A few thousand years ago, ancient people took the first steps to tame wild animals in order to use them for their own purposes. And today it is already difficult to imagine our life without pets, as if they have always been faithful companions of people. Initially, man sought to get something valuable from animals, providing them with shelter and food. However, according to anthropology, in ancient times they also served as a source of aesthetic pleasure.
Pets are animals that are tamed by a person by caring for them and providing them with food. All domesticated species and artificial breeds bred on their basis were used for the purpose of obtaining material gain or pleasure. They became good companions for a person, brightening up his life. The breeding process of animals is easy even outside natural conditions. By controlling it, people create breeds with the desired properties.
Interesting! Alternative medicine has long recognized the ability of animals to heal humans. Cats are the most successful at this. Scientists explain the effectiveness of cat therapy by the ability of this animal to create a unique electromagnetic field with low-frequency currents thanks to its fine and soft wool. This allows the cat to act on the source of inflammation and pain, and destroy germs.
Scientists have proven that stroking an animal is not only pleasant, but also useful. In the course of bioenergetic contact arising in this case, the central nervous system of people receives special impulses that cause positive emotions and improve mood. Therefore, communication with cats is especially important in case of psychological disorders and stress.
Pets are conventionally divided into two groups.
The most devoted friend of a man living at home is a dog. It is believed that, unlike cats, she is more attached to humans. Cases are widely known when, after the death of the owner, the dogs did not find a place for themselves, yearning, and even died, unable to bear the separation. Likewise, many people have a hard time losing a pet to become a full family member. On average, dogs live about 10 years, so you need to be prepared for the fact that the animal will not be able to always stay close.
When deciding to get a dog, you should also know that it needs constant care. Regular walking and feeding are just a small part of grooming. It is important to immediately decide on the breed, because each has its own characteristics. The nature of the animal and what kind of care is required depends on them.
Dogs of decorative breeds are brought up exclusively as pets: for the sake of pleasure and communication. They don't do any work in a person's life. These include, for example, lapdogs, Yorkshire terriers, miniature pinschers, and Pomeranians. Some of them were bred from large dogs as a result of reproduction with decreasing size. With proper upbringing, representatives of decorative breeds are non-aggressive, pleasant to talk to, and easily come into contact with people and other animals. In addition, they are highly trainable.
Another large group of breeds is formed by dogs that were originally used as hunting and guard dogs: shepherds, spaniels, cops, poodles, greyhounds, dachshunds, bull terriers. Gradually, many of them began to play exclusively the role of pets, like decorative species. 
Interesting! The smallest dog in the world is the Chihuahua, whose weight can be only half a kilogram. At the withers, it reaches 10 cm. But the English mastiff was recognized as the largest representative among dogs. The weight of males of this breed exceeds 100 kg. With an impressive size, English mastiffs have a rather peaceful character and get along well with children.
Along with dogs, cats are also referred to as companion animals. She is appreciated both for her sociability and for her ability to catch rodents. The life expectancy of cats, like that of dogs, averages 10-15 years. But unique cases are also known. 
Interesting! Among animals, there are also centenarians. So, one cat in the UK is already about 40 years old, which by human standards is more than 170 years old! Her predecessor, also listed in the Guinness Book of Records, lived to be 38 years old.
Today there are a large number of cat breeds. The main feature in their classification is usually the length of the coat. Many breeds have their own unique characteristics. So, Scottish Fold cats are distinguished by their characteristic bent ears, the Canadian and Don Sphynxes are completely devoid of hair, but the representatives of the Cornish Rex have it curling. Crossbreeding between wild and domesticated species has allowed for such interesting breeds as Savannah and Bengal cat.
The greatest benefits in everyday life are brought to man by farm animals. Most of them are able to live not only in favorable conditions created by people, but also to adapt to various changes, due to which they are bred almost everywhere. These types include sheep, horses, cows, pigs... Some farm animals such as camel or llama on the contrary, they can only live in certain geographic areas. For this reason, keeping them in other areas is more difficult, as it is required to create conditions close to natural.
Farm animals provide people with natural products: milk, eggs, meat. Leather and wool, down and feathers are highly valued. The most consumed meat is pork. It is also often considered the most delicious, as compared to beef, for example, it is more fatty and softer. Pigs are quite unpretentious in terms of keeping and feeding, they give large offspring, therefore they are most often bred for slaughter. In addition to meat, bristles and skin are obtained.
The cow is the breadwinner of the family, as the Russian peasants used to say. Every day she is able to give several liters of milk, from which fermented milk products, butter, and cheese are then obtained. Man has achieved success even in the domestication of insects - bees, thanks to which he was able to obtain honey, propolis, wax.
Interesting! More and more people, for various reasons, have recently given up on meat, becoming vegetarians. However, blindly following this fashion trend is extremely dangerous for your health. Meat is a source of essential amino acids. They are needed for the construction of antibodies that provide protection against pathogens of various diseases, including cancer. When you refuse meat, essential amino acids cease to enter the body, immunity decreases, which becomes the cause of the development of infections.
On the farm, animals also participate in agricultural work, transport weights and people. Horses are commonly used for this purpose. At stud farms, they are kept and bred to participate in horse races and equestrian sports. Horse lovers just communicate with them is a great pleasure.
To this day, little information about the domestication of wild animals has come down, but it is known that the dog is considered the first tamed pet living in the house. In ancient times, she played the role of a companion for humans. Thanks to its excellent learning and training abilities, the dog eventually began to guard the house, to participate in hunting and grazing. In some countries, attempts have been made to tame the weasel to combat rats and mice. However, she did not get used to life in captivity, and over time, she was replaced by cats.
Interesting! Whether cats are fully domesticated remains an open question. They still retain the habits of their wild relatives, although for many thousands of years they have already lived next to humans. Unlike dogs, they do not attach so much to a person, remaining independent. According to one point of view, for cats, coexistence next to humans is only an opportunity to live in good conditions, continuing to hunt birds and rodents. But it is believed that this proud animal, like a dog, is able to establish emotional contact with the owner and feel a sense of affection.
It is believed that most domestic animals originated from representatives of the wild. The ancestor of cattle was the tour. But it is not known exactly who the dog originated from. It could be a wolf, jackal, or even a coyote. The wild sheep, mouflon and mountain sheep are considered to be the ancestors of the sheep. The exact time of domestication of animals has not been established either. The rock carvings testify to the fact that in ancient times man had domesticated pets. However, when exactly this happened is still a mystery.
Domesticated animals breed well in captivity. Their offspring do not need to be tamed again. From birth, pets adopt the habits of the mother and easily make contact with humans. In the case of farm animals, reproduction is an opportunity to get more valuable products. But the appearance of offspring in cats and dogs is often undesirable for the owners. Therefore, many owners castrate and neuter their pets.
Breeders have long enjoyed the ability of pets to reproduce easily through crossbreeding. It allows you to breed new breeds with the desired properties. Work with farm animals is mainly carried out in order to increase their fertility, food potential, and weight. For example, in the middle of the last century, the goal was set to obtain a dairy-meat breed of cows that would quickly gain weight. This is how the Kostroma breed appeared. The goal was achieved: cows produce a record amount of milk (about 10,000 kg per year) and meat.
Breeding work is also carried out to obtain breeds capable of living in specific conditions. In the desert steppes of Kazakhstan, sheep gained weight poorly due to poor food. Therefore, it became necessary to obtain a new breed that would be able to adapt to such difficult conditions, to fatten fat well in them. As a result, Edilbaev's sheep were bred.
Interesting! Dwarf animals are often not a mutation, but the result of painstaking work of scientists. A miniature cow breed bred in India requires much less housing and feed space. At the same time, the animals retained their productivity. In terms of quality, their milk and meat are no worse than products obtained from ordinary cows. But mini-pigs are a decorative breed of pigs. Their mass does not exceed several tens of kilograms, while ordinary pigs can weigh several hundred! The small dwarf pig is shy and requires special care. But if you tame him, then he becomes affectionate and obedient. The mini pig can be fondled like a cat or dog. Unlike these animals, it is unpretentious in food, does not shed, and its short coat does not cause allergies. This is the ideal pet for those who choose an active lifestyle, because daily walks are a must for the pygmy pig.
When taming pets, it is important to remember that you should be responsible for them, provide them with proper care and surround them with care. Then pets will become reliable friends and helpers of their owner.
I want a kitty, I want a dog, a mouse, a bird, a fish ... From the age of five, children begin to beg for an animal to take care of, and usually they do not care what kind of - well, at least the devil is bald! And parents, of course, take care of the pet.
How to satisfy the child's need to take care of our younger brothers and at the same time not get yourself a headache for 10 years? We found out which pets will not cause any problems to parents, but will please the kids.
This cute little face is a pretty smart animal that behaves calmly, but at the same time does not resemble a plush toy. In addition, the guinea pig is really capable of becoming attached to humans.
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There are land, and there are water - for the aquarium. In either case, the turtle is easy to care for - no special time or investment is required. This leisurely amphibian will not cause any trouble and worries.
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The most cheerful and bright pets. If you want him to be friends with you - buy one parrot, if you want less communication - buy two, then they will perfectly exist together.
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An incredibly cute and beautiful creature, and her plush coat will win you over! The pet lives quietly alone and is content with the company of a person. Chinchillas are usually calm and docile in nature.
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Who is the first that comes to mind when we are puzzled about buying a small pet for a child? Of course a hamster! Hamsters are unpretentious, cheap, do not require special care and investment. In addition, the entire life of a rodent takes place within the cage, which means that the child can also be entrusted with taking care of it.
Almost every family has a pet, and sometimes more than one. Traditionally, these are guinea pigs, parrots and fish. But some daredevils dare and give birth to very unusual animals that do not like to live in captivity. But love works wonders!
The editors of InPlanet have compiled a list of the most exotic pets that people have in their homes. It is surprising, but most of them do not require special care and can coexist quite peacefully in the same house with a person!
This gorgeous handsome man is considered the largest parrot in the world and is listed in the Red Book as a vulnerable species. However, it is popular as a pet, despite the fact that its price reaches several thousand dollars. But the hyacinth macaw loves people very much, is ready to constantly hug with the owner and play with toys. In addition, by buying such a pet for himself, the owner practically saves him from extinction, because mankind has almost destroyed the forests where this species of birds lived.
This unique pet is not often found in residential buildings, because the kangaroo is very strong and powerful. But people who are lucky enough to become their masters note that kangaroos are very loyal to those who raise them from birth. These marsupials are highly intelligent and show compassion even for other types of pets.
This type of pets is not unusual for a long time, but nevertheless, turtles are exotic animals. They are not particularly emotional, do not express their love for the owner, but they are very loved by children. Plus, almost all turtles are long-lived!
This fox is a domesticated version of the common fox and is very popular with exotic animal lovers. Do not confuse them with silver foxes, which are bred exclusively for fur in animal husbandry. The silver fox is native to Siberia, but now you can buy it from anywhere in the world.
Adorable llamas are now very popular as pets, especially on farms. They are fluffy, soft and good-natured, which makes them indispensable household helpers. Llamas are very clean, do not require much maintenance and are very friendly.
These sociable rodents are not ideal pets, because they love to taste everything. But capybaras are very sociable and like to live in groups. So, if you want to get yourself this animal, get ready for the whole family!
These unusual animals resemble ferrets and are predators by nature. In the Middle Ages, they were very popular pets, but they were supplanted by cats. Genets are easy to tame and excellent at catching mice and rats. But these animals are not very affectionate and will not tolerate hugs from the owner!
It is not clear why these animals are in demand, because they are completely unpredictable. A skunk can spray a smelly liquid from under its tail at the moment of danger, which will make the house uninhabited for a week. But, nevertheless, they are quite popular!
These plush cats are Bengal hybrids and are adapted to live with humans. They perfectly combine all the positive qualities from both types. Bengals are amazing hunters, but at the same time they are very friendly to children and other pets.
These animals often become pets, because they are very intelligent and easy to train. It is important to raise a monkey from a young age, otherwise an adult pet may begin to show character. They are very close to people in their emotional behavior and have a high level of intelligence.
This species of salamander is nicknamed the sea dog. Axolotls are popular with fans of unusual animals because of their appearance. The difficulty of keeping these amphibians lies in maintaining a constant temperature in the aquarium and a special diet consisting of earthworms or fresh frozen seafood cocktails.
If a child dreams of a real horse, you can replace it with this pet. Mini donkeys are not particularly smart and have a poor memory. But they have other qualities - donkeys are affectionate, funny and very obedient.
These chanterelles are a cross between a cat and a dog. They are very active, play a lot and literally "get" their owner with their increased activity. Fenecs are affectionate like cats, loyal and playful like dogs. Unlike other foxes, they are most adapted to humans.
These representatives of the raccoon family are very socially active and adapted to humans. However, they have their own idea of living together - they like to scream loudly and crawl on top. Kinkajou are very friendly and trainable.
Perfect for Game of Thrones fans, this animal is remarkably dragon-like. Despite their aggressive appearance, agamas are very affectionate and gentle. For the most part, these lizards live in an aquarium, but sometimes you can pick them up and play with them.
These adorable animals are perhaps the most ideal pets for those who do not like too much trouble. Chinchillas are hypoallergenic, delicate, fragile and completely quiet. Unfortunately, chinchillas are often bred for their valuable fur, but there are also special types of animals for life in captivity.
This distant relative of Godzilla is the perfect pet. The slow movement speed of an iguana can sometimes be confusing - as if it were a plastic model and not a living creature. Iguanas are herbivores, so no special care is required.
These Mexican spiders look very creepy, and you want to run at one glance at this black and red monster! However, exotic lovers keep these tarantulas at home, because they are actually very obedient and good-natured. But it is better not to provoke them to aggression!
Yes, these bloodthirsty predators can make cute pets too! They grow in aviaries and even swim in pools, but they require careful maintenance. In addition, it is difficult to hug with such a pet, and it is undesirable to turn your back to it!
As you can see from this list, people have even the most bizarre and sometimes creepy animals as pets. Even the most formidable predator can be tamed and made affectionate and obedient!
Many of us or our friends and acquaintances have pets. Most often, these are cats, dogs and aquarium fish.
Who else is in the TOP 10 pets?
This animal rightfully takes first place in this rating. According to various research centers, their number was more than 200 million, as pets. Although some scientists cite figures such as 500 million or more. Regardless of their number, most people can say that their favorite animal is the cat. This is a great achievement for such small animals that have not changed over the centuries.
Oddly enough, these are not dogs or birds, but aquarium and other types of domestic fish. Their number is roughly comparable to the number of cats. Actually, this is only due to the fact that even in a small home aquarium, dozens of these beautiful waterfowl can be kept. There are over 28 thousand species of fish. Of course, in the assortment of a pet store, it is difficult to find at least a tenth of them. But nevertheless, today you can often find the species we like among those who like to breed fish.
These truly loyal animals, although in third place, are the majority of people who prefer dogs. In 2007, in America alone, there were over 72 million domestic dogs. The popularity of the dog gained due to their loyalty to the owner and a high degree of learning. It is also worth considering that in many countries of the world these animals help people in various social services, rescue and law enforcement organizations.
They are most popular in Asian countries, where, unlike other regions, poultry farming has been practiced for many thousands of years. Canaries, peacocks, ostrich parrots, chickens, turkey are just a few of the many different species. Do not forget about such a noble occupation as falconry. Now this event has moved more into the status of sports and is not so widespread, but several centuries ago it was really popular.
For several generations, these beautiful and noble animals have been the most popular in the world. In the Middle Ages, horses were the only means of transportation around the world, they were used as helpers in the household. Actually, even now, in some villages the horse is still an integral “family member”. Although this is most likely a rarity and a curiosity, horse riding as a hobby and sport has been actively developing in recent decades in many countries of the world.
Many people perceive rabbits more as food than as a pet. But this is most likely from ignorance. Today there are about 40 pure breeds and almost as many different hybrids. Decorative rabbits, for example, for keeping in an apartment, have many different shades of wool and come in different sizes. Popular as pets, they have become due to their pleasant character and ease of care.
Not so popular, most likely it can be attributed to the exoticism of turtles. Although, only in the USA, their number exceeds the figure of 2 million. There are more than 250 species in total around the world, but many are not entirely suitable for home keeping due to their habitat. Also, many species are listed in the Red Book and are endangered. Due to these factors, the sale of turtles to private hands is prohibited in some countries.
These small, fluffy, cuddly rodents are very popular with children. Due to their low cost and ease of care, they do not burden their owner. They are mostly nocturnal, so some people associate them with immobile and little active creatures. Although this is far from the case. With the right content and affectionate attitude, they become very tame, some species even lend themselves to training.
Also belong to rodents, like rabbits with hamsters. However, in some countries their content is illegal. The reason for their illegal status is their ability to harm their owner. Due to their extremely sharp teeth, they are often classified as wild animals. Despite this prejudice, many people enjoy having these active animals. There is, however, another factor in their not-so-popular popularity. This is the specific smell of the glands, which not everyone wants to put up with.
Small fluffy animals native to Peru. By the way, there they are not pets, but are eaten. Their number is approximately equal to the number of ferrets. There are various breeds, the main difference between them is most often the size of the animal itself and the length of its wool. An interesting feature of guinea pigs is that they can adapt to the lifestyle of their owner. To be more precise, they have an active lifestyle just during the period of wakefulness of the owner.
