For the love of pets!
We’ve had a strong relationship with animals for a long time indeed. Most of us already know that the ancient Egyptians worshipped cats, however the first evidence of cat domestication was actually around 7500 BC, where a human and cat were buried together, discovered on a Mediterranean island. In 170 AD, Chinese Emperor Ling Ti, appointed his pets as senior court officials, where they enjoyed a life of special luxuries and even had their own bodyguards. Even Christopher Columbus couldn’t help himself, when, upon returning to Spain from the Americas in 1493, he bestowed two South American parrots to Queen Isabella as a royal gift.
April is National Pet Month
This amazing initiative celebrates and raises awareness of responsible pet ownership through educational campaigns and resources across various platforms. Not only is the aim to help make people aware of the mutual benefits of living with pets, but also to encourage the fundraising for UK pet welfare charities and organisations all-year round. National Pet Month also helps raise awareness of the value of working and assistance companion animals across the globe.
Dogs
The timing of the domestication of the dog is still a bit of a debate, but experts put it from 14,000 to 29,000 years ago. With their strong jaws, acute sense of smell, tracking skills, and general speed, they were perfect for guarding and hunting. Even though the history of pets is intertwined with the process of domestication, according to Britannica, it is likely that the dog was also the first pet.
Dogs can do such cool things
Dogs have been helping their human friends for years with sight and sound, but what else can they do?
- Dogs can smell cancer – We all know that dogs have amazing sense of smell, but even more impressive is they can use their noses to detect cancer cells. They need to be trained to do this of course, as it’s not something they are born to do.
- They can sense when a woman is pregnant – dogs can use their acute senses to detect small changes in body and emotions, and so can quite often, predict a pregnancy. Some have even become protective by barking at strangers passing by their pregnant owner while on a walk.
- They can tell time – ever wondered why your faithful pooch just knows when someone is coming home? Smells in a room change as the day goes on, so dogs are literally able to smell time by understanding the time-signature of scent changes.
- They can literally smell back in time – A bloodhound’s nose consists of approximately 230 million olfactory cells, which is 40 times that of you or me. According to PBS, these amazing dogs can trace scents that go back up to 300 years.
Most importantly, dogs make the best companions
According to the Kennel Club, there are 222 recognised breeds of dog. From dainty dogs like Chihuahuas to powerful pooches like Bullmastiffs, and everything in between, one thing is common, our pets make our hearts full. In the wild, dog ancestors would naturally wear down their nails on the terrain, however this is something we need to do for them now. We supply lots of types of nail clippers from leading brands like Groom Professional, which help keep the paws nice and healthy. Dogs love to play. Playing is great for their mental wellbeing, and keeps them happy, which is why it’s so important to set aside some quality time to play with your furry friend. For the pups we have products specifically for puppies such as Groom Professional and Pozer . Remember, many dogs nowadays are bred not to cast, and so will need regular grooming to keep the coat and skin clean. This helps prevent skin issues, and of course, keeps your dog looking beautiful. As dogs have evolved, so have their food needs, so make sure they are getting all the nutrients they need. It is so important to choose a food to specifically suit your dog’s needs. Dog food brands create food for very specific things like neutered dogs and dogs with urinary problems.
No matter what type of pet you have, from all of us at Christies Direct, have a wonderful National Pet Month!
