tag:theconversation.com,2011:/africa/topics/dog-10956/articlesDog – The Conversation2024-02-13T15:20:48Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2232482024-02-13T15:20:48Z2024-02-13T15:20:48ZHow to help children and the family dog stay safe when they play together<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/575295/original/file-20240213-28-rl6h25.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=22%2C37%2C5034%2C3328&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/dog-ball-running-child-playing-catch-596137544">alexei_tm/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>It’s no wonder owning a family dog <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/6/1072">is popular</a> in the UK – research shows that <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08927936.2016.1152721?casa_token=0RjI6Y1Cr5sAAAAA:6StzU9JXuiAK3V1BpK-ym6L2wHfLg65_sKZ-zjfGA7D0IQ-d26jD1vZf4jF0IEqL0Mf39wl5o76Neg">our wellbeing</a> can increase with dog ownership, and there’s even evidence that <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-020-1007-2">children’s development</a> can benefit if they share their home with a dog. </p>
<p>Unfortunately though, hospital admissions for dog bites are more likely to be <a href="https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000726">children than adults</a>. The majority of bites on children are from a dog <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787817301168">known to them</a>. And many bites happen while <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2017.00130/full">a parent or caregiver is actually present</a>. </p>
<p>Popular representations of dogs as the perfect addition to a family are everywhere, from the 1904 JM Barrie Novel Peter Pan <a href="https://peterpan.fandom.com/wiki/Nana">and Nana</a>, to today’s children’s television. The movie, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5113040/">The Secret Life of Pets 2</a> opens with Max, the charismatic terrier complaining that he doesn’t personally love kids and is grateful for not living with them and being “piled on” by “hordes of children”. Max is soon faced with a new child in the family, Liam, and he laments he doesn’t feel safe in his own home.</p>
<p>Although Max’s predicament is played for laughs, the truth is children can make dogs’ lives difficult and uncomfortable. We certainly don’t want our children to be bitten. But it’s easy to overlook the dog’s perspective. </p>
<h2>Power of play</h2>
<p>Safe play means no shouting or roughness. Fetch, for example, can be great but be mindful if your dog is “guarding” by not relinquishing or snapping for their favourite toys. You and your children should <a href="https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/training/basics/leave-training">teach your dog</a> a leave command by trading toys for treats. Immediately throwing a second toy as soon as they bring the first back can also discourage guarding. My own son finds this game lots of fun with our dog. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Woman holding a child and shaking a dog's paw" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/574919/original/file-20240212-30-nubo36.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/574919/original/file-20240212-30-nubo36.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/574919/original/file-20240212-30-nubo36.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/574919/original/file-20240212-30-nubo36.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/574919/original/file-20240212-30-nubo36.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/574919/original/file-20240212-30-nubo36.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/574919/original/file-20240212-30-nubo36.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Supervising play is important.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/beautiful-woman-little-girl-dog-outdoors-29925649">Alena Ozerova/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>During play all four paws <a href="https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/training/outdoors/jumping-up-training">should be on the floor</a>. If your dog becomes over excited during play, for example jumping up or <a href="https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/training/unwanted-behaviours/stop-your-dog-chewing-mouthing#:%7E:text=Dogs%20and%20puppies%20use%20their,chewing%20us%20or%20our%20belongings.">mouthing</a>, it’s better to just ask your child to step away and both have a bit of a time out, than shouting or punishing your dog. </p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean children should be discouraged from playing with the family dog. Play is something children are usually better at <a href="https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-importance-of-play-for-adults">than adults</a>. Parents I interviewed for my research into children’s interactions with a family dog said their kids <a href="https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.1079/hai.2023.0042">don’t tire of throwing</a> a ball or playing tug. And for dogs, play is a natural behaviour that they <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376635714002289?casa_token=Am6cWW7sVq4AAAAA:MkFoAt2uCcZ0-PYiPHQ-ToZCvISguCm7yvWSTx3Z06WmYWSiiOt-ZY-gHwbL9LlQO8iuNCCQtN8">don’t grow out of</a>.</p>
<h2>Cuddles aren’t always cute</h2>
<p>While thousands of animal cuddly toys are squished by children the world over, it’s worth remembering that cuddling is a <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/715754">mostly human behaviour</a>. </p>
<p>Research has shown that some dogs can learn to tolerate cuddles, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/175303712x13316289505468?casa_token=a1Z8-vDAitUAAAAA:4uFCEi_Pq2jI0eoNJ_mup7gU66tWjQW6oVen-hgGeaUiaOWrvCkedVZKAFA_fUPrJczVyu1h2SQjQg">some even enjoy them</a>. But they are not something that dogs innately find enjoyable and research shows that many dogs don’t get an oxytocin (cuddle hormone) <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/10/792">response to it</a>. </p>
<p>Close physical contact between children and the family dog is <a href="https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.1079/hai.2023.0042">a common reason</a> dogs show aggression towards a child. So children should be discouraged from putting their arms around a dog, leaning on, or picking them up, in favour of other ways of showing affection in which the dog has more freedom of choice. </p>
<h2>A dog needs freedom of choice</h2>
<p>It’s impossible to allow dogs to do whatever they like all the time. Their behaviour has to fit into what we are willing to accept as their human owners after all. Nonetheless dogs living with children can react aggressively if children <a href="https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.1079/hai.2023.0042">restrict their ability</a> to choose what they want to do, for example physically restrictive cuddles, or interrupting them when they are in the middle of resting, eating or playing alone.</p>
<p>It isn’t difficult to allow your dog some choice in affectionate interactions from children. Simply encouraging the kids to call the dog over to them where they are sitting, rather than approaching the dog themselves, can make a difference. And remind children not to follow the dog if he or she moves away from them. <a href="https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.1079/hai.2023.0042">In my recent study</a> parents also found that their dogs were more likely to value their space from the kids at night time or when they were tired. </p>
<h2>Don’t expect children to read dogs</h2>
<p>Dogs can’t talk. Imagine if they could. Perhaps then we’d be better at understanding their needs. Instead, they mostly use their bodies to communicate. </p>
<p>Research has shown that young children are <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08927936.2019.1598656">generally not good at</a> recognising dog body language or facial expressions. My 2023 study of UK families showed that even if they could recognise their dog was unhappy about an interaction, it didn’t make the child <a href="https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.1079/hai.2023.0042">stop it</a>. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08927936.2016.1228750?casa_token=Q7kmHelju5YAAAAA:xo3Iez6cAIp3piNnWSgTzxGK9dxtI_qg1zQWd7DtYkUELGbFi-bpe_6DBuAOnaL8fOzl5Ha3_jOt5Q">And a 2016 study found</a> that parents who owned a dog didn’t notice common signs of anxiety, such as a dog licking their lips or nose, wide eyes, yawning out of context or leaning away from the child. </p>
<p>If your child can learn how to spot how dogs show certain emotions that’s great. There’s lots of <a href="https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/behaviour-and-training/be-safe-with-dogs#:%7E:text=Relaxed%3A%20My%20body%20is%20relaxed,jaw%20and%20a%20hanging%20tongue.">resources available online</a> . But don’t expect that alone to be a panacea of all interaction problems or risks.</p>
<p>The fact that dogs have emotions too means there is always a possibility an interaction might not go well. Which is why it is not just supervision, but involved supervision that will help your dog and kids become best of friends.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/223248/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Anna Baatz receives funding from Dogs Trust Canine Welfare Grants. </span></em></p>People often think about how it’s good for children to have a pet dog around. But what about the dog?Anna Baatz, PhD Candidate and Associate Lecturer in human-animal interactions, University of SalfordLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2217092024-01-30T13:35:00Z2024-01-30T13:35:00ZDog care below freezing − how to keep your pet warm and safe from cold weather, road salt and more this winter<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571552/original/file-20240125-22431-dyxkh4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=21%2C0%2C4715%2C3067&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Dogs get cold in the winter too, but there are things pet owners can do to help them feel comfortable. </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/NYColdWeather/de8019836ce9475e91bf816b1401fa3b/photo?Query=dog%20in%20snow&mediaType=photo&sortBy=&dateRange=Anytime&totalCount=310&digitizationType=Digitized&currentItemNo=NaN&vs=true&vs=true">AP Photo/David Duprey</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Time outside with your dog in the spring, summer and fall can be lovely. Visiting your favorite downtown café on a cool spring morning, going to a favorite dog park on a clear summer evening or going on walks along a river when the leaves are changing color are all wonderful when the weather is favorable. But in much of the country, when winter rolls around, previously hospitable conditions can <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-winter-miserable-for-wildlife-108734">quickly turn chilly and dangerous</a> for people and pups alike. </p>
<p>Winter brings some unique challenges for dog owners, since dogs still need activity and socialization during colder seasons. Studies have shown that dog owners are almost 50% less likely to walk their dogs <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113302">when the weather gets cold</a>. Knowing the basics of winter safety is critical to maintaining a healthy lifestyle for your dog. </p>
<p>I am an <a href="https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/erik-olstad">assistant professor</a> at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine who weathered polar vortexes with my dog while living in Michigan early in my career. While I’ve since moved to sunny California, I’ve seen how quickly frigid temperatures can turn dangerous for pets.</p>
<h2>Breed and age differences</h2>
<p>Not all dogs have the same abilities to deal with cold weather. A short-coated dog like a Chihuahua is much more susceptible to the dangers of cold weather than a thick-coated husky. When the weather dips below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius), the well-acclimated husky may be comfortable, whereas the Chihuahua would shiver and be at risk of hypothermia. </p>
<p>Additionally, if your dog is used to warm weather, but you decide to move to a colder region, the dog will need time to acclimate to that colder weather, even if they have a thick coat. </p>
<p>Age also affects cold-weather resilience. Puppies and elderly dogs can’t withstand the chill as well as other dogs, but every dog is unique – each may have individual health conditions or physical attributes that make them more or less resilient to cold weather. </p>
<h2>When is my dog too cold?</h2>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571548/original/file-20240125-29-dudlyh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A small dog wearing a thick, fluffy red coat." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571548/original/file-20240125-29-dudlyh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571548/original/file-20240125-29-dudlyh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=441&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571548/original/file-20240125-29-dudlyh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=441&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571548/original/file-20240125-29-dudlyh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=441&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571548/original/file-20240125-29-dudlyh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=554&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571548/original/file-20240125-29-dudlyh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=554&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571548/original/file-20240125-29-dudlyh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=554&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dog jackets can keep pets warm in the cold.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/WinterWeatherTexas/b82392611da74eb69750dd2a12c73817/photo?Query=dog%20jacket&mediaType=photo&sortBy=&dateRange=Anytime&totalCount=320&digitizationType=Digitized&currentItemNo=1&vs=true&vs=true">AP Photo/David J. Phillip</a></span>
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</figure>
<p>Pet owners should be able to recognize the symptoms of a dog that is getting too cold. Dogs will shiver, and some may vocalize or whine. Dogs may resist putting their feet down on the cold ground, or burrow, or try to find warmth in their environment when they are uncomfortable. </p>
<p>Just like people, <a href="https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/frostbite-in-dogs">dogs can get frostbite</a>. And just like people, the signs can take days to appear, making it hard to assess them in the moment. The most common sites for frostbite in dogs are their ears and the tips of their tails. Some of the initial signs of frostbite are skin discoloring, turning paler than normal, or purple, gray or even black; red, blistered skin; swelling; pain at the site; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/ulcer">or ulceration</a>.</p>
<p>Other <a href="https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/frostbite-in-dogs">serious signs of hypothermia</a> include sluggishness or lethargy, and if you observe them, please visit your veterinarian immediately. A good rule to live by is if it is too cold for you, it is too cold for your dog. </p>
<p>Getting your dog a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/pets/best-winter-dog-coats-jackets">sweater or jacket</a> and <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/vets-corner/protect-dogs-paws-snow-ice-salt/">paw covers</a> can provide them with protection from the elements and keep them comfortable. Veterinarians also recommend closely monitoring your dog and limiting their time outside when the temperature nears the freezing point or drops below it.</p>
<h2>Road salt dangers</h2>
<p>Road salt that treats ice on streets and sidewalks <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/ice-salt-toxic-for-pets-1.5020088">can also harm dogs</a>. When dogs walk on the salt, the sharp, rough edges of the salt crystals can irritate the sensitive skin on their paws. </p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571542/original/file-20240125-19-4pvz2g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A fluffy dog sits in the snow wearing two cloth, polka dot paw covers." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571542/original/file-20240125-19-4pvz2g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571542/original/file-20240125-19-4pvz2g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=559&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571542/original/file-20240125-19-4pvz2g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=559&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571542/original/file-20240125-19-4pvz2g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=559&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571542/original/file-20240125-19-4pvz2g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=703&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571542/original/file-20240125-19-4pvz2g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=703&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571542/original/file-20240125-19-4pvz2g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=703&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Paw covers for dogs can keep their feet warm and protected from road salt.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/PetsColdFeet/711807120a854c5787e5dfdaba307a44/photo?Query=dog%20boots&mediaType=photo&sortBy=&dateRange=Anytime&totalCount=379&digitizationType=Digitized&currentItemNo=12&vs=true&vs=true">AP Photo/Jim Cole</a></span>
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<p>Dogs will often lick their feet when they’re dirty, wet or irritated, and if they ingest any salt doing that, they may face GI upset, dehydration, kidney failure, seizures or even death. Even small amounts of pure salt can <a href="https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-tips/my-dog-ate-road-salt-will-they-be-okay/">disrupt critical body functions</a> in dogs.</p>
<p>Some companies make pet-safe salt, but in public it can be hard to tell what type of salt is on the ground. After walking your dog, wash off their feet or boots. You can also keep their paw fur trimmed to prevent snow from balling up or salt collecting in the fur. Applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly or <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/how-to-make-your-own-paw-balm-for-winter/">paw pad balm</a> to the skin of the paw pads can also help protect your pet’s paws from irritation.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571553/original/file-20240125-28-o148ri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A snowy sidewalk covered in tiny chunks of salt." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571553/original/file-20240125-28-o148ri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571553/original/file-20240125-28-o148ri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=376&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571553/original/file-20240125-28-o148ri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=376&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571553/original/file-20240125-28-o148ri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=376&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571553/original/file-20240125-28-o148ri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=473&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571553/original/file-20240125-28-o148ri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=473&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571553/original/file-20240125-28-o148ri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=473&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Road salt can be harmful to dogs’ sensitive paws.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Road_salt_in_Moscow_01.jpg">Stolbovsky/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
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<h2>Antifreeze risks</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/antifreeze-chemical-substance">Antifreeze, or ethylene glycol</a>, is in most vehicles to prevent the fluids from freezing when it gets cold out. Some people pour antifreeze into their toilets when away from their home to prevent the water in the toilet from freezing.</p>
<p>Antifreeze is an exceptionally dangerous chemical to dogs and cats, as it tastes sweet but can be deadly when ingested. If a pet ingests even a small amount of antifreeze, the substance causes a chemical cascade in their body that results in severe kidney damage. If left untreated, the pet may have <a href="https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owner-blog/antifreeze-poisoning/">permanent kidney damage or die</a>.</p>
<p>There are safer antifreeze options on the market that use ingredients other than ethylene glycol. If your dog ingests antifreeze, please see your veterinarian immediately for treatment.</p>
<p>When temperatures dip below freezing, the best thing pet owners can do is keep the time spent outside as minimal as possible. Try some <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/great-indoor-games-to-play-with-your-dog/">indoor activities</a>, like hide-and-seek with low-calorie treats, fetch or even an interactive obstacle course. Food puzzles can also keep your dog mentally engaged during indoor time.</p>
<p>Although winter presents some unique challenges, it can still be an enjoyable and healthy time for you and your canine companion.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/221709/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Erik Christian Olstad does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Dogs might have furry coats, but they can still get cold when the temperature drops.Erik Christian Olstad, Health Sciences Assistant Professor of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of California, DavisLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2048132024-01-07T19:03:59Z2024-01-07T19:03:59ZDogs are incredible – if unlikely – allies in conservation<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565576/original/file-20231213-15-j64ksb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=10%2C10%2C6699%2C4436&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source"> UniSC Detection Dogs for Conservation</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Dogs have been working with people for centuries. Think hunting dogs, herding dogs, police dogs or search and rescue dogs. But have you heard of conservation dogs?</p>
<p>Conservation dogs fall mainly into two categories: guardian dogs and sniffer dogs (also called scent, detection or detector dogs).</p>
<p>Guardian dogs protect vulnerable species from predators, while sniffer dogs locate targets of interest using their powerful sense of smell.</p>
<p>In the past 15 years, dogs have begun to play a <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/2041-210X.13560">crucial role in conservation</a> around the world. So let’s take a closer look at them, with a focus on their work in Australia. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/koala-detecting-dogs-sniff-out-flaws-in-australias-threatened-species-protection-121118">Koala-detecting dogs sniff out flaws in Australia's threatened species protection</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>The nose that knows</h2>
<p>Guardian dogs were made famous by the 2015 movie <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3401748/">Oddball</a>. The film is based on the true story of <a href="http://www.warrnamboolpenguins.com.au/maremma-dogs#:%7E:text=In%20a%20world%2Dfirst%2C%20Maremma,for%20the%20Middle%20Island%20Project.">Maremma dogs</a>, trained to protect little penguins from foxes on Middle Island near Warrnambool in southwest Victoria. The penguin population had dwindled to fewer than ten before the Maremma dogs got involved. The breed was chosen for its long association with guarding sheep in Europe. </p>
<p>But most conservation dogs are sniffer dogs, because there are so many uses for them. They can be trained to find animals or plants, or “indirect” signs animals have left behind such as poo or feathers. </p>
<p>Dogs can detect <em>anything</em> with an odour – and <em>everything</em> has an odour.
<a href="https://www.ecolsoc.org.au/?hottopic-entry=detection-dogs-provide-a-powerful-method-for-conservation-surveys">Sniffer dogs</a> are trained to detect a target scent and point it out to their human coworker (sometimes referred to as handler or <a href="https://roguedogs.org/iwanttobeabounder">bounder</a>).</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565582/original/file-20231213-26-j686k1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A photo of a sniffer dog during training, dropping to the ground to show where she found the target odour in a jar" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565582/original/file-20231213-26-j686k1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565582/original/file-20231213-26-j686k1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565582/original/file-20231213-26-j686k1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565582/original/file-20231213-26-j686k1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565582/original/file-20231213-26-j686k1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565582/original/file-20231213-26-j686k1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565582/original/file-20231213-26-j686k1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">During training, sniffer dog Billie Jean drops to the ground when she finds her target odour.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Russell Miller, UniSC Detection Dogs for Conservation</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Sniffer dogs have been trained for various missions such as:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>finding rare and endangered species</p></li>
<li><p>detecting invasive animals during eradication or containment such as <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-16/sniffer-dogs-help-fight-battle-against-fire-ants-in-queensland/6623876">fire ants</a> or <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/python-sniffing-dogs-floridas-newest-weapon-fighting-invasive/story?id=74776821">snakes</a> </p></li>
<li><p>locating <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/canberra-saturdaybreakfast/oakley-the-conservation-dog-helping-the-act/102722540">pest plants</a></p></li>
<li><p>supporting wildlife surveys by detecting scats (<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-17/koala-poo-sniffing-dog-recruitment/7176218">poo</a>), urine, <a href="https://blog.csiro.au/sniffing-out-solutions-detection-dogs-are-helping-threatened-species/">vomit</a>, nests, carcasses and even <a href="https://molecularecologyblog.com/2019/08/19/interview-with-the-author-detecting-pathogens-in-koalas-dogs-versus-qpcr/">diseases</a>. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>They have worked in extreme conditions on land (including on <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-11/wonder-dog-protects-island-from-rodents/12338438">sub-Antarctic islands</a>) and <a href="https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/dio-the-dog-goes-sniffing-for-whale-poop/">at sea</a>, and can even detect <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/sniffer-dogs-conservation-sea-turtles-florida">scent located underground</a>. Sniffer dogs have also trained to recognise <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/4496200">individual animals such as tigers</a> by scent.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/566063/original/file-20231215-23-tvog7v.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A sniffer dog poses with an open copy of a french book about the incredible nose of the dog by Frank Rosell" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/566063/original/file-20231215-23-tvog7v.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/566063/original/file-20231215-23-tvog7v.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/566063/original/file-20231215-23-tvog7v.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/566063/original/file-20231215-23-tvog7v.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/566063/original/file-20231215-23-tvog7v.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/566063/original/file-20231215-23-tvog7v.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/566063/original/file-20231215-23-tvog7v.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Sniffer dog Maya poses with a french copy of a book about the incredible nose of the dog by Frank Rosell.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Romane Cristescu, UniSC Detection Dogs for Conservation</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>The ultimate scent detection machine</h2>
<p>A dog’s nose is estimated to be <a href="https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/S/bo27611471.html">100,000 to 100 million times</a> more sensitive than a human nose (depending on the dog breed). A much larger proportion (seven to 40 times larger) of the dog’s brain is dedicated to decoding scent. </p>
<p>That means dogs can detect very low scent concentrations – the equivalent of <a href="https://www.exploratorium.edu/blogs/spectrum/dogs-smell-time#:%7E:text=With%20up%20to%20300%20million,continuously%2C%20even%20as%20they%20exhale">a teaspoon of sugar in five million litres of water (or two Olympic-sized swimming pools)</a>. They can also differentiate between very similar odours. </p>
<p>Dogs analyse the air from each of their nostrils independently, detecting tiny variations in scent concentration. This gives them a directional sense of smell that can guide them left or right until they’ve honed in on the origin of the scent.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2871809/">Thanks to very sophisticated nostrils</a>, dogs can avoid contaminating an odour with their own breath (exhaling air through the nostrils’ sides). They also can analyse odours continuously regardless of whether they are inhaling or exhaling. </p>
<p>Besides being the ultimate scent detection machine, dogs are great ambassadors for conservation – melting hearts all the way to <a href="https://ew.com/movies/2019/11/28/tom-hanks-twitter-nice-tweets/">Hollywood</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565570/original/file-20231213-27-awguev.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A still from a video on twitter featuring Hollywood actor Tom Hanks reading and responding to tweets including one about the koala detection dog Bear." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565570/original/file-20231213-27-awguev.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565570/original/file-20231213-27-awguev.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=361&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565570/original/file-20231213-27-awguev.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=361&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565570/original/file-20231213-27-awguev.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=361&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565570/original/file-20231213-27-awguev.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=453&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565570/original/file-20231213-27-awguev.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=453&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565570/original/file-20231213-27-awguev.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=453&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">While reading a tweet about our IFAW / UniSC koala detection dog Bear, Hollywood actor Tom Hanks said: ‘This is a Disney movie that must be made’, before suggesting a title: ‘The story of Bear: The Koala Detection Dog’. ‘I like bear!’</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">X/Twitter</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1723910643353587775"}"></div></p>
<h2>Finding the right candidate for the job</h2>
<p>Some organisations rescue their dogs. They look for the toy-obsessed kind – those dogs that never stop playing.</p>
<p>In many cases these dogs were abandoned for that very reason. They require constant entertainment and become difficult to care for in a normal family setting, where people have to leave for work and devote time to activities other than entertaining their dog. </p>
<p>A sniffer dog gets to be with their handlers almost every day of the week. That work consists of long walks with lots of play. </p>
<p>Trainers use toys and play as a reward, so dogs learn to associate this reward with the target scent.</p>
<p>Learning through association – called <a href="https://open.lib.umn.edu/intropsyc/chapter/7-1-learning-by-association-classical-conditioning/">classical or pavlovian conditioning</a> – is very easy for dogs. It’s so easy that the scent-learning part of the job is usually the quickest. Training a dog to feel confident and be safe in the natural environment is more challenging. And if the dog had a troubled background before being rescued, rehabilitation is the most time-consuming and difficult component of the training. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565581/original/file-20231213-25-h9ef4v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Rear view of two sniffer dogs sitting with their handler in a grassy hilltop gazing into the distance" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565581/original/file-20231213-25-h9ef4v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565581/original/file-20231213-25-h9ef4v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=393&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565581/original/file-20231213-25-h9ef4v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=393&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565581/original/file-20231213-25-h9ef4v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=393&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565581/original/file-20231213-25-h9ef4v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=493&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565581/original/file-20231213-25-h9ef4v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=493&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565581/original/file-20231213-25-h9ef4v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=493&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Sniffer dogs with their handler Russell Miller near Gympie region in Queensland, Australia.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Katrin Hohwieler, UniSC Detection Dogs for Conservation</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What type of dog can become a sniffer dog?</h2>
<p>The most important aspect of the association learning process is having the right dog – one with obsessive behaviour. And <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/2041-210X.13560">any breed, sex and age of dog</a> can present this personality type.</p>
<p>Some breeds might tend to have higher proportions of obsessed and toy-focused dogs, but all breeds, including crossbreeds, have been successfully deployed as sniffer dogs.</p>
<p>Some breeds do have better sniffers – the bloodhound is the champion of olfactory performance – but depending on the target scent, most dogs’ noses are still extremely efficient and more than capable of the task.</p>
<p>Robust, agile and high-energy breeds are better suited to working outdoors. Medium-sized breeds are usually better able to crawl under and jump over obstacles, while also light enough to be easily carried by their human coworker as needed.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/553803/original/file-20231015-23-54t3en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A wildlife rescuer wearing fire protective gear carries detection dog Bear" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/553803/original/file-20231015-23-54t3en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/553803/original/file-20231015-23-54t3en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/553803/original/file-20231015-23-54t3en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/553803/original/file-20231015-23-54t3en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/553803/original/file-20231015-23-54t3en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/553803/original/file-20231015-23-54t3en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/553803/original/file-20231015-23-54t3en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">International Fund for Animal Welfare IFAW / UniSC koala detection dog ‘Bear’ was deployed during the Black Summer fires (2019-20) to find survivors. Pictured here with the author Romane Cristescu at Two Thumbs Wildlife Trust sanctuaries in Cooma, New South Wales.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Kye McDonald, UniSC Detection Dogs for Conservation</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/scientists-find-burnt-starving-koalas-weeks-after-the-bushfires-133519">Scientists find burnt, starving koalas weeks after the bushfires</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Top jobs for conservation dogs</h2>
<p>Meet dogs working in conservation around the world:</p>
<ul>
<li><p><a href="https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/dio-the-dog-goes-sniffing-for-whale-poop/">detecting orca poo</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://www.australiandoglover.com/2016/06/detector-dogs-saved-macquarie-island.html?m=0">making</a> and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-11/wonder-dog-protects-island-from-rodents/12338438">keeping</a> World Heritage-listed islands and Antarctica pristine </p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/scientists-find-burnt-starving-koalas-weeks-after-the-bushfires-133519">wildlife search and rescue</a></p></li>
<li><p>working as <a href="https://www.warrnamboolpenguins.com.au/maremma-dogs">guardians</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-16/sniffer-dogs-help-fight-battle-against-fire-ants-in-queensland/6623876">containing fire ants</a></p></li>
<li><p>leading weed eradication on <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2022-01-23/weed-sniffing-dogs-unleashed-n-tasmanian-central-highlands/100773942">land</a> or <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/canberra-saturdaybreakfast/oakley-the-conservation-dog-helping-the-act/102722540">water</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aec.13220">monitoring wind farms</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/how-a-vomit-sniffing-dog-is-helping-save-endangered-owls-20190124-p50tg6.html">finding vomit</a> (rejected owl pellets, to be precise)</p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-13/sniffer-dogs-could-help-win-the-battle-against-extinction/7163098">supporting environmental assessments</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/meet-moss-the-detection-dog-helping-tassie-devils-find-love-142909">helping Tasmanian devils find mates</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://molecularecologyblog.com/2019/08/19/interview-with-the-author-detecting-pathogens-in-koalas-dogs-versus-qpcr/">detecting diseases</a>.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>These are just a few of the dogs making a difference in our fight to protect biodiversity. But we have barely scratched the surface of their potential!</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/204813/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Romane H Cristescu works for Detection Dogs for Conservation, at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She is receiving external funding through multiple government-funded, foundation association, not-for-profit group, and research council grants. She is a founding member and current executive of the Australasian Conservation Dogs Network.</span></em></p>Conservation dogs perform vital roles across Australia. Some are guardians protecting wildlife from predators while others put their powerful sense of smell to use as sniffer dogs or detection dogs.Romane H Cristescu, Researcher in Koala, Detection Dogs, Conservation Genetics and Ecology, University of the Sunshine CoastLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2178682023-12-14T19:00:58Z2023-12-14T19:00:58ZMutton, an Indigenous woolly dog, died in 1859 − new analysis confirms precolonial lineage of this extinct breed, once kept for their wool<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562497/original/file-20231129-22-cxtdyy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C444%2C2995%2C2883&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Indigenous Coast Salish women wove woolly dogs' fur into blankets.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Artist's reconstruction by Karen Carr</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Dogs have been in the Americas for more than 10,000 years. They were already domesticated when they <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aao4776">came from Eurasia with the first people</a> to reach North America. In the coastal parts of present-day Washington state and southwestern British Columbia, archaeologists have found dog remains dating back as far as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaa.2020.101209">about 5,000 years ago</a>.</p>
<p>Dogs performed many different roles in North American Indigenous communities, including transportation, that in other parts of the world were done by multiple other domestic animals. </p>
<p>Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the <a href="https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/culture/contemporary-culture/coast-salish-art/coast-salish-people">Indigenous Coast Salish peoples</a> of the Pacific Northwest had traditionally maintained a breed of long-haired dog for the purpose of harvesting their hair, or wool, for textile fibers. Along with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-4403(95)90012-8">alpacas and llamas</a>, these woolly dogs are one of only a few known animals intentionally bred for their fleece in all of the Americas.</p>
<p>But the practice of keeping woolly dogs and weaving textiles made from woolly dog yarn declined throughout the 19th century, and the dogs were considered extinct by the beginning of the 20th century. What had happened to them? </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562505/original/file-20231129-19-wyniuw.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="dog paw on furry pelt with handwritten tag" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562505/original/file-20231129-19-wyniuw.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562505/original/file-20231129-19-wyniuw.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562505/original/file-20231129-19-wyniuw.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562505/original/file-20231129-19-wyniuw.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562505/original/file-20231129-19-wyniuw.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562505/original/file-20231129-19-wyniuw.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562505/original/file-20231129-19-wyniuw.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Mutton’s pelt has been preserved at the Smithsonian Institution for more than 160 years.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Audrey Lin</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Today, the only confirmed woolly dog specimen is “Mutton,” whose pelt has been housed <a href="http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3299968b9-99b2-4db0-9aee-b8ee388fcb57">in the Smithsonian’s collection</a> since his death in 1859. In life, this “Indian dog” was the companion of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gibbs_(ethnologist)">George Gibbs</a>, a naturalist working on the Northwest Boundary Survey expedition to map out British Columbia and the American Pacific Northwest. In death, Mutton offered the opportunity to learn more about woolly dog ancestry, selection and management.</p>
<p>We are <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=th7mXK0AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao">an archaeologist</a>, an <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5sYVrEsAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao">evolutionary molecular biologist</a> and a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=G5OGkjUAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao">molecular anthropologist</a> who are part of a large research team. It’s important to note that although we collaborated with a number of Indigenous people on our study, the scientists, including the three of us, are not Indigenous. Alongside historical documents and interviews of Coast Salish elders, knowledge keepers, weavers and artists, our team utilized “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12516">Two-Eyed Seeing</a>” – viewing the world through the combined strengths of Indigenous knowledge and western science – to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adi6549">bring Mutton’s story and legacy back to life</a>.</p>
<h2>A prestigious part of Indigenous culture</h2>
<p>Prior to the arrival of Europeans, there were <a href="https://archpress.lib.sfu.ca/index.php/archpress/catalog/download/52/23/1900?inline=1">several types of dogs</a> in the Pacific Northwest: larger “village” dogs and hunting dogs and smaller <a href="https://hakaimagazine.com/features/the-dogs-that-grew-wool-and-the-people-who-love-them/">woolly dogs</a>, kept separately to prevent interbreeding. Woolly dogs were a little larger than the modern <a href="https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-eskimo-dog/">American Eskimo dog breed</a> and had curled tails, pricked ears and a pointed foxlike face. Instead of barking, they howled. </p>
<p>Traditionally, only high-status Coast Salish women were allowed to keep woolly dogs, and a woman’s individual wealth could be measured by how many she had. Blankets woven of dog hair, often mixed with hair from mountain goats and waterfowl or plant fibers, were important trade and gift items.</p>
<p>Historians and economists, looking back, first claimed the disappearance of the woolly dog breed was the result of simple capitalist forces: The availability of cheap manufactured blankets offered by businesses like the <a href="https://www.hbcheritage.ca/things/fashion-pop/hbc-point-blanket">Hudson’s Bay Company</a> meant the Coast Salish didn’t need to make their own blankets. Why go through the immense time and labor in keeping wool dogs and crafting blankets in the traditional way when you could just buy a machine-woven blanket? </p>
<p>But the Coast Salish don’t agree. <a href="https://vanmuralfest.ca/blog/debra-sparrow">Debra qwasen Sparrow</a>, a master weaver of the <a href="https://www.musqueam.bc.ca/">Musqueam Nation</a>, explained to us, “The blankets really tell a story of our history, our families, the way in which they identified in the communities, (they’re) all reflected in the blankets.”</p>
<p>And Coast Salish people say they would never have willingly parted with their beloved canine friends. The simple economic explanation ignores the massive role colonialism played in the demise of the woolly dogs. Repressive government policies <a href="https://www.washington.edu/uwired/outreach/cspn/Website/Classroom%20Materials/Pacific%20Northwest%20History/Lessons/Lesson%2012/12.html">tried to control and subdue</a> <a href="https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/05/12/indian-boarding-schools-operated-washington-state-interior-department-deb-haaland/9749676002/">Indigenous cultural practices</a>.</p>
<p>“They were told they couldn’t do their cultural things. There was the police, the Indian agent and the priests,” <a href="https://www.stolonation.bc.ca">Stó:lō Nation</a> elder Xweliqwiya Rena Point Bolton told our research team. “The dogs were not allowed. (My grandmother) had to get rid of the dogs. And so the family never ever saw them.”</p>
<p>Eventually, there were no more Coast Salish woolly dogs.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565318/original/file-20231212-23-cut1vu.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="pelt fur-side down on a paper-covered table" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565318/original/file-20231212-23-cut1vu.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565318/original/file-20231212-23-cut1vu.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=468&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565318/original/file-20231212-23-cut1vu.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=468&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565318/original/file-20231212-23-cut1vu.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=468&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565318/original/file-20231212-23-cut1vu.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=588&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565318/original/file-20231212-23-cut1vu.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=588&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565318/original/file-20231212-23-cut1vu.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=588&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Researchers used a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer as part of their investigation of Mutton’s remains.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Audrey Lin</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Piecing together a picture of Mutton’s life</h2>
<p>We did have access to Mutton’s pelt, though, which had been archived for more than 160 years. No one knows exactly how Gibbs initially acquired Mutton, but it’s likely he got the dog while working with local communities in <a href="https://www.stolonation.bc.ca/">Stó:lō territory</a> in present-day British Columbia. Using modern techniques, we set out to answer questions about Mutton’s breed and ancestry.</p>
<p>First we used <a href="https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/the-use-of-stable-isotopes-in-the-96648168/">stable isotope analysis</a>, a chemical analysis of once-living tissues, to understand more about Mutton’s environment when he was alive: what kinds of foods he ate and the state of his health.</p>
<p>Interviews of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adi6549">elders and knowledge keepers confirmed</a> that the woolly dog diet was very different from village dogs, including special foods that kept the dogs healthy and their coats shiny. For example, salmon, elk or certain local plants would be set aside for the woolly dogs. </p>
<p>The stable isotope values of Mutton’s fur suggested he’d been eating maize for some time, but less and less up to the point when he died. The <a href="https://www.trafford.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/407988-Joseph-S-Harris-and-the-U-S-Northwest-Boundary-Survey-1857-1861">letters of one expedition member</a> imply they were running low on cornmeal and supplementing their imported supplies by trading with locals. Although <a href="https://siarchives.si.edu/sites/all/modules/sia/sia_mirador/mirador/mirador_player3?manifest=https://iiif.si.edu/manifests/siarchives/SIA-007209_B01_F02_MODSI1328.json">Gibbs noted in his journal</a> that Mutton was ill before he died, there was no isotopic evidence to support chronic illness; Mutton may have become sick quickly.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565265/original/file-20231212-23-zikxpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Scientist with blue gloves uses a tool to lift a bit of hair from the pelt" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565265/original/file-20231212-23-zikxpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/565265/original/file-20231212-23-zikxpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565265/original/file-20231212-23-zikxpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565265/original/file-20231212-23-zikxpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565265/original/file-20231212-23-zikxpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565265/original/file-20231212-23-zikxpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/565265/original/file-20231212-23-zikxpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Chris Stantis carefully removes a minimal sample from Mutton’s pelt for further analyses.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Hsiao-Lei Liu</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Next, we turned to genetic analysis for insight into the dog’s ancestry to understand long-term management of this breed. We sequenced Mutton’s DNA and compared it with a contemporaneous village dog that was killed by the explorers in an unknown village in the Pacific Northwest. We also compared Mutton’s DNA with a genetic panel of many other modern and ancient dogs.</p>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adi6549">We found that Mutton</a> is a rare example of an Indigenous North American dog with precolonial ancestry who lived well after the arrival of white settlers. Using a dataset of mitochondrial genomes from Mutton and more than 200 ancient and modern dogs, we made an elaborate family tree. Called a <a href="http://dunnlab.org/phylogenetic_biology/phylogenies-and-time.html">time-calibrated phylogenetic tree</a>, it creates a diagram of the evolution of Mutton’s maternal lineage.</p>
<p>Based on the tree, we estimate that Mutton’s most recent common ancestor diverged from one other ancient dog from British Columbia between 1,800 and 4,800 years ago, corresponding with the known archaeological record. In other words, Mutton’s woolly dog lineage has been isolated from other dogs for millennia.</p>
<p>We see evidence of inbreeding in Mutton’s genome that can result only from careful long-term selective breed management. We identified variants of genes associated with hair and skin, including KRT77 and KANK2, which are linked to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/jmedgenet-2014-102346">woolly hair in humans</a>. </p>
<p>However, Mutton lived during a very volatile <a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/the-fraser-river-gold-rush.htm">time period</a>. For example, in 1858 more than 33,000 miners flooded into present-day British Columbia in <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/fraser-river-gold-rush">search of gold</a>. This influx left its mark in Mutton’s DNA, and we found that about one eighth of his genome – representating about one great-grandparent’s worth of DNA – came from settler-introduced European dogs. </p>
<p>Finally, we worked closely with a <a href="https://www.karencarr.com/">scientific artist</a>, using archaeological dog bones and Mutton’s pelt, to reconstruct what these dogs looked like in life with scientific accuracy.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562506/original/file-20231129-21-3c76dg.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="zig-zag patterened blanket with fringe on three sides" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562506/original/file-20231129-21-3c76dg.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562506/original/file-20231129-21-3c76dg.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=433&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562506/original/file-20231129-21-3c76dg.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=433&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562506/original/file-20231129-21-3c76dg.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=433&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562506/original/file-20231129-21-3c76dg.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=544&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562506/original/file-20231129-21-3c76dg.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=544&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562506/original/file-20231129-21-3c76dg.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=544&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A Coast Salish classic-style blanket, which has woolly dog hair in the warp fibers that were stretched across the loom. Accessioned 1838-1842.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">USNM E2124, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What this woolly dog confirms about the past</h2>
<p>With Mutton’s pelt, our team wove together these different ways of exploring the many lives of Mutton – his ancestry as an Indigenous dog, his life traveling with white settlers, and finally his time in the Smithsonian Institution.</p>
<p>Mutton is the latest dog we’re aware of with that much precolonial dog ancestry. European colonization was devastating to Indigenous people in North America. The fact that Mutton carries as much Indigenous dog DNA as he does is a testament to the care that Coast Salish people took to keep the woolly dog tradition alive.</p>
<p>Our Coast Salish weaving collaborators are very keen to learn more about how traditional blankets housed in museum collections are made – to inform efforts to revive complex techniques and better understand the unique materials used. With Mutton’s genetic sequencing, future researchers may be able to identify dog hair in heritage woven materials. Some Coast Salish would like to see the woolly dogs return to their families once again. There’s currently no way to bring back the original woolly dogs, such as by cloning Mutton, because his DNA is far too degraded after more than 160 years. But a new kind of woolly dog could be created in the future through <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/selective-breeding">selective breeding</a> and care.</p>
<p>“But the thing that’s most important (is) that (the) wool dog created a gift to produce and to make something, to create something, to bring something alive,” Michael Pavel, elder of the <a href="https://skokomish.org/culture-and-history/">Twana/Skokomish Tribe</a>, told us. “Let’s do that. Let’s bring that back to life. … The wool dog is still very much a part of our life.”</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/217868/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Dogs have lived with Indigenous Americans since before they came to the continent together 10,000 years ago. A new analysis reveals the lineage of one 1800s ‘woolly dog’ from the Pacific Northwest.Audrey T. Lin, Research Associate in Anthropology, Smithsonian InstitutionChris Stantis, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Geology and Geophysics, University of UtahLogan Kistler, Curator of Archaeobotany and Archaeogenomics, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian InstitutionLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2167662023-11-13T11:52:56Z2023-11-13T11:52:56ZWhat the world’s oldest dog can tell us about ageing<p>If you have ever cared for a pet dog, it is a sad truth that you are likely to outlive them. So it’s no wonder that people may be asking how to increase their pet’s longevity following the news that a dog in Portugal lived longer than 30 years. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2023/2/oldest-dog-ever-record-broken-by-30-year-old-bobi-from-portugal-736224">Guinness World Record Holder of the title of World’s Oldest Dog</a>, Bobi, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67194721">has recently died</a> aged 31. This is an impressive age for any dog. <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/pdf/S2211-1247(12)00418-4.pdf">Smaller dogs typically live longer than larger breeds</a> but the average dog will get to around 13 years old before age inevitably catches up with them. </p>
<p>Bobi apparently lived a relatively unrestricted life in the Portuguese countryside, eating the same food as his human caregivers and enjoying free roam of the nearby forestland. His unusual longevity has been attributed to this lifestyle. While there is <a href="https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2023/11/bobi-the-supposed-worlds-oldest-dog-at-31-is-little-more-than-a-shaggy-dog-story/">some debate about Bobi’s actual age</a>, his diet and lifestyle, unsurprisingly, has attracted much attention from canine caregivers.</p>
<p>There is a lot we don’t understand about ageing but there are <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41580-021-00411-4">common factors associated with longevity</a> for many species. These factors seem to help increase lifespans in species as varied as the microscopic worm <em><a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/23/7323">Caenorhabditis elegans</a></em>, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/10/7/518">dogs and humans</a>. This suggests that other species can be <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.655191/full?app=true#B50">useful models in helping us understand our own ageing process</a>. </p>
<p>So, what practical measures can we take to help ourselves and our dogs live as long and healthy lives as possible?</p>
<h2>Eat a nutritious diet</h2>
<p>Bobi reportedly ate the same food as his owners. But dogs and humans have different nutritional needs. This means that feeding your dog the same food you eat is unlikely to meet their requirements and could even be dangerous. </p>
<p>However, diet does affect ageing. In humans, a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622100957?via%3Dihub">diet low in saturated fat and high in fruit and vegetables </a> supports healthy ageing. </p>
<p>For dogs, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3271/9/4/72">increased levels of antioxidants</a> support energy generation in the body’s cells and aid learning and brain health in older dogs. These include vitamins C and E, and nutrients such as alpha-lipoic acid (found in red meat and organ meats) and L-carnitine (also found in red meat). These nutrients are typically provided in fortified, prepared dog food. </p>
<p>If you feed your dog a commercial diet, check it is labelled as “complete”. This ensures that if you feed <a href="https://www.ukpetfood.org/resource/different-pet-food-formats.html">the recommended amount</a>, your dog will be getting all the nutrients at the right levels to meet their needs. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781119375241.ch8">Home-prepared dog diets are often deficient in key nutrients</a>, unless they are carefully prepared.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Brown and white dog lying in grass with a playful expression" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/558001/original/file-20231107-29-1w4b8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/558001/original/file-20231107-29-1w4b8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/558001/original/file-20231107-29-1w4b8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/558001/original/file-20231107-29-1w4b8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/558001/original/file-20231107-29-1w4b8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/558001/original/file-20231107-29-1w4b8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/558001/original/file-20231107-29-1w4b8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Wouldn’t you want this dog to stay healthy as long as possible?</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/adorable-welsh-springer-spaniel-dog-breed-1823409425">el-ka/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Keep active</h2>
<p>Physical activity is often <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-020-00995-8">linked to healthy ageing</a>. Studies suggest that dogs living in <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/epdf/10.1086/724384">rural areas and large dogs are more active</a> than their older, smaller and urban counterparts. Interestingly, <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/epdf/10.1086/724384">older caregivers also have more active dogs</a> compared to younger dog owners.</p>
<p>Walking is a simple way to <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-nutritional-science/article/overweight-dogs-exercise-less-frequently-and-for-shorter-periods-results-of-a-large-online-survey-of-dog-owners-from-the-uk/01E2D6FBCDD05069E3557C10A1CC5945">support maintenance of a healthy body weight in dogs</a> and their caregivers, leading to mutual health benefits. Age, size, breed, health and other variables will affect the amount of exercise a dog needs. For example, dogs originally bred to work and be highly active, <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cvma/cjvr/2012/00000076/00000003/art00013">such as collies and spaniels</a>, are likely to need more physical activity (intensity and duration) than toy breeds such as pugs, who might be happy with a gentle wander around the neighbourhood. </p>
<p>But almost without exception, walking and other activity is good for our dogs. It can also mean that <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/8/936">you and your dog are happier</a>, another key factor linked to <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11205-020-02424-6">healthy ageing</a>. </p>
<h2>Maintain a healthy body weight</h2>
<p>Excess body weight is associated with <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/characteristics-of-ageing-pets-and-their-owners-dogs-v-cats/39D988E0453ABF129B8740263CC61504">reduced health and lifespan</a> in dogs and people. Research consistently indicates that a degree of calorie restriction and a lean body weight is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568163719304076?via%3Dihub">associated with increased longevity</a> in a range of species. Somewhat paradoxically, photographs of Bobi suggest that he was carrying rather more body weight that would be considered healthy for a typical dog of his size. </p>
<p>Regular monitoring of your dog’s (and your own!) body weight is <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/4/2/30/htm">a good way to maintain a healthy waistline</a> and support longevity. It is important to know what a healthy body weight and shape looks and feels like for your own dog. Many caregivers <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/10/7/447">fail to recognise</a> what a healthy, lean animal should look like and others underestimate how much excess weight their pets are carrying. </p>
<p>With practice, you can become familiar with a healthy body shape by checking that your dog has a defined <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf_-rwxqHYU">waistline when viewed from above</a>, that you can feel (but not necessarily see) their ribs and that their abdomen tucks up when viewed from the side. You can use <a href="https://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/files/media/Pug_health_scheme_BCS_v2.jpg">breed specific resources</a> to understand more about the physical shapes of some dogs.</p>
<p>Feeding your dog a suitable amount to meet their nutritional needs while maintaining a lean body weight can help <a href="https://www.vettimes.co.uk/app/uploads/wp-post-to-pdf-enhanced-cache/1/clinical-impact-of-obesity-on-osteoarthritis-in-canines.pdf">reduce the chances</a> they will develop painful and distressing conditions such as osteoarthritis.</p>
<p>With some simple dietary and lifestyle interventions, we can make sure our shared lives with our dogs are as happy, healthy and long as possible. Our companion dogs might not reach 31 years old, but we can certainly make mutual longevity an aim.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/216766/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jacqueline Boyd is affiliated with The Kennel Club (UK) through membership, as Chair of the Activities Health and Welfare Subgroup and member of the Dog Health Group. Jacqueline also writes, consults and coaches on canine matters on an independent basis in addition to her academic affiliation.</span></em></p>There’s a surprising amount of crossover in what things help human and dog longevity.Jacqueline Boyd, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, Nottingham Trent UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2136162023-09-28T10:59:19Z2023-09-28T10:59:19ZThe first dog-fox hybrid points to the growing risk to wild animals of domestic species<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/550594/original/file-20230927-29-aemwmg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=17%2C17%2C2977%2C1971&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A pampas fox</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/pampas-grey-fox-la-pampa-argentina-530636404">Foto 4440/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Next time you see a fox when out walking with your dog, pause for a moment and ponder their relatedness. Dogs and foxes are <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10577-007-1203-5">distinct but distantly related canine species</a>. </p>
<p>Until recently, scientists thought it was impossible for them to breed. However, the discovery of a dog-fox hybrid in Brazil suggests that The Fox and the Hound might sometimes be a little more Lady and the Tramp.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2505">recent identification of the dog-fox hybrid</a> known as a “dogxim” (a cross between dog and <em>graxaim-do-campo</em>, the Portuguese name for pampas fox) in Brazil also raises concerns about the impact that our pet dogs might have on <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03417.x">wild animal populations and their survival</a>. </p>
<p>This female, dog-like creature was first noticed when she was she was hit by a car and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation facility. The staff at the wildlife centre noticed she had a strange mix of <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2505#B64-animals-13-02505">physical and behavioural characteristics</a>. </p>
<p>Her pricked ears and preference for eating small mammals seemed fox-like, but her barking was more reminiscent of a dog. Throughout the centuries there have been <a href="https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2023/04/30/can-a-dog-and-a-fox-breed/">unverified reports</a> of fox-dog hybrids, but none have been confirmed before with genetic testing. </p>
<p>Genetic testing revealed that she was a hybrid between a female pampas fox (<em><a href="https://academic.oup.com/mspecies/article/doi/10.1644/820.1/2600864">Lycalopex gymnocercus</a></em>) and a male domestic dog <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=9615">(<em>Canis lupus familiaris</em>)</a>. This is the first documented case of a dog-fox hybrid. Genetic analysis revealed she had a total of 76 chromosomes, compared to the 78 chromosomes of the domestic dog and 74 of the pampas fox.</p>
<h2>What is a hybrid?</h2>
<p>Hybridisation is when <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2012.02599.x">two species mate and produce offspring with mixed genetic ancestry</a>. Normally, animals only mate with members of their own species. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Chromosomes-Fact-Sheet">Differences in the number of chromosomes</a> (the structure in which DNA is packaged within the cell nucleus) often make species genetically incompatible with each other. Mating behaviour and courtship rituals tend to be individual to a species, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00114-021-01742-0">such as the vocalisations of rutting deer</a>, as is reproductive anatomy and physiology.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KTCw5VkexbY?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</figure>
<p>Many well-known hybrids, such as <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2405-8440(20)32018-1">mules (horse and donkey)</a>, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mrd.22074">ligers (male lion and female tiger) and tigons (male tiger and female lion)</a>, are a result of human intervention. A lion and tiger would never meet naturally in the wild, as their native ranges are too far apart. </p>
<p>The more closely related (and thus genetically alike) two species are, the higher the chance of successful hybridisation. For example, <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1004016">dogs (<em>Canis lupus familiaris</em>) and grey wolves (<em>Canis lupus)</em></a> only diverged between 11,000 and 35,000 years ago. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5978975/">Wolf-dog hybrids</a> are <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/eva.12595">relatively common</a> because their genetics, reproductive anatomy and behaviour are still fairly similar.</p>
<p>Most hybrids are sterile, meaning they are biological dead-ends. Even if differences in chromosome <a href="https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Chromosomes-Fact-Sheet">numbers and behaviour</a> don’t prevent two species from producing young, it may <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mec.14471">make the hybrid infertile</a>. </p>
<h2>How common are hybrids?</h2>
<p>Hybrids are more widespread than you might think - they are all around us in the plant world, both natural and as a result of human intervention. </p>
<p>Research suggests that approximately <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8774782/">25% of plant and 10% of animal species</a> have been affected by interbreeding in the wild. </p>
<p>Many domesticated species can breed with their <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13364-017-0331-3">wild relatives</a> too. In Poland, a 2018 study found high numbers of free-living wild boars had domestic genes, for example.</p>
<p>Hybrid offspring are not always infertile, and some people are concerned about how this affects the long-term survival and purity of individual species. Hybrids <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/animals/2022/09/the-quest-to-save-the-worlds-rarest-canine-faces-setbacks">can outcompete and eventually even replace</a> their parent species. For endangered species with small, fragile populations, this is a serious threat. In the case of the dogxim, her fertility was not verified. Sadly, <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2023/09/19/dogxim-dog-fox-hybrid-mystery-brazil-19521745/">reports suggest she has since died</a>, so we will probably never know. </p>
<h2>Why are hybrids controversial?</h2>
<p>Hybridisation is important in the evolution of species, allowing populations to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-018-0777-y">adapt to changing environments</a>. Early humans are widely recognised in science to have <a href="https://academic.oup.com/genetics/article/218/1/iyab052/6205711?login=true">mated with Neanderthals</a>, helping our ancestors survive in some harsh environments. Long term, hybrids can lead to the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-020-1116-9">development of entirely new species</a>.</p>
<p>But there are also negative consequences. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/hdy199031">Physical abnormalities are common in hybrids</a> including changes to skull, dental and horn structures, <a href="https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC96987">as seen in hybrid wildebeest</a>. </p>
<p>Hybridisation is also a problem for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-5347(01)02290-X">vulnerable populations or endangered species</a>, leading to reduced fitness and therefore the survival of individuals and even whole populations. The Scottish wildcat wild population, for instance, is now <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mec.16000">almost entirely made up of</a> wildcat-domestic cat hybrids. </p>
<h2>What does the dog-fox hybrid tell us?</h2>
<p>The dog-pampas fox hybrid strongly suggests that contact between wild and domestic species is increasing, possibly because of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/gcb.16476">human settlements encroaching</a> on wild habitats. This can also <a href="https://www.scielo.br/j/bjb/a/3nNwm9ykHrD8KKrkfzxRCRJ/?lang=en">significantly increase disease transmission risks</a>.</p>
<p>The dogxim might well be a warning of the destructive impact humans and domesticated animals are having on biodiversity. We don’t know how many other hybrids may be living in the wild. Although the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=pampas%20fox&searchType=species">pampas fox is not considered endangered</a>, this example of hybridisation between a domestic and wild species signals the importance of monitoring interactions between different species, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eva.12595">to protect vulnerable or numerically low populations</a>. </p>
<p>It is important to note that the pampas fox species is very different to the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=9627&lvl=3&lin=f">red fox (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em>)</a>. We probably do not need to worry about creating dog-fox hybrids on our daily dog walks, because of the genetic distance between the two. However, the dogxim should warn us that our dogs’ interactions with nature can have unexpected consequences.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/213616/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jacqueline Boyd is affiliated with The Kennel Club (UK) through membership, as Chair of the Activities Health and Welfare Subgroup and member of the Dog Health Group. Jacqueline also writes, consults and coaches on canine matters on an independent basis in addition to her academic affiliation.</span></em></p>Scientists had thought a ‘dogxim’ was impossible until one was discovered in BrazilJacqueline Boyd, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, Nottingham Trent UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2074162023-06-20T01:28:51Z2023-06-20T01:28:51ZIs leaving dog poo in the street really so bad? The science says it’s even worse than you think<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532325/original/file-20230616-17-lx747.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C50%2C6720%2C4416&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>What’s that smell? Is that what you think it is? You check your shoes and, sure enough, one is adorned with a sticky, foul-smelling patty of fresh wrongness. You have stepped in a landmine of the canine variety. </p>
<p>We’ve all been there, and we all know footpaths, nature strips, parks, playing fields and front lawns are not good places for dog poo to sit.</p>
<p>Yet, our streets and parks continue to be littered with dog poo. And with the pandemic <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/australian-pet-ownership-reaches-record-high-during-covid-pandemic/news-story/3d6bafa280bd2715056c28a4961aeecd">driving</a> a surge in dog ownership, <a href="https://inqld.com.au/opinion/2020/12/10/a-fine-mess-why-council-must-crack-down-on-pet-owners-who-wont-clean-up/">anecdotal</a> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/canine-corner/202106/the-covid-19-pandemic-has-triggered-dog-poodemic">reports</a> suggest the dog poo problem has grown only worse in recent years.</p>
<p>Beyond the obvious unsightliness and the likelihood of making unwanted contact with dog poo, there are some other important reasons to pick up after dogs. </p>
<p>Here’s what you need to know and what the science says about common efforts to deter dogs from pooping on your yard.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532307/original/file-20230616-15503-p10uuw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C4748%2C3165&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532307/original/file-20230616-15503-p10uuw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C4748%2C3165&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532307/original/file-20230616-15503-p10uuw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532307/original/file-20230616-15503-p10uuw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532307/original/file-20230616-15503-p10uuw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532307/original/file-20230616-15503-p10uuw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532307/original/file-20230616-15503-p10uuw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532307/original/file-20230616-15503-p10uuw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Best to bag it and bin it.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/is-my-dog-too-cold-how-cold-is-too-cold-for-a-walk-heres-how-to-tell-184141">Is my dog too cold? How cold is too cold for a walk? Here's how to tell</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Dog poo is linked to illness, pollution and antibiotic resistance</h2>
<p>Dog faeces may contain microorganisms that cause illness in humans such as <em>Salmonella</em>, <em>E. coli</em>, <em>Giardia</em> and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/1/72">internal parasites</a>. </p>
<p>Dog poo can also be a potential reservoir for <a href="https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/82695531.pdf">antibiotic-resistant bacteria</a>, meaning humans could develop bacterial infections that are difficult to treat through contact with dog faeces. </p>
<p>A recent Sydney study also identified dog faeces washed into storm water as a significant contributor to <a href="https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Water/Beaches/rose-bay-microbial-source-tracking-uts.pdf">water pollution</a>. </p>
<p>This topic, in spite of its relevance and impact, has received little attention from scientists. Thankfully, however, we have a few brave souls who can say they have studied dog crap for the betterment of humanity. </p>
<p>This research has revealed some patterns in where dog faeces is found in public.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532321/original/file-20230616-17-l3ry4b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532321/original/file-20230616-17-l3ry4b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532321/original/file-20230616-17-l3ry4b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532321/original/file-20230616-17-l3ry4b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532321/original/file-20230616-17-l3ry4b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532321/original/file-20230616-17-l3ry4b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532321/original/file-20230616-17-l3ry4b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532321/original/file-20230616-17-l3ry4b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dog poo can be a potential reservoir for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Where is the dog poo problem more common?</h2>
<p>Dog fouling is significantly <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-30225-7">more common</a> in parks where dogs are allowed off-leash, and areas close to car parks.</p>
<p>The way dog walkers have traditionally used an area may also be an important factor, with one <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264438856_Environmental_and_social_impacts_of_domestic_dog_waste_in_the_UK_Investigating_barriers_to_behavioural_change_in_dog_walkers">UK study</a> noting: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>availability of bins, path morphology, visibility, and path location are key factors in determining the occurrence of dog faeces.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The same study noted that while most dog walkers do the right thing, some are too “proud to pick up”, while others make contextual judgements about where and when it could be permissible to leave dog waste. Yet others are “disengaged” dog walkers, who “will not pick up even if they are aware of the health and environmental consequences”.</p>
<p>Other research has suggested targeting <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-30225-7">keeping dogs on-leash</a> between car parks and off-leash areas and providing waste disposal stations on popular dog-walking routes.</p>
<p>This doesn’t help if you have a neighbour who lets their dog out to relieve themselves on the nature strip (or your yard), or people who walk their dogs without carrying waste disposal bags. </p>
<p>And we all love the ones who bag the poop but leave the bag tied to a fence or by a gate. </p>
<h2>What about the old water-bottles-on-the grass trick?</h2>
<p>Dog owners who don’t pick up after their dog can be fined, but it can be hard to catch them in the act, and reporting a neighbour to authorities can often lead to ongoing hostility.</p>
<p>Bottles of water on the grass is a time-honoured strategy to deter dogs, but there is no evidence this is effective and no clear reason why it would be. </p>
<p>Dogs sometimes like to circle and find just the right spot to go, so they may prefer an area that has fewer obstacles to negotiate. Perhaps a yard bristling with lawn ornaments would enjoy some protection. (Interestingly, science <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/dogs-prefer-to-poo-along-a-north-south-axis">suggests</a> dogs may circle around like this to align their body to face north.)</p>
<p>There are commercially available dog deterrents, but little evidence they are effective and under what conditions. </p>
<p>Some believe any strong scent may deter an animal with a very strong sense of smell from lingering long enough to take a dump. But scent travels, so heavy and repeated applications would likely be needed (and this strategy could have unintended side effects on native urban ecosystems).</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532322/original/file-20230616-13202-kn6xpv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532322/original/file-20230616-13202-kn6xpv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532322/original/file-20230616-13202-kn6xpv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532322/original/file-20230616-13202-kn6xpv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532322/original/file-20230616-13202-kn6xpv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532322/original/file-20230616-13202-kn6xpv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532322/original/file-20230616-13202-kn6xpv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532322/original/file-20230616-13202-kn6xpv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Most dog walkers do the right thing.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Educating dog walkers is key</h2>
<p>Aside from providing bags and a bin and enforcing leash laws particularly around carparks close to off-leash areas, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-30225-7">research</a> suggests education does help. </p>
<p>Messages emphasising that good neighbours and members of the community diligently pick up after their dogs may be most <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264438856_Environmental_and_social_impacts_of_domestic_dog_waste_in_the_UK_Investigating_barriers_to_behavioural_change_in_dog_walkers">effective</a>, as people are responsive to social messages.</p>
<p>If you have tried to appeal to your neighbour’s sense of community to no avail, and you’re not keen on a front yard bristling with garden gnomes and flamingos or drenched in possible dog-deterring chemicals, you could try providing bags and a sign promising surveillance. </p>
<p>For all the dog owners out there that do pick up after their dogs, your community thanks you. </p>
<p>The best way to dispose of dog faeces is in the bin. Composting requires high temperatures to neutralise the nasties in dog poop, and home composts are unlikely to get hot enough. And burying it simply allows these microorganisms to build up in the soil.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/is-your-dog-happy-ten-common-misconceptions-about-dog-behaviour-97541">Is your dog happy? Ten common misconceptions about dog behaviour</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/207416/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Melissa Starling does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>And what about the old water-bottles-on-the grass trick? Does that actually work?Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2056582023-06-01T20:00:28Z2023-06-01T20:00:28ZWhy does my dog eat grass? And when is it not safe for them?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526160/original/file-20230515-7425-t3hn1m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C4361%2C2909&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Have you ever wondered why your dog is eating your beautifully cropped lawn or nibbling at the grass at the dog park?</p>
<p>Eating grass is a common behaviour in pet dogs. Some surveys show <a href="http://raw-feeding-prey-model.fr/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WhydogogsandcatseatgrassGrassVetMed2008-2.pdf">up to 80%</a> of guardians notice their dog regularly snacking on the grass. </p>
<p>Grass eating isn’t a new behaviour either, or only done by our new designer dog breeds. Studies in Yellowstone National Park show plant matter (mostly grass) is found in up to <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/136/7/1923S/4664711">74% of wolf scats</a>, suggesting the behaviour is possibly inherited from the beginning of doggy time. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=390&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=390&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=390&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=490&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=490&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=490&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The answer to why your dog eats grass may simply be: because they like to.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-cats-and-dogs-get-the-zoomies-197790">Why do cats and dogs get the zoomies?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>So why does my dog eat the grass?</h2>
<p>A lot of people think dogs eat grass when they have a sore stomach, believing grass causes dogs to vomit. This is probably not the case; a study with <a href="https://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/32446/bjone-brown-price-grass-eating20patterns-raan-2007.pdf">12 dogs that ate grass daily</a> found there were few vomiting episodes and the ones that did occur came after the dog had eaten a meal. </p>
<p>And if a dog has a mild gastrointestinal disturbance because of something they’ve been fed, they are in fact <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159109003311">less likely</a> to eat grass than if they are fed a normal diet. </p>
<p>Other theories include that dogs eat grass because they want a laxative or that it provides roughage in their diet (get that fibre!). </p>
<p>Like the vomiting discussed above, there is little to no scientific proof for most of these theories. For example, in the study of <a href="https://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/32446/bjone-brown-price-grass-eating20patterns-raan-2007.pdf">12 dogs mentioned above</a>, all of them were wormed and had no previous digestive problems. Yet all 12 still happily ate grass (709 times).</p>
<p>Their main finding was that when the dog had not yet had their daily meal, they were more likely to eat grass. In short, the hungrier the dog, the more likely they were to eat some grass.</p>
<p>The answer to why your dog eats grass may simply be: because they like to. Your dog may be bored, and chewing on grass is something to do. </p>
<p>Maybe your dog just enjoys eating grass. Ripping grass from the ground can be satisfying. The texture and taste of grass offers something different to what they usually eat. You may even notice they prefer grass in certain seasons; perhaps fresh spring grass a favourite delicacy.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">You may even notice your dog prefers grass in certain seasons.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Is there any reason why you shouldn’t let your dog eat grass?</h2>
<p>Well, yes, there are several. Firstly, you may not want your dog eating your neighbour’s immaculately presented fancy Kikuyu lawn.</p>
<p>More importantly, though, grass is sometimes treated with herbicides. Grass at the local oval or parkland may have been treated or sprayed. Some local councils use a non-hazardous dye to show where grass has been sprayed with <a href="https://www.yassvalleytimes.com.au/general-news/council-to-use-marker-dye-when-spraying-weeds/">herbicide</a>, which is very helpful. </p>
<p>Lawn chemicals are frequently detected in lawn for up to 48 hours after they’re applied, and have also been detected in the urine of dogs with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969713003100?via%3Dihub">access to grass</a> treated this way. </p>
<p>Research has suggested there may be a <a href="https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/224/8/javma.2004.224.1290.xml">link</a> between bladder cancer in dogs and exposure to herbicides.</p>
<p>In fact, dogs may even act as sentinels; the same chemical exposures appear in the urine of dogs and people <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-clinical-and-translational-science/article/environmental-chemical-exposures-in-the-urine-of-dogs-and-people-sharing-the-same-households/C3F9330A4AA7723FE78CE5D492071F55">sharing the same environment</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">There are some circumstances in which it’s better for your dog not to eat the grass.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>If you are using herbicides on your own grass, remove your dog, their toys, food and water bowls from the area prior to any application. </p>
<p>Make sure the pesticide has completely dried out before you allow the dog back in the area, and be certain to check the packaging for the appropriate drying time period.</p>
<p>This is particularly the case for granular pesticides or fertilisers that soak into the soil, as these can require up to 24 hours or longer. </p>
<p>If you want to reduce the risk even further, hand weeding may be a <a href="https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/is-weed-killer-safe-for-pets-what-to-know/">better option</a>. </p>
<p>Apart from grass, many leaves, flowers and berries from common plants can be toxic to your dog. <a href="https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/o?&">This includes</a> plants such as oleander and arum lily; even oregano and bay leaves can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs.</p>
<p>One of the best things you can do for your dog is take them for a walk. And if they eat some grass along the way, provided it has not been sprayed with herbicide, you have nothing to worry about.</p>
<p>Don’t worry if they occasionally vomit. If there is more serious vomiting or diarrhoea, however, please consult your vet.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/dogs-can-get-dementia-but-lots-of-walks-may-lower-the-risk-189297">Dogs can get dementia – but lots of walks may lower the risk</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/205658/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Susan Hazel is affiliated with the Dog & Cat Management Board of South Australia and the RSPCA South Australia. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Joshua Zoanetti does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Studies in Yellowstone National Park show plant matter (mostly grass) is found in up to 74% of wolf scats, suggesting the behaviour may be inherited from the beginning of doggy time.Susan Hazel, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of AdelaideJoshua Zoanetti, PhD candidate in Veterinary Bioscience, University of AdelaideLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1991542023-02-20T06:23:18Z2023-02-20T06:23:18ZWhy it’s time for the UK to introduce mandatory training for new dog owners<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/510366/original/file-20230215-28-e2r6xe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C20%2C3405%2C2246&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Some dogs are more obedient than others</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/nova-scotia-duck-tolling-retriever-holding-1444572695">Zuzanna Paluch/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>With recent reports suggesting there has been an increase in fatal dog attacks in the UK, it’s clear the status quo isn’t working. Records indicate that in an average year there would be three dog fatalities. But in 2022 there were <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/dec/12/lockdown-bad-breeds-or-just-poor-training-why-are-dog-bites-on-the-rise-in-britain">nine</a>. </p>
<p>The reasons why records show an increase are complex but already in 2023 there have been two tragic incidents, one <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-64458967">a dog walker</a> who died from bites to the neck. The other attack, which is still being investigated, involved the death of a <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-64476833">four-year-old girl</a>.</p>
<p>In 1987, the UK government discontinued its dog licensing system as politicians felt the old licence scheme cost too much for the limited benefits it gave. It was replaced by dog controls in the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/43/section/149">Environmental Protection Act 1990</a> and the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/65/contents">Dangerous Dogs Act 1991</a>. But people told my research team that most dog bites are preventable, meaning the system is letting down both dogs and humans. </p>
<p>One idea researchers have discussed is that when an owner has a problem with an out-of-control dog they should have to take <a href="https://www.kendalshepherd.com/2021/01/12/teaching-dog-owners-new-tricks/">training</a>, similar to the kind of “speed awareness” courses for drivers in the UK. </p>
<p>Veterinary experts in the Netherlands already do something like this. They have researched aggression in dogs and found training can <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787818302259">help prevent it,</a> especially training of both the owner and the dog. Training can help owners recognise potential behaviour issues and reduce it through proper socialisation, which training can help with too. </p>
<p>In some other countries, including Spain, where potentially dangerous dogs must be licensed before you can become a dog owner, you have to show that you are a “fit and proper person” to do so. Our previous research didn’t specifically call for dog licences. But it did find knowledge of dog behaviour before and during ownership of a dog was desirable. So too was compulsory dog training following a dog attack.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Small dog being trained with a treat" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/510368/original/file-20230215-20-vrh8ie.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/510368/original/file-20230215-20-vrh8ie.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/510368/original/file-20230215-20-vrh8ie.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/510368/original/file-20230215-20-vrh8ie.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/510368/original/file-20230215-20-vrh8ie.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/510368/original/file-20230215-20-vrh8ie.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/510368/original/file-20230215-20-vrh8ie.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Training is important for the welfare of a dog and the people it will meet.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/dog-training-557055787">ShotPrime Studio/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The problem with the old licence scheme was that it was almost impossible to enforce. The UK government estimated only around 50% of dog owners complied with the old scheme and registered their dogs. </p>
<p>You still need a licence to own a dog in Northern Ireland, where a licence costs £12.50 and lasts for <a href="https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/dog-licensing-and-microchipping">12 months</a>. But it is thought that <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/1e785c-dog-control/">less than 40% of owners</a> register their dogs. </p>
<p>UK law makes microchipping of dogs mandatory. Although government figures suggest 95% of dogs are <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chip-your-dog-and-check-your-chip">chipped</a>, it is doubtful every dog owner has done this.</p>
<h2>Tracking attacks</h2>
<p>In the UK there are laws that deal with dog fouling, stray dogs and dogs that are dangerously out of control, whether in public or private. But dog attacks continue. </p>
<p>We don’t know exactly how many dog attacks there are each year in the UK. A figure often used by the media is that over 7,000 people go to hospital <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6256863/">each year</a> for dog bite treatment. </p>
<p>But research suggests <a href="https://jech.bmj.com/content/jech/72/4/331.full.pdf">this figure may be too low</a>. One study of a community in Cheshire, England, found only a third of dog bites needed medical treatment and just 0.6% resulted in a hospital admission.</p>
<p>After dog attacks the people affected often call for more action to <a href="https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-02-01/tributes-paid-to-great-grandmother-83-killed-in-dog-attack">deal with dangerous dogs</a> or say dog licences should be brought back.
By itself, dog licensing would not solve everything. </p>
<p>For our 2021 research paper on dangerous dogs and <a href="https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/45440/1/1512314_Nurse.pdf">responsible dog ownership</a> we spoke to charities, local authorities, police and dog experts. We found the main issue was people could get a dog without knowing how to train or look after it. </p>
<p>Even with new measures like <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lucys-law-spells-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-puppy-farming">Lucy’s Law</a> to tackle puppy farms and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gove-delivers-lucys-law-to-protect-puppies-and-kittens">the 2019 licensing for breeders</a>, dogs are still sold to people without checks on whether they can properly care for their new pet. </p>
<p>If an owner is trained to spot the early signs of problem behaviour or situations that might trigger an incident, simple things like keeping dogs on a lead or using a muzzle in busy public places could prevent attacks or make them less serious. </p>
<h2>Time for owners to step up</h2>
<p>If we are serious about addressing dog control problems we should think about how to deal with the fact dogs often end up in the hands of people who are unable to care for them and deal with behaviour issues. </p>
<p>We aren’t the only ones who think this. Many members of the public understand the importance of prevention: a petition launched in 2022 to change dog laws to focus on early intervention attracted over <a href="https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/624876">100,000 signatures</a>.</p>
<p>No scheme or law will eliminate all dog control or attack issues. But the old style of paper dog licence was really just a tax on dog owners. Instead, it may be time for a form of registration or certificate that requires knowledge of dogs before a person can have one and that imposes ownership conditions, such as a suitable home, understanding of the duty of animal welfare that <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/section/9">already exists in law</a>, and a requirement for training when something goes wrong. </p>
<p>Registration should accompany sale and also be linked to the existing microchipping requirements. A new registration scheme would need resources to properly enforce, a big ask in a time of rising living costs and government austerity measures. But even if we can’t afford a new enforcement scheme, encouraging dog owners to develop the skills they need would be a good start.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/199154/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Angus Nurse has previously received funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for research into dangerous dogs and responsible dog ownership. That funded research is referred to in this article.</span></em></p>The old UK dog licence system wasn’t fit for purpose. But there is another way.Angus Nurse, Head of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Nottingham Trent UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1989312023-02-08T06:05:58Z2023-02-08T06:05:58ZThe surprising benefits of group exercise for anxious dogs<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/508588/original/file-20230207-23-eqgvux.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C5751%2C3837&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Lots of dogs struggle with anxiety</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/shy-adopted-brindle-staffordshire-bull-terrier-1835124910">Lauren Squire/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Humans weren’t the only beings doing it tough with mental health issues during the pandemic. Our pets suffered too – particularly dogs, who are known to pick up on and share our own anxiety and stress. In 2022 <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/13/1682">owners reported</a> increased fear in their dogs towards both other dogs and unfamiliar humans, as well as general anxiety being outside their home and travelling in cars, compared to before the pandemic.</p>
<p>This was particularly marked in puppies <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/5/629">raised during the pandemic</a>. They missed out on obedience training classes, socialising with other dogs and exploring the human world. Now the lockdowns are over, many puppy owners have returned to the office. Those puppies who enjoyed the 24/7 attention during their early development now have to get used to being <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/4/482">left alone for long periods</a>. This has led to a generation of anxious dogs.</p>
<p>We tend to think of dogs as irrepressible – all wagging tails and chasing sticks, they are generally considered confident and happy animals. But this is not always the case. A <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787818302727?casa_token=_XCN3Umi0FkAAAAA:74j5-NjK1agjfNm56qnv9YxPMnf5kUaOqozVfl2JUuU3tj6TUm_KHiwe5BzPWO-8OTm1dYTL">survey in 2019</a> looked at more than 4,000 dogs across 16 different countries, and found anxiety to be the most common behavioural issue, with 44% of all the dogs having anxiety.</p>
<p>I am not here to bring you bad news, but advice for helping these anxious pooches. Why not try dog sports? Here’s how they can help.</p>
<h2>Why dog sports are so effective</h2>
<p>A dog’s life is not always as fun-filled as they’d like. Every dog owner has had that day they’re running late, but still need to take the dog out. You have to hurry them past a particularly smelly lamppost or squirrel-filled tree. Dogs aren’t always able to enjoy their natural behaviour such as sniffing, chasing or digging. They often have to be kept on a short lead which allows minimal interactions with other dogs.</p>
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<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/shAMVEyCwOE?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
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<p>Dog sports allow dogs to make the most of their natural instincts. Flyball, for example, involves dogs working as part of a team to gallop over hurdles to retrieve a ball and race back to the start line. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Dog agility slalom" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/508590/original/file-20230207-15-jvu68x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/508590/original/file-20230207-15-jvu68x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/508590/original/file-20230207-15-jvu68x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/508590/original/file-20230207-15-jvu68x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/508590/original/file-20230207-15-jvu68x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/508590/original/file-20230207-15-jvu68x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/508590/original/file-20230207-15-jvu68x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">This dog looks like they are enjoying their agility class.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/dog-agility-slalom-sports-competitions-dogs-545929702">KajaNi/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Freedom from the lead is a key aspect of dog sports. The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027273589900032X">stress-busting benefits of running for humans</a> are well known and dogs are no different. Physical exercise can help to relieve their stress and anxiety. There are groups and classes for all types of sports and activities to suit any dog. Does your dog love to sniff? Try scent work. If your dog likes to run give agility training a go. For dogs who can’t resist chasing, there’s lure coursing. </p>
<p>A <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787822000818?casa_token=ekNVH4VdTiIAAAAA:4GEq7LMAgccJBMlijJuJBVwJbR8K0vC8V2DDaNiOEzH8iUD8ofZXQDYR2-cEavQp4fsTKvWf">recent study</a> from Tufts University, Massachusetts and the Center for Canine Behavior Studies found participation in dog sports can improve dogs’ anxiety. The researchers investigated the effectiveness of treatments used for dog anxiety across 1,308 dogs such as consulting a behaviourist, medications and changes to diet. But taking part in dog sports came out on top. </p>
<h2>Making training fun</h2>
<p>These sports could also help those COVID puppies. They offer a chance for dogs to socialise and play with other dogs, as well as interact with unfamiliar humans, all while enhancing their learning through positively reinforced training.</p>
<p>The new research also found evidence that reward-based training and mental stimulation help relieve a dog’s anxiety. They are simple strategies that can be implemented at home and out on walks. Reward-based training can be as straightforward as teaching dogs a new command for a food reward. Learning sit, lie down and paw up can help to keep a dog’s brain engaged and alleviate stress. </p>
<p>Dogs who already know the basics can get creative and try canine freestyle (heelwork to music). The researchers suggest other types of mental stimulation including puzzle toys, more playful interaction with the dog, or hide-and-seek games. Allowing them more time to sniff or explore when out on a walk could help dogs relax too. </p>
<p>Group classes for dogs might sound like a luxury but they can be important for their welfare. It’s a way of improving dogs’ quality of life. So whether you have a worried whippet or a nervous newfoundland, signing them up for a canine sport might be the solution.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/198931/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Amy West does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Lockdown stopped many puppies developing the social skills they need to navigate the human world with confidence.Amy West, PhD Candidate in Dog Cognition, University of PortsmouthLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1889122022-09-01T17:42:03Z2022-09-01T17:42:03ZMuch-loved dog breeds are just as likely to bite as banned ones – here’s how to stop them<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/481344/original/file-20220826-22-ep6zoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=35%2C35%2C5955%2C3952&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Happy or snappy? A dog's behaviour can be hard to read </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/studio-portrait-funny-excited-bull-terrier-1844065768">Niamh Lily Fisher/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Dogs are rarely “nice” or “nasty”. People tend to label some dog breeds as aggressive and some, such as the pit bull terrier, are <a href="https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/banned-dogs">often banned</a>, yet all dogs have the potential to bite.</p>
<p>In fact, <a href="https://www.injuryjournal.com/article/0020-1383(96)83411-5/fulltext">banned breeds are no more likely to bite than other breeds</a>, despite a reputation for being <a href="https://irishvetjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13620-017-0101-1">more aggressive</a>. There is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109002331500163X">little evidence</a> breed-specific laws reduce biting. </p>
<p>Labrador retrievers, one of the <a href="https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media-centre/2020/february/britains-top-dogs-revealed-labradors-lead-corgis-come-back-and-jack-russells-jump/">most popular dog breeds</a> in the UK often <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2016/08/02/the-type-of-dog-responsible-for-the-most-attacks-is-very-surprising-6043790/">feature in lists</a> and reports about <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159101001551?via%3Dihub">aggressive dog breeds.</a>. This likely because Labradors make up such a high proportion of the dog population. </p>
<p>But it also highlights why we should be aware of our interactions around all dogs, no matter the breed. Biting is not inevitable. Understanding the reasons why dogs bite is the key to prevention. </p>
<p>Humans have selectively bred dogs over thousands of years for <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ggn2.10024">appearance</a> and <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-53994-7_2">behaviour</a> traits.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Woman lies in bed with spaniel" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/481342/original/file-20220826-26-uato7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/481342/original/file-20220826-26-uato7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/481342/original/file-20220826-26-uato7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/481342/original/file-20220826-26-uato7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/481342/original/file-20220826-26-uato7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/481342/original/file-20220826-26-uato7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/481342/original/file-20220826-26-uato7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">This Cavalier King Charles Spaniel wouldn’t make it as a guard dog.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-woman-lying-on-bed-home-2068708043">ulia_gorbunova/Shutterstock</a></span>
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<p>Some dogs, such as the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, have been bred for their appearance and as a docile companion. Others dogs have been bred for an aloof and wary personality as guard dogs. While dogs of the same breed share common characteristics, <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk0639">there is as much variation within a breed as there is across breeds</a>. It’s tricky to predict what a dog’s behaviour will be like based on breed alone.</p>
<p>However, the purpose a dog was originally bred for is a useful guide. Breeds favoured for intelligence, problem solving skills and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2014.04.006">working roles</a> may be more sensitive. </p>
<h2>Why do dogs bite?</h2>
<p>When dogs bite, it is usually a last resort. It can arise from <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.05.006">fear</a>, <a href="https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1136/vr.102823">pain</a> or frustration. </p>
<p>Dog biting is influenced by a combination of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2014.04.006">genetics, experience and training</a>. Sometimes dogs are intentionally <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10611-011-9294-5">trained to behave aggressively</a>, for the handler’s status or protection. Others may have a <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-016-2936-3">genetic predisposition to fear and anxiety or aggression</a>. </p>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2020.1790371">Human error</a> is closely linked with dog bite incidents. We can aggravate a conflict situation when we fail to recognise what dogs are telling us through their <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08927936.2016.1228750">body language and demeanour</a>. </p>
<p>In most cases, the dog is known to the victim, and attacks often happen <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10040666">in their own garden</a>. <a href="https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/14/5/296">Children under 10</a> are at particular risk from dog bites. They may <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08927936.2019.1598656">struggle to recognise fearful dogs</a> or other <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/175303714X13837396326413">warning signs</a> such as mistaking a dog showing their teeth for a friendly smile.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Border collie chases a tennis ball" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/481755/original/file-20220830-23550-va0x41.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/481755/original/file-20220830-23550-va0x41.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/481755/original/file-20220830-23550-va0x41.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/481755/original/file-20220830-23550-va0x41.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/481755/original/file-20220830-23550-va0x41.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/481755/original/file-20220830-23550-va0x41.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/481755/original/file-20220830-23550-va0x41.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dogs bred for working roles, such as the border collie, may be more sensitive.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/adorable-black-white-border-collie-cathing-647057716">xkunclova/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Is biting and aggression linked?</h2>
<p>Aggression is a normal behaviour in all animals. It is a natural response to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982212014352">actual or perceived threat</a> and is part of the way an animal communicates their emotional state. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031938415001316?via%3Dihub#bb0010">Animals use aggression to manage interactions</a> and usually leads to resolution of the threat or conflict. </p>
<p>Think about a dog growling if you approach their dinner bowl when they are eating. While this might not be an ideal behaviour for a family dog, it is a clear indication the dog is uncomfortable. The growl should be warning enough for you to move away.</p>
<p>Dogs show a range of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2016.12.009">behaviours to neutralise stressful situations</a>, such as lip licking, averting their gaze and growling. If we ignore, misinterpret or punish warning behaviour, we risk escalation. </p>
<p>If your dog displays unusual behaviour such as snapping or excessive barking, seek professional <a href="https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/behaviour/finding-behaviour-and-training-support">veterinary and behavioural advice</a>, especially if pain or fear is involved </p>
<h2>How can we reduce dog bite incidents?</h2>
<p>We have a <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/65/section/3">legal</a> obligation to manage the behaviour of dogs in our care. We expect dogs and puppies to fit seamlessly into our lives but the human world can be confusing and frightening. </p>
<p>It is our responsibility to <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-train-your-dog-in-basic-life-skills-and-why-its-important-178941">help them adjust</a> and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-021-01489-1">learn skills for day-to-day life in human society</a>. This includes behavioural self-management so our dogs can cope with the challenges they will encounter. </p>
<p>Negative experiences including punishment can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8463679/">increase a dog’s stress levels during human interactions</a>. Instead, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159114000264">reward-based training supports human-dog bonds</a> and is highly effective. This is especially important during <a href="https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jvms/75/2/75_12-0008/_article">puppy-hood</a>. </p>
<p>If we want to make our interactions with dogs safer, we need greater awareness of how dogs communicate stress and fear. <a href="https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/factsheets-downloads/bds%20parents%20leaflet.pdf">Educating parents to manage encounters</a> between children and dogs is critical. </p>
<p>We can equip children with the skills they need to interact with new dogs and build a close relationship with pets by <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsv164">teaching them about basic dog behaviour</a>. It’s particularly important to show them how they should <a href="https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dog-training/safe-and-sound/">respond if frightened by a dog</a>, for example by <a href="https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/factsheets-downloads/bds%20parents%20leaflet.pdf">standing tall, folding their arms and not running away</a>. </p>
<p>Choose a dog that is suited for your lifestyle and provide activities and enrichment that complement their natural instincts. For example, if you take a dog originally bred to herd sheep into a city and fail to provide them with a suitable outlet, don’t be surprised if they try to chase and herd runners, cyclists, or cars.</p>
<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/woof-dogs-really-can-tell-how-their-owners-are-feeling-new-study-shows-53075">Dogs and humans have a close relationship</a> that has evolved over thousands of years. But it’s a one-sided friendship if we don’t meet their needs.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188912/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jacqueline Boyd is affiliated with The Kennel Club (UK) through membership, as Chair of the Activities Health and Welfare Subgroup, member of the Dog Health Group and Chair of the Heelwork to Music Working Party. Jacqueline also writes, consults and coaches on canine matters on an independent basis, in addition to her academic role.</span></em></p>Dog bites are a serious public health problem but we’re going the wrong way about tackling it.Jacqueline Boyd, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, Nottingham Trent UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1841412022-05-31T04:35:02Z2022-05-31T04:35:02ZIs my dog too cold? How cold is too cold for a walk? Here’s how to tell<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466154/original/file-20220531-26-v4usft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C14%2C4980%2C3297&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>As winter sets in, you might be wondering: how do you know if your dog is warm enough? And how cold is too cold to take them for a walk?</p>
<p>It’s a tricky one; much depends on their natural coat. We go through this question on a daily basis in my household in winter because one of my dogs is small and hasn’t got much coat – she is currently wearing a jumper and on my lap, under a blanket.</p>
<p>But the majority of breeds are probably OK in most Australian temperatures. In many ways, it’s easier to keep a cold dog with a thin coat warm than to keep a hot, thick-coated dog cool when the mercury climbs.</p>
<p>That said, there are some good general rules to follow to ensure your canine friends don’t suffer when an Antarctic blast hits.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466145/original/file-20220531-26-x8ukck.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466145/original/file-20220531-26-x8ukck.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466145/original/file-20220531-26-x8ukck.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466145/original/file-20220531-26-x8ukck.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466145/original/file-20220531-26-x8ukck.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466145/original/file-20220531-26-x8ukck.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466145/original/file-20220531-26-x8ukck.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466145/original/file-20220531-26-x8ukck.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Skedaddle keeps warm under a blanket.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Jane Howard</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-hot-is-too-hot-heres-how-to-tell-if-your-dog-is-suffering-during-the-summer-heat-172957">How hot is too hot? Here's how to tell if your dog is suffering during the summer heat</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Some guidelines to follow</h2>
<p>My rule of thumb is to feel their extremities. If I can feel their ears or feet are a bit chilly to touch, that suggests their core temperature might be a bit low.
Then I would provide a coat or put the heater on (if we’re staying in). </p>
<p>Much depends on whether your dog has a double coat or not – many dogs do. You can see if your dog has an undercoat by parting their hair and seeing if there is a downy layer of pale hair between the glossy top coat and the skin.</p>
<p>Breeds that have a double coat include most kelpies, cattle dogs, German shepherds, and huskies. Some breeds, like Samoyeds, have really dense undercoats and can tolerate cold really well. A dog with a thick undercoat doesn’t need anything more to stay warm on a cold day.</p>
<p>If your dog has a single coat, you might need to think a bit more carefully about the cold. Breeds in this category include maltese, cavaliers, greyhounds, whippets, and staffies.</p>
<p>In addition to coat, also consider the golden rule of surface area to volume ratio.</p>
<p>Smaller animals have more surface area for their weight than larger animals, which means they have more surface area to lose heat from compared to a dog that is bigger and heavier.</p>
<p>Small, lean dogs will generally struggle with the cold a bit more than other dogs for this reason. For example, Italian greyhounds are much more vulnerable than regular greyhounds. </p>
<p>If we feel cold then they probably do too. A thicker coat helps slow down heat loss, which is good if you live in a cold environment, but not so great if you live in a warm environment.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466150/original/file-20220531-12-miye0u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466150/original/file-20220531-12-miye0u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466150/original/file-20220531-12-miye0u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=587&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466150/original/file-20220531-12-miye0u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=587&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466150/original/file-20220531-12-miye0u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=587&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466150/original/file-20220531-12-miye0u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=738&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466150/original/file-20220531-12-miye0u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=738&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466150/original/file-20220531-12-miye0u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=738&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Wheaten terrier puppy Cookie has thick fur.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Lucy Beaumont</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What behaviours can we look for?</h2>
<p>If your dog is shivering, hunched with tail tucked, trying to tuck their paws in close to their body or lift them off the cold ground, they’re uncomfortably cold. </p>
<p>If the dog is being still, they are at more risk of getting cold. For example, we wrap our smallest dog in a blanket when she’s in the car – but once she’s running around, she seems to generate enough heat to stay comfortable.</p>
<p>At home, pay attention to where the dogs are sleeping. If they are curled up in a tight ball on the thickest bed they can find, or nuzzling under blankets, they are trying to keep themselves warm.</p>
<p>My small dog has learned to show me if she wants a jumper on by wagging her tail and sticking her head in it if I hold it out to her. So we might be able to teach our dogs to answer the question “Do you want another layer on?”</p>
<p>If dogs are not sleeping well at night or getting up a lot in the wee hours, it’s a good idea to check how cold they feel and try offering them some warmer sleeping options. </p>
<p>If you’ve got a dog in the yard, make sure they have access to shelter and a bed to get them off the cold ground, especially when there is a cold wind.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466142/original/file-20220531-12-tw4axk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466142/original/file-20220531-12-tw4axk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466142/original/file-20220531-12-tw4axk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466142/original/file-20220531-12-tw4axk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466142/original/file-20220531-12-tw4axk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466142/original/file-20220531-12-tw4axk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466142/original/file-20220531-12-tw4axk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466142/original/file-20220531-12-tw4axk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Greyhounds, which have short fur and little body fat, really feel the cold. Here is Walnut wearing her warm pyjamas.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Anthea Batsakis</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Letting your dog choose</h2>
<p>In Australia, a cold day is generally easier to manage for dogs than a hot day.</p>
<p>So yes, you could have an Italian greyhound as a pet in southern Tasmania, as long as you add layers when needed and maybe accept they are going to sleep in bed with you under the covers.</p>
<p>I like to let dogs choose, as much as possible, what they need to manage their core temperature.</p>
<p>For example, you might provide a bed with a cover, or extra bedding and blankets on a cold day, so they can use what they need and move away from it when they have warmed up enough. </p>
<p>Once I put a jacket on my dog, she is unable to take it off herself, so I am relying on being able to tell somehow that she doesn’t want it on anymore. </p>
<p>Still, this is an improvement on her simply climbing into my jacket with me all the time, which she still does sometimes even when she’s got her own extra layers on. </p>
<p>Sometimes you just want to cuddle up to a warm friend, though. It’s hard to argue with that!</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466139/original/file-20220531-26-licz8b.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466139/original/file-20220531-26-licz8b.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/466139/original/file-20220531-26-licz8b.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466139/original/file-20220531-26-licz8b.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466139/original/file-20220531-26-licz8b.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466139/original/file-20220531-26-licz8b.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466139/original/file-20220531-26-licz8b.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/466139/original/file-20220531-26-licz8b.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Walnut, a two-year-old greyhound, wearing a warm, waterproof coat on a walk near Kinglake, Victoria.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Anthea Batsakis</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/184141/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Melissa Starling owns an animal behaviour consulting business called Creature Teacher.</span></em></p>Want to check your canine friend isn’t suffering when an Antarctic blast hits? Start with their ears and feet.Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1771432022-02-17T23:55:23Z2022-02-17T23:55:23ZA strong-eyed style: what makes Australian muster dogs unique<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/446415/original/file-20220215-21-lp2s8q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C6%2C4464%2C3078&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The recent ABC TV series <a href="https://iview.abc.net.au/show/muster-dogs">Muster Dogs</a> has brought into sharp focus the incredible skills of our working stock dogs.</p>
<p>It’s not just their sensitivity to livestock movement that makes them so good at what they do.</p>
<p>They are also agile endurance athletes that can work long hours in very hot conditions. During peak times, working kelpies have been recorded travelling over <a href="https://www.princessroyal.com.au/blog/the-australian-kelpie">60km</a> just in one work day. </p>
<p>There are dog breeds all over the world that have been selectively bred over many generations to work with stock. That selective breeding has shaped them to be best suited to the specific environment they work in and the style of work they are required to do. </p>
<p>If you’re interested in the history, traits and skills of these amazing dogs – and perhaps have wondered about owning one yourself – here’s what you need to know.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iBe4n-Dgvw4?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">ABC TV.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-hot-is-too-hot-heres-how-to-tell-if-your-dog-is-suffering-during-the-summer-heat-172957">How hot is too hot? Here's how to tell if your dog is suffering during the summer heat</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Shaped for Australian conditions</h2>
<p>The Australian Working Kelpie was shaped for Australian conditions to use what’s known as a “<a href="https://www.englishshepherds.net/articles/typesofeye.html">strong-eyed style</a>” of herding, which is to adopt a low posture and use eye-stalking (keeping its eyes fixed on the livestock) to track the herd’s movement. The Border collie also uses this style.</p>
<p>They control the movement of the herd with exquisite sensitivity with their overall presence. </p>
<p>Their behaviour includes that characteristic stalking posture with head and body low, and quiet, controlled steps.</p>
<p>This is how a predator would approach a herd of prey animals if it were hunting. </p>
<p>The strong-eyed herding dog stalks, stares, holds position, and rushes; it is not just where they are that controls the herd, but what they are doing.</p>
<p>Most other herding breeds have a looser style of herding, where they work with their heads up and use their body position to influence the movement of the herd. </p>
<p>Herding dogs that use eye-stalking also often work the front of the herd, turning it towards the handler. The looser style herding dogs tend to drive the herd from the rear. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/446417/original/file-20220215-15-739bk2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A working dog rests on top of some sheep." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/446417/original/file-20220215-15-739bk2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/446417/original/file-20220215-15-739bk2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/446417/original/file-20220215-15-739bk2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/446417/original/file-20220215-15-739bk2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/446417/original/file-20220215-15-739bk2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/446417/original/file-20220215-15-739bk2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/446417/original/file-20220215-15-739bk2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Muster dogs control the movement of the herd with exquisite sensitivity with their overall presence.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Bred for bravery</h2>
<p>Australian Working Kelpies were developed from British farm collies in the late 1800’s. </p>
<p>Some claim there is dingo infused in the breed to add resilience, but this remains subject to debate.</p>
<p>Signals of selection in the Australian Working Kelpie DNA suggest one very important trait is the ability to withstand prickly terrain; a working dog that cannot ignore burrs and spines to continue working is of little use to the farmer. </p>
<p>Other traits prized by the handlers are bravery and a level head. In other words, a dog that doesn’t panic under pressure.</p>
<p>Unlike many other herding breeds, the Kelpie is often asked to work independently from the handler and to think for itself. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/447168/original/file-20220217-15-11trs2c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/447168/original/file-20220217-15-11trs2c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/447168/original/file-20220217-15-11trs2c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/447168/original/file-20220217-15-11trs2c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/447168/original/file-20220217-15-11trs2c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/447168/original/file-20220217-15-11trs2c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/447168/original/file-20220217-15-11trs2c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/447168/original/file-20220217-15-11trs2c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Unlike many other herding breeds, the Kelpie is often asked to work independently from the handler and to think for itself.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Owning a working dog</h2>
<p>Working breeds can be very rewarding canine companions for people that don’t have stock for them to work. But prospective owners need to understand the selective breeding that makes these dogs so good at herding can also make them a handful in a suburban setting. </p>
<p>They are of course extremely active; most need a few hours of high intensity exercise a day just to keep them from destroying the home and yard when they are young. </p>
<p>They are also highly alert and often extremely aroused by movement. The faster and more chaotic the movement, the more powerfully they are drawn to control that movement as they would a herd. </p>
<p>This can make playing with kids, ball games, bikes and skateboards, and even encountering other dogs in the dog park a real challenge. </p>
<p>Working breeds also sometimes have a tendency to rush in and bark at an object that is bothering them, just as they would rush and bark at cattle looking to break away from the herd.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/446420/original/file-20220215-19-1se3mx5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/446420/original/file-20220215-19-1se3mx5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/446420/original/file-20220215-19-1se3mx5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=340&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/446420/original/file-20220215-19-1se3mx5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=340&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/446420/original/file-20220215-19-1se3mx5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=340&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/446420/original/file-20220215-19-1se3mx5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=427&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/446420/original/file-20220215-19-1se3mx5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=427&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/446420/original/file-20220215-19-1se3mx5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=427&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The strong-eyed herding dog stalks, stares, holds position, and rushes; it is not just where they are that controls the herd, but what they are doing.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Some good lessons for owners</h2>
<p>The television program Muster Dogs presented some core messages applicable to any pet dog, as well as working dogs that are pets at home. These include:</p>
<p><strong>1. Early exposure</strong></p>
<p>Ensuring puppies have positive experiences with stimuli they’ll encounter often in life early is crucial. They must be taught to accept activities they need to be tolerant of, and be comfortable with handling and restraining themselves.</p>
<p><strong>2. Responsiveness</strong></p>
<p>The owner must build strong foundations in the areas of coming when called, staying close while off leash, and maintaining a connection with the handler even around distractions.</p>
<p><strong>3. Impulse control</strong></p>
<p>This is particularly important for working dogs keen to participate in exciting activities. In fact, all dogs can benefit from learning to control their impulses and not chase, jump up, or use their mouth every time the urge takes them. </p>
<p>It takes a special kind of dog to be able to face animals 20 or more times their size that can easily cause them serious damage. </p>
<p>To do it all day in the hot and rough terrain of inland Australia takes a dog with a tremendous desire to work. </p>
<p>This should never be forgotten by those of us living in more comfortable environments when we think we want a working dog to accompany us through our suburban lives. </p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/at-home-with-your-dog-3-ways-to-connect-and-lift-your-spirits-166331">At home with your dog? 3 ways to connect and lift your spirits</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/177143/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Melissa Starling owns an animal behaviour consulting business called Creature Teacher.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Claire Wade has previously received funding from the Working Kelpie Council of Australia. She is affiliated with the Royal NSW Canine Health and Welfare Charity. </span></em></p>If you’re interested in the history, traits and skills of these amazing dogs – and perhaps have wondered about owning one yourself – here’s what you need to know.Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of SydneyClaire Wade, Professor, Chair of Computational Biology and Animal Genetics, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1729572021-12-27T19:02:28Z2021-12-27T19:02:28ZHow hot is too hot? Here’s how to tell if your dog is suffering during the summer heat<p>Hot weather can be dangerous to our canine friends. Humans can sweat all over our body, but dogs can only sweat on their paw pads, which is not much use when it comes to shedding body heat. </p>
<p>So how hot is too hot to take your dog out? It depends on the dog and their individual risk factors (more on that in a minute). For me, 33°C is where I start to consider whether or not to take my dogs outside, and try to think of cooler places we could visit. </p>
<p>If they were older or heavier, I might not take them out at all on days over 30°C. Dogs can struggle on very humid days so I factor that in, too.</p>
<p>Here’s what you need to know about how to care for your dog on a hot day.</p>
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<p>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/nine-dog-breeds-at-higher-risk-of-heatstroke-and-what-you-can-do-to-prevent-it-139501">Nine dog breeds at higher risk of heatstroke – and what you can do to prevent it</a>
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<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437053/original/file-20211212-23-1o3loh4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="spoodle dog" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437053/original/file-20211212-23-1o3loh4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437053/original/file-20211212-23-1o3loh4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=741&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437053/original/file-20211212-23-1o3loh4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=741&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437053/original/file-20211212-23-1o3loh4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=741&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437053/original/file-20211212-23-1o3loh4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=931&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437053/original/file-20211212-23-1o3loh4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=931&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437053/original/file-20211212-23-1o3loh4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=931&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dogs with long noses, like Fonzi, have more cooling structures.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Lucy Beaumont</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What are the risk factors?</h2>
<p>A dog’s main cooling mechanism is panting, which draws air through the nasal cavity and the mouth and over the capillaries found there. </p>
<p>This allows for evaporative cooling, just as sweat on our skin does, but it happens <em>inside</em> rather than outside. It’s also a much smaller surface area than our skin, so dogs are generally not as good at shedding body heat as humans.</p>
<p>If the dog is overweight, they may have more trouble keeping cool than if they are lean. </p>
<p>A dog with underlying health issues such as heart problems may also be at greater risk. </p>
<p>Very young or old dogs may have more trouble with temperature regulation. </p>
<p>Dogs that have had a chance to get used to warmer temperatures over a month or so are less susceptible to heat distress. </p>
<p>Because some cooling occurs in the nasal cavities, dogs with short faces have fewer of these cooling structures and are more susceptible to heat distress.</p>
<p>Dogs with long noses have more surface area for cooling in their nasal cavities, and are theoretically more resistant to heat distress as a result. But much depends on the individual dog and its history.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437054/original/file-20211212-13-1lcms43.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="labradoodle" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437054/original/file-20211212-13-1lcms43.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437054/original/file-20211212-13-1lcms43.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=537&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437054/original/file-20211212-13-1lcms43.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=537&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437054/original/file-20211212-13-1lcms43.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=537&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437054/original/file-20211212-13-1lcms43.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=675&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437054/original/file-20211212-13-1lcms43.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=675&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437054/original/file-20211212-13-1lcms43.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=675&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dogs with thick coats, like Stella, may struggle to shed heat on a hot day.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Lucy Beaumont</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Your dog’s coat plays a role but should we shave them?</h2>
<p>Larger or heavier-bodied dogs generally shed heat more slowly than smaller dogs, as is the case across the animal kingdom. For example, smaller penguin species tend to visit warmer climates, while larger penguin species stay in colder climates. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437114/original/file-20211213-15-wxuu3h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437114/original/file-20211213-15-wxuu3h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437114/original/file-20211213-15-wxuu3h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437114/original/file-20211213-15-wxuu3h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437114/original/file-20211213-15-wxuu3h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437114/original/file-20211213-15-wxuu3h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437114/original/file-20211213-15-wxuu3h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437114/original/file-20211213-15-wxuu3h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dogs from cooler climes – like Kivi Tarro, a Finnish lapphundtend – to have heavy, insulating coats while those from warmer places tend to have thin hair.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Melissa Starling</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Dogs from cooler climes tend to have heavy, insulating coats while those from warmer places tend to have thin hair, which helps shed heat quickly.</p>
<p>So, would your dog be cooler if you shaved them for summer? </p>
<p>It’s true insulation works both ways; cold or hot air outside the body cannot easily penetrate a thick coat and affect core temperature. But a dog is always producing body heat, especially when they are active or excited, and this internal heat may escape slowly through a thick coat.</p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437113/original/file-20211213-13-1xxwrzi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437113/original/file-20211213-13-1xxwrzi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437113/original/file-20211213-13-1xxwrzi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437113/original/file-20211213-13-1xxwrzi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437113/original/file-20211213-13-1xxwrzi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437113/original/file-20211213-13-1xxwrzi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437113/original/file-20211213-13-1xxwrzi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/437113/original/file-20211213-13-1xxwrzi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Kivi Tarro, a Finnish lapphund, shows off his haircut.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Melissa Starling</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For many thick-coated, otherwise healthy dogs, it helps to keep their coat free of tangles and dead undercoat during warmer months. This reduces the insulating properties of the coat.</p>
<p>Clipping the coat shorter can allow them to stay cool more easily. You could also consider clipping the belly and groin very short. This won’t help much when the dog is active but could help when the dog lies on a cool surface. However, be mindful not to go too short on upper parts of the coat, or the skin can be exposed to sunburn.</p>
<h2>How to ‘ask your dog’ how they’re doing</h2>
<p>We should always “ask the dog” how they are doing. </p>
<p>Signs a dog is too hot include:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>panting a lot during the warmer months, even when not exercising</p></li>
<li><p>seeming lethargic and reluctant to exercise</p></li>
<li><p>regularly seeking to cool themselves by getting wet, or lying on cool tile or wood floors with as much skin contact as possible.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Always consider the following rules of thumb:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>if it’s too hot for you, it’s probably too hot for your dog</p></li>
<li><p>make sure water is available for drinking or immersing the body in when exercising on hot days</p></li>
<li><p>know your dog’s panting. Dogs usually have a pant cycle where they pant for a short period and then stop for a few breaths or more and then start again. If they start panting constantly, they may be struggling to cool themselves</p></li>
<li><p>if they can’t hold a ball or toy anymore, froth at the mouth because they can’t easily swallow, or have trouble drinking due to panting at the same time, get your dog to some shade and let them rest. Monitor for signs of heat stress</p></li>
<li><p>signs of extreme heat distress include: vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, being unsteady on their feet, or limping. Take your dog to the vet immediately if you see these signs. Heat injury can be lethal!</p></li>
<li><p>pick shady, cool places to let your dog have a run if it’s warm. Go early or late in the day when the temperature has come down a bit. Early mornings are typically cooler than the late afternoon</p></li>
<li><p>the lack of airflow in cars can turn them into deadly ovens within a few minutes, even if the windows are down. So never leave your dog alone in a car, even for a few minutes.</p></li>
</ul>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/at-home-with-your-dog-3-ways-to-connect-and-lift-your-spirits-166331">At home with your dog? 3 ways to connect and lift your spirits</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172957/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Melissa Starling has received funding from the Defence Innovation Network. </span></em></p>Dogs can only sweat on their paw pads, which is not a lot of use when it comes to shedding body heat.Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1663312021-08-25T04:06:44Z2021-08-25T04:06:44ZAt home with your dog? 3 ways to connect and lift your spirits<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/417725/original/file-20210825-26-wgaq5b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=2%2C1%2C995%2C664&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/people-pet-together-1677424648">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>It may come as no surprise to dog owners in lockdown, but walking the dog can be the highlight of the day.</p>
<p>With exercise being one of the few reasons for leaving the house for millions of Australians, walking the dog clearly <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/1/240">benefits both dog owners</a> and their furry friends.</p>
<p>But walking the dog isn’t the only thing you can do to lift your spirits and <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0020764020944195">ease loneliness</a>. </p>
<p>Our <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/2104">study</a> found three things you can do at home with your dog to make you feel better, which your dog will probably love too.</p>
<h2>1. You can meditate with your dog</h2>
<p>Our study showed it helped to take time out to focus on your dog’s fur or the warmth of their body using “<a href="https://theconversation.com/mindfulness-meditation-in-brief-daily-doses-can-reduce-negative-mental-health-impact-of-covid-19-165163">mindfulness meditation</a>”.</p>
<p>This type of meditation involved people listening to a recording that guided them to activate their senses (for instance, touch) as a way of enhance their engagement with the task.</p>
<p>Dog owners who did this for seven minutes once a week or more felt relaxed, calm, enjoyed the process, said they felt more connected to their dog, and helped them focus on the present.</p>
<p>For many dog owners in our study, these effects also lasted for several minutes or hours after stopping the activity.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/mindfulness-meditation-in-brief-daily-doses-can-reduce-negative-mental-health-impact-of-covid-19-165163">Mindfulness meditation in brief daily doses can reduce negative mental health impact of COVID-19</a>
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<hr>
<p>If you want to try this for yourself, create a space in your home where you are not likely to be interrupted and turn off your phone. Sit comfortably on the floor, on a mat, cushion or blanket and invite your dog to come and sit next to you or on your lap. </p>
<p>Place one or two hands on your dog and sit up tall. Start by closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Be aware of your sense of touch and notice the sensations in your hand and fingertips. Stay with this awareness and if your mind starts to wander, gently escort it back to your feeling of touch and your dog’s fur. Stay with this practice for seven minutes or more. </p>
<p>Although we didn’t specifically measure the impact on dogs, we suspect they appreciate the close, calm and private space this creates for both of you.</p>
<h2>2. You can play hide and seek</h2>
<p>If mindfulness meditation isn’t your thing, our study showed setting aside seven minutes of undivided playtime with your dog had similar results. This might be an interactive game, such as hide and seek. </p>
<p>Dog owners who did this said they enjoyed this, had a better connection with their dog, and helped them focus on the present. They also thought their dog had fun.</p>
<p>How might this work as well as mindfulness meditation? <a href="https://doi.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1093%2Fclipsy.bpg016">Mindfulness</a> is simply about being present in the moment. So if we put the phone away, pets can be great facilitators to help bring us into the present and centre our mind on one thing — them.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/routine-and-learning-games-how-to-make-sure-your-dog-doesnt-get-canine-cabin-fever-134248">Routine and learning games: how to make sure your dog doesn't get canine cabin fever</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>3. You can talk to your dog</h2>
<p>If you really want to increase the connection with your dog, try some
calm and focused interactions. This might be seven undivided minutes of affection with your dog, such as giving them a good belly rub, or spending seven undivided minutes talking to them.</p>
<p>Out of all the activities we tried, these worked best to connect with your dog. </p>
<p>While some people in our study said they felt awkward talking to their dog, our earlier research showed others seem to love it.</p>
<p>For people living alone in lockdown, having a pet dog was an <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0020764020944195">excuse to talk out loud</a>, and this may play an important role in their well-being.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1429541174788780033"}"></div></p>
<p>Making time to be affectionate towards your dog also made owners feel relaxed and calm, at similar levels to those who practised mindfulness meditation.</p>
<p>Completely focusing on your dog this way increases the release of molecules associated with relaxation (such as oxytocin) and reward (such as dopamine) in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109002330200237X">both owner and dog</a>.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/lockdown-can-be-stressful-for-pets-too-heres-how-to-keep-your-dog-entertained-135156">Lockdown can be stressful for pets too – here's how to keep your dog entertained</a>
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</em>
</p>
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<h2>Making time for your dog</h2>
<p>Not all dog owners are spending their time in lockdown going on long walks with their furry friends. One study found <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159121001829#aep-article-footnote-id2">some dog owners</a> walked their dog less often or went on shorter walks during the pandemic.</p>
<p>Whether that’s been your experience, or if you want to try something new, these three types of interactions with your dog don’t take a lot of time. You could even continue them after lockdown’s over.</p>
<p>This might end up become the new highlight of your dog’s day, making the long wait for you to return home from work completely worth it. </p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/your-dogs-nose-knows-no-bounds-and-neither-does-its-love-for-you-148484">Your dog's nose knows no bounds – and neither does its love for you</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/166331/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jessica Oliva does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Talking to your dog really helps. Here’s what else you can do.Jessica Oliva, Lecturer, Psychology, James Cook UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1601352021-05-12T17:18:49Z2021-05-12T17:18:49ZCurious Kids: Can dogs catch COVID-19?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/398189/original/file-20210430-13-1wryxnw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=19%2C0%2C4305%2C2217&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Although it appears that some dogs can catch COVID, you don't have to worry! </span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><figure class="align-left ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=293&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=293&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=293&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=368&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=368&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=368&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption"></span>
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<p><em>Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. Have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Send it to <a href="mailto:curiouskidscanada@theconversation.com">CuriousKidsCanada@theconversation.com</a>.</em></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Can Tulip (our dog) catch COVID-19? — Tiju, 7, Toronto</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Just as humans can come into contact with germs and not always get sick, so can dogs. Even if dogs do get infected, COVID-19 affects them differently than humans because dogs don’t seem to get very sick. So, Tiju, you really don’t have to worry about Tulip catching COVID-19.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="dog sitting looking up at camera with small tooth poking out" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/399269/original/file-20210506-24-1urpm2t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/399269/original/file-20210506-24-1urpm2t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=429&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/399269/original/file-20210506-24-1urpm2t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=429&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/399269/original/file-20210506-24-1urpm2t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=429&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/399269/original/file-20210506-24-1urpm2t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=539&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/399269/original/file-20210506-24-1urpm2t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=539&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/399269/original/file-20210506-24-1urpm2t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=539&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Tiju’s dog Tulip.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Tiju</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. Like many viruses, it is a sort of “shape shifter” because it can change into multiple types, called variants. Right now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant.html">has identified about five variants</a> which cause COVID-19. And while some dogs and cats did test positive <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/03/major-coronavirus-variant-found-pets-first-time">for one type</a>, they had almost no symptoms. </p>
<p>What makes this interesting is that the SARS-CoV-2 virus actually came from animals in the first place! Scientists think it <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-80573-x">originally came from bats</a>.</p>
<p>This virus is “<a href="https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/zoonoses-shared-disease-agents-of-people-and-pets-animal-owners">zoonotic</a>,” meaning it can spread from animals to humans. Rabies, for instance, is a well-known zoonotic disease. If a person is bitten by an animal with rabies, the person can get rabies. </p>
<p>Dogs don’t seem to get sick from COVID-19 because of how the virus gets into their system.</p>
<p>Imagine a lock and key. Humans and animals have “ACE receptors,” which are like locks in their bodies, and the viruses are like keys. If the virus can get into the ACE receptor, click!</p>
<p>Luckily, the ACE receptors in dogs and humans are very different, and this virus can only get into the humans. But guess which other animal has a similar ACE receptors to humans? Yep … Bats! </p>
<h2>COVID-19 in wild animals</h2>
<p>What about other wild animals?</p>
<p>Well, there are some cases of humans giving the virus to zoo animals. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/nyregion/bronx-zoo-tiger-coronavirus.html">Big cats in New York zoos</a> were infected by an employee with COVID-19, as were <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/san-diego-zoo-gorillas-make-full-recovery-from-covid-19-1.5310898">gorillas at the San Diego Zoo</a>. In fact, the gorillas had <a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2021/sa-01/ca-gorillas-sars-cov-2">similar symptoms</a> to humans. But it might be good news that they are one of our <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/120306-gorilla-genome-apes-humans-evolution-science">closest relatives</a> because <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/first-great-apes-at-us-zoo-receive-coronavirus-vaccine-made-for-animals?loggedin=true">there is a new vaccine for them</a>, just like we have.</p>
<p>As for animals that are actually living in the wild, there is not yet enough science to understand how the coronavirus is impacting them. In fact, <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-covid-19-infecting-wild-animals-were-testing-species-from-bats-to-seals-to-find-out-151467">some researchers</a> are investigating this right now. </p>
<hr>
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<hr><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/160135/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Beth Daly does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>A curious kid asks: Can dogs catch COVID-19?Beth Daly, Associate Professor of Anthrozoology, University of WindsorLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1590262021-05-02T12:41:33Z2021-05-02T12:41:33ZPandemic puppies: Canine crisis or happy household?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/396871/original/file-20210423-15-1p9ojtr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=5%2C0%2C3489%2C2326&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">As the pandemic drags on, people's desire for puppies continues to grow.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>At first, it was <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/toilet-paper-shortage-covid-1.5536213">toilet paper</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/smarter-living/wirecutter/coronavirus-hand-sanitizer.html">hand sanitizer</a>. People stuck at home with time to bake bought up all the <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/05/why-theres-no-flour-during-coronavirus/611527/">flour</a>. Next came the terrifying shortages of hospital ventilators and <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-icus-adding-beds-but-will-it-help-1.5985771">ICU beds</a>, and eventually <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/17/india/covid-vaccine-shortage-covishield-covaxin-intl-hnk-dst/index.html">vaccines</a>.</p>
<p>Then came the dogs.</p>
<p>Yep. A <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/pandemic-puppies-ottawa-supply-demand-breeders-rescue-urge-caution-1.5778956">dog shortage</a>. Yet, they are everywhere. Parks are full of them. Shelters are empty. Adoption rates have risen <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/01/06/animal-shelters-coronavirus-pandemic/">30 to 40 per cent</a> and <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/rescue-groups-across-canada-see-surge-in-demand-for-pandemic-pets-1.4871946">foster organizations</a> cannot keep up with the demand. </p>
<p><a href="https://dognews.com/breeding-dogs-in-the-age-of-covid-19-coronavirus">Wait lists</a> for breeders are years long and vets are <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/delay-pet-care-national-shortage-1.5894161">booking appointments</a> months in advance. In the United Kingdom, a torrent of dog-napping cases are being touted as the work of a “<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/delay-pet-care-national-shortage-1.5894161">puppy mafia</a>.” The always <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/delay-pet-care-national-shortage-1.5894161">pervasive problem</a> of puppy mills and scams are thriving as people pine for puppies. </p>
<p>Dogs are a huge part of my life. As an associate professor of anthrozoology, I attend yearly anthrozoology conferences which feature some of the <a href="https://www.delegate-reg.co.uk/isaz2020/keynote-speakers">best dog-minds</a> in the world. Early in my career I did a dog-training apprenticeship, with Huckleberry, my Labrador puppy, when reward-based training was <a href="https://time.com/5880219/science-of-dog-training/">on the rise</a>. I also teach a <a href="https://www.uwindsor.ca/anthrozoology/297/current-courses">course on dogs</a> and humans’ relationship with them. I even met my husband while walking my dog.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Chocolate lab puppies playing with balls" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/396876/original/file-20210423-15-11uwc8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/396876/original/file-20210423-15-11uwc8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396876/original/file-20210423-15-11uwc8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396876/original/file-20210423-15-11uwc8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396876/original/file-20210423-15-11uwc8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396876/original/file-20210423-15-11uwc8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396876/original/file-20210423-15-11uwc8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The pandemic gives new owners time to spend with their new family members.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>The rush for dogs</h2>
<p>The frenzy makes sense. People who chose to not have a dog because they were away for long hours are suddenly able to since school and work now happen at home. And for many, this <a href="https://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/work-at-home-after-covid-19-our-forecast">may be permanent</a>. </p>
<p>It may <a href="https://time.com/5186237/dogs-at-work-benefits/">actually be beneficial</a> to work alongside your dog. Research shows <a href="https://www.purina.eu/pets-at-work">increased productivity and work-life balance</a>, areas colleagues and I are <a href="https://uwindsor.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7QwVwcnjJSKOE85">collecting data on</a> to further explore. At the very least, many new owners now have the time bond with, and train, their new family member — they’ve found a crack of light in the pandemic wall.</p>
<p>But bringing a new pup into the house is not always a good idea, as appealing as it may be for those feeling trapped at home during lockdown. </p>
<p>Dogs offer a breath of fresh air, and are one of the few <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-restrictions-what-you-can-what-you-cannot-do-1.5991941">permissible excuses</a> for people to escape the indoors. When lockdowns began, amusing stories surfaced of desperate people walking <a href="https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/11/05/Man-caught-walking-stuffed-dog-after-curfew-in-Czech-Republic/1871604601765/">stuffed dogs</a>, <a href="https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/2020/03/17/5e709e6fe2704e5a1c8b45e1.html">fake dogs</a> and even <a href="https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/ny-quebec-canada-woman-walks-husband-on-leash-to-get-around-curfew-20210112-2rl2w2aubvcmdpzmhn2qkbswji-story.html">spouses</a> on leashes. Now, <a href="https://www.borrowmydoggy.com/blog/2020/3/covid19-update">borrowed dogs</a> and even <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/people-are-listing-dogs-to-rent-as-a-way-to-circumvent-quebecs-covid-19-curfew">rented dogs</a> are a thing. </p>
<p>Sadly, though, most new puppies will <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-you-walking-your-dog-enough-100530">not get walked</a> enough, and the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2006.03.009">many unexpected issues</a> that lead to behavioural problems will contribute to frustrated owners and <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/pandemic-puppies-hamilton-1.5770035">relinquishment</a>. </p>
<h2>Dog ownership is a huge responsibility</h2>
<p>Knowing a lot about dogs is stressful because I zero in on problems. I sometimes cannot help myself from telling strangers that their new <a href="https://www.petmd.com/news/view/when-can-puppy-go-outside-37926">unvaccinated</a> puppies shouldn’t be in a dog-crowded park. I cringe at exasperated owners yanking on choke chains, or using other <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2011.03.007">types of punishment</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2018.03.004">outdated training methods</a> because their frustrated dogs just want to run and play.</p>
<p>There is already a <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7579462/animal-sanctuary-surrenders-coronavirus-pandemic/">rise in dog surrenders</a>. This is due, in part, to impulse purchases of pandemic puppies. Not surprisingly, <a href="https://theconversation.com/dogs-really-can-chase-away-loneliness-125495">people are lonely</a>.</p>
<p>But we’re not sure dogs can cure loneliness. Anthrozoologist Hal Herzog says “the evidence just is not there.”</p>
<p>Herzog’s skepticism is understandable, and he maintains that the results are <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animals-and-us/202004/can-pets-relieve-loneliness-in-the-age-coronavirus">not conclusive</a>. “Contrary to the claims of the pet products industry,” he says, “the vast majority of studies indicate that pet owners are no less lonely” than non-owners.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="People wearing masks walk dog" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/396885/original/file-20210423-17-1kljqqn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/396885/original/file-20210423-17-1kljqqn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396885/original/file-20210423-17-1kljqqn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396885/original/file-20210423-17-1kljqqn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396885/original/file-20210423-17-1kljqqn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396885/original/file-20210423-17-1kljqqn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396885/original/file-20210423-17-1kljqqn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Sadly, most new pandemic puppies will not get walked enough.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Lack of socialization</h2>
<p>A major concern among canine researchers is that pandemic puppies are <a href="https://thebark.com/content/socializing-your-puppy-during-covid-19-pandemic">not being socialized</a>, which is vital to the future behaviour and emotional well-being of dogs. Typically, very few owners actually formally enrol in training or puppy classes, which are ideal for developing socializing skills. Presumably, lockdown would worsen this situation for puppies.</p>
<p>James Serpell agrees that this could create “a bit of an epidemic.” Serpell directs the <a href="https://vetapps.vet.upenn.edu/cbarq/">Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ)</a> project at the University of Pennsylvania. C-BARQ is an online survey tool that provides owners with an evaluation of their dogs’ temperament and behaviour. So far, it has yielded standardized information about the behavioural norms of purebreds and mixed-breeds for more than 60,000 companion dogs. </p>
<p>While getting a puppy is a rational impulse, Serpell points out several potential problems for unsocialized puppies: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Some dogs may become fearful of new experiences, leading to increased aggression toward both unfamiliar dogs and people. </p></li>
<li><p>Dogs who are not used to being alone may develop separation anxiety, leading to destructive behaviour, including peeing and pooping inside the home.</p></li>
<li><p>And, of course, relinquishment. Today’s puppies could become <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-55719338">tomorrow’s shelter dogs</a>. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Serpell also points to an ironic paradox: “Any puppy acquired during the pandemic, if the owners were behaving responsibly, would not be properly socialized.” In other words, people who respect the social order may raise dogs who do not.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Woman working on laptop with dog" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/396881/original/file-20210423-13-sptveq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/396881/original/file-20210423-13-sptveq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396881/original/file-20210423-13-sptveq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396881/original/file-20210423-13-sptveq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396881/original/file-20210423-13-sptveq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396881/original/file-20210423-13-sptveq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/396881/original/file-20210423-13-sptveq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">It may actually be beneficial to work alongside your dog.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>A society of pet lovers</h2>
<p>But what about the “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2020.1771061">pet effect</a>,” the theory that <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/health-benefits/index.html">pets are good for us</a>? After all, research findings show that the presence of dogs <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00844843">lowers blood pressure</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2017.1385737">reduces stress</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/17/dogs-have-a-magic-effect-the-power-of-pets-on-our-mental-health">improves emotional well-being</a>. </p>
<p>Herzog has repeatedly <a href="https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/sc_herzog_comphealth/2/">raised red flags</a> about this, suggesting a bias in anthrozoological research. This concern is shared by <a href="https://www.npr.org/2011/05/26/136497064/the-new-science-of-understanding-dog-behavior"><em>Dog Sense</em></a> author John Bradshaw, who points out that although some studies do show positive health effects, the same number conclude “that pets have no or even a slight impact on health.” </p>
<p>But does science really matter? </p>
<p>After all, we are a society of pet lovers, with almost <a href="http://www.globenewswire.com/fr/news-release/2021/02/16/2176264/0/en/2020-Canadian-Pet-Population-Figures-Released.html">60 per cent of Canadian households</a> having a resident dog or cat. It’s often a simple pleasure to share the constant company of a nonjudgmental companion offering unconditional love. I have been thankful that the pandemic has given me more time with Grasshopper, my 13-year-old Labrador (who is perfectly behaved, of course). </p>
<p>Arguably, this article reflects the downside of my academic life and preoccupation with research, data, facts and theories about dog ownership. Sometimes, a dog is just a dog.</p>
<p>And in this case, I think it’s best to just let sleeping dogs lie.</p>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/159026/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Beth Daly does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Dogs might be helping people through the pandemic, but should we be concerned by unprepared, impulsive dog purchases?Beth Daly, Associate Professor of Anthrozoology, University of WindsorLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1419652020-07-09T19:18:46Z2020-07-09T19:18:46ZCOVID-19 presents new obstacles for people who use service dogs<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/346169/original/file-20200707-194396-1p223rh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C1356%2C667&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Normally, working dogs make life easier for people with disabilities. However, since the beginning of the pandemic, the barriers to accessibility have never been so great.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>While browsing through a Facebook group for guide, mobility and service dog recipients, a post by one of the members jumped out at me. “Did you dare to go out with your dog?” it asked. “Are you able to go out of your home?” Since the early days of the COVID-19 crisis in March, many have had their eyes glued to the news and are following government guidelines. But in all this turmoil, have we forgotten about citizens living with a disability?</p>
<p>I am a doctoral student at the University of Ottawa and a resource teacher for suspended or expelled students. I specialize in the areas of inclusion and service dogs. My research project allowed me to have Toulouse, an assistance dog from the Mira Foundation trained specifically for my special needs students. Since March 2019, she has been accompanying me everywhere and has helped me discover a reality that I didn’t expect.</p>
<p>As a researcher in this field, I am fortunate to have access to networks of assistance dog beneficiaries. With this article, I would like to offer them a public voice in order to draw a portrait of their reality since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis.</p>
<h2>A lack of accessibility</h2>
<p><a href="https://cjds.uwaterloo.ca/index.php/cjds/article/view/355">Ableism</a> is the word used to describe the extent of multi-dimensional discrimination against people living with disabilities. People with working dogs are victims of it on a daily basis. Indeed, our society is designed for citizens without disabilities and de facto obliges people with disabilities to fight for their essential rights, such as accessibility, despite the provisions included in the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/rights-people-disabilities.html">Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms</a> and the <a href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/h-6/">Canadian Human Rights Act</a>, which “guarantee equal rights and freedom from discrimination to persons with disabilities.”</p>
<p>Normally, working dogs accompany these individuals and facilitate their daily life. However, since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the barriers to accessibility have never been so great.</p>
<h2>The risks of exclusion are increasing</h2>
<p>Anne-Marie Bourcier is visually impaired and received her third guide dog from the Mira Foundation. With her dog, Machine, she routinely takes the bus and subway to go shopping or have lunch with a friend. Autonomy is the watchword for this duo. However, since the pandemic, they no longer go out in public. She wrote me a long email to let me know about her new reality.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I don’t see how I could be autonomous with my guide dog in a grocery store. Where do the arrows start? Where are the sinks for washing hands? Am I going to graze someone? Are we going to make a mistake in the aisles? Is someone going to help me once I get there? My guide dog is used to going straight into the store. If we go in, will they tell us to get out and get in line? I think it’s quite complex.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>These questions remain unanswered for Bourcier and many others. The physical obstacles are major, especially for a dog that has not been trained to deal with the health crisis and prevention measures.</p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/340682/original/file-20200609-21191-1k1h3ov.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/340682/original/file-20200609-21191-1k1h3ov.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=906&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/340682/original/file-20200609-21191-1k1h3ov.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=906&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/340682/original/file-20200609-21191-1k1h3ov.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=906&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/340682/original/file-20200609-21191-1k1h3ov.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1139&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/340682/original/file-20200609-21191-1k1h3ov.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1139&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/340682/original/file-20200609-21191-1k1h3ov.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1139&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Machine is a Bernese mountain dog.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Anne-Marie Bourcier)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>While we might assume that people give priority to those living with disabilities, the opposite is true. For example, another guide dog recipient explains that he often has to avoid people who do not give way to him.</p>
<h2>Dogs and social distancing</h2>
<p>Added to this are situations where the disability is not visible and the public believes that the dog is in training. Awareness campaigns on social distancing have been conducted by the CNIB Foundation.</p>
<p>In addition to the physical obstacles, there are also psychological obstacles. “At the hospital, I need my dog and my partner for my MRI. I had to negotiate for entry,” says Geneviève, a traction dog recipient. The mask makes it hard for her to breathe and she has to constantly adjust her tone of voice to give instructions to her dog. “I feel badly about taking her in. With the distancing, there is a fear of people and sometimes small alleys. I’m scared to go out again.”</p>
<p>Thus, the risk of social isolation is amplified for service dog users who have to stay at home and forget about their routine.</p>
<h2>The other side of the coin</h2>
<p>Despite the difficulties, there are some positive experiences. Several beneficiaries are happy that the implementation of social distancing rules means nobody tries to pet their dog, which usually happens several times per outing. This distraction may cause the animal to make a mistake, which could put the safety of the user at risk.</p>
<p>In fact, all of them are grateful to have a companion during this crisis. In spite of the isolation, the beneficiaries can count on the reassuring presence of their animal. Marie Eve Leduc is the mother of a child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who has an assistance dog. She is relieved to have had Amhara for her boy.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>During confinement, Amhara proved her worth. Since Arthur hasn’t returned to school, he’s spending a lot more time with her! He spends long moments holding on to her, talking to her, petting her.… The change in his habits went well, thanks to our dog! </p>
</blockquote>
<p>After several months of confinement, the reopening of stores has also made going out again easier.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/340695/original/file-20200609-21201-v0xhou.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/340695/original/file-20200609-21201-v0xhou.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=512&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/340695/original/file-20200609-21201-v0xhou.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=512&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/340695/original/file-20200609-21201-v0xhou.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=512&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/340695/original/file-20200609-21201-v0xhou.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=643&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/340695/original/file-20200609-21201-v0xhou.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=643&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/340695/original/file-20200609-21201-v0xhou.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=643&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Arthur holds Amhara, a black Labrador service dog.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Marie Eve Leduc)</span></span>
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</figure>
<h2>Solutions exist</h2>
<p>As the process of deconfinement continues in Canada, many recipients are concerned that they will be overlooked as the measures rarely take into consideration <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/guidance-documents/people-with-disabilities.html">Canadians living with disabilities</a>. A few solutions are therefore suggested for them, including priority entry at all times, reserved hours and a shopping assistance service.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.hsdc.org/accessible-deaf-friendly-face-mask/">Masks with a transparent screen</a> or visors to allow deaf or hard of hearing people to read lips would be necessary in essential services, particularly at the reception desk. Finally, distancing could become permanent around recipients of working dogs.</p>
<p>In this wave of change, it is up to us to seize the opportunity to make our society a more accessible place.</p>
<p><em>The author thanks the beneficiaries of the Mira Foundation who have generously shared their photos and testimonials, as well as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind/Institut national canadien pour les aveugles for the illustration.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/141965/count.gif" alt="La Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Virginie Abat-Roy is doing research with the Mira Foundation. She has received funding from the University of Ottawa.</span></em></p>There is an increase in physical and psychological barriers to accessibility for service dog users in the COVID-19 era. However, solutions exist.Virginie Abat-Roy, Candidate au PhD en éducation, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of OttawaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1314382020-07-02T12:26:07Z2020-07-02T12:26:07ZDo dogs really see in just black and white?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/343579/original/file-20200623-188900-3set3z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=286%2C557%2C4464%2C3080&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Don't worry that your dog's world is visually drab.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/high-angle-view-of-dog-walking-on-colorful-striped-royalty-free-image/677142241">Kevin Short/EyeEm via Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><figure class="align-left ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=293&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=293&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=293&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=368&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=368&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/281719/original/file-20190628-76743-26slbc.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=368&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/curious-kids-us-74795">Curious Kids</a> is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to <a href="mailto:curiouskidsus@theconversation.com">curiouskidsus@theconversation.com</a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Do dogs really see in just black and white? – Oscar V., age 9, Somerville, Massachusetts</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<hr>
<p>Dogs definitely see the world differently than people do, but it’s a myth that their view is <a href="https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/resources/dog-myths">just black, white and grim shades of gray</a>. </p>
<p>While most people see a full spectrum of colors from red to violet, dogs lack some of the light receptors in their eyes that allow human beings to see certain colors, particularly in the red and green range. But canines can still see yellow and blue.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/344613/original/file-20200629-155299-i6prbp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/344613/original/file-20200629-155299-i6prbp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/344613/original/file-20200629-155299-i6prbp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=353&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/344613/original/file-20200629-155299-i6prbp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=353&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/344613/original/file-20200629-155299-i6prbp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=353&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/344613/original/file-20200629-155299-i6prbp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=444&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/344613/original/file-20200629-155299-i6prbp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=444&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/344613/original/file-20200629-155299-i6prbp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=444&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Different wavelengths of light register as different colors in an animal’s visual system. Top is the human view; bottom is a dog’s eye view.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://dog-vision.andraspeter.com/tool.php">Top: iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images. Bottom: As processed by András Péter's Dog Vision Image Processing Tool</a></span>
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</figure>
<p>What you see as red or orange, to a dog may just be another shade of tan. To my dog, Sparky, a bright orange ball lying in the green grass may look like a tan ball in another shade of tan grass. But his bright blue ball will look similar to both of us. <a href="https://dog-vision.andraspeter.com/tool.php">An online image processing tool</a> lets you see for yourself what a particular picture looks like to your pet.</p>
<p>Animals can’t use spoken language to describe what they see, but researchers easily trained dogs to touch a lit-up color disc with their nose to get a treat. Then they trained the dogs to touch a disc that was a different color than some others. When the well-trained dogs couldn’t figure out which disc to press, the scientists knew that they couldn’t see the differences in color. These experiments showed that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/s0952523800004430">dogs could see only yellow and blue</a>.</p>
<p>In the back of our eyeballs, human beings’ retinas contain three types of special cone-shaped cells that are responsible for all the colors we can see. When scientists used a technique called electroretinography to measure the way dogs’ eyes react to light, they found that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952523800003291">canines have fewer kinds of these cone cells</a>. Compared to people’s three kinds, dogs only have two types of cone receptors.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/344635/original/file-20200629-155334-1ktj47u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/344635/original/file-20200629-155334-1ktj47u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/344635/original/file-20200629-155334-1ktj47u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=393&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/344635/original/file-20200629-155334-1ktj47u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=393&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/344635/original/file-20200629-155334-1ktj47u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=393&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/344635/original/file-20200629-155334-1ktj47u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=494&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/344635/original/file-20200629-155334-1ktj47u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=494&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/344635/original/file-20200629-155334-1ktj47u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=494&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Light travels to the back of the eyeball, where it registers with rod and cone cells that send visual signals on to the brain.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/illustration/eye-anatomy-rod-cells-and-cone-cells-royalty-free-illustration/1091261988">iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Not only can dogs see fewer colors than we do, they probably don’t see as clearly as we do either. Tests show that both the structure and function of the dog eye leads them to <a href="https://ucdavis.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/vision-in-dogs">see things at a distance as more blurry</a>. While we think of perfect vision in humans as being 20/20, typical vision in dogs is probably closer to 20/75. This means that what a person with normal vision could see from 75 feet away, a dog would need to be just 20 feet away to see as clearly. Since dogs don’t read the newspaper, their visual acuity probably doesn’t interfere with their way of life.</p>
<p>There’s likely a lot of difference in visual ability between breeds. Over the years, breeders have selected sight-hunting dogs like greyhounds to have better vision than dogs like bulldogs.</p>
<p>But that’s not the end of the story. While people have a tough time seeing clearly in dim light, scientists believe dogs can probably see as well at dusk or dawn as they can in the bright middle of the day. This is because compared to humans’, dog retinas have a <a href="https://ucdavis.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/vision-in-dogs">higher percentage and type of another kind of visual receptor</a>. Called rod cells because of their shape, they function better in low light than cone cells do.</p>
<p>Dogs also have a reflective tissue layer at the back of their eyes that <a href="https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-017-1404-7">helps them see in less light</a>. This mirror-like tapetum lucidum collects and concentrates the available light to help them see when it’s dark. The tapetum lucidum is what gives dogs and other mammals that glowing eye reflection when caught in your headlights at night or when you try to take a flash photo.</p>
<p>Dogs share their type of vision with many other animals, <a href="https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/behavior-appearance/cat-vision">including cats</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952523800003291">and foxes</a>. Scientists think it’s important for these hunters to be able to detect the motion of their nocturnal prey, and that’s why their vision <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/aug/03/did-t-rex-make-your-dog-colour-blind">evolved in this way</a>. As many mammals developed the ability to forage and hunt in twilight or dark conditions, they <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2016.05.023">gave up the ability to see the variety of colors</a> that most birds, reptiles and primates have. People didn’t evolve to be active all night, so we kept the color vision and better visual acuity. </p>
<p>Before you feel sorry that dogs aren’t able to see all the colors of the rainbow, keep in mind that some of their other senses are much more developed than yours. They can <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/sounds-only-dogs-can-hear/">hear higher-pitched sounds from farther away</a>, and their <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/dogs-sense-of-smell/">noses are much more powerful</a>.</p>
<p>Even though Sparky might not be able to easily see that orange toy in the grass, he can certainly smell it and find it easily when he wants to. </p>
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<p><em>Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to <a href="mailto:curiouskidsus@theconversation.com">CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com</a>. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.</em></p>
<p><em>And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/131438/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Nancy Dreschel does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Your faithful friend’s view of the world is different than yours, but maybe not in the way you imagine.Nancy Dreschel, Associate Teaching Professor of Small Animal Science, Penn StateLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1380742020-05-24T12:22:53Z2020-05-24T12:22:53ZHow the coronavirus pet adoption boom is reducing stress<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/335950/original/file-20200519-83367-13qp66r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=24%2C0%2C5367%2C3597&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Research consistently shows the benefits of pet ownership during stressful times.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>As has been discussed in so many articles, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-005-5072-z">sharing our lives with pets is good for our health</a>. Not only do they make us healthier in normal times, in stressful times the benefit of a pandemic puppy (or cat), or other non-human companion, goes even further. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/when-pets-are-family-the-benefits-extend-into-society-109179">When pets are family, the benefits extend into society</a>
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<p>During a pandemic, people <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113003">can be stressed and fearful for their lives and the lives of those they love</a>. Research has shown that where there is a bond between human and animal, the presence of a non-human companion — especially a dog — <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/175303710X12750451258977">decreases psychological arousal and stress, and creates physiological changes that make us feel better</a>. </p>
<h2>Pandemic pets</h2>
<p>Early in the COVID-19 pandemic there was <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taaa046">pet abandonment in large numbers in Wuhan, China</a>. Fearful that the same would happen locally, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/call-has-been-answered-animal-shelters-across-u-s-are-n1186351">many animal rescue organizations set out to empty their shelters</a>. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/30/us/dogs-adoption-surge-trnd/index.html">Worldwide there was an unprecedented upsurge in adoptions and fostering</a>. </p>
<p>Although many people did this for the animals, they, perhaps unwittingly, set themselves up for better mental health during the pandemic. Aside from the stress-mitigating impacts of pets mentioned above, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F019394502320555377">having a pet may be a powerful influencer in maintaining health-protective behaviours</a>, such as eating well or going out for a walk. </p>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.3233/nre-2010-0592">Dogs and cats can increase physical rehabilitation goals</a> through behaviour such as “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000000156">bending, reaching, ambulating and using both arms in a functional manner to provide food, water, and grooming</a>.” These basic activities involved in animal care actually provide exercise, which is very important for people who spend the day in a stationary position.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">With stay-at-home orders required in many places, having a pet at home can help reduce feelings of anxiety and frustration.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Human-animal relationships</h2>
<p>When the COVID-19 pandemic began, I had just started a <a href="https://queensu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bKrBi1ERiZw56eh">research study asking people about their relationships with their non-human companions</a>. The preliminary results of this online survey include people between their late 30s and early 90s. They live in Canada, the United States, England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland and come from all walks of life. One-third have completed high school or less, 30 per cent completed college and/or an apprenticeship and the rest completed some kind of university degree. At the time of the survey, almost all of them were spending their time at home, some were alone, others with family and for others pets were their only companions.</p>
<p>When asked, in an open-ended question, what it has been like having animal companions with them during the pandemic, their answers included words like “comforting,” “good/great,” “helpful.” Several people said that they work full-time, so they were enjoying the time with their animal and getting to see what their pet does all day. Several people indicated that they would be lost without their pet. </p>
<p>One participant said, “I don’t know what I would do without the company of my dog, she has kept me going.” Another said, “It is the only thing that is keeping me sane.” And others said the presence of a pet was salvation (a life saver) and brought joy. There were also those who said they talk with their pet and that it <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020927051">helped stave off loneliness</a>.</p>
<h2>Artificial pets?</h2>
<p>Another question I ask in my research is <a href="https://theconversation.com/robopets-using-technology-to-monitor-older-adults-raises-privacy-concerns-132326">whether robot pets can be used to replace live animals</a>, so it was interesting to see that <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/27/us/therapy-robot-pets-wellness-trnd/index.html">robot pets were being provided to older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic</a>. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/robopets-using-technology-to-monitor-older-adults-raises-privacy-concerns-132326">Robopets: Using technology to monitor older adults raises privacy concerns</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>In my survey during the COVID-19 pandemic, respondents were asked whether, given the choice, they would choose a robot pet or a live animal. Out of 102 people who answered this question, not one of them said they would choose a robot pet — even those who currently did not have a pet did not want a robot pet. The vast majority said they would choose a live pet, and a few said that they would rather have no pet at all. </p>
<p>When asked why, they said things like, “It is not about the companionship alone. It is about the emotional connection. To get that from a robotic creation is not love. We need the love that comes with these pets.” It was very clear that the robots were “not the same as a living breathing animal.” That a robot could not take the place of a pet because pets are “unique and make me smile and love them.”</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tLjtOMBWvTo?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">A <em>Washington Post</em> video comparing Sony’s robot dog Aibo to a live puppy.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The results of this survey are similar to those found during non-pandemic research: pets stave off <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122085">loneliness</a>, and living with pets helps people to be more active, even if it is only the movement associated with basic tasks, such as cleaning the litter box or filling food bowls. Most importantly, we are comforted by these non-human companions. The presence of a dog or a cat in the home may be the only thing between an isolated person and despair.</p>
<p>Given how important dogs, cats and other non-human companions are to our well-being, it is important to remember them when developing programs to support isolated people. When there is not enough money to go around, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000000156">it is not unheard of for people to feed their dog before they feed or acquire medications for themselves</a>.” </p>
<p>As the economic reality of sustained unemployment unfolds, it is important for public services to consider not only food security for humans, but also for their non-human companions in order to prevent the possibility of a tsunami of pet abandonment due to an inability to provide care.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/138074/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>L.F. Carver does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Pets can relieve anxiety during the pandemic and reduce the effects of social isolation. However, there have been waves of pet adoptions and abandonment related to the pandemic.L.F. Carver, Assistant Professor & Privacy and Ethics Officer at the Centre for Advanced Computing, Queen's University, OntarioLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1327192020-03-03T12:08:31Z2020-03-03T12:08:31ZCould a dog pick the next president?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/317856/original/file-20200228-24676-hh4ibz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=8%2C65%2C2703%2C1870&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A patriotic pooch.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/super-cute-bulldog-puppy-laying-on-290552843">JStaley401/Shutterstock.com</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>I’m not sure who first said it, but it’s clear <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=never+trust+a+person+who+doesn%27t+like+dogs">a lot of people agree</a> with the <a href="https://twitter.com/biiimurray/status/529765805123051520?lang=en">sentiment</a>: “<a href="https://twitter.com/rickygervais/status/869126984785375233?lang=en">Never trust a person who doesn’t like dogs</a>.” Many pet lovers share the belief that a person’s attitude to dogs reveals something essential about their character.</p>
<p>During the political campaign season, Americans are deciding who has the characteristics, skills and temperament to be president. As a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Tk06aX4AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao">dog psychologist</a> and founder of the <a href="https://psychology.asu.edu/research/labs/canine-science-collaboratory-wynne">Canine Science Collaboratory</a> at Arizona State University, I spend my time studying the relationship between dogs and their people. I’d certainly be happy if a candidate’s attitude toward dogs could offer a simple way to evaluate a leader’s personality, cutting to the essence of a person’s character and clinching my vote without needing a detailed assessment of their policy proposals. </p>
<p>Is it enough just to follow the leash to choose a leader? There must be good people with bad dogs, or no dog at all, and some notoriously bad people who were loved by their dogs, no? But I want to believe that canine companionship can still shed <a href="https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a27112793/2020-presidential-candidates-dogs-pets/">light</a> <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/meet-pets-dogs-presidential-contenders-beto-s-turtle-n1000941">on</a> <a href="https://qz.com/1552748/meet-the-dogs-of-the-2020-presidential-race/">human</a> <a href="https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/11/2020-democratic-primary-dogs-warren-bailey-buttigieg-truman-buddy-biden-major.html">character</a> and help us pick a candidate.</p>
<h2>Dogless in the White House</h2>
<p>For the past three years, the pup-parazzi have been speculating on President Donald Trump’s dogless existence at the White House. It’s certainly most common for the president to have a dog – perhaps because, as someone reputedly said, “<a href="https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/23/washington-dog-truman/">If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog</a>.”</p>
<p>The Washington Post has claimed that <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/02/12/trump-first-president-century-with-no-dog-explains-why-i-dont-have-any-time/">every occupant of the White House since William McKinley</a> has had a dog at some point. Just a couple of weeks ago, Trump declared at a rally that having a dog would be “phony.” </p>
<p>The only dog he has expressed any enthusiasm for while in office was the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/27/us/politics/trump-dog-al-baghdadi-raid.html">Belgian Malinois involved in the raid</a> that resulted in the death of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. As for al-Baghdadi, Trump said he “<a href="https://news.sky.com/story/donald-trump-confirms-islamic-state-leader-killed-by-us-military-11846633">died like a dog</a>.”</p>
<p><div data-react-class="InstagramEmbed" data-react-props="{"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/BqSVOuBluqB","accessToken":"127105130696839|b4b75090c9688d81dfd245afe6052f20"}"></div></p>
<h2>Dog friends</h2>
<p>Among the Democratic front-runners, Joe Biden shares his life with a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/allthemoms/2018/11/18/joe-biden-adopts-rescue-dog-german-shepherd-named-major/2047503002/">German shepherd, Major</a>. This may be a good move for the uniformed vote: German shepherds are a <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/german-shepherd-canine-cop/">favored breed of military and police forces</a>. Biden has always preferred German shepherds, but, for his latest – acquired in November 2018 – he softened the image by adopting a puppy that had been <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/allthemoms/2018/11/18/joe-biden-adopts-rescue-dog-german-shepherd-named-major/2047503002/">exposed to toxic chemicals</a> and was being cared for by the Delaware Humane Society.</p>
<p>Biden might want to be careful of the historical baggage that comes with this popular large breed. The most famous German shepherd in politics must surely have been Blondi, the dog Adolf Hitler himself said was the only being that loved him.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/317857/original/file-20200228-24659-c5sgi8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/317857/original/file-20200228-24659-c5sgi8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/317857/original/file-20200228-24659-c5sgi8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317857/original/file-20200228-24659-c5sgi8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317857/original/file-20200228-24659-c5sgi8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317857/original/file-20200228-24659-c5sgi8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317857/original/file-20200228-24659-c5sgi8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317857/original/file-20200228-24659-c5sgi8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Elizabeth Warren’s dog, Bailey, gets a belly rub from a supporter.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/supporters-of-us-presidential-candidate-and-massachusetts-news-photo/1199267875">Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Elizabeth Warren has a dog with a gentler association. Warren’s stereotypically family-friendly golden retriever, Bailey, is named for George Bailey from the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Warren said she named her dog for “a guy who was <a href="https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/395934-elizabeth-warren-announces-name-of-new-puppy">decent, determined and saw the best in people</a>.” Warren’s <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/10/01/elizabeth-warren-golden-retriever-dog-bailey-mh-orig.cnn">Bailey is front and center</a> in all her campaign activities.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="InstagramEmbed" data-react-props="{"url":"https://twitter.com/firstdogsSB/status/1194988680265523200","accessToken":"127105130696839|b4b75090c9688d81dfd245afe6052f20"}"></div></p>
<p>Bailey features so prominently in his owner’s social media feeds that Warren might want to be careful not to be upstaged by her pooch. George H.W. Bush’s dog, Millie, published <a href="https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/millies-book">a memoir that outsold</a> President Ronald Reagan’s contemporaneous “An American Life.”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/03/01/802023529/pete-buttigieg-suspends-presidential-bid">Pete Buttigieg has suspended his campaign</a>, effectively dropping out of the race. He and his husband Chasten already had a shelter mutt, Truman, when they added another – Buddy – to their household in December 2018. Marie Claire magazine considers <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7109061/Truman-Buddy-Buttigieg-pooches-Mayor-Pete-Twitter-famous.html">Buddy and Truman</a> “<a href="https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/a26973141/pete-buttigieg-dogs-instagram-twitter/">the cutest fur babies in all of politics</a>.” Buddy is the ultimate underdog: rescued from a shelter, of no particular heritage. With only one eye, he peeks out from Instagram voicing droll commentary on the goings-on.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="InstagramEmbed" data-react-props="{"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/BvAny-dguBI","accessToken":"127105130696839|b4b75090c9688d81dfd245afe6052f20"}"></div></p>
<h2>Dog-detached?</h2>
<p>Other candidates either have no dog or are happy to keep their canine enthusiasms to themselves.</p>
<p>The Facebook group “Pet Lovers for Bernie Sanders” had to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Pets4NoOligarchy/photos/a.1600450870229019/1601798060094300/?type=1&theater">photo-edit dogs</a> into an image of Sanders and his wife, who have no dog. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/317858/original/file-20200228-24701-f46vem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/317858/original/file-20200228-24701-f46vem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/317858/original/file-20200228-24701-f46vem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=601&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317858/original/file-20200228-24701-f46vem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=601&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317858/original/file-20200228-24701-f46vem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=601&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317858/original/file-20200228-24701-f46vem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=755&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317858/original/file-20200228-24701-f46vem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=755&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317858/original/file-20200228-24701-f46vem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=755&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">These pets do not actually belong to Bernie Sanders.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.facebook.com/Pets4NoOligarchy/photos/a.1600450870229019/1601798060094300/?type=1&theater">Pet Lovers for Bernie Sanders Facebook group</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Michael Bloomberg was in the “apparently dogless” camp until just the other week when he got into a spot of dog difficulty by <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/01/30/michael-bloomberg-shakes-dog-snout-moos-pkg-ebof-vpx.cnn">shaking a pooch by its snout</a> rather than engaging in one of the more customary forms of interspecies greeting. The dog looked unperturbed, but pet lovers on social media <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/29/mike-bloomberg-shake-dog-snout-video">roasted Bloomberg</a> for his maladroitness.</p>
<p>The billionaire’s campaign quickly stitched together a 30-second ad spot of dogs voiced to endorse their candidate – ending with a cute white Lab who “says,” “I’m Mike Bloomberg’s dog, <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bloomberg-2020-dog-ad-video_n_5e31e4c1c5b6aa15c6df512d">and I approve this message.”</a></p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1222552068231176192"}"></div></p>
<h2>Canine character references</h2>
<p>Of course, dogless people get elected all the time – they can always pick up a pooch later. The Obama family did not acquire their dog, Bo, until three months <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/obama-legacy/sunny-and-bo-white-house-dogs.html">after the inauguration</a>. Having originally indicated an interest in rescuing a shelter mutt, they ended up with a pedigree Portuguese water dog because of their <a href="https://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20081112/hypoallergenic-dogs-dog-allergies-faq">daughter Malia’s allergies</a>. Though often known as the “<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/bill-clintonthe-big-doggets-fixed-1451953476">Big Dog</a>,” Bill Clinton did not acquire a dog of his own, a chocolate Labrador retriever, until his second term.</p>
<p>On Trump’s doglessness, the memoirs of his ex-wife, Ivana, are often quoted: “<a href="http://www.simonandschusterpublishing.com/raising-trump/index.html">Donald was not a dog fan</a>. When I told him I was bringing Chappy with me to New York, he said, ‘No.’ ‘It’s me and Chappy or no one!’ I insisted, and that was that.” But two sentences farther on – and far less frequently cited – Ivana adds, “Donald never objected to Chappy’s sleeping on my side of the bed.” </p>
<p>In fact, from 2010 to 2015, the Westminster Kennel Club had a tradition of sending the winner of its annual show to be photographed with Trump at his eponymous New York tower. Images <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump/photos/a.488852220724/10155220197675725/?type=3&theater">from</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WKCDogShow/photos/a.10150108125721506/10151433474621506/?type=3&theater">that</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump/photos/a.488852220724/10151289370045725/?type=3&theater">time</a> show Trump <a href="https://thefreshtoast.com/daily-delight/weekly-delight-election-edition-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-posing-dogs/">happily hugging the pooches</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/317855/original/file-20200228-24651-fkrru3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/317855/original/file-20200228-24651-fkrru3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/317855/original/file-20200228-24651-fkrru3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317855/original/file-20200228-24651-fkrru3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317855/original/file-20200228-24651-fkrru3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317855/original/file-20200228-24651-fkrru3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317855/original/file-20200228-24651-fkrru3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317855/original/file-20200228-24651-fkrru3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Donald Trump poses with the winner of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2010.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Westminster-Dog-Show/db8ad3c06869429b917f47d858957ecc/4/0">AP Photo/Mary Altaffer</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Witness accounts from these meetings, quoted by <a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/donald-trump-dogs-disgusting/">Snopes.com in an assessment of the claim</a> that Trump hates dogs, recall Trump thoroughly enjoying himself cuddling the prize-winning canines. Snopes concluded that claims Trump considers dogs “<a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/donald-trump-dogs-disgusting/">disgusting</a>” were just plain false.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Harry Truman, to whom the <a href="https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/23/washington-dog-truman/">claim about dog friendship in Washington is often mistakenly attributed</a>, not only <a href="http://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/pets/mike/">declined to bring a dog</a> into the White House; he actually <a href="http://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/pets/feller/">gave away a cocker spaniel puppy</a> named Feller that was given to him. </p>
<p>Asked at a press conference in April 1947 what had become of the pup, Truman responded: “To what?” On receiving clarification, he lied, “<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=bzveAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1027&dq=truman+dog+feller&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwif-ufL98DKAhXGVD4KHUBiC1UQ6AEISDAI#v=onepage&q=feller&f=false">Oh, he’s around</a>.” In fact, Truman had already <a href="https://www.who2.com/is-this-the-saddest-presidential-dog-photo-ever/">given Feller away</a> to his physician, Brig. Gen. Wallace Graham.</p>
<p>Much as we might like dogs to tell us whom to vote for, the truth is, dogs are such <a href="https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books/Dog-Is-Love/9781328543967">forgiving assessors of human character</a> that their appraisals need to be taken with more than a pinch of salt. We may just have to do the hard yards and learn about the candidate’s policies. It isn’t easy. Maybe not having to participate in a democracy is what keeps our dogs so happy.</p>
<p>[<em>Like what you’ve read? Want more?</em> <a href="https://theconversation.com/us/newsletters?utm_source=TCUS&utm_medium=inline-link&utm_campaign=newsletter-text&utm_content=likethis">Sign up for The Conversation’s daily newsletter</a>.]</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/132719/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Clive Wynne does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>A dog psychologist looks at the presidential candidates’ relationships with dogs.Clive Wynne, Professor of Psychology, Arizona State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1158032019-05-07T01:47:32Z2019-05-07T01:47:32ZCurious Kids: is it true that dogs at the pound get killed if nobody adopts them?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272449/original/file-20190503-103060-mupdjg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C3%2C2048%2C1358&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Pounds and shelters are not happy places for dogs to stay in for a long time, though. So everyone tries to find an unwanted dog a new home as quickly as possible.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rswatski/7545490114/in/photolist-cuLBk9-WEohng-awruG8-WgLhx9-5tsbzY-6FENzi-awuCXS-235GocM-awufwo-gEFYi1-VCwps4-WNvQ6u-S6woLG-WgLzBE-awrvvg-WgLoMd-VzXGCA-ojb1io-7Kz5gE-6LGrA5-mBp4G7-ngv4H-8yABL4-8yDyxG-bnz3Xh-pWGtjQ-8PotAy-4m3MeK-aaEYAY-s6uEnB-56D2V4-S6wp2G-931dqm-aj3eaF-5DNZAx-5yrCfM-5rHbTx-yi2T4o-5Az3tR-5Bb9mU-skE6S9-WgLmVC-qYMkF-8q3Ats-WgLazS-WcW8cU-5msNpm-4GnuX5-d2FWeA-7xSVMg">Flickr/Rob Swatski</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/curious-kids-36782">Curious Kids</a> is a series for children. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au You might also like the podcast <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/kidslisten/imagine-this/">Imagine This</a>, a co-production between ABC KIDS listen and The Conversation, based on Curious Kids.</em> </p>
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<blockquote>
<p><strong>Is it true that dogs at the pound get killed if nobody adopts them? - Abhilasa, age 10, Melbourne.</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>First of all, animal shelters and pounds don’t always use the same rules. In Australia, most animal shelters are run by local councils, but some are run by animal rescue organisations. Different councils and different rescue organisations can have different rules about how long they can keep animals. </p>
<p>Those rules are in place because of resources - that means how many people and how much money and how many kennels the shelter or pound can use to look after unwanted animals. If they only have a few kennels or a few people to look after the animals or a little bit of money to pay for food and for someone to care for the animals, then they can only have a few animals at a time. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-how-do-babies-learn-to-talk-111613">Curious Kids: how do babies learn to talk?</a>
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<p>If the shelter or pound is not full and they have enough money to hire enough people and buy enough food to look after all the unwanted animals they have, they can choose to keep looking after those animals until they find a home. Many shelters and pounds do just that. The unwanted animals might stay there for months looking for a new home.</p>
<p>Pounds and shelters are not happy places for dogs to stay in for a long time, though. So everyone tries to find an unwanted dog a new home as quickly as possible. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272450/original/file-20190503-103049-1nc59tc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272450/original/file-20190503-103049-1nc59tc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272450/original/file-20190503-103049-1nc59tc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=493&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/272450/original/file-20190503-103049-1nc59tc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=493&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/272450/original/file-20190503-103049-1nc59tc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=493&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/272450/original/file-20190503-103049-1nc59tc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=619&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/272450/original/file-20190503-103049-1nc59tc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=619&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/272450/original/file-20190503-103049-1nc59tc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=619&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">It’s important to choose a dog that is right for your family.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnsy/2936080986/in/photolist-5tsbzY-6FENzi-awuCXS-235GocM-awufwo-gEFYi1-VCwps4-WNvQ6u-S6woLG-WgLzBE-awrvvg-WgLoMd-VzXGCA-ojb1io-7Kz5gE-6LGrA5-mBp4G7-ngv4H-8yABL4-8yDyxG-bnz3Xh-pWGtjQ-8PotAy-4m3MeK-aaEYAY-s6uEnB-56D2V4-S6wp2G-931dqm-aj3eaF-5DNZAx-5yrCfM-5rHbTx-yi2T4o-5Az3tR-5Bb9mU-skE6S9-WgLmVC-qYMkF-8q3Ats-WgLazS-WcW8cU-5msNpm-4GnuX5-d2FWeA-7xSVMg-21DV4Co-Srzbrs-2d6ACMd-5VANME">Flickr/Terrah</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Foster homes</h2>
<p>If the dog needs a little extra training or a quieter home, or the pound is getting full, the people that run the pound or shelter might agree to give the dog to a rescue organisation that will put the dog in a foster home. </p>
<p>That’s a temporary home where the dog will live with a human family that has volunteered to care for them. The rescue organisation puts ads on the internet telling everyone they have this dog in foster care who is looking for a new home. In this way, many unlucky dogs who had owners that didn’t want them can have all the time they need to find a new home.</p>
<h2>As a last resort</h2>
<p>However, occasionally it’s not possible to find a dog a new home. The pound might run out of room and dogs that have been there longest have to either be taken in by another rescue, or they will be put to sleep to make room for more unwanted dogs. Many of these dogs are saved by rescues and get the time they need, but not all of them. Some of them might have health or behaviour problems that make them difficult to live with, or they might be old. </p>
<p>With so many dogs that need homes, the dogs that are hard to look after are the ones that it’s hardest to find a new home for. Some dogs have had a difficult life and are not safe to be around. For these dogs, life might be very hard for them still. They don’t understand how to make friends and the world is full of things that frighten them, or perhaps they are in pain a lot of the time. For these dogs, it may be a kindness to put them to sleep so they don’t have to suffer anymore. That means they are given an injection that makes them feel calm, fall asleep and then die painlessly in their sleep. </p>
<p>There are lots of things we can do to help reduce the number of unwanted dogs. You could consider adopting a rescue dog, or volunteering to be a foster home for unwanted dogs, or donate to rescue organisations. We can make sure our own dogs are de-sexed so they can’t have puppies. We can keep them in a fenced yard so they can’t get out and get lost or in trouble, and make sure they are microchipped so they can be returned if they do get lost.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272451/original/file-20190503-103060-1hoicik.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272451/original/file-20190503-103060-1hoicik.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272451/original/file-20190503-103060-1hoicik.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/272451/original/file-20190503-103060-1hoicik.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/272451/original/file-20190503-103060-1hoicik.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/272451/original/file-20190503-103060-1hoicik.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/272451/original/file-20190503-103060-1hoicik.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/272451/original/file-20190503-103060-1hoicik.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Have you considered adopting a rescue dog?</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/24849405@N07/4287534056/in/photolist-7wSJuY-XdSBaE-Ty2aD-7zDtPR-b2YbaP-awrxFc-8Lctx8-WgLm5Q-qB8T6-ajZvDT-qAYKw-p7Kq1m-7XNnsg-9aYyAG-awueDL-RrnHFV-C6B4e-QXCkCV-fydm2t-fBgayx-5trUTn-5ZtZ25-p9fa52-9id3rd-6cG3UQ-RumK2Z-5sXwqD-pNmPid-5zoZMY-5u3Y8W-otaMy8-5wCBT6-2d2xcnX-7NzLeX-aZ6ukr-9ajgpw-5zyXP6-9mkzKJ-Z9tgto-oQycz5-efknSj-Upruj6-gCRGyN-5Kqu4s-xec9F-pdnpsG-6dsGaj-a8v3vR-259DB7Z-7QQBCg">Flickr/小亨利Little Henry</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
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</figure>
<p>When choosing a dog for your family, make sure you get a dog that will suit your family so that you won’t find yourself with a dog that is causing you and your neighbours a lot of trouble. Dogs that are too noisy or big or active for their families are sometimes the ones that end up unwanted. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-do-we-have-a-qwerty-keyboard-instead-of-putting-the-letters-in-alphabetical-order-116069">Curious Kids: why do we have a QWERTY keyboard instead of putting the letters in alphabetical order?</a>
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<p><em>Hello, curious kids! Have you got a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au</em></p>
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<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/168011/original/file-20170505-21620-huq4lj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/168011/original/file-20170505-21620-huq4lj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=376&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/168011/original/file-20170505-21620-huq4lj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=376&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/168011/original/file-20170505-21620-huq4lj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=376&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/168011/original/file-20170505-21620-huq4lj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/168011/original/file-20170505-21620-huq4lj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/168011/original/file-20170505-21620-huq4lj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
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<p><em>Please tell us your name, age and which city you live in. We won’t be able to answer every question but we will do our best.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/115803/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Melissa Starling is affiliated with Hanrob Dog Training Academy.</span></em></p>Different councils and different rescue organisations can have different rules about how long they can keep animals.Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1128602019-03-05T01:45:15Z2019-03-05T01:45:15ZRaw meat pet food may not be good for your dog, or your own health<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/262022/original/file-20190305-92304-7nrgtg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=449%2C173%2C3251%2C2221&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Be careful what you feed your dog.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock/fetrinka </span></span></figcaption></figure><p>You might think raw meat pet food is good for your dog. But a new study, <a href="http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/vr.105199" title="Occurrence of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridium and Enterobacteriaceae in raw meat-based diets for dogs">published today in Vet Record</a>, has found it can have high levels of bacteria that may pose health risks for your pet.</p>
<p>The researchers also warn that such food could present a health risk to you, or someone else in your house if his or her immune system is compromised. That includes children, the elderly or anyone taking any immune system suppressant medication for a health condition.</p>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/vets-can-do-more-to-reduce-the-suffering-of-flat-faced-dog-breeds-110702">Vets can do more to reduce the suffering of flat-faced dog breeds</a>
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<p>This is not the first time raw pet meat has been found to be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jan/12/scientists-criticise-trend-for-raw-meat-pet-food-after-analysis-finds-pathogens">contaminated with bacterial pathogens</a>.</p>
<p>The latest study looked at samples from 60 commercially available raw pet meat products in Europe. The Swedish researchers tested these samples in the laboratory for pathogens such as <em>E. coli</em>, <em>Salmonella</em> and <em>Campylobacter</em>, which can cause disease in both pets and people.</p>
<p>All 60 samples were found to be contaminated with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Enterobacter">Enterobacteriaceae bacteria</a> (the family to which <em>E. coli</em> belongs).</p>
<p>The finding of <em>E. coli</em> on a meat product <a href="http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/fcc/news/1_FAO_Preventing-E.Coli-inFood_FCC_2011.06.23.pdf">suggests faecal contamination</a>, as the bacteria are found in the gastrointestinal tracts of animals. It is also an indicator of poor hygiene during processing of the meat. </p>
<p>The contamination levels were found to vary among manufacturers but more than half the samples – 31 (52%) – exceeded the maximum threshold set by European Union regulations.</p>
<p>Other bacteria found in some of the samples, such as <em>Salmonella</em>, <em>Clostridium perfringens</em> and <em>Campylobacter</em>, are considered potentially pathogenic, which means they can cause serious illness in both animals and humans. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/262026/original/file-20190305-92280-1bytocc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/262026/original/file-20190305-92280-1bytocc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/262026/original/file-20190305-92280-1bytocc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/262026/original/file-20190305-92280-1bytocc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/262026/original/file-20190305-92280-1bytocc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/262026/original/file-20190305-92280-1bytocc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=470&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/262026/original/file-20190305-92280-1bytocc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=470&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/262026/original/file-20190305-92280-1bytocc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=470&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Would you eat that? The standards are different for meat for pets compared to meat for human consumption.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock/Dvorakova Veronika</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What is pet meat?</h2>
<p>In <a href="https://www.primesafe.vic.gov.au/uploads/Australian%20Standards/PISC%20Technical%20Report%2088.pdf">Australia</a>, raw meat pet foods, or pet meat, is defined as “meat in a raw state that is intended as food for pets”. This differentiates it from human-grade meat.</p>
<p>Human-grade meat is <a href="http://www.primesafe.vic.gov.au/uploads/Australian%20Standards/AS%204696-2007.pdf">tightly regulated</a>. For example, it is often subject to <a href="https://www.primesafe.vic.gov.au/uploads/Victorian%20Standards/Microbiological%20Guidelines_Meat.pdf">bacterial contamination testing</a> to ensure the product is safe for human consumption.</p>
<p>Essentially, human-grade meat products are swabbed for <em>E. coli</em> and <em>Salmonella</em> just as they leave the abattoir. These swabs indicate the cleanliness of the meat processing and if there has been any faecal contamination.</p>
<p>Pet meat isn’t legally required to undergo bacterial testing in Australia, so it is unknown if pet meat here is contaminated like the samples in this Swedish study.</p>
<p>There are laws on how pet meat is manufactured and handled. But these laws are mainly concerned with protecting <a href="https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Pet-meat">human safety from contamination</a> and exposure to the pet meat, rather than ensuring it’s safe and wholesome for pets. </p>
<p>Laws for pet meat in Australia differ between states, which has been <a href="http://www.agriculture.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/animal-plant/animal-health/pet-food-safety/enclosure-7.doc">identified as an issue</a>. The regulation of pet food (including pet meat) in Australia <a href="https://theconversation.com/senate-inquiry-calls-for-tougher-rules-on-pet-food-in-australia-102410">might soon be changing</a>.</p>
<h2>The risk to humans</h2>
<p>The danger of raw pet meat contaminated with potentially pathogenic bacteria isn’t restricted to <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/infection-and-global-health/research/pet-health/raw-pet-food/">dogs eating the food as part of their diet</a>.</p>
<p>Handling raw pet meat in your kitchen can also present a very real risk. The liquids from the meat can easily contaminate kitchen surfaces. Your dog’s mouth can also harbour these bacteria and spread them to you via licks and kisses.</p>
<p>That’s why anyone whose immune system may be compromised should not be exposed to raw pet meat.</p>
<p>It’s also for this reason, as well as the risks to the dogs themselves, that the US Food and Drug Administration <a href="https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm403350.htm">does not support feeding dogs raw food</a>.</p>
<h2>Dogs can eat raw meat</h2>
<p>We know that dogs have evolved to be able to eat raw meat. Dogs have stomachs and intestinal tracts that are slightly different from ours, which allows them to eat food that humans can’t eat.</p>
<p>But dogs can still get sick from bacteria in their food. We also know that dogs with gastrointestinal illness shed bacteria species, like those mentioned in the Swedish study, in their faeces to a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1439-0450.1992.tb01155.x">much greater extent than healthy dogs</a>.</p>
<p>Dogs can also get gastro from <a href="https://theconversation.com/should-you-feed-your-pet-raw-meat-the-real-risks-of-a-traditional-dog-diet-90271">pathogenic bacteria such as <em>Salmonella</em></a> just like us. </p>
<p>Stressful environments such as kennels and veterinary hospitals can dampen the immune system. Dogs on medications like steroids or chemotherapy will also have reduced immunity to bacteria, including those in their diet. </p>
<h2>How to keep yourself safe</h2>
<p>The authors of this new study offer some great practical tips on how to keep yourself safe when handling raw pet meat.</p>
<ol>
<li>keep raw pet meat frozen until use</li>
<li>handle raw pet meat separately from all other human food, and either use dedicated pet meat utensils or wash equipment thoroughly after use</li>
<li>avoid kisses and licks from dogs that have just eaten raw pet meat</li>
<li>do not feed raw pet meat in households with immunocompromised people.</li>
</ol>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-waste-your-dogs-poo-compost-it-107603">Don’t waste your dog's poo – compost it</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>You can further reduce the risk by only feeding human-grade meat to your dog, rather than pet meat, as the bacterial load and <a href="https://kb.rspca.org.au/what-should-i-feed-my-dog_263.html">presence of other contaminants</a> should be minimal. </p>
<p>Dogs require balanced diets with vitamins and minerals in certain ratios to avoid sickness, so all homemade diets <a href="http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/07/should-you-make-your-own-pet-food-at-home/">should only be fed under the guidance of a veterinarian</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/261989/original/file-20190304-92283-auokum.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/261989/original/file-20190304-92283-auokum.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/261989/original/file-20190304-92283-auokum.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/261989/original/file-20190304-92283-auokum.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/261989/original/file-20190304-92283-auokum.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/261989/original/file-20190304-92283-auokum.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/261989/original/file-20190304-92283-auokum.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/261989/original/file-20190304-92283-auokum.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Your dog needs a balanced diet.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Bronwyn Orr</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/112860/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Bronwyn Orr is a member of the Australian Veterinary Association. </span></em></p>Raw meat dog food products are growing in popularity. But a new study warns of the risks of bacterial contamination not only to your pet but also to yourself or others in your house.Bronwyn Orr, Veterinarian and PhD candidate, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1086702019-01-07T01:20:29Z2019-01-07T01:20:29ZCurious Kids: is it true dogs don’t like to travel?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/250146/original/file-20181211-76962-1lzcmcu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=1%2C1%2C995%2C508&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Some dogs may associate car travel with trips to the beach or park – while others only remember trips to the vet.
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/waferboard/6069666166/in/photolist-afmChE-6EEmPy-5YnPK7-u4CgNZ-8HfnL-97R93A-Jzexs7-22DYqPY-81EsMc-roCJtM-81JAH3-HYt1Pp-urYyR-bWK6bU-25dsFZ3-8m6hzD-YLvHeu-74PmEV-6JTZdX-9iZQii-awBHTR-awGUJR-v4vsc-8AGyag-25AL9Xb-cm3kf3-shUgi-8AGxdT-ZwW5wB-8AKGk3-djkdtN-8TJumD-8AGq2T-7P7a3n-JJscJa-awKDXN-fmSgbs-74TbZY-pU3QMS-awH3SV-8XkhBk-26gHMZp-8AGBYp-8AKsFb-8AKqtW-nzoaFo-FcitwE-8AGr3R-27yqHQc-83zxqq">Linda Colquhoun/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/curious-kids-36782">Curious Kids</a> is a series for children. Send your question to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au. You might also like the podcast <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/kidslisten/imagine-this/">Imagine This</a>, a co-production between ABC KIDS listen and The Conversation, based on Curious Kids.</em> </p>
<hr>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Hello. My dad says that dogs don’t like to travel. Is that true? - Ankush, India.</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Hi Ankush. Thanks for the question. The answer depends a bit on the dog and what you mean by travel. </p>
<p>Most dogs don’t like to travel, and those that do have usually had to learn to like it. </p>
<p>In the wild, being too adventurous could get a dog killed, so dogs may have mostly evolved to be cautious and remain close to what is familiar. That said, dogs may see some kinds of travel as a chance to find things they want – like food or a mate.</p>
<h2>Home sweet home</h2>
<p>It’s normal for dogs to value the territory they know well, where they know they can find food, water and shelter easily.</p>
<p>It is also home to the thing most precious to them: their social group. That is, the other dogs or humans they know and like. Yes, dogs probably see the humans they live with as their social group.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/251426/original/file-20181219-27764-wy3gy0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/251426/original/file-20181219-27764-wy3gy0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/251426/original/file-20181219-27764-wy3gy0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=429&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251426/original/file-20181219-27764-wy3gy0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=429&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251426/original/file-20181219-27764-wy3gy0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=429&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251426/original/file-20181219-27764-wy3gy0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=539&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251426/original/file-20181219-27764-wy3gy0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=539&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251426/original/file-20181219-27764-wy3gy0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=539&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Many dogs are happiest in their home range.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/anjibarton/5654158870/in/photolist-9BD3rL-WEZQdd-rbmBNk-ipBjBE-pAEq3B-5pVxw9-5pVwjf-4UjX9x-6SdeZn-4UpbfY-scdxv-3StxS2-3Sxq61-4UjXKr-5pVsxd-24wfZes-dayY57-sRg6V-XpP33N-4dgrp-5pRdqa-6c3BPi-8fqJ9Q-5pVuws-8kZn6H-b5iotk-4PpJJr-8Nh2tc-8kZiaM-VjSncS-fnm9me-7Bf8Ew-8kZk4D-8m3tXC-eh1VPV-rmaMBj-8jXueE-5rct7R-buBnV6-4139ZC-bkpCw4-9KNHSR-4UpcnY-5fHStj-qsUhJ8-sm4uLD-B9qXL-qVZRi2-pSJcC-qqNkgf">Flickr/anji barton</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Most dogs have what scientists call a “home range”. That’s the area in which they feel comfortable. At the core of the home range is its den (for example, your dog may see your home and garden as its den). Beyond that core, there’s what we call the periphery – that might be the neighbour’s front yard, the park down the road, and your street. </p>
<p>Dogs can recognise their home range by its smell. Have you ever noticed a dog weeing on trees and lamp-posts or scraping his hind-paws against the ground? That’s how dogs mark their territory with their own scent. </p>
<p>Many humans love to travel, but for dogs, travelling too far from home comes with risks. Dogs that wander into another’s territory might be outnumbered by other dogs, or overpowered by a stronger individual. Or they may return to their home range only to discover that the social group changed while they were away and they no longer fit in as well as they used to.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-dont-dogs-live-as-long-as-humans-93374">Curious Kids: Why don't dogs live as long as humans?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Travelling with friends</h2>
<p>When we exercise dogs in unfamiliar areas, they may love the challenge of all those new places and smells to explore. Many dogs are clearly joyful as they explore all this with us, their social groups, but when alone their response may be very different.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/251424/original/file-20181219-27749-o4mw5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/251424/original/file-20181219-27749-o4mw5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/251424/original/file-20181219-27749-o4mw5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251424/original/file-20181219-27749-o4mw5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251424/original/file-20181219-27749-o4mw5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251424/original/file-20181219-27749-o4mw5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251424/original/file-20181219-27749-o4mw5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251424/original/file-20181219-27749-o4mw5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">For many dogs, a trip to the local park can be a fun and safe form of travel.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gabelippmann/37640072771/in/photolist-Zm8dgV-21HeJsf-ZTrWLH-Q2KPn7-ZE3YWy-27WYjRQ-2afq32S-25duvzc-MeQLJ3-2abhf95-JY2Qu9-Q7BvDs-Zt7cEt-Hac2qk-Qo5Pyw-24qdQdm-ZaXdG5-XVM8v6-21SAL1y-ZRnUkF-24AFtvL-YYvKXn-LFwQqt-DLoCqj-XvHiuB-25eiaA5-PLTQjm-28mh9gn-27N8Mrm-2b8dqhc-2cHepCj-29m6AiM-CHSDGX-BXYmc9-247pXCD-214C6BG-2bFMy5z-21iRgSi-Zb8NBE-28UkymD-Li9Ydu-ZzXuEh-293QuWW-22ViF9c-Zko3nM-23fzBVY-KRTEu3-24udGED-21YjRkZ-HoftSJ">Flickr/Gabe Lippmann</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For domestic dogs, exercise beyond the den (the house and garden) is exciting because it offers so many opportunities: to play, pee and poo in new places, to explore and eat food, to meet and greet new dogs, mark territory and find a mate. </p>
<p>So some dogs will take the chance to wander, if they really need to do any of those things.</p>
<h2>Car travel – a mixed blessing</h2>
<p>Many puppies and dogs who are not used to cars will get car-sick. But then again, cars can also be a way for dogs to encounter a cascade of odours, see new dogs, or score a stimulating walk in a new territory. Car rides can bring enormous joy to some dogs, once they get used to car travel.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/250145/original/file-20181211-76968-1rwxyag.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C613%2C409&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/250145/original/file-20181211-76968-1rwxyag.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C613%2C409&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/250145/original/file-20181211-76968-1rwxyag.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/250145/original/file-20181211-76968-1rwxyag.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/250145/original/file-20181211-76968-1rwxyag.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/250145/original/file-20181211-76968-1rwxyag.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/250145/original/file-20181211-76968-1rwxyag.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/250145/original/file-20181211-76968-1rwxyag.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">For some dogs, cars can be a way for them to encounter a cascade of odours, see new dogs or score a stimulating walk in a new territory.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/licol/10679530484/in/photolist-hgHokW-MyeK6P-ZhadxE-26xCx2n-272Wtzd-NvvPu6-Jk6fM2-27YN5tS-271LoAW-YmSqsn-272qXTb-26TUXkQ-2aPWbaL-KR5drW-Gnwjai-271Lnr1-BW6bgW-KR58kd-27UwvPs-NeEhbT-25B5zyU-JsxKTK-Z5zSKo-26WL1mQ-29jy8E1-29p1sLv-249nFjP-25vjxXx-2aZr9Kx-25bmcWj-289jL9Z-26QNX1m-KVW8FE-FMGyP2-Jst6Dg-HVFQSx-HGrJ5n-29w9oX9-28366AD-26WL2Ly-25hw2xN-27RNVHf-273Tryd-Ny1pmN-Hnxipm-LzSA1U-24g1VMg-LFsGK7-25hpVTd-JsxHat">Flickr/Linda Colquhoun</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For some dogs, hopping into the car is associated with a trip to the park or beach. For others, it reminds them too much of a trip to the vet where they may have had a scary experience, like having an injection. </p>
<p>Dogs learn to mistrust the smell of the vet’s waiting room and now some vets use <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159105002509">calming pheromones in their clinics</a>. Pheromones are special chemicals that can affect mood.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/251425/original/file-20181219-27746-xar6zu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/251425/original/file-20181219-27746-xar6zu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/251425/original/file-20181219-27746-xar6zu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251425/original/file-20181219-27746-xar6zu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251425/original/file-20181219-27746-xar6zu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251425/original/file-20181219-27746-xar6zu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251425/original/file-20181219-27746-xar6zu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/251425/original/file-20181219-27746-xar6zu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">At the end of the day, most dogs are happiest in places they know well.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/giuseppemilo/26573149515/in/photolist-Gubkyg-9xcR4M-4qftmR-4z9LEf-6fSZ81-4JGBNe-2WFtfo-CmPWpT-5AbKnK-DBdNcq-29gxW9X-hbz44h-mxLKoT-xoqeDv-6fNNqR-jKCxW-9uwpAy-KGAQ7r-6JqL6r-dBZa2R-5SLUQi-4AWKU9-8qiE2C-6bKaUK-6PuX17-YryT5C-SwLBWn-azTBfD-9b1rZn-Eg8N6N-36A9kP-dymC8v-Vyh79q-Hz2kf-ipBjBE-8KRLA-ogAivU-68GQjv-qFuT8W-2dzA4JD-qcJfbX-4spCEB-UkdJxf-7Tzy7C-5gYMTF-FGH1Wx-T2DhvT-TiLEkq-HwpLY-oVZHB2">Flickr/Giuseppe Milo</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>So, whether or not dogs like to travel might depend a lot on the individual dogs and their life experience. It may depend on whether travel reminds them of fun-filled trips or fear-filled ones. </p>
<p>Despite what some movies ask us to believe, very few dogs ever get the travel bug and want to explore the world. At the end of the day, they’re usually happiest at home.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-do-cats-and-dogs-lose-baby-teeth-like-people-do-98380">Curious Kids: Do cats and dogs lose baby teeth like people do?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
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<figure class="align-left ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/165749/original/image-20170419-32713-1kyojyz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/165749/original/image-20170419-32713-1kyojyz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=376&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/165749/original/image-20170419-32713-1kyojyz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=376&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/165749/original/image-20170419-32713-1kyojyz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=376&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/165749/original/image-20170419-32713-1kyojyz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/165749/original/image-20170419-32713-1kyojyz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/165749/original/image-20170419-32713-1kyojyz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<p><em>Please tell us your name, age and which city you live in. You can send an audio recording of your question too, if you want. Send as many questions as you like! We won’t be able to answer every question but we will do our best.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/108670/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Paul McGreevy has received funding from the Australian Research Council and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. He is an Honorary Fellow of the International Society for Equitation Science and a life member of the RSPCA NSW. He is the co-author of "Making Dogs Happy".</span></em></p>Travel can come with danger, so dogs have mostly evolved to avoid being over-adventurous. That said, dogs may see some kinds of travel as a chance to find things they want – like food or a mate.Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1003072018-07-24T10:27:19Z2018-07-24T10:27:19ZLending a helping paw: Dogs will aid their crying human<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/228874/original/file-20180723-189335-ay9ify.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=238%2C69%2C3335%2C2514&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">I'll try to be there for you 100 percent.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mshades/4466161507">Chris Gladis</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>From <a href="http://www.museum.tv/eotv/lassie.htm">Lassie</a> to <a href="https://www.history.com/news/the-sled-dog-relay-that-inspired-the-iditarod">Balto</a>, pop culture loves stories of a dog coming to a person’s rescue. Anecdotally, people experience their dogs coming to their aid every day, like when one of us found herself “trapped” by her children under a pile of pillows only to be “rescued” by her noble collie, Athos. </p>
<p>But is there any scientific evidence behind these sorts of tales?</p>
<p>Researchers know that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2014.10.006">dogs respond to human crying</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-012-0510-1">will approach people</a> – whether their owner or a total stranger – who show signs of distress. We decided to investigate whether dogs would go a step further than just approaching people: <a href="https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0332-3">Would they take action to help a person in need</a>?</p>
<h2>Dog/human partners come into the lab</h2>
<p>We recruited 34 pet dogs and therapy dogs – that is, those who visit people in hospitals and nursing homes – to take part in our study. Dogs included a variety of breeds and ages, from an elderly golden retriever therapy dog to an adolescent spaniel mix.</p>
<p>When they got to the lab, each owner filled out a survey about the dog’s training and behaviors while we attached a heart rate monitor to the dog’s chest to measure its stress responses.</p>
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<p>Next, we instructed the owner on how to behave during the experiment. Each owner sat in a chair behind a clear door that was magnetized shut – there as a barrier separating the dog from its owner – that the dog could easily push open. We assigned half the people to cry loudly and say “Help” in a distressed voice every 15 seconds. The other half of our volunteers we assigned to hum “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and say “Help” in a calm voice every 15 seconds. We ran the test until the dog opened the door or, if it didn’t, until five minutes elapsed. </p>
<p>Past research seemed to indicate that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7036.120.2.113">dogs would not help their human companions</a> in distress, but it’s possible that the tasks to demonstrate “help” were too difficult for a dog to understand. So we adapted this straightforward task from <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1210789">previous research</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-013-0692-1">in rats</a>. It seemed like dogs would be capable of nudging open a door to access their owners.</p>
<h2>Lassie, Timmy’s crying in the other room</h2>
<p>We expected to find that dogs would open the door more often if their owner was crying than if they were humming. Surprisingly, <a href="https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0332-3">that isn’t what we found</a>: About half the dogs opened the door, regardless of which condition they were in, which tells us that dogs in both conditions wanted to be near their owners.</p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/228688/original/file-20180721-142426-17gs72h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/228688/original/file-20180721-142426-17gs72h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/228688/original/file-20180721-142426-17gs72h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=680&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/228688/original/file-20180721-142426-17gs72h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=680&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/228688/original/file-20180721-142426-17gs72h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=680&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/228688/original/file-20180721-142426-17gs72h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=854&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/228688/original/file-20180721-142426-17gs72h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=854&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/228688/original/file-20180721-142426-17gs72h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=854&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">I’m on my way!</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Emily Sanford and Julia Meyers-Manor</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
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<p>When we looked at how quickly the dogs who opened the door did so, we found a stark difference: In the crying condition, dogs took an average of 23 seconds to open the door, while in the control condition, they took more than a minute and a half. The humans’ crying seemed to affect the dogs’ behaviors, taking just a quarter as long to push open the door and get to their human if they seemed distressed. We did not find any differences between therapy dogs and other pet dogs.</p>
<p>Other interesting results came when we looked into how the dogs were behaving in each condition. In the crying condition, we found the dogs that opened the door showed fewer signs of stress – and were reported by their owners to be less anxious – than dogs that did not open it. We also found that dogs that opened the door more quickly were less stressed than dogs that took longer to open it.</p>
<p>In contrast, dogs in the humming condition showed a slight tendency to open more quickly if they were reported to be more anxious. This may mean that dogs who opened in the humming condition were seeking their owners for their own comfort. </p>
<h2>Helping requires more than just empathy</h2>
<p>Because both humans and animals tend to be more empathetic toward individuals with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.73.3.481">whom they are more familiar or close</a>, we thought that the strength of a dog’s bond with its owner might explain some of the differences we saw in dogs’ empathetic responses.</p>
<p>As soon as the test was over, we let the dog and owner reunite and cuddle for a few minutes to make sure everyone was calm before the next part of the experiment. Next, we turned to a test called the Impossible Task to learn a bit more about each <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7036.119.2.179">dog’s emotional bond</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/089279397787000987">with its person</a>.</p>
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<span class="caption">Hey, a little help down here for your furry friend?</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Julia Meyers-Manor and Emily Sanford</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
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<p>In this task, the dog learns to tip over a jar to get to a treat; then we lock the jar onto a board with a treat inside and record whether the dog gazes at its owner or a stranger. There have been <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-016-0958-5">some mixed results with this test</a>, but the idea is that a dog who spends more time looking at their owner during this task may have a stronger bond with their owner than a dog that doesn’t spend much time looking at their owner.</p>
<p>We found that dogs who opened the door in the crying condition did gaze at their owner more during the Impossible Task than non-openers. On the other hand, it was the dogs who didn’t open the door in the humming condition that gazed at their owners more than those who opened it. This suggests that openers in the crying condition and non-openers in the humming condition had the strongest relationships with their owners.</p>
<p>Taken together, we interpreted these results as evidence that dogs were behaving empathetically in response to their crying owners. To behave empathetically toward another individual, you must not only be aware of the distress of another person, but also suppress your own stress enough to help out. If you are overwhelmingly stressed, you might either be incapacitated or try to leave the situation entirely. This <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.29.4.655">pattern has been seen in children</a>, where the most empathetic kids are the ones who are skilled at <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.32.2.195">regulating their own emotional states enough to give help</a>.</p>
<p>It appears to be the case with these dogs as well. Dogs with weaker emotional bonds to their owners, and those that perceived their owners’ distress but were unable to suppress their own stress response, may have been too overwhelmed by the situation to provide any help. </p>
<p>While everyone hopes their dog would help them if they ever were in trouble, we found that many of the dogs did not. People involved in our experiment, particularly those with dogs that didn’t open the door, told us many stories of their dogs coming to their aid in the past. Our study suggests that in some cases if your dog doesn’t help you, it’s not a sign he doesn’t love you; Fido might just love you too much.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/100307/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Julia Meyers-Manor received funding from Association of Professional Dog Trainers for research on canine aggression. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Emily Sanford does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Many dog owners have tales of their faithful companion licking away their tears. Researchers investigated whether, beyond being comforting, canines would actually take action to help an upset owner.Julia Meyers-Manor, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Ripon CollegeEmily Sanford, PhD Student in Psychology and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.