Owning to the millennia-long relationship between dogs and humans, there is a wealth of research on the impacts of human-dog interactions, or Human-Animal Interactions (HAI). Most studies focus on the biopsychosocial model, which describes biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors as interrelated and interdependent aspects of human welfare. While research has shown that HAI improves psychological and social welfare, studies have yielded contrasting results regarding the physical health benefits of canine presence. This review addresses both cohesive and contradictory findings regarding the impact of dogs on humans, as well as potential explanations for the dramatic variation in conclusions.
With rising popularity of plant-based foods, there is an growing interest among dog owners to switch their dogs' diets to plant-based. However, understanding the changing dietary needs of dogs as they age should be of importance when owners consider acclimating their dogs to a plant-based diet. One nutrient of particular concern is protein, the requirements for which across a dog's lifespan are only well-established for traditional carnivorous or omnivorous diets. This literature review will concern whether or not the protein content of plant-based dog foods meets the nutritional needs of dogs of different ages.
Companion animal species have multiple forms of communication, including tactile, visual, olfactory, and auditory signals. This paper will focus on vocal communication in canines, comparing the behaviors of wolves to that of dogs. As a result of domestication, most dog species show marked differences compared to the ancestral wolf in vocalization range, frequency, and function ...