Doggy Mentor

Archive for February, 2009

Are you sure that you are giving your pet dog what it deserves? Are you sure that the dog food that you give to your darling pet dog is safe? Do you know that there are foods for your furry friends out there that is more than harmful rather than of benefit for his health? Maybe you don’t know this and maybe you are but you don’t believe it. Well, here are some stunning knowledge and information that says what you give to your dog is not only the best but the deadliest according to Andrew Lewis, author of Dog Food Secrets, the dog food that you are giving to your furry best friend could be a cause of early death. The number one cause of dog illness can be accredited to commercial dog food. Your loveable best friend may already be suffering from slow and excruciating death and to make you pay attention, this book guide of his was made to be as graphic and as disturbing as it could be because it needs your special attention.

The information that contains in this book guide could save the life of your pet by over 100%. Here, you can learn which dog foods contain up to 6 deadly chemicals that have been banned from human foods because they cause cancer. You can discover a lot of what major dog food companies don’t want you to know. You can also learn how to extend your dog’s life by as much as 8 years just by changing its diet. Also, many unwanted pet dog behavior maladies can be solved just by doing that.

According to this Dog Food Secrets review, leading veterinarians agree that many dog foods are deficient in nutrition. Feeding such foods to your dog causes it to be overly sensitive to its environment. By not eating enough natural foods, your dog’s adrenal glands become unable to produce enough cortisol. If you want your dog to live a long and happy life, this book guide will explain elaborately on these three things: 1. Stop feeding your dog with commercial dog food until you learn which ones are not harmful to your dog, 2.) Learn how to deduce the nutritional information on commercial dog foods and last but not the least, start to feed your furry pet with well-balanced, healthy home made meals.

But why are there many others who wonders, “Is Dog Food Secrets scam?” Now, now, hear this. There is no reason for one man to be a total rip-off just by putting out a dog food book guide just to make money. What’s more, you can’t consider this a scam. If something happens, then, the reason is simply, you didn’t follow the system. If it’s a scam, then, why is it that many others are giving positive reactions regarding this e-book? The only way to know if it is or not is to read a Dog Food Secrets review.

Do you have a pet dog? Maybe, an older dog? Have you seen him walking lamely anywhere and he seems to have a hard time in doing any activity like jumping, leaping or running? Does he find doing the things difficult, not the way he’s doing it when he was still a young spirit? Maybe your old holler has arthritis. Yes, dogs can have arthritis, too, just like its owner. When humans start to grow old, arthritis comes creeping in. But although old age can also be the reason why dogs get arthritis, the first reason for this dog disease is because of the results of all those running and jumping around or maybe, at one time or another, he has experienced some kind of injuries which can lead to dog joint pain. In order to help your dog, he also needs some regular pet health exam. As part of his regular pet health exam, the vet will focus on the muscles and bones that will help your dog move. Beginning at the neck, the veterinarian can aid by running either of his hand along the spine up to the base of the tail. There, he can feel the muscles on both sides of the spine and he might notice if any feel unusually firm or knotted. Your pet dogs can get a variety of problems that will lead to muscle twinges especially in the back muscles.

Your vet or maybe even you, can massage any tight muscles and take note of the area. A common condition in active dogs is to develop fusing of the spinal column. This can lead to decreased mobility, pinched vertebrae and back pain. Your pet dog will greatly gain advantage from the usual rubbing gently of the lower lumbar spinal muscles. Put both hands on either region on the sides of the spine and utilize deep circular digital pressure with your thumbs. Work on the affected area once daily for 5 minutes. You can learn this from your vet and if you want your dog to feel fast relief, you can go for a dog arthritist medication.

If you go looking for medications, there are several options that you can find, from your vet and even online. A variety of herbs are used at different times for dog arthritis. Devil’s Claw is used in traditional African medicine and has scientific studies to back its effectiveness. You or your dog’s vet can give your best friend 100mg or 10 drops per 10 lbs of body weight. Utilizing Acupressure is also one of the efficient ways to let your canine friend deal with arthritis. Methylsulfonymethane or MSM is another supplement, found in some plants such as Horsetail. It works by reducing inflammation in the joints by acting as an antioxidant – this has been shown to work well in treating dog arthritis. The MSM dosage is 50mg per 10lbs of body weight daily.

These are just some of the treatments that might be used in your dog for his arthritis. However, for the best dog arthritis relief and in its purest, natural and safe form, you can go to this site called dog-arthritis-treatment.com by following one of the links above.

Who’s Dove Cresswell?

Dove is a professional Hollywood North dog trainer with an outstanding career as a dog trainer for movies, television and commercials.

Although she is only 25 years old, she has over ten years of experience in training dogs of all sizes and from many different breeds. In addition, she has trained other animals species including rodents, deer, birds, cougars, and large reptiles.

Dove is used to having to train animals for movies extremely quickly. You can expect similarly fast results with her online dog training course.

Click here to get this outstanding dog training course: Dove Cresswell.

What is Included?

The online dog training course, which is audio and video format, offers the following 7 lessons:

• Puppy House Training / Potty Training
• Dog Obedience Training
• Crate Training
• Walking Politely on a Leash: The Informal Heel
• The Recall
• Good Puppy & Dog Manners
• Special Dog Tricks

Useful advice for both large and small dog breeds is included in the puppy house training section.

What I Particularly Liked

The lessons have a quick, “get to the point fast” and fun approach. The correct methods for dog training are clearly articulated in the well-illustrated slides and narration. A benefit of this multimedia format for dog training is that you can hear the tone of voice that should be used for commands and you can see the correct stance for both you and your dog. This is where this online dog training course has an advantage over an e-book.

Although this program is not as extensive as some of the dog training e-books in areas such as dog behavior and specific dog breed information, it is full of informative and clearly articulated dog obedience and housetraining advice for dog owners.

Dove presents a very interesting and common-sense perspective on paper training. Dove is of the opinion that paper training is confusing for dogs and should not be used. She explains in a very knowledgeable and easily understood way how puppies can be trained to always eliminate outside.

Extra Bonuses

You will be able to e-mail Dove with your own dog behavior issues once you have bought the course:

• Teach your dog to fetch
• Train your dog to play soccer
• Train your dog to play hide ‘n seek
• Information on dog sports
• Choosing the right toys for your dog
• Earning your dog’s respect
• Choosing the right dog food and treats

In Summary

At first, I was quite taken aback that only seven lessons were offered in this first rate course; once I actually listened to the lessons and discovered just how much information was offered in the course, I quickly changed my opinion. I enjoyed the multimedia format of this online dog training course; so much so that I wished it would have been longer. The easily understood lessons allow you copy the techniques and successfully train your dog like a professional dog trainer.

The one downside of this program is that it can only be accessed over the internet so anyone without an internet connection cannot view it.  Because of this, I have given it a rating of 4 1/2 stars. If the course was also offered as an e-book, I would have gladly given it 5 stars.

This course would be perfect for all dog owners wanting a first rate dog training guide, however, I feel that it is particularly appealing to people who find ebooks boring.  So you know what to expect , you are invited to view a sample lesson before you buy the course.

The quality of Dove Cresswell’s course is first rate and I strongly recommend it to all dog owners: Dove Cresswell.

a dog trainer

A dog trainer has to be a special person who can undertake training your dog so that he or she can be the pet of your dreams. But, cost sometimes comes in the way and so we must turn to an alternative: be a dog trainer for ourselves. No, this does not mean opening your own business or doing the pet training for your family. It means that you are going to be the one who will handle and train the dog in certain aspects. Luck may pay a part but it will be a firm base of knowledge and help that gets you through.

In order to be a dog trainer for your pet, you have to know some dog training tips. The first is having the proper knowledge on the dog breeding. Certain dogs are more laid back than others. Some dogs exhibit more aggression. As a dog trainer for your puppy, you must know its breeding. Once you have this knowledge ingrained then you will know what areas of difficulty you can expect as well as areas that will be easier.

Basic dog training starts off with teaching the pet how not to use the bathroom in your house. Dog books may recommend something called crate training to help with this aspect. Basically it begins with laying puppy pee pads out and into a crate designed to house your dog. There will be some rough times when the carpet gets more of the pee than the pad or crate does but as a dog trainer you must come to expect this. Eventually the dog will lean to use the bathroom correctly.

Crate training can also be used as a way to secure the dog at night when the rest of the family is asleep. You probably do not want to wake up and find your best shoes chewed up because Fido became irritated at you because you were not there for him or her when they wanted to play. Dogs are very smart. If you irritate them or abandon them, they will retaliate and the recipient is often a favored pair of shoes that become chew toys.

Crate training can help a dog trainer by providing the pet with a place to go when the owner is not immediately at home and values their favorite shoes. It can also be used as a time-out of sorts.

You, as a dog trainer, can expect to have a lot of questions and should expect to have some frustrations or set-backs. Do not take it personally. It takes time to learn all of the tricks of the trade. Eventually the initial training will be complete and then you can start on some of the fun things.

Let’s face it, puppies and chewing go together like bread and butter. Puppies learn about their surroundings by either sniffing on something or putting it in their mouths and chewing on it. Puppies chew on things, but to avoid destructive chewing, it’s up to their owners to teach them which items are off-limits. Here are ten ways to stop puppy chewing and destruction.

1. Take Time To Puppy-proof Your Home

Instead of always yelling at your pup for getting into things, it’s better to temporarily put away things you don’t want him to damage. Pick up the throw rugs, put the plants someplace where he can’t get to them, and cover or tape down electrical wires. Put trash bins in the closet, along with the toilet paper and any household cleaners. Put your clothes and shoes away. Secure anything heavy that a puppy could pull down and hurt himself.

2. Give Him Only Two Or Three Toys At A Time

If your puppy has too many toys, he’ll have a hard time learning what belongs to him and what belongs to you. Plus he’ll get bored with his toys after a couple of days. That’s when you put those toys up and give him different ones.

3. Confine Him Safely To One Place

If you’re not able to keep an eye on your puppy, it’s best to confine him to a safe area where he can’t destroy anything or get hurt. Keep him in one room by using a wire-reinforced puppy gate. Another idea is to confine him to a crate that’s the right size for him. Puppies often feel more secure in a small, protected den area like a crate. It also gives you peace of mind because you know destructive chewing isn’t happening in your absence.

4. Lots And Lots Of Exercise Is Essential

Your pup needs one to two hours of active exercise outside every day. Playing fetch with a ball or other toy can help to stop puppy chewing, too, as well as using up all that excess energy all puppies have.

5. A Puppy Playmate Can Help, Too

Playing with another puppy will also use up his energy, as well as teaching him how to interact with other dogs.

6. Begin Basic Dog Obedience Training Even Though He’s Still Young

Keep the sessions very short. A young puppy can’t concentrate too long, but a 30-second “mini-session” several times a day is a good start. Don’t ignore training opportunities as they arise during the day. It’s much easier to correct small problem behaviors as they occur to prevent them from becoming big problem behaviors in a few months.

7. Find An Agility Training Course For Him

These classes are a lot of fun, plus your puppy is getting lots of exercise while he’s becoming more coordinated and confident. Make it into a win-win situation for both of you.

8. Use A Bitter-Tasting Spray

If your puppy just won’t leave the sofa leg alone, try spraying it with a bitter-tasting substance. You can get these sprays at any pet store; they’re very effective in making your puppy wonder what he ever saw in that chair leg.

9. Don’t Punish Him After The Fact

You can’t stop puppy chewing by punishing him for something he did several hours ago. Dogs live in the present. Your pup can’t connect the fact that he chewed up your shoe two hours ago with your being upset now that you’ve just found it.

You either have to catch him in the act of chewing, or better yet, prevent the problem in the first place. See numbers one and three above.

10. Remember that it’s up to you to teach your puppy what kind of behavior is and isn’t acceptable, right from Day 1.

You should know that making the investment in a good dog training course will pay dividends now, and through your dog’s life. Avoiding destructive chewing now is only the first step in preventing dog behavior problems throughout your pup’s life.

If you’re trying to stop puppy chewing, visit No More Bad Dogs to discover how a good dog training course will help you solve your puppy behavior problems.

Tell me, does this describe you?Puppy chewing has turned your dream of having a happy, obedient dog into a nightmare as your belongings are shredded into a million little pieces due to of dog chewing problems.  Don’t despair.  You can stop puppy chewing by learning some dog training basics. 

You Need To Understand Why Puppies Chew On Things

If you’ve ever been around a human baby, you know that they learn about their surroundings by putting everything in their mouths.  A puppy is no different.  Puppies chew on chair legs, shoes, and whatever they can get hold of.  This is normal behavior, but that doesn’t mean it’s not destructive chewing.

Also like human babies, puppies chew on things because they’re teething.  When a dog chews, endorphins are released.  These chemicals soothe your puppy and make his sore gums feel better.

The Do’s Of Dog Training Basics For Puppies

Puppies don’t automatically outgrow chewing on everything.Training him to stop puppy chewing on things that don’t belong to him is your job as a dog owner.

You can prevent dog chewing problems by putting things away.  Don’t leave out eyeglasses, shoes, or the tv remote where he can get them.Move your defenseless plants to a safer place, and put the trash can in the closet.  Pick up throw rugs, socks, and anything else he’s tempted to chew on.

One suggestion is to make furniture and things you can’t move taste bad to your puppy by spraying them with a bitter-tasting substance.  These sprays, available at pet stores, are very effective at stopping destructive chewing.

Provide lots of chew toys.  Only give him two or three at a time so he can learn that they belong to him.  If he starts chewing on something off-limits, say “drop-it” and make a noise to startle him into dropping the object.  Immediately give him one of his chew toys and praise him when he puts it in his mouth.  This teaches him two things; he’s learning the “drop-it” command, and he’s also learning what things he should and should chew on.

Your puppy needs a couple of hours of vigorous exercise every day.  Take him out and play with him.Use this playtime for training opportunities as they come up.  A young puppy can’t concentrate for long, but taking advantage of thirty seconds here and there to work on basic commands lays a good foundation for training. 

Keep an eye on your new friend.  If you’re busy and can’t watch him, put him on his leash and tie it to your belt.  Make sure he has something to play with.  Now he can’t wander off and get into mischief if you turn your back for a minute.

When you leave the house, confine your puppy to one area, either in his crate, or by using a wire-reinforced puppy gate. 

What Not To Do When Dealing With Dog Chewing Problems

Don’t confuse your puppy by giving him old shoes or socks or towels to chew on.  He can’t tell the difference between an old worn out running shoe and the ones you just paid $150 for yesterday.  The boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable things to chew on must be very clear.

Avoid leaving him tied up outside all the time.  Your puppy needs to spend lots of time with you, so he can learn what you expect from him.  He can’t do this if he’s always in a puppy-proof environment.

Unless you catch him the act of destructive chewing, don’t punish him.He can’t comprehend that you’re upset about what he did three hours ago.  You might think he’s acting guilty, but what’s really happening is that he’s scared and threatened by you being angry and upset.  The guilty-looking behavior is actually a submissive posture that has nothing to do with being caught misbehaving.

You can see that it’s very easy to do the wrong thing when trying to stop puppy chewing.  The best way to train your puppy correctly is to make the investment in a well-recommended dog training course right now.

If you’re trying to stop puppy chewing, visit No More Bad Dogs to discover how a good dog training course will help you solve your puppy behavior problems.

It’s usual for a puppy or dog to growl when you play tug of war with him. You must be aware that growling is a sign of aggression and that your dog may attack or bite!

You should know if the growling is appropriate or inappropriate. If your puppy or dog is eating or playing with a toy and growls when you get close, that isn’t behavior you should allow. Your dog is showing all the signs of dominance over you.

If the growling starts with no obvious reason, a visit to the vet is called for to to ascertain if there is a medical cause.

Growling can be a sign of your dog exerting dominance over you. So, the next thing you be sure of is that you position yourself as the pack leader in your home. This is the foundation of solving many dog behavior problems.

To become the pack leader, you should adopt the approach of NILIF (Nothing In Life Is Free). This approach means that you ask your dog to do something before you give him anything. With this approach, you can’t allow your dog to demand attention from you. If you allow him to demand attention, you have just lost your position in the hierarchy. Just ignore him when he demands attention. You choose when to offer him attention. If he tries harder you must not give in or all is lost.

With NILIF all in the house need to be persistent and consistent.

So, for example, you request your dog to sit and wait patiently before you place his meal down or before you let it out of the house. Don’t allow your dog to offer a behavior before you ask for it – that doesn’t count.

Walk through the door before your dog when leaving the house. You can let your dog see you eating a small snack like a biscuit before you put down his food since the alpha dog eats first. You are only required to do this for a couple of weeks to position  yourself as the pack leader.

Everyone in the household needs to engage in this process to place them higher in the hierarchy than your puppy or dog.

The leader of the pack goes to higher ground to sleep, so do not allow your dog to rest on your bed if you want to be more dominant.

You should do consistent training sessions with your puppy or dog. Make the training sessions short and fun. This will help in making your dog better behaved in general.

Read more about how to stop your dog growling and other aggression in dogs.

Has this ever happened to you?  You come home to find that your dog has been chewing on your favorite shoes–again!  If dog chewing problems are a headache for you, read on to discover the four big reasons for destructive chewing.   

A Bored Dog Is A Dog That Will Engage In Destructive Dog Behavior

Dogs tend to play rough.  They chew on things and pick them up in their mouths to shake them, thereby “killing” them.  Tearing their toys to shreds is all part of the game.  This is natural dog behavior.  The problem starts when it’s your things the dog is playing with, not his own.

A bored dog will usually find something to do if he’s left by himself with nothing to occupy him.  Unfortunately, his idea of fun often involves destroying things, especially if he’s a puppy or adolescent, and he doesn’t have anything else to do to use up all his energy. 

What’s the solution?Your dog needs plenty of exercise.  Play fetch with him.  Go for long walks, and give your dog plenty of time to sniff at interesting things.Many dog owners aren’t aware that walks are great training opportunities, too.  They’re much more than just bathroom breaks for your dog.

Make sure your dog has plenty of toys.  Rotate them so he always has something new to interest him.Your dog will be entertained and happy for a long time if he’s presented with a toy stuffed with food.

Separation Anxiety In Dogs

This problem often shows up with dogs who are too attached to their owners.  Your dog has a panic attack whenever you leave him by himself.  Dogs with separation anxiety often chew on things to comfort and soothe themselves when they’re alone.  It makes him feel better.

The important thing to remember is that your dog isn’t chewing on your belongings to get back at you for leaving him alone.  He’s doing it because he’s scared; punishing him will add to the problem.

Separation anxiety in dogs is a tough problem to solve, but with lots of time and patience, you can desensitize your dog so he doesn’t react so strongly to your leaving.

Your Dog Wants Your Attention…

And he will do anything to get it, even if the attention is bad.  A dog who doesn’t get much attention unless he misbehaves is a dog who’s being trained to misbehave. 

It’s a hard thing to understand, but dogs are reward-based.  The best way to get a dog to stop doing something is to ignore him when he does it.  If he gets your attention, whether it’s good or bad, he’s been rewarded for what he’s been doing.

Give your dog lots of positive attention.  Play with him, take him for walks, just spend time with him.  If your dog is getting lots of good attention from you when he behaves well, he won’t resort to destructive chewing to get your attention.

Fearful Dogs

Anxiety in dog is often a problem with canines who are scared of loud noises like thunder or fireworks.He’ll attack doors, door frames, window coverings, screens, and walls, in an attempt to escape from whatever is frightening him. 

Don’t comfort your dog when he reacts fearfully to things.  You’re rewarding his behavior with your attention, which will only serve to reinforce it.Play with him and reward him when he responds to you, not to whatever is scaring him. 

Remember to provide a place where your dog feels safe during a scary situation.  This way he can retreat there when you’re absent.

To sum up, it’s important that you find and correct the reason for dog chewing problems.  A good dog training course is essential so that you can learn how to end destructive dog behavior without making the situation worse.

If you’re dealing with dog chewing problems, visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about a dog training course that will help to solve your problem.

There are so many pets that are homeless nowadays.Eight to ten million of dogs and cats get come to shelters yearly, as pet the records of the United States Humane Society.As a matter of fact a shocking number of 4 to 5 million dogs and cats are being euthanized at these shelters.  The reason?  Because there are not enough people going to shelters for pet adoption. 

These figures do not include those in small, local and home-based shelters.Animal rescue orgaiztions are there too which takes care of abandoned and ill-treated animals.  There are also hundred of animals left to stray in the streets.

Pets end up in shelters due to numerous reasons.  There are pets that are abused and hurt by their owners thinking that this is another form of training and discipline among their pets.  Animals victims of these extreme cased can be rescued and if the animals are not showing any behavioural problems, may be put up for adoption. 

Another reason why there are so many animals in shelters is because there are more and more animals straying or roaming around.  There are guardians who let their pets roam outside their premises and never bother to look for them once they are gone.  Also these animals do not have any identification tags. Because of this it is hard to give them back to its owners. 

The most common reason that an animal shelter can hear from pet parents surrendering their pets is that they are moving.  There are guardians who do not want to pay to transport their pets, guardians moving to apartments not allowing pets inside, guardians who do not want to pay a pet deposit, and many more.  It is important to remember that pets are not old pieces of furniture that can be left behind just because you can buy another one.Pets are living creature which have paid us with love, devotion and loyality. 

Having a baby is another reason why pet parent give up their pets for adoption.  SPOT  (Stopping Pet Overpopulation Society, Inc), an alliance of animal lovers, dog/cats rescuers and veterinarians in Atlanta,  recommends that people have their family first then adopt a pet.  If it is not possible, then it is best to pick a breed or mixed bred that is known to be good with children. 

It is important to remember before getting a pet that they require attention, time and money.  There are pet parents surrendering their pets because they can no longer provide time to take care of them.  Also others may find it too expensive to raise and take care a pet.  It is important to think that taking care of pets is a commitment that you are ready to take and be responsible for the next 10 to 15 years.

Also one other reason for giving up a pet is problems originating out of its behaviour. Too much barking, chewing everything, too hyper or aggressiveness of the pets are the common cited behavioural problems cited.  Of course, dogs who did not undergo obedience training will be rambunctious and wild.Dogs who are not too social will be aggressive in behaviour against human beings or other animals. 

It is important for a parent to get a pet, only if, the parent wants it as much as the children want the animal.  Because if the children immediately lose interest on the pet, it is more likely that the unfortunate animal will be given up for adoption.  It is important to always ask yourself, a parent , before getting a pet the real reason for getting one.

There are also incidents that elderly guardians could no longer take care of their pets because of death or they would have to go to a nursing facility.  If the pet parent is already a senior citizen it is important to take into consideration the age of the pet and who will take care of it when the situation turn into worse.  If it is uncertain who will take care of the pet, it is best to adopt a pet that is already and wonderfully housebroken older dog. 

There are many reasons why pets are put up for adoption everyday.  It might be unfortunate events that happened to the pet parent or just avoidance of responsibility.  It is important whenever we are getting a pet to consider if we are indeed ready for it and committed in taking care of it. 

It can be a matter of real happiness if you have a loving pet. Pets are good at making friendship and they can also become as good as a family member. If your children have no experience of pet, however they wish to have one, you may notice that virtual pet adoption can give them adequate knowledge of caring. It can help let your little ones experience what it is like to have a real pet of their own.

Unfortunately, kids often yearn for having a pet with little or no idea of what it really takes to take care of one. The responsibility of having an animal in the house is not as easy as it may sound like. Some times the demand of attention might be interfering in your life and also you can feel that it is too demanding. But once a bond has been formed with a pet, it becomes awfully difficult not to take care of it properly; you have no choice but to get on with the responsibilities of owning one as best as you can.

A whole lot like real pets

What makes owning a computer generated pet such a good idea for your kids? Good, as your children are caring its adopted virtual pet, they also come to know about that what is important to take care of a real animal. Just like a real pet, your children will also have to perform a few things to their virtual ones as they take care of them. These artificial companions are replicas of real animals, so they basically seek the same kind of interaction from their owners as real pets.

Getting your kids to pick and look after their virtual furry companion will give them the same satisfaction they get from owning a real pet. They will get to name their chosen pets, feed them when they become hungry, ensure that they have enough water to drink, buy them stuff, play with them, and even take them out. Plus your little ones will also get the positive feedback from their simulated pets if they’re satisfied with how they’re taken care of – just like a real pet.

Picking the best one for the family

Does your child want a golden retriever, a Persian cat, a cockatoo or a python perhaps? There are a great variety of virtual pets your kids may adopt. Some of the available animals children can pet on their computer include cats, dogs, birds, mice, turtles, snakes, monkeys, fishes and many more. But they can also opt for a few unconventional creatures to take care of, like monsters or aliens.

The good thing about getting your kids to adopt a virtual pet before buying an actual one for the family is to test if it’s the animal suited for your household. For instance, if you think that a cat is the perfect companion around the house, you can try looking after one in a simulated manner first.

Taking care of a pet is like taking care of a true member of the family. It needs a lot of patience and practice, love and devotion and time too. The best way to instill and develop a sense of responsibility in your little ones in taking care of pets is to trough virtual pet adoption. Your kids will have a great time looking after them as they get ready to get a real pet of their own.