Pet Talk: All About Dogs
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Dogs are called “man’s best friend” because of their loyalty to us. Below are some interesting facts about our canine companions.
- More than one in three U.S. families own a dog.
- Obesity is the top health problem among dogs.
- The fastest breed is the Greyhound, which can run up to 44 miles per hour.
- A dog’s nose print is as unique as a human fingerprint and it can actually be used to identify them.
- New puppies have heat sensors in their noses to help them find their mom while their eyes and ears are closed.
- Dogs can shake 70 percent of the water out of their fur in four seconds.
- Dogs have wet noses because it helps them absorb scents.
- The oldest dog, according to the Guinness World Records, was Bluey, an Australian Cattle dog who lived to be 29 years and 5 months.
- The average dog is as intelligent as a two-year-old child.
- It’s a myth that dogs only see in black and white. It’s believed they see primarily in blue, greenish-yellow and various shades of gray.
- Dalmatians are born completely white, and develop their spots as they get older.
- Yawning is contagious, even for dogs. Research shows the sound of a human yawn can trigger one from your dog.
- Dogs are right- or left-pawed, just as we are right- or left-handed.
- Dogs have the same brain wave patterns while they sleep as humans, so they dream just like we do.
- Dogs can hear about four times the distance of a human.
- The Basenji is the only breed of dog that can’t bark, but they yodel.
- The largest breed of dog is the Irish Wolfhound.
- The smallest breed of dog is the Chihuahua.
- Fifty-eight percent of dog owners include their dogs in their holiday photos.
- A dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 times better than ours. They can be trained to use this sense to detect cancer and other diseases in humans.
- Forty-five percent of dogs sleep in bed with their owners.
- Service dogs are recognized in the U.S. as necessary medical equipment.
- Therapy dogs, who bring comfort to people by visiting hospitals, schools or nursing homes, differ from service dogs that assist individuals with disabilities.
- Dogs get premature graying due to stress, just like we do.
- One female dog and her female offspring can produce more than 4,000 puppies in a seven-year span. This is why having your pets spayed and neutered is so important to avoid adding to pet overpopulation.
Sally Salopek is the owner and operator of Attend-A-Pet pet sitting services in northern Door County. She has also worked professionally with animals in health care, pet grooming, training, wildlife rehab and rescue. Send your pet-related questions to her at [email protected].