In case you were wondering why dogs tend to tilt their heads when they seem to be listening, John Bradshaw addresses the quirk in his book Dog Sense, and I’ve got the answer for you here. If you’ve looked this up on Google, you may have been concerned (or, perhaps more likely, skeptical) with the responses you’ve received. According to PetMd — which is the first result you’ll receive if you search “dog head tilt” — a dog’s tilting head is an indication he “feels imbalanced,” or that he has this-or-that condition. My suspicion is that PetMD is addressing something other than the beloved and universal trait that most Google searchers are curious about. According to Bradshaw, as you may have guessed, your dog tilts his head when he’s listening to you, because he is listening to you. By tilting his head he’s better able to zero in on the source of the sound he’s hearing, or in other fancier words, it’s a method of “sound localization.” Beyond that, things get pretty scientific, and phrases like “localization in the median plane” start to pop up, so I’ll go ahead leave the rest to the scientists. 

Tags: #Dogs #Dog Sense #Dog Behavior 

With what looks like a dwarf Godfather as its star, from its appearance it’s easy to write off Pit Boss as a contrived novelty. And it is novel — Shorty’s rescue, the organization at the center of Pit Boss, is staffed entirely of little people. And Shorty’s funds his rescue with his casting agency, which represents little people exclusively, who we often see as umpa lumpas and elves. But Shorty himself is a sincere ex-con dedicated to debunking negative stereotypes about the breed, facilitating adoption, and breaking up pit bull fighting rings, with the latter of these projects often placing he and his staff in serious jeopardy, and often in South Central, Shorty’s old stomping grounds. Great show for any dog lover, especially for Los Angeles dog lovers all too familiar with shelters overflowing with this misunderstood breed. First three seasons available on Netflix Instant Watch.

We’re working on a new list entitled Misconceptions About Dogs, where we’ll dispel commonly held misconceptions about dogs, such as their being colorblind (psst…they aren’t). Link to full article on the bar on the left hand side of the page. 

SLDW staff has been working round the clock compiling “Dogs and Drinks: A Guide to Dinning With Your Best Friend,” a list of restaurants that both accommodate dogs and offer drinks (which you may check out to the left under the heading, “Dogs and Drinks”). Websites like “Bring Fido” are helpful, but so far I’m not aware of a site that take it that crucial step further — listing restaurants where you can have a drink with your dog. Your tips are needed to make this the most comprehensive guide of its kind. Thanks!

Here we go again. Another call to ban the “savage” pit bull, and this one’s nationwide, continent wide, in fact. Calling it “a win for parents across the nation,” the article lauds the decision of the Australian government to fortify its already stringent laws that ban and restrict so-called “dangerous breeds.” And how do they define a “dangerous dog?” They don’t. Whatever, Australia.