The tallest dog breed is the Irish Wolfhound which measures over 32 inches at the shoulder.

The dog has anal sacs under the skin, either side of the anus that secrets a pungent on to the faeces. Each dog has its own distinctive smell, and the sacs enable the dog to use it faeces as a sort of calling card to claim its territory.

Dalmatian Puppies are born pure white. They do not get their spots until they are 8-10 days old.

Spaniels work in muddy terrain, and instinctively love water. When George Bush Sr. was President of the USA, his Springer Spaniel Millie was reported to take shower with him every day.

A flea can jump about 118 times its own height. This is equivalent to a human jumping over a sixty storey building.

The Queen of England is known to be dedicated to her pet Corgis and accidentally established a new unofficial breed when one of her bitches mated with one of Princess Margaret's Dachshunds to produce a Dorgi. She now usually kept at least one Dorgi as a pet. Corgis are brave and sometimes fierce little dogs, and many an ankle has been bitten by the Royal Hounds. It is said that the one sure way to upset the Queen is to step on one of her beloved pets.

The first dog show was held in Newcastle UK in 1859. The Kennel Club was established in 1873, and the first Crufts dog show was held in 1891. The centenary show t the NEC, Birmingham, was the largest dog show ever, with 22,993 entries.