Man’s best friend they say. The tail wagging, the wet kisses, the endless snuggles, their joy upon your return…it’s hard not to love dogs.
When dogs find a forever home, their companionship creates lifelong benefits. They bring with them joy, loyalty and devotion. No matter the breed, these pets become family.
This Wednesday, August 26, the dog days are finally over…err….just beginning? Either way, today marks National Dog Day. And I can think of no better day to celebrate the canine in your life.
National Dog Day celebrates all breeds, pure and mixed and serves to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year. National Dog Day honors family dogs and dogs that work selflessly to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Many dogs put their lives on the line every day – for their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for the disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage.
Colleen Paige, pet lifestyle expert, founded this celebratory day in 2004. The day marks the date she adopted her first family dog, Sheltie. The day has been adopted around the world. It is even written into legislation in New York.
Here on National Dog Day let’s take the opportunity to learn some fun and interesting facts about dogs:
- The most successful hunter in the world is the African Hunting Dog.
- These dogs are successful in 50-70% of their hunts. They even hold the Guinness World Record for it!
- The Saluki is another Guinness World Record holder for being the oldest dog breed.
- This breed actually dates back to 329BC! Back then, in Ancient Egypt, these dogs were kept as Royal Pets. There are rumors that this breed can be traced back even further, as there are carvings located in the South of Iraq of a dog that looks very much like this breed and they can be dated back to 7,000 BC.
- Dogs have three eyelids.
- This is something a lot of people do not realize about their furry friends. The third lid is a nictitating membrane, which is known as a haw. It is important for ensuring the eye is lubricated and protected.
- Shar-Peis and Chow Chows have black tongues.
- 30% of Dalmatians are deaf in one ear.
- If a cheetah and a greyhound were to go head-to-head in a long-distance race, a greyhound would win.
- This is because greyhounds boast exceptional long-distance speeds. They can keep up a pace of 35mph for as long as seven miles!
Celebrating National Dog Day may just mean extra time with your four-legged friend. But for those looking to do more, check out this list of 20 ways you can celebrate this special day.
Written by Sales Executive, Lynda Walz
