Actor Pup Beats Human Stars, Your Dog on CBD, AKC Adds Three New Breeds, and More!
Indy, the latest canine winner of the Astra Film Awards, is pictured here while reppin’ his film at SXSW 2025 in Austin, TX. photo: @goodboy.film
Just Don't Pee on the Red Carpet: Actor Pup Defeats Humans for Film Award
A handsome Duck Tolling Retriever named Indy recently triumphed over a star-studded cast of human actors (including Ethan Hawk!) to win Best Performance in a Horror or Thriller at the 9th Annual Astra Film Awards. The tan-and-white pup earned plaudits for his work in Good Boy, playing a protective pooch trying to save his owner from a supernatural force haunting their remote home.
Admittedly, Indy did use a few connections to get the gig in the first place; his human just happens to be the film's director Ben Leonberg. But fame hasn't changed this modest pup, probably because he has no idea he's now a celebrity.
As Leonberg put it, "...we are so thrilled to be recognized for his work in a movie he does not totally understand he was in."
Source: ew.com
Researchers analyzing data from tens of thousands of dogs from the Dog Aging Project found that CBD supplements are commonly used in older, ailing pets—especially those with dementia, arthritis, or cancer. photo: ScienceDaily
CBD = Calm Behaving Dogs?
More Study Needed for Stoner Pups
Many humans already use CBD to treat chronic pain, inflammation, or nausea. Now a new study asks whether dogs can reap some of these same benefits.
Analyzing data from over 47,000 dogs, researchers with the Dog Aging Project sought to better understand the characteristics, health patterns, and behavior of dogs who received CBD or hemp supplements. They found that dogs given CBD products for multiple years became less aggressive over time, highlighting the potential of CBD as a therapy for some canine behavioral issues, according to study co-author Dr. Julia Albright. However, they did not find that CBD reduced agitation or anxiety in dogs.
Not surprisingly, dogs in states where medical pot is legal were more likely to receive CBD, and male dogs were given it more often than females. Activity levels did not vary significantly between dogs who received CBD and those who did not. No word on an increase in munchies, though honestly, with a Lab, how could you tell?
The team noted that controlled research is still needed to confirm CBD's calming potential for canines, and stressed that owners considering CBD for their dogs should seek out reliable products and be careful with dosing to avoid side effects such as diarrhea and gastrointestinal upsets. That, and lock up the cookies.
Source: sciencedaily.com
The American Kennel Club announced it will recognize three new dog breeds including a toy dog from Cold War-era Russia. image: AdobeFirefly
Parvenu Pups:
AKC Adds Three New Breeds
Heads up, dog snobs! Those society swells at the American Kennel Club just added three more official breeds to its roster, making these pups eligible to compete in dog shows and - for better or worse - raising their visibility with the pet-buying public.
The newcomers include:
The Basset Fauve de Bretagne, described as a hardy, sociable compact hound who can hunt all day and needs plenty of mental and physical activity.
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, a small, energetic pup who will rid your barn of rodents, alert you to strangers, and keep you entertained with its antics, possibly by carrying a big stick?
And finally, the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka, a playful seven-to-nine pound cutie whose name literally translates to "colored lapdog."
Interestingly, the Bolonka was originally developed as a pet for apartment dwellers in Soviet-era Leningrad, though the tiny breed hasn't turned out to be especially low maintenance. "Having a Bolonka is like having a 3-year-old kid running around your house...you've got to be prepared to play with them and keep them entertained," says Denise Dang, secretary of the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka Club of America. Owners also need to be ready to care for a thick, wavy coat that requires a bath every couple of weeks even if it's cut short.
Including these newbies, the AKC now recognizes a total of 205 breeds, at least four of which are currently embroiled in a legal controversy. Citing serious health issues suffered by French Bulldogs, Pugs, Dachshunds, and Shar-Peis, the activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking a court order to stop the AKC from continuing to promote the current standards for those breeds, which they liken to "blueprints for the breeding of deformed, unhealthy dogs." The AKC denies the allegations and has asked the court to dismiss the suit as frivolous. Stay tuned.
Source: apnews.com
Augie is a 5-year-old Labrador from Texas who participated in the Gifted Word Learner study. photo: Don Harvey
Watch Your Language:
Genius Dogs May Be Listening
Does your dog listen when you're talking to others? New research suggests some super smart dogs can learn new words simply by eavesdropping on their human companions.
The 10 Gifted Word Learner (GWL) dogs in the study were first shown new toys by their owners and told the toys' names directly. But in the second part of the test, owners simply discussed some new toys and the toys' names with another person within their dog's hearing but not directly with their dog.
After the toys were moved to another room, the dogs were asked to retrieve them by name. Amazingly, the dogs did just as well fetching toys whose names they'd learned by eavesdropping as they did with toys whose names they'd been specifically taught.
"These dogs provide an exceptional model for exploring some of the cognitive abilities that enabled humans to develop language," says study co-author Claudia Fugazza. "But we do not suggest that all dogs learn this way - far from it."
Think your pup could be GWL material? Contact the Genius Dog Challenge at geniusdogchallenge@gmail.com or learn more about the project on Facebook or Instagram.
Source: usatoday.com
(L) Cami the dog; (R) Cami and Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue doing their life-saving work. photo: Lane County Sheriff's Office Facebook
The Right Bark at the Right Time:
Quiet Cami Saves the Day
Some dogs are trained to be heroes: the selfless search-and-rescue pups, the hardy K9 crews, and the fearless bomb-sniffers. But we've got a soft spot for those everyday heroes, family pets who, without special breeding or training, rise to the challenge when danger threatens.
Meet Cami, an Australian Cattle Dog credited with saving the life of her 82-year-old owner Karen Davis. The Oregon woman had taken Cami for a walk in the woods in late December when she became lost. Search teams looked for the pair late into the night with temperatures hovering around freezing. Volunteers had been told that Davis, who reportedly has dementia, and Cami, who is known for rarely barking, would likely not respond when called.
But after hours of searching, volunteer Katie Sciotto yelled "Cami!" and heard a faint bark about 300 yards away. There they discovered the dog, waiting loyally by Karen's side to keep her warm.
"Without Cami, we likely would not have found her, and so the dog really did save her life," Sciotto says. "The temperature was near freezing, and I don't know if she would have made it overnight."
In fact, Cattle Dogs are bred to be quiet, watchful workers, often silent unless alerting to strangers, perceived threats, or in this case, help. Sounds like quiet Cami was just saving up her bark until it really mattered.
Source: people.com