Do you think you know everything there is to know about canines? Think again! Check out these 23 interesting facts you may have never heard:
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Dogs have a sense of time. They know the difference between an hour and five. If conditioned, they can predict events, such as regular walk time.
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Your dog is as smart as a two-year-old! Children around this age share a special bond with dogs because they both understand roughly 250 words and gestures.
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A study at UCSD claims that your dog can genuinely get jealous when they see you display affection for another creature.
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The United States has the highest pet dog population in the world—approximately 75.8 million.
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Seeing eye dogs are trained to do their “business” on command to make cleanup easier. Popular commands include “get busy” and “go time.”
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Petting a dog and gazing into their eyes releases oxytocin (the “love hormone”) for both of you.
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The Saluki is the world’s oldest dog breed, appearing in Egyptian tombs dating back to 2100 B.C.
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Dachshunds were originally bred to fight badgers.
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Dogs that have been spayed or neutered live longer than intact dogs.
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More than half of all U.S. presidents have owned dogs.
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Stray dogs in Russia have learned to ride the subway and get off at specific stops in search of food.
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Your dog can smell your feelings. Dogs detect sweat changes when humans are fearful.
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Dogs have wet noses because it helps absorb scent chemicals.
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Dogs can be trained to detect cancer and other diseases. Cancer cells release distinct metabolic waste products dogs can smell.
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Dogs with separation anxiety may be comforted by clothing that smells like their owner.
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Dogs prefer to poop aligned with the Earth’s magnetic field.
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Dogs curl up in a ball when sleeping to keep warm and protect vital organs.
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Having a dog can improve dating chances. In one study, men’s chances of getting a phone number rose from 10% to 33% with a dog present.
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Labradors have been the most popular breed in the U.S. for the last 26 years.
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There are about 600 million dogs worldwide, with nearly 400 million estimated to be strays.
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Scientists believe the first known dog lived 31,700 years ago, resembling a large Siberian Husky.
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Former Michael Vick dogs, Sox and Hector, became certified therapy dogs and now cheer people up in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.
Credit: Modern Dog Magazine
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Spiked collars were originally fashioned in ancient Greece to protect dogs’ throats from wolf attacks.
