Fun Facts!

Here are a couple of fun facts about your canine and feline companions.

1. The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world.
2. 87% of dog owners say their dog curls up beside them or at their feet while they watch T.V.
3. Newfoundlands are great swimmers because of their webbed feet.
4. Basset Hounds cannot swim.
5. Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on earth, with speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.
6. Three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic – a Newfoundland, a Pomeranian, and a Pekingese.
7. An estimated 1,000,000 dogs in the U.S. have been named as the primary beneficiaries in their owner’s will.
8. An American Animal Hospital Assoc. poll found that 33% of dog owners admit to talking to their dogs on the phone and leaving answering machine messages for them while away.
9. Humans have kept dogs as pets for over 12,000 years.
10. The largest breed of dog is the Irish Wolfhound.
11. The world’s smallest dog breed is the Chihuahua.
12. The St. Bernard is the heaviest.
13. It has been scientifically proven that owning cats is good for our health and can decrease the occurrence of high blood pressure and other illnesses.
14. Stroking a cat can help to relieve stress, and the feel of a purring cat on your lap conveys a strong sense of security and comfort.
15. The ancient Egyptians were the first civilisation to realise the cat's potential as a vermin hunter and tamed cats to protect the corn supplies on which their lives depended.
16. Cats see six times better in the dark and at night than humans.
17. Purring does not always indicate that a cat is happy. Cats will also purr loudly when they are distressed or in pain.
18. A domestic cat can run at speeds of 30 mph.
19. On average, a cat will sleep for 16 hours a day.
20. Ailurophile is the word cat lovers are officially called.



*Dog facts from http://www.animalsneedhelp.com/2008/04/20/102-interesting-facts-about-dogs/
* Cat facts from http://www.catsinfo.com/catfacts.html