There are many reasons why dogs are known as man’s best friend. They entertain us with their antics, greet us with an exuberant wag of the tail every day (no matter how many times you leave and come back), and offer to fill our social feeds. But these aren’t the only reasons why dogs are the best. In fact, science can back up the claims that our canine companions are the superior species.

They Provide Endless Entertainment

Whether we’re watching our four-legged friends get the zoomies around the house or romp with their pals at the park, there’s nothing that says “pure joy” like puppies at play. Those big floppy ears and goofy grins are the highlight of our days. So much so, that a 2017 study conducted by BarkBox found that the average dog owner posts about their pup six times per week on social media.

They Lower Our Stress Levels

It’s a wonderful feeling to have a fur-ever friend who greets you at the door with a wagging tail each day. But did you know that having a dog around can actually help manage stress? Research has shown that being around a canine companion can have a calming effect on humans, and help us control stress two ways. First, by increasing levels of oxytocin (a hormone in the body that releases feelings of joy). Second, by reducing levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) in the body. So if you’re looking for a reason to add a dog to the family, chalk it up to putting you in a better mood.

They Make Exceptional Coworkers

Dogs have worked alongside man for centuries, hunting, herding, and helping us get where we need to go safely as we evolved alongside each other. Hieroglyphs depicting scenes from ancient Egypt and Greece showcase this symbiotic relationship between animal and human, and the working dog continues to thrive even to this day. With their enhanced sense of smell and keen instincts, dogs still work alongside their human counterparts in great numbers. K-9 units help law enforcement and first responders sniff out weapons, detect arson, and track missing persons. Service and therapy dogs help their handlers navigate life with a sense of stability and freedom. Farm dogs protect livestock and herd animals to pasture. (And it goes without saying that pups make great distractions for those of us working from home, too!)

Read More: Your dog could be left or right-pawed

They’re always happy when you get home

 While teenagers might greet you with a grunt when you arrive back from the office, your dog will be positively beside itself at your arrival. Bless them. Any dog owner will know that walking your pet is a sure fire way to start conversations with fellow animal lovers. In a world where people are increasingly isolated, that’s a wonderful thing.

They make you laugh.

Whether they’re accidentally doing a backward roll off the sofa or giving you the beady eye as you scoff down a bacon sandwich without offering them any, dogs will constantly have you chuckling at their antics. And nothing beats a bit of laughter.

These are the Reasons Why Dogs Make Good Pets

We hope this article convinced you to add a new dog to your life.

The best way to get a new dog is through adopting one who’s in need of a good home.

Make sure your pup is up to date on his shots and that he’s well taken care of.

They’re the Original BFF

Dogs have been human companions since the beginning of civilization. It’s thought that Paleolithic humans were the first to tame dogs from wild wolves some 15,000 years ago. Evidence of a child’s footprints walking alongside a dog’s paw prints appears in a cave in France, suggesting that bond may extend even farther back—closer to 30,000 years. Either way, the first wolf looked at Neolithic man thousands of years ago across the fire, and each realized they could benefit from one another’s presence (probably over food, if we had to guess). Though their relationship probably bordered on the wilder side of things, it was the beginning of a friendship that would continue to evolve over thousands of years as dogs were domesticated into the pets we know today.

They Keep Us Active and Healthy

Not only do dogs help us sleep better, they also help us get more exercise. In fact, a survey of dog owners in the UK found that people who have dogs get about 200 more minutes of walking each week than people without dogs. All those walks around the block with Spot add up: Walking helps lower the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes. Plus, our pups make for adorable exercise buddies who simply refuse to take “no” for an answer. Even just having a dog around may lower your family’s risk of obesity and improve gut health!

Dangerous Foods for Dogs

Who can resist those big brown eyes and cute doggie grin Can a little reward from the table or getting into Guide for Pets Mom or Dad’s stuff really hurt your dog? Well, that depends on what it is and what’s in it. If it contains the sweetener  it can cause your dog some real problems. In fact, there’s a lot of people food your dog should never eat. And, it’s not just because of weight. Some foods are downright dangerous for dogs — and some of these common foods may surprise you.

Xylitol

Candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods are sweetened with xylitol. It can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop and can also cause failure. Early symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and coordination problems. Eventually, your dog may have seizures. Liver failure can happen within just a few days

Avocado

Is a treat from the table OK for your dog? That depends on what it is. Avocados, for example, have something called persin. It’s fine for people who aren’t allergic to it. But too much might cause vomiting or diarrhea in dogs. If you grow avocados at home, keep your dog away from the plants. Person is in the leaves, seed, and bark, as well as the fruit. Also, the avocado seed can become stuck in the intestines or stomach, and obstruction could be fatal.

What Not to Feed Dogs and Cats

Dogs and cats are curious by nature, particularly when it comes to food. They’re also very good at begging for a taste of whatever we may be eating or cooking. As cute as they may be, though, our pets can’t always stomach the same foods as us — some food can be toxic and even deadly to their health.

Use this toxic food list as a guide to preventing accidental toxic exposure to your four-legged companion.

20 Foods to Avoid Feeding Dogs and Cats

To learn more about toxic and dangerous foods to pets, please read our full-length article, Toxic Food Guide for Pets. If you want to make sure you have pet health insurance coverage for accidents like garlic or chocolate toxicity, get a  for your pet’s enrollment. Multi-pet households are eligible for a discount

Several foods that are perfectly suitable for human consumption can be toxic to dogs and cats. Food-associated poisoning cases involving the accidental ingestion of chocolate and chocolate-based products, Allium spp. (onion, garlic, leek, and chives), macadamia nuts, Vitus vinifera fruits (grapes, raisins, sultanas, and currants), products sweetened with xylitol, alcoholic beverages, and unbaked bread dough have been reported worldwide in the last decade

. The poisoning episodes are generally due to lack of public knowledge of the serious health threat to dogs and cats that can be posed by these products. The present review aims to outline the current knowledge of common food items frequently involved in the poisoning of small animals, particularly dogs, and provides an overview of poisoning episodes reported in the literature.

Ethanol

Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is a two-carbon alcohol found in a variety of products, such as alcoholic beverages, paint and varnish, medication, perfume, mouthwash, certain types of thermometers, and certain forms of antifreeze. It is also used as a disinfectant, a fuel substitute, and if administered intravenously, as a competitive substrate in the treatment of dogs and cats poisoned by ethylene glycol. Ethanol toxicosis in small animals generally occurs as a result of accidental ingestion of alcoholic beverages

. Ethanol intoxication has also been reported in the case of dogs, following ingestion of rotten apples , sloe berries used to make sloe gin , and uncooked bread and pizza dough . The latter contains the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which metabolizes carbohydrate substrates to ethanol and carbon dioxide . Once ingested, ethanol is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and crosses the blood–brain barrier . The mechanism of action of ethanol is not completely clear. Ethanol is suspected of inhibiting N-methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptors in brain cells and the related production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate . Clinical signs usually develop within an hour of ingestion and include central nervous system (CNS) depression, ataxia, lethargy, sedation, hypothermia, and metabolic acidosis . Animals may become comatose and develop severe respiratory depression. A distended and painful abdomen due to excessive gas production may be noted in animals that ingest uncooked bread dough . Emesis should be induced with extreme caution and only in cases of very recent ingestion by animals that prove to be asymptomatic

. Recently, hemodialysis has been shown to be beneficial for the rapid removal of ethanol in patients with severe toxicosis . Yohimbine, an alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist which readily crosses the blood–brain barrier, has been recommended as an arousal agent in the treatment of ethanol intoxication . In previous case reports, most patients recovered when monitored closely and given supportive care. Fatal ethanol intoxication was reported in the case of a dog, following the massive ingestion of rotten apples. The dog developed vomiting, ataxia, tremors, and dehydration, and died 48 h later. However, liver damage secondary to the chronic ingestion of rotten apples (presumed to reflect chronic ethanol toxicity) was suspected as a factor in the death of this dog.

Read More: Foreign Body Ingestion Threatens Pets

Grapes and Their Dried Products (Raisins, Sultanas, and Currants)

Grapes, the fruits of Vitis vinifera, and their dried products (raisins, sultanas, and currants) have been reported to cause renal failure in dogs. The fruits may be ingested raw or cooked as ingredients of fruit cake, mince pies, malt loaf, snack bars, scones, and other baked goods. The toxic syndrome has also been observed with consumption of marc (the residue of grapes after pressing). The toxic principle(s) and the exact mechanism of grape-induced nephrotoxicity are still unknown. The latter appears to involve a nephrotoxic agent or an idiosyncratic reaction, leading to hypovolemic shock and renal ischemia

. There is considerable variation in the susceptibility of dogs to grapes and their dried products. In a recent study that reviewed 180 reports recorded by the VPIS between August 1994 and September 2007 on the ingestion of Vitus fruits by dogs, some animals were reported to remain asymptomatic after ingesting up to 1 kg of raisins while others died following the ingestion of just a handful. Published case reports have identified renal failure in dogs following the ingestion of estimated doses of raisins as low as 2.8 mg/kg  and as little as four to five grapes in a dog weighing 8.2 kg. Therefore, ingestion of any quantity of these fruits should be considered as a potential clinical problem. Vomiting within 24 h of ingestion is the typical clinical sign observed. Diarrhea, anorexia, lethargy, and abdominal pain have also been reported

. Partially digested grapes and grape products may be present in the vomit, fecal material, or both. This is followed by signs of renal insufficiency or failure (oliguria, anuria, polydipsia, proteinuria, and elevated serum concentrations of creatinine and urea) within a short period. In cases of dogs with oliguria or anuria, the prognosis is generally poor. The time taken to administer treatment may also play a significant role in the outcome. Given the large variability in the tolerance exhibited by dogs, the ingestion of any quantity of grapes or grape products by dogs should be handled aggressively. Following recent ingestion, prompt decontamination using emetics and repeated doses of activated charcoal is highly recommended. All dogs should receive aggressive intravenous fluid therapy Guide for Pets.

Human Food Safety for Dogs

Almonds: Almonds may not necessarily be toxic to dogs like macadamia nuts are, but they can block the esophagus or even tear the windpipe if not chewed completely. Salted almonds are especially dangerous because they can increase water retention, which is potentially fatal to dogs prone to heart disease.

Bread:. Small amounts of plain bread (no spices and definitely no raisins) won’t hurt your dog, but it also won’t provide any health benefits either. It has no nutritional value and can really pack on the carbohydrates and calories, just like in people. Homemade breads are a better option than store-bought, as bread from the grocery store typically contains unnecessary preservatives, but it’s best to avoid it altogether.

Cashews: Cashews are OK for dogs, but only a few at a time. They’ve got calcium, magnesium, antioxidants, and proteins, but while these nuts contain less fat than others, too many can lead to weight gain and other fat-related conditions. A few cashews make a nice treat, but only if they’re unsalted

They Were First Bred by Max von Stephanite

Although they are now one of the most popular breeds in the world, German Shepherd Dogs are a relatively new breed of dog. In fact, the first German Shepherd was not born until 1889 and was bred by a man called Max von Stephanite, who is known as the father of German Shepherd Dogs. He bred dogs for shepherding and saw a wolf-like dog in yellow and gray that grabbed his attention.

He then began to standardize a breed of shepherd dogs that are now known as the German Shepherd Dog. The dog that Max von Stephanite had seen at a dog show was called Harland von Grafts and he became the first registered German Shepherd Dog. Modern German Shepherd Dogs are often criticized as people consider them to have strayed away from Max von Stephanite’s ideology of the breed. He believed that this breed should be bred primarily for working and that any defects should be eliminated quickly during the breeding process.

 They Go by Many Names

This breed of dog is most commonly referred to as the German Shepherd, although it is one of the few breeds whose official name includes the word dog as its official name is the German Shepherd Dog. The word dog is included in the name to distinguish the canines from humans who work as shepherds in Germany. However, this is not the only name by which it is called. In Germany, the country of its origin, the dog is called a Detacher Shafer Hund. In England and Ireland, the dog is often referred to as an Alsatian.

Another name by which it is sometimes known is as the Berger Allemandes. As the breed is so popular in the United States, Americans began talking about removing the German part of the name from 1914 onwards. The American Kennel Club did remove the German part in 1917 and it was then known as the Shepherd Dog. However, in 1930, members of the club voted to change the name back to its original version.

Read More: Signs to Never Ignore in pet

 The First Dog to Aid the Blind Was a German Shepherd

Dogs are commonly used as an aid for people with a visual impairment. People who are blind or have limited vision use a guide dog as a means of managing their daily lives. The dogs help to guide them around their homes and also in external environments. Although there are many different breeds of dogs used for this task, it is a canine role most associated with Labradors and Retrievers. However, the first guide dog for the visually impaired was actually a German Shepherd Dog. ‘The Seeing Eye’ was founded in 1929 by Mrs. Harrison Eustis. The purpose of this foundation was to train dogs to guide the blind.

The first dogs they trained were German Shepherd Dogs. Morris Frank was a blind man who had read about men who were blinded during World War I and he came across information about the dogs being trained in Switzerland. He contacted Mrs. Eustis about having one of these dogs himself. The reason that German Shepherds are now used to a lesser extent in work as a guide dog is that the traits of the breed were compared to those of Labradors and Retrievers. The tests showed that the disposition of the latter two breeds of dog were better suited to this variety of work while German Shepherd

 German Shepherd Motto

Across the internet it’s easy to find a slew of funny dog breed slogans, most that poke fun at the breed’s stereotype. However, the German Shepherd does have its own motto that stems from Captain Max von Stephanite and his original German Shepherd Dog Club. The German Shepherd motto is: Utility and Intelligence.

 GSDs are First Service Dogs

German Shepherds have found fame throughout the years as movie stars—Rin Tin Tin and Strong heart were both popular in the 1920s. GSDs also have been famous as service dogs, including Apollos, the first German Shepherd police service K-9 to respond to Ground Zero on 9/11. However, it was Buddy the GSD who became the first  to Morris Frank in 1928. The hard-working seeing eye dog trained in Switzerland at a school operated by American Dorothy Harrison Eustis.

After Morris Frank returned to the United States with Buddy and had enormous success with the seeing eye dog, Eustis returned to the States as well. She worked to establish The Seeing Eye, a school to train more seeing eye dogs and Morris Frank became its managing director, with Buddy at his side. The school continues today to train service dogs for the blind. Bonus fact: Buddy’s original name was Kiss and she was a female.

Hero, Star and Pioneer

The German shepherd dog (GSD) has consistently been ranked as one of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S.

A family favorite and a resourceful working dog (search and rescue, guide dog for the blind, security and military), this breed is confident, loyal and eager to please.

If you need any further proof this breed is as revered as it is, there’s even the national “13 Club” for German shepherd dogs that are twelve years of age or older.

Some are fast and could even beat a cheetah

it the Summer  you’ll see lots of fast human beings racing each other Some are fast and could even beat a cheetah. But how would those runners finish in a race against the fastest land animal on Earth? What animal is that? The cheetah, of course!

The cheetah’s  name is Acrimony jubate. Have you ever seen pictures of this animal? If so, you know that it is a . You can find cheetahs throughout most of Africa and parts of the Middle East.

Scientists estimate that cheetahs can reach speeds between 70-75 miles per hour. Of course, they can’t sustain that high speed over long distances. But they can go that fast in short  that can cover up to 1,600 feet or more.

Cheetahs can reach those speeds very quickly, too. A cheetah’s explosive speed can take it from 0 to over 62 miles per hour in just three seconds. Now that’s fast! In fact, it’s about as fast as the world’s most expensive sports cars can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour.

Why are cheetahs so fast? Scientists have identified several features that help the animal  such speeds. For example, cheetahs are one of only three types of cats that have semi- claws. This means that cheetahs can’t fully retract their claws like most other cats can. This feature gives cheetahs extra grip when chasing.

Cheetahs also have largos’. These allow them to breathe in more  when running. Their hearts and lungs are also larger than other cats of similar size. This helps them oxygen throughout their bodies mor.

Even cheetahs’ tails help them run faster and turn quickly by acting like the of a ship. As they’re running, cheetahs use their tails to help maintain their balance and steer when sharp turns are necessary!

So how much faster are cheetahs compared to humans? Currently, the world’s fastest human being is Jamaican Usain Bolt. He set the world record in the 100-meter dash in 2009 with a blistering time of only 9.58 seconds. That equates to a speed of just over 23 miles per hour. That’s fast, but it’s no match for the cheetah! This animal could outpace Bolt at about three times his top speed.

Is a Cheetah or Greyhound Faster?

Guinness places the highest speed for a greyhound at 41.83 miles per hour, which covered a distance of 400 yards in just 19.57 seconds. Meanwhile, Guinness places the fastest cheetah speed at between 62 and 64 miles per hour. In 2012, a cheetah named Sarah that lived at the Cincinnati Zoo was recorded running at 61 miles per hour.

However, while cheetahs have a higher top speed, greyhounds are built for endurance and can run in excess of 35 miles per hour while cheetahs can only sustain their high-end speed for around 30 seconds. Put another way, while a cheetah would win a 100-meter dash, greyhounds would be the winners of a 5K race.

Read More: Dogs are about as intelligent as a two-year-old

Greyhound vs. Cheetah: Height

Although greyhounds are  than most dogs, a fully grown Cheetah is taller. A full-grown Greyhound stands 27-30 inches tall, while a Cheetah can stand up to 3 feet tall at the shoulder.

Greyhound vs. Cheetah: Weight

Greyhounds are huge breed dogs that can weigh 60-100 pounds depending on their health and living conditions. Cheetahs can weigh substantially more, despite their similar appearance in size. Cheetahs can weigh anything from 46 to 160 pounds when fully grown.

Greyhound vs. Cheetah: Coat Type

A cheetah’s topcoat is tawny in hue. Greyhounds have a short, silky coat that is easy to maintain. Cheetahs have a thicker coat and can survive outside, however, greyhounds should not be kept outside as pets. Most dogs have a two-layer coat to keep them warm and protected from the weather. Greyhounds, on the other hand, have a single-layer coat that makes it difficult for them to regulate their body temperature. If they are going to be outside for more than a brief period in cold weather, they should wear a coat.

Greyhound vs. Cheetah: Colors

Cheetahs are pale buff or grayish-white in hue, with paler and whiter underbelly. On the pelage, black patches are close together, with a series of black rings around the tail’s terminal third. Greyhounds can be any color, including fawn, black, red, blue, gray, or white, despite their name.

Foreign Body Ingestion Threatens Pets

Dogs are curious by nature. They love to investigate new sights, smells, and tastes Foreign Body Ingestion Threatens Pets. Unfortunately, this curiosity can lead them into trouble. Dogs are notorious for swallowing paper, tissues, articles of clothing, sticks, wicker, bones, food wrappers, rocks, and other foreign objects. Some of these objects will pass through the intestinal tract without problem. It is common for dog owners to report finding all sorts of objects in their dog’s stool or vomit.

How is it diagnosed?

After obtaining a thorough medical history, your veterinarian will perform a careful physical examination. If a foreign body is suspected, abdominal radiographs (X-rays) will be performed. Several views or a series of specialized X-rays using contrast material (barium or other radiographic dye) will often be necessary. In addition, your veterinarian may recommend blood and urine tests to assess whether the patient’s health has been compromised by the obstruction, or to rule-out other causes of vomiting such as pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, infections, or hormonal diseases such as Addison’s disease.

Read More: Dogs are good for your heart

How is an intestinal foreign body treated?

Time is critical since an intestinal or stomach obstruction often compromises or cuts off the blood supply to these vital tissues. If the blood supply is interrupted for more than a few hours, these tissues may become necrotic or die, and irreparable damage or shock may result.

In some instances, the foreign body may be able to pass on its own. In this event, your veterinarian may recommend hospitalization of your dog for close observation, and will perform follow-up radiographs to track the progress of the foreign object.

If any clinical signs are related to an underlying condition, or if diagnostic testing indicates compromised organ systems, these abnormalities will also require treatment.

Does Your Dog Have an Appetite for Life?

Dogs are naturally curious, but sometimes their curiosity gets the best of them. This is especially true for dogs with mouths like vacuum cleaners – they tend to eat a lot of strange things. As connoisseurs of life, many dogs don’t hesitate to sample all sorts of objects from toilet paper to rocks, shoes to sticks, clothing, and even garbage. While many of these things somehow pass through the intestinal tract without incident – and at a dog-owner’s dismay – sometimes a dog’s appetite for life can cause problems. This is also true for cats – be sure to read about especially the potentially dangerous habit of eating thread. 

If you know your dog has ingested something he or she shouldn’t have, call your veterinarian immediately. The most common problem with this is foreign body obstruction. A potentially life-threatening condition, foreign body obstruction occurs when one of the many strange objects (foreign bodies) ingested by your dog is unable to make it successfully through the intestinal tract. When the object becomes “stuck,” it can cause a lot of discomfort and be very dangerous.

Causes and Symptoms
When something is ingested by your dog, it usually takes between 10-24 hours to move through the entire digestive tract. Some objects, however, can take much longer – even months!

Sometimes, objects are too big to progress through the digestive tract, and when this is the case, they cause an obstruction. If the foreign body has made it to the colon, it’s likely to pass – however, there’s still the possibility that it will be painful, especially if it is sharp (like a stick). In cases like this, you might need veterinary assistance. It is important to follow this rule: never pull a foreign object that is protruding from your pet’s rectum! If still lodged inside, this can cause damage to the internal tissues.

Diagnosis
If a foreign body blockage is suspected, x-rays will be used to confirm the diagnosis. Often, several x-rays will be needed using contrast material (dyes) to locate the object. Additionally, your veterinarian may want to run blood and urine tests to determine whether your dog’s overall health has been negatively impacted by the obstruction and ato rule out other possible causes of vomiting such as  infections, or hormonal diseases like

Treatment
If your dog did eat a foreign body – stick, rock, or shoe – there are a few possible treatment options depending on the condition of your dog.

If your dog has been profusely vomiting, writhing in pain, and generally miserable the first thing your veterinarian will do is provide intravenous fluids and pain control.

If your dog still has the foreign body in his or her stomach, inducing vomiting may allow the dog to rid itself of the object. The object also may be removed through endoscopy, in which a long tube is inserted through the mouth of your dog and is used to pull the object from the stomach. Your veterinarian will make recommendations, and if this is the case, may also suggest hospitalization of your pooch for close observation and follow-up x-rays to track the progress of the item Foreign Body Ingestion Threatens Pets.

If the object has made it into the intestine, surgery is imminent. Time is absolutely of the essence because, as mentioned before, blockage in the intestine or stomach can cut blood supply to the stomach and intestinal tissue. After a few hours, it is possible for the tissue to become necrotic, or “die.”