We believe that all the animal lovers out there would agree that there’s nothing better than sharing life with our furry, feathered, or scaly companions. Especially when they bring so much laughter and cuteness into our world. From a guilty-looking dog to a moose caught on camera stealing popcorn, they surely enrich our routines.

To deepen our understanding of animals, Bored Panda reached out to Janet Cutler, Ph.D., a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). J. Cutler consults with pet owners to help them improve their relationship with their companions and is an instructor at the Ontario Veterinary College and a host and author of “The Behaviory” podcast and blog. Scroll down to read the whole interview!

Ever been curious about what drives someone to become an animal behaviorist? Janet Cutler generously opened up about her fascinating journey. She told Bored Panda that she has always been really interested in animals and their behavior. “I assumed I would have a career in veterinary medicine,” the animal behaviorist shared. “While in University, I discovered that people could study, research and work in behavior exclusively. I had a dog who had behavior problems, which led me to working with people and their dog and cat behavior problems. I love that behavior is never the same, it involves work with both people and animals, as well as the use of science and creativity.”

Our furry, feathered or scaly friends have coexisted with us since the emergence of mankind. Thinking about our fascination with the intricate world of animals and our deep-rooted connections with them, we came to a question: what is the role of animal behaviorists in promoting animal welfare and fostering stronger human-animal relationships? According to Cutler, certified applied animal behaviorists work in a wide variety of careers, “from helping people with pet behavior problems, to work in zoos and shelters, teaching, research in behavior, and more.” She continued that “oftentimes when pets have behavior problems, it can not only affect their welfare but also the bond between them and their people. Working on the behavior problem allows people to spend focused attention on their pet, can help improve the reason for the behavior in the first place (for example, reducing fear) and also help decrease frustration or concern for pet owners.”

From playful pets to majestic wildlife, animals have always captivated our hearts and minds. Yet, there's more to our fascination than meets the eye. There is a deep bond that connects us, drawing us towards unraveling the mysterious behaviors of animals. But why do we need to understand them in the first place? Cutler told us that we can understand a lot about how our animals are feeling based on their behavior. “Behavior changes are usually one of the first signs that an animal is sick or in pain. We can also start to understand if an animal is fearful, concerned, or content based on their behavior. Their behavior can give us important information on how to best meet their needs and ensure they are living a good life.”

Have you ever noticed how we often view animals through the lens of human traits and stereotypes? It's quite common to assign labels like "greedy" to magpies because of their fascination with shiny objects. Cats are often seen as distant and dogs as goofy and playful. But have you ever wondered how this tendency to humanize animals affects our understanding of their behavior? According to Cutler, “people do often perceive animals through a lens influenced by our own characteristics and stereotypes. Some of the time this can be helpful and allow us to make sure that animals are well-cared for and have elements of positive welfare in their lives. Where this becomes a problem is if we assume that animals perceive our world and the things we do, and respond in a way similar to humans or with the same emotions. For example, sometimes people will assume a dog or cat is doing something out of spite when they are likely performing the behavior for other reasons. When looking at behavior in animals, it’s important to look at the environment and what is going on before and after the behavior, the body language of the animal, while keeping in mind their previous experiences; and use all of that to assess their behavior.”

We hope these memes have brightened up your day a little bit. We are curious to know which image has made you chuckle the most. Let us know in the comments! For similar content, check out our other posts by clicking here and here.