Does your pet have a personality? – PetsOnBoard.com

s your pet outgoing or antisocial? Clean or slovenly?If you share your home with an adorable, lovable pet, then you are well aware that your pet has his or her own distinctive personality. It is said that animals can be unpredictable (and for that matter, so are humans) but if you pay attention, there are some ways in which they are very predictable. And the closer you watch, and the more you take note of what they do, the more you will get to know what your pet’s personality is really like and be able to predict his or her behavior – perhaps not totally, but certainly to a degree.How would you describe your pet?Is he or she irritable in the mornings? Does your pet not like to get out of bed until he or she absolutely has to? Does your pet consider eating or grooming to be serious business? If so, you would be wise to leave them to it, with a minimum of interruptions. You don’t want to have an irritable pet on your hands, especially if you have children or visitors in the household. It will be in your best interest to first of all get to know your pet’s personality traits, and secondly, be a considerate human and work around their preferences as much as you can, without, of course, upsetting or unsettling the rest of the household.Snoozing and playing.Pets, especially dogs and cats, need a lot of sleep, and although it’s not possible to build your schedule around your pet’s sleep and play time, it is worth noting that they do have certain times they like to sleep and play. And if you have little children in the household or a lot of interruptions, don’t be surprised if your pet finds a safe place where they can escape to just catch up on their naptime.Sensitive or rowdy?How sensitive is your pet? Do loud noises and sudden movements scare them, causing them to shrink back into the sofa or their pet bed or scurry off to their private hiding spot? Or do they love all the hustle and bustle and can’t wait to join in the fun? If you have a sensitive pet and a rowdy family, it may be that you don’t have the best pet for your home environment. The first step is to be aware, and then you can find ways to soothe your pet’s soul with some one-on-one nurturing connection time.Outgoing or antisocial?Some pets are one-on-one animals, and although they might like to go out, as most dogs love to get out and experience the big wide world, they may not necessarily be interested in or feel safe in an environment where there is a lot of interaction with other people and animals. On the other hand, some pets, especially some dogs, just can’t wait for play time, and will interact with everyone, dog or human. Energetic or laid-back or lazy?How much activity does your pet need? If you have a dog, are they happy with a stroll morning and night, or do they long for a full on active run each day to help them sleep at night and get rid of built up energy? If you have a pet that loves to be active and you are not up to the task, then consider engaging a pet walker or runner who can give them a good exercise session on a regular basis.Clean or slovenly?Is your pet a luxury-loving diva dog or cat? Will he or she find the best throw rug you have in the house and take it over as their very own to settle his or her furry tail on? Or will any clear space to hang their head do, regardless of how soft and snuggly it is?Finicky foodie or guzzler?How finicky are they with their food? Do they eye and sniff their food to decide if it is suitable, gourmet fare, and turn their nose up on recycled food? Or do they just wolf down whatever you give them without any thought of what it is? Will they miss a meal to make a point that they are not happy with what the chef has served? Or will they just eat it regardless?How smart is your pet?Is your pet just way too smart? Well, guess what: If they are, then you are going to have to be one step ahead of them and learn to be strict about training, commands and follow through. Otherwise, they will have you wrapped around their paw in no time. They will test you and push you to your boundary just because they know they can. And if they are slow to learn, then be prepared to put more effort into training. A well-trained pet is a joy to have around. If they are not trained, it can be very disruptive to all concerned, as well as the pet. So do yourself a favor and get some training tips – after all, you are the boss.Smoochy or standoffish?What is your pet’s personal space boundary? Do they long to be cuddled and smooched all day long with as much snuggling and loving as they can get? Or are there certain times during the day, like mornings or after they eat, that they just want to be left alone?How do they communicate?If you are a pet owner, by now you will realize that your pet has his or her own individual way of letting you know what he or she wants. Maybe it’s a little whine here and there, or a bark to get your attention, or a soft growl. And if you are really connected to each other, you can pretty well read