Think you know your four-legged friend REALLY well? Here are ten incredible dog facts that just might surprise you.

1. Dogs can talk

Without a doubt, dogs can talk. But not with their mouth, as we humans do—dogs talk with their tails. A wagging tail is a sign of communication. Of course, the trick for pet parents is to learn exactly what the tail is telling you.

For example, studies suggest that when a dog is feeling happy and confident it wags its tail to the right. Yet, when a dog is frightened it wags its tail to the left. What’s your dog’s tail telling you?

2. A bark isn’t just a loud noise

When it comes to dog facts, did you know dog barks have many meanings? To decipher your fur pal’s bark you must consider the pitch, the duration of the sound and frequency of the bark.

For example, a low pitch bark may suggest a dog is feeling threatened. Whereas, a high pitch bark indicates excitement. Similarly, barks that come in quick succession with very short pauses between them may mean the dog is feeling aggressive or excited. Meanwhile, a single, slow bark might point toward curiosity or agitation. The dog might be saying, “what’s that?” or “stop that”!

3. A dog’s tail is a useful tool

You may underestimate your dog’s tail, but it’s actually very handy. Not only does it help your dog communicate with you and other dogs, but it also assists with balance. However, that’s not all your dog’s tail does.

A dog uses its tail to disperse pheromones. When your dog wags its tail it assists the muscles around the rectum to contract, which triggers the release of pheromones. These pheromones help your four-legged friend communicate with other dogs.

4. There’s an art to giving your dog treats

Sure, we all love to give our fur pal treats. But did you know there is a right way and a wrong way to do this?

How fun is it to hold the treat high and watch your dog jump for it? Well, doing this is actually reinforcing bad behaviour. Say what? By encouraging your bark buddy to jump for treats you are encouraging him to jump up to greet people—which is a no-no! Instead, place the treat flat on your hand or in between your thumb and index finger. Command your dog to sit and then place the treat at your dog’s chest level.

5. A Greyhound is faster than a Cheetah

Certainly, Greyhounds are fast, but surely not faster than a Cheetah. In fact, a study shows that trained Greyhounds can run faster than captive Cheetahs. The Greyhounds reached a top speed of 68 km/hr while the Cheetahs reached a speed of 65 km/hr.

6. A wet nose is not always a sign a dog is healthy

While a healthy dog generally has a damp nose, this is not always so. You see, a very wet nose may suggest your furry friend has a disease within the nasal cavity such as a fungal disease or a foreign body.

So while a wet nose is ‘usually’ considered normal, it should not be super wet. Plus, don’t forget that sometimes a pet can be unwell and their nose remains completely unaffected. As such, your pet’s nose shouldn’t be the only thing you look at as an indicator of your pet’s health.

7. Dogs experience jealousy

As time goes by we learn more and more interesting facts about our four-legged friends. However, this dog fact is quite amazing. According to a study by the University of California, jealousy is not unique to humans.

The study found that dogs exhibited significantly more jealous behaviors (e.g., snapping, getting between the owner and object, pushing/touching the object/owner) when their owners displayed affectionate behaviors towards what appeared to be another dog as compared to non-social objects.

So next time you give another dog affection, stop to consider your fur pal’s emotions and maybe give him a little cuddle too!

8. A Bloodhound’s sense of smell will blow you away

Certainly, Bloodhounds have an amazing sense of smell. In fact, their sense of smell is so incredible it can be used as evidence in court. Did you know Bloodhounds are able to use their sense of smell to follow tracks that are more than 12 days old? They can even stay on a track for over 200 kms!

9. Dogs can have freckles and birthmarks

Did you know that, just like humans, dogs can have freckles and birthmarks? Take a look at your dog’s tongue. Apparently, black spots on a dog’s tongue are actually freckles or a birthmark.

When it comes to dog facts, not many people know this so it’s a great conversation started for your next family get together!

10. The world’s oldest dog lived until age 30

You might think that an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey is the world’s oldest dog. Certainly, Bluey—who died at the ripe old age of 29—holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest dog.

However, Maggie the Kelpie lived until 30. Maggie died in Australia in April 2016. Sorry Bluey, looks like your title has been pulled out from under you!

 

What dog facts have you come across? Share your facts by posting in the comments box below.

 

 

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