▷ 6 curiosities from the world of pets

Regardless of whether you are thinking of having a new four-legged friend in the family or whether there is already a little mute soul in the house, know that with him not only do you have a true friend at your side, but you also have a series of responsibilities and, at the same time, a series of questions. It’s only natural to have many questions about your dog’s behavior, care, nutrition, sleep, and more. Well, here are 6 curiosities from the world of pets that will help you better understand your four-legged friend.

1. What are the most common pets in the world?

We already know that not all people choose dogs or cats as pets. Most Europeans, including the English, own dogs or cats and their life is very happy in this respect. However, these animals are not loved by everyone. For example, in Islamic tradition, dogs are shunned because they are considered dangerous and impure. Therefore, for them, dogs are excluded as perfect pets. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are known for dog and cat ownership, especially by people belonging to the upper classes.

If we go back a little into the past, we learn that the Egyptians domesticated the wild cats of Africa, the felines were subsequently honored and highly appreciated for their ability to hunt mice, snakes or rats. If we talk about other animals, it is worth mentioning that the Japanese prefer crickets and birds as pets, while some indigenous people of Canada prefer to adopt birds, foxes or bear cubs.

2. What does it mean when the dog wags its tail?

For a dog, the ultimate happiness is, obviously, when it sees its owner come home, even after just 5 minutes after leaving. As a sign of welcome and joy, we see how the quadruped’s tail moves incessantly, its face is all smiles and its eyes shine with joy.

Well, you should know that a dog uses tail movement, ear movement, posture, vocalization and facial expressions to communicate. But although the data in the queue is associated with happiness and well-being, it is not always a sign of friendship. A dog that holds its tail high and wags only the tip may be a sign of aggression, while a fearful dog may hang its tail and wag it slowly. But where does this habit come from? A dog is said to start wagging its tail around 6-7 weeks of age as it begins to interact with its companions and humans. From that point on, puppies use their tails to interact socially and as a means of communication. Specialists believe that this habit of wagging the tail comes from the dog’s genes, since wolves, living in packs, communicated with each other by barking, growling or wagging their tails to survive.

So depending on how your dog wags his tail can tell a lot. It is also important to observe the rest of his body and the gestures he makes to know if it is the right time to approach him.

3. Why do dogs bark and howl?

As mentioned above, dogs’ communication with people and other companions is rather limited. Therefore, barking and howling is still a way of communicating, even over long distances. This gesture also originates from wolves, who howled to let the other members of the pack know their exact position in case they split up, while the other wolves responded in kind to confirm that the message had arrived. Another reason why wolves barked and howled was to discourage a rival pack from entering their territory. Dogs have also acquired this habit, however their howling may be to try to re-establish contact with their owner, if this is far away, often as a sign of anxiety and annoyance, if the howling persists.

There are also dogs that use this method to establish their territory, to show their displeasure if they are kept in captivity, or simply some dogs bark and howl when they are hungry or when they feel that the people around them are not paying attention to them.

4. Why should the dog be walked every day?

One of the quadruped’s favorite activities is a walk in well-known or lesser-known places together with his best friend, the owner. The main purpose of this activity is to strengthen the bond between the owner and the four-legged friend, but also to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Just like we humans need exercise every day, dogs also need exercise and walks outdoors.

In addition to the good mood that a walk gives them, this way you will also ensure a healthy lifestyle, you will help control the weight of the quadruped, but also keep the lungs, heart and muscles healthy.

So try to spend as much time as possible with the little non-speaking child outdoors, play with him with various objects, make him jump, run and discover new places.

5. Why does the cat purr?

A habit that cats have that fills our hearts with joy is the torso. By the way, did you know that cat torso has therapeutic effects for us humans? This habit of cats is said to influence the human psyche and help the secretion of serotonin, also called the happiness hormone, thus helping to eliminate stress, implicitly improving the quality of sleep. But still, why does a cat purr? Well, experts believe that cats purr to demonstrate their satisfaction to their owner, being a form of communication learned from the first weeks of life, when, as kittens, it is a way to communicate with their mother, telling her that she is fine, that the food was sufficient and that she is happy.

6. Why does the cat arch its back?

Like purring or meowing, arching a cat’s back is another form of bodily communication, often associated with a sense of threat. When feeling threatened, the cat will adopt a “defensive” position, with its back arched and its fur standing on end. But this gesture can represent more than fear, namely affection – when he is caressed, as a sign of thanks and communication that he feels very good and does not want you to stop.

You may also notice how the cat arches its back as soon as it wakes up; this habit is nothing more than a stretching exercise.