Is it true that dogs can read our minds? Have you ever thought about why dogs are so loyal to their owners? Find out some fun facts about your furry friend.
Dogs love us unconditionally, and they are always ready to give us a hug or play fetch.
They also understand our moods and emotions better than anyone else.
But did you know they also have their secrets, their quirks, and even unique expressions?
In other words, they have personality traits that make them special.
Read on to discover some interesting dog facts that are both true and unbelievable.
Table of Contents
1. The most popular pets
Nearly a third of all households around the world have dogs. They’re playful, friendly, loyal, and smart.
But dogs can also be ferocious and tough protectors, as well as clever and helpful helpers.
2. Love is in the air
Thanks to science, we can know for certain that our dog loves us back. A 2015 study conducted at Azabu University discovered an increase in oxytocin levels in both dogs and their human companions when they gazed into each other’s eyes.
They found that the amount of “love hormone” in dogs was directly related to how much attention they were getting from the owner. So next time you’re cuddling up with your furry friend, give him a kiss too!
3. Journey of Faith
In November 1990, Bill Irwin (the first blind hiker) set out on a journey across America – 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine.
He was accompanied by his guide dog, Orient, who had been trained to help him navigate the country.
For nine months, they traveled through every state in the union, covering an incredible distance of 2,167 miles.
When they reached Maine, he said he felt an “indescribable feeling of thankfulness” and credited God for helping him get through the trip.
4. Greyhound vs Cheetah
In a race, a greyhound can easily beat a cheetah.
While both creatures travel at incredible speeds, the cheetah cannot sustain these speeds for very much longer than 300 meters, while a greyhound can run 35 mph – for about 7 miles!
5. Petting the dog lowers blood pressure
A new study reveals that spending just 15 minutes petting the dog can reduce your blood pressure by nearly 10%.
But spending time with your four-footed best friend also releases several feel-good hormones that improve mood, lower stress, and increase feelings of calmness.
Serotonin, Oxytocin and Prolactin are released during the petting process.
6. Independent decision-making
Guide dogs are trained not only to show intelligent obedience but also to exhibit intelligent disobedience if given the opportunity.
Intuitively, we know that guide dog users can benefit from this training because we’ve seen how easily they could get lost or injured without such a guard dog.
But what if these dogs were to disobey us (and thereby save our lives) to protect us from something worse – such as a car that ran a red light?
7. Incredible swimmers
Not all dogs like water, however the ones that do tend typically to be very good swimmers (but once again, not all are such always make sure to keep an eye on your canine companion in case it decides to go swimming outside and about).
Newfoundlands are so great in the water that for quite a number of years they’ve been utilized as water rescue dogs.
Six years ago, a courageous Newfoundland named Whiz was honored with the PDSA Order of Merit for rescuing 9 folks from the sea throughout its life as a water rescue dog, which is why we’re sharing this article today!
8. Dogs are just as smart as toddlers
According to canine researcher and writer Stanley Coren, your dog and toddler are roughly equal when it comes to brainpower.
In addition, he explained that man’s best buddy can count, understand much more than 150 words, as well as trick individuals or other dogs to obtain food.
9. Black and white
When you look at the rainbow in the sky, the colors are so bright they almost hurt your eyes.
But if you look carefully enough, you can actually see all the colors in between. And there’s not just one kind of color; there are dozens of different colors.
Some may be familiar to you—like red, orange, yellow and green—but how about gray? Or purple? Or blue? Or even pink!
You probably knew that people call these hues “colors,” but did you know that dogs also see them?
The notion that dogs perceive the world in grayscale has been attributed to Will Juday, a lifetime dog lover and former editor of Dog Week magazine.
“It’s likely that all the external world appears to them as varying highlights of black and gray,” Judy wrote in his 1937 manual, “Training the Dog.”
Other researchers later theorized that only humans and primates could distinguish colors. Yet little evidence supported those claims!
Regardless, it soon became apparent to scientists that our furry friends cannot distinguish between hues.
10. The sinking of the Titanic
On April 15th 1912, the RMS Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean.
More than 1500 passengers died during the disaster.
Three dogs survived the sinking!
One was a Pomeranian puppy called Lady.
She was carried by her owner, Margaret Hays, who wrapped her in a blanket and sneaks her onto a lifeboat, thinking she was carrying a baby!
The other dogs were a Pekingese named Sun Yat-sen, and another Pomeranian …
11. Tallest dog in the world
The largest dog ever is Zeus (US), a Great Dane who stood 1.118 meters tall on 4 October 2011.
He weighed 70.3kg (155lb) and ate around 13.6kg (30lb) of food every 2 weeks.
Unfortunately, Zeus died in September 2014 at the tender age of five.
12. Why Are Dog Noses Wet?
Inside the dog’s nose, there are special glands that make mucus. This keeps the nasal cavities moist.
A thin layer clings to the nostril, enhancing the absorption of scents and improving the dog’s sense of smell.
13. How many dogs are in the world today?
The global canine population is estimated to be around 900 million.
In China, the country with the largest number of pets, there are about 110 million dogs.
About 75-85 percent of them live outside the house (free-range dogs).
In the United States, there are approximately 69 million pets.
Stubborn Dog Breeds
The Akita tops our list as one of the hardest breeds to train due to their strong will, stubbornness, and the fact they’re bred to hunt large prey.
Other notoriously hard-to-train dogs include the Basenji, Shar Pei, Dalmatian, and Sarplaninac.
All working dogs were bred to make their own choices and think independently.
However, when it comes to obedience training, a dog’s ability to follow commands depends on how much he trusts its owner.
A good trainer can help a dog overcome any fear or distrust it may have toward authority figures.
Having the dog means being responsible for another living creature
You should consider whether you can commit yourself to taking care of the dog. Do you have enough time to spend with your beloved pooch?
Are you willing to feed it healthy food and give it plenty of exercise?
Will you walk it regularly, play with it?
Would your neighbours accept a large and noisy animal in their neighbourhood?
Do you have the money to buy all the equipment needed for a dog?
Are you prepared to invest in the best possible medical treatment if your buddy gets ill?
If you answered “Yes” to all these questions, then owning a dog may really be right for you!
