The famous Wookie was inspired by George Lucas' dog Indiana, an Alaskan Malamute. Indiana was also the source of Indiana Jones' name.

For dogs, yawning is most often a mechanism to deal with stress or anticipation. Usually, when a dog is bored, he'll find something to entertain himself. When he's tired, he'll just go to sleep. And if he wants food, well, he'll let you know.

When Lord Byron began his studies at Trinity College in 1805, he was told he couldn't bring his dog. Byron retaliated by bringing a bear instead!

The Norwegian Lundehund has six toes, and their pricked, upright ears can be folded shut to form a near-tight seal by folding forward or backward. The breed was originally developed for the hunting of puffins.

Theodore Roosevelt's Boston Bull Terrier, Pete, had a taste of at least five White House visitors, including a French ambassador whose pants he reportedly ripped off!

About one quarter of both dog owners (27%) and cat owners (23%) sign their pet's name on greeting cards.

The first dog to have a major role in a Hollywood film was Blair, a collie who played the title role in Rescued by Rover (1905) and was so popular that Rover has been a popular dog name ever since!

Beginning approximately 12,000 years ago, there are numerous instances of dog fossils buried in close proximity to human graves. In one such grave, in what is now Israel, a puppy is buried cradled in the hands of a young human--a clear sign that humans and dogs had begun to share a special bond.

A Bluetick Coonhound named Smokey is the mascot of the University of Tennessee sports teams. There is an actual Bluetick Coonhound, Smokey X, who leads the Vols on the field for football games. The Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity cares for the hound on the University of Tennessee campus. There is also a costumed mascot.

An American Tail tells the story of a young mouse and his family as they emigrate from Russia to the United States for freedom.