Facts about the animal kingdom of Dogs
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For many years, dog owners were advised to establish dominance as pack leaders to control and ensure obedience in their canine companions. This advice was rooted in the outdated belief that dogs lived in hierarchical packs, similar to wolves, with an alpha male or female leading the group. However, recent...
The name of the family dog from The Simpsons is Santa's Little Helper. Despite being one of the longest running and most watch TV series in the world, it is easy to forget a character's name. This is especially so with a minor character like the family dog. However, this animal is sometimes the lynchpin...
Dogs have a unique way of expressing their feelings and emotions, and one common behavior that many dog owners encounter is their furry friend barking when they engage in affectionate acts such as hugging and kissing. This can be confusing and frustrating for owners, especially if they are trying to enjoy...
How much a dog sleeps will depend on the individual animal. Some have higher energy levels or others may have health conditions which tire them out. Other factors such as breed and age can influence how many hours of sleep a dog needs each day. We can say that dogs generally have a certain sleeping pattern....
Yawning is a common behavior that we often associate with tiredness or boredom in humans. But have you ever wondered why dogs yawn? Dogs, our loyal and beloved companions, also engage in this intriguing behavior, and it carries significant meaning in their world of communication. Understanding why dogs...
When in natural light, we can look into our dog's eyes and see the deep coloration. Although a dog's eyes can be a range of colors, they are all patterned delicately and do not have any natural bioluminescence. For this reason, it can be quite an eerie sensation to see our dog's eyes light up like some...
Dogs have lived with humans for thousands of years. Some studies show that dogs are descended from wolves and apparently were domesticated about 40,000 to 27,000 years ago. But despite this long coexistence between humans and dogs, knowledge about dog reproduction still raises questions. Female dogs can...
When two dogs become stuck together during mating, it can be a strange sight for humans. Their form of copulation can even look painful to the initiated. This is especially because the male and female will turn away from each other and even make movements to separate. Since they are stuck, it can make...
You may be aware that a dog's main form of communication is through body language. This does not mean that vocalizations are not an important way for canines to express themselves. There are many types of vocalizations such as whining, growling and even howling, but barking is probably the sound we most...
As you know, the teeth of animals are specially adapted to the type of food they eat. Dogs, being carnivores, have incisors and canines with which they can grasp, tear and rip meat, and premolars and molars with which they can cut and grind food. Our dog's teeth can tell us a lot about our dog's health,...
You may be aware that a dog can sense a woman's pregnancy. This is mainly thanks to their incredible sense of smell which allows them to observe cellular changes in a woman's body that we are ill equipped to perceive. It is also because our dog pays attention to us. When we build a strong bond with our canine,...
We have all often looked into our dog's eyes and wondered what they were thinking. Sometimes this is practical in terms of the education and guidance we provide as tutors. Sometimes we simply want to know their perspective on the world. We know that our own memory is such an important part of daily experience,...
While we share knowledge on all kinds of companion animals, there is a reason the dog features in so many of our AnimalWised articles. The dog is not considered ‘man's best friend’ simply because they are adorable, loving and incredibly beneficial animals with which we can share our lives. It also has...
Raising the leg to urinate is a typical behavior male dogs, although not an exclusive one. Some females will also urinate in this way. Other males may rarely lift their leg or not at all, but they are in the minority of male canines. It is not a behavior which begins immediately. In fact, newborn puppies...
If you live in a quiet neighborhood, it possible a dog will hear a siren very infrequently and bark as the ambulance, police car, fire truck or other kind of emergency service vehicle drives past. If you live in a busy neighborhood in a city, it is possible this is frequent occurrence. A dog howling...
We often wish our dog could simply communicate with us using words. Although they are non-verbal, dogs communicate everything we need to know about them. We simply have to pay attention. Body language and other physical signals are used to convey their wants, mood and emotions, but not all are as obvious...
We can tell whether a person is left- or right-handed by their actions. Their dominant hand is determined by how they eat, open doors, play music, write or do many other functions. Dogs do not use their paws in the same way as humans, so it can be more difficult to determine whether they are right-...
When we think of the relationships between humans and dogs, we think of them being our best friend. This is reasonable considering the relationships we see with our friends and their animal or even on various social media platforms. If we adopt a dog and find they are not immediately our best friend, it can...
If we have adopted a dog for the first time, there are many behaviors which can seem surprising to us. Although we expect to develop a strong bond with our animal, some discover their dog will follow them everywhere they go. This can happen either inside the home, outside when walking or both. For some...
Some dog behaviors, such as mounting, can make us uncomfortable and even embarrassed. However, it is important that you do not punish or suppress your dog for these behaviors, because they are perfectly normal. What may seem strange to us is often natural behavior in dogs. We tend to anthropomorphize our...
Dogs are animals with qualities, instincts and reactions different from those than we humans possess. The fact we live longer, but seem to take so long to mature implies animals have certain advantages over us. Too many people see animals, even dogs, as inferior. At AnimalWised, we see things differently....
While we may love our dog enormously, too many of us see petting them as a right rather than a privilege. Even though a healthy dog will want interaction, it doesn't mean they don't have boundaries. Dogs have sensitive areas on their bodies just like us. These are places where they either don't like to...
Whether we like it or not, dogs will not keep the same sleep schedule as their human guardians. While this can be disruptive if they are making noise when we are trying to sleep, it actually offers us an opportunity to observe them. A dog's health and well-being can be assessed in many ways and watching...
Can dogs understand that we love them by how we care for them and the affection we give them? Dogs are actually able to understand more than what we give them credit for. In this AnimalWised article we're going to explain how dogs know we love them.
We will also answer other questions related to this...
Dogs have a complex body language which is relayed through body postures and facial expressions. They can often go unnoticed if we don't pay enough attention. It's harder not to notice when the dog leans on us directly. For many of us, this is not only a normal occasion, but it is welcome behavior. Our...
Any responsible guardian sees happiness as a basic care need for their dog. If we provide them with food, shelter and security, it's a good start to keeping them happy. However, since canine and human communication is different, we also need to know how to confirm our dog is happy. While we might simply...
We love our dog's company and they enjoy ours. However, there are certain moments when we wish to be alone, for example when in the bathroom. Dogs may not understand this as they see the bathroom as just another room in our home which may lead them to following us to the bathroom.
In this AnimalWised...
Understanding canine behavior is all about context. A dog will often act differently around their family than they do with a stranger. The same can be said when they greet other dogs or animals of a different species. As a species, the domestic dog is a gregarious animal and very sociable. Greeting is a...
The Boxer dog breed is a very popular animal with many guardians. People fall in love with their affectionate and playful character as much as their distinct features. However, there are many people unfamiliar with the dog who find them intimidating. Since they are an athletic and muscular breed, some...
When we look at our dogs we see the beautiful, affectionate and wonderful companions they are. For a rat, this may not be the case. In the wild, a dog would see a rat as a potential meal rather than a friend. Due to their omnivorous diet, their instinct would often compel them to hunt, kill and eat a rat...
Have you ever noticed the hair on your dog's back stand on end? It might be the hair along their spine stands up, almost like a hedgehog backed into a corner. These hairs are known as hackles and raised hackles are a normal reaction for the dog, similar to how we humans can experience goosebumps. Similarly,...
There are many important reason to neuter your dog. For the larger animal community, sterilizing dogs lessens the problems caused by overpopulation. For the individual, sterilizing can help the dog avoid various behavioral and health problems caused by the reproductive organs. These can range from avoiding aggression...
A dog's sense of smell is impeccable. Their olfactory ability has led them to be employed as working animals in various roles. Many people are aware of drug sniffing dogs, tracking dogs and even water rescue dogs. Some may not be so familiar with a dog's use as medical detection dogs. Since the field is...
It's your dog's birthday, why not celebrate it with their neighbourhood dog friends and some cake made for dogs? In this AnimalWised article we are going to help you organize and throw a dog party for your dog's birthday.
Continue reading to learn some dog birthday party ideas and an easy step-by-step...
Communication is the foundation of any relationship. For a dog, this includes the relationship they have with us and with any other animal. We know much of what we do about canine communication thanks to studying how dogs interact with each other. However, it is often too easy to make assumptions on...
The saying claims that dogs are ‘man's best friend’, but it is often with adolescents and the young that dogs are most connected. A well-educated and positively reinforced dog often creates a very strong bond with their human family. Some are particularly fond of children and babies. While they may be willing...
Before going to sleep, we often see our dogs circle before laying down. This instinctive behavior comes from their ancestors and continues to be part of their daily routine. But why do dogs spin in circles before lying down? Does it help them in some way?
In this AnimalWised article, we are going to...
The American Pit Bull Terrier and related Pit Bull types are among the most controversial dogs, often appearing in heated media debates. Under these circumstances, it is normal that several myths have developed surrounding this breed. How can you separate the myths from the facts?
There are a number of...
A dog's nose can change color due to benign changes in skin pigmentation, but there are some pathological reasons for a dog's nose to change color. The color of a dog's body is determined similar to humans, even their nose. Melanin is a pigment which binds to amino acids to create various shades and...
Looking into another pair of eyes can be an intense experience. We call them the window to the soul for a reason. If a person has eyes of two different colors, the effect can be magical. When a dog displays this feature, the impression is no less enchanting. The medical terminology for this phenomenon...
There are more than 400 dog breeds, each with their own peculiarities that distinguish them from one another. Some of these characteristics might seem quite strange, for example dog breeds that have blue tongues. Although they are normally referred to as blue, the dark pigmentation on a dog's tongue...
Cows go ‘moo’, pigs go ‘oink’ and dogs go ‘woof’, right? Canine communication is a little more complicated than children's books may lead us to believe. Dogs are capable of a range of vocalizations and barking is just one of them. Not all dogs will do it to the same degree. A dog's system of communication...
Are you looking for short dog quotes or sentimental dog quotes? Do you want to express your friendship with your pup with a photo and a quote which does your relationship justice? Whether you are looking for funny dog quotes, dog quotes for Instagram, short dog quotes or cute dog quotes, this article...
The use of a muzzle in dogs is sometimes an unfortunate necessity. For example, some jurisdictions have laws requiring dogs to be muzzled on public transport. Dogs with traumatic backgrounds or with poor socialization may need to be muzzled when walked in busy areas. Some people think they should be...
When you look your canine best friend in the eye, it is undeniable to some they have feelings. On a daily basis, we build the bond of friendship and mutual trust with our dogs. Each shared moment is further evidence to support dogs having emotions and expressing them through body language and vocalizations....
The anatomy of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is something which is difficult to qualify. The main reason for this is because there are so many dog breeds in the world. More than 300 are officially recognized by standardization bodies such as the FCI as well as the many mixed breed variants which...
As a dog lover, you’ve probably noticed that your dog shakes itself a lot, but why? Dogs shake themselves for many different reasons, some being shaking to relieve stress, tension or irritation and or as a symptom of a health problem. If you’re wondering why do dogs shake when they get up and more, this...
Dogs are capable of experiencing a wide range of emotions. Among them is joy. Those of us who have the gift of sharing our lives with a dog will know how happy they can be. While a healthy dog without stress should be happy on a daily basis, there are some occasions when they are particularly ecstatic....
There are more similarities between dogs and humans than we often think. By asking ‘are dogs ticklish?’ we can see another reason for this. As with humans, dogs can be ticklish, but this doesn't mean all are as ticklish as each other. A happy and healthy dog should enjoy being tickled. They enjoy being...
Dogs are complex, fascinating and interesting animals that do things which sometimes, we as humans, do not quite understand. One of the most common dog habits which people tend to question is butt smelling. ‘‘Why do dogs sniff each other’s butts?’’ Did you know that the main reason dogs smell each other’s...
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