Labs Blame It on the Genes, Why Dogs Hate Severance, Pets Go With the Flow, and More!

As it turns out, our genes may be more similar to our dogs than we thought. illustration: AdobeStock

The Latest on Labs:
Do These Genes Make My Butt Look Fat? 

Anyone who's ever loved a Lab knows how hard it is to keep those notorious chowhounds down to a healthy weight.

Now researchers studying British Labrador Retrievers have found that many of these pups carry a number of genes associated with canine obesity, including the DENND1B gene, which is also linked to obesity in humans. As with humans, no single gene was to blame, but rather the net effect of multiple genetic variants determined whether dogs were at high or low risk for obesity.

Researchers measured how much Labs pestered their owners for food (in our experience, always) and whether they were fussy eaters (you must be kidding). Not surprisingly, they found that dogs with a high genetic risk for obesity were significantly more interested in food than those with a low genetic risk. They also found that owners who strictly controlled their pups' diet and exercise were able to prevent obesity even in dogs with a high genetic risk, but it took far more effort and attention to do so (tell us about it).

"Owners of slim dogs are not morally superior," one researcher noted, in a phrase many may want to tape to the fridge. "The same is true of slim people. If you have a high genetic risk of obesity, then when there's lots of food available, you're prone to overeating and gaining weight unless you put a huge effort into not doing so."

Thanks a lot, science.

Source: sciencedaily.com, guinnessworldrecords.com

Maybe it’s the sheep? photo: AdobeStock

Innie or Outie:
Is Your Dog Severance Averse?

Some fans of the hit TV series Severance have reported the show seems to be affecting their pets - and not in a good way. Viewers say their dogs bark at the creepy elevators, whimper at the key card sounds, or pace around the house when the show is on. Some pups have even gone into hiding after watching an episode.

Animal experts say certain noises may trigger fear in canines, such as loud, low-pitched sounds that may instinctively tell a dog a predator is nearby. And it's well known that dogs are able to hear frequencies too high-pitched for human ears to detect.

But Jacob Ribicoff, the supervising sound editor for Severance, says he didn't intentionally mix any scary dog sounds into the show. However, he did use a lot of high-pitched noises like card scan beeps, elevator dings, and the crackling static you hear when the characters are transitioning from Innies to Outies, which can be disturbing to some pups.

And it may not just be the sounds. Dr. Freya Mowat, a veterinarian ophthalmologist who researches visual perception in dogs, says modern television offers such smooth projection that dogs might not realize what they see on TV isn't real. "We totally know it's a virtual space and we're just enjoying it," she says. "Whereas, I would say for the most part, dogs don't make that strong reality versus virtual differentiation." The blue palette used for the Lumon sets may not help either as blue is a color dogs tend to notice more than others, according to many experts.

Finally, dogs can smell cortisol, a hormone humans produce in response to stress. So if you're feeling anxious during some of the series' tenser scenes, your pup may be picking up on that, too.

"I still love the show," said one viewer, whose dog Knox is clearly not a fan. "But I only watch with AirPods or subtitles now so Knox doesn't get scared."

Maybe don't tell Knox that Season 3 just got a green light.

Source: washingtonpost.com

Flow is attracting animal viewers. photo: Sideshow/Janus Films

Go With the Flow:
Animated Feature Gets Four Paws Up 

In happier viewing news, a growing number of pets are reportedly charmed by Flow, the Oscar-winning animated film about a motley crew of animals who band together after an apocalyptic flood. Multiple online videos show various dogs and cats happily watching the gentle, dialogue-free feature along with their humans.

One viewer said it was the first movie her Golden Retriever, Samson, ever watched all the way through. Though the main character is a black cat, the film's goofball Yellow Lab is the one who captured Samson's interest. "He really loved that dog," she said.

Best supporting pup, anyone?

Source: nytimes.com

Hundreds of sausages gather in Germany for adorable largest Dachshund dog walk. photo: Guinness World Record

Short and Sweet:
Weiner Dogs Set New World Record 

Almost 900 Dachshunds - or Dackels as they're known in their native Germany - set a new Guinness World Record last month for the largest weiner dog walk. Officially, 897 short-legged pups made the march, though some suggested the actual number may have been as high as 1,175.

The pooch parade was held in Regensburg, Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage city that also happens to be the home of the Dackelmuseum. Museum founder and parade organizer Seppi Küblbeck said the event was aimed at bringing positive energy to the community.

"The Dachshund isn't political," said Küblbeck. "For the Dachshund, all people are equal, regardless of skin color or where they come from."

Right on, short pups. Now if only the humans could learn.

Source: upi.com

The two-dimensional space that constitutes an emotion, including a range of valence and arousal.  image: Science Daily

How Well Do We Understand Our Dogs?
Research Says Not Very

Think you know what your dog is thinking? Think again.

"Barking Up the Wrong Tree," a delightfully titled new study from Arizona State University, says that people often misread their dogs. Researchers found that humans tend to focus on the situation surrounding the dog, rather than what the dog is actually doing. As one put it, "Our dogs are trying to communicate with us, but we humans seem determined to look at everything except the poor pooch himself."

Among other experiments, the study used doctored videos to show the same dog doing exactly the same thing but in different contexts. When people saw the dog apparently reacting to a vacuum cleaner, they said the dog was feeling bad and agitated. But when they saw the same footage with the dog apparently reacting to a leash, they said the dog seemed happy and calm.

"People were not judging the dog's emotions based on the dog's behavior, but on the situation the dog was in," observed one member of the research team. They also noted that the tendency to project human emotions onto our pets can further cloud communication.

So what's a well-meaning human to do?

"The first step is to just be aware that we are not that good at reading dogs' emotions," said researcher Holly Molinaro. "We need to be humbler in our understanding of our dogs. Once we can start from a basis of understanding our biases, we can begin to look at our pups in a new light."

Source: sciencedaily.com