Category Archives: research

The role of the dog in the family unit

Posted on March 18, 2011 | Leave a comment

A recently-published New York times article explains the role of the pet in the family unit and various research projects that are attempting to define the human-pet bond. This article goes onto explain why personal orientation about the role of the pet in the family can lead to disagreements and conflict.

My personal favourite is the 2007 research that categorises pet owners into one of three categories.

Humanists treat their dogs as a member of the family or primary companion. They will do things such as allowing the dog into bed or onto the furniture, cook it special meals, and mourn it when it passes. Humanists tend to look down on dominionists.

Protectionists consider themselves the animal’s advocate with strong personal views on how an animal should be treated. Protectionists are critical of humanists.

Dominionists view their dog as a useful helper, below that in status of the humans. Dogs, in their opinion, are replaceable. Rural people often fall into this category, according to the research.

I’m a proud humanist, by the way!

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

Helping service dogs

Posted on March 8, 2011 | Leave a comment

Engineering students at Northeastern University (my alma mater) are working to design a product that will help service dogs.

Initially, the first-year engineering students were given an assignment to submit a design for an apparatus that would help service dogs to do their job. This required the students to research what gear was already available and in use.

After submitting designs for things like an apparatus that would help a service dog pull a wheelchair in a straight line, the students felt there was unfinished business. Working with their faculty sponsor and the University’s Centre of Community Service, these students are now pursuing product design and development in their spare time.

Read The Boston Globe’s story on this project.

Watch the video.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

Strong dog – wide head?

Posted on February 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

The size of your dog’s head may be an accurate predictor of his/her strength, according to research by Dr William Helton of the University of Canterbury.

Dr Helton studied dogs that competed in events for the International Weight Pull Association and published his results in the journal of Behavioral Processes.

Broad-headed dogs were able to pull much greater weights than those breeds with narrower heads; but dogs with the narrower heads were likely to run faster. This is a classic case of not being able to ‘have it all’ because, as Dr Helton says, “Nature does not allow unlimited budgets and the trade-offs are often physical constraints.”

The size of the head isn’t an absolute indicator, but it is a skeletal trait that is an indicator of other skeletal traits which are linked to endurance, strength, or speed. Dr Helton recognises that other factors such as nutrition, personality aplay a part in a dog’s overall performance.

Read more about Dr Helton’s findings in this Discovery News item.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand