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Pet Talk: All About Dogs

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].

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