Choosing a Bird Cage

Deciding to bring birds into your home is likely to have the effect of making a substantial change in your lifestyle so it is not something you do just do on the spur of the moment. Likewise, selecting the right cage is also something you need to take some care about. This is going to be their home as well as being something that should enhance your home environment.
Of course, if it's just one or two birds you're planning on, you would most likely be looking for a portable cage that you can move around the house to take advantage of the prevailing conditions and to enable you to enjoy your birds wherever you happen to be. However, if it's a very large bird or a number of birds you have in mind, then you would most likely be looking for an aviary of some sort.

With a portable cage, the size of the inhabitants should be taken into account as a primary concern. They need to have room to move so the size of cage you would buy for, say, a Cockatoo would need to be much bigger than one you would buy for a pair of finches. Of course, the bigger the cage the better, no matter what size the occupants.I always feel sorry for a Cockatoo sitting in a cage with just one perch to stand on and not even the opportunity to hop. Play-top cages are very popular for members of the parrot family as you can let them out for a frolic (wings clipped of course) and it also enables you to interact with them more. If you don't want to let them out to play, then consider a dome-top cage. This will give them a bit of extra room to play around in.

If you've opted for an aviary, there is virtually no limit to what is available for you to choose from. It doesn't have to be outside, either. There are lots of beautiful indoor aviaries available and all you need is to do is tailor it to suit your individual situation. For instance, a huge cage in a small room would probably be wasted as you couldn't stand back and enjoy the show. Whether the aviary in indoors or outdoors, being able to see your birds from your living areas is a most desirable outcome. After all, that is usually why you have bought them.
So there you go. Just as there is a lid for every saucepan, there is a cage for every bird and every situation. You just need to give it a bit of thought and do a little research or seek some expert advice.

When I was just a lad, I was given a pair of Budgerigars and my father knocked me up a cage out of a small packing case with half- inch wire nailed across the front, a door cut into the side and a nesting box up in the corner. He very cleverly provided an external lid over the nesting box, which proved to be a great asset when they started breeding, as I was able to keep an eye on things and clean out the box when necessary.
The Budgies started breeding like rabbits until there was almost "standing room only" in the cage and so the next move was to a much larger packing case with several nesting boxes and a door big enough for me to climb through. Frenetic breeding continued and I then progressed to an aviary with an enclosed area for roosting and breeding and an open flight area.
All of these cages were home- made because, apart from anything else, the only bird cages you could buy back then were for single Budgies, Canaries and Parrots. No-one was manufacturing the beautiful and functional enclosures that are readily available today.

There is a cage available to suit every variety of bird and every domestic situation. It would have been unheard of when I was a kid to have an indoor aviary but now you can buy a specially designed enclosure to blend in with and actually enhance your indoor decor. Added to that is the sheer delight of a house full of bird chatter. Cages are available in whatever size you want, so you can have one that virtually dominates the landscape or one that fits neatly into a spare corner. Buying a pre-fabricated one is the way to go. That way you don't have to worry about fitting the thing through doorways or navigating it into an awkward spot. You'll get a lovely set of directions and even the biggest dummy will be able to assemble it.

Of course, the most important thing of all is to get an enclosure that suits its prospective inhabitants. That just means doing a little research beforehand. It's all there just waiting for you.

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Top Five Safety Tips For Having Your Dogs Off Leash

Having your dog off leash is a major responsibility. In fact, it's a responsibility that most dog owners aren't prepared for. Your dog can't simply be released and then be expected to automatically obey blindly like those dogs that you see on television. The real world is full of dangers and unexpected obstacles that could easily injure your dog, or worse. Know that your leash is the lifeline that keeps your dog (and others) safe when you're away from home. Unless your dog can follow these five rules for off leash behaviour in a perfect fashion, keep the leash firmly attached.

1. Make sure that your dog is well socialised before they are trusted off leash. A well socialised dog can be trusted, while on leash, to get along with everyone that they encounter. This means that you need to know how your dog is going to react to toddlers, small children, older children, other adults, other dogs, wildlife, and toys that belong to others. Your dog needs to be just as comfortable around the three year old who starts crying as they are around the elderly person using a cane.

2. It is important that your dog obeys everybody, every time, for every command that is given. Having dogs off leash means that you trust your dog to behave perfectly. Regardless of who is issuing orders, your dog needs to obey the command without any problems, and without any hesitation. If your dog's obedience isn't perfect, keep him on the leash until you have complete control over him at all times.

3. Ensure that your dog is trained at being off the leash before trusting him without it. Off leash behaviour requires tailored training and should not be attempted for the first time in a public place. See to it that your dog is obedient when off their leash in your own backyard before taking any chances in other places.

4. Ensure that your dog is well behaved in public. Without your ordering her otherwise, your dog must be trusted to not jump on other people or harass them, even if they have food. Your dog must likewise know that other dogs are to be left alone, and that toys that are lying around aren't theirs to be played with. Without a leash to pull your dog back, this understanding is important for your dog's safety when off leash.

5. Make sure your dog knows to follow you closely at all times. Trusting your dogs off leash means that you are confident your animal will stay at your side at all times. Unless fetch is being played, your dog should know to stay at your side and keep up with you while you walk. Even when you and your pal are playing fetch, your dog must know to retrieve the toy and return straight to you.

These rules are essential to keep your pet safe when off leash. If you are not confident that your dog has the ability to follow these five commands at all times, keep the leash attached and practice until you know he will obey perfectly.

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