Canine Wonders Part 2: 45 More Interesting Facts about Dogs

The Leonberger breed of dogs were used a lot in both World Wars in and around Germany. So many of the dogs were abandoned or killed in action due to invasions that every currently living Leonberger can be traced back to only 8 that remained after World War 2.

27. Among all the dog breeds, golden retrievers are the most prone to cancer. It is estimated that up to 75% of all golden retrievers will get cancer during their lifetimes.

28. Dachshunds look like they do because they were bred to hunt badgers and other animals that live in burrows.

29. Dalmatians used to run alongside horse-drawn firetrucks acting as a barking siren to clear crowds, thus their positive reputations with firefighters.

30. The first undisputed dog remains buried with a human are dated 14,700 years ago. Disputed remains go as far back as 36,000 years ago.

Airedale Terriers carried messages for soldiers during World War 1 and were very dedicated to their duties. One named 'Jack' ran through half a mile of enemy fire. He made it to headquarters with his jaw broken and one leg badly splintered and died just after delivering his message.

32. Bloodhounds are so adept at scent tracking that the results are admissible evidence in a court of law. One of the greatest sleuths in canine history was a Kentucky bloodhound called Nick Carter. His dogged persistence led to the capture and conviction of more than 600 criminals throughout his career.

33. All corgis suffer from achondroplastic dwarfism.

34. The only non-military dog to be awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery was a collie named Sheila. In 1944, she tracked down 4 injured US airmen on a mountain during a blizzard, after their B-17 crashed. She led locals to their location, who evacuated them before the bombs detonated shortly after.

35. Dogs can eat raw chicken bones. The issue is with any cooked bone. Cooked bones become dry and brittle which can crack and splinter leading to choking, internal injuries, punctured organs, and, or death. All cooked bones should be disposed of properly and not be given as treats.

German shepherds were renamed to "Alsatian Wolf Dog" after World War 1 due to the anti-German sentiment of the era.

37. Not all breeds of dogs can swim. Among those that can’t swim at all or swim only with great difficulty are basset hounds, bulldogs, dachshunds, pugs, corgis, Scottish and Boston terriers, and greyhounds.

38. A pug named Pompey woke up the prince of the Netherlands, which thwarted an assassination attempt on him. To this day the pug has been the official dog of the House of Orange.

39. Rottweilers were known as "Rottweil butchers' dogs" because they were used to herd livestock and pull carts laden with butchered meat and other products to market.

40. Siberian Huskies will obey if required to, but their natural tendency is to be cooperative rather than obedient, and they prefer to be companions rather than mere pets.

Corgis are bred short so that they can nip at the heels of cows and sheep while herding and not get kicked in the head in the process.

42. In 2009, an Australian cattle dog named Sophie fell overboard in rough waters off of the Australian coast. She swam 5 miles to an uninhabited island, and survived for 4 months by hunting feral goats before she was rescued.

43. After World War 2, the Russians used 17 different dog breeds to create the “supreme military dog” and named it Black Russian Terrier. It looks like a giant fluffy poodle.

44. The oldest recorded dog was Max, a beagle, dachshund, terrier mix who died at in 2013 at 29 years and 282 days of age.

45. Pomeranians are sled dogs that have been miniaturized.