Animal behavioral problems
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202 articles
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A dog's affectionate nature means they are generally inclined to shower us with love. Despite this, there are many mitigating factors. While breed, history and education are all important, each dog is an individual. Knowing that dogs are generally inclined to enjoy our company, finding out that one doesn't...
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Buying accessories for our dog can be a very enjoyable experience. We look for something which interests them, is practically useful and, if we're lucky, which has a little style. When choosing the right bed for our dog, we hope that they will appreciate the gesture we make by giving them something comfortable...
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If you have just adopted a cat, knowing whether they will like you is a concern. A cat rejecting you means you will have difficulty forming a bond. Both the cat's well-being and our own can be seriously affected, making it difficult for them to remain in the home. What can be even more confusing is...
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Perhaps you have just welcomed a new dog to your home and they are afraid of you. Or maybe this behavior presented itself all out of a sudden. It's clear that having a scared and unhappy dog is not ideal for anyone in the household. This is why in this article from AnimalWised, we are going to help you...
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It's quite common to see a puppy or dog bite and chew their leash when you take them out for a walk. However this behavior may surprise you and leave you wondering why. It can also be quite uncomfortable when taking them out on a walk.
For this reason, in this article of AnimalWised, we are going to...
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Although phrases such as ‘fighting like cats and dogs’ remain in our modern vernacular, cats and dogs can truly live in harmony. However, if we want to share our home with a cat and dog at the same time, certain guidelines need to be followed. Much of this has to do with socialization and the personal...
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A dog biting our feet is something we hope will stop when they are a puppy. It is a very common occurrence when the dog is young. Even though nipping at our feet while we walk can provide a tripping hazard, there are important reasons why they bite us. Most dogs will be educated to stop inappropriate...
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When we first invite an animal into our home, it is understandable it will take a while for them to adjust. While many people don't think rabbits can be trained, this is not the case. Litter training is possible and rabbits will go out of their way to pee in the same place if it is suitable for them. However,...
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Parrots throwing food to the floor is a common behavior among pet birds, but its ubiquity doesn't mean it is well understood. Although endlessly fascinating subjects for ornithologists and guardians alike, much of parrot behavior is still a mystery to us. This doesn't mean we should stop trying to understand...
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Anyone who has lived with a cat knows how extremely affectionate they can be as companions. They may also know that they can sometimes seem to give mixed signals. One minute you are enjoying a pleasant nuzzle, the next they are biting your hand and kicking you with their back legs. They may even wrap...
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If you decide to adopt a bird as a pet, you will need to accept some level of noise. Parrots, in particular, are vociferous animals. They will create levels of background noise as they try to communicate with others in their environment. Even birds that live alone will call to birds a distance away or...
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One of the most troublesome behavior that a dog can do is urinating where they shouldn't. This situation is usually quite stressful for many companions. However, there are ways to train your dog to stop urinating at home.
In this AnimalWised article we're going to explain why you're dog may be urinating...
Cats can also be very affectionate, but they're known for being very playful. This is usually one of our favourite things about adopting a cat. However, if our cat suddenly stops playing, it's understandable that we begin to worry.
In this AnimalWised article, we're going to explain why your cat won't...
Is your cat hissing and attacking your dog? Getting a cat and a dog to be friends can be tricky at first, but it isn't impossible. In this AnimalWised article, we're going to explain what you can do to help if your cat hates your dog.
Dogs communicate with us in many ways, one of them is by whining or crying. This behaviour usually indicates that something is wrong. However, what does it mean when a dog cries and whines at night? And, what can you do to help?
In this AnimalWised article we're going to go through the different reasons...
Cats are very clean animals that easily learn to use the litter box from a young age. That's why a cat pooping on the bed will surprise their companions.
In this AnimalWised article we're going to explain why your cat is pooping on your bed and the main causes and solutions to this behavioural problem....
Some people love to see a cat resting on the back of their couch. They look adorable in repose and they are close enough to keep us company. However, a cat's nature can often lead them to cause damage to the furniture with scratching, kneading the fabric, or leaving their fur everywhere. While we may...
There are many reasons we adopt a cat into our family. Reciprocating affection with a beautiful animal is just one of them. One of our favorite ways to show our love is to pick up the cat and hold them in our arms. It brings us closer literally and metaphorically. Some cats really love being cradled in...
The noise of a rabbit chewing on their cage bars is common to most every rabbit guardian. It is a very common behavior which doesn't necessarily pose a threat to their health. However, as with practically any behavior in rabbits, if we see them enacting a habit compulsively, it may mean there is a problem....
It is in a cat's nature to like heights. They love to climb up on furniture, curtains and even climb up walls. While this might be exploratory and fun for a cat, it can be disruptive and destructive for others in the home. Understanding why cats like to climb will help us to prevent them from climbing...
Cars and vehicles are such a common part of our lives, we often forget we once had to learn how to cross a road. Road safety is important because our streets can be dangerous. When we look at these same streets from a dog's perspective, we might start to understand why they can be such intimidating spaces....
If you have two or more cats, it is not always easy to get them to share. Even if you share the food evenly, you may find one cat gets greedy and eats the food of another cat in the home. Since cats often self-regulate how much they eat, this can become a tricky problem and you don't want to end up with...
A common issue for many cat guardians is the risk of being disturbed while we sleep. Especially if we want to let our cats have free reign of the home, it is fairly common for our feline to wake us when we sleep. Many cats can be active throughout the night and, even if they have good intentions, they...
If your dog is pacing and won't lie down, they are agitated for some reason. These reasons can be physical or psychological, as well as acute or chronic. If it is acute, it is likely the dog is restless because they are responding to some specific stimuli in their environment. If they are chronically...
Cats are multifaceted animals which is part of the reason we love them so much. Their idiosyncratic behavior makes them cute, fascinating and confusing in various measures. However, some behaviors might seem funny to us, but there may be a more serious reason behind them. Others are a means of feline...
Anyone who has been fortunate enough to have lived with more than one cat will know that no two cats are the same. While there are general traits common to all felines, each one is an individual with their own personal behaviors and characteristics. They vary widely in their food preferences, energy levels,...
Domestication has made it necessary for dogs to adapt to the ways of human existence. Living inside a house is one of the most important adaptations a wild animal can make. To navigate this new environment, they have to interact with various objects humans take for granted. Their understanding of doors is just...
Chasing a ball is one of the favorite outdoor activities of dogs. Normally, it is a harmless game that allows them to have fun while exercising their body and senses. Many dog owners might notice their best friends are becoming increasingly obstinate. They never want to stop and seem almost addicted to...
Throwing a stick for a dog to retrieve must be one of the earliest games humans played with their canine counterparts. This is because dogs seem to have a natural fascination with wooden sticks and will often search them out on walks. It is common for them to chew on sticks seemingly to pass the time,...
Recently adopted puppies or adult dogs may urinate after you scold them for inappropriate behavior, which can be surprising and distressing to their new owners. This behavior is called submissive urination and occurs when a dog pees in response to fear or anxiety. This is more common in puppies that...
The reason why we neuter our cats is primarily for the benefit of both the individual cat and the larger feline population. In addition, there are certain benefits to us as cat guardians. Stopping spraying, marking and urinating outside of the litter box is one of the most practically beneficial in terms...
There are many ostensibly odd behaviors cats make which have important reasons behind them. We may think a cat biting us is a sign of aggression, but it will depend on the context and how they bite. When a cat is hissing at us, batting at us with their paws and then bites us, we can assume this is problematic....
It is common to hear of terms such as ‘hyperattachement’ or ‘pathological dependency’ when we talk about dogs. In the domestic environment, human guardians are the canines' reference figure on whom they most rely. Felines have always been seen as being much more independent, but this is not true. They...
Although domestication has led to companion dogs having a greater sense of security than their wild counterparts, it is important their retain the ability to be scared. When a dangerous or threatening situation arises, dogs use their natural instincts to protect themselves on both physiological and psychological...
Any aggressive behavior in a dog needs to be looked at in context. We need to examine the events which have led up to the aggression, the well-being of the dog, their usual personality, and any pertinent information which can help us understand the reason for this behavior. Dogs can vocalize through barking...
When you go for a walk with your dog, their safety is of the utmost importance. This doesn't only mean keeping them safe from traffic or other dangers they may encounter. It also requires us to curtail their behavior if it puts them in jeopardy. One of the most common issues is when our dog encounters...
Not all dogs have the same sensitivity to noise. Some can sleep through a storm and others will become agitated at the smallest sound. Their reaction will depend on various factors, but there are some sounds which are more likely to disturb their peace than others. Especially in built-up urban areas,...
While recording it can make good social media fodder, having your cat round around the house like crazy is often disruptive. They can knock over items, disturb our sleep or generally cause a stressful atmosphere. More importantly, it can make us worry about the wellbeing of our cat. These sudden attacks...
Cats are generally calm animals, but they are also very territorial and do not hesitate to use their claws or teeth when they feel it necessary to defend themselves, protect their property, or secure their territory. Even between cats living in the same household, conflicts can occur because of differences...
Our dogs use their mouths to interact with their environment and communicate with those within it. While they use vocalizations to communicate their emotions, wants and intentions, they can also use it in other ways. If a dog bites us when we pet them, it is easy to think they are simply aggressive. Often...
Age affects dogs in various ways, both physically and emotionally. For many of us, the tired old dog is a cliché. Once a canine reaches a certain stage, they will spend all their time lazing around the home and often sleeping for longer periods. Once a dog reaches an advanced age, they will start to sleep...
When we adopt a dog into the family, especially if they are a puppy, we need to expect a certain level of pee. Before they are toilet trained, young dogs will urinate around the home indiscriminately. Sometimes that means while we are playing with them on our lap, on our couch or simply when we are standing...
Neutering your cat provides many benefits. Not only does it prevent unwanted pregnancies, but the procedure safeguards both male and female cats from certain health issues. Behavioral problems are also avoided, especially those related to reproductive behaviors. While both male and female cats will...
When we adopt a cat into our home, we will need to expect a certain amount of disruption. Our couch arms will become scratching posts, anything not glued down is at risk of a swipe and we are likely going to find hairs in places we didn't know could get hairs. When they are being litter trained, we can...
We may be aware that cats have different vocalizations, but each sound they make can have more than one interpretation. For example, meowing can mean they are petitioning for something they want, but it may equally be a simple expression of affection. With purring, we usually think of it as a sign of...
Some of us see a dog licking someone's face as a beautiful expression of love for our canine best friends. Others see it as a fast track to intestinal parasites. Whatever we think of this behavior, it is more important to understand what the dog means to convey with it. Since dogs use their body language...
In movies, when someone is trying to break into an old warehouse or similar restricted area, it is common to see a scene where they encounter vicious guard dogs. This dog will be portrayed as one of only a few breeds, one of which is often the Doberman Pinscher. Certain dog breeds gain public visibility...
When your dog barks at other dogs, it can be frustrating and stressful for both you and your pet. Dog barking is a normal behavior, but it can become a problem when it occurs excessively or inappropriately. Understanding why your dog is barking at other dogs and how to address the behavior can improve...
Various studies have suggested that Chihuahuas show more aggressive traits than other dogs more commonly associated with aggression, such as the Pitbull. Despite these apparent aggressive tendencies, they are not considered potentially dangerous dogs, a categorization which can have legal repercussions...
It can be difficult to tell if your dog has excessive thirst. Many dogs will naturally drink a lot of water or at least lap a lot out of their bowl. When we look at the context, it can help us to know whether their drinking habits are abnormal. If they are drinking a lot of water on a hot day or do so...