Land Mammals, features and articles | Educational Science

Jan 27, 2022

Gene mutation that helps make 'toy' dog breeds so small existed in wolves 54,000 years ago

One of the main genetic mutations responsible for small size in certain dog breeds, such as Pomeranians and Chihuahuas, evolved in dog relatives long before humans began breeding these miniature companions. Researchers discovered that the mutation can even be traced back to wolves that lived more than 50,000 years ago....

Apr 10, 2022

Why do dogs and other animals lick their wounds?

The saying to lick one's wounds is a metaphor that's synonymous with retreating and recovering from an injury, and the behavior is observed in some pets and other animals. Dogs do it; mice do it; even ants do it. All sorts of critters apply their saliva to scratches and scrapes....

Sep 2, 2022

Why is chocolate bad for dogs?

Veterinarians frown upon giving dogs any kind of people food but are especially adamant about keeping chocolate far away from our canine friends. During holidays such as Easter, when delicious chocolate may be more commonly found around the house, it's even more important to be vigilant about your pet gulping...

Sep 17, 2022

Dogs: History, evolution and behavior of our best friends

It hardly seems like a dainty teacup poodle and a wrinkly Neapolitan mastiff could belong to the same species, much less the same subspecies. But both are Canis lupus familiaris, the beloved domestic dog. A member of the family Canidae — along with wolves, foxes, coyotes and jackals — dogs...

Sep 22, 2022

Dog Family: Facts About Canines & Their Cousins

Dogs and humans have been best friends for thousands of years. Researchers know that dogs regularly lived with humans by about 10,000 years ago, and dogs and people are found buried together as early as 14,000 years ago. And for even longer, perhaps hundreds of thousands of years, humans walked...

Sep 22, 2022

Are Dogs Really Smiling at Us?

The dog's mouth opens wide, her lips pull up at the corners, and her tongue lolls out. Most would look at this face and see an unmistakable grin. But is that really what's going on here? Do dogs use this expression in the same way as people, to convey their...

Sep 22, 2022

The Incredible Explosion of Dog Breeds

From a teacup-size Chihuahua to a Great Dane, there is an incredible amount of variety among dog breeds. But all breeds belong to a single species, so scientists have studied the breeds to better understand the workings of evolution, and how such great variation could have arisen within one group....

Sep 22, 2022

Dogs will never speak human. Here's why.

You probably think your dog is the smartest (and cutest!) when they learn to sit or give a paw. But most dogs can pick up only a limited number of words in their lives, and a new study may help explain why. The study found that dogs' brains cannot distinguish...

Sep 22, 2022

Dog vision: What colors can dogs see?

Dog vision is very different from human vision. Dogs see the world in fewer hues than we do, but this doesn't mean our canine companions are completely colorblind. But even if dogs' visual worlds are not as clear or as colorful as ours, their ability to see motion is superior....

Sep 22, 2022

Dogs know where their paws end and the world begins

Dogs know where their paws end and the world begins, a new study shows, adding our furry companions to a group of animals that, like humans, recognize themselves as distinct entities from their environment. Called body awareness, this ability is one of the most basic manifestations of self-representation (also known...

Sep 22, 2022

Why are small dogs so fierce?

With their large, muscular bodies, dogs such as rottweilers and pit bulls, especially those that are trained to act menacingly, may seem like the scariest of their species. But evidence shows that smaller dogs can actually be more aggressive than many of their outsized counterparts. So why are little dogs...

Sep 22, 2022

Why do dogs have cold noses?

After an especially good belly rub, a dog might bump its nose into its human as a way of saying thanks. Often, this snoot boop feels cold and wet. The owner might wonder: Is it normal for a dog's nose to feel like this? The answer is yes, it's normal....

Dec 8, 2022

Your dog's genes, but not necessarily its breed, play a big role in its behavior

Your dog's breed may not dictate its behavior, though genes do play a role, a study of the genomes of 4,000 purebred, mixed-breed and wild dogs has revealed. In comparing the DNA data of so many animals, researchers found that genetic variations appeared in clusters around different types of dogs....

Dec 25, 2022

How long do dogs live?

Dogs grow up much faster than humans, meaning these furry companions often do not live as long as their owners. But how long do dogs usually live? A dog's life span may depend strongly on its breed, according to an April 2022 study in the journal Scientific Reports. By analyzing...

Feb 21, 2023

Do dogs love us?

The feats that dogs undertake for their owners are the stuff of legend. News stories are filled with tales of pups leading rescue workers to injured owners and heroic dogs protecting children from animal attacks, but a question often arises in these remarkable situations: do dogs help because they love...