9 Surprising Dog Facts Unleashed
Sure, your pup sleeps with you, follows you around, and spends almost all her time with you, but how well do you know your best friend, really? Here are nine fascinating dog facts that might surprise you!
1. Can dogs tell time?
Does your dog run to the door when it's time for his walk every day, without you saying a word? No, Fido isn't sporting an Apple® watch, so he doesn't know the exact time — but dogs can still pick up on the approximate time and anticipate regular events, proving that they do have a sense of time.
2. Why does Spot turn in a circle before going No. 2?
Experts say that dogs actually prefer to align their body axis with the Earth's magnetic field when pooping. Weird bathroom habit, but true.
3. Did you know some dogs can yodel?
You won't hear barks coming from a Basenji - instead these dogs make a yodel-like sound, almost like they're auditioning for a Ricola® commercial.
4. Does your dog actually understand your conversations?
If you sometimes get a sense that your dog eavesdrops on your private convos, you're probably right - at least to a degree. Experts believe the average dog can retain the meaning of about 250 words and gestures - about the same as a 2-year-old child.
5. How precise is a dog's sense of smell?
Some dogs, like Bloodhounds, have such an accurate sense of smell that lawyers can submit the dog's sniffing evidence in court. Your Honor, I find the defendant guilty!
6. I just yawned — and my dog did, too. Coincidence?
It's not your imagination - dogs really do "catch" contagious yawns, the same way people do. Simply hearing their human yawn can trigger a canine yawn bonanza.
7. Can your dog do math?
Experts do believe that dogs have a sense of the laws of mathematics, can count small numbers and perform simple math calculations. Einstein must have been proud of his pup!
8. Which breed of dog is named after a character in a novel?
Sir Walter Scott's 1814 novel "Guy Mannering" features a fictional character named Dandie Dinmont, a farmer. In the book, Dandie raises six terriers, naming them Auld Pepper, Young Pepper, Little Pepper, Auld Mustard, Young Mustard, and Little Mustard. And that's how the Dandie Dinmont Terrier breed got its name.
9. What is a group of pugs called?
Who knew we needed a collective name for a group of pugs, but we love it, and you will too: It's called a grumble! As in, "The grumble is here and ready to rumble!" We demand a pug-inspired revival of "West Side Story!"
So, the next time your canine curls up on your lap, remember there's always more you can discover and appreciate about your best buddy!
References: 23 Amazing Facts About Dogs You Probably Didn't Know | 30 Interesting Facts About Dogs | 30 Fun and Fascinating Dog Facts | News of Dogs; Scott Novel Gave Breed Name; Dandie Dinmont Was a Terrier Owner in Guy Mannering
