You may have heard the expression that dogs ‘see with their noses.’ But these creature’s amazing nasal architecture actually reveals a whole world beyond what we can see. Alexandra Horowitz illustrates how the dog’s nose can smell the past, the future and even things that...
When miniature dachshund Valerie was captured after 529 days alone in the wilds of Australia’s Kangaroo Island, experts speculated she survived partly by eating other animals’ poo. While this survival tactic may have saved the resilient sausage dog, it highlights a behaviour that makes many dog owners cringe. This...
Pippa flops by the Aga oven chewing on a stick. At just 12 weeks old, this labrador retriever puppy looks cute but clueless. But when she hears the word “biscuit”, her entire demeanour changes. Ears pricked, she’s immediately at her owner’s feet, gazing adoringly, sitting,...
There are an estimated 1 billion domesticated dogs in the world. Most are owned animals – pets, companions or working animals who share their lives with humans. They are the most common large predator in the world. Pet cats trail far behind, at about 220 million. We are...
Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting and joyful experience, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges and responsibilities. The first year of owning a puppy is filled with memorable moments, growth, and learning for both you and your new companion. The...
Effective communication is essential for understanding and strengthening the bond between humans and dogs. While barking and body language are well-known aspects of canine communication, dogs use a wide array of signals to convey their emotions, intentions, and needs.Barking: A multifaceted vocalisationBarking is one of...
If you’ve ever seen your dog suddenly burst into a high-speed sprint around the house or garden with tail tucked, eyes wild, body twisting with joy, you’ve witnessed what’s fondly known as 'the zoomies'. Technically termed frenetic random activity periods, these explosive bursts of energy...
A lot of dog owners believe that they can tell what their dogs are feeling. They believe that they can assess their dog’s emotions no matter the context. Yet newspapers frequently publish stories about dogs who attack “out of nowhere”, where owners claim there were “no signs”prior to the...
In the wild, dogs spend a lot of their time chewing on bones, carcasses, sticks and kernels. For example, Australian dingoes can feed for up to 108 minutes in a single session. But most domestic dogs chew far less than their free-roaming counterparts. This is largely because...
Scent is how dogs largely experience the world, a lot like the way we humans rely on sight. We know little about how dogs interpret scent, but thanks to a recent study, we may be getting closer to understanding what a dog’s nose actually knows. Dogs are primed...