Penguins + is a great place for conversation, contemplation and debating on a variety of topics as unique and diverse as its members. As an added bonus, it's also a great resource for penguin-related awesomeness. ^v^
Most of you are probably familiar with the adorable Japanese lunch boxes known as bento. In a bento box presentation is often as important as flavor and adorable features abound! Here are some I came across online with penguins. They were so cute, I had to share! I'll try making my own penguin bento in the future and pass the photos along. If any of you make any cute penguin materials please don't hesitate to post them!
Bentos like these with dark nori (dried seaweed) placed over the rice are easy to make and you can cut the nori into limitless shapes so the possibilities are endless! You can see more bentos by this artist at cookingcute.com!
That image over on the left is comprised of screenshots from the absolutely beautiful Penguins phone theme created by Pizero. Over on http://www.pizero.net he's created several standout skins for s60 3rd edition phones, ensuring that each works on all phones even when run in landscape mode.
I thought that all Penguins Plus members would like the opportunity to download this free theme for their compatible phones.
I am really looking forward to the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua despite the tacky eye-roll-worthy title.
About the Movie: From what I gather the movie is about a spoiled Californian Chihuahua who gets separated somehow from her owner while in Mexico and runs into her the rougher, wilder counterparts. The preview for this movie is just too cute. It probably won’t live up to my expectations, but that doesn’t dampen my excitement. It won't come out until October 3rd, but you can bet I'll be going to the theater for this one. Which is saying a lot, because I HATE theaters! I like to watch movies in the privacy of my own home. You know, cuddled up with my husband and my dog and with a pause button and cheap refreshments readily available.
A word of warning however, as with movies like 101 Dalmatians, this movie will likely trigger a demand for Chihuahuas as pets among many who are not fit for ownership of such a delicate breed (and notoriously difficult to potty train). Chihuahuas aren’t for everyone. Families with young children should consider a more robust breed. Even the gentlest child could unintentionally injure a Chihuahua accidentally. Also Chihuahuas are dangerous dogs to spoil. You have to carefully let them know that you are the boss (A.K.A a reliable pack leader) or else they (like any dog will feel compelled to fill the role). Though this is a problem with all breeds (dogs should never think they are the boss of ANY humans), Chihuahuas are very aware of their small size and it gives them a complex. For dogs BOSS + COMPLEX = VIOLENCE. They will feel that they have to be extra aggressive to make up for their size and will bite anything that comes near the humans they own in an effort to loyally protect them (from the dogs eyes: those poor pathetic giants that are not capable of leading their unit). Unfortunately, this results in many Chihuahuas being put to sleep as monsters when in reality if they were raised properly they would never hurt someone. They don’t want to be the leaders, but (doggie psychology time) they recognize the need for one.
How do I raise my dog to be submissive? Here is some of what I’ve learned from a combination of a lot of reading and dog training classes. It is best if you begin right away while they are still a puppy, an adolescent dog will constantly be testing you to see if you’re really leadership material. Seeing how much they can get away with etc. The most important thing when getting a dog is to read up on training and care for your dog (breed specific books are ideal). There is an array of great materials in this regard. Go the library or the bookstore and stock up! If you don’t have the time to study a little on the proper care and training of your dog, then you have no business owning one! Dogs decide their place in the hierarchy based on various privileges that they are allowed. Eating with or before you, being able to lead YOU on walks, and always getting your attention and affection on demand (among other things). Avoid those situations. Also, if you are playing tug-of-war games with your dog it is best if you don’t let them win too much. Depending on how dominant your dog is, in most cases you should let them win rarely or never. I have also read that it breaks their spirit if they never win and so you should not play it at all. (SIDE NOTE: I do not play tug-o-war at all with my dog as a result. If he insists on pulling I tell him to let go and hold on to it until he drops it at which point, I generally reward him by throwing it for him or giving him a treat). Basic training is a great way to develop a bond as an authority figure with your dog. Most dogs LOVE obedience training. The key is to stick with it and practice with your dog everyday (don’t rely on someone else to train your dog, won’t respond in the same way to you as to the person/people who trained them). If your puppy is starting to exhibit dominant behavior, such as growling when you try to take away a something (food, a toy, etc.) Follow this to step process to stop the behavior before it develops into biting. Step one: TAKE IT AWAY! Do not withdraw, that tells him he’s the boss. Step two: Place him in a submissive position until he submits to teach him that you are still the boss. One method of doing this (the one I used for my dog) is gently rolling them onto their backs and holding them belly up until they look you in the eye. Avoiding eye contact while in a submissive position is a sign that they are pretending you are not there and therefore avoiding submitting to you. Never start this unless you plan to finish it! If you let them go before they give in and acknowledge you, you lost the contest and you have affirmed that they are the boss rather than you. Don’t try this with adult dogs unless directed by a professional! It could be very dangerous! Always exercise caution but never show the dog fear or walk away backwards from aggression. When he misbehaves, snips or playbites turn your back to your dog and fold your arms for at least the count of 4 (this way you're telling him nobody wants to play with you when you act like that).
A couple of other pointers: Petting a dog on the head is a dominate behavior. When praising your dog (especially when training), don’t pet them on the head as it doesn’t work as well for a reward. Also, if you approach a strange dog (even if the owner says it’s safe to pet), never pat it on the head because you don’t know how they’ll react to such dominant behavior! If you are adopting an adult dog (unless you’re a doggie rehabilitator), make sure you have a good understanding of their attitude. Look for a dog with a laid back and friendly manner. On the other hand, all puppies are moldable - this is great, but don't get one if you're unable to spend the time it takes to raise a mentally well-balanced dog. Finally, submission doesn't mean afraid. You don't want your dog to fear you, you want it to follow you!
Okay, enough rambling for today. I hope I’ve provided some useful information and not just bored everyone who kept reading this to tears. ^v^
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