All about dogs: 100 facts everyone should know

Everyone knows that a dog is a man’s best friend, but are you that good at understanding these four-legged pets?

Did you know that a breed of dog does not bark, and why do dogs like to curl up in a ball?

Here are 100 interesting facts about dogs that every lover of these smart creatures should know.

Puppy facts

1. Puppies love to play hide and seek. Hide and call him by name so that he tries to find you.

2. Puppies gain up to half their adult weight in the first 4 to 5 months. However, they need a year or more to gain the other half of their weight.

3. Puppies sleep 18-20 hours a day during the rapid growth phase.

4. Puppies have 28 teeth, and adults have 42 teeth.

5. The most appropriate age to take your puppy home is between 6-12 months.

6. Newborn puppies have heat sensors on their noses that allow them to locate their mother when their eyes and ears are closed.

7. The average number of puppies in a litter is about five.

8. Puppies are born blind, deaf and without teeth.

9. Dalmatian puppies are born completely white, and their spots appear as they grow.

Facts about the characteristics and behaviour of dogs

10. Dogs can understand up to 1000 words.

11. The tail of a helicopter, which the dog wags from side to side, is a sign of friendliness.

12. An erect, taut tail and quick movement indicate that the dog is rather excited and focused.

13. Sometimes it seems that dogs are smiling like people with open mouths, showing their teeth. This facial expression speaks of a relaxed, submissive state.

14. Sometimes puppies get moody, just like little children. If you have a restless dog, try putting him to bed.

15. Pointed dogs hear sounds better than lop-eared dogs.

16. Dogs have dreams.

17. Dogs live on average 10 to 14 years.

18. In general, small dog breeds live longer than large ones.

19. When we pet a dog and look into his eyes, a well-being hormone is produced in both humans and dogs.

20. Dogs are considered omnivores – they eat meat, grains and vegetables.

21. Just as with human fingerprints, no dog’s nose prints are the same.

22. Dogs see best at dawn and dusk.

23. Dogs are not colour blind, but their eyes do not have receptors for red. They see shades of black and white, as well as blue and yellow.

24. A dog’s sense of smell is dulled 40 per cent when overheated or out of breath.

25. Dogs have about 1,700 taste buds compared to 9,000 in humans.

26. Dogs sweat through their paw pads.

27. Dogs have three eyelids, including the eyelid, which moisturizes and protects the eyes.

28. Dogs are herd animals; they do not like loneliness.

29. Sterilized dogs live longer than non-sterilized dogs.

30. Petting your dog can lower blood pressure.

31. One unsterilized female dog, her partner and their puppies can produce 67,000 puppies in 6 years.

32. Dogs are direct descendants of wolves.

33. Dogs curl up in a ball to keep warm and protect vital organs.

34. Dogs’ sense of smell is 10,000 times stronger than that of humans.

35. Dogs can get jealous when a person shows love for someone or something else.

36. Dogs can be trained to recognize cancer and other diseases in humans.

37. A dog’s whiskers are the organ of touch.

38. The average body temperature in dogs is between 38.3 – 39 degrees Celsius.

39. Many paw conditions in dogs are due to their long nails.

40. Obesity is one of the top preventable problems in dogs.

41. Dogs have twice as many ear muscles as humans.

42. Canine pregnancy lasts 8-9 weeks.

43. Dogs can be trained to count and solve simple math problems.

44. With love and patience, dogs can be taught to walk backwards.

45. Dogs hear higher frequency sounds than humans. Human hearing is more receptive at 2000 Hz, while dogs can hear clearly at 8000 Hz.

46. Dogs in the city live on average three years longer than those who lived in the countryside.

47. You can often see a dog chasing its tail, but this is not always for fun. Sometimes a dog will chase its tail due to fleas or anxiety.

48. Dogs can see in the dark thanks to a special membrane in the eyes.

49. Dogs with a pointed and long snout tend to live longer than dogs with a flatter snout, such as pugs.

50. Dogs should not be given chocolate. It is poisonous to them and may even be fatal.

51. Dogs have 13 different blood types and can donate their blood to other dogs as well.

52. Docking tails is now illegal in many countries worldwide, but this practice began to be applied as early as 4 AD. E. The Romans believed that docking the tails of dogs helps prevent rabies.

Dog breed facts

53. The oldest dog breed – Saluki, appeared in Egypt in about 329. BC.

54. There are about 400 million dogs in the world.

55. Dogs were domesticated between about 9,000 and 34,000 years ago, according to a Cornell University study.

56. The breeds of dogs that bark the most are Miniature Schnauzers, Cairn Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers, Fox Terriers, and West Highland White Terriers.

57. Bichons, Portuguese Water Dogs, Kerry Blue Terriers, Maltese Lapdogs and Poodles are some of the best options for allergy sufferers as they shed less than other breeds.

58. Therapy dogs that promote the recovery of adults and children by visiting hospitals, schools and nursing homes are different from companion dogs that help disabled people.

59. The Newfoundland dog breed has a water-repellent coat and webbed feet.

60. Chow Chow dogs are born with a pink tongue, but it turns blue-black between 8 and 10 weeks of age.

61. Alaskan Malamute can withstand temperatures below 70 degrees below zero.

62. The Basenji is the only dog breed that does not bark.

63. The Norwegian Lundehund is the only dog breed with six toes on each paw.

64. Chihuahuas are born with soft spots in the skull, just like babies.

65. Initially, dachshunds were bred to fight badgers.

66. Small dog breeds mature faster than larger ones.

67. Chihuahuas were named after the state in northwestern Mexico, where they were found.

68. Due to their size and strength, St. Bernards have served as mountain rescue dogs for many years. One of the most successful St. Bernards named Barry saved 40 people during his service.

69. German Shepherds often work in the police, thanks to their intelligence, desire to explore the environment, courage, skill and loyalty.

70. About 33 percent of dog owners admitted talking to their pets on the phone.

71. Basset hounds cannot swim.

72. Bloodhound dogs in many countries are used as bloodhounds due to their keen sense of smell. They can emit a specific odour or recognize several odours at the same time.

Facts about the most-wanted among dogs

73. Greyhound – the fastest breed of dog can reach speeds of up to 70 km / h.

74. The most popular dog breed in the world is the Bulldog.

75. The heaviest breed is St. Bernard; its weight can reach up to 120 kg.

76. With a growth of about 15 cm, Chihuahua is one of the smallest dog breeds.

77. The Irish Wolfhound, with a height of about 76 – 89 cm, is considered the tallest dog breed.

78. Bloodhound Tigger holds the record for the longest ears, each 34 cm long.

79. In 1969, Lassie became the first animal to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

80. The Border Collie, Poodle and Golden Retriever are considered the smartest dog breeds.

81. The most expensive dog in the world, the Big Splash, a Tibetan Mastiff, was sold in China for $ 1.5 million.

82. The Great Dane is considered the largest dog in the world.

83. The largest litter ever documented was 24 puppies born by Caesarean section to a Neapolitan Mastiff named Tia.

84. The oldest dog in the world has lived to be 29 years and 5 months old.

85. The Afghan Hound is considered one of the stupidest dog breeds and is challenging to train.

86. The Poodle is considered one of the cleanest dog breeds and is an excellent choice for allergies. They do not shed so much and rarely smell.

87. The Beagle and Border Collie are considered to be some of the noisiest dog breeds.

88. The Czech Terrier is the rarest dog breed in the world. It is believed that only 350 members of this breed remain.

Other fun facts about dogs

89. More than half of dog owners capture their dogs in holiday photos.

90. For many years in the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, it was forbidden to keep dogs as pets, but then the law was relaxed.

91. The Russian dog Laika became the first animal to travel to space in 1957.

92. In ancient China, people kept warm by hiding dogs in their sleeves.

93. Three of the 12 dogs on the Titanic survived. They all travelled with their hosts in first-class cabins.

94. Spiked collars were used to protect dogs’ throats from wolf attacks in ancient Greece.

95. During the Roman Empire, mastiffs wore armour and were sent after the mounted knights.

96. Dogs are mentioned over 35 times in the Bible.

97. More than 70 percent of dog owners consider them to be family members.

98. There are more than half a billion dogs in the world. However, many of them are wild or stray dogs. Only 30 million of them are kept as pets.

99. Queen Elizabeth II had over 30 corgi that flew with her as she travelled.

100. There was also a place for dogs in Greek mythology. Cerberus – a three-headed dog, guarded the underworld and did not allow the dead to go outside.