Pet-iquette
| Published: 26th May 2008 10:50 |
Although we love them, pets can be the source of much embarrassment when out and about.
If you own a pet you will be familiar with their tendency to embarrass you at a moment's notice, whether it's humping a friend's leg, terrorising the neighbour's cat or letting off a stinker the moment you have guests round.
Sound familiar? You're not alone. One in eight of us has experienced an embarrassing pet incident that left us a little red-faced to say the least, according to a survey by animal charity People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).
The charity for pets in need of vets has surveyed 1,190 pet owners to compile a list of "pet-iquette" moments that have left owners more than a little lost for words.
The anonymous survey, in which pet owners lifted the lid on their most embarrassing pet stories, found that a pet's natural bodily functions give owners the most cause for humiliation. It seems that nearly a third of us have been embarrassed by pets answering the call of nature at an inopportune moment while, fortunately, just five per cent were mortified when their pet vomited in public.
Equally embarrassing antics include pets mounting people, breaking wind, either loudly or melodiously in public and being a little too familiar when checking out friends and family.
PDSA senior veterinary surgeon Elaine Pendlebury says: "We think of our pets as members of the family, but these embarrassing situations serve to remind us that our pets are animals and occasionally they will give in to the call of nature at inconvenient times."
However, while some unusual behaviour can be a source of embarrassment, it could also be a sign of something slightly more ominous, which is why the PDSA advises all pet owners to keep an eye on all unusual antics.
"It's important to stress that in some cases medical problems could be the reason for poor behaviour," says Pendlebury. "For example, pets may urinate more because they are diabetic. A lack of training and behavioural problems could also be the cause. If owners are at all worried about their pet's bad manners they should most definitely seek veterinary advice to find out the true cause of their pet's poor etiquette. "
To help owners learn more about their pets' behaviour, copies of the charity's responsible pet care leaflets, Consideration for Others and Training, can be downloaded free of charge from the PDSA website http://www.pdsa.org.uk/. Both leaflets offer invaluable advice on teaching pets good manners.
"Our dog training leaflet, gives a step by step guide on teaching our canine pals to behave well in public and could certainly have helped to prevent some of the embarrassing moments etched in the memories of pet owners across the UK," says Pendlebury.
Not only is training important, but becoming aware of your pet's habits can prove life-saving as you are more likely to pick up on something that's wrong or out of sync with their normal behaviour. If in doubt about any aspect of your pet's behaviour then it's always best to seek the advice of your vet.
