Farmyard Friday #1: Dogs can't look up...

'It's true. Big Al says so.'
'Yeah, Big Al also says dogs can't look up.'
(Shaun of the Dead, 2004)

Big Al is not strictly telling the truth. Dogs can indeed look up as Shaun affirms repeatedly throughout the film (although to a much lesser degree than humans can).

Pigs, however. Pigs are a different thing altogether. Pigs indeed cannot look up, as their neck and spine are designed in a way which only allows them to move their neck from side to side and reach ever so slightly upwards. They certainly can't look up at the sky - and, after all, what need does a pig have to look upwards anyway? As far as I'm aware, no bird of prey is ever going to be able to carry off an adult pig in the way they would a rabbit or mouse, and pigs are predominantly foragers, so their downwards facing head is perfectly designed for their rooting around for roots.

So, Farmyard Fridays Fact #1: pigs cannot look up.

Next week: cows.