May 7 2009

Does Shampoo Cause My Dog To Have Itchy Skin?

Dog itchy skin can be such an annoying problem, especially when you don’t have the slightest idea as to what is causing all the scratching.

Some causes of excessive scratching have tell-tale signs. For example, mange is characterized by loss of patches of hair, crusty skin, and sometimes intense itching. Fleas or flea dirt seen on your dog may indicate a flea bite allergy may be the cause of your dog’s constant itching and scratching.

But what if you don’t see anything out of the ordinary? And your dog continues to itch and scratch. Your dog may have an allergy (pollen, food, etc), or may just be reacting to a certain contaminant. A very common culprit for your dog itchy skin is your shampoo and bathing techniques.

Follow the bathing tips listed below to help with your dog’s itchy skin:

* Do not use human shampoo on your dog. Dog skin is completely different from human skin (fewer layers, different pH level) and needs special shampoo. Our human shampoos are way too strong to use on a dog. Always use a shampoo formulated for your type of dog.
* If you bathe your dog frequently (weekly) or notice very dry skin, try using a dog conditioner after shampooing. The dog conditioner helps to seal the coat and keep moisture in the skin. If bathing your dog is a major chore and the thought of adding another step makes you want to scream, try a combination dog shampoo/conditioner.
* Always, always, always thoroughly rinse your dog. If your dog does not like baths, this can be a very difficult part of the process, but it is absolutely necessary! Shampoo residue on your dog will result in dog itchy skin.
* Only use lukewarm to cool water to bathe your dog; hot water irritates your dog’s skin.
* After bathing your dog, pat dry, don’t rub, with a towel. Rubbing will also irritate the skin.
* If you must use a hair dryer on your dog, use the low, or no, heat setting. Hot air will only further irritate your dog’s itchy skin.

If you are bathing your dog to help stop dog scratching, use a shampoo that contains colloidal oatmeal. Colloidal oatmeal is used for both humans and canines because of its abilities to retain moisture in the skin as well as for its anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties. Try to let the it stay on your dog’s skin for 5 – 10 minutes before thoroughly rinsing. And remember to always use only lukewarm water – warm/hot water hurts the already irritated skin.

For more information on causes, cures, and remedies for your dog with itchy skin and to finally dog itchy skin, visit www.stopdogitching.com.

 
May 7 2009

About The Bark Collar

A barking dog can cause ill feeling and problems between you and your neighbors, and can be a major disruption to your own household. Usually dogs bark for a reason, and normally once the situation is taken care of the dog stops barking–or at least it should. The problem arises when you have a continual barker, a dog that continues barking no matter what you do.

If your dog is a habitual barker, and you are looking for a more immediate solution, until you’re able to retrain your dog you may want to take a look at the bark collar. The anti bark collar is generally not recommended for puppies under eight months old, or for nervous type dogs, but for dogs older than this it is fine.

There are three main style to choose from:
• Static Shock Collar
• Sonic Dog Collar
• Spray Dog Collar

While the Static Shock Collar is considered by many to be quite unkind, the other two types of anti-bark collar are still popular. The sonic dog collar sends out a high frequency sound whenever the dog starts barking repeatedly. Normally the sound that is emitted is at such a high frequency that it doesn’t bother humans because they can’t hear anything. Dogs, on the other hand, can’t stand the noise. Once they realize that every time they bark they hear the sound, they soon trim down their barking to only the necessary.

One of the more popular types of collar now is the spray collar, particularly the citronella spray collar. When the dog barks, a spray of citronella liquid is squirted up to where it hits the underside of the dog’s muzzle and nose area. This usually stops the dog in its tracks. It’s surprised, doesn’t know where the spray came from very often you’ll find the dog will become obsessed with trying to find out where the spray originates. Dog’s aren’t particularly fond of the citronella smell or flavor either, so all round it’s quite a good deterrent.

Before long, your puppy will learn that every time he barks he gets sprayed. After it happens a few times, it will most likely cure him from the bad habit of constantly barking. Of course, the citronella bark collardoesn’t work for every dog, but apparently its around 85% effective.

Another type of citronella bark collar can be remotely controlled. This is particularly useful for correcting different types of behavior, not only constant barking. The mechanism is the same, and the spray is released from the collar but in this case the release is triggered when someone remotely presses a release button. The results are the same–a startled dog that stops whatever he was doing. This can be used to train a puppy not to chase cars, jump up on people, dig holes in your garden, chase the cat or whatever you would like to modify.

You will need to base your decision of what type of dog bark collar to buy, on what you need it for. If you aren’t going to be home all the time, or at least when you need to control some behavior, a remote controlled citronella spray collarwon’t work. Make sure too that the collar is strong and can support the attachments and that the clasps stay done up. Other factors you will have to look into is how pricey the replacement items are, how long you intend to use the collar, what type of spray you will choose.

If all goes well with your anti bark collar, you will only need to use it till the dog’s behavior has been corrected.

While it may not be the best solution for every dog owner, the anti bark collar could be just what you need to help your puppy overcome problems with constant barking.
A barking puppy can cause ill feeling and problems between you and your neighbors, and can be a major disruption to your own household. Usually dogs bark for a reason, and normally once the situation is taken care of the dog stops barking–or at least it should. The problem arises when you have a constant barker, a dog that carries on barking no matter what you do.

If your pup is a habitual barker, and you are looking for a more immediate solution, until you’re able to retrain your dog you may want to take a look at the anti bark collar. The anti bark collar is generally not recommended for puppies under eight months old, or for nervous type dogs, but for dogs older than this it is fine.

There are three main kind to choose from:
• Static Shock Collar
• Sonic Dog Collar
• Spray Dog Collar

While the Static Shock Collar is thought by many to be quite unkind, the other two types of anti-bark collar are still popular. The sonic dog collar emits a high frequency sound whenever the dog starts barking repeatedly. Normally the sound that is emitted is at such a high frequency that it doesn’t bother humans because they can’t hear anything. Dogs, on the other hand, can’t stand the noise. Once they realize that every time they bark they hear the sound, they soon trim down their barking to only the necessary.

One of the more popular types of collar now is the spray collar, particularly the citronella bark collar. When the dog barks, a spray of citronella liquid is squirted up to where it hits the underside of the dog’s muzzle and nose area. This usually stops the dog in its tracks. It’s surprised, doesn’t know where the spray came from very often you’ll find the dog will become obsessed with trying to find out where the spray originates. Dog’s aren’t particularly fond of the citronella smell or flavor either, so all round it’s quite a good deterrent.

Before long, your dog will learn that every time he barks he gets sprayed. After it happens a few times, it will most likely cure him from the bad habit of constantly barking. Of course, the citronella spray collardoesn’t work for every dog, but apparently its around 85% effective.

Another type of citronella spray collar can be remotely controlled. This is particularly useful for correcting different types of behavior, not only continual barking. The mechanism is the same, and the spray is released from the collar but in this case the release is triggered when someone remotely presses a release button. The results are the same–a startled dog that stops whatever he was doing. This can be used to train a pup not to chase cars, jump up on people, dig holes in your garden, chase the cat or whatever you would like to modify.

You will need to base your decision of what type of anti bark collar to buy, on what you need it for. If you aren’t going to be home all the time, or at least when you need to control some behavior, a remote controlled citronella bark collarwon’t work. Make sure too that the collar is strong and can support the attachments and that the clasps stay done up. Other factors you will have to look into is how expensive the replacement items are, how long you intend to use the collar, what type of spray you will choose.

If all goes well with your anti bark collar, you will only need to use it till the dog’s behavior has been corrected.

While it may not be the best answer for every dog owner, the anti bark collar could be just what you need to help your dog overcome problems with continual barking.

More on dog shock collar and citronella spray collar

 
May 7 2009

Dog Strollers

If you like to go for walks
, you’ll be happy to know you can take your pet along with you. Even if your petis older or injured, you can bring him along if you have a dog carrier. There are many different colors and styles of dog carriers to choose from and many have great features like a cup holder for your drink and zippered compartments for your belongings.

Some dog strollers even have a removable top section that doubles as a carrier for your canine friend.

Dog carriers make it easy to take your canine friend with you to places they normally couldn’t go, like a parade where it would be very crowded. Dog carriers are also great for when you have to take your canine friend to the vet.

Whether you just want to go for a short walk or need to travel with your dog, a dog stroller is a great choice for transporting your pet.

Gone are the days when the dog lovers used to carry their dogs in their arms or even they would allow the pet friend to accompany them walking? These days with the advent of technological advancement we have lot of options by which we can allow our cats accompany us in a stylish manner. Yes! We can buy the pet the dog bike baskets which are designed in a very elegant way so that we can carry the dog in an easy manner.pet walker may seem like an extravagant item to have. I mean, who ever hears about a cat going for a walk? But that’s just the whole point…

While cats and dogs are very different in that you can walk a dog on a leash easily, but a cat is quite bit more difficult to leash train, the both adore the outdoors and getting some fresh air along with experiencing the exciting smells and sights.

Walking your cat on a leash, even if she complies, can be risky if you meet a dog off his leash, or something else that spooks your cat. Now, witht a walker your cat doesn’t have to walk on a leash to go with you.

That’s the beauty of these strollers. Now you can take your cat along on your walks (or even jogs), and enjoy her company, get her some fresh air, without having to force her to walk on a leash. Which is pretty much not going to work, anyway.

Pet strollers aren’t great just for walks. They are great for traveling in general, going out on your own patio or in the back yard watching the birds and squirrels. Once you get a walker for your pet you’ll have a very happy and content feline.

 
May 7 2009

Dog Carriers

If you like to go for walks
, you’ll be happy to know you can take your dog along with you. Even if your petis older or injured, you can bring him along if you have a dog walker. There are many different colors and styles of dog walkers to choose from and many have great features like a cup holder for your drink and zippered compartments for your belongings.

Some dog walkers even have a removable top section that doubles as a carrier for your dog.

Dog carriers make it easy to take your pet friend with you to places they normally couldn’t go, like a parade where it would be very crowded. Dog strollers are also great for when you have to take your dog to the vet.

Whether you just want to go for a short walk or need to travel with your canine friend, a dog stroller is a great choice for transporting your canine friend.

Gone are the days when the pet lovers used to carry their pets in their arms or even they would allow the canine friend to accompany them walking? These days with the advancement of technology we have lot of options by which we can allow our dogs accompany us in a stylish manner. Yes! We can buy the pet dog carriers which are designed in a very elegant way so that we can carry the cat in an easy manner.pet carrier may seem like an extravagant item to have. I mean, who ever hears about a cat going for a walk? But that’s just the whole point…

While cats and dogs are very different in that you can walk a dog on a leash easily, but a cat is quite bit more difficult to leash train, the both adore the outdoors and getting some fresh air along with experiencing the exciting smells and sights.

Walking your cat on a leash, even if she complies, can be risky if you meet a dog off his leash, or something else that spooks your cat. Now, witht a walker your cat doesn’t have to walk on a leash to go with you.

That’s the beauty of these walker. Now you can take your cat along on your walks (or even jogs), and enjoy her company, get her some fresh air, without having to force her to walk on a leash. Which is pretty much not going to work, anyway.

Pet walkers aren’t great just for walks. They are great for traveling in general, going out on your own patio or in the back yard watching the birds and squirrels. Once you get a stroller for your cat you’ll have a very happy and content feline.

 
May 7 2009

Read Important Information To Get Your Dog To Be Independent

It is known that all dogs have a natural pack instinct. They are used to being in a group, working together depending on the Alfa male or Alfa female to lead them. Today domesticated dogs still behave like pack animals. We have to understand this so we can help them to fitinto our human world to be more independent. When a dog first comes to live with their new family he looks to his human pack to satisfy all their needs; fellowship, sustainance, shelter, safety and boundaries. You will discover that your puppy will follow you around every place you go if you allow them. They understand you are the source of treats and good things. An easy mistake people make is treating their new puppy like a new human baby. If you continue to treat a dog like a baby you may end up with a puppy that is insecure, whiny, and has severe attachment problems. They will not be able to get over being separated for any period of time and most often develop a bad behavior to deal with it.

There are many ways to inspire your puppy to become independent. First do not respond right away to their demands for food or play. Engage your dog when you are willing on your terms. This is showing them you are in charge and most importantly helps them develop the social skill of waiting. Remember it is not unkind to make your puppy wait even if they whimper or jump on you. You are teaching them a skill. When you do interact with your dog, perhaps give a hand signal or a call and praise. Make it important and they will be eager for the contact. If your puppy is way to excited when you return home ignore them and walk by until they calm down then use your gesture to call them and praise them. The other way to create an independent dog is to have them work for attention, such as doing obedience training with them or perhaps teach him some new tricks. Another thing that will help is to keep your pets stimulated with games and lots of exercise.

Finally, don’t allow your puppy to follow you every place you go in the house. You need to close the door and allow them to be apart from you and your family. They need to realize that they are fine even if they can’t see you or be around you all the time. The faster you start encouraging your puppy to be more independent the better. This does not mean they will not need you, but it will mean they will not learn to rely on you for all their emotional well being. They will grow to be confident and secure when they are by themselves for a short period of time and will most definitely be a happier member of his new pack.

Along with informative dog tips, you can find a bunch of great fancy pet gifts for your dog at www.blingblingpuppy.com/ our internet store.

 
May 7 2009

Rottweiler Tips

Understanding Your Puppy’s

A well-socialised mother dog is more likely to have well-socialised puppies as the puppies ‘feed’ off of their mother’s calm or fearful attitude toward humans.

Puppies are usually weaned at six or seven weeks, but are still learning important skills as their mother gradually leaves them more and more. Ideally, puppies should stay with their litter mates for at least 12 weeks

Puppies that are separated from their litter mates too early often don’t develop appropriate ’social skills’ such as:
• Learning how to send and receive signals,
• What an ‘inhibited bite’ means,
• How far to go in play wrestling, etc

Play is important to help puppies to improve their physical coordination, social skills and learning limits. Interacting with their mother and litter mates helps them to learn ‘how to be a dog’, and is also a way to explore ranking (i.e. who’s in charge).

Skills not acquired during the first eight weeks may be lost forever. While these stages are important and fairly consistent, a dog’s mind remains receptive to new experiences and lessons well beyond puppy-hood. Most dogs are still puppies, in mind and body, through the first two years.

Dogs communicate with their actions, movement of their eyes, ears, mouths, etc, body gestures, tail wagging and more. Know to tune into your dog’s body language, you’ll realize what he’s talking about and what he needs. Of course, each dog, like each human, has his own personality traits. Over time, you’ll no doubt come to learn these individual traits. But there are general moods and behaviors that you can expect from dogs.

Barking
Dogs bark for many reasons, such as when perceived intruders (humans, dogs, or other animals) approach its territory, for identification, when hearing an unfamiliar or unidentified noise, when seeing something that the dog doesn’t expect to be there, or when playing. Barking also expresses different emotions for a dog, such as loneliness, fear, suspicion, stress, and pleasure. Play or excited barks are often short and sharp, such as when a dog is attempting to get a person or another dog to play.

Dogs generally try to avoid conflict; their vocalizations are part of what communicates to other dogs whether they mean harm or are in a playful mood.

The bark of a distressed or stressed dog is high pitched, atonal, and repetitive (and tends to get higher in pitch as the dog becomes more upset). For example, a dog left home alone and who has separation anxiety might bark in such a way.
Some research has suggested that dogs have separate barks for different animals, including dog, fox, deer, human and cat.

Growls
Growls can be used to threaten, to invite play, and to show dominance. Growling should be watched with special attention because it can indicate dominance or aggression. A soft, low-pitched growl often indicates aggression; the dog may feel threatened and may be provoked to attack. An intense growl, without showing any teeth, may often indicate a playful attitude. Always consider the context of a growl, and exercise caution.

Whines and Whimpers
Dogs whine and whimper to show that they are either in pain, or are afraid, or when excited, such as when greeting another dog, or in anticipation of a treat or an outing. Some dogs may use whining as a means of getting attention.

Howls
Howling provides long-range communication with other dogs or owners. Howling can be used to locate another pack member, to keep strangers away, or to call the pack for hunting. Sometimes dogs howl in response to high-pitched or loud noises such as alarms, sirens, music, or singing.

Confidence
Dogs that are confident and comfortable will stand erect. Their tails will be up and wagging in a sweep. The ears may be pricked up or relaxed, and they will look directly at you. The mouth will be partially open in what some call a smile.

Fear
Dogs that are fearful will lower their stance. The tail will usually be down, tucked between his legs, although some dogs actually wag their tails when they are unsure and evaluating a situation. The fearful dog will not look directly at you. When he turns his head away, he’s thinking, ‘hmmm… if I don’t see you, you don’t see me, and nothing bad is going to happen to me.’

Dogs that are fearful or unsure may use “calming signals” to reduce stress for themselves or others with whom they’re interacting. Some of these signals include yawning, barking, intentionally becoming distracted, lip-licking, circling, sniffing the ground, or just sitting or lying down.

Aggression
Certain breeds are hard to read – their tails are naturally curled up, and their ears are always perked up. Some dogs don’t ever give any indication that they are going to bite so watch the dog’s muzzle. A muzzle will twitch before a bite.
Other signs of aggression include stiff legs and body with the tail straight out, ears “pinned” back close to the head, a lowered head with eyes fixed intently at you. The lips are sometimes drawn back in a snarl and a low growl is heard.

Many people mistakenly believe that hackled hair on a dog’s back means they are aggressive. However, these are usually dogs who aren’t at all confident – they’re apprehensive so hackled hair makes them look bigger.

Executive Summary by:

Kum Chee, SG
Internet Business Coaching

Read more dog tips and pets issues….

 
May 7 2009

Stop Snoring Advice

Discover Useful Information About Stop Snoring Naturally.

Snoring can be a rather hard thing to put up with, regardless of the fact if you are the person that is snoring or if you are someone that has to listen to it. Did you realize, however, that snoring can go much further than being a simple annoyance? Some people have hidden allergies that add to or cause them to snore. If you think this may be the reason you snore please read the information below or visit Stop Snoring Naturally.

There are certain types of snoring, such as sleep apnea, which can cause a medical condition that actually brings on death in some instances. That is why it is important for you to identify any hidden allergies that would cause you to snore. Not only will it help to keep away more grim problems such as sleep apnea, it will help you and the people that you care about get a good night’s sleep.

The most important place for you to begin looking for these hidden allergies is the place where you doze. The reason why this is the case is because whenever we sleep, we tend to breathe much deeper and this pulls the allergens further into our nasal passages and lungs. It is also important for you to look for allergies and places outside of the sleeping area but to begin with, you should confine them to the area in which you sleep.

The most widespread of these hidden allergies is allergies to pet dander. There’s no doubt about the fact that if we have a dog or a cat, we love them very much. That doesn’t stop us from having an allergy to them, however, even if it’s one that we don’t recognize it first. Having a dog or cat in your bedroom at night is going to expose you to that dander while you’re sleeping. If you want to get a good night sleep and perhaps cut back on your snoring, ban your pet from the bedroom. They will be just as comfortable sleeping somewhere else and you will be much more comfortable if you can get a good night sleep without snoring.

Another type of hidden allergy that causes snoring is pollen that is collected in your hair during the day. Believe it or not, an incredible amount of this pollen can build up in your hair during a day’s time so it is important that you wash your hair thoroughly before going to bed. If you don’t wash your hair, you are going to remove the pollen from your hair to the pillow and then breathe the pollen directly off of the pillow. Take the time to wash before going to bed and you may be able to reduce your snoring considerably.

Please read more at Stop Snoring Tips.

 
May 7 2009

Vital Hints On Bathroom Decor

The function of a bathroom mirror cannot be underestimated. A bathroom mirror helps to catch and throw light around the bathroom. A bathroom mirror can help to make your bathroom look roomier.

A wide bathroom will require different light fixtures than a smaller bathroom. A large bathroom can be properly illuminated with a variety of ceiling mount and wall scones. A small bathroom on the other hand can be well illuminated with the right wall lighting fixtures.

Design your bathroom with the rest of your home in mind for maximum effect. It is not only the overall setting or theme of your bathroom that you should consider when you want to redesign it. The overall theme of your home should also be contributing factor to the redesigning attempts of your bathroom.

The space of your bathroom cannot be a limiting factor to your redesign scheme. No matter how tiny your bathroom may be, you will still be able to find redesign ideas that can transform its looks. When you are redesigning your bathroom, go all out and be as creative as you dare to be.

Making the hardware of your bathroom fit the rest of your bathroom setting can create a peaceful look to your bathroom. The way you position your vanity lights in your bathroom can help to make your bathroom look beautiful.

Sophistication for your bathroom in one word is spa. The installation of a spa in your bathroom can make you feel adventurous. A spa in your bathroom can definitely make your tired bathroom come to life.

It can be very easy to get carried away when you are redesigning your bathroom especially if you have so many attractive options. The secret to successful bathroom décor redesign is this; ‘don’t bite off more than you can chew!

The finishing of any bathroom fixture you purchase should be consistent throughout to create a harmonious effect. If you are using chrome finishing for your bathroom sink, use it throughout for other fixtures. Consistency in finishing of bathroom fixtures can make your bathroom redesign project a dream come true.

It is highly recommended that you get more useful suggestions from the internet. There are forums designed for people like you looking for bathroom décor ideas. These forums will provide you with lots of information that will help solve any problem you may have deisgning your bathroom. It is good to learn from the experiences of people out there. Remember, you are not only one designing a bathroom. Let other people guide on where to sop for the best bathroom fictures. Also, their tips can be of great help to you and your family.

No matter how much you feel you are aware regarding Bathroom Decor information like information about Corner Bathroom Vanity, or even Corner Bathroom Sink, visit Ras Reed’s site to be entertained with very revealing information.

 
May 7 2009

Incorporating Compost Across Your Garden Should Dramatically Benefit The Soil

When propagating plants they will prosper in normal soil as well as compost, particularly when nurtured in green houses as flora developed in green houses are clear from bugs and pests. Superior effective composts should embrace particles of different sizes to make the effective compost light, painless to aerate, deliver critical nutrients to the plants, preserve dampness and expression for the roots of the plants. The more wizards of gardeners make their personalised effective composts with their individual remarkable elements and never communicate the formula but these days many manufacturers offer superior great composts for the green house gardeners.  Obtaining ready made quality composts is a winning bet for greenhouse growers as you know research has gone into the mulch to establish the best results are safeguarded.
 
Two contrasting types of quality quality composts available are seed great composts and potting composts. When developing plants in green houses seed great composts are spot on as they are short in nutrients which are ideally matched for newly germinated plants. Finer effective composts for seeding are high in peat and of a fine texture. As soon as the time comes to move the nurtured seedlings then you need to choose better fertilisers mulches suitable for the steady growth. It is important to remember that different plants require differing needs and it is always suggested to obtain experienced advice when selecting great compost.
 
When it comes to potting composts then the quality composts are loam based or soil-less.  Using a soil less compost more dampness is held on to allowing fantastic aeration however nutrients are destroyed very quickly. These types of potting quality composts are only suitable for use with plants that are in pots for a short time. If you use loam based quality composts then you are presenting your vegetation with a steady supply of nutrients over a longer period of time which makes these types of better composts well suited for slower nurturing flora. The benefits of both loam and soil less potting effective composts is they drain freely which avoids the roots becoming water logged.

To turn up the composting task there are various fast quality compost products available that shorten the system of turning the fertiliser into a effective mulch.  This element of product is the perfect choice for all types of gardener whose soil is mainly clay based.  Using this type of quality compost on a clay based soil will effortlessly supply your gardening ideas with the required nutrients that will break down up the clay and consent the roots of the flowers and vegetation to spread through the soil.  However, if you have soil that is very much sandy then composting will join together the loose particles to help preserve moisture and water for the plants to feed off as well as adequate aeration allowing the flora to develop.

Picking the best compost is a matter of personal choice but all will add to the quality of the garden.

 
May 7 2009

Best Deals! On Cars, Only Here At My Classified Ads

The transportation sector accounts for 30 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption.

Nearly two-thirds of these emissions result from gasoline consumption in automobiles and other vehicles. The remainder comes from other transportation activities, including dieselfueled heavy-duty vehicles and jet-fueled aircraft. Cars and trucks affect air quality as well as increasing greenhouse gases, accounting for about half of all air pollution in the United States and more than 80 percent of urban air pollution.

The federal government and some state governments offer tax incentives and grant programs to improve the affordability of AFVs. Several automakers have partnered with fuel providers and refueling station manufacturers to offer rebates and other incentives for AFVs. Most major auto manufacturers now offer many models of cars, trucks, and vans powered by alternative fuels, including compressed natural gas, ethanol, liquid propane, electricity, and hybrid vehicles. A number of automakers are developing fuel cell vehicles, which will use methanol or hydrogen as fuel. Fuel cells must overcome significant cost and technological barriers before they become commercially viable for passenger vehicles.

Almost all of the fuel we use for transportation is made from petroleum. Gasoline and diesel fuel account for all but about one-fourth of one percent of California’s transportation fuel. Most California gasoline does contain a small amount of ethyl alcohol (also called ethanol), which increases the oxygen content of the gasoline for cleaner burning.

The fact that California is nearly 100 percent dependent on petroleum for transportation could cause a serious problem, like it did in 1973 and 1979 when the gas supply was limited and the prices went up. 1979 Gas Shortage photo

* By increasing alternative fuel use, such as natural gas and electricity, consumers have fuel choices that compete with gasoline and diesel, broaden our supply base, and have lower environmental impacts.

Natural gas is the basic energy source for some of the alternatives to petroleum. On one hand, this is good because most of the natural gas we use comes from friendly North American countries, if not the United States itself. And at the present, there seems to be a plentiful supply of natural gas. So, the supply of natural gas is relatively stable and reliable. On the other hand, natural gas is a non-renewable fossil fuel, just like petroleum and coal, and so, it too will some day be used up if people continue to use a lot of it. More on My Classified Ads and My Classified Ads Free