Selecting A Dog Crate

Selecting A Dog Crate

First decide which crate will suit your needs.

Wire- designed to safely confine your dog. These crates are not designed to be picked up and moved around with your pet inside.

Hard Plastic- These are designed for your pet to be carried safely inside.

Consider these basic features before purchasing a crate or carrier.

Wire Dog Crates

Offers great visibility and ventilation.
Available in folding models and many offer divider panels.
Mainly used for house breaking, crate training, a everyday crate.

Hard Plastic

Used to transport pets.
Many are approved for airline travel.
Will help to contain your pet while a vehicle.

Soft Crates

Main advantages are they are light weight, easy to transport, and easy to set up.
They can be used as a everyday crate.
These crates are not recommended for chewers or diggers.

Soft Pet Carriers

Primarily used for transport of small dogs.
Work well in the car.
Many are approved for airline travel.

Ask yourself some simple questions before selecting your crate.

Do I plan to take my pet in the car?

Is crate for home use only?

Is this crate for a puppy?

Do you need your crate to be portable?

With this in mind you will be able to select the proper crate.

Article written by Kevin Gawricki

Keivn Gawricki is owner of Dog Gone Good Stuff which he founded because of the need for a place that caters specifically to dogs and their owners specific needs. Please feel free to visit Dog Gone Good Stuff for all your dogs needs. Web address http://www.doggonegoodstuff.com

Does Your Horse's Saddle Fit?

Is your horse exhibiting uncharacteristic performance or behavior issues? Well then, check his saddle. Badly fitting saddles account for a vast array of issues in the horse. Yet they often go undetected, either because people don't recognize the signs and symptoms of an improperly fitting saddle, or because they have no idea how to fix the problem.

This lack of knowledge can hurt our horses physically, diminish their ability to reach their full potential, and even label them as unpleasant or dangerous characters. Of course, saddle fit can't be blamed for all behavior and performance issues in the horse, but it is something that should always be considered. If you don't have the knowledge to determine whether your horse's saddle fits, enlist the help of a competent saddle fitter right away.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

How do you know if your horse's saddle is uncomfortable? Easy. What does he have to say about it? Sure, your horse won't be able to communicate with you verbally. But his body language should tell you all you need to know if you take the time to listen. Ask yourself the following questions:

* Are the muscles in the top loin overly developed?

* Is the lower part of your horse's neck thicker than the top part because he hollows his back?

* Are the muscles in the hollow region behind my horse's shoulder diminished or atrophied from the nerves and muscles being pinched?

* When relaxing, does my horse have a dropped or sway back?

* Is there swelling or heat under the saddle area upon removal of the saddle?

* Is there raw or rubbed skin anywhere in the saddle area?

* Are there any white marks or bare patches on his back?

Once you've taken a good look at your horse, ask yourself the following questions about his behavior:

* Does he seem stiff?

* Does he hold his head high and stiff, and does he seem unwilling to accept the bit or rider's aids?

* Does he seem unwilling?

* Is he hard to catch?

* Does he jump around when being groomed, especially when you are grooming the back area?

* Does he hollow his back, buck, or move away when saddled?

* Does he dislike being girthed?

* Does he jig when being mounted?

* Does he toss his head while under saddle?

* Does he refuse to walk calmly on a long rein?

* Is he irritable in general?

* Does he have a hard time walking up or down hills?

* Are his gaits uneven?

* Does he have difficulty with one lead over another?

* Is he stiff on corners, bends, or circles?

* Does he have trouble getting down and back up again?

If you answered yes to more than one or two questions do your horse a big favor. Don't ride him under saddle again until a qualified vet or chiropractor has evaluated him. If your horse is diagnosed with back problems it is important to note that the saddle is not always to blame. However, taking a good constructive look at your saddle and how it fits your horse is a good place to start.

Good Saddle Fit

A saddle should fit both horse and rider, but don't think that just because you find it comfy your horse does too. How do you know if your horse's saddle fits? Check out the following tips:

* Sitting in the saddle with a relaxed seat and legs, check to make sure you have enough room to put your hand on your thigh between your legs and the pommel. You should also be able to fit the width of your hand between the back of your body and the rear arch. With the stirrups at the normal length, there should be an imaginary line gong through your shoulder, to your hip, to the center of your horse's balance, and finally, to your heel. So now we know the saddle fits you!

* But does it fit your horse? First of all, it should never interfere with your horse's movement in any way. There must be no contact between the saddle and the spine, which means you should see a clear channel of daylight down the spine from withers to loins.

* Check the width and length. With your weight in the saddle you should be able to fit two-and-a-half or three fingers between the pommel and the horse's withers. If there is space for four fingers the tree is too narrow. If there is space for two, it is too wide. Check to see how far the saddle goes toward your horse's hip bone. It should not be so long that it rubs the hip.

* The saddle should be stable and should never rock back and forth.

* Never commit to a saddle before taking it on a lengthy ride. There is no substitute for riding in it when it comes to finding a saddle that fits well

A comfortable saddle keeps your horse healthy in both mind and body. Now watch how far the two of you go!

Ron Petracek is the founder of Equine Internets vast 15 site classified and social network. You can view its amazing size here Http://www.equineinternet.com/network.php or to further your equine habit please visit our forum by clicking here http://www.horsechitchat.com/equineforums and start posting Need to sell a horse or tack? place a free ad here http://www.click4equine.com and always the barn door in left open on purpose.

Womens Soccer Gear

Womens soccer gear apparel consist of jerseys, T-shirts, lined and knitted pants and sphere shorts tailored specifically for the female players. The jerseys range from $50 to $80 while the pants and the shorts can be bought for $45 and $30 respectively.

Specific undergarments for women marketed by Nike, Adidas and Under Armour are priced within $20 to $50. Most often the bras are made from polyester and Lycra mix which offers moisture managing support and maximum comfort. Under Armour also manufactures women-specific boxer jocks and capris.

Womens Fleece is priced at $50-$55. These include hooded pullovers that provide warmth and insulation during early morning training sessions. Womens Hoody and Twill Hoody are other special outfits.

Soccer cleats for women marketed by Adidas and Nike and priced at $175 provide great comfort, good grip and stability. They are considered excellent for ball control and offer tremendous shooting power. Soccer shoes ranging from $50 to $125 are also available. These shoes are designed for remarkable comfort and flexibility. The shoes on the lower side of the price range are predominantly used for indoor games.

Two special products by Reusch cater exclusively to women goal keepers. Reusch Ortho Sleek Gloves are specifically designed for goal keepers with narrow hands and most suitable for women. These gloves are made of highly durable foam that lasts 25-30% longer than the usual mega foam. The flexible and removable finger protectors also greatly reduce the chances of injury. The other item marketed by Reusch is the Matriko Jersey. It is available in three sizes, medium, large and X-large and two elegant shades of lilac and sky blue. The jerseys are made of polyester material and contain stretchable polyester inserts and padded elbows.

Other accessories used by women such as headbands, shin guards, compression sleeve and padded ankle protectors are however designed to suit both the sexes. The key to soccer gear is flexibility. A person should feel extremely comfortable in their clothing. A person should not be reminded that they have on a particular item due to not feeling comfortable. When shopping for the latest in sports gear, a person doesnt have to shop at several different websites in order to find what they need.

Cathy Peterson writes about http://www.sportsteamfanheaven.com/Categories/NHL.aspx, http://www.sportsteamfanheaven.com/Categories/WorldBaseballClassic.aspx and http://www.sportsteamfanheaven.com/Categories/WorldCup.aspx