Pets | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/pets/RSS feed for PetsenFri, 16 Oct 2026 16:00:00 +0000Small Dogs Tend to Live Longer Than Big Dogs. Scientists Say They Might Finally Know Why—and It Goes to the Molecular Levelhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/small-dogs-tend-to-live-longer-than-big-dogs-scientists-say-they-might-finally-know-why-and-it-goes-to-the-molecular-level-180989695/Larger breeds like Great Danes seem to accumulate changes to chemical tags on their DNA more quickly than tinier breeds, such as chihuahuas. These alterations allow potentially harmful 'jumping genes' to move around their genomesFri, 16 Oct 2026 16:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/small-dogs-tend-to-live-longer-than-big-dogs-scientists-say-they-might-finally-know-why-and-it-goes-to-the-molecular-level-180989695/See the Impressive Winning Images of Adorable, Somber and Commanding Canines From the 2026 Dog Photography Awardshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-impressive-winning-images-of-adorable-somber-and-commanding-canines-from-the-2026-dog-photography-awards-180989609/Posing pit bulls, stoic galgos and frisbee-chasing Aussies feature among the annual competition’s prize winnersMon, 05 Oct 2026 13:24:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-impressive-winning-images-of-adorable-somber-and-commanding-canines-from-the-2026-dog-photography-awards-180989609/Allergic to Dogs? These Gene-Edited Beagles Could Pave the Way to Your Dream Canine Companion That Won't Trigger Sniffleshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/allergic-to-dogs-these-gene-edited-beagles-could-pave-the-way-to-your-dream-canine-companion-that-wont-trigger-sniffles-180989303/Geneticists altered Alfie and Bailey’s DNA so that they don't produce a major allergen. However, canines like them are not currently commercially available, and some experts express ethical concerns about altering the animals' genesTue, 01 Sep 2026 19:12:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/allergic-to-dogs-these-gene-edited-beagles-could-pave-the-way-to-your-dream-canine-companion-that-wont-trigger-sniffles-180989303/