1142. Cats Vs. Dogs. Who's Smarter? Dr. Ernie Ward Chimes In On The Age Old Question.

Summary: The extremely charismatic Dr. Ernie Ward is back on Animal Radio to answer the age-old question about which pet is more intelligent, the Dog or the Cat? You may be surprised by the answer, unless you own a cat… or a cat owns you! Also, your next dog, or your parent's next dog, could very well be a robot. Hasbro has launched a new life-like robotic dog.  It's a companion pet pup to go with their companion pet cat already on the market. Both are designed to bring comfort and companionship to aging adults. The robotic cat, with its really soft fur, gently vibrates when it purrs, while the puppy barks and cocks its head when you speak. But they are far from being the only robot pets on the market. Also, you may have seen the viral video of Strawberry, the chicken that watches TV. She's our guest along with her guardian, Olivia Fox. According to Olivia, TV isn't the only bad habit this chicken has. Apparently Strawberry enjoys some of the sweeter things in life. Also, the MU Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction is introducing a new research program titled, “The Feline Friends Project.” The project will pair children with autism with a cat and monitor the impact the cat has on the child's anxiety level and social skills. The research center has published several studies that outline the benefits that children with autism receive from having pets in the home, citing increased social skills as a primary benefit.