Dog driving a train? This morning in the UK, a sheepdog took control of a tractor which ended up on a busy motorway. Traffic Scotland reported the bizarre event, which caused tailbacks on the road.
The transport body tweeted: ''M74 (N) J13-RTC due to dog taking control of tractor... nope, not joking. Farmer and police at scene, vehicle in central res.''
It later emerged that the sheepdog in question was Don, who had been sitting alone in the passenger seat of his owner's farm vehicle when the farmer went to tend to a lamb. The dog must have leaned on the controls of the tractor, taking it from a field on to the road, although his owner believes the handbrake probably wasn't on tightly enough.
A road maintenance man arrived at the same time and stopped the traffic. The tractor didn't crash into another vehicle, although the windscreen shattered and Don ended up with a sore paw.
The incident led to plenty of dog puns as people responded to Traffic Scotland's tweets.
''Police investigating, so far no leads,.' & ''This is barking.'' ''Will the dog have points on his licence? Was he breathalysed? Did police arrest him?''
Although dogs can't actually drive a vehicle, dogs and humans have been living side-by-side for about 15,000 years. We are alike in many ways.
About 6 million dogs are diagnosed with cancer each year, and dogs get canine versions of rare human disorders as well.
Obedient, docile dog breeds live longer, according to research published in June 2010 in The American Naturalist. Research on the energy use, personalities, growth rates and life spans of 56 dog breeds revealed that bold, aggressive breeds lived fast and died young. They grew faster than obedient, eager-to-please breeds, and also had higher energy needs. Perhaps in selectively breeding for personality, humans inadvertently tapped into linked traits like metabolism and longevity.
The transport body tweeted: ''M74 (N) J13-RTC due to dog taking control of tractor... nope, not joking. Farmer and police at scene, vehicle in central res.''
It later emerged that the sheepdog in question was Don, who had been sitting alone in the passenger seat of his owner's farm vehicle when the farmer went to tend to a lamb. The dog must have leaned on the controls of the tractor, taking it from a field on to the road, although his owner believes the handbrake probably wasn't on tightly enough.
A road maintenance man arrived at the same time and stopped the traffic. The tractor didn't crash into another vehicle, although the windscreen shattered and Don ended up with a sore paw.
The incident led to plenty of dog puns as people responded to Traffic Scotland's tweets.
''Police investigating, so far no leads,.' & ''This is barking.'' ''Will the dog have points on his licence? Was he breathalysed? Did police arrest him?''
Although dogs can't actually drive a vehicle, dogs and humans have been living side-by-side for about 15,000 years. We are alike in many ways.
About 6 million dogs are diagnosed with cancer each year, and dogs get canine versions of rare human disorders as well.
Obedient, docile dog breeds live longer, according to research published in June 2010 in The American Naturalist. Research on the energy use, personalities, growth rates and life spans of 56 dog breeds revealed that bold, aggressive breeds lived fast and died young. They grew faster than obedient, eager-to-please breeds, and also had higher energy needs. Perhaps in selectively breeding for personality, humans inadvertently tapped into linked traits like metabolism and longevity.
Do you think dogs show guilt in those puppy-dog eyes when you scold him for the umpteenth time about his behavior? Researchers say he responding to your rebuke. When dog owners thought their dogs had eaten a forbidden treat and reprimanded them, the canines looked guilty regardless of whether or not they had actually done the deed. In fact, dogs who were wrongly accused of snack-snatching often looked more guilty than dogs who had really eaten the treat. Turns out those soulful eyes don't reflect conscience at all.
What about envy? Dogs know when they're not getting a fair shake. A study found that when dogs saw other dogs getting treats for a trick they'd been performing unrewarded, the unrewarded dogs became agitated.
What about envy? Dogs know when they're not getting a fair shake. A study found that when dogs saw other dogs getting treats for a trick they'd been performing unrewarded, the unrewarded dogs became agitated.
We all know dogs are smart. Research shows canines are as smart as a 2-year-old child. Border collies are the top dogs in the intelligence category, with some in the breed capable of understanding up to 200 words. Poodles, German shepherds, Golden retrievers and Dobermans round out the top five smartest breeds. (The most popular breed in America, the Labrador retriever, comes in at number seven.) Older breeds like hound dogs, bulldogs and beagles are among the slow learners of the doggie world, the researchers reported. Unlike newer dog breeds designed for companionship and sociability, old breeds were bred to sniff and hunt, perhaps giving them more brawn than brain.
On the recommendation of friends, we welcomed a beagle into our family back in the late 60s. He nearly drove me made with his lack of attention span. He would run around the inside perimeter of our fence barking and showing aggressive behavior.
But our last dog, a greyhound named Tiger, showed loving restraint in all he did. Once, when walking on a lead through the forest on the opposite side of the road to our home, I tripped over tangled undergrowth. Tiger rushed back to me and begged forgiveness for pulling so hard.
He never tried to drive the car though.
On the recommendation of friends, we welcomed a beagle into our family back in the late 60s. He nearly drove me made with his lack of attention span. He would run around the inside perimeter of our fence barking and showing aggressive behavior.
But our last dog, a greyhound named Tiger, showed loving restraint in all he did. Once, when walking on a lead through the forest on the opposite side of the road to our home, I tripped over tangled undergrowth. Tiger rushed back to me and begged forgiveness for pulling so hard.
He never tried to drive the car though.
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