We found this article to be very interesting as well as controversial and thought that we would share it with you.

By Roger Highfield, Science Editor

Dogs have become more intelligent, and even learnt a sense of right and wrong, through spending time with humans, a study shows.

Although still controversial, recent research is beginning to support the view that an owner is perfectly correct when they pat their pet and coo “who’s a clever boy then?”

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Even though the big difference dogs have from hamsters, these two popular pets still have some common characteristics which make them similar! Both dogs and hamsters have long hair coats. One may find different long haired dogs and also long haired hamsters which are called “Teddy Bear Hamsters”. Both long haired dogs and hamsters need grooming.

Grooming a long coated dog:
Lift the outer hair and start by brushing the undercoat on the back legs with a body brush. Brush the top coat down with a bristle brush and then comb the coat from the roots to the tips of the hair. Brush the undercoat on the front legs with a body brush. Brush the top coat down with a bristle brush and then comb the coat from the roots to the tips of the hair. Supporting the dogÂ’s head to keep it out of the way, brush the neck and chest. Use the bristle brush, gently brush along the dogÂ’s stomach without tickling it. Using a body brush, groom the undercoat across the shoulders and along the back. Gently comb the hair around the ears and face. Gently comb the tail, taking care not to tug at any tangles. Wipe away any staining and loose hair using a damp cotton wool/absorbent cotton pad for each eye.
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We as trainers find ourselves discussing this topic quite frequently with pet owners. But we find that many pet owners get confused on the actual diagnosis of the anxiety. For instance, from time to time, in the kennel we see those certain dogs that are escape artist, or drool and maybe not eat well the first few days of their stay in a new place. This does not necessarily mean that your dog suffers from separation anxiety, some dogs are just not use to the kennel environment and do not do well around all of the other dogs, new noises, and new smells.

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For those Rhodesian Ridgeback fans, who have wondered why a Ridgeback is indeed called a Ridgeback, one has to look at the cause of the ridge on their backs to get the real answers.

Taking the inititative to map the hair ridge trait in Rhodesian ridgebacks, scientists identified a segment of DNA that was found in Ridgebacks and the analysis revealed the precise genetic cause of ridges in this awesome African dog. A certain region contained three genes which were abnormally duplicated. These three genes are present in excess copies. When the genes are present in single copies, no ridge occurs - as in "normal dogs".
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Congrats to The Poodle and Dog Blog… their human won the copy of Ask Now The Beasts. Be sure to head over to her blog, she always has great stories, including a very important story about PETA. Here is a quote to peak your curiosity:

According to PETA’s own records that they recently submitted nine months after a Virginia government agency deadline, PETA killed 97% of the companion animals it took in for adoption in 2006.

Congrats on the win, and keep up the great work on your blog!

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When my nephew, Jacob, called to say he’d be in town for my birthday I really didn’t expect such a grown gentleman to show up at my door. Not seeing him for quite some time I didn’t really know what to expect. My fondest memories were of him with puppy Corona. So adorable together it was a shock to see Jacob so timid of the size this Dogo Argentino became although Jacob’s growth didn’t seem to faze Corona.

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If your dog is unable to get pregnant and have puppies then the problem could be due to one of several factors. First of all, you should see your vet if you suspect that your dog is has a physical problem getting pregnant. The cause could be an infection, Metritis, an Ovarian cyst, or due to Hypoestrogenism.

Sexually transmitted infections such as brucellosis are a major cause of infertility in some countries. Carriers may have a high temperature or swollen joints. Metritis, which is a womb infection, prevents the fertilized eggs from implanting. If the problem lies within an Ovarian cyst, then this will prevent ovulation. Hypoestrogenism on the other hand, is when the ovaries are underdeveloped and results in low estrogen levels and no heat cycle.

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Spring is definitely here! And it’s pretty easily recognized after only a few minutes at our dog training facility. First of all, the grass is green and all of the wild dogwoods are in full bloom. The training staff are sporting t-shirts and sunscreen. And if that’s not a hint that spring has sprung the lambs definitely give it away. That’s right, I said lambs.

As some of you know, we keep a flock of sheep and other stock at our facility for herding dog training. The sheep are a lot of work to maintain throughout the year, but it’s all well worth it at this time of year!

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