Many people prefer dogs to other pets because they are fun, intuitive, and protective. Yet, despite being one of the most common pets, there are numerous facts that people do not know about dogs.
Let’s jump into a few facts about dogs now!
Dogs have a good sense of time
Dogs are more intelligent than most people understand. Studies have shown that an adult dog can be as intelligent as a two-year-old human child. Perhaps this explains why they have a sense of time.
Your dog can tell the difference between an hour and five hours.
For instance, your dog will always know when it’s time for their regular walk or when you are about to get home. That’s why dogs sometimes start nagging you when it is time to go for their daily walk or when they expect you to fill up that food bowl.
Dogs can smell feelings
Smelling feelings seems like an impossible thing to do. However, dogs can smell emotions, especially their owners’.
According to research, dogs have a sense of smell that is 100,000 times better than human beings. The fact is, the part of their brains responsible for smell is typically 40 times larger than a human’s. Additionally, their noses have millions more scent receptors than human beings.
For this reason, they can smell emotions, like fear. Fear is an easy emotion for dogs to smell because humans often perspire when they become fearful.
As a result, a dog can quickly pick up the change.
Law enforcement takes advantage of dogs to have a superior sense of smell and uses dogs to sniff out things like drugs and explosives.
Dogs need hygiene like humans
One of the most common hygiene issues experienced by dogs is poor oral hygiene. According to veterinarians, one out of five dogs experiences loose and discolored teeth, foul odor, and infected gums.
These issues stem from poor oral hygiene. If they are left untreated, the sad fact is lack of dental care can progress into overall health issues. For instance, they can cause gum inflammation, periodontitis, supportive and structural tissue loss in the jaws, and kidney or liver disease.
Oral inflammation causes bacteria to grow in the mouth and enter your dog’s bloodstream. The bacteria reach other organs, especially the kidneys and liver, causing severe infections. Dogs’ poor oral hygiene can also cause heart disease, weight loss, and poor appetite. Therefore, cleaning a dog’s teeth is more vital than most people assume.
Another common hygiene problem is fleas. Luckily when compared with oral hygiene, it’s much easier to solve but must be taken seriously too. Keep your dog clean with regular baths and brushing. If your dog already has fleas, you can clear that up quickly by using a dog flea shampoo.
Dogs dream like people
If you are a dog owner, you may have seen your dog moving and twitching as they sleep. One of the facts about dogs you should know is that dogs dream.
Scientific research has proven that dogs have similar sleep patterns as humans. Their brain activity as they sleep also resembles humans.
The same research found that smaller dog breeds experience more dreams than larger ones. While it is unclear what they dream about, some scientists suggest dogs dream about activities like playing, chasing their tails, and taking walks.
Dogs are born blind and deaf but aren’t color blind
Puppies are typically born blind and deaf. This is because they do not develop 100% entirely before they are born. Facts about dogs: their ear canals are usually closed when they are born.
Puppies are also usually born with their eyes closed, and they barely open them until a few days later. Often, they start opening their eyes and responding to noises when they are around two weeks old. However, this may differ depending on the breed and environment.
One of the most common myths about dogs is that they usually are color blind. However, this is far from the truth. Dogs can see in a spectrum of colors. However, they have difficulty distinguishing different shades of green and red. To them, these colors appear as greys and browns.
On the other hand, they are incredible at distinguishing blue and yellow tones. So, while they have trouble differentiating colors, they are far from color blind.
David Gray has loved dogs since he can remember, and undoubtedly his favorite breed has to be golden retrievers due to their friendly and calm nature. He also blog’s his experiences and advice for other dog owners at Dog Desires to help them learn something new or even to help them choose their next doggie treat.