What Australian Birds Make Great Pets?

Anyone looking to adopt a pet bird is interested in a species that’s gentle, friendly and perfectly suited as a companion pet. If you have little to no experience caring for a pet bird, you need to take these traits into consideration. Note that, it’s always easier to bond and take care of a bird or pet that’s friendly and affectionate rather than an aggressive and frightful one.

As a bird owner, you should expect to get a few bites here and there. However, you can minimize the risk considerably by choosing a bird species renowned for being gentle and sociable. Here are some of the top species renowned for being friendly and loving companions. Australia is home to numerous native species such as magpies, kookaburras, cockatoos and many more.

You can always find these species in your local parks or backyards, partly the reason why many Australian residents want these birds as pets. However, there are some regulations regarding which species can be tamed as pets and the restrictions might vary from one state to the other. Remember, the native bird species are protected and it’s illegal to catch or trap them in the wild. Here is a list of the best native Australian bird species that would make amazing pets.

1. Gouldian Finch

The Gouldian Finch – surely the world’s most strikingly coloured small bird. We’re helping land managers across northern Australia, like at Fish River Station, to improve their fire practices to protect habitat for threatened species like this stunning beauty.

 

2. Budgerigar

It is also referred to as a parakeet. It’s one of the common household bird species found in Australia. Budgies are the best bird species for children or anyone looking to own their first pet bird. The bird is beautiful with an outgoing and bright personality, perfect for living in a small cage.

3. Galah

It is one of the most common and the smallest species of cockatoo birds found in Australia. It has proper housing, which is a large aviary, the bird is a good pet for someone looking to tame a large bird. Also, it’s the quietest of the cockatoo species but the bird has a very loud scream. However, the bird thrives on companionship with other birds so take note of that when you choose it as a pet.

4. Cockatiel

It has actually been regarded as a great pet bird for a very long time. Although it has a temper, it often varies from sweet to medium depending on the situation. The bird can comfortably live with a single companion or in a flock of similar species as well as with other birds. If you keep a cockatiel as a pet bird, you should regularly allow it out of the cage for regular exercise unless you keep them in a large and horizontal aviary or cage. The bird is very affectionate and can live comfortably in an apartment or a nursing home.

5. Rainbow Lorikeet

It is a colorful bird and is perfect for any bird lover willing to dedicate their time to keep the bird. A Lorikeet can live comfortably in a small cage in your house especially if you allow it to fly around regularly. However, you can always settle for an aviary. Keep in mind that the bird produces a lot of droppings so you should always keep the aviary or cage clean by hosing it down frequently.

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What is Pet Care like in Australia?

There’s a continuous and strong trend in health and wellness regarding pet care in Australia. It has mostly been brought about by pet owners looking after their pets properly, the same way, they would look after themselves. More and more pet owners are taking great interest in the health of their pets as well as their dietary needs. On the other hand, manufacturers have launched new products with a strong health indication.

Are you planning to travel with your pet to Australia? You should know there are enough pet professional services as well as pet care products including pet insurance for your stay. You will come across numerous pet services with dog-walking services where you can rest assured that your pets have enough exercise and recreation. So you can always take care of your pets regardless of whether or not you lead a busy lifestyle. Your pet will not feel neglected or ignored.

If you’re traveling for business or personal reasons, then you can always rely on these pet care services when you’re away. The professionals employed in these companies can always be dispatched to your home to take care of your pets for you when you’re away. They will take good care of your cats, dogs, and any other pet by providing services such as walking, feeding and giving your pet the required individual attention. You can also request for customized services depending on the needs of your pet.

In the recent years, pet food consumption and pet care products increased in the market by at least 4%. One of the reasons for such changes would be the urban consolidation. Note that, urban consolidation results in people having smaller garden areas while more people move towards the city to live in apartments and townhouses. As a result, there’s a need for pets that don’t require a lot of living space such as smaller dogs, birds or fish.

On the other hand, the average year for first-time mothers is 30 years. As a result, a lot of people are gearing towards owning pets since the attention that would have been given to raising children has been diverted towards pet care and travel. Due to these 3 factors, the amount of money often spent on pets and their pampering has increased considerably.

With Australia’s strong economy, there’s more disposable income such as pet care and food among other expenses have increased for any pet owner. However, a large income also means that people lead a busy lifestyle so they spend less time on the pampering of their pets. There’s a notable shift towards people requiring pets that don’t need a lot of personal care or time.

If you take all the factors into considerations, there is an overall increase in pet owners with high quality in the best pet food and pet care products. These healthy trends are forcing people to focus on healthy and fresh eating habits and are choosing pet food with higher nutritional value.

Many pet owners are quite picky on the type of pet food they purchase based on how healthy they think the product might be. In the pet industry, many services and products are growing tremendously providing many benefits to the people who offer professional services and the companies themselves as well as the pet owners and their pets.

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How You Can Train Your Cats?

When you think of training a pet, you will think about dogs. Dogs are trained in obedience, to work on farms, to detect drugs and illegal items or even cancer. Most people do not think about cats when they consider training, but it is possible to train your cat.

 

Training your cat will actually help to sharpen their mind, provide them with the exercise they need and prevent any unwanted behaviour. When you train your cat, your furniture will be safe from scratching and you will be creating a safer environment for you and your cat.

One of the most effective ways to train a cat is to use a clicker. Clicker training is a great way to shape your cat’s behaviour and works in small and easy bits. The use of a clicker is also recommended by many vets when it comes to training a cat.

You will be able to buy a cat clicker form most pet stores or you can make clicking noises yourself if you do not want a device. The key to this training is to make the sound as soon as your cat performs any desired actions or behaviours. You should also give your cat a small food treat to help reinforce their good behaviour. Repeating this every time the behaviour is exhibited will help you train your cat.

Cat Training Tips

The best time to work on training your cat is just before mealtime because your cat will be more motivated by food at these times. You should only train for a short period of time with 15 minutes being the maximum amount of time before your cat loses interest. When your cat stops responding, you need to stop the training session. It is recommended that you complete several short training sessions during the day.

You should not force your cat into the training session by picking them up and taking them to where you would like to train them. When you do this, your cat will not understand what they are being asked to do. You should also only use treats when you are training. If you give your cat a treat each time they paw you, you will not be training your cat. In fact, you are the one that is being trained.

Ringing The Bell

If you have an outdoor cat, you will know that they can become destructive and frustrating in their efforts to get back inside. To overcome this, you should try hanging a small but loud bell on a string at cat eye level. You should ignore their meowing and other efforts to get your attention and eventually the cat will touch the bell and make it ring. At this point, you will reward them by opening the door. You will have to repeat this several times before your cat starts to ring the bell deliberately.

Sit And High 5 Commands

All cats can sit and this command will be easy to teach. When your cat sits, you need to say the command and them praise them with either a treat or a pat. You can also introduce a hand signal which will further help your cat learn.

You could extend this training to the High 5 command. To do this, you need to encourage a small movement with their paw by giving them a treat when their paw is off the ground. Then, with the treat still in your fist, you need to wait for them to use their paw to try and grab it. You can then give them the treat as a reward. You will need to gradually lift your hand higher until you get the High 5 that you want.

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Dogs vs Cats: Which Pet Is Better for You?

The debate over who better between cats and dogs has raged on for thousands of years. People will debate over every aspect of these two pets: which one has more smarts? Which one has more skills? The debate is essentially never-ending.
So, How Do You Choose?

When it comes to choosing between a cat and a dog, the main consideration should be:

• The amount of time do you have to dedicate to your pet – dogs require more of your time when compared to cats. In fact, dogs do not like to be left alone at home.
• The amount of money you are willing to spend on your pet – dogs are inherently more expensive to keep.
• The temperament in your pet that you can handle – dogs tend to more affectionate and require near constant emotional support while cats are more independent.

Equipment
-For cats, all you need is a litter box, a food and water bowl, a few cats’ toys, a stretching posts, and a brush for grooming.

-On the other hand, dogs require water and food bowl, a collar and leash, toys, a dog bed, and treats.

Feeding

-While the amount of food a cat requires will depend on its size, almost all cats consume far less food than almost all dog breeds. An adult cat will consume between 300 and 250 calories every day. Their food comes in canned wet or dry form.
Again, the amount of food a dog needs depends on it size. Typically, a dog will need between 20 and 30 calories per pound of weight per day. Their foods come in both wet and dry forms.

Grooming

-For cats, they do not need any bathing. However, they do need regular brushing; especially the breeds that have long hair.
Dogs, on the other hand, need regular grooming and frequent bathing, especially those that have long hair.
Both of these pets are highly susceptible to pest infestation such as lice, ticks, and fleas. In case of a pest infestation, they should be treated immediately using pest pesticides such as Frontline or Advantix (for dogs only). These pesticides contain powerful chemicals. As such, care must be taken when being used to avoid poisoning of the pests. For instance, Advantix should not be used on cats as it has devastating negative side effects on the cats.

 

Health

-The average life expectancy of a cat varies between 12 and 14 years. However, it is not rare for a cat to live well into its 20s and 30s. On the medical cost side, you can expect to spend $160 per year on your cat.

-The life expectancy of dogs varies from 7 to 14 years, depending on the breed of dog in question. Dog breeds that have a larger size tend to have a shorter lifespan akin to wolfs. That being said, you should note that the oldest dog on record lived to be 29 years. On the medical front, you can expect to spend at the very least $200 on vaccines and dental cleaning every year. However, the actual medical expenditure will vary depending on the dog breed and the existing conditions a dog may have.

House Training

-Generally, cat already has a natural intuition of how to use a litter box. As such, they are very easy to teach how to use the litter box. However, the litter box should be changed every day for health and safety reasons.

-On the other hand, dogs need to be trained, socialized, and extensively housebroken. The training of dogs should take about two months.

Protection

-Dogs are naturally protective pets and they can function as guard dogs and watchdogs in their owner’s property.

Space

– Cats can live and thrive in smaller areas while dogs need much more space. Additionally, dogs need to be taken out regularly for walks.

Tricks

–While some cats do learn how to do some tricks, they generally do the tricks to please and entertain themselves and not their owners. As such, they are difficult to teach how to do tricks.

-On the other hand, dogs can be trained to do tricks.

Your Work

-As mentioned above, dogs need more personal attention than cats. As such, they should not be left alone all day. Therefore, they are not suited for people who work long hours and or travel a lot. Cats can cope with your absence better.

Cost

-The ASPCA pegs the cost of having a cat at $670 per year. This includes litter, medical bills, and food.

-On the other hand, a small dog will typically cost you $580 per year, a medium sized dog will cost you $695, and a large will run you $875 per year.

Popular breeds

-The most popular cat breeds around the world but especially in the US are the Siamese, the Exotic, and the Maine Coon.
As for dogs, in Australia, the most popular breeds include the Labrador Retriever, the Yorkshire Terrier, the German Shepherd, and the Golden Retriever.

Common Games

-Cats will enjoy the vast majority of simple games that allow them to mimic stalking and pouncing. These includes playing with a ping pong ball
-As or dogs, they enjoy running and chasing. As such, games such as fetch are better suited to dogs.

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What are Simple Tips to Keep your Dog Healthy?

Your dog is completely forgiving, loving, and faithful. You are the apple of your faithful companion’s eye. Therefore, we really owe it to our beloved pets to keep them as happy and healthy as we possibly can.

There is tons of information available on what to do to keep your pet happy, and keep them healthy and train them. However, in this article, we will be focusing on the most important fundamentals. The following are five things you need to do in order to keep your dog happy and healthy.

1. Make Sure You Give Your Dog The Right Food

It cannot be overstated how important your pet’s diet is. Everything your dog eats will affect him – from the health of his fur, to the luster of his eyes, to the wear of his teeth, to his weight – the food your dog eats can even change everything, including his mood.

2. Keep Your Dog Active

Exercise is very important. Combined with the food he eats, those two aspects make a huge difference in terms of prolonging the life of your dog and keeping him happy. Regular walks are good for your health too. So pick up the leash and hit the road – it is good for both of you.

3. Take Your Dog To The Vet Regularly

Nobody likes having to go to the dentist or doctor. However, it is very important that you take your dog to see the vet regularly. It is especially important that you do that when he is a young puppy, so he will get used to the vet poking and prodding him.

 

 

4. Understand Your Dog’s Needs

It is critically important to understand your dog and what is specific needs are. Every age of dog and breed has different requirements. Your dog, unlike us, is unable to communicate and tell you when something is wrong. That is why it is important to notice changes in their physicality and behaviour. Whenever your dog starts to age, he might need some extra help like moving around or negotiating stairs – and the only way you can help him and make his life not as painful is to observe any changes and then react accordingly.

5. Teach Your Dog How To Play Games

Although your dog will never be able to beat you in a game of chess or master how to do a crossword puzzle, it is very important for their health and happiness for them to get plenty of mental stimulation on a regular basis. Dogs of different ages and breeds have different needs – with some having a better aptitude for games and puzzles, while others might excel at doing simple commands and tricks. Engaging in varied and new activities on a regular basis will help to keep your dog’s mind alert and agile.

So there they are – five basic tips you can use to help keep your dog happy, healthy, and extend his life. Keep these tips in mind and it will help your dog live a fruitful and long life.

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