This 'n That Thursdays: Is Your Dog a Genius?

From Dognition

Have you ever wondered just how smart your dog really is?  I'm sure all dog owners have stories about the incredibly brilliant
/amusing/silly/dumb things their dog has done, but are you curious as to just why your dog does what he/she does?  Then you may want to check out the recently released book The Genius of Dogs: How Dogs Are Smarter than You Think by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods.  Dr. Hare founded the Canine Cognition Center at Duke University.  He has done extensive work on the cognitive abilities of animal species, but became particularly interested in dogs when he realized that they were unusually adept at cueing in on human gestures and signals that other species, including chimpanzees, failed to notice.

Dr. Hare believes that the unique bond forged between dogs and humans so long ago is a major reason that the former are so adept at reading and interpreting our signals.  Intentionally or not, we have selected for dogs that direct their focus on us.  As a result, more than any other species, dogs have an ability to understand us in ways that we often do not understand ourselves, mostly because they can pick up and act on cues we don't even know we are giving.  And, in a shift from recently held ideas about animal behavior, it is now thought that dogs can use this information to make decisions about their own subsequent actions.  Moreover, each dog is unique and will process information differently.  Hare and other scientists have developed a canine assessment test which allows dog owners to determine just how their dogs do this (see a sample test in the video below, and keep in mind that each test will be repeated multiple times for a more accurate assessment of each dog's performance):

If you are interested in testing your own dog, visit the Dognition website for more information.  There is a fee to access the test (from $39.99 to $147 depending upon which package and payment option you choose).  Once you have tested your dog, you can enter the data into the site's database.  You will receive a Profile Report of your dog's performance to help you better understand how your dog learns, and all of the data collected will be used by the researchers to further their "Citizen Science" studies which are conducted to gain even more insights into dog cognition (you can receive updates on this research as well).  The games are designed to be simple, fun, and nonjudgmental.  According to Dr. Hare, this is not an IQ test for dogs so much as it is a way to demonstrate that different dogs process and act upon the same information in different ways.  Each dog's reaction can be thought of as more of a survival strategy than an indication of intelligence, and each strategy has its own advantages and disadvantages.

I received a doctoral degree in the study of animal behavior myself, and this was during the period when it was widely believed that animals had limited cognitive abilities.  Studies on domestic animals were deemed less important than those of species living in natural conditions, as it was thought that the less contact a species had with humans the more relevant the collected data were to the study of animal behavior.  This is a fine concept, but it meant that the whole other aspect of how animals adapt and react to human interactions was neglected.  Since we tend to perceive the world in relation to how it affects us, this information is equally valuable, and in my opinion focus on this sort of research is long overdue.  I have not yet tested my dogs, but I have every intention of doing so, and when I do I will share their results.  Based on the Dognition Profiles, my prediction is that our Dalmatian will test out as a Maverick, while the terrier mix will be either an Ace or a Charmer, so we shall see!  These profiles remind me of the Parelli Horsenality Chart which my riding buddy has found so useful when training her horses, so they could potentially become an important tool for dog training.

It was almost impossible to get this photograph of both dogs
focusing on me, and notice the impudent Dalmatian's tongue
sticking out -- this does not bode well for testing
(don't worry, girls, I'm just kidding -- I think!).

                

Wish List Wednesdays: Maddie on Things: A Super Serious Project About Dogs and Physics

From StyleCaster

I seriously need to get myself a copy of this book!  Don't be fooled by the title -- Maddie on Things: A Super Serious Project About Dogs and Physics is photographer Theron Humphrey's loving tribute to the shelter puppy he adopted and then brought with him on a year-long photojournalism journey across the nation.  When he realized this amazing coonhound had a unique ability to balance on just about anything, he modified his original plans for the trip to include photos of Maddie perched on things.  Friends encouraged him to continue the theme, and this book is the result.  Maggie also led him to begin a new project called "Why We Rescue" for Purina One, which I strongly recommend that you check out.  The book is widely available -- Barnes & Noble has hardcover copies for 20% off (list price $15.95) at $11.65, and Amazon.com has Kindle versions for $7.99.  I am adding this book to my library as soon as possible!

Theron Humphrey and Maddie

             

Holiday Hits: Adopt a Shelter Cat Month

From Mousebreath

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month.  Spring is kitten season, and shelters are overwhelmed with them right now, so if you have been considering getting a cat please check out your local animal shelter.  The American Humane Association has some tips on adopting a shelter cat.  But what if you are unable to adopt a cat right now?  Then check here for some tips on other ways you can help!  And just in case you have a dog and don't think a cat would be appreciated, just take a look at this cute video:

Who knows, your own canine companion may be longing for a feline friend as well!

                

Current Events: Environmental News

Several environmental issues made the news this week, two of them good and one bad.  Since this past Wednesday was World Environment Day, I thought I would share these stories:

1) Frog Thought Extinct Is Rediscovered

From National Geographic

The Hula painted frog (Latonia nigriventer), long thought extinct, was recently rediscovered in the Hula Valley of Israel.  This frog was the first amphibian to be declared extinct, and prior to its rediscovery was last seen in 1955.  It is the only living member of the genus Latonia, and is considered a rare "living fossil", a species that has not changed in millions of years and has few or no living close relatives.  It is believed that the current population numbers 100 to 200 frogs, but because much of its original habitat was destroyed when the wetlands of the area were drained, the survival of the Hula painted frog is still of concern.

2) Ancient Australian Lake in Pristine Condition

From Australian National University

After analyzing lake parameter data collected over 117 years, scientists from the University of Adelaide have concluded that Australia's Blue Lake has remained essentially unchanged for 7,500 years.  The discovery is so remarkable that one scientist has dubbed this lake "God's bathtub".  While other lakes in the area have been severely impacted by drought brought on by climate change, Blue Lake remains pristine, due to the fact that its water is renewed on a regular basis from an underground aquifer, allowing lake levels and chemistry to remain constant.  This lake has been a refuge to the freshwater biota of the region, but scientists warn that even a tiny amount of human influence could cause drastic changes to this fragile ecosystem.

3)  United States Atlantic Puffin Population in Peril

From KOMO News

In the United States, the Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) could be in trouble, and there are signs that these seabirds are at risk in other parts of the world as well.  Puffin breeding colonies are only found in localized areas of coastal Maine in the US.  Recently weak and dead starved adult birds have been found washed ashore along the eastern coast, and last summer the survival rate of puffin fledglings in Maine plummeted.  Scientists speculate that shifting fish populations in response to climate change have made it difficult for puffins to find food, especially for their young.  In addition, extreme oceanic conditions have been washing away puffin nesting sites along the coast, further reducing survival rates for the population.  Die-offs and population declines have been noted in other parts of the world as well, such as Iceland.  The Atlantic Puffin population in the United States is of particular concern because it has been brought back from near extirpation once before, when the birds were almost hunted to extinction in the late 1800s.  The recovery of this population was a rare success story, but the Maine puffin population is not large, and huge losses such as the ones being seen now could have a dramatic negative effect on their continued existence in this nation.

I have mentioned before that the Atlantic Puffin is my favorite bird.  At this point the puffins' continued existence in the US seems to be a matter of whether or not the birds can adapt to the changes in Atlantic fish populations, but I hope that in the near future more can be done to help these birds survive.
             

Foodie Fridays: Dill Havarti Mashed Cauliflower

From Eating Well

In yesterday's post I mentioned that dill Havarti is one of my favorite cheeses.  Imagine my delight when I found a recipe for mashed cauliflower using this cheese!  I had heard that mashed cauliflower is very similar in taste to mashed potatoes, and I have been meaning to try it, so this is the perfect opportunity.  And since the recipe comes from the Eating Well website, it is a relatively healthy version as well!  I fully intended to prepare this recipe before posting it, but my husband is out of town and one of our dogs cannot be left alone because she is not well, so I will have to wait a few days before I have a chance to get the ingredients I need.  After all, you can't make Dill Havarti Mashed Cauliflower without dill Havarti and cauliflower!  I will update this post as soon as I actually get to try this dish.

Dill Havarti Mashed Cauliflower

8 C. cauliflower florets (about one large head)
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 C. grated dill Havarti cheese
1/4 C. low-fat milk
1 T. butter, cubed
1 tsp. dried dill
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 T. sliced chives or green onions

Steam the cauliflower with the garlic for about 10-14 minutes in a Dutch oven fitted with a steamer basket.  Transfer the vegetables to a food processor.  Add all of the remaining ingredients except the chives/green onions and purée until smooth.  Stir in the chives/green onions.  Serves 6.

Note: You can use Cheddar cheese if you prefer, or if you cannot find the dill Havarti.  Come to think of it, you could certainly use potatoes instead of cauliflower if you are a spud fanatic and/or dislike cauliflower!

Update: I finally got the chance to make this, and it is amazingly good!  It is a little more watery than mashed potatoes, more like soft grits (only not gritty), but the taste is almost exactly like potatoes!  I dumped everything into the cooking pot I used for the cauliflower and used my immersion blender rather than a food processor.  Also, I substituted minced garlic from a jar for the whole fresh cloves (added after the cauliflower was cooked) and stirred in some parsley as well as green onions.  I had this with my plain version of Baked Chicken Tenders, and it was quite a satisfying meal.
               

This 'n That Thursdays: Cheese, Glorious Cheese!

From The Cheese Store of Cedarhurst

This past Tuesday was National Cheese Day.  Since cheese is one of my favorite foods, I decided that today's post would be all about the cheeses I love most.  I tend to prefer hard cheeses to soft, and nutty cheeses to creamy or sharp ones.  Swiss-type cheeses top my favorites list, but there are so many varieties of cheese available that they are by no means my only choice.  Here is the list of my current obsessions, but there are still quite a few I have yet to try, so this list could change tomorrow!

1) Jarlsberg Cheese

From Springbank Cheese Co.

This Baby Swiss-type cheese will always be my favorite.  I discovered it when I was an undergraduate college student in upstate New York, and for me it is still the perfect cheese.  It has a sweet, nutty flavor and firm texture that I find irresistible, and it even comes in a "Lite" form that is practically indistinguishable from the original.  I have yet to try the smoked version, but I am sure I would love it since I love other smoked cheeses.

My only problem with Jarlsberg is that it is made in Norway, one of only three countries that continue to defy a 1986 International Whaling Commission ban on commercial whaling (the other two countries are Japan and Iceland).  For this reason, I rarely eat my favorite cheese any more, maybe only once every couple of years.  If you knew just how much I adore this cheese you would understand what a sacrifice this is for me, but to me preserving healthy whale populations is much more important than indulging in cheese, so until Norway stops killing whales I will continue to avoid this cheese.

2) Gruyère Cheese

From igourmet.com

Gruyère is authentic Swiss cheese, named for the town of Gruyères in Switzerland.  In general, it is a hard and nutty cheese, but the texture and flavor vary depending upon factors such as age, production season, and source.  It is an excellent cooking cheese, and is traditional in fondues and quiches.  It is also equally good eaten plain and pairs well with wines, especially red.  It can be expensive, but for me the flavor is worth the price, and it is a worthy substitute for Jarlsberg.

3) Tetilla Cheese

From La Tienda

This semi-soft, creamy cheese with the suggestive name from Spain is a recent discovery.  I received this oddly shaped cheese as a Christmas gift a few years ago, and have been hooked ever since.  It is especially good melted atop a really good bread such as Italian or French, or the Spanish Galician loaf if you can get it.  My source for this cheese (and for good Galician bread as well) is La Tienda, a catalog specializing in Spanish foods and other items.

4) Dill Havarti

From Boar's Head

Havarti is a semi-soft, buttery cheese from Denmark.  It comes in several flavor varieties, and I am especially fond of dill Havarti, which has flecks of dried dill weed throughout.  This is an excellent cheese to eat plain, with or without crackers.  There is also a caraway seed Havarti cheese that I like.  One variety that I have only found in upstate New York is Havarti with mustard seeds, which is another favorite.  It has been a while since I had this one, and think I am going to have to order some soon!

5) White Stilton with Lemon Peel

From Gourmet Food

White Stilton is an interesting cheese, made almost the same way as blue Stilton but without the introduction of the mold which causes the blue veining.  It is a dessert cheese, and usually has fruit bits added.  My favorite is the white Stilton with lemon peel.  Somehow the tart sweetness of the peel is the perfect foil for the sharpness of the cheese, and I enjoy this cheese plain.  There are other fruit-studded white Stiltons available (mango and ginger, blueberry, apricot, cranberry), but for me the lemon peel variety is far superior in taste.

6) Smoked Cheeses

This is not a single variety, but some cheeses are available smoked, and I find them to be delectable.  One favorite is the Maple Smoked Cheddar from The Vermont Country Store, which is not available in the summer but will be for sale again when the weather cools off.

From Smith'd

I also really like the Apple Smoked Gruyere from Red Apple Cheese, even though it is a processed cheese.

From Red Apple Cheese

Their Apple Smoked Provolone is good as well, and I would love to try their other smoked cheeses, which are not currently available in our local supermarkets.

This list is only a tiny sample of cheeses that I love -- a complete list would take up way too much space!  I once worked with a woman who had to give up cheese for health reasons.  Cheese is one of those foods that I would find difficult to stop eating, so I hope I never have to make a choice like that, because life without cheese would become a sorry existence indeed!
             

Wish List Wednesdays: Juliska Classic Bamboo Dinnerware Collection

From Neiman Marcus

Recently Classic Bamboo Dinnerware by Juliska was featured in the Summer 2013 issue of Celebrate magazine:

From Celebrate

As soon as I saw the photos it was all over -- I have to own this dinnerware!  I love the simple but striking design of white dishware with a raised natural color bamboo pattern edge.  They are rather pricey, but I would be content to own just one set of dinner plates ($168 for a set of four from Neiman Marcus).  Since my birthday had already come and gone, these plates would make a perfect Christmas gift -- I really need to start dropping hints to my dear husband now!

Classic Bamboo 11" Dinner Plate (from Juliska)