Whether you are a city slicker or a bush dweller, these furry mates are popular all across the country. Dogs come in different breeds, sizes, and temperaments - from cute little lap dogs to adventurous and loyal working dogs. Aussies love their furry friends, and many households consider them a part of the family. Dogs provide us with unconditional love, friendship, and a reason to get outdoors for a good walk or play. So, if you are thinking about adding a doggo to your life, you are barking up the right tree!
Dogs are incredible animals that have been our loyal companions for thousands of years. As much as we love them, there are still some super unusual and interesting facts about dogs that most people do not know. So, let's dive into this fascinating world of canines and uncover some hidden gems!
Unusual & Interesting Facts about Dogs
- Dogs have a sense of time and can detect how long we have been gone by the scent left in the air.
- The Basenji breed, also known as the "barkless dog", does not bark like most dogs but makes unique yodel-like sounds instead. A greyhound also almost never barks as well.
- In ancient Egypt, dogs were often mummified and buried with their owners to accompany them into the afterlife.
- The tallest dog that was recorded was Great Dane with the name Zeus, who stood an amazing 112 cm. tall.
- Dogs can understand up to 250 words and gestures, making them one of the most intelligent animals on Earth. Frankly, I think Caesar understands more than 250 words! There is a Border Collie called Chaser who was proved to have learnt 1000 words.
- Saluki dogs, known for their incredible speed and agility, were considered sacred in ancient Persia.
- The largest litter of puppies ever born was 24 Cane Corso Mastiffs - now that's a handful!
- Dogs have a special reflective layer behind their retinas, called the tapetum lucidum, which enhances their night vision.
- Do you think your dog is dreaming? Well, you are probably right! Dogs have REM sleep, just like humans, where they can dream about chasing squirrels and playing at the park.
- The Basenji breed is also known for being fastidious self-groomers, akin to cats.
- The smallest dog breed in the world is the Chihuahua, which can weigh as little as one kilo.
- Dogs have a specialised gland in them at the base of their tail called the anal gland, which secretes a unique scent that helps them mark their territory.
- Dalmatians are born without spots and develop them over time, with each spot being as unique as a fingerprint.
- Some dog breeds, like the Puli and Komondor, have cords instead of fur, giving them a distinctive dreadlock appearance.
- It is a well-known fact that dogs have an exceptional sense of smell, but did you know that they have olfactory receptors of up to 300 million in their noses? Compare that to the 220 million receptors in humans! They can even detect a person, via their footprints, even if there are other people’s footprints on the pavement as well.
- The world record for the highest jump cleared by a dog is held by a greyhound named Feather, who leaped over an astonishing 6 feet 7 inches.
- The "Newfoundland" breed is an excellent swimmer and is known to have saved countless lives as water rescue dogs.
- Dogs have three eyelids: one for protection, one for lubrication, and one for cleaning debris.
- The oldest known dog breed is the Saluki, which dates to ancient Egypt more than 4,000 years ago.
- Dogs have a unique organ called the vomeronasal organ, located in the roof of their mouths, which allows them to detect pheromones and sense things beyond our human capabilities.
- The Xoloitzcuintli, also known as the Mexican Hairless Dog, is one of the oldest and rarest dog breeds in the world.
- Dogs (40 million years ago) used to walk on their whole foot; that is, the heel touched the ground, however as they developed and needed speed to hunt, they rocked forward onto their toes and began walking only on their toes, with the fifth toe touching the ground, which was the dew claw. These days of course they only walk on their ‘toes’ and dew claws have become obsolete; in fact some puppies have them removed as they can catch and cause injury.
- The Norwegian Lundehund breed has six fully functioning toes on each foot, enabling them to navigate cliffs and rocky terrains with ease.
- Wild animals, being foxes, jackals, wolves, dingos and, the African wild dog — are also members of the dog family or ‘Canidae’ as it’s called.
- Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not entirely colourblind. While they may not see the full range of colors as humans do, they can distinguish between shades of blue and yellow.
- The Alaskan Malamute breed is one of the closest relatives to the original wolf, with their DNA showing the least amount of genetic divergence from wolves.
- Dogs can have a dominant paw, just like humans are left or right-handed. Researchers have found that around 50 percent of dogs are right-pawed, 40 percent are left-pawed, and the remaining 10 percent are ambidextrous.
- The Hachiko story, a faithful Akita dog who waited for his deceased owner at a train station every day for ten years, has become a symbol of loyalty and devotion worldwide.
- Dogs display some behaviors like human social cues, such as yawning when they see their owners yawn or tilting their heads in response to human voices.
- The Tibetan Mastiff is one of the most expensive dog breeds in the world, with some individuals selling them for more than a million dollars.
- Dogs' noses are as unique as human fingerprints, with each one having its distinct pattern of ridges.
- The Mexican Hairless Dog was believed by the ancient Aztecs to have healing properties and was often used in traditional medicine.
- The Clumber Spaniel breed has the heaviest bones relative to the body weight of any dog, giving them a distinct lumbering gait.
- The Belgian Malinois is renowned for its exceptional intelligence and is often used as a working dog in various roles, including military, police, and search and rescue.
- Dogs are the first breed of animal to become domesticated and have been living with humans for over 14,000 years.
With these fascinating facts, dogs are anything but ordinary. From their incredible senses to their diverse breeds and unique behaviors, our four-legged friends continue to surprise and captivate us. So next time you are spending time with your furry companion, take a moment to appreciate just how extraordinary they truly are.