Top Dog News of 2025

In this article:

• A dog and a crow became best friends
• Researchers found that dog breeds started taking shape a long time ago
• Scientists found that dogs may protect against childhood asthma
• Still more researchers found that dogs can ease pain
• Dog ownership kept climbing
• The Farmer’s Dog helped bring back one very special (and big) senior dachshund

As always, dogs made a lot of headlines in 2025. These were some of our favorites.

A dog and a crow became best friends

After a Portland, Oregon woman named Autumn Buck rescued a baby crow that fell out of a tree, the bird and her border collie, Meeko, became pals. Buck said that the crow, naturally named Russ, even “knocks on the door” looking for Meeko. What more do you need to hear?

Researchers found that dog breeds started taking shape a long time ago

Scientists examining dogs’ skulls discovered that, more than 10,000 years ago, some dogs showed qualities—and variations—that resembled those in the modern dog breeds we know today. For details, and what this means about the human-dog relationship, read news coverage and the full study.

In other dog-evolution research, scientists told us that dogs may have “domesticated themselves” because they liked eating humans’ food scraps.

Scientists found that dogs may protect against childhood asthma

Researchers determined that babies who grow up with a pet dog are half as likely to develop childhood asthma as those without a dog. Cats did not seem to deliver the same benefit.

Other scientists found that dogs can ease pain

Study participants who submerged their hands in cold water reported less pain—and showed fewer signs of it—when their dog was in the room with them.

Dog ownership kept climbing

The most recent American Pet Products Association survey found that Americans own around 68 million dogs, up from 65.1 million in the 2023–24 edition.

The Farmer’s Dog helped bring back one very special (and big) senior dachshund

After a 13-year hiatus, the iconic Fredia took another W-A-L-K down the streets of Manhattan for the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®️. She is 22 feet long and generally spectacular. We wrote all about her on Digest.