Fun Dog Facts

If you want to find out how much you really know about man's best friend, take a look at these fun dog facts. You'll either find out that you are quite knowledgeable when it comes to canine trivia or you'll learn some new information!

For starters, the popular myth that dogs are color blind isn't accurate. While dogs don't see color to the same extent as humans do, they are able to see colors.

Did you know that dogs have a much higher body temperature than humans?

While a temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit isn't a good sign for a person, it's perfectly normal for a pooch. The normal temperature range for canines is between 100.5 and 102.5 Fahrenheit.

Canines are popular pet choices. More than one out of three households in the United States includes one or more dogs. Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Yorkshire Terriers and German Shepherds are among the most popular breeds.

Dogs have much more powerful senses of smell and hearing than humans. Canines have a sense of hearing that is amplified, hearing approximately ten times beyond that of humans. Their sense of smell is estimated to be 1,000 times greater than that of people.

Canine hearts tend to beat faster than those of their human counterparts. While people typically have heart rates ranging from 70 to 80 beats per minute, dogs' heart rates range between 70 and 120 beats per minute.

Having a canine companion has many benefits. Not only will you have a constant companion who is always happy to see you when you adopt a dog, you may also experience decreased stress levels, lower blood pressure and a longer lifespan than people who don't share their lives with a pup.

Is your dog the smartest in the world? Chances are that he or she is a Border Collie since this breed is widely recognized as the most intelligent canine. Other breeds that top the list include Poodles and Golden Retrievers.

Wondering which dogs are the largest? Irish Wolfhounds and Great Danes are the tallest canines while Saint Bernards are the heaviest. At the other extreme, Chihuahuas are the smallest dog breed.

Want to learn more about dogs? See:

• Dog Health Issues
• Facts About Puppy Mills
• Methods to Stop Barking Dogs
• Top 10 Dangerous Dogs