There is nothing more beautiful than the sight of your dog peacefully napping, their paws twitching as if chasing something across a meadow, or letting out a soft bark in their sleep. As caring owners, we like to believe that our dogs dream of cuddles on the couch, playing in the park and – of course – about us. It turns out that idea is not far from the truth, writes Mirror.

Dr. Deirdre Barrett, a clinical and evolutionary psychologist at Harvard Medical School, conducted research on what dogs actually dream about. According to her findings, it is highly likely that dogs, just like humans, relive parts of their day in dreams – which includes us, their favorite humans. In an interview with People magazine, Dr. Barrett explained: “People dream about things they are interested in during the day – although they dream in a more visual and less logical way. There is no reason to believe that animals are any different.”

Given how emotionally connected dogs are to their owners, it is possible they see your face, smell your scent, or even “experience” situations in their dreams that make you happy – or upset, reports Večernji.hr.

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What can dogs dream about?

Although there is no way to know for sure what dogs dream about, Dr. Barrett assumes that paw twitching indicates dreams of running, while quiet barking might mean “talking” to another dog or a person.

Like humans, dogs go through stages of sleep during the night, including REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep – the period in which dreams occur. In humans, REM sleep begins about 90 minutes after falling asleep and lasts 5 to 15 minutes, with each stage becoming longer as the night progresses. For dogs, this cycle is faster but still long enough to allow dreaming.

Dr. Barrett advises owners to provide their dogs with positive daily experiences and a calm, safe place to sleep, as all of this contributes to more peaceful dreams.

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What if your dog has a nightmare?

According to the American Kennel Club, it is best not to wake the dog. Although it can be hard to watch your pet whimper or thrash, interrupting their sleep can cause confusion or even aggression – especially in dogs who wake up scared. This can be particularly dangerous if a child is nearby.

“Just as people can be confused and upset when waking from a bad dream, dogs can react impulsively,” explains the club. “It is best to wait for them to wake up on their own, then gently comfort them.”

Although dogs delight us every day with their loyalty, energy, and love, it's important to know that their health can have a significant impact on our wallets.

Some dog breeds are known for their genetic predisposition to health problems, which means more frequent vet visits and high medical bills. From chronic illnesses to sensitive digestion and respiratory issues, all this can turn an apparently “cheap” dog into a very expensive animal to maintain, reports Večernji list.

However, there are breeds that are known for their good health, and owners praise them for rarely needing to go to the vet and for lower care costs.

Veterinarian Amir Anvari, who gained a large following by sharing expert tips on TikTok, revealed the five healthiest dog breeds that tend to result in the lowest vet bills based on his professional experience, writes the Daily Express.

Beagle

In fifth place is the Beagle.

“This breed was originally bred as a hunting dog. They have an exceptionally strong and resilient immune system and very few genetic issues. The main problem you’ll have to deal with here is obesity because they love to eat everything, and a few ear infections, but otherwise they’re really healthy,” the vet explained.

The British veterinary charity PDSA warned that overweight or obese dogs are at greater risk of a range of health problems, from arthritis, diabetes, back problems, Cushing's disease, urinary incontinence, injuries, certain types of cancer, to a shortened lifespan and many other complications.

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Australian Shepherd

Number four is the Australian Shepherd.

“This breed is very energetic and beautiful, and the working lines have a strong genetic base with very few genetic abnormalities. If a dog happens to have certain genetic abnormalities, it usually isn’t allowed to breed, meaning those diseases don’t spread, which is why this breed is actually so healthy,” Anvari said.

Chihuahua

The vet smiled and named the Chihuahua the third healthiest dog breed, which, as he noted, surprised many.

Known for its small size, this breed is among the smallest in the world and is characterized by a lively, bold, and loyal temperament.

“This breed can live up to 20 years. Chihuahuas are very, very healthy, and because they are so small, their weight doesn’t put much pressure on the joints, so the joints remain intact for a very long time,” the expert explained.

He added that Chihuahuas can suffer from dental problems and patellar luxation, when the kneecap slips out of its normal position in the joint, but compared to other small breeds, Chihuahuas are definitely among the healthiest.

Australian Cattle Dog

The vet ranked the Australian Cattle Dog in second place and praised it as an active and very intelligent working dog. He also highlighted its strong and robust immune system.

“Australian Cattle Dogs can suffer from certain genetic conditions, but this is minimized by really good breeding. The oldest dog that ever lived was actually an Australian Cattle Dog who lived to be 29 years old,” Dr. Anvari explained.

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Basenji

The prestigious first place goes to the Basenji, which the vet praised for its athleticism, intelligence, and curiosity—traits that made this small hunting dog famous and beloved.

The breed’s ability to run at speeds of up to 50 km/h is especially impressive.

“Many people don’t know about this breed. It’s an ancient African hunting dog and actually doesn’t bark but yodels,” the vet said.

The vet attributed the Basenji’s good health to its origin.

“The reason it’s so healthy is that it’s an ancient, purebred dog that has undergone minimal crossbreeding, so if you’re looking for a dog that doesn’t bark and is quite healthy, the Basenji is definitely for you,” he concluded.

We’re convinced that summer is the favorite season for many of us. The vacation season is slowly beginning, holidays and seaside trips are approaching, and we finally have more time to spend with our four-legged friends.

However, while we can easily cool off with air conditioning and a favorite iced drink, pets don’t find high temperatures pleasant at all. They need our help to stay cool. Here are a few tips on how to protect your pets from the heat:

Provide Plenty of Fresh Water

Let’s start with what we believe is the most important point: fresh water is essential year-round, especially during the hot summer. If pets don’t drink enough water, they are more at risk of dehydration and heat stroke, which can also affect their internal organs.

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Dogs and cats don’t sweat like humans; they cool themselves through panting. During this process, they lose body fluids, so it’s important that fresh water is always nearby to keep their mouth and nose moist. Refill their water bowl every morning and replace it in the afternoon (or evening).

Cats are known for not drinking enough water, so you can trick them by getting a small fountain with running water, which mimics a stream. Alternatively, place several glasses of water around your home—cats are more likely to drink “your” water out of curiosity. If you have a pet bird, you can also offer a fresh bowl of water for bathing, which helps them cool off.

Maintain a Comfortable Indoor Temperature

It’s rare to find a house or apartment these days without an air conditioner or fan. If possible, keep your pets in air-conditioned rooms even when you’re not home—but avoid direct exposure to cold air and extremely low temperatures. If air conditioning is not an option, do your best to keep the rooms your pets stay in well-ventilated and comfortably cool. If the temperature drops in the evening, try keeping windows open after sunset to create a draft.

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Cooling mats filled with special gel are now available for purchase; place them on the floor so your pet can lie down and cool off. In addition to mats, there are cooling bandanas and vests, cooling water bowls, and chew toys that can be filled with water and frozen. A simple fan with a damp towel cooled in the fridge placed in front of it is a great DIY option if you don’t have or want to use air conditioning often.

Be Cautious Outdoors

We understand it’s more pleasant to stay inside where it’s cool, but pets—especially dogs—need regular walks. One solution is to walk your dog early in the morning while it’s still relatively cool, or late in the evening when temperatures drop. If that’s not always possible, try walking them in shaded areas and on grass rather than hot pavement.

If you have a yard where your pets stay, it’s a good idea to create some shade for them. You can do this by placing a large umbrella outside or stretching a sheet over part of the terrace. A bowl of fresh water is a must, and you can also place a wet towel over your pet to help cool them down.

Don’t Leave Pets in the Car

When temperatures are high, never leave your pet in a parked car. Avoid situations where your pet remains in the vehicle, even if you're stepping out for a quick errand. Always keep a spare bowl and a bottle of fresh water in the car.

Brush Long-Haired Pets

Long-haired pets often have thick fur that helps retain warmth in winter but becomes a major obstacle when it’s hot. Long and dense hair prevents proper cooling and airflow to the skin. Regular brushing helps by removing dead and tangled fur and improving airflow through the coat. Better air circulation helps regulate body temperature.

Heat Stroke in Dogs: How to Recognize and React

Overheating in pets during summer is unfortunately common. Despite your efforts to keep them cool, always watch for signs of heat stroke. If your pet seems lethargic, breathes rapidly, drools excessively, or collapses—seek veterinary help immediately.

One Last Tip

Whenever possible, leave at least one bowl of water outside, in the street or in front of your yard, for stray animals. Let’s not forget about them – writes petspot.rs.

Your dog’s world is full of signals we don't notice. Even though it doesn’t speak, it communicates with every glance, movement, and posture.

Have you ever noticed that your dog “doesn't like” someone, even if you don’t know why? It may withdraw, become restless, or even growl—while you notice nothing unusual, writes City Magazine. But what if its reaction isn't random? What if your dog is reacting to something beyond human perception?

Dogs are not just our loyal companions—they are natural emotion detectors. Their bodies are designed to perceive not only sounds and movements, but also emotions, tensions, and energies that we humans often ignore, reports Večernji.hr.

A dog is more than a pet—it’s a sophisticated reader of your moods. Its sense of smell, many times more sensitive than a human’s, detects chemical changes in the body that occur when a person is nervous, angry, or dishonest.

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When someone lies or suppresses their emotions, the dog won’t perceive it as a “lie” but will sense a mismatch. This inconsistency signals potential danger to them. Reactions like withdrawing, barking, or staring from a distance are actually warnings—their version of an alarm.

Dogs don’t understand morality the way humans do, but they are often better at detecting truth. If someone appears friendly but their body language, tone of voice, or breathing pattern says otherwise, the dog picks up on it immediately. They “see with their nose and listen with their heart.”

At the slightest sign of tension or dishonesty, a dog may change its behavior. Not because it understands the situation, but because it instinctively feels something is wrong. This isn’t disobedience—it’s survival.

Dogs also observe how others treat you. If someone disrespects you, the dog may interpret it as a threat.

It will often refuse food from such a person’s hand or show discomfort. These reactions don't come from training but from deep instinctive intelligence. The dog remembers facial expressions, tone of voice, movements—and forms associations based on experience.

Dogs that have experienced trauma are especially sensitive. A scent, movement, or tone of voice can trigger unpleasant memories in them, even if they aren’t consciously aware of it. Their body reacts quickly—before their mind does. It’s not hatred but a sense of discomfort still living inside them.

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Your dog will never lie to you. Its reactions are honest, even if they don’t seem rational. Instead of panicking, observe. Ask yourself: is this a reaction to past trauma, a current sense of danger, or just discomfort?

Your dog’s world is full of signals we don’t notice. Even though it doesn’t speak, it communicates with every glance, movement, and posture. Instead of dismissing these signals, try to understand them—because dogs often see what we cannot.

Imagine the following scene: “A beautiful July evening. You are in the park, strolling carefree with your four-legged friend. A group of people with their pets approaches you. Some of the dogs are on leashes, a few are roaming freely. Your pet gets interested in the approaching group. They first approach cautiously, then trust is established and play begins. When the play ends, you slowly part ways, each heading in your own direction, satisfied that your furry friends had a wonderful evening.”

This is the ideal story every pet owner hopes for when going out for a walk with their companion. But we all know that things don’t always turn out this way. Sometimes, when dogs are not properly socialized, not accustomed to interacting with their own kind, or when stray dogs see the area you are walking in as their territory, there is a risk of unpleasant and unexpected incidents – the risk of bite wounds.

How to Know When to Move Away from Trouble with Your Pet?

By nature, dogs are pacifists and will try to avoid conflict situations if possible. However, fear, anxiety, and aggression can be provoked by the current situation or previous negative experiences. Most dogs will give warning signs before an actual attack, some of which can be subtle, such as: lip licking, turning their face away, trying to retreat, flattened and backward ears, yawning, or crouching.

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On the other hand, very direct signals are: growling, aggressive barking, baring teeth. If there is a dog nearby showing any of these signs, take your pet and calmly but quickly move away. It can be helpful to place a physical barrier between your dog and the threatening dog, such as a fence or a parked car.

What to Do if a Conflict Occurs?

If a conflict does occur, it is crucial to remain as calm and composed as possible. This is the best way to help your pet. Numerous factors influence the severity of a dog bite, and obviously, a large bite or multiple bites with heavy bleeding require immediate veterinary intervention. However, it is important to note that even very small bite wounds, barely visible under the pet's fur, should also be examined by a veterinarian due to possible complications.

When a bite occurs, the tooth not only damages the skin but also creates a pocket under the skin, which becomes an ideal environment for bacterial growth and leads to infection. Often, the entry wound is small, the skin heals relatively quickly, and can "trap" bacteria in the pocket under the skin, which will rapidly multiply and cause an abscess.

Although infection tends to be the primary concern for any dog bite, other serious health problems can develop depending on the location and severity of the bite. It is important to mention that in veterinary medicine, there is a special type of traumatic event known as “Big dog-little dog,” where fights between large and small breed dogs result in extensive and very serious injuries to the small dog, which can be widespread, affect multiple organ systems, and severely endanger the animal's life.

In most cases, the injured pet is in a state of shock with serious polytrauma, requiring urgent veterinary intervention, stabilization, and often major surgical procedures to repair the sustained injuries.

Things a veterinarian believes you should not do to your dog.

Veterinarian Amir Anvari, known for his pet care advice on TikTok, revealed three mistakes he made while raising his dog to help others avoid making the same ones.

Early Neutering

“The first mistake was neutering my dog too early. Now he has hip dysplasia and elbow issues. He’s already developing arthritis, and he’s only four years old. I was led to believe that neutering at six months is normal,” the vet revealed.

He explained that “it’s a large breed dog and that’s not normal.”

“There are different age recommendations for different breeds when it comes to neutering and spaying, so you shouldn’t listen to anyone who says to neuter them at six months,” the veterinarian pointed out.

Neutering and spaying are procedures done by a vet to prevent dogs from reproducing, but there are important differences between them.

Neutering refers to the surgical removal of sex glands in dogs. In males, it means removing the testicles, and in females, the ovaries—and often the uterus—are removed. This procedure completely stops the production of sex hormones, significantly affecting the dog’s behavior and physiology.

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Spaying refers to vasectomy (cutting the vas deferens) in males and tubal ligation in females. After spaying, the dog still produces sex hormones but can no longer reproduce.

The UK Royal Kennel Club stated that the right age to neuter a dog depends on its breed, size, and sex. They emphasized that there is frequent debate over the “best” age for this, but a vet will advise you based on the latest research and guidelines, reports Express.co.uk.

Weight Gain

Another mistake Amir admitted to was allowing his dog to gain weight. He explained that he used all kinds of excuses not to walk him, from work to bad weather.

“I felt bad, I overfed him. I gave him treats because he really liked them, and he gained weight. Since I have a large breed dog, I can already see the impact on his joints, and now that he’s developed arthritis, it’s hard to help him,” he said.

He stated that he’s now doing everything he can, of course, but believes he should never have let it get to that point.

“Don’t let your dogs get overweight. It’s not worth it,” the vet warned.

Punishment

The final mistake Amir admitted to was hitting his dog when it was a puppy, but only “when he was chasing animals on the farm” and he didn’t mean to hurt the animal. He said that even today “he still sees the fear in his eyes” if he raises his hand, even though he’s not trying to hit him.

Amir said he deeply regrets what he did and now understands he should have used a different technique. He asked other dog owners:

“Don’t hit your dogs. They’ll just fear you.”

He said that “admitting some of these mistakes is hard and shameful, especially because I’m a vet.”

“If this can help you avoid the same mistakes, then it’s worth admitting them,” the vet noted in the caption of his post, reports Net.hr.

A cat bite may seem cute when it’s occasional and the cat is small — but what happens when it becomes a daily habit...

If your cat bites you frequently, you’re not alone. While biting can be part of play in kittens or a way of communication in adult cats, this behavior can become unpleasant — even painful.

Fortunately, cats can be taught to stop biting, regardless of their age.

Why do cats bite?

Play: Kittens learn important social and hunting skills through play, and biting is a natural part of that.

Attention: Sometimes cats bite to remind you to pay attention to them.

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Dominance: Territorial cats may try to “rule” through biting, especially if they feel threatened.

Setting boundaries: If a cat doesn’t want to be petted, it will clearly show that by biting.

Fear or stress: Biting can be a defensive reaction, especially if the cat has learned that this helps it avoid an unpleasant situation.

Pain: A sudden bite may indicate the cat is in pain — especially in the area where it’s being touched.

How to stop your cat from biting?

Don’t pull your hand away – instead of pulling back abruptly, gently push your hand toward the cat to confuse it and make it instinctively release.

Don’t punish the cat – yelling or physically punishing the cat can worsen the behavior. It’s better to break off contact and ignore the cat for a few minutes, writes “Catster.”

Respect its boundaries – learn to recognize signs that something is bothering your cat (tail flicking, ears down, etc.).

Toys, not hands – instead of playing with your fingers, use interactive toys to keep the cat engaged.

Reward good behavior – when the cat goes for a toy or gently taps you with a paw instead of biting, offer a treat.

Keep a routine – consistency in feeding, play, and rest helps your cat feel secure.

Visit the vet – if the behavior has changed suddenly, the cat might be in pain or have a medical issue.