a dramatic impact on the smell and feel of your home? Here, we’ve got the ultimate tips for making sure your home smells and feels fresh no matter how many pets you have. From regular carpet cleaning to vacuuming your furniture, we’ve got the tips no pet owner should miss:

Have the right products on hand

If you have pets, you need to have cleaning products specifically for cleaning up their mess. The reason for this is that regular cleaners often don’t have the right ingredients to get rid of smells and bacteria left behind. Having the right products on hand will make cleaning easier and faster.

Attack mess quickly

Like with any mess or spill in the house, the key is to clean it up quickly. If your cat has weed next to the couch, attack it immediately by getting paper towel over the area and trying to absorb as much as possible. Then use a cleaning product that specifically helps to remove stains and odour caused by cat urine. Regular cleaning products just won’t cut it especially when it comes to mess left by felines.

If you find the mess a while after, put a small amount of warm water on the area before working on it with a cleaning product.

It’s also a good idea to regularly vacuum your lounges. This will stop the build up of hair and subsequent smells.

Keep your pets clean

If your dog goes outside in the rain and then is allowed to come straight in and on the couch without being dried off, you are guaranteed to get smells set in all over your furniture. Keeping your animals clean is part of the whole process of making sure they don’t leave odours in your home. Wipe them down and clean their paws with a damp cloth if they have been running somewhere muddy. Don’t ever let them run around the house while they are wet.

Regular brushing is also very important. Keeping your pets fur free of debris from rolls in the grass will also stop them from bringing things in to your home.

Keep their bedding clean as well. Washing their bedding once a week will help stop the build up of dirt in their bed.

Carpet cleaning

No matter how much vacuuming you do, you still can’t lift that old stain and smell out of the carpet. Carpet steam cleaning professionals can not only rid your carpet of stains and odours, but also hidden nasties. Having your carpets steam cleaned once every 12 months will help your home to stay fresh and smelling great.

Pets enrich our lives in so many ways. Dealing with the odours they bring in to the home doesn’t have to be part and parcel with pet ownership. I hope our tips on how to rid your home of pet odours has given you some useful tips for keeping your home smelling great no matter how many pets you choose to have.

The worst nightmare for almost any pet owner is a flea infestation. If a dog or cat brings fleas into the home, they can actually take over the entire house, even biting the human family members. If they manage to create a strong hold in the house, treating only the pets with flea and tick spray or flea dips will not be sufficient to get rid of the bugs. As soon as they reenter the home, the dogs or cats will be re-infected. It is necessary to treat the entire house.

If you have fleas in your house, I’ll bet you’ll do anything to get rid of them.  In this article I will teach you how you can eradicate your home from fleas by using a flea bomb.  Flea bombs are chemical devices that you can use to fumigate your house and kill the fleas that are driving you crazy.

The best way to get rid of an infestation is to treat the animals, humans and then the entire house. Many home improvement stores sell flea bombs for homes. These are canisters of pesticide that will kill all the bugs in the home. However, there are specific guidelines to follow when using these flea bombs to ensure the health and safety for all of those that live in the home.

Before you buy your flea bombs, you should understand a couple of things to look for on the label.  You’ll want to make sure that the flea bomb that you purchase have two chemicals in them.  You don’t need to know the chemicals by name but you need to know what they do.  The first chemical is called an adulticide and it is designed to kill any adult fleas that are living in your home.  It is likely that a few of the fleas will survive the fumigation process and that’s why the second chemical is important.  This chemical will sterilize any adult fleas and prevent them from breeding or reproducing.  This will break the life cycle and there will be no more baby fleas to grow up into pesty adults. Try to ensure it has the active ingredient of IGR. Some pesticides will only kill the adult fleas, IGR will kill the adults and prevent the eggs and larvae from reproducing, therefore breaking the cycle.

After finding an appropriate fogger, purchase enough to cover all square feet in the home. This will usually require at least one flea fogger per floor, including the basement or attic since fleas can easily spread to these areas even if they are not used often.

Prepare the home by removing any perishable or open containers of food, then taping shut cabinets. Large pieces of furniture should be moved to uncarpeted areas when possible to make sure that all areas of carpet get treated. The flea bomb should be set up as directed. When returning home after the proscribed amount of time, at least 24 hours, launder all towels, sheets and blankets and carefully wash all dishes that remained in the house.

If you choose to use a flea bomb to fumigate your house, you should also make sure that you take care of any fleas that are living on your pets.  Take your pets to the groomer and have them thoroughly bathed in a medicated shampoo that is specifically designed to kill fleas.  Then, when you take your pets back into your home, you won’t have to worry about them carrying a bunch of fleas right back into the house in starting the problem all over again. You should also kill any fleas that might be living in your lawn with a flea killing pesticide.  It’s probably best to contain your pets in a large dog kennel during this time.

Those of you who choose to use flea bombs to eradicate fleas from your home should follow the manufacturer’s instructions very carefully.  Never enter the home until the recommended time span has elapsed.  When you finally do go back inside, you should open some windows and thoroughly ventilate the house.  You should also wash your clothing and bedding very well before using them again.  It’s also a good idea to wash your dishes and utensils before using them again as well.

Floorboards – whether they are real wood or laminate – are a very practical type of flooring for use in the home. If you have pets or children come the winter or a wet spell the benefits of them are clear. They can however have their drawbacks particularly when it comes to making a home feel warm and cosy and this is never truer than in the winter. There is a simple and practical solution to this though and it comes in the form of rugs, but you do have to be careful as to the type of rug that you choose particularly if you have pets.

So what’s the best type of rug if you have a dog?

Machine Washable

If you have pets then probably one of the key features that you want to look for in a rug is that it is machine washable. There is no point buying a rug that you have to take to the dry cleaners every week as it is going to cost you a fortune. If you like the look of a shag rug but thought it was out of the question then you may be surprised to learn that Flokati rugs are machine washable so if you want that style of rugs then this is definitely the choice of material for you.

Non Slip

You can get underlay’s which go underneath rugs to prevent them slipping, however, this is not always a great solution as in my experience they do not stop a dog from ‘rucking’ up the rug. The best types of rug a latex backing which is integral to rug, this type of non-slip rug is by far the best solution for pet owners. There are many runner rugs on the market that have this non-slip backing ut if you want a larger rug for a living room your choices are somewhat limited.

Consider the Colour of Rug

You don’t necessarily have to match the exact colour of the rug to your dog or dogs, but what it is ideally to do is to pick a rug that has a pattern or fleck in it that will disguise your pets hair. This isn’t an excuse for not cleaning rug, but regardless of how much you groom your pet you are always going to find hair on your rug.

If you consider the three above points in mind when shopping for a rug you cannot go too far wrong. Putting down some rugs around you home will not only make it a more pleasant place for your pets it will also make it more homely and warm in the winter.

Who’s preferred the most…Dogs or Cats?

In an Associated Press-Petside.com poll of almost 2,000 adults surveyed:

74 percent say they prefer dogs “a lot,” while just 41 percent said they like cats “a lot.”

When it comes to the most disliked pet, cats won paws down: 15 percent say they dislike cats “a lot” while only 2 percent say they disliked dogs “a lot.”