I know I have told you before that I consider myself the crazy dog lady. It doesn’t matter where I see the dog — with his walker, in a car, in a shopping cart — I always want to pet it. I do always ask if that is OK. Also, my voice changes to that high-pitched baby voice. I can’t help it.
When I worked, my co-workers would always say they could tell if a dog came in the office, just by the way I talked to it.
Dogs fascinate me. They are such divine creatures. When you talk to them, their tails will wag, and when they tilt their heads from side to side, it is like they understand what you are saying to them, which I believe they do.
These are some fun facts about dogs.
Night vision. Dogs use their whiskers to detect changes in the air current, which enhances their ability to see in the dark. Well, I’ll bet my Ollie can see good because he has a bunch of whiskers on his little face.
They see in color. I had always thought that dogs were color blind and see only black and white, but that is not the case. Dogs see colors like blue, green, yellow and gray.
Noses. I always knew that a dog’s nose was unique. Just like human fingerprints, a dog’s nose print is unique to each individual dog.
Yawning. They always say yawning is contagious. Dogs can “catch” yawns from humans and they are four times likely to yawn in response to a person they know. I have tried this on my dogs before. I will make a fake yawn, and then they yawn. It’s very entertaining.
Their sense of smell. A dog’s sense of smell is very powerful, with up to millions of scent receptors in their noses compared to us humans. Ever felt like your dog knows when you are upset? It’s not just intuition. They have such an extraordinary sense of smell, which allows them to detect subtle changes in our body chemistry, such as hormones released when we are stressed or sad about something.
So remember, if your pup cuddles up to you on a day that you are not up to par, they’re not just being affectionate, they are responding to your emotional state.
How they drink. Have you ever watched your dog drink water? You may think they’re lapping it up, but in reality, they curl their tongue backward to form a scoop, rapidly plunging it into the water and pulling it back in their mouths. This is effective in getting them hydrated, but will no doubt make a mess on the floor.
In Ollie’s case, he saves some in that tongue scoop of his and brings it to me when I am laying down and the next thing I know the water is all over my face.
If you are looking for a pet to bring into your home, come see us at the Central Aroostook Humane Society, 210 Cross St. Presque Isle. We have quite a few unique animals looking for homes.
If you’re considering a pet, It is best to read up. There are many helpful articles on dogs and cats. Just make sure this is a commitment you want to make, and not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Please spay and neuter.
Gail Wieder is on the Central Aroostook Humane Society Board of Directors.
