Awesome dog facts

We’re digging these far-out dog facts…

18 May 2016 By Leanne Philpott Comments

Dog or duck?

Did you know the Newfoundland breed of dog has big webbed paws and a water-resistance coat? Newfies were bred as working dogs to help fisherman with their trawl. Their super-sized webbed feet and strength make them awesome water rescuers and lifesavers.

Smart cookies

The average dog is thought to be as clever as a two-year-old human. Our canine comrades can learn approximately 250 words and commands and can count up to five. Pretty smart eh!

Pekingese peep-po

In Ancient China emperors used to keep a small Pekingese pup up their sleeve as the last line of protection against attackers.

Sniffer dog

Dogs have four times as many scent cells in their noses than cats and 14 times as many as us humans. In fact, this is why dogs have wet noses—to help them absorb scent chemicals.

Monochrome mutt

There’s the common misconception that dogs can only see in black and white. Russian scientists dispelled this myth when they discovered that dogs do have limited colour vision.

Run Fido, run

Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on the planet. They can reach speeds of up to 72 kph.

Wagging wisdom

A wagging tail tells you a lot about how your dog is feeling but don’t be fooled into thinking a wagging tail always means your pooch is happy. A tail that wags to the left can suggest the dog is scared, a low wag means they’re anxious and a super fast wagging tail teamed with muscle tension in the rest of the body can be a signal of aggression.

Puppy love

There is such a thing as a love-sick puppy, no really! Anthropologist Elizabeth Marshall, in her book The Social Lives of Dogs, suggested that pooches can fall head over heels in love. There’s also a Californian professor who has also discovered that dogs’ brains releases oxytocin—the happy love hormone—when interacting with other dogs and humans.

 

18 May 2016 By Leanne Philpott Comments

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