What's your dog IQ? Test your knowledge of canine facts with our fun quiz
What’s the largest litter of puppies ever born to a domestic dog?a. 17b. 24c. 19d. 12
A dog whose coat is any color or pattern plus white spotting is said to be what?a. Irish spottedb. Bicolorc. Flashyd. Tuxedo
True or false: Dogs with droopy ears have more ear infections than dogs with upright ears.
The term “sennenhunds” refers to which of the following group of dogs?a. Saint Bernard, Rottweiler, Leonberger and mastiffb. Alpine herdsman’s dog, dachshund, kooikerhondje and hovawartc. Appenzell mountain dog, Bernese mountain dog, Entlebucher and greater Swiss mountain dogd. Swiss hound, small Swiss hound, Saint Bernard and Alpine mastiff
True or false? The Australian shepherd was developed in Australia.
The dog who guards the gates of the underworld is named what?a. Argosb. Anubisc. Fangd. Cerberus
Dogs were domesticated how long ago?a. 33,000 yearsb. 15,000 yearsc. 12,500 yearsd. All of the above
What term is used to refer to dogs with narrow heads and long muzzles?a. Brachycephalicb. Dolichocephalicc. Mesaticephalicd. Metatarsal
The sound that hounds on the trail make is called what?a. Howlingb. Yodelingc. Bayingd. Chortling
Answers: 1. b. A Neapolitan mastiff named Tia gave birth to a whopping 24 puppies in November 2004, setting a world record that has yet to be broken. Luckily for Tia, they were delivered by caesarean section.
2. a, b, c, d. If you chose any of these answers, you are correct. Bicolor dogs can have a little white or a lot, but the term Irish spotting typically applies to dogs with a specific symmetrical pattern of white markings, such as the Boston terrier’s white muzzle band, white blaze between the eyes and over the head, white collar, and white fore chest. Some breeds have their own distinct terms for this pattern. For instance, English toy spaniels with a red and white coat are called blenheims.
3. Unproven. Anecdotally, veterinarians and pet owners see more ear infections in dogs with hanging ears, but no scientific study has proven it. Allergies are probably the main cause of canine ear problems, and they don’t discriminate by ear type.
4. c. All four of these dogs are Swiss breeds. They were used for herding, pulling carts, driving cattle, and guarding the farmstead. They all have a tricolor coat of black and white with rust-colored markings.
5. False. When 19thcentury American ranchers imported Australian sheep, the flocks were tended by Basque shepherds and their blue herding dogs. Because of their association with the Australian sheep, the dogs became known as Australian shepherds, but they belong to a distinctly American breed.
6. b. Three-headed Cerberus guards the gates to Hades, ensuring that no one gets in — or out — who’s not supposed to.
7. d. The current answer is “We don’t know,” but there are good theories for each of the possible answers. One genomic study of 58 modern wolves and dogs suggests that dogs originated in China approximately 33,000 years ago. Another theory is that dogs were domesticated between 12,500 and 15,000 years ago, not once, but twice, in Western Europe and in Asia, with the dogs eventually meeting and interbreeding.
8. b. The word dolichocephalic is used to describe dogs such as Salukis or collies. Brachycephalic dogs such as pugs or bulldogs have a broad head with a short muzzle. Beagles and similar breeds are mesaticephalic, meaning they have a medium-width head with a medium-length muzzle.
9. c. Baying. The deep, melodious sound is poetically described as mountain music.
— Kim Campbell Thornton
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker. Pet Connection is produced by veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, journalist Kim Campbell Thornton, and dog trainer/behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. ©2024 Andrews McMeel Syndication
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Pet Connection: Test your dog knowledge with a fun quiz