Griffin is smart enough and active enough that I have been giving him puzzles, toys, and “scavenger hunts” each day before I leave the house. Tonight I didn’t set anything up. After all, we had been to an hour long agility training class, and I was only gone for a short time! Guess I was wrong…

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The documentary And Man Created Dog from National Geographic covers the history of dogs as man’s companion, focusing on the strengths of some common, and uncommon, dog breeds. How wonderful to see the image of three Great Pyrenees dogs surveying their flock of goats on a green pasture. The farmer interviewed mentions how he has had no predation of his goats since using his dogs.

The documentary has moving moments of dogs helping humans, and humans helping dogs. It includes our responsibility towards our loyal friends - mentioning consequences of breeding  and some tools to prevent genetic diseases, and the plight of homeless dogs. One thing is for sure, we love our dogs, and our dogs love us!

Fun facts from the show:

The Saluki is one of the fastest dogs. Unlike most dogs, all four feet are off of the ground twice during each stride, allowing him to run faster and further. As a sight hound, the inside of their eyes has a special band that allows them to see movement better than most dogs.

Retrieving dogs, like the Golden, Labrador, and Standard Poodle, have soft mouths so they don’t damage retrieved birds.

Mixed breeds are now being used for sled dogs and often win the Iditarod.

“A good herding dog has the right balance of boldness, excitability, and a desire to herd” – the reason dogs need jobs like dog agility!

Italy’s Coast Guard gets help with water rescue from a team of highly trained dogs – and their owners!

Thanks to dogs, damage to Air Force aircraft in Israel has been reduced from $10.5 million to $8.

Dogs can move one nostril at a time and devote 40 times more brainpower to scent than we do. Scent discrimination is used in Competition Obedience.

Puppies are deaf until they are about two weeks old. If your adult is deaf, you can still teach and train your deaf dog.

Dogs are one of the few animals willing to look us in the eye and understand where we point. Read more about this phenomenon in my review of “The Secrets Inside Your Dog’s Mind” from Time magazine.

And Man Created Dog, dog breeds, history of the dog, National Geographic Hide