Paws-itively Amazing
How many breeds of dog are there worldwide?
A) 800
B) 1,600
C) 400
400
According to the World Canine Organization FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale), there are approximately 400 recognized breeds of dog worldwide. There is some contention, however, as to the exact number of dog breeds as various kennel clubs recognize different breeds. In addition, all, "Purebreds," are, in reality, derived from mixed-breed dog populations, complicating the issue further.
What is the only dog that can't bark?
A) Whippet
B) Borzoi
C) Basenji
Basenji
The Basenji, an African hunting dog, is the only dog that cannot bark. This trait is probably due to the shallow laryngeal ventricle in its larynx. However, the Basenji is certainly not silent and can make a wide variety of other dog noises as well as a unique yodelling sound. One of the most ancient breeds of dogs, Basenjis were once feared extinct until they were rediscovered living among the Azande and Mangbetu tribes from the northeastern Congo region of Africa in 1895.
What is the smallest dog breed?
A) Dachshund
B) Chihuahua
C) Jack Russell Terrier
Chihuahua
At their smallest, Chihuahuas can weigh as little as 4 pounds and be as short as 6 inches!
What breed of dog has webbed feet?
A) Newfoundland
B) Cocker Spaniel
C) Great Dane
Newfoundland
Newfoundland dogs have webbed feet. They also have a water resistant coat!
What TV series had a dog named K9 who was also a robot?
A) Battlestar Galactica
B) Star Trek
C) Doctor Who
Doctor Who
K9 is the name of several robotic dogs in the long-running British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. Although not originally intended to be a recurring character, K9 was kept in the show following his first appearance because he was popular with younger audiences. K9 has also been a central character in three of the series television spin-offs including K-9 and Company (1981) and K9 (2009-2010).
What dog is known for its bluish-black tongue?
A) Chow Chow
B) Afghan Hound
C) American Bulldog
Chow Chow
One of the oldest breeds of dogs, Chow Chows are known for their bluish-black tongues and gums. They aren't born with this coloration, however. At birth, a Chow Chow's tongue and gums will be pink; by eight weeks, however, they will take on the bluish-black color. Originally from China, the Chow Chow's name (Songshi Quan), literally translated, means, "Puffy lion dog."
What is the most popular dog in the United States?
A) Poodle
B) Beagle
C) Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retriever
According to the American Kennel Club's registration statistics, the most popular dog in the United States is the Labrador Retriever. Nearly three times as many Labs were registered (146,692) as any other breed. This marked the 15th consecutive year that the Labrador Retriever topped the rankings. Golden Retrievers (52,550 registrations) were the second most popular breed of dog, followed by German Shepherds (46,046), Beagles (44,555), and Yorkshire Terriers (43,522). According to the AKC's statistics, the least popular purebred dog was the English Foxhound with only 17 registrations.
What does, "Corgi," mean in Welsh?
A) Dwarf Dog
B) Always Yapping
C) Blind Shepherd
Dwarf Dog
Corgi means dwarf dog in Welsh.
How much farther can a dog hear than a human?
A) 10x farther
B) 2x farther
C) 4x farther
4x farther
Although the hearing ability of a dog is dependent on breed and age, studies have shown that most dogs can hear roughly 4 times as far as a human, meaning a human can hear at 20 feet what a dog can hear at 80 feet.
How many eyelids does a dog have?
A) 7
B) 3
C) 1
3
Dogs have three eyelids -- an upper lid, a lower lid and a third lid, called a nictitating membrane or "haw," which keeps the eye moist and protected.
What is the largest breed of dog?
A) Great Dane
B) Irish Wolfhound
C) St. Bernard
Irish Wolfhound
Standing at an average height of approximately 34 inches (from the withers or shoulder-blade), the Irish Wolfhound is generally considered the world's largest (tallest) dog. According to legend, Irish Wolfhounds were guardians and companions of ancient Irish kings and were valued by Celtic chieftains as dogs of war. According to some sources, they were (as the name implies) originally bred to hunt wolves. In spite of their impressive height, the average weight for an Irish Wolfhound is only about 120 pounds. The English Mastiff is generally considered the world's heaviest dog. In 1999, an English Mastiff named Kell weighed in at a whopping 286 pounds (130 kg). According to Kell's owner, her food bill came to £200 a week!
What breed of dog was originated in Germany by a tax collector who needed a guard dog for protection?
A) Pit Bull
B) Dobermann
C) Rottweiler
Dobermann
The Dobermann or Dobermann Pinscher was originated in Germany around 1890 by Louis Dobermann, a tax collector who needed a guard dog for protection. Hoping to develop a breed of dog with maximum strength, loyalty, intelligence, and fierceness, Dobermann is believed to have mixed a number of breeds including the German Shepherd, the Great Dane, the Greyhound, the Pinscher, and the Rottweiler. Today, Dobermanns are commonly used as guard dogs and police dogs.
What historical figure owned the most dogs?
A) Abraham Lincoln
B) Kublai Khan
C) Genghis Khan
Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan kept a kennel of 5,000 Mastiffs used for hunting and as dogs of war.
Where are the majority of a dog's sweat glands located?
A) Feet
B) Nose
C) Tail
Feet
Most of a dog's sweat glands are located around its foot pads, which is why they have to pant to keep themselves cool!
How old was the world's oldest dog?
A) 26
B) 32
C) 29
29
The current record holder for world's oldest dog is Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog who lived from 1910 to 1939 and died at the ripe old age of 29.
What breed of dog was originated in the late 1800s by Captain Max von Stephanitz who hoped to develop an all-purpose working dog?
A) German Shepherd
B) German Spitz
C) St. Bernard
German Shepherd
The German Shepherd dog was originated in Germany in the late 1800s by Captain Max von Stephanitz, a former German Army Captain who hoped to breed an all-purpose working dog. He created the schutzhund trial, a breed test, and any dog that failed the trial was prohibited from breeding. These strict guidelines led to the rapid development of the breed's abilities and intelligence, and the German Shepherd soon proved itself a superior working dog. After World War I, American soldiers, impressed by the German Shepherd's intelligence and trainability, brought the breed to the United States where it quickly became a popular pet as well as working dog. Today, German Shepherds are often trained as police dogs, guide dogs, guard dogs, and of course sheepdogs. They are also known as Alsations or Schaferhunds.
What breed of dog has the longest ears?
A) Basset Hound
B) Siberian Husky
C) Polish Hound
Basset Hound
Basset Hounds are generally considered to be the breed of dog with the longest ears. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, a Basset Hound from Germany named Jack holds the record for longest ears on a dog. Jack's ears measure a remarkable 13 inches and are so long that he sometimes trips over them when he walks.
What city had a dog for mayor?
A) Creal Springs, IL
B) Hartville, WY
C) Cormorant, MN
Cormorant, Minnesota
In Cormorant, Minnesota, Duke the dog was mayor! He was sworn in on August 16, 2014, after the majority of the town's 12 voters backed him in the balloting.
A dog's sense of smell is how much better than a human's?
A) 100,000x
B) 1,000x
C) 10,000x
10,000x
Dogs possess up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about six million for humans. And the percentage of a dog's brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is about 40 times greater than ours. As a result, a dog's sense of smell is roughly 10,000 times keener than a human's!
What was the most popular dog name of 2013?
A) Buddy
B) Max
C) Bella
Bella
According to data from VPI pet insurance, the largest pet insurance company, Bella was the most popular dog name of 2013, probably due to the popularity of the Twilight series.
What is the fastest breed of dog?
A) Greyhound
B) Swedish Vallhund
C) German Spitz
Greyhound
Reaching speeds of up to 45 miles per hour (72 km/h), the Greyhound is the fastest breed of dog. In fact, the only land animal faster than the Greyhound is the cheetah. Not surprisingly, Greyhounds are bred primarily for racing.
All dogs are generally believed to be descended from what prehistoric animal?
A) Tomarctus
B) Proailurus
C) Thylacosmilus
Tomarctus
All modern dogs are generally believed to be descended from Tomarctus, a stealthy predator that roamed the plains and grasslands of North America approximately ten to fifteen million years ago. Wolves, jackals, and coyotes are also believed to be descendants of Tomarctus.
How many teeth do puppies have?
A) 42
B) 28
C) 36
28
Puppies have 28 teeth, while adult dogs have 42.
How many dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic?
A) 1
B) 3
C) 0
3
Three dogs (all from First Class cabins) survived the sinking of the Titanic -- two Pomeranians and one Pekingese. Apparently, it pays to be a lap dog!
Which of the following is normal body temperature for a dog?
A) 102 degrees
B) 94 degrees
C) 106 degrees
102 degrees
A dog's normal body temperature is between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.