Dogs love us as much as we love them!

According to today's surveys, dogs are a large part of about 50% of American households. From the way they wag there tails, lick us and cuddle with us, can we be sure that they really love us back? The answer is yes, thanks to the recent growth in brain imaging technology, which gives us a look inside the brain of a dog. According to a study, "not only do dogs seem to love us back, they actually see us as their family. It turns out that dogs rely on humans more than they do their own kind of affection, protections and everything in between." The most recent evidence pertaining to the dog brain is that scientists found that dog owners' aroma sparked activation in the "reward center" of the brain, which is called the caudate nucleus. This evidence comes from scientists at Emory University who trained dogs to lie on an MRI machine and used functional MRI to measure the neural responses when smelling both people and dogs. Along with this evidence, researchers in Budapest at Eotvos Lorand University studied canine brain activity in response to both human and dog sounds. This study revealed that there are similarities in the way dog and human brains process emotional vocal sounds. "In short: Dogs don't just seem to pick up on our subtle mood changes - they are actually physically wired to pick up on them." We now most definitely know that our pets love us as much as we hoped, even maybe more. I found this article very exciting because it clarifies that my dog loves me as much as I love her. When she barks and wags her tail when I walk through the door, I now know that she is really happy to see me. I don't know what I would do without her.

Genetic Study Confirms First Dogs Came From East Asia

Man's best friend is always there for us but did you ever wonder where he came from? In this article it explains that researchers at Sweden's KTH Royal Institute of Technology say they found proof that dogs (ancestor of the wolf) have been traced back to Southern East Asia. According to the article it says " Our analysis of Y- chromosomal DNA now confirms that wolves were first domesticated in Asia south of Yangtze River we call it the ASY region in southern China or Southeast Asia." Peter Savolainen and Mattias Oskarsson were working with Chinese colleagues and analyzed the DNA from all male dogs all across the world. According to the results half of the gene pool was said to be universally shared everywhere in the world but the ASY region had the entire range of genetic diversity. What all this means basically is that it shows us that all the gene pools out there basically originate from the ASY region. So with the information given it is a safe bet to assume that this was in fact the origin of the domestication. It's amazing to think how we can come up with unbelievable information like this just by looking into DNA and genetics. We have some brilliant minds working out there.

Can Science Improve Man's Best Friend?

According to an article in Science Daily, "Science and breeding can be used to produce dogs that have characteristics desired by the average dog owner and are well suited to the domestic environment." Essentially, this is stating that desirable behavioral traits in dogs can be heritably bred to produce dogs as good companions. Dr. Pauleen Bennett, a researcher from Monash University in Australia, supports this by stating, "Successfully matching the dog, its requirements and behavioral traits with the understanding and desires of the owner should mean the animals are more likely to enjoy good welfare throughout long, healthy and happy lives."

But what are these "desirable" traits that humans want in dogs? A survey for Australian pet owners found that the traits they want in their dogs include, "being friendly, obedient, affectionate and healthy", while the "undesirable" traits include, "nervousness, destructiveness, and excitability."

The article continues to say that traits can determine a pet's fate, and "make the difference between a dog becoming a much loved and pampered family member, or a mistreated or neglected unwanted animal." I personally agree with this. There are so many unwanted dogs and cats living in animal shelters, looking for love and affection. If breeding had been better controlled and only those dogs with superior genes (both physical and mental traits) were bred, then there would be a lot less unwanted animals in the world. People should only breed exceptional dogs with amazing conformations and personalities, and only if they are certain the dogs will have forever homes. Otherwise, there is an overload of animals who usually have temperament issues and those "undesirable" traits.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Hypoallergenic Dogs

When shopping for a new addition to the family, dog owners often look for hypoallergenic breeds. Among them are poodles, terriers, Irish spaniels, bichon frises, schnauzers, and many more. They think this means no sneezing, no coughing, and no fur on the furniture. Yet, Henry Ford Hospital found that hypoallergenic dogs have no less allergen in the home than other dogs.

The major dog allergen is Can f 1 and is found mostly in dog saliva, as opposed to glands in dog skin. People who have been exposed to dogs in their younger years are less susceptible to negative allergic reactions throughout their lives. However, once they have developed a dog allergy, they are poorly protected against any breed, whether or not it is advertised as “hypoallergenic.”

After reading this article from ScienceDaily, I would still encourage people to look for hypoallergenic dogs because they are beneficial. Those breeds that fall under this category are believed to produce less dander and saliva and shed less fur. Just keep in mind that the key word is “less”…you will still have to deal with a certain degree of these unpleasant features when bringing any dog into your home. In the meantime, it is a good idea to expose young children to all types of dogs, and do not be surprised if even your hypoallergenic dog causes itchy eyes.

Photograph: http://guarddogss.com/category/maltese-toy-puppies/

Hypoallergenic Dogs Don't Lower Household Allergens

An article in Science Daily discussed a study conducted on hypoallergenic dogs and their relationship to household allergens. Hypoallergenic dogs are breeds such as poodles, Bichon Frises, schnauzers, shih tzus, and Maltese that are supposed to "produce less dander and saliva and shed less fur." The study, performed by Henry Ford Hospital researchers, found that dust and dander samples collected from the homes of hypoallergenic breeds and non-hypoallergenic breeds of dogs "yielded no significant differences in allergen levels." The study also tested allergen levels when the different types of dogs were placed in a baby's bedroom. The article concludes by stating that "parents should not rely on dog breeds classified a hypoallergenic" and that the best way to lower allergies is to get children used to the dander at a young age to build up an immunity.

I found this article to be really interesting, and it gives new insight on dog breeds and allergies. All dogs shed and all dogs are going to produce dander. I feel that this article is good for families with allergies who are looking for a pet, because now they will know that even a "hypoallergenic" dog such as a poodle can still aggravate allergies. Those families can still consider a dog, or perhaps look into another type of pet without fur, such as a bird, fish, snake, or lizard. The picture is credited with Wikipedia and is a Bichon Frise dog.