We all know that our pups are amazing and bring us a lot of enjoyment and love. There is a reason why they are referred to as “man’s best friend.” We’ve put together a list of some very interesting facts that we believe you will also find amazing!
Some Dogs Can Sniff Out Medical Problems
You read that right! Medical detection dogs are a real thing. Because their sense of smell is so strong, some dogs can be trained to sniff out certain medical conditions. Some experts suggest that animals such as dogs can help detect hypoglycemia in people. Researchers say that dogs may be able to detect changes in the composition of their owner’s sweat that occur when they are becoming hypoglycemic.
Some Dogs are Amazing Swimmers
Breeds such as the Newfoundland swim so well that they’ve been used as water rescue dogs for years. In 2016, a brave Newfoundland called Whizz was awarded the PDSA Order of Merit for saving nine people from the water. Certain dogs even have webbed feet which allows them to not only swim well, but at a quick pace.
Fur-legged Racers
We all know that most dogs could easily outrun a human. Afterall, they’re built to chase! The fastest breed of dog is the Greyhound. These amazing hounds are able to reach a top speed of 45 miles per hour. Even more impressive is that they are able to maintain a fast speed for several miles at a time.
No Sweat!
Dogs produce a pheromone laden oily substance that humans can’t detect. To cool down they pant and release heat through their paw pads and nose which regulates their body temperature. Panting is one of the first signs a dog is getting too warm and needs a cooldown period.
Lefty or Righty
There have been several dog studies that have shown your pup very well may be left paw dominate or right paw dominate. Are you curious which paw your pup prefers? You can find out whether your dog is left or right-pawed by giving them their favorite toy and seeing which paw they use to help them first.
Can Hear a Pin Drop (And a lot more)
Where dogs really shine is with high-pitched sounds. The average person cannot hear sounds above 20,000 Hertz (Hz). Hertz is a measure of the frequency of a sound, and the higher the frequency, the higher pitched the sound. Dogs, on the other hand, can hear sounds as high as 65,000 Hz. And we wonder how our pup can hear his treat bag being opened from across the house!
Eighteen Muscles Control Their Ears
You might have taken notice that dogs move their ears around a lot and in different directions. This is possible because they actually have eighteen muscles responsible for moving their ears. These muscles help them to change the direction of their ears which allows them to identify where a sound is coming from.
Dogs Are Said to Be as Smart as A Two-Year-Old
Multiple studies have shown that dogs can learn over 100 words. This put their intelligence and understanding in par with a two-year-old child. Certain dog breeds, such as the Poodle, is believed to be able to learn up to 300 words! Our pups are very smart and alert creatures! All in all, dogs sure are amazing creatures that can do so many interesting things. From actual jobs, to hunting, to human service assistance. Each dog breed has a unique trait but I think we can all agree that every dog is very special and has a place in our heart!
