diff --git a/include/mondata.h b/include/mondata.h
index 229617782..cdb299007 100644
--- a/include/mondata.h
+++ b/include/mondata.h
@@ -193,10 +193,18 @@
     (vegan(ptr)         \
      || ((ptr)->mlet == S_PUDDING && (ptr) != &mons[PM_BLACK_PUDDING]))
 
+/* monkeys are tameable via bananas but not pacifiable via food,
+   otherwise their theft attack could be nullified too easily;
+   dogs and cats can be tamed by anything they like to eat and are
+   pacified by any other food;
+   horses can be tamed by always-veggy food or lichen corpses but
+   not tamed or pacified by other corpses or tins of veggy critters */
 #define befriend_with_obj(ptr, obj) \
-    (((obj)->oclass == FOOD_CLASS && is_domestic(ptr))                  \
-     || ((obj)->otyp == BANANA &&                                       \
-         ((ptr) == &mons[PM_MONKEY]                                     \
-          || (ptr) == &mons[PM_APE])))
+    (((ptr) == &mons[PM_MONKEY] || (ptr) == &mons[PM_APE])               \
+     ? (obj)->otyp == BANANA                                             \
+     : (is_domestic(ptr) && (obj)->oclass == FOOD_CLASS                  \
+        && ((ptr)->mlet != S_UNICORN                                     \
+            || objects[(obj)->otyp].oc_material == VEGGY                 \
+            || ((obj)->otyp == CORPSE && (obj)->corpsenm == PM_LICHEN))))
 
 #endif /* MONDATA_H */
diff --git a/src/dog.c b/src/dog.c
index f2993751d..0d55baad8 100644
--- a/src/dog.c
+++ b/src/dog.c
@@ -814,8 +814,8 @@ register struct obj *obj;
         case CARROT:
             return herbi ? DOGFOOD : starving ? ACCFOOD : MANFOOD;
         case BANANA:
-            return (mptr->mlet == S_YETI)
-                      ? DOGFOOD
+            return (mptr->mlet == S_YETI && herbi)
+                      ? DOGFOOD /* for monkey and ape (tameable), sasquatch */
                       : (herbi || starving)
                          ? ACCFOOD
                          : MANFOOD;
diff --git a/src/monst.c b/src/monst.c
index 7839b06cc..b99e44531 100644
--- a/src/monst.c
+++ b/src/monst.c
@@ -1915,16 +1915,18 @@ struct permonst _mons2[] = {
     /*
      * Apelike beasts
      */
+    /* tameable via banana; does not grow up into ape...
+       not flagged as domestic, so no guilt penalty for eating non-pet one */
     MON("monkey", S_YETI, LVL(2, 12, 6, 0, 0), (G_GENO | 1),
         A(ATTK(AT_CLAW, AD_SITM, 0, 0), ATTK(AT_BITE, AD_PHYS, 1, 3), NO_ATTK,
           NO_ATTK, NO_ATTK, NO_ATTK),
         SIZ(100, 50, MS_GROWL, MZ_SMALL), 0, 0,
-        M1_ANIMAL | M1_HUMANOID | M1_CARNIVORE, 0, M3_INFRAVISIBLE, CLR_GRAY),
+        M1_ANIMAL | M1_HUMANOID | M1_OMNIVORE, 0, M3_INFRAVISIBLE, CLR_GRAY),
     MON("ape", S_YETI, LVL(4, 12, 6, 0, 0), (G_GENO | G_SGROUP | 2),
         A(ATTK(AT_CLAW, AD_PHYS, 1, 3), ATTK(AT_CLAW, AD_PHYS, 1, 3),
           ATTK(AT_BITE, AD_PHYS, 1, 6), NO_ATTK, NO_ATTK, NO_ATTK),
         SIZ(1100, 500, MS_GROWL, MZ_LARGE), 0, 0,
-        M1_ANIMAL | M1_HUMANOID | M1_CARNIVORE, M2_STRONG, M3_INFRAVISIBLE,
+        M1_ANIMAL | M1_HUMANOID | M1_OMNIVORE, M2_STRONG, M3_INFRAVISIBLE,
         CLR_BROWN),
     MON("owlbear", S_YETI, LVL(5, 12, 5, 0, 0), (G_GENO | 3),
         A(ATTK(AT_CLAW, AD_PHYS, 1, 6), ATTK(AT_CLAW, AD_PHYS, 1, 6),