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December 09, 2005
DOGS GETTING SMARTER
Are dogs getting smarter? Some studies suggest they are. Which raises the question will we some day be sharing the planet with other animals? Canadian scientists recently proved that old dogs can learn new tricks, at least their cognitive functions can resist declines in age related functioning, if vitamins E and C were added to their diet through certain vegitables. "Dr. Milgram's year-long study involved the testing of 48 beagles, ages 9 to 14, owned by the military."
Other studies have shown dogs can be taught to count and they can learn up 700 or more words, including several hundred commands. Will this increased brain activity and better diets lead to a new breed of smart dog? Well, scientists believe something triggered higher brain functions in humans some 6 million years ago and so began our long journey. What exactly transformed the earliest humans known as Hominidae, is uncertain, but it is believed diet played a major role. Hominidea... "were not like apes; they had bigger brains, different teeth, and walked upright." Based on this theoretical time line, don't expect Rover to be asking to borrow the car anytime soon.
For more information on this subject may I suggest....
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0769752.html
http://www.twis.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Neuro-sci;action=display;num=1025056632
The featured dog is our boy "Hub." And he is way too smart for his own good.
Posted by Post Scripts at December 9, 2005 08:47 AM