Spiked dog
collars were first used as armor to protect the neck from the claws and teeth
of other animals.
Dogs evolved from
wolves once they got domesticated by a human. It was about 35 thousand
years ago. No one knows for sure now when it happened.
Dachshunds were
bred specifically for hunting badgers. "Dachshund'' is their German name
which is literally translated as "badger dog".
Dogs have three
eyelids per eye. Moreover, the third eyelid is essential for protection. It
removes all the extraneous matter from the eye and is responsible for the
tissue immunity reaction.
In 1919, shepherd
Rin-Tin-Tin became the first movie star dog starring in smash-hit movies that
brought box office success for Warner Bros., then young company. The dog earned about $1,000 a week.
Dogs have very good hearing. They
are able to hear ultrasonic frequencies, catch the sounds at distance four
times farther compared to humans, and quickly identify the source of the sound.
Puppies are born blind and deaf, but have a lot more nerve endings on their bodies than adults. With help of these nerve endings, they discover the world around them in the first two weeks of life.
Dogs are very good at catching humans' emotions and efficiently use emotional sounds to find their way around. In this sense, dog brain response is very similar to ours.
Dogs sweat through
their paw pads and nose tips. In general, a dog has glands all over its body,
but these glands are of a different type that dogs need to oil the skin and
coat.
An average dog
can remember about 160 words. The memory capacity greatly depends on breed
and training. Gifted dogs remember up to 300 words and more rarely the word number
reaches one thousand!
Dogs are
noticeably warmer than humans. Their normal body temperature ranges from 37.5
to 39.0°C. It always depends on the breed, age, and physical well-being.
Dogs have a very
well-developed sense of smell, which plays a vital role for them. For example,
the Bloodhound is able to pick up a 100-hour-old scent. Besides, specially
trained breeds can smell some human diseases.
Saluki is the
oldest known breed of dog. It is known for certain that they have been existing
about 5,500 years for now.
The dog's sad
look or wistful barking may be a sign of depression or stress. Sometimes they
just need a bit more of your attention. After all, they are social beings.
The Siberian
Husky is considered to be the hardiest of breeds. These sled dogs are able to
run tens and even hundreds of kilometers without rest breaks.
Laika was a Soviet space dog who was one of the first animals in space and the first to orbit the Earth in 1957. She was a stray dog from the streets of Moscow. Unfortunately, Laika did not survive the mission, as the technology to bring her back to Earth had not yet been developed.
The heaviest and
tallest dog that ever lived named Zorba weighed 155 kg with a height of 94 cm.
This was a record registered in 1989. Some time later an even heavier dog was
found with a weight of almost 162 kg! Its name was Benedictine.
Some stray dogs
manage to learn to travel by subway. There they find some food and a warm
shelter. Dogs remember the scents of stations and easily navigate underground.
If properly
trained, a dog looks back at the human before taking any action, thereby asking
permission. A dog considers its human as the leader and absolute authority.
Dogs can hiccup
just like humans. It's a common thing for a dog after quick drinking or
overeating. Generally, it's not harmful to their health.
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