Baby Otters Get Swimming Lessons

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Pets News

At the Longleat House and Safari Park in the UK, Beverley Allen is teaching two tiny otters how to swim. The pair, named Sumalee and Kasem, are being given swimming lessons in a baby pool in preparation to be returned to their Mom Mum and Dad.

Allen took over hand raising the otters because their mother was too old to produce milk for them. According to the Longleat House website, "the cuddly creatures live in her spare room, scamper round the house after her and even sit on her lap while she watches television." Initially she had to bottle feed them every two hours so having them in her home at night made that possible.

Says Allen about the cuddly cuties, "I started off putting them in the sink with a little bit of water when they were about nine weeks old. Then they progressed to my bath, where I could make the water a bit deeper to let them practice their breathing. Now they're splashing around quite happily in a paddling pool, with a few toys to encourage them to play."

"We're beginning to introduce them to their mum and dad gradually," says Allen, "letting them get used to the smell and sounds, so it won't be long now until they're with them permanently."

In the meantime, we could watch this video all day long. And we just might.

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French Bulldogs 101 – Dog Breed Info

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs

Dog Breed Name: French Bulldog

Personality: The whole "man's best friend" thing gets a little flipped around when you're talking about a French bulldog. Unlike most people-pleasing breeds, "these dogs are bred to be pleased," says Fran Prince, a member of the Midtown East chapter of the Greenwich Village French Bulldog Association in New York City. Joyce E. Baker, a certified breeder and founder of Forever French Bulldogs in Tallahassee, Fla., agrees that the breed "loves attention," but also lists "happy, playful, loyal, inquisitive" as their more admirable, endearing qualities. The American Kennel Club notes on its website that French bulldogs are "often described as 'a clown in the cloak of philosopher.'"

Grooming: "No grooming," insists Prince. Baker concurs, noting only "an occasional bath and brushing" as coat-keeping requirements. However, because of a the French bulldog's odd physical attributes, you'll need to do some maintenance around the head and face. "Ear cleaning is necessary," Baker says, and "some Frenchies will need their facial wrinkles wiped out and their noses rubbed with petroleum jelly to prevent drying and cracking."

Common Health Issues: Again, the physical peculiarities of French bulldogs can make for special circumstances. One term with which an owner will become quite familiar is brachycepahly, also known as flat-head syndrome, a recurring characteristic of the breed. What does this mean for a French bulldog's well being? Says Baker, "Their short face puts them at higher risk during anesthesia. They are also prone to allergies." Then there's that short spine of theirs, which may result in hip and spine problems. Because of all this, regular vet visits and proper diet and exercise (less is more) are a must. "The Dog Breed Bible" notes a lifespan of 9 to 11 years.

Continue reading French Bulldogs 101 - Dog Breed Info

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Kate Gosselin Brings Dog Back Home

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs, Celebrity Pets

More than a year after returning her family's two German shepherds to their breeder, Kate Gosselin surprised her brood in a "Kate Plus 8" special episode yesterday with the return of Shoka, one of the family's dogs, according to TV Squad. Gosselin told the kids that Shoka had gone through training and was back permanently. The family's other dog, Nala, was not shown in the episode, and it's not certain when she'll return home, reports RadarOnline.com.

Just as the family has made news headlines over the last few years, the Gosselin's pets have also had their fair share in the limelight. Kate previously confessed that she wasn't really a dog person and the pets took too much time and attention to care for. Shoka and Nala were returned to breeder Jeff Christopher after Jon and Kate's divorce. Kate and the breeder both insisted that she was simply trying to make sure the dogs were trained, while Jon claimed that Kate wasn't looking after the dogs properly.

While it's yet to be seen if Nala will return to the family as well, we sure do hope that this time around Shoka gets the love and attention she deserves and that Nala isn't missing her sister too much.

For more on Kate Gosselin check out her info page at Popeater.

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Cute Pet of the Day – November 30, 2010

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs, Cute Pet of the Day

Names: Alley and Jasper

Location: Virginia

Ages: 11 and 2

Dog Breed: Mixed

Favorite Toys: Alley's favorite toy is her stuffed bird. Jasper's is an empty paper-towel roll for shredding.

Favorite Treats: Alley loves carrots, and Jasper loves chicken chews.

Likes: Alley loves belly rubs. Jasper likes to burrow under the covers on a cool morning.


Dislikes: Both hate the vacuum cleaner.

Interesting Fact: Alley came to her owners for a one-night sleepover in September 1999, and she never left. Her owners called it "one long night!"

Congratulations to our submitter, alleyandjaspersmom. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

More Cute Pets

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Adorable Video – Cougar Cub a Hit at Oregon Zoo

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Filed under: Pets News, Funny Animal Videos

A female cougar cub has made a splash at the Oregon Zoo, where she lives in a maternity den with her mama, Chinook. (Dad Paiute is around in the afternoons.) According to the zoo website, "cougars -- also known as mountain lions, pumas and (in Florida) panthers -- live mostly in the western United States and Canada. They weigh from 75 to 130 pounds and have a carnivorous diet both in the wild and at the zoo."

The cub's keepers describe her as "brave and feisty," and quick to come around to being on public display. Says Michelle Schireman, Oregon Zoo cougar keeper, "She's quite the little explorer. Her comfort was the determining factor in our decision to open the exhibit to zoo visitors."

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LOLcats Take Over the World

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Cats, Photo Galleries, Funny Animal Pictures

No one had to tell us that cats have leadership potential. Just look at the way cats have taken command of our homes and our lives! They know exactly who's boss.

Our friends over at I Can Has Cheezburger have been closely chronicling the feline rise to power and they've shared with Paw Nation some of the more hilarious strategies and devious plans cats are employing in preparation of the day they finally seize complete control. Check them out in the gallery below.

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Courteney Cox’s Daughter Wants a Christmas Puppy, But Not a “Crazy Chihuahua”

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs, Celebrity Pets

Courteney Cox's daughter, Coco Riley, has been a good girl all year long, and at the top of her Christmas list is -- you guessed it -- a present with a pulse.

"She wants a puppy!" Cox tells People. "Which is unfortunate because we have two other dogs."

Luckily for Cox, she and Coco have already reached an agreement on one of the most basic terms. "All I said was 'No Chihuahuas!" Cox tells People. To which her daughter readily agreed, reportedly telling her mom, "No, they're just crazy!"

Now the "Cougar Town" star has a tough decision to make: Invest the time it takes to pick out the perfect puppy, or try to divert the 6-year-old's attention with an even more spectacular gift. It's a tough call, but an important one. Further compounding the already difficult decision is the fact that Cox recently split with her husband David Arquette. New puppies are a lot of responsibility even if you can afford to have help around the house. Maybe Cox should consult Paw Nation's guide to giving a pet before making her final decision.

One things for sure, Cox should put some serious thought into choosing a dog that will fit in with the family. Aside from the banned Chihuahua, what type of dog should Cox choose for Coco? Share your ideas in the comments below?

Get more celeb news at PopEater.

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Funny Picture – You’re Doing It Wrong

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Exotic Pets, Funny Animal Pictures

Science has shown that everyone loves pandas. In fact, we are sure that the giant panda is on 100 percent of all Top 10 Favorite Animals lists worldwide. Or at least it should be. But unlike the elegant, prowling tigress or the powerfully galloping wild mustang, it's not for its grace and beauty that we -- and our chums at Daily Squee -- love the giant panda. Clearly the opposite is true. But what is it about the fuzzy clumsiness of an oafish bear that makes us wanna snuggle it and cuddle it beyond all reason? It wouldn't be the safest decision in the world, but every fiber of our beings screams hug!

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Funny Picture – You’re Doing It Wrong

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Exotic Pets, Funny Animal Pictures

Science has shown that everyone loves pandas. In fact, we are sure that the giant panda is on 100 percent of all Top 10 Favorite Animals lists worldwide. Or at least it should be. But unlike the elegant, prowling tigress or the powerfully galloping wild mustang, it's not for its grace and beauty that we -- and our chums at Daily Squee -- love the giant panda. Clearly the opposite is true. But what is it about the fuzzy clumsiness of an oafish bear that makes us wanna snuggle it and cuddle it beyond all reason? It wouldn't be the safest decision in the world, but every fiber of our beings screams hug!

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The Doggie Diaries – Dog Walking Fatigue

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs, Pet Adoption

Each week, Ben Westhoff shares the ups and downs of owning Pippi, the dalmatian mix he and his wife Anna adopted as a puppy in late 2009.

As we approach our first anniversary of owning Pippi, you may be wondering if the "honeymoon" period is over. No way! Anna and I still enjoy snuggling Pippi and goofing around with her, playing tug-of-war and roughhousing.

But speaking for myself, I'm burned out on exercising her so much. It was fun for a time, but if someone were to give us, say, a robot dog walker for Christmas -- one that was trustworthy and ran on renewable batteries -- I would set that baby to auto-pilot and never look back.

I've written many times about Pippi's seemingly boundless energy. If she doesn't get a solid hour to 90 minutes of supervised outdoor time every day, she has trouble controlling her energy, and is more likely to cause trouble. Just walking her doesn't really do the trick, either; what she loves the most is being off-leash, running at top speed after sticks or balls, or engaging in similar interactive play.

Continue reading The Doggie Diaries - Dog Walking Fatigue

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