The Local Dog: I left this out in my last post (which is ironic), but this is probably the most popular group of dog in Nigeria. Even though they are commonly called ‘local dogs’, the proper term for them is Mongrel or Mutt. A mongrel is a mix of two or more breeds, many mongrels have no pure breed ancestors.

Pitbulls and Locked Jaws: Contrary to popular belief, there is no mechanism anatomically that allows for jaw locking in Pitbulls or any other breed of dog. In dogs generally, the size and power of a bite is proportional to the size of the jaw and jaw muscles.

Tail Docking: I once met a guy who thought Rottweilers were born without a tail, it’s hilarious but it shows how popular the practice has become. Tail docking is the term given to the surgical removal of puppies' tails. A lot of people aren’t aware but docking of dog tails for cosmetic purposes is illegal in a number of countries because the procedure is seen to be painful and more importantly affects the dog’s ability to communicate effectively.

Why German Shepherds are Sometimes Called Alsatians: When British soldiers brought German Shepherds to the UK after World War 1, anti-German feeling was still intense. Breeders decided it would be diplomatic to rename the breed after the province of Alsace, which was German until the war but is now part of France. Enmity towards Germany continued and it was not until the late 1970's that British breeders recognised the breed by the name used worldwide and re-named their club The German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian) Club.

Read more interesting dog facts here. http://wooflinepets.com/2016/05/20/interesting-dog-facts/