Dogs are truly an amazing species. Did you know that the smallest dog is only 4 inches tall? Or that each dog’s nose is as unique as a human fingerprint? How about research that suggests cats may be smarter than dogs? This week I’ve put together a list of interesting and fun trivia designed to make you say, “Hey, I didn’t know that.”
Breed Trivia
· Dalmatian puppies are born with a pure white coat. Their spots usually begin to appear within the first few weeks of life.
· The Basenji is the only breed of dog that cannot bark, but they are not silent. They are able to produce howls or yodeling sounds.
· Chows Chows are the only breed whose tongue is colored bluish-black.
· In 2004, a Neapolitan Mastiff gave birth to the largest recordable litter of puppies (24).
· An Australian Cattle-Dog holds the record for the oldest canine - 29 years, 5 months.
· In 2010, a Blue Great Dane (Giant George) was recognized as the world's tallest living dog, measuring 43 inches tall at the shoulder.
· Basset Hounds cannot swim. Their legs are too short to keep their heavy, long bodies afloat.
· DNA testing has recognized 14 ancient breeds of dogs. Two breeds included on the list are the Akita and Pekinese.
· The smallest living dog (in terms of height), is Boo Boo, a long haired female Chihuahua measuring only 4 inches tall.
Celebrity Dog Trivia
· Bingo is the name of the dog on the Cracker Jack box.
· It is said that at the end of the song "A Day in the Life", Paul McCartney recorded a sound that only dogs could hear, for his Shetland Sheepdog.
· It is reported that a dog helped to invent VELCRO! As the legend goes, inventor George de Mestral took his dog for a walk and upon arriving home found his dog’s fur covered in burrs. After examining the burrs he noticed hundreds of "hooks" which caught on anything with a loop. He then reproduced the “hook and eye” structure to develop one of the most versatile fabrics in history.
· Hollywood canine celebrity Rin Tin Tin, was discovered at five days old. He was found in a bombed out dog kennel by American soldier, Corporal Lee Duncan, in France during WW1. It is reported that Rin Tin Tin would sign his contracts using his paw print.
· Dogs are mentioned in the Bible fourteen times.
· Despite the female name, Lassie was played by several male dogs. Producers of the show thought male collies looked better on camera.
Random and Fun:
· In Latin, Fido means, “I trust”.
· Newborn puppies are blind and deaf.
· Dogs have three eyelids. The third lid, called a nictitating membrane or “haw,” keeps the eye lubricated and protected.
· Depending on the breed, the average life span of a dog can vary from 8 to 15 years.
· Sweat glands in dogs are located between their paw pads.
· The normal gestation period of canines averages 63 days.
· Dogs have a great sense of smell. They have on average 200 million scent receptors as compared to 5 million in humans. It has also been found that the nose print of a dog is as unique as the human fingerprint.
For Cat Lovers:
· Cats have better memories than dogs. Tests conducted by the University of Michigan concluded that while a dog’s memory lasts no more than 5 minutes, a cat's memory can last as long as 16 hours.
· According to a survey done by the American Animal Hospital Association, seventy percent of people sign their pet's name on greeting cards and 58 percent include their pets in family and holiday portraits.
· Some 39 percent of pet owners say they have more photos of their pet(s) then of their spouse or significant other.
· According to Bloomburg Business Week, Americans spend $41 billion a year on their pets—more than the gross domestic product of all but 64 countries in the world.
Final Note: Here’s the last piece of trivia for all humans who own a pet no matter the species: Research supports that people who own pets live longer, have less stress, and have fewer heart attacks. Now go and enjoy your pet!
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