Some Interesting Dog Facts

Did you know that the seeds from apples and pears contain arsenic?  Something to keep in mind, and also keep away from your dogs; as arsenic is deadly.

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Interesting Dog Facts

The bones of domesticated dogs have been found dating back to the fifth millennium BC in Egypt.  The ancient Egyptian word for dog is, iwiw.  They had varied roles in Egyptian life such as guard or police dog, aided in hunting, participated in military actions, and also were household pets.

From the above picture it appears that the following breeds may have a link to the Egyptian past:

• Pharoah
• Greyhound
• Ibizan
• Saluki
• Basenji
• Whippet

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Some Interesting Dog Facts

Did you know that dogs can be traced back to a weasel-like animal called Miacis that lived some 40 million years ago?  Miacis lived in trees and dens.

Miacis

      The Miacis evolved into the Tomarctus; which is the direct forbearer to genus Canis. 



Tomarctus

 

Comparing Your Dog's Age To Yours

We have all heard the adage; multiply your dog's age by 7 to determine their age in human years. It is really not that simple. In fact, even though dog/human age comparison tables abound, there is no precise formula to ascertain definitively whether or not you and your dog will be able to ring in your 40th birthdays together. What veterinarians do know is that large dogs tend to have shorter life spans than smaller dogs. Therefore, each human year for your Lab mix counts as more “dog years” than it does for your Maltese mix. As a guideline, a dog whose ideal adult weight is at least 50 pounds will generally be considered to have reached his senior years at about 7 years old. A dog whose ideal weight is between 20 to 50 pounds is generally considered geriatric at about 9 years old, and a dog who weighs below 20 pounds is usually considered geriatric at about 10 years old.

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Is My Dog Sick If His Nose Is Warm And Dry?

Your dog’s nose may be warm and dry or cold and wet for a variety of reasons completely unrelated to how he is feeling or whether he has a fever. Dog noses often become warm and dry during a nap, or when they are in a warm or dry environment. For example, a perfectly healthy dog relaxing in the morning sun or even in a heated room during winter will often have a warm and dry nose. Legitimate signs that may indicate your dog is not feeling well include changes in activity level, changes in appetite, and of course, symptoms such as limping, coughing, vomiting or changes in urinary or fecal output. As an informed dog owner you should also be aware of your dog’s vital signs – normal breathing rate, heart rate and temperature.

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Does Garlic Prevent Fleas?

There is no scientific evidence definitively linking the use of garlic with flea prevention. And garlic can be toxic to dogs so you definitely do not want to start giving your dog garlic. There are many products available that can help prevent fleas. Before starting on any flea prevention regime, however, you need to talk with your vet regarding which product will be appropriate for your dog. Use caution when using topical products for flea prevention due to a increase in the number of reported adverse reactions in pets using these products. Topical products are those products, usually sold in tubes or vials, that are applied to one or more areas of your dog’s body, such as in between the shoulder blades.

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Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?

Grass is in fact both a stomach irritant and a binding agent. Grass binds to certain toxins that may be present in your dog’s stomach. While not an optimum method for ridding your dog’s system of a particular toxin, ingesting grass can help your dog expel toxins from his system. However, it is generally believed that your dog is not making the connection that consuming grass leads to vomiting any more than he makes the connection that scavenging through the garbage will make him sick later on. Instead, your dog most likely eats grass – like garbage – because he likes the taste. Your dog’s wolf ancestors also ate grass when they consumed the intestines and stomach contents of their grass-eating prey, so the craving for a bit of a grass is likely still hard-wired in many dogs. One note of caution: eating even small quantities of grass can be dangerous if the grass your dog is nibbling on has been treated with pesticides or fertilizers.

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Does Playing Tug Increase Aggression?

Most dogs treat tug as a cooperative game – it’s no fun unless both parties have hold of the toy. And you can use tug to teach your dog to be super careful with his teeth (the game should end if teeth touch clothes or skin! Too bad!). To let go of something on cue. To wait till you give permission to grab the toy again. And to respond to your cues even when excited.  However, playing tug without set rules can crank up an excitable dog till he’s out of control. And it’s unwise to play tug with a dog who has certain behavioral problems – for example, possessiveness over toys.  Tug of War in and of itself, however, does not condition your dog to be aggressive.

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Are Dogs Really Pack Animals?

Dogs are social, yes – they communicate with one another and with us and they form social bonds. Sometimes dogs will form a temporary band, for instance to run down a rabbit. And obviously most dogs adapt well to living in households with people and other animals. But scientists have observed free-living dogs – city strays and village dogs, for instance – for decades, and those dogs just don’t form permanent, stable packs. You’ll see a mother dog with pups, or a bunch of males following around a female in heat, but you won’t see the dog equivalent of a wolf pack, with a long-term parent pair, an adolescent or two, and the current crop of pups.

We can and must help our dogs by providing a stable structure for their lives in the human world. For example, they need early socialization and a well-learned repertoire of mannerly behaviors, such as sitting to greet people and not charging out the door every time it opens. We can call our role “pack leader” if we want to, but it’s unlikely that that notion has much to do with what’s going on in the dog’s head.

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Does A Wagging Tail Mean Happy Dog?

Just too simple to be true. Not only does your dog use tail movement to signal a variety of moods from jolliness to stress and tension, but also she uses more than one body part at the same time to communicate her emotions and intentions. To understand what you are dog is communicating, you need to look not only at the tail but also at ear position, head position, eyes, and overall body posture. For example, a wagging tail at half mast together with loose body language – often the butt wags with the tail – is friendly and relaxed, but a stiffly wagging tail held erect and coupled with slow deliberate body language indicates a high degree of tension and is NOT an invitation to come closer or interact with the dog.

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