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The Quirky Quote
 "The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too." ~ Samuel Butler
The Quirky Fact
 Because of the different methodologies used, statistics about dogs vary widely, even when it comes to knowing whether there are more dogs or cats in the U.S. But statistics about dog-owners tend to be in greater agreement. For example: Dog-lovers are deeply attached to their own dog and its breed, but tend to think every dog is adorable, no matter what breed. They will stop to pet any pooch they see, which is a date magnet, in part because 69% of dog-people agree that knowing someone is a dog-lover would make them more interested in dating them. And a third of people bring their dogs on dates in part because they want to see if the dog and potential partner get along (41%) and because they think their dog is a good judge of character (30%). There are even dating sites based on pets, such as: https://www.datemypet.com/.
The Quirky Observation
 If you are going to base your relationship with someone on his or her view of dogs, I think there are other things you need to know. On which side of the following statistics does this potential partner fall?
- 94% consider their dog as a family member, 70% sign their name to holiday cards, and 58% include them in formal family photos
- 56% greet their dog first when arriving at home – before any humans.
- 67% reported gazing lovingly into their pet's eyes, with about 33% doing so more often than with their human significant other, and 47% cuddle more with their dogs than their human partners.
- About 50% let their dogs sleep in their beds – a higher % if the dog is small and lower % if the dog is large (62% vs. 32%)
The Questions
Are you a dog-lover, a cat-lover, another sort-of-pet-lover, or do you prefer being pet-less? Share your thoughts. And do “yappy” dogs turn you off? According to multiple sites, Bensenji dogs do not bark, but rather yodel. Here is an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZOLca_ocRo. Is that a yodel to you?
Featured Product
 Check out the newest Wiser Now slide Show, “Pondering Pets.” It’s filled with trivia quizzes, word games, discussion questions, and funny quotes, sure to amuse you. Learn more and access it here.
The Quiz
There is no doubt that dogs provide health benefits to their owners. Just petting your pet lowers both your blood pressure and your pet’s. But my guess is, there’s still a lot you don’t know about dogs, so here’s an excerpt of a quiz that you can also find here.
1. The shape of a dog’s face suggests its longevity.
True ___ False ___
2. A dog’s nose print is unique, much like a person’s fingerprint.
True ___ False ___
 3. The name Collie means “white” after the sheep they once tended.
True ___ False ___
4. Even the sound of someone yawning is contagious for dogs.
True ___ False ___
5. Dogs curl up in a ball when sleeping to protect their organs—a holdover from their days in the wild, when they were vulnerable to predator attacks.
True ___ False ___
6. The Labrador Retriever (America’s most popular dog breed) is originally from British Columbia.
True ___ False ___
7. Dogs really are empathetic toward humans.
True ___ False ___
Answers and explanations are at the end of this document.
The Shameless Request
Please share Wiser Now Wednesday with anyone you think might be interested, and if you represent an organization that would like a customized version, please send me a note at Kathy@WiserNow.com.
 The Kiosk of Resources
Answers to Quiz
1. True. A long face means a longer life.
2. True. But nose prints are sloppy because dog noses are wet to help them absorb scent chemicals.
3. False. The name Collie means “black,” in reference to the black-faced sheep they once tended.
 4. True. Plus, it’s four times as likely to happen when it’s the yawn of a person the dog knows.
5. True. And did you know? Spiked collars were originally fashioned in ancient Greece to protect dogs’ throats from wolf attacks.
6. False. It’s America’s most popular dog breed, but it’s originally from Newfoundland.
7. True. In the same manner that young humans show empathy and understanding of the emotions of others, so do dogs. Furthermore, we appear to have bred our dogs so that they not only show empathy, but also show sympathy, which is a desire to comfort others who might be in emotional distress. (See Psychology Today reference above.)
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