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STUDY: Dogs Are Confused by Magic

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A new study from the Finnish Maaginen University found that dogs do not have a good handle on simple magic tricks.

“These are not even complex illusions,” said professor Jaakko Järvenpää. “Simple sleight of hand, but pups were completely flummoxed.”

The study was accompanied by the release of two videos taken during the tests (part 1 is above, part 2 can be seen here) which show a dogs from a variety of breeds acting baffled by beginner-level magic tricks. According to Järvenpää, the results are clear: dogs just lack the brain capacity to comprehend abstract concepts like illusion.

Canine defenders disagree.

“This study is bogus,” said Antoine Gilbert of the Puppy Alliance, and organization that fights for canine rights. “Just look at who funded it and you’ll see why we should approach it with skepticism.”

Following Gilbert’s tip, The Fluffington Post has uncovered documents that indicate that the bulk of the funding for the Maaginen study came from “Scratching Post, LLC.” Scratching Post is a shell company acting on behalf of a group of wealthy cats from New York City.

Representatives from the group could not be reached for comment.

H/T: The Daily Dot.

Model Dog Signs with American Apparel

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Model Dog Signs with American Apparel

By Ashley Welter, FluffPo Correspondent

A Los Angeles pup named Scooter has signed on to become the new face of struggling retailer American Apparel, making him the brand’s first four-legged cover model. 

“Scooter moved to LA last year with one goal in mind — making it big,” his agent, Jenn Burskowitz, told The Fluffington Post. Until his big break, Scooter had been waiting tables at Hollywood’s iconic Roosevelt Hotel just to pay the bills.  

Mark Shapiro, a frequent patron of the Roosevelt, described Scooter as, “A hard worker who’s just trying to make an honest buck. He waited on me several times, and he’s really just a good guy. That’s rare in Hollywood, and he deserves to make it big." 

It may have taken a year, but for Scooter, this is a huge step forward for his career. Industry-watchers are less impressed by the move for American Apparel, however.

"There’s no doubt Scooter is a cute dog,” said BusinessWeek reporter Stacey Cabelle, “but the move reeks of desperation. They’re slipping in the two-legged market, so they’ve hired a fresh face to try cracking the four-legged one.”

Cabelle isn’t sold on the strategy, citing stiff competition in that market from established designers like Furberry and Hugo Bosston Terrier.

Via brysi.