Page 67 - Dog
P. 67
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Record Breakers
The oldest dog
An Australian cattle dog named Bluey lived to
be 29 years and five months old.
The heaviest and longest dog
ever recorded
An Old English mastiff named Zorba holds the
record as the heaviest and longest dog. In 1989,
Zorba weighed 343 lb (155 kg) and was 8 ft 3 in
(2.5 m) long from nose to tail.
The tallest breeds and the
smallest breed
The smallest breed of dog is the chihuahua.
However, dogs from a number of breeds can
attain 36 in (90 cm) at the shoulder, and so
several classed as the tallest breeds. They are
the Great Dane, the Irish
wolfhound, the St. Bernard, the
English mastiff, the borzoi, and
the Anatolian karabash.
Q
A dog searching a car for drugs Why do dogs pant?
Q Why do the police use dogs? Unlike people, dogs cannot
Acool themselves by perspiring.
The police use dogs because of their They only have sweat glands in
Aexcellent sense of smell. “Sniffer” dogs their feet, and these don’t have a
sometimes help the police to track down great effect on their body
escaped prisoners, and also help to find temperature. But panting helps a
illegal drugs. dog stay cool. When saliva
evaporates from the tongue and Great Dane
mouth, it helps to reduce the dog’s
Q Why do dogs chase their tail? body heat.
A puppy instinctively chases the tip of Q Why do dogs eat grass? Q Can dogs see in color?
Aits tail, perhaps because it resembles
moving prey. If an adult dog chases its tail it
is more likely to be because it has not had Dogs often eat grass when they are A dog’s color vision is limited to
enough exercise, or because it has fleas, or Anot feeling well. The grass makes Ashades of gray and blue. The colors
some other medical problem. them throw up, after which dogs may green, red, yellow, and orange all look
feel better. the same.
Which dogs are considered
Qthe smartest? Q Why do dogs’ eyes glow in the dark?
Most sheepdog breeds are very
Aintelligent and easy to train. At the back of each eye a layer of
Sporting dogs also respond well to Acells called the “tapetum lucidum”
training. Some of the smaller breeds, reflects light back into the eye,
such as the poodle, are very good at making it possible for the dog to
performing tricks. see in dim light. When a bright
light strikes a dog’s eyes, it is
reflected back, making the eyes
How should you approach a appear to glow.
Qstrange dog?
If you have to get close to an Q What is a dorgi?
Aunfamiliar dog, kneel down and let the
dog come and sniff the back of your hand.
Do not make sudden movements or stare When a dachshund and a
into the dog’s eyes, as that might feel like a Acorgi mate, their offspring are
threat. If the dog seems aggressive, avoid called dorgis. Famous dorgis include
eye contact and back away slowly. Do not those born to England’s Queen
turn and run, as that might encourage the Border collies often Elizabeth’s corgi and the Queen
dog to chase you. herd sheep Mother’s dachshund.
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