April 2024

• The Lagotto Romagnolo is the only truffle hunting breed recognized by the American Kennel Club.

• The Xolos family is one of the oldest known dog breeds and is originally from what is today Mexico. Officially known as Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced show-low-eats-QUEENT-lee), these hairless dogs can be traced back at least 3,000 years, and possibly as far as 5,500 years. Considered representatives of the god Xolotl to guard humans in life and in the afterlife, they are celebrated on Día de los Muertos.

• Researchers say that when a dog sees a caregiver (versus a stranger), the region of its brain dealing with emotion and attachment is activated, similar to the activity seen with a mother-child bond in the human brain.

• Collars that allow dog owners to track their pooches with GPS may provide peace of mind, especially if the dogs in question are deaf or are master escape artists. Some collars are subscription based; those that pair with your smartphone may be less expensive, but they have limited range.

• According to Psychology Today, we should talk to our dogs more often because they respond to the emotional tone of our voices. In addition, if you look into your dog's eyes while talking to them, you'll both experience a surge of calming oxytocin.