Buzz
From the diminutive Chihuahua to the mighty Great Dane, every dog is essentially a domesticated wolf at its core. Dogs are descendants of the gray wolf, and they showcase an incredible range of diversity within the animal kingdom. Without dogs, it's likely that humans would have remained in a more primitive state, focused solely on survival—gathering food and defending against predators. Our loyal companions provide protection, friendship, and remain devoted to us until the very end of their lives.
10. Baboons Keep Dogs as Pets
For years, it was believed that humans were the only creatures to keep pets, but a troop of Hamadryas baboons in Ta-if, Saudi Arabia, has challenged this notion. While some still question whether these baboons merely coexist with the dogs, there is evidence suggesting they 'adopt' puppies, creating a symbiotic bond similar to that of humans and their pets. The baboons provide the dogs with food and companionship, while the dogs offer protection to the troop, especially the young, guarding them against other dogs. While research is limited, footage captured by a French film crew provides compelling evidence.
9. The History of Turnspit Dogs
Detection dogs, trained to identify a wide range of substances, from explosives to narcotics to human remains, are invaluable assets for law enforcement. However, increasing concerns have emerged regarding the reliability of drug detection dogs. There have been numerous reports of false positive alerts, where the dog reacts as if it detects drugs when none are present, with studies showing this happening as often as 80% of the time. This creates significant challenges to civil liberties, especially in the United States, where a dog’s alert is often considered automatic probable cause for a search during a traffic stop. There are also concerns that some officers may unintentionally or otherwise give cues to their dogs to alert, even in the absence of any contraband. This issue is not confined to the U.S.; similar concerns have led to calls for reform in Australia as well.
Throughout history, dogs have played diverse roles, from guiding those with visual impairments to serving in military conflicts. One lesser-known role was their place in the kitchen. The turnspit dog, a sturdy and short-legged breed, was called upon to operate a wheel that rotated a roast on a spit, ensuring even cooking. These dogs were also used for other mechanical tasks like operating treadmills that pumped water or churned butter. The mistreatment of turnspit dogs played a part in inspiring Henry Bergh to establish the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Although extinct, the turnspit dog is believed to have been closely related to the Glen of Imaal Terrier, one of the rarest and potentially soon-to-be-extinct dog breeds today.
Detection dogs, trained to sniff out various substances from drugs to explosives and even human remains, are integral to law enforcement efforts. Despite their importance, concerns about the reliability of drug detection dogs are growing, especially as false positives become more prevalent. Many cases have shown that drug-sniffing dogs alert when no drugs are actually present, with studies indicating this happens up to 80% of the time. This presents serious issues for civil liberties, as a dog’s alert can automatically justify a search during a traffic stop without concrete evidence of a crime. Furthermore, some worry that certain officers may unknowingly or deliberately signal their dogs to alert, even in the absence of contraband. These concerns have led to calls for reform in the way drug detection dogs are used, both in the U.S. and internationally, including in Australia.
7. Guide Dogs Do Their Business Too
A guide dog is one of the best trained animals on earth, but given the handicap of its owner, you might think that the dog has carte blanche to poop wherever he wants (some communities allow this, but most do not). This would be a small price to pay given the service the animal provides. But these dogs are actually trained to eliminate on command. After giving the signal, the handler reaches down and runs his hand over the dog’s back. If it is straight, the dog is peeing (male guide dogs are trained to squat like females). If it is rounded, the dog is going numero dos. By following the spine down to the tail, the handler can find the mess and pick it up with a plastic bag like any other pet owner.
Sylvester Stallone
Any fan of Sylvester Stallone’s legendary Rocky franchise would instantly recognize Butkus, the slobbery 145-pound bullmastiff who plays Rocky’s pet. However, what many might not know is that Butkus was actually Stallone’s personal dog, and in many ways, the rags-to-riches saga of Rocky Balboa mirrors Stallone’s own life. Before he sold the script for the film, Stallone was struggling financially. He had no car, a pregnant wife, and just $100 in his bank account. Unable to afford his massive dog, he ended up selling Butkus to a little man called 'Little Jimmy' for $50. After the script sale, Stallone was desperate to get his dog back. He went to Jimmy, who was unwilling to return the dog. Stallone recalled that Jimmy threatened him, saying he wanted to fight him and even claimed he would kill him. Stallone, not wanting to fight, offered him double the price. After paying $3,000 and with a few more threats, Stallone finally got Butkus back, and Little Jimmy got a cameo role in the movie. And the rest, as they say, is history.
5. Titanium Teeth
The Navy SEALs are known to be one of the most elite special forces units on Earth. Their most famous mission was Operation Neptune Spear, a daring assault on a compound in Pakistan on May 2, 2011, that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. One of the essential members of the team during that mission was Cairo, a Belgian Malinois dog. The Malinois is often chosen for police and military tasks because it shares the German Shepherd’s traits but has a lighter, more agile build that makes it easier for handlers to carry. Despite its smaller size, the Malinois is a powerhouse, with 65 pounds of muscle and enough strength to incapacitate a grown man. There’s a strange myth surrounding these dogs that suggests the military replaces their teeth with titanium fangs, allegedly for their armor-piercing properties. In reality, these dogs are worth a fortune and undergo extensive training. If one loses a tooth, it’s typically replaced with a metal implant, though this isn’t standard practice. However, implants are less effective and can fall out during combat.
4. Google Is A Dog Company
Google, like many internet companies, is known for its unconventional work environment. In addition to free gourmet meals, daily summer BBQs, pool tables, and slides, employees are actually encouraged to bring their dogs to work. Of course, the dogs must be well-behaved and housebroken; those that are overly vocal or aggressive are asked to stay at home. As stated in Google’s own code of conduct: ‘Google’s affection for our canine companions is a core part of our corporate culture. While we also like cats, we are a dog company, so we generally feel that cats visiting our offices might be overly stressed.’
3. Moscow Strays
The life of a stray dog is typically short and harsh. In Moscow, the situation is even more dire, as each dog must compete for resources with roughly 35,000 other strays. Over generations, these dogs have developed incredible survival instincts, adapting to their urban environment. Their strategies are fascinating: Muscovite strays have been observed waiting for traffic lights to change before crossing the street to avoid being hit by cars. Their clever tactics for getting food are equally impressive. Some packs send out small, cute puppies to beg for food while the larger, more intimidating dogs wait nearby. But perhaps the most extraordinary feat these dogs have mastered is navigating the Moscow subway system. With remarkable precision and timing, some of these dogs use the trains to travel across the city. Even more amazing is how they change their behavior on the trains, acting docile and friendly toward passengers to avoid being kicked off.
2. Dirty Mouth
A popular myth that persists about dogs is that, despite their rather questionable habits, their mouths are cleaner than humans’. Unfortunately, this is just an old wives’ tale, likely stemming from observations like dogs licking their wounds or the fact that a bite from a human tends to get infected more easily than a bite from a dog. The truth is, a dog’s saliva isn’t magically healing; when a dog licks a wound, it’s often helping to remove dead tissue, which could aid in the healing process. As for why dog bites tend to be less prone to infection than human bites, the explanation lies in the nature of bacteria. Most bacteria are species-specific, so what might be harmful to a dog could be harmless to a human, and vice versa.
1. Lifespan
For many years, it was believed that one human year was equivalent to seven dog years, meaning a nine or ten-year-old dog would be considered elderly. However, this formula doesn't quite add up. Just like humans, dogs experience a fast pace of aging from puppyhood to sexual maturity, and then the aging process slows down somewhat during adulthood. A dog's lifespan is mainly determined by its size: small breeds like miniature poodles and Yorkies can live up to 15 years, while larger breeds like mastiffs and Great Danes rarely live beyond seven or eight years. Mixed-breed dogs of similar size often live a little longer than their purebred counterparts, thanks to a broader gene pool. Very few dogs live to be 20 years old. It's challenging to verify claims of extreme longevity, as many owners don't have proof of their dog's birth date. The oldest verified dog ever was Max, a terrier mix from Louisiana, who passed away on May 18, 2013, just 83 days short of his 30th birthday. Max was purchased from a sugar cane farmer in 1983.
