10 Things You Didn’t Know About Dogs

So you fancy yourself a dog lover, and an owner who knows a lot about your dog. But did you know these facts?

1. A human nose averages 5 million smell receptors while a dog’s has about 125 million.

2. Dogs dream just like you do, and small dogs tend to dream more than large ones. Psychology Today suggests they’re probably dreaming about playing outside, chasing a ball, and meeting other dogs.

3. Dogs can understand up to 250 words, meaning you can teach your dog a lot more than “sit” and “stay”. Intelligence varies by breed, but border collies are just about the smartest.

4. Dogs wag their tails for different reasons. When they wag to the right, they’re happy. When they wag to the left, they’re frightened. Wagging low means they’re insecure, and rapid tail wagging with dilated pupils can signal aggression.

5. Puppies are born blind and deaf. Most puppies open their eyes and respond to noises after about two weeks.

6. Dogs have a “6th sense”. Often, dogs will act strangely before a storm or before something bad happens. Common “strange” behaviors are whining, erratic behavior, or hiding in small places.

7. Dogs only have sweat glands on their paws. They can only cool down by panting.

8.  “Dog breath” is a sign of an unhealthy dog. Bad breath may indicate dental disease or another health issue. If your dog has persistent bad breath, get him checked out by a vet.

9. Spiked dog collars were invented in ancient Greece and were originally designed to protect dogs throats from wolf attacks.

10. When dogs kick after going to the bathroom, they are using the scent glands on their paws to further mark their territory.