10 interesting facts about dogs

When it comes to the most popular pet of choice, the dog firmly wears the crown. In fact, it is estimated that 24% of the UK population has a canine companion — a lot higher than other animals. Often treated to presents, posing for family photos or sharing the sofa, our four-legged friends are often treated just like any other family member.

For all the dog lovers out there, here are 10 surprising and fascinating facts about our furry friends:

Dogs have accompanied the human race for over 10,000 years

Most scientists believe that all dogs share a common ancestor in the small South Asian wolf from over 40 million years ago.

It’s widely recognised that domestic dogs serve as more than companions. Dogs have long been renowned for herding livestock, aiding hunters, guarding homes and working alongside the police force.

Archaeologists have recently uncovered an image in Saudi Arabia dating back 8,000 years, highlighting the historical relationship between man and dog. The illustration includes a man with a hunting bow surrounded by a pack of 13 dogs, two of which appear to be on a lead.

Dogs have been glorified throughout history

In ancient Egypt, dogs were treated with great respect and love. Perhaps most symbolic of this is the fact that like their human counterparts, some dogs were mummified after death. Family members would also display their grief by shaving their eyebrows.

A dog’s face shape can determine it’s life span

According to Planet Dog; A Doglopedia, dog breeds with pointed faces generally live longer than dogs with flat faces, such as pugs. One suggested reason for this is that flatter-faced dogs can have breathing problems. The longer the nose, the more effectively a dog can internally cool down.

There’s a reason a dog’s best career is to pose as a sniffer dog

A dog’s sense of smell is paws-down better than ours. It is believed that dogs have anywhere between 10,000 and 100,000 times better smell than humans, with the ability to detect odours at concentrations of parts per trillion.

Dogs can read you like a book

Scientists have long been studying dogs’ abilities to read behavioural cues. All social mammals are able to read signals, mostly within the same species, however recent studies have indicated that dogs are surprisingly good at reading certain types of social cues in humans.

Robert Hare of Harvard University led a study that involved hiding a dog treat underneath one of two overturned buckets. A person stood behind the buckets and gave various behavioural cues, such as pointing, to hint which bucket contained the treat. The results found that dogs were able to almost immediately recognise where the treat was, suggesting strong evidence for their ability to read human body language.

Is your dog smarter than your child?

We’re not joking. Research at the University of British Columbia has found that the intelligence of dogs can match that of a human child between the ages of two to two and a half years old. Dogs have the potential to understand 150 to 200 words and intentionally deceive humans and other dogs to gain treats.

Gentlemen…we introduce your new wingman

It’s no secret that dogs attract attention. Whether it’s a curious child or a fellow dog lover stopping you on mid-dog walk, owning a pet certainly allows for opportunities to meet more people.

So how can your pup help you find the one? A 2015 study showed that women were twice as likely as men to admit they were more attracted to someone because they owned a pet, in particular a dog. Owning a dog comes with a lot of responsibility, which women recognise and apply to their own future hopes for raising children.

A mother’s touch is what makes puppies so family orientated

The first thing a mother does after the birth of their puppy is clean them. This act stimulates the nerve endings across the pup’s body and helps to get the blood flowing. Such close contact exposes the importance of touch to puppies and is one of the reasons why dogs are such family orientated animals.

Dogs only sweat through their paws

Humans certainly pulled the short straw when it comes to sweating. Unlike us, dogs have the pleasure of not knowing what it feels like to sweat all over, as they only have sweat glands around their foot pads. The main way dogs cool down is by panting, allowing moisture on the tongue to evaporate and cool the overall body temperature. We’ll refrain from trying that cooling tip ourselves!