March 2022

Written By R.U. Steinberg

  • The most popular dog breeds to train as lifeguards are Newfoundlands, Golden Retrievers, and Labradors.

  • Do you have a lost cat or is your dog a super sleuth? The Missing Animal Response Network offers a 10-week pet detective training/certification webinar course for people interested in offering professional lost pet recovery services, which includes the use of K9 pet detectives.

  • Dogs are helping archeologists in Croatia sniff out tombs from the Iron Age, roughly 2,500 to 3,000 years old. 

  • The dog who appeared with Tom Hanks in the movie "Turner & Hooch" was Beasley (1978-1992), a French Mastiff or Dogue de Bordeaux. In the 2021 TV show starring Josh Peck based on the movie, five French Mastiffs play the role of Hooch: Arnie, Hammer, Obi, Cyd, and Mya.

  • The first dog to ever earn military rank was Sergeant Stubby, a brindle bull terrier mutt who served as the mascot for the 102nd Infantry Regiment in World War I.

R.U. Steinberg

Mr. Smarty Pants read the above information in a book, magazine, newspaper, or website; heard it on the radio; saw it on television; or overheard it a party. Got any facts? Email them to Mr. Smarty Pants for possible inclusion in the column at MrPants@AustinChronicle.com.

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