For the love of Home Ownership

Easy to say and yes I am happy, actually I am ecstatic that I finally entered the home owner elite. Well it seems that way at the moment even though I know we are no more elite than anyone else. In actual fact nothing has really changed. I have to pay money to someone else every month for the privileged of staying in a house. I do not like where I am going with this. I love my new house, all mine now I need to make it my own. The mortgage and insurance are taken care of and I have my new carpets arriving next week so all is well.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

5 Things to Avoid During Dog Training

By Craig Clemins

You may encounter a number of major challenges during dog training. Knowing what they are allows you to avoid them and make better progress. The number one danger new dog trainers face, is expecting too much from their dogs too soon.

Dogs are intelligent animals and it's easy to expect too much of them from day one. Don't expect your dog to behave as well as the others in the park if you haven't taken the time it takes to train it properly. Results like this just won't happen. This expectation sets you and your dog up for failure.

The second big mistake dog owners make is losing their temper. Yelling at your dog doesn't achieve anything except confuse it and hitting your dog is always wrong. To make sure you never fall into the trap of losing your cool with your dog, make a conscious decision to never yell or raise your voice with your dog under any circumstances.

The third big mistake dog owners make is to let their dogs become the Alpha Dog. When dogs think that they are the leader of your family, they become a danger to themselves and to others. Make sure you take the leadership role from day 1.

Giving up when times get tough is the 4th big mistake that many dog owners tend to make. Don't give up at the first hurdle as dogs are extremely capable and they love to learn. It's also very important that dogs are challenged mentally and training is a great way to do this.

The 5th and final common mistake that many dog owners tend to make is to become too inconsistent. Consistency in training is very important so make sure you always use the same commands and are as repetitive as possible.

Now that you know some of the biggest mistakes dog owners make, ensure that you don't fall into these common traps.

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Termite Identification: What A Termite Looks Like

By Don Pellis

Carpenter ants and worker termites are among two of the most destructive pests that can destroy homes. Identifying which is which however is important for you to get the right help and treatment. Although a specialist normally knows what a termite looks like, your early detection can help provide immediate and proper attention.

The Subterranean Termites

Knowing how a subterranean termite looks like may be the key to saving your home. Several termite species can look different from each another and this may cause you to have a hazy idea of just how a subterranean termite would look like. Subterranean termites however are the most common species found in homes. They usually feed on wood and paper based products and to the unaware, every termite looks like it can harm your precious library or furniture. Your major concern however should be the worker termites.

Termites are actually divided into different groups, soldiers, reproductives or swarmers and workers. Not every termite looks like a grain of rice but a lot of them do. Soldiers however have mandibles while reproductives have wings. The worker termite looks like a reproductive but is smaller and has no wings. They are the most numerous in a colony and are the main wood eaters.

Swarmer Ants and Termites

The presence of swarmer termites is usually one of the first signs that there may be a termite infestation in your home. This is because swarmers are the ones who propagate termite colonies. Some think that a swarmer termite looks like a flying ant. The truth is that there are major differences.

An ant's body is divided into a head, a slim abdomen and a thorax. A termite looks like it only has a head and a straight body.

As far as looks are concerned, both termites and ants share the same number of wings: four. Ants however have longer front than rear wings and have apparent vein marks. Termites have four wings of equal length that are far longer than the body and do not have vein marks.

While ants have slightly bent antennae that may end in some sort of a small club, termites on the other hand have beaded antennae that do not bend and have no club-like ends and point away from the body.

Where Swarmers Stay

There is no need for much concern if you find swarmers outside your house. These swarmers may just possibly be blown with the wind. Swarmers are also not the main termite wood eaters. You should be a little concerned though if you notice a number of swarmer ants flying away from your house and from cracks, windows and woodwork. You may have some form of termite infestation.

Getting Help

Termites are pests to be reckoned with. Any ordinary insect spray may not be able to effectively rid your home of the infestation. You may have to ask for some expert help. Experts may use chemical treatment in which termicide is applied on wood and other house areas to prevent termites from invading the house structure. The baiting technique may also be used in which chemicals are spread throughout the colony through wood baits carrying chemicals.

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How To Hire A Mold Removal Company

By George Menton

You can start your research for a mold remediation company online by finding one of the associations for certified mold removal companies. They will have a list of certified specialists in your area.

If you have filed an insurance claim related to the mold issue then inquire with your insurance provider about who they would recommend for the mold remediation. In addition make sure to get a bid from a company that's not on the list provided by the insurance company.

Armed with your list, try to get the names of three companies - make contact with all three of the companies. Obtain a written bid from each of the three companies. Ask what certifications they have for mold removal.

Each bid should break down the scope of the job in specific details showing the cost of each step. Having the detail is important in order for you to be able to compare the three bids.

Armed with references for each of the companies go ahead and verify them. Go to your states contractors license board to make sure they are licensed, that the license is in good standing and to check for any complaints that have been filed with the board.

Prepare a list of questions before meeting with the companies so that you can get a feel for how each would manage the job from start to finish. How will they make sure the rest of the house is not contaminated in the removal process? Do they use chemicals - what type of chemicals? What specialized equipment do they utilize in the process? What's the warranty related to the work to be performed? What potential "extra" costs could arise once the process is started? For example if the hvac system is found to be contaminated, do they specialize in hvac's or will they bring in someone else for that part of the job?

Don't delay taking action if you have a mold problem because your families health as well as the structural soundness of the house is in jeopardy. Understand that mold removal can range from being fairly simple to extremely complicated, time consuming and expensive. Working with a competent, knowledgeable mold removal company will make the process go as smoothly as possible.

The most important thing to remember is that the sooner you can address a mold problem the easier and cheaper the solution will be. The longer you wait the greater the risk to you, your family and your most valuable asset your home.

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Mauritius Holidays For All!

By Diksha Ramnundun

When you think about your next holiday destination you'll need to consider various factors, including the needs and tastes of the people people coming with you, timing, budgeting, organising, bookings. Remember, it's important that everybody's choice of activities should be available at your chosen destination.

Mauritius? Perfect! Mauritius is definitely the dream holiday destination. People believe that the further the holiday destination is, the more expensive it is. However, the earlier you plan your holiday, the more savings you will be able to make. You might choose a five star hotel, but you may prefer a reasonably priced hotel which offers the same services and facilities, allowing you to splash out on other things you want to do or even some shopping. There is a wide variety of packages offered by tour operators - some even throw in extras such as car rental.

Mauritius is the dream destination for everyone - it offers a range of activities for every need. Newly-married couples will be delighted by the relaxed atmosphere, sunny beaches, warm waters and soft breezes while watching the sun go down. Mauritius will certainly add a dash of romance to your holiday.

Mauritius offers something for those who feel energetic, sporty or even adventurous. Ever tried water sports? There is a big selection of water sports to choose from, ranging from all levels from beginner to expert ones. How about hiking? Explore river gorges, volcano craters, caves and so on. If golf is your sport, then look no further! Mauritius has the mostluxurious golf courses where you can enjoy golf under the best weather conditions.

Mauritius has a fascinating history. If want to learn about different cultures, Mauritius is the idesl destination! It will provide you with insights into mixed cultures such as Indian, Chinese and European, together with their different festivals, cuisines and traditions. You will be amazed by the experience Mauritius can provide.

So look no further - start planning your holiday in Mauritius now and share the experiences of your favourite stars like Robert de Niro, Marco Materazzi, Colin Montgomerie, Danny Brillant, Lizzy Jagger, Gad Elmaleh, Oliver Kahn, Jennifer Ellison, Zinedine Zidane and Prince Harry.

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The Use Of Wooden Pallets In Building Compost Bin

By Ferdinand Emy

The compost bin had better be placed near enough to your home so that it would not be a chore to add materials to it, but then again the compost bin need not be so close to the home because it is going to be unsightly and will cause bad odor.

Building a compost bin yourself will see to it that you have incisively the type of bin that will meet your own special needs. Compost bins shouldn't be higher than 36" or you can find that you have difficultness managing it.

When selecting wooden pallets for building a compost bin its important to ascertain you recognize what type of wood the pallets were formulated from. When building your compost bin, it is essential to think with regards to placement before you actually start developing the bin. Many woods are more resistant to rot than others and you must ascertain that you choose a wood that is resistant for building a compost bin.

This means that you might need to modify the existing pallets in order for them to be at the right height. As unmanageable as it can be to believe, softwoods like pine are often times more resistant to rot than hardwoods. The reason that wooden pallets are so frequently used is because theyre considerably inexpensive and may once in a while even be found totally free. The last thing that you want is to be fined and/or should remove your compost bin because you failed to check such ordinances basic before building your bin. composting may be a neat way to aid the planet in addition as to manufacture swell organic material for your garden.

One of the most frequent methods for building a compost bin is to utilize wooden pallets. Wooden pallets are in general 40" to 44" in height. Do ascertain that you give heedful thought and considerateness to where you will place it when building a compost bin, because once you have it constructed you can find that its too heavy and unmanageable to move at a later date. likewise, before building a compost bin you likewise must ascertain that you check your local and city ordinances to determine whether or not there are any building permits required or whether there can be any limitations that would employ. When building a compost bin, its essential to perceive more than one initial guidelines.

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