Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/never-knew-about-dogs/

Did you know…

1. The average body temperature for dogs and cats is 101.0 and 102.5°F, respectively. For humans, it’s only 98.6.

2. Dogs have three eyelids plus a special membrane called the tapetum lucidum. The latter gives them better night vision than humans.

3. Adult dogs have 42 teeth as opposed to humans, who only have 32.

4. Puppies are born blind, deaf, and toothless. They have heat sensors in their noses so they can find their mothers to nurse and stay warm while their eyes and ears are still closed.

5. While growing, puppies generally sleep 18-20 hours per day and reach 50 percent of their eventual body weight in their first 4-5 months of life. They typically stop growing between 12 and 24 months.

6. All puppies are born with blue(ish) eyes because the eye pigment melanin has yet to develop fully.

7. Reportedly, 80 percent of all dogs are diagnosed with arthritis by age 8.

8. The fastest dog breed in the canine world, greyhounds can run up to 45 mph, followed by Hungarian Vizslas, which can reach speeds of up to 40mph.

9. Similar to universal blood type O Negative in humans, dogs have a canine universal blood type known as DEA1.1 Negative.

10. Approximately 70 percent of greyhounds have the universal canine blood type, and they typically have a higher red blood cell count than other breeds, making them ideal blood donors.

11. Dogs have twice as many muscles in their ears as humans, and dogs with erect ears hear better than dogs with droopy ears.

12. The Schipperke breed from Belgium is only born with a coat of jet black.

13. One of the oldest breeds recorded, Bergamasco sheepdogs, originated in Iran 7,000 years ago but were later developed in Italy by shepherds to protect their flocks.

14. The Father of . . . Dog Licenses? Thomas Jefferson is credited with introducing the idea of dog licensing. He thought all dogs should wear collars with their owners’ names so everyone would know who to blame if a dog misbehaved.

15. In 1893, the Boston terrier, originating in Boston, MA, was recognized by the AKC as the first American-bred dog.

16. Just like human babies, Chihuahuas are born with a soft spot on their skull which closes with age.

17. Considered one of the rarest dog breeds in North America, the Norwegian Lundehund has six toes (four forward-facing and two inward-facing) and can not only wiggle their ears but open and close them. Extremely flexible, they can also bend their head backward until it touches their back.

18. The coat of a Portuguese water dog is actually hair, not fur, and grows continuously, just like human hair.

19. There was a 108 percent increase in overweight or obese dogs between 2011 & 2020.

20. According to Stanford University, more Americans are killed each year by farm animals such as cows and horses, followed by hornets, bees, and wasps, than by dogs. Read about it here.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog