Some Mind-Blowing (or at least interesting) Dog Facts

As I've noted in this space earlier, we have a new four-legged family member. Her name is Lucy, and she's a 15 week-old Weimaraner. Having (for the most part) raised two children, my wife and I knew that a puppy would be a lot of work.  However, we didn't realize...how much we didn't realize.

"How do we get her to stop doing _____?" I often ask.

"Well, look it up," comes the reply.

"How about getting her to ________?"

"Look that up while you're looking up the other stuff we don't know."

"I don't know all the stuff I don't know," I replied in exasperation.

"Just read everything you can about dogs. Then we'll know."

Okay. So, that's exactly what I've been doing. And, I've had some success in gleaning information that has helped in our puppy training. I've also read some really bizarre stuff. Things like how to make your dog a vegan, how to learn to speak dog, how to properly administer a shiatsu massage to your dog, how to get your dog to say "Attaboy" when you successfully use the bathroom (alright, maybe not that one), etc.

I've also stumbled upon some interesting facts (or, purported facts) about Man's Best Friend.

From The Bark Post, here are some things you may not have known:

• Some stray Russian dogs have figured out how to use the subway system in order to travel to more populated areas in search of food.
• Dogs are capable of understanding up to 250 words and gestures, can count up to five and can perform simple mathematical calculations. The average dog is as intelligent as a two-year-old child.
• Dogs don’t enjoy being hugged as much as humans and other primates. Canines interpret putting a limb over another animal as a sign of dominance.
• Two stray dogs in Afghanistan saved 50 American soliders. A Facebook group raised $21,000 to bring the dogs back to the US and reunite them with the soldiers.
• The Beatles song “A day in the Life” has an extra high-pitched whistle, audible only to dogs. It was recorded by Paul McCartney for the enjoyment of his Shetland sheepdog.
• One of Michael Vick’s former fighting dogs, Leo, went on to be a therapy dog who comforted dying children.
• In ancient China, an emperor’s last line of defense was a small Pekingese dog literally hidden up his sleeve.
• Spiked dog collars were invented in ancient Greece and were originally designed to protect dogs throats from wolf attacks.
• ‘Frito Feet’ is the name of the phenomenon in which the bacteria on a dog’s paws cause them to smell like corn chips. Because a pup’s feet are in constant contact with the ground, they pick up tons of microorganisms in their paws. When dogs cool off by sweating through the pads of their feet, the combo of moisture and bacteria releases a nutty, popcorn-like aroma. Basically it’s dog B.O.
• Dogs drink water by using forming the back of their tongue into a mini cup.

I also learned that my dad was probably making up his story involving a family in his neighborhood with 17 children, who upon receiving a dog for Christmas, promptly petted it to death.