Understanding Your Dog!
The dog’s skeleton is made up of two main types of bone; long bones that are located in the spine and fiat bones which are found, for example, in the skull and pelvis. Although all dogs have the same basic skeleton, their bones do vary in size and shape from breed to breed.
The dog’s eye has upper and lower eyelids with a duct to drain away fluid and a third eyelid which helps to keep the surface of the eye clean. The dog’s eve has developed from the time when packs hunted at dusk and light was limited. In semi-darkness the dog’s eye reflects back light and this enhances any slight movements in the distance.
A dog’s sense of smell is much more developed than a human’s. ‘Sniffing’ is a very important part of a dog’s life. When dogs meet each other, smelling is part of their greeting. A dog also uses smell to mark out its territory. When your dog or puppy urinates it leaves its scent and, by doing so, marks its territory which other dogs can smell when they visit the same spot. A healthy dog has a wet nose. This helps it to detect smells.
The ears of a dog vary in shape depending on the breed. Some are long and floppy, like the Cocker Spaniel’s, while others are smaller and pricked, like a terrier’s. Regardless of ear shape, a dog’s hearing is much sharper than a human’s. Your puppy or dog can detect high pitched sounds which you can’t hear.
A dog’s coat acts as a protective layer. Some breeds have very fine hair while others have a wiry or coarse coat. There are also so-called ‘hairless’ breeds that have a thick, protective skin rather than a coat of hair. Some breeds molt while others, such as many terriers, do not. This is worth taking into account when choosing the ideal breed for your family.
A dog has 42 teeth. They are specially developed to allow dogs to tear and chew meat and gnaw bones. Dogs have large fangs called canines at the front of their mouths. Wild dogs use these as a weapon to attack their prey.
A dog’s claws grow continually and can cause your pet discomfort if they are not kept to a reasonable length. If your dog walks regularly on a pavement its claws may naturally wear down. Otherwise they will need regular paring and your vet will be able to advise you about this.
