Dogs are great family companions. They will run and play with you all day and happily snuggle you at night. Did you know that there are many neat things about dogs? Today, our Southern Wisconsin vets offer up some fun dog facts that you can share with your kids.
Have a Furry Friend? Here are Some Fun Dog Facts to Share With Your Kids
You obviously think that your dog is exceptional and there is no other dog like him in the world! And you know what? You are right! Did you know that there are a number of unique qualities about so many different types of dogs?
Here, our vets at Badger Veterinary Hospital share some dog fun facts for kids:
1. Did you know that your dog can smell better than you can? 40 times better in fact.
Dogs have an incredible sense of smell that not only helps them explore the world but can also be used to help people. Dogs have been used to help with police investigations and even to help diagnose and monitor health conditions in people.
2. Unlike you or me, your dog can actually breathe using their nose and mouth at the same time.
Have you ever tried to breathe out of your nose and mouth at the same time? I bet you can't do it! Believe it or not, your dog can actually do this!
3. Puppies of all breeds are completely deaf when they are born.
Typically it takes puppies up to three weeks to get their hearing and once they do they can already hear much better than you or I can.
4. Your dog is super smart. You can teach them over 100 gestures and words.
While most dogs can learn around 160 words or gestures there are actually some breeds of dog that can learn up to 250 words and gestures!
5: Did you know that your dog has a type of fingerprint? The only difference is that it's on their nose!
Just like your fingerprint is unique to you, a dog's noseprint is entirely their own and there is no other like it.
6. Greyhounds have incredible speed and can run faster than a cheetah - kind of.
While cheetahs can reach 70 m/h speeds, they can only run this fast for about 30 seconds. Greyhounds on the other hand can keep a steady pace of 45 m/h for over 7 miles before they need to stop.
7. Your dog doesn't sweat like you do. They actually sweat through their paws.
Along with panting, dogs will also sweat through their paws in order to stay cool. This also gives them the added benefit of a better grip.
8. Dogs actually see color differently than we do.
While we commonly refer to dogs as colorblind this isn't exactly true. They can still see some colors we just don't entirely know how they perceive these colors.
9. The tallest dog in the world was taller than most people.
Zeus was a Great Dane who stood over 7 feet tall on his hind legs. He could drink from the kitchen sink and even caused his family to need a larger vehicle to fit him better.
10. Australian shepherds have a confusing name once you know that they aren't from Australia!
Austrailian shepherds are actually native to California and were a popular breed among cowboys.
11. All Dalmatians are actually born completely spotless!
Surprisingly, Dalmatians don't actually have any spots at all when they are firstborn. They are pure white! Dalmatians become more spotted as they get older.
12. Dogs dream while they sleep, just like people do.
Did you spot your dog twitching or moving while they were sleeping? This is actually because they are dreaming just like you do.
13. Did you know that your dog will yawn if they see you yawning? Try it and see!
The yawn effect isn't just limited to people. Dogs have been known to catch a yawn or two from those around them!
14. The Newfoundland breed is an excellent swimmer and makes a great lifeguard.
The Newfoundland breed was actually created for just this purpose. Because of this selective breeding, they have webbed toes and water-resistant fur.
15. It's not sci-fi, dogs actually have three eyelids!
While they have the same two types of eyelids that we have, dogs actually have a third eyelid that is an extra protective layer to help care for their eye and keep it moist.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.