20 interesting facts about dogs

Okay, all of my dog loving friends! Let’s have some fun, shall we? A while back I discovered that I absolutely love learning interesting and random facts about dogs. Seriously, it’s amazing to learn about unique ways that dogs have made an impact on society and it’s fun to learn all about their little quirks. Call me crazy, but I just really love to learn all I can about dogs, so that I can get to know my dogs a little bit better and so that I can be the best dog mom I can!

After spending some time checking out this thing we call the world wide web, I found some seriously cool things about dogs. These 20 interesting facts about dogs will blow your mind and make you love dogs even more than you already do.

20 interesting facts about dogs

One of my favorite things about learning interesting facts like this about dogs is that I’m never surprised by the things I learn. It’s so interesting to read these things and then think “ahhhh, yeah, I can see that.” Dog owners, you know what I am saying, right?

Dog’s have a unique nose print.

This is much like a person’s fingerprint. They are completely unique to the dog themselves. The Canadian Kennel Club has been accepting dog nose prints as proof of identity since 1938. Nose print patterns on dogs are established by two months of age.¹

A dog’s nose has over 100 million sensory receptor sites in the nasal cavity.

Throughout life I have heard countless reasons why dogs’ noses are wet. The real reason might impress you though. Dogs’ noses are wet in order for them to better absorb scent chemicals. The mucus that keeps a dog’s nose wet allows them to absorb the scent chemical which helps them understand what the smell is. 

Dogs have over 100 million sensory receptor sites in their nasal cavities (people only have about 6 million). So, while humans mainly rely on our sight, dogs rely on their sense of smell. The area of the canine brain used to analyze scents is roughly 40 times larger than the similar area of the human brain. And, it’s been estimated that dogs can smell anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 times better than people.²

A dog’s nose can sense heat/thermal radiation.

In addition to all of those smell receptors, a dog’s nose can also sense heat/thermal radiation. Have you ever known a deaf and/or blind dog that still hunts? This is why.

Dog’s can be left or right handed (or pawed).

Dogs, like humans, have a preferred side that they like to lead with. You can see what your dog’s preferred side is by giving them a toy to play with. Whichever paw they use to grab the toy with, that is their preferred side.

Dogs are more often than not included on Christmas cards.

Of dog owners who send out holiday cards, over 70% of them sign their dog’s name. How sweet is that?!

Labrador Retrievers are the most popular dog.

Okay, this one didn’t really surprise me because I have many, many friends who love Labs, but I was surprised to see just how long Labrador Retrievers have made the top 10 list of the most popular dog breeds. How many years, you ask? 30. That’s right. Labrador Retrievers have been on this list for three decades!

A dog was once nominated for an Oscar.

Rin Tin Tin, the famous German Shepherd, was once nominated for an Academy Award.

Dogs can sniff out medical problems.

A dog’s sense of smell is so amazing that many dogs can, in fact, sniff out medical problems. You can find stories of dogs who sensed an upcoming allergy attack, diabetic issue and so much more. It truly is amazing.

Dogs can smell and breathe at the same time.

Unlike us humans, dogs can use their sense of smell at the same time that they breathe.

Dogs have the intelligence level of a toddler.

With the ability to learn over 100 words and gestures, dogs are roughly equal to the intelligence level of a toddler.

Yawns are contagious for dogs too!

If a loved one yawns, you can bet that a dog will yawn too.

Puppies are born deaf.

All puppies are born without the ability to hear.

Dogs have less than 2,000 taste buds.

Comparatively, humans have up to 10,000. No wonder they will eat anything!

Greyhounds are faster than a cheetah.

Top speed of a cheetah is 70mph, however, they can only stay at that speed for roughly 30 seconds. A Greyhound, however, can run at 35mph for up to seven miles which means that they can easily overtake a cheetah in a race.

Kicking dirt is to mark their territory.

When a dog goes to the bathroom, they often kick dirt over it. Many of us have thought that this was to cover the evidence, when in reality, they are using the scent glands in their feet to mark their territory.

The largest dog in the world is the size of a small donkey.

The world’s largest dog is a Mastiff named Zorba who weighs over 340 pounds.

A Bloodhound’s sense of smell is admissible in a court of law.

That’s right. A bloodhound has a sense of smell that is so good, that it can be used as evidence in a trial. Bloodhounds can stay on a trail for over 130 miles and can follow tracks that are over a week old!³ Because of how precise they are, their abilities are actually recognized by the courts and can be admissible in court.⁴ 

Petting a dog can result in lower blood pressure.

The act of a human petting a dog can lower the blood pressure for both the human and the dog.

Australian Shepherds are not from Australia.

Australian shepherds are actually an American breed.

A guide dog helped a blind man hike the Appalachian Trail.

In 1990, a man named Bill Irwin was the first blind man to hike the 2,100 mile Appalachian Trail. The only assistance he had was from his guide dog, a German Shepherd named Orient.⁵ It took them 8 months to complete the trek. They stopped throughout to recover from injuries—from fractured ribs and hypothermia (Bill) to hurt paw pads and sores from packs (Orient)—but they never gave up.

For more fun facts about dogs, see last year’s fun fact list. 

1. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/9/2664[↩]
2. vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/why-do-dogs-have-wet-noses[↩]
3. www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/underdogs-the-bloodhounds-amazing-sense-of-smell/350[↩]
4. www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-animal-whose-evidence-is-admissible-in-court[↩]
5. www.mensjournal.com/adventure/bill-irwin[↩]