You Never Knew

Dogs cannot see the same colors that we do, but they are not colorblind, Encyclopedia Britannica clarifies. They have two color receptors, while humans have three.

If you were to see the world through your dog's eyes, you'd see everything in shades and combinations of blue and yellow.

Back in 2009, per The Mirror, psychologists discovered that dogs are capable of learning the same amount of words and commands as a human toddler—specifically, a two-year-old child.

The average dog can understand about 165 words, while the smartest of the smart can go up to 250. That's a clever canine!

Your dog averts his eyes and adopts a submissive posture after you catch him chewing something he's not supposed to. That means he knows that he's done something wrong and is sorry for it, right?

Dogs' urine contains markers that inform other dogs of its presence, social standing, and sexual availability. Dogs lift their legs as high as they can so they can "distribute their message" better and allow their scent to travel further.

A 2018 study published in the Journal of Zoology found that smaller dogs try to lift their legs even higher so that they seem bigger to other dogs who may be around.

In addition to being able to move in various ways, dogs' ears are also able to detect much higher-frequency sounds than human ears. In fact, dogs can hear sounds that are two times beyond our range—it's actually what makes them such great rescue dogs. And it appears small dogs are even better at it.

Dogs have sweat glands only on their paws, and not anywhere else on their bodies. That little surface area isn't enough to cool them down, however, which is why they ventilate and exchange heat through panting.

Each dog's nose print contains specific patterns to identify them, similar to human fingerprints. And in April 2021, dog food company IAMS launched an app that uses this fact to help reunite lost pups with their owners. After you download NOSEiD, scan your pet's nose and upload it to their database. If they ever escape your yard, any concerned human who finds them can search the app for a match.

Your dog is your best friend, your shadow, your constant companion. Regardless of how close you are, though, there are some facts about your dog that you still don't know. Canines may be incredibly common, but they're still amazing—something you'll surely agree with after reading through this list of fascinating factoids. So when you're ready to learn more about your four-legged life partner, read on.