PhD candidate @GC_CUNY & presenter of dog science. I would like to meet your dog. Also! Cat behavior and welfare!
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Articles by Julie Hecht
Do Dogs Understand Pointing?
If you’ve spent any time with dogs, you aren’t surprised when a dog stops to check out the ground. It also shouldn’t surprise you that a dog might go where you point. Pointing is about social communication, and it often feels like dogs are right there with us, sometimes even more than members of our own species.
Do Dogs Understand Our Words?
Say What? A look at the types of words that dogs understand. What do words mean to dogs? Do you sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher—just a series of ‘wah wah wahs’—or does your dog genuinely understand your words? Are dogs on the same page as us, or even in the same book? This article will explore dogs and their understanding of human language. How much do people think dogs understand? A lot. According to a study by Péter Pongrácz and his colleagues at the Family Dog Project in Budapest.
Dog Speak: The Sounds of Dogs
If there’s one universal truth for all dog moms and dads, it’s that we’re all convinced our pups are talking to us. The sigh that means, “Stop posting pics of me on Instagram and take me for a walk!” The grumble that means, “It’s only 4:30p.m. but I’m ready for dinner, human!” Vocalizations provide us with a window into dogs’ everyday experiences. Social species are known to be much noisier than animals who lead solitary lives.
Docked Tails Play a Role in Dog Communication
Looks aren’t everything, but they can talk. Your dog is not mysterious about how they feel. When you get home, they greet you at the door with kisses. When you lace up your shoes, they try to lure you back with a request for belly rubs because they’re sad you’re leaving. But here’s one thing you can’t so easily tell from your dog: how they’ll behave based on their breed. People often cite breed when trying to account for the ways dogs behave.
Should You Send Your Pup to Dog Daycare?
Should You Send Your Pup to Dog Daycare? · Kinship Skip to main content Doggy daycare is more than just fun and games. There’s one universal stumper of a question that all pet parents face as they gear up for fewer summer vacations and more time at the office: “What do we do with the dog?” There’s never an easy answer — especially if your dog can’t easily tag along to work with you — and it’s equally anxiety inducing to think of leaving them with a stranger.
Does Your Dog Have a Personality?
Your dog does something every day that pretty much convinces you they’re human. They sigh when they (allegedly) feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. They cry happy tears (really!). They get sad and need a day of watching rom-coms and snuggling. Dogs are the same as humans in a lot of ways — including the fact that they also have personalities. So, yes, that means when you tell your pup how special and unique they are, you’re...right.
Humping: Why Do Dogs Do It?
Although we’d love to say we adore absolutely everything about our pups, the act of dog humping definitely falls into the “least adorable” category. Dogs hump the air, they mount pillows and blankets, and they can be found poised behind the neighbor’s dog or befriending Uncle Joe’s leg. (What won’t dogs hump?) Pet parents hypothesize that sex, breed, age, reproductive status, and even size might provide information about humpers.
Does Your Dog Have a Personality?
Your dog does something every day that pretty much convinces you they’re human. They sigh when they (allegedly) feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. They cry happy tears (really!). They get sad and need a day of watching rom-coms and snuggling. Dogs are the same as humans in a lot of ways — including the fact that they also have personalities. So, yes, that means when you tell your pup how special and unique they are, you’re...right.
Should You Send Your Pup to Dog Daycare?
There’s one universal stumper of a question that all pet parents face as they gear up for fewer summer vacations and more time at the office: “What do we do with the dog?” There’s never an easy answer — especially if your dog can’t easily tag along to work with you — and it’s equally anxiety inducing to think of leaving them with a stranger. This might be, however, an anxiety that can be quelled by professionals who spend all day loving on dogs just like yours.
Do Dogs Understand Our Words?
What do words mean to dogs? Do you sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher—just a series of ‘wah wah wahs’—or does your dog genuinely understand your words? Are dogs on the same page as us, or even in the same book? This article will explore dogs and their understanding of human language. How much do people think dogs understand? A lot. According to a study by Péter Pongrácz and his colleagues at the Family Dog Project in Budapest.
Good (and Bad) Ways to Help a Dog Afraid of Fireworks
Advertisement this year, get ahold of yourself!” Unfortunately, monologues like this won’t make Johnny any more comfortable with this year’s fireworks. Nor will scolding—or in any way punishing—alter Johnny’s behavior for the better or help him push through this difficult situation.
Great Thinkers on Dogs
I think you would have fun playing Mad Libs with your dog’s life, filling in the blanks to match Siena or Diego’s unique personality and interests. After all, your intimate knowledge of your dog is unparalleled. You know what he thinks of the neighbor’s dog, and whether he prefers balls to sticks or carrots to apples. But our canine experts also know your dog, albeit in a different way.
Woman's Best Friend
Compared to many other species, dogs as a whole are relatively privileged. Most of us don’t eat them, nor do we specifically breed them to be eaten. They are more likely to receive vet care than other companion animals, and we spend more money on dogs than, say, cats (although whether the things we’re buying dogs are necessary or in their best interest is another conversation).
Usher might ruin your dog s Fourth of July
For many, the Fourth of July is about food, food, alcohol and more food (maybe with a side of baseball).
Dog-Eared Reading (Volume 1)
I recently saw a clip of Neil Patrick Harris hosting the 2013 Emmys. He was doing a bit about Google Glass and said he was watching an episode of American Horror Story on his contacts while hosting the show. I recently saw a clip of Neil Patrick Harris hosting the 2013 Emmys. He was doing a bit about Google Glass and said he was watching an episode of American Horror Story on his contacts while hosting the show.
Make sense of scents: How to make your dog happy
I have good news for all of us who don’t look like Ryan Gosling or Gisele Bundchen: your dog doesn’t care. Dogs are much more interested in our smells than our looks. Just watch a dog with his head out a car window -- nose forging ahead. Wind brings innumerable scent molecules directly to the dog’s face, which in the dog’s world, makes for a pretty good day. * You might look like a one-eyed pig, but to your dog, it’s your bouquet that makes you beautiful.
What Do You Hear in These Dog Sounds?
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, your dog’s voice is not like a Bret Michaels concert, pumping out a shower of meaningless noise. Although your dog’s vocalizations might be unwelcome at times, those sounds carry way more information and meaning than any of the former frontman’s power ballads can ever hope to do. Well, maybe not as much as “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” In recent years, many studies have investigated the noises made by companion dogs.
Drinking: An Acrobatic Tongue Act
IF YOU LIVE WITH A DOG, then you are familiar with this sound. Unlike barks, growls and howls -- dog sounds that easily take center stage -- a dog lapping up water is background, white noise. Dog drinking attracts little attention until you unexpectedly step in a puddle of slopped-over water while wearing socks. A closer look reveals there is nothing commonplace about how dogs drink. Instead, to ingest liquids, the tongue seems to perform almost acrobatic feats.
Dog Science Is Timeless
Since 2013, Scientific American has been home to the Dog Spies blog. My beat is simple: Report on the booming field of dog behavior, cognition, and welfare research—studies that matter to the dogs in our beds. While the Dog Spies blog will no longer be part of the Scientific American blogroll, studies of our best friend aren’t going away, and neither am I. Keep up with my writing and events at www.DogSpies.com.
HUMPING: Why Do Dogs Do It?
On a beautiful, warm afternoon, I watched a group of dogs frolic in a dog park. Suddenly, I heard a woman’s high-pitched yelp, followed by the pounding of human feet. There was no need to look; it was obviously about dog humping, which we can also refer to as mounting. Dogs hump the air, they mount pillows and blankets, and they can be found poised behind the neighbor’s dog or befriending Uncle Joe’s leg but not Uncle Albert’s.
Do You Play with Your Cat? This Online Study Is for You!
You might be thinking "What's this about cats? This is DOG Spies. A blog on the science behind the dog-human relationship." Yes, but… My background is in applied animal behavior and welfare — the study of animals who find themselves under our care or management. Dogs are one such species. Cats are another. And it just so happens I live with a cat. Josh The Cat. In the last few years, I've learned more about cat behavior, cognition, welfare, and relationships with people.
Would Your Dog Make a Good Cadaver Detection Dog?
Sitting on the couch, with your dog curled up by your side looking ever-so-peaceful, maybe you’ve been overcome by the thought, “Gosh, wouldn’t Banjo make the most perfect therapy dog!?” Unfortunately, there’s a lot more to being a therapy dog than many realize, reminds certified applied animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell in a recent article for The Bark.
Sniffing Out Error in Detection Dog Data
A new study in the journal Scientific Reports gets to the bottom of it: Why do dogs that are trained to locate poop sometimes find the wrong kind of poop? It happens anywhere from 4 percent to 45 percent of the time, said Karen DeMatteo, a biologist in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.
Small Dogs Aim High When They Pee
Betty McGuire is no stranger to dog urine. If you live with a dog, neither are you. I’m guessing your dog pee story is probably one of waiting: Waiting while your dog checks out another dog’s pee, or waiting while your dog leaves a deposit. And who hasn’t experienced the occasional, “Ack! Why did you pee there?!?” followed by a cleaning session. But if you’ve ever gazed at a peeing dog and asked yourself any number of “Why” questions, Betty McGuire is the person for you.
Small Dogs Aim High When They Pee
Betty McGuire is no stranger to dog urine. If you live with a dog, neither are you. I’m guessing your dog pee story is probably one of waiting: Waiting while your dog checks out another dog’s pee, or waiting while your dog leaves a deposit. And who hasn’t experienced the occasional, “Ack! Why did you pee there?!?” followed by a cleaning session. But if you’ve ever gazed at a peeing dog and asked yourself any number of “Why” questions, Betty McGuire is the person for you.
Tips For Getting A Service Dog
Make Sure You Can Handle It Like any pet, a service dog is a big responsibility. Be sure your family can handle the financial, emotional and physical responsibilities of having a service dog in your lives. Look into whether or not the agency you’re working with is a member of an organization such as Assistance Dogs International. In addition, look into the agency’s standing with the IRS and Better Business Bureau.
An Open Letter to People Who Walk Their Dog Without a Leash
Hi! I’m the guy with the tan pit bull mix named Rufus. I want to take a moment and ask you to walk your dog with a leash. No, I get it. Your dog is amazing and well-trained. You’ve been through extensive training and your dog knows a slew of verbal commands. Your dog is a service animal and visits children’s cancer wards and retirement communities and is the best-behaved dog you’ve ever had. I get that. The truth is, I don’t care about your dog.
Two Countries Partner to Help Stray Dogs
Since 2011, SOAR—Segunda Chansa (“Second Chance”) Oregon Animal Rescue—has been partnering shelters in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, with shelters in Portland, Oregon, to expand adoption opportunities for abandoned dogs in the Loreto area. To date, they have sent 248 dogs from Loreto to Portland, where they have all been successfully adopted. Their partners in Loreto are Segunda Chansa, a private dog rescue and Animalandia, a spay and neuter clinic.
Everyone's Invited to a Free, Live-Streaming, Dog Conference #SPARCS18
Much of science plays out behind closed doors, and that is exactly what SPARCS is fighting against. SPARCS, which is short for the Society for the Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science, is a non-profit bridging the gap between dog lovers and canine science.
You, You and You! Everyone's Invited to a Free, Live-Streaming, Dog Conference #SPARCS18
Much of science plays out behind closed doors, and that is exactly what SPARCS is fighting against. SPARCS, which is short for the Society for the Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science, is a non-profit bridging the gap between dog lovers and canine science.
Public or Private: The fight over NYC’s Warren Street Dog Park
The New York City Parks Department has cut locks off of The Warren Street Dog Park in the Tribeca neighborhood to keep a local group from making it a membership only dog run. For the last ten years a group of dog owners, who formed a nonprofit organization “Dog Owners of Tribeca” have privately maintained the park and charged membership dues.
What Dog Owners Get Wrong About Dog Genetics
What Dog Owners Get Wrong About Dog Genetics Dog lovers talk a big game when it comes to genetics. Who hasn't heard someone claim to know which breeds reside within a beloved mutt simply by appearance? And who hasn't heard claims about a dog's underlying “nature” even though geneticists acknowledge nature and nurture work together?Read Full Article »
What a Dog Geneticist Wants You to Know about Dog Genetics
Dog lovers talk a big game when it comes to genetics. Who hasn’t heard someone claim to know which breeds reside within a beloved mutt simply by appearance? And who hasn’t heard claims about a dog’s underlying “nature” even though geneticists acknowledge nature and nurture work together? DNA is undeniably instrumental to all living beings, but casual beliefs about genetics — particularly dog genetics — aren’t always on point.
Does It Fart? Roaring Success
Dogs are one of the more well-known farters of the animal kingdom. As you know from my previous posts on the Dog Fart Suit, we’ve not only peered into the content of dog flatus, but have even considered how to make their farts less stinky. But looking no further than dog farts would be a grave injustice to the rest of the animal kingdom.
Crazy Canine Custody Clash
The rescue organization that placed Mack with the Patterson family did some wild things in an attempt to prevent the reunion of Mack with his family after the dog ran loose. Jamie Patterson and her seven children adopted the Boxer-Mastiff mix from Rough Road Rescue in Missouri in January 2015. He turned out to be a bit of a Houdini dog, which is behaviorist-speak for a dog who loves to break out of houses or yards and run free.
New Research Questions “Pawedness” in Dog
I’m right handed. Utensils, pens, pencils, and of course my toothbrush are all operated by my right hand. Like roughly 90% of people, my left hand simply isn’t cut out for much on its own. Dogs, outfitted with paws not hands, also appear to prefer one paw over the other. In dogs, paw laterality—or paw preference—is explored not with forks or pencils, but with more dog-appropriate motor tasks.
Does It Fart? Roaring Success
Dogs are one of the more well-knownfarters of the animal kingdom. As you know from my previous posts on the Dog Fart Suit, we’ve not only peered into the content of dog flatus, but have even considered how to make their farts less stinky. But looking no further than dog farts would be a grave injustice to the rest of the animal kingdom.
Because I’m A Grown-Ass Adult
Convincing people to adopt a puppy is an easy sell. At most shelters and rescues, puppies fly out the door immediately. Often, there are not enough of these little balls of fluff to meet the demand for young dogs in the community. Finding forever homes for adult dogs is much more difficult, but a recent ad campaign by the Animal Protective Association of Missouri (APA) is doing a great job with this challenge.
New Research Questions 'Pawedness' in Dogs
I’m right handed. Utensils, pens, pencils, and of course my toothbrush are all operated by my right hand. Like roughly 90% of people, my left hand simply isn’t cut out for motor behavior. Dogs, outfitted with paws not hands, also appear to prefer one paw over the other. In dogs, paw laterality — or paw preference — is explored not with forks or pencils, but with more dog-appropriate motor tasks.
I'm Here for the Balls
Dogs and Balls: A Timeless Romance. Oh, is that not an actual book? It should be. If balls are on dogs’ minds, then the people interested in those minds have to think about balls. And think about balls they do. Balls have made their way into countless studies of the canine mind.
New Annenberg PetSpace Explores the Human-Animal Bond
“In my life, animals have been a profound gift—not just dear companions, but teachers and healers, showing how to live and love fully and in the moment. That’s why the opening of Annenberg PetSpace is so thrilling for me. It will be a world class space in which to study the joys and mysteries of life in all its forms.
The Hidden Dogs of Dog Cloning
Dog cloning. You’ve probably heard about it. Barbra Streisand certainly has, and she’s not alone. And if we’re being honest with ourselves, who hasn’t looked at a beloved dog and wished for more time? The grief of losing a dog is real and is in no way trivial. But as a dog lover — not just a lover of one particular dog — would you actually want to look into cloning?
The Hidden Dogs of Dog Cloning
Dog cloning. You’ve probably heard about it. Barbra Streisand certainly has, and she’s not alone. And if we’re being honest with ourselves, who hasn’t looked at a beloved dog and wished for more time? The grief of losing a dog is real and is in no way trivial. But as a dog lover — not just a lover of one particular dog — would you actually want to look into cloning?
Robot Dogs May Be Creepy, but Real Dogs Don't Fear Technology
I’d be lying if I said a dog-like robot opening a door for another dog-like robot doesn’t creep me out. A full discussion of robot dogs is for another day, but for now, researchers studying the cognition and welfare of real dogs have a less menacing view of dogs and technology, particularly when touchscreens are involved.
Do Dog Athletes Get Dog Injuries?
My inbox has changed in the last few years. I still receive work, friend, and family emails, but I increasingly receive dog product and promotional emails, which I’ve learned to delete as quickly as possible. Apparently, I’m not a fan of newfangled dog products that no dog would want (and that could only have been created by Dr. Seuss’s long-lost brother). These products often cater to well-intentioned dog owners swept up by a booming pet product industry.
Do Dogs Always Prefer Their Owners?
“Give your dog the choice of you and someone else, and you're going to win.” I wrote this sentence back in 2016, and as a dog lover, you might agree. Numerous studies conclude that you matter to your dog, and your dog probably confirms this on a daily basis. But our relationship with dogs typically does not fit neatly into a soundbite, and there might be more to the story. Whether dogs prefer to spend time with their owners could depend on context.
Disneyesque Dog Portrayals Sell Canines Short
In 1996, veteran dog trainer Jean Donaldson picked a fight with Walt Disney. Donaldson begins her book Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Dogs by explaining that people continue to buy into a made-up, Walt Disney version of dogs.
This Year, Make the World Better for Dogs
Dogs do not make New Year’s resolutions. Apart from hearing fireworks and maybe a round of Auld Lang Syne earlier this month, dogs are completely unaware that 2017 is long gone and we are well into 2018. But maybe someone should tell them. In some cultures, the beginning of the year is a time to plan how things will be different. We make resolutions and goals and plan that our future self will go to the gym; our future self will eat less pizza.
Okay, So Some Dogs Eat Poop
You are probably not prone to chowing down on poop, but some of our best friends beg to differ. While all dogs are not drawn to the fresh stuff, some are decidedly inclined (heck, drawn) to gobble it up. If you are still reading despite topic and tone, maybe it's personal. If one of your canine friends eats poop, you may wonder, "Why, dog? Why are you into this? And is it normal? And, well, could you maybe do it less?" Here's what we know: dogs eat poop. They'll eat their own and that of other dogs.
2018 Dog Preview
I can't see the future, but I do have an inkling of what's to come, at least when it comes to dog behavior, cognition, and welfare science. Here's what I'm looking forward to in the new year. "Dog in a box" is not a Saturday Night Live sketch knockoff or an animal welfare concern. It's not even Dog in a Box. It's actually DogBox. Yes, DogBox is a safe, perfectly humane, and exciting idea coming out of the Asher Behaviour Lab at Newcastle University.
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