Did you know that dogs can understand mathematics? Or about that special song Paul McCartney recorded for his dog?
Dogs are so fascinating, from their wagging tails to cute eyes.
Here is a list of surprising things about dogs that show just how amazing they are and why they’re so special to us!
100 Facts About Dogs!
1. Dogs have been companions to humans for thousands of years, with evidence suggesting their domestication as far back as 20,000-40,000 years ago.
2. There are over 340 different breeds of dogs, each with its own unique characteristics, traits, and purposes.
3. Dogs possess an extraordinary sense of smell, with some breeds capable of detecting scents at concentrations as low as one part per trillion.
4. Dogs show emotional intelligence and can understand human emotions by reading facial expressions and body language.
5. Similar to human fingerprints, each dog has a unique nose print that can be used for identification.
6. Dogs communicate through barking, and various barks mean different messages like excitement, warning, or distress.
7. The term “puppy love” originates in dogs’ intense, unconditional Love and loyalty toward their human companions.
8. Dogs can hear sounds as high as 65,000 Hz, while humans can only hear up to 20,000 Hz.
9. Many breeds resemble their wolf ancestors, such as the Siberian Husky, the Alaskan Malamute, and the German Shepherd. Interestingly, breeds like the Pug, Pekingese, and Chihuahua are direct descendants.
10. Many dogs are trained as service animals, assisting individuals with disabilities in various tasks, including guide dogs for the visually impaired and therapy dogs for emotional support.
11. Certain breeds, like the Greyhound, are among the fastest dogs, reaching up to 45 miles per hour.
12. Human blood pressure goes down when petting a dog. And so do the dogs.
13. A dog can sense the Earth’s magnetic field. It’s a big reason they’re so effective at finding their way home.
14. Studies have shown that dogs can understand basic mathematical concepts like counting and simple arithmetic.
15. Each dog’s paw pads have a unique pattern, much like human fingerprints.
16. Dogs are pack animals by nature, and their social structure is often reflected in their interactions with humans and other dogs.
17. Interacting with dogs has been shown to release oxytocin, a hormone associated with bonding and happiness, contributing to the therapeutic benefits of having a dog as a pet.
18. Many dogs are trained for search and rescue missions, using their keen sense of smell to locate missing persons in various terrains.
19. Dogs have two sets of teeth in their lifetime—deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth.
20. Dogs use pheromones to communicate with each other, conveying information about their identity, mood, and reproductive status.
21. Just as humans may be left- or right-handed, dogs may exhibit a paw preference known as “pawedness.”
22. German Shepherds are the dogs often seen working with the police force. This is because they are highly intelligent and desire to explore their surroundings, courage, agility, and loyalty.
23. Studies suggest that dogs may have musical preferences and can react positively to certain types of music.
24. Paul McCartney recorded a very high whistle sound in the song “A Day in the Life” so his pet dog could hear it.
25. Genetic testing advances allow for identifying a dog’s breed ancestry through DNA analysis.
26. Feeling blue? Don’t be surprised to receive extra love and attention from your dog! Scientists have discovered that your pup can detect subtle changes in your scent and can use this to determine your feelings.
27. Dogs can sense that time has gone by. They can pick up on lengths of time that pass, and they can even get on a routine with you.
28. The American Psychological Association has been presented with research that proves that dogs can be as intelligent as a two-year-old child. Dogs have been proven to count to 5 and understand as many as 250 words and phrases.
29. Therapy dogs provide emotional support and comfort to individuals in hospitals, schools, and other settings.
30. Dogs have been known to create art by holding a paintbrush in their mouths!
31. Laika, a Soviet space dog, became the first animal to orbit Earth in 1957, paving the way for human space exploration.
32. The direction and speed of a dog’s tail wag can convey emotions such as happiness, excitement, or caution.
33. Dogs can sense specific bodily changes – such as illness and pregnancy – in their owners.
34. Certain dog breeds, like the Newfoundland, are excellent swimmers and have been historically used in water rescue missions.
35. Many dogs exhibit protective instincts, making them excellent guard dogs for homes and properties.
36. Bloodhounds are used as sniffer dogs in various countries because they have an acute sense of smell. They can single out a scent or recognize several scents all at the same time.
37. Researchers believe our close relationship with dogs started to bloom 12,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptians had dogs as hunters and companions.
38. Did you know that your four-legged friend has three eyelids? The third lid, the ‘haw’ or nictitating membrane, protects and lubricates the eye.
39. Just like the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) of humans, your dog’s twitch and paw movements during sleep indicate that they are dreaming. But not all dogs dream the same way – smaller dogs tend to dream more often than large dogs.
40. Dogs can see a lot better than humans at night. This low-light vision of dogs is brought by their large pupils, which let more light in, and the center of their retinas contain more light-sensitive cells – these cells work best in dim light.
41. Newborn puppies are still in a developmental stage when they are born. Both their ear canals and eyes are still closed at the time of their birth. They use heat sensors in their nose to detect their mother during this time. Most puppies will begin opening their eyes and becoming responsive around 2 weeks of age.
42. Dogs are not colorblind like most people think. They can see blue and yellow vividly but have trouble distinguishing between shades of green and red.
43. The oldest dog to ever live was an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey. Bluey lived in Australia and lived from 1910 to 1939. He passed away at the age of 29 years and 5 months.
44. One of the most famous dogs, Lassie, was the first to be inducted into the Animal Hall of Fame in 1969.
45. Dogs are among the few animals in the world that have been proven to do selfless, voluntary acts with no expectation of reward. Other animals that have proven themselves selfless are elephants and dolphins.
46. The Guinness World Record for the oldest dog breed goes to the Saluki. They aren’t a common breed, dating back to 329 B.C., as pets kept by the ancient royal Egyptians.
47. Studies have shown that your canine best friend can and will experience jealousy when you give your much-desired attention away to another dog or person. What’s the famous saying? “Dogs are people, too.”
48. Dogs have around 18 muscles in their ears. This is why they can be so expressive with their ears. These muscles help them to change the direction of their ears slightly to hear noises surrounding them.
49. The Border Collie breed takes the cake for the world’s most intelligent dog breed. A Border Collie named Chaser knows the names of all her 1,000 toys, has an extensive vocabulary, and will bring things to you when asked.
50. Storms make many dogs uncomfortable (though not all dogs). The sound frequencies they pick up from the storms can be painful. There’s also static electricity that can be unpleasant for them as well.
51. Dogs have ten more adult teeth than humans (42 versus 32), but the objective measure is their jaw’s power. Tests done on a German shepherd, American pit bull terrier, and Rottweiler found their bite to measure 320 pounds of pressure versus a human bite, which measures 120 pounds.
52. If never spayed or neutered, a female dog, her mate, and their puppies could produce over 66,000 dogs in 6 years!
53. A study shows that a dog can be triggered to yawn after a human yawns. It also proves that a dog is 4 times more likely to yawn if the person is someone he knows.
54. In 2012, Max the Golden Retriever became the first mayor of a Californian town called Idyllwild. He was replaced by Mayor Max the II, who has been in charge of the city ever since.
55. 3 dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Of the 12 dogs on board the ship, just 3 survived – 2 Pomeranians and a Pekingese.
56. Bulldogs got their name from the cruel practice of bull-baiting, which they were involved in during the 1800s. This was banned in 1835, but they kept their name.
57. Dogs’ eyes have this mirror-like structure called the Tapetum. This reflects light as the retina absorbs more light that enters your dog’s eyes. This is also why your dog’s eyes glow in the dark or when you take a picture of your dog with the flash on.
58. The Scottish Terrier is a difficult dog to train, but it will significantly reward its owners once trained. “Scotties” are great with children and make excellent watchdogs despite their small size.
59. Queen Elizabeth II owned more than 30 Corgis, often flying with her when she traveled.
60. It’s estimated that roughly 21% of all dogs snore in their sleep.
61. The Poodle is one of the cleanest breeds of dogs, making them an excellent choice for people with pet allergies. They don’t molt much at all, and they rarely smell, either.
62. If you want to adopt a quiet dog, don’t choose a Beagle or a Border Collie. These two breeds are well-known for making more noise than the others.
63. The Basenji, on the other hand, is the only dog in the world that doesn’t bark.
64. Chocolate should never be given to dogs since it is poisonous and can be fatal. However, dog chocolate can be bought in pet stores and used as a treat for your pet.
65. There are also some strange rules around the world regarding puppies. In Paulding, Ohio, police officers can bite dogs if they want them to be quiet.
66. Poodles come from Germany, but the French loved them so much that they were quickly adopted into their culture. It is now the national dog of France.
67. The Cesky Terrier is the rarest breed of dog in the world. Around 350 of them exist in total worldwide.
68. The Pomeranian, also known as a Pommy or the Teddy Bear Dog, is a small and cuddly dog that loves attention. They come in a variety of colors, including the very rare Lavender.
69. Dogs have thirteen different blood types and can donate blood to other dogs.
70. Proving once again just how clever dogs can be, some strays in Russia have managed to navigate their way around the subway system. Using this transport, they can visit different areas of Moscow for food and shelter.
71. The most expensive dog in the world cost its owner $1.5 million. This pricey pooch was a Tibetan Mastiff sold in China.
72. The Chow Chow and the Shar Pei are the only two dog breeds with black tongues. All other dog breeds will have pink tongues when healthy.
73. Studies have proven that petting a dog can reduce your blood pressure.
74. Tail docking is illegal in many countries but dates back to 4 A.D. The Romans believed that docking the tails of dogs would prevent rabies.
75. American presidents seem to love their dogs – President Lyndon Johnson had two Beagles named Him and Her, and Theodore Roosevelt’s Pitbull was called Pete. Abraham Lincoln also had a dog named Fido, who was assassinated.
76. In South Carolina, it seems that the welfare of dogs is incredibly protected. The punishment for beating your dog can be greater than the punishment for beating your wife.
77. The Nazis attempted to teach dogs to talk and read, but of course, they never succeeded.
78. During the First World War, dogs were used to send messages to the front line. The messages would be attached to their bodies and removed and read once they reached their destination.
79. Eating dog meat is still legal in parts of the world, including Switzerland and China. Each day, 30,000 dogs are killed in China for either their meat or their fur.
80. Dogs have only sweat glands on their paws, not anywhere else. However, that little surface area isn’t enough to cool them down, so they ventilate and exchange heat through panting.
81. With the glands on their paws, dogs spread their scent and let other dogs know they are around.
82. Male dogs lift their legs when they pee as a sign of dominance.
83. Dogs are more aggressive when being walked by a man.
84. Dogs do not feel guilt. If your dog averts his eyes and adopts a submissive posture, that doesn’t mean he is sorry for something.
85. Animal psychologists say dogs can be stressed and unhappy when hugged because they see having a limb thrown over them as a sign of dominance.
86. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than bigger adult dogs, and that’s because larger dogs age faster.
87. The Labrador Retriever has been on the AKC’s top 10 most popular breeds list for longer than any other breed.
88. Forty-five percent of U.S. dogs sleep in their owner’s beds.
89. The tallest dog in the world ever was a Great Dane named Zeus! Measured at 44 inches tall on October 4th, 2011, he’s the current Guinness World Record holder.
90. What about the shortest dog? According to Guinness World Records, the shortest dog ever recorded was Pearl the Chihuahua. She measures 3.59 inches tall.
91. 30% of Dalmatians are deaf in one ear. And they are born entirely white. They develop their spots as they get older.
92. The African Hunting Dog is the most successful land hunter in the world. They’re successful in 50-70% of their hunts.
93. Dogs seem to dig a lot, but they don’t just do it for fun. They create a cool place to lie down in the summer to escape the heat or a warm place to sleep in the winter. They also use it for burying food for later.
94. The Alaskan Malamute is one of the strongest dog breeds in the world. Adult males can pull up to 12 times their own body weight, which is why they are often used in sled racing and other pulling competitions.
95. Bloodhounds have up to 300 million scent receptors in their noses, and they can do a great job tracking people, animals, and even lost items.
96. Understanding a dog can be easier if you pay close attention to their facial expressions, especially the movement of their ears.
97. It has been claimed that dogs may remember up to 250 different places and people and even remember events from years ago.
98. Dogs curl up in a ball when sleeping to protect their organs — a holdover from their days in the wild when they were vulnerable to predator attacks.
99. The Australian Shepherd is not actually from Australia. In fact, they are an American breed.
100. There are over 75 million pet dogs in the U.S. — more than in any other country!
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