Everything you ever wanted to know about dogs (but were afraid to ask!)

Dogs and Water

Some dogs are born to swim!  Newfoundlands have the longest toes (an odd but cool fact).  Newfies and Labs have webbed feet, which help make them excellent swimmers.  Bulldogs have dense bodies that sink like a stone in water.  Some dogs just aren't made for swimming!

What About Those Choppers?

Dogs will have 42 permanent teeth that begin to emerge at about 4 months of age.  Smaller dogs are more prone to periodontal disease than their larger counterparts.

Nose Time

Basset Hounds and Beagles have powerful sniffers.  But the nose of a Basset isn't the only thing helping him to detect scent.  Did you know that their ears drag on the ground on purpose to help stir up smells for easier detection?

Wrinkles

Bulldogs and Shar Pei's are a couple of dogs with prominent wrinkles.  In addition to being adorable, wrinkles often serve a purpose for the breed.  Wrinkles are also a great hiding place for moisture and bacteria, making it very important to keep them clean and dry to avoid infections and skin diseases.

Doing Laps

Have you ever watched your dog circling endlessly before finally lying down to sleep?  Blame this behavior or ancient dog memory.  Dogs in the wild used to trample the grass and dig up spots to make a comfortable nest to bed down each night.

As to why they do this before going potty, no one is really sure.  Some theorize that they like to be aligned along a north-south axis.  Next time, take note of the direction and let us know if they're right!