DOG OWNERSHIP

A two-nosed dog? Well, not exactly. But there are a few rare dog breeds that look as if they have two noses, each with one nostril and looking for all the world like the two sides act independently. Want to guess which dog group these breeds belong to?

Thanks to a host of mobile apps and battery-operated gizmos, your time away from home does not have to mean time lost interacting with and caring for your dog. Mobile apps make it possible to link with gadgets that let you chat with your pet or watch over him from your smart phone. There are devices now that allow you to do the following remotely: feed your dog, let him out for some yard time, steer him away from in-house temptations like the garbage can, and more - all making for safer and less lonely alone time for your dog when youre not actually there but still virtually present. Here are six options we found particularly intriguing, some with overlapping (but not identical) features. Theyre not cheap, but as with most other electronic gadgets, as the technology advances and becomes more commonplace, the prices will probably come down.

Whether youre home or not, PetPeek Window can satisfy your dogs curiosity about what goes on just beyond your fenced-in yard through a tough acrylic porthole of sorts. The convex window, which you install through a hole in the fence and which reaches out a bit past the yard for better viewing, enriches your dogs outdoor experience by allowing for a wider view on the world. The dome is 9.5 inches and comes with all necessary hardware. Costs from $29.98 to $36.73 at retailers. More information can be found at www.petpeek.info.

Many people will teach their dog the basic commands and then declare him trained, says zoologist and applied animal behaviorist Claire Arrowsmith. But, she adds, I often think how frustrating it would be for us if our education ended when we were still in childhood. If we had to keep on repeating the same lessons over and over again, we would all soon get bored….Think about how many limitations that would put on your lifestyle and your ability to interact appropriately and cope in this world.

Letters to Tufts Veterinarians - Should the crate door be left open or shut?

Most recently, estate planning involving dogs has appeared to be restricted to the realm of the rich and famous, and a sometimes wacky realm it seems. But tabloid-worthy stories are giving way to more mainstream scenarios. It appears that a small but significant proportion of Americans have drawn up wills that name their dogs as beneficiaries. Here are important things to consider when making provisions for your dog.

Increased awareness for providing for your pet after your death brings options from large pet welfare organizations.

Emergency room physician Dr. Jessica Normile has seen it all when it comes to people falling over their pets - literally. Youd be surprised how many dog-related injuries there are, says the doctor, who treats patients at the Detroit Medical Center Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital in Commerce, Michigan. We had an ice storm recently, and a lady went out there to shovel a path for her dog and slipped and ended up with a brain bleed.

I cant tell you how many people come in with shock collars and prong collars and dont feel good about themselves, says Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM, who helps owners and their dogs with comportment issues at the Tufts Animal Behavior Clinic. They know theyre creating fear, she says, not respect and love. It hurts at both ends of the leash. You get a dog for a strong bond, but shocking or digging prongs of metal into your pet is not compatible with creating a strong bond. Choke and prong collars can actually do tissue damage, she adds.

White boxers and certain other completely white dogs suffer increased rates of deafness. The two go hand in hand. It has to do with the lack of migration of pigment cells during a particular time in fetal development. People with a condition called Waardenburg syndrome have the same problem. Scientists find the genes responsible for diseases like Waardenburg syndrome by looking for genetic differences between healthy and sick individuals. Its much easier to locate the errant genes in dogs than in people because dogs from a single breed, like Boxers, are so much more closely related genetically than a group of people.

Who determines the top eight dog-friendly places to take your pet when the family needs some R&R? You do, along with thousands of other followers of GoPetFriendly.com, a terrific website for people who want to travel with their dogs and are looking for the skinny on hotels, dog-friendly restaurants, parks, beaches, and other recreational areas as they make their plans.

The eight top dog-friendly travel destinations of the year, according to the users of GoPetFriendly.com.