Zebra Dove

Zebra DoveGeopelia striata (Linnaeus, 1766)


The zebra dove may not be as popular as the diamond dove but it is a widely kept cage bird throughout the world. In Thailand farms exist that are devoted to raising the zebra dove to sell to people living in that country who believe that having a zebra dove in the home will bring the family good luck. Their call is so special that they have cooing contests every year in Thailand.

Introduction

The zebra dove is similar to the barred dove (Geopelia maugei) and the peaceful dove (Geopelia placida). Previously all three species were included under the species name Geopelia striata. Vriends (4) indicates that there are six subspecies but does not identify them. He lists the peaceful dove and two subspecies separately, so one would assume his zebra dove subspecies do not include either of them.

Description

Zebra doves are larger than diamond doves. Our zebra doves weigh between 50 and 60 grams while our diamonds weigh between 28 and 40 grams. The zebra's body seems short and stubby when compared to the diamond doves' long, slender body.

In captivity it is often reported that the zebra dove is a calm, quiet bird that likes to sit in a remote place for some time and not move. Some reports indicate they are so inactive that they do not provide much interest in an aviary. However, having my zebra's inside, they seem to act quite differently as long as no strangers are present. They now seem more active than the diamonds and considerably louder. The male is not shy about doing bow coos and other sexual activity in front of me or the other birds. They are also quite territorial and even chase diamond out of their cage after they were some distance away.

Distribution

This bird is native to southern Thailand, the Malaysian peninsula, Sumatra. Java, Bali and Lombok. It has been introduced in Borneo, Celebes, the Philippines and in more distant locations such as Tahiti, Hawaii, and the the Seychelles. Unfortunately it has been widely trapped for the cage bird trade and has become somewhat scarce in its natural range. However in Thailand the bird is now raised on large farms.

Habitat

Zebra doves are usually found in dry, open habitat with some scrub vegetation which is used for cover. Sometimes they are found in dry wooded areas. Like many other doves they can be seen in villages and towns in gardens and parks, and also in cultivated areas.

Feeding

Zebras feed on small seeds where the ground is bare in open spaces among thorn scrub, roadsides, paths, and in gardens. The birds also eats insects and it was recommended to me that I replace this part of their diet by using a certain kind of dog food along with the usual finch seed that is given to the diamonds.

Voice

The zebra doves coo is very loud for such a small bird. If you live in an apartment this may not be the bird for you. We have noted several different coos. One is a long multi note coo another is a shorter version of this coo often repeated over and over. Another coo is a ratchety sounding coo that is lower in volume than the former coos. This low rachety coo is often proceeded by head nodding and occasionally they will bow their heads to the branch they are standing on and act like the are "kissing " the branch. Once one learns to imitate their coo, they will respond to one's imitation, louder and louder each time.

Nesting

The zebra dove's bow coo (bow screech) are similar to the diamond dove's, however they stand more erect and the beak never approaches the ground. Although the tail is fanned, the spread is narrow and is much less notable than the full spread of the diamond dove. The coo is much louder than the diamond's coo and is more like a scream.

Zebra doves build a fragile nest of twigs that are usually located in a tree or shrub close to the ground or up to 12 feet high. Zebra's lay two white eggs. I have seen no information on the incubation period but I would assume that it would be 13 to 14 days as it is for the diamond dove and the peaceful dove.

About Our Doves

At this writing we have had a pair of zebra doves for seven months. They had been raised in an outside aviary and as a result were very wild when they arrived here. Upon arrival we installed them in a cage that was isolated form the rest of the birds for a week and then moved them to a location where there were diamond dove cages on each side. The zebras had no problem with the location but at first the diamonds were terrified by the new birds. Within a week the problems seemed to have disappeared..

When the birds first arrived their wing feathers were ragged and almost all their tail feathers were broken off. They may have been underweight as after they were here a month both had gained almost 10 grams in weight, going from less than 50 grams to more than 60.

Unfortunately these birds had been subject to low temperatures and had some frostbite which resulted in one infected toe and several others that were damaged. I started applying Neosporin to the toe four times a day. This bird did not want to be held while I applied the medication to its toe, but it was happy to sit on my finger while I completed the application. Once it realized what I was trying to do, it sat unrestrained on my finger while I applied the cream and rubbed it in. Within a few days I could walk around my apartment with the dove perched on my finger. But when the bird's mate called it left immediately. (For those who fear the use of this ointment because of oil damage to the feathers, we felt that no significant damage occurred). The avian veterinarian who saw the dove felt it best to continue with this treatment. There was some question about the dosage of pain medication that was being applied by using this type of Neosporin. I felt the bird was benefiting from the pain mediation because the bird would come to me when it felt it wanted more). It took a month until the toe lost its red color. Several of the claws on both birds were badly damaged but apparently it will not have an effect on their mobility or mating



Trying to decide between a flower pot and a nest box

The two doves cuddled every night on their perch in the cage provided for them and during the day they often sat together at some remote location in my living room. Thinking they may not want to use the nest in the cage I built a simple platform above their cage on which there were three potted plants, a small lamp that generates hear and projects light on the ceiling, and another nest box. The two birds immediately accepted this as "their" area and gently chased any of the diamonds that ventured up there. Bow coos, wing slaps, billing, and frequent "kissing" were frequently observed.

As the months passed, the two birds stopped being shy and when allowed out of their cages they always sat close to the other birds and only tried to isolate themselves when I had visitors. Sometimes they sat on the bird cage table close to where I was working on the computer. Other times they would sit on the cage roofs near one of the other birds. Once the larger bird sat on a tree branch I use for photography so close to a diamond it almost appeared as if they were cuddling together. The smaller bird was unhappy with that and soon chased the diamond away.

One of the two birds was larger than the other and I assumed that this was the male and the smaller bird was a female. However, after a few months the little bird started doing bow coos for the bigger bird as well as some of the male diamonds. He seemed to use the bow coo as a means of intimating the diamonds but despite the loud coos of the zebra, most of the time the diamonds would sit there calmly until the zebra threatened to peck them.

Anyway we assumed that this bird was the male and the larger bird was a female. We also felt that the larger bird was older than the smaller one because of the appearance of the feathers on the bird's head. However, despite all the bow coos and other sexual displays, we never observed the two birds mate.

Then a few days ago when the little bird was doing bow coos for the larger bird, the larger bird started responding with alternating bow coos. First one would bow and then the other, and this went on for some time, ever increasing in speed, and then they flew at each other in the air and I am not sure what they did because the action was fast and furious and not at all like anything I have ever observed. There was one other instance of these kind of bow coos when one of the doves was inside the cage and the other was outside. It was all very loud with violent movements.

Since that time, the two birds have gone back to their normal behavior with the little male doing bow coos, and the larger dove responding only by billing.

I have no idea if this falls within the normal range of mating displays of the zebra doves. I assume it does not and that we probably have two males.

AFTER ONE YEAR

Not much new has happened since the above was written. Despite the bow coos that came from the larger and possibly older bird, I am assuming that she is a female. Most of the time the male acts affectionately aggressive toward her and she acts submissive. They usually sit cuddled together and the male often gently kisses the female. Once in a while the female returns his kisses, but mostly fluffs up and looks content. During the day they often express the desire to get out of their cage but because they are often hard to chase down and return to their cage, I usually only take them out in the evening. Sometimes I only let the female out as she never acts aggressive toward the diamond whereas he does have a tendency to threaten them with his loud screaming bow coos. Another reason I don't let him out is because every time he does come out he is so happy he has to let the whole world know about it and these are both very loud birds. However even though the female is loud, she does not coo as much as he does.

Often the male comes over to me and stands about two feet away, looks me in the eye, and coos (screams) loudly. If I answer him the exchange can go on and on - but he gets louder and louder even though I get softer and softer.

Sometimes the female comes to me and does this head nodding combined with a softer, ratchety sounding coo. I try to imitate her, rather poorly, and she will respond again and again until I stop.

When they are out, they sometimes visit the big wooden cage that has a 65 watt Plant Gro lamp in it and lay down and spread their wings and tails for some period of time as do the diamonds. Sometimes they just sit on the perch in the big cage perhaps because it is warmer. The also visit the treat trays that have crushed noodles, shredded cheese, and wheat bread. And if some of the other cages are open they will go in and try eating the diamond's food which is mostly the same as theirs. For the most part they stay on the top of the cage or on the bird cage table. They also sit in a plastic tray I have placed over the large table lamp.

When I catch them in the evening after the cage lights are out, the male often requires me to go back and forth across the living room five times or more. Then I take him to the bedroom to look at his toes and beak and he becomes very calm and quietly sits on my finger while I examine and trim his toes using magnifying equipment. After that he seems happy to be petted and cuddled indefinitely before I take him back to his cage. He does not show any indication of wanting to leave. But neither does he show any facial signs of affection, wing shaking, or kissing.

The female often allows me to pick her up without chasing her. Once I take her into the bedroom to exam her, she too wants to perch on my finger, and then will calmly sit there while I look at her toes. The toe that was infected seems to have recovered, but occasionally it appears redder than other times and I apply a medication to reduce the color and also to show her that I care about that toe. She always seems to welcome the application medication perhaps because of the memory of how the Neosporin reduced the pain when she had a real infection. Like the male she is happy to be cuddled and petted after looking at her feet and lately she shows no indication that she wants to leave.

The male does head nodding and bow coos for the female, but she is only mildly responsive and I have yet to see any mating. Someone did write me and told me they had to wait four years until their zebras decided to mate.

References

(1) Gibbs, David; Barnes, Eustace; Cox, John "Zerbra Dove, Geopelia striata", Pigeons and Doves, A Guide to Pigeons and Doves of the World, London: Yale University Press 2001, pp. 312-313

(2) Goodwin, Derek, "Zebra Dove, Geopelia striata", Pigeons and Doves of the World, London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History), 1967, pp. 172-173

(3) Gos, Michael W., Doves. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications, Inc., 1989, pp. 13, 41.

(4) Vriends, Matthew M., PhD., "Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata)", Doves, A Complete Pet Owner's Manual. Happauge, NY: Barrons Educational Series, Inc., 1994 , p. 84

DOVE BREEDS

Mourning Dove - The Mourning Dove breeds from Bermuda, to southern Canada, Central America and the Caribbean, laying two white eggs on a flimsy platform built in a tree or shrub, sometimes on a building. These birds may raise six or more broods in a season. Eggs take approximately two weeks to hatch, and the young chicks typically fledge after only two weeks in the nest. Parents feed the young pigeon's milk, a nutrient rich substance regurgitated from its crop.
In many parts of the United States the Mourning Dove is hunted as a game bird. However, Mourning Doves are Wisconsin's official symbol of peace.
The bird is resident and abundant over much of its range, but many northern birds migrate south in winter. It is presumably Canadian birds which give rise to the very rare occurrences of this species in western Europe.
The Mourning Dove is approximately 31 cm (12 in) in length. It has a long tapered tail, and is greyish-brown above and pinkish below. The wings have black spotting, and the outer tail feathers are white. The male has bright purple-pink patches on the neck sides; these are less obvious in the female. Young birds have a scaly appearance.
This bird is found in a range of open and semi-open habitats. Its mournful cooOOoo-coo-coo call is familiar throughout its range, as is the whistling of its wings as it takes flight.
These birds forage on the ground, mainly eating grains and seeds, sometimes also on insects. They often swallow fine gravel to assist with digestion. At bird feeders, Mourning Doves are attracted to one of the largest ranges of seed types of any North American bird, with a preference for corn, millet, safflower, and sunflower chips.




Band-tailed Pigeon - It ranges from British Columbia, Utah, and Colorado south in higher elevations through Mexico and Central America to northern Argentina. In autumn it migrates out of the part of its range north of California, New Mexico, and west Texas. Populations from Costa Rica south are sometimes considered a separate species, the White-naped Pigeon, C. albilinea. It is found at altitudes from 900 m to 3600 m, generally in oak, pine-oak, and coniferous forests. It feeds on seeds, notably acorns.
It is the biggest pigeon in North America, averaging 34 to 36 cm (14–15 in) long and weighing 250–450 g. The plumage is gray, somewhat darker above. The head and underparts have a faint pink cast, especially in the adult male; the belly is nearly white. The distal half of the tail is also pale (except in the subspecies of Baja California), whence the English name. The bill and feet are yellow, good identification marks at sufficiently close range. Adults have green iridescence on the back of the neck, adjacent to a thin white collar on the nape. Juvenile birds have white feather edges above, giving a scaly appearance.
This species is relatively quiet for a pigeon. Its voice is low-pitched and owl-like, often in two-syllable calls.
It builds a rudimentary platform nest out of twigs, in which it lays one or two eggs. Outside the breeding season it forms flocks, sometimes over 50 birds, and often becomes nomadic, following the acorn crop or moving to lower altitudes or other areas outside its breeding range. It often visits bird feeders.








Pheasant - Pheasants are a group of large birds in the order Galliformes. In many countries they are hunted as game.
Pheasant are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, with males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails. They are usually larger than the females. Males play no part in rearing the young.
There are 35 species of pheasant in 11 different genera. The best-known is the Ringnecked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus torquatus) which is widespread throughout the world in introduced feral populations and in farm operations. Various other pheasant species are popular in aviaries, such as the Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus).






California Quail - These birds have a curving crest that droops forward - black in males and brown for females; the flanks are brown with white streaks. Males have a dark brown cap and a black face with a brown back, a grey-blue chest and a light brown belly. Females and immature birds are mainly grey-brown with a light-colored belly.
Their breeding habitat is shrubby areas and open woodlands in western North America. The nest is a shallow scrape lined with vegetation located on the ground under a shrub or other cover. The female usually lays around 12 eggs. Once they are hatched, both parents look after the young.
They are permanent residents.
These birds forage on the ground, often scratching at the soil. They can sometimes be seen feeding at the sides of roads. Their diet consists mainly of seeds and leaves, but they also eat some berries and insects. If startled, these birds explode into short fast flight. Given a choice, they will normally make their escape on foot.
They often gather in small flocks known as "coveys". Although this bird coexists well at the edges of urban areas, it is declining in some areas as human populations increase. They were originally found mainly in the southwestern United States but they have been introduced into other areas including British Columbia, Hawaii, Chile and New Zealand.
The California Quail is a highly sociable bird and one of the daily communal activities is the taking of dust baths. A family of quail will select an area where the ground has been newly turned or is soft, and using their underbellies, will burrow downward into the soil some 1-2 inches. They then wriggle about in the indentations they have created, flapping their wings and ruffling their feathers, causing dust to rise in the air. They seem to prefer sunny places in which to create these dust baths, and an ornithologist is able to detect the presence of quail in an area by spotting the circular indentations left behind in the soft dirt, some 3-6" in diameter.






Common Nighthawk - The adults are dark with brown, grey and white patterning on the upperparts and breast; the long wings are black and show a white bar in flight. The tail is dark with white barring; the underparts are white with black bars. The adult male has a white throat; the female has a light brown throat.
Their breeding habitat is open country across North America. They usually nest on bare ground, sometimes in raised locations including stumps or gravel roofs. They especially favor burned areas in forests. The two eggs are laid directly on bare ground--there is no nest. Incubation is performed largely by the female and lasts for about 20 days. Young fledge at about 20 days of age. There may be a second brood in the southern part of the United States.
These birds winter in South America. They migrate in flocks. The Common Nighthawk is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.
They catch flying insects on the wing, mainly foraging near dawn and dusk (crepuscular), sometimes at night with a full moon or near street lighting.
The call is a short peet usually heard overhead. The male performs an aerial display during courtship, creating a booming sound near the end of a steep dive. The sound is produced by air rushing through the wingtips.
Common Nighthawks are called bullbats in many parts of the United States. The origin of this name is not clear. The erratic flight and crepuscular habits of the nighthawk resemble those of bats. In addition, the name (perhaps bull) may refer to the loud booming sound of the male's display.
The scientific name for this species, minor, leads to some confusion. Originally this species was placed in genus Caprimulgus, and it is indeed smaller than some other members of that genus, such as the Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus. However, with the Common Nighthawk moved to the genus Chordeiles, it is in the odd position of being named minor, even though it is larger than the Lesser Nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis.
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Belted Kingfisher - The Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a large, conspicuous and noisy kingfisher, the only member of that group commonly found in the northern United States and Canada.
This bird's breeding habitat is areas near inland bodies of waters or coasts across most of Canada, Alaska and the United States. In the winter, this bird leaves northern inland areas where the water freezes; in other parts of its range, these birds are permanent residents.
It is 28–36 cm long, with deep blue or bluish-gray plumage with white markings, a shaggy crest and a broad white collar around the neck. As shown in the photo, females have a rusty band along the sides of the belly, making this one of the less common cases found in North America where the female is more decorated than the male.
These birds nest in a horizontal tunnel made in a river bank or sand bank. The female lays 5 to 8 eggs. Both parents excavate the tunnel, incubate the eggs and feed the young.
It is often seen perched prominently on trees, posts, or other suitable watchpoints close to water before plunging in head first after its fish prey. They also eat small crustaceans, frogs, aquatic insects, small mammals, lizards and berries. These birds often give a rattling call as they fly overhead.
This bird migrates from the northern parts of its range to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, the West Indies and northern South America, and has occurred as an extreme rarity in Iceland, Ireland and the UK.
The number of these birds appears to have declined, possibly as a result of habitat loss.

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English Cocker Spaniel
Sporting Group


General Appearance
The English Cocker Spaniel is an active, merry sporting dog, standing well up at the withers and compactly built. He is alive with energy; his gait is powerful and frictionless, capable both of covering ground effortlessly and penetrating dense cover to flush and retrieve game. His enthusiasm in the field and the incessant action of his tail while at work indicate how much he enjoys the hunting for which he was bred. His head is especially characteristic. He is, above all, a dog of balance, both standing and moving, without exaggeration in any part, the whole worth more than the sum of its parts.

Size, Proportion, Substance
Size-Height at withers: males 16 to 17 inches; females 15 to 16 inches. Deviations to be penalized. The most desirable weights: males, 28 to 34 pounds; females, 26 to 32 pounds. Proper conformation and substance should be considered more important than weight alone. Proportion--Compactly built and short-coupled, with height at withers slightly greater than the distance from withers to set-on of tail. Substance--The English Cocker is a solidly built dog with as much bone and substance as is possible without becoming cloddy or coarse.

Head
General appearance: strong, yet free from coarseness, softly contoured, without sharp angles. Taken as a whole, the parts combine to produce the expression distinctive of the breed. Expression--Soft, melting, yet dignified, alert, and intelligent. Eyes--The eyes are essential to the desired expression. They are medium in size, full and slightly oval; set wide apart; lids tight. Haws are inconspicuous; may be pigmented or unpigmented. Eye color dark brown, except in livers and liver parti-colors where hazel is permitted, but the darker the hazel the better. Ears--Set low, lying close to the head; leather fine, extending to the nose, well covered with long, silky, straight or slightly wavy hair. Skull--Arched and slightly flattened when seen both from the side and from the front. Viewed in profile, the brow appears not appreciably higher than the back-skull. Viewed from above, the sides of the skull are in planes roughly parallel to those of the muzzle. Stop definite, but moderate, and slightly grooved. Muzzle--Equal in length to skull; well cushioned; only as much narrower than the skull as is consistent with a full eye placement; cleanly chiseled under the eyes. Jaws strong, capable of carrying game. Nostrils wide for proper development of scenting ability; color black, except in livers and parti-colors of that shade where they will be brown; reds and parti-colors of that shade may be brown, but black is preferred. Lips square, but not pendulous or showing prominent flews. Bite--Scissors. A level bite is not preferred. Overshot or undershot to be severely penalized.

Neck, Topline and Body
Neck--Graceful and muscular, arched toward the head and blending cleanly, without throatiness, into sloping shoulders; moderate in length and in balance with the length and height of the dog. Topline--The line of the neck blends into the shoulder and backline in a smooth curve. The backline slopes very slightly toward a gently rounded croup, and is free from sagging or rumpiness. Body--Compact and well-knit, giving the impression of strength without heaviness. Chest deep; not so wide as to interfere with action of forelegs, nor so narrow as to allow the front to appear narrow or pinched. Forechest well developed, prosternum projecting moderately beyond shoulder points. Brisket reaches to the elbow and slopes gradually to a moderate tuck-up. Ribs well sprung and springing gradually to mid-body, tapering to back ribs which are of good depth and extend well back. Back short and strong. Loin short, broad and very slightly arched, but not enough to affect the topline appreciably. Croup gently rounded, without any tendency to fall away sharply. Tail--Docked. Set on to conform to croup. Ideally, the tail is carried horizontally and is in constant motion while the dog is in action. Under excitement, the dog may carry his tail somewhat higher, but not cocked up.

Forequarters
The English Cocker is moderately angulated. Shoulders are sloping, the blade flat and smoothly fitting. Shoulder blade and upper arm are approximately equal in length. Upper arm set well back, joining the shoulder with sufficient angulation to place the elbow beneath the highest point of the shoulder blade when the dog is standing naturally. Forelegs--Straight, with bone nearly uniform in size from elbow to heel; elbows set close to the body; pasterns nearly straight, with some flexibility. Feet-- Proportionate in size to the legs, firm, round and catlike; toes arched and tight; pads thick.

Hindquarters
Angulation moderate and, most importantly, in balance with that of the forequarters. Hips relatively broad and well rounded. Upper thighs broad, thick and muscular, providing plenty of propelling power. Second thighs well muscled and approximately equal in length to the upper. Stifle strong and well bent. Hock to pad short. Feet as in front.

Coat
On head, short and fine; of medium length on body; flat or slightly wavy; silky in texture. The English Cocker is well-feathered, but not so profusely as to interfere with field work. Trimming is permitted to remove overabundant hair and to enhance the dog's true lines. It should be done so as to appear as natural as possible.

Color
Various. Parti-colors are either clearly marked, ticked or roaned, the white appearing in combination with black, liver or shades of red. In parti-colors it is preferable that solid markings be broken on the body and more or less evenly distributed; absence of body markings is acceptable. Solid colors are black, liver or shades of red. White feet on a solid are undesirable; a little white on throat is acceptable; but in neither case do these white markings make the dog a parti-color. Tan markings, clearly defined and of rich shade, may appear in conjunction with black, livers and parti-color combinations of those colors. Black and tans and liver and tans are considered solid colors.

Gait
The English Cocker is capable of hunting in dense cover and upland terrain. His gait is accordingly characterized more by drive and the appearance of power than by great speed. He covers ground effortlessly and with extension both in front and in rear, appropriate to his angulation. In the ring, he carries his head proudly and is able to keep much the same topline while in action as when standing for examination. Going and coming, he moves in a straight line without crabbing or rolling, and with width between both front and rear legs appropriate to his build and gait.

Temperament
The English Cocker is merry and affectionate, of equable disposition, neither sluggish nor hyperactive, a willing worker and a faithful and engaging companion.

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DOG LOVERS - READ THIS STORY

Winston - The Power of Love - Dogs
A few years ago, I read a special story about the life and death of a dog and opened a space on my Blog called Dogs and Dying where people could post stories about the loss of their dogs. Not a week goes by without an entry. All posts are about the love and the loss of a person's dear dog. Now and then, I am sent a strory that is so moving that it takes my breath away. This is such a story.



We adopted Winston and Phyllis in January of 2003. We had been looking for two dogs since the fall of 2002. The pet adoption agency told us that they had just gotten a black lab puppy and a German Shepherd in. It was requested that they be placed together because the black lab's mother had died and the German Shepherd, although a male, had become the puppy's surrogate mother.

The German Shepherd's name was Mufasa (We renamed him Winston), after the Lion King, and the lab's name was Mittens (We renamed her Phyllis). We went to visit the dogs at the shelter several times before deciding to adopt them. Winston was very protective of Phyllis and would bark ferociously at me every time I approached her. We would be Winston's third owner and the second owner had informed the shelter that the original owner had abused him. Despite this, we decided to take both of them on a trial basis.

Since my wife was out of town the first weekend, I went to pick up Mufasa by myself on a Friday evening in late January of 2003. Mufasa immediately started barking at me. I grabbed his collar, put him on the leash I had brought with me, and took him out to my car. Winston never barked at me again. He started the ride in the back seat and by the end of the short ride home, he was riding shotgun. He seemed like a completely different dog. When we arrived at home, we went into the den of our house and Winston immediately jumped up onto the couch and sat in the spot that would become his favorite place. My wife came home on Sunday and we decided that we were going to keep them. We immediately asked the adoption place if we could change their names.

Since we liked the names of two previous dogs we had looked at, we renamed Muffasa to Winston, and Mittens to Phyllis. The names took immediately and they were the new additions to the family.




Despite his tough exterior, Winston was a very loving dog who loved to sit next to you on the couch and have his belly rubbed and go for walks. Throughout Winston's time with us, he was truly my dog. He would get very excited when my wife came home from work, but he would go completely ballistic when I got home.

Although extremely loving with us, he had severe stranger anxiety as well as separation anxiety. It became clear to us that Winston was a very insecure dog. So, we had our mission: to help Winston develop a sense of security and learn to trust others, so they could see what a wonderful dog he was.

Slowly he came out of his shell. He became very comfortable around our immediate family, especially my wife's sister, who is a huge dog lover like us. We worked very hard to give Winston the love and dedication he deserved. Winston was a dog who just wanted to please us. He didn't have to have us petting him all the time, or constantly begging for his attention- just to be near him was enough. He would always sit on his "perch" on the stairs when we were away so that he could guard the house and still be able to see when our cars pull in the driveway. When the dogs next door would come out into their yard, he would run to the door to be let out so that he could run up and down the fence, as they did the same on the other side, to play their game of "who can bark the loudest".

Winston was one of the sweetest dogs we have ever met. How many German Shepherds do you know who think they are a lap dog? While he did have his challenges, the good far outweighed the bad and we were lucky to have Winston, even for the short time. We think that God hand picked Winston for us because he knew that we needed him as much as he needed us. We worked very hard to give him the full life that he deserved. In return he gave us all of his love.

On Monday February 12, 2007, Winston started having seizures. This was very unexpected as he seemed healthy the day before and was just at the vet that Saturday. During his third seizure, which was less than 45 minutes from his first, he stopped breathing. Winston died at 8:08 p.m. in his favorite spot on the couch, with me at his side petting him. It was peaceful. It was almost four years to the day when he first called that spot "his" on the couch.

Winston, we will love you and miss you forever. Rest in peace sweet boy. We will see you again someday. We know that you are waiting on your "perch" in heaven waiting for us to pull into the driveway.


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Hot Chocolate | Basset Hound ...

BASSET HOUND

BREED INFORMATION
A scenthound, the Basset Hound possesses those characteristics which equip it to follow a trail over difficult terrain. It is a short-legged dog, heavier in bone, size considered, than any other breed of dog. Its movement is deliberate and not at all clumsy. Other striking breed characteristics include the long, low-set velvety ears; the loose elastic skin which is abundant over the whole of the dog, and finally, the soft, sad, slightly sunken dark eyes which contribute to the typical Basset Hound expression. In temperament it is mild, never sharp or timid, and this makes it an ideal companion dog.

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Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #80944 in Kitchen & Housewares
Color: Black
Brand: Xtreme-Cage
Dimensions: 52.00" h x 16.00" w x 16.00" l,
Features
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2 Feeder Cups with Feeder Doors, 2 Perches, Pull Out Plastic Tray and Metal Grate
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Stand Size: 16Length x 16Width x 28.5Heigth, Total Height With Cage & Stand: 52. 4 Wheels


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PETS AND PET Products - PET HOME

PETMATE PORTABLE PET HOME

Product Description
The Petmate Portable Pet Home is lightweight and quickly packs away into it's carry bag for transportation. They are made from strong heavy duty polyster frabric that has a PVC backing for rain resistance. These attractive portable pet homes can be used indoors or out and provide safe secure confinement for your pet with a front zippered door. They have adjustable ventilation on all four sides of the pet home that have flaps that can be secrued open or shut. Medium size will accomodate dogs up to 45 pounds

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PETS AND PET Accessories - CLASSIC PET SHOP

The Great Crate is designed to compete in quality and price. The two doors, each with a secure safety latch, provide flexibility at home and in the car. The safer rounded corners and closer wire spacing provide added safety and strength. The Great Crate comes fully assembled and ready to set-up.
Size 24x18x20" & Weight 17 lbs.


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Gimborn Pro-Treat Freeze Dried Beef Liver Treats

Pro-Treat Freeze Dried Beef Liver Treats maintain the aroma, full flavor, and nutritional value of raw beef liver. Conveniently cubed into reward size treats, they are an excellent obedience and training tool. Rich in protei

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CLASSIC PET SHOP

CLASSIC PET SHOP - Pet Supply/ PET Accessories,all tipe of birds supplies, and fish supplies with ease. Value for money showcased from many different pet retailers providing you with an effortless pet supply shopping experience. We deal with Indian and Imported pet accessories, Collars, Choke collars, Leashes, Chains, Body Belts, Dog Chews, Bones, Rubber Bones, Musical & Unbreakable RubbarBalls, Bath & Grooming Gloves, Dumbbells, Brushes & Metal combs, Muzzles, Nail-cutters, Steel Bowls, Toys, Books, Soap, Shampoo, Tick-Collars, Coat Conditioners, Vitamin Supplements, Dewormers, Tick-sprays, Food, Feed Supplements, Snacks, "Beware of Dog" Boards, Posters, Toys, Pet Beds. We also deal with and all varieties of Imported ROYAL CANIN DOG FOOD. Please contact CLASSIC PETS,58/104,ARIHANT,VTN square,T NAGAR,chennai 600017 , phone 9840067111 , shivakomar@gmail.com, classicpet@gmail.com