Dogs enjoy day-trip on Japan's bullet train

In a new study, published in the journal Science, scientists have found that a dog's breed cannot predict its behaviour.

Researchers conducted a survey on more than 2,000 dogs to assess their behavioral traits and genes.

From&nbsp;their analysis, they prepared 200,000 survey answers from those who either owned dogs or had adopted them.

They took their data from Darwin's Ark, an open-source database of owner-reported canine traits and behaviors.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/dogs-owners-race-through-the-snow-in-russia-449706/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Through it, they found that the modern concept of breed offers only partial predictive value for most types of behaviour.

And although many many behavioral traits can be inherited through genes but they cannot determine how affectionate a dog will be, or conversely, how quick to anger.

According to Elinor Karlsson, of UMass Chan and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, who is among one of the authors of the generic study, "While genetics plays a role in the personality of any individual dog, the specific dog breed is not a good predictor of those traits."

"What we found is that the defining criteria of a golden retriever are its physical characteristics, the shape of its ears, the color and quality of its fur, its size, not whether it is friendly," she added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/patron-a-ukrainian-service-dog-who-discovered-150-explosives-in-chernihiv-during-war-473649">Also read |&nbsp;Patron - A Ukrainian service dog who 'discovered 150 explosives' in Chernihiv during war</a>

Scientists believe that it is crucial to understand the relationship between breeds and behavior for psychiatric conditions in humans, like obsessive disorders.

"Although we can't really ask a dog themselves about their problems or thoughts or anxieties, we do know that dogs lead rich emotional lives and experience disorders that manifests in their behavior," lead author Kathleen Morrill told AFP news agency.

It is a common stereotype to believe that rottweilers and pit bulls are aggressive, while Labradors and golden retrievers are extra friendly.

"When we looked at this factor that we called agonistic threshold, which included a lot of questions about whether people's dogs reacted aggressively to things, we weren't seeing an effect of breed ancestry," Karlsson added.

During the study, scientists also found out that Labradors the lowest propensity for howling and 90 per cent of greyhounds don't bury their toys.

"It could be that understanding human sociability in dogs helps us understand how brains develop and learn. So we're kind of just scratching the surface," said Morill.

Watch WION's live TV here

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

(With inputs from agencies)

In a new study, published in the journal Science, scientists have found that a dog's breed cannot predict its behaviour. Researchers conducted a survey on more than 2,000 dogs to assess their behavioral traits and genes.

In a new study, published in the journal Science, scientists have found that a dog's breed cannot predict its behaviour. Researchers conducted a survey on more than 2,000 dogs to assess their behavioral traits and genes. From their analysis, they prepared 200,000 survey answers from those who either owned dogs or had adopted them. They took their data from Darwin's Ark, an open-source database of owner-reported canine traits and behaviors. Through it, they found that the modern concept of breed offers only partial predictive value for most types of behaviour. And although many many behavioral traits can be inherited through genes but they cannot determine how affectionate a dog will be, or conversely, how quick to anger. According to Elinor Karlsson, of UMass Chan and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, who is among one of the authors of the generic study, "While genetics plays a role in the personality of any individual dog, the specific dog breed is not a good predictor of those traits." "What we found is that the defining criteria of a golden retriever are its physical characteristics, the shape of its ears, the color and quality of its fur, its size, not whether it is friendly," she added. Also read | Patron - A Ukrainian service dog who 'discovered 150 explosives' in Chernihiv during war Scientists believe that it is crucial to understand the relationship between breeds and behavior for psychiatric conditions in humans, like obsessive disorders. "Although we can't really ask a dog themselves about their problems or thoughts or anxieties, we do know that dogs lead rich emotional lives and experience disorders that manifests in their behavior," lead author Kathleen Morrill told AFP news agency. It is a common stereotype to believe that rottweilers and pit bulls are aggressive, while Labradors and golden retrievers are extra friendly. "When we looked at this factor that we called agonistic threshold, which included a lot of questions about whether people's dogs reacted aggressively to things, we weren't seeing an effect of breed ancestry," Karlsson added. During the study, scientists also found out that Labradors the lowest propensity for howling and 90 per cent of greyhounds don't bury their toys. "It could be that understanding human sociability in dogs helps us understand how brains develop and learn. So we're kind of just scratching the surface," said Morill. Watch WION's live TV here (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists say that a dog's breed cannot predict its behaviour

The festive season brings a lot of cheer, happiness and prosperity for everyone - even the animals! This community tradition has a way to bless your cuddlesome cute critters.

Easter blessings for the pets!

Despite the fact that humans keep a variety of animals, the dog is the most commonly reared. Many people treat their pet dogs as if they were their children, and they love and care for them.

Despite the fact that humans keep a variety of animals, the dog is the most commonly reared. Many people treat their pet dogs as if they were their children, and they love and care for them. People do whatever they do for their children for them. People even build buildings for them to live in, but do you know of any dogs who live as if they are humans? Yes, there is such a dog in California, America, that enjoys all of the creature comforts that people desire. This dog's name is Jojo (Corgi Jojo), and his mistress's name is Josephine Josa. She looks after Jojo as if she were her own child. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Super Corgi Jojo (@supercorgi_jojo) × The fact that she has created a separate room for Jojo demonstrates how much she loves him. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Super Corgi Jojo (@supercorgi_jojo) × Speaking to the Mirror, Josephine, from San Diego, California, said: "I always wanted to have a house of my own so I could give Jojo his own room. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Super Corgi Jojo (@supercorgi_jojo) × "We have always lived in an apartment and moved around a lot but finally last year we got our own house with a garden. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Super Corgi Jojo (@supercorgi_jojo) × She has spent thousands of dollars arranging her pet pooch's bedroom, claiming he can spend up to six hours a day in there playing with toys or watching his favourite Disney Plus shows. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Super Corgi Jojo (@supercorgi_jojo) × Because she doesn't have "any human kids," the 35-year-old adopted Jojo when he was four months old and treats him like her own child. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Super Corgi Jojo (@supercorgi_jojo) × He has a sizable social media following, having 119,000 Instagram followers under the handle Super Corgi Jojo. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Super Corgi Jojo (@supercorgi_jojo) × One follower gushed about his room, saying, "This is the kind of crazy corgi parent we aspire to be." (With inputs from agencies)

Dog with over 100k Instagram followers is living life king-size

In humans, sleep patterns, appetites, and everything in between can be affected by the death of a loved one. Research has now found that dogs who lose their canine companion exhibit similar behavioural changes.

According to the study's authors, it is not clear whether the findings represent grief, but that the findings could indicate a welfare concern that went unnoticed.

In addition to humans, great apes, dolphins, elephants and birds have also been observed to mourn and participate in rituals around death.

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According to Federica Pirrone from the University of Milan, one of the study's authors, dogs form very strong bonds with members of their familiar groups. Therefore, if one of them dies, they might be very distressed, and it would be helpful to assist them in coping.

In a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-05669-y">study published in Scientific Reports</a>, Pirrone and colleagues examined the responses of 426 Italian adults who were asked to complete an online "mourning dog questionnaire" to find out how dogs experience grief.

The questionnaire asked each of the participants to reflect on the behaviour and emotions of the surviving dog and the owner after one of their dogs died.

Eighty-six per cent of respondents said that after the death of another dog in the household, their surviving dogs demonstrated behavioural changes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-new-israeli-study-hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-relieves-ptsd-symptoms-455715" hreflang="en">In a new Israeli study, hyperbaric oxygen therapy relieves PTSD symptoms</a>

According to Pirrone, dogs played and ate less, slept more, and sought out their owners' attention more. She said the results were not affected by the level of attachment between the owners and their pets, indicating that the humans were not merely projecting their own grief.

Researchers found that the changes were not linked to how long the dogs had lived together or whether the remaining dogs had seen the corpse.

Watch |&nbsp;Dubai: Museum of future, 'most beautiful building on earth' now open for visitors

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/dubai-museum-of-future-most-beautiful-building-on-earth-now-open-for-visitors-455627/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

One possible explanation for the findings, according to the researchers, is that surviving dogs may have had to adjust to a disruption of shared behaviours.

Samantha Hurn, a professor of social anthropology at the University of Exeter, said it is critical to understand what dogs experience upon the death of a canine companion. However, there were limitations to the study. Many dog owners are not skilled at reading their dog's behaviour, so using scales as a measure of something so subjective may lead to faulty conclusions.

In humans, sleep patterns, appetites, and everything in between can be affected by the death of a loved one. Research has now found that dogs who lose their canine companion exhibit similar behavioural changes.

In humans, sleep patterns, appetites, and everything in between can be affected by the death of a loved one. Research has now found that dogs who lose their canine companion exhibit similar behavioural changes. According to the study's authors, it is not clear whether the findings represent grief, but that the findings could indicate a welfare concern that went unnoticed. In addition to humans, great apes, dolphins, elephants and birds have also been observed to mourn and participate in rituals around death. Also read | Vegetarians found to have lower cancer risk than meat-eaters According to Federica Pirrone from the University of Milan, one of the study's authors, dogs form very strong bonds with members of their familiar groups. Therefore, if one of them dies, they might be very distressed, and it would be helpful to assist them in coping. In a study published in Scientific Reports, Pirrone and colleagues examined the responses of 426 Italian adults who were asked to complete an online "mourning dog questionnaire" to find out how dogs experience grief. The questionnaire asked each of the participants to reflect on the behaviour and emotions of the surviving dog and the owner after one of their dogs died. Eighty-six per cent of respondents said that after the death of another dog in the household, their surviving dogs demonstrated behavioural changes. Also read | In a new Israeli study, hyperbaric oxygen therapy relieves PTSD symptoms According to Pirrone, dogs played and ate less, slept more, and sought out their owners' attention more. She said the results were not affected by the level of attachment between the owners and their pets, indicating that the humans were not merely projecting their own grief. Researchers found that the changes were not linked to how long the dogs had lived together or whether the remaining dogs had seen the corpse. Watch | Dubai: Museum of future, 'most beautiful building on earth' now open for visitors One possible explanation for the findings, according to the researchers, is that surviving dogs may have had to adjust to a disruption of shared behaviours. Samantha Hurn, a professor of social anthropology at the University of Exeter, said it is critical to understand what dogs experience upon the death of a canine companion. However, there were limitations to the study. Many dog owners are not skilled at reading their dog's behaviour, so using scales as a measure of something so subjective may lead to faulty conclusions.

Study says that dogs also mourn the loss of a companion

Cats, dogs & rabbits could soon be banned for pet-keeping in Iran. 75 Iranian lawmakers have proposed a law to ban all pets. Why? Because they consider animals a 'destructive social problem'. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Cats, Rabbits & Dogs: Iran mulls law to ban 'destructive' pets

A shocking and little disturbing "monkeys vs dogs" story has gone viral on social media as it has been reported that monkeys allegedly killed more than 250 puppies in Beed, a district in Indian state Maharashtra.

A shocking and little disturbing "monkeys vs dogs" story has gone viral on social media as it has been reported that monkeys allegedly killed more than 250 puppies in Beed, a district in Indian state Maharashtra. Media reports have mentioned that the incident happened in Beed's Majalgaon after some dogs mauled an infant monkey to death in a village called Lavool, which is around 10 kilometres away from Majalgaon. ALSO READ | Indian city Srinagar freezes at minus 6 degrees; hit by a severe cold wave Viral Version As per the media reports, a group of monkeys killed around 250 puppies in an act of revenge. Media reports stated that the incident happened after some stray dogs were said to have mauled an infant monkey to death. Reports added that the monkeys are taking revenge by killing small pups by throwing them from heights, such as trees or buildings. Monkeys have reportedly started attacking small kids in the area. ALSO READ | Rare sighting: Barn owl shows up in Indian state, gets rescued Fact Check There's no confirmation that the dogs have actually attacked or killed any infant of monkey. The reports are based on hearsay rather than evidence. Although, the ground report has confirmed that monkeys have been taking the pups to the rooftops of building in the area, but no one can confirm that they threw the puppies from heights. It has been understood that monkeys left the pups on rooftops alone and they might have died of hunger. Locals have said that they are terrorised by the monkeys and they do not go on the rooftops often. The can be a possible reason why the puppies were left unnoticed and died. Some incidents have happened of monkeys taking the puppies on the trees, from where the canines might have fallen and died. The reports have mentioned that the locals have contacted forest department officials to get rid of monkeys by catching them. However, the authorities have failed to do so.

Fact Check: Did monkeys really kill puppies in revenge after dogs mauled one of their infants?

Iran's hardline government plans to ban domesticated animals which are considered dangerous and harmful to the country's population. WION gets you the complete story.

Iran's new bill to ban pets sparks mockery and outrage

Iran parliament proposes a draft bill to ban certain animals such as dogs & cats as pets. Lawmakers in Iran consider pets as harmful.

Iran parliament proposes legislation to ban certain animals such as dogs & cats as pets

We have all heard of astrology and star signs being used to match individuals' compatibility by the placement of their stars, but have you heard of someone using astrological traits to match dogs with a compatible human?

Astrology to match dogs with the perfect foster, shelter keeps record of likes, dislikes of dogs

A four-year-old dog lost one of her hind legs in an accident when she was just a pup. But now a student is using his university scholarship to fund her 3D-printed prosthetic leg. WION brings you this report.

Vet student donates his scholarship for 3D-printed prosthetic leg for dogs

A Polish veterinary student is using his entire university scholarship to develop a method for printing 3D, individually-fitted prostheses for lame dogs. His first patient is 4-year-old Sonia, who was disabled in an accident at just eight months old.

Student 3D prosthesis legs for limbless dogs

Dogs are one of the most adorable animals. One memorable gesture that they often do is that they tilt their head charmingly to one side. Have you ever wondered the reason behind the gesture? &nbsp;

Let’s find it out now. &nbsp;&nbsp;

According to a study published last week, although a dog's quizzical head cock seems like confusion, the gesture may actually be a sign of concentration and increased attention. &nbsp;

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The researchers looked to find out how well 40 dogs of various breeds could memorise the names for different toys. And then recall the information to retrieve specific toys in response to owners' commands. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Several pups were not able to learn the names of the toys, but seven border collies showed remarkable aptitude in the task.&nbsp;

Deemed "gifted word learners", the group of seven collies had something in common. It was that they all tilted their heads far more frequently than their non-gifted counterparts on hearing a command. &nbsp;

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The gifted learners tilted their heads 43 per cent of the time and the other 33 dogs did it just two per cent of the time, the data showed. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In a press release, Shany Dror, an animal cognition researcher, Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, who co-authored the study, said, "It seems that there is a relationship between success in retrieving a named toy and frequent head tilts upon hearing its name. That is why we suggest an association between head-tilting and processing relevant and meaningful stimuli." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Dogs are one of the most adorable animals. One memorable gesture that they often do is that they tilt their head charmingly to one side. Have you ever wondered the reason behind the gesture?

Dogs are one of the most adorable animals. One memorable gesture that they often do is that they tilt their head charmingly to one side. Have you ever wondered the reason behind the gesture? Let’s find it out now. According to a study published last week, although a dog's quizzical head cock seems like confusion, the gesture may actually be a sign of concentration and increased attention. Also Read: In Andes, archaeologists unearth new secrets of ancient civilisations in Peru The researchers looked to find out how well 40 dogs of various breeds could memorise the names for different toys. And then recall the information to retrieve specific toys in response to owners' commands. Several pups were not able to learn the names of the toys, but seven border collies showed remarkable aptitude in the task. Deemed "gifted word learners", the group of seven collies had something in common. It was that they all tilted their heads far more frequently than their non-gifted counterparts on hearing a command. Also Read: Did a refrigerator-sized asteroid slip past Earth undetected? The gifted learners tilted their heads 43 per cent of the time and the other 33 dogs did it just two per cent of the time, the data showed. In a press release, Shany Dror, an animal cognition researcher, Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, who co-authored the study, said, "It seems that there is a relationship between success in retrieving a named toy and frequent head tilts upon hearing its name. That is why we suggest an association between head-tilting and processing relevant and meaningful stimuli." (With inputs from agencies)

Why do dogs tilt head? New study reveals the cute reason  

Does your dog follow basic instructions? Like 'sit', 'roll', or 'jump'? Can your dog remember the names of his toys? Researchers found 6 'genius' dogs who can remember the names of up to 100 toys. Palki Sharma introduces you to the geniuses.

Gravitas: Dogs that can remember names of 100 toys

Dogs are not just good at taking commands but can also grasp human language, reveals a recent study.&nbsp;

 
Giving us an advanced understanding of how dogs' memories work, a recent study on six 'genius dogs' shows that this highly likeable animals has a 'remarkable' grasp of the human language.&nbsp;

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Reportedly, Hungarian researchers spent over two years scouting for dogs around the globe who could recognise the names of their various toys. Although most can learn commands to an extent, memorising the names of items seemed like a difficult task, with most dogs failing to acquire that skill.

 
Six 'genius dogs'--Max (Hungary), Gaia (Brazil), Nalani (Netherlands), Squall (US), Whisky (Norway), and Rico (Spain)--cleared the test of proving they knew the names of more than 28 toys, with some even remembering more than 100.&nbsp;

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For the Genius Dog Challenge, these six dogs were enlisted to participate in a series of livestreamed experiments.&nbsp;

"These gifted dogs can learn new names of toys in a remarkable speed. In our previous study we found that they could learn a new toy name after hearing it only four times. But, with such short exposure, they did not form a long-term memory of it," said Dr Claudia Fugazza at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, lead researcher.&nbsp;

To push their limits, the owners of these dogs were made to teach them six, and then 12, names of toys in a single week.&nbsp;

"It turned out that, for these talented dogs, this was not much of a challenge. They easily learned between 11 to 12 toys," said Dr. Shany Dror, who is also from the same university as Dr. Claudia.&nbsp;

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"Thanks to the Genius Dog Challenge we have managed until now to find also dogs from other breeds including a German shepherd, a pekingese, a mini Australian shepherd and a few dogs of mixed breeds," Dror said.&nbsp;

Dogs are not just good at taking commands but can also grasp human language, reveals a recent study. Giving us an advanced understanding of how dogs' memories work, a recent study on six 'genius dogs' shows that this highly likeable animals has a 'remarkable' grasp of the human language.

Dogs are not just good at taking commands but can also grasp human language, reveals a recent study. Giving us an advanced understanding of how dogs' memories work, a recent study on six 'genius dogs' shows that this highly likeable animals has a 'remarkable' grasp of the human language. Also read: Arvind Trivedi, best known as Raavan of 'Ramayan', dies at 82 Reportedly, Hungarian researchers spent over two years scouting for dogs around the globe who could recognise the names of their various toys. Although most can learn commands to an extent, memorising the names of items seemed like a difficult task, with most dogs failing to acquire that skill. Six 'genius dogs'--Max (Hungary), Gaia (Brazil), Nalani (Netherlands), Squall (US), Whisky (Norway), and Rico (Spain)--cleared the test of proving they knew the names of more than 28 toys, with some even remembering more than 100. Also read: Climate demonstrators invade Louis Vuitton catwalk show For the Genius Dog Challenge, these six dogs were enlisted to participate in a series of livestreamed experiments. "These gifted dogs can learn new names of toys in a remarkable speed. In our previous study we found that they could learn a new toy name after hearing it only four times. But, with such short exposure, they did not form a long-term memory of it," said Dr Claudia Fugazza at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, lead researcher. To push their limits, the owners of these dogs were made to teach them six, and then 12, names of toys in a single week. "It turned out that, for these talented dogs, this was not much of a challenge. They easily learned between 11 to 12 toys," said Dr. Shany Dror, who is also from the same university as Dr. Claudia. Also read: Playboy releases October cover featuring a gay man "Thanks to the Genius Dog Challenge we have managed until now to find also dogs from other breeds including a German shepherd, a pekingese, a mini Australian shepherd and a few dogs of mixed breeds," Dror said.

'Genius dogs' have a strong grip over human language: Study

A 24-year-old sweetmeat seller was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly poisoning at least 20 stray dogs to death in India's eastern state of Odisha's in the last five days as he was exasperated over their howling at night and the mess they used to create near his shop, police said.

The incident, which took place in&nbsp;Cuttack city, came to light when locals stumbled upon at least 10 dog carcasses dumped in a nearby pit. They also found more bodies strewn around the marketplace of Sankarpur village in Tangi-Choudwar block, around 13 km north of Cuttack city.

The accused confessed that he had given the dogs food laced with poison as he was irritated over their howling at night and the mess they created, a police officer said.

The man was booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, he said, adding that the carcasses were sent for forensic examinations and further investigation was underway.

A 24-year-old sweetmeat seller was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly poisoning at least 20 stray dogs to death in India's eastern state of Odisha's in the last five days as he was exasperated over their howling at night and the mess they used to create near his shop, police said.

A 24-year-old sweetmeat seller was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly poisoning at least 20 stray dogs to death in India's eastern state of Odisha's in the last five days as he was exasperated over their howling at night and the mess they used to create near his shop, police said. The incident, which took place in Cuttack city, came to light when locals stumbled upon at least 10 dog carcasses dumped in a nearby pit. They also found more bodies strewn around the marketplace of Sankarpur village in Tangi-Choudwar block, around 13 km north of Cuttack city. The accused confessed that he had given the dogs food laced with poison as he was irritated over their howling at night and the mess they created, a police officer said. The man was booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, he said, adding that the carcasses were sent for forensic examinations and further investigation was underway.

Peeved with their howling, sweetmeat seller poisons 20 stray dogs to death in India's Odisha state

A bar in London is serving up drinks to a new breed of booze hounds, offering "puptails" such as a Bloodhound Mary or Barkarita to dogs brought along by their owners for a drink. "After Bark", which opened in June, is the latest venture from the "Barkney Wick" dog and human community centre situated in the capital's Hackney Wick area, long a haven for artists and alternative culture.

London bar offers cocktails for pet lovers and their dogs

New research in the UK has found that trained dogs have high levels of accuracy when it comes to smelling the distinct odour of people who are infected with the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>.

Conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), this study was done in collaboration with Durham University and a charity, Medical Detection Dogs.

Hailed as the most comprehensive study to date combining dog trial, odour analysis, and modelling, it found that dogs specially trained for the job can detect the disease rapidly and non-invasively with up to 94.3 per cent sensitivity and up to 92 per cent specificity.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/dogs-can-detect-covid-19-among-humans-in-less-than-a-second-uk-study-finds-387127">Dogs can detect COVID-19 among humans in less than a second, UK study finds</a>

Dogs involved in the study were able to detect odour from asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals, including those infected with two different COVID-19 strains and those with both high and low viral loads.

Professor James Logan, Head of the Department of Disease Control at LSHTM, who led the project, said the presence of the new strains poses a threat to the country for some time to come, adding "that's where these amazing dogs could play a role."

This method can detect COVID-19 in large groups of people with great speed and accuracy, even in asymptomatic cases. However, more testing is needed to determine whether the dogs will replicate these results in a real-world setting. However, the results of the study are extremely encouraging, he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-researchers-test-dogs-ability-to-sniff-out-covid-19-299001">UK researchers test dogs' ability to sniff out COVID-19</a>

Researchers trained the dogs at Medical Detection Dogs to identify COVID-19 using body odour samples sent by members of the public and National Health Service (NHS) staff, which included masks, socks, and t-shirts. LSHTM collected and analyzed 3,758 samples, choosing 325 positives and 675 negative specimens for testing.

According to Dr Claire Guest, Chief Scientific Officer at Medical Detection Dogs, it is clear that dogs are a reliable biosensor for detecting human disease odours and as evidenced by the study&nbsp;dogs have the potential to significantly aid in the fight against COVID-19.

"Knowing that we can harness the amazing power of a dog's nose to detect COVID-19 quickly and non-invasively gives us hope for a return to a more normal way of life through safer travel and access to public places, so that we can again socialise with family and friends," she said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/are-dogs-going-to-help-prevent-a-global-second-wave-of-covid-19-288792">Are dogs going to help prevent a global second wave of COVID-19?</a>

An accompanying mathematical model confirms the possibility of using dogs to screen plane passengers at ports of entry or other sites, with preliminary work suggesting that two dogs could screen 300 passengers during a "Rapid Screen and Test" implementation.

A PCR test would only be necessary for individuals identified by dogs.

When Bio Detection dogs are used in conjunction with a confirmatory PCR test, it's estimated that there will be more onward transmissions detected and prevented compared to isolating symptomatic individuals only.

(With inputs from agencies)

New research in the UK has found that trained dogs have high levels of accuracy when it comes to smelling the distinct odour of people who are infected with the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

New research in the UK has found that trained dogs have high levels of accuracy when it comes to smelling the distinct odour of people who are infected with the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), this study was done in collaboration with Durham University and a charity, Medical Detection Dogs. Hailed as the most comprehensive study to date combining dog trial, odour analysis, and modelling, it found that dogs specially trained for the job can detect the disease rapidly and non-invasively with up to 94.3 per cent sensitivity and up to 92 per cent specificity. Also read | Dogs can detect COVID-19 among humans in less than a second, UK study finds Dogs involved in the study were able to detect odour from asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals, including those infected with two different COVID-19 strains and those with both high and low viral loads. Professor James Logan, Head of the Department of Disease Control at LSHTM, who led the project, said the presence of the new strains poses a threat to the country for some time to come, adding "that's where these amazing dogs could play a role." This method can detect COVID-19 in large groups of people with great speed and accuracy, even in asymptomatic cases. However, more testing is needed to determine whether the dogs will replicate these results in a real-world setting. However, the results of the study are extremely encouraging, he added. Also read | UK researchers test dogs' ability to sniff out COVID-19 Researchers trained the dogs at Medical Detection Dogs to identify COVID-19 using body odour samples sent by members of the public and National Health Service (NHS) staff, which included masks, socks, and t-shirts. LSHTM collected and analyzed 3,758 samples, choosing 325 positives and 675 negative specimens for testing. According to Dr Claire Guest, Chief Scientific Officer at Medical Detection Dogs, it is clear that dogs are a reliable biosensor for detecting human disease odours and as evidenced by the study dogs have the potential to significantly aid in the fight against COVID-19. "Knowing that we can harness the amazing power of a dog's nose to detect COVID-19 quickly and non-invasively gives us hope for a return to a more normal way of life through safer travel and access to public places, so that we can again socialise with family and friends," she said. Also read | Are dogs going to help prevent a global second wave of COVID-19? An accompanying mathematical model confirms the possibility of using dogs to screen plane passengers at ports of entry or other sites, with preliminary work suggesting that two dogs could screen 300 passengers during a "Rapid Screen and Test" implementation. A PCR test would only be necessary for individuals identified by dogs. When Bio Detection dogs are used in conjunction with a confirmatory PCR test, it's estimated that there will be more onward transmissions detected and prevented compared to isolating symptomatic individuals only. (With inputs from agencies)

New study suggests dogs can be used to detect COVID-19

Four-legged stars ruled the red carpet at a Czech film premiere, debuting a movie on rescued dogs which were first portrayed in a surprise hit book and whose stories have helped finance a new shelter for fellow canines. 'Gump - the Dog that Taught People to Live' appeared as a book in 2019 and follows the journey of Gump, and other dogs which were mistreated - told from their perspective.

Dog days: Czech canine film stars hit the red carpet, and a new shelter

A study by researchers from Utrecht University finds that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">Covid</a> is common in pet cats and dogs whose owners are infected by the disease.

Pets in 196 households where an infection was present were swabbed for traces of infection.

A PCR test revealed six positive results for cats and seven for dogs, and 54 animals were found to have antibodies for the virus.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/no-cuddling-uk-warns-people-after-cat-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-379922">‘No cuddling’: UK warns people after cat tests positive for coronavirus</a>

Dr Els Broens from Utrecht University advised that people with Covid should avoid contact with their cats or dogs.

The reason behind this advice lies in the uncertainty of whether pets can transmit the virus or not. While the authors of this study found no evidence of pet to human interaction, they say that detection would be difficult especially when human to human transmission is so swift.&nbsp;

Covid tends to cause mild to no symptoms in most animals infected with it.

As part of the research a mobile veterinary clinic was sent to Netherland households where in the last 200 days, someone had tested positive for Covid.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/seoul-to-give-free-covid-19-tests-to-pets-362173">Seoul to give free COVID-19 tests to pets</a>

There they took blood samples to test for antibodies that could suggest past exposure to Covid, as well as swabs of the pet cats and dogs to test for current infection.

Results which were then presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases showed that around 4.2 per cent of the pets had a current infection, while 17.4 per cent tested positive for antibodies.&nbsp;

PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-positive animals were subsequently tested and showed that antibodies were formed.

According to the researchers, the most likely route for transmission of viruses is from humans to animals, but that they can't say that vice versa is zero per cent possible.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-common-in-pet-dogs-and-cats-reveals-study-395073">Covid common in pet dogs and cats, reveals study</a>

Many animals in Russia are being vaccinated against the disease by veterinarians. However, Dr Broens believes that to be unnecessary, as for now there is no evidence supporting the need for it.&nbsp;

Study No. 2

In a separate study, researchers from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, found cats sleeping on their owners' beds appeared particularly susceptible to infection.

The owners of 48 cats and 54 dogs from 77 households were interviewed to learn about their interaction with their pets, and the animal immune systems were tested for Covid antibodies.

67 per cent of pet cats and 43 per cent of pet dogs tested positive for Covid, while merely 9 per cent of cats and dogs from an animal shelter and 3 per cent of stray cats tested positive.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-evidence-of-human-to-cat-covid-19-transmission-379717">Scientists find evidence of human-to-cat COVID-19 transmission</a>

Twenty-five per cent of the pets exhibited symptoms, ranging from loss of appetite to difficulty breathing. Despite most cases being mild, three were severe.

The researchers suggest that the biology of cats may make them more susceptible to Covid infection.

Additionally, as cats are more likely than dogs to sleep near their owners' faces, they are at higher risk of catching an infection from their owner's breath.

'Robustly conducted'

Professor James Wood, the head of the veterinary medicine department at Cambridge University, said the two studies provide further indications that cats and dogs may contract the disease from their owners.

He also noted that the Dutch study was robustly conducted and demonstrated that even though 20 per cent of exposed pets may be infected, they eventually clear the infection just like most humans do.

A study by researchers from Utrecht University finds that Covid is common in pet cats and dogs whose owners are infected by the disease. Pets in 196 households where an infection was present were swabbed for traces of infection.

A study by researchers from Utrecht University finds that Covid is common in pet cats and dogs whose owners are infected by the disease. Pets in 196 households where an infection was present were swabbed for traces of infection. A PCR test revealed six positive results for cats and seven for dogs, and 54 animals were found to have antibodies for the virus. Also read | ‘No cuddling’: UK warns people after cat tests positive for coronavirus Dr Els Broens from Utrecht University advised that people with Covid should avoid contact with their cats or dogs. The reason behind this advice lies in the uncertainty of whether pets can transmit the virus or not. While the authors of this study found no evidence of pet to human interaction, they say that detection would be difficult especially when human to human transmission is so swift. Covid tends to cause mild to no symptoms in most animals infected with it. As part of the research a mobile veterinary clinic was sent to Netherland households where in the last 200 days, someone had tested positive for Covid. Also read | Seoul to give free COVID-19 tests to pets There they took blood samples to test for antibodies that could suggest past exposure to Covid, as well as swabs of the pet cats and dogs to test for current infection. Results which were then presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases showed that around 4.2 per cent of the pets had a current infection, while 17.4 per cent tested positive for antibodies. PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-positive animals were subsequently tested and showed that antibodies were formed. According to the researchers, the most likely route for transmission of viruses is from humans to animals, but that they can't say that vice versa is zero per cent possible. Also read | Covid common in pet dogs and cats, reveals study Many animals in Russia are being vaccinated against the disease by veterinarians. However, Dr Broens believes that to be unnecessary, as for now there is no evidence supporting the need for it. Study No. 2 In a separate study, researchers from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, found cats sleeping on their owners' beds appeared particularly susceptible to infection. The owners of 48 cats and 54 dogs from 77 households were interviewed to learn about their interaction with their pets, and the animal immune systems were tested for Covid antibodies. 67 per cent of pet cats and 43 per cent of pet dogs tested positive for Covid, while merely 9 per cent of cats and dogs from an animal shelter and 3 per cent of stray cats tested positive. Also read | Scientists find evidence of human-to-cat COVID-19 transmission Twenty-five per cent of the pets exhibited symptoms, ranging from loss of appetite to difficulty breathing. Despite most cases being mild, three were severe. The researchers suggest that the biology of cats may make them more susceptible to Covid infection. Additionally, as cats are more likely than dogs to sleep near their owners' faces, they are at higher risk of catching an infection from their owner's breath. 'Robustly conducted' Professor James Wood, the head of the veterinary medicine department at Cambridge University, said the two studies provide further indications that cats and dogs may contract the disease from their owners. He also noted that the Dutch study was robustly conducted and demonstrated that even though 20 per cent of exposed pets may be infected, they eventually clear the infection just like most humans do.

Study finds that pets are at risk of covid infection from their owners, not the other way around

After a deadly building collapse in Miami, some people who were buried deep down in the collapsed rubble have now found comfort in therapy dogs.

Several therapy dogs have already been coupled with surviving families from Argentina, another from Paraguay, and others who came in from Houston, Perez.

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These dogs are trained to help victims work out their emotions, especially since the victims are going through panic and anxiety attacks.

"They're having panic attacks or anxiety problems and we have been able to let them work with the dogs, touching the dog, getting their emotions out," said Linda Perez, president of Boricuas de Corazon, a nonprofit group dedicated to helping disaster victims.

These therapy dogs have helped people gain sanity amid an emotional rollercoaster that the victims have been going through since the building collapse.

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"They can feel the dog, they can be able to have that contact with their eyes. It's very neat. Animals are absorbing everything emotional that they are feeling at the same time and they can be able to be very relaxing for them," Perez said.

The dogs have helped the victims so much that one woman even requested an extended time period to keep the dog with her while she was waiting for her daughter to arrive, Perez informed.

After a deadly building collapse in Miami, some people who were buried deep down in the collapsed rubble have now found comfort in therapy dogs. Several therapy dogs have already been coupled with surviving families from Argentina, another from Paraguay, and others who came in from Houston, Perez.

After a deadly building collapse in Miami, some people who were buried deep down in the collapsed rubble have now found comfort in therapy dogs. Several therapy dogs have already been coupled with surviving families from Argentina, another from Paraguay, and others who came in from Houston, Perez. Also read | 'Polar dinosaurs' reproduced in Arctic over 70 million years ago: Study These dogs are trained to help victims work out their emotions, especially since the victims are going through panic and anxiety attacks. "They're having panic attacks or anxiety problems and we have been able to let them work with the dogs, touching the dog, getting their emotions out," said Linda Perez, president of Boricuas de Corazon, a nonprofit group dedicated to helping disaster victims. These therapy dogs have helped people gain sanity amid an emotional rollercoaster that the victims have been going through since the building collapse. Also read | Colombia is home to 20% of all butterfly species in the world, study finds "They can feel the dog, they can be able to have that contact with their eyes. It's very neat. Animals are absorbing everything emotional that they are feeling at the same time and they can be able to be very relaxing for them," Perez said. The dogs have helped the victims so much that one woman even requested an extended time period to keep the dog with her while she was waiting for her daughter to arrive, Perez informed.

Therapy dogs help victims of Miami building collapse

If you think your puppy understands when you are telling him to have food or drop that sock, you might be correct about it, a scientist has confirmed.

Emily Bray, a post-doctoral research associate at the&nbsp;Arizona Canine Cognition Center&nbsp;at the University of Arizona's School of Anthropology has confirmed that puppies are born with the skills to understand and communicate with human beings.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/worlds-only-alpine-parrot-species-actually-left-for-the-mountains-to-avoid-humans-388792" hreflang="en">World's only alpine parrot species actually left for the mountains to avoid humans</a>

"Puppies will look at and return a person's social gaze and successfully use the information given by that person in a social context from a very young age, all prior to any extensive experience with people," Bray said.

Bray and her team observed 375 puppies that were eight weeks old and were tested for a battery of social-cognitive measures that had been taught to adult dogs, but not to puppies.

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"We know that adult dogs are good at these tasks," Bray explained. "When does that start? Does it take years of observing humans and living with humans, or is that ability something they are more biologically prepared for that has evolved over the course of domestication?"

These puppies (who were a group of golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and lab-golden mix) were all staying with their mother and were not yet introduced to training.

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The puppies were subjected to two tasks. The first was making eye contact with the researchers and the second was to follow the researcher’s hands and eyes that were gesturing towards a treat, which were hidden under cups.

Puppies able to successfully follow the cues and found the treats on their own, hinting that they do not need training for these activities and can easily communicate with humans.

"They're not perfect, but it's definitely better than chance. There's something that they're picking up on, even at 8 weeks old," she said.

One main thing that the researchers had to follow was to adopt the “baby talk” in which they had to talk in a high-pitched voice to get the puppy’s attention.

If you think your puppy understands when you are telling him to have food or drop that sock, you might be correct about it, a scientist has confirmed. Emily Bray, a post-doctoral research associate at the Arizona Canine Cognition Center at the University of Arizona's School of Anthropology has confirmed that puppies are born with the skills to understand and communicate with human beings.

If you think your puppy understands when you are telling him to have food or drop that sock, you might be correct about it, a scientist has confirmed. Emily Bray, a post-doctoral research associate at the Arizona Canine Cognition Center at the University of Arizona's School of Anthropology has confirmed that puppies are born with the skills to understand and communicate with human beings. Also read | World's only alpine parrot species actually left for the mountains to avoid humans "Puppies will look at and return a person's social gaze and successfully use the information given by that person in a social context from a very young age, all prior to any extensive experience with people," Bray said. Bray and her team observed 375 puppies that were eight weeks old and were tested for a battery of social-cognitive measures that had been taught to adult dogs, but not to puppies. Also read | Chimpanzees learn 'handshakes' according to social group: Study "We know that adult dogs are good at these tasks," Bray explained. "When does that start? Does it take years of observing humans and living with humans, or is that ability something they are more biologically prepared for that has evolved over the course of domestication?" These puppies (who were a group of golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and lab-golden mix) were all staying with their mother and were not yet introduced to training. Also read | NASA posts photo of serpent-shaped cloud that forms stars The puppies were subjected to two tasks. The first was making eye contact with the researchers and the second was to follow the researcher’s hands and eyes that were gesturing towards a treat, which were hidden under cups. Puppies able to successfully follow the cues and found the treats on their own, hinting that they do not need training for these activities and can easily communicate with humans. "They're not perfect, but it's definitely better than chance. There's something that they're picking up on, even at 8 weeks old," she said. One main thing that the researchers had to follow was to adopt the “baby talk” in which they had to talk in a high-pitched voice to get the puppy’s attention.

Puppies are born to talk to human beings: Study

Several Russian regions have started vaccinating animals against COVID-19 at veterinary clinics, Russia's agricultural safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said on Wednesday (May 26).

Russian regions begin vaccinating animals against COVID-19

A UK-based study has found that dogs can quickly and accurately detect COVID-19 patients. Thanks to their keen sense of smell, dogs can detect a specific odour that comes from infected patients. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Study finds dogs can sniff out COVID-19

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