Italy: The Fifth Canine Science Forum is Here

Hello world!

It’s Mia and Julie, and we’re at the 5th Canine Science Forum in PADOVA, ITALY!! This is our third canine science forum together. Do You Believe in Dog? started in 2012 when we first met in Barcelona, Spain. Two years later we had a great conference in Lincoln, UK, and now we’re in Italy where the coffee is very, very, very good. We also like the canine science, but really, the coffee is fabulous.

What’s the Canine Science Forum?

You know when you come across a headline, “Study finds dogs do X!!” The Canine Science Forum (CSF) is where researchers behind the headlines come together to share and discuss their latest studies and theories about dogs, wolves and related canines. It’s a place to get a pulse on the field -- what’s going on, and what’s to come.

The CSF is also a reminder that when a headline states, “Study finds X…” that's typically an oversimplification of what was actually found. There's a lot of discussion of the nuances of dog behavior and cognition. And science is complicated, but each study brings to the table a piece of the puzzle that is understanding more about the wonderful (and also, the not so wonderful) dogs in our lives.

The conference consists of short talks, plenary talks, and poster sessions (and important espresso coffee shot breaks). Today we're presenting a poster about Do You Believe in Dog? and the importance of communicating our fields' findings to everyone. The blog will continue to be a space where researchers can share the findings of their research, helping it jump over the paywalls and without the stuffy scientific language, to help dogs everywhere. If you're a researcher and you'd like to know more, check out the contributors page!

Out poster about Science Communication!

Email if you want a copy: DoYouBelieveInDog @ gmail.com

The conference began earlier this week on Tuesday and concludes tomorrow (here is the entire program). Anyone can follow all conference-based tweets on Twitter at #CSFPadova as well as @DoUBelieveInDog. We of course want to tell you about talk after talk after talk, but space, time, you get the picture... so here are a few highlights:

Doggie brains

Giorgio Vallortigara began the conference looking at brain asymmetry. The dog’s tail offers a pretty nifty insight into the brain — dogs wag more to the right when seeing an owner (associated with left hemisphere activation which is historically associated with approach-type behaviors), whereas seeing a strange person or strange dog prompts more wagging to the left (i.e., right hemisphere activation typically associated with more retreat behavior). Vallortigara also explored why brain symmetry evolved looking at both benefits to the individual as well as on the population level.

Smelly dogs

Márta Gácsi did not discuss why dog feet sometimes smell like Fritos (maybe next time, Márta!). Instead, Gácsi and colleagues from the Family Dog Project devised a simple, new procedure — that requires no pre-training — to test Natural detection task olfaction in canids, both hand-raised wolves and dogs.

In the study, they placed food in a plastic box with a lid to control the amount of smell released, and then placed the container under a ceramic pot to avoid visual cues. They wondered whether dogs would attend to the location of the hidden food, even when the access to the food was made increasingly difficult (see picture above). They found this was a good way to identify dogs who were both motivated and good at scent detection. Scent breeds and wolves were generally better at finding the food then non-scent breeds and short-nosed dogs. But hey, on an individual level, a Hungarian greyhound and Whippet (non-scent breeds), scored very very high, as did a Boston terrier (short-nosed dog).

A wider view of dog domestication

Friederike Range of the Clever Dog Lab, Messerli - Research Institute University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and Wolf Science Center reminded us that as dogs entered the human environment, it wasn't initially because they wanted to spend time with us, cuddle all night long, look into our eyes, and follow our gaze and gestures. Dogs entered the human environment for food and to scavenge and exploit our fabulous resources. She reminds researchers that dogs are adapted to the human environment as scavengers and this should be considered in terms of its consequences for dog behavior. Check out the Open Access article, Tracking the evolutionary origins of dog-human cooperation: the "Canine Cooperation Hypothesis" (Range & Virányi, 2015)   

Oxytocin. Don’t oversimplify me

Love? Affection? Come on, Anna Kis of the Family Dog Project would say. It’s way more complicated than that. Kis won the Early Career Scientist Award, and she discussed how oxytocin is being investigated in terms of human-directed social behaviors in dogs. She covered three main areas of research: measuring peripheral oxytocin levels using blood or urine, exploring single nucleotide polymorphisms in regulatory regions of the oxytocin receptor gene, and administering intranasal oxytocin. Julie covered her research on the oxytocin receptor gene in dogs here.

Stay in touch with the conference this week on Twitter at #CSFPadova

And drink a coffee with us!

Fun in the sun

Lakelife was great while it lasted, we had loads of fun in a great weather.

Mom was just amazed by the fact that I really wanted to be inside the cottage quite a lot. Well, how could I not when I could lounge on a comfy sofa in a sun puddle, among other nice nap spots.

But now we're back home and that is allright too.

What are Five things to love about Whole Earth Farms Cat Food

It is not easy to choose the right wet cat food for your four legged furry cat friends. There are so many dietary considerations to think about and so many choices.  I look for five basic things when choosing cat food and I found all five in Whole Earth Farms grain free wet cat food when browsing chewy.com.  Two kittens and a fussy eight year old himalayan --  themaxx (pictured below) ... and two tonkinese always presents a challenge!

1. High quality protein.  The first is thing I look for when reading the list of ingredients is a  high level of quality protein and if it is all natural or holistic that is even better.  With that in mind, I decided to try the duck formula by Whole Earth Farms in order to rotate the types of protein my cats eat on a daily and weekly basis.  I would get bored eating the same thing day in and day out and I think my cats do too!   Experts claim that rotating your cat's diet also prevents your cat from becoming finicky and also helps to decrease the risk of your cat developing a food allergy by eating the same food on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Even themaxx wanted a taste of this!

2. Good Source of Vitamins and Minerals.  The vitamins included in Whole Farms are: Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin,  and Thiamine Mononitrate. The minerals include: Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Glucoheptonate, and Sodium Selenite. This is an impressive and thoughtful list indeed!

 3. Grain Free - The real duck recipe and other protein options by Whole Earth Farms are grain free which means there are no fillers like rice or barley; there are also no by-products such as corn, soy or any other fillers.  Even though these are considered to be healthy in human nutrition, the digestive system of cats have a hard time digesting these unnecessary carbs.

4. Good Moisture Content.  Contrary to what most of us believe, cats just don't drink enough water.  The moisture content in this food is 78% that helps them keep hydrated that is especially important in the summer heat considering their low thirst drive. I like to stick with foods between 70% and 78% moisture and I am not opposed to adding a dash of water to their wet food. As you can see, Zoey loves this food and is my diva!

5.  Made in the USA.  Whole Earth Farms uses all ingredients from and is cooked in America!  And, the most important is that my cats love it; and best of all; chewy.com is offering the duck pate  at a discount -  a case of 24 cans usually sells for $30.96 and currently, it is marked down to $25.88, become a auto ship member and save 5% and orders over $49 don't pay shipping!

Speaking of farms, in Litchfield Hills, there is a great farmers market at  South Farms in Morris Connecticut.  This iconic and historic farm highlights a farmers market every Sunday with the best of the best highlighted. The White Barn  is a perfect venue for parties and events and weddings in a setting of great natural beauty.

South Farms’ vision is to redefine New England agriculture to create a farmland venue that offers a diversity of agricultural products, services, and attractions. By co-locating a portfolio of unique, entrepreneurial, and complementing businesses onto the homestead, South Farms intends to emerge as a great American farmland destination accessible to anyone between New York and Boston. They believe farmland preservation is best accomplished by creating and nurturing sustainable farmland businesses that excel within a blended, value-added agricultural and agri-tourism environment.  Their doors are always open to other farm entrepreneurs who believe they can grow the South Farms’ experience.

A magic door and a tired kitty

Friends, I've noticed that the door to our lake cottage is very special. It is opened for me every time when I meow close to it. I can go out, but I can also come in if I feel like it! At home the doors don't work like that.

This is a fuzzy picture of me coming in. The funny thing is, that now that I have the freedom to go out, I have wanted to be inside the cottage quite a lot! This lake life makes a kitty pretty tired!

I've been nappig inside a lot, so I think I'll be good and ready for some action right around the midnight! After all, it is the midsummer's eve tonight!

Lake...

Finally we're here, at my favourite place. It's midsummer time, and we are spending it at the lake cottage.

Right now it's raining, but it doesn't stop me from investigating the outdoors!

Summer vacation, lake cottage, mice and fishes, here I come!

Football championships

Apparently it is the European football Championship season. I couldn't care less, but the humans seem to be interested. Well, I don't mind taking a nap on their lap while they watch the games during the nights.

It might happen that some of them fall asleep during the game too...I'm not saying who, but it has happened. I don't blame them though, I would fall asleep too. And I actually kind of do...

Countdown begins...

...for mom's summer holiday! Lake cottage should be calling for me sooner than later, so now I'm just waiting...

...and maybe taking a few naps while doing it. Have a happy Sunday!

5 things you might not know about himalayans

This beautiful cat is known for their sparkling blue eyes and unique markings on their luxurious coats. The Himalayan is often regarded for its striking appearance and obvious beauty, but what else do you know about this popular cat? Take a look at  5 things you might not know about the Himalayan cat breed:

1. This is a Hybrid Cat

Although the parent breeds to the Himalayan, the Persian and the Siamese, are naturally occurring, this cat came as a result of human intervention. Breeders desired a cat with the coat of a Persian, but wanted to develop a cat with the blue eyes and markings of a Siamese, thus the Himalayan was born. Fun fact: The Himalayan is often referred to as the “Himmie” by Himalayan cat enthusiasts. While some think of the Himalayan as a distinct breed, others consider it to be a variety of a Persian.

2. Selective with Their Affections

While the Himalayan is by no means standoffish, they reserve their affections for those in the home that they feel most comfortable with. A Himalayan loves to cuddle and be close with those humans that they trust, and isn’t the type of cat to do well in a loud or high foot traffic environment. These are calm cats that strongly prefer relatively quiet and low key surroundings.

3. Soft Coat, Firm Upkeep

To keep a Himalayan looking marvelous, it is highly recommended that they be brushed on a daily basis. From their Persian roots, these cats have a thick coat that easily tangles and matts. To avoid issues daily brushing will prevent the onset of coat problems and can even be a good bonding experience between owner and Himmie. Fun fact: Himalayans come in different “looks”, either the traditional or the extreme.

4. Big Body to Match Their Big Fur

Although the Himalayan has Siamese DNA, they are built much more similar to the Persian. These medium-sized cats are sturdy and muscular with large bones. It’s recommended to bathe your Himmie about once a month, so don’t be surprised if that wet cat doesn’t look so small after all with these big bones showing. Fun fact: The Himalayan is actually the most popular cat in the world, although many think of them as just a variety of Persian–which has long since been the world’s most popular breed.

5. Prone to Health Issues

While these cats are super adorable, they are prone to health issues for a number of reasons. Because of their flat face shape, they are prone to breathing issues and require daily wiping on their faces to keep them clean and healthy. Also, there must be close attention paid towards their grooming rituals, as well as keeping a watchful eye of litter becoming stuck in their furry foot pads. Due to Persian ancestry some Himalayans may also tend to gain weight easily and their food intake should be monitored as a result. If you want a beautiful lap cat that is just as cuddly as they are cute, then look no further than a Himalayan. 

I get all the products I need to keep my Himalayans healthy and happy from www.chewy.com -- check it out for their extensive product list.

Cat Fun Facts from http://iheartcats.com

Stupid humans

My staff has been traveling more or less all of them for a volleyball tournament the kid was participating. I thought this comfy  sleeping bag was for me but it wasn't. It was for the kid. I could have made use of it just as well!

The stupid part was that my mom was away for FIVE days, so I had to give her the back of disrespect when she finally came back today.

I didn't even look at her at first. But now we're back to normal again, I'm not the one to carry a grudge for too long.

Sweet lazyness

Lovely sunny Caturday we have here. Cold wind is blowing outside, but it's nice to be in on a day like this. 

Mom, me and my grandmom we're taking a light snooze together, and that was very lovely.

I had both moms by my side, and plenty of skritches. Bliss.

Have a great Caturday!

Play and Pull A New Cat Toy - For Weekend Fun!

Last weekend was Memorial Day, it is often considered to be the unofficial start of summer.  It is also a day to remember our armed services and all those that have served and sacrificed for our country.  Many people celebrate the day at a festive parade followed by a family picnic or barbeque remembering days gone by and looking forward to summer vacations. Since my cats are indoor cats for the most part, I decided to try a new toy by Friskies called Pull and Play Cat Treats Pack that was on sale at chewy.com; at $4.00, I decided to give it a whirl, and I literally did just that! It  was our way to kick off the summer and celebrate Memorial Day!

The Pull and Play Friskies Play Toy for Cats has gotten high marks from four of my five cats; theMaxx is older and perhaps wiser, and was just watching the young ones play!   It was their Memorial Day present from chewy.com!  As I opened the package, all eyes were watching me pour in the Friskies Party Mix (a real hit with all the cats) into a funny looking plastic cat shaped toy that wobbles!   This cat toy provides an interesting way for cats to play and get their treats at the same time!

 This wobbly cat toy comes with Cheese Pulls and with Party Mix. The most evocative part of this little exercise was putting in the long string cheese strands into the “ears” of the wobbly cat toy.  Mocha was the first to try them and when pulling the strings he accidently shifted the toy so some of the goodies spilled out the side!  They were all curious about this toy and spent quite some time investigating it… I don’t know who had more fun, them or me watching them play!

 It did take them a while to figure out exactly how it worked.  As a matter of fact, I had to spin it around in order to show them that the party mix spills out the side as it spins.  There is no doubt about it… they love the party mix which must be like a cat version of potato chips because they can’t eat just one!

After they got the hang of it, they had a fine time of batting poor "Wobberly" around actually one of them went missing as Mocha dragged it under a cabinet by pulling on the cheesey strings that he loves to eat!  Of course, once they have eaten their fill of treats... and they have had their fun...it's nap time!

This is a great toy for cats that allows them to interact for treats in a playful way. It is fun to watch them walk by and give this wobbly toy a swat for a treat!  My only reservation is that the ingredients of the treats are so so and I have thought about replacing them with a freeze dried variety from time to time in order to keep them engaged and to encourage a healthy diet. A plus is that this toy is easy to put together and easy to keep clean.  Friskies also sells a variety of string cheese in different flavors as well as bags of Party Mix !  Check for them on chewy.com.