PETS Info Blog

Cockatiels are one of the most popular breed of pet parrots. Between the various lovely color schemes, their ability to speak and whistle, their friendliness, and their typical longevity, it is easy to see why so many opt to adopt them.

Native to Australia, the cockatiel typically lives between 15 and 20 years, although they have been known to live as long as 30 years, and grow to between 12 and 14 inches in length. The usual coloring of the wild variety is a grey body with yellow coloring on the face and crest, and a patch of orange on the cheek. Other color mutations include albino, lutino (all-white bird with yellow face and crest, and bright red cheek patch), pied (a mutation resulting in more yellow or green colored feathers), pearl, cinnamon, and whitefaced. The males� coloring tends to be brighter than the females in adulthood, their coloring differences are more subtle in their youth, making it more difficult to establish the sex of the bird. Interestingly, their crests hold the key to determining their mood; if the crest is erect, the bird is excited or startled, oblique when in a relaxed state, flattened and close to the head when angry or threatened, and flat but protruding in the back when trying to appear flirtatious.

The cockatiel diet should consist of a variety of foods, though the foundation should be pellets. Some bird seed is all right for the birds, but the seeds contain a lot more fat, and should be limited to no more than 30% of the diet. Fresh vegetables are also integral to the diet, but may require more work to get the birds to eat, since the birds are skittish about trying new foods. They also need some protein, but in moderation.

Because these birds are playful and active, a cockatiel�s cage should measure about 20 inches by 20 inches and at least 26 inches in height to allow the bird plenty of room to climb and fly. The cage�s bottom should be cleaned out daily, and the bird should be provided fresh water at all times. The cage should also be placed in a quiet environment with some dim lighting. Total darkness can cause the bird to suffer night frights, where the bird is intimidated to the point of thrashing around in its cage. Of course, this is very dangerous for the bird, so a night light placed nearby can prevent this. You may also consider purchasing a smaller cage for sleeping. The cage should also include natural food-finding toys, and some perches.

When choosing a cockatiel to add to your family, you�ll want to consider these factors. Ideally, you would buy from a skilled breeder with knowledge of the bird�s background, as opposed to a pet store. You will likely want to choose a hand-fed baby or young bird used to handling. Look for the bird to appear more alert and bright-feathered, as a bird that appears more diffident is likely sick. While you can buy two birds together, they will likely get along with each other very well, but not be quite a social with you. Buying one bird alone and showing it a lot of attention and affection early on leads to a friendly and sociable bird. Males, in addition to being more vibrantly colored, are generally more friendly and vocal than the females. Finally, if you already have a cat or dog as a pet, a bird is a risky addition, especially if you plan on letting the bird fly freely in the house at any time.

Cockatiels are justifiably popular pets, and may make a great addition to your family. With the proper care and attention, this bird may live with you for many years to come.

If you have ever had a pet then you should know that there are many options available for food for your pet. Whether feline or canine, you can get food in dry or wet varieties. Even though it comes down to a combination of what is best for your pet, what your veterinarian says and personal preference, for some unknown reason, this debate rages on.

The wet food supporters claim that the dry food does not contain enough moisture for the pets that consume it. Well�if it does not contain enough moisture for the pets, maybe the water bowls that are generally next to the food bowls could compensate for the lack.

That being said pet owners should know there has actually been real money spent on the study of this very thing. So as it happens, there is enough moisture compensated for by the animals partaking from the previously mentioned water bowls.

Supporters of dry food claim that wet food does not help in the maintenance of the pets teeth. While this has more relevance to dogs than cats, it is still debated by owners of both species.

Amazingly enough there have also been studies done on this argument. The studies are relatively inconclusive in that different kinds of food have different effects on different species and not only that, but the teeth that are affected have different places inside the mouths of the pets.

As a conclusion of this theory, the older pets need moisture food while the younger a crunchier one but in the end we all know that pets can refuse to eat a certain food based on very different reasons not related to moisture.

You can also take into account the cost of the food for your pet. Dry food comes in larger quantities and may be more economical if you have a large pet or quite a few pets to feed. Wet food comes in small containers and therefore tends to be more expensive, still the option can be good for those with diminutive pets or even those with just one pet.

Pet food is actually more strenuously regulated in the United States than human�s food is. It�s true that this is hard to believe but people care more about what goes into their animals� body than about what they eat for themselves.

That right there should show you that no matter what kind of pet food you choose to curb your pet�s appetite with, it will be good for them provided it contains the nutrients and elements to feed your pets and keep them healthy.

As a responsible and loving dog owner, you simply want the best for your pet. Dogs are domesticated animals that can be trained to do a lot of things. If you want your dog to be smart and perform many tricks, sending it to dog training schools is the key.

There is a big difference between training a dog at home, and sending him to dog training schools. While home training is a good way to teach them basic skills, there are no doubts that dog training schools produce smarter dogs.

While your dog is still young, you should consider sending him to dog training schools to help you raise a smarter dog.

Some advantages of formal obedience training include:

1. A formal obedience school will equip your dog with the discipline to learn despite many distractions. There will be other dogs and this will mean more noise and distractions. This helps your dog retain the discipline to apply and perform the skills and tasks he learned in dog training schools, outside in the real world where there really are many distractions.

2. In school, your dog will be exposed to other humans and dogs, which will greatly improve his social skills. He will be familiar and learn how to adapt to strangers and other dogs, and, if he has a social problem, this can be addressed during his training. You will then be able to bring your dog just about anywhere and not have to worry about how he will react to strangers.

3. Dog training schools will also equip your dog with the proper behavior, and lay the groundwork so that he does not resort to unacceptable behavior such as chewing things, biting, peeing, and others. He will be smart enough to distinguish bad behavior from good behavior, and will want to please his master.

4. The experience at dog training schools will open up the communication channels between you and your dog. This will result in a better and more effective relationship between pet and owner because it will help both parties to understand each other better and get more out of the relationship.

5. Dogs learn at different paces, and training under a qualified and experienced dog trainer will ensure that he has reached his maximum capacity. Additionally, dog training schools know the proper methods of testing how good the dogs have done, and know the right methods of correcting any mistakes.

6. Full dog training takes a lot of time, patience, and skill in part of the trainer. Dog training schools have the professional background to attend to your dog and make sure that he comes out at top form and reaching his peak mental and physical levels.

Once your dog comes home from dog training schools, you can avoid the whole phase of confusion, training, and dealing with unacceptable behavior. This will save you a lot of time and stress, as your puppy will easily adapt to his new home.

Dog training schools provide your pet with the knowledge and skills to perform at their best, and will result in a long and happy relationship with their owners.