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Skiing is one of the interesting sports you can enjoy in winter and of course, if you have been wanting to perfect the sport for more enjoyment or to win any competition, it is important to learn a few snow skiing exercises. Learning a few tips and techniques on how to improve your skills and maximize your potentials in the sport can also be your key to beat competition.

Of course, you have to be fit and strong for any sport and one way to do this is to train your muscles and your body to the tough challenge of skiing. Although the muscle groups that are given much attention to in skiing are those in the legs, it is however important to build and exercise the entire body to attain total fitness.

Cardiovascular exercises are always on the list if you want to develop stamina in your chosen sport. You can do brisk walking, swimming, jogging, cycling or other cardiovascular exercises to help you with it. It is also important in building endurance. For sure, you always want to ski all day and you don’t want to easily get tired and lose focus.

To build strength in your hamstrings and quads, you can do lunges, squats and other exercises that focus on inner and outer thighs. Leg exercises are important to build strength in your legs. You can find exercises for the outer and inner thighs, as well as the quads, the hamstrings, the calf muscles as well as the shins. Strengthening your legs allow you to strengthen your performance as well.

Aside from the leg, you have to focus also on exercising your knees in skiing. Knee injuries are common in skiing and you can indeed avoid the risks of having knee injuries by exercising it before doing your skiing.

You can do squats and leg presses and you may add weights as well to strengthen it. Leg extensions, lunges and leg curls are also other exercises that may help strengthen your knees and protect it from injuries.

Along with the knee and leg exercises, it is also important to exercise your core and your upper body. You have to focus on your hips as well as your core and you have to go as far as your shoulders and arms. This will allow you to have balance and total control of your sport.

Keep in mind that snow skiing is not a sport you can do the whole year round, so there is a higher tendency of your body to be unconditioned for the sports when the skiing season arrives.

Do not also forget to include your flexibility exercises, as these will also protect you from injuries as well. There are a lot of snow skiing exercises that you can actually do to improve your skiing and to avoid injuries, so make sure you do them before trying to exercise your ski muscles to build strength and endurance.

Carolyn Anderson loves skiing. To help you condition your self and maximize your potential in skiing, check out Avalanche Ski Training. Also check out Accelerated Muscular Development System, a program that will help you build the body you have always desired.

Midlife career change, find career change success in 7 simple steps.

A mid-life career change can be a challenging project. Think about the possible results after you make the career change. The rewards should bring you new job satisfaction and fulfill a range of personal and financial needs.

Midlife career changes occur for a variety of reasons. One reason not to stay in your current career is that you’ve achieved some success and you then rationalize staying in a job as you are becoming more and more disillusioned and miserable. Another thing you might hear is that you shouldn’t be changing careers because at your age it either can’t be done and you should be satisfied “you do have a job don’t you.”

Leaving one career for another for the wrong reasons will not fix the problems; it will just transport them to a new location.

As you develop your midlife career change plan here are 7 steps to consider:

1. Where are you now? Carefully consider you current career. Is there anything you can do to make the situation better? Can you transfer to another career with the same employer? Is it the employer or the career that’s the problem? If it’s your current employer that’s the problem, should you consider staying in the current career with another employer?

2. Self-Assessment and Research: Review your skills and knowledge. What do you enjoy doing? What do you not want to do? Why? Do you have any interests that translate into a new career? Are there parts of your current career you really enjoy? Do not enjoy? What skills and knowledge are required in prospective careers? What possible gaps do you have to fill to qualify for the new career?

Gather information about prospective careers by talking to those currently working in the field, reading job descriptions and other internet resources. After you’ve analyzed your situation, looked carefully at your likes and dislikes and sketch out a possible direction building a new career plan. As you research possible new careers you should write out new career goals. Stay flexible and be willing to move in another direction if you reach a dead end.

3. What are the skills you bring to your new career? Your new proposed career may require different or additional skills and knowledge. However, with your previous experience you will find a whole family of transferable skills to your new career.

Skills and accomplishments in leadership, project management, problem solving, communications and others will cross over into the new career. How you list achievements in these skills on your resume and cover letter will help get you noticed and scheduled for the job interview.

4. Adding Qualifications and Education: Once you’ve identified a possible career look carefully at the normal qualifications and skill sets required. Do you have a possible gap in any area?

If the career requires specific training or education can you cover it with self-study, internet learning, or seminars and workshops? Perhaps a night course in a local junior college would be sufficient. Or a mentor could put you on a path toward completing the required qualification.

Sometimes the requirement is career related experience. This can be solved by doing work for a non-profit, or helping on a committee in a career related association, or part-time, temp or working as a contractor.

5. Networking your way to Success: Find others working in your planned career. You can locate them through friends, relatives, co-workers, or area or national career related associations, or Linkedin and other social networking sites.

You can learn a great deal about your proposed career by speaking to those currently working in the career. There are many good articles about making maximum use of this resource. Study the information available to turn networking into a valuable source of career information.

6. Financial Planning is a Must: You must integrate financial planning into your midlife career change plan. Your prospective new career may not pay you what you earned in your old career. How you cover the shortfall is important. It can be a combination of savings or reduction in expenses.

Be realistic in you planning on promotions and pay increases in your new career. With proper financial planning you can reduce your money concerns in the job change. In your career planning you may find you need to make several jobs change to qualify for your proposed career. This also must be factored into your career and financial planning.

7. Plan for Success in your New Career: You’ve now gotten a job on the first rung of your new career ladder. It is absolutely not the time to coast or put you career plan in the closet.

Continue your course of study and reading in the new career field and business and leadership in general. If your new employer offers help in added education take advantage of his offer.

Work carefully with you new boss on what is expected in the job; under promise and over deliver. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to excel. Build up your network of like-minded individuals. Help others find their dream careers, you’ll feel great and be building a productive network

Keep working and building your career plan. If you do your midlife career change will be nothing but successful.

For more information about career planning and career development go to http://careersafter50.com. You’ll also find ideas about changing careers and the stories of individuals just like you who successfully made midlife career changes.

Americans and their loved pets move on average every seven years. If you have a pet or pets, remember that they also experience stress, particularly from moving. In many cases, moving can be even more stressful on pets, as the home is their habitat. Pets can also become very frightened when faced with unfamiliar situations. Careful organization and planning can make the moving process easier and less stressful for both you and your pet. Our guide offers tips and advice to help you and your pet through this process.

Pet travel warning

o Never move a sick pet – the move may aggravate his symptoms and be dangerous to his health.

o The Animal Welfare Act makes it illegal to transport puppies and kittens less than eight weeks old by air.

o Pets cannot be moved on a moving van with your household belongings.

o Pets are generally not allowed on trains or buses, unless they’re guide-dogs accompanying blind or otherwise impaired persons.

o Book a direct flight if you are traveling by plane. If your pet is traveling in freight he may be sitting outside with the freight for a long period of time between flights and as the freight is being moved from plane to plane. If the weather is either too hot or too cold your pet will suffer. An insulated crate will certainly help this situation if it cannot be avoided.

Air Transport

You may transport your pet by air either accompanying you or as air freight. Some airlines provide counter-to-counter service so your pet will be carried on and off the plane by an airline employee. Remember, not all airlines accept pets for transportation, so be sure to inquire when you are making your travel arrangements. Also be sure to check about charges and insurance charges for transporting your pet.

It is important that you book your air travel as early as possible. Airlines that accept pets for transportation will have specific regulations and guidelines regardless of whether the pets are accompanied or unaccompanied. For example, you may be required to be at the airport several hours in advance of the flight to check your pet in and your pet may need a special crate. The airline may be able to provide to you a crate for the trip, or you may have to purchase one from the airline.

The airline will have guidelines on the crate types allowed and your local pet supply company will be able to sell you the required crate. You pet should be able to stand and turn around with ease and there should be adequate ventilation. The bottom of the crate should be padded with newspaper or other absorbent material. Add a favorite toy on move day to give a sense of security. Try to get your pet accustomed to the crate at home before the big day.

On move day, feed and water your pet at least 5 hrs before the flight departure time and water again at least 2 hours before departure. Remember to administer any medication or veterinarian-recommended tranquilizers before departure. When you arrive at the airport, exercise your pet and check that you have provided all the necessary information to airline staff regarding your name, correct new address and alternate contact name in case of emergency.

Some airlines allow passengers to bring pets into the cabin with them, provided they fall within a specific size range and stay in a carrier for the duration of the flight.

By road – In a motor vehicle

Unless you are planning a very short road trip, do not feed or water your pet for a couple of hours before leaving. You may decide to put your pet in a crate during the road trip, but be sure he is able to stand and turn around with ease and that there is adequate ventilation. The bottom of the crate should be padded with newspaper, towels or other absorbent and cushioning material. Adding a favorite toy will help give a sense of security. Exercise your pet regularly during the road trip, but always use a leash because your furry friend can easily get lost or hit by a car if he wanders off.

Do not let your pet hang his head out the window while the car is moving. While many dogs love to do this, it can cause sore eyes, ears or throat. And, never let the windows down so far that your pet can jump out.

Warning

Never leave a pet in a hot car during the summer or in a cold car in the winter. Temperatures inside a car with closed windows escalate dramatically when it’s parked in the sun. Even if it’s pleasant outside, it takes only a few moments to reach over 100 degrees inside the car – which can be fatal for small occupants. If you absolutely have to leave your pet briefly, and the day is hot, park in the shade, lock the car doors and crack the windows open several inches to provide cross-ventilation. Check on him regularly. If the day is very hot, it is best not to leave your pet in the car at all.

Pet’s travel bag

Don’t forget to pack a travel bag for your pet! Following is a list of items you may wish to include;

o Food and can opener

o Food and water dishes

o Any medication your pets needs

o Treats

o Favorite toys

o Leash

o Grooming brush

o Bags to clean up after your pet

o Newspapers

o Cleaner and paper towel

Whatever mode of transport you use for your pet, make sure you are in compliance with state and local regulations for animals in your destination city, along with current copies of.

o ID tags

o Health records

Pets ID tags

The state where you are moving may have different laws regarding animals and their entry across state lines. It is important that you understand the requirements so that you can comply with them, so contact the state veterinarian for specific information. It is not uncommon for pets to need an entry permit in order to enter a new state. As well, in many towns and cities the number of pets per household may be limited. You will be required to obtain a local license for your pet within a certain deadline, such as 30 days, so find out what it is. You don’t want to pay a fine for not keeping your pet’s license current!

Health

You may need to obtain a health certificate for your pet from a licensed veterinarian and this can be used in the event it is required for entry to your new home state. The Department of Agriculture may request to see the health cert at your destination airport or could even be patrolling the highways if you are driving. A health cert is generally valid for 10 days, so be sure to have the inspection scheduled just before you move. The veterinarian will conduct a complete physical examination of your pet and check that he is current with all inoculations.

Dogs

Whether traveling by air or by car, moving can be even more stressful for a dog than for a human, although some dogs adapt better than others. Hold off on packing your dog’s bedding and toys until the last moment so that he can be comforted by the presence of familiar things. If you’re traveling a long way, avoid feeding your dog for 12 hours before the journey in order to prevent travel sickness. If you know your dog suffers from travel sickness, ask your veterinary surgeon about medication.

If you plan on flying to your new home, do your best to book a direct flight. If your dog has to be transported by freight and the flight is not direct he may have to sit out in the hot or cold weather as the freight is boarded to the new flight. Check with the airlines for details. If your dog is small enough, he may be able to travel in the passenger cabin with you. He will need a special pet carrier, which you can purchase at your local pet store. Ask the airline what crate specifications they require.

If traveling by car, have your dog’s nails cut to avoid damage to the upholstery. Carry an adequate supply of plastic bags and use these to clean up after your pet at any rest stops you use. Never let your dog hang his head out the window of a car when it’ s moving. Even though most dogs love to do this, it can cause sore eyes, ears or throat.

Never leave your pet alone in a car, especially in hot weather. The temperature inside the car can quickly rise to an unbearable level, even on what feels like a pleasant afternoon.

Once you arrive at your destination, be sure to get your dog back in to his routine of eating and exercise. If you have moved to an apartment building and your pet dog was used to having a yard to play in, you’ll need to be extra considerate. Walk your dog more frequently, at least until he gets used to his new living situation. Be patient and make allowances for indoor “accidents.” Don’t punish your pooch, as this may make the problem worse. Clean the mess to remove the soil and smell. Once your dog has settled in, the accidents should stop. Use positive reinforcement to teach him where he needs to go. Always praise him when he relieves himself in the correct place.

One way to help your dog settle in more quickly is to create a comfortable sleeping area for him. If your new home has a yard, check the fencing to make sure that it is secure, of sufficient height and ‘hole-free’ before letting your dog run loose. If your dog is able to escape, exercise him on a lead until you are able to make the necessary improvements.

Cats

It’s commonly accepted that cats get very attached to places and typically hate to move. Cats get particularly comfortable with routine, and don’t like their environment to change. This can make moving especially difficult for humans and their cats.

In the days leading up to your move, try to keep your pet’s routine as normal as possible. It is best to crate your cat during the moving process, and it may be helpful to ask a friend or family member to keep an eye him.

If you are traveling by air, you may need to purchase an airline-approved carrier for you cat. You airline should be able to provide you with all the details. If you are traveling by car you may also want to use a crate or carrier so your cat cannot roam about the car, or escape through an open window or door.

Once you are in your new location, be careful to keep your cat indoors until he becomes comfortable in his new surroundings. Do not allow your cat outdoors, because he may try to return to you old home … and that’s obviously dangerous for him, especially if you’ve moved far away. Supervised outings are advised until your pet gets used to your new home. You can use a long leash on your cat and connect it to a stake in the ground, allowing your pet to wander the length of the leash for the first few days. Let your cat explore all the rooms of the house and be sure to check that outside doors and windows are closed before you begin.

Birds and Small Pets

Of all pets, birds are probably the most sensitive to changes in temperature and environment. Your pet bird can be moved in the cage in which it lives. When you are moving with your pet bird, be sure to use a cover for the cage. This can keep the bird calm and protect it from drafts. Place the cage in a shallow box to collect any gravel, feathers or droppings that may spill during transit. Remove any containers of food and water before moving the cage to avoid spills en route. Do feed and water your bird at its regular times, as birds, like all small animals, can become dehydrated very quickly in warm weather.

Some states require a health cert for birds entering the state. The USDA may inspect this cert either at the airport or during routine roadway inspections. Have your pet bird inspected by your veterinarian prior to traveling. Some health certificates are valid for a brief period of time. Ten 10 days is a common window for a health certificate.

Horses

There are several ways to transport horses. Your horse can be transported by air freight, by towing a trailer or by hiring a specialized horse transporting company. The horse transport company can use either air or road to transport horses.

By Air

Many airlines accept horses as air freight. In general, they will only transport horses on direct flights. You will be required to have a stall constructed to the airline’s specifications, and you will need to ensure your horse has the necessary health checks completed prior to moving to your new home state. Remember that requirements vary by state, and airlines will request a health certificate. The USDA may also be at the destination airport conducting inspections and may request to see the health certificate.

By Road

Depending on the distance you need to travel, towing your horse in a trailer behind your car or truck may be an option. If you do not own a trailer, you may consider renting one, but you’ll want to be sure you’re experienced enough to safely load and trailer your horse. You can also pack tack and feed in the trailer.

If your trip requires overnight stays you will need to book stables en route for your horse. These stables will require a health certificates appropriate to horses only, and if they do not you probably don’t want to board your horse there. Your veterinarian should be aware of the applicable laws of the different states and will be able to provide you with the necessary health certificates. (Contact information regarding states entry requirements is at the end of this guide.)

If you are unable to find a stable or lodgings for your horse in close proximity to your hotel, inquire whether the hotel will allow you to keep the trailer in the parking lot overnight. In inclement weather this is not advisable. Feed and water your horse per the normal routine and clean out the stall when you have an overnight stop.

Reptiles

Most states have strict government regulations regarding the entry of reptiles. See the states regulatory contact list at the end of this guide to find out what you need to do before moving your reptile from state to state.

As a general rule, the carrier that a reptile is transported in needs to be kept moist. Place the reptile in a cloth bag and fasten the top of the bag, making sure to leave the reptile enough room to move about, then place the bag in the shipping container. Use foam peanuts for cushioning and place damp paper or cloth in the shipper to keep the environment moist. Make sure there are air holes in the shipper for ventilation. If you are traveling overnight with your reptile you may need to place him in the tub of your hotel room at night for a nice long soak. Check if the hotel allows pets first.

Do not ship reptiles in excessively hot or cold weather, as their shipping container may be left outside for periods of time, leading to stress and possibly death.

Snakes must be handled with extra care, especially if they are venomous. Most airlines require double crating for snakes, which means putting the snake in one crate and then placing this crate in another, larger crate. Adequate ventilation is a must. The airline may provide you with stickers to put on all sides of the crate and you will need to write the type of snake on this label. You should also write on the sticker whether the snake is venomous or not.

**Warning

Remember to keep the surroundings of all reptiles moist, but not wet. Placing a damp cloth inside the container is one of the best ways to keep your reptile’s environment appropriately moist during transit.

Fish

Fish are notoriously difficult to move safely from one location to another, but it can be done effectively and efficiently with some planning. It is advisable to sell or give away as many fish as you can before you move to help ease the burden. However if this is not an option, this guide will help you understand what you need to do.

Depending on the size of your aquarium, and the number and type of fish you have, it may be easier to separate them into a several smaller tanks. If the aquarium is 5 gallons or less it may be just as easy to move the entire aquarium. Place some cellophane over the top of the aquarium and remove all heaters and aerators. Place the container in a cooler box or Styrofoam container to regulate the temperature and keep it constant for up to 48 hours. Be sure to open the cellophane every four to five hours to change and refresh the air. This option may be the best for tropical fish, which don’t do well in smaller containers with overcrowding or sudden changes in water and temperature.

Never leave the container in the car overnight, as the temperature changes may be too drastic for the fish. If you plan to be traveling to your destination for a couple of days with your fish it is advisable to purchase a portable aerator to keep the water well oxygenated. Always pack your aquarium last in the moving truck so that you can unload it quickly at your destination.

If you separate your fish into smaller containers or fish bags, you should try to use the aquarium water in order to keep the environment as constant as possible. In the event you do not have enough water for all the smaller containers, add fresh or saltwater appropriate to the type of fish. It is advisable to allow each container of water to settle for a few hours after filling. If you have only a small number of fish and are moving a short driving distance, you can move the fish to their new location by using plastic bags half-filled with water and half-filled with air. As a general guideline, each fish should have at least 1-2 gallons of water. To maintain the temperature, place the bags in an insulated container or Styrofoam container.

Most fish can go without food for a couple of days without any problems, but it is important to add healing agents to the water, as the fish may become bruised en route. This is not uncommon and you can purchase healing agents at your local pet supply store.

When you arrive at your destination set up the aquarium as quickly as possible. You may need to treat the water to neutralize any chemicals; your local pet store can advise you of any treatments the local water may need.

Turn the aerator on for a while, and then add slowly and gently add the fish to the tank one at a time. Wait until the water settles, and feed them as usual.

New Community

PLEASE, PLEASE be responsible when you move and check beforehand with your new community to find out if pets are allowed. Some apartment and condominium complexes may not allow pets, and you certainly don’t want to find that out on moving day.

Some of the most common reasons that people leave their pets with shelters are “we are moving “and “my landlord doesn’t allow pets.” Remember, pets do not know why their owners are leaving them behind, so do your homework beforehand to save all that heartbreak. Consider your options carefully, as pets should be considered a lifetime commitment. If you are absolutely unable to take your pet with you, you owe it to this creature to find him a good home.

State and local regulations

You need to make sure that your pet has some sort of easily read ID attached to its body. For dogs and cats this can be a collar, while a tag around the leg is appropriate for birds. The ID tag should have your pet’s name, destination address, your name and telephone number. It is also a good idea to have an alternate’s name and number on the tags in the event that somebody finds your lost pet and is unable to get in touch with you. You should also have rabies tags for your pet; depending on the state where you live this will most likely be a requirement. For air travel, your pet may be required to wear special travel tags, which the airline will provide.

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“Can I wash my own dog? It can’t be that hard can it?” These are the words that I hear everyday as I go about my business working at the Pooch Parlor in Northern Idaho. Each time I walk a customer through this process, I find myself wondering why in the world something so simple is so doggone hard to explain. Washing your own dog may seem simple, but – only if you think and speak ‘dog’ – the language of your own dog.

I run a shop for full service and self-service dog grooming and bathing, and I LOVE it! There are dogs, and owners, of every size, every breed, and every temperament that come in to use the self-service doggie wash. Most owners are excited, some are scared, and some are cocky, but no matter who they are, or what they do for a living, there is nothing quite as intimidating for them as washing their own dog in public! The thought of doing this can give even the most confident person, performance anxiety, and for good reason! It is a true test of trust and tolerance and friendship for the person and dog companion. And, on a very basic level, it is an honest mirror for the owner, and how he or she deals with life, and with conflict. The likelihood of a successful experience for both is completely dependent upon the psychological relationship that exists between them, and, to a large extent, the ability of both to comprehend the body language of the other. You may be surprised to know that I have found that dogs are supremely better at reading their humans than their humans are of reading them. It is this relationship between human and canine, that shows itself without modesty during bathtime, and, keeps me coming to work day after day with a smile on my face.

My clients have been giving their dogs baths in my shops for 10+ years now, and, each year is more entertaining than the last when it comes to watching regular people washing their own regular dogs. The average person that comes through our doors is highly successful, which usually means – intelligent – and, because like attracts like, so is their dog. And, so why oh why, they ask me, should this simple task of cleaning their dog be so difficult? I ask them time and again, “Well, how well do you speak dog?” Invariably, their reply is a blank stare. So, this is the time to ask yourself, “How well do YOU speak dog?”

There is a lot to say about the theories of why dogs and humans behave the way they do, but I’m going to get back to the practical things to look for while bathing your own dog. The bottom line to remember is that your dog’s energy and personality traits are a mirror to your own. Take this into consideration when attempting to get him into the tub and have him be happy about it.

1. Deciding when to bathe your dog. Timing and Personality traits: Timing is important. Look at your own needs regarding timing to know how your dog will react. Are you the kind of person that is up for anything anytime? Or do you need to accomplish your day in a scheduled, systematic way? How do you do with new experiences? Do you find them refreshing and fun, or do you feel fearful until comfortable with a new activity? Your dog is going to deal with the bathtime experience in the same way you deal with life experiences. Remember that your dog is going to reflect your own personality traits – not necessarily the traits you show the world, but the traits that are truly inside you.

a. Fun-loving, extroverted, and social humans. If you enjoy regular physical activity, then so will your dog. For this type of person and dog, I suggest you take your dog out for a bout of exercise before the bath. In the city where I work, we are fortunate to have a designated beach on the lake just for dogs and their humans – dogbeach. There is a long path to run or walk on, and there is a large beach area to swim and play in. This is the perfect scenario for pre-bath timing. The dog can choose to get muddy, run, socialize, or just enjoy being outside. In any case, the dog is able to spend big reserves of energy outside in a fun way, just like letting human children play before naptime. If you love exercise, do something like this with your dog before taking him into your own tub or a professional facility for a dog bath. A common fault of the social dog and owner: Just because you are friendly, out-going person does not mean everyone wants to accept your friendly, and out-going gestures. It’s hard to fathom, I know, but it is true. If you have a very social dog (if you are a social person), it is easy to forget that many dogs (like their owners) are not social and do not appreciate the social requirements (like butt-sniffing) of others. Please remember to respect their space when in public or otherwise. Keep your dog restrained and under control, even if your dog has the friendliest intentions.

b. Non-social, active, or inactive humans. If your personality is not conducive to social interaction, then I still suggest that you walk your dog or do something that is comfortable within your life that involves light exercise before bathing your dog. Taking a walk with your dog does wonders to alleviate excess tension or stress for both human and dog. By getting rid of stressful energies during a walk, it does not present itself during bathtime. Getting exercise is especially important for those humans,( I mean dogs), that are highly nervous. I recommend giving your dog Valerian root (liquid form) or Rescue Remedy (liquid or spray) orally 30 minutes before the bath. Both of these products are natural remedies to calming down jittery nerves- and it works great for humans too. If timing is important in your life, take your dog to a self-service bathing facility when the least amount of people are there, usually early or late in the day. A common fault of the non-social dog and owner: they communicate poorly within their own species and with other species. Many people that tend towards isolation, often do this because they never figured out how to communicate effectively in human society. Their dogs typically have the same problem. I have seen it happen many times that owners of aggressive dogs unwittingly encourage their dog’s unwanted behavior, when they think they are doing the opposite. They do this by projecting their worrying thoughts about the ‘what-ifs’ of a social situation. Dogs of this type of owner act out their dog interpretations of their human owners signals. The dogs often pick up the ‘what-if’ fears of the human as the request of their human, actually creating the ‘what-if’ behavior to occur. Without human intervention and boundary setting by the owner (requiring advanced communication skills), it is quite common for this type of dog to exhibit increasingly aggressive behavior. Most owners are dismayed by their dog’s aggressive behavior, but they simply lack the skills required to communicate what behavior they will and won’t allow from their dog. I recommend that if you have a dog that is displaying increasingly aggressive behaviors to consult a professional dog behaviorist or trainer. Just a few simple tricks will convey an accurate message to a dog that is most likely misunderstanding your expectations.

Language barriers for humans and dogs. Its no surprise that miscommunication between owner and dog happens often. If you are a human that is finding you don’t understand why your dog does what he does, remember, you are learning a whole different language and culture. Give yourself time and give your dog time to understand each other. Just don’t expect your dog to act like a human, especially during conflict. It takes time and practice for anyone to learn a new human language. It’s no different learning dog language. We all know how to interpret a human smile in society. When a dog pulls his lips back over his teeth, it typically doesn’t mean he’s happy! Would a human dream of greeting a new acquaintance by sniffing their butt? Right! But, in doggie language, that’s the equivalent of shaking hands. A dog that shakes his head to get the slobber off of his mouth is no different than a person smoothing his slacks or dusting off his shirt to look more polite. The differences are huge, so give yourself and your dog a break if you have hit a communication block wall.

2. Deciding where to bathe your dog: There are not a lot of choices when it comes to bathing your dog. A. You can use your own bathtub at home which requires no human socializing – hard on your back, it’s very messy with extended after cleaning, and potentially traumatizing to human and dog. B. Bring your dog to a self-service doggie wash shop – easier on your back, requires some basic social skills by owner and dog, can be noisy and hairy, requires no after cleaning, and it does cost more than just the shampoo. C. Tie the dog to a fence and wash him with a hose in the yard (hopefully on a hot, sunny day) – not easy on the back, hard on the dog with cold water, potentially traumatizing for nervous dogs, but does not require human or dog socialiaing. D. Wash the dog in your nearest lake -which is very popular in my neck of the woods – hard on the back, requires advanced human and dog social skills, is potentially harmful to the environment, and how clean can you really get a dog in lakewater?

Regardless of where you wash your dog, take into account your own physical limitations, and your dog’s physical limitations. Is it worth wrecking your bathroom and hurting your back to wash your dog at home? For the clients I see, the answer is a definite, no! Emotional requirements are often a factor for dogs. For instance, (in general) Labrador retrievers have no issue being bathed in a lake (even though they don’t get clean), but they often resent being restrained in a tub with a sprayer hose pointed in their direction. For a farm dog that has never been away from home, tying them to the fence is a better solution than trucking them to the city and asking them to have manners in a grooming shop, or in a populated lake. At least next to the fence, even with cold water, they are comfortable with where they are and what is expected of them.

My vote is, of course to find a self-service doggie wash facility. The equipment is professional and easy to use, the water is warm (most of the time) and typically the dogs get treats when they walk out the door, which makes them happy campers. So, for those that want to know about washing your dog at a laundradog facility, here you go:

2. Getting your dog in the tub and getting him to stay there! At this grooming shop, the average dog that comes in for self-service is around 100lbs. All the dogs are washed at waist level where they stand on a grate in the tub. Getting them in the tub can be a trick. It’s kind of like asking a human to put ice skates on, and stand on the ice and not worry about how to do it. The easiest way for dog and human is to not give the dog time to decide whether or not he wants to. (Not the easiest task for shy or overprotective owners). The owner is given a large choker chain or cloth noose which goes around the dogs neck.

Leading: We have the owner quickly lead/pull the dog up the stairs with another person on the other end of the dog to give a quick boost on the butt end. The dog is on the grate, and in the tub before he has decided to be worried about it. Once the dog is in the tub, the owner hooks them in (not something you can do in your tub at home) to a variety of metal hooks inside the tub.

Choking: The dogs that are new to having a bath will sometimes turn in the tub and pull on the choker chain. We prefer the choker chain to a regular noose because the dog quickly learns with a choker that he is in control of whether or not he feels the choking sensation. The second the dog realizes he controls his own choking, AND realizes his owner is going to allow him to learn this (this is very difficult for the overprotective and/or mother types of owners-most all of us!), the pulling behavior stops. With a regular cloth noose, or one that does not self-regulate, the dogs will pull and pull and often never learn that they have the control over their own pulling more than any other behavior during the bath. Owners feel like they are directly causing their dog injury and should rescue them immediately when they hear them coughing and sometimes gagging. It is natural to feel concern over your dog choking, but it helps to think of the dog’s pulling and coughing similar to putting a toddler into his crib for a midday nap.

Many human toddlers HATE taking a nap and will cry hard enough to cough and gag. If parents rescue them from their cribs when this happens, they are reinforcing this coughing behavior for their child. Parents that monitor the crying, and coughing from a safe distance where the toddler cannot see them, soon find that their babies submit quietly to naptime without expecting to be rescued each time he utters a sound. Naps and baths may not be pleasant to begin with, but they are both essential habits of life. Dogs have the same learning behaviors regarding rescue. Owners that react with excessive concern over the pulling (as the dog is expecting), or crying and screaming tantrums, find they are only encouraging more pulling and tantrums from their dog. This point is so crucial that it is worth repeating. The more upset and worried the owner gets over the dogs behavior, the more they get of that dog behavior. If the owner is calm and without fear – and projects this to their dog, it is not long before the dog understands that pulling on the chain is only hurting himself, and that tantrums are a waste of their energy. When the owner believes everything is fine despite pulling and tantrums, the dog does too, and he stops the undesirable behavior accepts that today is bath day!

So many nurturing owners find this part difficult, but try to remember, when you expect your dog to learn how to control his own anxiety, he will learn, but it requires that you LET him learn. The best ways to learn to control ones own anxiety is to actually go through the experience of having the anxiety and dealing with it. If you are the type of owner that cannot allow your dog to experience this emotion without taking over and stopping the experience, your dog will learn to go into an anxious state more and more easily because of the reaction that he can expect from his owner. This becomes upsetting for both dog and owner and as you can see becomes an escalating cycle. If you allow your dog to go through this experience of the bath, anxiety and all, you will see that they will calm down and before you know it, you have a dog that allows you to bathe him! And having clean dog is essential to most dog owners. When your dog does calm down, i.e. quits pulling on the noose and allows the bath experience, that is the right time to express heightened emotion of happiness through praise and treats. If you take this time to praise your dog, it won’t be long before your dog asks to be washed with a happy, wanting-to-please attidude.

However, as with any rule, there are a few exceptions: old, very young, asthmatic, and dogs with neck or throat problems should be closely watched if they exhibit excessive pulling on the choker chain.

Ignore or not to Ignore: Most of the time, I recommend to owners to simply and quietly ignore their dogs protesting to get the behavior to stop (and it does), with the only exception being a small puppy (like a yorkie) or an old and fragile dog. Both the young and the old dogs that are not used to baths can injure their tracheas or create a medical problem (like asthma) if their nervous behaviors are allowed to escalate. It is in this circumstance that I tell the owners to use a harness to hook the dogs in the tub or in the case of a small and wild puppy, to use a sink or bucket in which they can immerse the dog in warm, soapy water. Puppies are wired to swim and that’s what they do if they find their bodies in water. Swimming is easier to work with than a freaking out jumping bean. If you do choose to ignore your dog’s protesting to the bath, REMEMBER to give lots of praise when the dog show’s signs of acceptance and/or begins to calm down.

Drying Your Dog: Drying a dog depends on the type of hair, type of temperament and grooming experience the dog has. If you have a shorthaired dog, towel drying is generally adequate. In the grooming shop, we use high-power dryers that blow the water out of thick or double-coated dogs like shepards, collies, and huskies – and in this case – standard poodles.

Put cotton in the dog’s ears before you begin as the dryer is loud. Make sure there is a minimum of play in the noose or chain that connects the dog to the tub, as the more room the dog has to throw a tantrum, the more room he’ll use. Start the dryer on the back end of the dog and aim the dryer side to side moving towards the head until the water is not dripping off the dog any longer. Most private owners go home with their dogs still dripping because of the tantrum factor. This is where the above information comes into play. The majority of dogs are nervous at first, but they quickly learn that the air is only loud, not painful. If the owner stays calm, the dog will quickly find this state during the drying process.

There are a few more minor steps that do occur in the grooming shop, such as brushing, nail trimming, anal expression, ear plucking and cleaning, teeth brushing and scaling and more. You can check out more ‘how to’ information on these specific techniques at www.thepoochparlor.net. Regardless of who you are or what you do for a living, the chances of your dog having a pleasant experience during the bath is highly dependent upon the ability of the dog’s owner to understand his or her own needs regarding life and society. Consider all the factors, energy reserves of your dog – spend them before the space wherever you go will increase your odds for success. Consider how much you actually do know about dog language. Above all else, remember that you, the owner, are in charge, and that if your dog is temporarily distressed with a new situation, you have to stay calm long enough to allow your dog to understand and accept the experience. It’s a curious notion that a human would have to delve into the basics of his or her own psychological needs to give their dog a great bath experience, but if you do that, you and your canine friend will have many years of happy and successful bathing experiences.

Author DuAnn Lustig-Chambers has been grooming since 1997 and owns Pooch Parlor Pet Groomer Training Academy in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Author: DuAnn Lustig-Chambers
Owner/Instructor/Dog Behaviorist Pooch Parlor Groomer Training Academy
210 Triangle Dr. Ste. D
Ponderay, ID 83852

Something in the human spirit is always itching for independence and this itch translates to a constant flow of new entrepreneurs that so often gravitate towards fashion jewelry. What is so irresistible about this accessory? Beyond the high profit margins that wholesale fashion jewelry can open for retailers lies an intrinsic beauty that creates truly wearable art. Yes, wholesale fashion jewelry offers plenty of profit potential that enables retailers to turn small investments into the longest mark-up in the fashion industry, but the magic of fashion jewelry’s beauty stops consumers in their tracks and this magnetic attraction, more than anything else, brings the entrepreneur into retail sales specializing in jewelry.

Many of these new fashion jewelry businesses begin on the simplest level with retailers buying wholesale fashion jewelry and presenting it to friends and co-workers. Easy sales and new found profits ignite a fire to grow the business, but what step comes next? As a twenty-five year veteran of the wholesale fashion jewelry industry, I have seen business after business start in this way and often grow to become the major supplier of fashion accessories in a community. The learning curve never ends as fashion jewelry evolves as well as retail tactics, but some things never change and these key techniques will have positive impact on your fashion jewelry business.

But first, how are you going to sell your treasure of wholesale fashion jewelry? Outgoing personalities love the active sale. Visit businesses, do parties, set up in flea markets or craft shows, and bubble over with enthusiasm as you introduce stunning fashion jewelry to consumers. All they need is a crowd and permission to set up. Bingos, festivals, school picnics, car shows, sporting events-the list is endless. Overhead is low and actually stops when not engaged in sales activities. But so does sales, so many prefer brick and mortar businesses with a higher overhead, but continuing business even when you’re not there.

The quieter, methodical personality may not be up to this bubbling enthusiasm and choose a passive sales mode. Successful businesses often build without the entrepreneur ever engaged in active sales to the consumer. They connect with beauty shops and other locations to provide fashion jewelry on consignment with the owner profiting as well as the entrepreneur. Methodical personalities think out the details like how to handle shrinkage of missing items with no sales recorded. Increasing price and lowering consignment fees compensates for losses when fashion jewelry has open exposure that can result in more shrinkage. The flip side is reduced sales in secure environments like showcases or behind the counter, which reduce shrinkage, but unfortunately, also sales.

Okay, both personalities have a selling method they are comfortable with and both can expand their business with online marketing by working on websites while their sales support them as the websites grow, climbing higher in the results of major search engines. But what about the 5 shortcuts to retail success? They boil down to pricing, selection, presentation, knowledge, and benefits.

-First comes pricing the wholesale fashion jewelry. New entrepreneurs often feel shock waves as they see the wholesale cost compared to retail prices they paid as consumers. The first temptation is undercut all the competition. Stop there!-because fashion jewelry is cyclical and low prices generate low profits that don’t carry retailers through the tough times. Do you want to spend all your earnings on restocking wholesale fashion jewelry and covering overhead? Of course not, you want to grow your business and make a profit and pricing is important.

Retail uses a term called keystone-a nice word for doubling the wholesale price. Make keystone the minimum for mark-up in fashion jewelry and look for the items that give you room for far longer mark-ups. The upside has no rules. Let your intuition guide you because prices can always come down, but it is difficult to go up.

-Next comes selection and this is a factor that major retailers like fine department stores are always struggling to get right. Stroll through one and you will see they have reduced staff on the floor so selection often has to sell itself. The fine department stores need “no miss” choices and have resources, forecasts, statistics, and trained buyers to make these decisions. Small retailers don’t need to be discouraged because this isn’t rocket science and you are closer to the clientele in your location than any major retailer.

Making the perfect selection rests on the age and demographics of your main customer base. Add this to the fashion trends of the season and you are close to perfect. How do you keep up with all those rapid changing fashion trends? Well rapid change is a myth. Trends change very slowly-often over a decade. Yes, colors and subtle adjustments occur every season, but today we are in the midst of classic trends that started in the early 21st century and have a promising future. More on this when we cover knowledge.

-Now for presentation-making the fashion jewelry look special. Ever notice how necklaces clumped together on a tee bar on top of a showcase seem to scream “I’m on sale” while the stuff in the showcase whispers “I’m special”. That’s presentation and how it has changed even for fine department stores.

Teri Agins in The End of Fashion details how department stores that were once “the first visual contact with fashion” and “introduced merchandise concepts to customers” changed in the late 20th century to a collection of brands. Agins quotes one upscale shopper who “was appalled when she discovered $19.99 Nine West shoes displayed right next to $350 Chanels” in her favorite department store that was compromising its image of elite fashion. Make an item look special and it takes on the perception of higher value.

-Next comes knowledge that is worth more than price. Don’t believe it? Think of items you bought because the sales person impressed you with a deep understanding of the product. That was worth more than price. I personally experienced this lesson when I did a trade show with a colleague. I told my customers the fashion jewelry was a real value at the price. His sales person painted a word picture of the wholesale fashion jewelry with the season’s apparel and wrote more orders without the customers even knowing the price.

Knowledge is knowing the trends and knowing the item. Consumers trust a well-informed source and when you know what is today’s style and why it looks right on the customer, you remove the burden of choice from the buyer.

Knowledge today goes deeper because classic trends in fashion jewelry bring gemstone components, shell, Murano style glass, Millefiore, and more to jewelry designs. A story is worth volumes in explaining glass jewelry and knowledge of gemstones that removes the doubt about whether it is real. Don’t be overwhelmed about understanding the trends and knowledge of today’s components because everything is detailed in a report, Wholesale Fashion Jewelry-The Magic of Trends (find a link to the report at the foot of this article).

-Finally there are benefits. Think of benefits as vision-what the customer envisions. Anyone that buys fashion jewelry wants to make a positive statement. They want a look that is flattering and appropriate. So like the car commercial running on the radio, features describe the details like length, color, texture, and shape while benefits say “matches apparel while complementing your complexion”, “draws attention to your slender neck”, or “creates a youthful look that is so you”. The old adage of sell the sizzle, not the steak, gets to the point. Pick the right item for the customer, be sincere, and sell the sizzle.

Will all this work in a slowing economy? Absolutely! In worrisome times women appreciate an escape valve of some small new purchase. What fulfills this better than fashion jewelry? Apply the five shortcuts and lift your customers’ spirits with a feel-good experience.

Mike Gietl draws from 24 years of experience with Accessory Wholesale Inc and contributed to the Wholesale Fashion Jewelry –The Magic of Trends report.

How to positively handle almost any child throwing a tantrum and have them all smiles within 60 seconds.

To fully understand why tantrums occur and how to reslove them quickly you should read the entire article. 22 years of teaching guitar to children and adults has taught me far more than I would ever have imagined. Most of all I have learnt much about how both adults and children learn and interact. This article will cover some of my findings and will be focused on tantrums. To help present you with as much useful information as possible I would like to use as many examples of real life situations that I and teachers face every day. By using real life examples I believe you will be able to relate your situation and see how I and others overcome each challenge in a positive way.

Firstly let me say that working with children is a skill. Our knowledge of children comes mostly from our own experience which has been passed down from our own parents, relatives, friends and society at large. As with any skil if you were lucky enough to be surrounded by good teachers and mentors as a child might advice may be obvious to you but for the majority of us it is something we need to learn. Although the skill of parenting and teaching initially require the same skills teaching a child and parenting a child are not the same thing.

Children are not adults

Children are not that much different to adults but they are different. We need to understand the differences when working with children. If we treat children as little adults frustration may be the result. Would you give a 4 year old the keys to the car and expect them to know how to drive? Silly question I know yet many adults expect young children to respond and behave like an adult. We have all seen and perhaps been guilty of yelling at our child for not behaving while out and about. We say things like. “Stop that. How many times have I told you not to…..” We get frustrated because our 4 year old seems to be ignoring our requests. So we must firstly remember children are not adults.

Different yet the same

Of course there are differences between each individual child but we are of the same species. So as with any species there will be many responses to stimuli that are the same. There is also learned cultural and social behaviour along with genetic factors. Most of what I will talk about will apply to the large majority but may not work in certain situations with certain individuals. Some children have learning disabilities that are outside the scope of this article.

Adults are teachers

We are all good at teaching children to some degree. Children look to adults for information on how to act and respond to situations. So whether you like it or not if you are around children you are teaching them. Children learn from our behaviour more so than our words. You only have to see how little boys want to grow up to be like their Dad or little girls want to dress up like Mum. My 4 year old nephew expressed to me on a recent visit how he wants to be a truck shiner when he grows up. “A truck shiner” I said. What do you mean? It turns out his Dad is a truck detailer. But this act of following adult behaviour runs very deep. Children can and will adopt many of your behaviours. So here is my first suggestion.

Start with yourself.

Be the person you hope your child will grow up to be. Don’t tell them to be a certain kind of person. Be THAT person yourself. Live by example. Let me give some examples;

Diet – If you eat a certain diet your child will most likely follow you. How often do we hear people say “My Mother’s cooking is the best”.

Smoking/Drinking/Gambling – Children of parents who smoke, drink or gamble have a greater chance of adopting the same habits themselves.

Career – Children will often take up a similar career to a parent or in some cases will take up a career related to an interest or passion one parent has. I have played guitar professionally since I was a child and this stemmed from my Father’s passion for guitar even though he didn’t play himself until later in life.

Health – We often end up with similar levels of health as our parents not so much because of genetics which is of course a factor but largely because we follow the eating and lifestyle habits of our parents.

Stress – A great example I see so often is that of time and money issues that lead to high levels of stress. As adults we find ourselves often trying to make ends meet. This leads to stress.

I have been teaching guitar for more than 20 years and I often hear from parents that they would also like to learn guitar but they are simply too busy. This would be okay if they are busy doing what they love. The problem arises when they are busy doing what they apparently ‘have to’ to make ends meet. If you find yourself in this situation then it is important to realise you are teaching your children to follow. Ironically parents will often be working hard so their children don’t have to.

There is a famous song called ‘Cats in the cradle’. The song lyrics describe the life of the writer and his relationship with his father. There are basically two sections to the song. The first part describes how as a young boy his father was always too busy but promised him they would spend time together soon. Soon never came. When he grew up and his father had finally retired the father was ready to spend time with his adult son but the tables had turn. The son had become like the father and was now too busy to spend time with his father but always promising they would get together soon. This was a very sad account of a father and son but not uncommon.

The list goes on and the evidence is undeniable. The argument of nature verses nurture is not one that needs to be won because we are all aware that both play a role. The good news is the nurture side is in our hands.

The mind of a child

This is a tough one for most adults because we forget what it was like to be a child. We are not children and therefore cannot see the world from their perspective. Even if we could remember it is only a memory of our own childhood and not our present reality. Many adults try to teach children as if they were adults. Teaching a child as if they were an adult just doesn’t make sense to them. Teaching children requires an understanding of how children think and respond.

Children respond to repetition

The adult mind is looking for new experiences. Most adults will watch a movie or a TV show once maybe twice. A child can watch the same movie 100 times or more. I can have a running joke with a child for months. The same joke would not be funny to an adult after the third time. The trick is to use repetition to your advantage. Let me use an example. If you want to teach your child to count you only need to make up a game that involves counting and do it everyday for fun. Your child will learn to count in record time. The biggest challenge for music teachers of children is often parents. Teaching children music requires playing the same song hundreds of times. For parents this drives them crazy but children are happy to do it again and again. A common request from parents is ‘Can my child learn a new song?’

Children need rules

Everything is relative. The world seems to shrink as we get older. To a baby the world is not even comprehensible. Their world consists of their home, the car and maybe the local shopping center. As they grow their world expands. Perhaps as they begin to walk their street and the local park become their world. When they enter school the suburb becomes their world. As they age the city, country and beyond become their world. For this reason their imagination of the outside world begins to run wild. A child needs to know their world is in order and the adults in their world control the events for the most part. A child who lives in a world without limits and boundaries becomes insecure. This can be a difficult concept for adults to understand. Especially adults who feel there were too many rules during their own youth.

Children seek security

Children need to know who is who in a given situation. They work out who are the adults and who are the children. Their natural instinct is to seek security. This is perhaps nature at work. Children are the most vulnerable and need to be aware of all possible threats. The problem is they still don’t know the real world. Much of the world comes from their imagination. Adults have a much better understanding of what is real. Adults can defend themselves for the most part and their understanding of possible threats is reasonably clear. Children rely on adults to be their protectors and connection to the unknown outside world. Adults provide the security or not as the case may be.

Who is the boss?

Adults often seek approval from children so will often begin by befriending a child. This is fine if there is a protector present but if you are in charge of the child the situation will be very different. The child will at some point begin to test you. They want to see if you are in charge. They will use various strategies to see if you are up for the job of protector of their universe. Here are some examples;

Cheeky or rude comments – They know which words or phrases overstep the mark. By overstepping the mark they can see how you react. If they get away with it they will take it further.

Argumentative – They will debate you. Again testing the boundaries.

Tantrums – Many children know that tantrums will get them what they want because adults want to avoid a scene. If it works once they will do it again and again and again.

Children react to adults

Some adults like to believe that children are good or bad and we adults have no control over them. This is especially true when they are other people’s children. I often hear teachers say things like ‘That child is a nightmare and impossible to work with’. The teacher dismisses the child as a problem child and places them in the too hard basket.

Many teacher’s will claim that the student or parent is fully responsible for their behaviour. They do not realise that the child’s behaviour is very much in their control when in their care. This is not their fault because very few teachers or adults for that matter are trained in child behaviour. Teachers may know the information they wish to share but child behaviour is a very different subject. In effect a teacher of children must know two things. How to control child behaviour and of course the subject they are teaching. Being a guitar teacher in my case I began at age 19 years with a knowledge and skill of guitar but with no real understanding of how to control child behaviour.

Adults who were forced

This is a common issue for many adults. I use the example of the child who was forced to learn piano as a child and hated it. They grow up and look back on the whole experience as a very dark period in their childhood. But there is a misconception here. They believe the problem was being forced to learn something they did not want to learn. I believe the problem has nothing to do with the fact they were learning to play piano and has everything to do with the negative emotions attached to the events of that time. Their parents were most likely not presenting the whole experience in the right way. This resulted in family feuds and a lot of bad memories. The way it usually goes is parent decides to enrol child for piano lessons. Child is happy to go along for the ride at first. Parent is spending money and therefore wants results. Parent tells child to practice. Child doesn’t want to practice. Parent gets angry. Child gets upset. The rest is history.

So where did this all go wrong? There is a critical point in this process that makes all the difference between a child who practices and one who does not. When a child begins to learn the parent must set up the routine. A child will rarely establish routine practice by themselves. Think of it like teaching a child to take a bath or get dressed or clean their teeth or make their bed. The key is consistency. Parents are often not consistent about their child’s practice. As adults very few of us would allow our children to go a week with out cleaning their teeth or taking a bath. I cannot ever remember someone complaining about how their parent’s forced them to clean their teeth or take a bath. Reason being, they were consistent.

Human behaviour is predictable

Let me use dogs as an example. Put almost any dog in a car and wind down the window and they will stick their head out of the window. Why? Because that’s what dogs do. Go to a movie or a concert and most people will aim to sit about half way back and in the middle of the row. They are trying to get the best position of course but still it is predictable human behaviour. Fact is we humans as with all animals are predictable. Children are of course very predictable but what is even more predictable is the way parents or adults respond.

Predictable child behaviour

So children seek security. They do this by testing the adults who are protecting them. They test adults by pushing the limits. If a child is able to push the limits and get away with it they enter new often unexplored territory. This makes them feel insecure because there seems to be no boundary. They will continue to push the boundaries until they find the limit. Let me use crime as an example. What we class as crime is only a crime if society says so. In one country what is consider a crime may be regarded in another country as acceptable. If a child learns to steal at an early age without consequence it is likely they will continue. The reason most of us are not thieves is because our parents and society in general make it very clear that stealing is not acceptable. So with behaviour so predictable it is very easy to get children to act and behave in a positive way.

The magic of consistency

Humans thrive on consistency. Many of the most successful human endeavours are the result of consistency. Think of Olympic athletes who consistently turn up for training or students who consistently study or business people who consistently open their doors. The list goes on. Consistency is actually part of human survival. Consistency allows us to see what is predictable. Our chances of survival increase if we know what is predictable. Even animals respond to consistency. The behavioural scientist Pavlov show this with his famous experiment. He rang a bell just before giving the dog food. After several times the dog began to associate the bell with food and would salivate before the food even appeared. By creating a consistent relationship between the bell and food the dog would behave in a predictable way. Children respond to consistency. If you want a child to do anything then do it consistently. Set up the routine and their behaviour will become predictable.

Children with learning disabilities

There are of course always exceptions. Some children will have learning disabilities such as autism or ADD that are simply out of your control. In this case you should do as much as possible to research and learn about their condition so you can find the best strategy for teaching them.

Working with ADD – The most common challenge teachers will come up against is ADD . I have had many students over the years with varying degrees of ADD. I would go as far as to say we all have some degree of ADD. Children with serious ADD will not be able to focus for any length of time. This affects their ability to learn. If say their concentration span is 2 minutes any concept that takes more than 2 minutes to explain will be lost. I like to keep things simple. I use a two pronged approach.

Work at increasing their concentration span – Let’s say they have a 2 minute attention span. I set their goal at 3 minutes. I make a big deal of it. Clapping and shouting out “Hooray!” when they make it to 3 minutes. This slowly increases their concentration and in most cases works. If it fails you need to focus more on option 2.

Work within their concentration span – If it’s 2 minutes give them exercises or explanations that can completed in 2 minutes. Break everything down into bite size pieces.

Bringing out the best in children

What we want for any child first and foremost is a sense of security. All children come with a history but the end result if you use the correct strategies is a happy child who is more than willing to learn. It does not really matter what the history of a child is because you cannot change the past. You need to work at giving the child a sense of security when they are with you. I have a simple strategy that works almost every time. This strategy requires you to be patient, consistent and confident. The reason it works is simple. We are human and humans respond to certain situations much the same.

The strategy for optimum child learning

This strategy will be so simple you may find it difficult to believe but I guarantee you it will work on most children.

Be consistent – Let’s say you want a child to go to bed at 8pm on the dot every night. Do it every night at the same time. Have a set routine and DO NOT waver. Regardless of how much they fight and cry and scream at 8pm it’s off to bed.

Acknowledge good behaviour – All children want to be noticed. If you make a big deal and respond positively to good behaviour (E.g. going to bed at 8pm) they are more likely to want to do it again.

Time out – When children misbehave and resist your requests you need to give them time out. Time out is often necessary when a child is use to getting their way. In other words they are use to winning.

Tantrum time

So far I have given you an understanding of how children think and respond to a range of situations. Now it is time to tackle the big one. Tantrums. A tantrum is just extreme behaviour. A young child is not physically capable of doing much else. Almost all children discover the tantrum at some point. For the child a tantrum is often initially a build up of emotions. They begin by wanting some control over their situation. When they are unable to get control they get frustrated. The frustration usually comes from the fact that they believe the object of their desire is just out of their reach. Imagine there was a cake sitting on a kitchen bench and it was just out of their reach. At first they try to stretch out their arm but once they realise it they cannot grab it they will become frustrated which leads eventually to an emotional outburst. Once you give them the cake they instantly stop and are all smiles. But this unfortunately is not the result we are looking for. What we want is for the child to stop instantly without receiving the cake. We want them to deal with this emotion in another way. If the cake becomes the diffuser they are heading for a difficult adulthood. So let us begin with the strategies for avoiding tantrums without the need for cake so to speak.

Time out

Time out is an interesting one. It is a very predictable human behaviour. Time out must be done correctly. In most cases it needs to be demonstrated because it is mostly in the delivery. If you are not serious about your delivery children will quickly pick up on the fact and it will be ineffecteive. The whole idea is the child must know they will not win so they may as well deal with it and play by the rules. If a child knows there is a boundary that cannot be crossed they will soon give up. Conversely if a child knows they have a good chance of winning the will persist to the point of a tantrum.

A typical example of a child tantrum

I will use a fictional child named Mary. Now Mary is out shopping with Mum and has spotted the ice cream shop. The conversation goes something like this.

Mary – “Mummy I want an ice cream”

Mum – “Not today. May be next time”

Mary – “No I want an ice cream now”

Mum – “I am sorry Mary but you can’t have an ice cream now. How about we have a look at the book shop”

Mary -”No! I hate books. I WANT an ice cream. If you don’t buy me an icecream I will get very angry”

Mary begins to get upset and angry. Mum does everything she can to try and distract her and calm her down but Mary is getting more and more worked up and begins to cry and even scream. Mum also is getting frustrated and even a little embarrassed.

Mum – “Stop it Mary. You are embarrassing me. I am sick of your screaming. You always do this. You always want to get your way missy. Well not his time. If you don’t stop it we are going home now”

Mary continues her crying and screaming and Mum realises the only way to stop Mary’s behaviour is to either give in and buy her an ice cream or drag her home kicking and screaming. Either way is a bad result.

There is a better way.

First of all remain calm. Depending on the age either pick them up or hold their hand and take them to any place where they can stand safely. Ask them to remain there until they are ready to behave. Walk away but stay within sight. Now just wait a few minutes. Keep your eye on them but avoid eye contact if they are looking at you. After about 2 minutes walk back and crouch down to their level and ask them “Are you ready to behave?” At this point they will either be ready to behave or they will need more time. If they need more time say “I will be over there when you are ready” and walk away again. Three times if necessary. Finally when they back down ask them if they understand what they did wrong and ask them to apologise.

The routine should be consistent each time. This is a time out process. Time out for a child gives them a chance to deal with their emotions. You are literally teaching a technique to calm themselves down when they get upset. You are also teaching them that throwing a tantrum will only ever result in them getting time out. You send them a clear message that when they are with you they need to act and behave with respect for your rules.

When you master the above technique children (especially young children) will literally go from a tantrum to a happy child within a minute or two. I will do this with children I am working with an their parents think I have performed some kind of magic. It’s no magic. A child’s behaviour is simply predictable most of the time.

I hope this article has been informative. Remember it is action that is required. Please come and visit my blog for more proven strategies on working with children either as a teacher. http://howchildrenthinkandlearn.blogspot.com/

If you have any questions or need advice on working with children please feel free to contact myself at g4guitar@bmpmusic.com.au

David Hart has been teaching guitar for over 20 years and playing since 1980. David’s experience with young children is extensive. David now owns and operates a chain of guitar schools across Sydney. David also advises many other music schools and teachers on how to work with children in terms of learning music. In the field of guitar education there are few teachers how would have more real life practical experience than David. David’s key to success is what he calls his research approach to teaching. This means he treats his lessons like a research project constantly looking for what works verses what does not. This research also includes keeping up to date on the findings from around the world. David’s gift is simplifying what he knows so it can be applied and understood simply and easily. To contact David please feel free to email him at g4guitar@bmpmusic.com.au

The steep rise in the prices of all commodities has become such a crucial problem that people are always on the look out for places where you can purchase goods cheaply. Pet owners are a major clan who also bear the brunt of these issues as pet supplies are very expensive. To try and purchase pet-supplies at a discounted rate has become very popular and the main means of doing this is through pet discount coupons online.

Given below are some tips which will help you to purchase pet products at a discounted rate.

• Make it a point to get good quality pet supplies – Never settle for low quality stuff which may be less expensive. The net result will be that it will turn out to be hazardous for your beloved pet and you will finally have to dole out a big amount for the visits that you make to the vet. It is not the quality of what you buy for your pet that has to be altered, but the means of purchasing it.
• Buy pet-supplies at a bargain during the winter months from your nearest pet shop as majority of these shops indulge in a clearance sale in winter. So look around and you will come across pet discount coupons which will aid you in buying goods at a subsidized rate.
• There have emerged numerous online sites which offer wonderful deals for the supplies that you have been looking for. Online pet shops can provide you with pet supplies at cheaper rate as they do not have to bear overhead expenses like taking care of a shop. Another great advantage is that these online stores get pet supplies at a wholesale rate and sell them even singly at wholesale rates.
• eBay and Craiglist are other places to look for purchasing pet-supplies at a discounted rate. There may be people who have may be selling off second hand pet supplies which may be procured at a bargain. This is one of the best sites where you will get extremely affordable pet supplies.

A little researching on your part will make you realize that there are online websites available from where you can buy pet products at an extremely reasonable rate without even venturing out of your home. This is a great advantage as you do not need to waste your precious time searching out for the best deals or waste your energy either.

Today’s world is one where internet is the primary market and all you have to do is just log on to a pet supply site which will bring anything you want to your doorstep at extremely reasonable and affordable rates.

Using pet discount coupons can save you a lot of money when shopping online for pet-supplies. To find more such coupons you can visit http://discountcoupons-blog.com.

As a father of a 5 year old and a 7 year old, this is my first summer watching my boys play team sports. They played T Ball earlier in the summer and they play flag football now. Its great that they are able to play on the same team for logistics, but I’m sure that ends in the next couple of years. I’ve watched our boys take a lot from their team sports experience and I’d like to share with other parents what I’ve seen:

10. Teaches kids to “be on time” – both coaching staffs were very adamant that practice started at a certain time and held all kids and parents accountable. As the seasons progress, I’ve noticed our boys getting themselves ready for practice at the appropriate time.

9. Builds friendships – This is an easy one as we’ve seen our boys make lots of new friends, attend birthday parties, and basically just smile when they see their friends outside of practice/games.

8. Hand/Eye Coordination – Too many children are perfecting their hand/eye coordination by means of video games. Simple activities such as throwing a ball, catching a ball, and hitting a baseball do wonders for motor skills.

7. Creates self pride – When our kids got their jerseys with their own name on the back, the smile on their face was unforgettable. They really felt important and it created confidence.

6. Teaches kids that bullying is unacceptable – In both football and baseball this season, there were a few cases of some of the “alpha players” trying to assert themselves at the expense of the younger/smaller players. Both coaching staffs immediately addressed this with both the kids and the parents and the problem went away. Bullying is a terrible problem in schools and the more kids that can be turned off this path at an early age, the better.

5. Coaches are more like teachers than parents are. – As much as we try, we always see our children in a different light as an outsider….and that’s a good thing. Coaches, like teachers tend to treat the kids equally and hold them all accountable for their actions and responsibilities.

4. Kids are learning Math and don’t even realize it! – For all of you former football players out there, you’ll likely remember that each “hole” (gap between lineman) is assigned a number telling the running back where to run the ball and the rest of the team how to block a play. As the kids learned this, I watched several kindergarten level students now able to count by 2′s as that is the way the football numbering system works. Also, when coaches teach defensive players to run at an angle where the player with the ball is going to be, not where he is at….kids are getting introduced to geometry. As per my earlier blog entry…physics is everywhere as well!

3. Respecting elders – Talking back and yelling at coaches and other parents is not tolerated in most team sport environments and at the young ages of the players, this tends to stick with them away from the game field.

2. Teamwork – Team sports are a great way to teach kids how to work together for a common goal. Specifically, our kid’s football coach requires all kids to run their laps as a group (emphasizing that this is not a race, but rather teaching them to do things together) and has them chant and do their warmups together as a group.

1. Exercise – Above all else, in the video game/tv dominated world we live in, I’m elated watching my kids get a couple hours of outside activity including cardio work, stretching, fun games, agility tasks, etc. Remember when we used to spend every summer day outside? This is a great way to show our kids what was great about our childhood and keep them in shape at the same time.

My weekly updated blog features tips for science teachers, laboratory professionals, and lab supply resellers. I’ll often share helpful hints on travel, share new products, and promote professional growth events and trade shows in the scientific industry. Visit my blog at http://www.fischertechnical.blogspot.com

You can also follow me on twitter to be the first to know when we’ve updated the blog, debuted a new product, or have something helpful to add to the scientific community. Follow me at http://www.twitter.com/johngura

Nothing beats the exhilaration brought about by speed. Anyone who has ever driven an automobile has at least dreamt of taking the role of Steve McQueen in “Bullitt”, getting into a high-speed car chase. If not Bullitt, each driver has dreamt playing Michael Caine’s Charlie Cosker in “The Italian Job”, driving that gorgeous convertible into the very heart of the gold heist.. Anyone who has ever taken control of the wheel has at least once dreamt of driving not just to get from point A to point B but to go from point A to B in flair. And driving a fantastic sports car fulfills this dream.

In making an automobile or any land vehicle for that matter, a lot of factors are being considered: cost of material, safety, efficiency, and performance are only some of these at play on the drawing board of a car maker. A sports car however, in definition gives priority to performance above all other factors. By performance, speed is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Speed relies heavily on the power of the car’s engine.

Most sports cars do have muscle engines which can outrun even the fastest sedans easily. A sports car engineer therefore puts it first on the list of factors that he has to consider: how to travel the distance with the least amount of time possible.

But of course, even if performance is a cut above every other consideration, the other factors are never neglected. Safety cannot be compromised, because even the fastest sports car needs a driver on the wheel at all times, and safe at all times. Besides, everyone wants to drive from start to finish in one piece, after all. So a performance-oriented vehicle must pay attention to the other factors and not rely solely on the car engine’s power.

A number of sports cars compensate for a not-so-powerful engine with a light body, paying due respect to the laws of physics: the lighter the mass, the smaller amount of force required to move this mass. This is also the reason why a sports cars usually are smaller, and do not have backseats. If these cars do have backseats, these are not as convenient as a sedan’s and is only a throwaway to please the insurance companies. One may also notice that a sports car quite often only has two doors, and it shares the same reason as that of the backseat.

Because it can outperform any of the regular four-seater cars out in the market, sports cars are sold obviously at a higher price. Another reason is because quality materials are almost always being used to withstand the heavier wear and tear in this type of vehicle.

This also explains why purchasing a sports car remains a pipe dream to most car enthusiasts. But it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. It is easier to get one’s hands on the steering wheel of a sports car than most people think. One just has to have the imagination and acumen to do so.

Buying a sports car does not have to mean going to your nearest car dealer and getting a brand new vehicle off the rack. There are quite a handful of these vehicles beyond the dealer’s garage, in very good condition and sold at a lower price. You can always check out car auctions and watch out of sports car models being sold at pancake rates. Pre-owned sports cars are always available on your local car magazine or website; sometimes it just requires you to pay more attention to these ad placements; you’ll never know when the sports car of your dreams is right under your nose.

Buying second-hand sports cars maybe the best way to go if one is facing monetary constraints. If a pre-owned sports car is taken cared of properly, it will give one the same excitement that a new one can provide.

There are also private sellers particularly of sports cars. More often than not, owners of these sports cars found themselves short of cash and are willing to dispose of their sports cars at considerably low prices, much to their resistance. Desperation is in a way good for buyers on the look-out: they get their dream vehicles at bargain prices.

And once you have spotted the car of your dreams, it is wise to exercise routine vehicle inspection, the way one does when buying a regular car. Do not forget to visually inspect the engine, the interior and the body. It is a folly to disregard these simple reminders, especially when buying a pre-owned sports car. You as a buyer can easily assess the condition of the car, how well it was maintained by the owner, simply by looking at it. Then, the proof of the pudding is in the eating: do not forget to test-drive your prospect sports vehicle before closing the purchase. Give it a go and see how it feels. If it feels good – and you feel like Steve McQueen in Bullitt – it is time to call that sports car your own.

Lee Dobbins writes for sportscars.unique-articles.com where you can learn more about the sports care and get tips on buying a sports car

The Internet is a powerful tool to access information on any subject area, and one can find an incredible amount of car care information with a click of a button. Furthermore, with the help of a regular web search one can also find network links to information about automotive repair, vehicle maintenance, automotive diagnostic data and labor estimates. There are also a lot of good online auto repair web sites with individual articles that can answer your questions on all sorts of auto repair and car maintenance topics, such as how to change your oil, the best way to bleed brakes, why a car might stall or be hard to start, what color your radiator fluid should be, or even how to drive a stick shift.

Some websites also provide users with platforms like blogs, chat lines and discussion areas where a person can share his knowledge related to auto repair, like experience changing ball joints, replacing an automatic transmission, or diagnosing the causes for a bearing failure. Many websites offer external links associated with auto repair, like installing a replacement ignition system, upgrading an exhaust system, or making auto body repairs.

Most of these websites offer general advice and one can download manuals on self-repairing small technical snags in automotive parts free of cost. However, some websites are subscription-based and offer detailed advice by expert technicians for a nominal charge. A user can access websites like Jonko Auto Repair Online, TrustMyMechanic.com, AceAutomative, RepairManual.com, Motorcyclebooks.com etc. to get updated information on the auto repair industry, the prevailing rates for getting their car repaired and other information on auto maintenance.

Therefore, the next time you have a technical snag in your automobile, before visiting the repair shop, log on to various auto repair websites and gather information on the problem. This would not only make you aware of the problem at hand, but would also prevent you from getting cheated by your technician.

Auto Repair provides detailed information on Auto Repair, Auto Glass Repair, Online Auto Repair, Auto Body Repair and more. Auto Repair is affiliated with Discount Auto Parts.

Seasonal Prices:

The highest rates for New Zealand are in the summer months from December until the end of February, during this period cars must be booked well in advance or you will have little chance of getting one when you turn up.

November and March are almost as busy, because the weather is still good but the prices are cheaper. Booking is advised.

October and April are a bit cheaper again and during these months you may be able to arrive in New Zealand and pick up a cheap rental car or relocation deal.

May to the end of September is the quietest as this is winter and a bit chilly with a good ski season. Booking is not really needed during this time and you will be able to phone around to pick up good deals including good relocation deals.

A relocation deal is where you could pick up a car in one city and drop it in another for a minimum charge.

Extra Km Charges:

Almost all of New Zealand car rental companies do not charge for kms on top of their daily hire cost. The exception to this rule is if you wish to hire a car for less than the rental companies minimum daily hire time.

Car rental companies sometimes have a km charge for diesel tax, which is a government cost to all owners of diesel vehicles. Most companies will include this in their daily rental cost.

What is one day of Rental?

Most rental companies charge per day you have the vehicle eg, a rental from 11am Friday to 11am Saturday is a 2-day rental. This is because the vehicle cannot be rented out to anybody else on either of these 2 days. To make the most of this rule pick the vehicle up on the morning of the first day and drop it off at the end of the second day.

You will still find some rental companies that treat this situation as 1 day but have penalty charges if you are late for any reason.

Diesel Tax:

This is a government tax and is not made up. But this is another way companies can make some extra money because there will be a “mark up” on the government cost.

GST (Goods and Services Tax):

This is a 12½% government tax on items brought in New Zealand. This should be included in all company advertised prices.

Airport Transfers:

Car rental companies will sometimes include free airport transfers, some only supply or pay for transport to pick up your car. If you are hiring a budget car you may have to pay for your transfers.

Windscreen, Tyre and Headlight Insurance:

The way that rental car companies handle this area can vary. Some don’t cover damage to these things at all, which means you the traveller has to pay for any damage. Some car rental companies charge extra to insure against damage. Some car rental companies include it in their excess/bond reduction options. Whatever they do we would suggest you cover yourself against damage to these items. New Zealand has many stone chip roads with trucks that can and do throw up stones. The insurance also covers tyre damage. Windscreens can range from $300 upwards

To fix Stone chips companies charge from $30 upwards per chip

Tyre’s can range from $100 upwards

All of the above estimates depend on the type of car.

Bond/Excess:

All car rental companies take a bond of some description off their customers. The larger companies will have a normal option of debiting your credit card immediately.

This is the first option, and then they will have various other excess/bond reduction options, which could reduce the bond to in some cases, to nil. Since not many people can afford to have the first bond option taken out of their holiday credit card account, it forces many people to take the excess reduction options, which could be around an extra $35 per day to reduce the excess to nil (the rental car company will have a maximum amount that you have to pay for long hires eg; 100 day hire would = $3500 at $35 per day but the companies maximum amount might be $1500). It is just a way for the rental company to earn extra money from the nervous driver. The car rental company will still hold a small bond to cover incidentals eg, the car returns full of fuel, in a clean and tidy condition. This is returned once the car is returned.

Smaller car rental companies usually have better first options for your bond or excess they can range from $750 to $3500 (the higher figure would be for drivers under 25) and most have bond reduction options available. The smaller companies usually do not reduce their excess to nil and $250 seems to be the lower bond options, this might cost around an extra $15 per day.

The smaller rental car companies also usually do not debit your card immediately, and will only debit should any accident take place.

Some companies have different levels of excess depending whether the accident is a “single vehicle accident” or an accident caused by reckless use of the vehicle by the driver.

Driving Licences:

New Zealand rental companies will usually accept full drivers licences from English speaking countries. You may need an international drivers licence if your countries drivers licence is not in English.

These rules are at the discretion of each rental company.

New Zealand Car Insurance:

In New Zealand car insurance in NOT compulsory so someone may hit you who is not insured this mean you lose your bond. The way most rental companies handle accidents like this is. You take down the information of the person who hits you and if the rental company recovers their money then you get your bond back.

Extra Driver Charges:

These seem to be a thing of the past and we have not discovered any car rental companies that still have this charge in place. If there were car rental companies still charging for an extra driver, they are the exception to the general rule.

Roadside Assistance:

All New Zealand car rental companies offer very good roadside assistance. This is usually through the New Zealand Automobile Association (AA) The AA is a great organisation who have agents all over NZ. All car rental companies receive the same service from the AA no matter how big the rental company is. The AA will come out to you assess your problem, fix it on the spot if possible or tow you for free to the nearest reputable service station, garage or agent that can fix your problem ASAP.

The larger car companies with branches all over NZ are able to offer the best vehicle replacement options with 24-hour phone assistance and this would be one of the reasons you would pay a higher rental fee. Sometimes the smaller companies cannot afford at the rates you are paying to have 24-hour phone assistance, but the AA does have a 24-hour toll free number. If the smaller car company cannot replace a car themselves, if something goes wrong, they will try to find you a new car from a different rental company. All accidents or damage must be reported to the car rental company as soon as realistically possible. But there is an exception to this rule. Most car rental companies will allow you to pay for repairs up to a certain amount without informing them. You must keep the receipts, and they will provide a refund

Refunds for breakdowns:

All car rental companies should refund monies for the rental cost of days off the road caused by vehicle mechanical breakdown.

It is that simple; they will not pay for, motel/hotel bills, the hiring of other vehicles or missed bookings or flights.

If you receive refunds for any other reasons you have found a great rental car company, then recommend them to your friends.

Quality of a Car Rental:

The standard in New Zealand of rental cars is very high with strict government guidelines in order for a vehicle to be given a rental certificate of fitness (COF). No car rental company wants you to breakdown on your journey this only costs the company money and “bad press”.

A good rule to use is the more your daily hire rate is the newer the rental car is. They are usually all set out in the same way and are all the same size for the same type of car (there are only so many ways a 5-door car can be set out).

Always remember if you are dealing with something mechanical things do break, no matter what the age.

Long Rental Discounts:

All rental car companies offer long rental period discounts.

Cancellation policies:

All New Zealand car rental companies have very strict cancellation policies. Make sure you have your correct dates. If you show you late you will still have to pay for the days you are late and if you don’t turn up at all expect the full amount of the rental to be debited to your credit card. By agreeing to the car company terms and conditions you give the company the authority to do this. If you return the car early do not expect a refund.

Credit Cards:

With all car rental companies you need a credit card to hold any bonds on.

Optional Extras:

There is only one rental company we can find that does not charge for extras such as mountain bikes, tents, TVs and other accessories to make your trip more enjoyable. You may be able to negotiate items for free if you are hiring for a long period of time.

Driving Fines:

These will be charged to your credit card on return from your trip.

Fuel:

All car rental companies will provide petrol/diesel. Return the car with the levels that they were provided to you at.

Road Restrictions:

All car rental companies have around 4 roads/areas that vehicles cannot drive on. You will not just stray onto these roads/areas, they are well sign posted.

Pick up and Drop off locations:

The bigger the car rental company the more options you will have. The smaller car rental companies may have better daily hire rates, that encourages you to organise your travel so you pick up and drop off to the same location.

One Way Hires:

Most car rental companies offer one-way hires. Some car rental companies charge one-way hire fees. These are normal as the cost of getting vehicle back from places is sometimes high. The larger rental car companies will give you better pick up and drop off locations.

Animals:

All car rental companies do not accept animals in their vehicles unless they are guide dogs.

General Rules:

All car companies have their vehicles as reliable as possible

In most cases the more you pay the later model vehicle you will get

No animals

Daily hire rates vary greatly

More personalised service from smaller companies

Bond/excess options vary greatly

Always turn up, avoid cancellations, get your dates right

Better back up vehicle replacement options from bigger companies

Avoid paying for extra drivers

Avoid paying for extra kms

Take windscreen, headlight and tyre insurance

Shop around

You can negotiate in the off season (New Zealand is booked up during summer)

Book early for the best deals in summer

Expect all NZ car companies to provide AA 24-hour roadside assistance

http://www.newzealandatoz.com New Zealand AtoZ provides useful New Zealand free information and advice to travellers, including a full list of all New Zealand car, motorhome and campervan rental companies along with their daily hire rates. Your complete guide to New Zealand.