https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Americans love dogs. Nearly half of U.S. households have one, and practically all owners see pets as part of the family—51% say pets belong "as much as a human member." The pet industry keeps generating more and more jobs, from vets to trainers, to influencers. Schools cannot keep up with the demand for veterinarians. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-americans-dogs.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 09 Feb 2026 21:30:01 EST news689869327 Dogs who scored well on the Wesen test, which is used to analyze a dog's temperament, tended to have lower levels of cortisol, often called the "stress hormone," and higher levels of serotonin, often called the "happiness hormone," according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Minjung Yoon from Kyungpook National University, Republic of Korea, and colleagues. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-dogs-generally-cortisol-higher-serotonin.html Plants & Animals Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:00:04 EST news689414882 Some dogs are seemingly more talented than others. So-called gifted word learners (GWL) are rare canines that can rapidly learn the names of toys, a skill that most dogs don't possess. To understand why this is so, researchers studied how these dogs played and discovered that the key to their talent may be a desire to initiate interactions with their owners. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-play-social-dogs-words.html Plants & Animals Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:00:03 EST news689341960 In a small study, dogs experienced both stabilization and destabilization of their balance upon hearing angry or happy human voices, but angry voices were linked to the biggest destabilizing effects. Nadja Affenzeller and colleagues at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-angry-happy-human-voices-linked.html Plants & Animals Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:00:01 EST news688294681 Millions of dogs enter U.S. animal shelters each year, and while many eventually find new homes, the experience can be deeply stressful. Loud kennels, erratic routines, and isolation all take a toll on their well-being. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-week-foster-home-dogs.html Veterinary medicine Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:51:45 EST news688744238 Imagine Max, a well-trained border collie, manages to ignore a squirrel in the park when his owner tells him to sit. His owner says, "Max, stop chasing that squirrel and sit down," and Max obeys. Can dogs learn and understand words the way humans do? https://phys.org/news/2026-01-dogs-hundreds-words-children.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:37:44 EST news688214222 Just like with people, when pets experience chronic stress it can raise cortisol levels, heart rate, and blood pressure; weaken the immune system; and even cause fluctuations in weight—all of which increase a pet's risk of becoming ill. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-ruff-days-cat-astrophies-pets.html Plants & Animals Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:29:26 EST news687709742 A new paper in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry finds that common medications used for flea and tick control in dogs and cats may pose a significant environmental risk for insects in the wild. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-environmental-pet-flea-treatment.html Ecology Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:10:01 EST news687430741 The multi-day heat wave conditions have arrived this summer, with temperatures soaring past 45°C in some regions. While we may head to shopping centers or cinemas to stay comfortable, we need to consider the heat impacts that other animals can face. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-pets-extreme-animal-welfare-expert.html Veterinary medicine Fri, 09 Jan 2026 09:16:43 EST news687172562 "Honey, will you take Luna to the P-A-R-K?" Both parents and dog owners know that some words should not be spoken, but only spelled, to prevent small ears from eavesdropping on the conversation. At the age of 1.5 years, toddlers can already learn new words by overhearing other people. Now, a study published in Science reveals that a special group of dogs are also able to learn names for objects by overhearing their owners' interactions. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-dogs-words-eavesdropping-owners.html Plants & Animals Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:00:02 EST news686941261 Dogs fed on premium, meat-rich pet food can have a bigger dietary carbon pawprint than their owners, according to the largest study into dog food's climate impact. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-dogs-dinners-greater-climate-impact.html Environment Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:00:02 EST news686935494 Dog owners in seven states are being warned to check their pantries after a recall was issued for certain dog treats that may be contaminated with Salmonella. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-popular-dog-recalled-states-salmonella.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 05 Jan 2026 06:08:12 EST news686815608 Humans and dogs have been living together side by side for thousands of years, so you would think we know everything about our four-legged friends by now. But we may not understand them as well as we think we do. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-misreading-dogs-emotions.html Plants & Animals Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:30:02 EST news684492618 What's the value of one animal? When a wild animal is found badly injured, the most humane option is often euthanasia to prevent further suffering. That's what usually happens, and often for good reason. Even when the resources to rescue one animal are available, a rehabilitated animal brought back into the wild might be rejected by its group, or struggle to find food or escape predators. If it does survive, it may fail to reproduce, and leave no lasting mark on the population. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-africa-rarest-carnivore-story-ethiopian.html Plants & Animals Wed, 24 Dec 2025 09:02:13 EST news685789321 A new study from North Carolina State University found that neutrophils—white blood cells that are a key part of the immune system—play a role in the early stages of atopic dermatitis flares in dogs. The work is a first step toward understanding the role that these immune cells may play in the early stages of allergic skin response, and could have implications for human sufferers of atopic dermatitis. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-explores-role-neutrophils-canine-atopic.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:30:18 EST news685200601 When people are feeling happy, they're more likely to see other people as happy. If they're feeling down, they tend to view other people as sad. But when dealing with dogs, this well-established psychological effect ceases to work as expected. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-youre-happy-dog-sad-reveals.html Plants & Animals Fri, 05 Dec 2025 07:00:02 EST news684057961 Pets just don't live long enough. We spend time, emotion, energy and lots of money caring for them, all while knowing we'll invariably outlive them. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-celebrities-cloning-pets-procedure-animals.html Plants & Animals Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:30:04 EST news683900942 Researchers from North Carolina State University have confirmed that a species of Rickettsia first seen in dogs in 2018 is a new species of bacteria. The new species, dubbed Rickettsia finnyi, is associated with symptoms similar to those of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in dogs, but has not yet been found in humans. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-rickettsia-species-dogs.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:38:19 EST news683915881 Have you ever seen a dog focused on nuzzling their expensive treat under a blanket, behind a couch cushion, or into a freshly dug hole in the backyard? You might think they are behaving like a paranoid doomsday prepper, but dogs aren't stockpiling their food due to anxiety about impending disaster. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-dog-doomsday-prepper-food-toys.html Plants & Animals Sat, 29 Nov 2025 05:30:02 EST news683551808 In short order, Teddy—a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 3-year-old yellow Lab—punched a wall button with his nose, yanked a rope to open a kitchen cabinet door and tugged a walker across the floor. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-dogs-roles-people.html Plants & Animals Fri, 28 Nov 2025 07:33:35 EST news683537581 In humans, CBD is thought to have therapeutic effects for some conditions including chronic pain, nausea, or inflammation. Now, dogs may be reaping some of the benefits, too, according to a new study. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-cbd-supplements-dogs-aggressive.html Veterinary medicine Fri, 28 Nov 2025 00:00:02 EST news683369821 New research led by scientists at the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History reveals that the majority of dogs living today have low but detectable levels of post-domestication wolf ancestry that has likely shaped characteristics including body size, sense of smell, and personality traits. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-modern-dogs-wolf-ancestry-tiny.html Plants & Animals Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:00:12 EST news683197022 Over the last two decades, homemade diets have seen a rise in popularity among dog owners. However, new research from the Dog Aging Project (DAP) reveals that most homemade diets are missing important nutrients that dogs need to lead healthy lives. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-homemade-dog-diets-lack-nutrients.html Veterinary medicine Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:40:01 EST news682952469 In two newly published studies, researchers at the Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary) investigated how family dogs' ADHD-like traits relate to their learning and self-control. Dogs resemble humans in many ways—even traits similar to human Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can naturally appear in them and can be assessed through validated questionnaires developed by the research group. Their recent findings not only highlight parallels between dog and human behavior but also offer practical insights for dog training. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-family-dogs-adhd-traits-linked.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:20:01 EST news682780553 Two pioneering studies published in the journal Animals have explored how dog and cat guardians perceive more sustainable pet food options. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-significant-vegan-pet-diets-revealed.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 19 Nov 2025 11:43:03 EST news682774981 I live with several cocker spaniels. They are smart and affectionate, but sometimes air-headed, impulsive and extremely sensitive. It's common for friends to describe my dogs as "having ADHD" as one of my canine whirlwinds whizzes past. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-autistic-dogs-neurodiversity-pets.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 17 Nov 2025 11:58:05 EST news682603082 From village dogs to toy poodles to mastiffs, dogs come in an astonishing array of shapes, colors and sizes. Today there are estimated to be about 700 million dogs living with or around humans. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-dogs-years-roamed-bands-humans.html Evolution Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:40:03 EST news682335497 Domestic dogs are among the most diverse mammals on the planet. From the tiny chihuahua to the towering great dane, the flat-faced pug to the long-muzzled borzoi, the sheer range of canine shapes and sizes is staggering. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-myth-victorians-modern-dog-weve.html Evolution Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:40:01 EST news682335464 An archaeological study has revealed when domestic dogs first began to show the remarkable diversity that characterizes them today. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-analysis-reveals-extensive-dog-diversity.html Evolution Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:00:08 EST news682239902 Dogs have been part of human societies across Eurasia for at least 20,000 years, accompanying us through many social and cultural upheavals. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-paleogenomics-humans-dogs-eurasia.html Archaeology Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:00:04 EST news682240082