Yawn!

G'day, Dog Lovers

I stumbled across an interesting scientific study this afternoon which found that dogs watching a person yawn repeatedly will yawn themselves. So...just like yawns seem to be so contagious from human to human, they can spread from human to dog.

Apparently, researchers claim this copying activity suggests that canines are capable of empathising with people. The research team (led by Dr Atsushi Senju) from Birkbeck College, University of London, wondered whether dogs - that are very skilled at reading human social cues - could read the human yawn signal, and set out to test the yawning capabilities of 29 canines.

From the BBC: 'The team created two conditions, each five minutes long, in which a person - who was a stranger to the dog - was sat in front of the animal and asked to call its name. Under the first condition, the stranger yawned once the dogs had made eye contact with them.

"We gave dogs everything: visual and auditory stimulus to induce them to yawn," Dr Senju, told BBC News. Under the second condition, the same procedure was followed, but this time the stranger opened and closed their mouth but did not yawn. This was a precaution to ensure that dogs were not responding to an open mouth, explained Dr Senju.

The team found that 21 out of 29 dogs yawned when the stranger in front of them yawned - on average, dogs yawned 1.9 times. By contrast, no dogs yawned during the non-yawning condition.
The researchers believe that these results are the first evidence that dogs have the capacity to empathise with humans; although the team could not rule out stress-induced yawning - they hope to in future studies. '

Pretty interesting stuff! Does your dog yawn when you do?

Tackling Dog Poo

G'day, Dog Lovers

The townsfolk of two neighbouring villages in the U.K. have declared war on dog poo. Volunteers in Denny and Dunipace, near Falkirk, intend to count the amount of dog dirt left lying on the ground to determine the success of a range of measures aimed at reducing the amount of dog poo around the villages.

This is part of a Green Dog Walkers project. The green dog walkers aim to enlist the support of all local dog owners. Volunteers will approach pet owners to sign a pledge urging them to clean up after their animals and to wear a specially-designed armband identifying them as green dog walkers.

Michelle McCallum is the woman behind the project. She told the BBC: "Green Dog Walkers will receive clear instructions to never confront another dog walker in an antagonistic manner. The friendliness and even creative humour of the project will be the tone at all times."

The council said they will ensure steady supplies of biodegradable dog bags and increase the number of dog waste bins in the area. It's a unique approach to a smelly issue, and if it turns out to be effective the measure could be tried in other towns. I wonder if it will work?

Ziggy the Painting Pekingese

G'day, Dog Lovers

Some of you may have heard on the news or from friends about Ziggy - the Pekingese who can paint. He's been painting for the past year.

Ziggy's owner dips his brush in the paint for him first and then just lets her pooch paint away - although sometimes he does need a bit of persuading to get to work. Check out Ziggy in action here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifKeryPylS8.

One of Ziggy's paintings - Peach Blossom - is pictured to the right. He even donates some of his artwork to animal shelters for fundraising.

Does your dog have a special talent? My dog, Max, can eat just about anything - but I'm not sure if that qualifies as a talent?!

September 11 Dog Hero to be Cloned

G'day Dog Lovers,

I was reading in the news today about a dog hero from September 11 who is going to be cloned. Trakr, a German Shepherd, helped to sniff out survivors from the rubble of the World Trade Centre after the 9/11 attacks.

Now aged 15, Trakr no longer has use of his back legs because of a degenerative neurological disorder that doctors believe may have been caused by exposure to toxic smoke at Ground Zero.

But a Californian cloning firm ran a competition offering owners the chance to replicate their pet, and Trakr was judged as the most 'clone-worthy' entrant. A sample of Trakr's DNA will be taken to a South Korean lab and the clone could be ready by the end of the year.

The topic of cloning is always a controversial one and this case certainly raises a few ethical questions. How do you feel about cloning? Do you think Trakr should be cloned?

Launch of new PETS magazine!

Hi pet lovers,

I’m excited to tell you all that Universal Magazines, the publishers of Dogs Life, is launching a new title later this year ... called PETS magazine!

This new A5 mag aims to teach kids and their families about responsible pet ownership. We will feature animals of all shapes and sizes – from the furry, fluffy and feathered, to the scaly, slippery and slimy.

In each issue, we will offer you the latest tips and advice on health, training, nutrition, grooming, behaviour and more – for pets young and old.

You will have the chance to send your pet health queries to our resident vet, Dr Justin Wimpole – author of First Aid for Cats, First Aid for Dogs and co-author of Canine Communication.

And like Dogs Life magazine, we will also have a regular ‘Snapshots’ segment, where readers are invited to send in cute, funny and simply adorable pictures with their pets.

To help us prepare for the launch issue of PETS magazine, send your pet health QUESTIONS (for Dr Wimpole), and PHOTOS of you with your pet, to: pets@universalmagazines.com.au

And keep your eyes peeled for PETS magazine in Coles Supermarkets and selected news stands! Stay tuned for more info.