My Cat From HellJackson Galaxy, The "Cat Listener"
Forty-five minutes later, the room was filled with sleeping cats, and Jackson sat in the dark corner, knowing that his life had just taken a turn. Jackson's fascination and empathy toward cats blossomed. A musician, songwriter and actor, Jackson began accessing the deep emotionality of creativity to help him rehabilitate stray and surrendered cats. Jackson doesn't think there is a formula for the right amount of cats, or too many cats in one household. He has seen cases of a 900 square foot house having 12 cats that got along just fine. He states it's all in how you prep the environment and enrich the cats' lives, with all of them getting equal amounts of exercise. However, he states that there is sometimes one cat who starts peeing all over if you add one more cat. The main issues that Jackson sees are aggression and litter box problems. He states that cats can be trained and that you can use the same operant conditioning that you would use for dogs. Jackson doesn't like to use clicker training for any other reason than to get a cat to do something that they would actually normally do. If you have a cat that won't leave you alone, is in your face when you are preparing their food, are in and out of your stuff and you can't get anything done, you're constantly putting them on the floor and they jump right back up, you can train your cat to have a "sit area" and you have them sit right there while you are preparing their food. This is the kind of thing that encourages compromise. Jackson states that cats are more difficult to train, because cats are built to please us! You have to make it worth the while of the cat. But once they get it, and figure it out that they will get a treat if they sit, while it may take them a few times (again, because they're not programmed to do jobs for us), they will do it automatically. Now, cat behaviorist Jackson tackles the most catastrophic cat cases he's ever encountered in six all-new, one-hour episodes of "My Cat From Hell" on Animal Planet. Armed with 15 years of experience, a proven training program and his signature guitar case filled with cat toys, Jackson is on a mission to help cat owners find the source of conflict with their furry friends. Whether it's the cat or the owners behaving badly, leave it to Galaxy to save the day! Currently, Galaxy shares his life with three cats and a dog. http://animal.discovery.com/tv/my-cat-from-hell
Another Guinness World Record Joey Herrick, Natural Balance
"Nothing like it has ever been done before," said Joey Herrick, founder and president of Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods, which is sponsoring the float. "It's a monstrosity." Just shy of 120 feet, "Surf's Up" is about three times longer than the typical float and seven feet longer than the record-setting float Natural Balance sponsored in 2010, and about 8 tons heavier. Previous Natural Balance floats featured company mascot Tillman skateboarding, snowboarding and jumping into a pool. On this latest float, Tillman was actually surfing. "Surf's Up" wasn't simply a mobile version of a wave pool like those on some cruise ships, where surfers remain stationary while the water is pushed underneath them. Instead, Herrick wanted Tillman and his canine companions to really surf - to give spectators an eye-popping experience. Herrick said he already has ideas for the next two parades. He wouldn't divulge details, but said he's not out to break more records. "It's nothing like that," he said. "It's going to be a very, very special float." In fact, he has already started working on it, but it won't be unveiled until September. http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com
The Dogfather's Grooming Tip with Joey Villani
Now that you have received your new puppy for the holidays, you need to realize that grooming time will soon arrive. After your puppy has had it's second set of shots, most salons will allow them to come in. But don't forget about the prep time that you need to do at home before you take them to a professional salon, especially if you want them to have a good experience. Having a good first experience in the grooming salon is key, otherwise they may never want to be groomed again. You need to first de-sensitize your puppy to the grooming experience. Start by obtaining a brush and a comb. Put these items on the floor in front of the pet and let them see and smell the items. Then, pick up the items and actually start with the back of the brush, without using the bristles, and rub it on them. Eventually, you can turn it over and start using it slowly, especially on the areas where they might not want to be touched, such as their feet, tail, underneath their tail, and maybe their ears and muzzle. Get them used to being touched in these areas. You don't want them to bite at the brush, you want them to enjoy it.
Getting them used to the sounds at a groomers is also essential. If you have something that buzzes, like an electric razor, turn it on and set it down in front of your pet. Let them get used to that buzzing noise, which is similar to the clippers a groomer will use. When you are ready to take your dog to the groomers, the groomer should approach your pet with a lot of love and praise, so your pet feels like it is going to be a fun time. If you don't do the prep, some puppies won't mind going to the groomers, but a good majority will hate the experience. They will become frightened while at the groomers and it will take a lot longer for them to be groomed. With some puppies, even if you do the proper prep, it may take 5 or 6 grooming experiences before they start to enjoy it. Don't think this is only going to make your groomer's job easier, it is also going to make your puppy's life a lot easier!
Animal Radio® News with Stacey Cohen Chicken Jerky Alert
Share Body Heat With Your Pet
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One night the shelter cats where Jackson Galaxy worked gave him the gift that dubbed him the "cat listener." While working late during a violent storm, he heard all of the cats in the stray cat impound area screaming. He had heard somewhere that a "slow blink" means "I love you" in feline; a slow blink exchanged by cat and human establishes a link between the two. He went to the impound area to try it, and if nothing else, perhaps it would quiet down or reassure a few of the cats.
Breaking Guinness Worlds Records is nothing new to Natural Balance Pet Foods. In 2010, they broke the record for the longest float in the Tournament Of roses Parade; in 2011 they broke the record for the heaviest float; and this year, they broke both of those records with the longest and heaviest float ever at 119 feet and 7 inches long and 132,000 pounds. 
Prep Your Pup For A Good Grooming Experience
You can get your pet used to being handled in these sensitive areas by putting your fingers in their ears; playing with their feet so they don't mind being touched there; and even play with their nails, so that they don't mind having them trimmed. 
Let Your Dog Sniff Out Your Date 
Ashes To Ashes, Or, In The Case Of Some Pet Owners, Ashes To Art
Pets With Newt 
Pets With Newt is now live. The site lets users submit photos of their pets, provides links to Gingrich's campaign website and lists his favorite zoos.
