Man's Best Friend…and more!

Dogs have come a long way –from being the descendents of wolves to being Hollywood stars! Let's take a closer look at these tail-wagging and saliva-slobbering animals and find out why dogs are dubbed “man's best friend”!

 

Wolf to Woof

Ever mistaken some dogs (for example, German shepherds and Siberian Huskies) for wolves? Well, that is because dogs are the descendents of wolves and so they share common traits - they are predators and scavengers, have 42 teeth (although wolves have “fangs” that are about six centimetres long ), possess keen sense of smell and hearing and they pant to keep themselves cool. The major difference between the two is that it is harder for wolves to be “man's best friend”!

 

Human relations

Dogs resemble humans in so many ways, and that is why dogs and man can live, play and work closely. Have you ever noticed that some behavioural traits of dogs are similar to that of humans? For instance, the devotion and loyalty of dogs is equivalent to our idea of love and friendship. For other similarities, just take a look at some dogs and their owners and note the physical resemblance!

I bet you have come across dog-owners who tell you that their dogs are “more than just a pet”, and have become “part of the family”. Well, this goes for dogs as well! Dogs regard their owners as members of their pack, which is the reason for their fierce love, loyalty and protection towards their owners.

 

All dogs big and small

Today, there are at least 400 dog breeds, and dogs come in different sizes ( think of the small Chihuahua and the tall Irish wolfhound ), colours and coats of sorts (spotted, hairy or hairless). In general dogs are sprinters and have sharp teeth tearing preys.

Although dogs are colour-blind (they cannot distinguish between red and green), they can see better in dim light compared to humans. The sense of smell of most dogs is 10,000 times better than ours, and their acute sense of hearing allows them to hear sound that is not audible to the human ears.

 

Its bark is worse than its bite?

Dogs bark for many different reasons: when an intruder (humans, other dogs or other animals) is approaching, when they hear unidentified noises or when they see unexpected things . They may bark even while they are playing. Sometimes they bark to express suspicion, fright, stress, loneliness, or pleasure. If a dog's bark is short and sharp, it could mean that the dog just wants a playmate. If the bark is high-pitched and recurring, it could mean that the dog is upset.

Should you encounter an aggressive, teeth-baring dog which barks fiercely at you, do not run! Instead, force yourself to relax and turn your body so that you are not directly facing it. Fold your arms and keep very, very still. When the dog eventually walks away, you should walk away too , but in a careful and slow manner. To all the dog-owners out there, please be considerate. Keep your dog on a leash when taking your dog out for walks, and if your dog is known to be aggressive, you should muzzle it to prevent it from biting strangers.

Dogs sometimes growl in an attempt to threaten or show dominance, whine to express pain or fright, or to attract attention, and howl to communicate with other dogs. According to some people, dogs can “talk” – only if you are patient enough to listen to them.

 

In a dog's life

Dogs are great companions…and great workers too! Here are several jobs undertaken by dogs:

•  Assistance dogs help disabled people with their daily tasks.

•  Therapy dogs cheer people up, for instance, the elderly in old folks' homes, patients and in some countries, even prisoners!

•  Search and rescue dogs look for missing or trapped people in disasters.

•  Performing dogs include circus dogs and dog actors like Lassie, the female rough collie in Lassie , Rin Tin Tin the German shepherd in The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin , and the spotted Dalmatians in the 101 Dalmatians .

•  Detection dogs are used by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers to detect illegal substances (for example, drugs) during immigration procedures.

•  War dogs or K9 Corps specialize in military tasks such as locating mines and detecting weapons and explosives .

•  Police dogs or K9 Units assist officers in crime scenes.

There's an old film entitled “All dogs go to heaven” . Do you agree with the statement? Well, seeing that they are man's best friend and such diligent workers, I think they ought to!