It’s clear that the dogs we know and love are very distinct from wolves. Aside from variations in their genetic code, the way dogs interact with and behave around us humans is very different from the behavior of typical wolves, even if the dogs and wolves are raised in similar conditions. In particular, the special...
Continue reading...canine cognition science
The Cunning Game: How Sneaky Is Your Dog?
Imagine you are making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in your kitchen. Your dog is keeping you company. The phone rings and before you take the call, you tell your dog to not touch your food. Would you trust that your dog would leave your sandwich alone?
Continue reading...Rolling Over: What’s Your Dog Saying?
Dognition polled 800 people through our social media channels, and 44% of dog parents say their dog rolls over during play with another dog. Are these dogs communicating that they are subordinate to their play partner? A 2014 study out of University of Lethbridge and University of South Africa looked to see what a dog...
Continue reading...The Science of Self-Control
The blond-headed boy is 4-years old and in pre-school. The adult tells him that the yummy delicious marshmallow in front of him is his to eat now or later. If he waits in the chair until she comes back to eat it, he’ll get rewarded with a second marshmallow. The young boy squirms in...
Continue reading...Dogs’ Internal Compass and Why It Matters
You’ve probably heard by now that your dog has a reason for all that spinning and circling around before picking the perfect spot to excrete. If not, here’s the rundown: German and Czech researchers have found that dogs prefer to align their bodies along the north-south axis of the earth’s magnetic field during excretion. They...
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