Saturday 28 February 2009

Parsley for Digestion... and more

Whichever way you put it... gas - wind - upset stomach - digestion problems... sometimes, for whatever reason, your pet can be smelly!

Whatever the reason, it can prove embarassing when you have visitors, and isn't pleasant for you, or for your pet. You need a quick fix!

Try adding either fresh or dried parsley to your pets morning feed... you will perhaps have to introduce it slowly [up a tablespoonful for a large dog, less for smaller ones] so that they can get used to the taste and texture.

Give it a try, it can't do any harm.

For more details on the uses and efficacy of parsley, try the following link - just copy and paste -
http://www.caninechronicle.com/Features/jansey_08/jansey_1108.html

Friday 27 February 2009

Just a question!

Can dogs count?

No!?!

Then how is that they always know exactly how many biscuits you put into your pocket?

Thursday 26 February 2009

Lhasa Apso and Car Journeys - PART TWO

If a dog is scared of either travelling in a car or frightened of even entering it... DO NOT FORCE YOUR PET, OR GET ANNOYED WITH THEM.
That is the most important thing to remember.

Now for how to solve the problem!

First you must realise that this process will take time.

How long it takes will depend upon the reason for the fear in the first place. Is it a long-standing problem, maybe you've just got a rescue dog, or is it your new pup who has suddenly taken an instant dislike to cars or car travel?

What you must try to do is to de-sensitize your pet. He or she must begin to have positive feelings towards your car.

To achieve this aim... first park your car in a convenient place, if you have a driveway that is brilliant, then walk them past the car ignoring it - if a treat is needed to achieve this, use one. Once they can ignore the car, and don't need a treat to do so, progress to walking them past the car with the car doors open.

Next get them to stop by the open car door. When that is achieved try putting a treat just inside the car - it may need something extra special and some coaxing too!

Then try feeding them inside the car... go in with them. Next try closing the car door when they are inside and eating. You can then progress to both of you sitting in the car with the doors closed for a period of time either before or after they have eaten... it may take treats too!

For the next step you need someone to actually sit in the front seat to start the car. Progress to getting them to drive a few yards. A longer journey can then be attempted whilst you are holding and making a fuss of your pet in the back of the car.

Keep progressing in this way, a little step forward at a time, until they are OK with travelling in the back by themselves... and actually enjoying it.

Obviously it will depend upon how ingrained the fear is, to how quickly or slowly progress is made, and how many of the above steps have to be taken. You may be able to miss some steps out if the fear isn't too bad.

If anything goes wrong, just go back to the step where your dog was happy and try from there onwards again... taking it more slowly and adding in more enjoyable treats.

Monday 23 February 2009

Lhasa Apso and Car Journeys

We have always been amazingly lucky in that our dogs have always loved car journeys and always travelled well, no matter what the distance.

One rescue Ridgeback was amazingly territorial in regard to 'HIS' car - no person not on his 'approved' list was allowed near it! Once when there had been an accident and the police were in the process of closing the road and turning the traffic back he turned the police officer back! He barked viciously when he approached the car, yet a softer and more friendly dog you could never wish to meet outside the car!

Other dogs in the vicinity were a 'no-no' too, we had a very embarassing trip through Bath in a traffic jam when someone with either a yellow lab or a retriever walked in the same direction as we were attempting to go - they kept catching up, and he kept barking and rocking the car in the process! I also well remember a trip with him plus my daughter and a Christmas Tree in a little blue mini. Another dog walking near the car, my daughter shouting at him to shut up, and him barking - quite a contest for volume.

Our current rescue loves to get in the car too, and now likes to just sit in it whilst it is being washed - the car that is - but when we hadn't had him too long if he managed to get into the car he refused to get out until he'd been for a ride, even if it was to the next street and back!

If you have your pet from a pup in many cases you will bring them 'home' in the car and they will adapt very easily to a natural enjoyment of the outings a car journey will give them.

If you have problems... well, this post was supposed to be about that, but I have gone on so long, I think it is best if I start on how to address those problems in my next post!

Another recommended freebie

www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

The link above takes you to another useful freebie which removes spyware... [just copy and paste the above link into your browser to check out the facility]... it was recommended by the same source as the link I gave yesterday.

Springclean your computer... free

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

The above link was recommended to me by a trusted source. If your computer is beginning to run more slowly, it should help. [Just copy and paste the link into your browser.]

Sunday 22 February 2009

Lhasa Apso puppy and dog training

How to have the correct attitude to puppy or dog training? What is the most important attribute for a dog lover and potential dog owner?

MY THOUGHTS...

The vital importance of understanding the doggy mind cannot be over-emphasised!

Not understanding will lead to incorrect, unnecessary, and totally ineffective training methods.

The ability of the owner is in question here... not the ability of the dog to understand.

You, the owner, must know HOW to train, WHEN to train, for HOW LONG to train, and WHICH WAY to train.

You MUST be consistent, and you MUST train with kindness. The training MUST be pleasurable for your dog.

Do NOT train for LONG periods!
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Resources:

You'll find links to all the best available dog training information in our right-hand margin - do check our all the resources, the free trials will let you check which will be best for your particular circumstances!

Saturday 21 February 2009

On Friday 30th January I made a post entitled "Lhasa Apso Dog Bed - 'money saving tip' post". This discussed buying an expensive bed for your new puppy... and how to avoid that cost until your pup was housetrained or fully grown [or both].

Below I am just giving a link which you may find helpful if you are inspired by craft ideas, and want to make things for your pet yourself. Many of the items are made by kniting or crocheting - and a dog bed is one of the items they show you how you how to make.

The link to the dog bed feature is at http://www.craftstylish.com/item/41168/how-to-make-a-pet-bed-from-recycled-sweaters [just copy and paste] and if you want to sign up to their newsletters use the following link... I think the one which features these designs for dogs is the 'CraftStylish' newsletter... http://f.chtah.com/s/48/712205674/tauntonpress.html

Thursday 19 February 2009

A new 'Dog Whisperer'... new to me anyway!

Graeme Sims the Dog Whisperer was on 'Breakfast' on the BBC this morning. He trains with kindness, as do the other trainers I have already recommended. You can find his books on Amazon, just click on the link in our 'Resources' below.

For an unbiased review of one of his books just copy and paste the following link and read what a fellow Rhodesian Ridgeback owner [just serendipity, I personally don't know her!] has to say about the book... http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php/The_Dog_Whisperer_by_Graeme_Sims
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Resources:

Click here for a selection of Dog Training Books

Lhasa Apso potty training - ANY QUESTIONS?

Bearing in mind that, as in all blogs, the most 'on topic' blog posts are at, or near, the very beginning of the blog - so please check out our previous posts which may answer your queries - have you got any specific questions which we haven't answered previously, and which you would like this blog to address for you?

If so, please reply to this post, and I will do my best to answer any questions and queries.

Wednesday 18 February 2009

Lhasa Apso and 'Tricks'?

If you use the link below to try out this free offer you may think that some of the items shown on the free lesson are 'tricks' - don't underestimate the usefulness of them!

Getting a dog to shake a paw can be a very useful way towards getting him or her to allow you to hold and examine the paws. First make sure you can get them to produce both front paws to 'shake'. Then progress to the 'roll over' and try to get them to allow you to examine the back paws too.

This is a way of getting uncomplaining access to all four paws for examination for ticks, grass seeds, any other foreign objects or problems, and later for clipping claws.

Click Here to view a FREE dog training lesson!

This method of training will allow your dog to learn and also be entertained at the same time. There is also the benefit that lessons are able to be kept short, so retention will be good, and boredom won't set in!

[For convenience the above link can also be accessed from our right-hand margin.]

Lhasa Apsos and Ticks

In this part of the world it isn't yet the time of the year for ticks. But if your Lhasa Apso lives in an area where ticks are prevalent now do remember to check them out as soon as you return from your walks.

There is much conflicting information on tick removal. Also there is information on the effectiveness of Frontline on ticks... apparently, though it is effective for fleas for three months, it only lasts for about one month on ticks.

The best way is to check your pet and if it has a tick and you feel capable of removing it yourself - then go ahead, making sure that you have removed the head part... otherwise an infection could result.

To remove you can purchase special tick removers, or if not, use tweezers to pull straight out. Some people recommend that you use surgical spirit on the tick itself, others say to use it on the area where the tick was after it has been removed. [I must admit I have only used it the first way.]

Other recommendations are that you wear latex gloves for hygiene and safety when you perform the operation, and that the tick itself should be killed by being drowned in alcohol or surgical spirit after removal to stop any possibility of the cycle being repeated.

The most important thing to remember is that the head must be out of your dogs skin entirely - check the area carefully for signs of reaction to the bite. If in doubt, take your pet to the vet.

As a 'by the way' if you have cats and you live in a bad area for ticks... they can be prone to get them too - treat them in the same way as dogs - but watch out for the claws!

Tuesday 17 February 2009

Lhasa Apso potty training problems

If you have followed the advice from earlier on in this blog, maybe got a specific potty training ebook, or a general dog training book, and studied that and put into practice all the advice... and you still have problems, here are a couple of thoughts which might help!

Have you fully implemented your basic training which makes YOU the pack leader? If your puppy or dog does not believe that you are the pack leader, they could be suffering from separation anxiety whenever you leave them.

Why?

Because they firmly believe that they are leader of the pack, and therefore should be looking after YOU. If you go out, leaving them behind, they cannot fulfil this responsibility. They will be suffering from stress. If this IS the problem, it could be that they are peeing near or in the doorway through which you leave the house.

Could your dog be scent marking the area? [This is normally confined to un-neutered animals.]

In this case do clean up the area and eliminate the smell completely, maybe even keep your dog away from that particular area physically by putting something onto the area or around the area. Once the area has been sponged and dried - clean it completely with a mix of 50 x 50 of water and vinegar to eliminate all odour.

Monday 16 February 2009

Eukanuba claims that [and I quote]... "for four decades Eukanuba has been dedicated to magnificence of dogs. We believe dogs evolved from carnivores and should be fed accordingly. Inspired by dogs' heritage and nutritional needs, Eukanuba inspired by Wild Nature is formulated to nourish dogs as nature intended".

So Eukanuba 'Inspired by Wild Nature' offers your dog three unqiue products, and each variant is made with either meat or fish as the No.1 ingredient...

If you normally use Eukanuba, and want to try these new formulae then NOW would be a good time!

Click the link in our margin to the Pet Supplier with 4,000 lines and you'll find that they have a special introductory offer on at present.

More tips on Ear cleaning

As a follow-up to the last post, some more tips and thoughts on ear cleaning!

Remember not to get shampoo in your dogs eyes or ears. Their ears can be allergic to many substances, and a dogs ears are designed to be self cleaning to a large extent!

If the ear flaps need a clean I recommend olive oil, or as an alternative choose witch hazel. Use either substance on a cotton wool bud or a wad of cotton wool, depending on the size of the ears, be gentle, and do not rub or poke into the ear canal at all. If your dog objects to the procedure you must be extra careful as you could do damage if they jump about at the wrong time!

Do check your dogs ears on a regular basis, especially at the time of year when grass seeds can be a problem.

If you have a dog or puppy who objects to having its ears checked and cleaned - or any other delicate procedure for that matter - always try to do the job as a two-person task. One to do the actual procedure, and the other to distract the dog in whichever way works best.

Food normally works well for this, something they really love will usually lock their attention to the stomach instead of ears, feet, or anything else you want to work on!

Sunday 15 February 2009

Lhasa Apsos and Bathing as part of Grooming

Whilst grooming must be done on a daily basis for long haired dogs [see previous post on grooming] to help eliminate tangles... bathing is another matter. And when you do bath your dog do make sure any tangles are out FIRST - getting tangles wet will only make them significantly worse!

Just a couple of tips - do teach your pet to enjoy a bath right from early on in their training.

And don't bath your dog too often!

How often is too often?

That is a question which experts tend to disagree about, but there are two variables for you to take into account - one is where and upon what type of surfaces you walk your dog. The other is temperature and time of year. If it is cold and you tend to bath your dog outside it should be done less frequently in colder temperatures.

[Obviously if it behaves like a Springer Spaniel playing and rolling in everything, and you take it out in all weathers in parks and fields, it will get filthy on a daily basis!]

Striping your dogs skin and coat of natural oils is something which experts do not agree about... some will say that it is best therefore to only give a dog 2 to 4 baths per year. Other experts advise once a month. Whichever belief you subscribe to there are some constants.

Do use a proper dog shampoo - choose a good quality shampoo.

Do wash your dogs face last, preferably with just plain water to avoid getting shampoo in eyes, ears, etcetera.

Do rinse well... very thoroughly.

I would advise using plain water only [no shampoo, or only using shampoo if your pet is particularly grubby] if you are washing your pet on a frequent basis... and/or you could try adding vinegar to the water to help clean the coat.

Towel dry, preferably by patting only, for long coated dogs - short haired dogs can be rubbed. If you have somewhere clean to walk them... that is a very good way of drying them off, especially if it is sunny.

And you might as well resign yourself to getting rather wet in this process... as well as your dog!

Saturday 14 February 2009

Lhasa Apso and Tooth Cleaning

Your Lhasa Apso is best introduced to tooth cleaning whilst it is still a pup... try and make an extremely quick game of it to begin with. I would try using a pleasant tasting dog toothpaste... these are specially formulated to be attractive to dogs.

Don't try using a toothpaste which is for people, for starters they hate the taste and secondly it is unhealthy for dogs to swallow!

You could just use water to begin with, or try water and salt, water and sodium bicarbonate, or just use the special formula dog toothpaste.

Moisten your brush or cloth with one of the products mentioned above, then vigorously scrub your dog's teeth and gums in exactly the same way as you would your own.

It isn't absolutely necessary to do the inner tooth surfaces because the motion of the tongue usually keeps these areas relatively plaque free... you can now get special 'treats' for your dog which are supposed to clean the teeth too, so if you are having trouble getting your pet to accept having his/her teeth cleaned, use these for a time, and do not stress about it too much.

Wednesday 11 February 2009

Lhasa Apso Grooming Tips

Your Lhasa Apso pup needs to be introduced to being groomed right from your first days together. [If you are taking on a rescue dog and it isn't used to being groomed then follow the tips for introducing your pup to grooming.]

First, and most importantly, you need to work to get to a situation where both you and your pet look forward to an enjoyable time together when he or she is being groomed. You need to be able to get your pup to sit still and enjoy being handled all over.

Towards this end [enjoyment] you can introduce the comb, brush, clippers, and any other equipment you are going to employ slowly and as a treat to look forward to.

Try just brushing a little bit of their coat and see what sort of reaction you get. If it isn't enjoyment, then distraction could well need to be employed. This will probably need two people, one to distract with treats, whilst the other uses the brush, all the time saying how nice it is, and talking gently to your pet.

Your Lhasa Apso needs grooming daily so making it an enjoyable experience is a vital necessity.

Always remember to begin combing from the bottom of the hair and work slowly towards the skin - like getting tangles out of a childs long hair.

For superb grooming aids just click the link to the online pet retailer with more than 4,000 products - then click DOGS at the top [almost centre] of the page - after that use the left-hand margin, you'll find the heading of 'Grooming' - click there, you'll find two pages of offers which include everything you could possibly need!

[Note: the distraction method works well, as long as you know what will distract your pet. We took on a rescue who had been ill-treated, food was the motivator, so one of us had to have a handful of treats and feed them slowly to him whilst he was handled. It can take a long time before a mis-treated dog will allow some things to be done to him even with distractions!]

Tuesday 10 February 2009

Secrets to Dog Training

Just a short 'heads up' to let you know that the ever popular internet training programme - SitStayFetch - has been re-vamped and re-named Secrets to Dog Training. There are numerous additions to the programme for this special launch and, until February 14th, there is a generous discount.

Click here to investigate... Secrets to Dog Training

Lhasa Apso Crate Training [Part 3]

This is the final part of this section on Crate Training.

We have seen that crates have their special uses, that some pets like to have a crate - with open door - as their own special sanctuary, but you will find that some puppies and dogs just do not like crates.

If you want to introduce your puppy or dog to crate training you must do so slowly and with the door open. Then if your pup is OK with that you can shut the door for a few seconds - and progress from there slowly. If, on the other hand, your dog or puppy shows signs of distress like chewing at the crate sides, crying or barking - it could well be that you will create stress and problems by trying to continue with the training.

It is easy to train without a crate. You will need to 'puppy proof' a room - checking out everything which is within the puppy's height range. Pay special attention to electrical and telephone wiring, kitchen bins, and other items which can be chewed. If you have had a toddler around the room and had to toddler proof it, then you get the idea!

If you do use a crate, use it as a bedding area, keep it small enough for the puppy to just stand and turn round in comfortably. Then remember that your pup won't want to soil its bed, so take it to its pads, or newspaper, or outside in the garden before you leave it in the crate.

When it is very young it can only 'hang on' for one or two hours... so do NOT keep it couped up in the crate for longer periods.
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Resources:

Books on the subject of training which I thoroughly recommend are It's Me or the Dog by Victoria Stilwell and The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell. Both are extremely comprehensive and, I think, should be in every dog owners library. They should be available new or used at Amazon so just click here for a selection of Dog Training Books

Monday 9 February 2009

Lhasa Apso Crate Training [Part Two]

'Under Special Circumstances' - what exactly does that infer?

The where, when, and how of using crates correctly is what I am referring to by the 'under special circumstances' label.

I firmly believe crates should not be used to leave your pet confined/restrained in a small space for any length of time. Further to that, they should most definitely not be used as a form of 'punishment'.

There are places where a crate is extremely useful.

If you transport a number of dogs to and from training - for example... for agility, flyball, dancing to music, obedience, or for dogs who do TV or film work - then having stacking crates in a large van will be a necessity, and will work out extremely successfully. Even if you transport one or two dogs by car for any appreciable distance, then a crate per dog, with a comfortable bed, will keep your pets safe and free from being thrown about whilst on the move.

A nervous dog or a rescue who wants a sanctuary, or if you have children and your pet wants a little peace from them [you MUST make it a strict rule that the children do not go near the dog when it is in its crate] - then a crate in a quiet place within the home can be a good option. In these cases the door to the crate should always be left OPEN.

If you have to leave your puppy for SHORT periods of time, then you may also consider a crate. [An alternative option is to 'puppy-proof one room in your house, and use an old child gate or buy a special puppy gate to keep them to that room only!]

The most favoured crates come in wire mesh, have a plastic tray for the floor of the cage, and may have optional extras... such as a cover for the top - makes it seem more like a secluded sanctuary for your pet - and a removable divider - that way the crate can 'grow' with your puppy!

The plastic tray will help with cleaning up any accidents - buy pads, or use newspaper and put in one end of the crate with a 'cardboard box bed' [mentioned in a previous post] at the opposite end. Use this option if you really must leave your pet alone for a considerable amount of time... do make sure your pet has relieved itself before you leave. Do remember all dogs hate to 'mess their beds'!

When you buy a wire mesh crate, whether plastic covered or not, do make sure there are no sharp protrusions anywhere AND, more importantly, make certain that the guage is close enough so that your pups paws and head will not go through the holes of the mesh and get stuck. That could potentially be the cause of a nasty, and expensive, accident to your poor pup!

Sunday 8 February 2009

Lhasa Apso Crate Training

Unlike dog training in general which now has a general concensus of doggy authors, TV contributors, and internet experts, all in agreement on the general course which dog training should take...

[Which is - training with kindness, patience, praise and treats for performing any desired behaviour. Using treat based distractions to get your pet to concentrate on what you desire and ignore anything else. And remembering to train your pet that you are top dog and pack leader - by eating first, going in and out of doors first, deciding which way you are heading on your walk, and petting your dog when you want not when he or she asks for attention...]

Crate training receives diverse reactions from the experts. Some are in favour, some against, some maybe, or under special circumstances.

I am in the 'under special circumstances' group!

You must check out the opinion of your favourite experts and make up your own mind. That is why I recommend that you use as many of the information resources [which are mentioned within the various posts on this blog] as you can get your hands on - study all you can, learn all you can, and remember that the welfare of YOUR pet is the most important thing at issue here.

I will go more deeply into this issue in my next post and define what I mean by 'under special circumstances'.

(You can find links to my recommendations for TV programmes, internet resources [in the right-hand margin], and books within previous blog posts about the available experts in greater detail.)

Saturday 7 February 2009

Sorry, forgot to mention Cashback!

In yesterday's post I mentioned a brilliant pet retailer. What I did forget to mention was that you can get an extra 2 1/2% off all your orders there if you are a member of 'Cashback'.

[It's a totally free website where you can get 'Cashback' from all sorts of retailers, insurance suppliers, service suppliers and much more - services and retailers you'd be using anyway. Percentage savings vary according to the retailer or supplier. Well worth checking out!]
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Resources:
Online pet retailer
Click here to find out how you can make 'Cashback' savings.

Friday 6 February 2009

DOG CAGES and much more on special offer

Interested in the offers mentioned below?

They are all available NOW at:- The online pet retailer with more than 4,000 products

"NEW - Eukanuba Wild Nature - SAVE 50%
Iams - SAVE £5 on all 7.5kg Bags (reduced bag sizes to help with the current economic slow down) Iams - SAVE more than 50%
Royal Canin - Save 33% Royal Canin - Save 40%
Wafcol - Save £10 - Complete Premium Diet 15kg Dry Dog food - Save 50% off Bob Martin and many more brands
Options Dog Cage - Save 50%
Quality Dog Bedding - Save 50%
Grooming & Accessories - Save 50%"

Quite a useful offer and well worth trying now, whilst so many of us are snowed in and unable to get to the supermarket or pet store!
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Resources:
Online pet retailer link

Thursday 5 February 2009

Lhasa Apso Potty Training and Treats

Excited praise and treats are the best ways to reinforce the message that your puppy is a good girl / boy for performing in the right place!

Just a 'by the way' - if you are using newspaper or pads for your pet to perform on whilst inside and you experience difficulties when encouraging your pet to perform outside... just try moving the pads or newspaper nearer and nearer to the outside door - then next you can take your pet outside and put the newspaper or pads down in various places out there. Your pet may not like the 'feel' of the different surfaces he or she experiences outside, so this is a way to get them used to the outside slowly.

Do not give your pet too many fattening shop bought treats. Try using cubes of cheese, or bits of cooked sausage or cooked/dried liver instead of bought biscuits. We need to praise and give treats when we are training, so picking something which is good for them will be useful.

If they need to have tablets either now, or later in life it is far nicer if they take them without knowing - so you can hide them in a bit of cheese or some other treat which they have grown to love.

We have had great tableting success with cheese, marmite, and also butter!

Wednesday 4 February 2009

Who buys doggy supplies online?

If you live in a rural area with poor facilities it can be cheaper to buy your dog and other pet supplies online. The size [quantity/cost] of your order will dictate delivery costs, but it could well work out cheaper overall than either going by public transport and lugging your heavy purchases home, or alternatively, travelling into your nearest centre by car, paying for petrol/diesel to get there, and probably paying to park the car as well.

The following links will give you a place to 'price check' before you make any decisions - and one of the links gives a 5% discount coupon.

The weight of pet food when added to your shopping can make public transport travel almost impossible. I always think of Bob Newhart and 'The school for rude bus drivers' when I'm trying to take shopping onto a bus!

[He's probably most well known for either the 'Bringing Tobacco to Civilization' or the 'Driving Instructor' - you can find his CD's on Amazon.]
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Resources:
intro5
The online pet retailer with more than 4,000 products

Monday 2 February 2009

Lhasa Apso potty training - a quick 'heads up'!

Just a quick 'heads up' to let you know that if you are interested in learning how to tell the age of your rescue dog or how to stop your pet digging up your garden [yard] then rush over to the resource link at the bottom of this blog post to grab the free course/newsletter... those are a couple of the items which are discussed there.
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Resources:

Click Here!

Sunday 1 February 2009

Save extra money on Pet Supplies

If you live in the UK you can save money on pet supplies by joining the Cashback website - don't worry it's free... you can even get paid to recommend it!

The section on 'Pet Supplies' has 18 contributing firms so far, ranging from general pet supplies to pet insurance. These firms give different levels of cashback with the most popular first - and that is eBay... with 20% cashback, a really significant saving in my eyes.

Why not click the link now and have a look around the website?

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Resources:

Cashback