International Dog Day 2024

International Dog Day, since 2004, aims at  raising awareness about the number of dogs in rescue centres and encourage their adoption,  highlighting the contributions of working dogs, such as those with law enforcement, emergency services, the army, and individuals that may need additional help, like those who are partially sighted or who need extra support., and advocating improved conditions and rights for canines worldwide.

This day is a special celebration of all dogs around the world and the companionship and loyalty that they show to us. Indeed, they are ‘man’s best friend’, and a great opportunity to showcase what these special animals do to keep us safe, guide us, and bring us joy. They have quite remarkable abilities, often sacrificing their own safety to selflessly protect the most vulnerable in our society. They’re not only cute, but extremely useful, and humans and dogs have a long and special relationship that has evolved over thousands of years of cooperation, trust, and kinship.

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 born with a pure-white coat. Through time, they develop the black spots.