Facts about the animal kingdom of Pets
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Dogs, like all animal species, have a different way of expressing themselves. Dogs use specific body language and vocal sounds to communicate their mood and feelings. As dog tutors, it is important to both understand and respect canine nature in order to learn to communicate better with our furry friends....
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It is estimated that dogs and humans have lived together for around 3,000 years. Despite our long and happy time together, there are still some new discoveries to be made. Every year new studies in canine ethology are produced, enlightening us about a dog's biology and behavior. Some of these revelations...
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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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Even for those who have kept rabbits as pets for a long time, it is common to refer to them as rodents. As small furry animals that run about on all fours, they bear certain similarities to other rodents such as mice, shrews and rats. In behavior, they procreate rapidly, gnaw continuously and live in...
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The anatomy of the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is difficult to qualify. The main reason for this is that 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 many mixed-breed variants which are not recorded. The...
There are more than 400 dog breeds, each with its own peculiarities that distinguish it from the others. Some of these characteristics might seem quite strange, such as having a blue tongue. Although they are normally referred to as blue, the dark pigmentation on a dog's tongue sometimes appears black...
Among the many myths which circulate about cats, the idea that cats are contemptuous of humans is one of the most damaging. While they are more independent and self-reliant than dogs, this does not mean cats don't have an important bond with their human companions. In extreme cases, such a view can encourage...
Many feline behaviors make sense from a human perspective. The way they wolf down their food, curl up in a cosy ball or even purr in delight all seem reasonable to us. Walking in between our legs as if to trip us up or rubbing against us doesn't seem to be quite as understandable. When we guess reasons...
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...
Chimpanzees share 99% of our DNA, yet they can't speak like us. So, why can parrots talk like humans, but other animals can't? When observing birds imitate sounds and even pronounce English words, we are often left amazed about how these small creatures can speak our language. They don't have lips and...
There are many different species of birds, not all of which you will want to keep in your house. Although all animals are beautiful, trying to keep a seagull in a cage is not going to be a happy experience for anyone. This is why some birds are kept as pets and others are not. Some pet birds are suited...
Food shortages and low temperature pose two serious challenges for small rodents living in the wild. These two factors become more serious during winter. This is why we can observe many species hibernating through winter for survival.
However if you have a domestic hamster, you may be asking yourself whether...
People who share their lives with cats know they will constantly surprise us with their antics. Even if we think we know felines well, they can often do something which seems completely out of the ordinary. When cats are inclined to do so, they can really perform some cool feats. Their abilities to...
The first thing you might think about petting a cat is the physical experience. As very clean animals, cats keep their coat in premium condition. This not only benefits their hygiene, but it keeps their coat soft to the touch. Petting them simply feels great. However, there are many hidden benefits of petting...
One of the most characteristic, and unique, cat behaviors is purring. It is a defining trait of cats and can only be found in felids and some species of viverrids. As a vocalization, it is usually associated with a feeling of well-being. Not only does it imply the cat is satiated and content, but it can...
Mice are interesting little rodents. Not only are they cute and intelligent but it's amazing to see how they can fit in just about anywhere. Leaving us to wonder, do mice have bones?
In this AnimalWised article we're going to talk about the skeletal system of mice and debunk certain myths about mice....
Water is essential to all living beings, and cats are no exception. Despite this, for something so vital to their well-being, we often overlook its importance. We replenish water once a day or even leave water from the day before. Fortunately, a cat's attitude to water says a lot about their well-being,...
Cats are affectionate animals that love to relax on the sofa with their companions. They love being caressed in the back of their ears and their neck. Others love being scratched at the base of their tail, however, what does it mean when a cat lets you touch its paws?
In this AnimalWised article we're going...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Each cat has their own individual behaviors and idiosyncrasies. While we might think drinking water with their paw is unique to our cat, it is actually a fairly common behavior. Not all cats will do it all the time, but some will almost exclusively only drink with their paw. There are several perfectly...
If we have a cat in the family, it is likely we love nature and have a respect for living beings. We might not think about it too much, but our cat likely feels the same. While many housecats are happy to remain indoors where it is safe, those with experience of the outside world have their curiosity...
Cats are world-champion sleepers. While it will depend on their age and health status, cats will sleep an average of 13 to 20 hours per day. The type of sleep will vary with some periods of light dozing and others of REM deep sleep. However, there are many factors which affect the quality of their sleep,...
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...
What a cat will look like physically is, for the most part, dictated by their genetics. The genes carried by their parents will determine what is their eventual body shape, coat type, and color. Although cats will look different when compared to being a kitten with being an adult cat, it doesn't mean they...
When living alongside them, humans are often surprised by certain strange behaviors cats exhibit. Most of these behaviors, however peculiar they may seem to us, are completely natural and are part of their social order. They play an important role in how they interact with other animals and people....
A common phenomenon in domestic cats is sitting by a window and making a chattering sound. The exact reason for this sound is unknown, but it occurs when they see potential prey. Such prey can range in size and species. They might do it when they see a bird, a rodent, or other small mammals. However,...
When considering adopting a cat, many people see their supposed independence as a benefit. Irresponsible guardians will think they can leave the cat alone all day and they will not care. Although it will depend on the individual, cats are much more social than their reputation suggests. Some are more...
When we talk about squirrels, we are referencing animals of the Sciuridae family. While many of us will immediately think of a bushy-tailed red squirrel running up a tree, we should know the diversity of this family is great. In fact, there are so many different rodents in this mammal family that they...
Cats are almost synonymous with sleep. Although they can be very active and agile, they need to spend the majority of their day at rest. While asleep, we may see them make noises or movements, something which can lead us to ask if cats can dream? Taking it further, if they can dream, do cats have nightmares?
In...
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...
Cats progress through a number of life stages in their lifetime. As a cat guardian, learning how they change physically and behaviorally will help you to provide the right level of care at every stage of development. Remaining ignorant of these stages can mean you provide the wrong care, making natural...
Although they communicate mainly through body language, cats make all kinds of sounds that have different meanings. The meow is certainly the best known of all. If you share your home with a cat, you have probably asked yourself questions like “Why does my cat meow when it sees me?”, “Why does my cat...
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-...
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...
If you live in a quiet neighborhood, it is 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 a frequent occurrence. A dog howling...
Sight is not their most distinctive sense, but guinea pigs can recognize certain colors even better than dogs and cats. In addition, they have a wide field of vision (peripheral vision) because their eyes are arranged very laterally. In this way, they can detect the presence of predators. However, their...
Guinea pigs are very active rodents that are fun, non-aggressive and ideal as pets for children. If you have a guinea pig or are thinking of adopting one, you may be wondering how old they are. When guinea pigs are young, it's easy to estimate their age based on height and weight. However, once they...
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...
Any animal lover who walks out on the street and sees a stray cat in a bedraggled state will feel a certain amount of pity. When they come to our property, we may even feel compelled to feed them since we have the resources. AnimalWised asks should you feed stray cats? In asking the question, we are not...
You may have heard that cats' behavior changes when a woman living in the same household becomes pregnant. Some even claim that cats are able to tell if a woman is pregnant even before she knows it herself. But how can this be? There are few scientific studies on the subject, but everything we know so...
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,...
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a well established breed in America, although its origins are British. These dogs were used as fighting dogs until the prohibition of dogfights in 1976 and they are currently considered a potentially dangerous breed in some countries. This is in a large part due to their...
Much like human beings or other animals, every domestic cat has a unique personality. This individual personality is shaped by various factors including their sex, hormonal factors, family or even the socialization process when they were a kitten. Breed is also an important influence. We all know that...
Few animals have had as complex a relationship with humans as cats. It is believed the domestication of cats began around 9,000 years ago, but the actual date is difficult to determine due to the limits of historical and archaeological evidence. We do know they were revered in antiquity as incarnations...
You may heard it said that cats choose their humans, not the other way around. We may have spent a lot of time considering what cat might best suit our needs, perhaps the decision wasn't down to us in the end, at least not entirely. There is truth the maxim that cats choose their owners. They are intelligent...
Dogs and cats are much more like us than we think, to the point that they are also ticklish. This is a sensation they feel when we stroke certain areas of their body where a large number of nerve endings are concentrated. However, unlike humans and primates, our pets are not able to feel all types of tickling.
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It is no secret to anyone that cats are unique and extraordinary animals. We who live with them are always amazed at all the things they can do. Cats have always aroused our curiosity and have even given rise to some myths and legends around the world.
The following AnimalWised article lists some of...