In this study, 11 healthy dogs (M5, F6; age range 6 to 78 months) were used as subjects to investigate behavioural responses to the categorical transformation of human faces. When she presented a "come" command to a dog, the experimenter varied a section of her face in following ways: no change (normal condition); whole face hidden (condition 1); eyes/nose/mouth hidden (condition 2, 3, and 4, respectively); and face inverted (condition 5). At the start of the experiment, the experimenter and dog were 4 m apart and were facing each other. Tests were filmed by using two video cameras on tripods. When condition 1 (whole face hidden) or 4 (mouth hidden) was used, the continuance time of the "standing" posture after the dog had approached the experimenter was longer than when normal condition was used. The trends in behavioural continuance time differed among the various conditions. Dogs might therefore recognise such categorical transformations of human faces.

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a major psychiatric disorder characterized by hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. ADHD is also observed in dogs. The most frequently prescribed drug used to treat ADHD is methylphenidate, which acts on the dopamine transporter to increase the release of dopamine, and thus highlights the potential role of the dopamine transporter in ADHD pathogenesis. Because dopamine plays a key role in ADHD, we determined the DNA sequences of the dopamine transporter gene, SLC6A3 in 22 beagle dogs. With regard to ADHD score, behavioral questionnaires were also administered to their handlers. Polymorphisms at four sites were identified in the SLC6A3 gene. Dogs with genotypes AA in A157T; GG in G762A; or those ≤2 years old had higher scores of inattention. Dogs that were ≤2 years old also had higher scores of motor activity and impulsivity. These results suggest that ADHD in dogs is associated with the dopamine transporter. However, further studies are required in order to establish this fact.

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Ban Tha Klang is a village of the Guay people in Surin province of northeast Thailand. Guay people have worked with elephants as mahouts for a long time. In 1989, Thai government banned logging and many mahouts that had worked in logging with their elephants lost their jobs. After that, mahouts started to work in circus shows or selling food to tourists to feed to their elephants on the streets of big cities (street begging). In 2005, Surin administration organization established the Surin Elephant Study Center in Ban Tha Klang. They started the project to stop the street begging and take the mahouts and their elephants back to Surin. The mahouts who return to Surin can get some financial support from the organization to live there with their families and elephants. Today about 200 elephants are registered at the Center. In this paper, we describe the current situation of mahouts and their elephants at the Center.

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