Knowledge is power, and when it comes to knowledge about dogs, you can never have too much. A few weeks back we brought you random facts about dogs you’ve never heard of. Now we’re back with 11 more facts to strengthen your dog knowledge, and maybe even help you win at Jeopardy.
A dog's nose is like a fingerprint
What do a fingerprint and a dog’s nose have in common? They’re both unique to their owners! That’s right, just as your fingerprint is unique to you, so is a dog’s nose to it. No two noses are alike, each with their own pattern of ridges and creases. These patterns can be used to identify individual animals.
Dogs curl up when they sleep to protect organs
There are several reasons that a dog may curl up when it sleeps. Besides preserving warmth, this position is primarily responsible for safety while sleeping. Just like humans, a dog’s vital organs are in its chest and stomach. Naturally, those areas are soft and unprotected with bone. Curling up saves those areas from would-be predators.
Spiked collars originated in ancient Greece
Spiked collars might be used to make a dog look rough and tough now, but did you know they had an important purpose? They were invented in ancient Greece by farmers in order to protect their herding dogs from wolf attacks. The neck is one of the most vulnerable areas of any animal. The spikes on the collar give the dog a higher chance of surviving an attack that may happen. Though these collars are usually no more than a fashion statement today, its history is rich.
Bloodhounds can track scents over 300 hours old
Dogs have incredible smelling abilities, much more acute than humans. However, when it comes to tracking, Bloodhounds are the best of the best. Research suggests that the Bloodhound’s nose has 230 scent receptors. This allows them to pick up and track scents over 300 hours old. This, combined with their work ethic, means they are the perfect dogs for solving crime.
Dogs only have sweat glands between their paw pads
Though the theory is that dogs don’t sweat, they actually. However, unlike humans, they sweat in specific areas of their body as opposed to all over. The main area you may see sweat is from a dog’s paws. The merocrine sweat glands work to cool off your furry friend in the same way that humans cool off - evaporation.
Dogs can see in the dark
You may be aware that dogs are mostly colorblind, but did you know that dogs also have night vision? That’s right! It has to do with the number of rods in their eyes. These rods are sensitive to low light and are what allow us to make out figures and see somewhat in the dark. With more rods, dogs are able to see much clearer. This is also why you may notice a dog’s eyes glowing in the dark.
1 million dogs in the U.S. have been named as primary beneficiaries in their owners' will
We don’t call them “man’s best friend” for nothing. It’s not unusual for a pet to be named as a beneficiary of their owner’s estate. In fact, there is even a movie called Bailey’s Billions about a talking dog who does just that. While it may be a sweet gesture, these kinds of provisions typically don’t hold up as a dog cannot own property.
The oldest dog lived to be 29 years old
Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog, is the current holder of the title Oldest Dog in the Guinness Book of World Records. He lived to the age of 29, dying in the year 1939. Since then, no dog has been able to beat this record.
Rin Tin Tin was recused during WW1
Rin Tin Tin was a German Shepherd famous for his roles in silent film. He was rescued during World War I by an American soldier and named “Rinty”.
1 in 3 American families have a dog
It’s safe to say that dogs are not only “man’s best friend” but also America’s best friend. Dogs are by far the most popular domestic animal in the United States, with Poodles, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, French Bulldogs, and Beagles being the top 5 breeds.
Dogs can smell cancer
As we said before, dogs have an incredibly acute sense of smell, 10,000 more times accurate than a human’s. Recent studies have shown that dogs may be able to use their sense of smell to detect cancer smells in blood. Research performed at the BioScentDx found that the dogs they tested were able to distinguish cancerous blood sample 96.7 percent of the time and normal samples 97.5 percent of the time. Though this research is still in the early stages, it does give hope to a new, less invasive form of cancer detection.
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What was your favorite dog fact? Let us know in the comments!
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