Fun and Fascinating Dog Facts
Dogs are amazing pets, forever friends, and even excellent workers! Here are some fun dog facts for kids.
Language
The English word dog originated from the Middle English dogge, which came from Old English docga, a “powerful dog breed”.
Origin of Domesticated Dogs
Over the last several thousand years, dogs have gradually become more domesticated into the furry companions we know and love today. We’ve been keeping dogs as pets for about 12,000 years.
Dog Breeds
The American Kennel Club recognizes 192 different dog breeds. Whether you want a tiny Pomeranian or a towering Great Dane, there is a breed and a dog out there for you!
The most popular breed in America is the Labrador Retriever (and has been since the 1990s), for their intelligent yet playful, gentle nature. They make great pets and can serve as a working, therapy or guide dog.
Rounding out the top 3 most popular breeds are the German Shepherd and Golden Retriever.
Anatomy
Dogs are omnivores, and need a well-rounded diet of more than just meat.
Dogs should have an average body temperature of 101.2.Contrary to popular belief, dogs can see color, but not as vividly as humans can. Obesity is the number one health problem in dogs.
Dogs have a sense of smell that’s around anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 times better than a person’s. This excellent sense of smell makes them fantastic at working in airports and other environments, sniffing out illegal products such as bombs or drugs. Their nose print is also one of a kind (like our fingerprints).
They also have an amazing sense of hearing - they can hear sounds at high frequencies that humans can’t, which makes them great guard dogs.
Because the only sweat glands a dog has are between its toes, it’s important to keep your dog cool and hydrated in the summer. Make sure they have plenty of water and shade, and that they stay inside on especially hot days.
Communication
Because dogs can’t talk, they communicate with their humans with different methods such as positioning their bodies a certain way, making facial expressions, baring their teeth, barking, and through scent.
Did you know that dogs wag their tails to the left when they’re scared, and to the right when they’re happy?
Dogs as Pets
People benefit from keeping dogs as pets - it makes us healthier. We live longer, exercise more and have fewer heart attacks and other health problems.
Working Dogs
While dogs bring us many years of joy as pets, many breeds also produce working dogs who are trained to help handicapped people, aid police and track missing persons, join police and military in their work, provide protection, pull loads, hunt, herd, and more.