Fun Dog Facts

Did you know these Fun Dog Facts?

Dogs are amazing animals and companions.  Read up on these great Dog Facts we came across:

• A dog’s heart beats between 70 and 120 times a minute, compared with a human heart which beats 70 to 80 times a minute.
• A dog’s normal body temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
• A female carries her young about 60 days before the puppies are born.
• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the smallest dog on record was a Yorkshire Terrier in Great Britain who, at the age of 2, weighed just 4 ounces.
• The longest lived dog, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was an Australian Cattle Dog, named Bluey, who lived to be 29.
• An adult dog has 42 teeth.
• It is a myth that dogs are color blind. They can actually see in color, just not as vividly as humans. It is akin to our vision at dusk.
• If never spayed or neutered, a female dog, her mate, and their puppies could produce over 66,000 dogs in 6 years!
• The only sweat glands a dog has are between the paw pads.
• In 1957, Laika became the first living being in space via an earth satellite
• The world’s smartest dogs are thought to be (1) the border collie, (2) the poodle, and (3) the golden retriever.
• A dog’s smell is more than 100,000 times stronger than that of a human’s
• Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine (similar to caffeine) which can kill dogs or at the very least make them violently ill.
• Dogs’ sense of hearing is more than ten times more acute than a human’s
• More than 1 in 3 American families own a dog.
• Dogs don’t like rain because the sound is amplified and hurts their very sensitive ears.
• The ten most popular dogs (AKC, 2007) are in order:
  Labrador Retriever, Yorkshire Terrier, German Shepherd,
  Golden Retriever, Beagle, Boxer, Dachshund, Poodle,
  Shih Tzu, and Bulldog.
• Dogs were the first animals domesticated by people.
• A greyhound can run as fast as 45 miles an hour.
• Spaying/neutering your dog before the age of 6 months can help prevent cancer in your dog.
• Puppies acquire a full mouth of permanent teeth between four and seven months old.
• Small dogs live the longest. Toy breeds live up to 16 years or more. Larger dogs average is 7 – 12 years. Veterinary medicine have extended this estimate by about three years. However, some breeds, such as Tibetan terrier live as long as twenty years.
• Eighty percent of dog owners buy their dog a present for holidays and birthdays. More than half of them sign letters and cards from themselves and their pets.
• The dog name “Fido” is from Latin and means “fidelity.”
• The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world.
• Most pet owners (94 percent) say their pet makes them smile more than once a day.
• Dogs are mentioned 14 times in the Bible.
• It has been established that people who own pets live longer, have less stress, and have fewer heart attacks.
• All dogs can be traced back 40 million years ago to a weasel-like animal called the Miacis which dwelled in trees and dens. The Miacis later evolved into the Tomarctus,a direct forbearer of the genus Canis, which includes the wolf and jackal as well as the dog.
• Seventy percent of people sign their pet’s name on greeting cards and 58 percent include their pets in family and holiday portraits, according to a survey done by the American Animal Hospital Association.
• A dog’s whiskers are touch-sensitive hairs called vibrissae. They are found on the muzzle, above the eyes and below the jaws, and can actually sense tiny changes in airflow.
• The origin of amputating a dog’s tail may go back to the Roman writer Lucius Columella’s (A.D. 4-70) assertion that tail docking prevented rabies.
• Dogs can smell about 1,000 times better than humans. While humans have 5 million smell-detecting cells, dogs have more than 220 million. The part of the brain that interprets smell is also four times larger in dogs than in humans.

Do you love animals but for one reason or another cannot have one for yourself?

Do you love animals but for one reason or another cannot have one for yourself?  There are many options to consider that will be able to bring you closer to furry friends and satisfy that basic need to connect with animals.

You may not be permitted to have animals at your apartment or house you rent, health issues may stop an animals from living with you or you may have such a demanding work schedule that having an animal would not be feasible.  Whatever the issue may be, there are solutions.

Volunteering at your local Humane Society is a great way to spend time with animals, especially those in need that are waiting for their forever home.  Check with your neighboring Humane Society to see if you can start volunteering; they usually have various programs for a wide array of animals with a temporary home.  This also helps the animals connect with people more often and prepare them for human contact with their forever home.

Help your neighbor or friend.  If you know that one person that certain someone that doesn’t have time for their pet, make an effort to walk their dog every day or visit their cat and play with him or her.  This will not only make the pet owner feel less guilty, but will also bring enormous joy to their pets, instead of being stuck at home alone.  Walking your neighbor’s dog will not only provide a break in the day for the dog alone at home, but will help you get exercise as well.

Volunteer to pet sit for someone when they go on vacation.  You can have your animal fix for a couple weeks and then when their owners come home, you are back to only worrying about just yourself.  The pet owners will feel comfortable knowing you are taking care of their pets and the pets will have someone to occupy them and help avoid missing their owners.

Our last suggestion is to visit a dog park.  If you are allergic to animals, this is a good solution.  You can simply sit on a bench in the dog park and watch the dogs playing with each other.  A lot of dog parks are operated and managed by volunteers.  Volunteering at your dog park can help give you your animal fix.

Have You Considered Putting Your Pet On A New Year’s Weight Resolution?

Pets, just like humans, need to watch their weight as well.  While we as the humans are the ones who provide our pets’ feed and lifestyle, we need to be attentive to the health benefits that are involved.

Pet obesity is a growing problem not often taken seriously even though it contributes to life-threatening and life-shortening conditions such as cancer, heart disease, joint problems and more.  In order to see if your pet has a weight problem, you should be able to feel the ribs without a layer of fat as well as notice a waist on him.  If your pet is very furry, run your hands through the fur to see if you can easily feel his ribs.

If you have any questions or concerns, always ask your vet.  Should your pet be overweight, you can go to your local pet store or feed store and ask what foods they recommend for heavier pets.  Also, making sure your pet gets lots of exercise is key!  Just like humans, pets require exercise.

If you feed your pet commercial treats, try to limit it to very few per day or week. They are usually high in fats, sugars and calories.  Try providing treats like small ice cubes or carrot pieces.

Making sure your pet is at his or her ideal weight will ensure a happier and healthier life, reducing vet visits and chronic diseases.

Great and SO TRUE!

Your Dog Got Skunked, Now What???

Dogs like to check things out and are naturally curious.  Unfortunately, sometimes that means it might come in contact with a skunk and regrettably the odor that comes along with it is horrendous.

If your dog is skunked, make sure not to let him inside as his natural instinct will be to roll around and rub on things to try and get this odor off of him.  If your dog does happen to get inside and contaminate your furniture, carpet, rugs, etc., there is a solution.

Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Skunk Odors will completely eliminate the smell from your dog, the furniture, carpets, lawn/shrubs, and you.   This unique form of Earth Care Products Mineral can be sprinkled directly on your pet, as well as inside and outside to eliminate skunk odors. Clear The Air does not have to come into contact with the odor producer; it will pull the odors from the entire area. Clear The Air draws in odors like a powerful magnet. The odors are adsorbed, and neutralized without any fragrances. Clear The Air does not cover up odors; it literally “clears the air” leaving the air fresh and clean.

Clear The Air is made from an all natural mineral, is non toxic and biodegradable and safe for Planet Earth. It is safe around children and pets even if eaten. Granules are totally safe for all lawns and vegetation. No need to remove granules from your lawn or vegetation, as they provide an excellent time-released nitrogen fertilizer.

Should you have any questions about our product, please call (800) 611-1611 or email: pmolina@cleartheair.com.

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The benefits of owning a Cat or Dog

There are many benefits of having a pet.  Not only are they entertaining and provide unconditional love, but you your health can also be benefited by having a pet.

Pets can help decrease stress. In a 2002 study at State University of New York at Buffalo, researchers found that when conducting a stressful task, people experienced less stress when their pets were with them than when a spouse, family member or close friend was nearby.

Lower Blood Pressure.  While some studies have found a stronger connection than others, having a pet has the potential to lower blood pressure, especially in hypertensive or high-risk patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Eases pain. Believe it or not, pets can be the best medicine, especially when a person is dealing with chronic pain such as migraines or arthritis.  One study from Loyola University found that people who use pet therapy while recovering from surgery may need significantly less pain medication than those who do not.

Improves mood. A lot of the health benefits of owning a pet may stem from the mental and emotional benefits.  They give you a sense of belonging and feeling of being needed, while stroking and handling animals can be incredibly therapeutic for those who are stressed.

Pets help children develop.  Children who grow up in a household with pets benefit in countless ways, especially in their emotional development.  Pets are also hugely beneficial to children suffering from autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For children with ADHD, taking care of a pet can encourage them to focus on responsibilities through a predictable routine.

Monitors Blood Sugar Levels for Diabetics.  According to the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Forecast magazine, a 1992 study found that one-third of the pets living with diabetics (mostly dogs, but other pets included cats, birds and rabbits) would change their behavior when their owner’s blood sugar level dropped.

Prevents Strokes. Although dogs are often touted for their health benefits, cat owners can see gains, too. Felines are just as beneficial to your health as dogs.  If you have a cat,  you are less likely to have a heart attack and even increasingly less likely to have a cardiovascular incident like a stroke.