Hachi Spirit Blog

My Hachi and I would play hide and seek with a stuffed toy. I would wave it in front of him, then quickly pull it away when he tried to bite. After a while, he’d pretend to not be interested and look away. As soon as I placed the toy close to him, he’d turn around and snap at it! Sometimes, he tried to peek from the corners of his eyes. If he saw I was looking, he’d quickly look away. Ho-hum, who’s interested in a little toy? Not me… Hachi always had a strategy.
You might think you have an Einstein of a dog… or maybe their talents lie in areas other than their smarts. That’s OK, we love our dogs anyway!
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But how developed are our dogs’ brains, and can they use them for deception and cunning? It’s a really interesting question and gets deep into canine behavior and cognition.
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Click the link below to learn more about your dog’s brain and behavior on this month’s blog post. Leave your story in the comments!

After the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster of March 2011, the Japanese government wouldn’t allow residents to rescue their left-behind pets. It was deemed a health risk.
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Hachiko is just one symbol of the strength, beauty and resistance of animals. Tragically, some suffer at the hands of us humans.
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Click the link below to find out more and check out a book I recommend that perfectly captures the fragile existence of living creatures and their symbiotic relationships with humans. The tender collection of thoughts in this book will warm your heart and elevate your spirit.

Dogs are fantastic companions who bring all sorts of joy to our lives. Through them we can learn to open our hearts and live a life of meaning. Dogs also have very a very practical impact on our lives and our health, as we will discover here!
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Click the link below to learn 5 ways a dog can help your health and join the conversation on the blog.

Could a puppy prescription be a new treatment for old age?
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The dog-lovers among us have felt this to be true for a long time. I have certainly seen the benefits with my own eyes – but science has confirmed that owning a dog helps you live longer and healthier.
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Click the link below to find out more on the blog!

One minute I can be watching a movie, then all of a sudden the emotion wells up and then… Know the feeling?
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“A good cry.” The positive and negative going hand-in-hand. Crying can be seen as an expression of sadness, a cue that we need comforting. But there’s more to it than just that.
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Click the link below to learn more–Hachi: A Dog’s Tale is certainly a tear jerker for many!

As Hurricane Dorian made its way over the Bahamas and up the east coast of the United States and Canada last week, we’re still only beginning to understand the damage it has caused so far, particularly in hard-hit areas like the Bahamas. Unfortunately, animals in affected areas have suffered, too. According to reports from over the […]