Dogs are some of the most beautiful, wonderful, and amazing gifts any person could ever receive. We are so used to them, that we often forget about their history, anatomy, and even idiocies. Here are amazing, funny, and weird facts about dogs that you can share with your dog-loving friends during your next hang.
- Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not color blind. They can see colors but just not as vividly as we do.
- Dogs have better dusk or low-light vision than us because of a special light-reflecting layer inside their eyes.
- In 1990, a German Shepherd guide dog named Orient once led her blind companion Bill Irwin across the entire 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.
- If never spayed or neutered, a male and a female dog, plus their offspring could produce over 66,000 puppies in 6 years!
- Dogs do sweat, but only through the spaces between their paw pads
- Similar to human infants, Chihuahua pups are born with a soft spot in their skull which disappears as they age.
- Jeopardy #1: This dog breed has 6 toes and can close its ears. A: What is a Lundehune?
- Theodore Roosevelt’s dog, Pete, once ripped a French ambassador’s pants off at the White House. We’re pretty sure he was pardoned.
- Lyndon Johnson must be the busiest American president ever: he named his two beagles ‘Him’ and ‘Her’.
- President Franklin Roosevelt once spent “millions in taxpayer dollars” to retrieve Fala, his Scottish terrier whom he left in the Aleutian Islands.
- In Roman times, mastiffs were made to wear light armor to follow mounted knights around.
- During World War II, the Russians trained dogs to run suicide missions with mines strapped to their backs.
- On average, a dog’s mouth exerts up to 150-200 pounds of pressure per square inch. Beware!
- …but wait, there’s more! Some dogs exert up to 450 pounds per square inch. Ouch!
- A one-year-old dog and a 15-year-old human are as physically mature as the other.
- In addition to being the birthplace of fast food, the U.S. also has the highest dog population on the planet.
- Who do you think has the 2nd highest? France, the land of museums, art galleries, and fine cuisine gets numéro deux.
- Everybody wants to live in the countryside, but did you know that city dogs live 3 years longer than country dogs?
- Dogs love binge-watching too. 87% of owners say their pet curls up beside them while they watch TV.
- Dogs can be trained to detect epileptic seizures. So impressive!
- 15 people die in the U.S. every year from dog bites…so make sure to have your pets vaccinated.
- Here’s a crazy stat: In 2002, more people in the U.S. were killed by dogs than by sharks in the past 100 years!
- Do you remember the Taco Bell dog? She was a Chihuahua named Gidget. Yo Quiero!
- If you spend a lot of time near the water, you might want to get a Newfoundland—their webbed feet make them great swimmers.
- Some dogs love and thrive in water, but not Basset Hounds. This particular breed cannot swim.
- They named the U.S. bus company after Greyhounds because they are the fastest dogs on earth, with speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.
- B-I-N-G-O! Bingo is the name of the dog on the side of the Cracker Jack box.
- They say all dogs go to heaven. Maybe it’s because the bible mentions dogs 14 times.
- 709 survived the sinking of the Titanic. Three of them were dogs—a Newfoundland, a Pomeranian, and a Pekingese.
- According to the American Kennel Club, the Labrador Retriever is the #1 favorite breed in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
- You would think it’s squirrels and the mailman, but obesity is the #1 health problem among dogs.
- Dogs are said to be the most loyal animals ever. It’s estimated that 1,000,000 dogs in the U.S. have been named as the primary beneficiaries in their owner’s will.
- An American Animal Hospital Assoc. poll found that 33% of dog owners talk to their dogs on the phone while they are away—as one should.
- Is there a biometric ID system for dogs? Their nose prints are as unique as our fingerprints.
- Here’s a classic rock fact you literally might not have heard before unless you’re an actual pooch: At the end of the Beatles’ song “A Day in the Life”, Paul McCartney recorded a high-pitched whistle for his sheepdog.
- Don’t throw away those Hallmark cards from ‘unknown’ senders. 70% of people sign their dog’s name on greeting and holiday cards.
- Single during the holidays? Strike a pose with your dogs. 58% put pets in family and holiday portraits
- Jeopardy #2: It’s the rarest dog breed in the world, with only 350 left. A: What are Cesky Terriers?
- The phrase “raining cats and dogs” has a dark origin. It is believed that many cats and dogs drowned during heavy periods of rain in 17th century England.
- Don’t be mad if you set a meeting with a dog and they are late or don’t show up at all. Experts say dogs have no sense of “time”.
- Speaking of time, humans have kept dogs as pets for over 12,000 years. (Best deal we’ve ever done, in our opinion).
- Jeopardy #3: It’s the largest dog breed we have. A: What are Irish Wolfhounds?
- The Chihuahua might be the smallest breed, but owners know they have big attitudes.
- Speaking of big attitudes, St. Bernards is the heaviest dog breed (and the most huggable).
- Here’s an amazing factoid: Dogs and humans are the only creatures with prostates.
- …but they are still better specimens than us because they do not have an appendix that can burst.
- We’ve all heard about the grey wolf theory, but experts say that dogs likely descended from a species knows as the Tomarctus which roamed the earth over 15 million years ago.
- The oldest known breed of domesticated dogs is likely the Saluki–also known as the ‘royal dog of Egypt.
- In 1957, a Russian mutt named Laika became the first living being in space via an earth satellite.
- Laika, unfortunately, died a few minutes after launch, but her legacy spread worldwide. John F. Kennedy’s terrier, Charlie, fathered four puppies with Laika’s daughter.
What’s your favorite weird fact about dogs? Share this article and tag I Love My Dog with your answers. And if you loved this article, we’ve got more. Read our weird facts about Chihuahuas and Beagles.
