Living with an animal of another species has never been trouble-free. But the rewards are extravagant.
Tag Archives: Dogs
The Dog Lawyer Doesn’t Care That You Hate Him
In defending dogs at all costs, Richard Rosenthal has made a lot of enemies. But his animal clients owe him their lives.
4,000 Mistreated Beagles Need Homes. These Folks Are Stepping Up.
The dogs were headed for testing labs and didn’t even have names or know how to play. Volunteers are introducing them to grassy yards and cuddly movie nights for the first time.
Study sheds light on how dogs recognize their favorite toys
A new study found that dogs form a “multi-model mental image” of their toys.
Specific breeds of dogs, like border collies, can learn the verbal names of their favorite toys, but what is going on in the dog’s mind when it’s told to fetch a given toy? According to a recent paper published in the journal Animal Cognition, these dogs store key sensory features about their toys—notably what they look like and how they smell—and recall those features when searching for the named toy.
“If we can understand which senses dogs use while searching for a toy, this may reveal how they think about it,” said co-author Shany Dror, a biologist at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary. “When dogs use olfaction or sight while searching for a toy, this indicates that they know how that toy smells or looks like.”
Prior studies suggested that dogs typically rely on vision, or a combination of sight and smell, to locate target objects. Few dogs can also identify objects based on verbal labels, which the authors call “gifted word learner” (GWL) dogs. “Just like humans, GWL dogs not only recognize the labeled objects—or categories of objects—as stimuli they have already encountered, but they also identify them among other similarly familiar named objects, based on their verbal labels,” the authors wrote. They wanted to investigate whether GWL dogs have an enhanced ability to discriminate and/or recognize objects compared to typical dogs.
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No More Pet Store Puppies? New York May Finally Ban Sales.
A bill prohibiting the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in New York pet stores, passed by the Legislature in June, awaits a decision from Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Meet the Canine Officers Guarding American Agriculture
With international travel returning to prepandemic levels, these floppy-eared hounds are sniffing out deadly diseases and pests at border crossings one mango or sausage at a time.
How to Keep Your Dog or Cat Cool and Safe During a Heat Wave
Extreme temperatures pose particular dangers to furry friends.
How to Keep Pets Cool and Safe During a Heat Wave
Extreme temperatures pose particular dangers to furry friends.
4,000 Beagles Are Being Rescued From a Virginia Facility. Now They Need New Homes.
The authorities have about two months to find homes for the dogs, after they were found at a facility that had violated dozens of federal regulations.
Wolves survived the ice age as a single, global population

Enlarge / An Eastern Gray Wolf is a mix of Siberian ancestry and coyote DNA. (credit: Michael Cummings)
Man’s best friend was the first of many animals humans have domesticated. But there was no clear before-and-after moment where dogs were suddenly a distinct population of wolves. While some ancient skeletons are clearly dogs, there are a lot of ambiguous skeletons earlier than that. It’s possible to get a sense of what happened using the genomes of modern and ancient dogs. But this analysis depends heavily on what you think the wolf populations dogs were derived from look like.
Now, researchers have generated a much clearer picture of the last 100,000 years of wolf evolution. The picture it paints is a population that remained a single unit despite being spread across continents in the Arctic, with the population sporadically refreshed from a core centered in Siberia. Many breeds of dogs seem to have been derived from a population of East Asian wolves. But others seem to have also received significant input from a Middle East population—but it’s unclear whether that population was wolves or dogs.
Wolves around the north
The ability to sequence ancient DNA was essential to this new work, which involved obtaining DNA from 66 wolf skeletons that collectively span about 100,000 years of evolution, including most of the last ice age. Wolves are found in the Northern Hemisphere, and the skeletons used here tend to be closer to the Arctic (probably in part because DNA survives better in cooler climes). But they are widely distributed, with Europe, Asia, and North America represented. The researchers also included five ancient wolf genomes that others had analyzed, along with some genomes of modern wolves.
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A Canine Companion So Nice It (Maybe) Evolved Twice
Two different ancient wolf populations contributed DNA to modern dogs, according to a new study.
French Bulldogs Are Popular And Have Become Armed Robbery Targets
The popular breed has become one of the most expensive in the United States. Some owners have started carrying guns for protection.
How Wasabi, the 2021 Westminister Dog Show Winner, Spends Retirement
Last year’s Westminster dog show winner was not in it for the money — there is no prize money — and he is very much a dog, even if it can be hard to tell from a distance.
The Incredible Journey of Three African Wild Dogs
Three sisters braved lions, crocodiles, poachers, raging rivers and other dangers on a 1,300-mile transnational effort to forge a new dynasty.
Love Your Dog, but Beware of Your Homeowners’ Insurance
Many firms have long refused coverage or charge more for pit bulls and other dogs considered more dangerous, but New York and other states say policies shouldn’t be breed specific.
How Therapy Dogs Can Help Kids With Stress Relief
A new study suggests that spending time with therapy dogs may help lower children’s stress levels even more than relaxation exercises.
The Michigan Mink Mystery: How Did an Interspecies Outbreak Unfold?
The puzzling coronavirus cases highlight ongoing surveillance challenges and blind spots.
Your Dog Is Not Ready for You to Return to the Office
Pets (and their owners) prepare for the inevitable.
What Your Dog’s Behavior Means
Dogs are “really good at reading our emotions,” says one expert. But we’re not so good at reading theirs.
How to Survive an Extreme Heat Wave
As temperatures reach record highs, here’s guidance on coping with extreme heat.
Ukrainian Bomb-Sniffing Dog Named Patron Honored by Zelensky
Patron has found more than 200 explosives, President Zelensky said. The dog has gone viral as Ukraine wages an information war.
Genetics goes to the dogs, finds there’s not much to breed behavior

Enlarge / In the case of the samoyed, selection for physical characteristics produced a dog that sure looks happy. (credit: Zhao Hui)
Many dog breeds are purely about appearance—think poodles and the Pekingese. But plenty of other breeds are devoted to specific tasks, like racing greyhounds. For many of these tasks, physical appearance isn’t enough: behavior also matters. Things like herding by sheepdog breeds or fetching by various retrievers.
It’s not surprising that many people ascribe these behaviors—and a wide variety of other, less useful ones—to their dog’s breed and its underlying genetics. Now, a large team of US-based researchers has looked into whether this belief is accurate. And, with a few exceptions, they find that it’s not. With a huge panel of volunteer dog owners, they show that the genetics of dog behavior is built from lots of small, weak influences, and every breed seems to have some members that just don’t behave as we expect.
Dogs, meet Darwin
The work is based on a citizen science project called Darwin’s Ark. Participants were asked to give details about their dog, including whether it belonged to an established breed (either certified or inferred). They were also asked to fill out short surveys that collectively asked about 117 different behaviors. Overall, they obtained data on some 18,000 dogs, about half of them from purebreds.
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They’re All Good Dogs, and It Has Nothing to Do With Their Breed
Retrievers that don’t retrieve and Papillons that point are all possible because the genes that shape dog behavior predate modern breeding that focuses on appearance, researchers find.
A Financial Services Company Illegally Leased Dogs, Massachusetts Says
Monterey Financial Services LLC has agreed to pay $930,000 in debt relief and restitution to settle allegations that it was conducting the practice, which is banned in the Bay State and others.
Ukrainians Face New Hurdle at U.S. Border: No Dogs
Federal health guidelines limit the entry of pets from countries like Ukraine with a high incidence of rabies. For some refugees, the rule has been devastating.
In a First, Google Goes After Puppy Fraud in Court
The company’s first consumer protection lawsuit, filed Monday, claims a Cameroon man tricked would-be buyers using Gmail and other services.
If Dogs Played Wordle
Dogs like to do what we do. So it’s only a matter of time, right?
As Travel Restrictions Ease, Dog Sitting Isn’t For Everyone
As travel returns, so are requests for dog sitting — after all, those pandemic puppies aren’t taking care of themselves.
Love is in the Air. So Is Dander.
When marriages between humans slowed because of the pandemic, ceremonies uniting two animals only became more popular.
Pet Obituary: ‘Good Dog, Finnegan. Rest in Peace.’
“It is the most human of things to want to memorialize and honor someone we have loved and lost, no matter of skin or fur,” a reader writers.
Noise Complaint: A Neighbor’s Dogs Bark Incessantly
City dwellers are expected to tolerate some amount of noise. When it comes to disruptive pets, you need to prove it’s a problem.
The Diet Worked For Them. Now Their Pets Are on It.
Paleo, vegan, gluten-free: Owners are putting animals on human regimens and fueling a huge pet-wellness industry. But some health experts are concerned.
Finnegan, Dog Known for His Exemplary Nose, Dies at 14
In life, animals are rarely treated with the respect due these fellow travelers on earth; when they die, we have one last chance to do so.
The Love Issue: Romance, Friends, Dogs and Chocolate Included
Try our relationship tuneup and other advice in this special Valentine’s Day edition of the Well newsletter.
A Pandemic Puppy Changed the Way I See (and Hear and Smell) My World
As a first-time dog owner, I didn’t anticipate how thoroughly a dog would demand that I experience my neighborhood from a different perspective.
Dog-Sledding in Southern Maine’s Winter Wonderland
Traversing a frozen lake with a team of dogs is an escapist dream in the winter wonderland of Southern Maine. Just remember the brake — and no Instagram selfies.
OMG, You’ll Never Believe What the Laser Vacuum Revealed
High-tech vacuums and robotic mops are having their moment in a pandemic that has contributed to never-ending messes at home.
Francis Bacon’s Animal Paintings, Analyzed by Animal Experts
A new exhibition at London’s Royal Academy highlights Francis Bacon’s paintings of animals. We showed them to some specialists in their subject matter.
The Noise From Downstairs Is Terrible. Should I Sue the Landlord?
You have a right to the quiet enjoyment of your home, but lawsuits come with their own headaches. And there’s always room for negotiation.
Vaccine Hesitancy Comes for Pet Parents
Some pet owners have extended vaccine worries to their furry pals. When is it appropriate to skip a dog or cat’s shot, and when is it absolutely crucial?
Pope Francis Is Troubled by Your Pet
On Fido and fruitfulness.
‘Trainer to the Trainers’ in a Dog Fighting Ring Is Sentenced to 5 Years
Vernon Vegas trained dogs for fights hosted by a multistate cocaine trafficking and dog fighting ring, federal prosecutors said.
Can My Dog and I Be Forced to Use the Service Elevator?
Most apartment owners are subject to the house rules, which a board can change. But some rules are not always enforceable.
Dog Is Hailed as ‘Real-Life Lassie’ After Leading Police to Truck Crash
Two men lay unconscious on a frigid Vermont night until Tinsley, a Shiloh Shepherd, led the authorities back to the site of the wreck.
Daniel Sturridge Ordered to Pay $30,000 to Man Who Returned His Dog
Daniel Sturridge lost his Pomeranian in a 2019 break-in. A man who returned the dog sued for breach of contract after Mr. Sturridge reneged on a promised reward, according to court records.
‘Hey, Pal’: Biden Welcomes a New Puppy to the White House
The 3-month-old German shepherd with very large, pointy ears is named Commander.
Want Something Done Right? Do It Yourself. These Books Can Help.
From decorating to beauty projects to canine costumes, these how-to guides may inspire you to take matters into your own hands.
Can We Make Our Granddaughter Give Up Her Scary Dog?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on what terms we can attach to our plans to help loved ones — and more.
No Escape From the Pandemic Puppy Bubble
A humorous take on dog obsession and the joys of having a pet lizard.
Hoping for a Dog Phone? You May Have a Long Wait.
A scientist in Scotland tested a so-called DogPhone to let her dog make video calls. He did use it, but mostly by mistake.