As dog owners we all know that our dogs are clever, able to read our body language expertly and are affectionate social creatures, but you may be amazed to discover just how interesting your dog really is. We still have a lot to discover about this amazing species but here are a few tasters to get you thinking about your clever canine!
- It is a myth that dogs are colour blind. Dogs actually see colours that are less vibrant like green, greeny yellow, blue and grey.
- A dog has 220 million smell detecting cells (humans have about 5 million) To put into context just how amazing a dog’s sense of smell is, we can detect a spoonful of sugar in our tea while a dog can detect a teaspoon of sugar diluted in a million gallons of water (two Olympic size swimming pools!)
- A dog’s nostrils can move independently of one another. This helps them determine which direction a scent or odour is coming from.
- They also have a vomeronasal organ that sits above the roof of the dog’s mouth. This helps the dog detect chemical odours and pheromones.
- Dogs are as intelligent as a two year old. Dogs can comprehend about 250 words and count up to 5.
- At age 1 a dog has roughly the same level of physical development as a 15 year old human.
- A dog’s sense of hearing can reach four times the distance of humans.
- Dogs have taste buds that are tuned for water. The buds are found at the end of the dogs tongue. Humans do not have this.
- Dogs can hear higher frequencies than we can. They can hear a range between 47,000 and 65,000 Hz (humans 16,000 Hz) So think about their sensitive ears when you are vacuuming, using the lawn mower or power tools.
- Dogs are diurnal; asleep when we are and awake when we are.
Compiled by Tracey Prall of Canine Connections Dog Training
www.canineconnections.co.uk
07735401076
