We want you to know some interesting facts about dogs, those animals that are more than just a pet and that They have accompanied man since ancient times. The bond between humans and dogs has been one of the strongest between humans and animals.
All this makes us want to write this article where we talk about Curiosities that we may not have known about dogs, their skills, their relationships with people, their way of communicating, and so on.
More than just pets: curiosities about dogs
10 fascinating curiosities
1. Vocal, body and olfactory communication
When it comes to communicating, dogs have three different ways: vocalization, movements and smells. When they bark, they do so not only to communicate with other dogs, but also with humans. Some even vocalize by adapting the tone to the situation. But without a doubt, the most important communication tools are the movements of the ears, tail, teeth, eyes and also the full use of his body. They can communicate to us everything from the need to give them more time for interaction to feelings like fear, joy, sadness...
Among dogs, they also communicate in a third way, with the sense of smell, through urine or the different glands in their body like the foot glands located on the paws. You have surely seen a dog scratching the ground with its paws (often after doing its business) and it is a way of adding the smell of these glands to urine or feces. The olfactory world is so wide that it can transmit feelings for an interaction with another dog leaving "messages" between them. Another example is found in the glands on their backs. Our dogs often rub their backs on the ground to leave their scent and then be able to recognize a place they really liked or where they left something.
2. Super-developed sense of smell and hearing
Dogs have between 220 and 300 million olfactory receptors in their nose (the outer part of the nose is called the truffle). To give you an idea of the large number of receptors they have, humans have about 5 million. This number of receptors allows them to detect odors in concentrations up to 100 million times lower than those perceived by humans.
The sounds you can hear have a frequency range 40Hz to 60kHz, which allows them to hear sounds that humans cannot hear. These two senses make dogs great allies of man In rescues, searches, disease detection, helping the disabled, or, since ancient times, for hunting. For more information on how dogs can help in emergency situations, you can consult our Curiosities about animals and their relationship with humans.
3. All dogs know how to swim naturally
They may or may not like water, but all dogs have a natural instinct that allows them to keep their heads above water and move their legs to stay afloat and move through the water. Some breeds are more prone to enjoying water than others, but it's interesting to know that this instinct is present in all of them.
4. Dogs dream
Perhaps one of the most intriguing curiosities about dogs is that just like people, they reach the REM phase and dream. We often observe that when our dog sleeps, his body shakes, he runs, and he may even whine or vocalize in some way. This indicates that our dog is in a deep sleep state. In these cases, it's best not to wake him up, as nothing is happening to him; he's just dreaming. They can sleep an average of 12 to 14 hours a day, something that varies with age and can also vary according to race.
According to certain studies, dogs They dream about the humans or animals they are most attached to. and with whom they share their daily lives. If you are interested in learning more about dogs and dreams, we recommend reading our article: What do dogs dream of?.
5. Attachment to humans
Various studies attest that dogs They can form great emotional bonds, comparable to those humans can form. These studies have shown that when a dog interacts with its human family or with people it cares about, it releases oxytocin, the so-called love hormone. This reinforces the idea that dogs are loyal and loving companions.
6. Some races remain the same since ancient times.
Dog breeds like the Basenji or the Saluki They have been accompanying humans for thousands of years; they are among the oldest dog breeds. Their bond with humans is long, and they have accompanied us as companions, protectors, and hunters. If you want to know more about the history of dogs and their evolution over the years, you can read about the characteristics of the oldest breeds.
7. Races close to wolves
All domesticated dog breeds (although sometimes they may not seem like it due to their appearance) are descended from wolves. Domestication occurred thousands of years ago when humans began to establish themselves in communities. Through selective breeding, the breeds we know today gradually emerged. Although the path of each of these breeds has been long. Some breeds were developed for herding, others for protection, others for hunting, others for pulling sleds, others for companionship, etc. All these modifications led to the development of behaviours and characteristics that set them apart from wild wolves.
However, among all these breeds, genetically some breeds have remained close to wolves, they are animals whose appearance already indicates that they maintain primitive characteristics with their ancestor. We are talking about: the Czechoslovakian Shepherd, the Saarloos Wolfdog, the Alaskan Malamute, the Siberian Husky, the Uralian Wolfdog and the Baska Wolfdog.
8. They are able to read humans
Based on tone of voice, body language, smell that we segregate with the various emotions, dogs are able to read emotional states in order to interact with us. This is one of the characteristics that serves to be pets and emotional support animals. In this sense, there are studies that show that the behavior of dogs can be similar to that of humans, as we show in our curiosities about behavior.
9. Their sense of time differs from ours
Dogs perceive the passage of time, although in a different way than we do, who are constantly glued to a clock. Dogs They function with the routines around them. They are able to sense when we are going to arrive home before we arrive, they know when it is time to go for a walk, eat or when we are leaving them at home for work.
10. There are more than 340 known breeds
Each breed has its own characteristics, temperament and needs. This is vital to choosing our ideal canine companion. We should not only look at the aesthetics but also at whether it fits with our lifestyle and whether we can meet the needs of that breed.
