All articles tagged with #dogs
A Tufts-led study in Current Biology found that some dogs—especially Samoyeds—can adjust their howl pitch to match changes in music, unlike Shiba Inus, suggesting breed-linked genetics and implying musical ability may predate human language.
New genetic analysis of 15,800-year-old dog remains from Türkiye and 14,300-year-old bones from Gough’s Cave in Britain pushes back the domestication timeline, showing dogs lived closely with humans across western Eurasia during the Late Upper Paleolithic and were integrated into human groups, with evidence of dietary overlap and even burial alongside people, suggesting a deep, early bond before farming.
Two Nature-published studies using ancient DNA and archaeology show dogs were living with humans across Eurasia by at least 16,000 years ago, with the Pınarbaşı dog in central Turkey (~15,800 years) buried with people and sharing food, and related dogs at Gough’s Cave in Britain (~14,300 years); later, dogs from Turkey interbred with European dogs brought by farmers about 8,500 years ago rather than replacing existing lineages, revealing a long, mobile, and deeply integrated relationship between dogs and humans before farming.
A viral video of seven dogs in China inspired a heartwarming but false narrative of their escape from a meat-trade, which authorities and the owners debunked; the dogs were local pets and the AI-driven memes and global coverage show how viral content can spread misinformation and even racism, highlighting the challenge of truth in the AI age.
Researchers studying ancient dog remains, including a 14,300-year-old jawbone from Gough’s Cave in the UK and a Swiss find, are using genomics and archaeology to trace where dogs came from and how they spread with people, offering new clues about when and where domestication occurred.
Ancient DNA from dog remains across Anatolia, the UK, and Serbia shows dogs were widespread in Europe and western Asia by about 14,000 years ago, with the oldest specimen dating to 15,800 years. Isotopic data indicate dogs ate fish, suggesting they were fed by humans, and puppies buried with a human at Pınarbaşı point to deep emotional bonds. The findings push the origin of domesticated dogs to the last Ice Age and imply rapid spread and sustained human–dog relationships, with many modern European breeds tracing substantial ancestry to these ancient dogs.
60 Minutes explores the Dog Aging Project, a large study tracking thousands of dogs to uncover how genetics, environment, and brain changes influence aging and dementia. Brain research in dogs mirrors human Alzheimer's in structure and pathology, and trials like rapamycin aim to extend canine lifespans and cognitive health, a path that could accelerate human aging research and spur biotech ventures.
Ralph, a beloved family dog, developed dementia and joined the Dog Aging Project, a large study of aging in dogs that aims to illuminate human neurodegenerative diseases. Scientists compare dog and human brains to understand dementia, noting similar structural changes and brain shrinkage. Memory tests and MRI scans underscored Ralph’s cognitive decline, while a pilot rapamycin trial suggested reduced brain inflammation in treated dogs. After Ralph’s death, researchers continued posthumous brain analysis, reinforcing the potential of canine aging research to inform human health. The Rowe family finds purpose in Ralph’s contribution to science and encourages keeping dogs mentally and physically active for brain health.
The Dog Aging Project tracks 50,000+ dogs to study aging and dementia, linking lifestyle factors to disease risk and showing that canine brain aging shares features with human dementia. The effort includes diets, exercise, blood work, and brain MRIs, plus brain donations for analysis. Early findings suggest dogs living with others and remaining active have fewer diseases, and a pilot rapamycin study showed reduced brain inflammation in some dogs, prompting larger NIH-funded trials and the push to develop dog-focused longevity therapies.
A Golden Retriever puppy named Sunday is filmed sleep-talking loudly in a video that went viral, startling herself awake as viewers joke about what she might be dreaming about.
LA County’s Animal Care and Control, aided by 70-plus workers and other rescues, rescued more than 300 dogs and cats from a Lake Hughes home — about 250 dogs and 66 cats confirmed — in what officials called one of the county’s largest animal rescues. The operation strained seven county centers, and authorities are urging the public to adopt or foster while investigators probe neglect and overcrowding; animals are being medically screened and redistributed to shelters and rescue groups.
Katherine Heigl returned to the spotlight with her first red-carpet appearance in two years, attending the Wine, Women & Shoes event benefiting Big Dog Ranch Rescue at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. She wore a colorful puff-sleeve dress, styled a bouffant, royal-blue heels, and carried a bright yellow Chanel purse, posing with her mom Nancy Heigl, Cesar Millan and Lauree Simmons. Heigl has relocated from LA to Utah for a slower pace, with her last public appearance at the 2024 Emmys.
A German shepherd named Inca obsessively sniffed her owner Colleen Ferguson’s breath, leading to a CT scan that found a golf-ball-sized lung tumor at stage 1 and a successful surgical removal with no further treatment. The story adds to evidence that dogs can detect cancer by scent, and researchers are developing an MIT‑based AI-powered “e-nose” to mimic canine olfaction for noninvasive cancer detection, currently being tested on urine samples with the goal of clinical use within two years and potential smartphone integration.
A viral clip shows Golden Retriever brothers Oscar and Mojo quarreling over a toy but quickly making up when Oscar hands the toy to Mojo, highlighting their close bond as the video racks up thousands of likes and shares.
A Cambridge study analyzed DNA and owners’ reports for 1,300 golden retrievers, linking specific genes to temperament traits like trainability, activity, fear, and aggression. Notably, twelve of these genes are also associated with human traits such as anxiety, depression, and intelligence, suggesting shared genetic roots for emotion and behavior in dogs and people and offering potential guidance for training and veterinary care.