ETF 52 3 38-46 - United States Department Of State

CANINECompanions and Helpersby Phyllis McIntosh382014Number3 En g l i s hTe a c h i n gF.como r Suhutterstockm

The enduring loyalty of dogs is the stuff oflegend. Consider the case of Bobbie, a collie andEnglish shepherd mix that got lost on a family tripin 1923. In just six months, Bobbie traveled at least2,800 miles from Indiana to Oregon to find his wayback home. Or imagine the steadfastness of Shep,a border collie so devoted to his owner that he followed the man’s coffin to the train station in FortBenton, Montana. For the next six years, Shep hungaround the station yard, checking every train, apparently in hopes that his master would return.While these examples may be extreme, dogs ingeneral are prized for their faithfulness and theireagerness to please. These qualities, along with theirplayfulness, trainability, and downright lovability,have earned the dog the title of Man’s Best Friend. Infact, no other bond between species is as widespreadas that between people and dogs.According to the latest National Pet Owners Survey, Americans own 83 million dogs. Over 46 percent of U.S. households have at least one dog. Withsome 400 breeds to choose from, there is a dog withthe size, temperament, appearance, and hard-wiredskills to suit almost any owner.The traits that make dogs excellent pets alsoqualify them as valuable service animals for the disabled and “therapists” for hospital patients, autisticchildren, and traumatized veterans. While some dogsperform serious tasks, others excel at demonstratingtheir obedience, agility, and good looks at dog showsand competitions. Shutterstock.comA Chihuahua sits on the head of a mastiff, accentuating the difference inthe size of these two breeds.Coats vary from none at all in the Mexican hairlessto the long silky tresses of the Pekingese; faces rangefrom the smashed-in look of the bulldog to the long,pointy snouts of collies and German shepherds.For 21 years, the Labrador retriever has remainedtop dog in the United States, although the beagle,bulldog, and Rottweiler have moved up in popularity. While some small breeds, such as Yorkshireterriers and dachshunds, are perennial favorites,The Ultimate PetsAmericans generally prefer larger dogs. AccordingAll dogs are descended from wolves that were to American Kennel Club registrations in 2013, thedomesticated some 15,000 years ago. For thousands 10 most popular breeds were:of years, dogs were bred for certain skills, such as1. Labrador retrieverflushing out and retrieving game for hunters or kill2. German shepherding rodents. But in the late 1800s, people began3. golden retrieverbreeding dogs primarily for appearance and, over4. beaglea relatively few generations, developed completely5. bulldognew breeds. Thanks to human tinkering with canine6. Yorkshire terrierDNA, dogs now exhibit the greatest variation in7. boxersize and appearance of any animal. Breeds today8. poodlerange from the two-pound Chihuahua to the Eng9. Rottweilerlish mastiff, which can tip the scales at 350 pounds.10. dachshundEn g l i s hTe a c h i n gFo r u m Number3201439

Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com(clockwise from top left) Labrador retriever; labradoodle; beagle; German shepherdIn addition to these standard breeds, designerdog breeds, or hybrid dogs, are a trend in the UnitedStates. New breed combinations such as labradoodles(Labrador retriever and poodle), cockapoos (cockerspaniel and poodle), and puggles (pug and beagle)are in high demand.While such fancy dogs are usually purchasedfrom breeders or pet shops, the majority of dog owners acquire theirs from family members or acquaintances. More than 20 percent of dogs are adoptedfrom the 5,000 animal shelters that take in straysand pets given up by owners. Despite their humblebeginnings, most shelter dogs make excellent petsand working dogs. Even some famous acting dogs,such as the star of the film Benji and several of the402014pups that appeared as Marley in the movie Marleyand Me, were adopted from animal shelters.Regardless of where they come from, most American dogs are pampered. Even in recessionary times,Americans are spending more than ever on theirpets—over 50 million per year in the past three years.While the bulk of that goes for food and veterinarycare, owners spend a tidy sum on grooming, boarding,treats, toys, and even dog clothes and perfumes.The pet care business is booming, with manydog owners opting for doggie day care to keep theirpooches amused while they are at work. Also thrivingare gourmet bakeries that feature dog cookies madewith healthy, human-grade ingredients; dog salonsthat offer grooming, facials, and birthday parties;Number3 En g l i s hTe a c h i n gFo r u m

The Dog–Human Bond at WorkWith their superior sense of smell and hearingand their eagerness to please, dogs are well-suitedto a variety of important tasks, such as sniffing outdrugs, bombs, or land mines and locating victims ofnatural or man-made disasters. A group called Working Dogs for Conservation trains dogs to follow thescents of elusive wildlife, locate endangered species,and identify rare or invasive plants. In the area ofmedical research, dogs have shown an uncanny ability to detect prostate, lung, and breast cancer and theskin cancer melanoma simply by sniffing a patient’sbreath or body odor.But it is their remarkable ability to bond withpeople that makes dogs especially valuable allies tothose with special needs. Shutterstock.comA woman takes her dog for a walk, a good form of exercise.and pet travel agencies that direct people to dogfriendly cities, hotels, and restaurants.Service DogsAlthough so-called seeing-eye dogs trained toguide the visually impaired are the best-known serDogs Are Good for Youvice animals, dogs also provide various other kindsCoddled canines are not the only beneficiaries ofof assistance.pet ownership. A growing body of research indicates Hearing dogs alert people who are deaf orthat having a dog nearby is good for people’s health.hearing impaired to important sounds suchSimply petting or playing with a dog lowers bloodas doorbells, smoke alarms, telephones, andpressure, slows the heart rate, and releases hormonesalarm clocks.that promote feelings of pleasure and calm. Walkinga dog provides beneficial exercise and opportunitiesfor social contacts. Not surprisingly, pet owners areless anxious and less likely to become depressed thanpeople who don’t have pets.The health benefits don’t stop there. Studiesshow that pet owners have lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and make 30 percent fewervisits to the doctor than people without pets. Heartattack patients who have pets survive longer thanthose who don’t. Children raised in homes withanimals are less prone to allergies and asthma, suggesting that exposure to pets promotes a strongerimmune system.Dogs provide emotional benefits as well. Peoplewith animal companions tend to be less lonely andto have higher self-esteem. Some psychologists maintain that the benefits people gain from interactions Swith pets can be equal to those from friendship withThe orange vest of this hearing dog identifies it as a service animal.another person.hutterstock.comEn g l i s hTe a c h i n gFo r u m Number3201441

search a location to reassure someone experiencing paranoia or hallucinations.All types of assistance dogs typically wear vestsidentifying them as service animals. Under theAmericans with Disabilities Act, service animals areallowed to go anywhere the public goes, includingbusinesses, restaurants, theaters, and transit systems.Therapy dogs Shutterstock.comA man in a nursing home enjoys a visit from a therapy dog. 42A growing trend is training dogs, often household pets, to provide comfort and companionshipto people in a variety of trying circumstances. Currently, about 24,000 dogs are registered with Therapy Dogs International, an organization dedicatedto testing and registering therapy dogs and theirvolunteer owners for visits wherever they are needed.Such places include: Mobility assistance dogs aid the physically disabled by picking up objects, opening doors, andoperating light switches. Large breeds can pullwheelchairs and steady people with Parkinson’sdisease and other movement disorders.Medical response dogs can carry life-supportequipment, such as an oxygen tank, and warnpeople about certain medical situations beforethey occur. Some dogs, for example, can detectchanges in blood sugar levels in diabetics oran imminent seizure in a person with epilepsy.Seizure dogs are specially trained to removedangerous objects, rouse an unconscious victim, and summon help when their handlerexperiences a seizure.Autism service dogs can accompany autisticchildren to school, where they provide a calming influence and a focus for the child thatpromotes better interaction with classmates.Psychiatric service dogs aid people with conditions such as schizophrenia or post-traumatic stress disorder. The dog can guide a personwho becomes disoriented, retrieve medication,interrupt repetitive obsessive behaviors, or2014Medical settings. Visits from affectionate dogshelp hospitalized children and adults copewith the pain and fear of serious illness. Inwaiting rooms, dogs calm patients who areabout to see the doctor or undergo a medicalprocedure. In hospices, dogs provide comfortto dying patients and their families.Some dogs live where they work. At theChildren’s Inn of the National Institutes ofHealth, where families stay while their children undergo treatment for serious illnesses,a resident Labrador retriever named Vi (shortfor Viola) provides a warm welcome and helpscreate a homelike atmosphere. Homes of the elderly. Regular visits from dogslift the spirits and ease loneliness of elderlypeople living in nursing homes or confined totheir own homes. Touching and playing with adog encourages physical movement, as well asmore interaction with other people.Libraries and classrooms. Through programssuch as Therapy Dogs International’s TailWaggin’ Tutors, children overcome readingdifficulties by practicing reading aloud to nonjudgmental four-legged friends that sit quietlyby their sides.Number3 En g l i s hTe a c h i n gFo r u m