Did you know that our senses include the perception of the magnetic field? While we have almost lost this ability already, dogs still have it and use it every day. Do you know for what?
Maybe you have noticed that your dog partner sometimes takes quite a while before he finds the right spot to do his needs. And that's just the effect of a magnetic field. Since dogs take up such a position doing so, that their body is directed into a certain direction towards the Earth’s magnetic field.
Sounds unbelievable, right? However, a recent Czech-German scientific study proved, that dogs are sensitive to small changes in the Earth's magnetic field, which in turn affects the way they “go to the toilet”. A team of scientists found out after several years of monitoring of dogs, that if the magnetic field is calm, the dogs prefer to align their body on the axis from the North to the South when doing their needs. However, if the magnetic field becomes unstable, dogs have no directional preference.
Scientists from the Czech Agricultural University and the German University of Duisburg-Essen wrote in the context of publication in the scientific journal Frontiers in Zoology online, that measuring of the direction of the axis of the body was carried out in 70 dogs of 37 breeds during defecation (1 893 observations) and urination (5 582 observations) over a two-year period. Collected data was sorted according to geomagnetic conditions in the individual periods of data collection. Directional preferences of the dogs in various conditions of the magnetic field were then analysed and tested using a circular statistics.
Based on this research, the scientists came to the conclusion that the behaviour of dogs is predictable based on fluctuations in the magnetic field. However, they are not sure why dogs are adapting to it while carrying out their needs. Whether they do it consciously (i.e. if they see or feel the direction of the compass in any way) or subconsciously (whether the direction is controlled on an autonomic level - they only feel better or worse when facing a certain way). The analysis of the collected data only shows that dogs prefer the North-South direction and at the same time they avoid the East-West direction.
This magnetic positioning has been observed also in other mammals besides dogs, for example, in cattle or deer. Foxes plan the hunting trajectory precisely based on the magnetic field. In turn, wolves have extremely large territories. This suggests that they have excellent orientation skills, in which the scientists also see also a link with the perception of the magnetic field.
In any case, based on this discovery, the scientists established, that new horizons have opened up in magneto-biological research.
What do you think about it? Have you noticed that your dog always turns in the same direction when doing his needs? Try to notice it and share your experience!
Arthritis ranks among the most frequent diseases of the joints in dogs. It is accompanied by pain and limitations for physical activity. And because it cannot be cured I’ll give you some tips how to make the life of your buddy with arthritis easier.
It is nowadays completely normal to have dog restaurants, saloons and spas. People try to indulge their pets with all the luxurious things. Some procedures are more helpful than others. But thalassotherapy is one of those that can have a positive...
Nowadays even our pets are subject to diseases of civilization. Obesity is no good for them as well as for people. Do you know how to tell if your cat is obese and what are its causes and consequences?
The season of ticks is back again and so it is the right time to start protecting our pets. These parasites also bring anaplasmosis except from borreliosis. And the fact that this disease is not generally know does not undermine its serious impacts on...
You, as cat keepers, will probably be frightened when hearing “cat plague”. But precisely this phrase is sometimes used for panleukopenia which is a very dangerous cat disease. You may not only prevent it thanks to information obtained but to identify...
The whiskers on cats’ face are probably too noticeable to ignore them. But do you know all the places where cat’s whiskers with sense of touch are? And do you know how this comprehensive tactile body functions?
As you might know, the assistance dogs help people with various physical or mental disabilities nowadays. But there is a program in the US and in other countries which helps children to improve their reading and communication skills.
We are all try to give our dog companions the best, from health care to the leisure activities. Nutrition is no exception to that and it is prone to modern trends similar to those of regular human food. Reducing or opting out the grain from the diet is...
Whether it has undergone castration or any other surgery, your dog needs to rest more after it. But this can sometimes seem almost impossible. To “force” your beloved pet to rest is not easy, indeed. A few tips how to handle this situation follow.
The last time, I shared with you my opinions on castrations in general and I’ve named the advantages and disadvantages of this procedure in bitches. Now, let’s take a look, how it is with dogs.
Castration is still quite a tricky and discussed topic. Today, I will introduce you to the facts about this procedure and about its consequences and I will also share my opinion.
If you have one of the furry furring balls at home, maybe you know, in what kind of devil some of them are capable of turning into, if you need to give them a pill. If your cat belongs precisely among those, in which it’s almost a superhuman task, I...
