International Dog Day 2023 | Quiz-Time!

Here are some interesting facts about the symbol of loyalty – our best friend:

• In the dark, dogs use their whiskers to pick up subtle changes in the air currents. This gives them a better understanding of the environment and helps them “see” better in the dark.
• A dog’s nose is always wet because they help in absorbing certain scents. Furthermore, a dog will lick the nose to taste the scent.
• The urine of a dog is acidic enough to corrode even metal.
• A dog can sense the earth’s magnetic field. It’s a big reason they’re so effective at finding their way home.
• The dog’s nose print is so unique and detailed that it can be used to identify specific dogs. It’s like our fingerprint.
• Dogs are capable of sensing drops in barometric pressure and shifts in static electricity field, which allows them to spot an approaching storm.

• The average dog can run at the speed of 19 miles per hour.
• A dog is able to locate the source of a sound in 6/100th of a second.
• Depending on the breed, a dog’s sense of smell is 1,000 to 10 million times better than a human.
• On average, a one-year-old puppy is as physically mature as an adolescent teen. However, large dogs age faster than small dogs.
• The normal temperature of a dog is between 101- and 102.5-degrees Fahrenheit, which would be “fever temperature” for humans.

• Dogs and humans release the same “love hormone,” called oxytocin. It explains why we develop such strong bonds with our canine friends.
• Like humans, dogs show Rapid Eye Movement (REM) in their sleep and can experiences dreams too.
• Amazingly, dogs have twice as many ear muscles as humans and can hear four times better too.
• While humans have two eyelids, dogs have three. The “nictitating membrane,” often called the “haw,” helps keep the dog’s eyes lubricated.
• Dogs and humans have similarly structured brains.
• Wagging the tail doesn’t always mean “happy.” For example, dogs will wag their tails to the right when happy, to the left when scared and wag it low when insecure.
• Dogs like to curl up because of inherent instincts to protect their vital organs and keep warm while asleep.

• It’s a lot easier training a puppy if there’s an older dog in the house.
• Male dogs raise their legs when urinating because they want to leave their mark as high as possible. This gives the impression that they are tall, thus intimidating.
• The first animal to orbit the earth was a dog named Laika. She was a stray dog from the streets of Moscow and assigned to be part of the Sputnik 2 spacecraft that launched in 1957.
• An Australian Kelpie Dog named Maggie set the record for longest living dog, reaching an age of 30 years old. For reference, she was 200 years old in human years.
• All dog breeds have pink tongues except for two Chinese dog breeds: the Shar-Pei and Chow Chow. Both of which, have black tongues.
• A group of three or more pugs is called a “grumble.” The term originated from Holland, of all places.
• The Tibetan Spaniels are the premier choice of watchdogs for Buddhist monks. They sit high on top of monastery walls and bark at the sign of intruders.

• A Great Dane diffused a bomb by urinating on it. Apparently, he was awarded with two Blue Cross Medals for his heroic act.
• A Standard Schnauzer named George made international headlines for being the first trained dog to sniff out cancer in humans.
• Amazingly, the Rottweiler has a bite force of 328 pounds, which is more than a Pit Bull or German Shepherd’s. It’s about half the force of a shark bite.
• The world-renowned classical musician, Wolfgang Mozart, dedicated an aria to his pet Pomeranian, named Pimperl.
• The “French Poodle” isn’t actually French. Rather, they originated from Germany.
• Some dogs don’t like to bark, but the Basenji dog can’t. Instead, they yodel.
• The Fastest dog breed in the world is the Greyhound. They can achieve speeds up to 45 mph.
• The most successful search and rescue dog was Barry, the St. Bernard. He single-handedly saved 40 people’s lives in the early 1800’s.
• A Norwegian Lundehund has six toes on each paw. In fact, they are the only dogs to have this unique physical characteristic.
• Known for their black spots, Dalmatians are actually born with a pure-white coat. Through time, they develop the black spots.