|
|||
|
|||
|
|
|||
Dr. Dog Pages
|
Unique Pet Facts. | 
|
Your four legged friends may surprise you with some of his unique traits and characteristics. Certain breeds or types of pet have distinct characteristics not always known about by owner or enthusiast. For instance, the Irish Wolfhound is the tallest breed of dog, while the Chihuahua is the smallest. The Chihuahua also has the longest average lifespan. The three most popular dog breeds are the Labrador Retriever, the Golden Retriever, and the German Shepherd. The Dachshund is one of the oldest known breeds, originally a hunter its name means ‘badger hound’. Dogs also provide a great assistance to people in need. Special abilities that some dogs have shown include an ability to detect a seizure prior to its occurrence in humans, and an ability to detect autism in children. The first seeing-eye dog was presented in the late 1930’s. Dogs share some special characteristics with cats. While cat’s whiskers are commonly known as a uniquely feline feature, dogs similarly have whiskers around the mouth and above the eyes that are very important. On the other hand, dogs are known for their remarkable hearing, yet cats also have outstanding hearing ranking high among all animals. Dogs and cats also have a couple shared risk factors. Anti-freeze and chocolate are potentially fatal for both, and special consideration is needed as both dogs and cats can be drawn to these toxins. As a comparison, cats are more popular than dogs in America. There are approximately 66 million cats and 58 million dogs. Cats tend to have a longer lifespan than dogs, and indoor cats fare much better than outdoor cats. Cats do have a number of unique traits of their own. Cats have a variety of exceptional attributes relating to their build and athletic abilities. Cats are the only domestic animal to walk on their claws (called digitigrades). Cats have more bones than humans yet no collar bone. This allows more mobility and agility, and the lack of collar bone gives them the ability to squeeze through narrow spaces only as wide as their head. Owners have some unique qualities too. 95% cat owners admit to talking to their cat, and it has been shown that cats enjoy hearing the sound owner’s voice. Similarly one third of dog owners admit to leaving messages for their pet on their answering machine when away. Pet owners reap health benefits too. Pet owners, on average, live longer and experience less stress and heart attacks, an added benefit of pet ownership. |
||
