Category Archives: Dogs

Behaviour in dogs depends on the paw preference

Posted on October 27, 2013 | 1 comment

I’ve previously written about how to test if your dog is right-pawed or left pawed. Researchers at the University of Adelaide led by Dr Luke Schneider tested a group of 73 dogs using 50 manipulations of an object to determine their paw preference. They then interviewed the dog owners about their dog’s behavior to see if there was a pattern.

“We found that dogs with a preference for left paws were reported by their owners to show high levels of aggression towards strangers. The left pawed dogs scored almost twice as high as ambilateral (ones with no preference) and also higher than dogs with right paws.

“There is research in the human world as well that positive and negative emotions can be located in the left and right hemispheres and it seems to go the same way in humans and other animal species, that the negative emotions are located in the right hemisphere. There are many, many overlaps between human and animal brains.”

Blake the Beagle shows his preference for the right paw

When testing dogs for paw preference, the research team found a roughly even split between those dogs that had a right paw preference vs those with a left paw preference.

None of the dogs in the study were noted as particularly aggressive, and so the research team wants to do more work with dogs who are noted for aggression-type responses. A larger testing group would also help to validate results. The research team’s study has been published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior.

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Posted in dog care, research

Tagged behavior, behaviour, Dr Luke Schneider, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, left paw, Luke Schneider, paw, paw preferences, right paw, University of Adelaide

Ralph Lauren’s Dog Walk

Posted on October 25, 2013 | 1 comment

This month, Ralph Lauren, has chosen to feature rescue dogs in showing his Fall 2013 Accessories Collection. This collection includes items of dog apparel, such as cashmere sweaters! (October is Adopt a Shelter Dog month, by the way)

If you buy any of the featured items between 15 October and 15 November, 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the ASPCA.

And now…..Ralph Lauren presents The Dog Walk:

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Posted in animal welfare, dogs in advertising

Tagged accessories, Accessories Collection, adopt a, ASPCA, cashmere sweaters, collection, Dog Walk, Fall 2013, October, Ralph Lauren, rescue dogs

Is the chocolate labrador a Volkswagen fan?

Posted on October 25, 2013 | 1 comment

Dogs have been used in advertising for a long time – it’s not a new trend. Anyone who likes dogs will spot the ads that use a dog and they are more likely to remember the product or service.

Today I spotted this ad on a local website for a car dealership.

Is the Chocolate Labrador a Volkswagen fan?

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Posted in dogs in advertising

Tagged advertising, Amarok, Chocolate Labrador, Dog, dogs, labrador, Volkswagen

Image

Wordless Wednesday, part 7

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Posted on October 23, 2013 in dog breeds, Dogs

Tagged dogue de bordeaux

So ugly, they’re cute

Posted on October 19, 2013 | Leave a comment

The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest has been held annually in Petaluma, California as part of the Sonoma-Marin Fair for 25 years. This contest has grown in popularity and is now featured on cable television channel Animal Planet.

Although dog moms and dads who enter their dog mainly come from the United States, anyone can enter. The Chinese Crested, a largely hairless breed, has figured prominently amongst the winners.

This year (2013), the title was awarded to Walle, a beagle, boxer, basset hound mix with a large head and a duck-footed walk. He beat 29 other contestants for the title.

Walle, the World’s Ugliest Dog 2013

Vicki DeArmon has written a book about the contest which profiles winners, other entrants, and their owners. The pictures really do prove that some creatures are so ugly that they’re cute.

Maybe the dog lover in your pack would like this book for Christmas, or perhaps you should treat yourself?

A dog’s secret life and how it can help elderly owners

Posted on October 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

Experts at Newcastle University are using movement sensors to track normal dog behaviour while the animals are active outside the home and when they are home alone.

The sensors show not only when the dog is on the move, but also how much he is barking, sitting, digging and other key canine behaviours.

By mapping the normal behaviour of a healthy, happy dog, Dr Cas Ladha and students Nils Hammerla and Emma Hughes were able to set a benchmark against which the animals could be remotely monitored. This allowed for any changes in behaviour which might be an indication of illness or boredom to be quickly spotted.

Presenting their findings at the 2013 UbiComp conference in Zurich, project lead Ladha, says the next step is to use the dog’s health and behaviour as an early warning system that an elderly owner may be struggling to cope.

“A dog’s physical and emotional dependence on their owner means that their wellbeing is likely reflect that of their owner and any changes such as the dog being walked less often, perhaps not being fed regularly, or simply demonstrating ‘unhappy’ behaviour could be an early indicator for families that an older relative needs help.” says Hammerla.

The team created a hi-tech, waterproof dog collar complete with accelerometer and collected data for a wide range of dog breeds.

Hammerla adds: “This is the first system of its kind which allows us to remotely monitor a dog’s behaviour in its natural setting” – ultimately classifying 17 activities such as barking and chewing.

“But beyond this it also presents us with a real opportunity to use man’s best friend as a discreet health barometer. It’s already well known that pets are good for our health and this new technology means dogs are supporting their older owners to live independently in even more ways than they already do.”

Source: Newcastle University media statement

Wordless Wednesday, part 6

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Posted on October 16, 2013 in Dogs

Tagged bed, Chocolate Labrador, labrador

The SmartPill: helping to understand canine bloat

Posted on October 15, 2013 | Leave a comment

Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), or bloat, is one of the leading causes of death in dogs. Second only to cancer in some breeds, it’s the number one killer of Great Danes. Despite its prevalence, the cause of bloat is unknown.

The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation has given a research grant to Laura Nelson, assistant professor at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine to change that.

When a dog gets bloat, gas fills the dog’s stomach, the stomach twists completely around, the gas has no way to escape, and blood and air supply to the stomach are cut off. As the stomach swells, it presses against the abdominal wall and pushes against large blood vessels. Shock is usually the cause of death. The whole progression can happen in a matter of minutes or hours, and surgery is required to save the dog’s life.

It’s generally believed that genetics as well as environmental factors play a role in which dog develops bloat. “We want to know why some dogs get bloat while others don’t,” says Nelson.

Nelson’s team is investigating the relationship of contractions responsible for the digestion of food (motility) with increased GDV risk, and hopes to define the biochemical and genetic alterations that may be associated with hypomotility—abnormally weak contractions. A new diagnostic tool, SmartPill®, makes possible noninvasive assessment of motility. The SmartPill® is an ingestible capsule with an instrument inside that measures acidity and pressure. The team will measure the time it takes the capsule to pass through the dog’s system and the pressure spikes along the way.

In the short term, the research findings may provide clinicians with data that would allow them to make informed decisions about when to use preventative medications or conduct targeted prophylactic surgery—gastropexy—in at-risk dogs. This procedure surgically attaches the stomach to the abdominal wall in order to prevent twisting. It is an effective procedure that is well tolerated, but, Nelson notes, it is an invasive procedure that may not be necessary in some dogs. There currently is not a good way to determine who to recommend it for.

“With bloat, it happens and you treat it. But it would be so much more satisfying if we really understood why some dogs get bloat, and then be able to make more informed treatment decisions and possibly prevent the disease altogether,” says Nelson.

Source: Michigan State University media statement

Using the internet to share information about dogs

Posted on October 13, 2013 | 1 comment

The internet is now the preferred resource for dog owners looking for information. But did you realize the creative ways people are using the medium?

Here are two of my favorites:

a) Hope for Paws, a charitable organization involved in animal rescue, has compiled beautiful photos of their rescue dogs into a book. With every download of the book, Hope for Paws earns 10 cents. It all adds up. Why not click today?

b) Author Colleen MacDougall is publishing the first ten chapters of her book, The Patron Saint of Dogs, online – one chapter at a time. I’m really enjoying reading the book and can’t wait for the email that lets me know another chapter is ready for reading. You can visit Colleen’s website here to join her mailing list.

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Posted in animal welfare, dog books

Tagged animal rescue, Author Colleen MacDougall, book, charitable organization, Colleen MacDougall, Hope for Paws, Patron Saint of Dogs, preferred resource, rescue dogs, The Patron Saint of Dogs

Daisy’s boo-boo

Posted on October 12, 2013 | 2 comments

This week, a cyst on Daisy’s leg became irritated and broke open. Poor Daisy! There was blood everywhere and, not surprisingly, Daisy was licking and uncomfortable.

A visit to the vet confirmed that she needs to keep away from the wound and be on antibiotics for at least a week. We were initially given a traditional Elizabethan collar (also known as the bucket or cone of shame). However, this stressed Daisy out and she wouldn’t settle. She couldn’t drink from her raised feeder, either, because the collar got in the way.

And when you think about it, who would feel comfortable with their peripheral vision closed off and feeling like you were trapped?

Enter the BooBooLoon Air Cushioned Pet Recovery Collar! This inflatable ring comes with sturdy Velcro fasteners and allows Daisy to see out and drink from her bowl, without the constriction of the Elizabethan collar.

I recommend this alternative for dogs as it is more humane and less likely to cause stress. I doubt the Velcro will hold up to a dog that really wants it off because running into furniture or pawing it strongly is likely to break through the fastening.

But for dogs who are well-behaved like Daisy, it’s ideal. Ask for it specifically at your vet or buy one directly from their website.