Tuesday, January 12, 2010

How did the Shar-pei get all those wrinkles?!



Science explains the wrinkly dog
By Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent, BBC News

Just how did the Shar-pei get its famous wrinkled appearance?

Scientists who have analysed the genetics of 10 pedigree dog breeds believe they now have the answer.

Their research identifies 155 distinct locations in the animals' genetic code that could play a role in giving breeds their distinctive appearances.

In the Shar-pei, the team found differences in a gene known as HAS2 which makes an enzyme known to be important in the production of skin.

"There was probably a mutation that arose in that gene that led to a really wrinkly puppy and a breeder said, 'hey, that looks interesting, I'm going to try to selectively breed this trait and make more of these dogs'," explained Joshua Akey from the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington, Seattle, US.

Small differences

The pedigree dog has become a fascination - and a remarkably useful research tool - for geneticists.

The domestication of the grey wolf more than 10,000 years ago, and the selective breeding that followed, has resulted in more than 400 breeds - each with a distinctive physique, coat colour and temperament.

These discrete populations give scientists the opportunity to compare and contrast the genetics of the different groups, making it easier to find the causes of specific traits.

"Man's best friend" is helping scientists locate the faulty genes that cause disease in both dogs and humans, as well giving a useful insight into how evolution works at a molecular level.

Dr Akey and colleagues studied 32 wrinkled and 18 smooth-coated Shar-peis and compared a specific stretch of their DNA with that of other breeds.

The team found four small, but significant, differences in the genetics of the two skin types of the Shar-pei versus the other breeds. These single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as they are called, were located in the HAS2 gene.

New targets

"HAS2 makes hyaluronic acid synthase 2, and it's an enzyme that makes hyaluronic acid, and that's one of the principal constituents of the skin," explained Dr Akey.

"There are rare human cases where there are mutations that lead to really severe wrinkling in humans, too.

"So, that suggested it was a good candidate to look at; and sure enough, when we sequenced it we saw that that gene explained wrinkling in Shar-peis," he told BBC News.

As well as giving insights into the Shar-pei, the research has also identified a raft of other locations in the dog genome that can now be investigated further to understand better why pedigree animals look the way they do.

"The thing that excites me most about our study is that in the last five years, five genes have been identified that contribute to this vast diversity in dog breeds," said Dr Akey.

"So our study found all five of those genes and then we found 150 new targets to explore. It's a powerful approach to look at the genetic legacy of selective breeding."

Dr Akey and colleagues report their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Local Adoption

As a new feature of our blog we will be posting some local dogs for adoption in an attempt to help some deserving pooches find a home. Our first featured pup is Ava, a Rottweiler, Lancaster Heeler Mix.
Who could resist that cute face!
Ava is located at Cathy's Rottie Rescue in North Stonington, CT. She is around 40 lbs., is spayed and has been well socialized, she loves other dogs.
For more info on this adorable pup, or if you would like to adopt her click the below link or email Cathy's Rottie Rescue at rottrsq@comcast.net.


Monday, January 4, 2010

read to your dog!


1. martha speaks by susan meddaugh
2. the dogs who found me by ken foster
3. from baghdad with love by lieutenant colonel jay kopelmen
4. help me mr. mutt by janet stevens and susan stevens crummel
5. the art of racing in the rain by garth stein
6. the everything dog book by carlos devito and dominique devito
7. merle's door by ted kerasote
8. dog by matthew vanfleet
9. broadway tails by bill berloni and jim hanrahan
10. walter the farting dog by william kotzwinkle and glenn murray

Sunday, January 3, 2010

a clean dog is a happy dog


a clean dog is a happy dog...and healthier too! we think that every dog deserves a special little spa treatment now and again along with regular bathing and grooming. here are some of our favorite suds and duds for getting your pup squeaky clean and smelling like a rose!

1. cure those rough, chapped, cracked paws and noses with happy tails spa "bow wow butter balm", 2. every dog needs a stylish cozy bathrobe to wrap up in after a long day at the spa! we love these dog bathrobes by harry barker...they even come in lots of color combos to chose from, 3. not only do we love the name of this "bubble + squeak" shampoo by olive green dog, but it smells amazing and is 100% organic!, 4. no one wants to deal with those nasty little bugs on their pup so we recommend using this "flea the scene" skin soothing insect spray by happy tails spa. it works like a charm and even has sunscreen!, 5. you will really "dig your dog" as Lani says after you bath and condition it in their "woods" line of shampoo and conditioner! go ahead and let your pup hit the mud because this particular concoction is for dogs who love to get extra dirty. for those slightly stinky in-between-bath days spritz a little "woods" body spray on your pooch and he will be fresh and clean until you can find time for a good scrubbing!, 6. and to wrap up our last favorite thing will let you do just that- wrap up your furry friend in one of these harry barker bone towels! the perfect size for any dog! towel off fido and he is free to play...in the dirt of course so you can do the spa day all over again!

photos: lani dig your dog, olive green dog, harry barker, happy tails spa

Friday, January 1, 2010

More Products At DSD Receiving Press

Did you know that the Cloudburst rain jacket from West Paw design was recently featured in Bark Magazine? These eco-friendly jackets are made from 100% recycled materials, though you would never know it from the way they look and how well they perform even in the wildest rainstorms.

Also featured as a "New Pup-Perfect Product" available at Dockside Dogs is the Great Unsinkables; durable, floating plush fish, seahorse and shark.