There is such a wide selection of dog agility equipment, where do I begin? There are several factors to consider when making your agility equipment purchases. Two major factors are your goals and your dog. Are your goals to develop a deeper bonding with your dog by taking agility classes together, having fun, and seeing how far you and your dog can progress with agility skills? Do you have a timid dog and want to develop confidence in him? Or do you have a high drive dog and want to help him burn energy in a controlled manner? Do you want to do agility as a just for fun activity or are you setting your sights on making it to the nationals and becoming an agility instructor? All the previous factors are important to consider when purchasing your equipment. An agility course has contact equi...

Some 2,500 ago and during Lord Buddha's time in ancient India, a physician named Jivaka Komarabhacca developed a complex message system which somehow ended up in Thailand where it was passed on by word of mouth from one generation to the next and is still practiced today in much the same way as it was so many centuries ago. When the Thai alphabet was developed under King Ramkamhaeng the Great, scholars began recording all aspects of Thai society, culture, and healing practices which, of course, included massage therapy. Unfortunately, future generations had little left as almost all were destroyed when Thailand's capital of Ayuthaya was captured by the Burmese invaders in 1776. All that remained of the recorded ancient traditions was that which, under the directives of King Rama III who wa...

When it comes to eye care, the truth is, it's complicated. There are many people who have not spent any time looking into the field of eye care at all. These people have a very skewed perception of what is involved. For the most part, the majority of us don't even realize how many problems we have in our eyes. We don't realize how much we need to get a proper eye exam, or when we should even have one done. What we think is a minor issue is often a real one. For this reason, it can be dangerous to leave these health issues untreated. When you don't pay attention to the problems that are beginning to appear in your eyes, they can lead to other problems down the road. That can be really scary to contemplate. That is why it is essential to get the best eye care possible. Many people don't know...

We all hear about baby showers for expecting parents, but what about adopting parents? An adoption baby shower is more than acceptable - it's encouraged! Adopting parents have the same needs as any other new parents would, but with a few minor considerations. You should steer clear of planning a surprise celebration on the day the family brings their child home. This can be a very emotional time - the new parents and child (especially if the child is older) will need a period of adjustment. It is very important to be sensitive to their needs. In this case, delivering care packages and planning your celebration for a later date would be acceptable and appreciated. Be sure to talk with the new parents and find out what their wants and needs are before you set a shower date. Your shower invit...

We all have allergies but there are different types of allergies that can be triggered by a number of factors. If you think that you have an allergy, you should know the signs and symptoms. You can also call your doctor and find out what the symptoms of your allergies are. If you can't see a doctor or it's been a while since you have had an allergy, follow these tips for allergies. The most common symptoms are coughing, wheezing, or symptoms when breathing through your nose or mouth. People with a cold can have symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose, a stuffy nose, or congestion. There are some seasonal allergies that are quite common, and they include the seasonal allergic rhinitis (runny nose), seasonal allergic asthma (wheezing), and seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (red eyes). These a...

The term depression is used to describe the condition of being depressed, which is a normal reaction in most people. Depression is experienced by millions of people every year. If you have ever experienced depression, then you are well aware of what it feels like, as are many who have never been depressed before. The number of people who experience depression can vary widely and there are a lot of different things that could be associated with feeling sad. One of the most common types of depression is called clinical depression. The causes of clinical depression are not really understood at all and there is a strong association between it and the causes of grief and loss. It is thought that the body has learned that a certain event was a painful experience that would cause you to feel wors...