Did you know if you had a pet as a child, you’re more likely to have a pet as an adult?
Dogs
During the past few years, pet ownership has been on the rise. The 2023-2024 APPA National Pet Owners Survey claims 66% of U.S. households have a pet. That’s up 10% from 56% in 1988.
Dogs are still the most popular pet in the U.S. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) estimates that some 48 million households (more than 44% of U.S. households) have over 76 million pet dogs, the most in the world.
Did You Know…
- The number one state in the U.S. for dog ownership is Arkansas.
- Almost half the dogs in the U.S. (45%) sleep in their owner’s bed.
- More than half the U.S. presidents owned dogs. President Calvin Coolidge owned at least twelve.
Breeds
Today, there are more than 150 dog breeds in the world. They are divided into eight classes: herding, hound, non-sporting, sporting, terrier, toy, working, and miscellaneous. Like humans, dogs have different traits and talents.
Did You Know…
- Dachshunds were originally bred to fight badgers.
- Newfoundlands have water-resistant fur and webbed feet, making them great lifeguards.
- Maltese dogs are perfect for people with allergies. They don’t shed.
- A Basenji, an African hunting dog, doesn’t bark. Instead, it yodels, whines, or screams. (So don’t be surprised if the police come knocking on your door.)
- Dalmatians are born completely white. Their black spots develop as they age. Thirty percent of Dalmatians are also deaf in one ear, while five percent are deaf in both ears. The dogs with larger black spots are less likely to be deaf.
- In a long-distance race, a Greyhound will beat a Cheetah. Though a Cheetah can run twice as fast as a Greyhound, Cheetahs can only maintain their 70-mph speed for about 200-300 yards. A Greyhound can run about seven miles maintaining a 35-mph speed. (The Greyhound’s top speed is 45 mph.)
- Tracking results from a Bloodhound can be used as evidence in a court of law because the dog’s sense of smell is so accurate. It can follow a trail for over 130 miles and follow tracks over 300 hours old!
Health Benefits
Owning a dog is good for your health. Walking and playing with a dog keeps you active. On average, a dog owner walks 300 minutes every week while a non-dog owner walks only 100 minutes. This may help account for why 26% of pet owners report fewer doctor visits than non-pet owners.
Did You Know…
- Young children exposed to pets are 15% less likely to develop certain allergies.
- You can improve both your mental and physical health by owning a dog. Blood pressure can be lowered by ten percent when petting a dog for fifteen minutes. (It will also lower the dog’s blood pressure.) The act of petting a dog will also combat stress, depression, and loneliness.
- Weight issues are not limited to humans. In the U.S., more than half of pet dogs are overweight.
- Larger dogs age faster than small dogs, meaning smaller dogs tend to live longer.
- Spaying or neutering a dog increases the length of its life.
Entertainment
Dogs are smart animals. For one thing, they have a sense of time. If something happens at roughly the same time every day (walking, feeding, etc.), a dog knows and expects it. They also can be trained to perform a variety of tasks. So, it shouldn’t be surprising how easily dogs stepped into the entertainment industry.
Did You Know…
- In 1929, the famous German Shepherd, Rin Tin Tin, was nominated for the first-ever Academy Award for Best Actor. (When my dad was a boy, he had a full sister to Rin Tin Tin.)
- Charlie Brown’s dog, Snoopy, appeared in Charles Shulz’s comic strip on October 4, 1950.
- In 1969, Lassie became the first animal inducted into the Animal Hall of Fame.
- At the end of the Beatles’ song, A Day in the Life, there is a high frequency only dogs can hear.
- George Lucas based the fictional species Ewoks in the Star Wars movies on his family dog, a Griffon Bruxellois.
Final Thoughts
Dogs make wonderful pets. However, do your homework before getting one. Make sure you fit its requirements as much as it fits yours.
Did You Know…
- Dogs don’t usually like hugs. Throwing your arms around them is a sign of dominance.
- Almost one-third of all dogs taken to animal shelters are purebreds.