Random Fun, Unusual, Interesting Facts About Dogs that You Might Not Know

Fun, Unusual, Interesting Facts About Dogs that You Might Not Know
May 11, 2014

• Dogs can remember up to 250 words, count to 5, and do math:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/5994583/Dogs-as-intelligent-as-two-year-old-children.html
  

• Some Russian dogs have figured out how to use the subway system to get to more populated areas with food:  http://englishrussia.com/2009/04/07/smartest-dogs-moscow-stray-dogs/
  

• No idea if this one is true, but apparently there were two locally famous stray dogs in the 1860s in San Fran and the local media obsessed over following their exploits:  Bummer and Lazarus  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bummer_and_Lazarus
  

• This is a favorite because our old mutt used to have the best ‘frito feet’.  Apparently, dogs' feet that smells like corn chips, is really the equivalent of  ‘dog B.O.’ – and to think we liked smelling it! http://www.sentinelsource.com/online_features/pets/the-mystery-behind-frito-feet/article_ba5b880e-f855-11e0-bfd6-001cc4c002e0.html
  

Breeding

• From conception, the mother carries the puppies between 61-65 days – that’s only two months!
• Females can have puppies in the same litter that are from different sires. (WOW!)
• Females' heat cycles can last almost an entire month!  Of that time period, only a few days are prime time for conception.
• Some (perhaps many) full (AKA ‘pure’) breed dogs are experiencing high levels (higher than healthy for the puppies type acceptable) of inbreeding.  For example, some popular poodle sires have been used so much that breeders have had to trace lines carefully to reduce the instance of inbreeding.  All full breed dogs were at some point in their ancestry other types of dogs.
• Hybrids (mixes) are statistically healthier than full breeds – because they are not genetically inclined to have issues that the breed is susceptible too (ie, Great Danes and wobblers, Boxers and bone cancer, Poodles and eye issues, Shepherds and hips, etc.)
• It is better to breed dogs young (between ages of 2 – 6) and back to back – NOT to skip and breed until they are older.  Some breeders who show their dogs, do not start breeding until 4 or 5 years old and skip cycle because sometimes they want to enter a show – this has been shown to not be healthy for a variety of reasons (we do not accept feedback/comments without cited, credible sourcing) http://dachshundaustralia.com/revisiting-back-to-back-breeding/242 - Dr. Kate Schoeffel
  

Anti-Puppy Mill

• 60% of your dog is a product of its environment and training!  Only 40% is genetic!   We do not believe that puppy mills or large kennels are a good environment for puppies.  Besides the fact that we have a our own real nutcase (that we love) that came from a very large kennel/borderline puppy mill without socialization for 6 months, we have studied research that clearly indicates that the long term prospects of a “good” dog are much less likely with a dog that comes from a puppy mill or large kennel.  60% is from environment and training!
• “Nature and nurture both count. Using Dr. Famula's analysis, Mrs. Phillips estimated that 41% of those qualities could be bred for; the remaining 59% come from environment and training. Because Guide Dogs' colony is now more than six decades old, she was able to trace character traits and qualities generations back. "Each individual dog carries the wealth of its ancestral history," she says.  http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970204846304578090683395043530

Hip Dysplasia

• Hip dysplasia is still not understood.  It takes THREE (yes, 3) vets to VOTE on the results of x-rays submitted for hip and elbow testing.  From there, it is a rating system.  Fair, Good, and Excellent are all considered Normal for hip results.  They say the older a dog is, the more accurate the tests are.  
  
• Just because a dog rates Excellent, does not mean that your pup will not ‘get’ hip dysplasia.   It is still likely.
  
• There are a number of dogs with dysplasia that function fine – run, jump, play, with zero issues.  http://www.offa.org/hd_info.html
• Hip dysplasia is not just genetic.  It can occur to any dog, at any age, through physical activities (usually before 18 months).
• With this kind of accuracy (sarcasm), don’t trust or bother with any dysplasia test results.  It is a biased (you pay the organization that ‘votes’ on the results), inaccurate process.
• Your best dysplasia prevention is to control exercise (especially of the young) and keep your dog from being overweight.