The dog was one of the first domesticated animals. They can be tracked back 40 million years to a weasel like animal called the Miacis that dwelled in trees and dens. Ancient Egyptians worshiped their dogs so much that they shaved their eyebrows, smeared mud in their hair and mourned for days! You could find the word, “mosaics” meaning “Beware of the Dog” on doorsteps in ancient Rome. The first dog show was held in Britain in 1859. People in Ancient China would stay warm by carrying toy breeds in their sleeves.
The smallest dog was a Yorkshire terrier that was 2/12 inches high at the shoulder. The heaviest dog recorded weighed in at 319 pounds. The oldest dog died at the age of 29. The tallest dog was a Great Dane who stood at a whopping 41 inches. The first creature sent into space was a female dog named Laika by the USSR in 1957! The famous Rock Star Ozzy Osbourne actually tackled a coyote after it attacked the families Pomeranian.
There are actually six different types of Dachshunds. The British bred Basset Hounds have short legs so hunters could keep up with them! The Basenji from Africa is also known as the bark less dog because it yodels instead! The Springer Spaniel got its name from being able to startle and spring at game. Chow Chows have a weird blue almost black tongue. The Great Dane is actually the national dog of Germany. The Kopmondor and Pulli have coats that are made up of cords that are formed when the outer and inner coats cling together.
Of course we all know and love the Chihuahua and it is the smallest breed in the world. The Pekingese was so popular and special in China that common folks were forbidden to own one. The Labrador retriever is a loyal dog but was originally bred to retrieve fishing nets. In the 19th century Dalmatians defended the carriages against thieves and kept animals away from the horses. The breed Siberian husky has been used to herd reindeer in Siberia for 3000 years!
Dogs have sweat glands in their feet and have three eyelids. The third lid is called a nictitating membrane or “haw” and keeps the eye lubricated and protected. Dog’s shoulder blades are not attached to the rest of the skeleton for flexibility. Puppies will sometimes be shunned by their mother when they are cleaned before the mother gets to see them. Dogs with short faces like pugs usually die earlier then dogs with longer noses and faces.
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Seagulls are actually a common bird in the Charadriiformes family Laridae. They are also related to waders, auks and skimmers. The name Seagull is actually the name of the herring gull. They mature in 4 years and their coloring changes frequently from mottled to white to gray. They can live anywhere from 5-15 years. Some have been known to live 25 years! They are ground nesting carnivores. They lay eggs two to three at a time and it takes 26 days to hatch them. You can find them on and around oceans worldwide, except in some areas in Asia. Seagulls seek land for breeding and scavenging. They rarely venture out to sea. Male seagulls have red legs. Most seagulls live inland. Most seagulls are actually carnivores. They eat fish and crabs. They will scavenge dead animals and organic litter. They actually keep beaches clean.
Most of the world’s seagulls are born in California. Seagulls are actually very intelligent and capable of high level communication. Seagulls will grab food and bother humans. They build nests in homes. Some gulls can even be aggressive and hurt people. The droppings from seagulls present problems too. The droppings are actually full nutrient-rich waste perfect for the breeding of bacteria and other organisms that can cause disease and infections in humans. They can also infect you if they bite or scratch you! Some diseases they carry are E. coli, Cryptococossis and Histoplasmosis. The droppings are also corrosive! Some seagulls migrate and will travel for thousands of miles just to find food! Seagulls are so bad in Scotland they are actually exterminating them!
As we mentioned seagulls like seafood especially clams. However, the shells are too hard for their beaks to break so they carry the clams over rocks and drop them to crack them open! Now that’s smart! Not only have that but males had a role in bringing their young into the world. Both female and male seagulls will sit on the eggs. The female will sit for around 3-4 hours and then switch with the male who will also sit for the same length of time. The seagull who is not sitting on the nest will hunt, feed and collect materials for the nest. When the hunter returns to the nest if the existing bird will not move the hunter will push them off the nest!
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So you get a puppy or dog and are wondering whether to have it as an indoor or outdoor pet? There are several factors to consider.
- Training. Do you want to take the time to train your pet to go outside to go to the bathroom? Or do you want to forego the training and set up a doghouse outside? Do you have a fenced in backyard? If not, you are going to have to invest in invisible fencing and train your dog not to go beyond it. I do not believe in putting out a stake with a chain that lets the dog go to and from his doghouse to a specific perimeter of the backyard. That is just plain cruel but you can do it if you want. It is certainly less expensive and takes no training. Another point to consider about training for an indoor pet, is how consistent you are going to be about begging, staying down (not jumping), staying off the furniture (if that is what you want), or staying out of certain rooms (if that is what you want).
- Type of Dog. If it is a small dog, it is better suited to be an indoor dog. If it is a big dog, either is fine. If it is an aggressive dog, unless you can control it, it should probably be an outdoor dog.
- Habitat. If you decide to have an indoor dog, consider making a place in your house that is just your pets. It could be a cage or a dog bed but something where it can feel safe and not be bothered. If you have an outdoor dog, make sure you have either a doghouse or a porch with an overhang where the dog can feel safe and be sheltered from the elements. Make sure your dog has access to water at all times. If you live in a cold weather climate, make sure to bring your dog into a warmer place, like the garage, when the temperatures dip. It is not safe for your dog to be out in the colder weather, especially at night.
- Children. If you have children, you may not want an indoor pet. Consider the ages of the children, the amount of care they are going to be able to offer to the dog, and also the children’s temperaments. If you have a child that is just going to bully the dog – pull its ears or tail, it may be best to have an outdoor dog. Most dogs do not take kindly to that type of behavior and may try to bite your child. If you have very young children, you may have enough to handle with them without having to train a dog besides. In this case, having an outdoor dog might be best. If you have older children who can help take care of the dog, consider keeping the dog indoors.
Ultimately it is up to you where your dog is going to be sleeping.
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