What we thought we knew about our pets is changing as scientists uncover more about their social, emotional, and behavioural needs. Staying open to new evidence allows us to adjust our behaviours and provide the best care for our animals. Here are five recent insights which signal a shift from what were commonly held beliefs by many people.
Science is about the pursuit of truth, involving a systematic and disciplined approach to understanding the natural world. Our relentless quest for knowledge helps us to disentangle myths from reality and enables us to make informed decisions that improve lives.
As an evolving field, science is characterised by continual advancements and revisions of knowledge as new discoveries are made. This dynamic nature allows science to adapt and refine theories and understandings over time. As our tools and methodologies improve, so does our ability to explore and explain the complexities of the natural world, including improving our understanding of the secret lives of our companion animals.
It’s important for pet owners to be open to new evidence as it emerges, ready to adjust our own attitudes and behaviours to provide for the best welfare outcomes for our animals.
The things we thought we knew!
Dogs and ‘domination’
It was once widely believed that dogs are primarily motivated by a desire to dominate their human companions, leading to training methods focused on establishing dominance over your dog. However, more recent research has challenged this thinking, recognising that dogs have evolved alongside humans for thousands of years, developing unique abilities to understand human cues and emotions and showing that domestic dogs are motivated by a complex mix of factors including social bonds and positive reinforcement.
Rethinking cats as solitary creatures
Similarly, cats have long been stereotyped as solitary and aloof. Yet, research shows that this is not always the case. Cats are more socially complex than once believed and are capable of forming strong social bonds with humans, other cats, and even different animal species. In multi-cat households, they often establish social hierarchies and close friendships, which they demonstrate through grooming, playing, and sleeping together.
Understanding horses’ repetitive behaviour
Horses, too, have been misunderstood. Behaviours like repetitive pacing or weaving in stables were once dismissed as a ‘vice’ caused by boredom which needed to be cured. We now know these stereotypic behaviours are signs of stress or anxiety, reflecting an unmet need for social interaction, environmental enrichment, or changes in management practices. Recognising this has led to improved welfare strategies for equine companions.
Parrots: more than mimics
Parrots were traditionally thought to mimic human speech without comprehension. However recent research indicates that this is not necessarily the case. One of the most famous studies involved an African Grey parrot named Alex, who was trained by Dr. Irene Pepperberg. Alex demonstrated the ability to identify colors, shapes, and quantities, and he could use words to make requests or express preferences, suggesting a level of understanding beyond simple mimicry. Other studies have shown that parrots can associate words with their meanings and use them in appropriate contexts, indicating cognitive abilities that involve aspects of language comprehension and communication.
Small animals and their intelligence
And what about rats, rabbits and mice? It was once believed that such animals with smaller brains had limited cognitive abilities, but research has demonstrated that they too have an amazing capacity for problem-solving and emotional complexity.
For example, rats have been widely used in learning experiments in laboratory settings due to their ability to navigate mazes, learn tasks through operant conditioning, and even demonstrate empathy for other rats. Their memory capabilities have been shown to enable them to plan and make decisions based on previous experiences. Although rabbits may have been less well studied, they too can learn to respond to their names, solve simple puzzles, perform simple tricks and they exhibit the ability for social learning from observing the actions of other rabbits.
Our understanding of pet behaviour is continually being reshaped by scientific research, challenging long-held beliefs and revealing more and more about the the rich, complex lives of our amazing companion animals.
As science uncovers new insights into the motivations and capabilities of pets such as dogs, cats, horses, parrots, and even small mammals like rats and rabbits, it is vital for pet owners to stay informed and adaptable. By embracing these new findings, we can improve the welfare of our pets, ensuring they are treated not just as animals, but as sentient beings with unique needs and emotional lives.
This evolving knowledge empowers us to provide a Good Life for our animals, fostering deeper connections and enriching the human-animal bond.