Dogs of the World Cute Drawings

We loved these cute dog drawings of dogs of the world by artist Lili Chin so much we felt we had to share. English dogs, Irish dogs, american dogs, asian dogs and more, we loved them all.

To see more beautiful dog drawings, visit www.doggiedrawings.net

Celebrity Dogs - Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman and his dog

A final 9 facts about dogs you didn't know

1. 'Max' is the most popular dog name worldwide.
2.  An estimated 62 percent of US homes have dogs—that’s close to 72.9 million homes!
3.  If you ever spot your dog twitching or moving his paws while sleeping, you can safely consider that he is dreaming.
4.  Dogs are capable of sensing changes in weather. So, if your dog is acting weird, blame it on an upcoming storm or spell of rain.
5.  There are an estimated 525 million dogs on this planet.
6.  Dogs have therapeutic capabilities and have been used for therapy since the 1700s.
7.  Most dog species have as many as 18 muscles to move, tilt and rotate their ears.
8.  Getting hugged is NOT one of the favourite activities of dogs as they consider the gesture of putting a limb over them as a sign of dominance.
9.  Dogs' nose prints are as unique as a human’s fingerprints and can be used to accurately identify them.

Do Aussies Love Their Dogs More Than Their Kids?

According to the latest poll from Roy Morgan, a higher proportion of us live in households with a dog and/or cat than with a child.  50% of Aussies live in a household with at least one cat or/and dog in it, whereas 35% share their household with at least one child aged under 16.

Dogs are more popular than cats: 38% of the population lives in a household with a canine companion, compared with 23% who cohabit with a feline friend. Folks in households with at least one cat and one dog account for 12% of the population.

Tasmania is the state with the highest incidence of pet-ownership, with 44% of its residents living with at least one dog, 34% living with at least one cat, and 16% living with at least one of each. New South Wales (including ACT) lags behind the rest of the country for cats (19%), dogs (35%) and both (9%).

State of the four-legged nation: where Australia’s cats and dogs live

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), January–December 2014 (n=15,944).

The cost of pet care

While 20% Australian dog-owners and 14% of cat owners pay for pet-care services in an average four weeks, this can vary noticeably between states (particularly when it comes to dogs). For example, while 22% of dog-owners in Queensland pay for pet-care services in an average four weeks, only 16% of Tasmanian dog-owners do the same.

Although NSW has the lowest rate of cat ownership in Australia, the residents who do own cats (16%) are slightly more likely than those in other states (all 14%) to shell out for pet-care services.

But the cost of caring for our furry family members doesn’t stop there. On top of pet-care services and food (of course), 11% respectively of dog- and cat-owners buy pet supplies* in any given four weeks. The average amount spent in this period is $90 for dogs and $87 for cats, but this too appears to depend on state of residence.

Paying an average of $118 for dogs and $131 for cats in an average four weeks, South Aussie pet owners pay the most for pet supplies. In contrast, Tasmanian pet owners pay an average of $70 for dogs and $56 for cats, the lowest in the country.

Norman Morris, Industry Communications Director, Roy Morgan Research, says:

“Ownership of cats and dogs has remained relatively stable in Australia over the last five years, with dogs the perennial favourite. Although the affection and companionship they give us is priceless, our pets do come at a cost: not only is there food to buy, but other pet supplies such as kitty litter, toys, food bowls, collars, leads and so on; as well as pet services such as veterinary treatment, dog-walking, pet-grooming and so on.

“Considering how high maintenance dogs are compared with their more independent feline counterparts, it is not surprising to learn that dog-owners are more likely than cat-owners to pay for pet-care services in any given four-week period. In general, dog owners also pay more than cat owners for pet supplies.

“Intriguingly, Tasmanians are more likely to live in households with dogs and/or cats, yet pay less for pet supplies than pet owners in any other state.

“Pet-care service providers and pet supply brands need to understand not only how dog- and cat-owners differ, but how the market for their products varies around the country.”

* NB: Pet supplies do not include food

Dogs are a Girls Best Friend

R esearch from  Flinders University has found that dogs, not diamonds are a girls best friend.

Researchers,  Dr Heather Fraser and Associate Professor Nik Taylor have started an online dog study called Whatisitaboutanimals which examines the experience people have with their animals and how they value their relationship with their dogs.

So far over 6000 people worldwide have visited the project’s website and hundreds of people sent in photos and stories, with the majority of participants being women.

Dr Fraser, a senior lecturer in social work, said the findings included dogs being a woman’s best friend, women falling in love with their pets, which they then form strong bonds of attachment with, and animals becoming a “soulmate” for their owners.

“Nik and I both have backgrounds in research of violence and abuse and we wanted to do something that was uplifting,” she said.

“What we found interesting was the romantic language being described for animals — ‘meant to be’, ‘made for each other’, ordinarily only heard when describing the love you have with a human.

“The cliche, dogs are a man’s best friend was also challenged, because when you think about it, the bulk of people looking after dogs are women through the animal rescue movement, looking after the dogs at home, so the woman’s connection to dogs has been overlooked in the past.”

In Australia, 63 per cent of households include a companion animal and the pet animal industry contributes about $4.7 billion to the economy each year.

Ass. Prof Taylor, of the School of Social and Policy Studies, said along with the research finding the strong connection people have with their pets, participants were very open to talking about the therapy their pet provided.

“We had a number of participants who struggled with depression and anxiety say they owed their recovery to their pet, their pet had pulled them through, provided them with someone to talk to and are the reason their depression and anxiety did not exist,” she said.

“One of the most surprising things we found was that people are becoming less inhibited with talking about the love they have for their pets.”

Dr Fraser and Ass. Prof Taylor will present their findings to the Australasian Animals Studies Association Conference in Melbourne this week.

To contribute or find our more about the project visit www.whatisitaboutanimals.com

Celebrity Dogs - Jessica Alba shows off her puppies

Jessica Alba and her pugs

Celebrity Dogs- Vladimir Putin and his dogs

Vladimir Putin and his dogs

Even More Dog Facts You Didn't Know

1. In Russia, some dogs are known to use the subway to travel to more populated areas in search of food
2.  A 2009 study by New York professor Alexandra Horowitz found that the 'guilty dog look' owners know so well is usually triggered by the dog being scolded by its owner - and is not related to whether the dog has actually misbehaved or not
3.  Currently, there are 339 recognised dog breeds, according to the World Canine Organisation.
4.  Measuring a mere four inches (10 cm) in height, Boo Boo, a Chihuahua, was declared the world’s smallest dog by the Guinness World Records in 2010.
5.  Owing to a special membrane, called the tapetum lucidum, dogs are able to see in the dark.
6.  Chihuahuas derive their name from the state in Mexico where they were discovered.
7.  The Holy Bible mentions dogs 14 times.
8.  Dogs curl up while sleeping to protect their vital organs and abdomen from predators.
9.  A bounty of US $300,000 was put on the head of US Customs' dogs, Rocky and Barco, by the drug cartel, because of the canine duo's efficiency in patrolling the Mexican border. 
10. Laika became the first dog to be sent into space via a Soviet satellite in 1957.