It’s Tuesday so that means…it’s Trivia Day. Check out the latest fascinating facts I recently discovered.
Did you know that the wetness of a dog’s nose is essential for determining what direction a smell is coming from? I expect all of you with hunters will have known this, but this was completely unknown by me.
And why are dog’s noses wet? Dogs secret a thin layer of mucous that helps them absorb scents. Licking their nose help them sample the scent through their mouths.
When English poet Lord Byron was informed that his beloved dog, Boatswain would not be allowed to accompany him to Cambridge Trinity College, he retaliated by bringing a tame bear instead. There being no mention of bears in their statutes, the college authorities relented. Byron also suggested that he would apply for a college fellowship for the bear.
Puppies have 28 teeth and normal adult dogs have 42. If that’s true, how come when a puppy play bites, you feel like you’ve just been bitten by the shark from Jaws?
While we’re on exploring the anatomy of dogs, did you know that their shoulder blades are unattached to the rest of the skeleton to allow for greater flexibility for running? Wild, huh?
Besides sweating through the pads of their paws, dogs pant to cool themselves off. A panting dog can take 300-400 breaths (compared with the regular 30-40) with little effort. When your dog’s feet smell like corn chips it’s because their feet are in constant contact with the ground picking up tons of microorganisms on the paws. When dogs cool off by sweating through the pads, the combination of moisture and bacteria releases that nutty, popcorn-like aroma. the term, Frito Feet is roughly akin to canine body order.
With the recent fly by of the little beloved planet, Pluto, I thought you’d appreciate knowing the very first animal launched into space was the Russian dog, Laika who orbited the earth in 1957 in the spacecraft Sputnik 2. Laika was a 3 year-old stray female from the streets of Moscow. Sadly, she did not survive the trip (and was not expected to survive by scientists on the ground), reportedly dying on the fourth day of the trip, though there were conflicting accounts as to the actual cause of death. Her remains disintegrated when the craft re-entered the atmosphere five months following the launch.
The shape of a dog’s face suggest how long it will live. Dogs with sharp-pointed faces (much like wolves) typically live longer. Dogs with flat faces, i.e. bulldogs, often have shorter lives.
And in the ‘hear’s looking at you category, dogs have three eyelids, an upper, a lower and a third lid, known as a nictitating membrane or haw that keeps the eye lubricated and protected.
Live, love, bark! <3
Oh poor Laika. What a cute little dog she was.
Delilah’s mouth smells like Fritos….oy vey.
Have the D-dog been in the snack cupboard? 😉
Well, what do you know…I had no idea about the K9 shoulder blades. I feel sorry for that Russian pup Laika. Why send her away from Earth in an un-manned spacecraft??
Sometimes science is quite cruel in the name of research. 🙁
Max scratched his eye and went to the vet’s for treatment which involved putting some green colored drops in his eye to locate the scratches. Thing is, the eyes connect to the nose so for the past day he has been passing green snot out of his schnozz – very attractive on his white fur face. So your tales of wet noses , their causes and interpretations is very fitting for us today.
Oh no, so sorry that the adorable Max is ailing. Please give him an ear scratch from me and Sam. Paws crossed he’s right as rain soon. 🙂
Love the interesting trivia, especially about Lord Byron. It’s quite scary that dogs’ shoulder blades aren’t attached, though…
My exact reaction, especially since I’ve had surgery on my shoulder blade. If only it hadn’t been connected, maybe it wouldn’t have gotten injured. 🙂
The photo shoot sounds like a great idea. I have managed to get quite a few good ones of the dogs but they aren’t easy to get. My challenge has been trying to get the dog to look at you. You call them but instead of just attracting a glance, you get the whole dog as well.
I have been intrigued byt the whole dog ball relationship and should write a post about it. Bilbo is your ver5y typical Border Coolie and hunts tennis balls like sheep and has it down to a very fine art. He stands there ears cocked paw raised and every cell in his body poised to pounce when that ball moves. Lady, on the other hand, who is 50% Cavalier, would chase the ball at all for a few months and has only gained any interest because of Bilbo’s dogged persistence. However, her modus operandi is quite different. She snatches the ball and then either lies down and chews it, gloating right in front of a very tortured Bilbo or runs of outside with it. She reminds me of that cruel and twisted little sister who knows exactly how to twist the knife to inflict the most pain!
When it comes to all the other dogs we meet down on the beach, Bilbo is definitely the Ball King. No other dog even comes close and my pride in my highly skilled, intelligent dog is countered somewhat his incessant pestering to throw the ball.
Hope you are having a great day . Sun is out today again. It was quite cold last night and I still feel like my fingers are defrosting. They were deep purple!
xx Rowena
I’ve been hearing about the cold temps down your way! Eek. Mother Nature is being a very mean mommy lately. It was 97 yesterday though ‘only’ in the upper 80s today.
Reblogged this on beyondtheflow and commented:
Here are some informative and fun canine facts for the dog lovers out there xx Rowena
Thanks! 😉
These facts are fantastic, Monika. the are going to love them! xx Rowena
Many thanks for the reblog. I thought they we’re kind of fun.
Such interesting facts!
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Love the trivia – thanks for educating us!
If Byron did the same thing today, they’d sign up the bear for welfare because of the low income.
The death of Laika bothered the man in charge of the program for the rest of his life. He didn’t think that what they learned was worth the death of the sweet dog.
Yeah, I did some follow up research on Laika. It’s sad that science all too often take animals for granted and subject them to unspeakable treatment for research. 🙁
I’m convinced puppy teeth are actually painted razor wire. Those bad boys are sharp!
Barks! What awesome information my friend. We are such unique anipals me and you. <3 Houdini
Love the trivia. Except for the reminder that Laika didn’t survive the trip into space.
And here’s one for you–did you know that dogs also sweat through their paws when they’re nervous? Check the floor for wet prints the name time you take Sam to the vet or bring out the shampoo.
I read that when I was searching for info. Another contributor to ‘Frito Feet’ syndrome! 🙂
Love this, especially the one on Lord Byron😆😆😆
He was quite the pill, wasn’t he? 😉
Indeed😉
oh so much trivia today. Sometimes if you squeeze the pets paw you can get water out (sweat)
I’ve heard that! Amazing anatomy dogs have. 😉
I like the idea of Lord Byron… wish I would know someone who can borrow me a bear for a trip to Ikea… oh boy I would love to see their faces :o)
My mother wrote a complaint to the russian president as she heard about Laika, while all people were impressed about the first space visitor, she only felt sorry for the dog. Fortunately her mom found the letter and threw it in the trashcan, it’s not really smart to start a correspondence with your enemies in times of cold war :o(
The loss of Laika was very sad, the callousness even worse. It’s heartbreaking knowing what science does to animals in the name of research. ;(