Making headlines this week in the dogiverse – dogs are super clever, Huskies aren’t dire wolves and please stop buying them, and the most unlikely photograph of all time is revealed. Get the Scoop!
Dogs already understand us
According to researchers in Hungary, dogs can understand what we’re saying. Dogs’ brains process words in a similar way as us humans, both grasping the tone and the meaning at the same time. The study used MRI scans watch how dogs’ brains handled verbal communication and found that they could associate negative and positive experiences with certain words. So that explains why they get so excited for walkies!
Want to nerd out on more dog science? Browse more dog science in previous Scoops here.
Please stop buying Huskies because of Game of Thrones, urge dog charities
Stars of popular TV series Game of Thrones are joining with animal welfare charities to urge people to stop buying Husky puppies on a whim. Huskies bear a resemblance to the show’s dire wolves, and, according to Peter Dinklage and PETA, the popularity of these creatures has lead to a rise in Husky pups being purchased and, tragically, quickly abandoned.
Of course, prospective dog owners should always give appropriate consideration to their ability to care for a dog before purchasing one, no matter what breed you’re considering. But, as many dog fans will know, Huskies can be a handful, and aren’t usually recommended for first time dog owners.
Best paw forward
Anyone who’s ever tried to snap a picture of a dog, which we suspect is quite a few of you, will know that it can be nearly impossible to get it ‘just right’. Of course, even if your pooch model is good at sitting still there’s always the chance they’ll spot a squirrel at the last possible minute, or give themselves a cursory scratch.
So we were amazed when we saw this “fluke” of a picture. Kaylee, living in Shetland with her six Shetland Sheepdogs (and one Alaskan Klee Kai) captured this beyond-belief image while out for a walk with her pooches. Astoundingly, they’ve all adopted an identical pose with one foot forward!