12 Surprising Dog Facts

Because our dogs have always been our most devoted companions, it's only natural that we want to learn everything we can about them. Continue reading for our list of the top twelve astonishing dog facts you won't believe!

Our dogs have always been our best pals, faithful companions, and, most importantly, family members. So it's only natural that we're enthralled by dog facts and knowledge. We're completely smitten with our four-legged pals and want to learn everything we can about them, so hearing a dog fact fills us with joy and surprise.

Prepare to have your mind blown by these incredible dog facts, which range from why dogs' noses are wet to the largest dog in the world.

1/ Dogs are able to breathe whilst sniffing.

Dogs sniff a lot because they rely heavily on their sense of smell to detect food, potential threats, and pals. They can breathe freely and still determine what that smell is because their noses are made to allow smells to remain in their noses while air may enter and exit their lungs simultaneously.

2/ Some canines are swift enough to outrun a cheetah!

Since dogs are designed to run and chase, they could usually easily outrun a human. The Greyhound, however, is by far the fastest breed of dog. These quick sighthounds can run for several seconds before reaching their top speed of 45 mph.

We hear you asking, "But how does this beat a cheetah?" While a cheetah may reach speeds of approximately 70 mph, they can only maintain them for around 30 seconds at a time. Greyhounds, on the other hand, could readily run for seven miles at speeds greater than 35 mph. Therefore, despite the cheetah's early lead, they would quickly catch up!

3/ Dogs noses are wet to help absorb scent chemicals

This astounding canine fact may provide an answer to a long-standing question among dog owners. Why do dogs have moist noses? According to Vetstreet, the solution is because dogs' noses are wet to help them absorb scent molecules! Their nose secretes a particular mucus that aids in the absorption of these chemicals, and they subsequently lick their noses to sample them, aiding in the understanding of the smell.

4/ They smell at least 40 times better than we do.

In comparison to humans, dogs have a 40 times greater area of smell-detecting brain cells. This implies that your dog is far more sensitive to odours than we are. Dogs are frequently utilized to sniff out persons, drugs, and even money because of this!

Buster, an explosives and weapons search dog, received the PDSA Dickin Medal in 2003 for his outstanding work in Iraq, where he discovered numerous explosives and weapons tied to an extremist group, saving the lives of numerous service members and civilians.

5/ Dogs can be left or right pawed.

According to a few studies on the subject, dogs, like humans, have a preferred hand (or paw, rather) to lead with. By giving your dog their preferred toy or interactive activity and seeing which paw they use to assist you first, you can determine whether your dog is left- or right-pawed.

6/ Some dogs have such good noses that they can detect medical issues

Medical detecting dogs exist, that much is true. Some dogs can be trained to detect medical issues thanks to their keen sense of smell. They are used to identify a specific illness or to notify their owners when they require further medication. Even now, some people are being trained to detect COVID-19!

7/ Some canines can swim incredibly well.

Dogs don't necessarily enjoy the water, but those that do usually have outstanding swimming skills (but again, not all are, so always keep an eye on your dog in case they decide to take a dip out and about).

Due to their exceptional swimming abilities, Newfoundlands have long been employed as water rescue canines. Whizz, a courageous Newfoundland, received the PDSA Order of Merit in 2016 for his efforts in saving nine people from drowning throughout his tenure as a water rescue dog.

8/ Dogs don't sweat like humans do.

Dogs do perspire, but don't anticipate seeing sweaty armpits any time soon. Whereas humans make a watery sweat to cool off, dogs produce an oily sweat that is pheromone-rich but invisible to people (dogs can smell it because they have such keen senses of smell). Dogs only perspire like humans on their paws, therefore they pant to cool down instead. Because of this, it's crucial to keep your dog cool on hotter days to make things simpler for them.

9/ Dogs' hearing, like their noses, is extremely sensitive.

We all know that dogs have considerably greater hearing thresholds than humans, but did you realize they also have a wider hearing range? Compared to humans, dogs often have a much softer hearing range, allowing them to hear noises from a much greater distance.

Another quality that makes them excellent search and rescue dogs is this. Although they will mostly use their noses for tracking, they can also really benefit from their hearing (particularly as they get closer to what they are looking for!). Dogs are great at using both smell and hearing to track prey, as demonstrated by K9 Killer (shown above), who was given the PDSA Gold Medal for assisting in the capture of rhino poachers.

10/ The tallest dog in the world is 44 inches tall

Zeus, the tallest dog in the world, was a Great Dane! He is the current Guinness World Record holder, standing 44 inches tall on October 4th, 2011.

11/ Dogs' ears are controlled by 18 muscles.

If you own a dog, you might have noticed that it frequently moves its ears. Actually, the muscles that move their ears are about 18 in number. These play a huge role in letting us know how our dogs are feeling and assist them to gently alter the orientation of their ears so they can hear sounds around them better. A dog's ears play a key role in helping them communicate with humans and other dogs because so much of their body language is displayed through what they are doing.

12/ Dogs have intelligence similar to that of a two-year-old.

According to studies, dogs are as intelligent and perceptive as a two-year-old since they can pick up over 100 phrases and gestures. Dogs, on the other hand, are considerably simpler to teach than a two-year-old! They are intelligent and devoted animals that are utilized for a variety of vocations, including military and assistance dog roles.