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Facts about Dogs

There’s now an estimated 1 billion dogs in world. This works out as about 1 dog for every 7

people. Our passion to have a dog by our side means we have bred one to suit our every

need. There’s 400 pure breeds of dog in the world alone and they range in size from the

86cm stature of the Great Dane to the tiny 23cm stature the Chihuahua. If human sizes

varied as much as a Chihuahua and a Great Dane, the tallest of us would be almost the same

length as a Blue Whale. Every dog has a unique genetic stamp, just as human fingerprints

are unique to us, each dog has a unique nose print. As well as the general shapes of the

microscopic ridges and vessels, it is the number of spores on the dog’s nose that is unique

and gives that dog its unique identity. Before DNA testing or pet microchips were used to

identify our dogs, the Canadian Kennel Club became the 1st organisation to use nose prints

to register its members. They did this so that an owner can’t swap the dog with an identical

looking one half way through a dog show or competition therefore gaining an unfair

advantage. Owning a dog can be good for your health. Dog owners take significantly more

exercise which reduces their risk of heart disease as well as suffering less from colds,

headaches and hay fever. Subconsciously, we pick our dogs because they look like our

immediate family. The theory goes that we gravitate towards dogs which share

characteristics in our family in personality and looks. Also, because we choose a dog based

on our life styles, some dogs look like their owners. Many people can match a dog with their

owners 80% of the time and a study showed that the average dog out lives the average

marriage. A recent study showed that wealthy dog owners tend to own pugs. No one knows

why this is but I’m sure the pugs aren’t complaining. Golden Retrievers on the other hand,

attract best educated owners from around the world whilst Yorkshire Terriers find homes

with the happiest dog owners. Dogs can recognise each individual breed including their

own. A recent study showed that when shown a variety of animals even in a photograph, a

dog can always pick out another dog. Dogs do not discriminate between each breed, even

when presented with a photograph of a dog wearing a plastic cone after a trip to the vets, they still don’t act differently.

All dogs descended from wolves which we domesticated 1,000’s of years ago, and through

that time have learned how to read our facial expressions. They have learned this skill from

spending thousands of years by our side. The right side of our face is more expressive than

the left side and we use this subconsciously to understand the emotional state of others.

Dogs can read us in the same way and have learned to do this and use our gestures to

understand how we feel. For example, if you tell a dog off they can tell by your facial

expressions and gestures that you’re not happy so look away just like we do when we’re

told off. Dogs love to please us and this is what helps to create this special bond between

dogs and humans. This bond can be so strong that a dog can consider your feelings and how

you may react. Here’s a common scenario that can happen: A dog is taught to wait by her

owner before eating her food. She is keen to please her owner but she really wants to eat

her food. So, she waits until her owner’s attention is somewhere else then moves closer to

the food keeping her eye on her owner as she does. She knows that if her owner isn’t

looking she can move closer to the food without getting caught. When her owner’s

attention is back on her, she stops. What this scenario shows us is that even though she

really wants the food, she is smart enough to modify her behaviour. She is considering what

her owner can see and how they might react if she is caught. This level of thinking is why

dogs are such good communicators.

Dogs are good at establishing a relationship with humans from day 1. They’re born with the

instinct to make eye contact with us. This helps them to make bonds with their owners.

Puppies can also instinctively follow people’s gaze to see what they’re looking at. Dogs are

almost unique in ability of understanding the significance of where we look and where we

point. Our close relatives the Chimpanzee can’t do this. From an early age a dog can learn by

watching us and because of the combination of this, being eager to please us a dog can be

taught to do anything. Here is another an example of an experiment done on a Spaniel: A

dog has been taught to take a toy to a person on command. In front of her is a frosted

screen and a clear screen which two identical red rings are placed on the floor, one in front

of each screen. The person then kneels behind both the screens. The dog can see both the

rings whilst the person can only see the one placed in front of the clear screen. When the

dog is then asked to fetch the toy, she instantly goes for the ring in front of the clear glass

and brings it to the person. She could fetch either of the toys but works out that the person

wants the toy that they can see not the one they can’t. It is this ability to interpret the world

from their own perspective that has given us the confidence to have dogs take on jobs with

huge responsibility. These can range from Guide Dog and Assistance Dogs that help the

disabled to emergency service dogs like Sniffer Dogs, who can find drugs and other

chemicals, and Police Dogs, who can disperse a crowd so the police to gain back control as

well as chase down dangerous criminals. Dogs wag their tails when they are pleased to see

us. Any dog owner will tell you that when they come back home they wag their tail and let

us fuss them. Dogs in a good mood wag their tail slightly more to the right whilst a dog that

feel nervous and insecurity will wag its tail more to the left. Also, when fussing your dog

after getting home as well as showing you affection they are also smelling you to see what you’ve been up to, where you’ve been and what food you have enjoyed without them.

Dog Stories

Carmelo & Tee Tee the Jack Russell

Carmelo and Tee Tee both Live in Malta. They have a strong bond with each other and Tee

Tee follows Carmelo everywhere he goes even riding on his motorbike with him. Tee Tee

was adopted when she was 4 months old. The pair shares a passion for the ocean. Every

time Carmelo has free time they both go to the beach where Tee Tee is happy because she

knows she’s going swimming. Tee Tee enjoys doing Carmelo’s favourite past time, cliff

jumping. Carmelo started jumping with Tee Tee from the lower levels gradually getting

higher. Tee Tee has been cliff jumping for over six years and she does it because she loves it

and Carmelo never forced her to do it. He also never taught Tee Tee how to do this. Tee Tee

has learned by watching Carmelo jumping, that it is safe to cliff jump as well. She will look at

Carmelo before jumping only going when he is ready to jump. Even when in the air, she still looks over at Carmelo to see if he’s ok.

Scientist believe, like children, dog use owner as a security blanket. They trust that they will

make the right decisions for them and trust forms the bases for all good relationships. Dogs

and owner can be so in tune with one another that both of their heart beats accelerate

when they are apart. Only going back to normal when reunited and often beat in sync with each other.

Robert and Flora the Japanese Akita

Robert has suffered from unexplained blackouts for several years and broken many bones in

the process. These blackouts mean that Robert has lost his drivers licenses and his job

making him completely house bound. He had lost his confidence and was worried about

going out, not knowing when these episodes might happen. As soon as he got Flora he

found out that she could see the signs of a black out without any training. The first time she

did this was when Flora was very young. She stayed with him laying over his chest to protect

him and comfort him. Seconds before Robert had his next blackout, he noticed that Flora

was trying to communicate with him. Robert was crossing a bridge in London and Flora

became really agitated and blocked his path. She then got hold of his hand and she started

to pull his hand downwards. Seconds later, Robert had a blackout. Flora had picked up the

warning signs that something was going to happen but more importantly, she knew she

needed to tell her owner know. Behaviour like this suggests that dogs can consider the

perspective of others. An ability scientists call “theory of mind” and only the most intelligent of animals have include priming apes, elephants and dolphins.

John Pilley and Chaser the Border Collie

Retired Psychology Professor John Pilley and his Border Collie Chaser live in America. Chaser

is the star of a bestselling book about her abilities. Just like most dogs she likes to play with

her favourite toy but unlike most dogs she has 1,000 toys and can recognise each one by its

own name. John recognised Chasers ability to focus on individual objects was a chance to

teach her their names. He started by naming one of Chaser’s toy. It was a small blue ball

which John named blue. Whilst she was looking for the ball John would keep saying “find

blue” over and over until Chaser realised that this toy was called blue and associated the

name blue with that toy. John kept using this same idea with other toys until she had 1,000

toys and knew them all by name. Even if she hasn’t seen the toy in months she can still

remember the name of that toy. Some scientist believe that the average dog has the same

intelligence as a 2 year old child and the way Chaser learns the names of her toys backs this

up. When four toys are placed on the floor and one of them is new, she can use the process

of elimination to work out which toy is new. By John telling Chaser to find the new toy (EG:

“find Sausage”) she can work out which toy is the new one and learn that this new toy’s name is Sausage. She also knows other dogs that live in the neighbourhood by their names.

You should be able to teach your dog in this way to. (1) Get your dog to sit and place the

treat on the floor. (2) Get two identical none transparent cups and place one over the top of

the treat of the other next to it. (3) Shuffle the two cups and then lift the cup up without the

food under it. IF YOUR DOG GOES FOR THE OTHER CUP, YOUR DOG CAN USE THE SAME

PROCESS OF ELIMEATION AS CHASER CAN. This sophisticated mental processes makes dogs

much more intelligent than other pets especially when combined with their ability to read owners faces and understand our language.

Bella and George the Great Dane

Bella’s best friend is a Great Dane called George and she means the world to her. Bella is 11

years old and has Morquio Syndrome which is a rear genetic disorder which can cause

abnormal bone and restricts spine development, including severe scoliosis. This means

without aid, she would normally be confined to a wheel chair. Since service dog George

arrive 1 year ago, Bella has defied all expectations because of George helping Bella to walk.

Due to Bella’s small stature she can use George as a crotch because he is the perfect height

for her. She was very excited about walking again because she hadn’t walk for 2 years. She is

so pleased to be more active and independent and can’t thank George enough for this.

Bella’s Mum Racheal and Dad Ed are so happy that Bella can gain independence. They say

that there were always in fear of Bella getting knocked over but people see her George

because of his size and move out the way. They call the pair “Team Bella and George”. They

also found that Bella was more confident and was willing to try new things and gained her

independence and self-worth back. George trained for 1 year to get use to taking Bella’s full

weight and slowing his walk to her pace but no one was expecting the amount of dedication

he brought to the job. If Bella slows down or vires of track, George looks round to see if

she’s ok. He knows when she’s upset and will go up to her. Bella’s condition reduces her life

expectancy but George is making sure she makes the most of every day. George can

understand all of Bella’s needs and is allowing her to make the most of her life due to the

unique bond we can form with our dogs.

Dog Stats

German Shepard

Breed History: In 1881 a man called Max von Stephanitz was the first person to form a breed

club for the German Shepard after him and his followers bred and promoted this breed of

dog as a good herding dog. Due to their temperament and loyalty to us, they’re used in a variety of jobs from police dogs who chase down criminals to guard dogs.

Breed Group: Pastoral

Height: 22 – 26 Inches

Weight: 75 – 95 lbs

Lifespan: 10 – 14 years

Grooming: Requires regular grooming 2 – 3 times a week. Coat and nails needs clipping around once a mouth. They can also malt heavily twice a year.

Health: Healthy Breed in general but can suffer from arthritis in later life.

Environment: Suitable for outdoor or kennel living. Can live in towns or cities in large homes

only with median large garden. Tent to chew anything when board so keep mentally

stimulated when left alone.

Family: Makes a great family pet but can be protective but very loyal.

Training: Easy to train. Start from an early age. Very obedient when trained.

Exercise: More than 2 hours per day.

Golden Retriever

Breed History: The first Lord Tweedmouth is the creator of the breed. He bread a black

Wavy Coated Retrievers with the Tweed Water Spaniel. In 1913, the Kennel Club recognized

this breed as the Golden or Yellow Retriever. In 1920 the Golden Retriever’s breed name

was changed to the Golden Retriever. Due to the breed’s kind, gentle and loyal nature they

have been trusted with some of the most jobs. From fetching game like ducks and

pheasants that have been shot to becoming guide dogs and assistance dogs for those who

need them most.

Breed Group: Gundog

Height: 21 – 24 inches

Weight: 55 – 75 lbs

Lifespan: 10 – 12 years

Grooming: Requires daily grooming but can be left for 1 week at the most. Requires a bath

at least once a mouth. Bruch teeth at least 2 – 3 times a week or provide dental chew. They

also malt all year round but it’s heaviest in spring and autumn.

Health: A healthy breed but is prone to certain health problems like as hip dysplasia. Keep

their calorie intake as close to the recommended amount as you can because they have a

good appetite and can be become overweight easily.

Environment: Not suitable for outdoor or kennel living. Can live in towns or cities in large

homes only with a medium sized garden but does not lie to be left alone for long periods of

time.

Family: Makes a great family pet but can be boisterous and knock over small children by accident is not careful.

Training: Easy to train. Perfect for novice dog trainers due to them being very intelligent and

eager to please.

Exercise: Between 40 – 60 minutes per day.

Dachshund

Breed History: This breed of dog originated from Germany. The “Dachs” part of the name

means badger in German and “hund” means dog. Their long thin bodies where bred to go into badger sets and other animals burrows.

Breed Group: Hound

Height: 8 – 9 Inches

Weight: 16 – 32 lbs

Lifespan: Average life span of over 12 years.

Grooming: Longhaired Dachshund requires regular grooming and clipping around once a

mouth. They can also malt. Short haired Dachshund don’t need regular grooming and don’t

need clipping often.

Health: Healthy breed in general but can suffer from spinal issues.

Environment: Not suitable for outdoor or kennel living. Can live in towns or cities in large or

small homes as long as there’s a garden.

Family: Not good with small children but otherwise make a great family pet.

Training: Hard to train due to their stubbiness. Takes time and patients to train.

Exercise: Up to 1 hour per day.

West Highland Terrier

Breed History: This breed of dog was bred from the Cairn terrier most famous for being Toto

in The Wizard of Oz. A Cairn terrier is only classed as a West Highland terrier id their coat is

white. In the mid-19th century Malcolms of Poltalloch in Argyllshire developed the white

coat type. Many people use to cull Cairn terriers with white coats but Malcolm discovered

that the white coat was easier to see when working in the Moors. This saved countless dogs

from being culled and gave us one of the most recognizable breeds today.

Breed Group: Terrier

Height: 10 – 11 Inches

Weight: 13 – 22 lbs

Lifespan: Average life span between 12 – 16 years.

Grooming: Requires regular brushing and does not shed much.

Health: A very healthy breed but can suffer from skin conditions and sunburn on the ears.

Environment: Isn’t suitable for outdoor or kennel living. Can live in both towns and cities in

large or small homes as long as there’s a garden. But, they do like to dig so may try to help

you with some gardening whether you want it or not. They can get alone with other breeds

and cats very well so can be brought into a home with other pets. However, won’t get along

with small animals like rabbits or hamsters. This is due the terrier group being bread for

exterminating small animals like mice and rats. Can be left alone for long periods of time

providing stimulation toys, like treat balls and Kongs, are left for them as well as the radio or

TV playing in the background.

Family: They make a great family pet who shows the same amount of affection for every

member of the family. Even though they get alone with small children they prefer the

company of older children.

Training: They aren’t the easiest breed to train due to them losing interest quickly and being

strong willed but once trained are very obedient. However, this breed is known to bark a lot

but this can be lessened with the correct training.

Exercise: Up to 1 hour a day.

Border Collie

Breed History: The name originates from the border regions of England, Scotland and Wales

where the breed worked herding sheep in the hills and mountains. The breed’s intelligence,

speed and ability to adapt have made the Border collie the go to dog for things like

obedience, agility and as a sniffer dog for detecting explosives and drugs. Recently the breed is popular in the show ring due to their intelligence and eagerness to please.

Breed Group: Pastoral

Height: 1.06 – 1.10 inches.

Weight: 30 – 45 lbs.

Lifespan: Average life span of 12 – 15 years.

Grooming: Has two coat types, rough and smooth, both need weekly brushing but it’s a

good idea to brush more regally when the coat begins to malt.

Health: In general a very healthy breed but can suffer from hip dysplasia and epilepsy.

Environment: Not suitable for kennel or outdoor living. Can live in both towns and cities but prefers towns in a large home with a large garden.

Family: Prefers the company of older children but a great family pet.

Training: Very easy to train but not the best dog for novice trainers due to their intelligence

and ability for selective hearing. But is eager to please and once trained can do just about anything from herding life stock to search and rescue.

Exercise: More than 2 hours per day.

Dalmatian

Breed History: The popularity of this breed sky rocketed when the Disney film 101

Dalmatian was released in 1961. Due to this many Dalmatians where being given to the

RSPCA and animals shelters as the owners has not realised how demanding the breed’s

needs are. In the late 18th century a type of white spotted dog known as the Talbot Hound

were used to accompany horse-drawn carriages and guard the passengers and the cargo

inside. It was only in 1791 a man called Thomas Bewick named this breed of dog as the

Dalmatian. Between the years 1795-1837, the breed was a status symbol running alongside

the horse-drawn carriages of the upper class and would also guard the stables at night. Due

to this, earned the nickname 'the Spotted Coach Dog'. The breed was also ran ahead of

horse-drawn fire engines clearing the route for the vehicles and this is why we associate the Dalmatian as the fire station mascot.

Breed Group: Utility

Height: 1.07 – 2 feet.

Weight: 48 – 55 lbs.

Lifespan: Average life span of 13 – 16 years.

Grooming: Requires regular brushing.

Health: In general a very healthy breed but can suffer from hereditary deafness, skin

allergies and hip dysplasia. However, only 8% are born completely deaf and 22% - 24% are born deaf in one ear.

Environment: Isn’t suitable for kennel or outdoor living. Can live in both towns and cities

with large gardens. Doesn’t like to be left alone for long periods of times. They can suffer

with anxiety from new places, things and people if not socialized and from being a puppy. So

make sure they meet new dogs and people as well as experience as many new sights, smells and sounds as they can.

Family: Can knock over small children by accident due to their energetic nature but can

make a great family pet. They will love to come on any family outings from a walk on the

beach to a family picnic.

Training: Can be hard to train due to the deafness that can accrue. Deaf Dalmatians can be

trained but using hand signals rather than verbal commands but this means that this breed

can one of the worst breed for a novice trainer or someone with little patients. They can

also be very head strong and requires fun, consistent training from an early age. A good way

of doing this is through play, praise and affection with positive reinforcement throughout.

Exercise: Up to 1 hour per day.

Chihuahua

Breed History: This is the smallest breed in the world. The name comes from the Mexica n

state where it became fashionable in the late 19th Century. Its popularity spread to

America. It gained huge publicity through celebrity and film star owners. Celebrities like

Paris Hilton, Sharon Osborne, Britney Spears and Paula Abdul. Due to this breeds attitude

problem, some people believe this dog has the dog version of little man syndrome.

Breed Group: Toy

Height: 6 – 9 Inches

Weight: 3 – 6 lbs

Lifespan: Average life span is 10 – 18 years.

Grooming: Longhaired Chihuahuas require regular grooming once every mouth. Short haired Chihuahuas do not need regular grooming and don’t need clipping as often.

Health: Very healthy with no major health issue.

Environment: Not suitable for outdoor or kennel living. Can live in towns or cities in large or

small homes as long as there’s a garden.

Family: Not good with small children but otherwise make a great family pet. Needs constant company.

Training: Easy to train provided you start early but can be stubborn at time.

Exercise: 20 – 30 minutes a day.

Group Definitions

Hound Group

Breeds that fit into the Hound Group were originally bred for use during hunting by using

either their nose to follow animal’s scent or their eye sight to spot movement. The dogs that

use their sense of smell to do their job are known as scent hounds. These include breeds like

the Beagle and Bloodhound. The dogs that use their sight to do their job are known as sight

hounds. These include breeds like the Whippet and Greyhound. All of them enjoy exercise in the fresh air and can be described as reserved but trustworthy companions.

Terrier Group

Breeds that fit into the Terrier Group were originally bred for hunting vermin. The word

'Terrier' comes from the Latin word Terra, which means earth. All dogs that fit into this

group have been bred to be courageous and resilient so they could chase animals such as

foxes, badgers, rats and otters both above and below the ground. The dogs that are part of

this group include the Border terrier, Cairn terrier and the West Highland Terrier. Terrier

breeds have been around as early as the middle Ages where these game breeds were portrayed by writers and painters for centuries.

Working Group

Breeds that fit into the Working Group have been bred to become guard dogs and search

and rescue dogs. Many people believe that the breeds that are within the Working Group

are some of the most heroic canines in the world. Dogs that are part of this group include

the Boxer, Great Dane and St. Bernard. The dogs within this group are extremely specialised in their line of work and can help us in everyday life and take on a wide range of jobs.

Pastoral Group

Breeds that fit into the Pastoral Group are herding dogs that herd many animals such as

cattle, sheep and reindeer. These breeds tend to have a weatherproof double coat that

protects it from the elements when working in cold, wet conditions. Dogs that are part of

this group include the whole Collie family (eg: Border collie, Rough collie), Old English Sheepdogs and Samoyeds.

Gundog Group

Breeds that fit into the Gundog Group were originally trained to find live game and/or

retrieve it once it has been shot and wounded. This group is divided into four categories.

They are Retrievers, Spaniels, Pointers and Setters. Dogs that are part of the Retrievers sub-

group include the Golden Retriever and the Labrador. Dogs that are part of the Spaniels sub-

group include the Springer Spaniel and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Dogs that are part

of the Pointers sub- group include the Pointer and the German Longhaired Pointer. Dogs

that are part of the Setters sub- group include the Irish/ English setter and the Golden

Setter. These dogs all make for good companions with their temperament making them the perfect family dogs.

Utility Group

Breeds that fit into the Utility Group consists of various breeds which mainly have a non-

sporting origin. The dogs featured within this group include the Bulldog, Dalmatian and

Akita. The name 'Utility' means fitness for a purpose. The Utility Group consists of the most

variety of breeds which can do jobs which the other groups can but don’t fit into said groups

due to them not being bred with the characteristics which the other has. For example, the

Standard Poodle was bred as a water retriever, used by duck hunters to retrieve game. Even though it does the same job as the Springer Spaniel it does not look similar.

Toy Group

Breeds that fit into the Toy Group are small companion and lap dogs. Only a small number

of breeds have been placed into this category simply due to their size. These dogs are

usually very friendly and love affection and attention. They don’t need a large amount of

exercise and some can be fussy eaters. The dogs that are part of the Toy Group include the

Pug, Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier. Female celebrities like Sharon Osbourne, Paris Hilton

and Britney Spears have owned a Chihuahua. Andy Warhol, Queen Victoria and Robin

Williams have been proud pug owners whilst Natalie Portman, Venus Williams, Orlando

Bloom and Simon Cowell have owned Yorkshire Terriers.