dogs

German Shepherds bring the big bucks at the cinema

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According to a recent study, German Shepherds claim the top spot when it comes to box office smashes. The pet insurer, Everypaw, analysed the top 50 live-action films starring dogs to better understand if there was a link between breed type and film earnings. Of the 35 breeds, pedigrees appeared in 97% of the box […]

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Can allergy-friendly dogs prevent allergic reactions?

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Allergies to dogs have increased in prevalence presumably as a result of increased dog ownership and sensitisation.  Consequently, public interest in “hypoallergenic” breeds has surged in the last decade.  Such interest was boosted when President Obama selected Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog – a breed considered ‘allergy-friendly’ – to be America’s First Dog due to his […]

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The science of emotions

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Being a great pet owner is to better understand their mind and our own.  One topic hotly debated by owners for centuries is whether our four-legged friends experience emotions. During the 17th century, Descartes (1596-1650) suggested humans were creatures of reason, linked to the mind of God whereas animals were incapable of consciousness and nothing […]

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Sizing up the competition via scent

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Urine marking is the canine equivalent of a graffiti artist leaving a tag to mark their territory.  Not only does scent marking serve to cover up scents left by neighbourhood canines, it also provides precious information to others: from when that individual passed by, the animal’s state of health and emotional state to age, gender and […]

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Calming effects of music during animal surgeries

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Over the years, various studies (Wells et al., 2002; Kogan et al., 2012) have illustrated the positive benefits music therapy has on dogs.  Not only can auditory stimulation mask ambient noise that may otherwise trigger vocalisations but classical music, and even the audio-book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia read by […]

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Galen massage with Emma Tanaka

Emma Tanaka has been part of the Hanne Grice Dog Training & Behaviour team for over two years.  A firm favourite with clients, Emma instructs at our Puppy & Dog School and assists with our behavioural work.  Now, Emma has added a ‘new string’ to her bow of many talents – Galen massage. For the […]

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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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