We put together a list of 14 interesting facts about dogs. You may already know some of these facts, and others may be of a "waw" situation. But for sure, you'll find all of them very interesting.
1. Dogs can smell better than any other creature. Their smell is 100,000 times better than humans'. This means that they will definitely smell that dog you passed by on your way home.
2. Dogs can smell cancer
That's because cancerous cells are significantly different than healthy cells. Dogs can be trained to sniff them. This may not be very obvious to us, but they can definitely tell the difference. Some dogs can smell cancer in people's breath.
3. A dog's body temperature is higher than a human's
And it stands between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything higher than that should be investigated because it counts as a fever. Don't ever let a high temperature go unnoticed.
4. Dog's noses can absorb scent chemicals
This is one of the reasons for their wet and cold noses. They maintain their body temperature with the aid from their noses.
5. Dogs have more than two eyelids
Dogs do have two visible eyelids, but there's also a third one. It's hidden in the inner corner of their eyes. Its purpose is to protect the tear glands.
6. A dog is basically a toddler
This is something we keep hearing. The American Psychological Association stated that dogs can learn around 250 words and gestures. In all fairness, that's similar to what a 2-year-old can learn.
7. Dogs can dream
Just like humans, dogs can dream. The sleep process is very similar in humans and dogs. They can also dream during the REM stage. Do you know when your dog seems to be running in his sleep? Well, he's actually dreaming.
8. Dogs sleep all curled up to protect themselves
As dogs are instinctive creatures, they feel the need to protect themselves. They sleep in such a way to protect their internal organs.
Of course, you may see your pup sleeping in a lot of positions. If he's comfortable, he won't care about his sleeping position.
9. Dogs can listen in different directions
And this is because they have about 18 muscles to control their ears. Humans only have 6. Probably, that's the reason we can't focus on many things at once. A dog's ears can move and listen in different directions. They can also distinguish those sounds.
10. The first dog lived 31,700 years ago
About the size of a shepherd dog, but looking like a Siberian Husky. Their heads were bigger than a wolf's.
11. Dogs don't drink as you would think
They actually use the back of their tongues to drink. By moving their tongues very quickly, the water goes up and into their mouths.
12. Dogs don't sweat like humans
They actually sweat through their paws. Although they don't do it as often as people, they have the glands located in their paw pads.
13. Dogs lift their legs when they pee for a reason
They want to look larger than they are. In the dog's world, it really matters how big you are. Cornwell University researchers came out with an interesting idea. They say that small dogs can lift their legs a little higher than large dogs. They have their tools for establishing dominance.
14. Dogs only poop in a specific position
Well, it's more like direction. Their bodies have to be aligned with the earth's magnetic field. Dogs are very sensitive to what happens around them. They will prefer a north-south orientation over any other. Maybe that's why they take so long when searching for the perfect spot.