16 Unusual Dog Facts You Need to Know

There are some weird facts you need to know about dogs. Humans have tamed dogs for thousands of years, making them attractive companions. Since they are relatively intelligent creatures, capable of learning new skills and commands, they have proven to be quite useful. Here are 16 weird dog facts you need to know.

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1. Unlike most animal kingdoms, small dogs live longer than large dogs.

In most animal kingdoms, size correlates with longevity, but not in dogs. Scientists are confused as to why smaller dogs tend to live longer. Some believe that larger dogs grow faster than smaller dogs and that this may cause disease to develop earlier. Small dogs live from 10 to 15 years, medium-sized dogs from 10 to 13 years old, and large dogs from 8 to 12 years old.

2. Dogs have three eyelids.

Like humans, dogs have both an upper and a lower eyelid, but they also have a third eyelid called the blinker membrane. It has various functions, including cleaning up debris and mucus.

3. A dog's sense is far superior to that of humans.

Dogs have a good sense of smell, most people know that. However, what you may not know is that they have about 300 million olfactory receptors in their nose. Humans only have 6 million.

4. Dogs and humans evolved together.

They say that a dog is man's best friend, and there is a lot of truth in that. Humans and dogs have evolved since the earliest point of dog domestication 32,000 years ago. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that several groups of genes in humans and dogs develop in parallel, associated with diet, digestion, neurology, and disease.

5. Dogs sweat on their paws.

On hot summer days, dogs regularly open their mouths and breathe heavily to cool off. The only sweat glands they have are in the paws.

6. Dogs dream just like humans.

Dogs have dreams just like humans. Wait just 20 minutes after your dog has fallen asleep and you will see their eyes move over the centuries.

7. Three dogs survived the Titanic.

The Titanic had excellent conditions for dogs on board and was considered very comfortable. Of the twelve dogs that boarded the Titanic, only three survived - a Pekingese and two Pomeranians.

8. Dog bad breath can be a sign of poor health.

Called "halitosis," a dog's foul odor can be the result of periodontal disease, diabetes, breathing problems, gastrointestinal illness, or something else.

9. The dog's nose is unique.

Like our own fingerprints, a dog's nose lines are unique and can identify individual dogs from each other.

10. The skewer was once part of every kitchen in Britain.

This dog is designed to run in a wheel, the rotation of which is transmitted to a spit.

11. Dogs can predict storms.

Able to sense barometric pressure differentials and shifts in static electric fields, dogs have a keen sense of when a storm is approaching. Dogs can also hear thunder sounds before we hear them.

12. Moscow stray dogs know how to navigate the metro system.

Of the 35,000 stray dogs that regularly roam Moscow, there are rare individuals who have figured out how to navigate Moscow's complex metro system.

13. A dog's whiskers help them see in the dark.

Highly sensitive to subtle changes in air currents, the dog's whiskers act as information receptors, receiving information about the height, shape, and speed of nearby objects. This ability allows them to "see" in the dark.

14. Dogs sniffing the backs of other dogs is their version of a handshake.

Dogs have anal glands that release chemicals that provide information for other dogs. With their incredible noses, they can determine a dog's gender, diet, health, and even status.

15. Puppies are born both blind and deaf.

When puppies are born, both eyes and ear canals are closed. Both of their eyes and ears are still developing during this fragile time and do not open until fully developed.

16. Dogs are as smart as a two-year-old.

According to Live Science, based on a language proficiency test, dogs have the intelligence of a two-year-old. Most dogs can know up to 165 words, which is like a two-year-old. Some of the smarter dog breeds can learn 250 words.