How To Build A Dog House

Most of the population allow their dogs to live indoors and relax on the couch and sleep in their owner’s bed. If you are interested in building a dog house for your dog then follow these simple tips when starting this project.

1. Start building your dog house by finding out how big you need to make the house so when your animal reach their full adult size they will still fit in it. We like having a couple of feet of air above us so we don’t feel claustrophobic. Your dog will appreciate having that much room, as well. 1/3 of our standing height is where our comfort zone is. Take out a tape measure and measure your dog to find out how much room your dog will need. To figure this out measure your dog while standing up, sitting on his haunches and in his most relaxed position of lying completely stretched out. Whether your pet is standing up or sitting he should be able to see out the front entrance. The dog should not have to bend down and let his stomach touch the ground to see out. Measure the width of the widest point of your dogs shoulder’s while standing above him.

2. The dog house should be raised a few inches off the ground to let air and water go underneath it. Ventilation is important because it discourages pets to bother you dog in its house and keeps your pet healthier. Under the eaves you should have several small holes in the walls. Inside the house put in a wind block so your dog can warm up the house using its own body heat. Adding a partial wall to the dog house will allow him to get away from the cold and windy weather. This allows the dog to choose whether he wants to sleep in the entryway or in the other section of the house. Providing a pillow or bed would probably make your animal very happy and a lot more comfortable.

3. Build the floor so it is a bit slanted so it stops rain from coming inside the dog house. Also, build the roof at a bit of a slant for the same reason. If you want your dog house to be insulated well then do not paint on the inside.

4. Storms typically come from the south and west in the U.S. so making sure your dog house faces a different direction would make the most sense. Having the door of the dog house face to the east is highly suggested so the cold air cannot come through the door so easily.

5. By putting hinges on the top of the dog house it makes it easier for you to clean your dog’s living space. Every time you give your pet a bath it is suggested that you clean the dog house at the same time.

Every dog really should have a warm, safe and comfortable living space where they are safe from severe weather. Follow these tips to help you build a great house for your dog.

Robert Michael is a writer for De Pets which is an excellent place to find pets links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://www.depets.com

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May 24th, 2009, posted by admin

Diagnosing Sickness In Your Canine Friend

Diagnosing illness in your dog is not very easy, but there are certain things that owners can look out for to make sure to take the best care of their dog that they can. Regular vet visits and good home care and training are essential components to a healthy, thriving pet. The following are some indications of illness or problems that you might want to bring up with your veterinarian, if necessary.

Strange Waste

Of course, the waste material of your dog is never going to smell like roses; some smells less than others but feces smell nonetheless. If you happen to notice that your dog’s waste is stronger than it usually is, this is an indication of some digestive problems; in the same sense, any blood in the waste may also be an indicator of a greater problem and it is something you should bring up with your vet.

Mucus, blood, foreign objects, or indication of constipation or diarrhea on an ongoing basis are also cause for concern in your pet, and may be the signal of a greater problem.
Things like parasites, allergic reactions, food poisoning, or purposeful poisoning are all signified through these ways, so they are cause for concern in your pet.

Strange Urine

You can also diagnose dog illness by examining their urine; although it seems a bit gross, you can tell a lot about the health of your dog by examining their urine. If you notice that your dog’s urine has blood in it that may be a sign that something bigger is going on in their system, that some type of infection is present. If it looks like your dog is having a hard time urinating that may be a sign of a bigger problem as well. Even if it seems like your dog is urinating too much, that may also be a sign of health problems and diabetes is one of them, as well as Cushing’s syndrome and canine hepatic diseases.

Your Dog’s Coat

While it may not seem strange to you that your dog smells badly, it is not normal for the skin of your pet to secret strange odors. This can be due to certain problems, like hormonal issues and dermatitis. These are all issues that can turn into major health problems if they are not addressed early on.

Your Dog’s Actions

If you are noticing that your dog is responding less and less to your calls, or that their balance and orientation seems to be a bit off, you should have them checked for possible problems with the inner ear. As far as your dog’s behavior goes, excessive lethargy or apathy, or other apparent disturbances in your dog’s environment can also be indicative of more problems with your dog’s health. Rabies, meningitis and other serious health problems can be indicated by strange changes in your pet’s behavior.

If any of the above seem to be things that you are noticing in your pet and they are occurring on an ongoing basis, be sure to consult your vet for good advice on the right way to handle the situation and whether or not veterinary care should be sought after.

You can also find other information on dog’s eye care health and puppy health problems. http://www.AboutDogHealth.org is a comprehensive resource to help dog owners identify their dog’s illness symptoms and treatment options.

May 24th, 2009, posted by admin

Using Reciprocal Linking To Drive Traffic To Your Website

Reciprocal linking is a great way to improve your ranking in search engines. All reciprocal linking is, is asking other webmasters to link to your webpage and in return you link to their webpage. The more links you have the better. The one disadvantage of reciprocal linking is it can be very time consuming.

So first you should look for websites who have customers who can benefit from your product or service. For example, let’s say you are selling dog food. You should look for websites that sell dog supplies, or things relevant to dogs. But you would not want to link up with a site that only sold dog food. It would not make sense.

You can find websites to link with on Google, Yahoo or any other search engine. After you find the sites you want to link with, go ahead and email them. If your site does not produce heavy amounts of traffic, some of the sites with loads of traffic may not want to link up. This is where you can get a little creative. Try offering them a deal that the webmaster will benefit from. For instance offer the webmaster 10% of all the sales that come from his site.

In order to be effective you should at least contact 25 new webmasters a day. The pay offs can be huge using this method to generate traffic. Also make sure to add the links you are supposed to add to your link page. Lastly make sure you visit the sites you have exchanged with to make sure they have added your link to their webpage.

Eric Fields has been helping people succeed in business for over 25 years. To get more of his techniques for free. Visit http://www.leadgenerationworld.com.

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May 24th, 2009, posted by admin

Self-Defense, Safety, and The 6 Keys to Effectiveness

When most people think of self-defense, what usually comes to mind is protecting oneself from the physical onslaught from a criminal attacker. And, while this is not, in itself, a problem, it is however, only a small part of being able to be safe and free from harm in Today’s often dangerous world.

The following is a list of the major key skill areas that should be developed if you are truly seeking to be able to avoid or escape from an attacker bent on seeing you as his victim.

Key #1 - General Awareness

It goes without saying that, if you don’t believe that danger exists in the world, or more to the point, that danger will never find you, then you will do little or nothing to insure your safety. In addition, even if you do understand the dangers inherent in your world, which can be assumed as you’re reading this, it’s important to not fall into the trap of believing that the police, military, or government can and should be the ones to protect you. When push-comes-to-shove, and you’re the one facing an enraged attacker directing his wrath at you, you will be responsible for your own safety in those first few, precious, seconds.

Key #2 - Awareness of Surroundings

While most so-called self-defense experts tend to lump “awareness” into one category, the truth is that there are many levels to this “skill of directing the mind where it is most needed.” While Key #1 focuses our attention on the larger world-view of the presence of danger and our personal responsibility for our own welfare, this key is directed at the details of the moment. Here we’re paying attention to “what’s going on around us.” The fact is that, the better our ability to pay attention and recognize danger as it begins to take shape, the greater our ability to avoid, escape, or neutralize its effect on us BEFORE it has a chance to touch us at all.

That’s what Danger Prevention Tactics are all about. And, especially for those of us who want to avoid fighting at all costs, it is the key to defending against most of the dangers that others fall victim to every day. You can read more about this powerful video and mastering the skills of danger avoidance at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-video-dpt1.html

Key #3 - Escaping to Safety

While awareness will not prevent danger from appearing in your world, what it will do is to allow you to respond to it sooner. And this is the powerful secret used by the professionals and experts who regularly face danger literally every day of their lives. No, awareness alone will not save you, but it will allow you to escape from the danger before it gets close enough to cause damage. The trick here is to develop multiple routes to places that you visit regularly. Also, developing the ability to recognize and plan for escape routes out of places like traffic, restaurants, your own home, aircraft if you travel, and the like are all important to your overall safety plan. Remember too to validate all safety information that comes your way as most of what is out there has been written, not by actual survivors, but by people who have the job of writing safety procedures. And, as any expert or survivor will tell you, what sounds perfectly logical in theory, may be completely and totally useless in the heat of the moment!

Key #4 - Distracting the Attacker

The fact that your day is filled with demands for your attention, distractions, confusion, and input coming from a hundred different directions at once, can make even the most disciplined meditation master open to attack by a determined assailant. Add to this, all the trickery and manipulative deception used by various types of attackers, and you can see that it’s virtually impossible to be aware of everything. And that sets you up for the potential of an attack that comes seemingly “out of the blue.” Where distance is required to effectively escape from an impending attack, you may not have this luxury when you suddenly realize that you’re the target of an attacker already standing right in front of you.

But, this still doesn’t mean that you have to jump right to the physical aspects of self-defense. It’s important to remember that, regardless of your martial arts rank, how many tricks you know, or even whether or not you’re carrying a weapon, moving directly to physically fighting with your assailant provides the greatest chance for something going wrong.

Instead, you can use tactics and strategies that involve humor, feigning ignorance, or even faking a heart attack, to diffuse the situation and change a would-be attack situation into one where the assailant becomes an ally. Here, it’s important to remember that we want to avoid mentioning the possibility of an attack but instead, to distract the assailant by redirecting his or her attention away from you as a target.

Key #5 - Dissuading

When you can’t avoid, escape, or even distract the attacker and it appears that they are determined to unleash their punishment on you, you still have one more card to play before having to resort to fighting. At this point, you must become very focused yourself and understand that this is your last chance to stop things from going “too-far.” Here, you must be able to look squarely at your antagonist and, with your words, body language and raw determination, communicate that you will not allow them to carry our their plan - that you will not comply or become their victim.

It’s important to understand that, even though there it’s estimated that there is an assault every 17 seconds in the US, that a full 70% or better of these can be handled by Keys 1 through 5. It only stands to reason that you should know as much as possible about these important areas and make sure that you have several skills in each area that will work to serve you if and when you should ever need them. If you’re looking for a good source to learn more about these important key elements in a sound self-defense strategy, as well as what you’ll have to deal with from your own body and mind’s physio-emotional responses to stress and danger, make sure you read the book, “The Karate Myth: Why Most Martial Arts and Self-Defense Programs Don’t Work and How to Be Safe in Today’s World”

Key #6 - Physically Handle the Attack

When all else has failed, no matter what you believe, think, or wish would have or should have happened, when the fists start flying - the blade comes in to bite into and open your flesh - or the bullets start coming in your direction, it’s time for effective, efficient, and proper physical action. There’s a saying that goes, “Survivors Live Where Others Die.” It’s ultimately up to you, and the actions you take, long before the attack happens as to whether you will be a “survivor” or an “other.” The choice is yours.

Jeffrey Miller is a 10th degree black belt and founder of Warrior Concepts International, a self-protection and personal development consulting company specializing in teaching you how to be a survivor. He is the author of “The Karate Myth” and the “Danger Prevention Tactics” video, among others. For information about sponsoring a seminar, attending a live event, subscribing to any of his newlsetters, or any of his other products or services, visit his website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

May 24th, 2009, posted by admin

Fix it and Flip it - How I Lost Money on Real Estate

I’ve known a lot of people who have lost money when they sold their homes. In fact, I’m one of those people, and it’s happened to me more than once.

There are a number of factors can cause a financial loss when you sell your house, including the need to sell at the wrong time due to divorce or an impending foreclosure, or a downturn in the local real estate market. However, it’s also common to lose money simply by making too many expensive changes to the house before putting it on the market. This is how I lost money on real estate, before I wised up.

My most resounding failure in the fix it and flip it market was a house I bought in Spokane, Washington. Knowing what I know now, I would have restricted myself to replacing the carpets and the kitchen and bathroom fixtures, painting inside and out, and buying new appliances. I probably would have replaced the old-style windows, too, to make the place look nicer and appeal to the energy-conscious buyer. These fixes could have been done easily within the two years I needed to live there to avoid capital gains taxes.

Since I didn’t know what I know now, I made major renovations, which included moving the bathroom. I did most of the work myself, but the materials alone cost more than I could get back when the house was sold. With the exception of repairs done to the house to make it eligible for an FHA loan and watering the grass, I doubt that any of my major projects really helped me sell the house or increased its value.

If a house is actually sound, with no structural damage or insect problems, the biggest reason it will sell for less than its worth is usually cosmetic. This was certainly true of the house I bought in Spokane. Dirty carpeting, and a wall in the living room covered with mirror tiles, kept most buyers from going any further into the house. I could see past the cosmetic problems and see the home’s full potential - but my imagination went a bit too far.

The floor plan was odd, and slightly inconvenient, but leaving the bathroom where it was would have been far more rational, financially. Why didn’t I do that? Because my emotions and my nesting instincts took over, pushing aside all thought of future gain or loss.

Let’s face it - most people don’t buy their own homes with the intention of making a profit, although they certainly hope the house will be a good investment. In fact, the emotional stress caused by the process of buying a house and moving into it can be enough to completely erase any thought of moving again a few years later. However, I know several families who have made a very good living by buying underpriced homes, living in them and fixing them up, and then selling them when the IRS will allow them to do so without paying extra taxes. Clearly, these folks don’t make any changes to these houses without carefully considering the bottom line.

After my Spokane adventure, I decided to learn from my mistakes, and find out how to stop losing money on houses. I read books by authors who are experienced in fixing and flipping houses - and then read them again. When I saw that most remodeling projects almost never recoup their costs when the house is sold, I was a little shocked, because I had been guilty of almost every mistake on the list at one time or another. I know many people who have also made the same mistakes, even when they started those remodeling projects with the intention of increasing the value of their homes.

When I bought my next house, I kept that list very firmly in mind. For instance, my kitchen was badly in need of a major overhaul, (or so I believed), and it was far too small. I pored over the latest home decorating magazines, and ideas came flooding into my head. I thought about knocking out some walls, and I even tried to imagine adding on to the house to make the kitchen bigger. New cabinets would be needed, and new appliances…

In the end I painted the kitchen cabinets and replaced the sink with a new one I purchased at Ikea. I covered the chipped orange Formica counters with printed cotton fabric, and coated it with many layers of water-based Verathane that was intended to protect wood floors. The complete “remodel” cost less than $400, as opposed to the thousands of dollars that I would have spent if I followed through on my idle dreams of a “perfect” kitchen. Since the house sold at a very good price within two weeks of listing it, my buyer obviously didn’t mind that the kitchen didn’t meet my idea of perfect. Because I kept my costs down, I made a handy profit on the sale.

Would I have been able to sell the house for more money if the kitchen had been remodeled and expanded? Perhaps, but not enough to cover the cost of the remodel. Although the National Association of Realtors lists a kitchen remodel as one of the projects that will increase a house the most, they still advise that you should expect to get back only 80% of the costs. If your new kitchen is far fancier, bigger, and more expensive than any other kitchen in the neighborhood, the returns will be even less. A full kitchen remodel can cost thousands of dollars, so the 20% you don’t get back can be a big chunk of change.

Does this mean that you shouldn’t make changes to your home that would make you happy? Not at all, especially if you intend to live there for many years. But it does pay to sit down with your spouse or partner before you start making your remodeling plans, determine exactly how long you’ll be staying in the home, and then think about the full financial implications of the remodeling project. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a professional house flipper, it might pay to slow down a bit and find ways to improve the home without spending money you’ll never see again. As a bonus, your family might be able to avoid the stress and disruption of all that remodeling mess.

Jonni Good is the author of a new report that shows how she used these fix it and flip it ideas - and how the profit allowed her to buy her next house with cash. Visit - http://www.BuyAHouseWithCash.com

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May 24th, 2009, posted by admin

Border Collie - The facts every owner of this dog breed should know

Bred for their intelligence and herding instincts, Border Collies are descended from British herding dogs. A medium sized dog, Border Collies will grow to about 19 to 22 inches and 30 to 45 pounds. They will live about 12 to 15 years. Border Collies have medium to longer hair that comes in a variety of colors and are prone to shedding. Border Collies need to be brushed regularly to keep the coat healthy and dirt free. Border Collies are also known for their stare. Though their eyes can be brown, amber or blue, it is the Border Collie stare that people remember. This is part of the herding instinct, and a Border Collie will attempt to herd almost anything, including cars and children.

Great care must be taken with a Border Collie to ensure it does not hurt itself or others. A fenced in yard and plenty of leash training is a must with this breed. Border Collies are easy to train due to their intelligence, but, because of their desire to work, Border Collies must have work to do. If they are not given tasks to perform and room to roam, they will become bored and destructive.

They must have a lot of stimulation and activity to stay happy. Though good with children, Border Collies may attempt to herd them and, to keep the ‘herd’ in line, Border Collies have been known to nip. Border Collies usually do not do well with other animals, due to their herding instinct, and can become aggressive with other dogs of the same gender. Border Collies can be excellent household pets, but must be cared for by a family willing to give them the training, attention, care and activities they need. Border Collies are not recommended for people who live in apartments or those who do not plan on spending a lot of time with their pet.

Border Collies do have some breed specific issues. Some are prone to hip dysplasia, PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) and Collie Eye Anomaly. Many Border Collies are allergic to fleas and some are prone to epilepsy and deafness. Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) is a shoulder lameness that can develop between the ages of 4 to 12 months. Border Collies have also been known to work themselves to exhaustion and suffer from heat stroke in the hot weather.

Because Border Collies are very physically active, they are prone to athletic injuries, such as pulled muscles, cruciate ligament ruptures, cuts and punctures, ripped toenails and footpads.

There is a website that has great information on Border Collies and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970’s-80’s.

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May 19th, 2009, posted by admin

How To Identify Money-Making Properties!

There are a lot of the properties listed for sale each and every day. So many, that it can be overwhelming to decide on which properties might be good to buy for an investment. Maybe you are one of those individuals thinking about getting into real estate investing. Or maybe you are one of those individuals who already are investing, but have not been all that successful in finding those “diamonds in the rough”. In either case, please read on and discover how to correctly identify money-making properties that will help you to realize huge profits time and time again.

Finding a realtor that you can trust is essential if you want to be successful in real estate investing. Without this “external” team member you are left using your gut and more than likely a lot of your time researching the market to help make your decision. Realtors can access information on properties in minutes that may take you hours or days to access, so use them!

When you do find a realtor that you can trust have them assist you with the following:

The property’s asking price. Could you get it for less than what is being asked? A realtor can tell you.

The property’s selling price and what repairs are going to be needed to get it sold for the same amount as other like homes in the area are selling for. You want to make sure your property is just a “notch above” the others in your market at your price range.

Find out how long like properties in the area have been on the market (on average). This will tell you the amount of time that you can expect until you flip it (if that’s the route you’re taking).

Find out the average sale price for like properties in your area also. This will help you decide how much to rehab (dollar amount and quality), and how much you can expect your house to sell for.

Next are some suggestions on how to identify a property. These tips will put you ahead of the competition in your area and help you to buy smart for huge profits:

Look for properties with large bedrooms. People like space. They don’t want to walk into their bedroom and fall face down into the bed.

Look for openess in a floor plan. A very open floor plan can give the illusion of more space.

Try to locate properties with bigger kitchens. Why is this important, you may ask? The next time you have a party, take a look at where everyone gathers (understand?).

Make sure that the property you are considering has a dry basement and that the foundation is straight with no bowing. Wet basements mean leaks and leaks mean repairs, and repairs mean EXPENSES! In addition, wet basements can mean the dreaded four letter word, M-O-L-D. Steer clear of wet basements!

Find a property that has a maintenance-free exterior, such as a brick or maintenance-free vinyl siding. They’re out there, you just got to look.

Consider the neighbors and the neighborhood. Come by at different times of the day to see how the neighborhood is. Is it loud? Are there a lot of kids who should be in school or people milling about who should be at work? Are there any abandoned cars? Are the neighbors’ homes next to the property, across the street from the property, and behind the property in disrepair? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions–FIND ANOTHER PROPERTY!

Run a registered sex offender search for your area. You don’t want to rent to a family and then find out that there is a sex offender living right next door.

Look for a property with a newer roof and mechanicals.

Find a property with some curb appeal.

These tips offered in this article should have you on your way to identifying money-making properties in no time. Once you get it down to a system, there will be no stopping you from making huge profits each and every time!

Matt Bodeman and Scott A. Rozanski are the “Millionaire Real Estate Pros.” They have been helping others discover how to make huge profits in the acquisition of undervalued properties for years. In just the last year and a half alone, Matt and Scott have purchased over 50 properties using no money of their own and made millions of dollars.

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May 13th, 2009, posted by admin

Finding and Expressing Your Voice

Each of us has a unique and significant set of traits, abilities, passions, and skills that we offer to the world. This is our voice. When we are expressing our voice we feel significant, valuable, and joyful. We seek and find a sense of meaning in our work and in our lives when we are operating at this level. When we are expressing our voice we are in alignment with who we are. I have met many people in organizations who are doing this. They love their jobs; they are passionate about what they do; they love making a contribution; they are constantly learning and growing; and they feel fulfilled doing their work. When you have an organization where everyone has found their voice, you have one great choir–harmonious and magnificent. You have people supporting one another to express greatness.

Recently I read The Eighth Habit, by Stephen Covey. The eighth habit is: “Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.” This book is a must read for all of you who see yourselves as leaders. Dr. Covey presents some disturbing statistics that demonstrate that most of us are not in the choir. He presents the following data collected in a survey of 23 thousand U.S. people employed in organizations.

• 37 % have clear understanding of what their organization is trying to achieve.

• 20 % are enthusiastic about the organization goals.

• 20 % see how their tasks match up with the goals.

• 50 % are happy with what they have accomplished by the end of the week.

• 15 % feel their organization enables them to accomplish goals.

• 17% see open communication in their workplace.

• 10 % believe people are held accountable.

• 20 % trust the organization they work for.

Dr. Covey puts it into perspective when he imagines if a soccer team had these scores:

• Only four of the eleven players would know which goal was theirs.

• Only two of the eleven would care.

• Only two would know which position they play.

• Nine of the players would in some way be competing against their own team.

Covey attributes much of this to the fact that so many people do not find meaning or joy in their work. The answer, he says, is to help each person find their voice. I recommend you read the book. The Eighth Habit, through research and logic, presents a convincing case that the “carrot and stick” method of management is not effective. It is not effective in our workplaces, nor is it effective at home or at school.

Another recent book, Unconditional Parenting, by Alfie Kohn, cites numerous research studies that authoritarian and punitive parenting is ineffective. The results of highly controlling parenting are children who are either overly compliant, or overly defiant. It seems that whether we are dealing with children or adults, the use of rewards and punishments creates more problems than it solves. The problem is that controlling people doesn’t really teach them. Controlling others doesn’t bring forth their best selves. It doesn’t help them find their voice. As a result people are not internally motivated.

As I listen to people in various organizations, and as I read the literature from various fields, this is what I find:

• People don’t feel respected.

• People don’t feel valued.

• People don’t feel listened to.

• Many people feel directionless and powerless.

• Many people are focused on external factors such as punishments, rewards, grades, approval, disapproval, criticism, profits, and social recognition rather than internal factors such as personal responsibility, compassion for others, the desire to contribute and serve, and finding/expressing one’s voice.

The thought occurs, “Somebody should do something.” But who is somebody? Who will lead us? I suggest that it is you. Yes, you the reader of this article, are the leader we have been waiting for. Yes, CEO’s, presidents, Executive Directors, and managers need to change, but we are all responsible. We are all responsible for looking within ourselves and finding meaning, finding our voice. It’s time to eliminate the excuses, to stop blaming management; to stop blaming your parents; to stop blaming the government and ask the big question: “What can I do?” Whatever the situation is, we need to accept that it is what it is, and now we need to figure out what we can do about it. Blaming managers, blaming employees, and blaming circumstances are a waste of valuable energy and serve as excuses for not taking responsibility.

You can find your voice. You can help others to find theirs. You can realize that a paycheck is a result of doing good work, but it is not the reason you were hired or the reason you are in business. You are there to serve. And when you are serving well, you enjoy your work. And when you serve well, most often you tend to be paid well. And if your organization doesn’t pay you well in spite of your incredible service, your track record and your positive energy will get you work somewhere else where you are compensated well. Or, you can utilize your tremendous skill and service orientation to create a lucrative sideline business. If your real dream is doing something else somewhere else, stop waiting, start planning, and do it.

We wait for the right CEO or the right president to come in and “turn this place around” and start treating people with respect. The person who can turn this place around is you. Here is how:

• Notice how you feel at work. The thoughts you think and the emotions you have are what you are giving to employees, managers, customers, and anyone else you meet. Is what you are thinking and feeling helpful to them? If not, are you willing to imagine and become a more positive you?

• Dig deep and find your passion. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it.

• Be honest, and compassionate with everyone, especially your boss.

• Ask your manager, or whoever is above you, how you can help make the organization stronger–how you can help him/her create a more successful organization.

• Eliminate “I can’t because…” from your vocabulary and focus your energy on creative ways to get it done anyway. This means working smarter–not harder. • Ask your employees and coworkers how you can support them — and listen to them when they reply.

• Treat each person you meet, whether they are an adult or a child, as a highly respected being. Do your best to understand their needs and concerns.

• Focus your day on helping, on listening, and on being present in the moment.

• Make sure that each word you speak, each action you take, contribute to the success of the people you are with and to the overall success of the organization. That means stop the gossip and stop listening to the gossip. Move beyond complaining to creative action. With your speech and your actions you are either building or destroying. Which do you prefer?

• Stop whining! It is unbecoming of you.

• Help others find their voice. It is the most rewarding thing you will ever do.

• Excuses, blaming, and “reasons” are all ways in which you give away your power. Claim your power by being a possibility thinker. Look at any situation and ask: “What possibilities can I find or create?”

• Refuse to be a victim. Envision what can be and start taking action toward that vision.

• No one you know needs fixing. They just need to learn who they are and find the confidence to be who they are. Help them be successful.

In conclusion, Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great, tells us about the most successful companies and why they are great. His comprehensive research shows that each and every company (there were eleven who had achieved greatness) all had what he calls Level Five leaders. Four of the traits exhibited by Level Five Leaders were:

1. They were humble and did not seek personal glory.

2. They were focused and driven to succeed, not for themselves, but for their company.

3. They refused to accept mediocrity, and took creative action.

4. They found successors who were as good or better than they were. These are leaders who have found their voices and helped many others to find theirs. These are leaders who created organizations that were not codependent on them, but who were empowered to succeed on their own.

You are capable of being such a leader if it is your intention. You are a light. When you bring your greatness forth you give others permission to be great too. It is a matter of choice–your choice.

William Frank Diedrich is a speaker, executive coach, and the author of Beyond Blaming: Unleashing Power and Passion in People and Organizations. William offers keynotes and workshops on leadership and moving beyond blaming. William also offers a free online newsletter, Transformation Times. Learn more about William at http://noblaming.com.

May 8th, 2009, posted by admin

Swiss Tradition in Black and White - Book Review

In total, 126 pages of information await readers interested in the Bernese Mountain Dog, a canine originally from Switzerland. Swiss Tradition In Black and White is a non-fiction guide that is written for both pet owners and dog breeders alike. The author, Marlies Bugman, did a good job in ensuring every aspect of the species is covered in her book.

Twenty-eight chapters in total, the book is broken into three sections for easy referral and are accompanied by several photographs of the author and her dogs.

Part 1 embarks with the humble beginnings of the Bernese Mountain Dog, as a farm and herd animal, and follows the breed’s eventual rise to Pedigreed Status. Mrs. Baker discusses the dog’s global recognition and how careless breeders cause unnecessary suffering and harm. The author also offers advice on how to support breeders that care about perpetuating a strong and healthy species for future generations.

Part 2 shows readers the right way to consider the dog that is right for you and what to do upon brining a puppy home. Information for owners to begin socializing the animal is discussed. Also, the author makes sure owners understand the immunization requirements. Basic advice on grooming, necessary exercise and training are also provided. I found the chapter on feeding quite interesting. The breed’s growing habits, along with potential health threats and hereditary disorders, are also discussed.

Part 3 delves much deeper into the official standards for breeding the dog. Finally, the book closes with Appendix sections that include a copy of official standards, offer a list of references used in the writing of the book and provide pages to record worming and inoculation schedules, training courses and personal notes.

Authors: Marlies Bugman
Publisher: Zumaya Publications
ISBN: 1-55410-304-5

~ Lillian Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk and Purple Snowflake Marketing, author of Towards Understanding; host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (http://www.brummet.ca)

May 8th, 2009, posted by admin

Your Dog’s Dietary Requirements Will Vary With Age

Dogs need different diets at different ages. Yes. This is true. For example, the puppy needs milk as the major food item while an adult dog may need beef or chicken in addition to the boiled egg and milk. So depending on the age factor, the diet schedule varies in reality for the dogs like any other species.

This makes perfect sense if you think about it. We as humans have different dietary requirements as we grow older as well. Aging may require the increased intake of certain nutrients and the decrease of some others. Knowing the best diet for your dogs age makes it that much easier for your dog to lead a healthy, happy life.

Puppies need greater amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates than an adult dogs. Furthermore, puppies need more frequent feeding schedules in a day, unlike an adult dog. The movement based requirements of diet are more in the case of puppies, since they are often more active than the adult dogs.

Elder dogs need restricted protein but the protein needs to be easily digestible and easily assimilated in the body. The diet schedule should have ample supply of water for them. Feeding aged dogs too much protein may finally lead to over burden to the renal structures and ultimately, the dog may end up damaging filters in the kidney.

This is true especially when the immune system of these dogs is compromised due to many factors. Similarly, the elderly dogs need less food only because the movements of the adult dogs are highly restricted and hence, they use a limited amount of energy…a lot less energy than a puppy who’s running around your house at a mile a minute.

Female dogs in the pregnancy stage need not be fed a full stomach since it may cause some discomforts to the animal. However, the pregnant animal and the nursing animal need special type of food items that deliver a balanced type of nutrition with proper supplementation of vitamins and minerals.

The nursing animal with puppies need to be fed with enough amounts of calcium and hence, there will not be any calcium based deficiency and the bones of the puppies will be strong without any curving.

To Your Dog’s Good Health!

Bob Perkins is a writer and author of two books on dogs, “Boxer Dog Secrets” and “Your Dog’s Health”. Bob’s website is jam-packed with dog tips and techniques. For more great dog info ==> http://www.1StopDogSupplyShop.com

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May 5th, 2009, posted by admin