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 […]
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, […]
The Future of Dogs
Like many people, my wife Diana and I had long been in the habit of buying purebred dogs without bothering to learn much about their breeding beforehand. And so it was in 1977, when we made an impulse purchase of a Jack Russell Terrier named Phineas. Despite the many other wonderful dogs who’d blessed our […]
The Future of Pets
In his 1915 guide to pets, Alpheus Hyatt Verrill, an American naturalist, lambasted the dog-keeping habits of his day. “There is no excuse for pampering, constant fondling, dressing up in clothing, and other ridiculous customs,” he wrote. Dogs, Verrill insisted, should be treated like the animals they are. A century later, Verrill’s message has gone stupendously […]
Scientist predicts that our dogs will be able to talk to us by 2050
A series of predictions about life in the middle of the century includes wearable muscles, neural interfaces with computers, and most excitingly – chatty chihuahuas. How many times do dog owners look at their pets and say, ‘If only they could talk.’ Well, if futurologist Ian Pearson is right, they might be able to. One […]