Dogs - Members of the American Family

Some trivia about dogs and their owners, and about people owned by their dogs.

• President Theodore Roosevelt had a dog named Pete. Pete took a dislike to the Ambassador of France who was at the White House for a visit, and ripped his pants off. So much for diplomacy.
• The United States has the largest dog population in the world, estimated at over 68 million.
• 36 percent of homes in the United States have a dog for a pet.
• There are 157 types of dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.
• The favorite breed of dog in the United States is the Labrador Retriever.
• The Greyhound is the fastest dog breed, and can run up to 45 miles per hour for short stretches.
• Female dogs are twice as likely to bite as males.
• The phrase 'Raining Cats And Dogs' is thought to have originated in England. Very heavy rains in the 17th century caused rivers to overflow. Many dogs and cats were drowned, and their bodies floating in the water made it seem like it had rained cats and dogs.
• A survey by the American Animal Hospital Association revealed that 33 percent of dog owners admitted to talking to their pets on the phone or leaving them messages on answering machines.
• Dogs are pack animals, and as such will be submissive to any creature (including humans) with higher pack status. If there is no creature with a higher pack status, the dog will naturally become the pack leader. This explains why some people 'own' dogs, and why some dogs 'own' people.
• To be a good pet, most puppies need to be exposed to humans within the first three months of life.
• Ancient Chinese carried Pekinese puppies in the sleeves of their robes. Pekinese are also known as the Chinese Lion Dog.
• At the height of popularity of the sitcom television show Frasier, Eddie The Dog got more fan mail than any of the other characters on the show.