canine behavior news stories on Newser

Gadget Translates 'Woof' into Words

Nick McMaster — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:33:02 CDT

Ever wonder what your dog is thinking? The “Bowlingual Voice” from Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy claims to be able to tell you just that, the Telegraph reports. The device is made up of a microphone and transmitter on the collar that categorizes the dog’s utterances into one of six emotions—...

They Don't Call Him Fido for Nothing

Wesley Oliver — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:58:11 CDT

Science is finally catching up to what dog owners have known all along: Canines are ethical. After thousands of hours studying dogs—once dismissed as "furry automatons," an author said—animal behaviorist Marc Bekoff concluded that they possess the capacity for empathy and compassion, the hallmarks of morality. Humans aren’t...

Mean Trainers Make Mean Dogs

Harry Kimball — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:17:01 CST

Dog owners who try to tame their pets by acting aggressive themselves will only make matters worse, LiveScience reports. A new study in Applied Animal Behavior Science presents sobering news for advocates of tough love. Those who hit, kick, growl at, or confront their dogs in similar ways are more...

Dogs Get Jealous: Study

Nick McMaster — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:32:01 CST

Dogs can indeed get jealous, a new study shows. While it’s known that other primates feel envy, the report offers the first evidence of the green-eyed monster in canines. Dogs were paired up and commanded to put their paw in an experimenter’s hand, and then given unequal rewards: either sausage...

Fido Knows What You're Thinking

Nick McMaster — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 16:03:58 CDT

Man's best friend, traditionally viewed by scientists as the drooling, complacent descendant of the noble wolf, are being given a fresh look by behavioral researchers who say their reasoning and ability to read human communication is unprecedented among four-leggers. Studies have suggested that dogs come out of the womb with...