Pets - Wild at Hear: Must watch programmme

[Ragged Robin]

OK, I know I ought to have put this on the Pets forum, but I suspect few non pet owners read it and I think it would be useful to those kind people who arent accustomed to domestic animals but have adopted a stray, and encourage those who are thinking about doing so, to learn about animal behaviour,

Also perhaps a little reassuring to anyone who is a bit frightened by dogs on the streets. So I hope the Mods will be kind enough to let it stay here for a day or two. Animal lovers will drool over it.

Brilliant photography, for once a presenter who does not dominate the programme at the expense of his subject, and some cute pictures from Great Danes to goldfish

The first episode ( available on BBC IPlayer) shows how domestic animals act out in play their instincts for survival in the wild.

Particularly fascinating was a town in Peru where owners let their dogs out to wander the town do their own thing. The dogs (in one case as many as twenty together on the scent of a bitch in heat) avoid the traffic and seem not to trouble the pedestrians in the least, and apparently all return home safely at dinner time.

Although I am a "dog person" the scene of a cat climbing a brick house wall, with only its claws for purchase, had me biting my nails!

As for rabbits - now I want one ! NO dont take that seriously , I have enough with my dogs, who might also like a bunny but for the wrong reasons.

[sophie]

RR, its fascinating isn't it, particularly to those people who are not particularly pet animal orientated. I can sit for hours and hours watching my four dogs, their behaviour and "speech" towards each other is amazing. I've learned at least 10 different "barks" And you're right about stray dogs. If only locals realised the street dogs by and large are highly intelligent and very, very savvy and certainly needn't be avoided.

[ozankoys]

Agree it was a great programme cannot imagine how many weeks/months/years it took to make such an action packed hour. It was all so good it is difficult to say which part was my favourite although the inexperienced 'Aunty' looking after the 10 day old kitten was heart stopping & also loved the cat climbing up the corner of the house.

[rigsby]

And what about the cat on the landing touching the paws of the climber,Was it for safety or get back down?

[Ragged Robin]

Rigsby : I thought the other cat was trying to push the climber off the wall , but I think the commentary said it was play behaviour. Which shows how we need to understand our pets.

Sophie: The barking patterns are another example, people need to know it does not necessarily mean aggression. Mine are marvellous guard dogs because their barks and body language differentiate between warning the pack leader ( hopefully me ) of strangers and welcoming a friend - and coming down the garden to fetch me to open the door if it is the latter.

Some people dont understand why I spend so much money I can illl afford, and sacrifice a fuller social life for my dogs which can be a difficult tie. They not only give uncritical love and loyalty but make their antics make me laugh when the rest of this sad world is driving me to tears, and the beauty of so many animals restores my faith when I feel that the creation of humans was a terrible mistake!

However I think it only fair to point out that the dogs in the Peru item were all - or perhaps mostly - domesticated ones that were not confined to house and garden (let alone tied or caged) and therefore used to people. While most of the strays here are good natured, it is best to approach cautiously and after watching their behaviour as just occasionally may have been traumatised by illness of mistreatment into defensive behaviour . My eldest, now about 19 years old, can never quite forget her first three years fending for herself and pups and warns off any approach when she is eating.