Ask Me Everything 9

Working pets

Rescue dogs

Some dogs are able to use their amazing sense of smell to track and locate missing people.

Herding dogs

These types of dog help farmers round up sheep or cattle and move them to a new location.

Truffle dogs

These dogs can smell the rare underground truffle fungus, prized as a delicacy by chefs around the world.

Guide dogs

These clever dogs follow the commands of a visually impaired handler.

Guard dogs

Dogs with a fierce bark are used to guard private property and frighten intruders.

w    Macaws

We can mimie a few words, but I much preferto screech! There are species of macaws living in Mexico, Central America, and South America.

When does an animal become a pet

When an animal has a name, it can be thought of as a pet. The first tamed beasts datę back 14,000 years, with dogs trained to puli sleds or guard property. In this way, animals that could be relied upon to perform a particular task were eventually thought of as companions, or pets.

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Cat facts

wtoThe first feline pet ar owners were the Ancient Egyptians. They tamed cats to hunt rodents, and protect their crops.

wferc In the Middle Ages, ar many cats were considered to be witches, and were killed on suspicion of witchcraft.

wta When your cat drinks ar milk or water from a bowl, tiny barbs on the cat’s tongue scoop it baekward into its mouth.

; Domestic cats can purr when they inhale and exhale.

Purring can indicate contentment, fear, or pain.

(Cats use their taii to balance.

Around 10 percent of the cat’s bones are found in this part of the body.

Watch what you say around these talking birds.

W African Grays ^

We are found in central Africa.

I know around 1,000 words, so I am undoubtedly the most intelligent parrot. Even so, I do enjoy mimicking household appliances.

Cockatoos

G’day matę! We sulfur-crested cockatoos are found in Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea. With a little training, we can mimie human voices and pet sounds.

(c) 2011 Dorling Kindersley. Ali Rig

Crows    ^

Many species of crows are found around the world. We are known to mimie humans talking, as well as the sounds of cats, dogs, hens, and roosters.