What makes your pet weird?

March 23, 2016

Everyone has something about them that makes them a little weird. This applies to animals as well as humans. I was fortunate enough to grow up knowing and loving a variety of different kinds of animals. It’s easy to see that every  animal is unique in it’s own way. Our pets have personalities that they are born with, just like humans. Those that parent more than one child know that each is born completely different than their siblings. Even though the siblings are raised in an identical environment, they take on interests and hobbies of their own. This is what truly makes them individuals. The same goes for pets that we bring into our home and treat as a part of the family.

There have been many scientific studies that have deemed the notion that each animal has a personality of it’s own more than plausible. There are even studies presently that are trying to figure out ways of determining the personality of a dog. This would make the adoption process even better for owners and pets. Owners could be paired with a pet that has a personality that matches what they are seeking. Some people believe that pets are just animals to be fed and kept close-by or if they’re lucky then inside the house. The fact that they have personalities of their own makes them so much more!

This brings me to a topic that I enjoy discussing with other pet owners; What makes your pet weird? One of the most rewarding things about pet ownership is that we get to witness them do the things that make them unique. One of my childhood pets, Sandy (a collie and lab mix that we had rescued), had a very odd habit of pulling this one rock all around the yard. She would put her two front paws on the rock and scoot backwards while pulling it with her. She would bark at it and appear to actually be having a lot of fun. It was only this one specific rock that was about the size of a football and flat. She did this nearly her whole life. Our guests would often gaze out the back window and say “Is that a rock she has?” we would confirm it, they would laugh, and we would feel compelled to explain that she had always played with that single rock.

Now, I’m not really talking about the qualities that are common in each species. Humping other animals and eating poop are common weird hobbies of nearly every dog. I’m talking about weird things that make them unique. Does your cat balance on the edge of the litter pan, with all four paws, while he uses it in order to keep from getting those precious paws soiled? Does your dog like to herd the other pets of the house? What makes them an individual? If you haven’t discovered it yet, this is a good opportunity to spend some time observing and playing with your pet. Talk to the other people in your household about your pet and see what they’ve picked up on as well.

By: Lissa Fehr