Everyone knows that when a dog gets too hot they pant to cool down, but did you know that they also sweat through their paws? A dog has sweat lands between the pads of their paws which is why on really hot days you may see wet paw prints on the ground.
Dogs are pretty amazing creatures. There are some reports of dogs picking up abandoned infants and bringing them back to where their litter is located for safety. Dogs can also sense atmospheric changes; researchers theorize this is why dogs will act distressed before a tidal wave or tornado.
Some dogs can sense when their owners have medical issues; a woman in California discovered she had breast cancer after her dog kept smelling and licking at her chest.
Smaller dogs seem to have a bit of an advantage in some situations. Mr. Charles Moore wanted to start English style fox hunting in America and had intended to send 100 English Foxhounds across the pond on the Titanic. The dogs were saved because their owner decided not to send them. Three dogs survived the sinking of the ill-fated vessel,probably because they were small and their owners kept the animals in their cabins instead of in the cargo hold.
There is actually a dog that does not bark! The Basenji which originates from central Africa makes a howling noise when it wants to communicate. This dog is also considered to be hypoallergenic.
Every dog on the planet is an ancestor of the grey wolf, or canis lupus which is why the technical name for the domestic dog is canis lupus familiarias. Wolves started becoming domesticated around 33,000 years ago.
According to the American kennel Club, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog in the United States. The Lab as they are more commonly known comes in colors of Yellow, Black, or Chocolate and are known to be a great family dog due to their even temper and gentle disposition.
Elvis Presley sang to a dog! In 1956 Elvis Presley appeared in what he later called “the most ridiculous performance of my life” on the Steve Allen Show. He was booked to sing his new song “Hound Dog” and was surprised when told that he would be singing the song to a Basset Hound with a top hat. Luckily he was a good sport about it and the performance went off with a howl.
Russian dogs are smart; some homeless dogs in Russia have discovered how to use the subway system to take them to more populated areas so they can search for food.