A new study by scientists at the universities of Vienna and Oxford says it provides the first evidence that dogs copy at least some of the behaviors and body movements of people in spontaneous and voluntary ways.

Friederike Range, PhD, of the University of Vienna and author of the study, says 10 adult dogs participated in experiments with their people.

All of the animals received preliminary training to open a sliding door using their heads or a paw, after watching their human caregiver get down on their own hands and knees to use their heads or hands to perform the same tasks.

The pooches were divided into two groups, Range says. One group of dogs received a food reward when they copied what their human did. Dogs in the second group received a food reward when they did the opposite.

But the researchers say all the dogs seemed bent on copying their people, even if it meant getting no reward.

The dogs “brought with them to the experiment a tendency automatically to imitate hand use and or paw use by their owner — to imitate these actions even when it was costly to do so, when imitation interfered with the efficient performance of an ongoing task,” the authors write.

They say the finding provides “the first evidence of automatic imitation” by dogs.

Man’s Best Friend Imitates Man

“Dogs are special animals, both in terms of their evolutionary history of domestication and the range and intensity of their developmental training by humans,” the authors say. “Both of these factors may enhance the extent to which dogs attend to human activity.”

And they suggest their findings could be used in canine training.

If a pet parent wants to shake hands with his dog, he might be more successful if he extends his own hand to demonstrate, the authors say. Then the dog, watching all this, would be more likely to stretch out a paw.

The study suggests that, like humans, “dogs are subject to ‘automatic imitation’” and cannot inhibit “the tendency to imitate head use and or paw use.”

Automatic imitation is a crucial part of the way humans learn.

“As far as we are aware, this is the first study in which dogs have been tested specifically for automatic imitation,” the authors say.

Dogs in the research included seven border collies, an Australian shepherd, and two mixed breeds.

A few years ago, other researchers showed that dogs yawn when they see people doing so.

The study is published in the journal of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Height: 8.5 to 11.5 inches
Weight: 3.5 to 7 pounds.

History:
The Toy Fox Terrier, previously called the Amertoy (American Toy Fox Terrier), was developed in the United States in the early 1900s from Smooth Fox Terriers crossed with a variety of other toy breeds. Although the addition of other breeds gave the Toy Fox Terrier a gentler disposition than some other terriers, the diminutive TFT still retains such terrier-like characteristics as high energy, gameness and delight in hunting. Today’s Toy Fox Terrier is a charming, beloved, and loving companion, however, this breed also has many other talents. The highly intelligent TFT can succeed at obedience, agility, tricks, and even as an assistance dog. Though it was first recognized by the United Kennel Club way back in 1936, the Toy Fox Terrier was just admitted to the Toy Group of the AKC in January 2003.

Description:
The Toy Fox Terrier is an animated, elegant, athletic little dog, with erect, inverted-V shaped ears and a soft, glossy, short coat. The dog should be squarely proportioned and well balanced. The head is refined and expressive, with a moderate, somewhat sloping stop. When seen from the front the head widens gently from the nose to the bottom of the ears. The TFT should never be apple-headed; thus there should be no possible confusion between the Toy Fox Terrier or a Chihuahua. The top line of the muzzle in profile is parallel to the top of the skull. The eyes are dark, round, and somewhat prominent (but not bulging), with a soft, yet intelligent expression. The nose is black (except for chocolate dogs who may have self-colored noses). The ears are set high and close together, but they don’t touch. The proudly carried neck widens gradually, blending smoothly into the shoulders. The legs should be straight and parallel, with small, oval feet. If they are present, dewclaws should be removed from the hind legs. The abdomen has a graceful tuck-up and the back is straight. The tail is generally docked to the 3rd or 4th joint.

Toy Fox Terriers come in tri-color (black head with clear tan markings on the cheeks, and tan dots over the eyes), white-chocolate-and-tan (mostly chocolate head with tan markings as in the tri-color), white-and-tan (predominantly tan head), and white-and-black (predominantly black head). In all cases, the body is over 50% white but may have body spots with the same color as the spots on the head. The head should not be more than 50% white, and blazes should not touch the eyes or ears.

Notes:
The Toy Fox Terrier is an easy-care breed, naturally well-groomed, and pretty much self-exercising. They are good for the elderly and those living in apartments. A quick weekly brushing, an occasional nail trim and bath are all that’s needed. Shedding is on the light side of average. Though these are very hardy dogs, the TFT’s large ears are highly susceptible to frost bite. Wrap the dog well in cold weather if going outside, only stay out for short periods, and avoid going out at all in extreme cold. Easy to housetrain or paper train. Good as companions to other dogs, though sometimes males do not get along well with other males. The TFT retains its hunting instinct, so the breed is not recommended for households with small non-canine pets, though cats can sometimes be OK, especially if the dog is raised with them from puppyhood.

The TFT is quite long-lived; owning a Toy Fox Terrier is generally at least a 15-year obligation. Though the TFT is on the whole a very healthy breed, it can be prone to several conditions and diseases. These include: Demodectic Mange (a skin disease caused by a tiny mite, which causes hair loss), Patellar Luxation (dislocation of the kneecap), Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (where the head of the femur deteriorates), von Willebrand’s Disease (a bleeding disease with similar characteristics to hemophilia), and Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter (causes a swelling on the underside of the neck). Be sure both parents have been tested for these diseases and conditions. The OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, http://www.offa.org ) offers tests for Patellar Luxation and Legg-Calve-Perthes. DNA testing can be performed for von Willebrand’s Disease and Hypothyroidism.

Personality:
Animated, energetic, courageous and sassy. Not easily intimidated. A big dog in a small package. Dynamos as puppies, Toy Fox Terriers will settle down as they get older. TFTs enjoy children and can be wonderful family playmates, though they must be protected from young toddlers because they are so small. Their keen hearing and fearless personalities make them exceptional watchdogs. Though more often a companion dog today, the TFT still enjoys hunting, going to ground, and chasing rodents. Funny and playful, even as an adult. Devoted and loving. Friendly and outgoing, but very loyal to his family. Highly intelligent and eager to please, this breed loves to tackle challenges, and has been a successful circus dog, performing such feats as walking on a high wire and jumping into his trainer’s arms from a 20-foot high basket. Behavior with strangers can vary widely with the individual, ranging from friendly to wary, protective, or timid. Socialize early and well and introduce to other pets when young, if possible on neutral territory.

Behavior:
Children: Best with older, considerate children.
Friendliness: Fairly friendly with strangers.
Independence: Moderately dependent on people.
Dominance: High.
Other Pets: Generally good with other dogs in household. Do not trust with non-canine pets.
Combativeness: Not generally dog aggressive.
Noise: Average barking.

Grooming and Physical Needs:
Grooming: Almost no grooming needed.
Coat: Short coat.
Shedding: Average shedder.
Indoors: Very active indoors.
Apartments: Good for apartment living.
Outdoor Space: OK without a yard.
Climate: Does well in most climates.
Longevity: Long lifespan (15 + years).

The obesity epidemic in humans can probably be linked to our affinity for fast food and lack of exercise, which may stem from stress. That’s not news to most of us. But it is hard to justify reports from veterinarians in a Pfizer animal health study that found 47 percent or over 61 million of the approximately 130 million pets in this country are overweight or obese.

Most pet parents do not realize their beloved dog or cat is eating more than they need. The Pfizer study found only 17 percent of people thought their pet had a weight issue. Although we are to blame for their obesity problem, it is difficult to notice your pet gaining weight when you see them everyday. In contrast to their human counterparts, their jeans don’t start to get a little snug. But the rule is simple: If you can’t feel ribs easily, or see a waist, then the animal needs to lose weight.

Several problems with pets can be prevented by keeping them at a healthy weight. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, and cancer can all be linked to carrying extra pounds. Even if your pet is already heavy, losing the slightest amount of weight will help to prevent or alleviate these problems.

Reward your pet with affection and not food. But if you do feel the need to give treats, carrots and green beans are a great low calorie snack.

Consult with your veterinarian for weight loss advice to get your pup in tip top shape!

The canine trainer famously known as The Dog Whisperer is launching a new magazine called Cesar’s Way. This is in addition to his book, products and TV show about helping dogs with behavior issues.

The Wall Street Journal reports: Cesar’s Way, which hits newsstands next week, is filled with slick photos of celebrities such as Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton and Jennifer Aniston with pets in tow. Articles include “Can Your Dog Fix Your Marriage? Just Ask Jada Pinkett Smith” and “7-Day Doggie Detox.” IMG says it plans to publish two issues this year and six in 2010.

The singer, whose 5-year-old Maltipoo was snatched by a coyote this week, is beginning to accept that Daisy won’t be found alive, according to TMZ.com

Besides plastering her Calabasas, Calif., neighborhood with posters and appealing to the public through Twitter updates, Simpson enlisted a dog-finding service that power-dialed neighbors for help in finding the adorable pooch which was grabbed right in front of Simpson at her home.

Simpson is just the latest celebrity to lose a beloved dog in such a horrible fashion.

According to People.com, Halle Berry and Ozzy Osbourne are among the famous folk who have had pets taken by coyotes from their gardens or yards, a not uncommon occurrence in California.

One celeb who sympathized with Simpson’s plight is Martha Stewart, whose chow puppy was killed in a freak explosion at a kennel early this year.

Stewart actually met Daisy a few years ago, when she and Simpson filmed a commercial together.

“It’s pretty sad,” Stewart told Usmagazine.com. “She should have watched it more closely, though. She should have been more careful.”

The domestic diva also advised Simpson to move on and get another dog to help deal with her grief.

“I think it’s very important to get another dog, someone else to love,” said Stewart. “You just have to find the dog that’s the right match for you.”

And while some dogs may live the high life, serving as surrogate children to their humans, their circumstances can change depending on their owner’s life course and experiences.

“I found it interesting that there are different ways to relate to and think about animals and that people are able to switch and latch onto a different way of thinking about and treating animals when other things happen in their lives, like having children,” said Blouin, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

Blouin conducted 28 in-depth interviews with dog guardians from a Midwestern county. Dog “parenthood” attitudes fell into three categories: Humanist, where dogs were highly valued and considered close companions, like pseudo people; protectionists might be vegetarians and they greatly valued animals in general, not just as pets; dominionists saw animals as separate and less important than people, often using the dogs for hunting and pest control and requiring them to live outdoors.

Blouin said the distinct orientations toward animals were informed by multiple, competing cultural logics as well as personal experiences, demographic characteristics and family structure. People in rural areas were more likely to leave their pets outside, for example. Empty-nesters seemed to be the most attached to their pets.

“People don’t make this stuff up themselves,” Blouin said. “They learn how animals should be treated. There are different ideas out there and these ideas exist in little packages, which are promoted by different groups, like the Humane Society or kennel clubs.”

So what can you do to help when there’s a storm brewing with loud thunder crashing and Bruno, your beloved Great Dane, is shivering and quaking like a little Chihuahua meeting the big, bad wolf?   Well, step one is for you to understand as much as you can about the cause of fear in our canine friends.

According to experts, dogs have two types of fear, instinctual and learned. Instinctual fear is core for every canine and can range from fear of loud noises such as gun shots, and explosions, or even the noise of the blender as you prepare your morning smoothie. It can also include a natural fear of predatory animals such as coyotes, wolves and bears.

Learned fear comes about from a trauma-based experience. Canine behavior experts believe dogs imprint trauma into memory at an early age, between 2 and 4 months, and these memories can affect the dog’s behavior into adulthood. For example, if a dog is struck by a bicycle or attacked by a larger dog early in life, the dog may be fearful of bicycles or large dogs in adulthood.

To help your dog overcome his fear, desensitization is key. For instance, if you’re afraid of heights, you might try to overcome that fear by gradually experiencing new heights, say by stepping up a ladder and reaching a higher rung every other day until you can climb all the way up to change that light bulb. Repeating the behavior without negative consequences is essential to mastering the fear for your dog as well.

According to John Sievila, owner of Arizona K-9 Partnership, a dog training company, the key to helping dogs overcome their fears is for their person to be the Alpha (leader) by example which means not showing any fear and not trying to comfort them.

“It is human nature for us to try to console our canines when they are fearful, but doing so will have an adverse effect. Remember that dogs don’t comprehend language the way you and I do. When they become fearful and if we use a high voice to console them it sounds like whining and can be construed that we are fearful, too. The thing to remember is to be confident and ignore the perceived danger and when the dog does the same praise them in a strong, confident way. You will be amazed at the results.”

So back to Bruno. There he is, a wretched 165-pound bundle of nerves. Resist the impulse to try to soothe him with baby talk, or pet and reassure him. Instead get his leash, hook him up and calmly review your basic obedience steps for 15 minutes. Speak to him with confidence and exude your leadership personality. He will see you are not scared but in control. He will relax in time if you are consistent.

If your dog is afraid of storms, help desensitize them by purchasing an audio tape or video tape of thunderstorms and play it repeatedly. If your dog fears blenders, turn on the blender while feeding your dog and he will get accustomed to it and even begin to associate it with mealtime.

Use your creativity to figure out more ways to desensitize dogs to things they have imprinted as scary. It works!