News by Subject Social & Behavior

Inadequate socialisation, inactivity and an urban living environment are associated with social fearfulness in dogs. Among the most fearful breeds in the research by the University of Helsinki were the Shetland Sheepdog and the Spanish Water Dog, while Wheaten Terriers were one of the most fearless breeds.

A recent study suggests that even organized efforts to clean surfaces can fall short, a reminder for us all that keeping our surroundings clean may require some additional work.

A severe hereditary lung disease has been described in Finnish Airedale Terriers with a failure to thrive during the first days of lives. Finnish researchers discovered the underlying gene defect in the LAMP3 gene, which may also be associated with the lung problems of certain newborn babies.

Separation anxiety in dogs should be seen as a symptom of underlying frustrations rather than a diagnosis, and understanding these root causes could be key to effective treatment, new research by animal behaviour specialists suggests.

A study encompassing over 700 German Shepherd dogs in Finland indicates that increased joint surface attrition is not the sole cause underlying the development of osteoarthritis associated with hip dysplasia.

Inherited malignant ventricular arrhythmia is a fairly common disorder among Finnish Leonbergers under three years of age, with the most severe cases potentially resulting in sudden death. Researchers are striving to identify the gene mutation underlying the disorder.

Just like humans, dogs are sometimes born with impaired hearing or experience hearing loss as a result of disease, inflammation, aging or exposure to noise. Dog owners and K-9 handlers ought to keep this in mind when adopting or caring for dogs, and when bringing them into noisy environments, says Dr. Kari Foss, a veterinary neurologist and professor of veterinary clinical medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Anxieties and behavior problems may be common across dog breeds, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. The findings suggest that noise sensitivity is the most common anxiety trait, followed by fear.