Your pets' secret lives The truth behind your pets' wildest behaviors

Pets are key members of many children's lives, and this jaunty guide helps kids understand their furry, feathery, and scaly companions even better. The book is first organized into sections on common pets--dogs, cats, birds, fish, caged animals (bunnies, guinea pigs, etc.), and terrarium animals (snakes, tarantulas, etc.)--with topical chapters that focus on the different animal characteristics and behaviors that make us curious about (and fond of) them. In a humorous, conversational style, complemented by cartoon spot art, Rice explains such phenomena as why dogs message through pee (and how they align themselves with the north-south axis of the earth's magnetic field to poo), why some cats go gaga for catnip, and why a bearded dragon would need to change colors (plus how they do it). In interspersed interviews, scientists reveal more fascinating pet facts and explain how their curiosity led to studying their favorite animals. In a unique "But Wait! There's More!" bibliography, readers can find books to learn more about herpetologists, arachnologists, ornithologists, and other scientists who study animals.

A guide to the secret meanings behind some of our pets' most curious behaviors. Ever wonder about your dog's butt-sniffing or poop-eating habits? Or why your cat blinks slowly at you and you feel the urge to slowly blink right back at her? Did you ever imagine that your tarantula, safely tucked in its terrarium, might really be anxious and afraid? Did you know that a male parakeet's future depends on its ability to learn its prospective mate's specific song? These questions (and many more) are answered in this detailed account of the fascinating biology and weird behavior of our non-human family members. In six sections broken down into brief, digestible chapters, Rice explains how dogs, cats, birds, fish, various small cage-dwelling mammals, and terrarium pets (including reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods) experience the world in different ways. Memorable facts combined with delightful, full-color spot art will sustain readers' interest. Four insightful interviews with a diverse group of researchers and experts interspersed throughout the text describe surprising breakthroughs and insights and different personal paths to careers in science. The author mixes humor with scientific data, delivering an entertaining and informative guide that will pique readers' interest in learning more about the animals we share our homes with. An engaging, fact-filled book that offers both laugh-out-loud and aha moments. (resources, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 8-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Introduction More than half of us live with at least one creature that is not a human. Though they may have scales, fins, fur, or feathers, we consider them family members. Sometimes they might even seem like humans. Many greet us when we come home; some give us kisses or try to make us feel better when we're blue. But trust us: our pets see the world in a totally different way than we do. Our lovable housemates have superpowers that come from their ancestors' wilderness survival skills. Some battle ancient foes, if only in their minds. Others can change color or shape. Still others have conversations that we can't see or even hear. These behaviors seem mysterious, but if you pay attention and know what to look for, you will begin to understand your pet in a whole new way. In these pages, we unlock some of our pets' strangest behaviors. We shake their family trees, peek between their feathers, dive into their brains, and sometimes hitch a ride on their poops to uncover their hidden lives and reveal them to you. What you do with these discoveries is up to you. Will you give your cat kisses with your eyeballs? Listen to your mouse's roars? Comfort your tarantula when she has nightmares? Congratulate your dog on a well-aimed pee? Give your goldfish some happy memories to last a lifetime? You know your pets better than anyone. And soon, after reading about their secret worlds, you may be able to understand them, too. Part I Dogs Of course, you and your pup are best buds! You do everything together! Well, almost everything. There are some things a dog just needs to do on its own. Like poop in the most spectacularly secret way. And send you tail-wag flag signals. And . . . turn the page to find out! Talk to the Tail Sometimes we say it best when we say nothing at all. With that in mind, here's a short list of some of the many everyday ways we talk with our hands instead of our mouths: Wave: Hello. Shrug: I don't know! Raised hand: Hooray! or I'm over here! Punch fist: You dirty rascal! or I'm gonna beat you up! Shrug: I'm not really feeling it. Power fist: We are the champions, my friend. Prayer hands: Bless your little pea-pickin' heart. or Thank you. Peace sign: Peace out, homeslice! There are plenty more, of course. Some you're probably not allowed to do. Don't do those! Dogs can talk without talking, too. Their paws don't allow for much in the way of a thumbs-up, so they let their tails do the talking instead. Are you listening to those wags? If you are, you can learn more than just who's a happy pup. Here is a short list of everyday posterior postures to help you decode the tail talk. Tail up: Hello! You have my attention! Circle wag: You are my very favorite of all the favorites, and I am so happy to see you in the most wonderful of ways! Wag to left: You make me nervous, and I'm not super sure about you. Wag to right: I want to make you my buddy. or I'm very happy to see you, buddy! Tucked tail: Yikes! Also tucked tail: Come and get me, sucker! Yes, a dog's tail can be a window into its sunny little soul. Some tail positions are practical. Tucking that tail in, for example, makes it harder for anyone to nab Buster, whether he's skittering off in play or worried someone's going to bite him. A perky, upright tail can leave the back door open for a good old-fashioned butt sniff. Scientists think dogs' brain wiring leads to other tail positions. In dogs (and other animals, like humans--like YOU!), each side of the brain specializes in a different set of skills and feelings. The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body and links to using energy (run away!). It also links to feeling sad or afraid. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and links to feel-good, happy, calm-type feelings. When a dog like Buster sees another dog wagging its tail to the left, Buster's heart starts pounding. He acts anxious. Even without knowing everything the scientists know, Buster somehow associates that other dog's left wag with the feeling that something is a little iffy about the situation. On the other hand, when Buster sees another dog wagging its tail to the right, his heart rate stays nice and easy. He feels free to wiggle-waggle on up to that dog. With that right-tail-wag signal, Buster feels glad to see an old Buster buddy, or hopeful to make a new one. Keep your eyes peeled for the silent signals from your best friend's rear end. Is your buddy ready for fun? Or needing comfort? Now that you can catch the meaning of the wag, you'll know for sure. Excerpted from Your Pets Secret Lives: the Truth Behind Your Pets' Wildest Behaviors by Eleanor Spicer Rice All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.