Dogs are fantastic companions, loyal family members, great friends and some are even dedicated workers helping owners to navigate the world, search and rescue, or relieve the symptoms of anxiety! Today our Mooresville vets share some fun dog facts that you may not know.
Anatomy of The Dog
Dogs are actually omnivores, not carnivores. That means our furry friends need a well-rounded diet that includes vegetables and other proteins as well as meat.
The average body temperature of a dog should hover around 101.2.
Contrary to what many believe, dogs are in fact able to see color, but not as vividly as their human friends. While we can't give our canine companions a color chart test, behavioral tests suggest that dogs see in shades of yellow and blue but lack the ability to see colors ranging from green to red. So your dog sees the world in shades of yellow, blue, and gray.
Obesity is the number one health problem dogs deal with, and can lead to a number of other serious conditions. So be sure to feed your dog a nutritious diet, but watch those calories.
It is estimated that a dog's sense of smell is anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 times better than that of people. Their outstanding sense of smell means they are excellent working dogs and are often used in airports and other environments to sniff out illegal items such as drugs or bombs, as well as to help find lost people during search and rescue missions.
Like our fingerprints, each dog’s nose has a unique print. this makes your dog's nose one-of-a-kind.
One of the reasons that dogs are so good at guarding is that they can hear sounds at high frequencies that human ears can’t. This means that your dog can alert you if they hear something that you can't.
While the human body sweats as a way of cooling, the only sweat glands a dog has are between their toes. Dogs mainly rely on panting to cool themselves off. That's why it’s important to keep your dog hydrated and cool in the dog days of summer. Make sure they have plenty of shade and water, and that they stay inside on very hot days.
Canine Communication
Although dogs can’t talk to us, they communicate with us humans using a number of different techniques. If your dog positions their body a specific way, makes interesting facial expressions, bares their teeth, barks or marks their scent, you can be sure that they are trying to tell you (or other animals) something!
When dogs are happy they will wag their tails to the right, but if they are frightened they wag their tail to the left.
A Dog By Any Other Name
Dog - the English word for our canine friends - originated from the Middle English dogge, which stemmed from Old English docga, meaning 'a powerful dog breed'.
Domesticated Dog Origin
Over thousands of years, people have gradually domesticated dogs into the friendly companions we know and love today. For about 12,000 years, people have been living side-by-side with dogs, keeping loving canines as pets.
Breeds of Dogs
There are 192 different dog breeds officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Whether you’re thinking of getting a miniature dachshund or a large energetic Samoyed, you’ll be sure to find a breed with all the characteristics you like best.
The Popularity Contest
The faithful Labrador Retriever is America’s most popular breed and has kept the coveted spot at the top of the list since the 1990s. Their smart, playful nature makes them great pets. These intelligent dogs can also serve as working, therapy or guide dogs. The German Shepherd and Golden Retriever round out the country’s 3 most popular dog breeds.
Canine Companions & Hard Working Friends
Although it's true to say that we can get many years of joy out of keeping dogs as pets, several breeds are also known for being excellent workers, trained to track missing persons, join police and military ranks, provide protection, help people with disabilities, hunt, pull loads, herd, and so much more.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.