•While most diseases are species-specific, dogs can become infected by human or bovine tuberculosis
• Canines have 7 blood groups
• All dogs are identical in anatomy - 321 bones and 42 permanent teeth
• Smaller breeds mature faster than larger breeds
• Female dogs are only ready to mate - "in heat" - twice a year for a total of roughly 20 days
• Animal gestation periods: the shortest is the American opossum, which bears its young 12 to 13 days after conception; the longest is the Asiatic elephant, taking 608 days, or just over 20 months.
• Dog saliva is antiseptic. Dog saliva was once believed to be antiseptic, and some people still believe it has healing properties. Though it can kill some bacteria, dog saliva contains its own exotic bacteria that can cause serious infections, especially in people whose immune systems are weak.
• Female dogs bear their young for 60 days before they're born
• Dogs' sense of hearing is more than ten times more acute than a human's. Humans can detect sounds at 20,000 times per second, while dogs can sense frequencies of 30,000 times per second.
• It is a myth that dogs are color blind. They can actually see in color, just not as vividly as humans. It is akin to our vision at dusk.
• A dog can hear sounds 250 yards away that most people cannot hear beyond 25 yards. The human ear can detect sound waves vibrating at frequencies up to 20,000 times a second. But dogs can hear sound waves that vibrate at frequencies of more than 30,000 times a second.
• A dog's heart beats between 70 and 120 times a minute, compared with a human heart which beats 70 to 80 times a minute.
• A female carries her young about 60 days before the puppies are born.
• Dogs DO have better low-light vision than humans because of a special light-reflecting layer behind their retinas.
• All breeds of dog have been found to attack livestock - from 3 month old puppies, all the way up to thirteen year old poodles
• A dog's heart beats up to 120 times per minute, or 50% faster than the average human heartbeat of 80 times per minute
• Dogs' only sweat glands are between their paw pads.
• Like human babies, Chihuahuas are born with a soft spot in their skull which closes with age.
• The breed Lundehune has 6 toes and can close its ears.
• A dog's mouth exerts 150-200 pounds of pressure per square inch, with some dogs exerting up to 450 pounds per squre inch.
• Dogs live 15 years on average
• Many foot disorders inn dogs are simply an issue of long toenails
• Average body temperature for a dog is 101.2 degrees
• A one year old dog is as mature, physically, as a 15 year old human
• Only dogs and humans have prostates, but dogs do not have an appendix
• A dog's smell is more than 100,000 times stronger than that of a human's, which they need because their eyesight is not as keen as a human's.
• Dogs judge objects first by their movement, then by their brightness, and lastly by their shape
• Dogs have two times as many muscles to move their ears as people
• The longer a dog's nose, the more effective it's internal cooling system
• Dogs are all direct descendants of wolves
• Wolves and dogs can mate to produce fertal offspring
• Female wolves have been known to travel great distances to regurgitate full meals for their hungry pups
____Behavioral
• Dogs have no sense of "time".
• Puppies sleep ninety percent of the day for their first few weeks
• Dogs are natural pack animals
• Dogs are naturally submissive to any creature with higher pack status - human or canine
• Dogs instinctively require the pack leader's approval
• Dogs with little human contact in the first three months typically don't make good pets
• After birth, puppies' eyes do not fully open until they're about 12 days old
• Their vision is not fully developed until after the 1st month
• Because of their keen sense of smell, dogs are used by police at times to track down escaped prisoners. Law enforcement agencies also rely on the dog's acute sense of smell to uncover illegal drugs. And specially trained dogs serve as the "eyes" of the blind, guiding the steps of their sightless masters around obstacles and hazards
• The normal “scratching rate” for a dog is 4 times /sec
• Dogs dream. If you watch your dog while it's sleeping, you'll see its eyes move and twitch under its eyelids or cry in their sleep.
____Historical
•The English Romantic poet Lord Byron was so devastated upon the death of his beloved Newfoundland, whose name was Boatswain, that he had inscribed upon the dog's gravestone the following: "Beauty without vanity, strength without insolence, courage without ferocity, and all the virtues of man without his vices."
•Canis Major - The Great Dog: The great dog follows his master, Orion, as he makes his annual journey through the sky. Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, is located on the shoulder of Canis Major. It is the brightest in the heavens, and its name means sparkling and scorching, as it is nearest to the sun during the height of summer.
•The hot, summer days - Dog Days - which Sirius was thought to cause, run from July 3 to August 11th. The three stars of Orion's Belt point at the Dog Star, Sirius, in Canus ajor at Orion's heels. It is best seen in the northern hemisphere during winter, between December and March
•The expression "three dog night" originated with the Eskimos and means a very cold night - so cold that you have to bed down with three dogs to keep warm.
•According to ancient Greek literature, when Odysseus arrived home after an absence of 20 years, disguised as a beggar, the only one to recognize him was his aged dog Argos, who wagged his tail at his master, and then died.
•A dog known as Saur or Suening, was "king" of Norway for three years during the 11th century AD. The Norwegian king, angry that his subjects once deposed him, put Saur on the throne and demanded that it be treated regally.
•George Washington's favorite horse was named Lexington. Napoleon's favorite was Marengo. U.S. Grant had three favorite horses: Egypt, Cincinnati, and Jeff Davis.
•The bible mentions dogs 14 times.
•Three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic - a Newfoundland, a Pomeranian, and a Pekingese.
•In Roman times, mastiffs donned light armor and were sent after mounted knights.
•Every dog on earth likely descended from a species knows as the Tomarctus - a creature that roamed the earth over 15 million years ago.
•The oldest known breed is likely the Saluki - originally trained by Egyptians to help them track game.
•The earliest dog fossil dates back to nearly 10,000 B.C.
•Dogs were first domesticated by cavemen
____Myths
•In the world of canines, a howling dog at night also means bad luck. A black dog is also considered unlucky in some parts of the world. But if your newborn is licked by a dog, he or she will always be a fast healer.
•A cold, wet nose means a dog is healthy. The temperature or feel of a dog's nose is not indicative of its health. Normal canine body temperature ranges from 101 to 103 degrees; however, veterinarians agree a dog may still have a cold, wet nose while running a temperature of 105 degrees. Never disregard other possible signs of illness simply because a dog's nose says otherwise. Just the same, a dry nose is no need for panic. Dehydration can cause a dry nose, as can many other things. Consult a veterinarian if the condition persists more than a day or two or if other symptoms are present.
•Dogs are colorblind. Dogs can actually see all types of light and colors, just not as well or sharply as we do. They see in teh day as we may see at night, the image may be blurry or difficult to focus on.
Research conducted in the 1980s at the University of California at Santa Barbara indicated otherwise: The studies revealed dogs could distinguish between a red ball and a blue ball, white light and colored lights, and closely related hues of violet and blue. They cannot make a distinction between colors from greenish yellow through orange and red. As more research is done, our limited understanding of canine vision is sure to shift again.
•Dogs eat grass because they have worms. Grass-eaters are not necessarily indicative of worms or other illness. It could be that your dog is suffering a deficiency of minerals, or other types issues. Occasionally, a dog may just like to eat grass!
•A wagging tail means a happy dog. Not true... Many things depend on how the tail is being wagged. An erect, upward tail could mean that the dog is aggressive and dominant. Always look for signs that tell what the animal may be thinking.
•Feed your dog raw eggs to help its coat become shinier and softer. This practice can be extraordinarily dangerous to dogs. With eggs and the general food supply becoming contaminated, and the added problem of salmonella poisoning, it's best to avoid any raw foods. Your dog’s coat can be improved by adding in fish oil and fatty acids. Feeding a high quality diet will also help tremendously.
•A female dog should go through at least one heat cycle before being spayed. This myth alone is responsible for millions of deaths each year. Spay your dogs! Spaying your female dog before her first heat cycle has been shown to cut down on certain types of cancer that develop later in life, such as mammary gland tumors.
•Dogs can heal their wounds by licking them. While it is true that a dog’s saliva contains certain virus-fighting properties, we are not sure how extensive those properties are. Allowing your dog to lick a wound will cause more damage than harm. The best way to insure healing is to follow your vet’s instructions!
•Dogs eat feces because they lack certain nutrients. "Feces eating can be related to an internal organ disease, so it could be related to a lack of nutrients. But more often than not, it's behavior-related," Dr. Beaver said. "In young dogs, it may simply be exploratory in nature. Frequently, however, it's the result of boredom."
If a veterinary examination reveals no medical problem, owners can try several options before consulting an animal behaviorist. For dogs that raid the cat's litter box, the solution may be as simple as putting the box up high or in a room accessible only to the cat (via a small cat door). Bored dogs can be stimulated with additional playtime and activities. Clean up stools immediately in the yard or take the dog outside on a leash to relieve itself. When you aren't around to supervise, try one of the products designed to be sprinkled on the dog's food to discourage feces eating. They change the scent of a dog's waste, making it distasteful even to Mr. Disgusto, according to label claims.
•Certain breeds of dogs (poodle, Labradoodle, etc.) are hypoallergenic. Unfortunately, no proof exists that back this claim up. Certain breeds may not shed or may shed less than others, but that doesn't make their owners allergy-free. Allergies are generally released through the mouth, as the dog licks and/or cleans itself, which are then discharged into the air. This in mind, the coat of a dog would make little to no difference in the allergy levels of a person.
____Just the Facts
•The Henry Ford Health System in Detroit followed 833 children from birth to age 6 or 7, and found that children who were exposed to dogs and cats 1 year or younger were significantly less likely to test positive for allergies later in life than those who were not.
•At the end of the Beatles' song "A Day in the Life", an ultrasonic whistle, audible only to dogs, was recorded by Paul McCartney for his Shetland sheepdog.
•Carnivorous animals will not eat another animal that has been hit by a lightning strike.
•A German Shepherd guide dog led her blind companion the entire 2100 mile Applachian Trail.
•Newfoundlands are great swimmers because of their webbed feet.
•Basset Hounds cannot swim.
•Bloodhounds are prized their ability to single out and identify a number of scents simultaneously
•Dalmatian puppies are born completely white.
•The Ancient Chinese carried Pekingese puppies in the sleeves of their robes
•Boxers are so named because of their manner of playing with their front paws
•The Labrador Retriever is the #1 favorite breed in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
•Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on earth, with speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.
•Bingo is the name of the dog on the side of the Cracker Jack box.
•The phrase "raining cats and dogs" originated in 17th century England when it is believed that many cats and dogs drowned during heavy periods of rain.
•Dachshunds were originally bred for fighting badgers.
•The world's smartest dogs are thought to be (1) the border collie, (2) the poodle, and (3) the golden retriever, while the dumbest dog is believed to be the Afghan hound.
•Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine (similar to caffeine) which can kill dogs or at the very least make them violently ill
•Up until the late 1800's, Collies were known as Scottish Sheepdogs
•All dogs are probably descended from an animal called Tomarctus. This animal lived approximately 15 million years ago.
•Stone-aged people tamed dogs to help them track game. About eight thousand years ago, ancient Egyptians raised Saluki hunting dogs.
____Specific Breeds
•Greyhounds are the most ancient dog breed.
•The basenji, an African wolf dog, is the only dog in the world that cannot bark.
•Bulldogs were originally bred to bait and fight bulls and bears.
•The "Dingo" is the wild dog of Australia.
•Basenji dogs and Australian dingoes are virtually identical.
•There are 703 breeds of purebred dogs
•The pom-pom cut was originally developed to increase the poodle's swimming abilities as a retriever. The haircut allowed for faster swimming but the pom-poms were left to keep the joints warm.
•Dachshunds were bred to fight badgers in their dens.
•Boxers are named for their playful habit of using their front paws in frolic.
•Newfoundland dogs have webbed feet, making them strong and agile swimmers.
•Ancient Chinese royalty carried Pekingese dogs in the sleeves of their royal robes.
•The Russians trained dogs during WWII to run suicide missions with mines strapped to their backs.
____Statistics
•According to American Pet Product Manufacturers Association, Inc. (APPMA), more than 15 million Americans travel with their pet each year.
•The Travel Industry Association of America notes, that of the pets traveling with their owners, dogs are the most common type of pet to take along (78%). Cats came in a distant second with 15%, while others report traveling with birds (2%) and either a ferret, rabbit, or fish (3%).
•Pet owners report that an automobile or truck is the primary mode of transportation (76%) when traveling with their pet, followed by RV (10%) and airline (6%). While travelers with pets most often stay with friends/relatives (32%), an almost equal number stay in a hotel or motel (29%).
•An estimated 4 - 6 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters each year.
•Millions more are abandoned, only to suffer from illness or injury before dying.
•Nearly 25% of dogs entering shelters each year are purebreds.
•If never spayed or neutered, a female dog, her mate, and their puppies could product over 66,000 dogs in 6 years!
•The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world. France has the 2nd highest.
•Germany and Switzerland only have one dog for every ten families.
•The average city dog lives 3 years longer than a country dog.
•15 people die in the U.S. every year from dog bites.
•In 2002 alone, more people in the U.S. were killed by dogs than by sharks in the past 100 years.
•19. 87% of dog owners say their dog curls up beside them or at their feet while they watch T.V.
•More than 5,000,000 puppies are born in the U.S. every year
•More than 1 in 3 American families own a dog
•Obesity is the #1 health problem among dogs.
•An estimated 1,000,000 dogs in the U.S. have been named as the primary beneficiaries in their owner's will.
•An American Animal Hospital Assoc. poll found that 33% of dog owners admit to talking to their dogs on the phone and leaving answering machine messages for them while away.
•Dog's nose prints are as unique as a human's finger prints and can be used to accurately identify them.
•70% of people sign their pet's name on greeting and holiday cards.
•58% put pets in family and holiday portraits.
•There are only 350 Cisky Terriers in the world - perhaps the rarest breed.
•Humans have kept dogs as pets for over 12,000 years.
•The world’s largest breed of dog is the Irish Wolfhound.
•The world's smallest dog breed is the Chihuahua.
•The St. Bernard is the world’s heaviest breed of dog.
•The Chihuahua was named after the state in Mexico where they were discovered
____Strange Laws
•In Miami, it is forbidden to imitate an animal.
____Cleaning Tips
•Choosing flooring surfaces that are easy to keep clean and stand up better to canine nails. These include tile, wood, etc.
•Keep your home well ventilated.
•Use allergen-resistant covers on mattresses and pillows.
•Do not delay cleanups. Messes are easier to clean when they are fresh, and are less likely to leave a permanent stain.
•Use vacuums with high-efficiency air filters to help clean the air.
•Do not use ammonia-based cleaners on dog messes as they smell like urine.
•Use an enzyme-based dog odor neutralizer to kill the urine scent.
•Focus on areas where odors lurk. Spots where dogs sleep eat and play can harbor stinking smells. Thoroughly clean up these areas at least twice a week.
•Use air purification devices to reduce allergens and eliminate household odors.
•Saturate the area with a product for removing stains and odors. Wait a few minutes then vacuum it with a wet-and-dry shop vacuum.
•Avoid wool or cotton fibers for carpets and instead opt for synthetic carpets that have a stain shield.
•Choose tightly woven fabrics and avoid loose or open weaves, when selecting upholstery fabrics. Tight fabrics would resist tears and rips from claws.
____Entertainment Dogs
•The first dog in space, Laika, was aboard the Soviet satellite Sputnik 2 in 1957.
• George Washington had thirty six dogs - all foxhounds - with one named Sweetlips
• The first Lassie starred in the 1942 movie 'Lassie Come Home'.
• An elderly woman was saved by her 12 pound Yorkshire Terrier who fought off an 80 pound Akita and survived with only 9 stitches
• U.S. Customs dogs "Rocky" and "Barco" were so good at patrolling the border that Mexican drug lords put a $300,000 bounty on their heads
• A notorious French dog named Le Diable smuggled lace and other costly items across the French border under a false skin dyed various colors by its owners to baffle the customs guards.
• Rin Tin Tin was a German shepherd who ranked as one of the all-time famous canine movie stars. "Rinty" was in 22 movies before its death in 1932. He even signed his movie contracts - all 22 of them - with a pawprint!
• Cerberus was the tri-headed dog that guarded the underworld in Greek mythology
• Soter was the only one of 50 watchdogs of ancient Greece who survived attack by invaders. He ran to the gates of Corinth to warn the citizens.
• Teddy Roosevelt's dog, Pete, ripped a French ambassador's pants off at the White House.
• President Lyndon Johnson had two beagles named Him and Her.
• Franklin Roosevelt spent $15,000 for a destroyer to pick up his Scottie in the Aleutian Islands.
• Gidget is the name of the Taco Bell dog.
• The Wizard of Oz's Toto was played by a female Cairn Terrier named Terry
• In 1957, Laika became the first living being in space via an earth satellite
• JFK's terrier, Charlie, father 4 puppies with Laika's daughter
• Davy Crockett had a dog named Sport
• The oldest dog on record - a Queensland "Heeler" named Bluey - was 29 years, 5 months old
• The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts both offer merit badges in dog care
