If dogs went to work in office buildings, the talk around the water bowl this week would be about “Wolf to Woof,” a comprehensive canine exhibit that opens Friday at the Florida International Museum in St. Petersburg.

“Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs” is a large traveling exhibit that tells the story of dogs from every angle. It traces their history, details their biology and explains their evolution, according to Wonderworks Exhibition Co., the show’s creator.

“To see how dogs have impacted our lives starting 12,000 to 15,000 years ago is an incredible story,” says Jack Hall, president of Wonderworks. “And no other single species in the animal kingdom has the incredible diversity of shapes and sizes that we see in dogs. It’s so amazing.”

As a dog lover, I am drooling over the chance to learn more about the history and science of my best friends.

Museum director Kathy Oathout is also excited about the exhibit’s arrival.

“Certainly, it will attract pet lovers, but we’re hoping it will bring a greater appreciation for dogs and their origins, as well as help people interact with their own dogs as pets,” Oathout says.

“Wolf to Woof” runs through May 13. St. Petersburg is the first stop on a nationwide tour.

Let’s embark on a preview of the exhibit.

How Bond With Humans Began
Some scientists speculate that toward the end of the last Ice Age, roughly 15,000 years ago, a wolf wandered into a human community looking for food. Other experts believe that man and wolf had relationships that began thousands of years earlier, and at some point along the way, humans began raising baby wolves.

Whatever the origin, “Wolf to Woof” can help you gain a better understanding of the human-canine bond.

“Wolf to Woof” features four themed sections that include multimedia displays, photos, artifacts and various interactive components.

At the “howling area,” you’ll listen to canine recordings and guess what the dogs are saying. Or you can climb into an avalanche scene to witness what it feels like to be saved by a search-and-rescue dog.

One themed area focuses on the amazing variety of dogs - shapes, sizes, colors, coats and personalities. Hundreds of domestic breeds have been created by humans through the breeding of dogs for jobs, appearance or personality.

From the tiny Chihuahua to the enormous St. Bernard, this section showcases dogs’ versatility, geographical origins and history.

Next, we are reminded that there is a little wolf in every dog. Recent fossil and genetic evidence has confirmed that all modern-day dogs are descendants of wolves, according to Wonderworks. Here, you can explore why dogs and wolves do the things they do and how and when they behave in similar or different ways.

Providing Mutual Benefits
A third area highlights how dogs help us. From their high-powered sense of smell to their amazing stamina, dogs have made life easier for humans. Jobs that dogs have held through the centuries include hunting, herding, guarding, protection and detection.

Today’s dogs also may serve as assistants to those with disabilities, and some even have amazing abilities that allow them to detect termites in homes or even cancer in people.

Of course, the most common dog job title is “companion” to humans.

The last section of the exhibit asks what we can do to help dogs.

This area takes a close look at the problems our modern world poses for wild canines, such as pollution, hunting and habitat destruction, and it explains how we tackle these problems. Visitors also will learn how we can help domestic canines through responsible pet ownership.

The museum has partnered with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tampa Bay to offer programs that connect with the stories portrayed in the exhibit. The shelter also will benefit from the exhibit. If you purchase your tickets online ( http://www.floridamuseum.org), be sure to enter promotion code “SPCAT” so $1 from your purchase will go to the SPCA Tampa Bay.

Master Trainer Presents Program
As a special treat, the museum will host Practical Canine Behavior Solutions from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 20 featuring Brian Kilcommons, a nationally known master trainer, author and lecturer.

Besides learning about the history of canines, you can also add something to the exhibit. Bring a photo of your favorite four-legged friend to place in a space reserved for visitors to leave behind pictures honoring their own human-dog bond.

Some interesting tidbits from the exhibit:

•The world’s largest, heaviest and longest dog recorded was an Old English Mastiff named Zorba. In 1989, Zorba weighed 343 pounds and was 8 feet 3 inches long from nose to tail.

•Dogs and humans are the only beings with prostates.

•The United States and France have the most pet dogs. Almost one in three families in these countries owns a dog.

•The bloodhound is the only animal whose evidence is admissible in an American court of law.

•The normal body temperature for a dog is 101.2 degrees.

•There are more than 65 million dogs in the United States.

•The basenji, an African wolf dog, is the only dog that cannot bark.

•Chihuahuas are born with a “molera,” or soft spot like a human baby, which usually closes as they mature.

•A dog can hear sounds 250 yards away that most people cannot hear beyond 25 yards. Some authorities estimate that a dog’s sense of smell is 1 million times greater than humans’.

•Survivors of the Titanic included two dogs: a Pekingese belonging to Henry Sleeper-Harper and a Pomeranian belonging to Margaret Hays.

“Wolf to Woof” is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The museum is at 244 Second Ave. N. Admission is $17; $15 for seniors and military; $5 for students; free for ages 7 and younger.

For details, call (727) 341-7901 or go to http://www.floridamuseum.org.

CRITTER CALENDAR
Florida’s Top Dog Show

There’s free admission to Florida Classic Clusters today through Tuesday and Thursday through Jan. 21 (no show Jan. 17) at Florida Classic Park in Brooksville. The event features American Kennel Club all-breed dog shows, obedience trials, rally trials and even free tours to learn about AKC dog shows.

Visitors can go behind the scenes to learn how a dog is judged, meet dog handlers and more. Vendors will sell everything from pet jewelry and toys to dog food and treats. Pets will be available for adoption from local rescue groups.

Florida Classic Clusters runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Florida Classic Park is at 5360 Lockhart Road. Parking is $4. Monday is “Kids Day,” with free baseball caps to the first 100 children; Thursday is “Senior Day,” offering free parking for seniors. For information, call (813) 215-3580 or go to www

.floridaclassicpark.com.

Flea-Less Garage Sale

The Humane Society of Pinellas hosts a “Flea-less” garage sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Jan. 20 at the shelter, 3040 State Road 590, Clearwater. A variety of items will be on sale, from pet supplies to household items to computers. For information, call (727) 797-7722 or go to http://www.humanesociety

ofpinellas.org.

Dachshund Rescue At Show

Join the Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 20 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds RV Show, 4800 N. U.S. 301, Tampa. There will be adoptable and foster dogs available, items for sale and information about the nonprofit group. For information, go to http://www.c2cdr.org.

Kristen Levine can be reached at Fetching Communications, P.O. Box 222, Tarpon Springs FL 34688; ; or fax to (727) 934-6451.