8 Interesting Dog Facts

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Toothy Grin

Dogs have more teeth than humans. Canines have 42 teeth—10 more than humans do.

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In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

Don’t let their lamb-like appearance and demeanor fool you—Bedlingtons spent most of the 1800s doing dirty—and sometimes deadly—work, notes the AKC. Named for the Northumberland mining shire where the breed originated, Bedlingtons were coal mine ratters, varmint killers, and pit fighters. Used by the Romani people as a poaching partner, this terrier got the nickname “Gypsy Dog.”

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A Soft Spot for Chihuahuas

Like babies, Chihuahuas have a delicate, soft area on the skull called a fontanelle—except with Chihuahuas, the fontanelle is persistent, thanks to genetics and their round skull-shape. In fact, open fontanelles in Chihuahuas are referred to as “moleras” and are considered a part of the breed standard, along with the classic dome-shaped head.

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Spot On Scenting

A Bloodhound’s sense of smell is so reliable that a trained Bloodhound’s tracking evidence is legally admissible in some U.S. courts. Bloodhounds can follow scents for up to 130 miles and can detect smells that are 300 hours old.

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The Low Down on Bassets

The name Basset—as in Basset Hound—is derived from the French word bas and translates to ‘rather low.’ Bassets are friendly, patient, playful, and low-key, generally tolerating children and other pets. This low-to-the-ground breed is known for its excellent sense of smell. Their signature trailing ears, which, along with the Bloodhound are the longest of any breed, help trap the scent of what they are tracking.

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Dog Days

The term “dog days” doesn’t actually have anything to do with dogs. The phrase dates to Roman times, when it was thought that Sirius, the Dog Star, added to the sun’s heat from July 3 to August 11, creating particularly high temperatures.

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The Better to Hear You With

Dogs have 18 muscles in their ears, whereas humans only have six, enabling them to rotate, tilt, raise and lower their ears. They can even move each ear independently of the other, allowing them to hear different sounds with each ear.

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Greyhound vs Cheetah

Although cheetahs are the fastest land mammal—these exceptional sprinters have been clocked at 65 mph and can reach speeds of 60 mph in just three seconds—they can maintain such speeds for only short distances. This means the Greyhound would win in a long-distance race. These speedy, aerodynamic sighthounds can maintain an average speed of 35 mph for approximately seven miles.

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Dog magazine. Subscribe today!