Our dogs have always been our most loyal companions, so it's only natural that we want to know as much as we can about them. Keep reading for our top 30 dog facts that you won't believe!
Dogs have been our best friends for thousands of years, our loyal companions and most importantly, our family. So it’s only natural that we are completely fascinated by dog facts and information. We’re utterly besotted with our four-pawed friends and want to discover absolutely everything possible about them, so when we hear a dog fact it fills us with a sense of joy and wonder.
From why dog’s noses are wet, to the tallest dog in the world, prepare to have your mind blown with these amazing dog facts.
Fun facts about dogs
1. Dogs noses are wet to help absorb scent chemicals
This amazing dog fact might answer a long-standing question that dog owners have. Why are dogs’ noses wet? Vetstreet says that the answer is that dog’s noses are wet to help them absorb scent chemicals! Their nose secretes a special mucus that helps to absorb these chemicals, and then they lick their noses to sample them, helping them understand what the smell is.
2. Newfoundlands are amazing lifeguards
Newfoundland dogs are the ultimate doggy lifeguards, because they have water resistant coats and webbed feet. They were originally bred as fisherman’s helpers and to rescue people from drowning.
Although it may be anthropomorphism or interpretation on the part of the owners, some say their dogs try to “rescue” them when they swim.
3. The Beatles song ‘A Day in the Life’ has a frequency only dogs can hear
In an interview in 2013, Paul McCartney said that he added a frequency only dogs can hear to the end of the Beatles song ‘A Day in the Life’. So watch your dog when you play the song! How’s that for an amazing dog fact?
4. Three dogs survived the Titanic sinking
Did you know that three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic? Vetstreet states that the dogs were in first class and included a Pomeranian puppy - which her owner wrapped in a blanket to escape with, and everyone thought she was carrying a baby. Another Pomeranian and a Pekingese were also rescued. Move over Rose and Jack!
5. A Bloodhound’s sense of smell can be used as evidence in court
According to PBS, a Bloodhound’s sense of smell is so spot on that it can be admitted as evidence in a court of law. Now if you thought that was an incredible dog fact, prepare to have your mind blown.
Bloodhounds can also follow tracks that are over 300 hours old and can stay on a trail for over 130 miles!
6. The tallest dog in the world is 44 inches tall
The tallest dog in the world ever was a Great Dane named Zeus! Measured at 44 inches tall on October 4th 2011, he’s the current Guinness World Record holder.
7. Basenji dogs don’t bark, they yodel
If you thought all dogs barked, then prepare yourself for this dog fact. The Basenji dog doesn’t tend to bark, instead they are known to yodel, whine, or scream.
8. A Greyhound could beat a Cheetah in a long-distance race
A Greyhound would actually beat a Cheetah in a long-distance race! According to Psychology Today, Greyhounds are excellent long distance runners and can keep a speed of 35mph for up to 7 miles.
Where the Cheetah is incredibly fast, it can only keep its speed for around 200 - 300 yards, so they may have the running start but it would soon be surpassed by a Greyhound!
9. A blind man and his guide dog hiked the Appalachian Trail
According to the Washington Post, for eight months during 1990 a blind man named Bill Irwin hiked the Appalachian Trail with his guide dog, Orient helping him along the way. Dogs truly are man’s best friend.
10. The Ewoks in Star Wars were based on a dog
If you’re a Star Wars fan you’ll love this amazing dog fact. The Los Angeles Times claims that George Lucas modelled the Ewoks after his family dog!
11. 30% of Dalmatians are deaf in one ear
UFAW states that on average around 30% of Dalmatians are deaf in one ear and 5% are deaf in both. This is due to something called the extreme piebald gene which is responsible for their white coat and blue eyes (in some of them). Dalmatians with larger dark patches are less likely to be deaf.
12. The Saluki is the oldest dog breed
The Guinness World Record for the oldest dog breed is held by the Saluki. The breed dates back to 329BC and were kept as royal pets in Ancient Egypt. Reportedly, there are also carvings found in Southern Iraq of a dog that looks similar to a Saluki which dates back to 7000BC.
13. Chow Chows and Shar-Peis have black tongues
The Chow Chow and the Shar-Pei are the only two dog breeds that have fully black tongues. Even more interesting, the cause of these black tongues is currently unknown.
14. Dogs have three eyelids
Many owners haven’t heard of this interesting dog fact, but did you know that your four-legged friend has three eyelids? According to iHeartDogs, the third lid is called the ‘haw’ or nictitating membrane, and it’s responsible for keeping the eye protected and lubricated.
15. The African Hunting dog is the most successful hunter in the world
The African Hunting Dog is the most successful land hunter in the world. They’re successful in 50-70% of their hunts, which makes them consistently the best mammalian hunter, they even hold the current Guinness World Record for it.
16. The oldest dog in the world was 30!
Bobi, a Portuguese purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo was crowned, in February 2023, the oldest dog in the world at 30 years and 266 days old. He has sadly passed away in October 2023 but his family credited his longevity to the calm and peaceful environment in which Bobi lived and say he always had the freedom to roam around and explore the nearby forests and farmland. How amazing is that?
17. Dogs are smarter than you think
It’s proven that dogs can understand and recognize up to 250 words and gestures, making them one of the most skilled species studied in these tasks. It has been suggested that, with training, some may even recognize and respond to more than 1,000 different words!
18. The smallest dog breed in the world is, you guessed it, a Chihuahua
Although easy to guess, Chihuahuas are the smallest dog breed in the world, but did you know that they can weigh as little as 1 kg? They are incredibly tiny compared to the largest dog breed in the world, the Great Dane, who can weigh around 90 kg.
19. A dog’s nose print is as unique as a human fingerprint
If you thought a dog’s nose pattern is irrelevant, think again! Given their uniqueness, countries such as Finland use nose prints to identify dogs instead of microchips.
20. The Saluki is the fastest dog breed in the world
Want a dog that can keep up with Olympic-level runners? The Saluki can reach a speed of up to 43 mph, followed by the Greyhound breed, with a top speed of up to 40 mph. Take that, Usain Bolt!
21. Laika was not the only dog used in space missions
22. Dogs have a natural instinct to dig
Dogs seem to dig digging (get it?) a lot but they don’t just do it for the fun of it. In fact, digging is a natural instinct for them. They do it to create a cool place to lay down in the summer to escape the heath or a warm place to sleep in the winter. They also use it for burying food for later. Smart of them, isn’t it?
23. Some dogs are incredibly strong
The Alaskan Malamute is one of the strongest dog breeds in the world. Adult males can pull up to 12 times their own body weight, which is why they are often used in sled racing and other pulling competitions.
24. Dogs have dreams too
Scientific evidence, based on brain wave patterns, suggests that dogs dream just like us. You can tell when a dog is dreaming by observing their body movements and facial expressions while they sleep. It has been mooted that they mostly dream about playing or spending time with their owners. In case you were curious, yes, they can, apparently, also have bad dreams and nightmares.
25. The Bloodhound has the keenest sense of smell
Bloodhounds have up to 300 million scent receptors in their noses and they can do a great job at tracking people, animals, and even lost items.
26. Dogs have a sense of time
If you’re a dog owner, you probably noticed your canine friend starting to feel impatient when it’s getting close to their mealtime. Dogs have an internal mechanism, called circadian rhythm, that helps them tell the time; such that they know when they’re supposed to receive their food or when their owners are about to arrive home, even if their routine is disrupted.
27. Sweating is normal for dogs too
However, they don’t sweat in the same way we humans do. Dogs will cool themselves down mainly by panting and sweating through their paw pads.
28. Dogs have over 100 facial expressions
Understanding a dog can be made easier if you pay close attention to their facial expressions, especially the movement of their ears. So, if you ever felt like your dog was judging you or giving you the side eye, you weren’t seeing things, they probably meant it.
29. The memory of a dog is remarkable
It has been claimed that dogs may remember up to 250 different places and people, and that they can even remember events from years ago.
30. A dog starred in more than 20 films
Rin Tin Tin, a German Shepherd dog, rescued by an American soldier during World War 1, became famous by starring in more than 20 Hollywood films. He was trained to perform various stunts and tricks and his legacy lived on long after his death, with his offspring continuing to appear in various movies and TV shows. How’s that for a family of stars?
So that’s our list of our top 30 most amazing dog facts! What did you think? Were you blown away by our facts, or maybe there’s an interesting dog fact you know that we didn’t mention? Let us know over on our Facebook page!
To continue being wowed, why not take a look at our Top 14 Fun Facts about Cats article? We promise you won’t regret it.
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