5 Exotic Pets That Look Like Dogs

Pets Like Dogs

Dogs are often considered the “ideal” pet for many reasons. For many people, they are surrogate children, and for others, they are loyal companions with relatively easy care. Dogs are also very interactive pets—their owners can take them outside and engage in lively play sessions. Are there any alternatives to dogs with similar characteristics?

Traits That Make Pets “Dog-Like”

• Trainability: Most dogs are easy to train, and they can perform many tricks.
• Playing Fetch: Dogs love to chase things thrown by their owners and play “avoid.”
• Human Love: Dogs are probably the most human-centric animals on Earth. Dogs tend to follow their owners, are affectionate, and affectionate.
• Hierarchy: Dogs are given status by their human owners and follow rules (for the most part). Dogs care about what their handlers want, even if they don’t behave perfectly all the time.

Dog-Like Traits

Obviously, no animal can be exactly like a dog because they are not dogs. In fact, dogs are special in the animal kingdom. Dogs are similar to wolf pups in that they are neotenic, which means they retain youthful characteristics. Because of this, dogs are adult baby wolves and naturally do best with an owner who will lead them. In addition, dogs are uniquely refined to interact with humans, and they are some of the only animal species that understand human gestures such as pointing. However, there are some pets that have specific characteristics in dogs.

1. Rabbit

Rabbits are traditional pets and are often considered “small” animals. They are often confined and given basic care, but many owners attest that these common animals can be more active and even trained to complete agility courses when given the opportunity. There is a growing backlash within the rabbit-owning community against keeping these animals in cages. Many owners today use dog pens to give them more room to roam, and some even let them “free” all over the house like dogs.

Rabbits love to cuddle with people and come in all shapes and sizes, just like dogs. They may not walk as well as leashed dogs, but you can easily put them in a harness and take them for short walks. Their enjoyment of this activity depends on the individual.

2. Bengal and Savannah Cats

Although Bengal cats are not really “exotic” because they are fully domesticated cats, they are often considered “slightly wild” animals because this breed was created using Asian leopard cats. The DNA of this species is highly diluted, however, and Bengal cats possess a striking coat and personality.

One characteristic that separates these cats from typical cats is their play drive and confidence, which is said to resemble that of dogs. They often walk better on a leash and have a sustained activity level. You can play fetch with this race and it’s easier to teach it tricks. They also love to swim! Bengals are the “border collies” of the cat world; they are athletic and intelligent and can sometimes be a challenge to own for some people. They require more attention, and some are known to spray easily.

Other breeds with unique cat DNA and similar characteristics include the Savannah cat and the jungle cat. Savannah cats have serval DNA and are often sold with a higher percentage of exotic cat genetics. These cats are known to be quite dog-like.

3. Wolves

It seems like a given that a fellow member of the canid family would resemble dogs, but foxes actually have a lot in common with cats in their behavior. As a pet, most fox species will be aloof and have a high degree of independence. Their prey is intact regardless of their upbringing, and they will always be meaner than most dogs. However, foxes can be trained on a leash, love to play, and wag their tails in excitement when their owners return.

The Russian Fox Experiment popularized the concept of domesticating foxes, but less than 10 of these animals made it to the United States. These foxes, unlike those bred on fur farms and making up the majority of fox species found in the pet trade, are said to have strong similarities to dogs, such as love and obedience to humans. Their differences from “regular” foxes, which are also hand-raised and socialized, may not be so extreme, however, because these animals show the same behavior.

4. Mice

Mice are climbing the ladder to traditional small pet status. Many dislike the idea of ​​owning a rat, but anyone with a basic knowledge of small pets knows that rats are considered some of the best pets. These rats are known for their intelligence, trainability, and willingness to show human affection. On YouTube, there are many videos showing how easy it is to teach mice various tricks. Rats are known for having great personalities and temperaments. Like dogs, apart from enrichment, they need social interaction either in the form of another playmate or frequent playtime with the human owner.

5. Pot-Bellied Pig

Pot-bellied pigs have become so popular that most people know that these animals can be kept indoors like dogs and can learn different tricks. The term pot-bellied pig refers to many different breeds of pigs, and while one type is referred to as a “mini pig,” they are all relatively large. Like dogs, pigs come from animals that are highly social and have a hierarchy. Training is required to maintain one’s position as leader of the “pack.”

It’s often said that pigs are smarter than dogs, but it’s more likely that pigs do so well in other ways on tests that they do better. Pigs don’t quite measure up to dogs in human understanding, like no other animal, but they can show love and understanding to a high degree.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not intended to replace formal, individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2018 Melissa A Smith

Comments

BellatheBall on February 03, 2018:

The Pot Bellied Pig comes from Countries like Vietnam and Taiwan. They are intelligent and adaptable animals. but, that said, some varieties can grow to a large size, so when choosing a piglet, be careful to meet the parents.

Pigs can be house trained, just like dogs, and can be trained to live with other animals.

Pigs are also herd animals and don’t do well in “alone” time. So just as you wouldn’t expect a dog to do well when left alone all day, expect the same from a pig.

Pig, like a dog. have limited ability to sweat, so they need mud or water to bathe. If you are thinking of getting a pig, you will also need to provide it for them.

As you can tell, the little piglets are very cute, but they have a lot of pig needs.

Louise Powles from Norfolk, England on February 01, 2018:

I think pot-bellied pigs are so cute, I love them! The mouse video is so cute, they are adorable little animals.

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