20 Fun Facts About Dogs That Will Surprise You
Some things you may not have heard about mans best friend
Your dog is your best friend, your constant companion, and your shadow. Regardless of how close you are, there are some facts about your dog that you are unaware of. Canines are extremely common, but they are still amazing, and I am confident you will agree after reading through this list of fascinating facts.
Dogs have been known as “man’s best friend” for thousands of years, but there’s a lot more to our four-legged friends that makes them truly amazing. Let’s learn more.
Dogs have 18 muscles to move their ears
They’re useful for more than just scratching. These 18 muscles allow dogs to move their ears in complex ways, which is important for hearing. Furthermore, your dog’s ears can tell you how they’re feeling: Your dog may be scared if they’re laying flat back against their head. They’re alert and on the case if they’re pointing straight up.
Dogs dream like people
If you’ve ever noticed your dog twitching in her sleep, it’s most likely because she’s dreaming. Researchers discovered that dogs’ sleep patterns and brain activity are similar to humans’, and that small breeds dream more than large breeds. According to Psychology Today, they are most likely imagining familiar activities such as playing outside or chasing their tail.
A dog’s nose is its fingerprint
Dog noses, like human fingerprints, have distinct patterns that can be used to identify them. No two dog noses are the same.
Tail wagging has its own language
If your dog wags its tail excitedly, it must be pleased to see you, right? No, not always. Dogs wag their tails to the right when they’re happy and to the left when they’re scared, according to Discovery.com. Low tail wagging indicates insecurity, while rapid tail wagging accompanied by tense muscles or dilated pupils can indicate aggression.
Dogs sweat through their paws only
Only the paws of dogs have sweat glands, not the rest of their bodies. However, that small surface area is insufficient to keep them cool, so they ventilate and exchange heat through panting.
Puppies are born blind and deaf
According to Psychology Today, newborn dogs’ ear canals and eyes are still closed because they are still developing. After about two weeks, most puppies open their eyes and respond to sounds.
Dogs are more aggressive when being walked by a man
The presence of a leash, the sex of the owner, and the sex of the dog all contribute to a dog’s aggressiveness when being walked. Men walking dogs are four times more likely to attack and bite another dog. Why? Because dogs react not only to the behavior and posture of other dogs, but also to people.
Dogs have a “sixth sense”
According to a 2010 poll, 67% of pet owners reported their pets acting strangely right before a storm, and 43% reported their pets acting strangely right before something bad happened. The most important hints? Whining, erratic behavior, or attempting to hide in a secure location. There have even been reports that dogs can detect illnesses such as cancer.
Dogs do not feel guilt
When you catch your dog chewing on something he shouldn’t, he averts his gaze and assumes a submissive posture. That means he recognizes his error and expresses regret, correct? Scientists believe it is unlikely. The behaviors that owners associate with a dog’s guilt are more likely their reaction to being scolded. They simply do not consider their transgression as deeply as you do.
Your dog is as smart as a two year old child
According to CNN, psychologists discovered in 2009 that dogs can learn the same amount of words and commands as a human toddler — specifically, a two-year-old child. The average dog can understand about 165 words, while the most intelligent can understand up to 250. That’s one astute canine.
Whiskers help dogs see in the dark
Dogs’ whiskers are densely packed with nerves that transmit sensory information to their brains. They are multifunctional sensory tools that assist them in moving around and orienting themselves in confined spaces, especially when visibility is limited.
“Dog breath” is actually unhealthy
You’d think your dog’s mouth would smell like, well, dog. However, persistent bad breath can be a sign of dental disease or other health issues. If you haven’t already, have your dog’s teeth checked by a veterinarian at least once a year. Keep an eye out for other common signs that your dog is ill.
Dogs are not totally colorblind
Although dogs cannot see the same colors as humans, they are not colorblind. They have two color receptors compared to three in humans. If you could see the world through your dog’s eyes, you’d see everything in blue and yellow shades and combinations.
Your dog responds to your tone
Remember that dogs do not experience all of the emotions that humans do, so if you’re trying to train or admonish your dog, using an angry tone and a very loud voice may just make him nervous.
Dogs don’t like hugs
According to animal psychologists, dogs can be stressed and unhappy when hugged because they perceive having a limb thrown over them as a sign of dominance. They’ll show their anxiety by licking their lips, averting their gaze, or folding their ears. When you want to show your pet some love, choose a belly rub over an embrace.
“Dog years” vary a lot, based on breed
No, as one of the most well-known fun facts about dogs would have you believe, every dog year does not automatically equal seven human years. The saying, which has some truth to it, arose from observations that “average” medium-sized dogs lived about one-seventh as long as their owners.
Dogs, on the other hand, come in all shapes and sizes, and what’s “average” for a Great Dane is not the same as what’s “average” for a Chihuahua. Paying attention to the “life stages” of dogs and how they correspond to each breed will provide you with a much more accurate picture of how “old” your dog is than equating one human year to seven dog years.
Smaller dogs live longer
Smaller dogs live longer lives than larger dogs because larger dogs age faster. In one study, large dogs had a median lifespan of 13.38 years, while small dogs had a median lifespan of 14.95 years.
Dog “kisses” don’t mean what you think
A lick to the face may appear to be your dog’s way of kissing you and it occasionally is. Dogs lick to bond in the same way that a mother dog licks her newborn pups. However, when a puppy is born, its instinct is to lick its mother’s face as a signal for the mother to regurgitate food for the puppy to eat, which could also play a role.
Petting dogs can lower your blood pressure
There is a wealth of research and interesting facts about dogs and the health benefits of owning one. And this is true: petting a puppy can cause your blood pressure to drop by 10%. The blood pressure of the dog being petted drops as well, according to the American Kennel Club.
Dogs have three eyelids
Are you ready for more strange anatomy-related fun facts about dogs? Each eye of a dog has three eyelids! They have a “nictitating membrane” in the corner of their eye, which is primarily responsible for removing dust and mucus from the cornea. Cats, too, suffer from it. Because the membrane is closed when your pet sleeps, you may notice it when he or she wakes up unexpectedly.
Final Thoughts
There you have some facts about dogs that you may not have known. Dogs become a part of our families and bring us great joy. I hope you found this interesting and helpful. Stay tuned for the next article coming soon at Fun Facts Galore. Here is another article you may enjoy.
