Whisker Therapy

When Petros lost his first dog to canine oral disease, he was inspired to not let his rescued pit bull suffer the same fate. Watch his inspiring story and learn about the invention that might just revolutionize canine dental care.

When we met Petros, we were inspired by his story and his passion for canine dental care. Sadly, Petros’ story isn’t unique, as nearly 80% of dogs over the age of 5 suffer from some kind periodontal disease. Advanced cases of the disease can lead to organ failure and even death, especially in smaller breed dogs.

Inspired by his invention, we decided to make the Bright Bite Brushing Stick part of our Project Play™ collection. Not only will your purchase help the dental health of your own dog, but your purchase will provide a toy for a shelter dog in need!

UPDATE 10/31/18 – Over 60,000 Brushing Sticks Sold! This product has had unprecedented demand. We are working with the manufacturer to increase production capacity as soon as possible. To check if the product is currently in stock, click here and scroll down. If you are able to add the item to your cart, it is currently available. Please be advised that we are unable to reserve this product or guarantee how much longer it will be in stock.

Purchase or Learn More About The Brushing Stick Here

The post “How I Taught My Dog to Brush His Own Teeth” (this invention could save your dog’s life!) appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

As our dogs age their appetites may begin to wane due to dental soreness, arthritis pain or decreased activity. Seniors that don’t take in adequate levels of essential nutrients like amino acids, potassium, zinc, and calcium are at a higher risk for illness. Bone broth is an easy and delicious way to give your older dog a power punch of nutrition and the calories she needs to keep her active and feeling great!

Physicians and veterinarians have long hailed bone broth as a superfood, using it to help ease symptoms from many common ailments. Dr. Kaayla Daniel, vice president of the Weston A. Price Foundation and coauthor of the book, Nourishing Broth, calls it “an old-fashioned remedy for the modern world.”

Dr. Daniel notes that bone broth is especially beneficial for joint and gut health. However, since many modern ailments can be traced back to poor nutrition and digestion, she considers it a healing addition to any diet.

Should your senior dog experience a bout of illness or undergo surgery, bone broth is the perfect solution to rebuild her appetite and ensure she gets adequate nutrition during recovery. Better still, the delicious taste is something dogs beg for.

Aside from multiple amino acids and the nutrients listed above, bone broth is naturally rich in glucosamine and chondroitin, which have been proven to aid in the relief of arthritis symptoms that often plague senior dogs. Bone broth is also high in Vitamin C, which acts as a powerful antioxidant to reduce rheumatoid inflammation, and magnesium which increases bone density and relaxes muscles.

While many senior dog parents opt to make their own bone broth from scratch, it is a time consuming process and the broth has a short shelf life. The new Project Paws™ Premium Grade Bone Broth Powder (available on Amazon Prime) gives your dog all the benefits of bone broth in a convenient, easy to digest form.

Whether pouring it over your senior dog’s regular diet to entice her to eat a bit more, or fed separately as an added boost during times of poor health, bone broth is a secret weapon all senior dog pawrents should have in their arsenal!

H/T to Mercola: Bone Broth: The “Soul Food” Perfect for Sick Pets Who Won’t or Can’t Eat

H/T to Mercola: Bone Broth—A Most Nourishing Food for Virtually Any Ailment

Featured Image via Flickr | Mariposa Vet

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional.

The post Is Bone Broth is The Ultimate Superfood For Older Dogs? appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

Thanks to a Labrador named Sally, a Labrador-Golden mix named Lexi, and a Springer Spaniel named Freya, how the world manages disease prevention might soon change. It’s no secret a dog’s nose is powerful, and scent detection dogs are already trained to detect everything from fruits and vegetables to low blood sugar in humans. Sally, Lexi, and Freya won’t tell you when someone is smuggling illegal ivory, but they’ve been trained to help with a worldwide health issue. They’re proving dogs may be instrumental in stopping the spread of malaria and in treating those who show no symptoms.

Medical Detection Dogs is a nonprofit organization in Milton Keynes, England dedicated to training dogs to help people. They train medical alert dogs that save lives, and malaria detection is the latest of their exciting projects. The group presented their findings on using dogs as a noninvasive way to detect malaria at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Their research is still in the early stages, but they’re hopeful dogs like Sally, Lexi, and Freya will soon be able to do a lot of good.

The goal of training dogs to detect malaria is to limit the spread of disease across borders and to ensure those affected receive treatment as soon as possible. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, malaria is spread through mosquitoes. Without treatment, it can be fatal. An estimated 445,000 people died of malaria in 2016, and with many people not experiencing symptoms right away, it can be difficult to diagnose.

The standard malaria test involves a finger prick and a blood sample, but testing thousands of people is a problem of logistics. The question is, how can someone find an infected person in a large group of healthy people before they spread the disease to others? With more research and training, dogs may be the answer.

When a person is about to experience a seizure, there’s a biological shift in their body that results in an almost indistinguishable scent. The same happens when someone experiences a sudden change in their blood sugar level or if they’re in an early stage of cancer. Sometimes it’s the person’s skin that smells differently, and it can also be their breath or urine. Human noses can’t detect these subtle shifts in scent, but lucky for us, dogs can.

According to researchers from ETH Zurich and Pennsylvania State University, malaria pathogens change body odor to attract mosquitoes. When a person is infected, they emit a scent that draws in more mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites them, that tiny bug carries the disease to the next person they bite. This makes the scent of malaria part of the problem, but Medical Detection Dogs has found a way to make it part of the solution. If mosquitoes can identify a person infected with malaria, why can’t dogs?

Sally, Lexi, and Freya were trained using socks worn by both healthy and malaria-stricken children living in the Upper River Region of The Gambia in West Africa. Out of the 175 total sock samples, 30 of them belonged to children already diagnosed with malaria. The socks were then sent to Medical Detection Dogs where their star sniffers got to work.

In this early stage of research and training, the team of malaria detection dogs correctly identified 70 percent of the malaria-infected samples. They also correctly categorized 90 percent of the samples without malaria. Their success is encouraging news as health officials around the world struggle to stop malaria from spreading. The use of scent detection dogs allows for a noninvasive and transportable means of testing large groups of people for infection. Once a person is identified as possibly having the disease, they would then be tested with a finger prick and blood sample. If the results are positive for malaria, they will receive necessary treatments to halt symptoms and stop the disease from being contagious.

Sally, Lexi, and Freya have impressed researchers so far, but their work isn’t over. Future studies will determine if the dogs can directly detect malaria in the odor of infected people even in crowded and chaotic areas like airports and shipping ports.

h/t: EurekAlert, ABC News

Featured image via Facebook/Medical Detection Dogs

The post Scent Detection Dogs Are The Newest Technology In Stopping The Spread Of Malaria appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

All those barks, howls, whimpers, and whines are like a language you can’t quite grasp. You and your dog may be the best of friends, but until you brush up on your interpreting skills, communicating with your canine will be tricky. You won’t find help in a dictionary or with Google Translate, but there are other ways of figuring out what your dog is saying when he whines. You’ll need to consider context, body language, and your dog’s unique personality. Here are a few of the most common messages a whining dog is trying to send.

1. He’s Scared or Stressed

It’ll take more than a tennis ball and a plush blanket to soothe some stressed-out pups. Dogs respond to fear and stress much like humans do. Sometimes they get grumpy and lash out at loved ones, and sometimes they hide themselves from the world. They can’t tell you exactly what’s wrong, but whining is their go-to means of communication.

There’s an infinite number of situations and objects that could potentially scare your pup or cause them stress. Being in a new environment, meeting unfamiliar people, loud noises—it’s different for every dog. Think about what’s going on around your whining dog to pinpoint exactly what’s making them emotional. Once you figure it out, you can do your best to remove your dog from that situation or help him overcome his fear.

2. He Wants/Needs Something From You

If your dog could turn his whines into words, it might sound something like, “Moommm! Daadddd! I need you!” He relies on you for life itself, and the job of a pup parent is never done. He can’t come out and ask you directly for what he needs, but most dogs find whining gets their point across well enough.

When your whining dog is sitting and staring at you, nudging your hand, or looking longingly in a certain direction, it shouldn’t be hard to figure out what he wants. If you’re stumped, start with the basics. It could be that his water bowl is empty, or that it’s one minute past mealtime and he thinks he’ll starve to death. Maybe he needs your long arms and opposable thumbs to get a toy out from under the couch. Think about your dog’s most common wants and needs, and it shouldn’t be hard to figure out.

3. He’s Bored and Seeking Attention

Whining will be the least of your worries if your dog’s pent up energy is directed toward your couch cushions or shoe closet. Dogs need regular stimulation to keep their minds happy and their lives fulfilled. If nothing is happening around your whining dog, and their incessant noises seem directed straight at you, boredom is probably to blame.

Boredom whining can be irritating when you’re working on something non-dog related, but it’s a sign your pup needs more daily stimulation. You don’t want to teach him that whining gets your attention, but he also needs appropriate exercise and mental enrichment. Ignore your whining dog so you don’t reward attention seeking, but you should also plan to provide more daily engagement for your pup. When he’s happy with the amount of exercise and attention he receives, the whining should stop.

4. He’s Super Excited

Whining is often associated with negative emotions, but that isn’t always true for your pup. Sometimes whining means your dog is super excited. While he’s trying to control his impulses, he can’t help but vocalize his feelings.

A lot of dogs whine when their favorite humans come home from work. Your dog might even whine when you FINALLY walk back in the door after five minutes at the mailbox. Meeting new doggy friends, waiting not-so-patiently for a favorite treat, or getting ready to go for a walk are all exciting scenarios worth whining about. In this case, your whining dog is nothing to worry about. If the sound is irritating, you can train him to keep quiet with positive reinforcement.

5. He’s Confused

Canine cognitive dysfunction can be as debilitating to dogs as Alzheimer’s is for humans. It affects their memory and motor function, and symptoms are sometimes misinterpreted as behavioral problems. Senior dogs of all breeds are at risk, and a study done at the University of California Davis found up to 68% of dogs 15-16 years old show at least some signs of cognitive dysfunction.

Your dog won’t know exactly what’s going on with his health, but the feeling of confusion will still be concerning. He might feel lost on the same street he walks every day or forget how much he likes sharing toys with a younger canine companion. Whining is his way of expressing his confusion. It can be hard to tell if your dog is whining due to cognitive dysfunction. Consider his age and recent behavioral changes before talking with your vet.

6. He’s in Pain

Injury or illness could be the reason your dog whines. Humans groan and grumble when they’re in pain, and dogs do the same thing. If you hear your dog let out a pitiful whine when he stands up, walks upstairs, or tries to lay down, it could be his joints causing issues. There could also be an injury you haven’t yet noticed.

If your dog is whining for no apparent reason or at random times of the day or night, it’s important to consider the possibility that he’s sick. Serious diseases, including cancer, can cause your dog pain without showing any other symptoms. When none of the other explanations seem to fit the situation, it may be time to visit the vet.

It might take a few tries to figure out exactly what your whining dog is trying to say, but the better you communicate, the better your friendship will be. Look at his body language, consider the context, and think about what your dog most often needs to decode his important message.

The post Your Whining Dog Is Sending You A Message, Here’s How To Decode It appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

Six months ago, Pete Cole lost his Pug, Gizmo to cancer. He recently decided to open his heart to a new dog, but fell victim to an elaborate puppy-selling scheme instead. Cole was out $500 and ready to give up when the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland reached out to help him find his new best friend.

The shelter learned of Cole’s plight after local news station, WGME exposed the scam.

With the help of shelter staff and WGME’s investigation team, Cole met and fell in love with an adorable 3-year-old Corgi mix named Angel.

“There’s nothing like the companionship of an animal,” said Jeana Roth of the Animal Refuge League. “When we heard what Pete went through we thought it was really important to help find him a new companion to feel that love and affection again.”

Angel is one of two dozen dogs rescued from hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. As a fellow survivor, he is sure to be a perfect match for Cole.

“It changes your mind on the human side of people. When I got scammed I thought everyone out there ripping everyone off. This brings back happiness to mankind,” Cole said.

H/T & Featured Image via WGME News

The post Local Shelter Helps Broken-Hearted Disabled Man Find A New Best Friend appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

Humans have bonded with dogs in ways that we have not with any other animal. Some might argue that cats and horses and other creatures are similar – but we’ve reached an entirely new level of love and understanding with dogs.

Netflix is bringing us a new series that explores some of the truly unique relationships some people have built with their pups. We all enjoy a certain bond with our dogs, but these are pairs that have gone through trials most of us will never experience. One episode follows a Syrian refugee in Germany as he works to be reunited with his best friend, a Husky named Zeus who was unable to escape with him. In the U.S., a girl who suffers seizures finds comfort and friendship when she meets a dog who can detect her oncoming seizures. One episode takes us on a trip to Territorio de Zaguates – Costa Rica’s Land of the Strays.

All across the world dogs and humans are doing more and more to change each other’s lives. While watching Netflix’s Dogs, we’ll get to see these amazing stories unfold across six episodes. Let’s hope this is just the first season of many!

Watch the trailer here:

Dogs will debut on Netflix November 16^th. Be sure to clear your schedule and a space on your couch to binge-watch with your own dog!

H/T: eonline.com
Featured Photo: screenshot/YouTube

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On October 1, the Miller family of Wilmington, NC received heartbreaking news. Their beloved 14-year-old Parson Russell Terrier, Jack has terminal cancer. But until his final day comes, the Millers have vowed to fill Jack’s days with fun and adventure. This weekend they checked a big item off his Bucket List with a ride in a police car – plus plenty of extras courtesy of the Wilmington PD!

In addition to his exciting ride in Sergeant Lisa Kittrell’s police cruiser, Jack accompanied the officer on foot patrol through a local park, meeting with several local kids and dogs along the way.

Later, he visited the Wilmington Police Department headquarters and the 911 center where the ladies showered him with affection. Jack’s new law enforcement pals even named him an honorary police K9 – complete with his very own K9-Unit T-shirt!

Additional items on Jack’s Bucket List include a big steak dinner, plenty of trips to the beach, a boat ride, a picnic at a park, and a visit to a petting zoo – several of which have been checked off since Jeremy Miller shared Jack’s story on Facebook earlier this month.

“The outreach and support from the community has been pretty overwhelming and humbling to say the least,” Miller told WECT News.

One community member took Jack on a boat ride to Masonboro Island, and another has offered to have the Millers visit her farm where Jack can meet the animals. Kevin Murphy with Ocean Cure even reached out to offer the pooch a complimentary surfing lesson!

The Millers are incredibly grateful to the Wilmington PD and everyone who has offered support and kind words. Jeremy Miller says Jack deserves the best in his time of need because he has always been there for the family.

H/T to WECT News & Fox News

Featured Images via Facebook/Jack Miller

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For every article out there that tells you that dogs like hugs, there’s another one that says they don’t. You may have a dog who leaps into your arms every chance they get, or one who prefers having their bubble to themselves – and neither is unusual. So which is it? Do dogs like hugs or don’t they?

The answer is: we may be asking the wrong question. As humans, we recognize that we’re all different, with different experiences and different preferences. We shouldn’t forget that our dogs are individuals too. A better question to ask might be, “Why do some dogs like hugs, but not others?”

The argument against hugging your dog:

There are several reasons that your dog may not want your hugs. Some dogs may associate that much physical contact with something negative. If your dog had a bad experience with an affectionate child who squeezed too hard, or if you only hug him when he’s at the vet and about to get stuck with a needle, his experiences may have left a bad impression on him.

Some studies say that hugs can be confusing for dogs because it’s not body language that is affectionate between dogs. If a dog were to put his paw or limb on another dog’s shoulder or back, it would probably be taken as a sign of dominance. We never see dogs put their limbs around each other as a sign of affection. Others say that dogs feel restrained when held, and the feeling is contrary to their “fight or flight” instinct. Should a predator come prowling in your living room, your dog wants to be ready to either protect you or get out of there.

These claims are frequently argued amongst behaviorists, trainers, experts, and everyday dog owners. So many of us come home to dogs who can’t wait to jump into our arms, we just cannot believe that dogs don’t like hugs. If that were true, how do you explain THIS?

Does your dog like hugs?

Many dogs love to be as close as possible to their humans. Some dogs, regardless of size, will lean against your leg, climb into your lap, or just knock you over, eager to love you. When they nudge their way under our arms while relaxing on the couch, we see that they’re not just tolerating our weird human affection.

So it’s not about whether dogs like hugs – it’s whether YOUR dog likes hugs! How can you tell? Their body language is often very straight forward about physical contact. If your dog walks away when you try to put your arms around him – or if he immediately tries to wiggle out of your arms and risk a drop to the floor, he’s not a fan of hugs. Being familiar with your dog’s body language can help you spot other more subtle signs.

If your dog likes hugs, he may initiate them himself! Many will jump up or otherwise indicate that he want to be held or hugged. If your dog is like mine, she likes to sit all seventy-five pounds in your lap and rest her head on your shoulder – and it’s absolute heaven.

If your dog used to enjoy being hugged, pet and picked up, but is suddenly avoiding you or becoming aggressive when you approach him, it may be a sign that he’s in pain. See 8 Subtle Signs Your Dog Is In Pain.

The post Why Do Some Dogs Like Hugs And Not Others? appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

In this day and age, as busy as life can be, who doesn’t need help with Halloween costume ideas for dogs?

After all, 179 million people have Halloween plans and 31 million people will dress up their pets for Halloween (according to the New York Post)

Planning a doggy costume party or costume contest?

Looking for funny dog costumes?

Or perhaps you are the kind of person that likes to sew “doggy style”!

The truth is that you should probably get busy preparing your adorable ball of canine fur for Halloween night!

If you need pet costume ideas, we are here to help your dog steal the show.

The Big Bad Wolf

The Big Bad Wolf is a fun go-to as an awesome dog costume!

Want to make it more fun? Dress your adorable small dog as the Big Bad Wolf! Ahhh, the irony!

Costume found on Amazon

Have 2 dogs? Make the other Little Red Riding Hood!

Star Wars

Due to the influx of recent Star Wars movies, Star Wars-themed pooch costumes are all the rage.

Dress your dog as Yoda (does that make him more of a Dogda?)

Costume found on Amazon

Use hot glue or sew your way to the perfect Ewok costume.

Found on Pinterest

Have a large dog, but still want to show your mutual love for Star Wars? A little well-placed cardboard can be fashioned into a furry AT-AT Imperial Walker costume.

Found on Pinterest

Food Themed Dog Costumes

Who doesn’t love a yummy snack?

Transform your furry pet into your favorite food or snack.

Pizza, hot dogs, tacos, beer… nothing is off limits when it comes to turning your best friend into your favorite food.

Costume found on Amazon

Costume found on Amazon

Classics

The Wizard of Oz is another classic full of ideas that are sure to bring festivity to your pets and your home.

Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion are fun ideas if you have a trio of dogs living in your home.

Woody and Buzz Lightyear

Costume found on Amazon

Costume found on Amazon

Minions

Costume Found on Amazon

Monsters Inc

Costume found on Etsy

Batman and Robin

Costume found on Amazon

Costume found on Amazon

These are all good classic movie references that will likely make your pet the most adorable belle of the ball.

Other Animals

You love your dog just the way they are… but what if for one night of the year they turned into a bat, a velociraptor, or add a mane and you have a lion?

Ever wanted to turn your “Marley” from “Marley and Me” into a cheetah for the night? All it takes is some nontoxic hair (or fur) paint and a little imagination.

Found on Pinterest

Craft it Yourself

Do you have a little extra time this holiday season?

Do you fancy yourself a crafter?

Grab your needle and thread, your hot glue, your scissors, or your sewing machine and get ready to make your cute furry pet a one-of-a-kind outfit!

Here are 86 of the best costumes, patterns and ideas from Pinterest.

Looking to Save Time?

Pet boutiques in your home town will likely carry many Halloween dog costumes.

The benefit to finding a local pet supply store is not only shopping local, but also being able to try the Halloween outfit on your dog to ensure a good fit!

You can also order pet Halloween costumes online.

Chewy.com and Amazon.com are good go-to’s if you are in a time crunch to get your dog the perfect Halloween garb.

Super Easy

Need some ideas that are super easy and can be used at the last minute?

Find a hat.

A simple cowboy hat can convert your canine companion into a cowboy companion.

Even a baseball cap can turn your dog into an MLB player or “the world’s biggest fan”.

Have kids of appropriate size? Use a jersey, dress or T-shirt to fancy up those four paws!

Have a female dog, and need some girlie doggy ideas?

Glue a few feathers together and style a unique headdress.

Halloween should be fun for the whole family!

And let’s face it, your pet is part of your family and will also likely value getting to be part of the celebration.

Have your very own Halloween Costume contest!

What is your all time favorite doggy costume that got your dog the most adoration and attention?

If you’ve ever had to throw away a dog bed that went flat too soon, you know how frustrating it can be.

Dog beds vary greatly in quality, and many flatten out in only weeks, leaving your dog with thin, worn out padding and allowing their elbows and paws to rub on the hard ground. In addition, you’re out the money!

This new stuffable dog bed solves this problem and then some.

The design allows you to put old pillows and clothes into a durable bed casing. In addition to be a great, eco-friendly way of reusing old t-shirts and pillows lying around the house (and who doesn’t have a ton of those lying around!)

There’s also a huge bonus that makes dogs LOVE this bed…

It smells like YOU!

Your scent is the most comforting thing in the world to your dog, and lying on a bed that smells like you while you’re away is about as good as it gets! (almost as good as them snuggling in bed with you!)

There’s also a cool twist that happens with every purchase…

Every time sold in the PACK&DEN product line provides a warm donated blanket to a shelter animal in need. With winter coming, animal shelters are always in need of warm blankets, so this purchase provides a huge impact!

To learn more about the PACK&DEN Stuffable bed, visit this page.

To learn more about the PACK&DEN Stuffable bed, visit this page.

The post This company invented a dog bed that never goes flat and smells like you! appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

If you’ve ever had to throw away a dog bed that went flat too soon, you know how frustrating it can be.

Dog beds vary greatly in quality, and many flatten out in only weeks, leaving your dog with thin, worn out padding and allowing their elbows and paws to rub on the hard ground. In addition, you’re out the money!

This new stuffable dog bed solves this problem and then some.

The design allows you to put old pillows and clothes into a durable bed casing. In addition to be a great, eco-friendly way of reusing old t-shirts and pillows lying around the house (and who doesn’t have a ton of those lying around!)

There’s also a huge bonus that makes dogs LOVE this bed…

It smells like YOU!

Your scent is the most comforting thing in the world to your dog, and lying on a bed that smells like you while you’re away is about as good as it gets! (almost as good as them snuggling in bed with you!)

There’s also a cool twist that happens with every purchase…

Every time sold in the PACK&DEN product line provides a warm donated blanket to a shelter animal in need. With winter coming, animal shelters are always in need of warm blankets, so this purchase provides a huge impact!

To learn more about the PACK&DEN Stuffable bed, visit this page.

To learn more about the PACK&DEN Stuffable bed, visit this page.

The post Tired of Wasting Money on Beds That Go Flat? You And Your Pup Will Love This Invention appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

There are a wide variety of working roles available to dogs. From detecting drugs, bombs and bedbugs, to guiding the blind and sniffing out signs of illness, there are more jobs than there are qualified dogs to fill them.

Although many dogs are specifically bred to perform these assistance roles, Science Daily reports only about 50% successfully complete their training. The rest go on to be loving family pets while people in need wait up to two years for qualified service dogs.

In order to help organizations better predict which dogs to invest their time and money in, one team of researchers is exploring ways to identify the best dogs for different jobs. Evan MacLean, director of the Arizona Canine Cognition Center at the University of Arizona, is the lead author of a new study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

Dogs are often chosen for certain tasks based on their temperament and physical characteristics, but MacLean believes that looking at their cognitive abilities may better predict their success as working animals.

“People have really focused on temperament and how reactive a dog is to certain things in the environment,” he explains. “What we were interested in was the fact that these dogs also face cognitive challenges. They have to learn all these things in the course of their training, and they have to be able to flexibly solve problems when things go wrong.”

The University of Arizona study focused on 164 assistance dogs training to serve people with disabilities and 222 explosive detection dogs working for the U.S. Navy. The researchers observed the dogs’ performance on 25 different game-based cognitive measures such as hiding and finding objects.

They found that a different set of skills predict whether a dog will excel at detection or assistance work. Assistance dogs need strong social skills, such as the ability to pay close attention to and maintain eye contact with humans, while detection dogs require good short-term memory and sensitivity to human body language.

“Dog jobs are just about as diverse as human jobs are,” MacLean said. “People sometimes think of working dogs as this general category of dogs that have jobs in society, but they actually have to do really, really different things, and because these jobs are so diverse, we didn’t expect that there was going to be one litmus test for what would make a good dog. It’s like if you think about aptitude testing with people — there are certain questions that will tell you something about one job but not another.”

The 164 assistance dogs were tested at 18 months of age at the start of an intensive six-month training program. The team’s cognitive testing allowed them to predict the top 25% of program graduates with 86% accuracy. Navy detection dogs undergo ongoing training, so their success was measured based on trainer records of their performance and questionnaires with people who trained or deployed with them.

The team’s findings suggest that cognition is just as important as temperament and physicality in predicting working dog success. They are now expanding their research to include dogs as young as 8 weeks. They hope to pinpoint a genetic basis for certain cognitive skills in order to improve working dog breeding programs.

“One of the most exciting parts of all this is that it tells us cognition does something in animals,” MacLean said. “We study these abstract questions about how animals think about the world and how they solve problems, but there aren’t always a lot of situations where you can say, ‘Why does that matter? What does it allow an animal to actually do?’ This is some of the first evidence that suggests that these processes that we measure, which differ between individual dogs, have some real consequences related to something that’s quite worthy in society.”

H/T to Science Daily

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