5 Facts That Prove Dogs Are More Like Us Than We Imagined
/0 Comments/in Informative /by adminDogs are amazing, don’t you think? They come to know of our feelings simply by reading our facial expressions; they understand when we’re sad, happy, or angry. They actually comprehend human emotions in a unique way. And what’s more? They are excellent when it comes to communicating their feelings.
Dogs can get jealous if you pet another dog. They can be extremely happy when it’s just you and them. They can be sad, depressed, angry, appreciative, and dubious – just about every other human emotion you can think of. So, are we talking about dogs or people? Dogs and humans are similar in several ways. Read on to learn more about why we’re more alike than we ever imagined.
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Dogs Are Extremely Social Beings
Much like humans, dogs are extremely social beings. Their behavior in this regard is extremely similar to human social behavior in more ways than one.
- Humans are extremely territorial and protective of their families. Similarly, dogs are also very protective of their own and tend to guard their young closely till they’re grown.
- Human families greet each other emotionally after a period of separation – so do dogs.
- Humans display negative emotions when hurt by or angry with their families – so do dogs.
These are some social similarities between dogs and humans. Both species are similar enough for them to coexist happily with each other, as we see everywhere around us.
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Dogs Consider Humans They Live with as Family Members
Most humans will tell you that their dogs are family members and not pets and if dogs could speak, I’m sure they’d say their human was their family too. They are capable of expressing remorse and unconditional love, which helps humans see them as family members as well. Both dogs and humans benefit from bonding with each other. Regular activities such as walking, playing ball, and watching TV together increases the feeling of family closeness between humans and dogs.
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Dogs Are Mentally Attuned to Humans
Dogs are extraordinarily attentive to human emotions; they know when their human family members are happy or sad, angry or jealous. Experiments show that dogs and wolves can read human body language astutely. Domesticated dogs can locate hidden food by watching the direction of our eyes. When dogs are not treated with affection by their human family members, they can become sad, depressed and even go off food. Dogs respond negatively to being left alone and respond positively when you bond with them.
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Scientists Believe That Humans and Dogs Share a Symbiotic Relationship
Dogs and humans developed close domestic ties over 100,000 years ago which is astounding! Indeed, research enthusiasts believe that our evolutionary success is due to some extent from help from dogs. The relationship between humans and dogs is considered symbiotic, for the following reasons:
- Cooperative Guards: Dogs willingly protect human property; act as hunting aids, alarm systems, and trackers. Humans trust their dogs to guard their own precious children and be their trusted playmates. Dogs have been known to sacrifice themselves to protect their human families from danger as well. Humans, in turn, provide warmth, food, companionship and yes, love to dogs.
- Constant dependence on dogs to protect them from danger has caused some irreversible changes to the human brain. Over time, the parts of the human brain responsible for sensing danger has shrunk due to lack of use, reducing the human ability to sense danger.
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Dogs Secrete the Same Love Hormone as Humans
Research indicates that dogs secrete the love hormone, oxytocin, just as humans do. This is the hormone that makes humans crave companionship and build families. In fact, research shows that dogs are more capable of love than cats and oxytocin is responsible for this. The secretion and growth of this hormone relies on the physical and emotional closeness with others. As dogs consider humans their family, the closeness and the shared affection increases their oxytocin levels, which is why dogs in a loving home are more affectionate than those that live wild on the streets.
Conclusion
Dogs and humans both need affection, exercise, good food, discipline, and grooming in order to live a positive and wholesome life. This, more than anything else, is the greatest similarity that dogs share with humans.
Author Bio:
Erica Montes is a digital content editor for LiveWellTesting based in sunny San Diego, California. She is immersed in the healthcare industry and is the go-to-person for health and wellness tips. In her free time, she enjoys making “healthy” dessert alternatives and trying to get as many Fitbit steps as possible. Learn all about Dog wellness and care through our blog and give your pet a better environment.
Tips For Choosing A Dog From the Local Shelter
/0 Comments/in Informative /by adminYour local animal control facility or humane society shelter has a number of wonderful dogs, any of which would make a great companion for your family. However, choosing a dog from these shelters should be done with serious thought and preparation to make it easier to integrate the animal into your family habits and home. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when choosing a dog from the shelter.
Consider the Dog’s Size
That big dog with the lovely, glowing eyes and wagging tail can steal your heart, but keep in mind the practical considerations to ensure you can care for such a large animal. Shelters take back thousands of dogs from individuals who have underestimated the needs of their chosen animal. If you live in a small home or apartment, a very large dog may make your living quarters even more cramped. In addition, if you are older or have a health condition, a large dog may be difficult to exercise properly or to manage his or her physical care, such as helping them get into the car, giving them a bath and other types of normal grooming and maintenance.
Gauging the Health of Shelter Dogs
Most shelters work with local veterinarians to have their charges examined for common problems. They are usually vaccinated, treated for worms or external parasites and are given a clean bill of health. However, it is still your job to give potential adoptees a thorough visual examination to ensure the animal’s health. The dog should be free of discharges from the nose, ears or eyes. The coat should be clean and healthy-looking. The dog’s skin and paws should be clean and free of eruptions. The animals should be alert and enthusiastic. Even animals that are on the shy or quiet side should be alert and aware of everything going on around them. The dog’s gait should be even and strong. If all of these features check out, you can be reasonably sure you have a healthy dog.
Grooming Needs
Keep in mind that the adorable little fluffball you’ve found at the shelter will need regular sessions at the groomer to keep that coat neat and healthy. If you cannot afford regular grooming costs in your monthly budget, look for another animal, one with a shorter coat and easier maintenance needs. However, if you are the type of person who is willing to learn a few basic grooming techniques yourself, the fluffy-coated animal can still remain on your list of potential options.
Good With Children
If you have young kids at home, you should be especially careful about the animal you choose to join your family. Some dogs, especially smaller animals, are wary of being stepped on or manhandled by young children. They can become snappish and timid. To determine if the dog can be comfortable with children, come back to the shelter with your kids and spend some time in the play area to see how the dog interacts with them.
Questions From the Shelter Workers
Some people are surprised and discouraged by the sometimes-probing questions from the shelter’s adoption counselors. Please remember that these counselors are dedicating to making good matches between animals and adopters, and try very hard to keep down the number of “failed” adoptions that end up with the return of the animal. You may be asked about your work schedule, the number of people in the household and ability to provide veterinary care. You may be asked for a copy of your lease to ensure that your landlord will allow pets in the property. You may also be given a number of samples of dog products and advice on getting your new dog adjusted to your household. All of these measures are to ensure that both animal and people are happy with the adoption.
Adopting a dog from a shelter can a satisfying and rewarding experience that helps an unwanted animal and provides a loving companion for you and your family. Keep these tips in mind and you will choose the right dog for your needs.
Author Bio:
My life-long love of pets turned into a dream career in 2005 with my husband John. We had met that same year at a pet store. Together we created the happy pooch. A site dedicated to dogs being happy. We are proud to be dog owners and want the best for these animals!
5 Best Ways To Store Dog Food This Summer
/2 Comments/in Informative /by adminPet owners worry about buying the right kind of dog food, but many don’t pay much attention to how to store this food. When it comes to storing dog food, there are certain rules that will help keep your pup’s dinner fresher for longer.
Dog food is a product that tends to change in taste, color, and texture when exposed to extremely high or low temperatures and moisture. So it’s not only important but also necessary for you to store the food in a suitable environment. Read on for some tips to help you store your food correctly.
What You Should Know Before Reading On
When you open your dog’s bag of grub you’re exposing the bag’s contents to light, heat, and air. This change can compromise the freshness of the kibbles, breaking down the nutrients and vitamins. By storing dry food correctly you’re slowing down this process and prolonging the freshness of your the kibble.
The best way to store this food in plastic containers that have an airtight lid, meaning your pet’s dinner isn’t exposed to heat and air. When you fill up your pup’s bowl make sure to securely close the container so that the food is protected.
Safe Storage of Dog Food
Before we list down the five best ways to store dog food this summer, you should know a little about safe storage. As we’ve already mentioned earlier, dog food is highly susceptible to change when exposed to extreme temperatures. This can cause the formation of moisture on the kibbles, which gives rise to mold.
Many pet owners store dog food in their garage not realizing that such a room experiences constant, extreme temperature changes. And this tends to happen more often in the summer season when the mercury level in the garage shoots up.
So it’s important that you store the food at room temperature. Neither too hot nor too cold. The best place would be your kitchen cabinet or pantry.
5 Best Ways to Store Dog Food This Summer
In this section, I’ve discussed the five most creative ways to store dog food in summer. And if what you’re also looking for is how to store dry dog food long term, then this is it. So let’s get started!
1. In a laundry hamper
It’s a simple idea, isn’t it? Many people opt for storing dog food inside trash cans. So if you’re one of the few that don’t like the idea of placing clean, fresh food in a garbage bin, then you can use a laundry hamper instead. Plus, laundry baskets are much more attractive than plastic waste cans.
But when storing dog food in a laundry hamper, you need to make sure that the original package has a zip closure system. You can also place the bag inside a large plastic container before keeping that in the laundry hamper.
2. In a drawstring bag
Such a method is the most useful out of the five best ways to store dog food this summer. And that’s because storing dog food inside a drawstring bag is something that you can do even with multiple pets. This means more variety of food, right? So you can have one drawstring bag for every different type of food product.
Feel free to customize these bags using spray paint or felt marker. Also, buy dog food that comes in packaging that can zip shut. This way the food remains fresh and moisture-free for a long time.
3. In a glass container
Does dry dog food go bad in glass containers? Not if they have an airtight lid. Everybody stores food in plastic containers. But not many have thought about replacing them with the glass versions.
There might be a few glass containers, big or small, lying around somewhere in your house. So it’s time to look for them and use them most creatively.
4 In an old piece of furniture
You don’t need to know all the five best ways to store dog food this summer as much as you need to know this one. Storing dog food inside used, old cabinets or dressers is an excellent idea, isn’t it? All you need to do is find plastic containers of the right size that will fit into the cabinet easily.
5 In a large metal tin or can
After every holiday season, we’re left with tons of large metal tins and cans. So instead of putting all of them away this time, keep a few to store your dog’s food. You can turn these containers into bright, colored storage cans.
That’s About It!
So these are the five best ways to store dog food this summer. The methods discussed above are not only practical but creative too.
So what’s your take on dog food storage? Do you have any useful tips to offer? Leave your feedback in the comments section below.
About the author:
Ruby Smith is the founder of PetSoFun. She started this blog to spread a positive message about raising dogs, cats, fish, etc. as pets. Her motto in life is to provide animal lovers with the right kind of information about products as well as pet health and fitness. And her passion for pursuing this goal encouraged her to increase her knowledge and wisdom about these topics.