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Dog Facts
Dogs have been man's pet for over 14,000 years. Dogs descended from the wolf family that roamed Europe, Asia, and North America. Scientists know that man and dogs have had a relationship for many years through their study of cave drawings, early pottery, and Asian ivory carvings.
INTERESTING DOG FACTS & TRIVIA
Mixed breeds" and "Cross breeds" are NOT the same. Mixed breed dogs have various lineage that is most likely unknown, as for cross breds, they are only 2 different breeds of dogs combined together. Mixed breed dogs are less likely to suffer from inherited diseases and disabilities than purebred dogs are.
According to Breed All About It (a television show), Royalty and The Rich used to like little dogs for an unusual reason. They would put the little lap dog under the covers before retiring so that bedbugs, fleas, etc., would go onto the dog instead of themselves!
A few rare and unusual dog breeds are the Podengo, Broholmer, Lundehund and Lowchen. The Podengo is also known as the Portuguese Warren Hound. It is usually a fawn or yellow color, but can be brown, black or sooty colored without white patches or spots. It resembled a long-bodied chihuahua. The Broholmer is a breed that is recognized only in Denmark. It was believed to of become extinct in the 1960's but, in December of 1974, a purebred Broholmer popped up in Finland. This dog, named Bjoern was a male, and the owners hoped to of found a female for him to mate with, this didn't happen. Bjoern died in 1975 and the breed has yet to appear again. The Lundehund is a breed which has lived solely on two islands in the north of Norway. The Lundehund has 5 toes, and seven or eight cushions! It is a climbing dog, bred for rugged terrain. The Lowchen is native to France. It's called "petit chien lion" or, "little lion dog." This is due to its fur growth, as it resembles a lion's mane.
The oldest American breed is the American Foxhound. This dates back to 1650!
As much as your dog likes rawhide.. it's not that great for them-well.. to much of anything is never good. You should limit your dogs' rawhide intake, as too much can cause stomach disrupts, constipation and diarrhea. Although, most dogs tolerate it very well, some don't. Just be careful. Always supervise your dog when they chew on anything.
Don't smile at any dog that you feel may be dangerous. To him, you would be baring your teeth as a sign of agression.
The gigantic Irish Wolfhound is so strong that he can pick up a Mastiff or Bulldog. When he was pitted against either in a fight, he would pick his opponent up by the back and simply shake him to death.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks have an actual ridge along the top of their backs, which is made up of forward-growing hairs.
The Saluki is represented in Sumarian carvings dated back to 7000 B.C. It is said that "Whenever one sees the word 'dog' in the Bible it means the Saluki."
The Boxer was so named for his manner of fighting - which is that he starts a fight with his front paws like a human boxer.
The tallest and shortest breeds of dogs you ask? Well.. The tallest breeds are the Great Dane, the Irish Wolfhound, the St. Bernard, the English Mastiff, the Borzoi, and the Anatolian Karabash (Turkish Shepherd Dog). All of these breeds can attain 36 inches (90 cm.) at the shoulder! As for the smallest breed of dog is the Chihuahua, which is between 2-6lbs. It has been recorded proof of a Chihuahua skeleton that was a total of 7 inches in length. There is no weight recorded on this skeleton, but estimates believe it couldn't be more than a pound! The second smallest breed of dog is the Yorkshire Terrier, which should officially not weight more than 7lbs. But, many pet Yorkies tend to get much larger than this standard.
The Great Pyrenees dogs are so sensitive to anesthesia that it can kill them. Great caution is required for any surgery for this breed.
Dalmations, with all those cute black spots, are born white.
Chow Chows were originally bred for three reasons: 1) of course, for a great pet/hunter/helper; 2) to keep people warm with their furry hides; and 3) as food (like pigs or cows).
The Afghan Hound is mentioned in writings as far back as 4000 B.C., and its name can be translated as "baboon" or "monkey-faced hound." Despite the unflattering name, he was a favorite of royalty.
The Bloodhound doesn't need to smell blood to find someone who is lost. It is said that his name instead means blooded hound, or aristocratic.
Did you know that the oldest pure-bred British dog is reckoned to be the Cardigan Welsh Corgi? Their proof of existance has been traced back to dogs brought to Wales by the Celts from the Black Sea around 1200 BC.
The Basenji doesn't bark.
Chow Chows have bluish black tongues and gums (which start out pink but turn dark by eight weeks).
Newfoundlands have webbed feet, making them great swimmers and divers.
Bassets can't swim. Their legs are too short to keep their heavy, long bodies afloat.
The five most popular dog breeds in 2004 by the AKC are: 1. Labrador Retriever; 2. Golden Retriever; 3. German Shepherd Dog; 4. Beagle; 5. Yorkshire Terrier
Dachshunds were bred to fight badgers in their dens
Some dogs have coats with two layers: the beautiful hair you can see, and a hidden, second coat called an undercoat. This undercoat helps a dog stay warm and dry in cold weather and it protects his skin from the hot sun, too
A puppy is born without teeth. When the pup is three to four weeks old, 28 teeth will break through the gums so the puppy will be able to eat solid food
Dalmatian puppies are pure white when they are born and develop their spots as they mature and grow older
A Golden Retriever's coat has two layers: the beautiful golden hair you can see, and a hidden, second coat called an undercoat. This undercoat helps a Golden stay warm and dry while he's swimming or in cold weather
A dog's temperature is between 100.2-102.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
German Shepherd Dogs love to herd. Although this dog's name sounds like 'SHEPARD', the correct spelling is 'SHEPHERD'. Notice the word 'herd' in his name.
Dogs were the first animals domesticated by people.
At 4-8 weeks of age, a puppy's mouth will get 28 baby teeth. At 4-7 months of age, the baby teeth fall out and are replaced with 42 permanent adult teeth.
There is no purebred dog called a Golden Lab. Your dog is either a Golden Retriever or a Labrador Retriever.
In the middle ages, Rottweilers were used to hunt boar, which are wild pigs with tusks
Dogs have been wearing collars ever since Egyptian times! We have seen dogs with collars in art that dates back to ancient times.
Chihuahuas are the smallest dog breed among registered dogs
Dogs are amazing creatures. Sometimes they gain fame through a stroke of luck and sometimes it’s due to extraordinary courage. You’ll enjoy this amazing dog trivia.
The Basset hound made famous in the Hush Puppies shoe commercials was named Biggles.
Biggles' grandson, Mr. Jeffries, earned fame as the dog with the longest ears in the world. His ears measured 11 and ½ inches each and he often tripped over them.
Tia, a 2 year old Neopolitan Mastiff gave birth to the world's largest litter in 2005. She delivered 24 puppies by caesarean section. Twenty of them survived, setting another record of the most surviving puppies.
The world's tallest dog is a Great Dane from Sacramento named Gibson. He measures 7 feet when standing upright.
Andrew Larkey of SYdney Australia, walked 11 dogs at once on leash for one kilometer.
Twelve veterinary science students from the University of Sydney set a record bathing dogs when they scrubbed 848 dogs in eight hours.
The real hero of the 1925 Serum Run was really Togo. The 12 year old husky led his sled dog team through 260 miles of blowing Alaskan blizzard to deliver emergency diphtheria serum to Nome. Balto received most of the fame because he led the final 55 miles.
The first search and rescue dog on the scene of the World Trade Center disaster on September 11. 2001, was Bear, an 11 year old Golden Retriever. He began recovery efforts immediately, working 18 hour days in the beginning.
Endal, a yellow Lab, helped rehabilitate a Gulf War veteran. He also saved Allen's life, when Allen was struck by a car and knocked from his wheelchair, unconscious. Endal pulled him into the recovery position, covered him with a blanket and grabbed his cell phone. After no response, he walked to a nearby hotel and raised the alarm.
Did you know that dogs have three eyelids? They have an upper and lower eyelid and a third one inside of the other two. It helps protect the eye from dirt and dust. It is also called a "haw".
Rin Tin Tin was the first American dog movie star and signed his own contracts for
22 movies with a pawprint.
Toto's role in The Wizard of Oz was played by a female Cairn Terrier named Terry.
In the late 1800's, Lassie type Collies were known as Scottish Sheepdogs.
George Washington had 36 foxhounds, and one was named Sweetlips.
Former President Lyndon Johnson howled with his favorite dog, Yuki, a stray rescued by his daughter, Luci, at a Texas gas station. He also had two Beagles named Him and Her.
Teddy Roosevelt's pit bull, Pete, once ripped off a French ambassador's pants at a White House event.
Franklin D. Roosebelt once spent $15,000 to have a destroyer return to the Aleutian Islands and retrieve his Scottie, Fala, who had been accidentally left behind.
Davy Crockett's dog was named Sport.
Zorba, an English Mastiff, is the heaviest dog on record, weighing 343 lbs at the age of 8 in 1989.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the smallest dog on record was a Yorkshire Terrier in Great Britain who, at the age of 2, weighed just 4 ounces.
The longest lived dog, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was an Australian Cattle Dog, named Bluey, who lived to be 29.
The first living being to travel in space was a small mixed breed dog named Laika, who gave her life orbiting the earth in the Russian Sputnik in 1957.
John F. Kennedy's terrier, Charlie, sired 4 puppies with Laika's daughter, Pushinka.
The Lundehund breed has 6 toes and can close its ears.
Dalmation puppies are pure white at birth.
Chihuahuas are born with a 'molera', or 'soft spot' like a human baby, which usually closes as they mature.
Dogs do not have an appendix.
An adult dog has 42 teeth.
The only sweat glands a dog has are between the paw pads.
A dog's normal body temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
If none are spayed or neutered, a female dog, her mate, and their offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in 6 years.
The most successful mountain rescue dog ever was a St Bernard, named Barry, who lived during the early 1800's and saved 40 lives.
A 12 lb Yorkshire Terrier named Oliver once defended an elderly woman from an 80 lb Akita. The woman escaped to safety and the Yorkie survived with only nine stitches.
A German Shepherd guide dog, named Orient, led her blind hiker the entire 2100 mile Appalachian
Did you know there is a dog museum? It's true! In St. Louis, Missouri, you will find The Dog Museum, founded by the American Kennel Club. There are paintings, sculptures, and other works of art that are about dogs or have dogs in them. Dogs have been in artworks that date back thousands of years!
People all over the world love to have dogs as pets. The United States and France have the most pet dogs. Almost one in three families in these countries own a dog. What countries have the least amount of pet dogs? Germany and Switzerland only have one dog for every ten families. They need more dogs!
Do dogs dream? If you look at your dog while it's sleeping, sometimes you'll see its eyes move and twitch under its eyelids. Humans do this too, and we definitely dream. So researchers are almost positive that dogs have dreams too. But guess what? No one knows what dogs dream about. Maybe the next time your dog wakes up from a dream, you can ask it!
Dogs are always smelling stuff. Wherever they go their snouts are sniffing. Why don't people do that? That's because a dog can smell a whole lot more than we can. Their sense of smell is about 1000 times better than a person's. Dogs can also hear a lot better than us. They hear high-pitched sounds (like some insects make), that we cannot even detect. Dogs need their good sense of smell and hearing because their eyesight is not as good as a human's. Do you know of any dogs that wear glasses?
We all know why dogs are considered man's best friend -- they're loyal, love unconditionally, provide constant companionship and, in the words of Lord Byron, are "the firmest friend, the first to welcome, foremost to defend." But there's a lot more about dogs that you may not already know. Here's some favorites:
All dogs are direct descendants of wolves. Technically all dogs, from the St. Bernard to the Chihuahua, are of the same species. This is why they can cross breed and produce fertile offspring. Some of the newest crossbreeds (or designer dogs) are Puggles (Pug/Beagle), Chowggles (Beagle/Chow Chow) Labradoodles (Labrador/Poodle), and Chiweiners (Chihuahua/Dachshund).
Dogs are the oldest known domesticated animal. Scientists believe that dogs and people have lived with each other for at least 14,000 years. Two pieces of evidence include: 1) Homer's "The Odyssey", which he wrote in 9 BC. In this classic epic Homer mentions dogs for the first time in literary history. 2) Pompeii. When this ancient Roman community was excavated, archeologists found remains of a dog lying across a child in the ashes left from Mount Vesuvius' eruption in AD 79.
There are more than 200 types of pure breed dogs. The American Kennel Club recognizes 165 of them and categorizes them into seven groups: sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting and herding.
Dogs senses are far superior to human senses. Some authorities estimate that some dogs' sense of smell is as high as 1 million times greater than ours. Also, dog can hear sounds 250 yards away that most people cannot hear beyond 25 yards.
Dogs have three eyelids. They have an upper and lower eyelid and a third one inside of the other two, which gives their eyes extra protection from dirt and dust.
The Westminster Dog Show is the second oldest, consecutively held sporting event in America. Established in 1877, it pre-dates the invention of the light bulb, automobile and the zipper.
There is a “Pooper-Scooper” law. Under this law, owners that don't scoop-up after their dog at a show are fined $100.
Terriers were bred to rid property of vermin such as rats
Dogs were first domesticated from wolves at least 17,000 years ago, but perhaps as early as 150,000 years ago based upon recent genetic fossil and DNA evidence. In this time, the dog has developed into hundreds of breeds with a great degree of variation. For example, heights at the withers range from just a few inches (such as the Chihuahua) to roughly three feet (such as the Irish Wolfhound), and colors range from white to black, with reds, grays, and browns occurring in a tremendous variation of patterns.
Dogs are highly social animals and this similarity in their overall behavioral pattern accounts for their trainability, playfulness, and ability to fit into human households and social situations. This similarity has earned dogs a unique position in the realm of interspecies relationships. The loyalty and devotion that dogs demonstrate as part of their natural instincts as pack animals closely mimics the human idea of love and friendship, leading many dog owners to view their pets as full fledged family members. Dogs seem to view their human companions as members of their pack, and make few, if any, distinctions between their owners and fellow canines. Dogs fill a variety of roles in society and are often trained as working dogs. Dogs that do not have traditional jobs, a wide range of dog sports provide the opportunity to exhibit their natural dog skills. In many countries, the most common and perhaps most important role of dogs is as companions. Dogs have lived with and worked with humans in so many roles that their loyalty has earned them the unique sobriquet "man's best friend."
Classifying dogs into categories began with the Romans. They had the following categories:
house dogs,
shepherd dogs,
sporting dogs,
war dogs,
dogs that ran by scent, and
dogs that ran by sight.
Today we classify dogs into similar categories. More than three hundred breeds of dogs exist worldwide. About 50 million dogs live in the United States. The American Kennel Club recognizes 148 breeds. These are divided into seven groups:
Group Breeds Original Uses
terrier Airedale Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Bull Terrier, Calrn Terrier, Irish Terrier, Fox Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier originally used in catching prey such as foxes, badgers, and rabbits
working guards, guides, and herders such as collie, boxer, Alaskan malamute, German shepherd dog, and the St. Bernard muscular, even-tempered, and obedient
sporting pointers, retrievers, setters, and spaniels active dogs - hunt by air scent
hound beagles, foxhounds, and bloodhounds & track their prey by ground scent
greyhound type such as whippets, borzois, and salukis hunt mainly by sight
herding Pembroke or Cardigan Welsh Corgi drive livestock and keep farm animals from straying
toy Pekinese, Pomeranian, and the pug pets and companions
nonsporting Boston terrier, bulldog, chow, Dalmatian, and poodle bred principally as pets and companions
Dogs vary greatly from breed to breed. The smallest breed is the Chihuahua. It weighs only 4 pounds and is 5 inches high at the shoulders. The tallest breed is the Irish wolfhound. It is about thirty-nine inches tall at the shoulder. The St. Bernard is the heaviest dog. It can weigh about 200 pounds. The Yorkshire terrier has hair that can be two feet long while other breeds may have no hair at all such as the Mexican hairless. The fur may be curly or straight. Some dogs have two coats. The outer coat is long guard hairs and the undercoat is shorter and fluffy. These two coats protect the dog against rain and snow. Some dogs have a long muzzle while others have flat faces such as the Pug. Many breeds have pointed ears that stand up. Others and pendulous ears than hang down. Some dogs have long legs such as the greyhound. Others are extremely short such as the basset hound and the dachshund. The chow chow even has a black tongue.
Dogs exist in a wide range of sizes, colors, and temperaments. Some, such as the Doberman pinscher and the German shepherd, serve as alert and aggressive watchdogs. Others, such as the beagle and the cocker spaniel, are playful family pets, even though they were bred for hunting. Still others, such as the collie and the Welsh corgi, can herd farm or range animals. Each of the dogs just mentioned is a purebred. A mongrel dog, however--one with many breeds in its background--can just as easily fit into family life.
Dogs have been domesticated for most of human history and have thus endeared themselves to many over the years. Stories have been told about brave dogs that served admirably in war or that risked their lives to save persons in danger. When Pompeii--the Roman community destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in AD 79--was finally excavated, searchers found evidence of a dog lying across a child, apparently trying to protect the youngster.
Perhaps few of the millions of dogs in the world may be so heroic, but they are still a source of genuine delight to their owners. The dog is one of the most popular pets in the world. It ordinarily remains loyal to a considerate master, and because of this the dog has been called man's best friend.
A dog fits easily into family life. It thrives on praise and affection. When a master tells a dog that it is good, the animal happily wags its tail. But when a master scolds a dog, it skulks away with a sheepish look and with its tail tucked between its legs.
People in the city as well as those in other areas can enjoy a dog. Medium-size or small dogs are best suited for the confines of the city. Large dogs need considerable exercise over a large area.
Dogs have been with humans since prehistoric times. Over the years they have performed various services. They have pulled sleds over snowy tracts. They have delivered messages, herded sheep and cattle, and even rescued persons trapped in the snow.
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
Even though all these dogs vary greatly in appearance, they are identical in anatomy. They have 321 bones and 42 permanent teeth. Most dogs are able to detect scents far better than humans. They can also hear high-pitched sounds.
Dogs mature by six months old. The smaller breeds usually mature before the larger breeds. Female dogs have a period of six to twelve days approximately twice a year when they are ready to mate. This is known as the season of heat. Puppies are born sixty-three days later. An average litter has three to six puppies.
Puppies are born helpless. They are blind and can not stand. They sleep ninety percent of the day and the other ten percent is spent nursing. Their eyes open about 13 to 15 days after birth. Between 4 to 10 weeks the puppies become attached to their mother and siblings. Puppies should not be separated from their mothers until they are eight weeks old. New puppies should be taken to a veterinarian for a physical examination and to be given vaccinations. These include immunizations for:
distemper - viral disease that damages the liver
leptospirosis - bacterial disease that damages the liver
hepatitis - viral disease that damages the liver
parvovirus - harms the intestinal tract
parainfluenza - causes respiratory
rabies - attacks the nervous system
Lyme disease - bacterial infection that is transmitted by parasitic deer ticks
kennel cough - respiratory disease
coronavirus - targets the intestinal tract
roundworms - intestinal parasites
heartworm - damages heart tissue
When a puppy is six months old it should be spayed or neutered if it is a non breeding dog. The normal body temperature of a dog is 101.5º F. When a dog becomes too warm it sticks out its tongue and pants.
Puppies should be feed three times a day. They should have plenty of fresh drinking water. Dogs should get exercise. Dogs need a clean sleeping box. This can be made with blankets or shredded paper. If your dog is an outside pet, he will need a warm doghouse with a dry, warm floor. The floor may be covered with cedar shavings, sawdust, or blankets. Outdoor dogs need shelter from the cold, rain, and sun. Indoor dogs must be taken outside regularly for elimination. Dogs with short coats need to be brushed once a week. Long haired dogs need daily grooming. Small dogs usually live twelve or more years while larger dogs have a shorter lifespan.
Dogs, mainly Beagles, endure distressful tests and painful surgical mutilation for medical and cosmetic research which may be irrevelant to humans.
Dogs are our own beloved companion pets but, over the years, they have suffered much pain and distress in the name of research. Dogs have been used to study maternal deprivation, the effects of smoking, chemical toxicity, and the effectiveness of medical devices. Laboratory dogs have endured surgical mutilation and distressful tests for research in organ transplants, trauma and shock training, diabetes, chemotherapy, cardiovascular diseases, pharmacological trials, dental care, cosmetics and many other subjects. They are not even allowed pain relief if it interferes with the nature of the test.
Some research dogs are bred specifically for research purposes and others are strays or ex-pets from shelters. However, some states have made it illegal for shelters to sell dogs to dealers for research labs. Although all breeds and mixes are used, Beagles are the most popular test dogs because of their size and docile temperament. Photos of Beagles and other dogs, just like yours and mine, being used in research can be found on the Internet. These photos are extremely graphic and disturbing. Please browse at your own risk.
The US Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook claims there are more than 60 million pet dogs living as members of households. Humans form strong bonds with their dogs and, as the public becomes more aware of the suffering of lab dogs and other animals, questions of morality, as well as accuracy and consumer safety, have arisen. Dog owners, and other concerned citizens, are putting pressure on researchers to find alternatives to animal testing.
According to the FDA, 92% of drugs that pass animal trials fail during human clinical trials. In February 2006, six men became deathly ill and fell into comas while participating in tests of a new therapeutic antibody which had passed animal trials. Animal testing can never completely reflect the human condition. In the last 20 years, the search for alternatives has escalated and barbaric methods are gradually being replaced by more accurate and cost-effective methods such as computer models, cell cultures, and human studies.
Some veterinary schools have stopped using lab animals and have implemented programs for students to learn by providing treatments and surgeries for shelter dogs and cats who would otherwise lack medical care.
The use of dogs and other animals in laboratories has been in decline since the 70’s. Concerned citizens can learn as much as possible about alternatives to animal testing and make a point to educate others. They can patronize companies that support alternatives as well as contact elected officials and urge them to support the development and implementation of more alternative tests. Students or those who know a student can urge the use of computer models instead of lab animal dissection. Education and dedication are key in refining, reducing, and replacing animal testing. Precious belongs in your lap, not wired to a lab table
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