Dogs get jealous and 10 other facts you probably never knew about man's best friend

Dogs suffer from jealousy and are just as likely to turn into a green eyed monster as humans, according to scientists in California.

Researchers studied 36 dogs from 14 breeds and found that most were indifferent when their owners ignored them until the owners showered their attention on a stuffed dog.

Then the pet pooches' behaviour changed dramatically, sparking snapping and snarling. The discovery shows that while dogs are man’s best friend, they still have the capacity to surprise us.

Here are some other facts you might not know about Fido.

1) Dogs don’t feel guilt

Your pet pooch may get jealous, but researchers found those puppy dog eyes are not a sign of guilt. In fact they are just the way we interpret a dog’s reaction to being scolded.

Alexandra Horowitz, from Barnard College in New York found all dogs looked ‘guilty’ after being told off for eating a forbidden treat like a biscuit - and those who were wrongly accused often looked more ‘guilty’ than those who really deserved to be in the dog house.

2) Dog urine can corrode metal

Apparently allowing your dog to wee on a lamp-post could be more dangerous than you think - because the acids in the urine can corrode the metal.

In April 2003 Derbyshire County Council spent £75,000 carrying out a six month survey of one million lamp-posts amid fears that dog wee was causing the bases to crumple. In the same year, urinating dogs were blamed for a spate of lamp-posts collapsing in Croatia.

We dread to think what damage this mutt did to this Banksy mural in New York then.

Reuters

Not impressed: A dog urinates on a Banksy

3) Dogs can see in colour

It is a common myth that dogs can only see in black and white but they can actually see colours - just not as vividly as humans.

They only have two cones in their eyes to detect colours, whereas humans have three. That means dogs see colours on a blue and yellow scale but cannot distinguish between red and green. On the other hand, they have better night vision than humans.

Suren Manvelyan

Vision: A husky dog's eye

4) Dogs can smell disease

If your canine chum is acting strange there might be nothing wrong with them - the problem could be with you.

Research at the Schillerhohe Hospital in Germany found dogs have an incredible ability to recognise the smell of a range of organic compounds that show the human body isn’t working as it should.

That means your dog can actually diagnose your cancer, something scientists are eager to explore further, as well as diabetes and the early signs of an epileptic seizure.

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Life-saver: Medical detection dog Wendy with diabetic owner Cerys Davies, six

5) Dogs can be pretty smart

You might sometimes think your dog is as daft as a brush, but the truth is that they can actually be as smart as a two year-old child, according to research presented to the American Psychological Association.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, border collies are the cleverest canines, with some able to understand up to 200 words. The other breeds in the top five are poodles, German shepherds, golden retrievers and dobermans.

6) A wagging tail doesn’t always mean they are happy

Tail wagging has its own language. Apparently dogs wag their tail to the right when they’re happy and to the left when they are frightened. Wagging low means they are insecure and rapid movements accompanied by tense muscles or dilated pupils can signal agression.

So every wagging tail tells its own story, if you know how to read the signs.

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Tall tail: Wagging doesn't always mean a dog is happy

7) They really are hot dogs

Next time you see your pet pooch panting on a sunny day take pity on them. Not only are they wearing a huge fur coat, they also have to contend with a higher body temperature than you.

The normal body temperature of a human is 37C, but a dog’s is a whole degree higher at 38C. That’s one reason fleas are more likely to be attracted to your dog than to you. And unlike humans, dogs don’t have sweat glands all over their body, just on the pads of their paws.

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Hot dog: A German shepherd basks on the beach

8) Dogs have their own ‘fingerprint’

A dog’s paw print may look pretty generic but their nose print is actually as unique as a human fingerprint. Their combination of ridges and creases is so distinct it can actually be used to identify them.

Good luck getting them to stick their nose in a pad of ink without sneezing though.

Unique: A dog's nose is like a human fingerprint

9) Dogs dream just like you

This won’t come as a huge surprise to anyone who has watched their own dog twitching or whimpering in their sleep. Dogs have the same brain wave patterns while they are asleep as humans, so they dream just like we do.

But what is more surprising is the fact that not all dogs dream the same amount. Small dogs actually have more dreams than big dogs. For example, a small dog such as a toy poodle may dream once every 10 minutes, whereas a great dane may have around an hour between each dream.

10) Dogs can fall in love

They don't call it puppy love for nothing. The concept that dogs can fall in love was suggested by anthropologist Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Social Lives of Dogs, who believed two dogs named Sundog and Bean were agonized star-crossed lovers kept apart because neither of their owners wanted to give them up.

It may sound far fetched but Paul Zak, a professor at Claremont Graduate University in California, found that a dog’s brain releases oxytocin - the love hormone - when it interacts with humans and dogs, just the same as a human brain does when we hug or kiss.

Barcroft

Puppy love: Two bulldogs share a kiss

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How to Teach Your Dog to Shake

Most children over the age of 7 years can be taught basic training techniques and in fact many children are more persistent than adults when it comes to training the family pet!

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

• Patience
• 1 dog preferably with at least 1 front paw
• Small tasty treats that don’t take long to chew (use something high value such as bbq chicken or liver treats if your dog is hard to motivate, or train when he is hungry)
• Just 5 minutes each day

STEPS TO TEACH ‘SHAKE’

1. Assuming your dog can sit, the first step is to get him in position.
2. Hold a treat in your hand and show him the treat (it may be useful to have the remaining treats easy to access in a pouch or pocket), then close your fist over the treat.
3. Hold the treat, in your closed fist close to his foot, about 5cm off the ground.
4. If your dog stands up, ask him to sit again.
5. If your dog lifts his paw even a little, or even shifts weight onto the other paw, tell him he is a good boy and give him the treat.
6. Most dogs will bat at your hand to get the treat, so as soon as this happens open your hand to reveal the treat and tell him ‘good’ or ‘yes’, whatever your signal is for doing the right thing.
7. At the same time your other hand should be held out flat to ‘shake’ when your dog lifts his paw, so you can grab his paw while he takes the treat.
8. Reward him immediately he does the correct thing, even if he only lifts his foot a little bit the first time.
9. When he is reliably lifting his paw for a treat, add the word ‘shake’.
10. Gradually phase out the treats, so he only gets a treat intermittently once you are sure he knows the trick.

HINTS AND TIPS

• Only practice for 5-10 minutes every day, any longer and you will both get tired and frustrated.
• Always end on a positive note, if you are getting frustrated and your dog isn’t ‘getting it’, go back to a trick he does know and reward him for that.
• Avoid treats that need to be chewed for long periods, or you will spend most of your time watching him eat.
• Clicker training is another great way to shape behaviours like ‘shake’ (link to clicker training article).
• If you have a particularly stubborn dog, this is another way to teach ‘shake’.

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How To Stop Dogs Barking

Barking behaviour is completely normal dog behaviour and stopping nuisance barking will not mean your dog won’t bark at all. They will still let you know if there is an intruder, the aim is just to get the barking to a more manageable level.

Dogs bark for a number of reasons, so it is important to sit back and try to determine why your dog is barking. Some dogs bark for attention, out of boredom, at people or birds and some bark because they are stressed or anxious. A dog barking due to anxiety needs a different approach to a dog who is bored.

For this reason bark collars are considered by veterinary behaviourists to be a costly investment for something that most likely will not work long-term and may even be harmful. More exercise, chewing, company and stimulation can assist.

BEHAVIOUR THERAPY

If you have a problem barker make an appointment with your veterinarian. Many vets have additional qualifications or a special interest in behaviour, so it is worth asking whether one of the vets has a special interest in behaviour. Often there are health conditions that could be exacerbating the problem, such as dementia, pain, vision or hearing problems.

Dogs also bark if they are anxious, so medications can be used in the short-term to help your dog learn some coping skills. They need not be permanent. While there are some excellent dog trainers, there is little regulation in the industry, so skills and methods can vary. Ask your veterinarian to recommend someone if they can’t help.

KEEP A BARK DIARY

If you are not sure what your dog is barking at or if he seems to be barking at everything, keep a bark diary. You may start to see a pattern, for example he barks at 3pm when kids are getting out of school. It might be useful to ask your neighbours to do this also, so you know when he is barking when you are not home. Your neighbours also then know you are attempting to resolve the problem.

There are also voice activated recorders available, phone/tablet apps to monitor your pet and many different home security monitors you can set up via webcams to see what your dog gets up to while you are out.

TYPES OF BARKING

Dogs naturally will bark to warn you, and this may become a problem if there are lots of things your dog sees, such as birds, cats and people walking by the fence. He may feel the need to alert you to every small thing that approaches. Sometimes it is as simple as blocking off a gate to block the stimulus of people walking past. Dogs will also bark out of boredom, or because they are worried about being alone.

Sometimes you can tell whether the type of bark is a play bark or anxious bark. A play bark is usually made while the dog has loose, relaxed body language. An anxious dog has ears back and the whites of the eyes are showing. If your dog barks only when you go out, he may have separation anxiety.

EXTINGUISH THE BEHAVIOUR

Many times we have unintentionally taught our dog to bark by reinforcing the behaviour. If your dog barks in the yard and you go out and shout at him, he has gotten your attention and may even think you are joining in with your own funny little human bark. Even looking at your dog when he barks can be a reinforcer.

To extinguish the behaviour you must completely ignore it. Walk away, or look away and do not speak or give eye contact. Bear in mind that the behaviour will temporarily increase before it improves, and you must be persistent and consistent. Try never to enter the house or yard or let your dog inside while your dog is barking, as this can easily reinforce the behaviour too.

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Diabetes in Dogs

The pancreas becomes damaged by either inflammation, or the dog’s own immune system attacking it. The result is a shortage of insulin producing cells in the organ, which is irreversible.  Consequently, diabetic dogs are very unlikely to go into remission.

SIGNS OF DIABETES IN DOGS

One of the most obvious symptoms of diabetes in dogs is increased thirst. However, there are other medical conditions that can also cause your dog to drink more than usual, such as kidney or liver disease or Cushing’s Disease.  Your vet will run some tests to check for diabetes; they will look for higher than normal levels of glucose in his blood and urine.

TREATMENT OF DIABETES

Because diabetes in dogs results from a lack of insulin, the treatment is to supplement that insulin with injections of the hormone.  The first step is to work out how much insulin your dog needs. He will be admitted to hospital and given a measured dose, and then his blood will be checked at regular intervals to assess his response.  When the amount of insulin he needs has been calculated, you can then continue to treat him at home. It’s not difficult to learn how to give insulin injections, and the needles are so fine that your dog will barely notice them.

It’s important that your dog’s energy needs are kept constant. This means that he is given the same amount of exercise, because more or less than usual will affect how much insulin he needs. Similarly, his food intake should also be the same from day to day, both in quantity and the timing of his meals. If you can do this, then it will be easier to keep his blood glucose within normal limits.

Overweight dogs should be put on a restricted calorie diet, as weight loss can make it easier to regulate blood glucose.  The hormone progesterone can raise blood glucose levels and make it difficult to stabilise a diabetic dog, so entire females should be spayed.

Most diabetic dogs will develop cataracts in their eyes, and this will affect their vision. However with a few adaptations, they can still have a good quality of life.

DIABETIC EMERGENCIES IN DOGS

There are two emergency situations that can occur in your diabetic dog.

• Hypoglycaemia. This occurs when his blood sugar drops too low, either because he has been given too much insulin or he hasn’t eaten all of his food. Symptoms are trembling and weakness, and some dogs even have seizures. Emergency treatment is to rub some glucose syrup or honey on his gums, which will quickly increase his blood glucose. Most dogs quickly recover after this, but it’s still worth having them checked by your vet.
• Diabetic ketoacidosis. Insufficient insulin will lead to your dog metabolising his body fat to provide energy.  The by-products of this metabolism are chemicals called ketone bodies. They have a distinctive odour, like nail polish remover.  Affected dogs are lethargic, vomiting and off their food. Diabetic ketoacidosis often occurs before your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, because their pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, but it can also happen if his diabetes isn’t well managed and his insulin dose is too low. This is a real emergency and your dog needs urgent veterinary treatment.

There is no cure for diabetes in dogs. However, with a committed owner, the disease can be managed well. This will allow your canine best friend to enjoy most of his normal daily activities.

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10 Foods That Are Bad For Your Dog

Your dog likes snacks, and you like snacks, and you like to share your snacks with your dog. Who can resist those puppy-dog eyes? Unfortunately, just as your dog can eat certain things that aren’t good for you, many of the things you eat are not good for your dog. To avoid a sick tummy, an emergency visit to the veterinary clinic or worse, take a look at this list of foods that are bad for your pooch.

CHOCOLATE

You already know that chocolate is bad for dogs, right?

Theobromine is a chemical that is related to caffeine, and it is found in tea and chocolate. It is poisonous to many types of animals, including dogs and cats. Most pet parents are aware that chocolate isn’t good for their dogs, even if they’ve never heard of the toxin itself.

Some people will tell you that the risk of theobromine poisoning is overstated, and that chocolate isn’t really all that dangerous, especially to larger dogs. Your Dairy Milk® bar has about an eighth of the theobromine compared to a similar quantity of baking chocolate. White chocolate has less still.

The danger is calculated by body weight. If your Wolfhound has snuck a bit of chocolate cake or the half-dozen chocolate chips that fell on the floor while you were baking, he’s probably going to be okay. If your Yorkie gorged herself on chocolate bonbons, get her to the vet. If she ate enough of it, it could kill her. (Baltazar, undated)

SWEETS AND CHEWING GUM

Xylitol is a sweetener used in some kinds of candies, chewing gums, and specialty dental products. It’s found naturally in many food plants, although commercial xylitol is usually made from corn husks and Dupont Chemical makes theirs from hardwood. This sweetener is generally considered safe for human consumption.  However, it is very poisonous to dogs. This stuff can kill Fido, so if he’s gotten into some, take him to the veterinary hospital or emergency clinic immediately. (Xylitol.org, 2010; and Daniluk, 2011)

ONIONS

Over the long term or in very high doses, onions cause damage to the red blood cells in dogs and cats. This is true of the entire onion family, including leeks, chives, shallots, and so on. Lilies, daffodils, tulips and the like are also best kept out of your dog’s reach. Simple version?  If the plant grows from a bulb, Fifi and Fido shouldn’t eat it. (ASPCA)

COFFEE

A moment ago, we discussed Theobromine.  Caffeine causes the same kinds of problems, but worse. In fact, when your body processes caffeine, one of the products is theobromine. Keep your dog away from coffee, mocha, cappuccino, coffee-flavoured anything, chocolate-covered coffee beans, energy drinks, and colas. (Gu et al, 1992)

GRAPES AND RAISINS

Grapes are poisonous to dogs. Unfortunately, we don’t know what exactly the toxin is, or why they cause problems, and therefore it is impossible to predict how many grapes it would take to kill the pet. To be safe, if Rover has eaten any grapes, rush him to the vet. If the vet can treat him before his kidneys are damaged, the dog can often be saved. (McKnight, 2005)

Raisins are nothing more or less than dried grapes, with all the grapey goodness condensed into a tiny packet. It shouldn’t be any surprise that while grapes are bad, raisins are worse.

MACADAMIA NUTS

Macadamia nuts are another odd one. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, dogs are the only animals for which macadamia nuts are poisonous and it isn’t known what makes the nuts dangerous. Usually, macadamias only make the dog sick, but in combination with some chocolate, they can kill him. (Merck)

ALCOHOL

It shouldn’t be any surprise that alcohol isn’t good for your dog. It’s actually poisonous to us, too, if enough is consumed, and most dogs are smaller than the average adult human.

MUSHROOMS

Certainly, there are some mushrooms that won’t hurt your dog, but mushrooms are tricky. Some species are safe if grown in one are but not safe if they are grown somewhere else, and some are only safe if they are not combined with certain other ingredients. Also, the signs of mushroom poisoning can take a day or more to show up.

Play it safe. Fido’d prefer a piece of that steak to the mushroom sauce on it, anyway.

AVOCADO

Avacado poses two risks to dogs. The first one is simply that the pit is large and round. This means that it poses a choking hazard, and, if it is swallowed, it could cause an impaction (“plug”) further along the digestive line.

The second risk is actual poisoning. The plant produces a toxin called “persin” and this is poisonous to many animals. It causes heart damage and all sorts of problems with nursing, a bit of a strange combination. The Merck Veterinary Manual only reports two dogs running into heart problems as a result of persin poisoning, but the risk is there, and not all pet poisonings make it into Merck’s records. Merck is mainly concerned with livestock. Play it safe and keep the guacamole away from Fifi.

STICK TO SAFE FOODS

Your pooch is a scavenger and he loves to eat anything he even suspects of being food, but keep him safe by sticking to safe foods.

If you want to share bites from your dinner, choose the parts that are good for him: plain rice, cooked meats (without the onion-mushroom sauce, please!), and even honey-glazed carrots are all fine. Even better, give him a yummy dog snack such as a “bacon” treat or a canine cookie.

Keep him healthy, and keep him safe.

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Basic Dog Training

Just as every new human member of a household must be trained to behave properly, so must dogs. Everyone in the household is better off if the dog conforms to the behaviour expected of it.

That applies to the dog, too.

By nature, your dog wants your approval. It wants to please you (most of the time, anyway!). But it can’t do that without being taught what you expect of it.

During your dog’s life you may decide to teach it to perform all manner of impressive tricks and tasks. Those are optional. But the following types of training should be considered as absolutely essential for every dog owner.

TOILET TRAINING

If your dog spends any time indoors, toilet training is an absolute necessity – for very obvious reasons! Toilet training is often a time of trial and stress for everyone involved. But be patient, use the proper training techniques, and there’s sure to be a happy outcome.

Start when the dog is young – about 3 to 4 months of age. Any earlier, and your puppy probably won’t yet have sufficient bowel and bladder control. And if you start later, the training period is likely to take much longer.

When you begin the training, start by confining the puppy to a fairly restricted area – a single room, the length of a tethered lead, or even a crate. As your puppy begins to learn that ‘business’ is to be conducted outside, you can gradually expand the area that it’s allowed to roam.

Here are a few tips for effective toilet training:

• Regular mealtimes. Keep your puppy on a regular feeding schedule during toilet training. That means no snacking between meals! If it’s not mealtime, food shouldn’t be available to the dog.
• Offer frequent potty opportunities. Give your pup plenty of opportunities to take care of business outside. Go outside first thing in the morning, and then every 30 to 60 minutes throughout the day. And also take your puppy outside after it wakes from a nap or finishes a meal.
• Familiarity breeds comfort. Take your dog to the same spot outside every time. Your dog will recognize its scent and more readily do its business.
• Stay out with your dog. When you take your dog outside for a potty break, stay with it until it has taken care of business, or until it becomes obvious that it doesn’t need to just yet. Don’t just turn the dog out in the yard by itself.
• Praise success! When your doggie does its duty, praise it! Offer a treat, or something the dog really enjoys, like a walk.

OBEDIENCE TRAINING

Teaching your dog basic obedience is also a necessity. While an obedient dog is a pleasure to be around, the opposite is also true – a disobedient dog can be a real pain!

You can take your dog’s training to a much higher level if you choose to, of course. But at the very minimum, your dog should learn to respond to the following basic commands:

• Sit. This basic command helps you to keep control of your dog no matter the situation, and is a good command to teach first.
• Drop. This teaches your dog to instantly drop whatever is in its mouth. (Could save your dog from harm if it ever picks up something dangerous or toxic.)
• Stay. Teaches your dog to remain still, calm, and in one place.
• Heel. Teaches your dog to stay close to you as you walk, with or without a lead.
• Come. Teaches your dog to immediately come to you upon your command. You should begin to teach this command to your puppy as soon as it recognizes its name. This command could potentially help you protect your puppy from harm.

There are a number of dog-training methods available for teaching your dog these commands, but the Australian Veterinary Association recommends positive reinforcement as the bestmethod.

Positive reinforcement rewards wanted behaviour rather than punishing unwanted behaviour. This method of training makes learning more enjoyable for your dog, and will help to strengthen the bond between you and your pet.

START WITH THE BASICS

Teaching your dog the basic commands of obedience will make your household a much more pleasant place.

Your dog will be happy because it wants to please you, and because it wants to reap the rewards of good behaviour. You will be happier because your dog will be more manageable and will enrich your life.

And visitors will be happy not to have to endure a poorly behaved pooch rampaging through the house!

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