Dog Description in General

• The dog is one of the most popular pets in the world (of course cat lovers will argue for cats).
• Dogs have long played an important role in the lives of humans.

• It's thought that dogs have been pets for thousands of years. Dogs are often called Man's Best Friend. This is because dogs help man out in so many ways.

 

Types and Breeds of Dogs 

• There are lots of breeds and types of dogs. Dogs vary in size from very small (just a couple of inches tall) to very large (three feet tall).
• Some breeds of dogs are considered better for indoor or outdoor pets and some breeds are considered working dogs. Jobs that dogs perform include hunting, police work, rescue work, and seeing-eye dogs for the blind. Because dogs are intelligent and willing to be trained, they make a great companion and work animal.
• Dogs are mammals. Different breeds have different characteristics and skills, but most dogs have large teeth, can run fast and jump, walk on their toes, and have strong muscles.

Smelling, Seeing, Hearing

• Dogs have very good senses. 
• They have an excellent sense of smell which has made dogs good at tracking as well as sniffing out illegal items like drugs or bombs. 
• Some dogs are specifically bred to increase their sense of smell. 
• Dogs also have an excellent field of vision allowing them to see almost in a complete circle. 
• Their hearing is very sensitive as well and has a large frequency range. 
• This enables dogs to hear sounds that are much higher than humans. Their great hearing makes them good guard dogs.

 

Dogs as Pets

• Dogs can be great pets for kids. 
• The key is to train both the dog and the child. Kids must learn how to treat a dog so the dog will not retaliate. 
• There are many expert trainers who can help you choose the right dog for your family as well as help train your dog and children how to behave.

 

Fun Facts About Dogs 

 

• A dog can smell about 100,000 times better than a human.
• The majority of a dog's sweat glands are between the pads on its paws.
• Chocolate can make dogs very sick or even kill them because it contains a substance called theobromine, which is like a poison to dogs.
• Dogs hear around ten times better than the average human.
• Smaller dog breeds tend to live longer than big dog breeds.
• More than 30% of families in the United States have a dog for a pet.
• Having a pet dog has shown to make people healthier. They live longer and have fewer heart attacks.