Celebrating our favorite furry friends in Hancock County
Have you ever heard of the phrase “She’s a dog person?”
What does “being a dog or cat person” mean? And how do you know which one you are?
You probably understand by now that people have many varying personalities and preferences. Maybe your favorite things to do aren’t the same as your best friend. And maybe what makes you feel cozy and warm inside is different than what your older brother prefers. These varying preferences are part of what helps to make up a person’s personality. And our pets have preferences too!
Many pet owners would agree that their pets have a personality all their own. In fact, researchers at Michigan State University found that dogs often take on the same personality traits as their owner. How is that for bonding with your pet?
That being said, different species of animals have different traits all together. If you have a dog, for instance, you probably know that when you walk in the door, your pet will run up to you with a wagging tail ready to play. If you are a cat owner, however, you have realized that your cat is more of a quiet creature when it comes to saying hi and might not even give you the time of day if they don’t feel like it.
So yes, dogs, cats and other animals can exhibit different personality traits. And, if someone claims to be a “dog person,” we assume that they probably share some of the same personality traits of their pet.
Curious as to which pet YOUR personality matches with?
Check out our short quiz below!
1. WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER DO?
A. Play with all the kids in the neighborhood in one big game of tag
B. Play a quiet game with one or two friends
2. WHICH OF THESE DESCRIBES YOU AT SCHOOL?
A. I love to talk to people and join groups
B. I prefer to be quiet and observe others
3. WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM TO SOLVE DO YOU ...
A. Dive right in hoping to solve it quickly
B. Hold back for a little bit but let your curiosity lead the way
Check out your results!
If you answered mostly “A” to these questions, you are a dog person!
Being a dog person means you are more likely to be energetic, lively, and outgoing. You might even consider yourself extroverted, meaning you really enjoy being around others. You are persistent and follow the rules when going after what you want.
If you answered mostly “B” then you are more of a cat person! You are curious, on the sensitive side and openminded. You have a few friends that you love and are loyal to those around you. You are probably more on the introverted side of things, meaning you enjoy quiet time alone or with fewer people versus loud places.
You don’t have to be just one of these options, though!
Remember this is quiz is just for fun! Personalities are always changing and, in some situations, you might feel like a dog person, but in others you might feel like a cat person. It is fun to be able to step into both roles and try them on in order to understand yourself and your pet better!
Pets DO have personalities! And much of the time, species and breeds of pets will have traits all their own. Check out this list to see where your dog or cat falls in the lineup:
St. Bernard: Drooly, calm, loves to nap
Collie: Devoted, intelligent, athletic
German Shepard: Loyal, protective of their family, focused, quick to learn
Beagles: Hunters, love being around other dogs, need a lot of play time
Dachshund: Love to go for walks, friendly, stubborn, loyal
Cocker Spaniel: Sweet, loving, friendly, highly trainable
Golden Retriever: Devoted, positive, love playing and swimming
Labrador Retriever: Friendly, affectionate, energetic, love being social
If you are a cat person, you most likely have a mixed breed. Most cats share common personality traits, but there are a few that stand out among the rest!
American Shorthair: Calm, even tempered, quiet
Siamese: Determined, vocal, active, affectionate, don’t like being left alone
Bengal: Athletic, curious, energetic
Ever wish you could see your favorite furry friend run like the wind chasing his ball? Then a dog park is the place to be! Hancock County has its very own dog park nestled right into Greenfield, located at Apple Street & US 40. But before you go set Rover free to run his heart out, make sure you know the rules and regulations!
Dog parks need rules and regulations to keep the animals and people inside safe and sound, so before you head to the dog park, you need to know a few things:
1. You need a membership (and a grownup)! The price is $40 for residents, $50 for non residents. Get the application by heading here. (WWW.GREENFIELDIN.ORG/PARKS/600-ROVERS-RUN-BARK-PARK)
2. There is an area for all dogs as well as an area for dogs under 25 pounds, so tell your grownup to make sure to pay attention to the signage.
3. Your dog needs to be up to date on vaccinations, parasite free and spayed or neutered to enter.
4. The park not only has tons of open space, but they also offer agility equipment for owners who want to test their dog’s training skills!
Follow the rules to make sure you and your pet are safe while you enjoy all the fun the dog park has to offer!
We asked for you to share photos of you and your pets, and you did NOT let us down! From dogs and cats to horses and birds, thanks for sending these to Boomerang for our special “Pet” issue!
Here are a few of the photos we received of area kids and their wide array of pets!
How does your dog feel when you give her a big old bone? Does she wag her tail wildly? Dogs love when their owners give them treats, but you can show your pet some extra love by giving them a treat you made yourself! Hold the sugar please ... and other stuff
Before we jump in, it is important to know that dogs can’t have all of the people food we eat/they want. Including sugar. So, when you make your dog a treat, it won’t be like baking a batch of cookies. Instead, you will use natural ingredients like peanut butter, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, applesauce or other healthy foods. In short, you may not want to give these treats a try yourself, but your dog sure will thank you for helping them to stay healthy!
First things first: Find a grown up to help you with your baking. Below is all the information you and your grownup need to make your doggy extra happy, thanks to SpoiledHounds.com!
Here are the ingredients and tools you will need:
• 1 large sweet potato
• 3 cups rolled oats
• ½ cup creamy, natural peanut butter (no sugar added)
• Silicone molds or rolling pin and baking sheet
• Measuring cups
• Bowl
• Food processor
• Aluminum foil
1. Scrub the sweet potato, wrap in aluminum foil and bake in an oven preheated to 400 degrees until it is soft. Remove and allow to cool before handling. Resist the urge to play hot potato with an actual hot potato.
2. While your potato is baking, place 1/3 of the oats in a food processor and blend until they are the consistency of flour.
3. Once your sweet potato is cooled, take of the peel and add the flesh to a bowl along with the blended oats, regular oats and peanut butter. Mix together with your hands until a soft dough forms.
4. Press dough into the silicone molds and place molds on a baking sheet. If you aren’t using molds, roll the dough out with a rolling pin and use cookie cutters or a knife to cut into pieces before lining them up on a cookie sheet.
5. Bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours. Remove and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
Now for the big test: tell your dog to sit and then let them indulge in a special homemade treat from you!
Don’t have a pet? Or maybe you do, and you want another one, but your parents are saying it would be too much extra work? Don’t settle for a no. Make your own pet instead! These adorable pet rocks can be your companion during homework, bedtime and more.
Next time you are at the park with your grownup, see if you can find a smooth rock about the size of your hand or smaller. Some other great places to look include your driveway and yard, the woods (especially along trails), or next to a body of water such as a river or lake. Take a look at the shape of the rocks you find. Could you imagine them as a ladybug? What about a turtle or a cat? It doesn’t matter what color your rock is because you will soon be painting it!
Acrylic paints, glue, googly eyes and even felt for trimming into tails and ears are great things to have on hand for this project. You may also want to spread out a newspaper, cut up paper bag or a large piece of paper to set your rock(s) on while
Does your dog or cat ever look at you with those big, sad eyes when you are eating your dinner or snacks? Does it make you want to share it with them? Pets can have some people foods but there are others that are poisonous for them to eat. Here is the rundown:
1. Onions, garlic, chives and other members of the onion family
2. Chocolate
3. Macadamia nuts
4. Avocado
5. Grapes and raisins
5
1. Onions and garlic
2. Raw eggs, meat and fish
3. Chocolate
4. Grapes and raisins
5. Cheese and milk
This isn’t a list of all the foods your pet can’t have, so it’s important to check with an adult before you think about sharing your snack with your favorite furry friend!
CALLING ALL PETS!
BY KATE FINCHPETS AND THEIR FAMOUS HUMANS
BY ANA GALLOPETS RULE! THE POODLE OF DOOM
BY SUSAN TANCANTERWOOD CREST: TAKE THE REINS BY JESSICA BURKHART PUPPY PLACE SERIES
BY ELLEN MILESVET VOLUNTEERS: THE TRICKSTER
BY LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON
NICOLE STICHTER IS THE YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN WITH HANCOCK COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
When you know more about your health and how to take care of it, you can be more, do more and have more fun — starting now!
