Today we will be looking at the first species to be domesticated. Yes. Dogs. I am feeling immense pleasure to share the interesting things about the most loved and cherished household animal around the world.

1. A dog is an honest animal. Not just from the internet but also from personal experience. And because of the same reason, it is used for guarding, hunting, crime detection and companionship.
2. Dogs can live for 10-13 years.
3. Based on colour, height, and posture dogs have been categorized into about 400 breeds. The weight of these different breeds of dogs ranges from 600 grams to even 100 kg, while the height ranges from 8 inches to 4 feet.
4. A dog helps reduce mental stress. There is this pet therapy in the market these days that uses animals as a way to help people cope with and recover from physical and mental health issues. Trained dogs used in such therapy are called ‘therapy dogs’.
5. A wolf’s size and set of teeth are similar to that of a dog. And, based on these facts it is believed that the dogs originated from the wolves.
6. Dogs generally have brown eyes and dogs are almost always amber in color. The skin of domestic dogs is thicker than that of wolves. A dog’s paws are half the size of a wolf’s, and its tail is bent upwards. These are the only wolf-like features found in dogs.
7. The dog has been with man since ancient times. A dog must have lived in close proximity to a man for food.
8. The references to the honesty of dogs can be seen in historical or religious documents. There are mentions of dogs in Vedic literature. In the Mahabharata, King Yudhishthira had a dog with him when he ascended to heaven.
9. Keeping dogs as pets has a long history. Archaeologists found the remains of an elderly human and a four-to-five-month-old puppy buried together during excavations in Israel. Initially, dogs were kept as pets to protect the house. But gradually with time, dogs became a part of human life and family.
10. The dog’s skeleton is well adapted for running. All healthy dogs, regardless of their size and type, have identical skeletal structures. There are some exceptions in the number of bones in the tail. Significant variations can be found between dogs of different types.
11. The 1999, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) study suggests that the domestic dog may have originated from the grey wolf.

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12. Do dogs smile?

Most experts agree dogs smile in response to the human smile. Dogs seem to smile more when relaxing, playing, feeling content or greeting someone they know.

Source: Do Dogs Smile? What’s Really Behind That Adorable Smile? – Canine Campus Dog Daycare & Boarding

13. Can dogs sense evil?

They also have a superb knack for sensing things such as illness, emotions, and goodness or evilness. Many dogs show their ability to sense good or evil when they meet a new person.

Source: Can Dogs Sense Good and Evil? – Wag!

14. Do dogs like music?

Dogs do enjoy music. And not only do they enjoy it, but they also have musical preferences unique to their own personalities! Many people that play music for their pups notice changes in their behaviour, which leads us to make assumptions about their feelings towards the music.

Source: Do Dogs Like Music? And What Type Of Music Is Best For Dogs?

15. Why do dogs bark at me?

Some dogs bark at people or other animals to gain attention or rewards, like food, toys or play. Your dog might be barking in greeting if he barks when he sees people or other dogs and his body is relaxed, he’s excited and his tail is wagging. Dogs who bark when greeting people or other animals might also whine.

Source: Barking | ASPCA

16. Why do dogs cry when someone dies?

It’s not unusual for dogs to grieve the loss of a person they’ve bonded with who is no longer present. While they might not understand the full extent of human absence, dogs do understand the emotional feeling of missing someone who’s no longer a part of their daily lives.

Source: Do Dogs Grieve the Loss of Their Human Owners?

17. Do dogs like blankets?

Dogs notoriously love their blankets. Whether it’s at home or on the road, it gives them a place to snuggle up and be comfortable.

Source: A Day in the Life – Why Every Dog Needs a Blanket

18. Can my dog tell if I’m depressed?

Previous research has shown that when humans cry, their dogs also feel distressed. Now, the new study finds that dogs not only feel distressed when they see that their owners are sad but will also try to do something to help. The findings were published today (July 24) in the journal Learning and Behavior.

Source: Your Dog Knows When You’re Upset, and Wants to Help | Live Science

19. Which Colours do dogs see best?

Having yellow-blue dichromatic vision means that dogs are most similar to a red-green colour blind person. They are very good at distinguishing between variations of blues and yellows, but cannot really see red and green all that well.

Source: Are Dogs Color Blind?

Popular Dog Breeds

20. Bulldog

21. German Shepherd

22. Labrador Retriever

23. Golden Retriever

24. Poodle

25. Pomeranian