def checkInput():
    number = input("Give me an int (above 0)! ")        #checks if the input given is the same type
    if (type(number) == type(0)) and (number > 0):      #as if the number was inputted, and in the
        return number                   #same line checks if the input is greater than
    else:                           #zero. If the first condition fails it doesn't
        checkInput()                    #evaluate the second check because and
                                #requires truth in both
a = checkInput()

#If you want something like this to use raw_input() and check if they entered a string then do something like this
'''
takes in raw input which is in the form of a string. TRIES to convert it to a integer, if it fails it skips to the except, which pretends the try never happened and continues along in the program

checks if the type of input is still a string incase any funny businness is going on and then makes the user change their input by calling the function again

the second if checks if it is above 0, this should only be gotten to if it passes the non string test and that means it probably pass the try
'''
def checkRawInput():
    usrInput = raw_input("Give me an int (above 0)! ")
    try:
        usrInput = int(usrInput)
    except:
        pass
    if type(usrInput) == type("dummy"):
        print "please type in a number, not a word"
        checkRawInput()
    if usrInput > 0:
        return usrInput
    else:
        "You did something really funny try again"
        checkRawInput()