Who Let The Dogs Out: These Curious Pets Facts Are Leaving a Paw Print in Our Hearts

Have you ever wondered why we call out pets “pets?” This piece of information shows that there is a very clear lineage for that word’s origin. Evidently, the term comes from the Middle English word “petty,” which means “small” or “little.” That’s actually really cute, considering our pets are often small!

However, there is some dispute about this etymology. While some believe the explanation shared in this fact, other experts think that the word “pet” comes from the Scottish Gaelic term “peata,” which means “tame animal.” Although, I’m sure many dogs out there don’t exactly fit this definition.