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I thought it would be fun to include a page full of dog related trivia for you to decide whether or not they're "fact or fiction". I plan to add voting polls for more official results on exactly what you think about each bit of trivia. For now, read and enjoy!

• If you've ever watched a dog chase something (maybe...a cat) then you know they can really book it! Have you EVER consider exactly HOW fast the average dog CAN run? Your everyday domestic dog can push the speedometer at close to 19 mph, while the Greyhound has been clocked at 40 mph.

• Dogs can hear sounds that are ultrasonic, giving them an acuity far superior to humans. Should your dog suddenly cock his head and twitch his ears perhaps he's heard a bat in flight or a rodent scratching around. Eeeek!
• Hopefully, you don't have bats or mice in your house!!!

• Do you think the Saint Bernard is the heaviest of all dog breeds? The answer is yes, and he is followed by the English Mastiff, Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound and the Newfoundland.

• People who love dogs generally have more than just one. They are hard to resist and having a second dog keeps the first one healthier. However, too much of a good thing can be...well...overwhelming! It is said that Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis is said to have owned 5000 mastiffs!! Ahhhhh...

• Yes, it's rather embarrassing when Rover starts licking in an inappropriate place. However, did you know that this bizarre behavior serves a necessary purpose? Probably not! The dog's urinary system appears to function better when stimulated by frequent licking. YUCK!

• Why do we consider dogs to be "man's best friend"? Probably because they are extremely loyal. One of the most dedicated little dogs to his human even after death was Greyfairs Bobby. This little example of "man's best friend", sat by his deceased owner's grave for 15 years at Greyfairs Churchyard.

• 80% of dog owners pampered their pooch with gifts for the holidays and especially their birthdays. Another half of them sign letters and cards to include their pet's name along with their own. Are you one of them?

• 38% of dog owners talk to their pets on the phone or through the answering machine; but no pets have pagers, at least I don't know of any, do you?

• It would seem only right that the Sigmund Freud would have to own an intelligent dog. However, it wasn't a Border Collie but instead another breed high on the canine IQ list, the GSD. Freud's Shepherd was named Wolf, and one day he decided to run off. The Freud's looked high and low for their beloved canine only to turn up empty. The dog, though, began missing his faithful family and hailed a taxi to return home. It is reported by the driver that Wolf would not leave his car until he had read his tag. Once the puzzled taxi driver had Wolf's name and address he was safely returned to his family. 

I'll be changing these bits of trivia from time to time. They were adapted from a neat little book entitled, Fun Facts About Dogs, written by Richard Torregrossa and inspired by his dog Gridley.