Without a doubt dogs are amazing. They have been domesticated for thousands of years and are known for their loyalty to their human companions. Dogs are also incredibly intelligent and can be trained to do a variety of things.
Despite being so well known, there are still many fascinating facts about dogs that most people don’t know. For example, did you know that dogs can smell fear? They can also sense when someone is sick or in pain. Dogs are also very good at reading facial expressions and body language, which is why they are often used as therapy animals.
But enough with these intros because the main reason why we are here is to dive deeper into the top 30 fascinating dog facts that most people don’t know. So here we go!
1. Dogs can sniff at the same time as breathing
When sniffing, dogs’ noses are designed so that air can move in and out at the same time, creating a continuous circulation of air, unlike humans who have to either breathe in or out only,” says Dr. Nappier.
2. A dog’s nose print is unique, much like a person’s fingertip
Every dog has a unique nose print, just like our fingerprints are unique identifiers. Since 1938, the Canadian Kennel Club has been accepting nose prints as one form of unique identification for a dog, according to the Calgary Humane Society.
3. When dogs kick backward after they go to the bathroom it’s not to cover it up, but to mark their territory, using the scent glands in their feet
Our dogs consider pooping as a way of sending a message to other dogs that the ground they just did the deed on, is theirs. By kicking up dirt afterward, they’re compounding the scent of the bathroom along with the pheromones coming from their feet glands to create one strong scent.
4. All puppies are born deaf and as they grow older they can hear 4 times better than humans
Puppies are born deaf, and this is the last of their senses to fully develop. They can’t hear until they’re about three weeks old. Once their hearing kicks in, they hear about four times better than most people, including hearing a wider range of frequencies.
Their nose secretes a special mucus that helps to absorb these chemicals, and then they lick their noses to sample them, helping them understand what the smell is.
5. Dog noses are wet to help absorb scent chemicals
6. Dogs have 18 muscles to move their ears
This allows them to raise, lower, rotate, tilt, and move independently so they can hear better and express emotion.
7. Puppies grow half their body weight in about 4 to 5 months. This gives your Vet a good indication of how big they will be as an adult
8. Dogs have about 1700 taste buds
A dog’s sense of taste is much less discriminating than that of humans. In fact, while humans have roughly 9,000 taste buds, dogs have only around 1,700. This means their sense of taste is about one-sixth as powerful as ours.
9. Dogs take between 10 to 30 breaths per minute
A good time to count the normal breathing rate is when your pet is asleep. Normal respiratory rates for dogs: 10 to 30 breaths per minute. Dogs can also pant normally up to 200 pants per minute.
10. Dog’s eyes contain a special membrane, called the tapetum lucidum, which allows them to see in the dark
Dogs also have a membrane along the rear of their eyes called tapetum lucidum, which, according to Animal Planet, “allows light that is not absorbed by the rods to rebound to the retina, letting it take in more light, which enables the dog to see better.” So, the answer to “do dogs have night vision?” is yes.
11. Forty-five percent of U.S. dogs sleep in their owner’s bed
12. Dalmatian puppies are pure white when they are born and develop their spots as they grow older
Dalmatian puppies start developing their spots at around 2 weeks of age. And by 4-6 weeks of age, most dalmatian puppies will have further defined their spots and they will appear much clearer.
13. Dog was the first animal to be domesticated by humans
Yet scientists have argued for years over where and when they arose. Some studies suggest that canines evolved in Europe, others in Asia, with time frames ranging from 15,000 to more than 30,000 years ago.
14. Licking is a way for a dog to demonstrate they are submissive towards someone who is more dominant than they are
15. The world’s oldest known breed of domesticated dogs is the Saluki
The Saluki currently holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest breed of dog in the world. Although new research may have undermined that claim, its ancient origins are undeniable.
16. Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on earth
The greyhound’s tall, slender build was specially bred for dog racing, making it the fastest dog, with a top speed of 45 miles per hour. Unlike other dogs, the breed is meant for speed rather than endurance and doesn’t require much exercise.
17. Zeus, a great dane in Michigan holds the Guinness World Record for World’s Tallest Dog
He measures 44 inches tall and weighs 155 pounds.
18. The chihuahua was named for the state in Mexico where they were discovered
Chihuahua, the smallest recognized dog breed, was named based on the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where it was first noted in the mid-19th century. The Chihuahua is thought to have been derived from the Techichi, a small, mute dog kept by the Toltec people of Mexico as long ago as the 9th-century AD.
19. Dogs’ noses can sense heat and thermal radiation, which explains why blind or deaf dogs can still hunt
20. Boxers are so named because of their manner of playing with their front paws
21. There are two dogs who have black tongues – the chow chow and the shar pei
Although it is unclear how both breeds are related.
22. Keon, the Irish Wolfhound, has the world’s longest tail ever found on a dog
A truly gigantic Irish Wolfhound has been awarded the Guinness World Record of having the longest dog tail on the planet – at over two-and-a-half feet of coffee-table-clearing power! The dog, named Keon, was measured by a vet, who proclaimed the tail to be 30.2 inches long from tip to base, not including the hair.
23. The highest jump award goes to a greyhound named Cinderella May
She leaped 68 inches into the air at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals in 2006. But she was more than just a jumper – she was also a certified therapy dog.
24. The longer a dog’s nose, the more effective its internal cooling system
25. Sweet Pear, a border collie and australian shepherd cross runs full 327 feet (100 meters) in just 2 minutes and 55 seconds while balancing a can on her head for the entire time
She and her owner Alex Rothaker made this world record a reality on September 3, 2008, in Illinois, USA.
26. A bloodhound named Tigger snagged the record for the longest ears on a dog on Sept. 29, 2004
His right and left ears measured 13.75 inches and 13.5 inches, respectively. Tigger’s proud owners are Bryan and Christina Flessner of St. Joseph, Illinois.
27. Most skips by a dog and person in one minute using a single rope are 59
It was achieved by Jessica and her owner Rachael Grylls (both UK), in Lewdown, on the 1st of December, 2016.
28. There are over 400 million dogs worldwide, the highest population being in the US – close to 70 million dogs
29. Dogs can see the best during dawn and dusk
30. The smartest dogs are border collies
According to the intelligence of dogs, which ranks 131 dog breeds in terms of their relative intelligence, the border collie is the smartest dog breed known to man.
So which facts did you enjoy the most? Do you have a favorite fact that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments! We hope you enjoyed these top 30 fascinating dog facts. And be sure to share this article with your friends and family who love dogs just as much as you do.
Have a pawsome day!
