14 Tail-Wagging Truths About Our Canine Companions

Dogs have been our loyal companions for thousands of years and the more we learn about them, the more incredible they seem.

From their extraordinary senses and emotional intelligence to their rich history and unique quirks, dogs continue to amaze and inspire us. This blog is dedicated to celebrating all the fascinating, heartwarming, and sometimes surprising facts about our four-legged friends. And what better time to honour them than on this year’s International Dog Day, a perfect moment to recognise the joy, loyalty, and love that dogs bring into our lives every day.

1. Dogs are our Ancient Companions

Hello from a Happy King Charles Spaniel – Rafaella Waasdorp

Our relationship with dogs stretches back thousands of years, making them one of the first animals to be domesticated by humans. Evidence suggests that dogs were domesticated from wolves around 15,000 to 40,000 years ago, with some of the earliest records of human-dog bonds found in ancient Greece and Egypt…

2. The Nose Knows: Why Every Dog’s Sniffer Is Special

Nose up close – Anastassia Anufrieva

Did you know a dog’s incredible sense of smell is partly thanks to their wet noses? The moisture on their noses helps capture scent particles more effectively, allowing them to pick up on even the faintest of smells…

3. Dogs Can Dream

German Shepherd sleeping – Pasan Jayaweera

Just like humans, dogs experience REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which is when dreams occur…

4. Dogs Have a “Sixth Sense” for Illness

Dogs are known to have an incredible sense of smell, but some dogs are also believed to detect illness in humans…
One of the organisations that have taken this remarkable ability to the next level is Medical Detection Dogs, a UK-based charity…

5. The Basenji Dog Doesn’t Bark

Tan & White Basenji – Edvinas Bruzas

One of the most unique and fascinating dog breeds is the Basenji, often called the “barkless dog.”…

6. Dogs Can “Talk” to us and “Read” our faces

Wo(man’s) Best friend – Manuel Meza

While dogs might not speak our language, they’re excellent communicators in their own right…

7. Dogs Can Hear Ultrasounds

Basset Hound have incredibly amazing hearing – Kyle Smith

Dogs have much better hearing than humans, and it plays a key role in how they experience the world…

8. Pawsitively Unique

Mia wants treats! – Camylla Battani

Unlike humans, dogs don’t sweat all over their bodies to cool down. Instead, they sweat only through their paw pads…

9. Dogs Have a “Powerful” Sense of Direction

Two dogs are sitting in a field of lavender, Myra Lange

It’s widely believed that dogs have an impressive sense of direction, with many able to mentally map familiar areas…

10. The Oldest Dog Breed

Graceful Saluki – Artem Sapegin

The Saluki is often regarded as one of the oldest known dog breeds, with evidence suggesting they existed as far back as 4,000 to 5,000 years ago…

11. A Dog’s Whiskers Are Super Sensitive

Feeling things out – Evi Kalemi

Whiskers aren’t just for “feeling” things out, they also help dogs gauge the space around them…

12. Dogs Have Three Eyelids

Golden Retriever – Erika Fletcher

Dogs have a third eyelid, called the nictitating membrane, which helps keep their eyes moist and protects them from dirt and debris…

13. Dogs Are as Smart as a 2-Year-Old

In conversation – Mali Desha

Research has shown that dogs can understand about 165 words, signs, and signals…

14. Dogs Have Been To Space

Laika – the dog who has been in space

Laika, a stray dog from the streets of Moscow, made history in 1957 as the first animal to orbit the Earth aboard Sputnik 2…

Laika has since been honoured with a statue and plaque at Star City, Russia’s cosmonaut training facility, and her legacy lives on through comics, postage stamps, songs, and tributes around the world…

Laika on a Romanian Postage Stamp

If you found this post fascinating, check out my dog themed silver jewellery in my shop.

Feel free to share this post, and let me know in the comments which fact surprised you the most. Until next time!

Thanks for reading…

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