7 Persistent Myths About Pets

A dog needs a pack leader

Many scientific studies have proven that there is no hierarchy between two different species. Dogs do not seek to dominate humans. So there is no need to think that our dog needs an owner with a strong character and “who does not let himself be pushed around”. The important thing to properly educate your dog is to opt for methods based on positive reinforcement: working with our companion rather than wanting to submit him to our will.

A dog that bites is a bad dog.

ALL dogs can bite. And let’s go even further: ALL animals can bite. It’s a natural instinct to defend themselves in times of danger. So stop thinking that your “never-bitten” dog will never bite. Always pay attention to his body language and warning signals so you know your dog’s limits.

Dogs only need to chew when they are puppies.

One of the essential needs of dogs is chewing. It is an element that is part of their own nature, like barking or digging. Young, adult or old, no matter their age, a dog will need to gnaw bones, toys or other objects adapted to their needs. There are several benefits to chewing: stress reduction, energy expenditure or even improvement of oral health.

Our animals can be jealous and show it to us

Jealousy is a label that we often put on our animals. But the reality is that we often confuse this feeling with envy. No scientific study has yet proven that our dogs or cats have the cognitive capacity to feel jealousy. Each behavior that your animal does and that could be similar to jealousy or even revenge can be explained objectively. Your cat urinates in the house since you integrated a new companion? The stress of a new cohabitation can cause this type of behavior. Do not hesitate to consult a trainer in order to have the right solutions.

Cats are untrainable

If you can train goldfish or chickens, believe me, you can train a cat! The secret to behavioral training is to get the animal to do what you ask of it. So: is what you are offering as a reward worthy of its attention? Is your treat on the mark or not?
Also, if your pet has trouble understanding what you are asking him, it is probably because you are the one who is not making him understand well! Most of the failures that can exist in terms of learning commands come from the human and not from the animal.

Rabbits are never aggressive

Big mistake: as we saw above for dogs, ALL animals can bite or want to defend themselves in case of danger. Rabbits’ teeth are, moreover, long and rather sharp. In addition, they can be territorial, especially if they are not sterilized. If it feels threatened in its environment, yes, a rabbit could bite.

Rabbits are easy pets

Contrary to popular belief, rabbits are animals that require a lot of care and maintenance. Even more than a cat!
First of all, rabbits need freedom, so forget about leaving them in a cage. But freedom means “watch out for wires!” because rabbits generally like to chew on electrical wires or other objects. Also, rabbits need a lot of vegetables every day, as well as a lot of hay. You also have to trim their claws, and give them branches to chew on because their front teeth grow continuously. Not to mention having to clean their litter and their environment daily.

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