Podcasts about petsafe

Meet Our GuestsRandy Boyd is the President of the University of Tennessee and a lifelong entrepreneur. He's best known for founding Radio Systems Corporation (the company behind PetSafe, Invisible Fence, and other brands), growing it into a global leader. But beyond business, Randy has dedicated much of his career to education, economic development, and community investment, serving as Tennessee's Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and playing a key role in launching Tennessee Promise, which has provided free community college to thousands of students. He's also a passionate supporter of Knoxville's arts and culture scene—and, of course, a big believer in baseball's role in placemaking. Jaleria Rivera is an artist, activist, and the founder of Spacecraft Knoxville—a creative incubator that describes itself as a constellation of artists, misfits, and dreamers, focused on joy activism and community care. She's helping build a grassroots arts economy that creates real opportunities for artists to live, work, and thrive in Knoxville. Jaleria moved here during the pandemic, and like so many creative people, she had to figure out how to find her people, build connections, and create opportunities where they didn't exist before. Spacecraft is the result of that work, and it's just getting started.What's This Conversation About?This episode is about how people like Randy and Jaleria shape places - and how the places they build shape the people and communities from the ground up. We dig into:How communities attract and retain talent—and why the arts are just as important as jobs and infrastructure.What makes a city feel real—how Knoxville can avoid the pitfalls of becoming “just another mid-sized city” and instead double down on what makes it special.The role of failure in success—Randy shares some of his early entrepreneurial failures and why he believes in “failing early and often.”The power of grassroots collaboration—how Jaleria and her peers are building an arts economy from the ground up, creating spaces where creativity and economic opportunity go hand in hand.Big moves on the horizon—from the UT system's billion-dollar investments to a stadium that aims to host 700 events a year, including concerts, markets, and more.A huge thank you to Dr. Marianne Wanamaker of the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs for kicking off this conversation with such a great question: How do entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders get involved in civic life and make a real impact on their communities? That question sets the stage for everything we're about to discuss.Why Should You Listen?If you care about YOUR city, if you care about making your community better, whether you're an entrepreneur, an artist, a civic leader, or just someone who believes in the power of big ideas, this conversation is for you.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Listen to all episodes of the Big Ideas Welcome podcast, available now on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and at bigideaswelcome.com. This Big Ideas Welcome podcast is brought to you by Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, hosted and curated by KEC Chief Experience Officer Chris McAdoo, and produced and edited by Palm Tree Pod Co. A special thanks to K BREW for making this episode possible. Original theme music “Thinking of You” courtesy of and copyright Kelsi Walker.

The pet market is expected to be a half-a-trillion-dollar sector by 2030 with an ever-growing landscape of competitive growth opportunities serving consumers and their pets. PetSafeBrands CEO  RobCandelino joins this episode of The Reboot Chronicles to share his personal journey and how he is rebooting his company and the industry. PetSafe's portfolio includes leading brands with hundreds of patents—like Invisible Fence, Sport Dog, and Kurgo. With tens of millions of dogs protected by their fence systems and trained with their bark collars, they're known around the world and looking to grow into a billion-dollar company. Follow along with us as we dig into Rob's life lessons on transitioning your career, and why he is on a mission to unleash freedom for pet parents by keeping pets happy, healthy, and safe. #growth #innovation #therebootchronicles #deandebiase #BuildBuyBorrow #PetSafeBrands #PetHealth #PetSafety #PetSafeCulture #GlobalTeam #Leader #CoreValues #HelpingPets #Dogs #Cats #WhirlPool #LitterBox #SoftwareAsAService #SaaS #Invisiblefences #AI #Unilever #PrivateEquity #PetTechnology #AlwaysLearning #Competition #Entrepeneurs #InspiredToBeBetter

Rob Candelino, the CEO of PetSafe, joins KRLD's David Johnson in this episode of CEO Spotlight. 

Molly attends the major pet shows each year to keep a finger on the pulse of what's happening in the cat space. She's usually got a list of things she's seeking to improve cats (and their owner's) lives. This episode is a recap of SuperZoo 2024 noteworthy new inventions and products for your cat!

Thanks for Joining the RV Shenanigans!Learn more: www.millersinmotion.com/linksEver wondered how three large dogs can turn a simple RV trip into a grand adventure? Buckle up, as we, Ryan and Lauren, share some heartwarming and enlightening tales about our RV journey with our lovable furry friends - Klondike, Bailey, and Mishka. This episode is a tribute to our bond with these companions and their impact on our lives, even as we mourn the loss of our beloved Klondike.Gear up for practical insights as we talk about the essential dog products that have made our life on wheels smoother. From the Gorilla muddy mat that keeps our RV clean to the PetSafe dog water bowl that ensures our dogs stay hydrated, we've got you covered. We also shed light on the significance of being responsible pet-owners on the road, with tips on finding pet-friendly stops, using a reliable GPS collar for pets, and more. We end the episode with a discussion about the various collars we've used for our dogs and their proper usage. We share our experiences with breed misconceptions and the importance of pressure release in training. We also talk about key considerations for traveling with dogs, like finding a nationally available brand of dog food and being aware of emergency vet options. And, of course, we cannot wait to hear from you, so don't forget to leave your reviews and reach out to us with any questions through our website's contact form. Enjoy the journey with us, and let's celebrate the wonderful bond between humans and their pets in the RV lifestyle!

Today we're excited to welcome Rob Candelino, the CEO of Radio Systems Corporation, the world's largest dog and cat product supplier with brands like PetSafe, Invisible Fence, Kurgo, SportDOG, and Premier Pet.A member of the Advertising Hall of Fame, Rob is renowned for his focus on purpose-driven branding and deep understanding of consumer insights in product development and marketing.In today's conversation, Rob shares his valuable insights on leadership, emphasizing the importance of investing in people for long-term success.We'll also dive into the challenges and rewards of leading organizational teams overseas and the significance of purpose-driven branding.Without further ado, here is Rob Candelino.-----Produced by Simpler Media

*This episode is brought to you by LMNT Electrolyte Supplement ~> This special offer is available here: DrinkLMNT.com/justgetstartedEpisode 328 features Sarah Panus, a brand storytelling strategist, podcast host of Marketing With Empathy®, and owner of Kindred Speak® consulting.Find Sarah Online:Website: www.kindredspeak.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahpanus/Marketing With Empathy Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-with-empathy-podcast/id1535789654About Sarah:Sarah Panus is a brand storytelling strategist, podcast host of Marketing With Empathy®, and owner of Kindred Speak® consulting.Pulling from 20 years of experience helping billion-dollar brands drive leading ROI through editorial brand storytelling, she helps content marketers & brands more confidently navigate the world of brand storytelling. Previous clients include Sleep Number, Christos Bridal, Nestle Waters, Starbucks, PetSafe, and the American Heart Association. Sarah works with clients by either doing the work for them through her agency services; OR, coaching them to think like Editorial Directors in one of her online courses. Visit www.kindredspeak.com to learn more.........Thank you for listening!If you found value in this episode I'd appreciate a generous review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listened to this episode. If you wanted to learn more about the host, Brian Ondrako, check out his “Now” Page - https://brianondrako.com/now or Sign up for his Weekly Newsletter and 3x a Week Blog - https://brianondrako.com/subscribe/********This episode is brought to you by LMNT, the delicious, sugar-free electrolyte drink mix. As someone who is active with CrossFit and other activities, I take LMNT 1–2 times per day. LMNT is formulated to help anyone with their electrolyte needs as electrolytes are vital to helping relieve hunger, cramps, headaches, tiredness, and dizziness.For a limited time, listeners of the Just Get Started Podcast can get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase. This special offer is available here: DrinkLMNT.com/justgetstarted Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Michelle Fern is joined by Kelly Yaremchuk, water and feed category manager for PetSafe to talk about how to keep your pets happy and hydrated with fresh, filtered water from PetSafe's Pet Water Fountains. PetSafe's portfolio of drinking fountains include Drinkwell 1-Gallon Pet Fountain, Creekside Ceramic Pet Fountain and Seaside Stainless Pet Fountain. PetSafe's drinking fountains are great for pets and pet owners alike. EPISODE NOTES: PetSafe Fountains

You will fail. You will have difficult times. When hard times come your way, what will you do? Today on Conflict Managed, Randy Boyd, University of Tennessee President, encourages us to persevere in the face of hardship. He tells us the four things he has discovered successful businesses do, settling disputes with win/win/win in mind (you'll have to listen to find out what the extra win is!), and a great program, The Birthday Lunch and Listen, where people from across the organization are celebrated and listened to as well as creating an opportunity for employees to network with each other. Randy Boyd was appointed as the 26th president of the University of Tennessee System by the UT Board of Trustees March 27, 2020, following a 16-month period as interim president. Boyd founded Knoxville-based Radio Systems Corporation, a company that produces over 4,000 pet related products under the brand names PetSafe, Invisible Fence, ScoopFree and SportDOG. The company employs more than 1,400 people with offices in six countries around the world. Boyd Sports, LLC, owned by Randy and Jenny Boyd, owns the Greeneville Flyboys and Tennessee Smokies.  The company also owns the Johnson City Doughboys, Elizabethton River Riders and operates the Kingsport Axmen. Boyd also served the state of Tennessee in numerous roles, including serving as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and as the governor's special advisor on higher education where he was the architect for Tennessee Promise and Drive to 55. He is also the founder and chairman of the non-profit Tennessee Achieves. Randy and Jenny Boyd have dedicated their lives to giving back. In 2018, the couple formed the Boyd Foundation to further promote youth education, mental health, the arts and animal welfare. Among the Foundation's many philanthropic commitments is the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research and the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation's Boyd Venture Challenge seed grant program for student entrepreneurs, both through the Haslam College of Business at UT Knoxville. Boyd is the first in his family to graduate from college. He earned a bachelor's degree in business with an emphasis on industrial management from UT Knoxville. He also earned a master's degree in liberal studies with a focus on foreign policy from the University of Oklahoma. The Boyds live in Knoxville and have two children and two grandchildren. You can find Randy Boyd online at utpresident@tennessee.edu. Conflict Managed is hosted by Merry Brown and produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services. Contact us at 3PConflictRestoration@gmail.com. Our music is courtesy of Dove Pilot.

PetSafe brand, a global leader in pet product solutions, has made traveling with your pet even easier with the addition of the Happy Ride Collapsible Travel Crate to its robust line of travel products. The new portable travel crate safely contains a dog in the backseat while heading to the next adventure. This week Michelle Fern chats with Mandie Sweetnam, Petsafe Category Manager about the Happy Ride Collapsible Travel Crate. “Pets and people can spend quality time together from anywhere with our expansive line of travel products, and with the addition of the collapsible travel crate, the journey is just as fun as the destination,” says Mandie. EPISODE NOTES: Happy Ride Collapsible Travel Crate

Frank Murphy's friend Azsha White is filling in for Kathryn Frady. Kathryn is rehearsing for her performances in The Copper Queen. Azsha is a voice-over actress and event host.  Azsha and her husband bought a house with a pool. She thought about getting rid of the pool but decided to make the needed repairs and improvements. Azsha and her husband live in New Market, which Frank says is a speed-trap town.  Azsha's father was a fan of the song “Aja” by Steely Dan, which inspired her name. Azsha and Frank met through the Knox Asian Festival.  Azsha and her pets are in commercials for PetSafe. She has two dogs and an orange tabby, which reminds Frank of the orange cat that he sees in the woods behind his house. Azsha is too young to have heard of Morris the Cat, the mascot of 9Lives commercials in the 1970s and ‘80s.  Frank wonders why he was too busy in 1982 to think about the World's Fair. He had just started working at a commercial radio station for the first time. Many of the songs that came out that summer still get airplay today. Frank sent Azsha a link to a World's Fair YouTube channel that is run by East Tennessee PBS. The link to the channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVKLUZFuDFZ2sfNHXSmoUbg  Azsha hosted an event with the Knoxville Area Korean American Association at the Muse last week. Azsha wore a traditional Korean dress called a hanbok.  Frank and his friend Bruce went to brunch at Cracker Barrel on Sunday. Frank was told that the wait for a table would be an hour but several people must have left before being seated because the wait wasn't that long.  Two friends from church spotted Frank while he and Bruce were waiting for a table. They were a little bit away from the building to stand in the breeze. The people from church thought Frank's belly looked too big. Frank hoped it was because the wind had puffed out his shirt.  Frank and Azsha both like the hashbrown casserole at Cracker Barrel. Azsha likes their hot chocolate and Frank likes their lattes but not their regular coffee.  Azsha brought her pet axolotl to the Podcast Ponderosa. The axolotl is a type of salamander from Mexico. Azsha named her pet Tofu. He is an albino. She had brought Tofu to an aquarium store on the way to Frank's house. The store's staff told Azsha that Tofu is male.  Marble City Opera will produce the stage premiere of The Copper Queen on June 2, 3, and 4. Kathryn Frady plays the role of Julia Lowell, whose ghost is said to haunt the Copper Queen hotel. Tickets are on sale  at https://www.marblecityopera.com/tickets  This episode is sponsored by BoneZones.com (don't forget the S). Buy books and other merchandise autographed by Body Farm founder Dr. Bill Bass at https://bonezones.com/  Support the Frank & Friends Show by purchasing some of our high-quality merchandise at https://frank-friends-show.creator-spring.com  Sign up for a 30-day trial of Audible Premium Plus and get a free premium selection that's yours to keep. Go to http://AudibleTrial.com/FrankAndFriendsShow  Find us online https://www.FrankAndFriendsShow.com/  Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://YouTube.com/FrankAndFriendsShow  and hit the bell for notifications.  Find the audio of the show on major podcast apps including Spotify, Apple, Google, iHeart, and Audible.  Find us on social media:  https://www.facebook.com/FrankAndFriendsShow  https://www.instagram.com/FrankAndFriendsShow  https://www.twitter.com/FrankNFriendsSh  Thanks!

Sarah Panus is a Minnesota mama, brand storytelling strategist, podcast host of Marketing With Empathy, and owner of Kindred Speak. Her mission is to enrich someone's day by humanizing the brand and consumer connections.. Sarah comes from a world managing up to $10M budgets but know how to get scrappy too. She's worked with brands such as: Sleep Number, Nestlé Waters North America, Starbucks, Lindt Chocolate, American Heart Association, PetSafe, Game Crazy, Christos Bridal, and more. Find Sarah Online: Sarah Panus website www.kindredspeak.com Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahpanus/ Follow Sarah on instagram https://instagram.com/iamsarahpanus Check out Sarah's online brand storytelling courses: https://sarah-panus.mykajabi.com/ If you're enjoying Entrepreneur's Enigma, please give us a review on the podcast directory of your choice. We're on all of them and these reviews really help others find the show. Also, if you're getting value from the show and want to buy me a coffee, go to the show notes to get the link to get me a coffee to keep me awake, while I work on bringing you more great episodes to your ears. →  https://gmwd.us/buy-me-a-coffee Follow Seth Online: Seth Goldstein

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Holidays! “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is here! But… it can also bring life threatening dangers to pets…, which can be so easily averted! So let's keep em' celebrating with great holiday tips from pet travel expert, Megan Blake, and PetSafe® behavior Education Specialist, Mandie Sweetnam! This is your "Need to Know!” super safe, Super Smiley Adventure! EPISODE NOTES: Super Holiday Pet Tips from Super Pet Experts!

Tracy has over 20 years' experience in marketing and branding in nonprofit, hospitality and consumer goods industries. Today she is part of a small team of 15 that have the privilege of working for the Dollywood Foundation, in particular Dolly's flagship program, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. This early childhood literacy program began in 1995 and helps to inspire the love of reading in over 1.8 million children each month in the U.S, Canada, the U.K, the Republic of Ireland, and Australia. Tracy passionately leads the foundation's continuing mission to bring awareness and globally grow the program, while helping to support the over 2000 committed volunteers and partners who help gift the free books each month in local communities all over the world. Prior to the Dollywood Foundation, she worked for Radio Systems Corporation for six years, one of the largest pet products manufacturers in the world, selling products in over 52 countries. During her tenure in this role, she led marketing efforts across multiple brands including Invisible Fence® Brand, PetSafe®, and most recently Premier Pet™, where as a one-woman marketing team, she built and designed the new brand and led all marketing efforts and strategies. While there she also served on RSC's philanthropy committee with a mission of giving back to pet welfare groups and youth education programs in East Tennessee. The seven years previous to Radio Systems, Tracy was the Director of Marketing for Rita Restaurant Corp. (previously Avado Brands) located in Atlanta, GA. Reporting directly to the CEO, she directed all marketing strategy and efforts for two restaurant brands, Don Pablo's Tex Mex and Hops Microbrewery. She joined as a member of a small turn-around executive team and six years later saw the successful acquisition and sale of the company. Before Rita Restaurant Corp. she was the Director of Marketing with Ruby Tuesday Inc., a public company operating 800+ domestic and international restaurants. During her eight-year tenure with Ruby Tuesday she rapidly advanced to positions of increased responsibility. Tracy's early service-related roles at the restaurant level provided her with a unique understanding of customer dynamics and the efficacy of various marketing strategies and their impact on operations. In all roles, she has focused on strategic planning, brand management, marketing tactics, project management, national philanthropic efforts, agency relationship management and local marketing. Tracy holds a Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude degree from the University of Tennessee and currently serves on the Engagement Committee and the Board of Directors for The Historic Tennessee Theatre, the official state theatre of Tennessee. She resides in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee with her dog, Joey and cat, Doc. ABOUT THE SHOW: Books, Kids & Creations is a videocast hosted by author, Tracy Blom, that features people who inspire and uplift children through their work. Tracy Blom is the author of over twenty published books, with her most recent publication, The Happy Machine. @Copyright by Authors On The Air

Tracy has over 20 years' experience in marketing and branding in nonprofit, hospitality and consumer goods industries. Today she is part of a small team of 15 that have the privilege of working for the Dollywood Foundation, in particular Dolly's flagship program, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. This early childhood literacy program began in 1995 and helps to inspire the love of reading in over 1.8 million children each month in the U.S, Canada, the U.K, the Republic of Ireland, and Australia. Tracy passionately leads the foundation's continuing mission to bring awareness and globally grow the program, while helping to support the over 2000 committed volunteers and partners who help gift the free books each month in local communities all over the world. Prior to the Dollywood Foundation, she worked for Radio Systems Corporation for six years, one of the largest pet products manufacturers in the world, selling products in over 52 countries. During her tenure in this role, she led marketing efforts across multiple brands including Invisible Fence® Brand, PetSafe®, and most recently Premier Pet™, where as a one-woman marketing team, she built and designed the new brand and led all marketing efforts and strategies. While there she also served on RSC's philanthropy committee with a mission of giving back to pet welfare groups and youth education programs in East Tennessee. The seven years previous to Radio Systems, Tracy was the Director of Marketing for Rita Restaurant Corp. (previously Avado Brands) located in Atlanta, GA. Reporting directly to the CEO, she directed all marketing strategy and efforts for two restaurant brands, Don Pablo's Tex Mex and Hops Microbrewery. She joined as a member of a small turn-around executive team and six years later saw the successful acquisition and sale of the company. Before Rita Restaurant Corp. she was the Director of Marketing with Ruby Tuesday Inc., a public company operating 800+ domestic and international restaurants. During her eight-year tenure with Ruby Tuesday she rapidly advanced to positions of increased responsibility. Tracy's early service-related roles at the restaurant level provided her with a unique understanding of customer dynamics and the efficacy of various marketing strategies and their impact on operations. In all roles, she has focused on strategic planning, brand management, marketing tactics, project management, national philanthropic efforts, agency relationship management and local marketing. Tracy holds a Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude degree from the University of Tennessee and currently serves on the Engagement Committee and the Board of Directors for The Historic Tennessee Theatre, the official state theatre of Tennessee. She resides in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee with her dog, Joey and cat, Doc. ABOUT THE SHOW: Books, Kids & Creations is a videocast hosted by author, Tracy Blom, that features people who inspire and uplift children through their work. Tracy Blom is the author of over twenty published books, with her most recent publication, The Happy Machine. @Copyright by Authors On The Air

Hi there, dog lovers! You’re crazy about your canines and so are we! Today we’re chatting with Harrison Forbes, who in a 30+ year career in pets, has been reaching pet lovers through tv, and has also served as a radio host, brand spokesperson, marketing advisor, new product launcher, book author and emcee for fundraisers in the pet industry. Working with brands like Toyota, Mars, Purina, Petco, Natural Balance, Progressive, playcore, Petsafe and many more, Harrison has met all kinds of pet parents, and as a behaviorist, has helped thousands of listeners over 18 years on his Syndicated radio show that was known as Pet Talk. He has been on over 50 national tv shows like Today, The View, Regis and Kelly, Fox News, CNN etc.Harrison, what do you mean by the statement that longevity for our dogs is both a gift and a curse?Harrison, how do you define a supplement?In your opinion, do most dogs need supplements?Many veterinarians will say, “Healthy dogs who are eating high-quality, nutritionally complete and balanced dog foods won’t really benefit from most nutritional supplements, particularly vitamins and minerals that are already present in their diets at the appropriate level”. What do you say to that statement?When it comes to nutrients, what are most dogs lacking in their diet?What are some of the things that people give supplements for? What issues are they trying to treat?So, share with us how and why Immune-D came to be.Why is it in liquid form?So, if we’re giving supplements in pill or powder form, we’re pretty much wasting our money?What was learned from your clinical studies?If we feed a whole, fresh diet or raw food diet, would our dogs still need additional supplements?And if a dog’s body doesn’t need each and every nutrient in Immune-D, will their body just eliminate it? Is there any way that they could get too much of a certain vitamin or mineral?Can you share the differences that people see after adding Immune-D to their dog’s diet?OFFER: Use code WOL to receive 25% off of your order AND there is free shipping in the 48 contiguous states by ordering from https://immune-d.com/Harrison, where can everyone find out more information about you and Immune-D?https://immune-d.com/https://www.harrisonforbes.com/FB: @ImmuneDfordogsIG: @immune_DfordogsWe appreciate our sponsor: Immune-DJust go to Immune-D.com and be sure to use the code WOL to receive 25% off of your order AND there is free shipping in the 48 contiguous statesThanks for Listening!Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode.Special thanks to Harrison Forbes for being on the show. Catch you next time!Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO“The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!”

Does walking your dog feel like a tug of war? Richard Gonzalez of Domesticated Dog joins me to discuss some simple techniques you can begin trying right now to help communicate better with your dog and improve your walks. We recommended Y-shaped harness to help for the walk. Some we recommend are the Balance Harness, PetSafe 3 in 1 Harness, TrueLove Harness, Perfect Fit Harness, RuffWear Harnesses,  Freedom Harness, and so many more! - Today's episode was brought to you by PupFord. Check out their freeze dried training treats at https://pfrd.site/pupford-treats. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dogtrainingaudioex/support

* We’re joined by Beca Truong from ASUS to share some back-to-school laptop suggestions* Tech expert Amber Mac also stops by with some gadget recommendations for students (and their parents)* Own a dog or cat? PetSafe joins us to talk about two high-tech feeders for your furry friends

In this episode I speak with Andrick Buggs about videography. We delve into his building a studio at PetSafe. Sponsor: La Esperanza Theme song: Adeem The Artist

House Rabbit: Today we are going to discuss the house bunny.  The idea of covering an episode about the house bunny was suggested by Tom Woods from the Tom Woods Podcast which can be found at http://tomwoods.com/. The Feature product is Yesterday's News -     which we cover later in the episode. You can support the podcast, and help keep the lights on, whenever you use through the link at Hare of the Rabbit on the support the podcast page. It will not cost you anything extra, and I can not see who purchased what.   I would like to thank whoever purchased through the Amazon link, there were some interesting items: Mountain Man Beaver Balls String Silencer -     Amazon Basics High-Speed HDMI Cable - 3 Feet (0.9 Meter) Supports Ethernet, 3D, 4K and Audio Return -     Steam Gift Card - $20 -     Mousepad Unique Design Mouse Pad Beautiful Purple Sunset -     A lot of the information I gleaned about the House Bunny were from two great web sites: http://rabbit.org/about-us/ and http://myhouserabbit.com/ The House Rabbit Society is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization with two primary goals:     To rescue abandoned rabbits and find permanent homes for them and     To educate the public and assist humane societies, through publications on rabbit care, phone consultation, and classes upon request. They operate an adoption and education center out of our International Headquarters in Richmond, California. Why would you get a House Rabbit? Rabbits make wonderful indoor companions.  They are clean, relatively quiet, and adorable! But before you jump into rabbit ownership, make sure a rabbit is a good fit for your family. First of all, ensure you’ve properly budgeted for your new furry friend. Costs include an adoption fee; vet bills for spay/neuter surgery, annual checkups, and occasional illness; housing and bunny proofing supplies; and food. After ten or more years, these costs can add up! House Rabbit Society, a national nonprofit organization, recommends that you keep your rabbit in the house rather than outdoors.  Rabbits are intelligent, social animals who need affection, and they can become wonderful companion animals if given a chance to interact with their human families. Once you’ve set up the primary housing location for your rabbit, you’ll have to bunny proof the surrounding area where your rabbit will romp, rumble and play. Rabbit Proofing one’s home involves three things: 1) Preventing destruction of your property; 2) Protecting your companion rabbit(s) from harm; and 3) Providing safe and fun chewing alternatives for your rabbit. Now we are going to cover some tips to Bunny Proof your home. Pet rabbits love to dig and chew.  If you are overly protective of your furniture then a house rabbit may not be perfect for you. House bunny proofing can only go so far and chewing on a bit of smoothed oak or walnut is perfectly natural as far as bunnies are concerned.  In order to protect your house rabbit as well as your home you’ll need to bunny proof.  Rabbits are chewers.  Rabbits enjoy small, dark spaces.  Rabbits are curious.  These are three good reasons why you will need to "rabbit proof" your house prior to allowing your rabbit access to your home.  Rabbit proofing your home will protect your rabbit and your belongings. Get down on the floor, and imagine for a minute, that you are a rabbit. Look at all of the wonderful places you have to explore and the many chew-able items available for your enjoyment. Wires are one of the main targets of bunnies. Their sharp teeth can slice through your wires quickly, damaging your favorite lamp     or worse, electrocuting your rabbit.  Bunny-proofing your home is part of living with a house rabbit.  It is natural for rabbits to chew on furniture, rugs, drapes, and, most deadly of all, electrical cords.  Preventing rabbits from chewing on electrical cords is of utmost importance, since rabbits can be badly burned or electrocuted. The consequences of biting into an electric wire are too severe to risk relying on training alone.  Instead, you must take action to move the cords safely out of reach.  So now I am sure that you are asking "how do I keep electrical cords out of reach?" Cords must be concealed so that the rabbit cannot reach them.  Exposed cords can be encased in vinyl tubing (found at hardware stores). By splitting the tubing lengthwise with a utility knife the cord can be pushed inside it,  It is best to cover wires with hard plastic sleeves or flex tubing -     .  These can be purchased at any hardware, home improvement or electronics store.  It may also be called Spiral cable wrap, and It costs about $3 for 10 feet and works like a charm for most, but not every bunny. (Some will still manage to chew through it.)  This stuff is very flexible so the cords are still manageable after wrapping. It works well with cords that you might have in the middle of the room or might move quite often, such as vacuum cleaner, phone, video game, extension, lamp and other cords. Simply raising the cords above floor level may NOT work. Remember that when sitting up on their hind legs, rabbits can reach a foot or more in the air. Placing cords behind furniture may NOT prevent your rabbit from reaching them. Rabbits can fit into some pretty tight spaces. Bitter sprays often do NOT work, since rabbits tend to like bitter tastes. Plastic tubing (similar to that used in fish tanks, or with “swamp coolers”) from a hardware or aquarium store can be slit lengthwise with a blade and the wire can be tucked safely inside. A harder, black, pre-slit type of tubing is also available. The best solution, is to keep all wires out of the reach of your bunnies.  You can also use large flex tubing to protect wooden table or chair legs. Baseboards and moldings are also frequently chewed by bunnies. If a rabbit insists on chewing baseboards, edges of chairs, a board can be put over the places of temptation, making them inaccessible while also providing an acceptable chewing surface.  You can protect your baseboards by covering them with plastic guards, 2x4s or furring strips found at your local hardware store.  You can also protect the elaborate moldings with wood panels attached via velcro strips.  This method should be combined with training your rabbit not to chew on these items. Blocking Off Areas. Some bunnies can jump 36 inches or higher, and their curiosity brings them on top of shelves, chairs and desks.  They are also quite adept at squeezing into tight spaces, like behind your bookshelf or under your bed.  You’ll need to make sure to block off these areas.  You can use baby gates or puppy pens to block off sections or whole rooms, but ideally they should be made of metal, otherwise your bunny will chew his/her way through quite quickly.  Watch out that the slats aren’t too far apart, or your rabbit will slip right through.  If the slats are too far apart (which is often the case with baby gates), you can zip tie wood panels to the bottom. Bunnies are natural diggers and will dig anywhere they can, especially on your carpets.  Any loose edges will be pulled and dug on until your carpet becomes a stringy mess.  Tiles or untreated sea grass mats are good ways to cover areas that your bunny likes to chew.  You can also arrange your furniture to cover spots your bunny frequently digs. Beware of Houseplants. Houseplants can be dangerous to bunnies.  Many plants are toxic to your bunny, and contrary to popular belief, domesticated rabbits don’t always know by instinct not to eat these plants. It is best to keep any plants out of the reach of your bunny. Poinsettia, holly, tomato leaves, and tulips are among the plants toxic to your bunnies.  Hang plants from the ceiling if you have an active bunny, but watch for falling leaves! Furniture: Upholstered furniture and beds that are several inches off the ground are wonderful places for rabbits to hide underneath. However, some will burrow up into the soft underside and make a nest. A flat cardboard box or frame of 2x4s, smaller than the area of the future base, will keep the rabbit out, and won’t be seen from human level.  Rabbits may not only chew the upholstery that you can see, they may get underneath the furniture and chew the underside. Some rabbits will climb into the hole they have made. Use caution with recliners, since rabbits may get underneath them and into the mechanism. Books: Use glass-fronted book cases.  Place books and newspapers you are still using in chew-proof bins, either hard plastic or metal. There are copper and brass wood bins for fireplaces that are very serviceable and aesthetically pleasing.  Do not place books on the lower shelves of bookcases. Kitchen: The kitchen can pose special hazards for a curious rabbit. Open cupboards and drawers, open areas on the back of appliances, and toe kicks on lower cupboards are just several of the places that may look inviting to a rabbit. Removing the rabbit from one of these areas may mean moving the heavy appliances, with the possibility of hurting the rabbit in the process, or removing the bottom of the cupboard to free the trapped rabbit underneath.  Block off areas around appliances and cabinets to prevent the rabbit from getting behind them. Keep in mind that there must be adequate air circulation around the appliances. Walls: Clear plastic panels from the hardware or plastic supply store can be affixed to the wall to protect against your rabbit chewing into the sheet-rock or tearing off the wallpaper. Placing furniture over that spot can also conceal the damage and protect against further chewing. Now one of the best solutions is Enrichment as a Distraction. Providing many toys can also help dissuade your rabbit from chewing on your belongings; when your bunny is occupied he/she will be less inclined to be destructive. Give your rabbit enough attention, safe chewables, and toys, so that she is distracted from chewing furniture and rugs. A cardboard box stuffed with hay makes an inexpensive play-box. Young rabbits (under a year) are more inclined to mischief and require more confinement and/or bunny-proofing than mature rabbits. Think of yourself as your rabbit's guardian, and about what you need to do to protect him. Rabbit proofing your home will be absolutely necessary if your rabbit will be in your house outside of his cage. Some people prefer to set up an indoor fenced exercise area for their rabbit, so the rabbit proofing does not need to be quite so intense. By bunny proofing your house, you’ll provide a safe environment for your rabbit and protect your belongings. This will make both you and your bunny very happy. House-training/Litter Training By nature, rabbits choose one or a few places (usually corners) to deposit their urine and most of their pills. Urine-training involves little more than putting a litter-box where the rabbit chooses to go.  Pill training requires only that you give them a place they know will not be invaded by others.  Rabbits may have free run of the home. However, it’s best for most–and necessary for some–to start with a space they can call their own. This can be an exercise pen, a large dog crate, a bunny proofed room, or a very large cage or condo.  Use a cage large enough to contain a small litter-box (along with bunny’s food and water bows, toys, etc.) and still allow enough room for the rabbit to stretch out.  Using a puppy pen is usually a better option than a cage because it provides more space, and it can be easily adjusted if you want to gradually increase the area to eventually give your bunny free reign in a bunny-proofed room (or rooms).  Because puppy pens have doors, it’s easy to let your bunny out of the pen for daily exercise. To make this confined time learning time, make sure that there’s a litter-box in the corner of the space that your rabbit chooses for a “bathroom.”  As soon as he or she uses the box consistently, you can give him some freedom.  Place one or more large litter-boxes in corners of the running area outside the rabbit’s home base.  If you don’t use a cage, you need to give the bunny a particular area to call its own.  Just put a litter box wherever the bunny seems to prefer. Use only positive reinforcement  such as treats and praise, and never punishment. Older rabbits are supposed to be easier to train than younger rabbits, especially babies.  A rabbit’s attention span and knack for learning increases as they grow up.  If you have a baby, stick with it! And if you are deciding whether to adopt an older rabbit, or litter train your older rabbit, go for it! When training, do not Let the bunny out of the cage and not watch with undivided attention; You can’t watch TV or read the paper or knit or talk on the phone and expect to keep your mind on what the bunny is doing every second.   if there is an "accident" without being “caught” and herded to the litter box, your rabbit will be that much slower in learning what they are supposed to do. Start with a box in the cage, and one or more boxes in the rabbit’s running space.  If your rabbit urinates in a corner of the cage not containing the box, move the box to that corner until they get it right.  Don’t be concerned if your bunny curls up in the litter-box, as this is natural.  Once your rabbit is using the box in the cage, open the door and allow your rabbit into their running space.  Watch him or her go in and out on her own.  If she heads to a corner where there’s no box, or lifts up her tail in the characteristic fashion, cry “no” in a single, sharp burst of sound.  Gently herd your rabbit back to the cage and litter-box, or into one of the boxes in the room.  Be careful, You don’t want to make the cage or the litter-box seem like punishment.  A handful of hay in the box makes it a more welcoming place.  After she first uses the box, praise your rabbit and give it their favorite treat.  Once she uses the box in her room a couple of times, you’re well on your way, as her habits will be on their way to forming.  As she gets better trained in her first room, you can increase her space.  Don’t hurry this process. And if the area becomes very big, or includes a second floor, be sure to include more litter-boxes, so as not to confuse her.  Remember, as she becomes more confident and uses fewer boxes, you can start to remove some of her early, “training” boxes.  If your rabbit continually urinates in a spot where there is no litter-box, put his box where he will use it, even if it means rearranging his cage or moving a table in the living room. It is much easier to oblige him than to try to work against a determined bunny! Get your rabbit into a daily routine and try not to vary it.   Rabbits are very habitual and once a routine is established, they usually prefer to stick with it. Does spaying/neutering make a difference? Yes! This is often the most important factor.  When rabbits reach the age of 4-6 months, their hormones become active and they usually begin marking their territory.  By spaying or neutering your rabbit, he or she will be more likely to use the litter-box (as well as be much healthier and happier). What types of litter should I use? It depends on what’s available in your area and what your rabbit’s habits are. Keep in mind the following as you choose your litter: ⦁        Most rabbits spend lots of time in their litter boxes ⦁        Rabbits will always nibble some of the litter ⦁        Rabbit urine has a very strong odor. House Rabbit Society recommends organic litters, made from alfalfa, oat, citrus or paper. (Some brands to look for: Care Fresh (Natural only), Cat Country, Critter Country, Yesterday’s News -     , and Papurr). Pros and cons of the various types of litter include: ⦁    Swheat Scoop Litter should be avoided, because rabbits will often ingest it.  Because it is comprised of wheat, it is very high in carbohydrates and can cause obesity, diarrhea, bacterial imbalance, and other health issues. ⦁    Many people have great success with litter made from paper pulp or recycled paper products. These litters are very good at absorbing and cutting down on odors. A litter called Carefresh (use the Natural only product) is available at most pet stores, as is Yesterday’s News. A similar litter in a pelleted form is called Cellu-Dri. These litters are harmless if ingested. Every week I would like to bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience, and I have researched enough to recommend. Today’s HOTR Amazon Item of the week is Yesterday's News.  Now when I worked i a pet store, people either loved the yesterday's news -     or hated it.  there did not seem to be any in-between. One issue people have about their rabbit’s litter box is that it smells. Using a newspaper pellet litter like Yesterday’s News -     will solve the problem.  Even though it’s made of newspaper, the compressed pellets neutralize the odor much more effectively than sheets of newspaper. Here are a few tips about using a recycled paper pellet litter:     Just put a very shallow layer of the litter in the litter box — enough so that the bottom is covered.  It does not have to be deep because rabbits do not bury their droppings like cats. Furthermore, you will be discarding ALL of the litter every time you clean it, so you want to use the least amount possible to make it last and save money.     You can buy large bags of Yesterday’s News that are marketed for cats.  You don’t have to get ones marketed for rabbits.  Just be sure to buy the unscented version.     Put hay on top of the thin layer of litter.  Rabbits like to eat and poop at the same time.  So this encourages them to use the litter box.  Just be sure your rabbit has access to clean, fresh hay at all times.   ⦁    Another approach is to place a handful of hay in each box, or to simply use hay as litter. It is helpful to put several layers of newspaper under the hay, to absorb urine so that your rabbit is not standing in the urine. Most newspapers today are using soy-based ink, which is safe for your rabbit, but check with your local newspaper to make sure first. Obviously, you need to change the hay fairly frequently (daily), since your rabbit will be eating it. This method often helps to encourage good litter habits as well as to encourage hay consumption, since rabbits often eat at or near the same time as they use the litter box. ⦁    Clay litter is dusty–if your bunny is a digger, the dust can make her/him vulnerable to pneumonia.  Also be careful because the deodorant crystals in some clay litters may be toxic.  Clumping litters will clump inside the rabbit’s digestive and respiratory tracts causing serious problems and often leading to death. ⦁    Corn cob litter has the the risk of being eaten and causing a lethal blockage. ⦁    Oat- and alfalfa-based litters (available from Purina, and Manna-Pro, are said to have excellent odor controlling qualities, but if a rabbit eats too much, they expand and can cause bloating; this litter can be added, with the bunny’s waste, to compost ⦁    Newspapers are absorbent, but don’t control odor ⦁    Citrus-based litters work well, offer no dangers, and can be composted, but may be hard to get and expensive in some areas. ⦁    Compressed sawdust pellets are inexpensive, highly absorbent litters used in many foster homes. They are made from softwood or hardwood sawdust.  Their wood composition helps control bacterial growth and odors.  Wood stove fuel pellets and Feline Pine are two examples of this product. ⦁    Litters made from Aspen bark are safe and good at absorbing odors. One brand is called GentleTouch. ⦁    Some people have reported success with peat moss which can also be composted. Now to cover Cleaning and disposal: Clean litter-boxes often, to encourage your rabbit to use them.  Use white vinegar to rinse boxes out–for tough stains, let pans soak.  Accidents outside of the cage can be cleaned up with white vinegar or club soda.  If the urine has already dried, you can try products like “Nature’s Miracle” to remove the stain and odor.  To dispose of organic litters, they can be used as mulch, or can be composted.  Rabbit pellets can be directly applied to plants as fertilizer. Pellets vs. urine All rabbits will drop pellets around their cages to mark it as their own.  This is not failure to be litter-trained.  It is very important for your rabbit to identify the cage as her property so that when she leaves the cage for the bigger world of your house, she/he will distinguish the family’s area from her own and avoid marking it. To encourage this, make the rabbit the king of his cage. Try not to force him in or out of it– coax him.  Do not do things to his cage that he doesn’t like, or things to him that he doesn’t like while he’s in the cage.  The trick to getting the rabbit to keep his/her pellets in the cage is to give him ownership of his cage–respect the cage as HIS:  Don’t reach into the cage to take him out; open the door and let him come out if and when HE wants to come. Don’t catch your rabbit, herd him/her back gently, and let him/her choose to go in to get away from you (walk behind and clap hands, and say “bedtime.” They learn that you will stop harassing them with this until they go into their cage, so they run in except when they feel they haven’t gotten their fair share of time outside the cage.  If the rabbit has been snuggling with you, it’s okay to carry him to the door of the cage and let him go in–just don’t put him directly into the cage, and try to avoid chasing and trapping to put him in the cage.  Don’t reach into the cage to get food dishes–anchor them near the door of the cage so they can be filled with a minimum of trespassing into the cage, or wait until the rabbit is out to fill them.  Don’t clean the cage while the rabbit is in it–wait until he comes out. He’ll come over and supervise you, even help you move things around that you’ve set down outside the cage, but as long as he isn’t in the cage, he won’t see your cleaning as an invasion of his territory. (I wouldn’t object if someone were cleaning my house, either) The same techniques can be used if a rabbit doesn’t live in a cage, but in a particular part of a room.  Mark the territory with a rug, tape, whatever, and don’t trespass over that. Even if your goal is to let your rabbit have full run of the house, you must start small.  Start with a cage and a small running space, and when your rabbit is sufficiently well trained in that space, gradually give them more space. Do so gradually!  If you overwhelm them with too much freedom before they are ready, they will forget where the litter box is and will lose their good habits. House Rabbits and Other Animals House rabbits and indoor cats can get along fine, as do rabbits and well-mannered dogs.  Dogs should be trained to respond to commands before being trusted with a free-running rabbit, and supervision is needed to control a dog’s playful impulses (this is especially true for puppies).  Adding a second rabbit is easiest if the rabbits are neutered adults of opposite sexes, and they are introduced for short periods in an area unfamiliar to both rabbits. CONSUMABLES     Limited pellets daily     Fresh water     Hay /straw (for digestive fiber and chewing recreation)     Fresh salad veggies/fruit (add gradually)     Barley/oats (very small amounts)     Wood (for chewing recreation)     Multiple enzymes (digestive aid)     Petroleum laxative (when needed for passing hair) GROOMING     Flea comb     Brush     Flea products safe for rabbits.     Toenail clippers GENERAL SUPPLIES     Dust-free litter     Whiskbroom/dustpan     White vinegar (for urine accidents)     Hand vacuum     Chlorine bleach (for disinfecting)     Newspapers Be sure to find an experienced rabbit veterinarian before any problem develops. Bunnies take time. Perhaps that’s one of their special gifts to us in this hectic world. They require that we take time out to sit and watch and do nothing else. Besides getting a well-trained bunny for your efforts, you also get a short period of time each day to watch one of the most charming little creatures on earth explore, skip for joy, and in general entertain you with her bunny-ness. If you would like to support the podcast, you can support through Patreon/Hare of the Rabbit for one dollar a month.  Patreon/Hare of the Rabbit is an established online platform that allows fans to provide regular financial support to creators. A lot of the information I gleaned about the House Bunny were from these four great web sites: http://rabbit.org/about-us/ and http://myhouserabbit.com/ http://myhouserabbit.com/rabbit-care/bunny-proofing-your-house/ http://myhouserabbit.com/new-to-rabbits/preparing-for-your-first-house-rabbit/ http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18+1803&aid=2724 http://www.justrabbits.com/house-bunny-proofing.html Plant of the Week: Corn Word of the Week: Advancement Rabbit and Otter, The Bungling Host http://www.indigenouspeople.net/bunghost.htm Many native American tribes have legends in which various animals display their ways and means of obtaining food from others, sometimes using trickster methods. They return meal invitations and even attempt to provide food of a similar nature and in the manner of the previous host. Sometimes, this leads to trouble. There were two wigwams. Otter lived in one with his grandmother, and Rabbit lived with his grandmother in the other. One day Rabbit started out and wandered over to visit Otter in his camp. When Rabbit entered Otter's wigwam, Otter asked if he had anything to eat at home. "No," replied Rabbit. So Otter asked his grandmother if she would cook something for Rabbit, but she told him she had nothing to cook. So Otter went out to the pond directly in front of his camp, jumped in, and caught a nice long string of eels. Meanwhile, Rabbit was looking to see how Otter would catch his food. With Otter's great success, Rabbit thought he could do the same. Rabbit then invited Otter to come over to his camp the next day. His grandmother had already told him that she had nothing to cook for their meal, but asked him to go out and find something. Then Rabbit went out to the same pond where Otter had found the string of eels; but he could get nothing, not one fish, as he could not dive no matter how hard he tried. In the meantime, his grandmother was waiting. She sent Otter out to find Rabbit, who searched and finally found him at the same pond, soaked and with nothing to show for his efforts. "What's the matter with you?" he asked. "I'm trying hard to get us some food," he replied. So friendly Otter jumped into the pond and again caught a string of fish, this time for Rabbit's grandmother to cook for their dinner. Then Otter went home. The next day, Rabbit started out to visit Woodpecker. When he reached Woodpecker's wigwam, Rabbit found him at home with his grandmother. She got out her large pot to cook a meal, but said, "We have nothing to cook in the pot." So Woodpecker went out front to a dry tree-trunk, from which he picked a quantity of meal. This he took to his grandmother, and she made a good dinner for them. Rabbit had watched how Woodpecker obtained his meal, so he invited Woodpecker over to visit him. The very next day Woodpecker arrived at Rabbit's wigwam for a visit. Rabbit asked his grandmother to hang up her pot and cook them some dinner. "But we have nothing to cook," she replied. So Rabbit went outside with his birch-bark vessel to fill it with meal. He tried to dig out the meal with his nose, as he had seen Woodpecker do. Soon Woodpecker came out to see what caused the delay. Poor Rabbit was hurt, with his nose flattened out and split in the middle from trying to break into the wood. Woodpecker left to return to his own wigwam without any dinner. Ever since then, Rabbit has had to carry around his split nose. Another day, desperate for food, Rabbit thought he would go and steal some of Otter's eels. He got into the habit of doing this every second night. Toward spring, Otter began to wonder where his eels had gone as his barrel was getting low. Otter thought he would keep watch and soon found Rabbit's foot tracks, and said to himself, "For that, I am going to kill Rabbit." Now Rabbit knew what was going on in Otter's mind, and when Otter reached Rabbit's camp, he fled. Otter asked Rabbit's grandmother, "Where has Rabbit gone?" "I don't know," she replied. "Last night he brought home some eels, then he went away." "He has been stealing my eels," said Otter. "Now, I'm going to kill him." So began Otter's search for Rabbit, who guessed Otter would be trailing him. Otter began to gain on Rabbit, who picked up a small chip and asked it to become a wigwam. Immediately, the chip became a wigwam and Rabbit became an old man sitting inside. When Otter came along and saw the wigwam, he also saw the gray- headed old man sitting inside. He pretended to be blind. Otter did not know that this was Rabbit himself. Out of pity for him, Otter gathered some firewood for the old man and asked if he had heard Rabbit passing by. "No, I have not heard any one today." So Otter continued his search. Later, Rabbit left his wigwam and started out on another road. Otter could not pick up Rabbit's trail, so he returned to the wigwam. Not only was it empty, but gone entirely. Only a chip remained in its place. Otter then saw Rabbit's tracks where he had jumped out of the wigwam. This trick made Otter very angry and he cried out, "You won't fool me again." Otter followed the new trail. When Rabbit sensed Otter was closing in on him, he picked up another chip and wished it to become a house, and there was the house, ready to live in. Otter came along and was suspicious as soon as he saw the house with a veranda across the front, and a big gentleman walking back and forth all dressed in white, reading a paper. This, of course, was Rabbit himself, but Otter did not know it. He asked the big gentleman, "Have you seen Rabbit go this way?" The man appeared not to hear. So Otter asked again. The gentleman replied in Pidgin English a phrase that meant, "Never saw Rabbit." But Otter looked hard at him and noticed the man's feet, which were Rabbit feet. So Otter felt certain this was his prey. The big gentleman gave Otter some bread and wine, and Otter left hurriedly to again track Rabbit back to the house. He came to the place, but the house was not there. Otter could see the tracks where Rabbit started running away. "He'll never have a chance to trick me again, that's his last time!" declared Otter. Rabbit soon came to the head of a bay where there was a very small island, so small that a person could almost jump over it. He jumped onto the island and wished it to become a man-of-war. Otter came to the same shore and saw the big ship anchored there, and the big gentleman in a white suit walking the deck. Otter called to him, "You can't trick me now! You're the man I want." Then Otter swam out toward the ship, to board it and to kill Rabbit. But the big gentleman sang out to this sailors, "Shoot him! His skin is worth a lot of money in France." News: Giant rabbit died after United Airlines staff put it in freezer: Report http://www.mid-day.com/articles/international-news-giant-rabbit-died-after-united-airlines-staff-put-it-in-freezer-report/18211162 London: A giant rabbit, who mysteriously died in the care of United Airlines, was accidentally shut in a freezer by a bungling staffer for 16 hours, a media report has claimed. Three-foot Simon, who was expected to outgrow his father Darius to become the world's biggest bunny, appeared happy and healthy when he touched down at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport en route to a celebrity buyer but was found dead a short time later. The Sun, citing a source, reported that the pet froze to death after he was accidentally left in a freezer for around 16 hours. However, a United spokesman denied the claim, saying that the "assertion is completely false. Simon was cared for at the PetSafe kennel facility which is kept at room temperature (on average 70 degrees Fahrenheit)." "He arrived at Chicago O'Hare airport in apparent good condition at 10:25 AM (local time). He was seen by a representative of the kennel facility moving about within his crate about 11:00 AM," he was quoted as saying. "Shortly thereafter, a kennel representative noticed Simon was motionless and determined that he passed away," the spokesman said. An airport worker was quoted as saying that the rabbit arrived fine but there was some sort of mistake and he was locked inside a freezer overnight. "The next day staff went in and did an inventory. The rabbit was huddled up facing away from the front of the cage towards the wall. Everyone thought he was just having a nap or something," the worker said. "Nobody realized it needed to be taken out," the airport worker added. The worker said temperatures inside the chiller were between 0 degrees Celsius and 2 degrees Celsius. He claimed the pets are usually kept in a special area kept at room temperature between 18 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius. The worker said United Airlines has launched an investigation but they do not know who put the rabbit in the chiller. "We know from the inventory that that the rabbit was alive when it reached the airport. So it happened in the warehouse," he said. "It has all been kept very hush hush but none of us know who froze the rabbit," the source said. United recently made headlines and remains under scrutiny following its treatment to the Vietnamese-American passenger, David Dao, who was physically dragged off an "overbooked" flight when he refused to give up his seat for United crew members on a flight from Chicago to Louisville. Just days after the incident, it emerged that a bride and groom headed for their wedding were booted from a United Airlines flight after they relocated to empty seats three rows up without permission. Sunny Bunnies scores US licensing partner Evolution will handle all North American licensing, merchandising and promotional rights for the non-dialog preschool series. http://kidscreen.com/2017/04/26/sunny-bunnies-scores-us-licensing-partner/ UK distributor Media I.M. has tapped California-based Evolution to handle all North American licensing, merchandising and promotional rights for Digital Light Studios’ CGI series Sunny Bunnies. Licensed apparel, accessories, publishing, toys, plush, home, food and health & beauty products are slated to launch next spring. (The property will make its debut at next month’s Licensing Expo in Las Vegas.) The 52 x 3.5-minute non-dialog show currently airs on Disney Channel and Disney Junior in the US. The first season of the series, aimed at three- to six-year-olds, has also bowed in multiple regions across the globe, including EMEA. The toon was adapted from the Sunny Bunnies YouTube channel, which has amassed more than 95 million views to date. It follows five fluffy balls that appear anywhere and have mischievous adventures. More than 100 runners participate in the annual Epic Sports Rabbit Run http://bangordailynews.com/2017/04/29/sports/more-than-100-runners-participate-in-the-annual-epic-sports-rabbit-run/ The annual Epic Sports’ Rabbit Run race winds through the Bangor City Forest. The 5.25 mile course saw over 100 runners Saturday. Proceeds went to benefit the Bangor Humane Society and the Clifton Climbers Association.

In this weeks episode, we will be covering the Flemish Giant rabbit, the plant of the week which is Linseed, the word of the week; admission, and a few news articles. I have a new segment I am adding to the podcast.  Every week I would like to bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience, and I have researched enough to recommend. Today’s HOTR Amazon Item of the week is the 20 Pack of Blue Barb Rabbit Nipples for Automated watering .   I believe with some things to always buy the best you can afford. This weeks product is a nipple waterer for rabbits.  These are one of the best rabbit nipples available for 5/16″ inch tubing.  These are easy to take apart either to clean or replace parts. They are easy for rabbits to use and works great with gravity fed or low psi automated watering systems.  They can also be used with Ferrets, Chinchilla’s and other small Mammals.  I have found that the blue ones seem to hold up better then the red nipples.  I have also found that the “T”‘s that are with the nipples break very easily, so I would not recommend expecting the “T”‘s to last very long.  In fact, I have found that the “T”‘s last about thee weeks before I have a failurethat I have to change them out.  The nipples I have found seem to last pretty well.  I have had to swap them out about every few months, and this is because they sometimes break in half, and I think this is more from getting knocked by something outside of the cage.  They attach to the cage by sticking one end of the spring in one of the small holes on the metal base of the drinker, hook that to the cage, and stick the drinker inbetween one of the bars of the cage, with the hook on the nipple piece to the cage.     If you would like to support the podcast, you can support through Patreon for one dollar a month.  Patreon is an established online platform that allows fans to provide regular financial support to creators.  Patreon was created by a musician who needed a easy way for fans to support his band. you can also support the podcast, and help keep the lights on, whenever you use Amazon through the link at Hare of the Rabbit on the support the podcast page. It will not cost you anything extra, and I can not see who purchased what.   Now we are going to explore the Flemish Giant Rabbit.  We briefly discussed this breed last week when we were covering the Belgian Hare, and that led to this episode. History Opinions differ as to the real origin of the Flemish Giant.  It is undisputed that Flanders – the origin of it’s present name – was the country of it’s adoption and dissemination throughout Europe and eventual appearance in America.  As early as the 1500’s, rabbits "four times bigger than ‘normal’ rabbits" were already living in the area of Verona, Belgium.  Exactly when the actual oversize rabbit giant genes first surfaced will probably remain forever unknown. It could have been a random mutation. It was bred as early as the 16th century near the city of Ghent, Belgium. It is believed to have descended from a number of meat and fur breeds, possibly including the Steenkonijn (Stone Rabbit—referring to the old Belgian weight size of one stone or about 3.76 kg (8 lb 5 oz)) and the European "Patagonian" breed (now extinct). The name Patagonia is a reference, which could be a reference to Argentina, or to a Spanish term meaning "big foot."  On the other hand, the belief that giant creatures lived in Patagonia was common at the time, making the name a logical one for a very large rabbit breed. In the late 19th and early 20th century, big bunnies were all the rage.  From Flanders, Belgium comes the biggest bunny of all, the Flemish Giant.  Europe, however, can give no definite information as to how or when it first appeared there.  It is known to have been bred there on a large scale during a period of several hundred years, and for a long time was called the Patagonian rabbit. Now I read many different thoughts about the "Patagonian" Rabbit, and I will cover them as we go. This "Patagonian" rabbit, a large breed that was once bred in Belgium and France, was not related to the Patagonian rabbit of Argentina (Sylvilagus brasiliensis), a separate wild species weighing less than two pounds (about 1 kg), nor the Patagonian hare (Dolichotis patagonum), a species in the cavy family of rodents that cannot interbreed with rabbits. An analysis of historical events during the 16th and 17th centuries gives strong support to the belief that the original Patagonian was the wild rabbit of Patagonia in the Argentine Republic.  During the 16th and 17th centuries the Dutch were sailing the seas back and forth, trading with the West Indies, Central and South America.  It is not likely that they would bring back with them merely the name Patagonia and tack it on to the rabbit of Flanders and the Netherlands.    It is, however, very likely that they would take back to Europe the rabbit itself, and name it after the country from which it came.  However, it was just about the time the Dutch were carrying on their trade with South America that these rabbits first became known.  Previously there was no record of them.  Even today the loose limbed, wild sandy rabbit of Patagonia has the same typical appearance of the Patagonian rabbit of Flanders as it existed there several hundred years ago. It seems likely then that one of three things happened.  Either this rabbit was taken from Europe to Patagonia, or from Patagonia to Europe, or was a breed givin an exotic name with no origin's in Patagonia; but since we find no record in Europe before the Dutch started trading with America, then it seems fairly obvious that this rabbit may have originate in Patagonia. Whereas, however, in Patagonia the rabbit has remained wild and not been subjected to selective breeding, leaving it as it was hundreds of years ago. In Europe and America, selective breeding has been carried out extensively, and this has produced the far superior rabbit known today as the Flemish Giant. The earliest authentic record of the Flemish Giant Rabbit occurred about the year 1860.  At that time, in England, stories were being circulated by travelers having recently returned from Flanders, of the enormous size of the rabbits raised in that country and in parts of France.  Weights of certain specimen were stated to be 18  to 20 pounds.   Rabbit meat at the time was being imported into England to the extent of millions of pounds yearly and local breeders were unable to fill the demand.  English breeders of meat stock produced their product from stock weighing an average of 7 to 8 pounds at maturity, so it was but a short time later that the first importation of Flemish breeding rabbits took place.  In The British Islands Rabbit breeding as a fancy and as a means of reducing family expenses was looked upon more as a necessity rather then a hobby with this and competition being what it is, it was but a short time before the Flemish Giant made its appearance at some of the many rabbit shows held periodically in England.  The first standards for the breed were written in 1893. The first Flemish exhibited, although impressive in size, was not handsome.  The color being of a dirty iron grey with sandy or white bars on legs, long ears bent over at the tips, and a general uncouth appearance.  Nevertheless, it was but a brief period before the first Flemish Breeders’ Association was organized for the express purpose of improving the new breed.  Various experiments and crosses with other varieties worked a wonderful change in the former homely specimen and it eventually became the rule that no show was complete without a large display of Flemish Giants.  The weight and color improved from time to time.   American fanciers imported Flemish Giants from England about the same time of the Belgian Hare boom in the early 1880’s.   Fast-forward to the mid-1800’s.  Multiple Belgian clubs were already regularly holding weight competitions featuring their giant rabbits. The winning Flemish Giants weighed up to 19 pounds in the latter half of the 1800’s. No special notice was attracted to the breed until the year 1910 when at that time rabbits were exhibited at the leading poultry shows throughout the country.  The Flemish Giant was soon established as a favorite owing to their enormous size and beautiful colors.   Flemish Giants arrived in the USA at the very end of the 1890’s. They arrived here only partially pedigreed, yet the demand for these giant rabbits was as monstrous as the rabbits themselves. It was not long before American breeders organized their own clubs and standards of perfection for the Flemish Giant. The breed was well established by the turn of the 20th century, desired for its meat-producing qualities.  The first Flemish Giant club in the United States was established in 1915.  The Federation was founded in 1915 by a group of four Flemish Giant rabbit breeders and recently, they celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Flemish Giant National Show.   In 1924, the Flemish Giant Rabbit became a charter breed of the newly formed American Rabbit and Cavy Breeders Association, the forerunner of today’s ARBA. Before and during the last World War, it was very common in Europe to see these large easy-care rabbits being raised by children, who fed them on garden produce, to provide cheap and healthy meals in hard times. The British Flemish Giant is only bred in the UK, and is not as large as the typically massive Flemish Giants found in every other country. The breed is rare today. British Giant Rabbits The British Giant Rabbit is similar to a true Flemish Giant as recognized throughout the world.  It is a massive rabbit with a minimum weight of 13.5 pounds (6.14 kg), and no maximum weight. Now we are going to look at how the breed spread around rest ot the world!  By the end of the 19th Century, Flemish Giants were recognized in Belgium in two colors, gray agouti (white bellied) and iron gray (dark bellied), and various breeders began importing them to their various countries. Flemish Giant Rabbits are the mammoth rabbits of the rabbit world, and the basis of all giant rabbit breeds such as British Giants, Continental Giants, and Gigantes de Espana (Spanish Giants). New Zealand: The breed was imported into New Zealand from North America in the 1980s, its principal attraction being its large size – it is one of the largest breeds of domestic rabbit.  It soon attained a degree of popularity in NZ, which it still has today.  In 1986 a 10-month old Giant weighting over eight kilograms was imported from Germany and was used to help increase the size of those in New Zealand. Since then no other Flemish Giants have been brought into New Zealand.  Some time after the Flemish Giants were imported into this NZ, they were bred to New Zealand Whites by a small number of commercial breeders to try and produce a larger carcass with a fast growth rate.  The results were not up to their expectations as the cross resulted in an increase of bone to meat ratio – a Flemish Giant will produce bone first before filling out into the large solid rabbit they are.  They are often referred to as slow growers.  The Giants were also crossed with smaller breeds to introduce different colours and this has resulted in a reduction in their overall size, with a number of smaller sized rabbits being sold as Flemish Giants in New Zealand.  Any adult below five kilograms can’t be a giant amongst rabbits and live up to its name!  In 2011 it was estimated that there were about 70 Flemish Giant rabbits in New Zealand. Germany: The Germans changed the name of their Flemish Giants to German Giants in 1937.  They are genetically 100% Flemish Giants, however selectively bred to conform to the particular specifications of the German standards of perfection for the breed. England: Flemish Giants arrived in England in the early 1900’s. There was apparently a difference of opinion as to which breeding goals to pursue and which colors would be permissible. Perhaps this is why one can find a British Flemish Giant which is only bred in the UK and in only one variety, and the larger British Giant Rabbit which resembles the true Flemish Giant, and which is found in various colors. Japan: Japanese Jumbo Whites resulted from crosses between Flemish Giants and New Zealand Whites.  They enjoyed their heyday before 1950, but now their numbers are so few that the Japanese Agriculture Association protects the breed. Spain: The generally accepted breed history is that the Spanish Giant is the result of crosses between Flemish Giants and two Spanish rabbit breeds, the Lebrel Espanol and the Belier, a lop.  Subsequent breedings selected for erect ear carriage and size.  By 1900, the breed known as the Gigante de Espana (Spanish Giant) was recognized in Valencia, Spain. Flemish Giant Rabbits in the USA American Flemish Giant Rabbits are massive, but don’t quite achieve the truly gigantic proportions seen in a few strains of Continental Giants. This does not mean that Flemish Giants do not have the same size potential of the Continental Giant. They do, but the US Standards of Perfection don't incentivize massive size. Additionally, Flemish Giants in the USA do not carry themselves as flat as do the Flemish in other nations.  American breeders focus on their ideas of overall "balance," while still specifying no maximum weight.  In the US, a slightly smaller, but balanced rabbit will win over an enormous Flemish Giant that does not appear sufficiently balanced. This is the part of the USA standard that places less emphasis on a gigantic rabbit, resulting in giant rabbits that aren’t quite as ‘giant’ as their cousins in the UK or Europe. Overall Description Appearance The typical reaction of most people who see their first Flemish in person is that of awe! Those first comments are almost always some version of “WOW! That is one BIG rabbit”; many will also add “that is bigger than my dog!” Both statements are not an exaggerated truth, though are they favorites that the owners of these amazing giants just love to hear. The body of a Flemish Giant Rabbit is powerful, with relatively broad hindquarters without being fat.  It should carry a heavy bone. Flemish Giants are easily recognizable & quite distinguishable from other breeds of rabbits.  Most commonly, Flemish are world-renown for their long, erect ears and their substantially large size. In addition to this, they have big blocky looking heads with bright bold eyes that are fully complimented by long, noticeable eyelashes. When they are sitting in a resting position on a flat surface, starting from the base of their shoulders, they have a gradual rise that transitions across their wide midsection to their massive, broad hindquarters which continues in a smooth descent, over the hips, to a rear end that sits flatly on the table-top. As one of the largest breeds of domestic rabbit, the Flemish Giant is a semi-arch type rabbit with its back arch starting in back of the shoulders and carrying through to the base of the tail giving a "mandolin" shape.  The body of a Flemish Giant Rabbit is long and powerful, with relatively broad hindquarters.   Flemish Giant Rabbits weigh 15 pounds on average, though the biggest ones can weigh up to 22 lb, and the longest one on record (in fact, holding the record for the longest rabbit in the world of any kind), measured about 32 inches long. ARBA - The show standard minimum weight for a senior doe is 14 lb (about 6.4 kg), and the show standard minimum weight of a Senior buck is 13 lb (about 5.9 kg). The English Lop has a minimum ear span length, but the Flemish is the only breed where the standard specifies a minimum rabbit length.  This happens to be the same number as for the English Lop ear span: 21 inches.   Weight is at least 13 pounds on senior bucks and 14 pounds on senior does.  No maximum weight is specified, but some Flemish have pushed even to 20 pounds.  However, when judging the Flemish it is important to remember that big is good, but balanced is better.  Bone should be heavy, These are gentle giants. BRC - Bucks shall not be less than 4.974kg (11lb) and doe’s not less than 5.44kg (12lb). Size shall be considered irrespective of weight. FUR The fur of the Flemish Giant is known to be dense. When stroked to the head, the fur will roll back to its original position. The fur of the Flemish Giant is known to be glossy and dense. When stroked from the hindquarters to the head, the fur will roll back to its original position.  Coat & Condition should be a full short coat, firm in flesh and moderately thick. Color: The American Rabbit Breed Association (ARBA) standard recognized seven different colors for this breed: black, blue, fawn, sandy, light gray, steel gray, and white.  All are solid colors, as “broken patterns” are not recognized by the ARBA.  However, the color standards are different as defined by the BRC, mentioning only Dark Steel Gray. (BRC) Colour - Dark steel grey, with even or wavy ticking over the whole of the body, head, ears, chest and feet alike, except belly and under tail which shall be white, upon the surface of the fur. Any grey, steel, sandy or other shade on the belly or under tail, except a streak of grey in each groin, shall disqualify. AMPLIFICAITON OF COLOUR: The under should be blue at the base for a little more than a third of the length, then black, merging into a creamy, or bluish white ticking which may be again tipped with black.  In even ticked specimens, the mixture should show half grey and half black tipped hairs over half of the body, neck, face and ears, but may be interspersed with longer yet – black hairs, both even and wavy ticking being permissible. The whole should be uniform in colour.  The under parts to be white with blue under-colour. Tail should be ticked rather darker on top, white on the underside. Legs Their front legs will be very large, within proportion to their bodies, which will also be quite visible. However, their hind legs, while they are equally massive & very powerful, will not usually be as visible because they will be tucked up under their sides. BRC - Shall be in length proportionate to body, strong in bone, large and straight. Feet shall be velvety, dark and ticked. Ticking to show when coat rubbed back. Ears and Eyes The ears are around 8" (20cm) long, standing erect, there may be light rings around the eyes.   The ears large, and the standard actually calls for a reposeful expression in the eye.  Eyes shall be bold and dark brown in colour. Bucks and Does: Bucks have a broad, massive head in comparison to does, and can take 1.5 years to reach full maturity. Does may have a large, full, evenly carried dewlap (the fold of skin under their chins), and can take 1 year to reach their full maturity.  Does can take 1 year to reach their full maturity. Breeding season is in February. Flemish Giants do not handle heat well and therefore, pregnant rabbits do not do well during hot Summers. Babies are ready for new homes at 8 weeks or older. BRC and ARBA Although there are several differences of desired traits in this giant rabbit breed, the two most commonly used descriptions are that of the ARBA & the British Rabbit Counsel (BRC) Breed Standard’s of Perfection. Both standards state slight differences, from the American minimal weight standards for fully matured bucks at 13 pounds & 14 pound does, to the British standard of 11 pound bucks & 12 pound does. Other differences include body style, with the ARBA calling for a semi-arched mandolin shape & the BRC desiring longer, flat bodies. Otherwise, both state that heavy bone structure, mass, & thick, long ears, with bold eyes & dense, short fur that has a roll-back effect when brushing your hand across their backs in a back-to-front motion. BRC points:  1) Colour 30 points 2) Size & Weight 20 points 3) Body 15 points 4) Legs and Feet 15 points 5) Head & Ears 10 points 6) Coat & Condition 10 points Total 100 points INTERMEDIATE FLEMISH 1. To be judged to the Giant Standard 2. Age to be over 6 months old. 3. Weight - Buck to be less than 4.989kg (11lb). Doe to be under 5.443kg(12lb). Important Tips to Look for When Buying Show Stock: Big Flemish are desirable, but balance is even more important. Balance means well proportioned.  The head, ears, and legs should balance with the body. Long bodied rabbits should have longer heads, ears, and legs than a medium length rabbit.  Flemish giants should wide enough to not be too narrow.   Things to Avoid: Rabbits that are not balanced.  Pinched hindquarters, fat rabbits, narrow body.  Short body under 20 inches on seniors or lack of body arch is a disqualification.  Thin ears or weak ear base. Ears that turn over at the tip or are less than 5 1/2 inches are a disqualification.  Medium bone is a fault. Fine bone, short legs, cow hocks, flat feet, weak ankles (bending at the ankle affecting straightness of forelegs), and mismatched toenails are disqualifications. Thin, very short or very long fur or a soft coat. Care You should keep in mind that caring for a Flemish Giant differs from caring for smaller well-known rabbit breeds, this is of course mainly due to their larger size. Before getting started you will have to consider which of the different housing options would be the best solution. Due to its large size, the Flemish Giant needs substantial living quarters that provide ample opportunity for physical movement. The House Rabbit Society recommends keeping rabbits inside the home in a very large pen or room(s) in the home.  Larger dog crates are often more appropriate than traditional rabbit and small-pet cages, which tend to be smaller and shorter.  In the United States Department of Agriculture's standards for animal housing, rabbits over 12 pounds must have at least five square feet of floor space.  The size of appropriate living quarters increases with size of the rabbit.  You may wish to consider a custom made hutch, with a large door for the rabbit's access, or perhaps a dog crate would be better than a hutch.  They require a lot of space. Outdoor cages should be 5 feet by 3 feet ( 1.5 meters by 1 meter).  Cages must be in the shade so the rabbits do not overheat. Cages should be protected from wind using painter drop cloth. Cages should have plywood roofs to protect rabbits from rain and snow. The US dept of Agriculture standards for rabbits over 12 lbs (5.45 Kilos), advise at least 5 sq ft (.50 Sq Meters) of floor space for rabbits of such sizes and elsewhere you will find suggestions of minimum hutch sizes for large rabbits to be 14"High x 36" Depth x 48" Width (36x91x122 cm). This size allows the rabbit very little room and whatever you decide upon, just bear in mind the fully grown size can be from 14 to 20lbs (6.36 to 9.09 Kilos). Cages with incorrectly sized wire gauge bottoms (as opposed to small gauge wire or solid bottoms) can harm the feet of a Flemish Giant more so than smaller house rabbits due to their increased weight.  A resting board may be required to prevent sore hocks for a larger breed rabbit.  The Flemish Giant will require larger quantities of food compared to smaller breeds of domestic rabbits. Like some other short hair breeds of rabbits, the Flemish Giant will usually require mild attention to grooming due to its shorter hair. Shedding during the spring and fall transition periods tend to be the most dramatic, with smaller sheds often occurring in between. Care for the Flemish Giant is the same as with all rabbits but a rabbit of such size needs a lot of attention and handling from the beginning or a young age. Diet Flemish Giants can be fed like other rabbits, with the amount of food increased to match their larger size.  ARBA recommendations include hay and occasional treats. A high protein diet of 16% or more is needed for them to gain bone mass while growing and later when muscle mass develops.  Apples, cabbage or broccoli in small amounts can be given as treats and slowly increased.  A quarter apple per rabbit every other day for 3 weeks can be increased to a half apple after that.  Since Flemish Giants do not reach full size until they are 1.5 years old, they need to be fed a lot until then.  When females have babies and during winter, they need to be fed as much as they can eat, and given plenty of water. In supplementing a commercial diet, care must be taken to avoid excess protein, calories, and minerals such as salt and calcium, which in excess can cause kidney stones.  Overfeeding leading to obesity is a major health concern for both commercial and pet rabbits. The House Rabbit Society recommends 2 cups of chopped leafy vegetables per 6 pounds (3 kg) of body weight and no more than 2 tablespoons of fruit or carrots per 6 pounds of body weight daily. CARE OF THESE GENTLE GIANTS Because of their large size they are usually not bothered by cats, hawks or other small mammal prey.  Flemish Giants do not handle heat well.  They would need shade and a way to cool down. In hot cliamates, some people keep rabbits in a climate controlled environment with air conditioning in the Summer.  Flemish Giants are large rabbits that eat a lot. It is extremely important to have a good quality pellet food and plenty of hay daily.  IF you add a vegetable one day, and the bunny gets diarrhea, STOP IT IMMEDIATELY.  It is critical when a bunny gets diarrhea because they will dehydrate quickly.  Make sure they have plenty of clean water available at all times. Health The American Rabbit Breeders' Association (ARBA) recommends delaying breeding of female rabbits until they reach the senior weight range.  For Flemish Giants, this is 14 pounds, and a typical rabbit will reach this weight when they are about 9 months to one year.  A Flemish Giants can take up to 1.5 years to reach their maximum weight and a breeder should wait until the rabbit is slightly over a year old before breeding.  Females and males can become sexually mature at 4 months and 8 days.  Once the rabbits are 3 months old they should be keep in separate cages or put females with females and males with males.  If fighting occurs then they must be separated.  The breeding lifespan of a rabbit is variable.  Some breeders prefer not to have any more litters after the age of three years while others continue to produce quality litters for five to eight years.  The gestation period is between 28–31 days.  On average they give birth at 30–32 days. The Flemish Giant rabbit can produce large litters, usually between 5 and 12 in a litter. A nesting box filled with hay is given to the female as she prepares for birth.  After birth, clean out the hay, replace with some new hay, and check to see if babies are all alive.  Check box every day in case babies die and take them out. If the rabbit is not used to handling, then you will have big problems later on when, for example, you need to pick them up or examine them.  Rabbits of sizes similar to the Flemish Giant can be heavy to lift when fully grown. Because of their size, children are unlikely to hurt them by picking up or dropping them. They also get on well with other pets and can live easily with smaller rabbits, but you need to be careful with any introduction to smaller rabbits. Although they can cope with cold temperatures, they do not fare so well with the heat.  They must have exercise and it needs to be remembered that they will be more expensive to keep. They will eat a lot more than the smaller breeds, requiring more hay; they excrete more and need larger living accommodation. Larger rabbits can become high maintenance as they get older, though no more than a dog would. Uses Flemish are thought to have originally been used for fur & meat production.  However, it has since been realized that due to their large bone density, the meat to bone ratio is not the most ideal prospect available for such a purpose as meat production.  Instead, they are now primarily kept as pets and showmanship animals, as well as for 4H projects in the United States.  These gentle-giants are well-known for their easy-going, calm, docile nature.  Because of this, they make great pets for children and adults alike. Flemish Giants make excellent pets as they are calm, but heavy for most children to handle.  They eat at least .5 kg. or more food a day of dried rabbit pellets.  They expel a lot of waste.  Flemish Giants are not typically regarded as "meat" rabbits because much of the commercial rabbit market focuses on young rabbits, usually around 70 days of age.  At this time, Flemish Giants are developing bone mass rather than muscle.  However, when raised to roasting (under 6 months) and stewing (over 6 months) age, the size of the Flemish makes them desirable.  They are also often bred with other meat rabbit breeds, such as the New Zealand, to increase both meat-to-bone ratio and litter size. Due to the large amount of high protein food they consume and the cost of this food, the selling of the Flemish Giants for meat is not profitable; as buyers want to give just a few dollars per rabbit. Apart from being kept as a pet, the Flemish Giant is used for meat, fur, show, pet assisted therapy and education. 4-H and Show Flemish Giants, due to their uncomplicated grooming requirements and docile personalities, are used by 4-H programs throughout the United States as a starter rabbit for teaching children responsibility and care of farm animals and pets.  Another very popular youth program outside of 4-H that promotes responsible show breeding is the National Federation of Flemish Giant Breeders Youth Program.  Flemish Giants are the second oldest domesticated rabbit breed in the United States, following behind the now rare Belgian Hare, which we covered in last weeks episode. The Flemish these days is primarily a fancy breed, raised for show and pets.   People who first see them sometimes think these biggest ones must be meat rabbits, but Flemish consumes too much feed for the meat yield to be a very efficient commercial breed.  They have always had a strong following. Today the Flemish rabbit leads in number exhibited at all the principle shows and are sold at the highest prices recorded since the days of the ill-fated Belgian boom. Temperment/behavior Flemish Giants can be docile and tolerant of handling; frequent interaction with humans is a requirement for this to occur.  Flemish Giants, like all rabbits, can become fearful, and sometimes aggressive, if handled incorrectly or irresponsibly.  Their larger frame requires special attention paid to the spine alignment when handling a Flemish Giant, or any rabbit for that matter. Consequently, potential owners should consider these factors in addition to their size, level of food consumption, and substantial waste production before buying. It should be stressed though that proper handling of such large bunnies is very important- for your benefit as well as theirs. They do have very powerful hind legs, & when they feel threatened or scared, or are hurt, they can quickly inflict serious injury. Otherwise, due to the size of these bunnies, respectfully compared to that of a medium-sized dog, they require more money & time spent in caring for them than that of a smaller breed of rabbit. However, owning such a wonderful rabbit is well worth the investments to have one, or more.  Among other things, when considering becoming a Flemish Giant owner, it’s always best to learn all that you can before you buy. Each & every one of these gentle Giants has his or her own personality.  They are very inquisitive, and they are quite intelligent.  They will often stand up on their hind legs and stretch their bodies out so that they can see what is around them.  This is a common greeting as well, especially when they are buttering up their owner for a good ear-scratching or head-rub.  It also goes without saying that the more attention they get, the more they will want.  They will play with toys too, rolling them around by using their front paws or some nose-nudging, picking them up with their teeth, and most of the time will follow through by tossing it in true bunny-fashion.  If your big buddy is quite fond of you, or just in a playful mood, he may even bring his toy to you in the manner a dog would, when playing fetch.  However, they will also let you know when they are aggravated or upset, be it with you or for any number of other reasons.  This may be done by completely ignoring your greetings, turning their back to you and refusing to acknowledge that you even exist at that very minute, or if they are really ticked off, you can expect some loud thumping from those heavy hind feet and possibly adding in some grunting noises while they are demonstrating their unhappiness.  Although some Flemish are more vocal than others, they all do possess the ability and will, at some point, of making known their wide array of sounds. There are a few things that Flemish Giants do not tolerate very well.  First on their list is being picked up.  They become very nervous when they are picked up.  Therefore the importance of doing so correctly can not be stressed enough.  Picking them up is best done by lifting with both hands under midsection.  When that is not a possibility, pick them up swiftly, by the scruff (between the shoulder blades), and rapidly tuck them into position; be that onto a sturdy surface, or holding them in the manner of carrying a small human child, with their butt cradled in your arm and their front feet resting on your chest, or in a foot-ball type hold, where their head is tucked into the bend of your elbow, your arm snuggly holding their body against your stomach region while using your other hand to securely support around the rest of their massive body.  Once they know that they are secure and safe, they will relax and you can carry them around. Next, they do not like any loud noises, of any kind.  To them, this only means ones thing, danger is near! They will run, stomp, jump, scratch, and even bite without warning if they are really afraid.  Keep in mind that if these things happen to you, especially if you just brought your furry friend into your home, he is afraid and trying to protect him-self. Don’t take it as a personal attack against you in particular.  Brighter, happier days are just around the corner.  Be patient and be sure to give your Flemish the best possible care that you can. Flemish Giants are placid and laid-back, docile and tolerant by nature.  Because of this they do well with considerable handling, and are ideal for showing and as pets. Am intersting fact I uncovered about the breed is that the:  THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ONCE "INTERVIEWED" A FLEMISH GIANT. In 2010, the paper ran an "interview" with Herbie, Prospect Park Zoo’s 18-pound rabbit, to promote the zoo’s Live Encounters Program.  It was actually an interview with Denise McClean, the zoo’s director.  McClean revealed that Herbie was domestic and "probably would not be able to survive out in the wild on my own." In response to the question "Do you ever misbehave?" she said, "Flemish Giant rabbits have litters that run from five to 12 bunnies. If you left me with a female, you could end up with a whole lot of rabbits." Uses Rabbits tend to be bred for one of four things: meat, fur, show, or pet use.  Even though this is a large breed of rabbit, they are gentle and easily handled.  This makes them good for pets or show rabbits. Club Today, it is one of the more popular breeds at rabbit shows because of its unusually large size and its varying colors.  It is promoted by the National Federation of Flemish Giant Rabbit Breeders, which was formed in 1915.  The Flemish Giant has many nicknames, first and foremost the "Gentle Giant" for its uniquely docile personality and also the "universal rabbit" for its varied purposes as pet, show, breeding, meat and fur animal. The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) maintains the breed standard for all of the recognized rabbit and cavy breeds for it's international membership.  Recognized breeds are eligible for Registration and Grand Champion recognition. The AMERICAN RABBIT BREEDERS ASSOCIATION, INC. is an organization dedicated to the promotion, development, and improvement of the domestic rabbit and cavy.  With over 30,000 members throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad, its members range from the pet owner with one rabbit or cavy to the breeder or commercial rabbit raiser with several hundred animals.  Each aspect of the rabbit and cavy industry, whether it be for fancy, as a pet, or for commercial value, is encouraged by the organization. The British Rabbit Council (BRC) is a British showing organization for rabbit breeders. Originally founded as The Beveren Club in 1918, its name first changed to British Fur Rabbit Society and finally to The British Rabbit Society. Today, the BRC among other things investigates rabbit diseases, maintains a catalog of rabbit breeds, and sets rules for about 1,000 rabbit shows annually in the UK. Owners of house rabbits are also encouraged to join the organization to learn how to care optimally for their pets. Both the ARBA and the BRC recognize the Flemish Giant Rabbit with slightly differing standards as discussed earlier. Have I Missed Anything? If you know something about the Flemish Giant breed standard, history or status of this rabbit, please let me know.   Do you have a story about this particular Breed?  What do you love about them?  Do you have any tips or tricks up your sleeve for what might make this breed happiest? Perhaps you're a breeder of this type of rabbit. Let me know, and maybe we can set up an interview? http://www.nffgrb.net/Articles/Origins.htm http://rabbitbreeders.us/flemish-giant-rabbits http://mentalfloss.com/article/62965/7-big-facts-about-flemish-giant-rabbit http://www.rabbitmatters.com/flemish-giant.html http://flemish-giant.com/ http://www.thenaturetrail.com/rabbit-breeds/flemish-giant-rabbit-breed-information/ http://www.raising-rabbits.com/flemish-giant-rabbits.html www.thebrc.org www.arba.net https://www.rarebreeds.co.nz/flemishgiants.html http://www.petrabbitinfo.com/flemishgiantrabbits.html www.nffgrb.com. https://gentlegiantrabbitry.com/about-us/ NEWS: United Airlines in fresh PR nightmare after rabbit set to be world’s biggest dies on UK flight http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/26/united-airlines-fresh-pr-nightmare-rabbit-set-worlds-biggest/ United Airlines is battling another PR nightmare after a rabbit destined to be the world’s biggest died on a flight from Britain to the US. The airline, which recently triggered a worldwide backlash after a passenger was forcibly removed from one of its flights, could now face legal action after the death of a valuable rabbit in the cargo section of a Boeing 767 from Heathrow to Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport. Simon, son of Darius the worlds largest rabbit who died during transit to the USA Measuring three-feet, Simon was expected to outgrow his father Darius, whose length of 4ft 4in made him the world's biggest bunny. The 10-month-old continental giant rabbit was reportedly being sent to his new celebrity owner, whose identity hasn’t been revealed.  “Simon had a vet’s check-up three hours before the flight and was fit as a fiddle,” breeder Annette Edwards, of Stoulton, Worcs, told The Sun. “Something very strange has happened and I want to know what. I’ve sent rabbits all around the world and nothing like this has happened before.” The animal was found dead when it arrived at O’Hare, the airport where passenger Dr David Dao was dragged off a United flight earlier this month. "We were saddened to hear this news,” a United Airlines spokeswoman said, according to the Mirror. "The safety and wellbeing of all the animals that travel with us is of the utmost importance to United Airlines and our PetSafe team. "We have been in contact with our customer and have offered assistance. We are reviewing this matter." Ms Edwards, a former glamour model whose rabbits are said to be hired out at £500 a time, and the new owner in the US are considering legal action, the Sun reported. Darius, the Guinness World Record holder for world’s biggest rabbit, weighs three-and-a-half stone and costs his owner about £2,400 per year in food alone. United Airlines is already facing a row over a passenger being taken off a plane at Chicago's O'Hare Airport His mother Alice held the record before him and Simon was expected to continue the family tradition. The most recent figures from the US Department of Transportation - dating from 2015 but released this February - show 35 animal deaths occurred during transit across 17 carriers in the States. United accounted for 14 animal deaths in that period with a further nine reported injured among the nearly 100,000 animals carried by the company. United Airlines is still trying to tackle the public relations disaster caused by Dr Dao’s removal from a Chicago to Louisville flight on April 9. Video recorded by other passengers showed the 69-year-old doctor being dragged down the aisle with blood on his face after refusing to give up his seat. The carrier has since apologised several times. Second wild rabbit tests positive for tularemia in Pueblo West http://www.koaa.com/story/35243351/second-wild-rabbit-tests-positive-for-tularemia-in-pueblo-west PUEBLO WEST - A second wild rabbit found in Pueblo West has tested positive for tularemia, according to health officials. This animal was found near Scarsboro Drive. The first animal was found before Friday, April 21 in the Kirkwood Drive area. Health officials do not believe either rabbit came into contact with people. Both animals were reportedly covered with ticks. Tularemia, also called rabbit fever, is known to be transmitted by ticks and deer fly bites. Rabbit fever, or tularemia, can spread to human and cause life-threatening fever.  Typical signs of infection in humans include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, chest pain, and coughing. Tularemia can be effectively treated with antibiotics, therefore should you have any of these early signs, see a doctor.   Dogs and cats can also contract tularemia by eating infected animals or through tick and deer fly bites. Signs to watch in your pet include fever, nasal and eye discharge, and skin sores. If you notice any of those signs it is recommended that you take your pet to a veterinarian promptly. Health officials recommend the following precautions to avoid the bacteria: · Avoid handling wild animals. · Leash your pets when outdoors and keep them away from dead animals. · When outdoors near places where wild rabbits or rodents are present, wear insect repellent containing DEET. · If a dead animal must be moved, avoid direct contact with it. Put on a repellent to protect yourself from its fleas or ticks, and use a shovel to scoop it up. Place it in a plastic bag and dispose in an outdoor trash receptacle. Wash your  hands with soap and water afterward. · Wear proper footwear outdoors where dead animals have been found. · Routinely use a tick and flea prevention treatment on pets. · Avoid mowing over dead animals. If you hunt, trap or skin animals, take additional steps: · Use impervious gloves when skinning or handling animals, especially rabbits. · Cook the meat of wild rabbits thoroughly to a temperature of 165°For higher. Rabbit club seeks participants http://www.prairieadvocate.com/2017/04/23/rabbit-club-seeks-participants/akghmaa/ by Prairie Advocate staff MOUNT CARROLL – The 4-H Rabbit SPIN Club is looking for members. Participants don’t have to be 4-H members, but must be from 8 to 18 years old by Sept. 1, 2016. Meetings are from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 8 and 21, June 6 and 26, and July 10, 24, and 31, at 610 E. Washington St. Participants will show their rabbits May 21 in Belvidere, and do not have to own a rabbit. Information will include field trips to professional rabbit shows and rabbit breeders, learning how to handle, feed, groom, and perform veterinary checks on a rabbit, and more. Current 4-H members can take part at no cost, while there is a $20 fee for non-4-Hers. Scholarships are available for new club members if needed. Email Leanne Rahn at lrahn@illinois.edu or call the Carroll County Extension Office at 815-244-9444 to register. Boy, 15, charged over hare coursing http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-39671721 A 15-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a hare coursing incident in Midlothian. The teenager was also charged in connection with a dishonesty offence that allegedly occurred at the same time on 31 March. He was further charged in connection with a separate hare coursing incident in the Pathhead area on 23 March. The boy is the second to be charged with the Dalkeith incident which took place on farmland. A report has been submitted to the Children's Reporter. Sgt Michele Lindsay, of Police Scotland, said: "We recognise the impact that hare coursing has on rural communities and remain committed to investigating all reports of this. "We are working with farmers to tackle this issue and patrols are being carried out as part of the rural crime initiative. "Anyone with information about hare coursing or rural crime is urged to speak to a local officer. More than 100 rabbits saved by Brother Wolf http://www.blueridgenow.com/news/20170420/more-than-100-rabbits-saved-by-brother-wolf LEICESTER — A nonprofit animal welfare organization in western North Carolina says it has rescued more than 120 rabbits from a home after getting a tip from the neighbor of a property owner. The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that Brother Wolf Animal Rescue initially took 60 animals from the property, and is in the process of spaying and neutering 60 more. Brother Wolf founder Denise Bitz said more than 30 rabbits were pregnant, resulting in 65 baby bunnies born while in the group’s care. Bitz said many of the rabbits came to Brother Wolf with medical concerns because of overcrowding and poor nutrition. She said several rabbits died. Bitz said the property owner realized she was in over her head, but didn’t have the funds to have the animals spayed and neutered Video of rabbit being hit against pole prompts Maypearl ISD to change curriculum https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2017/04/18/video-rabbit-hit-pole-prompts-maypearl-isd-change-curriculum Written by Claire Z. Cardona, Breaking News Producer The Maypearl Independent School District is changing the curriculum for one of its classes after a video surfaced that shows a junior high student killing a rabbit for a class assignment, KXAS-TV (NBC5) reported. The outdoor education elective at Maypearl Junior High School is focused on survival and life skills. Part of the class involves the "dispatching and harvesting of animals, cleaning of animals and the proper cooking techniques of the animals, and those kinds of things," Maypearl ISD Superintendent Richie Bowling told NBC5. In a video of the incident provided to the Waxahachie Daily Light, a seventh-grade student is instructed by her teacher to kill the rabbit. The student is seen swinging the rabbit into a metal pole. A few parents raised concerns about the animal being killed, and whether it was killed humanely. The school has since changed the curriculum so no more animals will be killed in the class, the station reported. "Our parents were given information prior to even signing up for the class and asking to be a part of it," Bowling told the station. "And my understanding of that is it lists every bit of that out, as far as dispatching animals, harvesting animals, and all the processes that go along with that." The student who filmed the video was given a three-day in-school suspension because of the school's cellphone policy, the Daily Light reported. In its guidelines for the implementation of agriculture education, the Texas Education Code expects students to discuss "livestock harvesting operations" as well as "describe wildlife harvest techniques and procedures." It does not mention an in-class demonstration, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Learn more about the 2016 PetSafe

PetSafe

The PetSafe

Today, we are going to get you all the information about dog flu – I'm sure you've been hearing scary news stories about a dog flu epidemic…Well, we've invited Dr. Jose Arce from the AVMA to give us the straight scoop on this story so that every pet parent can do what it takes to keep their furry kids safe and healthy.  Then after our halftime break, Tracy Mulder, marketing manager for PetSafe® will be stopping by to talk about a fun contest that could bring a fabulous new dog park to your community.  

My friends and family say I'm cursed with Ambition, afflicted with initiative, dammed by an unquenchable drive for success… and more!But that's not my fault; I was merely born with and molded by my father's highly successful entrepreneurial flair and zest for concept creation. Chapter 1: PetLooI Founded Pup-Pee Solutions, a thriving Pet Product Manufacturing business that expanded globally through the commercial brand PetLoo. In February 2013 Pup-Pee was acquired by Radio Systems Corporation® and now sits under the umbrella of the PetSafe® group.Chapter 2: ZingyZingy is on a mission to change the landscape of pet ownership. It really is about embracing the one-touch technological world we live in, and effectively combining that with the traditional pet care model, while bringing our own vibrant flair through our fun-loving and dedicated team of genuine animal lovers!

The very last Saturday of 2014. This year has flown by so fast, we just can't believe it. This morning, Marie Hulett talks with Jim Tedford, the Director of Animal Welfare Initiatives at PetSafe about a charitable gift giving program that benefits homeless pets that you can help with. Then, after our halftime break, our Pet Place Producer Mike Johnson will be chatting with me about some issues that have come up with his own dog due to the rainy weather. I think a lot of you might be able to relate to the problem he's having and we'll try to get to the bottom of it.

Host Marie Hulett talks with special event organizers at Petopia Animal Rescue regarding a special Vegas Night fundraiser on August 9th, all the money raised goes to help homeless pets.  We'll hear more about that from Yvette Berke, one of the cofounders of this fabulous organization. Then, after our halftime break, Robin Rhea, Senior Brand Manager for PetSafe will be discussing “drinking problems” in pets!  I'm pretty sure she's not talking about alcoholic pets, but who knows? 

Michelle Fern welcomes John Gigliotti, founder and CEO of Whole Life Pet Products. Whole Life Pet Treats has created 'Farm to Friend': the world’s first treats for your four-legged friends made with fresh ingredients from farmers, ranchers and fishermen we know- with no 'mystery meats' and no middleman. Their freeze-dried treats are made in their own state-of-the-art facility in the beautiful Berkshires of western Massachusetts. In the second segment Michelle talks to Mandie Sweetnam, Product Manager of the Toys and Behavior Category at PetSafe to talk about the new Come With Me Kitty cat harness. The Come with Me Kitty Harness gives you gentle, comfortable control of your cat or kitten while allowing them to explore the world outside your door. The patented design allows for pressure on the leash to gently tighten the shoulder straps, restraining any forward motion without putting pressure on the delicate throat area. When properly fitted, this feature prevents the cat from escaping the harness. Questions or Comments? Send them to: michelle@petliferadio.com. Follow the show on Twitter @BestBetsForPets More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Whole Life Pet Products and Come with Me Kitty with Michelle Fern

Host Marie Hulett talks with Christine Franco of the Irvine Animal Care center about the Super Pet Adoption event coming up onJune 2nd from 10AM -4PM; Tracey Quillan from PetSafe talks about the growing problem of pet obesity in the United States.

Global Pet Expo 2013 - Day 1 - Dr. Harvey's, PetSafe, Vital Source Group and Samsung

Michelle Fern welcomes Tracey Quillin, category manager from PetSafe to discuss their new their new Canine Flavors of Lickety Stik. Lickety Stik is a new, innovative way to provide a healthy, all-natural snack for your dog. It is a liquid pet treat-to-go in a special container with a roller-ball top that delivers just the right amount of delicious taste your dog will love! Use Lickety Stik anytime, and virtually anywhere. Just shake, remove the lid and tilt down to offer your dog a special snack. In the second segment Michelle talks to John Brynda, from Pet Safe, about their new Feline Lickety Stik. Following the success of the Lickety Stik treat line for dogs, the PetSafe team knew they wanted to create something that would specifically cater to the feline community. To accomplish this goal, the Lickety Stik team reworked the design of their unique roller-ball dispenser, making it smaller and easier for the feline tongue to grip. They also developed new flavors cats naturally crave, including Chicken, Turkey, Tuna, Salmon, Dairy and Beef. Questions or Comments? Send them to: michelle@petliferadio.com. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Lickety Stik for Dogs and Cats! with Michelle Fern var ACE_AR = {Site: '845738', Size: '468060'};

Une borne sans fil pour votre réseau, une machine à espresso, une oreillette pour l'auto, un aspirateur robot et un collier USB pour Fido! Top branché, 1re partie Avec un ordinateur pour le bureau, un pour les enfants et pour la salle de divertissement, on se mêle les pieds dans les fils de réseau qui traînent un peu partout! Une nouvelle génération de bornes sans fil a fait son apparition sur le marché. L'une de ces bornes est la AirPort Extreme, de Apple. Grâce à un protocole appelé 802.11n, la AirPort Extreme peut transmettre les données à une vitesse cinq fois plus rapide que les bornes précédentes. C'est presque aussi vite que les réseaux filaires pour la maison, mais c'est beaucoup plus discret. Top branché, 2e partie La nouvelle norme 802.11n utilise un protocole, appelé MIMO, qui permet d'accélérer par cinq la vitesse de transmission des données d'un réseau sans fil. C'est donc beaucoup plus rapide qu'auparavant. Malgré que cette norme soit encore au stade de brouillon, cela n'empêche pas les fabricants de vendre des bornes basées sur la norme 802.11n. En plus de la borne AirPort Extreme, on retrouve le routeur N de D-Link, ainsi que la borne WRT300N de Linksys. Aussi, la sécurité de votre réseau est importante. La norme WEP étant peu sécuritaire, optez plutôt pour la norme WPA ou WPA2. Pour avoir le meilleur signal possible, assurez-vous que votre base est située à la bonne hauteur, loin des autres appareils électroniques. Et si vous vous connectez à Internet, prenez un bon pare-feu pour bloquer les intrusions et l'accès aux documents partagés. C'est beau mais c'est quoi? Elle vous chuchote dans le creux de l'oreille ce que d'autres essaient de vous dire. Elle fait le plein d'énergie au moindre instant ce repos. C'est la Miss Météo du futur puisqu'elle fait disparaître le vent et les bruits ambiants. Elle est pourtant légère comme le vent, justement. C'est beau, mais c'est quoi? C'est l'oreillette mains-libres Discovery 665 de Plantronics. C'est un appareil qui fonctionne grâce au protocole Bluetooth et qui permet de converser sans avoir à sortir le téléphone cellulaire de sa poche. C'est le compagnon idéal des automobilistes qui doivent absolument prendre leurs appels. Attrape techno Bernard vient tout juste de s'acheter un superbe pitou pour la famille. Un beau mélange Chihuahua et St-Bernard. Par contre, Asimov, c'est le nom de son chien, n'est pas encore dressé et Bernard a peur qu'il se sauve en le promenant un matin... Surtout qu'il pèse déjà 150 livres. Il a donc décidé de lui offrir un collier très spécial : le collier Micro ID, de PetSafe, qui permet d'emmagasiner plein d'informations. Nom, adresse, vaccins, etc. dans une clé USB située sur le collier. Comme ça, si jamais son chien s'égare, il n'a qu'à contacter l'entreprise via leur site Web pour qu'ils le retrouvent!