March 2018

Using ‘baby-talk’ gains attention and supports the human-dog bond

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Data suggest dog owners tend to anthropomorphise their four-legged friends more than cat owners (Dotson et al., 2010).  Indeed, in recent years research has explored dog owners use of ‘baby-talk’ and how they are more likely to cradle their pet much like you would hold an infant (Serpell, 1996), highlighting similarities between the dog-owner relationship […]

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Dog noise sensitivity and links with pain

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There are numerous factors that can influence a dog’s behaviour, however, a new study has found a relationship between fear of noises and underlying pain.  This suggests that dogs showing signs of stress when faced with loud or sudden noises should be routinely assessed for pain by veterinarians – especially in older dogs. Lopes Fagundes […]

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Are anxious people more likely to be bitten?

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There are many variables that can lead to a dog bite including but not limited to: the context, what the stimulus is doing that provokes the dog’s reaction, handling methods used, the dog’s genetics, state of health, hormones, and previous experiences. Learning reliable bite inhibition before 18 weeks of age is important otherwise it can […]

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People show greater attachment towards pets than partners

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Despite the plethora of species sharing the planet with humans, only a privileged few occupy the position of pets. Pet-keeping is one of the closest forms of human-animal interaction in Western society; dogs being the most popular in the UK (PFMA, 2017).  In recent decades data suggest the human-dog relationship involves characteristics similar to those […]

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Dog-owner relationship pre and post-partum

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**Calling all dog owners that are expectant parents or new parents** We’re looking for support from dog owners that are expectant parents or have gone onto have children (now aged under 5 years).  Why? Currently, there is a paucity in data relating to whether having a baby influences the owner-dog relationship, such as the types […]

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