Ever caught yourself using a high-pitched, sing-song voice when talking to your dog or cat? You're not alone. Researchers have found that the way we speak to our pets is surprisingly similar to how we talk to babies. But why do we do it?...
Mia Cobb looks at the science of happier dogs and tips to keep them happy When you hear about “science focused on how dogs can live their best lives with us”, it sounds like an imaginary job made up by a child. However, the field of...
Research hints children under 5 can easily confuse dog emotions, Melissa Starling finds. To most of us, a dog showing its teeth is a pretty clear signal of a threat. In 1872, Charles Darwin first suggested animals showed emotions similar to ours in their body language,...
The science says it’s even worse than you think! reports Melissa Starling What’s that smell? Is that what you think it is? You check your shoes and, sure enough, one is adorned with a sticky, foul-smelling patty of fresh wrongness. You have stepped in a landmine...
Dogs Australia is urging dog owners not to forget their pooches. The change in routine can cause many issues, including separation anxiety. As children go back to school, Dogs Australia is urging dog owners to prepare the family dog for the return-to-school routine changes. “The end of...
How cold is too cold for a walk? Here’s how to tell, writes Melissa Starling As winter sets in, you might be wondering: how do you know if your dog is warm enough? And how cold is too cold to take them for a walk? It’s a...
To pat or not to pat? asks Petra Edwards and Susan Hazel With dog attacks in the news over recent weeks, some parents may be wondering about how to keep interactions between kids and dogs safe – and how to keep everyone happy. A review of hospitalisations...
As little as three squares of chocolate can make dogs sick, warns Susan Hazel Most pet owners know chocolate and dogs don’t mix. Despite this, chocolate poisoning in dogs remains a problem, particularly at Easter and Christmas, as a study in the journal Vet Record showed. Chocolate...
A new TV series explores the journey of dogs, but science is giving us new insights into how we can help our canine friends thrive by Dr Mia Cobb Over the last twenty years, there has been a global explosion of science focused on our best four-legged...
Paul McGreevy and Melissa Starling look at ten common misconceptions about dog behaviour. It is difficult to refer to what dogs, as a collective, like and dislike and how they behave. Just as humans do, dogs all have their own personalities and learned preferences and so...
