As a dog lover, you know there’s something special about your canine companion – and scientists agree. Here are ten fun facts about dogs that might surprise you.
1) Dogs dream like we do
Scientists believe dogs have similar sleep patterns to humans, and that small breeds of dog dream more than large breeds. Just as humans stir and twitch during REM sleep, dogs do the same. So if you’ve spotted your terrier twitching in his sleep, he’s probably dreaming.
2) Your dog’s sense of smell is between 10,000 to 100,000 times better than yours
His nose has millions more scent receptors than the average human, which is why dogs are sometimes used to sniff out drugs, explosives and even dead bodies. Carefully trained dogs can even be used to detect cancer cells in humans.
James Walker, former director of the Sensory Research Institute at Florida State University, puts this into perspective: “If you make the analogy to vision, what you and I can see a third of a mile away, a dog could see just as clearly more than 3,000 miles away.”
3) Just like a fingerprint, no two dog noses are alike
Every dog’s nose has its own pattern, and is as unique as a human fingerprint.
4) Touch is the first sense your dog develops
The first experience for a puppy after being born is being cleaned by his mother – a process that stimulates the nerve endings and gets the puppy’s blood flowing. From this moment onwards, touch is a vital part of socialisation, which helps the dog to bond with both humans and other dogs.
5) Your dog is as smart as a toddler
Scientists have found that most dogs have the intelligence of a two-year-old child. As well as understanding up to 200 words, they’re clever enough to manipulate humans and other dogs for reward. Of all the breeds of dog, border collies have been found to be the smartest.