They ain't nothing but hound dogs

The following text is originally lifted from the trivia section of The Jakarta Post dated Friday, 27 June 2008.

~Compiled from various sources~

• Pharaoh hounds are the only dogs that blush. They do this when they are excited or happy, and their ears, nose and eyes become pink.
• Bulldog puppies are usually delivered by caesarean because of their large heads.
• The Great Pyrenees dogs are so sensitive to anaesthesia that it can kill them.
• A dog bite is less likely to cause infection than a human bite.
• The Basenji does not bark.
• Chow chows have bluish black tongues and gums, which start out pink but turn dark by eight weeks.
• Chow chows were originally bred for three reasons: as a pet/hunter/helper; to keep people warm with their furry hides; and as food, like chickens and cows.
• The Afghan hound is mentioned in writings as far back as 4000 BC, and its name can be translated as "baboon" or "monkey-faced hound". Despite the unflattering name, he was a favourite of royalty.
• The bloodhound does not need to smell blood to find someone who is lost. It is said that his name instead means blooded hound, or aristocratic.
• The gigantic Irish wolfhound is so strong that he can pick up a mastiff or bulldog. When pitted against either in a fight, he picks his opponent up by the back and simply shakes him to death.
• Rhodesian ridgebacks have an actual ridge along the top of their backs that is made up of forward-growing hairs.
• The Saluki is represented in Sumerian carvings dating back to 7000 BC. It is said that whenever one sees the word "dog" in the Bible it means Saluki.
• The tallest dog breeds are the great dane, the Irish wolfhound, the St. Bernard, the English mastiff, the Borzoi and the Anatolian Karabash (Turkish shepherd dog). All of these breeds can reach 90 cm at the shoulder.
• The smallest breed of dog is the Chihuahua, which weighs between one and 2.5 kilos. The second smallest breed of dog is the Yorkshire terrier, which should officially not weigh more than 3.2 kilos.