When they look at you with a cocked head, you might wonder if there’s a single thought floating around in there. They can be amusingly silly, making you wonder how they experience the world. You know dogs are intelligent, as they surprise you with how much they seem to understand.
If you’re on social media, you’ve probably come across videos of pups using dog-talking buttons. These lively canines form sentences, make specific requests, and even have existential crises. There’s a whole world beyond playing fetch with a dog. They offer their owners a lifetime of lessons.
Below, discover 32 interesting facts about dogs. Some of these you may already know but several are likely to surprise you. You may just look at your pup differently when you realize how special they are beyond their unconditional love for you.
(For more interesting facts about dogs, discover the 12 most expensive dog breeds.)
That Nose? It’s Not Just for Boops
There are about 300 million receptors in your dog’s nose, so they can pick up on the most subtle scents. They experience the world differently than you do due to this ability. To give you some context, your nose only has about five million receptors.
Speaking of Noses, Your Pup’s is One of a Kind
Look at your fingertips and notice the spirals. There is no other person on earth who matches your unique pattern. The same is true for pups’ noses. If they could be booked and thrown in jail, their noses would be their identifying prints.
Blind or Deaf? Neither Deters Hunting Pups
If your pup is out for a hunt, it relies on all its senses. You know their sense of smell is incredibly acute, but dogs have another ability that helps them navigate, even if they’re blind or deaf. Their noses pick up on heat and thermal radiation, too.
You’re Not the Only One Who Wakes Up to Dog Breath
Not with dog breath, but to dog breath! Cuddling with canine companions overnight is more common than you might think. Interestingly, 45% of dog owners welcome their pups, big and small, into bed to snuggle with them under covers.
Your Canine Companion Has a Vivid Imagination
When your pup lays down, closes its eyes, and drifts off to snooze-land, their minds don’t just go dark. Like humans, they embark on a whole journey in their dreams. This is true for all dogs, but it is much more common and frequent when dogs reach their adult and senior life stages.
They Know When You’re Expected Home
Dogs pick up on your routine, so they know when you leave home and when you are expected back. But one interesting fact about dogs is that they pick up on the potency of your scent in the morning and know, based on how it fades during the time you’re away, that it’s about that time for you to walk back in through the door and greet them.
They Can Receive Academy Award Nominations
A male German shepherd named Rin Tin Tin (Rinty for short) starred in both television series and films throughout his life and received a nomination for an Academy Award. At the height of his success, he not only had stand-ins for his performances but he was assigned a private chef as well.
Collies Are Aptly Named
Collies were originally bred for guarding and herding black-faced sheep. Collie means “black,” which makes it the perfect moniker for this breed.
When You Yawn, They Yawn
You know how contagious yawns are. Just thinking of yawning may have you opening wide for a deep inhale. This isn’t just a human phenomenon. Try yawning in front of your pup and see how it triggers them to yawn, too. Yawns are especially contagious for dogs when they know you.
That Cute Curl-Up Position? It Serves a Purpose
In the wild, dogs have predators. As part of a deeply ingrained self-protective mechanism, they curl up when snoozing as a way to keep their organs protected in the case of an ambush.
A Yodeling Pup? Yes, Indeed!
The Basenji is a compact pup with a sweet face known for being “barkless.” However, these pups aren’t without vocalizations. They yodel!
The Name of the Australian Shepherd Is Misleading
You’d think this pup is from the land down under, but you’d be wrong. The American Kennel Club confirms that the Australian shepherd is an American breed.
Petting Sessions Are Healthy for Both of You
Snuggle sessions when you pet your dog are healing. As you pet your pup, your blood pressure goes down. Not only is this true for you, but your dog’s blood pressure goes down too. This dog fact proves that you both benefit from these bonding moments.
The U.S. Is in the Lead for Most Pet Pups
Americans love man’s best friend, and the numbers prove it. There are more than 75 million pet pups in the country, which puts them in the number one spot for most pet dogs when compared to other countries throughout the world.
Puppies Can’t Hear a Thing
When puppies first emerge into the world, they can’t hear anything. That’s because all puppies are born deaf. It takes about three weeks for their sense of hearing to fully develop. Once they’re able to hear, this sense is impressive, allowing them to pick up on a wide range of frequencies.
A Dog’s World is Dominated by Two Colors
Contrary to popular belief, dogs aren’t entirely colorblind. Whereas you have three different types of cones in your eyes, dogs are limited to two cones. Though they can’t pick up on red and green, they can see the colors blue and yellow.
Dalmatian Puppies Have No Spots
Dalmatians are distinguished by their spots, so it’s surprising to see Dalmatian puppies completely spotless. However, they only remain spotless for about 10 days. Around this time, their spots become evident, and they keep developing for the next 18 months.
Some Dogs Find Poop Ultra-Tasty
This is one of the grosser dog facts. It’s called coprophagia and dogs may engage in this behavior for a range of reasons. While other animals eat poop for the nutrients it provides, some dogs just have a preference for the stuff, especially when it’s fresh.
They Have Limited Tastebuds
This might explain the affinity for poop in some pups. But seriously, they’re not that far behind in total tastebuds than humans. Although some humans have an impressive number of tastebuds (up to 10,000). On the lower end, humans have about 2,000 tastebuds. Dogs only have around 1,700 tastebuds.
Those Kicky Feet After Poops? It’s for a Reason
In keeping with the poop theme — you know how dogs kick back after they’ve gone potty? Unlike cats, who do this to cover their feces, dogs use the scent glands in their paws to get territorial and let other pups in the vicinity know that they’ve claimed that area.
The Greyhound Can Beat a Cheetah When Racing
Granted, a cheetah can quickly outpace a greyhound. But cheetahs are designed for short sprints, not long hauls. Although a cheetah would certainly get a head start in a race, hitting the ground running at nearly 80 miles per hour, the greyhound can sustain a pace of 35 miles per hour for up to seven miles.
Bloodhounds Can Make a Case in Court
Remember how we talked about how strong a dog’s sense of smell is? Well, bloodhounds take the cake with their olfactory abilities. They have more scent receptors than any other breed. They’re so accurate that when a court case requires it, the tracking results of these pups may be presented as evidence.
Doggos Sign Holiday Cards
Okay, not really. But 70% of families with pups include their names in holiday cards they send out. Dedicated owners may just manage to get a paw print on there or they may include them in family photos, too.
2022 Saw a New Popular Pup
In 2022, the French bulldog made it to the top of the list and became the most popular breed. It knocked the labrador retriever out of this top spot, which had remained undefeated for 31 years.
Puffin Hunting is for One Breed Only
A puffin is a type of bird, often referred to as the sea parrot. There’s only one dog breed that was created specifically to take on the task of hunting these birds. It’s the Norwegian Lundehund.
Fiction Inspired a Dog Breed’s Name
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is named after a fictional character in a novel written by Sir Walter Scott: “Guy Mannering.” Imagine how proud the writer feels — this is the only breed that has ever been given a name based on a literary work.
If You Hunt With a Beagle, You Have a Special Name
A special name is appointed to those who hunt with beagles and it’s not far-fetched by any means. If that’s you, you’re a “beagler.”
They’re Inherently Kind
You know this already. Dogs can warm the coldest of hearts with their unconditional love, undying devotion, and undeterred happiness. Most owners have anecdotal experience to this end, but there was a study conducted that proves dogs are one of the few animals that display selfless kindness without the expectation or satisfaction of a reward.
The Tallest Male Dog is a Great Dane
His name is Zeus and he made it into the Guinness World Records. Zeus, a Great Dane, measured three feet and 5.8 inches tall. He only made it to three years of age. On average, Great Danes stand at about 2.6 feet tall.
The Shortest Dog is a Chihuahua
On the other hand, the shortest dog measured 3.59 inches tall. She’s a Chihuahua named Pearl. She was also certified by the Guinness World Records.
Your Feelings? They Can Sniff Them Out
Back to impressive facts about a dog’s sense of smell — dogs can smell the shifts in your emotions. It’s not just intuition that leads them to you when you’re feeling down. It’s the odor your body emanates (that’s imperceptible to you) that has them pitter-patter over to you to offer comfort when you need it most.
They Can’t Speak, But They Understand You When You Do
A dog’s speech is limited to several vocalizations, including barks and whines, but that doesn’t mean they don’t understand you. Not only do dogs pick up on your body language, they also learn to recognize certain words and phrases. Your intonation plays a part in what they grasp as well, which is why it feels like they know exactly what you’re saying. They do.
Interested in more animal facts? Check out 20 Interesting Facts You Never Knew About Cats.