pet supplies

As you can see by my posts, I have dogs. We actually have 4 because I had 2 and my husband had 2 so we are now a blended family. Trying not to break the bank caring for 4 large dogs, I've searched for pet supply places that are reasonable. The very best store is Jeffers at www.jefferspet.com. They are physically located in south Alabama, but they ship all over the country. They have lots of animal supplies, dog, cat, bird, horse, at low prices and they are quick and efficient. I've been ordering from them for years. I went to their store once on the way to Florida and they were super nice. If they don't have what you want, check out www.petedge.com. They've been in business for something like 30 years, formally under a different name, and they have a good bit of dog and cat stuff at reasonable prices. I personally do not care for Petsmart only because they are too large a chain and are really expensive. I like to shop the local Pet Supplies Plus because they are small stores and have reasonable prices and are locally owned. Ours tends to carry more bird supplies than the other stores, great for the cockatiels' happiness. Drs. Foster and Smith are good, if expensive. You can also always check ebay for pet supplies as there are many ebay stores available so you have a variety from which to choose. Just remember to purchase safe and fun chews and toys (Kong, Nylabone, good quality rawhide and natural bones) in large quantity to keep your furkid entertained and out of your hair when you're tired or busy and your pup will be much happier, as will you.

cockatiels

My husband and I recently purchased two cockatiels. I've never had birds, nor had he, and we originally planned to get an African Grey Parrot. However, when we realized that African Greys generally bond only with one person and then realized that they can take a finger off with their beak, we decided for first time bird owners, a cockatiel was a much smarter idea. We purchased our first one, Pudgie (so named because he is always in his food dish), from a local pet store. First, let me stress that you should make certain the store is reputable and that the animals there are well cared for and healthy. When I first met Pudgie, he sat on my shoulder and preened my hair. He would then walk around the store and follow people. So, we got him for his personality. After a couple of months, even though we played with him outside his cage every day, we realized that Pudgie was lonely. So, we found a local bird breeder and purchased what we think is a female cockatiel. She's a lovely little thing, hand-raised, but quieter and shyer than Pudgie, who we think is male. (You can't tell with a bird without a DNA test) They fuss, but Pudgie seems happier to have a cage mate. We are letting their flight feathers grow so they can fly, although Pudgie is not very good at landing yet. They are really a good deal of fun. They will sit on your shoulder while you read or surf the internet. Pudgie likes to sit on my hand when I'm typing or using the mouse. He's rather silly. So, lesson here is that birds make good companions, especially for someone who has limited space.