6 Bizarre Ways Our Dogs Talk to Us

by Kate Barrington

Published: June 25th, 2016

Will dogs ever learn how to speak human? Until they do, we need to be able to interpret dog. Here are some of the strange ways the dogs let us know what they’re talking about.

An experienced dog owner will tell you that they can tell what their dog is thinking just by looking into his eyes. It is true that dogs communicate with their owners, but not always in the ways you might expect. In this article you will learn about the many different methods dogs use to communicate with their owners and what they mean.

Understanding Dog Body Language

Body language plays a key role in communication between dogs and other dogs as well as between dogs and humans. You can tell a lot about the way your dog is feeling just by looking at him. You can tell whether your dog is frightened, for example, or when he is excited. Your dog’s eyes will be wide and bright when he is happy or excited but his pupils may dilate when he is afraid. When your dog is excited and happy to see you, he might pull back his lips in a smile – if your dog’s lips curl back when he is facing another dog, however, this is more likely an indication of fear or aggression. You can also tell what your dog is thinking by watching his tail – it will wag gently from side to side if he feels happy but might be tucked under his legs if he is frightened.

How Dogs Communicate with Humans

Your dog communicates with you in a variety of ways, though you may not always realize that he is speaking to you. Below you will find a brief explanation of some of the most common ways that dogs communicate with their owners.

Face Licking: One of the most common behaviors dogs show affection for their owners by licking their hands and faces. This behavior is most commonly exhibited by puppies, but some dogs carry it into adulthood.
Head Turning: When you approach your dog, does he look at you or turn his head away? When dogs approach each other, they typically do so in a roundabout way so the other dog will not feel threatened – they approach in an arc (not a straight line) and avoid eye contact. If your dog turns his head away from you it may be because he is overwhelmed or uncertain of your intentions. To help your dog understand that you don’t intend him any harm you can offer back a head turn of your own or yawn and sigh.
Yawning: Dogs yawn when they are tired just like humans but yawning can have a second meaning as well. In many cases, yawning is an indication that your dog is nervous or uncertain – licking the lips is another sign of nervousness.
Whale Eye: When a dog shows the whites of his eyes it is sometimes referred to as “whale eye” or half-moon eye. When a dog exhibits this behavior it is often a sign of nervousness – if your dog exhibits this behavior in response to something you are doing, you may need to back off or reassure him.
Crotch Sniffing: It can be embarrassing when your dog trots up to your house guest and sticks his nose directly in their crotch. This is a natural behavior for a dog and a method he uses to seek out information – your body produces pheromones which your dog uses to identify your sex, age, health and mood.
Whining: While dogs can whine for different reasons, one of the most common reasons is that they want your attention. If your dog doesn’t normally whine, a sudden increase in whining could be his way of telling you that something is wrong. In other cases, whining may be an excited greeting or a sign of anxiety.

Dogs communicate with each other and with their owners in a variety of ways, many of which humans do not understand. If you take the time to really observe your dog and to evaluate his behavior, you might be able to see what he is trying to tell you.

Kate Barrington

Kate Barrington is the loving owner of two cats (Bagel and Munchkin) and a noisy herd of guinea pigs. Having grown up with golden retrievers, Kate has a great deal of experience with dogs but labels herself a lover of all pets. Having received a Bachelor's degree in English, Kate has combined her love for pets and her passion for writing to create her own freelance writing business, specializing in the pet niche.

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Why Do Dogs Sniff Butts?

Don’t fall behind when interpreting your pooch’s behavior. Here’s why dogs sniff butts – it’s more than saying hello. You don’t have to be a dog owner yourself to know what a dog’s first move will be when he encounters another dog – he will run right up to it and stick his nose under its tail. Butt sniffing is a behavior that every dog exhibits, not only around other dogs but sometimes with humans as well. The question is, do you know why he really does it? What Can Dogs Learn by Sniffing Butts? Whereas humans communicate using words and hand gestures, dogs rely on body language and scents for communication. In fact, your dog’s nose is about 10,000 to 100,000 times more powerful than your own nose and it can hold up to 225 million olfactory receptors. Your own nose, while it may be similar in size to your dog’s, has a much smaller olfactory membrane and it only contains 5 million olfactory receptors. When your dog smells something he takes in a great deal more information about the person, animal, or object than you would gather from taking a whiff with your puny human nose. Related: 6 Bizarre Ways Our Dogs Talk to Us As you may or may not be aware, all dogs have small glands on either side of their anus (called anal sacs, or anal glands) that produce certain chemicals. These chemicals are like a finger print in that they are completely unique to your dog. By catching a whiff of this chemical from another dog, your dog can learn a lot of information such as the dog’s sex, health, reproductive status, and even his diet. In many ways, sniffing butts for dogs is similar to shaking hands for humans – it is the customary way to greet someone and it can tell you a lot with just that simple form of interaction. Should You Try to Stop Your Dog? Sniffing butts is a natural behavior for dogs, but there is a time and a place for it. While it might be perfectly acceptable for your dog to do this when he meets another dog, your human houseguest might not appreciate your dog shoving his nose into their crotch. You shouldn’t try to stop your dog from sniffing another dog, but you can train him not to treat your human friends this way. It might help to ask your dog to sit and stay when new people come to the house, allowing them to approach your dog instead of the other way around. You may also want to give your guests a heads-up if your dog has a habit of crotch sniffing. Related: New Study Fuels Anti Tail Docking and Ear Cropping Standards In most cases, letting your dog sniff another dog is completely harmless but you should always keep an eye out when your dog is meeting new people or dogs. Some dogs simply do not get along well with other dogs so you want to be careful about letting your dog get too close. When you take your dog for a walk it is always a good idea to ask permission from the owner before letting your dog approach another dog and you should keep your dog under control when there are other dogs around. If you take your dog to the dog park there is an unspoken understanding that your dog is generally friendly around other dogs and you can assume that the same is true for the other dogs, though you should always supervise your dog closely, just in case. Even though sniffing someone’s butt is probably not something you would do as a means of greeting them, it is a normal behavior for your dog and not one that you should discourage unless it becomes a serious problem. Just remember that sniffing a dog’s butt is how your dog learns important information and it is a harmless behavior.

Why Kind Words Are Eternal to Your Pets

What are the words you’ll use to your pets today? Remember that your words are eternal. Here are some examples of how to change your words to your pet. Several years ago, I came across someone whose life wasn’t going too well. She was in a job she hated as an animal control officer. I can only try to empathize with how a job like this would potentially harm the soul and spirit of someone who doesn’t ever want to kill any living animal. Yet, there are times when animal control officers have to make the decision to take the life of an animal. It could be because of rabies or rabies potential, or a bear that is killing campers or even just getting too close to campers. The officer had her own border collie and a Labrador Retriever. Both were lovely dogs. The Border Collie was a natural at herding, yet he was confined in his crate during the long hours she worked. Other family members would take him out during the day so it wasn’t a dire type of situation. Related: 6 Bizarre Ways Our Dogs Talk to Us Because of the pressures of the job, she took out a lot of her anger and frustration on the Border Collie. Family members reported that she would wield her gun when she came home and say things like, “Rocky, you are one step away from being in the grave!”, “You’re a total loser!”, “You better stay in line or I’m going to take you out!” Now obviously this was a really bad situation for the dogs but it gives us all something to think about and look at our own behavior. What are our words to our pets? Are we taking out our frustrations on them? What do we think their response to us will be? In the case mentioned, the dog grew to dislike the owner. He became stubborn, not following her commands and looked at her with disdain instead of with eyes of love. You should also know that he didn’t die a horrible death or anything like that. Related: Don’t Worry, He’s Friendly! Training for Off-Leash Dog Encounters Make Your Words Pleasant No Matter What But really, what are our words to our pets during the day? When we first awaken in the morning, it may be because the pet has a dire need to go outside. Do we say things like “Again? Geez, That’s all you do is pooh and pee!” or “You are nothing but trouble and work!” Or do we say, “Good morning Gigi! Let’s get you outside to see the sunshine bright and early! You might even catch a few squirrels this morning!” Do we spend valuable time with our pooch with words such as: “Wow, you are looking awfully clean today, Kitty! It looks like you’ve been cleaning yourself all day long! Good job!”“It’s a great day for a car ride – and you’re invited, Ginger!” (You’ll watch her dance around after this one. Dogs love the word invited.)“Looks like you have a snack attack, Fido! You might need a little more protein to stop that…”“What’s up with those squirrels that they’re irritating you so much today?” (instead of “Shut up! I’ve heard enough!”) Seeing the situation from the dog’s perspective is amazing for calming down your nervous system after hearing a lot of barking.)“What a good appetite! But you ate all our food, Buster! I know I told you I’d share, but you aren’t following the sharing rules.”“I’ve got something special for you, today!”“Now this mess is not making me happy. Do you remember the rules we have in this house?” One time a friend of mine was having major problems with her standard poodle making a mess inside the crate when she left for work. I suggested she explain to the dog what the rules were with love and kindness. “The dog just has to be set straight,” I told her. She followed the recommendations and said there was an amazing transformation in the dog. She never had an issue with messes in the house after that. She also started to explain a lot more things to her pet. This came in handy, as she had only owned the dog for a few months. The dog needed to know the rules. Words Define Your Relationships Pets understand a lot more than what most of us believe. They hear your words – and they take them to heart. You are everything to your pet. You are their entire world, and they will do anything and everything for you. This type of love is not something you’ll find in the human world. Our words make or break every relationship we have, including with our pets. They act as daggers if they are not encouraging, loving or helpful in any way. But once they are switched to loving words 24/7, there’s a transformation that occurs not only in you but also in the pet’s heart. I once interviewed an elephant trainer that trained elephants in Reno for the big shows on the stage. He told me that the secret was to let the elephants know you were there for them, not they were there for you. You had to reinforce good behavior and never focus on the bad behavior. You had to use kind words to them so they would trust you and not flatten you. “That’s how I could get those elephants to do ANYTHING,” he said. “They wouldn’t do anything for anyone else…” What are the words you’ll use to your pets today? Remember that your words are eternal.

Teaching Your Dog to Leave It

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No More Woof! Amazon Pet Communication Device in the Works

Amazon backs futurologists claim that pet communication devices will turn woofs into words in less than a decade… ruffly speaking. Could you imagine talking to your fur-baby? Petting his or her’s soft, luscious coat while asking, “Who’s mommy’s good dog?” You would normally expect a quick woof or lick to the face, but your dog replies, “Me, me, me, I’m a good dog!” Pet communication might be something you never thought would happen. Amazon recently revealed that turning woofs and meows into words may soon become more of a reality than a fantasy with a pet communication device. Amazon and co-author/futurologist William Higham of Next Big Thing, believes that pet communication devices could be on the market in less than a decade. A professor at Northern Arizona University spent 30 years studying the behavior of prairie dogs, the north American rodent, and discovered they had a sophisticated communication system and use their own ‘words’ for different species of predators, colors of human clothes, or the coat of coyotes or dogs. Related: Track Your Dog’s Mood With TailTalk Emotion Sensor Advances in machine learning have led to an increase in automatic speech recognition and translation. Now convinced that other animals use decipherable language, he begins his effort in raising money to create a cat and dog translation device so we can our pets will finally know who the good boy or girl really is. Juliane Kaminski, psychologist and Portsmouth University, is less optimistic about the approach, as she believes a dogs woof is not a language. Instead, a dog would use rudimentary signals, a right-sided tail wag may be construed as a positive signal to others, while a left wag is not so positive. She does believe, however, that a translation device could help people who lack intuition or misinterpret signals by interpreting the animals behavior and possibly saving someone from approaching a dog or cat that could bite. Related: 6 Bizarre Ways Our Dogs Talk to Us Amazon currently sells a device that transfers a human voice into meows by using samples from 25 cats. A dog translation device called No More Woof was recently put “on pause” when the research lab realized the scale of the challenge. The gadget resembles a Madonna-style headset that measured brain activity according to the dogs thoughts, which were communicated through the speaker on their collar. The project lacked a full understanding and required more research. Tomas Mazetti, who was also involved in the project described it as “extremely limited.”

What is Tracking Training for Dogs?

Ready to put your dog’s nose to the test? A dog’s nose is made for sniffing, so put it to good use – tracking training may be right for your pooch. You probably already know that a dog’s nose is significantly more powerful than your own nose, but there are certain breeds of dog that have a particularly strong sense of smell – these are the best breeds for tracking and scenting. Some of the most talented tracking dog breeds include bloodhounds, coonhounds, German shepherds, German shorthaired pointers, and Australian shepherd. If you have a tracking dog breed you should seriously consider tracking and scent training – even if you don’t intend to compete – because that is what your dog was made to do. Keep reading to learn the basics about tracking and scent training for dogs. Related: What is Schutzhund Training for Dogs? Start Early – Tracking Training for Puppies Puppies are the most impressionable during the first three months of life – this is why early socialization and training is so important. When your puppy is still young it is also the perfect time to start laying the foundation for tracking and scent training. Your puppy is like a lump of clay just waiting to be molded and he will respond particularly well to training exercises if you make them into a game. Hide and seek, for example, is a great example of a game that can also serve as preliminary tracking training for your puppy. Start off by hiding within your dog’s sight, then move progressively further away, finding more difficult hiding places each round. You can also play this game by hiding one of your puppy’s favorite toys so he has to track it down. Related: 6 Bizarre Ways Our Dogs Talk to Us Advanced Tracking and Scent Training Once your puppy gets old enough for real training you can start making the transition from tracking games to real tracking work. This may sound difficult, but it is actually fairly easy – you don’t necessarily need any special training and all your puppy needs is his nose! There are a variety of different methods you can try for tracking and scent training so don’t be afraid to try a few to see which one your puppy responds to best. To get started, all you have to do is lay tracks by dropping tiny food morsels for your puppy to follow. As your puppy gets used to the exercise you can start making the tracks longer and more complex – you can even get friends or family members to lay the tracks to add an extra layer of challenge for your puppy! Here is a sequence you can follow to start with scent and tracking training: Choose an article for your puppy to find and keep a second identical article for your scent article – a sock is a great option because it is small and can be filled with food.Place a flag at the starting point of your track.Take a step forward and drop a tiny treat by your foot.Keep moving forward, taking small steps to ensure a strong scent trail, dropping tiny treats with each step.Walk for a distance of 10 to 15 feet in a straight line, placing two flags along the way.Place another flag at the end of the track along with the treat-filled sock – place the article about a foot away from the last flag.Move away from the track by jumping as far as you can off to the side (you don’t want to confuse your puppy by walking in a straight line off the track).Return to your dog and use the second sock to give him the scent – once he has it, let him start following the track! This is the basic training sequence to teach your puppy how to track a scent. Some puppies will pick up on the exercise more quickly than others, so just pay attention to how well your puppy is doing and increase the difficulty in proportion to his rate of progress.

Jack Russell Terrier Adopts and Nurses Six Abandoned Kittens

People grow up believing that cats and dogs are mortal enemies. Phrases like “fight like cats and dogs" just reinforce that belief.But, is this really true? Is there no way for felines and canines to get along? As it turns out, dogs and cats can be more than friends.A Jack Russell terrier, named Teasel, has become a surrogate mom to six abandoned kittens. Sue Stubley, who lives in the Suffolk town of Newmarket, was contacted after a feral cat abandoned her litter. Ms Stubley, who runs Suffolk Hedgehog Hospital in Newmarket, primarily rescues hedgehogs but has agreed to take the abandoned kittens for the night and take them to the cat rescue center the next morning. However, Ms Stubley’s two-year-old Jack Russell had other plans. According to Ms Stubley, Teasel began lactating the same evening and the hungry kittens latched on to feed. “My dog decided that she was going to look after them. She’s lactating, she’s feeding them, she cleans them, she does everything. So it’s actually been quite easy for me,” said Ms Stubley.At first, Teasel wasn’t making enough milk, and Ms Stubley had to supplement the kitten’s feedings. However, the new mom managed to produce a lot of milk the following morning, and the more she nurses, the more she produces. Apparently, Teasel's maternal instinct kicked in quickly. “If anyone comes in that she doesn’t know and picks one of the kittens up, she’ll march over and go and pick them up and bring them to her back again. She’s adopted proper mum behavior.”Ms Stubley was initially worried about how Teasel might react and thought that she might go after one of the kittens. But that never happened.“By the time they were ready for their second feed, they were sat with her and cuddled up with her. Generally, she is a very gentle dog that loves and adores everyone. She loves children, she’s a great little dog. And apparently, her mum was very similar and was very nurturing so it’s obviously something that’s in her nature.” According to BBC, Dr Rachel Grant, a biologist at London South Bank University, explained that such interspecies adoptions are most likely the result of fixed action patterns in which the adopted animal is reacting to a certain trigger from the adoptee. “This sets off a cascade in the brain that elicits the pattern of behavior,” said Dr Grant. The closer the species are to one another, the higher the chances for cross-species adoption to happen. This means that it’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever hear about an alligator nursing a puppy.“In baby mammals, there will be certain features that mammals share with other mammals,” said Dr Grant. “Cats and dogs, for example, are both mammals and the cues that are driving maternal behavior are very similar. They will be responding to certain cues.”When it comes to baby mammals, they will act on an instinct too. In Teasel’s case, the kittens are instinctively “rooting” - like human babies or puppies - for a nipple to feed on. “These things aren’t under conscious control,” Dr Grant explained. The strong maternal instincts exhibited by Teasel show that she’ll be a wonderful mother to her puppies, in case she one day gives birth to a litter of her own. Ms Stubley has already found loving homes for the kittens to go to when they are old enough, but she says she’ll miss them terribly.“As for Teasel, I don’t know how she’ll feel when they’re gone but I think she’s their surrogate mum for life now.”Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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A North Carolina dog gave birth to a litter of puppies and has set a record in the process. Earlier this month, Perfectly Imperfect Pups, a North Carolina foster-based rescue took in a pregnant Great Dane, named Meadow. Two days later, Meadow gave birth to 15 puppies. “It’s the largest litter we have ever seen,” said Nicole Kincaid, the rescue’s founder and director. “We could not believe it when we heard she had 15 puppies, and most of them male! We are so excited for their bright future!”Meadows litter is the largest the rescue has seen since it was founded three years ago. The PIP’s founder and director, Nicole Kincaid, shared that this is also the largest litter she has seen in her 13-year-long rescue career. According to Kincaid, Meadow’s litter is unique for another reason - most of the puppies in the litter are male. “Shockingly enough, we have 12 boys, which is a huge number of boys out of a litter.”PIPs share the news of the record-breaking litter in a Facebook post, writing, “Puppies, puppies, and more puppies! Mamma Meadow and her crew are doing great.”“We are shocked to find out how many puppies she actually had and that all have survived and are doing well,” said Kincaid, according to PEOPLE. “Before being taken in by the Perfectly Imperfect Pups, Meadow had an unsteady past. “She has been passed around to five homes, since giving birth to another litter in February. She was being given away on social media and we reached out, but unfortunately, they gave her away pregnant to someone else.”“Within two days they contacted us and asked if we could still take [Meadow], and of course, we were delighted to take her in,” Kincaid shared. “We got her to our vet the next day, and the day after, she started going into labor.”Meadow is just one of many dogs who had the misfortune of being bounced around from one home to the next. Kincaid shared that this wasn’t Meadow’s fault, saying, “People get a large breed dog, and they don’t realize what they are getting themselves into.”“We are delighted that this will be her final [litter], and her next home will be her forever home,” said Kincaid. “We will also make sure that all 15 puppies go to homes that are experienced with large breed dogs.”For now, Shari Willson, one of the Perfectly Imperfect Pups’ fosters is taking care of Meadow and her pups. The foster mom is supplement feeding the pups in between feedings to make sure all puppies are getting enough food. “Everyone’s gaining weight, everyone’s eating, they are all doing really well,” said Willson.Kincaid praised Meadow’s foster home, saying that her organization “is so proud of our foster parents. They take in dogs without knowing what the next few days or months could bring.”“Taking in a pregnant dog is even more of a challenge because you don’t always know when mom will give birth, how many puppies will be born, or what complications may come along,” she said.The rescue has already received applications and hundreds of messages about adopting Meadow or her puppies when they are old enough to go to their forever homes. All of PIP’s adopters sign a contract in which they commit to taking care of the dog for its entire life and promise to contact the rescue if they can no longer care for them. The rescue’s post-adoption team follows up with the adopters and is available to answer any medical or training-related questions. Mamma Meadow and her pups are going to make wonderful companions and loving dogs to their new families! Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Cat Fanciers’ Association Reveals the Top 15 Pedigreed Cat Breeds

The world’s largest registry of purebred cats, the Cat Fanciers’ Association has revealed the top 15 most popular pedigreed cat breeds, based on registration data collected in 2023. Can you guess which felines made the cut?No list of the most popular cat breeds would be complete without the Bengal cat. Starting this list at number 15 is the Bengal. Originating in the United States, the Bengal cat is a hybrid created by crossing an Asian leopard cat with a domestic cat. Best known for their wild appearance and leopard-like coat, Bengals are playful and affectionate cats that make excellent companions for families with children.Coming in at number 14 is the Oriental Shorthair cat. Officially recognized by the CFA in 1977, the Oriental is a medium-sized cat with a long, elegant body, large ears, and almond-shaped eyes. Curious, intelligent, and friendly Orientals are a great choice for families looking for an affectionate, devoted, and friendly feline companion.At number 13 is the Norwegian forest cat. Large in size, the Norwegian forest cat has a robust body, long legs, and a thick, fluffy coat that keeps it warm in the cold weather. This smart, independent, and friendly cat is a great pick for busy people.The Russian blue cat takes the 12th place. The short, plush coat that varies in color from light silver to darker slate gray, and expressive green eyes are this breed’s signature traits. Russian blue cats are intelligent and active by nature and require mental and physical stimulation to thrive.Next on the list, at number 11 is the American shorthair cat. Known for its rounded and thick appearance, the American shorthair was recognized in 1906. This easygoing and friendly cat makes a loving companion for families looking for a low-maintenance cat.The hairless Sphynx takes the 10th place. Originating in Canada, this breed is best known for its lack of fur. Highly energetic, playful, and affectionate Sphynx gets along well with children and other pets and even makes a great therapy cat.At number 9 is the Siberian cat. Large in size and slow to mature, the Siberian cat can weigh up to 15 pounds and has a thick triple coat. Their dog-like personality and intelligent nature make them a great choice for people looking for an affectionate and playful furry companion. The Scottish fold takes the 8th place. Medium in size, the Scottish fold has a round head, round eyes, and small folded ears. Their sweet nature and cute looks make them a popular choice among cat fanciers.In 7th place is the Abyssinian cat, famous for its distinctive thicked tabby coat. Thanks to their playful, active, and intelligent natures, Abyssinians make great family pets.The British shorthair comes in 6th place. Described as the teddy bear of cat breeds both in looks and personality, the British shorthair is suited to just about any type of household. This time the Devon Rex takes the 5th place. Best known for its pixie-like appearance, the Devon Rex has an oddly shaped head, large eyes, and a wavy coat. The mischievous, playful, and loving Devon Rex makes a great pet for people looking for a cuddly and companionable cat.In the 4th place is the Exotic Shorthair cat. Developed as the shorthaired version of the Persian cat, the Exotic Shorthair has a round appearance and a charming personality. Next up, in the 3td place, is the Persian cat. Best known for its long coat, and round, flat face, the Persian cat has been one of the most popular cat breeds worldwide for many years. Their sweet-tempered, gentle, and adaptable nature makes them a great pet for people of all ages.In 2nd place is the Maine Coon. Known as the gentle giant, the Maine Coon is one of the largest breeds of domestic cats. Its massive size and friendly nature make it a great choice for people looking for a large, playful feline.And the 1st place goes to the Ragdoll cat. Large in size, the Ragdoll has a semi-long silky coat, tufted ears, blue eyes, and a bushy tail. Affectionate, docile, and friendly Ragdolls are ultimate lap cats and fantastic family pets.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

How to Clean Dog Diarrhea From Carpet

Sure, sharing your life with a dog is fun and your days are filled with love, but sometimes, it can get messy. Like, real messy. After all, even though we love them, dogs are not the neatest of animals out there (that title would go to kitties, I’m afraid). In the daily life of a dog owner, there is bound to be a bit of dirt, hair, and - inevitably, poop – to clean up after your pet. And as if picking up poop from the street after your pet wasn’t bad enough, sometimes accidents happen inside your home, and the messes are that much harder to clean. Especially when you’re dealing with diarrhea and not your regular ole poop situation. But even though it’s far from pleasant to clean up after, it’s not the end of the world if an accident happens. While it can be difficult to thoroughly clean dog diarrhea embedded in the carpet fibers, everything can be cleaned if you are persistent enough – and know how to approach the issue. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you clean dog diarrhea from carpet – stains and smell both.How to Clean Dog Diarrhea from Carpet: Step by StepNow, keep in mind that cleaning dog diarrhea from a carpet can be a messy task, but it's important to clean it thoroughly and as quickly as possible to prevent lasting stains and lingering odors. Even if you are disgusted by the sight before you, it is necessary to keep at it until the job’s done. Someone has to do it, right? And we all know it ain’t gonna be your pooch.So, first things first, you’ll need to gather supplies. It is always good to have them handy and keep them stored in a secure cabinet. You never know when an accident can happen and they will be needed, so be sure to be stocked on  pet-safe cleaning supplies (if you’re not already, now is a perfect time to pick up all of your basic necessities). 

A New Four-Legged Robot May Soon Replace Guide Dogs

Robots aren’t only taking human jobs! Our four-legged colleagues may soon need new jobs because there’s a new AI-powered robot guide dog in town. Named RoboGuide, the four-legged robot guide dog was born and bred at the University of Glasgow. The research team that created the robotic pooch, says that RoboGuide could help blind and visually impaired people move more freely in indoor spaces. Their new design solves some of the most common problems in assistive tech.“One significant drawback of many current four-legged, two-legged, and wheeled robots is that the technology which allows them to find their way around can limit their usefulness for the visually impaired,” said Olaoluwa Popoola, the project’s principal investigator. “Robots which use GPS to navigate, for example, can perform well outdoors but often struggle in indoor settings, where signal coverage can weaken. Others, which use cameras to ‘see’, are limited by the line of sight, which makes it harder for them to safely guide people around objects or around bends.”To overcome these limitations, the RoboGuide uses a series of sensors that analyze its surroundings. Software created by the team allows the robotic pooch to find optimal routes between locations and interpret sensor data in real-time, so it can avoid hitting obstacles while guiding a blind or visually impaired person.This robotic pooch also obeys its owner. Thanks to large models, RoboGuide understands speech, and can even talk to its handler. The RoboGuide was showcased at the university’s Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Center. The team working on the prototype said that the robotic pooch uses several innovative technologies and that their goal is to release a complete version in the following years.Professor Muhammad Imran, dean of graduate studies at the James Watt School of Engineering and co-investigator on the project said: “Our assistive technology project for the visually impaired embodies innovation, fostering inclusivity.”“In Glasgow, we’re pioneering world-changing technologies that hold the potential to transform lives and reshape societal norms. This achievement was made possible through collaboration with industry and charity partners and co-creating the design with the invaluable input of end users.”The prototype was tested for the first time with volunteers at the Hunterian, Scotland’s oldest museum, in December. During the trial,  the robotic pooch guided the volunteers around the museum and provided interactive speeches on six different exhibits. With an estimated 2.2 billion people in the world living with some form of vision loss, the team hopes to create a commercial product to help guide visually impaired people indoors.“Ultimately, our aim is to develop a complete system which can be adapted for use with robots of all shapes and sizes to help blind and partially sighted people in a wide range of indoor situations,” said Wasim Ahmed, who’s also a co-investigator on the study.  The RoboGuide project is backed by two leading charities. Both the Forth Valley Sensory Centre Trust (FVSC) and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) are supporting the development of RoboGuide. “Mobility is a big issue for the blind and partially sighted community,” said Jacquie Winning, the chief executive of FVSC. “RoboGuide is a wonderful solution to that problem, and we are delighted to help test this innovative and creative robot.”James Adams, the director of RNIB Scotland, added: “We’re delighted to be supporting the research and development of technology that could be part of making the world more accessible and empowering blind and partially sighted people to live their lives confidently.”Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

What Shapes Your Dog’s Personality? Harvard Neuroscientists Reveal

No two dogs are the same – each pooch has a personality of their own, complete with unique quirks and traits. But why is your dog the way they are? What shapes their personality and character? Why do they behave in a unique way, even when they belong to a certain breed with a distinct set of traits?This is the question that Erin Hecht, assistant professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard, is trying to answer. She is doing this through  The Canine Brains Project and recently held a  talk - centered on canine neuroscience - that was organized by Harvard’s Brain Science Initiative.According to Hecht, dogs have the potential to teach us so much about brain development, especially considering the fact that they were domesticated about 20,000 to 40,000 years before the present – which, on the evolutionary timeline, is quite recent. “Darwin saw dogs as a window on mechanisms of evolution,” Hecht said. “When we’re looking at dogs, as a natural experiment and brain behavior evolution all we have to do is look at their brains and see what evolution did in order to satisfy those selection requirements.”Hecht’s efforts were benefited by her lab, which performs MRI scans of dog brains – roughly 100 per year. They also conduct owner surveys that examine dogs’ work skills, especially those “ancient” ones, like hunting, guarding, herding, fetching, and so on. All this is then compared to breed parameters, like body size, skill size, and overall shape. “About 80 percent of the dogs living on the planet today are what’s known as village dogs. These are free-ranging animals that live as human commensals. So they’re living within human society, but they’re not pets,” Hecht said.Through such research, Hecht is hoping to determine what exactly shapes a dog’s personality. Through her lab work, she connects personality and skill differences in dogs to six special regions of their brains:-the regions controlling drive and reward -olfaction and taste-spatial navigation-social communication and coordination-fight or flight -and olfaction and vision“There has been very strong recent specific selection in individual breeds rather than founding effects in ancestral founding populations,” Hecht said. “So then we can look at behavior and ask whether the types of behaviors that different lineages have been selected for historically … [explain] each dog’s anatomy and these six brain networks. And it seems like there are some interesting relationships here.”But most importantly, it is concluded that these neural pathways are greatly impacted by the shape and size of a dog’s skull. “It stands to reason that if you’re manipulating the shape of a skull, you’re going to be manipulating the shape of the brain,” Hecht said. “But this confirms that dogs with these extreme skull morphotypes have impacts on their brain anatomy that likely affects behavior.”She also adds that even though some dogs have a brain “makeup” that suggests a unique disposition, it doesn’t “lock” them into a set behavior pattern. This is especially true for working skills. “Training is almost always necessary. I have yet to hear of any particular breed of working dog, where it’s just born knowing how to do its job,” Hecht said.So, a look “inside” your doggo’s brain might reveal why they are just the way they are. Would you be curious enough to let scientists take a peek?

Pet Obesity Study Shows Promise and Surprising Links With Humans

If you thought that your chubby doggo is incredibly cute, you might want to consider what’s hiding behind that adorable exterior.  Pet obesity is a real thing, and it is a major health hazard that many dogs experience in their lifetime. And, sadly, a lot of it is connected to improper care and diet. To show us just how big of a problem it has become, the latest study from the  Association for Pet Obesity Prevention revealed that in the U.S. alone, around 59% of dogs and 61% of cats were overweight or obese! However, recently conducted research shows that there might be a way to battle the obesity pandemic – with certain strains of probiotics that can help curb pet obesity, especially when dogs are in question. A research team from Seoul National University's Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, conducted a study investigating the effects of probiotics on canine obesity. They discovered two strains that appeared to have weight-reducing properties in obese dogs. To assess the probiotic potential of these strains, the researchers employed a lifespan analysis using Caenorhabditis elegans, a genetic model known for its simplicity in genetic manipulation and shorter lifespan compared to other animal models. Their findings were detailed in a  paper published in the Microbiology Spectrum journal.Thanks to the positive outcome of this research, a new hope was discovered for doggos struggling with excess weight. The use of Caenorhabditis Elegans offers “interventions aimed at enhancing metabolic health in various mammals”, according to the research team. What is more, the effects could be applied to cats, humans, and other mammals, since C. Elegans “serves as a human homolog model”. In general, this whole study could prove to be beneficial to several animal species, as well as humans, making its significance multifold. However, the exact way that bacteria affects weight is not entirely understood. Even though some studies show that certain strains will slow weight gain, researchers were still unable to find a connection between bacteria and weight.Nevertheless, the study is proving to be a major leap forward when pet obesity is considered. There is plenty of potential in this study, and further efforts could change the way dog obesity is experienced – or possibly even root it out for good! 

Can You Prevent Joint Pain in Dogs?

As dogs near their golden years, different health issues tend to pop up – sometimes completely out of the blue, and sometimes a little less unexpectedly. One of the more common health problems dogs experience as they age that can be predicted fairly easily and as such prevented on time are joint issues. Providing proper support for your dog while they are still young and agile can dramatically improve their quality of life later on, so it pays to start thinking ahead when it comes to joint health, especially if your pet is in a high-risk group for developing this type of problem (large breed dogs, working breeds, highly active dogs, etc). Here’s what you need to know to make sure your pet doesn’t suffer from joint pain in their senior years.5 Crucial Steps to Prevent Joint Pain in DogsWhile some factors contributing to joint pain are beyond our control, there are different proactive steps we can take to support our pet's joint health:#1 Maintain a Healthy WeightJust as in humans, obesity in dogs exacerbates joint strain and can accelerate the onset of joint problems. A balanced diet will go a long way in helping your pet maintain a healthy weight, so strive to ensure they are getting only quality food that is based mostly on protein and doesn’t contain unhealthy fats and too many fillers such as soy or corn.#2 Provide Regular ExerciseModerate, low-impact exercise helps keep joints limber and muscles strong. However, be mindful of your dog's limitations, as pushing them too far can end up being counterproductive. Activities like swimming and walks are excellent choices, just make sure to tailor the pace to your pet’s capabilities.#3 Quality Supplementation Providing a diet rich in essential nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin, supports joint health. However, even when feeding a good quality kibble, it’s not always feasible to rely on your pet’s diet alone to be enough to provide all of these joint-nurturing ingredients in the right ratio. This is where dog joint supplements come in to enrich your pet’s diet with specific nutrients. 

World’s Oldest Dog Posthumously Stripped of His Title

Last year, the world’s oldest dog was thought to be Bobi – who was reportedly  31 years old. However, a recent investigation into this claim led to him being posthumously stripped of the title by none other than Guinness World Records. The lofty title was suspended this January, as doubts rose about the dog’s reported age. Bobi lived in Portugal and sadly passed away last fall, and according to his owner, at a grand age of 31 years. However, a recent review by Guinness World Records revealed that they didn’t have the necessary evidence to support that claim."Without any conclusive evidence available to us right now, we simply can't retain Bobi as the record holder and honestly claim to maintain the high standards we set ourselves," Guinness Director of Records Mark McKinley said. "Of course, as with any record, we'll gladly assess any new evidence should we receive any."Before Guinness World Records actually grants a world record, they require ample evidence of a claim. Pictures, videos, statements from witnesses, documents, and anything similar are all required. And when pets are concerned, microchip data can also be examined. "Central to Bobi's evidence was microchip data sourced from the Portuguese government database, the SIAC, which it transpires, when chipped in 2022, did not require proof of age for dogs born before 2008," McKinley said. "With the additional veterinary statement provided as evidence for Bobi's age also citing this microchip data, we're left with no conclusive evidence which can definitively prove Bobi's date of birth."So, who is the real oldest dog in the world? Well, before Bobi’s lofty claim, there was the famous Bluey, an Australian cattle dog who held the record, being 29 years and 5 months old. But with these recent events, the future of this record will certainly change. McKinley claims that microchips need to be widely adopted around the world for serious claims to be made."Until that time, we'll require documentary evidence for all years of a pet's life, we'll continue to ask for vet and witness statements and we'll also consider microchip data as well where available," he added. "It's for this reason that we're not yet in a position to confirm a new holder for the record, although we certainly hope that the publicity around the record title encourages pet owners from around the world to get in touch."Sadly, Bobi died in October 2023, just months after celebrating what was reportedly his 31st birthday. He was a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a native Portuguese dog breed that is known for its ability to protect livestock. These magnificent dogs have an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, and it was thought that Bobbi managed to live twice the time expected – but we’ll never know if that’s actually true or not.

Wish Your Dog Could Understand You? New Study Says They Can!

You don’t have to be a dog owner to know that dogs can learn and understand commands like “sit” or “come”. But, a new study has made a groundbreaking discovery that dogs also know that certain words stand for specific objects. This finding won’t come as a big surprise to any dog owner who has ever asked their pup to “go get your toy” and, a minute later, been handed a chewed-up rubber ball or slobbery stuffed animal. Scientists have long been interested in learning whether dogs can truly associate words with objects. However, researchers couldn’t figure out whether dogs and other animals get a mental image when they hear an object's name. This would suggest that dogs have a better understanding of language than believed before. Researchers in Hungary have discovered that in addition to being able to respond to commands such as “sit”, “roll over”, or “stay” dogs can also grasp the essence of nouns. This relationship with language is called referential understanding, and it has been unproven in dogs until now. “When we are talking about objects, objects are external to the dogs and dogs have to learn that words refer, they stand for something that is external to them,” explained the study’s co-lead author, Marianna Boros, of the Department of Ethology at the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.To get some answers about what is happening in the dog brain when it processes words, Boros and her colleagues asked 18 dog owners to bring their pooches to the lab along with five objects the dogs knew well. The objects included balls, slippers, leads, rubber toys, frisbees, and other items.Researchers instructed the owners to say the words for the items before showing their dog either the correct object or a different one. For example, the owner might say “Rover, look, the ball”, but hold up a lead instead. During the tests, the researchers measured the dogs’ brain activity using non-invasive electroencephalography, or EEG. The idea was to see whether EEG could offer a better insight into dogs’ understanding of language. The brain recordings showed different patterns in the brain when the dogs were shown an object that matched or didn’t match the owner’s spoken word. The difference was even greater for the words owners believed their dogs knew well.The same results were seen when humans performed these tests and are widely accepted as people understanding the word well enough to form a mental image of the object they were later shown. “We expected that if a dog really understands the meaning of the object’s word, it will expect to see that object. And if the owner shows a different one, there will be a so-called surprise reaction in the brain. And this is exactly what we found,” said Boros according to ABC News.Lilla Magyari, also of Eötvös Loránd University, and the other co-first author, said that although some other animals have shown some degree of referential understanding of language, they have typically been trained to do so. In dogs, she explained, such capacities seem to be inborn and don’t require any particular training or talent. Researchers stress they aren’t claiming that dogs understand words as well as humans. Future studies are needed to determine whether dogs can generalize in the same way humans learn to as children.This study raises an interesting question of why, if dogs understand nouns, more of them don’t show it. One possible answer is that dogs know more than they are willing to show us.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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