Things About Your Pet You Never Wanted to Know,

But Can't Resist Reading!

Why Do Dogs Bark?

     That's a silly question, you say.  I know the answer to that one!  But..do you really know the answer?  Read on........

     Well, if you couldn't talk, you would probably bark too.  Dogs bark because they really do have something to say. Barking may sound like noise to us, but dogs can say a lot of things with their bark.  "That guy in the blue uniform is attacking our front door again!"  "Help!  I've stuck my head through a hole in the fence, and I can't get out!"  "Hey!  You've been home for five minutes and you haven't even said hello to me yet."

     Dogs communicate with us in many ways, but barking is the loudest way they can make their point.  Dogs bark to warn us of danger and when they need help.  Who can forget Lassie's warnings?  Bark!  Bark!  (Translation:  "Timmy's in the well!")

     Dogs bark when they get excited, and sometimes they bark just for the fun of it!

     But here's one we bet you didn't know!

     When you yell at your dog to "Stop barking!", they get even more excited.  "Cool!"  My owner's barking back at me!  Now we can have a real conversation!" 

     So....there you have it.  That's why dog's bark. And...just like teenagers everywhere, they spend all their time talking to eack other.

How to Correct Excessive Barking

     If your dog is making a lot of noise barking, the last thing you should do is yell at your dog!  Try something else....like rattling an empty soda can filled with lots of coins.  (no hitting, please!)  The loud noise usually breaks the barking pattern. Remember to be consistent!  Everytime your pooch barks excessively, get out that soda can.....and shake away!!

Why Do Cats Bring Us Gifts?

    Think you know the answer to this one?  Let's see if you do.....

     Most of us have always acknowledged to ourselves that cats are superior beings, but now we must accept that our cats know it too.  How else can we explain their need to feed us and help teach us to hunt by bringing us gifts of prey?

     Cats, both wild and domestic, have innate hunting skills that are developed at a very young age by the mother cat.  She brings food back to her kittens for them to eat, including live prey so they can practice their killing technique.  When our cats bring us those wonderful gifts of prey, it could very well be that they are attempting to help us survive.  Even spayed females exhibit this behavior.  Maybe they are redirecting their maternal instincts to us, their surrogate kittens!

     There is another reason thay may explain this behavior.  Wild cats instinctively bring their prey back to a safe area to eat-a den or tree, for instance.  For the domesticated cat, it may seem only natural to bring her catch to her food dish.  After all, that's where she normally eats.

What to Do When Your Cat Brings You a Gift

     When your cat lines up those live locusts on your pillow at six in the morning, or proudly brings a bird to her food dish, accept the gift gratefully.  Never punish your cat for her natural behavior.  Praise your cat for being such a good provider, then discreetly dispose of the gift.  If you don't want to receive any feline bounty, your only option is to keep the cat indoors.