Latest news with #petbehavior
CNA
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Decoding your pet's behaviour for caregivers
CNA938 Rewind Play We all love our pets but what happens when they misbehave? Behavioural education is not just for pet owners, but for anyone involved in an animal's daily care. Cheryl Goh speaks with Dr Daphne Ang, Emergency & Critical Care, Clinical resident, Veterinary Behavior, Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital, who shares more about the importance of bridging the gap in behavioural education for a harmonious home. CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Decoding your pet's behaviour for caregivers We all love our pets but what happens when they misbehave? Behavioural education is not just for pet owners, but for anyone involved in an animal's daily care. Cheryl Goh speaks with Dr Daphne Ang, Emergency & Critical Care, Clinical resident, Veterinary Behavior, Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital, who shares more about the importance of bridging the gap in behavioural education for a harmonious home. 18 mins CNA938 Rewind - Mind Your Money - From Girl Boss to Girl Moss: Micro-retirements in Gen Z workers 'Micro-Retirements' have become popular with young Gen Z workers, who putting a pause on their careers to pursue personal growth and interests. But what kind of implications does it have on the career trajectory, and how are employers responding? Cheryl Goh speaks with Rohan Sylvester, Talent Strategy Advisor at Indeed on the trend, and how it could impact the future of work. 18 mins CNA938 Rewind - Civic District Children's Season 2025 – An Arts Adventure for Families this June Holiday In 'Destination Anywhere', Melanie Oliveiro finds out where Singaporean children and their parents can go to enjoy free and ticketed programmes at the heart of the Civic District during the June school holidays. Michelle Choy from Arts House Limited will talk about the Civic District Children's Season 2025 and its Little Explorer's Trail which is a self-guided journey of arts discovery across five iconic venues. 16 mins CNA938 Rewind - From Berklee to SG: Ahikaa Arora's Journey Through Song and Self In 'Culture Club', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with Ahikaa Arora, a 25-year-old Singapore-based singer-songwriter and Berklee College of Music scholarship alumna. Arora describes how she blends storytelling with intimate soundscapes – fusing pop, South Asian melodies and alternative music. She'll explain how her song themes include self-discovery, the human experience, and love – highlighting tracks like Providence, Sea Salt Amber, and Masquerade. Arora will also talk about her other job as a voice teacher. 30 mins
Fox News
25-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Dog owners who ruminate about work stress may pass anxiety to their pooch: study
If your job has you feeling tense, your dog might be feeling it too. A new study published in Scientific Reports finds that stress from work can affect your dog at home. The research, led by Tanya Mitropoulos and Allison Andrukonis, shows that when dog owners dwell on work problems after hours, a habit known as "work-related rumination," their pets show more signs of stress. Researchers surveyed 85 working dog owners. They measured job stress and how often people kept thinking about work during their free time. Then they asked how stressed owners thought their dogs were and also tracked actual behaviors linked to canine stress, like whining, pacing or restlessness. The study found that owners with higher job stress had dogs who showed more stress-related behaviors. That link stayed strong even when the researchers accounted for other stress in the home. Interestingly, owners didn't always realize their dogs were stressed. It was a pup's behavior that told the story. The big factor driving the connection? Rumination. Owners who mentally took work home were more likely to have stressed-out dogs. Thinking about work off the clock seemed to spread stress from humans to pets. This idea is known as "crossover," when one person's stress spills over to others in a home. Previous research has shown this happens between spouses, and now there's evidence it can happen between people and their pets too. Dogs are especially sensitive to their owners' moods. Scientists call this "emotional contagion," the idea that dogs can pick up on human feelings through tone of voice, body language and other subtle cues. When an owner is distracted or irritable from work stress, the dog notices. Over time, this can affect the dog's well-being. The study also suggests another explanation. When people are focused on work problems, they may become less patient, more distant or less consistent with routines like walks and feeding. That kind of change in care can also increase stress in dogs. The authors point out that Americans overwhelmingly see their pets as part of the family. That makes it even more important to understand how our behavior affects them. In the study's words, "employed dog owners might benefit from avoiding work-related ruminations when at home to protect the well-being of man's best friend." Putting work aside when you walk through the door doesn't just help your own health. It helps your dog, too.
Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Work stress upsets dogs
Dogs are stressed out by their owners' work-related anxiety, a study has shown. Scientists asked 85 dog owners to fill in a survey on their stress levels at work and their pets' behaviour. The owners were asked questions about their professional life including 'are you irritated by work issues' and how much they agree or disagree with the statement 'very few stressful things happen to me at work'. They were also asked to report how often their dog exhibited 11 different behaviours, some of which are linked to stress, such as panting, having their tail between their legs, whining and leaning into people. The researchers found a direct correlation between owners with more stressful jobs and their pet's stress levels. 'Our results do suggest that a person with a more stressful job is more likely to pass that stress on to their dog at home,' study author Dr Tanya Mitropoulos, of Radford University, told The Telegraph. Around a quarter of those studied were healthcare workers and a third were high-level managers - both positions that the study found were particularly stressful. Dr Mitropoulos found that of all the things that can stress a dog out, 13 per cent can be blamed on an owner's job. 'If you have two dog owners, the dog owner with higher stress has a 64 per cent chance of owning the dog that is more stressed,' she added. The scientists found that one of the most problematic aspects of owner behaviour, which the dogs picked up on the most was taking the mental burden of a job home. 'Ruminating about work problems, meaning going over negative thoughts about work when you're at home, facilitated the transfer of job stress to the dog,' Dr Mitropoulos said. 'So cutting off work-related thoughts when you're at home should help prevent transferring your job stress to your dog.' She advised checking work emails as little as possible and not working when at home, as well as making sure work and home were distinctly separated - both mentally and physically - for people who work from home. 'If possible, try to keep your workspace in a designated and remote area of the home so you're not seeing reminders of work while you're supposed to be relaxing,' she said. 'Practising mindfulness has been shown to reduce rumination, and there are now apps that guide people through mindfulness exercises, which you can do at the end of your workday.' She said that the best way to relax for both owners and dogs is to play together at home after work. 'Playing with your dog is a great way to pull your thoughts away from work,' Dr Mitropoulos said. 'Plus, if your dog is stressed due to not receiving enough attention because you're busy mulling over work issues, playing with your pet is a great way to give him the attention he needs while also pulling your mind away from work.'
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Vet reveals what it REALLY means if your dog tries to lick your feet
A vet has revealed what it really means when a dog licks their owner's feet, and why it isn't always a sign of affection. Paul Manktelow, a TV vet from London, revealed that their are four reasons a pooch may do the action - including that they're simply craving attention. 'It's a bit weird, isn't it, but there are reasons behind it,' Paul said in a TikTok video. This action can indicate that the dog does indeed feel affection towards their human. Paul, who posts on TikTok as drpaul_thevet, acknowledges that 'it is a sign of affection'. 'Dogs lick to show that they love you and their part of your pack.' Yet, while a dog may simply be showing people affection by licking their feet, the action could equally indicate that the pooch is craving attention. 'It can also be attention seeking behaviour,' Paul says. He explains: 'If you react when they lick - like you laugh or you start petting them - then it can be the behaviour that they know grabs your attention.' In other words, if an owner affirms the behaviour with a laugh or by showing affection in return, the dog is more likely to keep doing it. The third reason why a dog might lick their owner's feet, according to Dr Paul, is to do with the supposed 'salty' taste. 'Most people's feet taste salty because of the sweat and there's some interesting smells down there, and that's how dogs explore the world,' he says. There is, however, a fourth reason - and it may be the most surprising one of all. 'It can be a naturally grooming behaviour,' Paul reveals. 'Dogs in the wild would lick each other to keep themselves clean and it really just says that they're looking after you.' Dogs, of course, have many other ways of showing their owners that they love them and care for them. Natasha Watson, a vet at Vetfone - a company which provides round the clock support for pet owners via telephone or video call - explained: 'Dogs have a unique way of expressing their love and affection. From wagging their tails to giving you gentle cuddles, their actions speak volumes. 'They are very social animals who are great at understanding human emotions and will often learn to mirror them. 'By recognising the signs your dog shows to let you know just how much they adore you, you can deepen your bond with your furry companion.' While dogs use their tail to communicate many different emotions, a slightly upright side-to-side slow wag may indicate happiness and contentment, according to Natasha. If a dog greets their owner when then walk in the room with this kind of happy tail wag, that's a clear sign that they love their human and are happy to see them. And if dogs display a 'helicopter' tail - where their tail moves in a rapid, circular motion - then they are more than a little excited to see their owner. Dogs that feel trust and affection toward their owners often make prolonged eye contact. Research has found that when a dog looks at their human, it can trigger the release of oxytocin, the 'love hormone,' in both the dog and the owner. So, when a pooch looks at someone with gentle eyes, it's a clear sign of their love for that person. According to research carried out by Tesco Insurance, 31 per cent of dog owners report that their pup shares their toys with them. Most dogs are good judges of character so if a furry companion brings their human a toy to play with, then it is a sign that the person has reached an unconditional level of trust and love with the pooch. Dogs will cuddle in and lean on people they feel comfortable with. In fact, 39 per cent of dog owners report that their pup will shower them with cuddles and kisses - and this rises to 41 per cent when owners are upset. This is because cuddles bring back feelings of maternal closeness and release pheromones that soothe the dog. If a dog follows their from room to room, they're likely showing affection. This behaviour signifies that they want to be near the person, and since dogs are naturally pack animals, it's a sign of attachment or loyalty. Whilst this can be cute, dogs should still be able to have some alone time. Dogs are naturally protective of those they love. Natasha explains that if a dog shows signs of guarding their human or their home, it can be a sign of affection. They want to keep their person safe and are demonstrating loyalty and love. Dogs communicate with their owners in various ways, and vocalisations are one of them, according to vet Natasha Watson. While some breeds are more vocal than others, many dogs will 'talk' to their owners with barks or whines to get attention or express emotions. If a dog barks or makes sounds when they see their person or during moments of excitement, it could be a sign of love and attachment. While jumping up can sometimes be seen as a sign of excitement or a way to get attention, it's also a common way dogs show affection. When a dog jumps on their owner, they may simply be expressing their joy at seeing them - or seeking closeness. Similarly, almost half (45 per cent) of dog owners say their furry companion sits on them when they want attention. Natasha says that dogs that respond well to recall and commands are often eager to please their owners. Their willingness to obey shows trust and a desire to make their people happy. Training strengthens the bond between a pooch and their owner, as dogs enjoy the positive reinforcement and the satisfaction of making people proud. Dogs wants to please their owner as well as receive their reward, so when they follow directions, like coming back when called, they should be given an extra special ear rub. Dogs are remarkably empathetic creatures. If dogs mirrors their humans' emotions, it's a sign they love them. Natasha points out that they may sense when people upset or happy and adjust their behaviour accordingly. For instance, if a dog owner is feeling down, their pooch might come and sit by them, or offer comfort.
