BREED: Chihuahua TEMPERAMENT: Timid but can be snappy COST: $300+ LIFESPAN: 10-14 years RECOMMENDED FOR: Older people DUMPAGE RATE: Medium MAINTENANCE: Low The Chihuahua is a breed which is not recommended for families with young children but is ideally suited to...
Pets
Find the perfect companion for you and your family
Raising Birds
Owning a handraised bird can be a rewarding experience. Handraising birds yourself can be easier than raising kids because the whole process usually only lasts about six to ten weeks and then the birds are reasonably independent. There is a new book available called A...
Regent Honeyeater
Regent Honeyeaters (Xanthomyza phrygia) were once seen as yellow and black flocks of over a hundred birds about 200 years ago from southeast Queensland to Central Victoria. However, today they are on the edge of extinction with an estimated population between 1000 and...
Sleeping Ralph
In case you’ve ever wondered why dogs get up in the middle of the night and bark it is because, unlike humans, dogs and other animals do not have a day-night rhythm. Humans have a prolonged sleep of about eight hours each night but dogs have a number of naps...
Spider Life
Compared with many animals the sex life of the humble spider can seem bizarre to say the least. Before looking for a mate the male spider needs to prepare himself for the deed. First he builds a specialised sperm web used to catch a droplet of sperm which is then...
Striped Sheep
In 1990 a striped sheep was featured on ‘Burke’s Backyard’ that was black with white stripes. She was a one-off mutant (born in 1982) in the Canberra region. Don Burke conducted genetic research into the mechanism involved and the information and...
Training a Foal – Pat Parelli
One of the most exciting events in owning horses is the birth of a foal. The next responsibility of the new ‘parent’ is introducing the foal to humans. Do the right thing and you have a valued companion, take the wrong advice and get a worthless...
Water Dragons
The Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesuerii) is a member of the Agamidae, or dragon family and can be found throughout eastern and southern Australia, with some close relatives also occurring in the west. As its name implies, the eastern water dragon requires a...
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo The long wailing calls of groups of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus) can be heard along the coast of Australia from northern Queensland round past Adelaide, as well as in Tasmania. Also known as Funereal Cockatoos,...
How to Make a Winter Dog Coat
This stylish dog coat features pockets which are a safe place for your keys or to hide a treat for your dog when you’re out walking. The coat can be customised to suit the size of your dog. How to Make a Winter Dog Coat Reversible dog coat with pockets Materials...
