Dogs have superb senses.
While their eyesight can vary from breed to breed, all dogs possess
smell and hearing abilities that are far superior to humans. Dogs can
hear sound frequencies above and below the human range as well as detect
the source of a sound and hear sounds from four times the distance that
we can.
Modern dogs are ancestors of the silver wolf; they have smaller heads and paws than a wolf of comparable size. Dogs have inherited some of the social hierarchy structure from wolves, and are described as pack animals. Unlike the wolf however, dogs are omnivores and have been observed to eat both fruits and plants in the wild.
The dog was originally domesticated by humans around 15,000 years ago; it's anyone's guess as to exactly how it occurred. There are more size, appearance and behavioral variations in dogs than in any other domesticated animal. Dogs were originally bred for pulling loads, hunting and guarding and it has been surmised that dogs may have played a big part in helping humans to cross the Bering Strait by pulling sleds.
Today, dogs are employed in new ways. They work as rescuers, herders, bomb and drug detectors as well as in service roles for mentally and physically disabled people.
Lifespan is the great equalizer between humans and dogs, with canines having a much shorter lifespan than we enjoy. The oldest dog on record lived to the age of 24, but the average lifespan for most dogs is between 10 to 12 years. Larger dogs like Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds may only live to six years while smaller dogs like Toy Poodles and Tibetan Spaniels can live to 15 years or beyond.
Other dog facts:
o The current dog population is believed to be around 400 million.
o Dogs are color blind to red and green shades.
o The largest known dog was an English Mastiff weighing 343 pounds!
o The tallest known dog was a Great Dane at 42.4 inches tall at the shoulder.
o The smallest known dog was a Yorkshire Terrier; it was 2.5 inches at the shoulder and weighed 4 ounces.
o Dogs are both hunters and scavengers, but aren't safe from other predators. Wolves, leopards, tigers and hyenas are known to prey upon dogs.
So the next time you see a dog, take a moment to appreciate all that they do for us and how they've truly earned their keep as our best friend for thousands of years!
Modern dogs are ancestors of the silver wolf; they have smaller heads and paws than a wolf of comparable size. Dogs have inherited some of the social hierarchy structure from wolves, and are described as pack animals. Unlike the wolf however, dogs are omnivores and have been observed to eat both fruits and plants in the wild.
The dog was originally domesticated by humans around 15,000 years ago; it's anyone's guess as to exactly how it occurred. There are more size, appearance and behavioral variations in dogs than in any other domesticated animal. Dogs were originally bred for pulling loads, hunting and guarding and it has been surmised that dogs may have played a big part in helping humans to cross the Bering Strait by pulling sleds.
Today, dogs are employed in new ways. They work as rescuers, herders, bomb and drug detectors as well as in service roles for mentally and physically disabled people.
Lifespan is the great equalizer between humans and dogs, with canines having a much shorter lifespan than we enjoy. The oldest dog on record lived to the age of 24, but the average lifespan for most dogs is between 10 to 12 years. Larger dogs like Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds may only live to six years while smaller dogs like Toy Poodles and Tibetan Spaniels can live to 15 years or beyond.
Other dog facts:
o The current dog population is believed to be around 400 million.
o Dogs are color blind to red and green shades.
o The largest known dog was an English Mastiff weighing 343 pounds!
o The tallest known dog was a Great Dane at 42.4 inches tall at the shoulder.
o The smallest known dog was a Yorkshire Terrier; it was 2.5 inches at the shoulder and weighed 4 ounces.
o Dogs are both hunters and scavengers, but aren't safe from other predators. Wolves, leopards, tigers and hyenas are known to prey upon dogs.
So the next time you see a dog, take a moment to appreciate all that they do for us and how they've truly earned their keep as our best friend for thousands of years!
Pierre St. La Croix's neighbor has a few different pets. He has a Husky and sometimes brings him over to play with Pierre's dogs.
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