What Do Dogs and Cows Have in Common?

I meant to tell you this earlier. The Dog Spies tag line: ‘Explore the science behind the dog in your bed is actually short for Explore the science behind the dog in your bed and all the other animals we interact with and care for.’ You can see why brevity won, but this expanded [...]

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I meant to tell you this earlier.

The Dog Spies tag line: 'Explore the science behind the dog in your bed’ is actually short for ‘Explore the science behind the dog in your bed — and all the other animals we interact with and care for.' You can see why brevity won, but this expanded perspective has been with me, and this blog, since the beginning.

With that in mind, join me for a Guest Post on Thursday, February 13th by Priya Motupalli!


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This picture is all I’ll offer by way of a hint as to what Priya’s covering. Oh, and that this topic was recently in the news. And that you won’t be disappointed. Particularly if you were moved by the recent post, Dog Farts Part 1: What Are Dog Farts Made Of? Here at Dog Spies, we like to get to the bottom of things.

View Priya's Guest Post!

Well That Stinks! Reporters Blow Cow Farts Out Of Proportion

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Priya Motupalliis a final year PhD candidate at Harper Adams University in the UK and is studying applied dairy cow behaviour and welfare. Her research focuses on dairy cattle preference for pasture, and the welfare and production implications of allowing farm animals to have control over their own environment. Her recent award for excellence in scientific communication was featured in the industry news section of Meat Management Magazine. Priya's previous guest posts on Dog Spies have compared dog and cow welfare, see below.

Recommended Reading

Motupalli, P. 2011. Cow Spies. Dog Spies. Blogger

Motupalli, P. 2013. "Moooove over, I need to stretch out," said the cow. Dog Spies. Blogger

Hecht, J. 2013. Dog Farts Part 1: What Are Dog Farts Made Of? Dog Spies. Scientific American

Hecht, J. 2013. Dog Farts Part 2: How to Make Dog Farts Less Stinky. Dog Spies. Scientific American

Photo: Alexander Kesselaar, Fire Breathing Como Tunnel 2 Flickr Creative Commons License

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