Nature has given us so many choices as pets. Every category of animals has a sub category and so on. People can go on and on with the list. Sometimes it even surprises us with a two in one package. Like what if you like a cat but can keep a fish as a pet? There are family and parents who don’t like the chaos and mess a pet can create. Hence, it becomes difficult to convince them keeping a pet. At such times, you need to gamble your wish list and satisfy both – your parents and yourself.  Yeah you heard it right, you can do so!

There is a certain pet that let you enjoy the traits of both a fish as well as a cat – the Catfishes. Well, the name itself suggests the prior explanation. Catfishes are a distinct type of ray-finned fishes. They are called so because of their striking features like the barbells, which resemble much like a cat’s whiskers. They come in various sizes and shapes, right from the largest being the Mekong giant fish to the tiniest being a tiny parasitic species known as the Candiru. Catfishes are of great commercial importance. Many are shipped for flesh and smaller fishes are of aquarium importance value.

Catfishes are generally found in freshwaters; however there are some species that may inhabit shallow, flowing water.  These are mostly seen in every continent except Antarctica. Their most diverse species are encountered in Asia, Africa and South America. Catfishes are designed in way that they generally sink instead of float, unlike other fishes. The main reason for this is their condensed gas bladder and a heavy, skeletal head.

The most nurtured catfish as a pet is the ‘Bullhead Catfish’. These fishes have a very peculiar way of living that keeps you entertained throughout the period of petting. Following are the steps involved in petting a catfish:

• THE SIZE: It is very important to decide how big your bullhead is going to be. Because that decides the size of the tank and other corresponding apparatus. Every inch of a bullhead requires 5 gallons of water i.e. 18.9litres approximately. At the initial stage of its life let the tank have at least 10 gallons of water, 40 gallons for the adult and 55 gallons if the fish grows anymore than 10 inches.
• THE FAKE ENVIRONMENT: See to it that you make the catfish feel home. Prep the tank with a layer of gravel. This helps the fish to dig nests and even dig out for food as a result keeps them active. Add leaves and sand for substrate and do not forget some rock caves or chunk of wood as hiding space for the fish. This prevents the bullhead from acting paranoid.

• FILTER IT OUT: Everyone enjoys a clean and healthy home. Make it a point your pet does too. Bring a filter that can consume 20-30% more than what your tank already has. For example if your tank has 40 gallons of water, see to it that the filter can cycle 60 gallons. The best choice for this is the canister filter. These have high bio load capacity.
• FEEDING TIME: Bullheads are considered as opportunistic feeders. This means they eat whatever that is available at that particular time. They eat from flesh to leaves everything. Their major variety of diet may include frozen worms, shrimps, fish flakes, fish fillets, minnows, live bluegills, tadpoles, frogs, salamanders, scuds, flies, crickets, crayfish etc. Anything that can fit into their mouth. The key to a healthy and a fit billhead is their flexible diet. If you aim at growing your catfish bigger and stronger feed them with frozen blood worms and minnows. Bloodworms provide good amount of fat and minnows an excellent source of protein. You can even hold the food at the top of the tank and let the catfish come towards it instead of putting it directly into the water.

• THE SURVIVAL TIME: At a minimum rate, a bullhead can survive for 5-12 years approximately. They grow the maximum in their very first year i.e. up to 8 inches. In later years they can grow till more 12-18 inches. They weigh up to 1-5 pounds. The survival period of a bullhead even depends upon the species you are petting.
• BASIC INJURY: It is always suggested to keep a catfish with a catfish only. Or else it creates territorial issues, which ultimately leads to injuries. A bullhead usually gets injured in three basic places. First is the tail. If a bullheads’ tip of the tail is lost in the battle, it’s not much of an issue as it can regrow it. However, if it loses the tail from the bone, it has to live a tailless life. Although it hardly affects its swimming abilities. The second place includes the barbells. This once lost is gone forever. But as the bullhead has eight whiskers, a loss of one might not matter that much. The third and the last will be the injury to its eye. This is again an unfixable injury, which makes the bullhead dependent on its whiskers for the rest of his life.

So these were some of perquisites of keeping a bullhead as a pet. A bullhead usually requires a darker environment as compared to other fishes. Hence, do not illuminate your tank for no reason. They even eat at nights or in low lights which ultimately helps the feeding process. A bullhead even has extremely pointed and sharp spikes on their fins that can harm you be painful, causing you an infection if not handled properly. Make sure you remember the dos and don’ts once you have had your catfish. Irrespective of the name and the looks, it has nothing in common to a cat; thus, do not treat it like one!

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As pet owners people always expects their pet to be unique and different from other pets. They always want them to stand out from the crowd. There are certain animals which if becomes a pet can definitely be a show to watch. It has the shape, the beauty, the intelligence, the play and the tricks that make him exceptional in every possible way. I am sure you might still be guessing who I am talking about. Well, it is none other than the most elegant and playful being of water i.e. the Dolphins. They are not just elegant but even considered as the national aquatic animal of India.

Dolphins belong to the cetacean mammal family who are closely associated to the porpoises and whales. We can find around 40 species of dolphins in 17 different genera. They range from 4feet and 40 kg to almost 30 feet and 10 tonnes. It is a fish that is available everywhere around the world. However, the majority of population is seen near the shallow seas of the continental shelves. They are flesh eating mammals (carnivorous) mostly surviving on fish and squid. When dolphins are in a group or herd they are called as a ‘pod’ or a ‘school’. A male dolphin is called as ‘bull’, whereas a female is a ‘calf’.

The different dolphins as per their taxanomy are – Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Spotted dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, Commerson’s dolphin, Dusky dolphin, Killer whales, Amazon river dolphin. Dolphins have a flat, fusiform body which helps them swim faster. The fin tail known as fluke is used for momentum while the pectoral fins provide direction control and the dorsal fin is the balancing factor while swimming. The head is shaped round as it contains the melon, an organ used for echolocation.  In many species an elongated jaw is a common feature. Some species have up to 250 set of teeth.

Dolphins are extremely social animals. They respond to human contact and activity quickly. But there are certain limitations to how we can correctly interact with a dolphin.

• THE WATER TEST: Get inside the water where the dolphins swim. Do not swim close or around them. This makes them know you are not aggressive or menacing. Make sure you do not perform this act alone and have a companion with you to keep an eye on. Dolphins can be unpredictable at times. Especially when you are a stranger and they are unfamiliar to the being. The safest way is to do this with someone who is well trained and has some knowledge about dolphins and their behaviour.
• THE FIRST STEP: Never take the initiative or the first step while petting a dolphin. Unlike other pets dolphins take their own time in building confidence in someone or considering them as a friend. Hence let the dolphin come to you instead of you going to him.
• NOTICE THE TENSION: As said earlier it is always safe to let the dolphin take the first step. It makes them realise that you are not to cause any harm to them. But if you think that the dolphin is not comfortable with your presence do not come in its way. Let it go. Or else it may even turn the dolphin aggressive.
• STRETCH YOUR HAND: The dolphins don’t like unnecessary touching unless they really want it. So do not directly touch the dolphins. Stretch your hand out and let the dolphin come near it. Make sure you stretch your dominant hand so that in case of worse scenario you are ready to reflex back. The dolphins investigate your hand and if comfortable let you touch them.
• THE TOUCH TEST: Once you are sure that the dolphin is comfortable around you go ahead for small, gentle touches. Pat softly on its back. Dolphins are otherwise social animals. They enjoy human company. Be careful that you avoid touching its dorsal fin as it is a sensitive area.

So these were some of the suggestions one must follow if you are going on a wild adventure with the non-captivated dolphins. However, dolphins can only be captivated in Dolphinarium. As the name suggests a dolphinarium is an aquarium for dolphins care specifically. Over here the dolphins are kept in large pools or other water bodies according to their body size. Generally dolphins are not animals that can be kept as pets as they need large space as well as natural environment to carry on with their daily activities. Certain fishes are kept in aquariums where they are displayed in transparent glass tanks. However, dolphins are not tank-fishes. They need space to jump and play which include in their regular activities. There are certain dolphinarium where dolphins are kept in one pool, where they perform in front of the public. Such dolphins are usually trained and safe to touch and play with. The most common breed of dolphins seen here is the bottlenose dolphins as it is easy to teach and train and lives longest in captivity. Other species even include the Orcas.

Apart from the facts about their lifestyle and their habitats the most and relevant reason why one cannot buy a dolphin is that they are extremely expensive living beings. It is sheerly impossible for a common person to buy a dolphin as pet. On the other hand, there are loads of legal obligations one has to face to get a green signal to buy a dolphin. Hence, it is practically impossible for one to have a pet dolphin but one can definitely enjoy its company in their nearby dolphinarium. It is cheap, legal and at the very same time gives you a chance of being near this beautiful creature. So next time you visit a dolphinarium make sure to follow the basic rules and stand out in the crowd.

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Everyone has a general USP or a standout point that differentiates him/her from the rest. Sometimes these unique things about certain creatures are nothing more than rumours or clichés that eventually get attached to them unknowingly. For instance Chinese people are always short or anything western/new is originated in America etc. These were some examples from human world but there is an instance that shows us this trend exists in the animal world too. Like a mouse is supposed to like cheese, or a cat should be lousy, the elephant and the ant and the very famous of the entire dog and its bone.

Although many among these may even be true as for the mouse and its cheese or the cat being lousy but the dog and its bone is a real controversial topic! I know this seems to be the most said and heard phrase and should not be debated on. However every coin has two sides and studies have revealed that the other side of this phrase is not really a healthy one. The basic rule of a dog going behind a bone being normal should supposedly change. Or else it may definitely lead your dog a veterinian visit, if not so.

There are many reasons why a dog should be kept away from an alien bone. Some of them can be explained as follows:

• DENTISTRY: A bone is usually served hard and brittle to the dog. This may lead to broken teeth of the dog in the process of eating it. The adult dogs may be used to the technique of chewing a bone, but a puppy may not be habitual to it. Hence care must be taken that the bone if served must be fed at the right age.
• MOUTH: Apart from the teeth, the dog may even have other mouth injuries while having a bone. This may include the tongue bites, the mouth infections which turns bloody and nasty if not treated at the right time.
• ESOPHAGUS: We usually experience difficulty in swallowing something large without munching it properly. We have a small windpipe and esophagus that takes the food to our stomach. Hence it is very essential to chew our food properly before swallowing it down. In the same way, if a dog mistakingly swallows the bone without chewing it can get stuck in its esophagus. This can be extremely painful and need a vets attention.
• CONSTIPATION: Even if the bone somehow manages to pass through the small pipes it can still get stuck somewhere near your stomach or intestines depending on the size of the bone gulped. This may stop the entire digestion and excretion procedure of the dogs body making him sick constipated.
• PERITONITIS: Well all these steps ultimately direct your dog to this messy difficult-to-treat bacterial infection. It is caused in your dog’s stomach. The bone your dog swallows pokes holes in his stomach and intestines leading to peritonitis.

Thus these were some health hazards your dog may suffer from if left with its bone unsupervised. However studies have even shown that bones are not all that bad after all. Little bit of guidance and attention may prevent from the future chaos. If it is so, you must be wondering what type of bones or how to feed your dog with bones?

Feeding your dog with the bone has certain benefits also. The continuous chewing of bones stimulates saliva. If they are given few minutes after your dogs’ meal they help remove the trapped food in its teeth. It not only prevents the plaque build up and gums diseases but also gives minerals and other nutrients to your dog. These are the nutrients necessary for the skeletal system to keep it regenerating. But as said earlier not all bones are safe. You need to determine which is appropriate for your dog. These are certain guidelines that will help you find it out.

• THE RIGHT BONE: Well, not all dogs can really chew a bone properly. Hence, care must be taken that you know the kind of dog you are petting. The right kind of bone that suits your dog basically depends on its jaw line. The teeth structure plays an important function in the chewing process.
• THE RIGHT TIME: Every time is not the right time to feed a bone. Make sure you do not feed the bone before meals. The obvious reason here is that you don’t want your dog to be hungry/ starving when he’s drooling over his bone. Even do not forget to wash the bone properly once your dog is done with it. Store it in fridge for nearly 3-4 days before giving it again to your dog. Until this time serve your dog with some other delicious items that distracts its attention from the bone.
• THE RIGHT SIZE: The size of the bone depends on the size of the dog. Breeds like the German shepherds, Labradors, Dobermans are large in size and hence need large bones which they can swallow all at once. Care must be taken that the size of the bone should not be bigger than the muzzle which makes it difficult to swallow. A beef bone is considered to be the best fit for the larger breeds.

So these three rules must be kept in mind before feeding your dog with a bone. A bone must never be cooked, baked, boiled or barbecued before serving as it dries it up and makes it more brittle to chew. Many of the nutrients it holds are also lost in the process. The next time you feed your pet dog with a bone do remember all these guidelines and make your dog happy!

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Pets in cities and towns are a much seen practice. People want them as an alternative for a friend and a companion which they elsewhere cannot find. However, more often you can even see people flaunting their pets as some sort of status symbol in front of their colleagues. The costlier the breeds you have the more respect you receive. Although these are just assumptions and ego bubbles that people have built around them. Irrespective of this entire show buzz there are people who need pets instead of wanting them. Well, the wordplay here is the leap between need and want.

Not everyone buys a pet as a friend to pass their alone time. Sometimes it is more than that. Why go away for an example! The most known and familiar person here is the farmer. A farmer is a person who earns a living for himself out of the little digging he does on the field with the help of his friends. The friends here am talking about is none other than his pets i.e. the domestic animals he takes care of and who takes care of him. Logically, it might be a question of argument whether a domestic animal can be counted as a pet but if you go by the pros and cons list you will definitely understand the similarities.

You must know the number of pets farmers holds, but hardly few people might know their role in his life. No need to worry at all, here is the right place to enlighten you! These are some of the very common pets and their chores that a farmer usually have:

• CHICKENS: These can even be called as domesticated birds which are commonly seen in every farm. There is even a huge poultry business that is conducted on the basis of these tiny creatures. There are over 150 breeds of chicken all over the world. Chickens are found at a farmers place as they provide him with eggs. For people who don’t know, another fact about chickens is that their waste product makes excellent fertilizer.
• GOATS: Goat is an amazingly versatile animal. Apart from the basic uses that we are familiar with – as meat, for milk and fibre. Goats are widely used for much other purpose. The soft and mild milk that we get from the goats can be used as soap too, especially for sensitive skin. Not just this, goats are even used as browsers. They eat all the weeds and clear the land for the farmers.
• DUCKS: Ducks similar to the hens/chickens are kept for eggs and meat. However, they are even kept for ornamental and pets value. Ducks make outstanding pets. They clean your homes of pest, slugs and other insects by eating them. They just need a water dish, big enough to swim. They usually are found near water based areas and hence are also called as “Waterfowls”.

• SHEEPS: Looking at sheep’s, the very first expression one might have is that these are expressionless creatures. Well as a matter of fact, it is not totally wrong. Sheep’s are docile and down to earth animals. They make very good pets and supply a lot to the farmer. They also provide with milk, meat, fibre etc. They are humble creatures, with very less maintenance.
• HORSES: Horses altogether fall in a very different category of work. They belong to the equus family, the same family of donkeys, mules etc. They are quick and strong mammals. They are usually categorized as working animals for treks, transportation and other such on road work. They make outstanding companion as studies show they can understand their owner.

• PIGS: Everyone has a kind of gross feeling whenever around a pig. People have this belief that pigs are dirty animals. However, this is not true. Pigs in reality are very clean animals. They roll around in the mud to keep their body temperature cool which they cannot do normally on their own like the humans. They are kept for flesh.
• LLAMAAS: These are hefty camellia that was first originated in North America and then later moved to South America. They are not seen in India or anywhere near Asia. They are disciplined animals and make excellent pets. The striking features of these domestics are that they look after your other pets as a guard and lowers you worries.
• HOUNDS: This is a type that falls in the dog category but is not really a dog. These are kept by a farmer for the purpose of hunting any wild creature wandering around your pets. They are wild but with proper training makes loyal pets

• COWS: Last but definitely not least, this is the most common and widely seen animal at a farm. It is like a farmer cannot function without a cow. There are several uses of a cow. The milk that it provides is used for making several dairy products like cheese, butter, buttermilk, ghee, oil, even cosmetics. They are strong and bulky animals and hence are even used in ploughing and harrowing procedures.

So these were some of the known domestic pets that belong to a farmer. These pets require less care as compared to the city pets that might require 24hrs attention. But they provide more than them in comparison. Since, they usually stay together in a shed like the cows, hens ducks etc, they even look after each other at times. We see how a cat and dog can’t usually stand each other, in a farm the case is vice versa. You need not worry about such clashes unless if there’s some unfamiliar new entry in the group. Thus, these were the farmers’ best friends that always support; help him in all his ups and downs.

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You must know how people have a specific taste in a particular kind of pet. Especially, in case of dog breeds – not everyone goes for a bull dog, or a cock spaniel, or a chuahua etc.  Everyone has their type and taste. And one is very consistent on getting the same. Dogs don’t just guards are homes they become a part of your family. They understand the ups and downs happening and accept us wholly without any expectations. But as humans we cannot match the same equation. We only are around things we like and can stand.

Nowadays, there is this huge craze going around among the pet lovers about the dog German Shepherds. People just like what they see and then run on making the purchase. But it is very important to understand that you research about a pet properly before making it a part of your life. It saves both, you and the pet from any further trauma. Now for all those who is buzzing for having the German Shepherds as a pet, for a start not a bad choice! However there are some facts you must be well aware of.

German shepherds are recently seen as a domestic animal. There was time when their skills and speed made them look wild and dangerous. German Shepherds, though now a house pet, is originally a hunter species. He’s wild, strong and very cunning animal. Nowadays when you buy them they are calmed down and sold..But that’s not really who they are. It is impossible for an amateur to train an infant of the shepherd.  They are a very dominant species of dogs. But you cannot even ignore the fact that they are herd animals. They like sticking with the group they belong or are with. This means they are going to be with you as pet, till their last breath. To develop this degree of loyalty it requires a lot of training and investment of time. So one must understand that if you are opting for a German shepherd out of all dogs you need to have sheer commitment and more time at home.

German shepherds gained their popularity initially during World War I, when an US army official brought a puppy home after the war. He trained that puppy to make the most of its abilities. This puppy was named as Rin Tin Tin. He was later even picturized in loads of movies of that time. But this was a far time ago. Later, this breed came to be known as the force dog, or the police dog. Due to its intelligence, and cunning nature and amazing strength, and speed it was used in forces for rescue operations. And no doubt they aroused with flying colours. Even in the much known 9/11 attacks they were the key to find a lot of missing parts of the puzzle.

Not just in professional cases, but German shepherds were anciently even used for guarding the herds by the domestic farmers. Their aggressive nature, the raw and fearsome looks and the biting abilities made them capable of it. This activity is practiced even today in some of the corners of the world.

Apart from the good and merrier part about the dog, there are even stories and observations that should be considered. German shepherds, need to be handled with care. They have a quick response to stimuli and can be misinterpreted at times. If you have children in the house, make sure they don’t go close until the dog gets familiar to them. Once, that happens it becomes easier for the dog to bond. Even after the bonding is done, you need to be careful around it. As you know, German shepherds are really huge. They require a lot of space. And this is not a breed that you can expect to compromise. They need a comfortable home to sleep at. Or else an irritated and sleepless dog can be more dangerous than he already is. Other than that he needs adequate diet. You must understand that he is an active dog who is always at a move. Hence he requires enough food to regenerate his energy. On the other hand you must also be prepped up for regular play sessions with your dog. They need to utilise all that strength somewhere, so instead of some wrong chores why not a play session.

German shepherds are famous biters and chewers. They like removing their aggression by this activity. He can bite at things and people when he’s suspicious about them, or he thinks something’s wrong about them. He usually does the chewing when he’s not in a good mood. So you need to learn all those mood swings of your dog, to understand him better. Otherwise, the dog is always accused of being a bad dog. It is very important to train him in a way, where his reaction sensors are similar to yours. Well, the biting may go wrong sometimes – it may not always be a thief. So make sure your dog is properly vaccinated.

All these observations and training will make you realise one thing for sure, a German shepherd is not a cake walk at all. From all this it can be concluded that having a German shepherd is like cooking a difficult but delicious dish – one ingredient more or less can spoil the whole recipe. However, in spite of all these precursors’ people go for a German shepherd. You want to know why???? Well, the answer is pretty clear; he’s one of the loyalest, smartest dogs one can have. He’s a dog of principles – ‘you don’t mess with me, I won’t either.’ So if you are ready for the tasks do not think any further and get it.

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Pets are generally seen as a medium for company. People usually get a pet to make sure they are not alone, or bored, or to have a friend. Pets, animals have their own language of communication. They do not speak words but makes noise until it becomes familiar to their owners. This is their way of communicating with us. However, it often remains a question do they really understand what we are trying to say? Do they understand our language?

Even if they do, they always remain the listener in the process. But all of us hope that there must me some pet who can talk back at us. Someone like a talking parrot!!! There are many rumours and interpretations about a parrot being able to talk. Some believe it is a true phenomenon where as some just ignore. Yet, studies show that a speaking parrot is not a fictional story. It is a true event that happened and still occurs with proper training.

Well, it might be simply astounding for an owner to watch his parrot talk. But not all species of parrots can really talk. And even if they speak there are certain limitations to it. Parrots are able to imitate only the human speech and no other kind. Hence, their talking skills include sheerly words. Unlike human beings they do not have vocal chords to support their talking.  Still they have the correct type of anatomy which helps them speak. Our feathered friend has an organ called as syrinx situated at the lower most part of its trachea in the chest. It plays the same function as the larynx in our human anatomy. The sound is obtained by releasing air across the mouth of its bifurcated trachea. Thus, diverse sounds are shaped by variation in the depth and design of the trachea. This proves that the talking of a parrot is actually the whistling in various tones.

According to Steve Hartman of the Parrot University, parrots are counted among the six animals that use verbal communication to interact with others. Parrots are extremely social pets and yearn for attention and interaction from their human partners. It is believed that the parrot has more chances of talking if you start teaching them since a tender age. A well grown bird can be redundant in changing its talking habits. The necessary environment required for growing a talking parrot is just being a vocal person and having a very vocal family. This eventually develops the talking practice on your parrot.

There are different aspects that must be taken into consideration while teaching your parrot how to speak. Repetition is one of the prime factors here. Make sure you use similar and familiar words around the bird every day. This makes the bird known to those words and helps him generate it. Do not forget the actions while talking. This helps the parrot understand what is meant for what. Or else he will just learn the words without knowing its meaning.

Although not every parrot can be categorised as a talking parrot, still there are a few that can be listed. Some of them are:

• MONK PARAKEET: This is a colourful little bird which is actually a small parrot. It is also famous as Quaker Parakeet. Irrespective of their size, their intellectual abilities are higher. They are social and develop wide vocabularies of words and phrases.
• INDIAN RINGNECK: These are capable of speaking in complete sentences without any breaks. Though they speak in their own bird voice, they catch and understand the mood behind the speaking.
• BUDGERIGAR: It is also well-known as a Parakeet or a Budgie. It is a very common bird who can learn various phrases and even songs. They do not have clear and definite voices. Males are believed to be more proficient of talking than females.

• BLUE-FRONTED AMAZON: If you are planning to have a pet for lifetime than this bird should be on the top of your list. A blue-fronted Amazon can survive up to 100 years! They have a loud clear voice and are skilled to perfectly mimic human voice.
• ECLECTUS: The eclectus come in two different colours. The males are in green while the females are in bright red colour. They copy the human talking accurately. Not just the words but even the mood and tone of the language. However, its abilities are shaped to the best if it is trained since a young age. Otherwise it is just some other feathered parrot.
• HILL MYNA: The hill myna is a pretty little black bird that has an amazing ability to imitate the human voices. It not only mimics voices, but even has a soothing voice that makes the listening peaceful. They have an affinity towards singing.
• YELLOW-NAPED AMAZON: Among the Amazon birds, this one is credited as the best with its talking capabilities. They sing and are highly intelligent birds who can talk also.

• AFRICAN GREY: He can be tagged as the lion of the talking bird’s category. He is the smartest and the most intelligent in this genre in the animal kingdom. Experts say that these birds learn to speak and share to human concepts at the same level as a human tot.

So these were some of the talking birds/parrots one can pet. Though these birds standout as a pet and makes you look extra ordinary, care must be taken that they are not used as a medium of show-off. They must be adopted for companionship. Hence, their talking ability should not be stressed and pressurised. They are just birds with a quirky factor and must be looked at in the same way. They need the same domestication as any other bird and must be given accordingly.

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We are a generation that is grown seeing movies, playing video games and reading fictional stories like the fairy tales, panchatantras, sci-fi’s and the treasure hunts. All these stories tell us about the imaginary world that doesn’t really exist. However, there might be glimpses of reality into these fictions. For instance, stories about the quests, treasure hunts is not all that made up. In the ancient times, there have been such treasure hunts and quests that were taken place. Looking at this fact, it is even possible to assume that the characters mentioned in these stories were even inspired from real life.

Pirates and their stories have been in our books since decades. Although they do not just exist in our books. They are a reality too. Mostly pirates are seen as the people who exploited sea voyages and threatened people who entered into their territory i.e. the ocean and the sea. There have been many incidents such as the pirate attack on the Olympus, the threats on the commerce of the Roman Empire along the Mediterranean and many others. Some of the known pirates during their ages are the Vikings (pirates of the medieval Europe), the Frisian pirates (during the late middle age led by Pier Gerlofs Donia), Moor pirate (adjoining the coasts of northern Italy and southern France) etc.

There have many depictions on the lifestyles of these pirates. Like they always had a cigar in their hand, a cap on their head, the one eye head band, the hook hand and many others. However, have you ever noticed the consistent occurrence of a parrot in these stories? It is often described that a pirate always had a pet parrot sitting on his shoulder. But why do they have a parrot? Why not a dog or something more huge and charismatic likes the pirate’s personality?

Well, there have been many other pets like the cat, monkey, and cattle’s along with the parrot. All the other animals on the deck have a justification for their presence. For instance, the cats are to catch the mice on deck, the cattle’s are for the meat/food purpose and the monkeys for the sake of company as well as spying for the captain. Still a parrot doesn’t give a valid explanation.

It is generally believed that the choice of pet a person makes is the reflection of his/her own personality. Like a dog lover is usually loyal, obedient, hardworking type of people. Whereas a cat lover may usually be moody, arrogant, and temperamental. However, one can really not tell the connection between a pirate and its parrot. A pirate is usually seen as a daring, menacing type of a person, on the contrary a parrot shows no such characteristics. Then why a parrot??  Studies have given many logical reasons for this question. Some of them are explained as follows:

• A parrots’ appetite is very less as compared to other animals mentioned above. In an environment like the ships it is possible to face shortage of food due to long expeditions and certain natural calamities. During such scenarios parrots don’t be a problem. They are not the share holders in the food account.
• Mostly pets on decks are usually food for the crew. They feed them until there is enough food. However, at times during a stormy night, the pet itself serves as a food. But in case of a parrot it is hardly possible. As a parrot has very little flesh and can barely fulfil someone’s hunger. So it even becomes a safe choice. No temptations attached.
• Parrots are people friendly and social animals. They like being around people. So it becomes easier to pet them. And there is no worry of them attacking the crew members.
• Sea expeditions are long and boring. Apart from the part of actual action of stealing and threatening it’s all sheerly a long journey on board doing nothing. And usually there is no source of entertainment other than a radio for passing time. At such times the parrots can be taught certain tricks for entertainment purpose.

• Certain parrots have the ability to speak. It depends on the species of the parrot as not every parrot can do so. However, even the one who can talk needs proper training for their natural ability to be flourished. They can talk unnecessary things if not skilled properly, but they still make good company. Especially when you are the only person left on the deck.
• In the earlier times, talking parrots was a rare thing. They were seen with amazement and surprise. Hence, the one having it automatically seemed different and prominent among the others. This even increased their domestication and trade for the same purpose. The more bizarre the animal the more its demand in the market. In case of pirates they were usually smuggled. It soon became a matter of prestige for most of the pirates.
• Because of their talking ability parrot’s even served as good messengers. They carried messages or news over the deck or from some other ships nearby. They were loyal to their owners.

So these were some of the logical reasons behind the whole mystery behind the Pirates’ Pet Parrot. Pets today, and in the earlier times was always of great importance. Every person needs and needed a pet, a friend to accompany in the alone time. Right from the farmers with their hens and cows, to the kings and queens with their fluffy little cats, and not forgetting the not so friendly, threatening pirates with their parrots.  Well, now if you see any pirate movie or game do watch out for parrot nearby as a proof and be satisfied by the reason for knowing why!

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Usually, as a kid when asked whether who won in the ‘hare and the tortoise story’ I replied the Turtle! Well, to my surprise people even appreciated to that answer. However, a turtle never existed in the race. It was a race between a Hare and a Tortoise. This is exactly where the confusion starts. People vaguely understand the difference between a turtle and a tortoise. They are not the same creatures. Although they share certain similar features and characteristics, they have different names and existence.

Why do people confuse between a turtle and a tortoise? Why are they not seen as different individual species? Is it just because of their appearance? If you have such questions, the answer is a clear no. We cannot deny the fact that both the creatures do resemble each other to an extent. To start with both of them are reptiles falling in the same taxanomy named as Testudines. They can be grouped together as – Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Reptilia and Order Chelonii. They share similar traits. The first most being their hard shell above their skin. Every turtle and a tortoise have a firm shell that is used for the sake of protection from being a prey for other animals. Unlike, others they are slow in movement and hence cannot run to save their lives. Instead, they use their shells to hide inside.

Apart from the shell, another important trait they share is their scales on the body. Both of them have scales in different patterns and shapes. They are even egg-layers which in return even makes them ectothermic. This means they cannot manage their body temperature and have to depend on some external source like the sun to do it for them. They are unable to do it from inside like humans. So these were some of the similarities that generally come in the way of the big confusion. However, they are still different beings.

Some of the major differences in the characteristics of them are as follows:

• HABITAT: A turtle most of the times stay in or under water, while a tortoise is a land animal. It always is outside the water. The turtles come on the land only for laying eggs. The mother turtle and mother tortoise show similarity in laying of the eggs process. However, the mother turtle buries its eggs after laying them and leaves them on their own. On the other hand, a mother tortoise takes care of its eggs for the first 80 days before the hatching process.

• APPEARANCE: Although, a turtle and tortoise look almost alike, minute observations shows certain peculiarities. A turtle has a plane, sleek shell and limbs that are comparable to that of a tortoise. A turtle has fins and not legs which makes them good swimmers. Its feet are webbed and have elongated claws which provide a good clutch while floating on logs while turning on the river banks. Whereas a tortoise has a curved, dome-shaped shell attached over its short and muscular feet. The leg are slightly bent and not straight, locked directly under the body. This makes their body heavy and incapable of swimming. Hence, tortoise is a bad swimmer.

• THE SHELL: Other than the differences in the shapes of the shell, their weights of both the reptiles also vary. A tortoise has a heavier shell as compared to a turtle’s shell. This is because a tortoise uses its shell for protection from the predators, to hide, and for defence. On the contrary, a turtle’s shell is necessary to be light weighted as it is most of the time in water. A lighter shell makes it float instead of sink and makes swimming easier.
• APETITE: A tortoise is more of a vegetarian type of animal. He is herbivorous and lives on plants, leaves, fruits, etc. A turtle prefers both kinds of meals. He is herbivorous as well as carnivorous.
• LIFESPAN: A tortoise’s average life span is somewhat equal to that of human beings. It can survive up to 70-80 years at least. However, studies have shown that they can live beyond that period. There have been tortoises surviving to 120-200 years. Such tortoises are mostly kept in captivity under special care and environment. The normal lifespan of a turtle is on average 20-40 years only. There are certain species of sea turtles that can survive for more than 60 years. they even can live till maximum 80 years in superficial conditions.
• DISTRIBUTION: Turtles are found in Africa and America. In tropical and semi-tropical areas where they can get the appropriate external, warm temperatures to maintain their body heat. Tortoises are usually found in Asia and Africa. The difference in their geography is a natural adaptive process. Turtles require it for hibernating and tortoise do not hibernate as they naturally live in warm environment i.e. on land.

• PET LIFE: Both turtle as well as a tortoise is kept as a pet. The small turtles are the one in demand. Although a tortoise is easier to care and pet, it is extremely expensive to own. These days there are lots of legal procedures one has to go through to own a tortoise as a pet. A turtle and a tortoise are both long living animals; hence one must have a strong commitment before jumping onto a decision of petting it.

These were some of the important features that prove that a turtle is not a tortoise. They are similar looking animals with certain familiar characteristics but still maintain their individuality. They should be confused as one species of reptile sheerly on the basis of their appearance and looks. As one should not forget that looks can be deceiving. So here on we can say that a tortoise and a turtle are brothers/sisters from different mothers as well as father!

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Toys are one of the few things that have been with us since childhood. People even like cherishing these even after they grow up. They like treasuring it as memories. Some of these are manufactured, where as some are handmade, or anything that cheers us up and we can play with. Normally, people play with toys, irrespective of their age. Every age has its own toy. However, it’s not just people who needs toy for their leisure and entertainment. Even animals, pets need some fun. And that maybe the reason why the toy companies have shifted their focus towards it.

The pre-phase of wanting to be a pet owner is all exciting and joyous. But, once a pet owner, you start feeling tiry and exhausted doing all the associated chores with your pet. You need some time off to escape that life and take a crunch, something that diverts your mind. Well, if you are facing the same query, you are looking at the right place!Instead of ignoring or getting frustrated at your pet, engage them in some activity. Be a good owner. Get them a toy to play with. This will definitely buy you some time and will even add you up in the good books of your pet.

Talking about toys, let’s talk about dog toys. Dog is an extremely playful and active animal.  And as an owner it is necessary for you to keep it occupied. This even helps to avoid your dog running errands. Dog toys are not used just for fun and play part. They serve other purposes also. For instance if it’s a puppy, they need something to chew on, when their teeth are growing.It is very important to observe your dog before getting a toy. Every dog has a different taste in their toys selection. Some like to chew, some to fetch while some just like to hide them or gobble with. These actions help us to predict their toys preferences.

There are different types and variety of dog toys. For example, dog bones, plush toys, squeaky toys, discs, Frisbees, puppy toys, tug toys, balls etc. These toys even come in different sizes, shapes and colours. Some toys even serve numerous functions at the same time for the dog. On the other hand, sometimes your dog even uses its own creativity to combine two to three toys into one single toy.

Below are certain dog toys that will keep your dog engaged.

• KONGS: Originally, Kong was not actually a toy. It was bus gear stick. A bus driver’s German shepherd was so addicted to it that he was forced to give him it as a toy. Hence, it is even shaped like a bus gear stick. This toy acts as a distraction toy for the dog.

• BONE: This can be a real bone or something made of plastic or wooden material that is shaped like a bone. It can even be in different sizes. Dogs have an habit of burying in and hiding their bones, which they can later dig and remove. This is like our hide and seeks game that we played as a child. Some dogs even like carrying their bones in their mouth while roaming around. This even acts as a prestige symbol for them while flaunting in front of other dogs. The dog with the biggest bone gets more importance.

• LATEX AND RUBBER: Such toys are great for the entertainment purpose of the dog. Some dogs are very aggressive and have a continuous instinct to bite on things. Latex and Rubber are the perfect toys to exercise the negative energy of the dog. This toy not only satisfies their chewing habit but also helps in keeping their teeth and gums healthy. In short, it helps in enhancing the overall oral hygiene of the dog along with the entertainment.

• STICKS AND FRISBEES: Dogs generally have a natural tendency to be obedient. They like fetching things. It is kind of the oldest games that have been practiced with the dogs. Earlier, sticks or branches of trees were used for the throwing and fetching game, but nowadays Frisbees is the new cool! With modernisation, the uses of toys have also changed in size and shape. Frisbees are basically round plastic plate-like toy that are thrown for dogs to play. They even serve the training purpose to develop the dog and owner rapport.

• BALLS: This is the most common toy that is not only seen with every dog, but also in every house. Dogs like playing with balls of different shapes and sizes. They even like chasing behind them. This game keeps the dog active and playful. Though care must be taken that such a toy should be played outside the houses to avoid any damage by the dog and its toy.

• THE DOG CASINO: It is usually seen that dogs are redundant while eating their food. It takes a lifetime to teach them basic eating manners. They have certain specific favourites which only they enjoy eating. The rest is force fed. If you people suffer the same obstacle this is the right toy for your dog. Dog casino is same like the food parlour to us. The only difference here is instead of money the dog has to arrange the pegs into the proper places for the drawer with food to open. This dog not only keeps your dog engaged with the activity but also makes him eat the food he worked so hard for.

So these were some of the prominent dog toys that are famous among the dog society. They help your dog train and concentrate on the good things, instead wasting their energy. So Serve them with toys and yourself with time. Play and let play!

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We as human beings ordinarily have six senses which help us to evaluate and elaborate things happening around us. We cry when we are sad and laugh it out when things are bright and happy. So it thus, we are able to differentiate between our changing emotions and express them when necessary. This even makes the communication process easy and smooth. Not only this, but also we can talk out our queries and problems to other people. Thus, vocal communication again makes our living easier.

However, have you ever thought, how can one communicate without the vocal chords. Or how can they express what they want, have an issue when they cannot speak?

Well, animals in general usually face this problem. Especially the pets and their owners. Wild animals are free to move anywhere they prefer, but so is not the case of pets. They need to follow certain set of rules and regulations with respect to their owner’s lifestyle. They cannot go on running errands. Hence, it becomes necessary for the owner and the pet to understand each other. This is where the main commitment lies of either of one.

Every species of pet have their own way of communicating with their particular signs, symbols and habits. However, what is meant what is the tough job to be handled. Sometimes, the owners misinterpret the pets saying and thus may lead to having difficulty in coping with him. Instead if you do a proper study on your pet before getting one home, it’s all a happy journey thereafter for both of them.

Have you ever noticed how dog keeps wagging his tail every time when something happens around him? And how the intensity of the wagging changes as per the events. Like when a dog is continuously wagging its tail and we pat him to appreciate and instead of being happy they growl back at us. We be amazed and question exactly what went wrong? This is something very natural but not a habit. It is their way of expressing themselves and communicating with us. Most often this wagging is considered as the dog being happy. People believe that if a dog wags his tail it is majorly because he is happy and pleased about something going around him. Although this is just a myth like many others, related to dogs and their behaviours.

Dogs preferably wag their tails as a response to stimuli or a reflex action. It is their way of communicating with us. Though it not always necessarily means that they need your help or be petted by someone. Dogs have a language of communication. It mainly depends on the position as well as the stiffness of their tails. The tail reveals the tale of the dog’s emotions. The same as we deal with words and letters.

The dog is considered to be relaxed when his tail is in its natural position. Although, this so called natural position is different for different breeds. As every dog varies in size, shape and other features, so does their tails. For example, a pugs’ tail is curled upwards, greyhounds’ tails usually rest in between their legs where as normally any dogs tails hang down near their hocks, or heels. Hence it is important to the natural position of your kind of dog.

When a dog gets docile or panicky his tail lies more below his natural position. On the other hand, when a dog is scared and under confident he curls up his tail below his body to feel protected. This can be observed during festivals like diwali when most of the dogs prefer staying inside their homes. The loud noise of the crackers makes them nervous and scared. A tail held at a higher level than the normal, stretching in the opposite direction and erect indicates that the dog aroused and excited by some activity while a vertically erected tail means he is being aggressive or defensive.

A dog does not only be happy, sad and frightened but he even gets confused and bewildered. And when he does get confused it he holds his tail straight out. The wagging of a dog’s tail speaks about his excitement. The robustly he wags the more excited he is. It is a symptomatic of his changing feelings. Prominently it is observed that if a dog wags his tail to the right it means he is showing positive emotions. Whereas, if he wags his tail to the left he is showing negative emotions. So even the direction plays an important part.

The above explained incident is not a coincidence or sheer observation. It comes with a logical explanation. As per research, the brain’s left hemisphere controls the right side of our body and the right hemisphere controls the right. Studies on the actions of other animals have revealed that the left side of the brain is connected with the positive feelings. The right side of the brain usually deals with the negative and avoidance feelings.

Fascinatingly, a study done in 2013 revealed that dogs not only communicate with their owners with the wagging of their tails. Instead they even understand the asymmetrical wagging of each other. For instance, if a dog wags his tail in right direction it relaxes the other dogs around him; however a dog doing it vice versa may stress them and grow some tension.

These were some basic facts about a dog and his tail. Same kind of behavioural patterns can be observed in other animals that they use to communicate with you and each other. Though the patterns may differ for each animal and at times for a specific breed. So it becomes very crucial for an owner to be observant, careful and sharp while petting a pet. As a tail may not always necessarily tell its tale!

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