Tag Archives: behaviour

Do pets really have emotions?

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It’s hard to tell how our pets are feeling. Do they feel emotions as complex as ours? Or are we overly attentive to how they feel? Deirdre Vine investigates. From the new issue of PetPeople magazine Read more >

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Stop your dog barking at strangers

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Q: My dog is normally well behaved, but when he’s left in the car while I go shopping, he barks at passers-by. Why is he doing this? A: We often use the car to take our dogs for a walk, … Read more >

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One-minute guide to… Separation anxiety

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Many people are now returning to work after time at home over the festive period – but dog owners could find that their pet finds the long periods alone traumatic, resulting in problematic behaviour that needs to be tackled. Inga … Read more >

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Controlling your dog’s barking

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Q: My dog loves people, but she constantly barks at the postman and delivery people. Why might she be doing this? A: This is quite a common problem with dogs. As dogs are pack animals, they have a very strong … Read more >

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Moving house – helping your pet to cope

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Q: I’ve had my two nine-year-old feral cats since they were kittens. I’ve downsized from a house with eight acres of land, where the cats hunted mice. Since I moved, the male cat has turned on me. How can I … Read more >

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Seven tips for trouble-free walkies

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Whatever the time of year, walking your dog in the park or countryside can be pleasant and relaxing – but not if he runs off or gets into scrapes. Victoria Spicer asks experts for advice on how to make walks … Read more >

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How to stop your cat spraying

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Q: My 14-year-old Siamese-cross cat Max has started to spray everywhere, especially if he cannot get his own way. What can I do? A: Spraying is the most common behaviour problem I see in cats. As Max has not sprayed … Read more >

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Real-life story: one cat’s amazing sense of smell

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We’ve received this extraordinary account of a cat’s sense of smell from Petplan customer Margaret Wendy Harris of Northwich, Cheshire, and we just had to share it with you. Hope you like it…

Dear Petplan,

I have just discovered that a cat’s incredible sense of smell could play an important role in helping people to identify their kith and kin. Many years after being adopted as a baby, I made contact with my natural brother for the first time. Incredibly, my six-year-old shorthaired cat, Megan, has confirmed that we are from the same flesh and blood. Normally, she runs upstairs when strangers – particularly men – call to our home. Read more >

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Pets and children – how to make it work

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Children love pets… but, unfortunately, it’s not always mutual. Here’s how to make sure they get along famously. From the PetPeople magazine features archive

When you eventually succumb to your child’s persistent pleas of wanting a pet, you will discover that it offers many benefits for young ones. As children learn how to care for an animal, they also learn consideration and respect for other living things. Their nurturing helps them to develop responsible behaviour and social skills that will help them later in life. In addition, they will form a special bond of friendship with the pet. Read more >

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Rescue dogs: what every owner needs to know

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Q: Our 18-month-old Staffie-Jack Russell cross is a rescue dog, who was abandoned. He’s friendly but quivers when we’re even slightly stern with him. Sometimes he growls at nothing in particular, so we gently tell him off but he continues quivering, as he knows he’ll be told off again! He also lunges at cars. Read more >

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