Is Your Dog Right or Left-Pawed? Here Are 22 Surprising Dog Facts

People interact with dogs on a daily basis. They know that dogs can smile, that they have an impeccable sense of smell, and that people train them to do all sorts of things. But dogs have a lot more to them than being cuddly companions who share love and affection while expecting nothing in return. For instance, dogs were some of the first movie stars once the cameras got rolling – and people loved them!

Dogs have excellent night vision

Dogs can see in the dark better than humans because they have a larger number of light-sensitive rods in their retinas. These rods help them detect motion and see in low-light conditions. They also have a reflective layer behind their retinas called the tapetum lucidum, which amplifies incoming light. Cats still have the upper edge. 

They are the most diverse mammals on the planet

Dogs boast an incredible range of sizes, shapes, and appearances. This diversity is due to selective breeding over thousands of years, allowing for a variety of breeds with specific traits suited for different tasks, environments, and human needs. Because of this, certain mixed-breed dogs have a much better outlook health-wise than purebred dogs. 

Dogs can smell where you’re walking

Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about 6 million in humans. This powerful sense of smell allows them to detect and follow scent trails, even identifying the direction in which a person or animal is moving. It also doesn’t matter if you move erratically because the freshest scent will point the dogs in the right direction. 

More than 28,000 dogs compete at the largest dog show in the world

The Crufts dog show, held annually in the UK, attracts over 28,000 dogs from around the world. This prestigious event showcases a wide array of breeds, with competitions in obedience, agility, and conformation. More than 155,000 people visit the competition every year so the place can be incredibly crowded at certain times. 

They can sense the Earth’s magnetic field

Researchers suggest that dogs have an internal compass that helps them move around using the Earth’s magnetic field. This ability, known as magnetoreception, is still being studied, but it’s believed to aid in their remarkable homing instincts, helping them find their way home over long distances. It also might be the reason why dogs spin around while they find the perfect place (and orientation) to poop. 

Dogs don’t have as many taste buds as humans

Dogs have about 1,700 taste buds, significantly fewer than humans, who have around 9,000. This doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy their food; instead, their sense of taste is less refined, and they rely more on their sense of smell to enjoy and differentiate between flavors. Artificial sweeteners may taste sweet to us, but they taste bitter to dogs. 

Their whiskers play a crucial role

A dog’s whiskers, or vibrissae, aren’t just cosmetic but play a rather important role. These specialized hairs are deeply embedded in the skin and rich in nerve endings, making them highly sensitive to touch and vibrations. Whiskers help dogs detect changes in their environment, move in the dark, and sense the size, shape, and speed of nearby objects.

Dogs can smell stress

Dogs can detect changes in human body chemistry through their acute sense of smell. When someone is under stress, they release certain pheromones and hormones, such as cortisol, which dogs can pick up on. Theoretically, they can also smell fear and most other emotions because we release hormones and pheromones for each. 

The Greyhound is built for speed

Greyhounds are the fastest dog breed, capable of reaching speeds up to 45 miles per hour. They’re able to do this because of a few things. Firstly, they use the double-suspension gallop (all 4 feet off the ground during one stride). The heart of this breed is much larger than the other breeds’ hearts and they have more red blood cells that transfer oxygen more efficiently. 

The heaviest dog ever weighed more than 340 pounds

The heaviest dog on record was an English Mastiff named Aicama Zorba, who weighed an astounding 343 pounds. This massive canine measured over 8 feet from nose to tail. And while mastiffs are generally large, chunky dogs, they very rarely grow to be heavier than 180 pounds. 

The oldest dog on record reached the age of 29

The oldest recorded dog was an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey, who lived for 29 years and 5 months. Researchers (and its owner) believe that Bluey reached that age due to a healthy lifestyle and genetic factors. On average, smaller dog breeds tend to live longer than larger breeds. However, Bluey was also very lucky because even the healthiest dogs today rarely get over 20, let alone almost 30. 

The smallest dog in the world is a Chihuahua

Miracle Milly, a Chihuahua born in 2011, holds the Guinness World Record as the smallest living dog by height, measuring just 3.8 inches tall (essentially the size of a double cheeseburger). She weighs about one pound and eats four times a day, consuming mainly human food. 

The biggest puppy litter had 24 pups

In 2004, a Neapolitan Mastiff named Tia gave birth to 24 puppies, setting the record for the largest litter ever documented. Typically, the average dog litter size ranges from 6 to 8 puppies. Sadly, one pup was stillborn and three died shortly after birth, but 20 healthy puppies remained and grew up completely fine. 

Norwegian Lundehund

The Norwegian Lundehund is one of the most unusual dog breeds. It has extra toes, flexible joints, and the ability to bend its head backward to touch its spine. These unique traits evolved to help them climb and navigate the rocky cliffs of Norway, where they were originally bred to hunt puffins.

There are an estimated 1,000+ dog breeds in the world

While the American Kennel Club recognizes around 200 breeds, there are more than 1,000 distinct dog breeds worldwide. This vast number includes officially recognized breeds, regional breeds, and numerous mixed breeds. After all, most dogs today aren’t purebred but a mix of various breeds and some of these mixes have unique traits. 

We can test for more than 200 hereditary dog diseases

Modern veterinary science allows for genetic testing to identify over 200 hereditary diseases in dogs. These tests help breeders make informed decisions, reduce the risk of passing on genetic disorders, and assist veterinarians in diagnosing and treating various health conditions. New technology will allow us to identify and diagnose even more diseases and disorders.

Some dog body types are associated with specific disorders

Certain physical traits in dogs are linked to specific health issues. For example, brachycephalic breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs often suffer from respiratory problems due to their short snouts, while large breeds such as Great Danes are more prone to joint and bone issues. Some efforts are being made today to help ‘evolve’ these breeds so they don’t suffer from such problems. 

The world’s smartest dog could recognize and remember the names of more than 1,000 objects

Chaser, a Border Collie, holds the title of the world’s smartest dog, having learned the names of over 1,000 objects. Her owner, a retired psychology professor, trained her using repetition and positive reinforcement. Her training wasn’t that different from how you’d normally train a dog but her owner’s persistence is what enabled Chaser to differentiate such a large number of objects. 

Dogs are not colorblind

Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not colorblind but have dichromatic vision, meaning they see two primary colors: blue and yellow. While their color perception is not as rich as humans, who see three primary colors, dogs can still distinguish between different hues, albeit in a limited spectrum.

A dog’s nose print is unique for each dog

Just like human fingerprints, a dog’s nose print is unique to each individual. The patterns of ridges and creases on their noses are used for identification purposes. Some organizations even use nose prints to register and verify dogs, providing a foolproof method for distinguishing one dog from another.

‘Right-hand’ dogs are more numerous

Dogs, like humans, can be right or left-pawed. However, right-pawed dogs are more common. This paw preference is seen in tasks such as reaching for food or toys. 60.7% of female dogs and 56.1% of male dogs used their front right paws to reach for something. That said, the difference is not as dramatic as in people and usually doesn’t directly correlate to any behavioral cues. 

The most popular dog breeds change as time goes by

The popularity of dog breeds fluctuates over time, influenced by trends, movies, and cultural shifts. For instance, the Labrador Retriever has been a top favorite in the US for decades, but other breeds like the French Bulldog and Poodle have also seen surges in popularity. Currently, the most popular breed in the US is the French Bulldog (for the 2nd year in a row).

19 Signs Your Dog Is Absolutely in Love with You

19 Signs Your Dog Is Absolutely in Love with You