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Reviewed & Fact-Checked By Dr. Tabitha Henson Veterinarian, DVM Reviewed & Fact-Checked By Dr. Tabitha Henson Veterinarian, DVM The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. With their happy smiles and tails that often seem stuck on a permanent wag cycle, it’s easy to see why Golden Retrievers are among the most popular dog breeds in the world. While their friendly temperaments add to their appeal, their playfulness, and energy level guarantee that they’ll need to be matched with an owner willing to commit to daily exercise and play....

What would happen if our pets could talk? Would we finally get all of our life-long questions about them, their lives, and dreams answered? Would they tell us interesting stories about the things they’ve experienced and greet us by asking how our day was when we return from work? We might not have this luxury with all of our pets, but with parrots, we have a shot! These eclectic birds give us a glimpse into what it might be like if our pets could hold a conversation with us....

Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website. Bears are formidable predators that can inflict severe damage and carry out fatal attacks. However, these animals typically have shy natures and prefer to keep to themselves. Bear attacks on humans are pretty rare, and the recorded number of how many people die from bear attacks is relatively small and inconsistent. Therefore, it’s difficult to provide an estimated average of how many bear attacks there are per year....

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are native to Africa and were bred as guard dogs and hunters. These intelligent dogs are highly independent and intuitive and were sought after for their versatile skill sets. These days, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are more commonly found as companion dogs. While they may not hunt as much as their ancestors once did, they’re still quite active, brave, and always willing to accompany people on an outdoor adventure. There are plenty of excellent names fitting for the noble Rhodesian Ridgeback....

Chow Chows are not one of the most popular dogs in America. However, they aren’t so rare that you can’t find one, either. There are many breeders and rescue dogs spread throughout America, Europe, and Asia. Therefore, there are plenty of Chow Chows out there. If you’ve adopted one of these adorable dogs, your first decision as a new dog owner will be to name your canine. There are countless naming options out there....

If there’s something every Scottish Terrier needs, it’s a great name to suit their noble and dignified disposition. As pet parents ourselves, we know that picking the perfect name isn’t always easy, especially when there are so many options to choose from—where on Earth does one even start?! Whether you’re looking for something traditionally Scottish, cute, simple, funny, or downright bizarre, we’ve got the works here. These aren’t just random picks, either—each one has been very carefully chosen as a name potentially worthy of being worn by your proud, upstanding Scottie!...

Some dog breeds are natural swimmers, such as Spaniels and Retrievers, while others are less comfortable in the water. Regardless of your dog’s natural swimming ability, however, it’s vital to protect them from accidental drowning. Even a strong swimmer can become fatigued or get lost in a strong current. In addition, some breeds struggle to maintain buoyancy in water, such as Bulldogs, so a personal flotation device (life jacket) is necessary....

An unspayed cat will go into heat when she reaches sexual maturity at around 6-months old, although it is possible for a cat as young as 4- or 5-months old to come in heat. A cat in heat is sexually receptive and can fall pregnant if allowed to mate with an unneutered male cat. On average, each heat lasts around six days, with the cycle generally repeating itself every three weeks if conception doesn’t occur....

The Angora goat is a sweet-natured goat famous for its soft fleece that produces mohair – an expensive textile that is made into sweaters, scarves, and other clothing. They originated in Asia Minor near Ankara, Turkey (which had originally been called Angora) at least 2,500 years ago. Mohair became a popular resource in the 19th century. The first Angora goats were imported into the United States in 1849, and today, South Africa and the United States are the largest producers of mohair....

Height 22 – 25 inches Weight 70 – 85 pounds Lifespan 13 – 15 years Colors Black, white, gray, brown Suitable for Active families, families with children, active singles, rural areas and farm dwellers Temperament Smart, patient, gentle, vigilant, loyal & loving The Bergamasco Sheepdog is a gentle giant with a heart of gold. Skipping the scales at over 70 pounds, these dreadlocked dogs are an ancient herding breed dating back nearly 2,000 years....

Height: 12 – 15 inches Weight: 8 – 15 pounds Lifespan: 10 – 15 years Colors: Wide variety of colors Suitable for: Singles, families, people living in an apartment Temperament: Affectionate, friendly, independent, gentle, gets along with dogs and other cats If you are crazy about cats with soft and sumptuous coats, then the British Longhair should please you! This is the long-haired variant of the British Shorthair. This royal feline also inherited the rounded silhouette and the gentle and easy-going temperament of the Shorthair....

If your dog turns their best begging look in your direction during dinner, it can be hard to resist slipping them a few morsels off your plate. Corn, especially corn-on-the-cob, is one of the most popular grains for humans, but can dogs eat corn? Yes, it’s safe for your dog to eat corn, which is a common ingredient in commercial pet food. Keep reading to learn if corn has any nutritional benefits for your dog and how much is okay for them to eat....

Goats are wildly popular animals to have if you’re living the farm life because they’re relatively easy to take care of, eat almost anything, and give back in a variety of ways, from milk to manure. They are also becoming increasingly popular to keep as pets. Whatever reason you’ve chosen to have a goat around, you want to be sure you’re taking care of them properly. And though they eat most foods, you don’t want to feed them something that will harm them....

Hedgehogs might not be a species native to the U.S.A., but they’re steadily growing in popularity as pets in American households. That said, domesticated hedgehogs have different dietary requirements than their wild counterparts, and knowing how best to feed them will keep your prickly pet healthy and happy for as long as possible. Since hedgehogs are well-known insect eaters, it can be surprising to learn that hedgehogs can thrive on fresh fruits and vegetables too....

When it comes to feeding fruits to your chatty parrot, almost nothing is off limits! It all comes down to moderation and preparation, as fruits should not make more than 10% of your bird’s diet, and you may need to remove seeds and pits. So, what about the kiwi? Can this delicious fruit be part of your parrot’s diet? Of course! Kiwis are not only nutritious, but they are also among the favorite fruits of parrots!...

Length: 4-6.5 inches Weight: 1-1.6 ounces Lifespan: 2-3 years Colors: Brown with black stripe, grayish-white with a dark stripe, white with black eyes (extremely rare) Temperament: Mild-mannered, timid yet playful, intelligent Best Suited For: First-time hamster owners, older children From pests to outlawed exotics to pioneers in the world of biotech, the Chinese hamster wears a bunch of hats. But the one we love the most is that of a playful, small pet....

Being owned by a cat means accepting their need for independence. Our cats love us in their own way, but they don’t have a dog’s famous obedience — which is part of the reason that we love them so much. But have you ever wondered if your cat knows their name and might even respond to it? There’s no question that cats are intelligent, but do they not respond to their names because they don’t know it or because they just don’t care?...

For many people, the idea of having a pet chimpanzee is an appealing thought. Chimpanzees are intelligent animals with strong social skills, and they can learn sign language in captivity. They can use tools, they have emotions, and they’re even self-aware. Sounds like a dream friend, right? Unfortunately, these animals are not domesticated or bred for pet life, making them difficult to care for. As chimpanzees grow up, they become stronger than humans and can pose a serious risk of injury....

Aggression is one of the most commonly cited reasons that a person gives up their dog. When your dog is acting aggressive, it can be downright scary, not to mention dangerous. The last thing you want is to be attacked by your dog. But often, the aggression your dog is displaying is due to some underlying cause that you just don’t understand. More often than not, that underlying cause is simply fear....

Over 14 million dogs and cats are kept in Canada as pets, yet less than 3% of owners have purchased pet insurance. Though the pet insurance market is virtually untapped in Canada, it’s been catching on throughout the rest of the world. For example, more than one-quarter of pet owners in Britain have insurance policies for their animals! If you’ve been on the fence about pet insurance because you don’t know what it entails or how much it costs, we can help....