Last week, in How Dogs Read Us, Part 1, I discussed some studies that explore the way dogs decode our signals, an ability that is passed along genetically. This second section, adapted from the same article for Your Dog newsletter, addresses the fact that not all dogs are equally skilled at reading signals and not…
How Dogs Read Us, Part I
You pretend to throw a Frisbee in one direction, then toss it in the other. Your dog swiftly shifts gears to catch the disk in mid-air. Or you’re in a bad mood and your pup intuits that a sloppy kiss will cheer you right up. All dog owners have experienced, and likely marveled at, such…
Friday Focus: Do real dogs need other dogs?
This week’s question was: Does your dog need to play with other dogs to have a completely fulfilled life? Many people who responded in the comments section of the post that posed this question or on Twitter didn’t necessarily advocate dog parks as a venue for play, but suggested alternatives because, the consensus was, dogs…