Dogs going grey
For ages, Dogs have been a huge part of our culture and lifestyle. Speaking of lifestyle, going grey comes naturally to most people when they have a stressful job or other long-term pressures running in their mind. Now, new research shows that humans are not the only victims of one of the most common physical manifestations of stress; going grey!
Turns out that dogs who have had a stressful life are capable of going grey too. The observations of this research might change the way dog owners measure their pet's happiness quotient.
The study involved photographing dark-haired dogs (since the grey color would not stand out in light-haired dogs). Researchers visited many dog homes and vet clinics across Colorado to gather enough pictures and information about individual dogs.
Results of the study
Apart from photographic comparisons, the study also took into consideration the anxious impulses of dogs and their behavior when left alone. From this exercise, researchers were able to note that the more impulsive and anxious dogs were greying faster than the calmer lot. These results could not only help us understand the science of going grey better when it comes to our species, but could also give us visual clues that our four-legged friend is going through Stress, and thus help us take corrective measures to make our pet feel more at peace.
Experts suggest that pet owners who have anxious dogs could put them in special training programs and help them deal with stress factors a little better. To answer another question that could crop up on the mind of every dog owner, going grey is not related to the size of a dog. Even medical issues are not attributed directly to greying.
However, dogs that are generally scared of loud noises, and other animals are clearly more likely to go grey. With more insight into this field of study, it'll be interesting to see how we can better understand our loyal furry friends. Additionally, the study brings forward yet another link between man and his best friend.
