Have you ever wondered why dogs prefer to whirl around before going to the bathroom? It's one of many puzzling canine habits, but the predominant hypothesis is that it has something to do with the Earth's magnetic field. Dogs like to defecate towards north or south, and whirling around helps them position their internal compasses appropriately.

When your dog lets out a big yawn, you probably just believe it signifies the same thing humans do when we yawn: he's tired. And while it might be a symptom of exhaustion, dogs yawn for a variety of reasons. Dogs can yawn to settle themselves down, thus frequent yawns could indicate that your pet is worried or agitated. It's similar to how a cat's purr may signify a variety of things, so examining the situation's context can typically help you figure out what's going on.

This is just another of the amusing facts about dogs that aren't quite accurate. You undoubtedly grew up believing that the old adage "reach out your hand to an unknown dog and let it smell you" was gospel. And it can work, but you must be careful how you go about it. Simply thrusting your hand in front of an unfamiliar dog's face might frighten or alienate her. Instead of presuming she wants to and waving your hand under her nose, you're better off letting the dog approach you first and then giving your hand for the dog to smell. And, if you must approach the dog, approach it from the side rather than straight on.

In 2012, Max the Golden Retriever became the first mayor of the municipality of Idyllwild, California. Mayor Max died in 2013, however he was succeeded by Mayor Max the II, who has been in command of the town ever since. Because Idyllwild is a non-incorporated municipality with no human mayor, Idyllwild Animal Rescue Friends (ARF) financed the first-ever election for Idyllwild. Any person may nominate their pet, which resulted in 14 dogs and two cats on the vote. All votes cost one $1, with the revenues benefiting ARF. These aren't the only creatures who made it onto a ballot.

This breed is good for swimming because to its water-resistant hair and webbed feet. They were originally designed to assist fisherman and save people who were drowning. Some Newfoundland owners have even reported their dogs attempting to "rescue" them while swimming.