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Domestication
While in theory any animal might be a pet, in practice, only a small number of species of mammals, especially dogs and cats, and other small animals, such as birds, are practical for several
reasons. Fish have joined them more recently. Aside from the obvious (eg, elephants being unsuited for small apartments), which species are suited for being pets is less easy to understand.
One answer seems to be that a pet must either be so small or easily controlled that its own behavioural tendencies are irrelevant, or the animal must be actually domesticable. Examples of
the former are such things as fish (eg, small ones, even including carnivorous ones such as piranha), or small reptiles.
A few animals are capable of adapting to human requirements sufficiently closely as to be said to be domesticable. Dogs are the classic example of domesticated animals normally suited to
being pets. The domestic dog is quite similar to the wolf (from which they are descended, as established by genetic analysis), but their physical form and behavior are characteristically
different than wild wolves, more than because of mere differences in size and coat and coloring. Typically, this involves a changes in head and eye shape, likely because this is more
appealing to humans (an extreme example of this is the appearance of nearly all stuffed animals (eg, Teddy bears, or the fictional Ewoks of the Star Wars movies). On the behavioral side,
characteristic domestic changes in dogs include what is, in effect, a prolonged infancy, and oddly, barking. Wolves are far less playful and don't bark, but a very long term Russian project
bred foxes for a few generations from captive wild animals, and got barking foxes rather unexpectedly. Domestic cats appear to be less changed by their association with humans (again,
aside from coloration and fur issues), in comparison.
On the other hand, common chimpanzees -- especially males -- are not willing to allow humans to 'take the lead' when adult, and they are poor pets as a result. Gorillas, at least female ones,
are rather better, though considerably larger. Bonobos, being more social than common chimps may be more suited to being pets when adult, but exhibit overt sexual behaviour which could
not be accepted from pets in any human society.
Some horse-like animals are suitable for human companionship as pets or as work animals, while zebras, otherwise quite similar, are not. Zebras use biting as a conflict expression tool within
the herd, and it seems quite unchangeable. It's incompatible with humans, as the biting is by human standards rather savage. No zebras have been known to have been domesticated.
Horses and donkeys don't have so deep seated a biting behavior.
Among large marine animals, various species of dolphins and othes of the cetaceans (eg, beluga whales, orcas, ..) either don't have such behaviors or can restrain them. Since humans are
just about the size of seals, a primary orca prey, this is somewhat extraordinary for the orcas. It has been established recently however, that Orca communities often have a preferred food
type, either fish or aquatic mammals; and use different hunting techniques in the wild. Only orcas from fish-eating groups are suitable for training. Raptors, such as eagles and falcons, must
be handled very carefully to avoid attacks on their handlers; the sport of falconry is to a large extent ways of avoiding such outcomes, and so they are not really pets in the sense meant here.
Large cats, with the exception of the cheetah, cannot become pets, as they do not reliably restrain their impulses. Nor do the large bears, for similar reasons. Small monkeys can be human
companions, but they are notoriously unable to defer their curiosity which leads to much destruction. Several of the ferret and otter varieties can be human companions, though, perhaps
especially for otters, while others, the curiosity and destruction issue is significant as well.
Dogs and cats are considered common pets, while animals such as reptiles are typically considered exotic pets. Some are quite exotic by any definition. The glofish, a genetically modified
zebrafish with a bright red fluorescent color, is the first genetically modified (GM) animal to be engineered as a pet.
Dogs and cats are the most common types of pets, both having very different character traits. The dog is seen as a loyal companion, who is more amenable to be trained, whereas a cat is
more independent, and as such are not generally trained in the way that dogs are. Both can be very intelligent and can form incredibly strong bonds with humans.
Koko is one of few examples of a non-human animal which has had an explicit pet. She requested a cat. Koko's first pet was a kitten named All Ball, to which she was reported to be quite
attached and mourned for several days after the cat escaped and was killed by a car.
A pet can be acquired from a pet store, an animal shelter, a breeder, and sometimes from people who have extras due to births. See also pet adoption. Because of scarcity (ie, danger of
extinction) or danger (eg, the large cats), some pets are illegal in many jurisdictions.
People sometimes treat their pets much like children, especially when they do not have children, or their own have left home. Usually when it's just one person living alone they will have a pet
so they won't feel lonely.
[edit] TerminologyPet. (2006, October 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:11, November 1, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pet&oldid=84545802
While in theory any animal might be a pet, in practice, only a small number of species of mammals, especially dogs and cats, and other small animals, such as birds, are practical for several
reasons. Fish have joined them more recently. Aside from the obvious (eg, elephants being unsuited for small apartments), which species are suited for being pets is less easy to understand.
One answer seems to be that a pet must either be so small or easily controlled that its own behavioural tendencies are irrelevant, or the animal must be actually domesticable. Examples of
the former are such things as fish (eg, small ones, even including carnivorous ones such as piranha), or small reptiles.
A few animals are capable of adapting to human requirements sufficiently closely as to be said to be domesticable. Dogs are the classic example of domesticated animals normally suited to
being pets. The domestic dog is quite similar to the wolf (from which they are descended, as established by genetic analysis), but their physical form and behavior are characteristically
different than wild wolves, more than because of mere differences in size and coat and coloring. Typically, this involves a changes in head and eye shape, likely because this is more
appealing to humans (an extreme example of this is the appearance of nearly all stuffed animals (eg, Teddy bears, or the fictional Ewoks of the Star Wars movies). On the behavioral side,
characteristic domestic changes in dogs include what is, in effect, a prolonged infancy, and oddly, barking. Wolves are far less playful and don't bark, but a very long term Russian project
bred foxes for a few generations from captive wild animals, and got barking foxes rather unexpectedly. Domestic cats appear to be less changed by their association with humans (again,
aside from coloration and fur issues), in comparison.
On the other hand, common chimpanzees -- especially males -- are not willing to allow humans to 'take the lead' when adult, and they are poor pets as a result. Gorillas, at least female ones,
are rather better, though considerably larger. Bonobos, being more social than common chimps may be more suited to being pets when adult, but exhibit overt sexual behaviour which could
not be accepted from pets in any human society.
Some horse-like animals are suitable for human companionship as pets or as work animals, while zebras, otherwise quite similar, are not. Zebras use biting as a conflict expression tool within
the herd, and it seems quite unchangeable. It's incompatible with humans, as the biting is by human standards rather savage. No zebras have been known to have been domesticated.
Horses and donkeys don't have so deep seated a biting behavior.
Among large marine animals, various species of dolphins and othes of the cetaceans (eg, beluga whales, orcas, ..) either don't have such behaviors or can restrain them. Since humans are
just about the size of seals, a primary orca prey, this is somewhat extraordinary for the orcas. It has been established recently however, that Orca communities often have a preferred food
type, either fish or aquatic mammals; and use different hunting techniques in the wild. Only orcas from fish-eating groups are suitable for training. Raptors, such as eagles and falcons, must
be handled very carefully to avoid attacks on their handlers; the sport of falconry is to a large extent ways of avoiding such outcomes, and so they are not really pets in the sense meant here.
Large cats, with the exception of the cheetah, cannot become pets, as they do not reliably restrain their impulses. Nor do the large bears, for similar reasons. Small monkeys can be human
companions, but they are notoriously unable to defer their curiosity which leads to much destruction. Several of the ferret and otter varieties can be human companions, though, perhaps
especially for otters, while others, the curiosity and destruction issue is significant as well.
Dogs and cats are considered common pets, while animals such as reptiles are typically considered exotic pets. Some are quite exotic by any definition. The glofish, a genetically modified
zebrafish with a bright red fluorescent color, is the first genetically modified (GM) animal to be engineered as a pet.
Dogs and cats are the most common types of pets, both having very different character traits. The dog is seen as a loyal companion, who is more amenable to be trained, whereas a cat is
more independent, and as such are not generally trained in the way that dogs are. Both can be very intelligent and can form incredibly strong bonds with humans.
Koko is one of few examples of a non-human animal which has had an explicit pet. She requested a cat. Koko's first pet was a kitten named All Ball, to which she was reported to be quite
attached and mourned for several days after the cat escaped and was killed by a car.
A pet can be acquired from a pet store, an animal shelter, a breeder, and sometimes from people who have extras due to births. See also pet adoption. Because of scarcity (ie, danger of
extinction) or danger (eg, the large cats), some pets are illegal in many jurisdictions.
People sometimes treat their pets much like children, especially when they do not have children, or their own have left home. Usually when it's just one person living alone they will have a pet
so they won't feel lonely.
[edit] TerminologyPet. (2006, October 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:11, November 1, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pet&oldid=84545802
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