15 Weirdly Amazing Dog Facts

Dogs are considered “man’s best friend” because of their unique traits that can’t be found amongst many animals.

There are many dog facts that we’ve learned over the years that make them one of the most interesting animals in the world.

They are intelligent, loving, and have personalities of their own. Continue reading to learn some fun facts about dogs.

1. Dogs Have a Sense of Time

Everyone has an internal body clock (circadian rhythm) which allows them to detect time while not looking at a physical clock.

Dogs also have a circadian rhythm and can sense when it’s time to do something.

When an owner comes home at the same time every day, a dog can get accustomed to this and will know when it’s time for their owner to arrive.

Because of this same concept, they also know when it’s time to go outside or eat dinner.

2. The USA Has the Highest Dog Population

There are actually over 75 million dogs in the United States.

Because of the high dog population, you can find places like dog parks and pet stores all across the country, and veterinary clinics are also very popular in the United States.

Dogs are so popular that you can even get pet insurance from big-name insurance companies for your animals!

3. They Are Intelligent

Dogs can be trained to do a plethora of tasks.

They are trained to attend dog shows, they are used as service dogs for the handicapped, and they are even used by Police to search out things like drugs.

Because dogs are so intelligent, anyone can teach them basic commands at home such as “sit.”

Dogs will also pick up on common words that are said such as saying “let’s go outside” when it’s time to go out. 

They can learn between 165 and 250 words, and some dogs can even count up to 5.

4. They Don’t See in Black and White

Many people still believe to this day that dogs only see in black and white, but this is simply a popularized myth.

They have a dichromatic color perception and can actually see colors on a yellow and blue spectrum.

This does make it difficult for them to differentiate certain shades, but they can still tell one object’s color from another.

5. Their Noses Are Wet

A dogs nose is one of its best tools.

Dog noses have a mucous that absorbs the chemicals in scents, and they can lick their nose make use of their Jacobson’s Organ in order to improve their smell. 

Their heightened sense of smell is one of the reasons why they are used by Police.

They can seek out drugs by receiving a sample and following a trail, and they can even follow human scent. 

6. Heightened Sense of Hearing

A dog’s hearing is 3 times better than a human’s.

They can hear frequencies of up to 60,000 hertz, and they also hear at a higher range of distance. 

Because of the placements of their ears and their freedom of movement, they can easily detect the direction of a sound, and they can also move their ears independently to receive multiple sounds.

Their hearing is good when it comes to security because they will detect an intruder before you do.

7. Frito Feet

One of the interesting facts about dogs is the “Frito feet” smell, which is very common amongst dogs. It’s when your dog’s paws smell like corn chips, and it usually happens because of bacteria buildup.

There are a few things that can cause this smell like lack of hygiene and environmental conditions.

When it’s warm and humid, the bacteria on their paws can flourish, thus producing this smell.

Another factor is that while a dog doesn’t have sweat glands throughout their body, they do have sweat glands on their paws. This can contribute to Frito feet if they have a lot of fur on their paws.

8. Variety of Breeds

There are over 200 dog breeds in the world.

The figures vary depending on whom you ask because there is not a scientific classification for dog breeds, they are just considered dogs.

There are several combinations of dog breeds that make new ones, and a lot of breeds were created with a purpose in mind.

For example, the Portuguese Water Dog was bred to help fisherman because their webbed feet make it much easier to swim, and Siberian Huskies are often used for sled pulling due to their size and strength.

Crossbreeding can also result in “dwarf” dogs like a miniature German Shepherd. 

9. Can Reach High Speeds

Because of their body composition, most dogs can run up to 20 miles per hour.

Smaller dogs like Chihuahuas and Poodles are slower due to their small size, with large dogs like the Bernese Mountain Dog being slower due to their large size.

Greyhounds are the fastest dog in the world and can run up to 45 miles per hour, which makes them the second fastest animal in the world after the cheetah.

Greyhounds can also hold a speed of ~35 miles per hour for up to several miles, making them great for cross country runs.

10. Night Vision

Dogs have much larger pupils than humans which allows them to receive more light. 

Their retina’s cells are also a lot more light-sensitive, making it much easier to distinguish light from shadow.

They also have something in their eye called the tapetum which makes a dog’s eyes glow in the dark. This tapetum reflects light back through the retina which also makes the eye more sensitive to light.

11. They Have Emotions 

When looking at amazing dog facts, dog emotions is one of the most notable.

Playing their role as man’s best friend, dogs have been known for hundreds of years to form bonds with their owners.

Dogs can feel happiness, displaying it by showing energetic behavior when their owners arrive at home, often accompanied by barking and heavy breathing.

They can even feel even loneliness, often howling and whining when their owners are not home.

Another feeling is anticipation. When dogs know that they are about to go outside or receive food, they usually react just like they do when they’re happy. It is not unusual for a dog to bark and run around when they’re anticipating something.

It has also been noted that dog emotions even go as far as jealousy.

Dogs often display jealousy when other dogs are nearby, or even when you are greeting another person. Barking and attempting to get close to you is a telltale sign that your dog is jealous.

12. The Dog Bark

A dog’s bark is its primary way of communication, and one of the most random dog facts is that the loudest dog bark was 113.1 decibels and was produced by a Golden Retriever.

Unlike their wolf relatives, it seems as though dogs are constantly barking, and for a variety of reasons.

Dogs bark to display emotions, barking in fear, happiness, anger, loneliness, and excitement.

They also accompany growling with barks when fighting to show dominance.

13. The Dog That Does Not Bark

There is, however, a breed of dog that does not bark which originates in Africa.

This barkless canine is called the Basenji. Their voice box is a lot narrower than most dogs, making it difficult to project a bark, but they are still capable of growling and usually howl.

They are small and are usually energetic, and just like many other breeds, they were originally bred for hunting.

Albeit being bred for hunting, their energetic behavior often makes them very difficult to train.

14. Dalmatian Spots

Dalmatians are a very popular breed of dog thanks to the blockbuster film 101 Dalmatians, and their unique pattern of black spots paired with white fur.

The truth to these spots is that they do not form until after they start growing. In other words, Dalmatians are born completely white and without their spots.

The color of their spots can vary, with Dalmatians having either black, brown, or grayish spots.

It’s also been discovered that the same gene responsible for their white fur, the extreme piebald gene, also causes many Dalmatians to go partially deaf or completely deaf within their first few weeks of life.

15. Scent Dog Evidence Can Be Used in Court

Because of a dog’s incredible ability to track things and identify substances, their finds can be used as evidence in court.

Mind you, only certain dogs are selected to be used because they simply outperform others. Dogs are carefully selected based on their breed, gender, and personality.

Final Thoughts on These Amazing Dog Facts

With all of these facts about dogs, it is no wonder that so many people on earth love them.

Dogs are often overlooked as simple house pets, but they are truly unique compared to other animals and are capable of so much.

With so many breeds of different appearances and sizes, there is a dog for anyone, and you can always find awesome puppies for sale no matter where you are in the world.

After learning about these dog facts, you can now understand why dogs are a man’s best friend.

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