Not unlike humans, dogs see the detrimental effects of stress—including, a new study revealed, premature graying. Researchers at Northern Illinois University studied about 400 dogs between the ages of 1 and 4-years-old. The owners of the dogs, who were unaware of the purpose of the study so to prevent biased answers, completed a questionnaire measuring […]

You’re on a walk with your dog and pass by a puddle left behind by another dog. Your dog halts abruptly, turns toward the puddle, and takes a long whiff. He persists at sniffing the spot until you are able to regain his attention and continue on your way. Is this common scenario a gross […]

Your dog looks at you but does he really see you? Scientists think so. A new study performed by researchers at Emory University’s Department of Psychology suggests that dogs recognize faces as humans and primates do. "Dogs are obviously highly social animals," Gregory Berns, senior author and neuroscientist, says, "so it makes sense that they […]

In recent years, colleges have begun inviting therapy dogs to campuses during final exams as a way to help relieve students of stress. Now a recent study has found another way specially trained dogs can be helpful at universities—as a way to reduce homesickness. Researchers at the University of British Columbia, Canada, studied 44 first-year […]

You’ve likely heard of CDs and music playlists designed for babies—there are even prenatal tracks available for moms-to-be to hold against their belly in hopes of it having the so-called Mozart effect, helping their kids grow to be more intelligent adults. (Some researchers find this theory to be a load of baloney.) But how about […]

We previously listed the many ways children benefit from dog ownership, such as being more empathetic and compassionate, having higher self esteem and less stress, and having a decreased chance of developing allergies. But that list just keeps on growing. According to a Swedish study published November 2 in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics, children […]

No one has to convince Linda Hickey of the incredible effect dogs can have on children with autism. She's seen it first-hand with her son Jonny and his dog Xena the Warrior Puppy. Xena, a pit bull, had been abused and neglected, and barely survived before being taken in by an animal welfare organization and later brought home with […]

Starting next year, owners who expose their pets to extreme weather in Illinois could be facing a fine or up to a year in jail. The state’s Humane Care for Animals Act was amended this week to make it illegal for owners to “expose the dog or cat in a manner that places the dog […]

The War DogIt was May of 1966, and Ron Aiello was on his first patrol as a new Marine, leading an inspection of two villages in Vietnam. His military working dog, Stormy, walked ahead of him with the other Marines following at a distance. As they reached a clearing, Stormy suddenly stopped. Aiello bent down […]

At only 33 years old, Christy Gardner has a lifetime of fighting behind her. But don't ever tell this national champion she's lost. Gardner, a double amputee, helped bring home a championship with the U.S. women’s sled hockey team, and she’s preparing to represent the United States at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio this September. […]