Adorable Snoring Hummingbird - Did You Know That Hummingbirds Snore?

Adorable snoring hummingbird. Did you know that hummingbirds snore?

Cat Refuse to Snuggle With You While You Relax on the Couch?

Cat refuse to snuggle with you while you relax on the couch? Join the cat owners’ club! Only the cuddliest kitties will tolerate being picked up and held — even for a short while. Why? Consider it yet another reason cats have a reputation as independent creatures who prefer to make up their own minds about how they interact with us.

But there are plenty of other reasons your cat scampers away when you try to hold her. Some cats were never socialized well with humans as kittens; others may never feel safe in a human’s arms because they are afraid of being dropped. And older, more frail cats may find it uncomfortable to be scooped up because the unexpected movement can cause joint pain.

In any case, most cats can be convinced to sit on or next to you when lured with treats –– just not necessarily in your arms.

Remember, cats tend to think the only good ideas are theirs. And being suddenly lifted four feet in the air was probably not on kitty’s agenda for the day.

Proven Ways to Calm Your Dog from Storms, Separation Anxiety, and Other Phobias

If your dog briefly startles at loud sounds or hangs back when approached by a stranger, chances are he's exhibiting a normal stress response that is entirely healthy. A short-term reaction to a stressful or unfamiliar event allows your dog to prepare to fight or take flight if necessary. In the wild, the fight-or-flight response keeps animals alive in the face of threats to their survival.

Unfortunately, in today's world, maladaptive stress responses – chronic, long-term anxiety and phobias -- are a growing problem for companion dogs. These fear-based conditions often take the form of separation anxiety, storm and/or noise phobia, or aggression.

To read more on this story, click here: Proven Ways to Calm Your Dog from Storms, Separation Anxiety, and Other Phobias

Senior Dogs Have So Much Love To Give

Those who have had the opportunity to love a senior dog know the true joy that a sweet senior can bring into a household, and that there are certain things only senior dog parents can understand.

Here are 6 things that only senior dog parents will understand:

1. Nothing beats a sweet senior face:
Is there anything cuter than the grey muzzle of your favorite senior pooch? Nope! They are adorable at any age, but it’s hard to beat the mature face of a sweet senior dog.

2. A good night's sleep:
Gone are the days of potty training and crying through the night. Most senior dogs are potty trained and will be completely fine sleeping through the night in their kennel or snuggled up next to you in bed. They appreciate a good night’s sleep as much as you do!

3. Farts are a (hilarious) part of everyday life:

Let’s face it, senior dogs can be smelly. It doesn’t make you love them any less, but it sure does make life funny. Every senior dog has been known to clear a room or two from time to time. They make up for it by being completely adorable.

4. You can teach an old dog new tricks.:

In fact, your senior dog’s ability to calmly focus on instructions makes learning new tricks quite simple. I was 12 when we brought Hooch home, and I was very excited to teach him how to balance a treat on his nose, and then eat it when given the signal. Everyone tried to convince me to not waste my time teaching an old dog a new trick, but Hooch and I worked together, and in a few short days we had his new trick down. I was ecstatic and Hooch was proud of himself. He loved to show it off at parties – when he wasn’t sleeping and snoring, that is.

5. With a senior dog, what you see is what you get:

Puppies are the quickest to get adopted at a shelter, and often get all the glory, but senior dogs are where it’s at! It’s hard to tell how big a puppy will actually get, or what kind of personality they will develop because you are adopting them when they are so young and small. When you adopt a senior dog, you know all that information up front, and are able to tell immediately if they are a perfect fit for your family.

6. Senior dog snuggles = the best snuggles:

These sweet seniors have perfected the art of cuddling, and aren’t afraid to share it. Dogs are like a fine wine, they just get better with age! If you were looking for the perfect cuddle buddy, look no further than your senior pup!