Dog Research

RELATIONSHIP WITH HUMANS..AND WOLVES:

It is said that dogs provide good companionship for humans because they see them as part of their pack. After all, they're descended from wolves. As pack hunters, their instinct is to obey - this makes it easy to teach them commands. Other interesting wolf traits include their predatory and scavenging habits and their powerful muscles designed for both sprints AND endurance, teeth optimized for catching and tearing prey.

DIET:

There is a misconception that dogs need a lot of protein. They eat meat, vegetables (san fran loves veggies!), plants, grain. Dangerous foods for dogs are chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins. Dogs will sometimes eat shit as well.

PSYCHOLOGY:

Dogs can have depression. Some therapists have even theorized that canine intelligence can be pinpointed by breed. For example:

• smartest: border collie, poodle, german shepherd, golden retriever,

doberman pinscher, shetland sheepdog, labrador retriever, papillon, rottweiler.

• above average: yorkshire terrier, spaniel, dalmation
• average: siberian husky, american foxhound
• lowest: shih tzu, mastiff, beagle, pekingese, bloodhound, bulldog, afghan

BEHAVIOR and PHYSIOLOGY:

generally social, but physical abuse and starvation can produce very neurotic, dangerous dogs.

• Body language includes tail wag, which can mean happy but also

anxiety, submissiveness, questioning other animal's intentions.

• The ears are used in interesting ways. Forward can mean attentive,

backward means fear. Wolf-like dogs when happy hold ears horizontal and forward.

• dogs tend to yawn to say leave them alone, or that they're confused

or tired. Licking their lips when there's no food around means the same things.

• like humans, slitted eyes mean suspicion/anger; eyebrows up or down

can mean interest or confusion

• they freeze - as if pointing mid step - when alert. Stomp feet when excited.
• hearing is very good
• tongue hangs out when a dog is unstressed. Begging or very happy =

lips pulled back in a smile.

• playful or excited barks are short and sharp. Dogs bark for many reasons.
• growls, when soft and low pitched signal aggression

-- TrevorParham - 18 Apr 2007