More Dog Facts Blog about Pet Animals

More Dog Did-you-Know...?

Dogs are considered man's best friend because they are so loyal and loving. You can find a dog in just about every size or colour; with a little bit of research you can find a breed of dog to suit every home. Animal Friends Pet Insurance would like to share some more fun doggy facts and figures with you - we hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed finding them out!

The Greyhound is considered to be the "Fastest Dog on Earth" and for short periods it can run up to 45 miles per hour.

The Irish Wolfhound is considered to be one of the largest dogs. They are between 28 and 32 inches tall and weigh between 90 and 150 pounds. They make great companions but have a shorter lifespan of only 6 to 8 years.

The world's oldest dog was an Australian cattle dog that was named Bluey and he lived to be 29 years and 5 months old.

The Saint Bernard is considered to be the heaviest dog breed. They are usually around 26 to 28 inches tall and can weigh anywhere from 150 to 215 pounds. They are very strong and muscular and also very gentle; they are great with children despite their large size. A Saint Bernard named Barry was the most successful rescue dog during the early 1800's. He saved an amazing 40 lives during his lifetime.

Chihuahuas are considered to be the smallest dog with some standing at only 5 inches tall and usually weigh a mere two to six pounds. Chihuahuas are born with a soft spot on their head just like a baby and it closes up as they mature.

The Great Dane which originated from Germany is one of the tallest dogs standing at around 30 to 34 inches tall. These doggy giants have a relatively short life expectancy of around 10 years.

A dog has three eyelids on each eye. They have the upper and lower lids and then they have a third one that is hidden. It is in the inner corner of the eye and can sweep across the transparent cornea of the eye and clean it like a wiper on a car.

Almost every President of the United States has had a dog as a pet. Here are some of the more interesting ones:

• George Washington has thirty six foxhounds and one was named Sweet Lips
• Lyndon Johnson used to howl with his favorite dog Yuki. He also had 2 beagles named Him and Her
• Teddy Roosevelt had a pitbull named Pete. One time at a White House event the dog Pete ripped the trousers off of a French Ambassador
• Franklin Roosevelt had a US destroyer return to the Aleutian Islands because his dog Fala was accidently left behind. It cost him over $15,000 for the trip

The first American dog that was a movie star was Rin Tin Tin and he signed his own contracts for his 22 movies with a paw print.

Lassie type Collies were known as Scottish Sheepdogs in the 1800's

There was once a German Shepherd guide dog named Orient that led his blind master on a 2,100 mile hike over the entire Appalachian Trail.

A Labrador named Snag worked for the United States Custom Department and is thought to be the world's best drug dog sniffer. During his career he had 118 drug seizures which were estimated to be worth around $810 million.

A Police service dog usually retires by the age of seven and they can search an entire car in less than three minutes.

In 6 years a female dog and her mate and their offspring could produce 67,000 dogs if none of them are neutered or spayed.

These are just a few things about our loyal canine friends which may be of interest. Read more interesting dog facts while navigating around the site, and don't forget to pay a visit to our dog insurance pages to find out how best to protect your pet pooch.