Fun Facts about Furry Friends

Things you may not know about your favorite breeds:

* The Doberman breed was created in the 1870's by German tax-collector, Louis Doberman, who bred the dog for protection. It is believed that the breed originated from the mix of cattle and shepherd dogs. In 1895, the dog was mixed with Manchester terrier and at the beginning of the 20th.Centuryy, Greyhound bloodline was introduced, producing the breed we recognize today.

* The name Pug is believed to have derived from this dog's resemblance to the pug monkey.

* Commoners in Imperial China were forbidden to own a Pekingese as it was a breed reserved for royalty.

* A Great Dane can eat up to 8.5 pounds of food per day!

* Whippets can reach a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour.

* The Taco Bell dog is actually a female, and her real name is Gidget.

* The "spring" in Springer Spaniel refers to this breed's ability to spring or startle game.

* The Basenji is the only barkless dog in the world. Among it's other mannerismsanorisms, the Basenji licks itself clean like a cat.

* Dalmatian puppies are born pure white and their spots develop as they mature. The Dalmatian breed originates on Dalmatian coast of Croatia.

* The first animal in space was sent into orbit on November 3, 1957 by the Soviet Union. Her name was Laika, meaning "barker" in Russian. She lived for 7 days in the vessel and proved to the world that animals could survive in outer space, a human followed in her footsteps 3.5 years later.