Is it safe for my dog to eat its own sick?
If you’ve owned dogs for any period of time, you’ll be well aware of their less pleasant habits… However, there are very few that are as disgusting to us as eating their own sick! That awful “retch… retch… heAVe… slurp slurp slurp” is something none of us enjoy hearing from behind the sofa, especially if […]
How to safely exercise your dog or puppy – Before Exercise
If you have a dog or puppy, or plan to get one, it’s important that you let them exercise on a regular basis. Exercising is not only good for their physical and mental health, but also helps them to socialise with other dogs and puppies, which is crucial to their behavioural development. What’s more, exercising […]
How to safely exercise your dog or puppy – During Exercise
During exercise On the lead One of the ways you can let your dog or puppy exercise is while on the lead. Here’s what to do and what not to do if you decide to exercise this way: Walk your pet at a normal walking pace. Walk your pet based on how long they should […]
How to safely exercise your dog or puppy – After Exercise
Avoid forced exercise Forced exercise such as the following should be avoided: Jogging or running with a puppy or dog. Excessive ball or frisbee throwing and catching. Running your pet alongside your bike. This is against road rules in some states. In NSW, for example, the RTA states that a bicycle rider mustn’t lead an […]
South Africa is dog country
We all know there are only two types of people in the world: cat people and dog people. But data from market research firm Euromonitor suggest that these differences extend beyond individual preferences and to the realm of geopolitics: it turns out there are cat countries and dog countries, too. South Africa is definitely dog […]
50 of the Most Popular Dog Breeds in the World
Curious about the most popular dog breeds around the world? Want to know what the most beloved breeds of dogs out there are and whether there’s one that’s just right for you? For many owners, dogs are more than just a pet, they’re a part of the family. That’s why picking the right dog breed for you shouldn’t be […]
Large Study Finds Pet Owners Are Different
You’ve seen headlines like “Puppy Love: Pet Owners Are Happier, Healthier” and “How Pets Save Us Billions Every Year In Health Care Costs!” And it is true that a lot of studies have reported that pet owners have better physical and mental health than people who do not live with companion animals. Further, we do not know whether getting […]
Genetics of Dog Breeding – Part 1
Any dog lover knows that Labrador retrievers are friendly, Dalmatians are hyper, and Australian shepherds are smart (Scott & Fuller, 1974). Some dog lovers also know that Labradors are susceptible to hip dysplasia, while deafness and kidney stones run in Dalmatians. But why is this the case? Breeding dogs for particular characteristics, or phenotypes, has […]
Genetics of Dog Breeding – Part 2
Tameness Many researchers have noted that beyond tameness, dogs appear to retain certain traits associated with juvenile wolves, especially behavioral traits such as whining, barking, and submissiveness. Russian geneticist Dmitry Belyaev focused on tamability as a guiding characteristic. His idea was not only that early humans would have selected the tamest animals to live with them, […]
Genetics of Dog Breeding – Part 3
The Dog-Human Relationship In addition to tameness, another unique trait of dogs is their ability to understand humans. For example, if you point or even shift your gaze toward a certain object (say, a jar that contains dog treats), a dog will likely investigate the object (Hare & Tomasello, 2005). Even our closest animal relatives, […]