PetSmart Launches Guide To Understanding Companion Animals
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This survey found that the majority of companion animal owners do not understand their animal’s behaviors and 90% said they wish they could.
These survey results from PetSmart, Inc. show that the majority of “pet parents” do not understand their companion animal’s behaviors, but 90% of them wish that they could understand what their companion animal is thinking.
The majority of companion animal owners misinterpret their companion animal’s behaviors, for instance:
- 96% believe that a wagging tail indicates friendliness; deliberate, side-to-side wagging is actually indicative of a threat.
- 90% think that dogs perceive a hug as love, but in reality, dogs relate hugging to an intimidation tactic.
- 96% consider purring to show content in cats, although cats also purr when they are ill, in pain, or unhappy.
Citations:
PetSmart, Inc., PetSmart, Inc., 2009 United States (National)
