Do Dogs with Baby Expressions get Adopted Sooner and What Does it Say about Domestication

Cute eyebrow movements by dogs influence people’s choice of canine companion.

Photo: MrGarry / Shutterstock

Theories about the domestication of dogs from wolves suggest that baby-like faces are a by-product of humans selecting for other features. But is it possible they were deliberately selected? A new study in PLoS One by Bridget Waller et al (University of Portsmouth) investigates.

Selecting animals for behavioural traits can end up having unexpected effects on physical characteristics, as shown in the silver fox study by Dimitri K. Belyaev in Siberia. Young foxes were tested to see how they responded to a person, and the least fearful ones were chosen for breeding. Eventually, after forty generations of breeding, the foxes became tame and domesticated. Even though they were selected for behaviour, they had physical changes such as floppy ears, curly tails, blue eyes, different coat colours, less of a ‘foxy’ smell, and a longer socialization period. (You can read more in this blog by Jason Goldman on Scientific American).  

 

This is why the physical appearance of dogs could simply be a by-product of selection for friendly behaviour. Dogs have a wide variety of physical features, many of which are puppy-like – closer to a wolf puppy than an adult wolf. However the scientists wondered if people may have selected for appearance as well as behaviour during domestication.

The study focussed on dogs eyes, since large eyes are seen as a baby-like feature. Using sophisticated facial recognition software, the scientists were able to track a movement known as AU101, in which the inside of the eyebrow is raised, making the eye appear bigger. This is shown in the photograph below of a Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Source: PLoS One

A preference for neoteny can even be found in young children, as Borgi and Cirulli (2013) showed in their study using photos of dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, and teddy bears with or without infantile features.  Studies of people’s preference for baby-face features typically ask people to make a choice between two photographs. However, Waller et al felt that choosing dogs from re-homing centres is more similar to the domestication process, since it involves selecting a dog that will live in your home. 

They enlisted the help of four re-homing centres in the UK, run by Portsmouth City, Wood Green, the Dogs Trust and the RSPCA. Because differences between breeds can be large, they selected 29 dogs from the bull breed group (Staffordshire Bull Terriers, mastiffs, and mixed bull breeds). Each dog was filmed for two minutes while the experimenter stood by the kennel and held out a hand towards the dog. The video was analyzed for facial expression, tail wagging, and time spent near the front of the kennel. 

Two dogs were excluded from the results because they had to wait an unusually long time to be adopted (82 and 87 days). The final sample of 27 dogs had an average age of two (ranging from 7 to 96 months).
 

Surprisingly, the amount of time spent wagging the tail or at the front of the kennel did not make much difference to the length of time that elapsed before dogs were adopted.  The eyebrow movement, however, did. If dogs made this eyebrow movement 5 times within the 2 minute period, they were adopted in 50 days (on average), compared to 35 days if they did it ten times, and 28 days for 15 times.

The number of times the eyebrow movement was made when the experimenter was there was considered to be typical of what they would do when potential adopters were first looking at the dog. Testing how many times it was actually made when dogs were adopted would increase the accuracy of the model. And there are also many other factors that could affect adopters’ decisions, including the other dogs present at the centre at the time. 

The researchers say the human version of the facial gesture studied here indicates sadness. Even though tail wagging did not have much effect, there was a tendency for dogs that wagged their tails a lot to be at the shelter for longer. So it is possible that sadness, rather than cuteness, influenced people’s choices, although it could also be that sadness is a component of baby-like features. This warrants further research.

This is the first time baby-like features have been shown to affect people’s choice of a dog, something that requires time and investment from the new owner. The researchers say, “Our real world data show that domestic dogs who exhibit paedomorphic characteristics are preferentially and actively selected by humans as pets from rehoming shelters. This therefore supports the hypothesis that paedomorphic characteristics in domestic dogs arose as a result of indirect selection by humans rather than only being a by-product of selection against aggression.” In other words, people may have shown a preference for dogs with infantile features during domestication.

What characteristics first attracted you to your dog?

References

Borgi, M., & Cirulli, F. (2013). Childrens preferences for infantile features in dogs and cats Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, 1 (2), 1-15.   
Waller BM, Peirce K, Caeiro CC, Scheider L, Burrows AM, McCune S, & Kaminski J (2013). Paedomorphic facial expressions give dogs a selective advantage. PloS one, 8 (12) PMID: 24386109

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Where Do People Get Information About Dog Training

Can people be blamed for dog training mistakes when there is so much erroneous information out there?

Recently I saw a man walking a German Shepherd. Even from a distance it was clear the dog was nervous: his posture was low to the ground and the way he was walking made me wonder what kind of equipment he was on. As I waited at the traffic lights, I got a chance to see: a prong collar, tight, positioned high on his neck.

There are easy alternatives, the simplest being a no-pull harness. I began to wonder: did the man not know there were other approaches? Did he not want to invest time in training loose-leash walking? Or did he think it looks good to have a big dog on a prong collar?

While I don’t know his line of reasoning, we do know something about sources of training information. A recent survey of canine behavioural problems by Pirrone et al (2015) in Italy included a question about where people got information on dog training. 55% of respondents gave the answer, ‘myself’. This was broken down into two groups: 13% of dog owners who got their information ‘instinctively’, and 42% who got it from the web, TV or a book.

The internet is a great source of both information and misinformation about dog training and animal behaviour. The same applies to TV shows and books, some of which are wonderful and others not so much. It’s hard for readers and viewers to separate fact from fiction, especially when there is so much conflicting advice.

The other interesting thing to note about this answer, ‘myself’, is that it suggests most people do not discuss their dog’s behaviour with others, whether that is friends, family or vets. (In fact only 0.5% reported asking other dog owners).

35% of people said they got information from a dog trainer, and 6% from a veterinarian. So are they safe if they ask a dog trainer? Sadly there are no standards in dog training, so responses could vary from dire to excellent. It’s not a surprise that vets came low on the list, as a study by Roshier and McBride found vets can miss opportunities to discuss behaviour problems with their clients, and many clients think this isn’t an appropriate topic for the vet.

An earlier study by Herron, Shofer and Reisner included questions about people’s source of information for particular techniques and also found ‘self’ rated highly. Looking specifically at choke and prong collars, however, 66% said it was recommended by a trainer, while 21% credited themselves and 15% a friend or relative with the idea. In fact this was the second most common piece of advice to be credited to a trainer, after forcing the dog down with a leash at 70%. Both of these methods were categorized as "direct confrontation" by the authors. (More positively, the reward-based techniques of clicker training and teaching ‘look’ or ‘watch me’ were third on the list as trainer-recommendations). 

So is it lack of knowledge that causes people to use aversive training techniques? An Australian survey by Branson, Cobb and McGreevy found that only 6% of trainers of working dogs have a formal certification and 52% have no training at all. In other words, half of the trainers who responded to the survey do not even have on-the-job training. These are people training dogs for a range of law enforcement, protection, customs, search-and-rescue, farming, sports, and service roles. 

The same survey found the use of correction and electric shock collars was far more common amongst those with no training certification. Those with better education levels were more likely to use positive reinforcement.

Learning theory is a dog trainer’s bread and butter – or at least it should be. How can you do a good job of training without an understanding of how dogs learn?

Another issue is that people may genuinely not realize when their dog is stressed. Wan et al found experience with dogs is an important factor in people’s ability to recognize fear. When Deldalle and Gaunet compared the effects of positive reinforcement versus negative reinforcement (which uses aversives), they found dogs in the latter group were more stressed and looked less at their owners. The signs of stress included lowered body posture, lip-licking, and yawning. These could be missed by people who dont know what to look for.

Which brings us back to the beautiful German Shepherd that was showing all three of these signs. There is a real need for better education about dog training. Without it, people will continue to use out-dated, inappropriate and even dangerous methods. If you’re looking for a dog trainer, here are some questions to ask from The Academy for Dog Trainers, as considered by three excellent trainers: Maureen Backman, Lori Nanan and Helen Verte.

The good news is that the push for humane training methods is gaining momentum. 

References:

Branson, N., Cobb, M., & McGreevy, P. (2009). Australian Working Dog Survey Report Australian Animal Welfare StrategyDeldalle, S., & Gaunet, F. (2014). Effects of two training methods on stress-related behaviors of the dog Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 9 (2), 58-65 : http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2013.11.004 
Herron, M., Shofer, F., & Reisner, I. (2009). Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 117 (1-2), 47-54 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2008.12.011 
Pirrone, F., Pierantoni, L., Mazzola, S., Vigo, D., & Albertini, M. (2015). Owner and animal factors predict the incidence of, and owner reaction toward, problematic behaviors in companion dogs Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2015.03.004 
Roshier, A., & McBride, E. (2012). Canine behaviour problems: discussions between veterinarians and dog owners during annual booster consultations Veterinary Record, 172 (9), 235-235 DOI: 10.1136/vr.101125 
Wan, M., Bolger, N., & Champagne, F. (2012). Human Perception of Fear in Dogs Varies According to Experience with Dogs PLoS ONE, 7 (12) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051775

What You Know About Your Dog But Dont Want To Talk About!

When you’re certain in getting a dog, Ill bet you dreamt about the countless times youd have with your new best friend. Nonetheless, there are things that you need to deliberate in order to keep your pooch healthy and happy. Things that possibly youd rather not even think about!

 When you visit your veterinarian he may request you to bring a urine sample from your dog. How do you do this? Your dog confidently wont be able to hit a sample bottle. The coolest way to complete this is to tape a polyethylene vial to the end of a yard stick. While your dog is playing, position the container beneath his urine stream.

 This is stress-free to do with male dogs than female dogs but you can habitually get a tester with one or two tries. Your veterinarian will need as fresh a sample as thinkable so if you wont be compiling the sample to the vet right away, keep it chilled until you bring it in. Your veterinarian will be examining the sample for a range of stuffs like bacteria and crystals. If bacteria are found it possibly will mean that your pooch has a urinary tract infection and will most probable necessitate your dog to be put in a sequence of antibiotics. Crystals form in the urine when minerals bind together, there are numerous different kinds of crystals and these are peak often treated with prescription diets.

If your veterinarian requests for a stool sample it might mean that he doubts that intestinal parasites are troubling your dog. They can acquire these by eating fecal matter from carcasses, unsavory things and another affected animal. You will want to get in a fresh sample. The doctor will inspect it under the optical microscope and look for telltale eggs of parasites. Commonest parasites are roundworms, roundworms, whipworms, hookworms and tapeworms. Several of today’s regular heartworm treatments also protect against hookworms and roundworms. If you’re living in the country where your dog stays outside for much of the day, he may prerequisite to be cured with a tapeworm wormer on a trimestral basis. Other diseases alike coccidia, can also be seen under the optical microscope from your dog’s stool sample.

So, now you can discuss about those unpleasant things! Its imperative that you are accurately educated and can identify signs and symptoms so that you keep your dog as in fine fettle as he can be.

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Dogue de Bordeaux For proper maintenance

Dogue de Bordeaux Breed impresses in many ways. This dog very rich past (hunting dog, guard dog, fighting dog, dog of flocks) is a respectable sized athlete who still retains allure threatening. First is a large dog, so I have to make room in your life, literally.

Space you have available in your home have thought of such a nature that a special part of it to belong to the new "tenant". A breed Dogue de Bordeaux puppy is too high and is absolutely charm (look for all available puppies). Likely to come into your home at an early age, so he will easily find a place (in arms, probably most often). But these fantastic puppies grow quickly and soon, in 6 months, you have a family member with respectable size. Who needs space. Even if the activity of a Dogue de Bordeaux dog inside the home is too high, he will always want to be around you and be somewhat connected to the main activity carried out by family members.

Place of rest must be adjusted to its size and comfortable, but do not mistake them allow access to sofas and armchairs. Especially if you want to use them and will from time to time. It is difficult to create image positioning and lower in the hierarchy of authority if he will be allowed to occupy the places you use yourself. Leader always occupied the highest position, most visible, most comfortable. Dog knows that. So place is at your feet. In place of the house where normally spend time (on the couch beside watching television, reading newspapers next chair that near the deck chair on which rest on the terrace etc.) Can place mats "dedicated" brave French. I used to sit there when you sit around, do not change position often, keep in the material or furniture to cover. Those are his siesta and waiting areas and over time will get used to them. Otherwise youre going to "fight" for a place on your own comfy couch (and "fight" will be difficult "with an opponent of 60 kilograms).

Caring your friend will not ask for too long. A Dogue de Bordeaux is demanding and requires meticulous care with strong periodicity. The first step is framing vaccinations and deworming program. This program must be strictly followed, as directed by the veterinarians office. Dogue de Bordeaux breed does not shed too much. When changing seasons is recorded sequences more consistent, but generally a brush with the glove in 3-4 days is enough.

At each session massage gently brushing the dogs body and see what areas of the body prefers to be protected. Usually dogs do not like to be touched on paws, belly and tail area. Touch with care and these areas when brushing held a meeting, so that we get used to the idea that you are in control and dominance in physical contact. It is a "game authority" if you accept the term, and has its importance in the complex equation of training.

2-3 times a week pay special attention to the face. Specifically, the folds of skin on the face.

Dog de ??Bordeaux has a "tortured to" excess skin show and grouped into prominent folds. They must be carefully cleaned using disinfectant solutions recommended by a veterinarian and floppy cotton cosmetic (cleansing those used by ladies are very good). In the folds of skin accumulates dirt that can trigger irritation and infection also can set various external parasites, extremely dangerous. Check the eyes of these cosmetic treatments, for consistent eyelids, fleshy, of a Dogue de Bordeaux may be affected by entropion and ectropion. Usually these giants seem slightly bloodshot eyes, but it must be just an impression, check lest it be a sign of real trouble.

Especially in areas too hot or sunny days when the program is outdoors, Dog de ??Bordeaux will salivate excessively. Conformation and "design" lips predispose him to this (issue applies to any dog ??mastiff family) so it is good to always have pads or paper towels to remove it. Speaking about the reaction to heat, heed that Bordeaux Dog is a dog brachycephalism (with flat nose), so the process will run with breathing difficulties.

Based on this, his reaction to excessive heat (and poorly ventilated enclosed areas, direct sunlight on hot days) is prompt and can be life-threatening. Never leave a dog in this race locked in the car, even if only for a few minutes. If you travel with him to town one day in hot programmed breaks in shady and cool and make sure you have a supply of fresh water with you. Similarly, in the courtyard where you happen to let him free, hes a playground with shade and a generous bowl with fresh water. If you happen to make heatstroke (presenting symptoms as dizziness, loss of balance, unconsciousness, tremors doubled spasmodic breathing) act immediately, without wasting a second! Will be very useful ice cubes (boxed in a plastic bag and placed it between her hind legs) and the ability to use a hose supplied with cold water (using a jet of low intensity, cool chest, neck and dogs head). In the U.S. and even France are recorded annually worrying many deaths of dogs breed Dogue de Bordeaux caused by heatstroke.

At least 2 weeks check the status feet, carefully studying pads. Cut up your hair between pads, make sure that no injuries or infections (some external parasites stays in that area) and check whether to May adjust nail length.

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Does Your Dog Really Need to Be On Heartworm Medication The Truth about Heartworm Prevention Conventional Preventatives Natural Safe Alternatives

How do you know if your dog really needs to be on a heartworm preventative? Should you just take your veterinarians advice or should you double-check on the advice you may be receiving from your Veterinarian? If your dog needs to be on heartworm preventatives are there other things you need to do to ensure the safety of your dog while on the preventative? If you dont know the answers you can be putting your dogs health at risk despite the best of intentions.

In this article...

1. Risk Assessment;
2. Consequences and Side Effects;
3. How to Offset the Risks and Use Natural Alternatives

1.0 The Risk Assessment

• Who is defining the area you reside in as a risk area for heartworm 
• What are they defining the risk as -  low, medium, high?
• How is the risk level actually defined and estimated?
• What is the actual source of information on which the assessment is based? 
• And who is funding the assessment?

What is The Real Risk Assessment?

First verify that your area is truly high risk. If you are in the U.S., the locations that are truly high risk are Florida, parts of Texas, Hawaii and some locations along the Gulf Coast (i.e. New Orleans).  Can you trust the maps generated by the American Heartworm Society (AHS) – the answer is NO. Why? Because AHS is heavily sponsored by 8 (eight) of the major pharmaceutical companies who produce pesticide-laden heartworm preventatives.  You can find-up-to-date maps on the AHS site; however the data which the maps are based on is designed to boost sales of heartworm products and is not reflective of actual reality. 

It seems - at least in North America, that many conventional-practice veterinarians , even those located in very low risk areas for heartworm infection are actively and intensely pushing pesticide-based heartworm medications on their clients.  

Why?

Well primarily because the big pharmaceutical companies (i.e. Pfizer) have aggressively and expertly marketed pesticide laden heartworm products to veterinarians. The marketing campaigns base their facts on skewed data, incomplete reporting (including side effects, testing results, comparisons and alternatives). Unfortunately the pharmaceutical companies’ objective is not the health of your pet; it is instead their desire for profit. 

Many of the veterinarians pushing these products on their clients are truly not aware of the truth about these products - the short and long-term deleterious side effects (immune system suppression, organ failure, cancer, etc.). In addition very few conventional veterinarians have much knowledge about diet/nutrition and alternate, natural preventatives. And yes, of coarse veterinarians do make  money off of the vending, and protocol around sales of heartworm prevention products.

Conditions Must Be Exact for A Dog to Be Infected with Heartworm

Ambient air temperature conditions must be perfect for the heartworm larvae to first survive in the mosquito, and then under the dogs skin during stages L-1 thru to L-4 of development. 

During larvae development within the mosquito, the ambient air temperature must remain above 57 degrees Fahrenheit - day and night. If at any time during this stage in the larvas life, the temperature drops below 57 degrees F, development of the larvae is stopped and must start all over again if and when the temperature increases. The larvae must reach the L-3 development stage before it can infest a dog.

At stage L-3 of development heartworm larva are left in a tiny droplet of mosquito saliva which is deposited next to the mosquito bite location on the dogs skin. 

Once again the ambient air temperature must be right, and the humidity content in the air must be sufficient to avoid evaporation of the saliva droplet. The larvae canot enter the dogs body without the saliva. To enter into a dogs body, the L-3 larva must swim through the droplet and thereby makes its way into the actual hole made by the mosquito bite. Once inside the dog the L-3 larva spends the next 2 weeks developing into an L-4 stage larva. At L-4 the larva is still living just under the dog Read More..

Microchipping Your Dog

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Microchipping Your Dog

Millions of dogs become lost each year. Tragically, few are reunited with their owners. Many lost dogs end up in shelters where they are adopted out to new homes or even euthanized. It is important that your dog has identification at all times. Collars and tags are essential, but they can fall off or become damaged. Technology has made it possible to equip your pet with a microchip for permanent identification.

How it Works

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. It consists of a tiny computer chip housed in a type of glass made to be compatible with living tissue. The microchip is implanted between the dog’s shoulder blades under the skin with a needle and special syringe. The process is similar to getting a shot. Little to no pain is experienced – most dogs do not seem to even feel it being implanted. Once in place, the microchip can be detected immediately with a handheld device that uses radio waves to read the chip. This device scans the microchip, and then displays a unique alphanumeric code. Once the microchip is placed, the dog must be registered with the microchip company, usually for a one-time fee. Then, the dog can be traced back to the owner if found.

Things You Should Know

• Microchips are designed to last for the life of a dog. They do not need to be charged or replaced.
• Some microchips have been known to migrate from the area between the shoulder blades, but the instructions for scanning emphasize the need to scan the dog’s entire body.
• A microchipped dog can be easily identified if found by a shelter or veterinary office in possession of a scanner. However, some shelters and veterinary offices do not have scanners.
• Depending on the brand of microchip and the year it was implanted, even so-called universal scanners may not be able to detect the microchip.
• Microchip manufacturers, veterinarians and animal shelters have been working on solutions to the imperfections, and technology continues to improve over time.

No method of identification is perfect. The best thing you can do to protect your dog is to be aresponsible owner. Keep current identification tags on your dog at all times, consider microchipping as reinforcement, and never allow your dog to roam free. If your dog does become lost, more identification can increase the odds of finding your beloved companion.

Source

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French Bulldog Summary study about proper nutrition

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Never put food scraps too old or that you think you would be easily altered in dog bowl on the grounds that "a dog has a strong stomach can eat anything." True, dogs can eat certain products that are not accessible because they are better adapted than us in terms of uncooked food, but that does not mean they are indestructible.

Strays that I notice from serene eating garbage are, in many cases, carriers of disease and have an average life not too long. We will not discuss here how dry food is indicated. Everyone agrees that is a comfortable and convenient choice and that if brands "serious" is made on the basis of detailed recipes, designed scientifically verified a balance between the main nutrients and the role of immune . But food based on natural ingredients has, in turn, benefits the first rank. As long as the pace of current life prevents many people to handle their food preparation, the dispute between these two options do not seem to find a final verdict.


What rules apply when it comes to proper nutrition for French Bulldog?

- Feed your dog French Bulldog is best to be served at room temperature. It may be more convenient to remove it from the refrigerator and transfer to bowl or, but in this way we expose indigestion, intestinal blockages or gastric torsion feared crisis.

- Regularly check your dogs weight. A French Bulldog weighs on average between 9-13 kg (depending on sex, with males being more robust and more solid bones). If exceeded the 14 kg it is no longer a joke. Your dog is a puppy French Bulldog plump in this case, but the downright obese dog. Do not allow this dog to gain weight, even if his appetite seems insatiable food. Always keep in mind the difficulties imposed fairly large so the conformation brachycephalism and imagine how much they can increase obesity. Most often, you notice that this situation is about to occur, you need to increase time spent outdoors and exercise movement, along with a daily food ration adjustment.

- Do not ever give your dog cooked bones, and if the ban is total chicken. The dog is very attracted to bones, but will not chew effectively, especially cooked become brittle and once ingurgitate can break the wall of the stomach or intestines, causing internal bleeding, vomiting and indigestion. Ultimately, large bones, raw, may be offered the idea to protect teeth against plaque deposit. But in this case, only large bone ends are acceptable, because they have a foam composers, not so hard and can not be divided into sharp fragments.

- Do not leave food in the bowl more than 15 minutes and if a French Bulldog type refuse food for 24 hours, get him to a veterinarian.

- If you have several dogs French Bulldog, do not offer food in one larger dish. Each will have to have his own boat.

- Use stainless steel vessels, which is good to wash with hot water after every meal. French Bulldog baby always make sure fresh water bowl in place for feeding. May 1-2 is ideal to place pots with water in places frequented more often the dog house because hydration is a priority for dogs


What would be good to include menu for a French Bulldog?
- Protein from meat (avoid pork), vegetables (carrots, celery, peppers, parsnip, turnip, peas), fruits (apples, melons, oranges). This is an ideal combination, provide all the necessary ingredients for a balanced diet. Minced meat is so bad for dogs as for humans, and by the high level of fat in it is a major source of calories.
- Chicken and turkey - here are two very meat sources indicated. They are easy to digest, they aA low calories, so are recommended for dogs with sensitive stomach and those not performing too intense physical nature.
- Pasta and noodles are good sources of carbohydrates, but do not have a compelling aroma and taste to dogs. They have spicy meat sauce - for example - or mixed with other ingredients used easily accepted.
- Yogurt and cheese are good sources of nutrients and are generally accepted by dogs.
- Rice (preferably the brown) is easily digested and, in combination with chicken diet is recommended for dogs French Bulldog .
- Chicken eggs, boiled or scrambled eggs prepared as a food easy and nutritious. Eggs are great for puppies French Bulldog breed.

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