Latest news with #dogbehavior
Forbes
a day ago
- Science
- Forbes
Study Finds People Aren't Good At Reading Dog Body Language
Humans don't understand dogs' body language and corresponding emotions as well as we think we do, according to new research from the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University. The study involved a favorite activity of many dog lovers: watching dog videos. As part of her Ph.D. research, Holly Molinaro shot videos of her father interacting with the family dog, Oliver. Sometimes he would offer Oliver a treat or show him a leash for a walk, which made the dog happy. In other videos, he might reprimand Oliver or hold up his nemesis, a cat named Saffron. Working with Clive Wynne, Ph.D., director of the Canine Science Collaboratory and author of 'Dog is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You,' Molinaro then showed three versions of the videos to 400 study participants — which led to surprising results. When the videos were unedited, a majority of people could correctly identify whether Oliver was happy or stressed. But when the videos were edited to simply show Oliver with a black background, they couldn't form an opinion about the dog's emotions. When the videos were edited to show Oliver reacting to a different prompt than what actually happened — like the father showing Oliver a cat in the video, when in reality he had been offering the dog a piece of cheese — participants had strong and wrong opinions about how Oliver was feeling. 'The whole study was very surprising,' Dr. Wynne said. 'The finding, in a nutshell, is that when you show people a video of a dog reacting to something and you ask them how the dog is feeling, they will look at everything you show them except the dog when making their mind up. So people are really bad at paying attention to dogs when it comes to assessing how a dog is feeling — whether a dog is happy or sad.' One important caveat is that due to ethical considerations, the research did not involve doing anything to make Oliver extremely distressed, Dr. Wynne notes. Instead, the research was limited to potentially negative things a dog might encounter in an ordinary day, such as a cat or nail clippers. 'I'm pretty confident that people would have accurately identified a terrified dog,' he says. 'We just wouldn't do that.' Since dogs live in 68 million U.S. homes, Dr. Wynne feels it's imperative that people make a concerted effort to better read their emotions. 'One of the morals I draw from our research is that I encourage people to get to know their own dog,' he says. 'Now I'm on a mission to convince people that they don't really know what a dog is feeling and that they should give their dog a chance to teach them.' He suggests paying close attention to what your dog does when they're typically excited or happy about an activity, such as seeing a leash when it's time for a walk. 'We need to watch our whole dog from the tip of their tail to the tip of the snout and everything in between. The ears can be expressive. Obviously the hackles, how the hair moves, the overall bodily posture,' he says. 'As much as possible, just try to be like a scientist: don't watch by imposing your preconceptions, watch neutrally and learn. Let the dog teach you what their happiness looks like, what their anxiety looks like.' Puppies and dogs are individuals, so Dr. Wynne advises against making one-size-fits-all assumptions about canine body language, facial expressions and noises. For example, growling is generally considered to be a threatening warning from a less-than-happy dog. But his late mixed-breed dog, Xephos, used to growl in happiness. (Similarly, attuned people with Rottweilers often know their dogs are happy when they hear the 'Rottie Rumble' during play — almost like a cat's purr.) When a dog yawns, they might be sleepy or just awakening from a nap, but yawning can also be a sign of stress (particularly when ears are pinned back, and eyes are averted). A 'smiling' dog might just be keeping their mouth open because it's hot. While some people believe a wagging tail is always a happy sign, it can also indicate anxiety. Research in Italy found that when dogs wag their tails to the right, they're experiencing positive emotions; conversely, a left-wagging tail denotes negative emotions, he notes. Ultimately, learning to understand how our dogs are feeling will help us be better companions, according to Dr. Wynne. 'We have 80 million dogs living in our homes in the United States, and the vast majority of us want what's best for our dogs – we love them and want what's best for them,' he says. 'But how can we do that if we don't actually know when they're happy and when they're stressed? We have to know how they're feeling in order to be able to give them their best lives.'
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Common myths and curly questions about our fur friends answered
Not all tail wags from our dogs are actually friendly. Photo: Unsplash What does it really mean when your dogs wags its tail? Why do they sometimes like to eat poo? And can cats really make good therapy animals like dogs? Well animal behaviourist and certified dog trainer Dr Zazie Todd answered some curly questions around our canine and cat behaviours. Todd told Sunday Morning there were many myths surrounding our furry friends, including what it meant when dogs wagged their tails. She said the way a dog wagged its tail suggested it was feeling positive or negative emotions. "There's some research that shows that depending on the side of the dogs body that they are wagging too, it tells you something about the hemisphere of their brain that's involved. "So if the dog is wagging the tail to the left it would mean that the right hemisphere is involved and that's more associated with negative emotions, where as if their tail is wagging more to the right, that means that the left hemisphere is involved and that's positive emotions." But she said not all tail wags from our fur friends were actually friendly. "If the tail is quite up right and if it's kind of a tight wag and sometimes quite a quick one, that actually is a sign of the dog feeling stressed and aroused and that is also a sign that you should be more careful of that dog." Zazie Todd with her late dog Bodger Photo: Supplied ' Todd said when it comes to the personality of a dog it is largely not determined by its breed. "There's actually a lot of variability in a breed, in terms of how those dogs behave. "There is probably more variability within breeds than, you know, between different breeds, so the breed of a dog doesn't tell you everything about how that dog is going to behave. Genetics and environment both shaped a dogs behaviour, she said. Todd said dogs eating poo is actually a really common behaviour. "From the dogs perspective, poo seems to be quite a delicacy and something they enjoy eating and it might even have some nutrients in it from the food that has been eaten before." She said the best thing owner could do was just not give their dog the opportunity to do so. "Clearing up in our yards... maybe also have a conversation with your vet if your dog likes to eat poop often and think about making sure you have de-wormed them. "As well we can teach them to leave it and that's a really helpful thing to teach dogs anyway," she said. Cats can sometimes be a therapy animal. Photo: Unsplash Another mystery question that needed answering was whether cats could be a therapy animal like dogs? Todd told Sunday Morning they could, but it was uncommon. "Therapy cats can help people feel less stressed... but most cats won't enjoy this," she said. "The cat also has to go somewhere for this to happen, which is something most cats don't like. If you think of what most cats do when you get a cat carrier out - they run and hide." She also said scent was really important to cats, and when placed in an unfamiliar environment that didn't smell like their home "it can be quite stressful for them". "So i think some cats can make great therapy cats but I think they are a minority." Just like a dog wagging its tail, a cat purring didn't always mean they were happy, Todd said. She said sometimes cats could purr when they were sick or scared. "There is something that we call a solicitation purr... which kind of corresponds to the frequency of a babies cry. "So when the cat is waiting to be feed and wants some food that is the purr you will hear," she said. Cats have evolved this particular frequency overtime, Todd said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
From a poodle with an odd peeing ritual to best reptile for kids – your pet queries answered
HE is on a mission to help our pets . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions. Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm has helped with owners' queries for ten years. 4 Q: MY female dog Petra cocks her leg like a boy when she pees. She's a poodle. Is she an oddball? Shaun Spencer, Burnley, Lancs Sean says: It's not that unusual, really. I see it quite often and generally it's nothing to worry about. Some female dogs just develop the habit of going that way. Others might want to save their undercarriage from getting wet or cold. Some may even have more naturally occurring testosterone than others, which can drive the behaviour. And despite what recent court rulings have suggested, biological female versus biological male are not always clearly defined in the mammal kingdom. I have heard of some cases where a dog is intersex and has both male and female internal equipment. If Petra is straining to urinate or going more often than normal, get her checked out. Otherwise, accept it as a quirk. I'm a property expert, here are the five key things when moving with a pet Q: WHAT is a good starter reptile for children? I have a ten-year-old son Ollie and he's been asking forever to have a snake or lizard. He's sensible. What do you recommend? Kyle Brown, Exmouth, Devon Sean says: The honest answer is there's no perfect choice, because reptiles are pets which require a fair degree of understanding, research, expensive equipment and housing — regardless of species. So I always say if a child wants one, their parents/guardians need to want one, too. It's going to be down to the adult to make sure all of the animal's needs are being met. Saying that, the top four list of species that are robust and suitable for this arrangement include corn snakes, bearded dragons, leopard geckos and crested geckos. Q: HOW do I know if my dog is too fat? Bob is a labrador cross and he is a bit barrel-like. He loves his food and my kids always give him snacks. Does he need to be put on a diet? Someone said you should see the ribs — is that true? Derek Peters, Brighton Sean says: There is a great technique that lets you get hands on to assess any breed of dog called body condition scoring. It looks at three key areas — the ribs, belly and waist — to check if your dog is overweight, underweight or just right. Your vet team can also help you set a target weight for Bob, as even among pedigree Labradors there are all shapes and sizes, let alone with cross breeds. Search for 'body condition scoring on YouTube — you'll find some videos I've made on this topic. This has just made me realise that I have certainly crept up in the body condition score department since I started working at — with a few more grey hairs to boot! Q: I'VE always wanted a pot-bellied pig. Do you think they would make a good pet? Can they be house trained? Sam Bryant, Skegness, Lincs Sean says: Being brutally honest, they make terrible pets for most people, and many who insist on getting one live to regret their decision as they didn't fully understand the commitment, space and care required. Pigs are social animals so you need at least two. They are clean animals, but they dig up and trample the ground so they need a lot of it to prevent their enclosure becoming a muddy quagmire, especially in winter. They also don't toilet train well, so prepare for accidents if they are indoors. Unless you have a smallholding and serious dedication, they are not a great idea as house pets. Star of the week TAYLOR the Labrador has helped his owner to inspire others – and even run her first marathon. The Rev Melissa Carter, 44, a visually impaired runner from Dover, raised money for Guide Dogs, as the three-year-old pup is her fourth dog from the charity as well as her exercise buddy. Rev Carter, of the diocese of Canterbury, who ran this year's London Marathon in just over five hours said: 'Having Taylor has given me the confidence to go out, work and live life to the full.' She joined her local Snap Fitness in August 2024 to help her train using the motto: 'One step at a time.' Manager Max Brunetti-Leach said: 'Her determination is an inspiration.' WIN: Dog dental kit GIVE your furry friend something to smile about with Plaqtiv+. It's hard to get started with a teeth cleaning regime but keeping on top of oral hygiene with your dog or cat can help avoid health problems. We have five sets of Plaqtiv+ products, worth £65 each, to give away including vanilla and mint-scented oral spray, dental wipes, water additive and toothpaste. To enter, send an email titled Plaqtiv+ to: sundaypets@ by June 15. See T&Cs apply. PROTECT PETS FROM SUN'S HARMFUL RAYS OWNERS are being urged to protect their pets from the sun in a bid to prevent skin cancer. It comes after harmful rays caused the disease in seven-year-old cat Gracie, who then had to have her ears amputated. 4 If Gracie hadn't had her op, the cancer could have spread and claimed her life. Following treatment, she has now been rehomed. Charities Cats Protection and the RSPCA are warning readers their four-legged friends are also at risk of sunburn and heatstroke. Nikki Butcher, co-ordinator at Cats Protection Bracknell and Wokingham, said: 'We see too many cats suffering from the effects of sun damage and it can be easily prevented. 'Hopefully, Gracie's story will make more pet owners aware of the risks of the sun and save other cats from losing their ears.' Dominika Jagoda, from the RSPCA, added: 'You can use pet-safe sun cream on exposed skin, such as the ears or nose, especially on those with white or light-coloured fur and pale skin, to avoid sunburn.' Cats Protection advises keeping pets indoors between 10am and 3pm, when it's hottest, and providing plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Golden Retriever's Kind Gesture Toward Scared Dog Sibling Is Melting Hearts
Golden Retrievers will forever receive as much hype as they possibly can. Everyone loves Golden Retrievers. They're the quintessential working/family dog: no matter what your needs are, you've probably asked yourself, "will a Golden Retriever fit in my life?" at least once. Recently, one Golden Retriever showed off just how kind this breed really is. Her sweet, scared brother needed some help working up the courage to walk by something he was scared of, and she wasted no time making sure he felt safe: Reedy the Golden Retriever is such a little scaredy-cat, but you know what? That's okay! We love sensitive boys!Reedy the Golden Retriever is a little worried all the time. He doesn't like to feel threatened by anything, at any time, and if he does... he gets a little dramatic about it. Unfortunately for him, it was trash day, and he needed to walk by a trash bag. Luckily, his best friend Banana was there to save the day. She walked by the trash bag first, then realized sweet Reedy wasn't following. She jumps into action to save the day immediately, and takes the risk of walking by the trash bag while he stands by on the edge of his seat like, "I can't watch!" It may seem totally ridiculous for a 50+ pound dog to be scared of a trash bag, but you have to understand: dogs don't think like that. They don't understand that inanimate objects won't hurt them, which is why they bark at decorations! If your dog is scared of something and you can remove it, do it. It might seem overkill, but if it helps them feel safer, it's worth it. However, if not, just coax them around it: eventually, they may get "used" to it being there. Or, if you have another dog who's willing to be big and brave like Banana, they'll take care of it. What a good girl! 🐶🐾🐾
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Golden Retriever's Attempt to Hide After Destroying Mom's Sandal Is Priceless
Our fur babies can get themselves into trouble. Whether it's sneaking some snacks, getting into the garbage, or teething on non-toy items, our precious pups find a way to misbehave. Disciplining our dogs after an offense is a challenge due to their irresistable cuteness, but sometimes we can't help but show our displeasure. Winston the Golden Retriever got a little mouthy with his mom's footwear, and she was not happy when she found the evidence of his wrongdoing. In the TikTok from @wackowinston, Winston's mother entered the scene of the crime and instantly knew what took place in her absence. "Getting home after a long shift at work... just to see my dog ate my sandal," the onscreen text read as Winston's mom discovered her chewed up shoe on the couch with bits of leather strewn around. "Did you do that? Why?" she questioned Winston. The guilty Golden tried to wedge himself between the couch and the window, hoping not to be seen. The canine cutie clearly knew he was in trouble, yet his sweet expression would make anyone's frustration fade away. Followers sided with Winston and gave reasons and excuses for what may have happened."He probably told you 3 times to put those away," one remarked. "Innocent until proven guilty. US law will protect him," a fan claimed. "Your next door neighbor here, I saw a random dog go in your house, so Winnie hid behind the couch cause he was scared, innocent of all charges!" another advocated. "He couldn't of done that, clearly he's been stuck behind the couch so it's impossible," a follower posted. Hopefully, Winston's mom granted leniency to her canine cutie and may want to put her shoes out of sight from now on. 🐶🐾
