We've lived with these wonderful representatives of our smaller brothers for about 30,000 years. Dogs are so close to humans that they're almost considered family members. But what do we really know about them? The most interesting and incredible facts about these amazing animals will help us better understand them.
Dogs are incredibly intelligent. Their level of development is comparable to that of a human, or more accurately, a two-year-old child. They can count to five, know up to 250 gestures and words, and even solve simple math problems.
These incredible animals have learned to ride the subway and travel in search of food. Perhaps, in this scenario, some people are dumber than dogs.
Don't rush to hug your toothy friends - they don't like it!
Dogs interpret hugs as attempts at dominance, so stop before your four-legged friend shows his teeth.
Dogs can detect ultrasonic whistles that are inaudible to humans. Dog repellents rely on this ability.
Famous musician Paul McCartney knew this fact and recorded an ultrasonic whistle at the end of his song "A Day in the Life." He did this especially for his Scottish Shepherd, who has since found the song incredibly enjoyable. So, recording ultrasonic music for your dog can turn your pet into a music lover!
Dogs differ from humans in the number of teeth. Puppies have fewer—only 28—while adults have a whopping 42.
A large dog's heart beats at the same rate as a human's—60 to 100 beats per minute at rest. Small dogs, however, have a heart rate of 100 to 140 beats per minute.
An ancient Chinese emperor respected dogs so much that a small Pekingese became his last line of defense.
In case of danger, the baby would jump out of the emperor’s sleeve, where he had been hiding before, and rush at the enemy.
Dogs' hearing is simply superb. It's 10,000 to 100,000 times sharper than humans'. It's this ability that helps them predict storms.
Dogs can't be called true gourmets. After all, they have far fewer taste buds than humans. Humans have 9,000, while dogs have only 1,700. Therefore, they are less picky about food.
Although dogs love sweets, don't rush to feed them chocolate, as it's dangerous for them! It contains theobromine, a substance that affects the animal's nervous system and heart.
Therefore, it is better to prepare other treats for your pet.
So, to get along well with your dog, it's best to learn as much about them as possible. Then it'll be easier to find a common language with them. In the meantime, don't rush to hug your pet or treat them to chocolate—they won't like it!
