Although you may think that you know your canine companion pretty well, we’re about to test your knowledge with these 10 little-known facts about dogs.
How many of these facts do you know already?
10 little-known facts about dogs:
- The duration of dog pregnancy is around 9 weeks — much shorter than human pregnancy!
- Ever wondered how your dog can eat all sorts of foods—or sometimes even inedible items — off of the floor? Dogs have roughly 1700 taste buds, all of which are on the tongue. On average, humans have around six times this amount.
- Despite similarities in appearances, hyenas and Tasmanian tigers (thylacines) aren’t part of the canine family.
- Consumption of cooked ham and ham bones can cause pancreatitis in dogs, which can be fatal.
- Some dog breeds actually have webbed toes. Some of these breeds include Newfoundlands, Golden Retrievers and Labradors.
- When a dog wags its tail, it might not mean it is happy. Tail wagging can also be a sign of other emotions such as anger or anxiety, so it’s important not to rely on tail wagging when trying to figure out a dog’s mood.
- It’s a myth that dogs are colour blind; they simply see colours differently to humans.
- A dog’s tongue actually curves underneath to scoop up water when it drinks. Dogs are unable to create suction or suck water up like humans and some other animals.
- Unlike other dog breeds, Basenjis cannot bark, and instead make a noise that is closer to a wine or a yodel.
- Seventy percent of people sign their pet’s name on greeting and holiday cards.
