Admin, Author at Daily Dog Discoveries

The Social Function of Dog Facial Markings

June 27, 2016March 5, 2016 by Admin

Let’s face it, as humans our faces offer a wide range of options when it comes to expressing our feelings. We can smile, frown, raise an eyebrow, wink and roll or widen our eyes. We can even wrinkle our nose, drop our jaw, purse our lips, blush or become pale. All of this happens courtesy of several facial muscles that allow us to create lines and folds in our faces and several movements so we can effectively convey our emotional states. When it comes to canines, things can be a tad bit more complicated as their facial muscles aren’t as developed as ours; however, Mother Nature has likely figured out a way to compensate for the deficit.

Facial Expressions in Dogs

Dogs may not have facial muscles that are as developed as humans, but they rely on several features of their faces to convey their emotions. A dog’s eyes may squint, blink, show whale eyes, or stare intently. The pupils may be dilated and the area above the dog’s eyes may appear tense (furrowed brow). A dog’s mouth may be closed tightly shut with tense muscles or opened in a relaxed manner. Yawning can take place. The corners of the dog’s lips (commissures) may be pulled back or the lips may be puckered forward or lifted in a snarl. The tongue may be hanging out relaxed or the edges may be curled (spatulate tongue). The tongue may also be flicking in and out or quickly licking the lips and nose. These are just a few of many facial expressions in dogs.

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Facial Markings in Dogs

Head markings seem to emphasize facial expressions, and well- delineated markings are often found in social animals with developed communicative systems, explains biologist and author Roger Abrantes in the book “Dog Language, An Encyclopedia of Canine Behavior.” There are therefore chances that facial markings in dogs are meant to enhance elements on the dog’s face which play a role in communication.

There is not much research conducted on this yet, but there may be chances that dogs with distinct facial markings may have a better time communicating than dogs who have fewer markings or lack facial markings altogether. However, just because some dogs don’t have distinct facial markings (think Labs and goldens), doesn’t necessarily mean they will struggle to communicate with other dogs. Dogs have many ways to communicate!

Dog Breeds with Facial Markings

Many dogs have distinct facial markings that may play a role in helping them communicate. Ever wondered why Doberman, Rottweilers and Bernese mountain dogs have copper or brown markings on their faces? In these dog breeds, the markings on their cheeks may help emphasize when they snarl, while the markings above their eyes may help emphasize their eye movements, suggests dog trainer and behavior consultant Liz Palika, in her book “The New Age Dog.”

And what about dogs with very dark muzzles such as German Shepherds, mastiffs, boxers and great danes? In this case, their dark muzzles may allow a dog’s pearly white teeth to stand out. Even some dogs who are entirely white may have some facial features that point out to the eyes and mouth. For instance, in the Samoyed or great Pyrenneese those dark-rimmed eyes, black noses and black lips may help emphasize these important areas of expression.

What Studies Have to Say

As mentioned, not much research has been conducted on dog facial markings, but there’s an interesting study conducted in Japan by Sayoko Ueda of the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Kyoto University. In the study, several species of the canidae family were divided in 3 groups. In group A were gathered specimens with irises that were lighter than their facial pupils and with other facial markings that made the eyes easy to locate. The animals in this group included the grey wolf, coyote and the golden jackal. In group B were specimens with only facial markings in the eye area and no visible pupils. The animals in this group included the maned wolf, the dingo and the kit fox. Finally, in group C were specimens that had no facial markings. The animals in this group included bush dogs, tanukis and African wild dogs.

The study concluded that animals equipped with eyes that were easier to locate belonged to species who lived and hunted in groups where eye communication was useful to bring down large prey. Whereas, animals with eyes that were more difficult to spot, were more likely to lead solitary lives. This seems to suggest that “eye-based conversations” must have played a crucial role in allowing animals to adhere to social functions such as living and hunting together.

“Various predators camouflage their eyes to increase their hunting success.” ~Cott HB (1940)

Types of Facial Markings in Dogs

As seen, the facial markings in different members of the canidae family may have served various adaptive functions, but what about dogs? Domestic dogs surely share a genetic basis for the conspecific gaze-communication observed in wolves. While dogs no longer hunt, they seem to understand the gaze signal of other dogs and humans. When it comes to gazing behavior directed towards humans, it was found that it was much longer in domestic dogs compared to gray wolves.

This seems to suggest that longer gazing behaviors directed towards humans may be a trait that has been selected artificially. In dogs though, their facial color patterns have quite varied during the selective breeding process by humans. Dogs today have different types of facial markings and some markings are distinctive of certain breeds, so much that they’re in some breed standards. Here’s a quick rundown on some of the most common facial markings in dogs:

Haggerty dot: a little circle of dark hair found on top of the head in the middle of a white blaze. Often seen in Boston terriers.
Blenheim spot: also known as the mark of “Duchess Thumb Print” is a chestnut spot in the middle of the forehead seen in Cavalier King Charles spaniels.
Blaze: a white strip in the center of the dog’s face usually between the dog’s eyes.
Kiss Marks: tan spots found on a dog’s cheeks and over the eyes.
Mask: a dark shading on the dog’s front portion of the skull.
Spectacles: markings over or around the eyes or from eyes to ears.
Muzzle bands: a white marking around the muzzle.

References:

The New Age Dog Kindle Edition by Liz Palika Renaissance Books (July 8, 2014)
Dog Language – An Encyclopedia of Canine Behavior Kindle Edition
by Roger Abrantes, Amazon Digital Services LLC, November 27, 1997
Ueda S, Kumagai G, Otaki Y, Yamaguchi S, Kohshima S (2014) A Comparison of Facial Color Pattern and Gazing Behavior in Canid Species Suggests Gaze Communication in Gray Wolves (Canis lupus). PLoS ONE 9(6): e98217. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098217
Cott HB (1940) Adaptive coloration in animals. London: Methuen. ix+508+plate48 p.
American Kennel Club, Glossary, retrieved from the web on March 5th, 2016.

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Six Fascinating Ways Dogs Use Their Tongues

July 30, 2016March 4, 2016 by Admin

We are used to paying attention to our dog’s ears, eyes and tail when we try to interpret what our dogs may be feeling, but did you know that a dog’s tongue can also play a role in communication? A dog’s tongue covers many important functions and we often take this muscled organ for granted. Dog tongues aren’t there just for decoration. There are many fascinating functions our dog’s tongues have that are just ready to be discovered. Following are six fascinating ways dogs use their tongues coming straight from a dog’s mouth.

Home of The Taste Buds

Ever wondered why I spit out that bitter pill you offer me giving you a hard time administering my medication? Chances are, my taste buds informed me that it’s not something I may want to eat. You see, just like you, a dog’s tongue is covered with these small bumps known as papillae. Each papillae contains several clusters of taste buds and each taste bud is equipped with taste receptor cells. These receptor cells transmit messages to a special area in our brain that’s dedicated to allowing me to detect odors or tastes so that I can evaluate them. I am known to be capable of discerning between salt, sweet, bitter and sour. Mother Nature has given me this gift, so that I could avoid eating things that could be potentially harmful.

” Sensations of pleasure and disgust provided by taste serve a survival function. A reasonable rule of thumb, at least for natural substances, is that bad tastes are a signal that the animal has encountered something that is harmful, indigestible, or poisonous, while good tastes signal useful, digestible substances.” ~ Stanley Coren

A Dog’s Radiator

On top of allowing me to perceive taste, my tongue also allows me to cool off especially on those dog days of summer. Unlike humans, who cool off by sweating, us dogs stick out our tongues and start panting. No, my tongue doesn’t sweat, instead, it’s kept moist courtesy of four pairs of salivary glands which release saliva in the mouth. You see, when I’m hot, my tongue acts like a thermostat, and those quick, shallow, breaths allow air to flow over my tongue causing saliva and moisture to evaporate. Through the evaporation of water from my tongue, mouth and upper respiratory tract, I am able to effectively cool down.

Panting in dogs is not only seen when it’s hot or after exercising, sometimes us dogs may pant with our tongues sticking out also when we’re stressed. So a panting dog isn’t always a happy dog. How can you tell if I am panting from stress? You will have to look at context and rely on other subtle signs such as facial tension, furrowed brows, a tense, spatula-shaped tongue (tongue curved at the edges), whale eyes and prominence of muscles and veins on the face among other signs.

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Did you know? According to veterinarian Marty Becker, when a dog pants he takes about 300 to 400 breaths per minute, which is whole lot compared to the normal 30 to 40 breaths per minute.

Lapping Up Water

When you drink water, you just gulp it down with your tongue staying nicely put inside your mouth. That’s because you have a nice set of full cheeks that allow you to suction. When us dogs must drink, we must stick out our tongues instead. The way we drink water may seem sloppy to you as you wipe away those random splashes by the water bowl, but turns out, it took a group of researchers at Virginia Tech and Purdue University to figure out exactly what we’re doing. You see, as we’re drinking, we plunge our tongue in the water and then the underside of our tongues curls up to bring up a ladle of water into our mouths. We then quickly bite down to capture that water and on goes the lap, gulp and repeat cycle. Researchers say that us dogs are very fast in accelerating our tongue upward and we do so more quickly than cats.

“The everyday experience of dogs as messy drinkers results from the backward curl of the tongue, which increases the size of the water column and thus enables dogs to drink more per lap than with a straight tongue.” ~Gart, Sean, et al.

My Cleaning Device

Humans are blessed with hands that come with opposable thumbs, while us dogs are left with nothing more than our mouths and paws to carry out several tasks. Count your blessings for this. According to veterinarian Patty Khuly, a practicing veterinarian based in Miami, Florida, if humans lacked opposable thumbs and weren’t able to reach out for disinfectants to clean up their wounds, they would possibly lick their wounds just like dogs do! Whether we’re grooming our puppies, removing debris from our fur or licking a wound, our tongues are our cleaning devices.

We’re not aware of it, but our saliva contains beneficial compounds capable of destroying the cell walls of gram-positive bacteria. So our instinctive wound licking behavior can help promote healing, diminish our pain and at the same time, inhibit bacterial growth! However, as with many things in life, too much of a good thing is bad. I may get carried away into licking too much and the repeated abrasive action of my tongue along with the negative implication of keeping a wound moist for too long (moisture attracts bacteria), may lead to trouble. This is when your vet may recommend I wear that cone of shame.

“Pets can get obsessed with licking to the detriment of healthy skin. There’s also a lot of bad bacteria in a pet’s mouth, so as with so many good things in life, licking is an activity best done in moderation.”Patty Khuly

Tongue Flicks Speak Volumes

You’re likely familiar with snakes flicking their tongues, but dogs can flick tongues too. When you see me doing this, you might want to pay attention to what is happening. Patricia McConnell in her book ” For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend” explains that in dogs these little tongue flicks are an expression of low level anxiety or an appeasement signal. You may see tongue flicks happening anytime I feel uncomfortable such as when I am at the vet’s office, when you’re trimming my nails or when I am being hugged or in a place surrounded by strange dogs. Don’t ignore these subtle pleads of help, take notice and try to find ways to make me more comfortable in certain situations. Ignore them, and my anxiety may escalate. Not all tongue flicks stem from anxiety though, a dog who is engaging in a full body wag, and comes towards you with the head lowered and tongue flicking, may just be soliciting attention.

“If a dog stands still, tongue-flicks out of a closed jaw, and then stiffly turns his head away from you, mind your manners. You are being told loud and clear that Fido is uncomfortable. (. . .) Ignore this message at your own peril.” ~Patricia McConnell

A Greeting Tool

You’re likely quite familiar with the enthusiastic licks I give upon greeting you in the evening when you come home from work. You like to call them “doggy kisses.” Well, from our doggy perspective, things are a tad bit different from what you may imagine. We don’t really “kiss” as people do and people who kiss dogs are often at risk of being bitten. You see, us dogs use our tongues from a very young age. Mother dog licks us from the day we are born. After we make it out the birth canal, mother dog licks us vigorously to help stimulate our breathing and then she’ll keep licking us to stimulate us to eliminate as we can’t do that on our own when we’re very young.

As we grow up, you’ll see us lick around our mother’s mouth. This behavior is likely reminiscent of the old days when we were in the wild and we licked our mother’s mouths to elicit her to regurgitate for us when we were in the process of being weaned. You see, back then, mother dog couldn’t bring a whole carcass to our den to feed us, so she would regurgitate to feed us. Today we have the luxury of breeders serving us puppy mush before being started on kibble, but back then, things were just that way. So when we greet you by licking your face, we might not necessarily be asking you to regurgitate (although we loves those cookie crumbs on the corners of your mouth!), but if our tails are wagging and we look happy, chances are you can take it as a sign of friendliness or a sincere compliment coming from “the tip of our tongues.”

Dogs like to lick our faces, a behavior that is disturbing for many dog owners and particularly non-dog owners. Yet, this behavior is a demonstration of friendliness, an attempt at pacifying us and themselves, a hand (though not literally) reaching for peace. It’s a compliment a dog gives you, “I like you, you can be my friend.” ~Roger Abrantes

Did you know? Some dogs have black in their mouths and this can mean black spots on their tongues or even blue/black tongues. Here’s an interesting read on the tongue of the Chow chow: the chow’ chow’s fascinating tongue.

References:

For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend, by Patricia McConnell, Ph.D Ballantine Books; 1 Reprint edition (July 22, 2009)
American Physical Society’s Division of Fluid Dynamics. “Fluid dynamics explain what happens when dogs drink water.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 November 2014.
Gart, Sean, et al. “Dogs lap using acceleration-driven open pumping.”Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112.52 (2015): 15798-15802.
Psychology Today, How Good Is Your Dog’s Sense of Taste?, by Stanley Coren, retrieved from the Wed on March 4th, 2016.
Ethology Institute Institute Cambridge, Why Do Dogs Like to Lick Our Faces?, by Roger Abrantes, retrieved from the Web on March 4th, 2016.

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The Secret Behind Dog Tricks

June 27, 2016March 3, 2016 by Admin

It’s Talent Thursday and today we will be focusing on the secret behind dog tricks. How do dogs perform tricks? We are used to seeing shows where dogs perform amazing tricks. Whether it’s a dog playing dead, a dog grabbing a tissue when a person sneezes or a dog walking backwards, what you see is mostly the finished product, but there are many things going on behind the scenes before the dog performs the tricks so naturally and fluently in front of an audience. Today, we’ll be taking a sneak peak into how dogs are taught to perform tricks and what really goes on behind public view.

A Matter of Prompts

When dogs are taught to perform tricks, there are several different kinds of prompts trainers may rely on. Prompts, as the name implies, are simply aids that help the dog perform the behavior. Food used as a lure is a common prompt used by trainers to evoke behaviors. Because dogs tend to follow treats with their noses, a food lure is often used to guide the dog into a desired position.

For example, holding a food lure at the level of the dog’s nose and lifting it up towards the back of the dog’s head will often get a dog to sit. Lower that food lure down from the dog’s nose to the middle of his paws and outwards and you may get a dog to lie down. Move the food lure in a large circle, and you’ll likely get a dog to spin. Other forms of prompts include physical prompts such as gentle physical assistance, under the form of guiding a dog with a leash or giving a light touch to get a dog to sit, however, it’s best to avoid physical prompting as it can distracting and even disruptive. Another more subtle type of prompt can be slightly leaning forward towards a standing dog to get the dog to take a few steps backwards.

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“A prompt is defined as an antecedent stimulus (something that comes before a behavior, as opposed to consequence, which comes after a behavior) that is likely to elicit (achieve without any training) the desired response. ” ~ Jean Donaldson

The Power of Reinforcement

The purpose of training a dog is getting the dog to first perform a desired behavior, and then, having the dog to repeat the behavior. As we use a prompt to get the dog to perform a behavior, how do we tell a dog: “Oh, that’s great! Can you please do it again?” The best way is to provide feedback through positive reinforcement training. To inform the dog he did something good, positive reinforcement trainers will mark the desired response with the click of the clicker or a verbal marker such as “yes!” immediately followed by a treat. Some dogs who are highly motivated by toys, may find the use of a ball instead of treats rewarding enough.

What do we accomplish by marking and rewarding behaviors? It’s as if we were telling the dog, “Yes! you got it right, here comes a treat!” For the sake of comparison, it’s sort of like a game show’s right answer bell going “ding, ding ding!’ immediately being followed by money being deposited into your account. Doesn’t getting a right answer motivate you to get more right answers in the future so you get more money? You bet!

“Skinner introduced a new term into the Law of Effect – Reinforcement. Behavior which is reinforced tends to be repeated (i.e. strengthened); behavior which is not reinforced tends to die out-or be extinguished (i.e. weakened).” ~Saul Mcleod, Psychology Tutor at The University of Manchester.

Fading the Prompts

When you watch a dog perform an impressive trick on television or at an event, you’re unlikely to see the trainer still using prompts. After all, it’s not very impressive (and it’s also very wrong!) if the trainer must show food to get the dog perform the behavior or if she must rely on other types of prompts. Good trainers will start fading prompts as soon as they can, otherwise the dog will become overly reliant on them. The longer they stick to prompts, the harder it will be to remove them. So prompts are gradually faded.

The trainer who leaned forward towards the standing dog to get him to him to take a few steps backwards, will start leaning less and less. The trainer who used a food lure to get the dog to spin by moving it in a large circle will have a little more work. First, he must fade the food lure by using an empty hand to make the large circle hand motion. Then, to make the trick even more flashy, he may be making the hand motion smaller and smaller until the dog performs the spinning trick with a mere wave of the hand.

Introducing Flashy Cues

Once a dog gets pretty good at performing a behavior, a new, flashier cue can be permanently assigned to it. In other words, the behavior can be named and the dog can be taught to perform the trick when the trainer says the cue. The cue doesn’t necessarily have to be a word. For example, a dog may have been taught to grab a tissue from a tissue box when the trainer pointed to the tissue box. To make the trick more impressive, the trainer may wish to have the dog grab the tissue the moment he sneezes. To introduce this new cue and replace the pointing gesture, the trainer would therefore first sneeze, and then point. After several repetitions, since most dogs love to anticipate, at some point, they’ll grab the tissue upon hearing the trainer sneeze even before the trainer points at the tissue box!

“Once you have the behavior you want, practice it until the dog is actively offering exactly that behavior—that perfect behavior—80% of the time, then add the cue.” ~Melissa Alexander

Feeding on Variable Schedule

You may have heard in the past that dogs who are trained with treats are bribed and will go on strike that day the person isn’t carrying treats. This may be true, there are several dogs who won’t budge until you get that treat out of your pocket, but this doesn’t mean that using treats for training is wrong. It just simply means that the treats are being used incorrectly. A good trainer will make sure to fade those food lures quickly so that the dog doesn’t rely on them and think that they’re part of the cue.

On top of that, the trainer will also move from a continuous schedule to a variable schedule. This means that while it’s fine in the initial stages of training to reward the dog for every single correct response (continuous schedule), once the dog’s behavior becomes reliable, treats can be given in an unpredictable, random manner (variable schedule, also known as intermittent schedule). Since the dog won’t know when the next treat will be coming, he’s kept on his toes just like people who don’t know when they’re going to hit the jackpot next when playing the slots at Vegas. From a performance standpoint, it means that the dog can compete in an event without the trainer having to dole out treats too often, while feedback can still be given though under the form of praise which can be rewarding on its own if it’s been astutely paired with treats in the past!

“When your pet is learning a new behavior, reward him every time he does the behavior. Once your pet has reliably learned the behavior, you want to switch to intermittent reinforcement, in which you continue with praise, but gradually reduce the number of times he receives a treat for doing the desired behavior.” ~The Humane Society of the United States

Practice Makes Perfect

Training a dog to perform a trick requires lots of practice so to attain a high level of fluency and a high response rate. To help dogs generalize the trick, the trainer makes sure to train in different contexts in gradually more and more distracting environments. The trainer may first train the trick in the home, then may practice in the yard, then on walks and then in front of a crowd. Other challenges are added, such as training the dog to perform the behavior at greater and greater distances (think a dog sitting from across a room) or for longer and longer times (such as a dog holding a five-minute stay) Distraction, distance and duration are known as the 3D’s of training and they are part of what’s needed for proofing behaviors. The rest involves getting the dog to perform the tricks with precision and speed. Once the dog performs the behavior fluently and reliably anywhere upon hearing the cue, the behavior is said to have attained stimulus control.

“When a dog performs a behavior on cue quickly, anywhere, and under a wide variety of conditions, the behavior is said to be under stimulus control.” ~Pat Miller

Did you know? Using prompts is only one way of training. There are trainers who used other different methods such as capturing, where spontaneous behaviors dogs do on their own are rewarded or shaping where successive approximations of a desired behavior are rewarded taking a step-by-step approach.

References:

Oh Behave: Dogs from Pavlov to Premack to Pinker, by Jean Donaldson, Dogwise Publishing (April 7, 2008)
Whole Dog Journal, Advanced Dog Training Methods: How to Fade Prompts and Lures by Pat Miller, retrieved from the Web on March 3rd, 2016
Clicker Training, by Karen Pryor, Fading the Click? retrieved from the Web on March 3rd, 2016
Clicker Training, by Casey LoMonaco, Everything You Wanted to Know About Proofing—But Were Afraid to Ask, retrieved from the Web on March 3rd, 2016
Clicker Training, by Casey LoMonaco, Got behaviors? Want proof? retrieved from the Web on March 3rd, 2016

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Dog Word of the Day: Ratter

June 27, 2016March 2, 2016 by Admin

It’s Wednesday word day and today we’ll be getting more acquainted with the word “ratter.” What do dogs have to do with rats? Last time we checked, cats were the role models par excellence when it came to chasing rats. Interestingly, it turns out that there are several dogs breeds with a history of taking over the unglamorous task of killing rats and excelling at it too! It may be surprising for you to find certain types of breeds among the list of dogs with a history of being ratters.

The History of Ratters

In its most simple definition, a ratter is dog who was selectively bred for catching rats and other types of vermin. Generally, ratters were dogs who were small to medium in size. In ancient times, keeping the rat population under control was of primary importance due to the spread of fatal diseases such as the black plague in Europe. Rats were also often damaging food supplies, leading to great losses.

Several types of dogs were found suitable for the task, and some were known to routinely accompany the “rat catcher” a person who made a business out of catching rats. Jack Black was a popular rat catcher from Victorian England who was often accompanied by his furry helper.

Did you know? The earliest record of dogs used to kill rats comes from the retrieval of the body of “Hatch,” a mongrel dog whose body was found on the Mary Rose, an ancient ship that sunk in 1545. Hatch was purposely kept on board to control the rat population.

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A Bloody Sport

What did rat catchers do with all the rats they caught? Jack Black was known for supplying thousands of live rats for the purpose of rat-baiting, a bloody sport that became popular towards the end of the 19th century. The sport consisted of placing several rats in a pit, and then dogs, usually terriers, would be sent out to kill them. People would bet on how long it would take for the dogs to exterminate them all.

Not all dogs were up for the task, rat baiting required agile dogs with fast reflexes. A good ratter was expected to take five seconds to kill a rat, and dogs who killed fifteen rats within a minute were considered excellent ratters. It wasn’t unusual for some rats to bite when they were cornered which led to injuries to the dog and some dogs even lost their eyes. Fortunately, the bloody sport of rat baiting has become illegal in most countries. The last rat-baiting event was held in 1912 in Leicester.

Did you know? The world record in rat baiting was held by Jacko, a black and tan bull terrier who managed to kill 100 rats in 5 minutes and 28 seconds on 1 May 1862.

Dogs Used to Kill Rats

Many dogs bred to control the population of rats were working terriers developed in England, Ireland and Scotland. Following is a list of several dog breeds that were commonly used as ratters:

Bedlington Terrier

Don’t be fooled by this breed’s lamb-like appearance. Under their innocent looks hides a feisty terrier with a history of catching a wide variety of vermin ranging from mice, rats, badgers, hares and foxes. Bedlington terriers originated in England and were named after the mining town of Bedlington, in Northumberland, North East England. In the mines, this dog was able of clearing many tunnels of rats with a tenacious determination. Their looks aren’t casual, it’s said that the fur on the bottom parts of their legs was crafted in such a way as to protect them from the bites of vermin.

Yorkshire Terrier

Don’t let the lap dog with pink bows looks fool you, the Yorkie is a ratter by heart. Originating in Yorkshire, a region in Northern England, the Yorkie was employed for killing the many rats populating the mines and cotton mills in the mid 1800’s when England was at it’s peak production during the Industrial Revolution. But that’s not all! Soon, the Yorkie was also used to hunt down animals living in dens and burrows such as foxes, badgers and other small wild animals. These dogs were admired for their bravery and determination, a trait that’s often seen in many working terriers.

Manchester Terrier

In England, the 19th century was a time when rats were consider a health risk and killing the rats was a popular sport. John Hulme, a fan of the rat baiting sport decided to cross a whippet with a cross-bred black and tan terrier in hopes of developing a tenacious dog that was suitable for the sport. The ancestors of the Manchester terrier succeeded so well, that the breed was established. The ears were cropped to prevent them from getting torn. Despite the fact that the sport of rat-baiting was banned, the small terriers managed to continue their work in the many public inns that were infested with rats. At night, they were turned loose to snatch as many rats as they could.

Rat Terriers

And what about rat terriers? As the name implies, the name rat terrier stems from this dog’s main occupation. The rat terrier’s ancestors were introduced in the US by English miners and other working class immigrants. This dog was particularly cherished for his ability to kill vermin on American farms in particular from the 1920s to the 1940s. Their numbers though declined sharply from the 1950s with the advent of chemical pesticides.

The list of ratters goes on. Other dog breeds who were used to kill rats included: Jack Russell terrier, dachshunds, cairn terriers, Norfolk terriers, Sealyham terriers, border terriers, papillons, schipperke, Affenpinschers, Patterdale terriers, Lakeland terriers, and Prague ratters.

Ratter Dogs Today

Most breeds with a history of ratting are kept as house pets today. Because of their past, these dogs tend to not do too well with small critters. According to the Rat Terrier Club of America, any small, quick moving animal is considered “fair” game from a rat terrier’s perspective and therefore the chase is on. Many ratters are attracted by toys that make sharp, squeaky noises, and given the opportunity, they’ll just break them apart. Nowadays, may previous ratting dogs are “put to work” by engaging their bodies and minds in earth-dog trials, but in some places they are still being used as ratters. According to Wikipedia, some dogs are still be used as a form of pest control in many major cities around the world as a more humane alternative to rat poisons.

References:

Wikipedia, Rat Baiting, retrieved from the web on March 2nd, 2016.

Photo credits:

Jack Black, rat catcher, 1851, Mayhew, H. (1851). ‘London Labour and the London poor’, Volumne 3, pg. 11 at The Perseus Digital Library, public domain
Billy, the rat killing dog, public domain.

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This Nut Can Cause Temporary Paralysis in Dogs

July 8, 2016March 1, 2016 by Admin

Let’s face it, many of us love to eat nuts and it’s tempting to share some nuts with dogs, but there are certain types of nuts that are toxic to dogs and may cause even serious symptoms. Not all nuts are created equal though, so there are some nuts that are safer for dogs and some nuts that are more dangerous than others. Many types of nuts are known for causing dogs an upset stomach and some of them can cause an intestinal blockage if they’re swallowed whole, and then there are certain types of nuts that can cause neurological symptoms. In particular, one type of nut is known for causing a temporary paralysis in dogs with difficulty moving their rear legs, can you name what type of nut that is?

Question: What type of nut is known for causing temporary paralysis in dogs?

A: Peanut

B: Pistachio nut

C: Macadamia nut

D: Almond

The correct answer is:

Drum-roll please….

Answer:

Are Peanuts Bad for Dogs?

If you answered A, peanuts, the answer is incorrect. While peanuts won’t cause a temporary paralysis, they aren’t totally safe. There are peanuts and peanuts and there are dogs and dogs. Peanuts are rich in fat which can be problematic for dogs with a sensitive stomach and prone to pancreatitis. Their high salt content also doesn’t make them a healthy snack. Also, some peanuts may be contaminated with aflatoxins which are naturally-occurring mycotoxins produced by certain species of fungi. Aflatoxin poisoning can be very serious, warns veterinarian Dr. Marie. According to the Pet Poison Helpine, aflatoxins may cause vomiting, tremors, seizures, a drunk-like gait, agitation and increased body temperature. Peanut butter may also not be safe as there are certain types of peanut butter that are particularly bad for dogs.

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Are Pistachios Bad for Dogs?

If you answered B, pistachio nuts, the answer is also incorrect. While pistachio nuts won’t cause a temporary paralysis, they aren’t totally safe either. Pistachio nuts aren’t toxic per se, but their shells can cause an intestinal blockage leading to vomiting and diarrhea, warns veterinarian Rebecca Osterfund. A blockage is most likely seen when dogs eat large amounts, especially small dogs who have tinier passages in their intestinal tracts.

On top of that, pistachios, just like peanuts, may be contaminated with aflatoxins, and as such, the may cause liver failure and neurological signs in affected dogs. Consult with your vet to play it safe.

Are Almonds Bad For Dogs?

If you answered D, almonds, the answer is also incorrect. While almonds won’t cause a temporary paralysis, they aren’t totally safe either. Sure, we are often told how healthy eating a handful of almonds a day are for humans, but dogs aren’t humans so they’re prone to different problems compared to us. Almonds can be a choking hazard to small dogs, and when swallowed without chewing, they can also cause a blockage to small dogs. Eating a large amount can lead to an upset stomach and their oil content may also possibly trigger pancreatitis. Almonds are also often very salty making them not a very healthy choice for dogs.

Are Macadamia Nuts Bad For Dogs?

If you answered C, macadamia nuts, the answer is correct, these nuts have been know for causing a temporary paralysis of the hind legs. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, macadamia nuts are mild to moderately toxic to dogs and may cause serious lethargy, increased temperature, vomiting, tremors, stiff joints and the inability to walk with the hind legs commonly affected. The exact toxic mechanism remains unknown, but what’s known is that it affects the dog’s nerve function. Generally, symptoms appear within 12 hours of ingestion, but can often seen much sooner, explains veterinarian Dr. Scott Nimmo.

According to Dr. Foster and Smith, the toxic dose of macadamia nuts is 10 grams per pound of dog’s body weight. Luckily, the symptoms tend to resolve within 24 hours with supportive treatment; however, absorption can be prevented if the dog is induced to vomit within the past hour of ingesting them. There is currently no antidote for dog macadamia poisoning. Particularly problematic is the ingestion of chocolate covered macadamia nuts considering that chocolate is also bad for dogs. If your dog ate macadamia nuts, consult with your vet at once for instructions.

“Dogs experimentally dosed with commercially prepared macadamia nuts at 20 g/kg developed clinical signs within 12 hr and were clinically normal without treatment within 48 hr.” ~Merck Veterinary Manual

Other Troublesome Nuts

Macadamia nuts aren’t the only nuts that can cause problems in dogs. Walnuts, pecans and hickory nuts may also contain a toxin that’s known for causing neurological signs in dogs. And what about cashew nuts, are they bad for dogs? Cashew nut are not toxic to dogs, but they’re high in fat so they can trigger vomiting and diarrhea in dogs who ingest them, explains veterinarian Dr. Peter. And the same goes for pecans, according to the ASPCA.

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I am Your Dog’s Lungs

June 27, 2016February 29, 2016 by Admin

It’s Monday Marvels and today’s place of honor is reserved to the dog’s lungs. We often take a dog’s lungs for granted except when they trigger coughing or wheezing, making us worry about our dog’s health. The dog’s lungs are vital organs, and as such, they require great care to ensure they function and continue to function properly. There are many disorders out there that can affect the lungs, so it’s best to take good care of them and immediately report to the vet any changes. But let’s allow the dog’s lungs to do the talking, so we can get better acquainted with them.

Introducing the Dog’s Lungs

Hello, it’s your dog’s lungs talking! There are two of us, the right lung and the left one, and just like in humans, they’re divided into several lobes. If you look closely at my air passages, you’ll notice that they appear like an upside-down tree. My larger branches are the bronchi, and then there are the finer branches which are my bronchioles. Then, if you were too look at things microscopically, you would notice that my bronchioles end into these teeny tiny structures known as the alveoli which are like grape-like bunches of air. Each alveolus is covered with capillaries that receive blood from the heart.

I am an Oxygen Supplier

My biggest job is to allow your dog to breathe well. When your dog inhales, fresh air enters his nose or his mouth, then it reaches the pharynx, the larynx and the trachea, also known as the windpipe. As the name implies, the windpipe is a tube that carries the air from the nose all the way down to me through the bronchi and bronchioles. At the level of the alveoli, the fresh oxygen-rich air is absorbed, while the used air is discarded by passing through (this time in reverse order) from the bronchi all the way back to the nose where it is exhaled. Right beneath me is the diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle that helps your dog inhale and exhale effectively.

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I am an Exchange System

I do much more than supplying oxygen, I also work as an important exchange system replacing carbon dioxide with oxygen. When the heart sends me the dark blood composed of carbon dioxide, I replace it with bright red, oxygen-rich blood that is then sent to all parts of your dog’s body giving vital energy to his cells. Cells though produce carbon dioxide, a waste gas, that needs to be removed, which happens when your dog exhales. Every day, your dog inhales and exhales hundreds of times. According to Dr. Debra Primovic, the average breathing rate in dogs is estimated to be 10 to 30 breaths per minute.

“Count the number of breaths your pet takes in one minute. Avoid counting when your dog is panting. A good time to count the normal breathing rate is when your dog is asleep.” ~Dr. Debra Primovic

I am a Cooling System

You might already know that your dog doesn’t sweat as effectively as you do. Humans sweat a lot through their skin. While dogs sweat a bit from their paws, their main cooling system is provided by panting. When your dog pants, he is breathing faster, and therefore is removing the warm air from his body (ever felt how warm that air is when he pants in your face?). As the warm air is removed, it’s replaced with the cooler air from the outside. If the air outside though is very hot and humid, I might be unable to help your dog cool down, so be careful not to overheat your dog! And what about when your dog romps in the yard or chases a squirrel? When your dog exerts himself, the brain tells me to work faster. Let him lie down though to snooze, and the brain will tell me to slow down.

When Things go Wrong

Everyday I risk being exposed to triggers that could lead to problems. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, dust, chemical particles, you name it. Luckily, most are trapped by the mucous lining of the nasal passages before they reach me. Cilia, special mucous-covered hairs that resemble a field of grass as seen in the picture, also help trap foreign particles and germs before the particles make it to me. Not to mention, the immune system also attempts to destroy certain microorganisms. However, sometimes these harmful entities still manage to make it my way. When this happens, I get irritated, even inflamed. Coughing or sneezing may sometimes help expel these entities, but sometimes this isn’t enough. Some small particles may still make it through and wreck havoc.

Fungal Infections

You see, dogs like to use their powerful sniffers, and sometimes, the may inhale spore-like particles of harmful fungi that inhabit the soil. Because these particles are tiny, they are able to reach me and cause great havoc. Histplasmosis, blastomycosis and coccidioidomycosis are some fungal infections dogs may get if they live in areas where these harmful fungal spores thrive.

Bacterial/Viral Infections

Normally, the dog’s immune system should keep harmful bacteria and viruses out of my way, but if the immune system is for some reason weak, as often seen in puppies, and sometimes in older dogs, bacteria may reach the respiratory system. The distemper or parainfluenza virus may weaken the immune system enough to cause serious problems. Affected dogs may develop a sudden onset of a runny nose, sneezing, fever, lethargy and general malaise.

Other Problems

There are many things that can go wrong with me. You see, my alveoli are meant to fill up with air, but if they end up filling up with fluid, this leads to problems as it prevents oxygen from being absorbed into your dog’s bloodstream. How does fluid end up in the wrong place? It can happen with aspiration pneumonia, heart disease, drowning just to name a few. Because I am a vital organ, Mother Nature made sure to protect me by shielding me with a strong ribcage, but if a dog gets hit by a car, I may still get damaged. If a rib fractures and punctures me, air can escape from the area around me causing me to collapse, a condition known as pneumothorax.

Signs of Trouble

If your dog for a reason or another is unable to breathe well, his body may not receive enough oxygen. Carbon dioxide may accumulate causing signs of trouble. If your dog’s gums appear pale, gray or blue, that’s a sign they lack oxygen. See your emergency vet immediately if you notice abnormal gum color in your dog. Trouble breathing and coughing in dogs is often associated with respiratory disease, but it can also be a symptom of something else such as congestive heart failure.

As seen, I play a very important role in your dog’s health! From the day your dog was born, I will be working hard day and night. Make sure you protect me as much as you can. Keep your dog away from excessive dust, and don’t forget about smoke. Dogs suffer from the effects of second-hand smoking just as humans do! Don’t forget to keep your dog’s teeth in good shape. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, dental disease ups the chances for bacteria to reach me and cause a serious secondary infection. And of course, see your vet promptly at the first signs of trouble!

I hope this helped you get more acquainted with me! Living out in the boonies makes people often forget about me, but I am always here, diligently doing my work from your dog’s first breath, to his very last.

Respectfully,

Your Dog’s Lungs

Did you know? The dog’s respiratory system is divided in the upper respiratory tract comprising the nose, nasal sinuses, throat and trachea, and lower respiratory tract comprising the bronchi and bronchioles and the alveoli.

References:

Pet Education, Respiratory System: Anatomy & Function in Dogs, by Race Foster DVM, retrieved on February 29th, 2016
Merck Veterinary Manual, Introduction to Lung and Airway Disorders of Dogs, retrieved on February 29th, 2016

Photo credit:

Ciliated and non-ciliated cells on lungs, public domain.
Lungs diagram with internal details, by Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator – Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator, CC BY 2.5

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Introducing the Dog’s Supracaudal Gland

December 28, 2018February 28, 2016 by Admin

Did you know? Dogs have a special gland on their tail known as the supracaudal gland. No, we’re not talking about those glands around the dog’s bum slightly under the dog’s tail, but actually a totally different gland that’s found instead dorsally, on the upper surface of the dog’s tail. Also, known as the tail gland or violet gland, this gland isn’t unique to dogs but can also be found in several other animals such as foxes, wolves, some European badgers and even the domestic cat.

Function of the Gland

The supracaudal gland in dogs is a secretion gland, meaning that it secretes certain substances. The area is rich with apocrine and sebaceous glands. In dogs, the tail gland is not as developed as in foxes, who use it for communication purposes and which secretes a strong odor for the purpose of scent marking.

According to Richard Estes, author of the book “The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores,” the violet gland in foxes is more developed in females and secretes more actively during the denning season.

As the female goes in and out of the den to attend to her pups, she presumably leaves her scent from her tail when it’s brushed against the entrance of the den. In dogs, the exact function of this gland remains unknown but it appears that it may help identify them to other canines, explains veterinarian Mary Fuller.

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Location of the Gland

In dogs, the tail gland is an oval area located just above the dog’s 9th caudal vertebrae. That’s about 5 to 40 mm from the base of the tail. In some dogs, the gland is vestigial, meaning that it has lost its function or it’s entirely absent. According to Fox, 1971; Clutton-Brock, 1995, tail glands may be absent in dogs, or if they are present, they’re reduced. The presence of tail gland in dogs is connected with coarse, stiff hairs, and, despite being often called “stud tail,” it can be found in both male and female dogs.

Problems with Tail Glands

At times, the dog’s supracaudal tail gland may get infected. Stud tail, also known as tail gland hyperplasia or supracaudal gland infection, is caused by the inflammation or infection of this gland and it’s often found in intact male dogs as there’s belief it’s testosterone induced.

The gland in this case may swell, and there may be hair loss causing a bald, greasy spot at the top area of the tail. In severe cases, affected dogs may require a course of antibiotics, but for mild cases, a topical, medicated shampoo may help out.

In some dogs, tumors may also develop in this site. If your dog appears to have symptoms of stud tail, please see your vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. However, when the quantity of terpenes produced are quite large, the odor may be rather unpleasant.

References:

The Tail Gland of Canids, S. A. Shabadash, T. I. Zelikina, Biology Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences July 2004, Volume 31, Issue 4, pp 367-376
Dog Behaviour, Evolution, and Cognition, by Adam Miklosi, OUP Oxford; 1 edition (April 12, 2008)
The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates by Richard D. Estes (Author),University of California Press; 20th Anniversary ed. edition (March 28, 2012)
Wikipedia, Violet Gland, retrieved on Febuary 28th, 2016

Photo credits:

Caudal glands in a dog Rhodesian Ridgeback, by Uwe Gille, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Four Reasons Why Your Dog Hates Your Perfume

June 27, 2016February 27, 2016 by Admin

Perfumes have been worn by people since early civilization, and still as of today, the world of fragrances is so popular that it is a multi-billion industry. All you have to do is visit Sephora’s fragrance aisle and you’re shortly overwhelmed with attractive-looking bottles and fragrances ready to seduce your olfactory senses. The scent of lavender, vanilla and sandalwood remind you of distant exotic places.

Whether it’s the scented candles, new body soap or air freshener, we can’t deny that as humans we are delighted by pleasant smells that stimulate the olfactory receptors in our nose. What smells are we mostly attracted to? It looks like for the most part we’re interested in flowery scents or scents that remind us of fruits or our favorite foods, but what about our dogs? Dogs seem to think things quite differently. Here are four reasons why dogs hate perfume, straight from your dog’s mouth!

It’s Just Too Much!

As you might know, Mother Nature has blessed me with a powerful sniffer that’s believed to be have up to 300 million olfactory receptors! That’s quite a lot compared to the mere six million you have! So don’t be surprised if next time you call me, I am too busy reading my Daily Pee Mail messages from the lamp post to respond right away. Each and every day, I am strongly affected by the world of wafting aromas that surround me in this man-made world. That spritz of Chanel No. 5 you put on when you are about to head out? It’s very overpowering to me! Don’t believe me? Just hear what veterinarian Ernie Ward in the below quote has to say about carpet fresheners, potpourri, hair sprays, air fresheners and perfumes.

I know that’s easier said than done, but a tiny trace to us is like an elephant-sized funk to some animals. I’m so sensitive about this that I even train my staff not to wear perfumes or scented deodorants to avoid upsetting my pet patients. Seriously. ~ Dr. Ernie Ward

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I Don’t Like It!

The last time, I checked, I had anal glands and a tail, yup, that’s a pretty strong confirmation that I am a dog and not a human. You see, as a human, you have a totally different history than me. Your ancestors most likely got most of their nutrition from gathered fruits and nuts which explains why you’re attracted to those fruity and flowery smells that are over-represented fragrances found in your store’s air freshener aisle. When it comes to me, I am a scavenger at heart. Even if you were to ask Princess Fifi, your neighbor’s French poodle who wears a pink tutu and a collar studded with rhinestones, she would also agree that your strong perfume is revolting. Her favorite fragrance is likely “eau de toilet,” a mix of cow poop, putrid carcasses and a touch of essential oils from cowhide.

Omnivores like our early humanoid primate ancestors were always seeking out plump, juicy fruits, and that legacy drives our attraction to fruity and flowery smells. Dogs are hunters and scavengers, attracted to, rather than repelled by, the scent of ripe carcasses. ~ Patricia McConnell.

It Makes Me Sick!

On a more serious perspective, perfume can do more to me than make me cringe, it can actually make me sick, yes, even seriously sick. According to Pet Education, that isopropyl alcohol found in that perfume, cologne or after shave you use, has toxic effects on me. If I happen to ingest some or even breath in the vapors, I could develop serious nervous system disorders along with nausea vomiting and abdominal pain. In severe cases, I could even slip in a coma.

On a lighter note, if you see me itching and scratching, don’t think fleas right away. Sure, that’s a possibility, but keep in a corner of your mind the possibility that I might be allergic to all those perfumed doggy shampoos, sprays, and lotions you are so fond of. Veterinarian Dr. Crista DeJoia, explains that skin allergies in dogs may manifest with redness of the skin, itching and biting. So keep an eye on my symptoms, and if you notice anything not right, keep me safe from these products and consult with your vet.

“Perfumes and scented products must be used judiciously with our pets. Heavily scented shampoos or sprays applied directly to a pet can cause skin reactions, nausea and lethargy, or even airway irritation.”~ Dr. Crista DeJoia

You Make me Wear it Too!

So know you know it, I thought it was time to spill the beans! My fervent hate for perfume is why I rush to the yard after a bath and start rolling on the grass… to get that awful scent off of me! Next time you smear some strongly scented shampoo or cologne on me, would you please ask my opinion first? If you see me rolling in the grass feverishly as you watch in horror, I am likely trying to remove the perfume and gain back some of my canine identity. How would you feel if I smeared you with cow poop, wouldn’t you cry and go race to take a shower? Well there you have it, we’re different species, so to each our own!

References:

The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs, by Patricia McConnell Ph.D Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (April 29 2003)

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Six Surprising Ways Dogs Use Their Tails

June 27, 2016February 26, 2016 by Admin

Dog tails: we often take them for granted, sometimes we even chop them off as if they were useless appendages at the end of the vertebral column, when instead they have many functions that go far beyond the classical tail wag.

Dog tails are indeed full of life! Their muscles allow a wide range of motion so to allow the dog to lift the tail upwards, move it side-to-side, or lower it between the hind legs. Tails are composed of skin, nerves, tendons, muscles and bones consisting of several vertebrae. Think dog tails are just for wagging? Think again! Following are six surprising ways dogs use their tails that your dog wants you to know. Yup! Straight from your dog’s mouth!

My Balancing Act

It’s true, you likely won’t ever see me at a circus walking on a tightrope, but rest assured that my tail plays a big role in maintaining my balance. Just like the tightrope walkers use that horizontal pole, my tail helps me out when I am accelerating, braking, walking along narrow structures (think agility A-frames, catwalks and teeter-totters) and turning at fast speeds.

If you were to watch me in slow motion as I jump up to catch a Frisbee or jump over an obstacle, you may notice how may tail lowers as I take off, then flicks up in mid-flight, and ends up lowering again as I touch the ground. All these well orchestrated tail movements are meant to adjust my center of gravity so I can balance myself and avoid drastic falls. Sure, my friends with bobtails may still be able to jump, but they’ll need to make some adjustments in their jumping styles to make up for the balancing effects our tails provide.

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Meet my Rudder

Boats aren’t the only things that comes with rudders, us dogs have tails that act like rudders too! Many of my doggy friends, who were selectively bred to swim a lot, have webbed feet and these thick, strong tails that are also very flexible, allowing them to effectively thread through the water at a nice pace. You see, when we swim, we keep our tails straight out just below the surface of the water, but the moment we decide to turn, our tails swing to our sides so that we can turn effectively. Pretty amazing, huh? We sure are proud of our rudders! Just make sure though that after we swim, you keep us safe from cold drafts. Limber tail is a painful condition that results in a flaccid, limp tail that’s sometimes seen in dogs after swimming.

Tales of Tails

You may use hand gestures to add some emphasis to your speech, us dogs instead rely on our tails. Keep an eye on my tail’s position and movement, and you may get a glimpse on how I may be feeling. Many of my emotions are indeed expressed through my tail. Is my tail moving side-to-side in fast sweeping motions? Most likely, I am happy, but don’t just take my word for it. When looking at a dog, look at the rest of his body. Does the dog look overall relaxed and friendly? Not all tail wags are friendly!

Relying on a wagging tail as a sign of friendliness is a big mistake that causes many people to get bitten! If you’re unsure and no owner is around to ask if it’s fine to pet me, you might not want to approach. Oh, and that day you take me to the vet, don’t worry if my tail goes missing in action. I may tuck my tail tight because I might feel frightened, and while I’m at, I may also try to keep my private area protected from that invasive thermometer!

Did you know? A recent study suggested that dogs tend to wag their tails to the right when looking at something they wish to approach and wag their tails to the left when confronted with something they wish to back away from!

A Whiff of Scent

You see us dogs wag our tails often, but have you ever wondered why dogs wag their tails in the first place? Well, you know those two anal glands we have under our tails? They’re not there just because. My sweeping tail wags help these anal glands give off scent so that I can use it for communicative purposes. Most likely, you don’t smell anything when I do this (if you get a whiff of fishy smell though have me see the vet to get those glands checked), but rest assured, my doggy friends at the dog park know all about it. Dogs who are reserved and wish to fly under the radar instead, will often keep their tails tucked as a way to cover up their scent.

“Most people think when a dog wags its tail it means its friendly and happy – but, in fact, experts will tell you it’s about scent communication. Dogs wag their tails to spread their scent around.” ~Sarah Whitehead

Keeping Things Put

If you think all this isn’t enough to prove how important my tail is to my physical and emotional well-being, take a peak at dogs who have suffered damage to the nerves in their tails. These dogs may have trouble with fecal and urinary incontinence. In other words, they poop or pee on themselves. You see, my tail is an extension of my spine, and those tail muscles and nerves play a role in the correct functioning of my hind body as a whole. When my nerves that control urination and defecation are injured, my tail gets flaccid and I risk losing bladder and bowel control.

When it comes to urinary incontinence, our tails also play a big role. According to a study by Holt and Thrusfield urinary incontinence mostly seems to affect my old English sheep-dog, Rottweiler, Dobermann, Weimaraner and Irish setter friends the most. Why is that? It looks like docked breeds are more likely to develop urinary incontinence than undocked dogs of the same breed.

“The movement of the tail during the act of defecation has a direct
influence in evacuating the rectum and anal canal of the last part of the faecal bolus. If the tail is removed from an immature puppy the muscles of the tail and pelvis may fail to develop to their full potential.~Anti-docking Alliance.

Keeping Warm

OK, not all of us may rely on our tails to stay warm, but some of my good arctic friends have found a way to put their tails to good use when they want to take a nap. Those nice bushy, plumed tails you see in Siberian huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are covered with long dense fur. When sled dogs sleep, they sleep curled up in a ball and use their tails to cover their noses, trapping the heat against their bodies, explains Dr. Susan Whiton, a veterinarian and owner of Dream a Dream Iditarod Sled Dog Kennel.

As seen, there’s more to wagging a tail, and us dogs sure have many uses for it! If we didn’t, wouldn’t you think Mother Nature would have turned our tails into a vestigial structure and our tails wouldn’t have made it so far? Instead, our lovely tails are still here, lively, strong and proudly carried over our backs! Yes, tails are here to stay!

A dog wags its tail with its heart. ~Martin Buxbaum

References:

Seeing Left- or Right-Asymmetric Tail Wagging Produces Different Emotional Responses in Dogs, Current Biology, Vol. 23, Issue 22, November 2013
Peak Performance EBook: Coaching the Canine Athlete, by Canine Sports Productions, September 15, 2011
Pet Place, Structure and Function of the Tail in Dogs, retrieved from the web on February 26th, 2016.
VCA Animal Hospitals, Tail Injuries in Dogs, retrieved from the web on February 26th, 2016.

Photo credits:

Ano-Genital-Kontrolle, by Hundehalter, CC BY-SA 3.0
Guillaume Baviere, Flickr, Creative Commons

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Four Ways Dogs May Detect Human Pregnancy

June 27, 2016February 25, 2016 by Admin

We know of dogs who can detect cancer, predict seizures and recognize low blood sugar, so it shouldn’t surprise us if dogs were even able to detect pregnancy! While there are currently no studies or hard evidence to prove us that dogs are capable of telling when a woman becomes pregnant, there is surely a lot of anecdotal evidence coming from women who claim to have noticed relevant changes in their dog’s behavior after becoming pregnant. The next question therefore is: How can dogs sense pregnancy in humans? Until new studies come out, for now we can only make assumptions based on what we know. In this article, we’ll be looking at human pregnancy from a canine’s standpoint.

Mood Changes

During pregnancy, it’s not unusual for women to go through an emotional roller coaster ride. According to the American Pregnancy Association, most mood swings are experienced during the first trimester of pregnancy, and then again in the third trimester as the body gets closer to giving birth. The mood changes are a mix of stress, fatigue and major metabolic and hormonal changes which affect the level of neurotransmitters, important chemicals responsible for regulating mood. It’s not old news that dogs are deeply in tune with their owners and studies have shown that dogs are able to recognize emotions in humans by combining information from different senses.

“People and dogs have forged an incredibly close connection over thousands of years together. Along the way, dogs have been bred for certain traits, and “one of the traits would be the ability to read us.” ~Marc Bekoff

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A Whiff of Hormones

While dogs may still be far from replacing an early pregnancy test, dogs may be capable of smelling hormones associated with pregnancy. Pregnant women experience dramatic increases in their estrogen and progesterone levels, the main hormones associated with pregnancy. Just to get an idea, consider that according to Healthline, during one pregnancy a woman will produce more levels of estrogen than she has ever produced in her entire life! A rapid increase in estrogen levels occurs in the first trimester and peak levels are reached during the third trimester. Progesterone levels are also very high during pregnancy. Blessed with powerful sniffers, it’s very likely that dogs can detect these massive changes in a pregnant woman’s body chemistry.

“Given what we know they are able to perceive with their nose, it’s a bit hard to imagine that they can’t detect at least some of the many hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy in a person living in their house.”~Karen B. London, PhD

Routine Changes

If dogs haven’t figured out about pregnancy yet, they’ll likely get the big wake-up call once they notice big changes in their routines. Pregnant women may start going to bed earlier, eat more frequent meals, use the rest room more often and they may start moving things around to create a whelping box..ahem..meant to say, the nursery. On top of that, they may no longer walk their dog as often as before and other family members may starting taking over certain chores. Dogs, being the routine oriented beings they are, will most likely notice all these abrupt changes–and likely won’t like them.

“Just like people, certain pets are very resilient when it comes to adjusting to changes in life; others less so.” ~Dr. Wailani Sung, board-certified veterinary behaviorist.

Changes in Posture

As pregnancy advances, most women will end up changing their posture at some point. This is inevitable. Starting from the second trimester, the body makes adjustments to accommodate the growing baby. The back will curve more and the shoulders will also move back to make up for shift of the center of gravity and growing belly, explains Myra Wick, obstetrician, gynecologist and editor in chief of Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. As pregnancy advances, these changes in posture will cause movements to also get more awkward. Dogs, who are masters in noticing the smallest subtleties of our bodies, most likely take notice of these changes!

Adjusting to Pregnancy

Dogs tend to pick up on things we wouldn’t expect them to and this makes them even more amazing. While we don’t know if they can predict that in a few months there will be a new human in the home, for sure in some way or another they understand that something’s brewing. Their reactions to these many changes may vary. Dog behavior during human pregnancy may result in the following behaviors:

Dogs feeling confused or stressed
Dogs becoming protective or more aggressive
Dog becoming more clingy or affectionate.
Dogs engaging in new behaviors such as chewing or marking.

Luckily, most dogs eventually adjust to the many changes that come with the onset of pregnancy in their owner, and right when they thought they got a hang of things, a screaming baby comes in the house. Luckily, there are many things dog owners can do to help them adjust and get used to a new baby. Paying more attention to the dog, providing a good training and exercise regimen and making gradual changes to their routine instead of abrupt ones can help them better adjust and feel reassured. For dogs having a hard time, enlisting the help of a trainer/behavior consultant prior to the baby’s arrival can help. There are also special programs offered by different organizations that provide counseling. A popular one is the Dogs and Storks program.

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