Basic dog tips to avoid pet peeves

It's an extremely exciting time after you've decided you're going to take the plunge and get your first dog.

And while I know you can't wait to welcome your new pup into the family, it's important for you to know that it's not all going to be plain sailing, fun and games - unless you adhere to some basic principles of dog ownership to keep your pooch happy.

This, in return, will keep you happy.

And bringing your pet into a kind home that already knows its stuff when it comes to owning a dog is sure to get your relationship off to a winning start.

Where do you start?

So what are the first things you need to think about when your pooch arrives on your doorstep?

Well, something you need to consider immediately is the law, according to the Pet Advisory Committee.

It's imperative that all dogs wear a collar and tag, which contains the name and address of the owner - so get that sorted as soon as possible.

Additionally, before you take your new furry friend on its first walk, you should make sure you know your local authority's bye-laws on dogs - does it have to be on a lead at all times in certain areas? Are they banned altogether from others?

And most importantly of all, if your hound makes a mess in a public place - you know what I mean - make sure you clean up after him!

A hefty fine could soon be heading your way if not - not to mention the wrath of neighbours if they see you turning a blind eye!

You also need to be thinking about your animal's health - so register it with a local vet straight away, keep their vaccinations up to date and ensure they have yearly checkups.

A healthy dog is a happy dog

Keeping Rover in peak physical condition should also be a top priority.

Speaking to the Dog Magazine, Nicolas Millan, from National Geographic Channel, explains: "Create a schedule that includes a daily walk in the morning. This is critical for your dog's health, both physical and mental."

Also try to avoid overfeeding your pet and make sure it's nutritional regime is well-balanced.

Dog Saver advises: "Provide your pet the proper diet. Obesity can be as deadly as malnutrition. Be aware that some foods can be deadly - such as chocolate - and fatty foods can cause pancreatitis."

Train 'em up!

What about training?

New dog owners are advised by the Pet Advisory Committee to train their pet in elementary obedience, because "a well-trained dog is a happy dog and he will not be a nuisance to others if he's under control".

Start with the basics and while they're young - although it states the supposed 'can't teach an old dog new tricks' rule isn't necessarily true.

These commands include 'sit', 'heel', 'come' and toilet training - and don't worry, there are plenty of pros, websites and books available to help you out.

And Mr Millan goes on to encourage your pooch to show off his new tricks before you dish out treats left right and centre.

"Give your dog something to do before you share food, water, toys, or affection. This way the dog earns his treat. For example, have her perform the sit or down command," he says.

Oh and it would probably be in your interest to not forget about toilet training!

Keeping your hound clean is also important - do so by grooming once a week and remember to check for fleas.

While it's easy to get excited at the prospect of having a dog around the house it really is important to consider these tips and not forget your responsibilities.

That being said, I'll leave you with one final tip - have fun with your new pet and enjoy your time together!

Maintaining your car could combat fuel hikes - but how can you keep it in good nick?

In the aftermath of the government's Budget everybody is desperate to know just how the Chancellor of the Exchequer's financial plan will directly impact upon them.

And in this case it would appear that millions of car owners across the country will be affected by the speech by Alistair Darling, which took place last week (March 24th).

He explained the price of petrol will begin to rise as of April, with fuel duty going up by 1p next month, then by 1p in October and by the same amount in January 2011.

However, following the Budget, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) stated that van, car or moped drivers could get round this price hike by making sure their motors are properly looked after.

Ian Gilgrass, chief technical expert at the IMI, commented: "A badly maintained car can often be massively fuel inefficient.

"A professional check-up can often save you pennies per litre."

Which is great advice.

Keep your car ticking over

However, regularly taking a DIY approach to keeping your vehicle ticking over must surely be beneficial too.

But what about the mechanical dunces out there who don't know their dipstick from their elbow?

Well, I've got a few basic tips for you, which could help you make your car more fuel efficient and maybe get a few extra miles out of the old banger.

According to iVillage, you need to regularly get under the bonnet to make sure your vehicle's fluids are at the appropriate levels.

Checking how much coolant is in your car is really easy, the website explained, saying you simply have to have a quick look in the see-through reservoir marked with 'high' and 'low', which shows you whether there's enough solution in there.

However, if your coolant seems to be consistently low, you may have a leak, in which case handing it over to the pros is probably your best bet.

As for testing your oil levels, well, this is where the dipstick comes in.

Consult your motor's handbook for its location if you don't know where it is

The website explained: "With the engine warm, let the car stand with the engine off for five minutes on a level surface. Pull the dipstick out, wipe it with a clean cloth, stick it back it and remove again.

"Now look at the oil at the bottom; it should be between the high and low levels on the stick, clean and the colour of dark honey."

If it's low, locate the filler cap and fill 'er up.

Don't forget to use the right grade of oil, though.

Make sure your tyres are in good condition

Making sure the tyres are in good condition is also important as if they are worn out they can be dangerous, while badly-inflated tyres use up extra fuel, which is what we're trying to avoid, remember?

The site advised investing in a tyre pressure and tread depth gauge.

It stated: "The legal limit is 1.6mm of tread, but consider changing them when they drop to around 2mm."

For the correct tyre pressure, check the vehicle's manual or the sticker on the inside of the driver's door pillar and make sure you take the reading while the tyres are cold.

Are your brakes working properly?

Speaking of important parts of the car - it's worth making sure our brakes are running properly while you're at it.

Another webpage, Merlin Helps Students, suggested a number of ways to see whether they're performing as they should.

First, pull on your handbrake while you're on a hill and if it takes more than a few clicks before the car holds then there could be a problem with the cable or rear drums/calipers.

In addition, you might want to ensure there's no brake fluid on the carpets, pedal or floor, as this may mean there is a leak.

While these tips might help you reduce your fuel consumption - and consequently bills - and keep your car ticking over nicely, they should also contribute to a lovely, smooth ride every time you take your wheels out for a spin.

And what's better than that?

Property hunters - is it time to buy?

Britons who are hoping to get on to the property ladder by purchasing their first house, flat or bedsit, could find that now is the perfect time to take the plunge and become a full-blown homeowner.

After the horror of the credit crunch, I imagine many of you thought you wouldn't be reading those words for an extremely long time.

However, the property market has fallen increasingly under the spotlight in recent weeks and industry commentators have been quick to suggest that conditions are now extremely favourable for first-time buyers (FTBs).

Everything is coming together

Everything seems to be coming together.

At the start of the month, figures from Moneyfacts showed that there were 68 per cent more mortgage deals available on the market that would traditionally attract people wanting to buy a house for the first time.

That's because they were high loan-to-value offers, meaning that the purchaser would only need to put down a deposit worth between zero and 40 per cent of the overall property value.

The rest would be paid off over a longer period of time as part of the home loan.

Commenting on the data, Ben Wilkie, editor of What Mortgage, said: "[The deals] really should help FTBs, because even to get a ten per cent deposit is hard enough and to get any higher than that is outrageous, for many people."

Property values falling

What's more, property values are currently falling, meaning that those on a tight budget may well get more for their money, or suddenly have the funds to be able to enter the market - something that may previously have seemed unlikely,

Statistics from Land Registry this week suggested house prices dipped by 0.3 per cent in February compared to the previous month, with the average property value for a home in England and Wales sitting at £164,455.

Even more encouraging though, were numbers released by Nationwide, which instead showed a monthly decrease of one per cent in property values.

The building society, in fact, cited the average price as being a good deal lower - £161,320.

And in recent days the government has announced its plans to try and help Brits on to the first rung of the property ladder.

Buyers' Budget bonus

One of the most radical changes confirmed in Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling's Budget last week (March 24th) was that he is raising the stamp duty tax threshold from £125,000 to £250,000 for first-time buyers.

That means people purchasing a property for the first time worth up to £250,000 won't have to pay the levy - normally a percentage of the total house value.

And this has been welcomed by a large number of industry commentators, including Drew Wotherspoon, director of marketing at leading independent mortgage broker John Charcol.

He said: "The news … that the chancellor is abolishing stamp duty land tax for all FTBs up to £250,000 is excellent for a group of buyers who have been desperately bereft of reasons to smile for many, many years."

With all of these factors contributing to more favourable conditions than have been experienced in recent years, FTBs may well want to take the advice of Stuart Law, chief executive officer at Assetz.

"Lower prices make it easier to buy, but unfortunately, people think it is not a good time to buy when prices are low and then they can't afford to buy when prices are high," he explained.

"They have to make a decision to buy something and now is a good time."

2010 - it's all fun and games

It would appear that games consoles have well and truly arrived.

For years they were simply seen as the gadget of the geeks, fun for the bedroom-bound, enticing for the introverts.

But as for everyone else, well, they just didn't seem that bothered.

However, the machines have taken off in a big way over the last year or so, with millions of people now recognising just how much fun they can have with a PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii.

In fact, the latter has really pushed gaming into the mainstream.

You can usually tell if something is going to be a smash hit by its demand over Christmas and it soon became clear that the Wii was top of the list of the most sought-after festive gifts for kids, teenagers and families alike.

So now millions of people in the UK are sat, joypad in hand and ready to play some games.

But what titles are most likely to excite gamers across the country in 2010?

Everyone's favourite Italian plumber

One of the games that has really been causing a stir among industry commentators and fans is Super Mario Galaxy 2.

The first version is currently available to buy for the Wii and has been entertaining gamers ever since its release.

Playing as Nintendo's flagship character and everyone's favourite Italian plumber Mario, you have to travel through space to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of the evil Bowser.

And the Telegraph reckons the game's sequel is one of the most anticipated of the year.

"With the inventive minds of Nintendo's best developers hard at work, we fully expect the sense of wonder we had playing the original to be faithfully rekindled," the publication says.

Next we have Mass Effect 2, which came out in Europe on January 29th.

It had been hyped up beyond belief before its eventual release date, but doesn't seem to have disappointed.

Offering players an exciting mix of shoot 'em up action, dialogue choices and character management, the title is fantastic, according to MSN Tech and Gadgets' Simon Munk.

He adds: "Promising a deep, complex and twisting plot, real choice and freedom for your characters and explosive sci-fi action, Mass Effect 2 is a must have for 2010."

Car racing fans take your places

Racing fans and petrol heads may well be desperate to take to the virtual racetrack in Gran Turismo 5, one of 2010's hotly-anticipated releases for the PlayStation 3.

Gran Turismo has been one of the most popular and enduring series of games on Sony's consoles and consumers will this year be able to enjoy the fifth instalment.

The newest edition, according to the game's official website, is going to give gamers keys to 950 cars, which can be driven on more than 20 locations.

And it's going to be more realistic than ever, with new physics being included, as well as the risk of overturning your vehicle if you overdo it on the course.

Lead your country to World Cup glory

A major highlight for sports fans this year is sure to be the Football World Cup - which gets underway in June - and once it's over soccer-lovers will be looking for ways to console themselves.

One way footie fans can wean themselves off the action is by investing in EA Sports' - producer of the popular FIFA series - 2010 FIFA World Cup: South Africa.

Due out at the end of April, the game will give people the chance to guide the country of their choice to World Cup glory, with the expectations of a nation falling firmly on their shoulders - even if it's not actually real.

With so much to look forward to over the course of 2010, you can hardly blame us for not wanting to put the joypad down just yet.

Maybe next year…