Rubbing noses with a puppy

Pets 101: Making a Pet Portrait

making a pet portraitAnimals and humans always had a special relationship ever since these pets were domesticated. Pets have always been an important part of any family. Just like what parents do when their babies are growing up, family members also document the growth of their pets, from being a puppy or a kitten to becoming a full-grown dog or cat. Each day just seems to be worth remembering.

With humans’ great love for their pets, it has become very common for people to have certain artworks done for their beloved animals. And as the technology advances, so are the ways to create the best artwork possible for these pets. There are a number of styles that are being used and introduced to the public nowadays. Sketches were once the most famous type of artwork or portrait, but people have now found other ways to be creative.

Some families post the portraits of their pets on their fridge while others hang them in their hall or living room. Unfortunately, capturing the pets in their perfect pose is a lot more difficult. Human subjects are basically easier to deal with when it comes to capturing a good pose. These animals do not understand that artists are trying to get them to pose. But what’s good about having pets as the subject of an artwork is that all of their pictures are natural poses. This is because of the fact that a dog or cat will not feel shy or embarrassed to put silly faces or poses when confronted with a camera. Thus, photographers get a much better picture.

There are quite a few points that one needs to consider when taking pictures of one’s pets. Experienced photographers have the ability to create the perfect scenario to capture the best possible shot. But most pet owners are not as experienced as the professionals. Although this seems to be a disadvantage, one thing that could be of benefit is the fact that no one knows one’s pet much better than their owners. Owners know what their pets want, what they like to do, what makes him comfortable and what behavior makes their pets playful. So here are some ideas to help you get the best pet portrait.

Pet Portrait Ideas

Surroundings. Checking the surroundings that would best fit the portrait is very important. Whether it’s inside the house or outside in the garden, the scenery should be considered. If you want to have the picture taken outside in the backyard where the dog is obviously going to enjoy the freedom of running and playing around, it is most likely that you’ll be getting action shots. The catch is, you should be prepared to take a lot of photos, about a hundred of them, in order to get just one perfect shot for the portrait. If one is to take pictures inside the house, then it is more likely that you’ll capture a relaxed and comfortable pose from your pets. You can get the cutest photo when the animals are asleep.

Light. Every photo needs a good lighting. And one advantage of taking the pet’s picture outside is the natural light since it eliminates the red eye.

Pet Portrait Collages

Owners would also like to have the most unique pieces of arts when it comes to their pets. That is why many owners would want to take their pet’s photos to the next level. And you can do so through the use of a collage. This is a technique where papers are cut into small pieces and are used to make a new image. You do not have to be a great artist to do this; creativity is the secret to get hold of a wonderful result.

One of the beautiful aspects about having a collage is the way the papers overlap as they create textures. Any type of paper can be used, whether it is glossy, high quality and the likes. Adding accessories like beads, feathers and yarns would create a more lively image. But if one wants to go wild, a technique called cubomania would be appropriate. This involves the process of cutting small squares and gluing the pieces randomly together. This may not give an actual picture of the pet but the result could be a cool piece of art.

After finishing the art, sealing the surface and letting it dry before framing is a necessary step. One can add varnish in many layers. The more layers there are, the more the picture will pop. But if being fancy is not the kind of thing that you like, using glue is suggested. Avoid over brushing in order to evade permanent clouding. Brushing across once will do.

Pet portraits that are made of collage could make a one-of-a-kind gift. This could create a lifetime memory of one’s pet. Although collage can be used in creating any images,sometimes, its just a different feeling when you create it for someone or something you love. After all, your pets are loved, cared for and treated just like one of the family members. Thus, the creation of their pet portraits is one way of showing love and respect for them.

The Benefits of Raw Feeding

The Benefits of Raw FeedingToday many pets suffer from health conditions that were rare or didn’t even exist before kibble became popular. Diseases like cancer, diabetes, food allergies and obesity are some of the most common health issues in dogs fed commercial or human food. Numerous researches have shown a strong connection between the health problems in dogs and the food they eat.

For this reason there’s a huge shift in the manner dog owners are feeding their pets. The overwhelming trend is moving towards different variations of fresh and healthy homemade meals, as well as raw food, based strictly on meat or a combination of raw meat and vegetables, fruits, eggs and other nutrients suitable for dogs.

It seems that the dogs like the change, especially raw diet which seems to help them overwhelm health issues such as bad breath and gum diseases, skin problems, kidney and liver failures. It seems that balanced diet consisted largely of homemade broth, various combinations of meat, bones, and organs with or without a healthy complement of vegetables, fruits, and dairy prevent illnesses that come with a diet heavy in fillers, flavors, artificial colors and preservatives.

What are the other benefits of raw feeding? If you ask the owners, they will assure you that their pets have clean, shiny and white teeth, fresh breath, and almost no body odor. Raw fed dogs have more energy but, at the same time, are less hyperactive which means that they can be easily controlled. According to some, raw meat makes dogs aggressive but that is not true. The only change is that dogs really love their raw and they will probably try to guard this type of food better than kibble.

What else can forty to sixty per cent of raw meaty bones bring to your dog? Chicken necks, legs, and backs, together with rabbit, duck, pheasant, and occasionally whole fish will give your canine friend a firm and muscled body and stronger immune system. If your dog is old and his teeth are missing so he finds it hard to chew bones or you are afraid of him choking – grind them up. Even the old dogs with arthritis show more mobility and energy when they eat the way their ancestors did.

We all know that vitamins, minerals, and enzymes are destroyed by cooking and that intense heat reduces the nutritional value of food. But did you know that cooked food also affects your dog’s stool? Not to mention the kibbles. When dogs are fed raw the poop is small, almost odorless, firm and easily decomposed. The only difference can be noticed during the period of adaptation to raw after commercial food.

Although there are many benefits of raw food, the fact is that this kind of feeding is still relatively unexplored. This means that some of the benefits mentioned above are not scientifically proved, but information provided by the dog owners. We hope that this will change in the future and that we’ll be able to give you more tips on how to feed your dog.

facts about cats

10 Interesting Facts About Cats

What are the 10 Interesting Facts About Cats?

10 Interesting Facts about catsEvery ailurophile – person who likes cats, a cat fancier – enjoys every moment spent in company of these surprising and cute creatures. Having a cat as your beloved pet can be rewarding, but cats can be unforeseeable, so it is very important to educate yourself about the habits and nature of your cat. Here are some interesting facts you probably don’t know about one of, if not the most, popular pet in the world.

1. Which pet is more popular – cat or dog? According to the APPMA (American Pet Products Manufacturers Association) there are over 73 million cats living in the U.S. homes, while the number of dogs reaches 68 million. This interesting information shows that cats won not by a hair’s breadth – but 5 million hairs.

2. We all know the fact about cat’s skillfulness and their ability to always land on their feet, daring to spit into the face of the natural laws of physics. A research undertaken by the American Medical Veterinary Association showed incredible facts. A survival rate of the cats falling from heights ranging from 2 to 32 stories is 90%, which is unbelievable. Even more interesting is that cats falling from 20 or 30-story building will suffer fewer injuries than those falling from the lower heights.

3. Cats sleep two thirds of the day – lazy maggots! Basic mathematics shows that 12 years old cat spent 8 years sleeping. Almost every cat has a special napping place. Cats can sleep up to 16 hours a day. As a matter of fact, only bats and opossums are greater sleepers.
4. Amusing fact about meowing is that only little kitten meows at its mother, while adult cat only meows at humans. You’ll never hear it meowing at other cats or animals. Meowing is a privilege reserved exclusively for humans.

5. One of the many reasons for having cats is a fact that cat owners are less likely to have a heart attack than other people. Also, kids have fewer chances of developing asthma when cat is around.

6. Don’t be surprised or disgusted if your cat brings dead pray to your house. Scientists agree that this cat’s gesture is their basic instinct to bring food for kittens. If you see a dead bird or mouse in your home, consider it a gift.

7. Many studies confirmed that cats have emotions similar to human such as happiness, sadness, frustration, jealousy, excitement, anxiety, affection, fear and contentment. Cats are even capable to pick up your mood.

8. In a period of just seven years a pair of breeding cats, along with their kittens, can produce more than 400,000 offspring. They are true baby machines!

9. Cat bites can be dangerous and toxic. Estimated number of people bitten by these animals in the United States is 40,000 every year. A wound from a cat bite can cause major bacterial infection.

10. Cats can be trained to use the toilet and even to flush when they are finished. That is good news for cat owners who find it hard to get rid of cat litter.