Make New Friends and Unleash Your Talents

Dogs were the first species to be domesticated by hunter-gatherers over 15,000 years ago.  The domestic dog is a descendant of the wolf. The modern wolf is the dog’s nearest living relative.

Canines are one of the most diverse species on the planet.  Dogs are found in most countries and regions around the world.  Many of these regions have special breeds that originated there with particular characteristics native to the area. There are between 195 and 500 dog breeds in the world. The American Kennel (AKC) recognizes 195 breeds of dogs and the Federation Cynologique International (FCI) recognizes 360 breeds officially. But there are a number of experimental breeds as well. 

The most popular dog breeds of 2021 include the Golden Retriever, the Labrador Retriever, the French Bulldog, the Beagle, the German Shepherd, the Poodle and the bulldog. The Border Collie is the smartest dog breed according to The Intelligence of Dogs, which ranks 131 dog breeds in terms of their relative intelligence.

An Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey holds the record for the longest-lived dog.  Bluey reached 29 years of age.  This breed normally lives for about 15 years.  A 15 year old medium size dog is approximately 83 in human years.

You should never stare down a strange dog or hold a dog still to stare into their eyes.  Staring is considered threatening and rude by their wolf ancestry and some dogs still retain that attitude.  If a dog gives you a hard stare, back away and don’t make eye contact.  

Any dog can nip but Newfoundland Dogs, Labrador Retrievers and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are among the safest dog breeds that are least likely to bite.  These breeds are known for their sweet-tempered spirit as long as they are treated right. 

Do you wonder why dogs lick you?  Licking is a natural behaviour to dogs.  It is a way of grooming, bonding and expressing themselves.  Your dog may lick you to get your attention, to say they love you, to show empathy, to help soothe themselves if they are stressed or because you taste good to them.

If your dog follows you everywhere, it is a sign that they trust and love you.  You make them feel safe. If they follow you very closely it could be a sign that they are bored, they want something, they are feeling scared, or they are just being nosy.

These are the sayings found on the bookmark called Advice from a Dog. 

• Be loyal

• Delight in the simple joys of a long walk

• Unleash your talents

• Hide your favourite snack

• Make new friends

• Learn new Tricks no matter your age

• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them!

Here are my comments about each of these sayings. 

• Be loyal - Loyalty is the ability to put others first and stick with them in good times and bad. Being loyal will greatly improve your friendships and all the other relationships in your life. 

• Delight in the simple joys of a long walk - Taking your dog for a walk is good for both you and your dog.  Getting daily exercise is a good thing.

• Unleash your talents - Set your talents free - Let them run at will and follow your dreams.  

• Hide your favourite snack - Hiding treats is a natural instinctive behaviour for a dog.  Burying leftover food is a survival skill. People hide snacks because they don’t want to share or others would eat them up if they knew where to find them. 

• Make new friends - Dogs are always making new friends.  People need to make new friends too.

• Learn new Tricks no matter your age - You are never too old to learn new things.  

• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them! - Be excited to see your family.  Show you love them and are happy to be around them.  

Have a wonderful day everyone.  Make New Friends and Unleash Your Talents.

# living life abundantly  # published author  # travelling tuesdays