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For most dog owners, their animal isfamily, so learning that their baby in fur has disappeared is devastating. But just as Lassie was able to travel hundreds of kilometers to find Joe in the Hollywood ClassicLassie returns home, There are many real stories of dogs bringing together their owners after finding their way back, even by far. According to researchers and experts, this could be the result of a surprising competence that our canine companions have. Read the rest to find out how dogs can find their way.

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The biggest fear of their four -legged friend is the biggest fear of animal owners. Unfortunately, many should end up living this. According to the American Humane Association, one in three animals will be lostat one point During their life. This is equivalent to approximately 10 million dogs and cats lost or stolen in the United States each year.

Fortunately, the chances of being united with a member of the fur family are high, in particular depending on the type of animal you have. An investigation by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (ASPCA) revealed that 85% of dogs and cats lostend up recovering. But dogs are much more likely to be united with their owners, because 93% of lost dogs are recovered while only 74% of lost cats are.

It might have something to do with the surprising way that experts say dogs can find their way.

Although there are many famous stories about dogs miraculously bringing together with their owners, it is not always clear how it happens. But recent research in the Czech Republic has lost more knowledge of what could play a role.

Researchersconducted With 27 dogs of 10 different breeds, all equipped with cameras and CPS passes. They were watched while finding their way to their owners thanks to more than 600 trials in the forest. The results, published in 2020Elife Study, show that in a third of the cases, dogs seemed to use their innate capacity to detect the magnetic fields of the earth as a means of navigating.

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Magnetic monitoring has been largely sought after in other animals. "It has been well established that a wide range of organisms has a" magnetic sense ", that is to say magnetore conception, which is used forSpatial orientation and navigation, "Czech researcherKateřina Benediktová told American Kennel Club (AKC). "Pigeons and migratory birds [are particularly well studied] as well as sea turtles, amphibians and insects."

According to Benediktová, dogs were under-represented in the field of research surrounding magnetic navigation. ButBrian Jones, adog expert And the founder of Best in Edmonton, explains that Dogs "can use the magnetic field of the earth and the shiny stars like the Star North and the Betelgeuse as a compass". He adds that this could "explain why some dogs can travel hundreds of kilometers to go home".

Although the ability to detect the magnetic fields of the earth is certainly a unique technique, it is not the number one for dogs that are found in them. According to the Czech study, around 60% of dogs used a proven method to return to their owner: sniff.AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

"Canines have an excellent direction of orientation, and the way it works is through the perfume. Since dogs have such an incredible smell, they are able to focus on certain familiar perfumes, following them for long distances, "Jacquelyn Kennedy, acanine behavior specialist and founder of Petdt, tellsBetter life. "They are able to find their way at home using familiar scents overlapping, to focus slowly in the right direction, a bit like a perfume compass. These perfumes can belong to people, animals, trees or trees or to parks, objects and dogs clean urine. "

But unlike the magnetic field method, there may be space for error when a dog uses his nose to find his way. "The exception is when dogs end up being too far away and there are no familiar perfumes in the region to guide them, or when perfumes mix with others, driving them," said Kennedy. But still, the animal expert says that most dogs are generally able to find their way through one of these methods.