Do dogs dream?

Many scientists believe that there is evidence to support the idea that dogs do in fact dream. Scientists using an electroencephalogram have tested canine brain wave activity during sleep. They've found that dogs are similar to humans when it comes to sleep patterns and brain wave activity.

Why do dogs chase?

The answer lies within something called internal reinforcement. Dogs inherit instinctive behaviour, for example a dog doesn’t have to learn to lift his leg to pee, he just does it, this is an instinctive action, also known as a “motor pattern”.

Chasing behaviour is part of the inherited predatory hunting sequence. This sequence is genetically “hard wired” into the dog, and prepares it for chasing and catching prey in order to survive.

“External reinforcement” is the way we usually train dogs: we give them a treat or give them a pat when they do the right thing.

Dog ear mites

Otodectic mites are tiny insects that live in the ear canals and feed by piercing the skin. They are highly contagious to both cats and dogs, but not to humans. Ear mites are the most common cause of ear symptoms in puppies and young adult dogs.

Ear mites should not be confused with the mites that cause sarcoptic mange. This is an entirely different disease, but one whose signs can also include crusty ears.

Dog ear infections


Border Collie History

The origins of the breed are not that easy to trace back through history, however it seems most likely that the ancestors of the Border Collie that we know and love today came from Ireland. As far back as the 5th century BC Celt farmers bred herding dogs to assist them with work around the farm. These were often powerful dogs, difficult to control and rough with stock. The world “collie“ is a derivative of the Celtic dialect name for “useful”.

For centuries shepherds continued to breed and train dogs to assist them in managing livestock and in 1873 the first sheep dog trials began in Bala, Wales which naturally encouraged more consistent breeding from the more successful dogs.

What are the functions of a dogs tail?

You can tell a lot about what dogs are feeling just by watching their tails. As you may already know dogs use their tails for communicating. They express happiness, aggression, stress and many other emotions just by using their tail. By looking at the position and movement of their tail, you can often tell what dogs are thinking. When a dog wags their tail high and wags it back and forth, they are usually feeling pretty good. When they are interested in something, their tail is usually horizontal to the ground. A tucked tail indicates that the dog is frightened or submissive. When their tail goes from horizontal to upright and becomes rigid, they are feeling threatened or challenged. A tail that is low and wagging indicates that they are worried or insecure.

Why do dogs chew sticks?

Researching this topic on the internet reveals that most people tend to think that a dog will chew a stick for two possible reasons.

Why do dogs sniff each other?

When you’re out walking your dog you have undoubtedly noticed that dogs sniff an awful lot. They sniff their surroundings, they sniff the ground where other dogs have left a scent marking, they greet other dogs by sniffing their butt, and other equally undesirable areas.

How many times have you wondered why?

The Border Collie a dog of many colours - Genetics

Border collies are frequently thought of as just being black and white, however this is actually far from the truth. Border Collies come in a multitude of different colours and whilst black and white represents the most commonly seen colour combination, a black and white border collie can carry the genetic ingredients for a variety of colours. So just because you may have a black and white Border collie, this does not mean that they will produce just black and white puppies.

It’s worth noting that for the serious Border collie breeder the colour of the breed is of little importance. They are more concerned with breeding to obtain the correct temperament, right character and good health than they are the colour of the animal.

Any living animal and even humans for that matter inherit many characteristics from their parents. These inherited characteristics are controlled by genes.

Offspring inherit genes from both their father and their mother in equal measure. For each genetically controlled characteristic a dog will carry two genes, one passed down from their father and one passed down from their mother. Likewise the father and mother will each carry two genes for each genetic characteristic inherited from their own parents. Although dogs carry two genes for each inherited characteristic, only one gene for each characteristic is passed on from their father and only one gene is passed on from their mother, this is how we get diversity.