Dogs Catch Human Yawns

Dogs Catch Human Yawns

Jeanna Bryner
Senior Writer


Spying someone yawning often makes us yawn. Now, a new study shows your canine buddy can catch yawns from you, too.

The results suggest domestic dogs have the capacity for a fundamental form of empathy, the researchers say.

The phenomenon, called contagious yawning, has been found only in humans and other primates such as chimpanzees and is thought to relate to our ability to empathize with others. Past studies, however, involved yawning within one species at a time, so for instance chimps that triggered other chimps to yawn and humans prompting yawns in other humans.

Shaggy line-up

Researcher Ramiro Joly-Mascheroni, a psychologist at Birkbeck, University of London first tested the phenomenon in his dog, a Labrador. Immediately upon yawning himself, Joly-Mascheroni's dog immediately yawned. And sure enough, tests on friends' pups showed similar results.

For the new study, the furry cast included a wide range of dog breeds from a Greyhound to a Staffordshire Bull Terrier to a Dalmatian. In total 29 dogs went through two testing scenarios each lasting five minutes, one in which a human (not the owner) called the dog over and while keeping eye contact with the dog he or she would act out yawns that included the vocal portions.

In the non-yawning scenario, the human went through similar motions, except he or she didn't yawn vocally and instead just opened and closed their mouths.

During the yawn sessions, 21 dogs (or 72 percent of them) yawned, while no dogs yawned during the non-yawning scenario. That's compared with 45 percent to 65 percent found from past studies in humans and 33 percent found for chimpanzees (in chimp-to-chimp studies).

In addition to yawning, the dogs showed similar reactions to human yawns. "In the yawning condition, we found the dogs reacted pretty much in the same way," Joly-Mascheroni said. "They all acknowledged the yawn in some way either by dropping their ears or turning their heads away."

Catching the Z's

The researchers aren't sure why dogs catch the yawns from us. In fact, scientists don't yet understand contagious yawning in humans.

"There are theories that seem to think that we used to transfer this information of 'I am tired' by yawning when we didn't have language," Joly-Mascheroni told LiveScience.

In this same way, humans could be transferring sleep info to dogs. "It would be interesting to find out what other information we transfer to dogs or to any other animals that we are not aware of," he added.

In past studies, research team member Atsushi Senji, also of the University of London, has shown a possible link between empathy and contagious yawning in autistic children, the researchers said. Autism is a developmental disorder in which individuals often show impaired social interaction, problems with communication and a lack of empathy, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. This previous research showed that autistic kids don't "catch" yawns from others, Senji said.

And so the new results in dogs, published online in August in the journal Biology Letters, could mean man's best friend has the capacity for a basic level of empathy.

American Staffordshire Terrier, Braveheart, Needs a Home ASAP!

American Staffordshire Terrier, Braveheart, Needs a Home ASAP!

If anyone knows of a home contact;
Jan Karpel

Does anyone know anyone that can take in this precious boy????

Our Pets & Our Application
www.ourfurryfriends.petfinder.com


--- On Tue, 9/16/08, Jan Karpel wrote:
Dear Folks,

Generally you find me crossposting and/or requesting help for other rescues or individuals. For the first time, I am asking, believe it or not, for myself.

Braveheart is a beautiful loving roly-poly deaf American Staffordshire Terrier (or "pit" in the American vulgar) who loves children, adults, cats, dogs, etc.



When he was first found in Oklahoma, he was starving and exhausted, yet would run away at the slightest hint. With perserverance and patience, animal control was able to bring him to their shelter. He so captivated the volunteer staff that they could not euthanize him.

And that's where I came in. I have paid for his vetting, and with the help of good friends and colleagues we sent him to a boarding facility in Oklahoma where he has turned into a well-fed and loving dog that has captivated his boarding staff.

I'm not looking for funds, but we have now run out of money. I am looking for either a rescue or a kind and loving individual or family to take Braveheart into their homes. If you know ASL (American Sign language that is great) but not necessary. I have placed two deaf pitties in wonderful families and they are extraordinarily intelligent. They depend upon visual facial expressions and will watch their owners intently to understand what is needed. One dog, Augustus, now merrily brings his leash and halter in his mouth to his mom when he would like to go for a walk. They rarely, if ever, bark since their world is silent.

I have thanked you all time and time again for your incredible generosity and compassion. So could you please crosspost out and have all replies sent to me: jankarpel@yahoo.com. I am blessed to have contacts across the United States, so as always, a home visit and vet reference is required. Thank you, all!

Jan

Meet Molly - She's a Grey Speckled Pony

MEET MOLLY...SHE'S A GREY SPECKLED PONY

Meet Molly. She's a grey speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when Hurricane Katrina hit southern Louisiana . She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled.

While there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected, and her vet went to LSU for help, but LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes.

But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he changed his mind. He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to handle her. She protected her injured leg. She constantly shifted her weight and didn't overload her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic.

Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee, and a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly walked out of the clinic and her story really begins there.

'This was the right horse and the right owner,' Moore insists. Molly happened to be a one-in-a-million patient. She's tough as nails, but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain. She made it obvious she understood that she was in trouble. The other important factor, according to Moore , is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse.

Molly's story turns into a parable for life in post-Katrina Louisiana . The little pony gained weight, and her mane finally felt a comb. A human prosthesis designer built her a leg.

The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports.



And she asks for it. She will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take it off too. And sometimes, Molly gets away from Barca. 'It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse,' she laughs.

Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck. She inspired people, and she had a good time doing it..

'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to play in life,? Moore said. 'She survived the hurricane, she survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving hope to others.'

Barca concluded, 'She's not back to normal, but she's going to be better. To me, she could be a symbol for New Orleans itself.'

This is Molly's most recent prosthesis. The bottom photo shows the ground surface that she stands on, which has a smiley face embossed in it. Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind.



Forward this and share it with all of the animal lovers that you know.

Odin, the White Bengal Tiger

Meet Magnificence!



These incredible photos of a White Bengal Tiger named Odin.



Odin is six years old and 10 feet long from tail to nose. Odin lives at a Zoo in Vallejo, California.



Odin with his British trainer Lee Munro.



Odin was hand-raised at the zoo. And after he was weaned, his British trainer Lee Munro discovered his remarkable skill.



When a lump of meat was thrown into a pool of water, Odin would happily dive in after it.



'He makes a funny face - and it's actually to close his nostrils to stop the water from going into his nose.'



Not all big cats enjoy the water but for Tigers from the hot climate of South-East Asia it's one way to cool down.

'Plus they hunt in and around water. They're an ambush predator so they wait for prey to come down to the water. When you actually see him dive underwater he looks so graceful. Odin loves the water and he loves food,' he said. 'Not all big cats will dive and swim underwater even for meat treats.'



Munro said tigers were the most powerful swimmers out of all land-dwelling animals.

Tragically, within our lifetimes, zoos might be the only places left to see these magnificent animals.

A century ago there were about 100,000 tigers in the wild. Now there are just 2,500 adults, with the Bengal variety almost extinct. None has been seen in the wild since the last white tiger was shot and killed in 1958.



White tigers are the most rare. They get their white color from an unusual and extremely rare genetic combination.

I hope you enjoyed these photos as much as I did!

A Deer, Dogs, Humans, Canada

A Deer, Dogs, Humans, Canada...

Faith - Is A Dog

This is 'Faith'



This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002.



He was born with 3 legs - 2 healthy hind legs and 1 abnormal front leg which need to be amputated.



He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him.



His first owner also did not think that he can survive. Therefore, he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'.



By this time, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him.



She is determined to teach and train this dog to walk by himself. Therefore she named him 'Faith'.



In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfing board to let him feel the movements. Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him to stand up and jump around. Even the other dog at home also helped to encourage him to walk. Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his 2 hind legs and jumped to move forward. After further training in the snow, he now can walk like a human being.



Faith loves to walk around now. No matter where he goes, he just attracts all the people around him.



He is now becoming famous on the international scene.



He has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows. There is even one book entitled 'With a little faith' being published about him. He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.



His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul'.



In life there are always undesirable things.



Perhaps one will feel better if one changes the point of view from another direction.



I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone can appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day that follows.



Faith is the continual demonstration of the Strength of Life



Faith's Dogster Page

IAMS Pet Food Cruelty Exposed

Iams
Pet Food Cruelty Exposed

SUNDAY EXPRESS
by Lucy Johnson

A major sponsor of Crufts dog show has carried out horrific experiments on animals, it can be revealed today. Thousands of weekend holiday visitors to the famous show at the NEC in Birmingham will be shocked to learn the truth about IAMS, a pet food made by Procter and Gamble.

The Sunday Express has uncovered damning evidence of gruesome tests performed on dogs and cats during the development of the product, which is being heavily promoted at the event. IAMS has also been backed by the RSPCA - but after being told of our findings the animal welfare charity said it would sever all ties.

Last night Crufts organisers launched their own investigation and were considering removing a stand sponsored by Procter and Gamble. In supermarkets and pet shops across Britain, IAMS is being marketed as a breakthrough in animal health care and nutrition.

But our investigation as revealed that hundreds of animals suffered incredible agony in experiments designed to perfect IAMS. A huge dossier of research papers exposes how scientists deliberately induced kidney failure and other conditions in dogs and cats. Some experiments involved performing operations on healthy animals which were later killed.

Last night animal activists and MPs condemned the research.

Campaigner and comedy writer Carla Lane said:

"It is horrifying to think people are buying pet food that involves so much experimentation. You don't have to harm animals to find out what's good for them to eat."

And Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker said:

"It's ironic to say the least that a company which purports to care for animal is conducting abhorrent animal experiments behind closed doors. Perhaps they should list their experiments on their labels and then see how much they sell."

Animal rights organisation Uncaged Campaigns is to stage a protest at Crufts, distributing leaflets and waving banners highlighting "the suffering behind the science" and urging a boycott. Director Dan Lyons said:

"Even the people representing IAMS at the show are unlikely to know they are promoting a company that inflicts pain and death on animals. Once they see the evidence they will be as appalled as anyone else."

The protest is likely to embarrass the show's organisers who boast a star studded guest list, including Coronation Street's Roy Barraclough (Alec Gilroy), actress Susan George and Eastenders Martin Kemp (Steve Owen) and Pam St Clements (Pat Butcher).

Details of the experiments are buried in obscure scientific papers uncovered by the Sunday Express and Uncaged Campaigns.

In one experiment, 24 young dogs had their right kidneys removed and the left partly damaged to investigate how protein affects dogs with kidney failure. Eight dogs were killed to analyse the kidney tissue. Dogs which became sick were not treated because it would have undermined the test results.

In another test, the stomachs of 28 cats were exposed so scientists could analyse the effects of feeding them fibre. The animals were operated on for at least two hours and then killed.

The research team sterilised 24 female cats, which were then over-fed until they became obese. They were then starved on a crash diet and when they had lost at least 30 per cent of their weight their livers were examined to investigate the link between weight loss and liver disease. The company also sponsored research in which 14 husky puppies were repeatedly injected with live virus vaccines and allergy-causing proteins for the first 12 weeks of their lives. They developed permanent illnesses in the test, which was designed to see how severely allergic they could become.

Twelve huskies, 12 poodles and 12 labradors were regularly given chest wounds to see if diet could affect fur regrowth. This was justified in the study on the grounds that "dogs are enjoyable to touch and look at... Dogs with coat problems are simply not handled as much."

Dr Dan Cary, Director of technical communications for IAMS said that his company cared about the welfare of animals. He justified the scientific studies as being carried out to save pets from illnesses and improve physical well-being. He said: "Our mission is to enhance the health of dogs and cats. We take their welfare extremely seriously during the studies and don't enter into research lightly. All our studies have to be valid science and we have to be sure they are never repeated as it is wasteful of animal time."

Lucy Johnson, Sunday Express 27th May 2001.

Please contact IAMS to let them know your disgust at these animal experiments. Phone them on 0800 426 785 or email customer.service@iams.com.