What Is an Emotional Support Animal? An emotion support animal is any animal that provides comfort and companionship to an individual with a mental health issue or emotional disability. Emotional support dogs are the most common ESAs, but any animal can be an ESA. Emotional support animals do not need any individualized training – they…
The American Kennel Club recognizes 190 dog breeds, but there are only 42 recognized cat breeds in the United States, according to the Cat Fanciers’ Association. And while dogs come in all shapes and sizes, cats are, essentially, cats. The reason for this disparity? Over thousands of years, dogs have been selectively bred to produce…
Imposing dogs like pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Dobermans often get a bad rap, Sometimes these breeds get caught up in discussions about proposed legislation to restrict ownership, such as when a community is looking to protect its citizens from certain breeds. Certainly, there are wayward dogs, and owners who can’t or don’t control them. However,…
To decide if it’s time for a hunt, packs of endangered African wild dogs in Botswana get together for a high-energy ritual known as a rally. The dogs excitedly wag their tails, touch heads, and race around. Then, to the surprise of researchers, they seem to take a vote, using sneezes to decide if the…
There are a couple of important differences between toy and teacup dogs, the most significant of which usually has to do with breeding. In most cases, dogs in what are known as “toy” breeds are naturally small is size and, as their name suggests, are often reminiscent of stuffed animals or other related toys. In…
If you are looking to get a dog, the best way to find the perfect companion is to do your research long before you choose him. Besides considering your taste and preferences in dogs, you also need to consider your living quarters. Some dogs do well in apartments, while others need large spaces for both…
The process of choosing a non-shedding dog can differ depending on your specific needs. If you have allergies to most dogs, then you will need to diligently research your options, and may even want to spend some time with each potential breed. It is also important to remember that some dogs may trigger your allergies…
Named after the Catahoula parish in Louisiana, the Catahoula leopard dog is the only current breed of domesticated dog to originate in North America. Part of the herding group, these are large, muscular dogs with wide foreheads. These dogs are usually used as working dogs, herding unruly cattle or pigs, but are also purchased as family pets….
Many are familiar with the Chinese policy adopted in 1979, which prevented families from having more than one child. According to the Chinese government, that policy prevented 400 million births. In 2015, the Communist Party of China relaxed the restrictions slightly and changed the law to allow two children per family. Few are aware however…
The considerations for choosing a toy dog, or just a smaller dog, sometimes known as a “purse dog,” are the same for any other type of pet. It is important to keep in mind how much time you have to devote to the animal, as well as if you are able to give the pet…