Photo courtesy of Dona Naylor.


DID YOU by Julie McManus MAN'S BEST FRIEND EDITION


With the weather warming up and the days getting longer, we've sure noticed a lot more dog walkers out and about these days. We figured this was a good time to do a little research on our furry friends. Below are some things you might not have known about dogs – until today.


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A dogs is about as smart as a two- or three-year-old child. This means they can understand about 150-200 words, including signals and hand movements with the same meaning as words. The most popular male dog names are Max and Jake, and the most popular female dog names are Maggie and Molly.


The average dog can run about 19mph. Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on earth and can run at speeds of 45mph. Speaking of Greyhounds, the breed appears to be the most ancient dog breed. The name “Greyhound” comes from a mistake in translating the early German name Greishund, which means “old (or ancient) dog,” – not from the color grey.


It's a dog's world. Dogs have lived with humans for over 14,000 years, although they've been around much longer. All dogs can be traced back 40 million years to a weasel-like animal called the Miacis, which dwelled in trees and dens. (Cats have lived with people for only 7,000 years).


The phrase “raining cats and dogs” originated in seventeenth-century England. During heavy rainstorms, many homeless animals would drown and float down the streets, giving the appearance that it had actually rained cats and dogs. Another popular doggie phrase “dog days of summer” was coined by the ancient Greeks and Romans to describe the hottest days of summer that coincided with the rising of the Dog Star, Sirius.


A study published in Applied Animal Behavior Science by Mendel University in Brno reveals that dogs are friendlier when a woman is holding the leash. The study looked at about 2,000 interactions between dogs during their walks in 30 different areas of their city, cataloging the effects of age, sex, size, and other factors such as who was taking the dog on the walk. Dogs being walked by a male were four times more likely to bite or attack other dogs than those walked by women, the study found.


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This same study also claims that leashed dogs are twice as likely to threaten another dog as those running free. “Leash aggression” is most likely a reflection of the frustration dogs feel when the leash prohibits them from expressing normal greeting behaviors, the Humane Society's Inga Fricke explained in an interview with Discovery News. Dogs like to run around each other when they first meet and they can't do this run- around behavior when on a leash.


Owning a pet is expensive, warns the SPCA. On its website it states that the one-time cost of adopting a new pet can be as much as $525, which includes the cost of adoption, spaying, food and water dishes, collar and leash, brush and comb, toys, and a crate. This doesn't factor in emergency medical expenses. Annual expenses can be as high as $1,200 each year, and includes such things as food, grooming, and licensing. It can be worth it though. Petting dogs is proven to lower blood pressure of dog owners, not to mention the benefits of taking Fido for daily walks.


There will surely be a lot of dogs in attendance at the 2012 Vancouver Island Pet Expo taking place on May 26-27, 2012 at Pearkes Recreation Centre in Victoria. At the Expo there will be a wide variety of pet-related exhibitors, such as vendors selling pet products, supplies and accessories, representatives from breeder clubs, veterinary and medical services, pet adoption agencies, and much more. In addition there will be fun entertainment and hands-on attractions for the whole family. Learn more at www.vancouverislandpetexpo.com.


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If you're travelling with your dog this season, you can look up online which Island accommodations are best suited for pets. At www.meetpaws.com, simply search British Columbia for a list of popular places on Vancouver Island that are completely pet-friendly. The website also lists some questions to ask of each place, such as: Are there additional fees? What types, size, and maximum number of pets are accepted? Are there others pets living there? And, what other services are available for pets?


Visit www.islandtimesmagazine.ca to read this article and more. Send your comments to comments@islandtimesmagazine.ca. islandtimesmagazine.ca | 9


Know?


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