Dogs

Just like our fingerprints, the shape and pattern of each dog's nose is unique to that animal. Bearing this in mind, pet food company Iams has launched a "nose-centric" app for identifying lost dogs – appropriately enough, it's called NOSEiD.

Scientists at the University of Buffalo have found a very useful clue shedding light on the migration of canines to the Americas, in the DNA of an ancient bone fragment thought to be the oldest confirmed dog remains in the region.

A new type of electronic nose developed by an international team of researchers is claimed to up the sensitivity and capabilities of these devices, by pairing them with machine learning to mimic the canine ability to interpret different scents.

Bowlus adds a few pandemic-friendly updates to its luxury camping trailer. The new Terra Firma houses and feeds its human and canine occupants in luxury, protects from germs, and supports nomadic operations with two-week power and a smart tech suite.

Earlier this year, we heard about a pet-entertaining/treat-dispensing robot known as Pumpkii. Although its crowdfunding campaign was cancelled, the similar Rocki is now available for purchase.

While bomb-sniffing dogs provide an invaluable service, training them using actual explosives can be risky for both the canines and their handlers. A new process could help, utilizing a harmless polymer that quickly absorbs the scent of explosives.

While some dog owners feed their pooches raw food instead of kibble, others have switched to dehydrated dog food. The Spanish-designed Kibus device works with the latter, automatically rehydrating it with hot water and serving it at meal times.

The United States Army is developing augmented reality goggles for military dogs. The technology is being designed to enhance communication between the dog and its human handler, allowing for more remote commanding of the animal.

Upon first seeing a dog-like quadruped robot for the first time, many people jokingly ask where they could buy one. Well, they can now get a fully functional miniature dog-bot of their very own via a Kickstarter campaign, for just US$195.

Most futurists probably never saw it coming, but there are now several commercially available robots designed to entertain pets while their owners are at work. One of the latest, known as Pumpkii, features a unique modular design.

A new study has explored how pheromones could lead to more harmonious relationships between cats and dogs, and found that a couple of currently available examples can have a calming effect for pairs of pets living in the same household.

The US Army has developed a more realistic bite sleeve for training military working dogs. Worn during biting exercises, the protective silicone and Kevlar sleeve looks and feels more like a human arm, but still shields the wearer from harm.