Ever wondered how smart your dog is? New research says he/she could be as intelligent as a 2-year-old child.

This news comes from canine researcher Stanley Coren who insists that dogs are more like humans than we think.

Dogs are very intelligent, and have the ability to learn commands over time if trained by somebody who knows what they are doing. Dogs play a huge role in society, both as pets and therapy dogs, to bomb detecting and rescue work.

Speaking at the American Psychological Association’s convention in Toronto, Coren stated that our beloved 4-legged friends may even have the ability to perform basic math.

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by Ellen Silverberg

Several years ago, a young woman from Massachusetts contacted me regarding a portrait she wanted me to do of her two dogs who had passed away in a fire. Very few photos remained of her babies but I knew this was a job I had to do. I wanted to bring them back to her in the only way I could. While I was painting, I asked the animal’s spirits for guidance as I had very little to go on from the photos she had sent. When the portrait was finished I emailed her a photo for final approval. She didn’t call me back for three days and, in those three days, I worried that I hadn’t really captured them in the way she wanted and that she was unhappy with the painting. Them I received the following letter which she posted in my guest book:

"Ellen is AMAZING. I would like to share this story with everyone to let you know what an incredible artist AND person that Ellen is. A couple of months ago we lost our home to a fire. Due to our rural location the fire was not found until it had been going for hours. Tragically our 2 dogs, Cassidy and Sega, and 2 cats, Oreo and Matty, were lost in the fire.

Cassidy and Sega were like our children. Cassidy was a 7 year old Husky/Border Collie mix that I had rescued from the pound when she was 4 months old. Sega was a 14 year old Rottweiler that my boyfriend brought home as a puppy.

When I met my boyfriend 3 years ago Sega got arthritis. We would have to make him get up to go outside. When Sega was introduced to Cassidy he somehow found his reason to get up in the morning. Cassidy was so full of vim and vigor - it was all Sega could do to get up and chase her around. Slowly but surely Sega got up on his own every day and became more and more active. At the end of a 3 month period Sega was moving better than he had in years.

The bond the 2 of the developed was a sight to be seen. People used to laugh when we would make the statement that they were like a couple until they saw it for themselves. Sega would "grunt" and Cassidy would come running to his side. They would sit next to one another and lick each others faces over and over and over again.... to the point we would tell them to stop and get a room!! Sega always knew where Cassidy was - he never let her out of his site - his way of protecting her.

After the fire I wanted to find a way that we could have something that would remind us of all the wonderful memories we had with our 2 best friends. I thought a painting would be the best way to do this and I desperately wanted to have this done. I began searching the web for artists that specialized in portraits of animals. One of my biggest limitations was the pictures I had presented. We had lost all of our photographs in the fire and I only had one of Sega and 2 of Cassidy. The pictures were dark and I was afraid it would be difficult for an artist to see the expressions and personality that I so wanted to capture.

When I contacted Ellen, her response was phenomenal. After explaining to her the lack of photos I was able to provide she stated she could work with what she had and began immediately working on the painting. She displayed no hesitation when I let her know the time frame in which I was looking to have this done - I had little control over the timing of the fire. and period of time until his birthday.

A day later she sent me a photo of her rough sketch on the canvas. I was floored. Those were my babies and there was no doubt it was them. You could see them beginning to take form. I was so anxious to see the finished painting... it could only get better from here. The day came when I opened the package that had arrived which contained the framed painting. I literally shook with excitement as I carefully opened the box. All I can say is the painting is the MOST INCREDIBLE thing I have ever seen. I could never have imagined that someone could capture every little piece of Cassidy and Sega - especially if they never saw the dogs themselves. Right down to the little scar on Sega's nose - to the ice blue color of Cassidy's eye. You can feel the bond between them just by looking at it.... Absolutely amazing.

I could never have asked for a more precious memory of Cassidy and Sega. Every time I look at it I see the light in their eyes and I remember how special they were to us and to each other. I would like to thank Ellen with all my heart for giving this memory to us. She went out of her way for us - I truly believe she connected with both of them while she was creating this painting. There is no other way she could have captured their spirit like she did."

Since then, I have done many paintings of pets who have passed over the rainbow bridge and the reaction is always the same, “how could you know about that little scare on his nose?”; “I can’t believe you knew he had a spot on his other side. That wasn’t in the photo!”; but most of all, “thank you for bringing our baby back to us!” This is why I do the work I do and I truly believe that the spirits of deceased animals remain with us always and can be summoned up when we need them most.

With love,

Ellen


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by Rene Knapp

Many people believe crating a dog for any length of time is cruel and they refuse to consider it. Thousands of dollars are spent by families every year because of the damage done by a new puppy who is given the run of the house while their owners are at work or out for an evening. The crate is a proven way to train dogs who act like ... well, dogs.

Not punishment

The first and hardest thing to get into your mindset is that a crate is not for punishment. Crates need to be a positive place where your dog can find security and pleasure. An attractive crate makes for a welcoming den — a nice blanket, yummy treats, a favorite toy and a chew stick help to make the pup comfortable. The crate needs to be in a place where your dog will not feel isolated (our dog’s crate is in our bedroom), so the pup feels like part of the family.

Using a crate properly establishes limits for your dog when you are away from the house and unable to monitor your dog’s behavior. A crate is also a safe area for your dog to be if you’re having a party and have a less-than-social canine. Dogs who are afraid of thunderstorms and fireworks often find refuge in their familiar crate.

The best way to get your dog to live happily with his crate is to introduce it when he is a puppy. Rather than have to punish him when he messes or chews your favorite pair of shoes, you can crate him before the trouble actually happens. While crates certainly don’t train your pup for you, they are a useful tool in housebreaking. You need to make sure the crate is the proper size for the animal. If the crate is too big, the puppy will use part of it as the bathroom, and that won’t help in the long run. You also have to be around to hear him. If the puppy is whining, chances are he needs to go to the bathroom and should be taken out. After meals and naps and before going into the crate, there should first be a trip outside.

The crate should be big enough to allow the dog to stand up and lie down comfortably. If you know your dog is going to grow into a big dog, then consider getting a divider so you will have the proper size crate in the beginning and the crate can grow with the dog. It should be put in a room where there is activity. Starting the puppy or dog in the crate for a few minutes at a time and working your way up in time is the best way for the dog to learn he is not being abandoned or “caged.”

Your dog will get accustomed to his crate and will enjoy the security of having his own space, but do not leave a puppy crated for longer than three or four hours at a time, or an adult dog for longer than eight hours. If left too long, your dog will start feeling trapped and frustrated. There are also many types of crates available: Aluminum, plastic, foldable tents, mesh or fabric, fiberglass, plastic, wicker and wire. All have pros and cons, including cost, ventilation, cleaning, etc. You will need to see which crate will work best for you.


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A University of Cincinnati researcher thinks he is getting close to developing a canine hearing aid that could hit the market by the end of the year.

Pete Scheifele started his research after his own 17-year-old dog lost his hearing. The highly trained miniature pinscher/beagle mix has appeared on television and performed for schools and didn't seem to mind wearing the prototype. In fact, he would seek it out and nudge it when he wasn't wearing it, according to Scheifele.

Researchers are now working on modifications to make the prototype version smaller and more comfortable. The hearing aid would only work on dogs with acquired hearing loss, says Scheifele, director of the University of Cincinnati's Facility for Education and Testing of Canine Hearing Laboratory for Animal Acoustics.

Scheifele says he is in discussions for commercialization of the prototype now and hopes is might be available for sale sometime later this year.



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by Kimberly L. Jackson

With the exception of drinking from the toilet and that peanut butter on the nose thing, your dog is a pretty smart puppy.

But just how smart? David Taylor's new book "Your Dog's I.Q.: How Clever is Your Canine" explores a dog's brain and abilities. With the book's 50 tests, Taylor offers ways to measure three aspects of your dog's intelligence: problem solving, obedience and instinct. Sample test: See if you can increase your dog's vocabulary by asking him to fetch specific toys (or tools!) by name.

Other tests include treasure hunts, hide-and-seek games, and an obstacle course. Low test scores are no cause for concern, says Taylor; your dog is still your best bud. The book ends with a chapter called Canine Crammer College which allows you to sharpen your dog's mind through training - be he a "Caneinstein" or a mutt of lesser powers.


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