What’s Up With Your Dog Getting That Guilty Look?

In the new issue of Canine Behavior and Cognition, some Barnard College psychologists tried to decode why dogs get that “I-may-or-may-not-have-pooped-in-your-closet” look on their faces from time to time.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/Mark Coffey

To find out, scientists basically played some Jedi mind tricks on the dogs. Says Science Daily: “During the study, owners were asked to leave the room after ordering their dogs not to eat a tasty treat. While the owner was away, [scientist Alexandra] Horowitz gave some of the dogs this forbidden treat before asking the owners back into the room. In some trials the owners were told that their dog had eaten the forbidden treat; in others, they were told their dog had behaved properly and left the treat alone…. Dogs looked most “guilty” if they were admonished by their owners for eating the treat. In fact, dogs that had been obedient and had not eaten the treat, but were scolded by their (misinformed) owners, looked more “guilty” than those that had, in fact, eaten the treat.”

So turns out, your dog only gets that sad, sheepish look because you’ve already condemned him of some crime. Even if he’s completely innocent. Nice, huh? I read this and started to feel like a real a-hole for all the times I’ve blamed my dog for things.

But then I realized that it would’ve been close to impossible for “some other dog” to have broken into my apartment and ripped 400 of the 498 pages of Twilight out of the book and strewn them about. And it’s pretty damn unlikely that my dog walker was the one who chewed up that tube of toothpaste while I was at work. And I’m fairly certain that new pee stain on the carpet isn’t from me sleep-walking last night. 

Yeah, I get that we have the tendency to interpret animal behavior in human terms. But until Riley can prove her innocence when the evidence is damning, she’s probably going to get in trouble. For at least like five seconds.

New Pet Airline to Cater to Dogs

A new airline strictly for pets is starting flights to major US cities this July. Pet Airways—which will fly to select cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington, Denver, and Los Angeles—will allow your dog to fly in the main cabin as opposed to in cargo. The airline ensures that your pet gets multiple potty breaks and a pet attendant to check up on his or her progress every 15 minutes. You can even track your dog on the Pet Airways website.

A couple of issues: The airline does not always go to a city’s largest, most convenient airport, and it flies only certain days of the week.

We’ve all heard horror stories about dogs being mistreated on regular airlines. It can get a little complicated when you’re planning a trip and want to bring your dog, but it’s not exactly a short driving distance. I checked on the price of a few flights, and it didn’t look too insane. A round-trip from New York to Chicago this July was about $350.

What do you think of this new service? Would you use it?

What Qualifies as Weird Dog Owner Behavior?

What you quickly realize as soon as you have a dog in the city is that there are “dog people”…and there are “bizarro dog people.” I know, I know. It’s unkind to label people “odd,” but sometimes there’s just no getting around it. With a dog, you often get stopped on the street by admirers who want to pet your animal, and they’re usually quite nice. Other times, though, they’re downright creepy. For instance, I once had a guy ask me (with a straight face, mind you) if I ever take showers with my dog. Seriously. Um, no sir, I do not.

So, I decided to create a "Weird Scale" based on what I’ve observed with dog owners themselves. A number 1 means your behavior is fair game; a 10 means you should probably be arrested. Get it?

• Calling your dog “Schmoopy Bear,” “Lovey Muffin,” or some term of endearment that is most definitely not your pet's actual name. (I feel like there’s some leeway on this one.)
  Weird Level: 2
• Setting aside an hour on a weekly basis for a doggie photo sesh
  Weird Level: 4
• Giving your dog open-mouth, tongue kisses
  Weird Level: 8-9
• Spooning with your dog (I may or may not have done this from time to time.)
  Weird Level: 2-3
• Picking up your dog’s poop…bare-handed
  Weird Level: 9
• Having conversations with your dog and being totally convinced he or she “gets you” (eg “We’re really going to have to work on your sharing,” or “Did you really think barfing in my shoe was going to help you get fed again?” or “Didn’t you just love Foxy the maltese’s new haircut? Glorious, no?”
  Weird Level: Unclear. Depends on whether you expect a response.

What sort of strange interactions have you had with people on the street over your dog? Or, have you ever behaved in a way with your pet that had friends giving you strange looks?

Documentary to Show Katrina Dog Stories

I cannot wait to see the new film, Mine, a documentary about people who rescued thousands of stranded pets after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It won an audience award at this year’s South by Southwest film festival and will be broadcast on PBS next year.

Jessie Pullins was reunited with his dog, J.J., after a separation of almost four years due to Hurricane Katrina. Bill Haber/AP

According to this AP story on MSNBC, the film tells the story of the animal rescuers who went to New Orleans as well as the ownership disputes that arose between Gulf Coast residents and the many people who adopted pets from the region.

Since Riley is a dog rescued from this area, I’m always curious to learn more about what happened. The stories are so compelling, tragic, and complex. For more information on the film and to view the trailer, click here. Please watch it if you have the time. You won’t regret it.

Microchipping Your Dog

According to the American Humane Association, only 17 percent of lost dogs ever find their owners, and almost four million pets are euthanized each year because their owners can’t be found in time. I got lucky a couple of years ago, when my dog walker somehow dropped my dog’s leash and Riley ran through Manhattan traffic for 2 hours. (Yes, I told that specific dog-walking company I’d no longer need their services. I’ll spare you my expletive-filled rant.) Thankfully, a sweet doorman on Fifth Avenue was able to grab her and called my cell number on her tag. But, I wondered, what if she hadn’t had her collar on? So, I started looking into microchipping.

The AVID microchip (not pictured to scale)

If you don’t already know, the procedure is easy and doesn't require anesthesia. It’s basically the same as your pet getting any other vaccination. Your dog gets an injection just under the skin between the shoulder blades, and the injected chip (which is about the size of a grain of rice) contains a unique identification code. I did a little research and found the cost can range from about $40 to $125 at your veterinary hospital, and at many shelters it’s included in the adoption fee.

The two largest manufacturers of microchips are AVID (American Veterinary Identification Devices) and HomeAgain. With AVID, you will register with PETrac (your vet will have the application) and will receive a tag for your dog’s collar with the AVID microchip number. With HomeAgain, you will register with the American Kennel Club (AKC) Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) program. This program maintains a national database and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

With both systems, when your lost dog is found, he or she will be scanned (most vets and shelters have scanners that can read the ID code from all brands of microchip), the number will be called in to whatever service you have, and you will be notified immediately. Genius, right?

Does anyone have a microchipping success story? Or, have you heard of any dangers?