Animal Behavior

July is a prime month for trouble if you have a canine who is scared of thunderstorms and fireworks. Even if your dog is not scared, it is important to be proactive. My first Golden Retriever, Tawny, did not become scared of thunderstorms until she was 4 years old - she was at a picnic and lightning struck a nearby tree. After that she started reacting to flashes of light, to ozone smell and even to the pressure change before a storm.

Just like humans, some dogs are naturally shyer than others. Shyness can be a devastating trait for dog and owner, making both nervous about daily walks, trips to the dog park, and even inviting others into the home. If your dog is scared of strangers, do not be disheartened. With proper socialization, obedience training, and leadership (from you, considered to be the alpha dog), your pooch can overcome his fear of strangers, and become your calm, self-assured and happy companion.

Certain commands are essential for dogs to learn. Most trainers call these "basic" commands. In this article, learn how to teach your dog to obey the "come" command.

A common mistake ferret owners make is assuming their ferret is naturally inclined to use a litter box like a cat does. This is not true. Ferrets are separated from their mothers at an early age and never receive the stage at which mama ferret teaches them to use a litter box.

So you wake up in the morning to the usual; you are irritated as all get out and the cat is sitting there, looking as fluffy and content as usual. In the meantime, there are pieces of fabric gouged out of your favorite sofa cushion, and your nerves are being slowly shredded along with it. So what do you do?

While many individuals fear cats because they possess claws that may strike at any moment, there are some felines that appear scary because they bite. This rather undesirable behavior may strike at any time with any cat when they feel threatened or unable to express their discontent with their current circumstances.

Dogs are just dogs right? If they still lived in the wild and weren't domesticated they wouldn't have dog toys would they?

Well actually it's because they are domesticated that our dogs need toys to replace activities or replicate in part, the lifestyle they would have experienced as wild animals.

Barking, growling, howling and whining are four ways by which your pet dog tries to communicate with you. Barking is an expression of some emotion, like excitement. The dog growls to restrain a person from coming too close to him; it's his way of saying, "back off, I am in a bad mood!". Howling may be considered as a kind of long-distance communication. The dog whines or cries only when he is in distress or when he needs attention from you.

 "An age is called Dark, not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it" - James Michener

Breed Specific Legislation- a law, policy or ordinance that applies to a specific dog breed or breeds, but does not affect any others.The main goal of BSL is to completely eliminate the breed which is restricted by various means.

Genocide- the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group. - dictionary.com

Holocaust- any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life. - dictionary.com

Since mass communication and the media commenced, a number of dog breeds have suffered great popularity.An influential happening that causes the masses to seek a specific breed of dog.This could range from a motion picture (101 Dalmatians), a commercial (BudLight's Bull Terrier, Spuds McKenzie), a television show ("Eddie" Moose from "Frasier" or even an unfortunate event (DianeWhipple being killed by two dogs of the Perrode Presa Canario breed)...

For cat owners, feline inappropriate elimination (urinating or defecating outside of the litter box) is the most common behavior complaint, according to leading vet authorities. This behavior can be extremely frustrating; however, it is one that can be solved with time and effort.  It is important to remember that vets may assist in remedying this problem but this type of behavior may not be fixable overnight--especially if it has been occurring for several weeks or months.