7 Amazing Dog Facts

Here at Earth Rated, we're huge fans of dogs. Seniors and puppies, big dogs and small dogs, from Dalmatians to Alsatians, Maltese or Pekingese ... we love them all! And if you're reading this post, we're pretty sure you love dogs too. But just how much do you know about our loyal canine companions? Keep reading for 7 amazing dog facts that may just surprise you ... 1) Dogs Only Sweat Through Their Paws Humans have sweat glands all over their bodies, but our furry friends only have them on their paws. The main way we cool down on hot days is by sweating - unlike dogs who use panting to regulate their body temperature. 2) A Dog's Nose Print Is as Unique as a Human Fingerprint You may think all dog noses look the same, but they're actually as unique as a human fingerprint. The creases and indentations in a dog's nose can even be used to identify them! 3) Dogs Have a Supercharged Sense of Smell A dog's sense of smell is WAY more advanced than a human's. In fact, scientists believe it's 10,000 to 100,000 times better! Dogs have between 125 million and 300 million scent glands - compared to only 5 million for humans. 4) There Are 339 Recognized Dog Breeds Yep! You read that right. According to The World Canine Organization, there are 339 dog breeds divided into 10 different groups based on their function or characteristics. 5) Dogs CAN See in Color It's a common misconception that dogs see in black and white. Scientists have discovered that dogs can see in color - just not in the range that we can. Human eyes have 3 'cones' that detect color. Dogs only have 2 cones. This means that humans can identify red, blue, green and yellow. Dogs can only see blue and yellow. 6) Dogs Are as Smart as a 2-Year-Old Child Dogs can understand between 165 and 250 words and gestures - roughly the same as a 2-year-old child! Border collies, poodles, and German shepherds are thought to be the smartest breeds. 7) The Average Adult Dog Has 42 Teeth Adult dogs have a third more teeth than their human counterparts - an average of 42 compared to just 32 in humans. Like human babies, puppies have "baby" teeth that are later replaced by permanent "adult" teeth.