A homely Cancerian dog is much more likely to prefer curling up by the fire than an adventurous Aries of the same breed who will constantly yearn to explore the great outdoors.And so too with cats. Cats can be hedonists, lazy, friendly, aggressive or timid. All these different traits can be explained by studying the astrological influences that determine their character and behavioural patterns.

You'll have an easier time in raising your pets if you understand what makes them tick and how their basic behavior will evolve depending on their astrological sign. If you just got a new pet for your home, here's a great way to know just what to expect out of them and how you should behave to them, so that both of you can get on well with each other.

ARIES (Mar 21- Ap 20)

Aries cats and dogs are always full with energy. They love attention, petting and cuddling and are never shy. It may be very hard to keep up with these hyperactive animals. Quick tempered, they are not the type to back down from a fight. They are easily embarrassed, so don't scold them in public. Reward good behavior with a special snack. Strong flavored and spicy treats are their favorite. The most difficult aspect of keeping an Aries pet is to get them to obey you.Firmness, a schedule, and repetition is what is needed.

Taurus pets are quiet and passive and are the easiest in the Zodiac to train. However, if they are provoked into fighting you have to watch out.These animals never give up a fight. They are cautious about meeting new people, but when they like you, you are a friend for life. They will always remember your "scent." These animals love to be outdoors, but may prefer sleeping to playing. They love to eat and may develop a weight problem. They are possessive and will guard their food and toys fiercely.

Gemini pets are curious, friendly and loaded with energy. These dogs may bark a lot. If possible, get a playmate for these animals as they hate to be alone. They are fast learners and can be trained well. Remember to always keep the door shut, or they will be off in a flash, exploring and looking for new friends. With both people and other animals, Gemini pets rarely have favorites. They just love the company of everyone.

These little pets are very sensitive creatures and hate to be upset. They do not like loud noise or yelling. They are easily irritated by others and thrive on a calm and peaceful environment. Any change in their routine, or if a stranger is in the house, can cause them to retreat and be gone for hours and even days. Cancer pets are cautious about meeting new people. Once they trust you, though, you've made a friend for life. They do not like sharing the home with any other animals, as they want your undivided attention. They do not like to be left alone, and can tend to become a bit destructive if left alone for too long.

Your Leo pets feel as if they are King or Queen of the Castle. They move around with Royal Grace. They love a good adventure and will roam as far as you will let them. They are born leaders and may soon have a pack of friends following them. They are quite curious and consider nothing off limits, which is a fitting attitude for King or Queen Of The Jungle. Leo animals love children and make perfect pets. They are very protective and would gladly give their lives for yours. Leo pets have a long memory and tend to have a long life span. Treat them kindly and they will remain friends for life.

Virgo pets are wonderful companions and make great friends. A sixth sense lets them know when you are unhappy or sick, and they are always there to comfort you. They are shy animals, preferring their own company, and are content to play by themselves. They are reserve and won't show their affections easily. Don't expect your Virgo pet to come running to you when you get home. They will gladly spend entire evenings lying at your feet or resting their head on your lap. They are fussy eaters.

Libra pets are easygoing and like lots of attention. Like the scales of justice that represents this sign, these pets divide their attention equally among all members of the family. They make wonderful companions and hate to be left alone. These pets love good food and soft music. Put music on when you leave home and they will remain mild mannered with a gentle disposition. They can be stubborn at times, and may disappear to sulk. Libra's will eat just about anything, combine this with a tendency to be lazy, and they can put on a lot of extra weight. Be sure to give them plenty of exercise.

Scorpio pets are extremely loyal. Kindness shown to these animals at an early age will come back to you for the rest of their pet life. If they are mistreated early in life, gaining their trust back will be a long and involved process. They tend to snap or nip if they have been mistreated. Scorpio pets are intimidating to other animals. Rarely will they back down from a confrontation. They are full of pent up energy and need to run around a lot to release it. Keep a close watch on them, however, as they are possessive and have a tendency to fight.

Sagittarius pets are the fun loving clowns of the animal world, and they are always eager to please. They love the outdoors, so be sure to give them plenty of room to roam. If you keep them inside for long periods of time, you may tend to break their spirit. They are intelligent animals but may seem to lack common sense. When they get over excited they become quite forgetful. They are one of the most loving pets in the Zodiac, so expect a face full of wet kisses when you walk through the door. As they tend to be forgetful, you must be firm when you discipline these animals. They will respond well.

Capricorn pets stay young forever and tend to act like little puppies or kittens well into old age. They have endless endurance and will play happily hours on end. They make the best playmates for children. They can be moody and tend to sulk if they don't get their way. Be patient when training these pets as they tend to be slow learners. These pets are more than loyal to the family. They are always determined to please and your patience will be well rewarded.

They are truly the comedians of the Zodiac. They are gentle and loving with children and will bark or meow just to hear the sound of their own voices. They are extremely intelligent and unbelievably brained. You need lots of patience when you train them. They do not obey orders easily and the more you push them, the deeper they will put their paws into the ground and refuse to budge. Sometimes these pets don't want to be cuddled or petted, but remain aloof. Aquarius pets are curious and inquisitive and will literally push their noses into everything.

Piscean pets are the gentle, peace loving pets that hate shouting and fighting. They are sensitive to your moods and will plant themselves securely at your side if you are sick and upset. If your Pisces pet needs discipline, be very careful how you go about it. They tend to be quite intuitive and can sense when you are angry or upset. They don't need a lot of wide, open space and are good pets for people living in apartments. They also love music.