Animal training

According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), up to 6.5 million animals are abandoned every year in the USA alone. One of the main reasons for abandonment is the aggressiveness these animals can develop either towards people, animals or other dogs. Many people with...

One of the most common patients in exotic animal veterinary clinics is the parrot. Whether they be a lovebird, cockatiel or macaw, they are prone to certain ailments. Some of these can be exacerbated by their living conditions, but it is not always easy to detect the signs. Common diseases include colibacillosis,...

One of the most common problems we face when talking about cats, is their nails. Often when playing or petting them you might find that they claw and/or get so excited that they scratch you. This scratching may be accidental, but sometimes it can be done on purpose. At times these scratches can be so...

Scratching is an innate behavior in cats. It is used to keep their claws in check, but it is more useful in the wild than it is for domestic cats. Domestic cats do not need to hunt or protect themselves as much as their wild counterparts. However, they still need their claws and declawing is not the...

It is common for a new cat adopted into a home to have some level of caution. They are entering into a new experience and simply might not have the confidence in security a more established pet will have. However, it is also possible a cat which has lived in a family for a long time begins to or persists...

A dog barking can prove to be a serious problem, both socially and physically. Not only can it keep you up at night, but it can cause severe problems for neighbors and surrounding people. In addition, this behavior can reveal important details about your dog's personality and emotional well-being. Barking...

One of the most important exercises in basic dog training is getting your dog to come when called. The reasons for this are not just because you may be impatient to get somewhere. It promotes good communication between dog and guardian, it helps them to coexist with you and other animals and it is fundamental...

It's not strange to see dogs emit a few growls when they are playing with other dogs. In most cases, it won't lead to a fight, with the sounds they make seeming playful in themselves. Still, when we hear these grunts and growls we can worry for the well-being of our dogs. Playful growls turning into serious...

Barking is the main form of canine communication. Even though barking is a behavior characteristic of the species, in some cases barking can become a problem. Barking, if excessive, can appear as a negative symptom or as a behavioral problem linked to insufficient or inappropriate training or education. Do...

Unfortunately, the mishandling of Pit Bulls by some dog owners has caused pit bull dogs and their fellow friends to suffer an unjustified bad reputation around the world. Although it is true that genetic inheritance does influence the temperament of a dog, its behavior will depend fundamentally on its...

Does your dog bark every time your doorbell rings? You should know that this is normal behavior in dogs. This behavior can however, also generate conflicting situations with some neighbors, so in many cases it may be necessary to stop this barking. We believe that there is no need for punishment, and promote...

There are many reasons a dog may need to pee. Of course, needing to empty their bladder is the most obvious one. However, the way a dog pees speaks a lot about their well-being and personality. As territorial animals, dogs will urinate in an area they want to dominate. This is controlled and is natural...

Getting our dogs to pay attention to us is essential. This attention is needed for good communication between us and them, as well as for their safety outside of home. Once you have taught your dog to recognize its name, you should start training it to pay attention. In this AnimalWised article we will...

There are several reasons that can lead a cat to sleep in its litter box, such as: a stressful situation, the arrival of a new member to the home or the discomfort of its bed. Therefore, it is our obligation to analyze the situation, find the exact cause that motivates this change in their behavior and,...

If you share a home with a cat, you have probably already been surprised by an ’’attack on the ankles‘‘. Many owners are concerned about this habit as it appears to be a possible symptom of aggressiveness. However, in general, a cat that chases ankles of its owners is simply bored and doesn’t have another...

Playing with your dog, we’re sure,is one of your favorite activities, be it a puppy or an adult dog. Play not only strengthens the bond between canine and human, but also constitutes as good exercise for both, allowing for a way to take advantage of time spend together having fun. Sometimes a dog can start...

If you have adopted a hamster as a pet, you've likely seen it biting its cage from time to time. Even if you haven't seen it, you may have heard a hamster biting its cage at night, the metal bars reverberating the sound through your room. It is common practice for many hamsters, but it if it is done with...

Unfortunately, due to the accelerated rhythm of our days, they sometime don’t allow us to dedicate as much time to our felines as we would like to. It seems to be normal that a majority of domestics cats spend a lot of time alone. However, what can occur are symptoms of boredom in your animal, which...

A dog's prodigious sense of smell comes from their possession of between 200 and 300 million olfactory receptors. This is significantly greater than those of humans who have a relatively paltry number of around 5 million. This is why dogs are used for detection of hazardous or illegal material and not humans....

Jealousy is not a personality trait reserved only for humans[1]. It is common to see many cats either gradually or suddenly become possessive over their human guardians. While some people may take this as a simple sign of affectionate attachment, a possessive cat can actually be a risk to themselves,...

People who are generally fearful or act cowardly in a given situation are called ‘scaredy-cats’ for a reason. Felines are known to become frightened at the drop of a hat. The cause can be seemingly innocuous stimuli such as dropping something on the ground or moving past them quickly. This isn't because cats...

Some cats are natural hermits. They somehow manage to find spaces in the house you have never even seen before, hiding away for naps or just some personal time. It's even common to spend all day calling their name just to find out they've discovered a cosy spot near the airing cupboard. However, some...

If it were up to some family members, they'd happily trade a brother or sister for more feline friends about the house. At least they don't take all the good cookies and hog the computer. They are affectionate, entertaining and full of personality. However, the more cats you have, the more responsibility...

We all know how curious cats can be. Pair this with an insatiable appetite for snacks and the kitchen can be the worst place to keep them in their place. It's not that we don't want our cats to be up high. Partly we need to keep them down for their own safety. Kitchens can be a place with sharp objects,...

There is no doubt that the question of how to introduce a second cat into your household is the most common among cat owners who consider that their best friend needs company. We know how difficult it is for us to adopt a single kitten, either because we love these beautiful animals, because we want to...

If you have one or more cats, you've probably been through this situation: your cat is licking you quietly... and all of a sudden they bite you! What has happened? Don't they like the massage and petting you were giving them? Why do they engage in this conduct? In this AnimalWised article we will enter...

An aggressive ferret is a real problem for both them and us, their family. These pets are much appreciated around the world for their intelligence and restlessness, but in spite of that, sometimes this nice mammal can show hostile attitudes. To solve this problem, the fundamental thing is to understand their...

Digging holes in the ground is unfortunately a natural habit of dogs. Actually, it is also a natural habit for humans as we can often see when children are left to their own devices in the garden. Like humans, some dogs will do it more than others. Some may feel an imperative to dig everywhere, some may...

Are you thinking of buying toys for your Pit Bull? There are many toys and accessories on the market that we can buy, however, not all of them are useful for a pit bull terrier's powerful jaw: most of them end up destroyed after an hour of play. It's the same with homemade toys that we can make for large...

Does your cat sleep a lot during the day and become a relentless adventurer at dawn? In part, it is important to understand that felines developed predominantly nocturnal habits during their evolution; and their senses (mainly their vision) allow them to perform better under dimmer lights, ensuring successful...

Cats are social creatures. They are active and curious (there's even a saying about it). Unless there is something medically wrong with them, this activeness needs to be expressed on a daily basis. Having an active and energetic daily routine which promotes health and happiness is necessary for a happy...

Cats have many virtues. They are very smart animals, and, in general, very affectionate. However, they may have unpleasant behaviors, such as biting and scratching, habits that certain cats and kittens tend to practice while playing with them. Although many cat owners tolerate these loving bites, it...

One of the more unpleasant surprises that we can find as cat owners is the evacuation of feces out of the litter box. The initial bewilderment turns into confusion and concern if this behavior becomes habit. In this AnimalWised article we will give you they keys to know all the possible reasons why a cat...

When you think of search and rescue dogs, our minds might go to stereotypes of a St. Bernard in the snow with a barrel of brandy around their neck. But rescue dogs come in many forms and perform their heroic duties on many terrains. Although we have yet to see a flying dog, there are even rescue dogs...

Cats love playing and it is understandable. It is an essential activity for their well-being, as it prevents acute and chronic stress. Cats begin to play around the two weeks of life, first by hunting shadows, learning to coordinate. Playing behaviors are very important for a feline, especially if...

The Yorkshire terrier is a small dog that is easily trained, it is not usually an aggressive dog. However, if they have received a bad education in the first months of life or have suffered a traumatic experience, they can become an aggressive dog that is difficult to treat. If you have noticed a change...

Dogs can bark for many reasons, but when they do so when home alone it is because they are suffering from separation anxiety. When a dog is very dependent on their owner, they feel very alone when their owners leave the house and try to call them back by endlessly barking until they return. It's important...

When our dog is a puppy, we often let them sleep and play on the sofa. As they grow, however, this habit can create conflicts - and even destroy our furniture! Therefore, it's very important that we train dogs not to climb on things from a young age, especially if they are a larger breed. Establishing rules...

A fairly common problem that dog owners need to resolve is pica: the consumption of things that aren't part of a dog's diet. For example, it's not uncommon to see a dog eating socks, shoes or plastic toys. Pica is a compulsive disorder that not only ruins your possessions but can also endanger your dog:...

A dog is considered man's best friend. The bonds that dogs are able to create with people are hard to break, because they provide company and a loving and unconditional loyalty that is almost impossible to compare with other forms of affection. However, who has not got angry with their a dog, whether...