Dog Science

[Spike]

It's important to learn how to read your dog's body language as well as the sounds he makes.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211110104528.htm

Common household noises may be stressing your dog.

Study shows people likely underestimate their dog’s anxiety. Researchers have found that common household noises may be making dogs anxious. Owners may be underestimating their dog's stress.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have found that people may not recognize that their dog is stressed when exposed to common household noises. While it's well-established that sudden loud noises, such as fireworks or thunderstorms, commonly trigger a dog's anxiety, a new study finds even common noises, such as a vacuum or microwave can be a trigger. The study was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

The research found that high-frequency, intermittent noises such as the battery warning of a smoke detector are more likely to cause a dog anxiety, rather than low-frequency, continuous noise.

"We know that there are a lot of dogs that have noise sensitivities, but we underestimate their fearfulness to noise we consider normal because many dog owners can't read body language," said lead author Emma Grigg, a research associate and lecturer at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Signs of anxiety

Some common signs of a dog's anxiety include cringing, trembling, or retreating, but owners may be less able to identify signs of fear or anxiety when behaviors are more subtle. For example, stressed dogs could pant, lick their lips, turn their head away or even stiffen their body. Sometimes their ears will turn back, and their head will lower below their shoulders. Grigg suggests owners better educate themselves on anxiety-related behavior.

Researchers conducted a survey of 386 dog owners about their dogs' responses to household sounds and examined recorded dog behaviors and human reactions from 62 videos available online. The study found that owners not only underestimated their dogs' fearfulness, but the majority of people in videos responded with amusement rather than concern over their dog's welfare.

"There is a mismatch between owners' perceptions of the fearfulness and the amount of fearful behavior actually present. Some react with amusement rather than concern," Grigg said. "We hope this study gets people to think about the sources of sound that might be causing their dog stress, so they can take steps to minimize their dog's exposure to it."

Some sounds painful for dogs

Grigg said because dogs have a wider range of hearing, some noises could also be potentially painful to a dog's ears, such as very loud or high-frequency sounds. She said minimizing exposure may be as simple as changing batteries more frequently in smoke detectors or removing a dog from a room where loud noises might occur.

"Dogs use body language much more than vocalizing and we need to be aware of that," said Grigg. "We feed them, house them, love them and we have a caretaker obligation to respond better to their anxiety."

[Spike]

Domestication has not made dogs cooperate more with each other compared to wolves

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171017110121.htm

Following domestication, dogs should be more tolerant and cooperative with conspecifics and humans compared to wolves. But looking at both in more naturalistic living conditions, however, speaks for more cooperative behavior of wolves. Researchers now show that the wild ancestors are excelling their domesticated relatives in teamwork. In an experimental approach dogs but not wolves failed to cooperatively pull the two ends of a rope to obtain a piece of food.

[Spike]

Dogs tell the difference between intentional and unintentional action

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210901090047.htm

Over our long shared history, dogs have developed a range of skills for bonding with human beings. Their ability to make sense of human actions, demonstrated by every "sit," "lay down," and "roll over," is just one such skill. But whether dogs understand human intentions, or merely respond to outcomes, remains unclear. The ability to recognize another's intentions -- or at least conceive of them -- is a basic component of Theory of Mind, the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others, long regarded as uniquely human. Do dogs have this basic component of Theory of Mind, the ability to tell the difference between something done on purpose and something done by accident?

A study compared dogs' spontaneous reactions to intentional and unintentional human behavior and found that dogs reacted differently depending on the condition.

[Spike]

Wolves Are Smart, but Dogs Look Back

blogs.scientificamerican.com/thoughtful-animal/wolves-are-smart-but-dogs-look-back/

Dogs are pretty smart. They can have huge vocabularies, they can infer meaning in the growls of other dogs, and they can effortlessly figure out if other dogs want to play or fight with them. But their intelligence might be limited to the social domain; indeed, while they outperform chimpanzees in social tasks, chimpanzees outperform them in many other tasks. And they might have developed their impressive social skills as merely an accident of natural and artificial selection.

Previous research has shown that dogs can use lots of different forms of human communicative signals to find food, and they can also inform humans of the location of hidden food, by looking back and forth between that human and a second location. But what is it about dogs that allows them to comprehend and invoke human social communication?

[Spike]

Your Dog Is Probably Dumber Than a Wolf, And Here's Why

www.sciencealert.com/your-dog-is-dumber-than-a-wolf-and-it-s-probably-because-it-lives-with-you

Wolves have an understanding of cause-and-effect that domesticated dogs do not - and they're just as good as dogs at following directions given by a human.

This difference in cognition may have something to do with the domestication process, according to researchers from the Wolf Science Centre at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna.

There are several ways of gauging animal intelligence, and a common one is tests for comprehension of cause and effect.

Crows, for instance, known to be highly intelligent, have demonstrated that they understand this concept very well, dropping stones in a tube of water to float a treat to the top, where they can reach it.

Some parrots do as well, able to comprehend that pulling on a string in a specially devised test delivers them a food treat.

Cats can understand cause and effect, but apparently only in certain circumstances. And dogs can be trained by humans that certain behaviours will result in a certain outcome, but apparently they're not as good at figuring it out on their own.

To see how well dogs and wolves could reason, the research team tested 14 dogs living in a pack and 12 human-socialised wolves. They also conducted the test on an additional 12 dogs living as pets.

"Our study is unique as it does not only compare dogs and wolves living under identical conditions, with a same history and training regime, we also compared dogs living in packs to pets living with their human families," said animal psychologist Juliane Bräuer from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany.

This means the study was able to determine if the different living conditions play a role in dogs' causal understanding.

The test involved pairs of containers. One had a food reward inside, the other was empty. The animals were shown three sets of cues to determine which container had the food.

The first was a communication cue, in which the human made direct eye contact with the animal while pointing to the correct container.

The second was a behavioural cue, in which the human pointed at or sniffed the correct container, but didn't make eye contact.

The third was a causal cue, where, in the absence of a human, the correct container made a noise when moved.

The wolves and both sets of dogs were able to correctly choose the food container when given communication cues. With the behavioural cues, all animals failed the test.

But in the last test, the causal cues, there was a clear difference. The wolves could find the food, and the dogs had a much harder time, both pet and pack.

"The results of our study suggest that domestication has affected the causal understanding of our dogs," said biologist Michelle Lampe from Radboud University in the Netherlands.

But, she added, that doesn't necessarily mean wolves are inherently more intelligent than dogs.

"It cannot be excluded ... that the differences can be explained by the fact that wolves are more persistent to explore objects than dogs. Dogs are conditioned to receive food from us, whereas wolves have to find food themselves in nature."

But there is something else that's interesting to note - that wolves were just as good as dogs at understanding communication cues from humans. This may provide some insight into how domestication originally came about.

As Bräuer notes, "The wolves' ability to understand human communicative cues after being socialised with humans may have made it possible to become domesticated."

The research has been published in the journal Scientific Reports.

[Spike]

Dogs can differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar human languages

www.livescience.com/dogs-differentiate-human-languages

They are the first non-human animals to be able to tell the difference between human languages. If you were to move to a new country with a different language and bring along the family dog, your pet would likely have a hard time understanding commands from the locals, according to a new study looking at how dogs' brains react to different languages.

MRI scans revealed that dogs' brains can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar languages, making them the first-known, and so far only, non-human animals to be able to tell the difference between human languages.

The new study, which was published online Dec. 12, 2021, in the journal NeuroImage, was conceived by lead author Laura Cuaya, a neurobiologist at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, who recently moved from Mexico to Budapest alongside her dog Kun-kun.

"We noticed that the people in Budapest were very friendly with dogs and often approached Kun-kun and talked to him," Cuaya told Live Science. "Kun-kun usually pays a lot of attention to people, so I wondered whether he noticed that people in Budapest speak a different language."

Cuaya and her team trained 18 dogs, including Kun-kun, to lie motionless in an MRI machine so the researchers could scan their brains. As the dogs were being scanned, the researchers played the canines three different recordings: a Spanish reading from the famous children's book "The Little Prince;" a Hungarian reading from the same book; and a series of human noises that did not resemble speech at all. All of the dogs had been exposed to only one of the two languages, meaning one was familiar to them and the other was unfamiliar.

The brain scans suggested that not only were the dogs able to clearly distinguish between speech and non-speech, but they also reacted differently to familiar and unfamiliar languages, according to a statement by the researchers.

The researchers suspect that the the primary auditory cortex and secondary auditory cortex in dogs' brains (both located within the temporal cortex that sits at about ear level in the skull) allow dogs to process speech in two steps, known as "hierarchy processing," Cuaya said. "The primary auditory cortex detects whether a sound is speech or not," she said. "Then, the secondary auditory cortex differentiates between a familiar and an unfamiliar language."

During the experiments, researchers also found that older dogs showed more activity in the secondary auditory cortex of the brain, suggesting they were better at differentiating familiar and unfamiliar languages than younger dogs. "I think that the main reason [that older dogs are better at differentiating languages] is the amount of exposure to the language," Cuaya said. "Older dogs have had more opportunities to listen to humans while they talk."

The researchers suspect that dogs are not the only animals capable of telling the difference between human languages. "The brain is extremely good at picking up patterns, and each language has a series of sounds and patterns that makes them different from each other," Cuaya said. "After some training, the brain of many animals should be able to recognize these patterns."

However, what makes dogs unique is that they do not need to be trained to distinguish between human languages. "Their brains detected the difference spontaneously, perhaps due to the domestication process," Cuaya said. "While it is possible that many species can distinguish between human languages, dogs are one of the few that are interested in hearing us."

Previous research has shown that dogs can even tell when people are lying to them, Live Science previously reported. Cuaya was "a little surprised" by the study's findings, but she also thinks that many people underestimate how sharp our canine friends can be.

"My experience with dogs has shown me that they are constantly paying attention to their social world and everything that happens around them," Cuaya said. "I think dogs know more about us than we imagine."

[Spike]

The Hidden Meaning Behind Your Dog’s Behaviors

www.heraldweekly.com/meaning-behind-your-dogs-behaviors/21?xcmg=1

We know a lot about how dogs experience the world through their body language. Dogs exhibit a variety of demeanors and actions that allow us to have a better understanding of how they are feeling and what they need. In this way, caregivers are better able to build positive relationships with their dogs, one that is based on trust and understanding.

Do you know the real reason why your dog wants to show you their toy or why their tongue hangs out to the side? Check out the following common dog behaviors so that you can better understand your dog and become a better companion and caregiver for it.

1: Long Legs - When your dog gets up on his hind legs, it can have a number of meanings. One of these is a sign of affection. Like humans, sometimes they just want to hug you. But, if they get up on their hind legs while interacting with other dogs it can be a sign that they’re feeling playful. If they aren’t growling or acting aggressively, then this is just their way of playing.

2: Chewing on the Furniture Doesn't Mean They're Hungry - Just like growing children, puppies will want to chew on toys and other objects in order to relieve the pain of growing teeth. But, if your pet is always chewing the furniture and they aren’t a puppy anymore, this could be a sign of something else. It can be a sign that they aren’t getting enough physical activity and need a way to get their energy out.
You can start by getting them out of the house for a walk. While this won’t solve everything, it’s a good starting point. You can usually tell when your dog isn’t getting enough exercise and this is one telltale sign.

3: Why Dogs Bark - Barking has several purposes and it depends on the situation, how the dog barks, and what's in their environment. If a dog is barking loud and frequently, it could indicate a degree of urgency. They may be sensing danger approaching and are trying to let you know.
If a dog is barking short and soft barks, they might want you to play with them. If a dog barks loudly then it could be a sign that they’re in pain.

4: Not Always Fetch Time - There are several theories as to why your dog sometimes brings you a toy. One of them says that they think of you as their alpha and they want to gain your respect. Another theory says that it’s your dog’s way of showing his trust in you, by bringing you its most prized possession.
It can also mean that are happy to see you. In this case, throwing the object away can hurt the dog's feelings. So the next time your dog brings you a toy, try holding on to it to see if it makes your dog happy.

5: Yawning Doesn’t Only Express Exhaustion - While humans yawn only when they feel tired or sometimes bored, it’s not the same way for dogs. One reason could be that they feel safe around you and trust you. In nature, animals yawn as a sign of submission. When your dog yawns 15 times, you can be sure that they’re very relaxed. But, yawning also may indicate anticipation or stress.
When your dog is waiting in the vet’s office, he may yawn repeatedly as a way to deal with nervousness. Dogs may also yawn before going on a walk, as a way to control their enthusiasm.

6: Wiggling Like a Caterpillar - If you think your dog looks happy when it gets into a good wiggle, kicking its legs up in the air while wiggling around on its back, well you're right! At least, most of the time. Sometimes your dog might be excessively wiggling as if to reach an itch or another irritation. Or sometimes, this might be their way to get your attention. Why not stop what you're doing for a few minutes and give them attention?

7: Looking at You Before You Leave - One thing that makes owners particularly sad when they leave is the look on their dog’s face as they walk out. Oftentimes, the dog will have a calm look on its face. Dog owners, don’t be mistaken, their calmness isn’t a sign of sadness. It shows that while they’re sad you’re leaving, they know you will be back. You have gained their trust and they are calm because they know they can count on you to return later on.

8: Why Your Dog Paces Back and Forth - If your dog paces back and forth, this can be for a number of reasons. Your dog may be bored, nervous, or excited. Like humans, they also pace around the room. If your dog is pacing around you in circles, it can be a sign that they want to play with you. They want to know whether you are open to playing.
When two dogs meet, it’s common that they will chase each other. This isn’t something threatening or something to fear, it’s just their way of playing.

9: Pointing Its Snout - When a dog freezes up and points its snout toward something specific, this is called pointing. They might also lift one of their front paws while doing this. Dogs bred for hunting do this often, but also every dog does it at times.
Veterinarian Dr. Ellen Vindell told Vet Street, “dogs are just dogs, and there are certain behaviors that probably any dog that’s a dog can do…. You’ll see a sporting dog who circles like a herding dog, and you’ll get some herding dogs who point.”

10: Yawning Can Be a Sign Of Discomfort - While yawning can be a sign that your dog feels comfortable, it can also express something completely different. If your dog is yawning a lot in public, it’s not a sign that they’re tired and ready for their afternoon nap. It can actually express that they feel uncomfortable and anxious.
If you’re in an unfamiliar place and you notice your dog doing this, stay aware of this so that you can be there to comfort your dog and give it some love.

[Spike]

11: Tilting Their Head to the Side - A lot of people speak to their dogs in a higher pitch. When you’re talking to your dog in your “doggie” voice they sometimes tilt their head to the side as if to understand what you’re saying. Dogs are very good at reading and responding to your body language and vocal cues.
They’re capable of recognizing different words so it’s possible that they are listening for words and inflections they associate with fun activities like a treat, walk, or outside. Some experts believe that dogs tilt their heads to the side in order to adjust their outer ears to better pinpoint the noise.

12: Sniffing the Air - Dogs use their noses for several purposes. In fact, dogs have 220 million olfactory receptors while humans have only 5 million. Dogs are dominated by their noses and can smell at least 1,000 times better than humans. When they are sniffing the air, it could be a sign that they sense danger approaching or that they’re trying to track prey.
During this, they will remain completely still. They stay absolutely silent so that their prey won’t see them. Dogs are able to smell the difference between individuals — both dogs and people. They can smell the difference between family members, even identical twins!

13: Flipping Their Tongues Up Means They're Sorry - When a dog feels like they’ve done something wrong, it’ll stick its tongue out and flip it up as a way of apologizing. They know that they did something wrong and are apologetic.
When they do this, they may also try and put on an innocent face because they know that their owners are suckers for their cute faces. They’ll do this even when they do something like peeing on the floor.

14: Stretching - Unlike humans, dogs don’t only stretch after waking up from a nap or in order to stretch out their muscles. Rather, stretching can also symbolize affection and love for somebody. When you come home and your dog is stretching, that doesn’t mean that they were sleeping. They are showing you that they’re excited to see you so give them some love and affection in return.

15: Exposing Their Belly Is a Sign of Respect - When a dog exposes its belly to you, it shows that it respects you and is being submissive. It might also be a sign that he wants to play with you. You can encourage them to continue this behavior by rubbing their belly.
If you do rub their belly, then they’ll want to continue this behavior as they’ve learned that you are going to give them a nice massage every time they do this. But, a dog can also roll on its back when they’re being attacked by another animal.

16: Tucking Their Tail - When your dog is in distress, it may tuck its tail between its legs. Dogs do this when they are feeling uncertain, nervous, scared, guilty, or ashamed. It's usually not a good sign.
If you observe your dog doing this, you should comfort it and make it feel safe. You can do this by using pets and a soft voice. Doggie treats can also do the trick.

17: Why a Dog Raises Its Paws - When your dog raises their paws, it can mean that they want something from you or they want to play. Mostly puppies and younger dogs exhibit this behavior. When a puppy wants to eat, it will raise its paws to touch its mother. If your puppy does that to you, it can mean that they want some love and affection from you.

18: Their Tails Say as Much as Their Eyes - You probably know this by now, but when a dog wags its tails, it’s a sign of extreme happiness and excitement. But if they hang their tail down while wagging it, it can be a show of submissiveness.
It can also be a sign that they are confused, sad, or unwell. When they wag their tail high it can show that they’re ready to play and are very alert. Their tail says almost as much as their eyes do.

19: Dragging Its Bum - If you've seen your dog dragging its bum across the floor, you might think it looks pretty funny. But actually, this is a cause for concern. This behavior is known as scooting and is usually because your dog has an impacted anal sac that they are trying to release. Some breeds are impacted by this more than others.
It is very uncomfortable for the dog when it happens and you should get your dog to the vet ASAP so that they can drain the organ.

20: Why Your Dog Lays on Your Feet - Dogs love laying right on their owners’ feet whether you are sitting at dinner or watching television on the couch. This sweet sign shows your dog’s loyalty and desire to protect you. They want to be as close to you as possible. And if you try and get up, they won’t have a problem with letting you move.
This behavior is another one that has been passed down from their ancestors. Dogs love to sleep with their pack. If you are a good and trusting caregiver, then the dog will consider you as their family. They also consider you the leader of their pack.

[Spike]

21: Lean on Me - Does your dog ever lean on you when you’re hanging around? While you may not even notice that they are leaning some of their body weight against you, this is a sign that they’re hugging you. It’s not that they’re lazy and can’t stand up on their own but it’s their way of connecting with you.
Next time you notice your dog doing this, don’t nudge them off of you. This can be hurtful. Instead, you should allow them to express their affection for you.

22: Why They Tackle You to the Floor - Does your dog tackle you to the floor right when you walk through the door? This isn’t their way of annoying you or trying to get your attention. They are just so happy to see the person they love the most in the world.
They’ve been waiting around the house all day for you to get back from work and are so happy that you are finally home! Just like humans jump for joy or embrace each other with big hugs, dogs also jump for joy. Jumping in other situations may be a sign of something less joyous, like your dog trying to assert dominance over you.

23: Flicking Their Ears - When a dog flicks their ears, it means that they’re listening. This is actually what most animals do to listen. When they hear a sign which isn’t familiar to them and they’re trying to figure out what it is, this is how they react.
If you see your dog flicking their ears, let them figure out for a second what it is that they’re listening to. It’s also adorable for you to see your dog being so observant and inquisitive.

24: Licking Themselves - It’s a known fact that dogs, like most animals, lick themselves to clean their bodies. If your dog gets messy, there’s a good chance that it’ll lick himself clean.
But licking can also indicate pain. If a dog licks its legs and paws a lot, particularly near the joints (common in dogs with arthritis) you should check it out at the vet to make sure everything is okay.

25: Wrinkling Their Muzzle - Dogs have different ways of showing their varying moods. Of course, not all of them are positive. When a dog wrinkles their muzzle, it is most likely a sign of them being aggressive.
If they show their teeth and snarl, you should take this as a sign that you need to remove them from the situation they are in. These kinds of actions can mean that your dog is prepared to attack if they feel it’s necessary.

26: Playing Detective - Have you ever been on a walk with your dog when they suddenly stop dead in their tracks and put their foot up in the air? While you may think that they stepped on something and hurt themselves, this behavior is completely normal. What they are doing is actually trying to figure something out that caught their attention.
It’s a sign that their brains are working. While lifting their paw they might also start to sniff like crazy. So, you can just chalk this behavior up to your dog being Inspector Gadget.

27: Straightening Their Tail - When a dog sticks their tail straight in the air, it can be a show of confidence or excitement. Some dogs do this when they meet other animals or dogs. If their tail stays erect and is a little shaky, it is a sign that they expect a challenge.
When a dog feels happy, content, and loved, its tail is usually more leveled with its body. But if their tail is low or between their legs, it could mean that they feel insecure.

28: The Cute Side Tongue Means Something - When a dog has his tongue hanging out of his mouth on one side, it’s a sign that he feels calm and happy. You may often see your dog like this after going for a walk or playing fetch. But, if your dog has his tongue to the side more often than not, it can be a reason to worry.
This condition may be the “hanging tongue syndrome.” This is usually the case with breeds with flattened noses like boxers or bulldogs. If your dog is like this, get them to the vet.

29: Why Do Dogs Dig up the Yard? - No, he’s not just evil and trying to ruin the new flower bed you’ve planted. Digging for dogs is an instinctual activity written deep in their DNA, especially in terrier breeds. Dogs usually dig in the yard to hide or uncover their valuables, like toys or bones. Feral dogs may dig holes to uncover prey under the ground in tunnel systems.
They also bury their dead young much like humans. If you want your dog to stop this behavior then you’ll want to properly train them. Otherwise, they’ll continue this innate behavior.

30: The Reason for Biting - Being bit by a dog isn’t a pleasant experience. But actually, a bite can indicate affection and that the pup wants to play. When dogs play together there’s often a lot of biting involved. There is nothing aggressive about this behavior.
A dog will bite a person as a way of communicating their current state of mind. The dog could be reacting in aggression, fear, or nervousness. There are, however, ways to prevent a dog bite from ever happening if you stay in tune with the dog’s body language.

[Spike]

31: If They Sleep With You, They Love You - Does your four-legged friend prefer to sleep with you instead of their dog bed? For dogs, this behavior is one that has been passed down from their ancestors who slept together for warmth and security. Your dog wants to feel close to you, protected, and warm. It also is a sign that your dog adores you and wants to be close to you at night.
Your dog can also make you feel more loved and protected while you are sleeping, thus positively impacting your sleep.

32: Paw Five - You probably don’t appreciate being slapped by another human — most likely, that person is upset with you. If your dog slaps you with his paw, this isn’t exactly a sign that he’s angry with you. Actually, it can be his way of trying to get your attention.
However, a dog slapping another dog is a different story entirely. It is a sign of trust, that the dog trusts the other. It’s basically how humans pat each other on the back, which is a friendly or congratulatory gesture.

33: After Meal Cuddles - Does your dog come to cuddle you after eating? Just like sleeping in your bed at night, this could be another sign of their love for you. After a meal, just like many humans, dogs want to take a good nap. And, they want to be near their favorite person when they do it.
Actually, this is an intense way for canines to express their adoration of their favorite human, you! Just a tip, if your dog tends to do this, watch what you feed them. You don’t want any gas passing while they’re cuddling up against you.

34: Why Your Dog Pants - No, panting doesn’t mean that your dog is out of breath or about to have a heart attack. Actually, this is the way that dogs cool off when they’re overheating. Because they aren’t able to sweat like humans, this is their own way of lowering their body temperature.
If you see your dog panting, it’s a good time to give them water. Another reason for panting may be that your dog is trying to alleviate pain or stress. Most dogs pant on the reg, but it’s important to monitor this and make sure they have all their needs being met.

35: Eye Movements - In some aspects, dogs are very similar to humans in how they relay their emotions. Much like humans, they show a lot of their emotions in their eyes. When they’re sad or tired, they look down to the ground. When they’re excited, they open their eyes wide open and look around excitedly.
When they want something, they’ll look at you and perhaps raise their eyebrows as if they’re asking you a question. For a lot of dogs, you can tell how they’re feeling by looking at their eyes rather than at their tail.

36: Why Your Puppy Bows - A dog bows for several reasons. The way that they bow is by lowering their heads and keeping their body erect. Most of the time, it is a sign that they want to play. They might add in swinging hips or start wagging their tails in a wild and excited manner.
This is the most common sign your dog will give you when they want to play. Dog trainers call this the “play bow.”

37: Walking in Circles Before Lying Down - Sometimes your dog may walk in circles before they lay down. If you’re wondering why they do this, it actually is a habit that perhaps their wolf ancestors passed down to them. Wolves do this before they lay down in order to flatten leaves or debris that have made their resting spot uncomfortable.
While your dog probably doesn’t have any debris lying around their dog bed or kitchen floor, they seem to have retained this habit and it’s quite funny to watch them do it.

38: The Meaning of Howling - Some people may try to quiet their dogs when they howl but there’s a reason for your dog doing this. This is a dog’s way of yelling. Just like yelling is a way for humans to release any angry feelings they have inside, dogs do the same thing by howling.
Owners assume that dogs howl in order to assert their dominance but in reality, they are doing so because it feels good for them to do it.

39: Hugging With Their Eyes - If your dog gives you puppy eyes, then this is a really good sign. Most dog owners think that puppy eyes are a sign that their dog is trying to get their attention by being cute. But actually, puppy eyes are a show of their affection for you and their way of hugging you.
This adorable look of innocence is a sign that they adore you and are looking for you to hug or kiss them. If your dog looks straight into your eyes and stares at you, you should be very happy because it shows that your dog is crazy about you!

40: Yowling - While you may think your dog is trying to yodel, this may be your dog trying to communicate with you. In fact, many owners swear that their dogs can speak to them.
A writer for an animal journal comments about his dog's yowling: “Our German Shepherd rescue, the sweetest dog we have ever owned (unless you happen to be a cat), is 9. She ‘ talks ‘ about everything! Grumbles, over being denied a cat lunch, has 5-minute conversations over going out for a walk, exchanges pleasantries (you would swear) over how happy she is to see someone.”

[Spike]

41: Eating Poop - It's extremely disgusting, but it's not that uncommon. When a dog starts eating its own or other dogs' feces (also called coprophagia), it usually comes down to one of two things; either it is a behavior that can be corrected through training, or it is a sign of malnutrition.
The best thing to do is to take your dog to the vet if it starts doing this too often. If your vet rules out any nutrient deficiency or medical reason, then it's time to go to a trainer to help your dog break the habit.

42: Chasing Their Tail - Tail-chasing, in most cases, is simply a sign of playfulness, but keep an eye out if your dog starts doing this excessively. It might mean there's a health or behavioral issue behind it; for example, if your dog chews at his tail when he catches it, then he might have skin allergies or anal glands that need to be emptied at the vet.
If your dog starts chasing its tail all the time and in an obsessive manner, it may be a sign of OCD. Yes, this affects animals, too. You're better off checking with your vet, just to be on the safe side.

43: Licking People - When your pup licks you it's usually to say "I love you", or to seek out your attention. Also, you can taste pretty good; don't forget we have nutrients and minerals in our skin.
If the licking becomes too intense, training your dog to not do this can be done with basic training. The best way to go about this is to ignore your dog when it licks you and reward it with a treat when he stops. Oh and that myth about dogs' saliva being cleaner than humans'? Just a myth.

44: When Dogs Hump - Humping is a very common and natural behavior in dogs. And contrary to what most people may think, it is not always sexual in nature, or a dominance thing, for that matter. Dogs can hump other dogs, objects, or people, and it's usually a playful activity for them.
Unless the other dog is bothered by the humping, there's really no harm in them doing this. Objects, not really a problem unless it bothers the owner, and if the humping is with people, then you might want to break the habit for other peoples' sake.

45: Sniffing Other Dogs' Butts - You've surely heard the line, "Can you imagine if people greeted each other like that?", amongst your dog-owning friends when referring to dogs' butt-sniffing. Well, there's obviously a reason behind this; since a dog's sense of smell is at least 10,000 better than a human's, they use their nose to learn about the world around them.
Dogs learn about each other by sniffing each others' butts; they can learn about the other dog's gender, reproductive status, temperament, diet, and more.

46: Dog Squinting or Blinking - Surely, you've been emotionally manipulated or just brought to a puddle of "awww" from the cuteness of seeing your dog with that slight squint, looking straight at you. When your dog squints or blinks, it usually means he's looking to get your attention in order to spend some quality time with you.
If your dog starts doing this often, maybe you're spending too much time apart and you need to make some more time for your fluffy friend.

47: Open Mouth, Relaxed Tail, and High Ears - Many people wonder when is the best time to approach a dog. Well, when you see one with an open mouth, a relaxed tail, and ears pointing straight up, that's when. When a dog is like this, it means they are in a neutral and relaxed state and they feel safe in their current environment. So if you want to get some cuddles in, this might be a good time!

48: Straight Tail and Ears Forward - You've probably seen your dog like this many times; with his tail straight and his ears pointing forward. Just like you would assume, the ears are forward because they're trying to get a better listen to what's going on.
This behavior means something's got your dog's attention; they're curious about something and are ready to go investigate. There is a new noise or smell in the environment that fascinates them.

49: Dead Dog Pose - The internet has been flooded bu cute and funny pictures of people's dogs in the 'dead bug' pose. You know, when your dog basically looks like a dead bug, with its limbs sticking up in the air. But unlike a dead bug, your dog probably has a relaxed face, almost with a content little smirk.
This is because when a dog is lying in this position, it means it is submissive and vulnerable and feels safe in its environment. Not all dogs can sleep like this, so when they do it usually means they are a bit more laid back and independent in character.

50: Sleeping on Their Side - Many dogs sleep on their sides when taking a nap, but they don't usually stay in this position for long, not for an entire night's sleep, at least. This is because lying on their side means that, in case of a sudden threat, it will take them longer to stand up and get in a defense position.
So, if your dog sleeps like this or even naps like this, it most likely means they are a very happy and carefree dog, with complete trust in its 'pack'.

[Spike]

51: The 'Superman' Pose - This is one of the cutest poses a dog can be in; the superman pose. Surely your dog has sometimes come back from a long walk or a run or some very energetic playtime with other dog buddies and has completely crashed, lying on its belly, limbs sprawled out on the floor. This basically means that your dog has finally reached the point of exhaustion.
Puppies do this a lot since it makes it easier for them to quickly pop back up into a standing position and go back to playing for another 10 hours!

52: The 'Passed Out' Pose - As opposed to the 'dead bug' pose, there is also another position that looks like your dog is passed out. But unlike the dead bug position, which means your dog is comfortable and in cloud nine, this pose may mean your dog is overheating and is quickly trying to cool off.
So, how do you recognize this pose? If a dog's paws are swung across its chest, it's better to just leave them alone and let them get their rest! They'll find a way to cool off alone!

53: The Belly Curl - This pose might look adorably cute, but it actually means that your dog is not getting a good night's sleep when it lies like this. We call this "the belly curl".
The belly curl is when your dog sleeps on its belly with its paws underneath or out to the sides, and dogs can't reach REM sleep because their muscles aren't completely relaxed. Dogs with a more gentle and shy personality often sleep like this.

54: Curled Up Like a Fox - Another adorable position is when a dog completely curls up like a little fox. When your dog's paws are underneath its body and the tail is wrapped around, reaching their face, this usually means they're cold.
They assume this position because it helps them keep in as much body heat as possible. So if you see your dog sleeping like this at home, just throw a little blankie on them.

55: Dogs Sleeping Back to Back - We've domesticated dogs so much that we often forget where they came from, and the fact that they're 'pack' animals. We're reminded of this every time we see two dogs getting along or exhibiting 'pack' behaviors around each other. For example, when they sleep back to back.
Apart from being incredibly cute, this is something a dog will only do with another member of what they consider to be their 'pack', a dog they completely trust.

56: When Your Dog Brings You a Gift - Just like this adorable little french bulldog in the picture below, we're sure your dog has brought you shoes, gifts, and, in less desirable situations, a dead animal, once or twice at least. If your dog does this, take it as the utmost sign of respect and reverence - they're actually trying to make you happy by gifting you something! How cute is that?!
Now you know, next time your dog struts proudly into the room with a dead animal in its mouth, just try and hide the grossed-out face and smile. Unless, of course, it's the neighbor's cat.

57: The Post-Bath Boost of Energy - Some dogs actually enjoy getting a bath, but it's definitely the exception to the rule. Usually, dogs can't wait to get out of the bath! When your dog starts running like a mad animal after getting a bath, this obviously means they're not too fond of it.
Dogs will also do this because being wet is an uncomfortable sensation to them, and they just want to dry off as quickly as possible and get their 'smell' back.

58: When Your Dog Stays By Your Side - If you've ever owned a dog (or had kids), it's safe to say you know the term 'invasion of privacy' all too well. But just remember, whenever you get annoyed because your dog is invading your personal space, like following you to the toilet and just standing there, it just means they want to be close to you.
Dogs are pack animals, and pack animals like to stay close to their pack!

59: When Your Dog Shows Empathy - Whenever you see your dog showing empathy, it means exactly that: they feel empathetic. Dogs can sense when there are 'strange' feelings in the air, especially when those feelings are anger or sadness. And when your dog senses you're upset, they most likely will want to comfort you in any way they can.
If you're feeling down and your dog is next to you, looking at you, licking you, or just kindly resting his head or his paw on you, they are just simply letting you know that they are there for you.

60: Dogs Eating Grass - Eating grass is a pretty common behavior in dogs. Unfortunately, this usually means that their diet is lacking a specific nutrient, or they are simply trying to digest their food better (grass helps with this since it is basically fiber).
Also, it may be a sign of intestinal worms. Or, it may just mean it's hot outside and they're trying to stay hydrated by drinking any remaining water on the grass. In any case, if your dog starts doing this too often, it might be good to go for a vet check-up.

[Spike]

61: The Puppy Dog Eyes - When your dog is still a puppy, it's not much different than when your teenager is still a baby or toddler. The eyes say it all. Those great big puppy eyes manage to melt our hearts. What does that expression mean? Not much apparently.
Just like when your baby or toddler stares at you. When you leave the house in the morning, on most occasions, your dog will be calm. They know the routine. It is now time to leave, but they know that you will return.

62: Raising Their Paws - When your dog (usually happens with young puppies) raises its paw, don't ignore it. They are trying to ask for something. They either want to play or are just seeking your attention. If it's not the right time for you for doggy play, tell it to your dog.
That fraction of attention can sometimes do the job (Amazing how these animals are like our kids). If an adult dog does this, it will usually place its paw on your lap, and this will mean he is hungry, or the water bowl is empty.

63: Bad Breath - Dogs aren't known for the fragrance of roses trailing out of their mouth, however, if your dog's breath suddenly starts to smell worst then usually — do not ignore this. Bad breath can indicate a medical situation that must be treated. One of its internal organs (liver kidneys) might need care.
Dog's breath could also smell sweet, which might indicate that there is a sugar level issue, such as diabetes. Anyway, if the breath of your dog doesn't stink in a usual way, it's time to visit the vet.

64: Head Pressing - Have you ever seen your dog pressing its head against the wall? Have you ever seen your dog pushing a firm object? They are not goofing around and this needs your attention.
This behavior can indicate several conditions. It could be poisoning or a brain disease, and you must go see your vet as soon as possible. Timing is crucial here.

65: Urinating - Just like humans, all pets (especially dogs) want to live in a clean environment, so when your dog starts to urinate in your home, something is wrong. There is no reason for a dog to purposely empty its bladder if everything is ok.
Urinating around the house can be a sign of a problem with kidney function and when concerning older dogs, could be a sign of another medical condition that needs to be looked at.

66: Closing or Opening Mouth Slightly - A dog's mouth is usually open, calm, and relaxed. This indicates that the dog is happy and satisfied. But what happens what your dog's mouth is only slightly opened, looks tense and the dog overall seems uncomfortable?
If you monitor your dog and find its mouth slightly open (or slightly closed), the dog is likely to be stressed, frightened, or in pain.

67: Licking Lips: Unlike puppies, mature dogs don't just lick around. When dogs lick their lips, they usually do this to soothe or calm whoever is approaching them. If they feel threatened or have some sense of aggression, licking their lips will come in hand.
Occasionally, when a dog feels frustrated or confused, licking may come in hand too, as this would show appeasement of gestures.

68: Growling (And Soft Growling) - Growling is usually what keeps us, humans, away from a dog. It frightens us and we feel threatened by it. A growling dog is a protective dog, therefor this justifies our behavior (and not only theirs). There is probably a reason for them to feel insecure.
A growling dog will usually become an aggressive dog and can be resulted in an attack. On the other hand, if your dog produces a soft growl, it could indicate, that it's in a playful mood.

69: Whining and Whining - If you're a parent of a baby or young child, you are familiar with the sound of whining. A whining dog is usually an uncomfortable dog, or, it's trying to show that it's in pain. But pay attention!
A whining dog can be just a dog seeking attention. So be careful with your observation. Just like kids. You have to identify when the whine is for real.

70: Ears Say It All - In a dog's world, the ears say it all. These next "ear rules" will help you understand what your dog is going through and assure they are treated accordingly. Ears forward and up are a happy and curious dog.
Maybe it wants to play or chase someone? Flat and close to the head ears indicate that the dog is scared or unsecured. Ears that are not flat on the head but are apart, the dog is probably sad or bothered by something.

[Spike]

71: What Up With Genitals? - Dogs shouldn't like their genitals more than usual. What is usual? More than licking the rest of the body. Dogs lick the genitals to clean them, however, if you see your dog repeatedly hanging around down there, something is wrong.
A urinary tract infection is a condition that results in genital discharge. It can irritate and be the cause of the licking. This is possibly what your dog is suffering from.

72: Crouching - A dog can crouch, and if it crouches, it means something. Now crouching can indicate several things, and it will probably need some close monitoring to figure what is going on. It could mean your dog is nervous, insecure, frightened, or on its way to playing with another mate.
So, no matter what your dog is up to, and no matter what it's trying to say, when it crouches, it means something.

73: Car Chasing - If you ever wondered why your dog chases cars, carry on reading. Apparently, it's in their instinct. It's something they are born with. This behavior can be very dangerous as it can lead to car accidents, the dog getting hurt, or even you — the dog owner — getting hit by a car.
Propper professional training is the only solution here. It's a common issue with dogs all over, and if this concerns you, we suggest having it treated.

74: Lack of Appetite - Most healthy dogs can go for as long as two days without eating, however, if you notice your dog has not been eating properly or has completely lost its appetite, there is room for concern. Many health conditions can cause a lack of appetite such as dental disease.
Vaccination could also lead to losing an appetite and when a dog travels, it can take a while before its eating habits are back to normal. If more than a day or two have gone by and your dog is still not eating as it should, consult with your vet.

75: Food Protective - In the wild, dogs (originate from the wolf family) guard and protect their food for a purpose of surviving. It's in their blood. And when a dog guards its food, it should be trained, especially if there are young children or babies around. Do this when your dog is still a puppy.
Teach them (with professional guidance) that the food does not have to be guided, especially when children approach. The last thing you want is your dog growling at your baby or child if they accidentally touch the dog's bowl.

76: Compulsive Itching - Yes, your dog can itch but what happens when it's done compulsively? This behavior can be caused by several reasons. It could be an allergy (check fabric softener you used on the dog's blanket or sheet), mites, insect bites, skin infection, or a reaction to the recent dog shampoo you just bought.

77: Snoring - So, it's not only your better half that keeps you up with his/her snoring but also your dog can be blessed with this irritating behavior. When a dog snores, it's not only its owners that are kept awake but also itself.
When a dog snores, it repeatedly wakes up during the night (nothing to worry about, as it doesn't have an office to go to in the morning). Dogs are not supposed to snore, and if this happens often and loudly, consult with your vet.

*Note: boxers and most bulldogs snore.

78: Wanting to Go Out Constantly - Naturally, dogs want to be outside all the time, however, they get used to living indoors and understand that they go out whenever they are taken out. If your dog (that is used to going out three times a day), suddenly askes to be taken out all the time, it's probably the time of the month (not for your dog, but for the neighbor's female dog).
When a female dog is in heat, your male dog will smell it for miles. Remember: regardless of other dogs and their time of the month, dogs want to be outside as much as possible, so whenever you can take them out.

79: When Its Head Is Out of the Car Window... - If you have enough room in your car for your dog, this one is for you. It's all got to do with their amazing scenes of smell. When traveling in the car, we feel the fresh breeze blowing in our hair, but our dogs sense the smell in the air, ten times stronger than when still.
When a dog sticks its head out of the window, they are literally in euphoria. Their Brain, which is packed with sensors, gets overstimulated and the pressured air, blowing straight at their face, envelopes them with great highs.

[Spike]

www.livescience.com/38501-yellowstone-wolves-help-bears.html

Wolves in Yellowstone Help Grizzly Bears Fatten Up

The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park has an unexpected upside: It's helping to fatten up the bears, new research suggests.

The wolves have kept the park's population of elks (prey for wolves) in check, which in turn limits how many berry-producing shrubs the elks consume. As a result, the bears have more tasty berries to eat, finds a study published today (July 29) in the Journal of Animal Ecology.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

*Another way that wolves have been beneficial to the grizzly is the fact that wolves are far more successful hunters. The bear is a opportunistic kleptoparasite. An adult male grizzly can displace a large pack of wolves ( from 12 to 20 ) from their kill.
Why will the wolves not defend their kill from the bear? I used to believe that it was because the wolves feared the bear. But, this is not the case. Wolves are deeply devoted to the pack. Every pack member has a deep love for all other pack members. To fight a grizzly in defense of a carcass would almost invariably result in the loss of one or more ( probably more ) wolves. The loss of one wolf is too high a price for a meal.

If the pack did fight the grizzly, with a loss of pack members, the wolves could surely kill the bear. But, this rarely happens if at all. It is this deep devotion to the pack that has been passed on the our family dog. Like the wolf, your dog will fight to the death for any family member.

[Spike]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog#Evolution

Competitors and predators
Although dogs are the most abundant and widely distributed terrestrial carnivores, feral and free-ranging dogs' potential to compete with other large carnivores is limited by their strong association with humans. For example, a review of the studies in dogs' competitive effects on sympatric carnivores did not mention any research on competition between dogs and wolves. Although wolves are known to kill dogs, they tend to live in pairs or in small packs in areas where they are highly persecuted, giving them a disadvantage facing large dog groups.

Wolves kill dogs wherever they are found together. In some instances, wolves have displayed an uncharacteristic fearlessness of humans and buildings when attacking dogs to the extent that they have to be beaten off or killed. Although the numbers of dogs killed each year are relatively low, it induces a fear of wolves entering villages and farmyards to take dogs and losses of dogs to wolves have led to demands for more liberal wolf hunting regulations.

Coyotes and big cats have also been known to attack dogs. In particular, leopards are known to have a preference for dogs and have been recorded to kill and consume them, no matter what their size. Siberian tigers in the Amur river region have killed dogs in the middle of villages. This indicates that the dogs were targeted. Amur tigers will not tolerate wolves as competitors within their territories, and the tigers could be considering dogs in the same way. Striped hyenas are known to kill dogs in their range.

[Spike]

Quote: In particular, leopards are known to have a preference for dogs and have been recorded to kill and consume them, no matter what their size.

*It should be mentioned, but rarely is, that leopards are strictly ambush predators and dogs, no matter what their size, are always taken from ambush. This rule of nature applies to all cats.

[Spike]

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220202111843.htm

What is your dog’s lifespan? You might be surprised.

The Dog Aging Project is gathering a vast open-source dataset about canine health and longevity. Date: February 2, 2022 / Date: Source: Princeton University.

The Dog Aging Project, founded in 2018, is by far the most ambitious project tackling the question of canine longevity, enrolling and studying tens of thousands of dogs of all sizes, breeds and backgrounds to develop a thorough understanding of canine aging. Their open-source dataset will give veterinarians and scientists the tools to assess how well a specific dog is aging and will set the stage for further research into healthy aging -- in both dogs and people. One of their most intriguing avenues of inquiry will analyze the DNA of exceptionally long-lived dogs, the 'super-centenarians' of the dog world.

How old is your dog in human years? And what factors contribute to a long and healthy life for a dog?

For years, it's been generally accepted that "dog years" are roughly human years times seven -- that a 1-year-old puppy is like a 7-year-old child, and an 11-year-old elderly dog is like a 77-year-old senior citizen. But it's actually much more complicated, say experts.

Part of the problem is that while humans have clear metrics for healthy aging, little is known about "normal aging" for our four-legged friends. Big dogs tend to age the fastest -- maybe 10 times faster than humans -- while little breeds may live to be 20 years old, with "dog years" about five times human years.

The Dog Aging Project, founded in 2018, is by far the most ambitious project tackling the question of canine longevity, enrolling and studying tens of thousands of dogs of all sizes, breeds and backgrounds to develop a thorough understanding of canine aging. Their open-source dataset will give veterinarians and scientists the tools to assess how well a specific dog is aging and will set the stage for further research into healthy aging -- in both dogs and people.

The researchers detailed their project and its potential implications for both human and veterinary medicine in an article published in the current issue of the journal Nature. One of their most intriguing avenues of inquiry will analyze the DNA of exceptionally long-lived dogs, the "super-centenarians" of the dog world.

"This is a very large, ambitious, wildly interdisciplinary project that has the potential to be a powerful resource for the broader scientific community," said Joshua Akey, a professor in Princeton's Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and a member of the Dog Aging Project's research team. "Personally, I find this project exciting because I think it will improve dog, and ultimately, human health."

Akey, a dog lover with a 5-year-old rescue dog named Abby and a 1-year-old purebred lab named Zoey, co-leads the genetics analyses with Elinor Karlsson at the Broad Institute.

"We are sequencing the genomes of 10,000 dogs," Akey said. "This will be one of the largest genetics data sets ever produced for dogs, and it will be a powerful resource not only to understand the role of genetics in aging, but also to answer more fundamental questions about the evolutionary history and domestication of dogs."

The Dog Aging Project (DAP) expects to run for at least 10 years. To date, more than 32,000 dogs have joined the "DAP Pack," as the researchers call their canine citizen scientists.

"We are still recruiting dogs of all ages, all breeds -- purebred or mixed breeds, all sizes, all across the United States," said William Thistlethwaite, a graduate student who works with Akey in the Lewis-Sigler Institute. "Especially puppies and young dogs up to 3 years old."

When a dog joins the Pack, their owners agree to fill out annual surveys and take measurements of their dogs for the duration of the project; some may be asked to collect cheek swabs for DNA sampling. In addition, the DAP team works with veterinarians across the country who assist by submitting fur, fecal, urine and blood samples of select Pack members.

The researchers hope to identify specific biomarkers of canine aging. They anticipate that their findings will translate to human aging, for several reasons: Dogs experience nearly every functional decline and disease of aging that people do; the extent of veterinary care parallels human healthcare in many ways; and our dogs share our lived environments, a major determinant of aging and one that cannot be replicated in any lab setting.

"Given that dogs share the human environment and have a sophisticated health care system but are much shorter-lived than people, they offer a unique opportunity to identify the genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors associated with healthy lifespan," said Dr. Daniel Promislow, the principal investigator for the National Institute on Aging grant that funds the project and a professor of biology at the University of Washington (UW) College of Arts and Sciences and of laboratory medicine and pathology at the UW School of Medicine.

In particular, the researchers want to look at 300 oldest dogs in the Pack to see if they can identify the keys to their longevity. "One part of the project that I am super excited about is a 'super-centenarian' study, comparing the DNA of exceptionally long-lived dogs to dogs that live to the average age for their breed," said Akey, the Princeton geneticist. "This is the first study of its kind in dogs (to my knowledge), and I think it's a clever way of trying to find genetic differences that contribute to exceptional longevity."

Within a few months, the team plans to open their enormous dataset -- fully anonymized -- to share with scientists around the world. Researchers from many different fields will have the opportunity to contribute to the study in countless different ways, based on their interests.

"It is an honor to share our work with the scientific community," said Kate Creevy, lead author on the paper and DAP's chief veterinary officer. "The Dog Aging Project is creating a resource with the power to transform veterinary medicine, aging research, and many scientific and non-scientific fields of inquiry."

For more information, or to learn how to enroll your dog in the ongoing project: dogagingproject.org

The Dog Aging Project is supported by the National Institute on Aging (grant U19AG057377), a part of the National Institutes of Health, and by private donations.

[Spike]

Core strength could help dogs avoid knee injuries

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220217090719.htm

Agility dogs lacking core strength from routine physical exercise may be more susceptible to one of the most common canine knee injuries, a cranial cruciate ligament rupture, which is similar to an ACL tear in humans. According to a research survey documenting activity and injury odds of more than 1,200 agility dogs, just about any physical exercise seems to lower the risk of rupturing the ligament, but some exercises seem to increase the risk. In addition, the size and shape of the dog -- and thereby certain breeds -- were also found to be at higher risk. Balance and core strengthening exercises as well as activities like dock diving, barn hunt and scent work are associated with a decreased rate of ligament rupture.

Agility dogs lacking core strength from routine physical exercise and those participating in activities like flyball may be more susceptible to one of the most common canine knee injuries.

That knee injury is a cranial cruciate ligament rupture, which is equivalent to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in humans.

According to a research survey documenting activity and injury odds of more than 1,200 agility dogs, just about any physical exercise seems to lower the risk of rupturing the ligament, but some exercises seem to increase the risk. In addition, the size and shape of the dog -- and thereby certain breeds -- were also found to be at higher risk.

"Balance exercises, wobble boards, anything that improves the core strength of the dog seemed to lower the odds of a ligament tear," said Deb Sellon, a Washington State University veterinarian and lead author on the study published in BMC Veterinary Research. "We found fitness matters for dogs just like it does for people, and we haven't shown that before."

Sellon is also the founder of the university's Agility Dog Health Network, which was accessed in the study. By using odds ratios, which is essentially a statistical risk assessment, Sellon and Denis Marcellin-Little, a veterinary orthopedic specialist with University of California, Davis, looked for trends in 1,262 agility dogs -- 260 that tore the ligament and 1,002 dogs that did not.

In addition to balance and core strengthening exercises activities like dock diving, barn hunt and scent work are associated with a decreased rate of ligament rupture, too.

While regular activity, like swimming, playing fetch or frisbee, walking or running didn't increase the risk of injury, it didn't lower the odds either.

Surprisingly, dogs that competed more frequently in agility events and competed at a higher level on more technically rigorous types of courses were less likely to rupture their cruciate ligaments.

The only physical activities that increased the odds of injury were short walks or runs over hilly or flat terrain on a weekly basis, and many of those injuries were in dogs early in their agility career that lacked core strength from routine physical exercise or at times, rest days.

Training or competing in the new and popular dog sport flyball was found to be the riskiest activity of all activities evaluated in the survey. Agility dogs that also engaged in the sport of flyball were nearly twice as likely to rupture the ligament as compared to other dogs. Nearly 12% of dogs reported to play flyball ruptured the ligament.

The survey confirmed some long-standing and well-accepted risk factors as well. In particular, female dogs spayed before the age of one were almost twice as likely to rupture the ligament compared to dogs that were spayed after their first birthday. Sellon said this is believed to reflect the importance of hormones in developing strong ligaments in young animals.

Trends were also identified among certain breeds.

Survey results indicated Australian shepherds and Labrador retrievers were more than twice as likely to rupture the ligament. Rottweilers and Australian cattle dogs were more than four times as likely to tear the ligament.

Marcellin-Little speculates that could have something to do with the shape of the dog, and maybe its tail.

"Larger dogs doing agility tend to be less balanced, so it is not surprising a Rottweiler or Australian Shepherd may be at a higher risk of a rupture compared to smaller breeds," he said. "The tail could also be a factor; the tail has been proven very important for cheetahs and you can imagine it has a role to play in the overall balance of the dog."

Marcellin-Little said there is still a great deal of research that needs to be completed, but the survey gives veterinarians a place to start.

"This research decreases uncertainty; it doesn't bring certainty, but this one study could provoke thoughts and help us look at potential research areas to target moving forward," he said. "That is the type of research that the Agility Dog Health Network is planning to support."

[Spike]

My Pet Ate a Plant – Now What?
by Rachel Grossman, DVM, MBA | Apr 19, 2022 | Blog Post, Emergency

carecharlotte.com/blog/my-pet-ate-a-plant-now-what/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=April%20Blog%20Post-My%20Pet%20Ate%20A%20Plant-Now%20What%3F&fbclid=IwAR027ND6vnF5E8omsoFGFmSUEj3uYzXmjr2smr3eMWqcbeYn15oRXjX5Zf0

Has your pet ever unfortunately gobbled up a mushroom in the yard or eaten your lovely Easter lilies when your back was turned? The immediate reaction is to wonder whether this will cause serious or long term issues for your beloved pet. It is very important to be alert as to what was eaten so a veterinarian or Poison Control can discuss what sort of treatment will be needed if any to help ensure the best possible outcome for your pet. As we get into spring and upcoming holidays, listed below are some toxic plants that should be on your radar and avoided as much as possible for your sweet four legged family members
On some level, every plant can disagree with a pet and cause some gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting. Even grass, one of the more common ingested flora can create mild discomfort and maybe vomiting. One website warns against 400 plants that make your cat sick to varying degrees, though you’re unlikely to encounter an octopus tree or oilcloth flower. Other toxic plants are more common.

Some major botanical villains that may be found in your yard (or given for holidays) include both Easter or true lilies and Sago palms. With true lilies, every part of most lilies endangers cats. This includes the flower’s pollen. Therefore, a cat who rubs his face on the flowers and then grooms himself can ingest the toxin. Effects may be seen within 24 hours but may also be delayed, so vets prefer to hospitalize cats for a couple of days to avert potential kidney damage (the most concerning consequence of lily ingestion). If you must keep lilies, try the Peruvian variety as they may cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested, but do not cause kidney damage. Another favorite found in many people’s yards is sago palm. While this is a beautiful plant to have in your garden, all parts of the plant are harmful if ingested. The bulb of the plant carries more of the toxin than the rest of the plant and can cause liver damage and seizures, if the dog eats enough of it. A simple rule of thumb would be to keep pets away from anything grown from a bulb.

Another favorite found in many people’s yards is sago palm. While this is a beautiful plant to have in your garden, all parts of the plant are harmful if ingested. The bulb of the plant carries more of the toxin than the rest of the plant. If a dog eats enough, it can cause liver damage and seizures. A simple rule of thumb would be to keep pets away from anything grown from a bulb.

While some of us have indoor only fur babies such as cats, indoor houseplants can also cause discomfort to your pets. Some common houseplants contain calcium oxalate crystals. Moisture in your pet’s mouth makes these crystals shoot out into the tongue or esophagus, causing discomfort and even foaming at the mouth. Offenders include Chinese evergreen (sometimes thought to be pet friendly), elephant ear, philodendron, calla lilies and peace lilies.

Folklore says a bright red color warns us against toxic mushrooms, but those in shades of brown or gray can also cause significant illness such as liver damage or death. If your dog eats one, it would be prudent to call the ASPCA Poison Control hotline at 888-426-4435 for help in identification or visit a Facebook page titled “Poisons Help; Emergency Identification for Mushrooms and Plants” to get a quick ID and recommendations as to whether treatment or monitoring at home is indicated.

What To Do If You Suspect Poisoning
One episode of vomiting may not mean your pet is suffering from severe toxicities, however repeated vomiting, lethargy and a refusal to eat may signal a serious problem and warrant veterinary attention.
It is important not to induce vomiting yourself, unless your vet says to. Pre-emptive administration of hydrogen peroxide can cause esophageal ulcers or strictures, therefore it is wise to only do this under veterinary supervision. Do however attempt to identify the plant as this will be important in identified potential illness from the toxins if present. If you are unsure what the plant is, try one of the options above. (Try the Facebook site for plant identification while waiting for ASPCA Poison Control if there are high call volumes.) Do bring a sample of the seed, leaf or branch to the vet if able.

How Vets Deal with Pets Ingesting Toxic Plants
Decontamination remains the first line of defense: Getting toxic material out of your pet or binding it to some substance, often activated charcoal, prevents the system from absorbing it. Your pet may stay overnight, potentially on an IV, so vets can monitor blood panels and monitor organs potentially affected while helping to flush the toxins out as well as rehydrate your pet using the IV fluids.

Long-term harm may require long-term treatment including potential medications, changes in diet, and regular monitoring of blood work. But even a particularly poisonous plant may not cause long term damage, if there is a quick enough respond to the emergency.

CARE operates as the animal version of a medical center for humans, providing all forms of treatment for pets through emergency care 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. It also offers board-certified specialty care, once you get a referral from your primary veterinarian. Take a visual tour of the practice at carecharlotte.com/tour.