Why Do Dogs Sing Along to Music?

When I was 12, I began to play the oboe. Like any beginner, I was not good. And every time I held a long, out-of-tune note, my dog would instantly begin howling like some deranged four-legged backup singer. Dogs, of course, howl along to all sorts of music: the Law and Order theme song, “Let It Go,” and most ubiquitously these days, Adele's “Hello” among them.


Researchers have long been interested in this question. A student wrote in a January 1906 issue of Nature Studies on the subject of “Why Do Dogs Howl to Music” that writers for nature publications, “being mind-bound by the fetish of ‘evolution’ theories,” often look to the “primeval Dog” for answers. But evolution theory is actually a useful guide in this case: When dogs hear a human voice belting out a tune, their pack instincts kick in; they want to participate in the chorus. “It’s like a family singing,” animal behaviorist Peter Borchelt has said.

We can only wish we'd look this cute when someone comes into the room with a plate of cupcakes. Photographer Christian Vieler has captured the looks of wonder, anticipation, and determination on his subjects' faces as they're tossed scrumptious treats. And it's okay that their mouths go wobbly and their eyes all bulgy in the process, because his subjects are dogs.

The Animals Need More than Just Love at Times

Pets are lovable, there's no doubt about it. The reason why most people decide to adopt animals is the simple fact that they are the best companions one can have. Apart from sheer loyalty to the adopter, pets act as great stress busters. While people revel in the love they get from their pets, questions are there how much of the love is reciprocated back. Pets are responsibilities for the adopters who must make sure that their pets are in the pink of health and active as well. While the pets act as good stress busters, it is the human kind's responsibility to relive the pets from their stresses.

Regular checkups are musts for animals to live ailment free. Even if the animals do not show any palpable sign of ailment, one can never be too cautious. Some ailments in pets stay latent till the stage when they become life threatening. Proper and early diagnosis of these diseases is a must to ensure that the animals do not go through that treacherous fate. At Least in the matter of few months, animals must be taken for diagnosis and health checkups at the animal hospitals in the vicinity. The government hospitals in many countries offer consultation and checkups for animals at subsidised costs.

It is obvious from the death rate comparison among animals in different countries that some countries are better equipped to tackle animal ailments than the others. Canada, for example, is a trendsetter in veterinary science. Animal hospitals in Burlington are well known for their expertise in the field of vet medicine and operations. People refer to these facilities when their pets are suffering from life threatening diseases or ailment that needs emergency attention. Housing some of the best vet surgeons, the animal hospitals in Burlington are the point of reference for worried pet owners.

It goes beyond saying that veterinary science has evolved quite a lot in the last few decades. A number of ailments can be effectively avoided with remedies like simple vaccinations- something the yesteryears vet science was not equipped with. Effective diagnosis has also played an important part in felling the death rate of animals sharply in developing countries. The one aspect of vet science that still needs advancement is the one of emergency surgeries. Government entities involved with animal welfare invest heavily on new researches and development in veterinary science to usher in a brighter future for the animals in distress.

Why Do Cats Purr?

One important thing we do know about purring, however, is that it can be a highly beneficial act for the cat itself. Purring is thought to be very soothing and de-stressing for cats (and conveniently is the same for us feeble humans). This explains why cats purr when they are unhappy or nervous: It's a mechanism to help calm themselves and retain their cat-like composure. Purring also has numerous physical benefits, including tissue-regeneration. That's right: Purring can actually help a cat heal.



The low frequency of a purr (about 26 Hertz on average for a domestic cat) has the same muscular and bone-strengthening benefits as high-impact exercise on humans. That probably explains why they can jump from the highest bookshelf in your living room and not feel a thing.

Purring also has the benefit of releasing endorphins, a chemical that helps in pain management and overall happiness. Many cats will purr when pregnant in order to ease the aches. When the kittens are born, the purring continues as a necessary form of communication. As cats are born blind, a mother's purr is necessary in order for the newborns to find and communicate with her. Newborn kittens pick up on the technique when they are just a few days old.

Of course, the most important thing in decoding any purr is context. As it is a form of communication, it is up to us cat-lovers to discern exactly what our feline friends are trying to say. Whether they are hungry, scared, or just happy to see us — there are usually clues to indicate, and it's our job to be attuned to those clues (in order to best serve our kitten overlords, of course).