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Dogs are, perhaps, the most beloved animal in this world. Their key characteristics of loyalty and friendliness have long defined them as the perfect companion for humans and countless of funny videos, pictures, and art are there to back up that claim. However, there's definitely more to them than just the title of a 'man's best friend' and there are some things out there that you might not be aware of. That's why we dug around and compiled some interesting facts about this canine species for your interest (and entertainment). So scroll down below and see for yourself if any of the facts listed were previously unknown to you. Oh, and don't forget to comment and vote on the most interesting ones!

#1

There Are Vending Machines For Dogs

There Are Vending Machines For Dogs

There are vending machines in Istanbul that dispense food and water for stray dogs. The price? An empty recyclable bottle.

boredpanda , Pugedon Report

#2

Shelter Dogs Served As ‘Ball Boys’ At Brazil Tennis Open To Bring Awareness To Brazil's Street Animals And Promote Their Adoption

Shelter Dogs Served As ‘Ball Boys’ At Brazil Tennis Open To Bring Awareness To Brazil's Street Animals And Promote Their Adoption

AP Report

#3

Cheetahs Are Nervous Animals, So Zoos Give Them Their Own Emotional Support Dogs

Cheetahs Are Nervous Animals, So Zoos Give Them Their Own Emotional Support Dogs

While cheetahs might be quite the big cats and the fastest animal on the Earth to add to that, actually, they are very sensitive beings. They get so anxious; they don’t know how to socialize with each other and get too stressed to procreate. Seeing that cheetahs need some assistance, for years now zookeepers have been assigning these animals their very own emotional support dogs. “When you pair cheetah cub with a guide dog, the cat looks to the dog for cues and learns to model their behavior. It’s about getting them to read that calm, happy-go-lucky vibe from the dog” explains Janet Rose-Hinostroza, animal training supervisor at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

Columbus Zoo Report

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Andres Tejeda
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is cute, I have seen at the San Diego they usually like to walk the Cheetahs and dogs together.

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#4

FBI Tracks Animal Abusers

FBI Tracks Animal Abusers

The FBI believes that animal abuse is a serious enough crime to be tracked right along with homicide, arson, and assault. National UCR Program of 2015 stated the FBI's planned to collect data on animal cruelty: "Beginning January 1, 2016, the national UCR Program will add the offense of Animal Cruelty to the NIBRS as a Group A offense and as a Crime Against Society".

FuN_Lucky , FBI Report

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Thomas. C
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I HATE ANIMAL ABUSERS I JUST WANT TO FIND THEM AND LOCK THEM UP FOREVER AND TAKE THE DOG OR ANY OTHER ANIMAL AND TAKE CARE OF IT AND DO ANYTHING FOR IT

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#5

A Dog Once Accidentally Finished A Half-Marathon And Finished In 7th Place

A Dog Once Accidentally Finished A Half-Marathon And Finished In 7th Place

A bloodhound went outside to pee, accidentally joined a half marathon, and ended up in the 7th place. Ludivine was let outside by his owners for a doggy break when he saw people running by, decided to sneak out the fence and join in on the fun. The event led the marathon organizers to change its name to "Elkmont's Hound Dog Half" and they put Ludivine on their logo.

Elkmont's Hound Dog Half Report

#6

Chaser The Border Collie Had The Largest Tested Memory Of Any Non-Human Animal

Chaser The Border Collie Had The Largest Tested Memory Of Any Non-Human Animal

According to Wikipedia, "Chaser could identify and retrieve 1,022 toys by name, which was the foundation for her vocabulary. She began to understand that objects have names at five months of age." The dog could also recognize common nouns such as house, tree and ball, as well as adverbs, verbs and prepositional objects.

Pilleybianchi Report

#7

There Is An Island Where Dogs Guard A Colony Of Tiny Penguins

There Is An Island Where Dogs Guard A Colony Of Tiny Penguins

There's an island off the coast of Australia where a pair of Maremma Guardian dogs guard a colony of tiny penguins after they were almost wiped out by foxes. The 'Little Penguin' colony was nearly extinct until 2006, when trained dogs were put on the island to protect them. There's a movie based on the story called "Oddball". The synopsis of the film reads: "Oddball" is the heart-warming true story about an eccentric chicken farmer (Shane Jacobson) who, with the help of his granddaughter, trains his mischievous dog to protect a wild penguin sanctuary from fox attacks and in the process tries to reunite his family and save their seaside town."

warrnambool , oddball Report

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#8

Sergeant Stubby Is The Most Decorated War Dog Of WWI, And The Only Dog To Be Nominated For Rank And Then Promoted To Sergeant Through Combat

Sergeant Stubby Is The Most Decorated War Dog Of WWI, And The Only Dog To Be Nominated For Rank And Then Promoted To Sergeant Through Combat

He served for 18 months and participated in seventeen battles on the Western Front. He saved his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, found and comforted the wounded, and once caught a German soldier by the seat of his pants, holding him there until American soldiers found him. Sgt. Stubby is the subject of an animated film, Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero.

wiki Report

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glowworm2
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sgt Stubby was a badass! I'm just laughing picturing this brave little soldier biting the German soldier's butt!

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#9

There's A Festival In Nepal And India Where Humans Thank Dogs For Their Loyalty And Friendship

There's A Festival In Nepal And India Where Humans Thank Dogs For Their Loyalty And Friendship

Tihar also known as Deepawali and Yamapanchak, is a festival celebrated in Nepal and some parts of India. It last five days and each day has its name and festivities. Second day of the festival is called Kukur Tihar and celebrates dogs all over the country. People offer garlands, tika and delicious food to dogs and acknowledge the cherished relationship between humans and dogs.

Animal People Forum , wiki Report

#10

In 2017, A Black Lab Got His Photo In A School Yearbook For Helping His Owner Regulate Blood Sugar Levels

In 2017, A Black Lab Got His Photo In A School Yearbook For Helping His Owner Regulate Blood Sugar Levels

A black Labrador named Alpha was put next to his owner A.J. in a yearbook for helping his human out. A.J. has Type 1 diabetes and Alpha helps to monitor his blood sugar levels.

dianalbloom Report

#11

In Welsh Folklore, Corgis Were The Preferred Method Of Transportation For Fairies

In Welsh Folklore, Corgis Were The Preferred Method Of Transportation For Fairies

According to a Welsh legend, woodland fairies gifted this breed to the humankind and that the breed's markings were left on its coat by fairy harnesses and saddles.

Michel_van_der_Vegt , wiki Report

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#12

When Police Dogs Retire In Some Countries They May Have The Chance To Receive A Pension Plan For Their Contribution

When Police Dogs Retire In Some Countries They May Have The Chance To Receive A Pension Plan For Their Contribution

English police forces even set up a retirement plan for dogs. According to Wikipedia, "police dogs in Nottinghamshire, England, now have the opportunity to retire with a form of security since their government forces now offer $805 over the span of three years to cover any additional medical costs". Not only do they now receive a pension plan but they also get to retire and reside with their original handler.

fantareis , wiki Report

#13

Dogs Love The High-Pitched "Baby Talk" Some People Do When Interacting With Them

Dogs Love The High-Pitched "Baby Talk" Some People Do When Interacting With Them

A research revealed that dogs like the silly, high-pitched "baby talk" human do when interacting with them. The study conducted at the University of York showed that dogs favored speakers with a high-pitched manner than those who talked in a normal adult voice.

goodfreephotos , bbc Report

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Carol Emory
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew this from watching "Amanda to the Rescue." Every time she speaks this way to the dogs, they seem to melt in her hands and get all excited. Even frightened dogs seem to calm at the sound of her voice.

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#14

When Playing With Female Puppies, Male Puppies Will Often Let Them Win

When Playing With Female Puppies, Male Puppies Will Often Let Them Win

Puppies exhibit behavior that's been previously recorded in some other species too, like red-necked wallabies, squirrel monkeys, hamadryas baboons and even humans. Researcher Camille Ward and her team collected data showing that male puppies tend to let female puppies win and speculated that they do so in order to not discourage female puppies to play with them in the future as female puppies tend to choose other females as playmates.

Counselling , nbcnews Report

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#15

There Is A Terrioty In Costa Rica Called Territorio De Zaguates That Is A Huge No-Kill Dog Shelter

There Is A Terrioty In Costa Rica Called Territorio De Zaguates That Is A Huge No-Kill Dog Shelter

Territorio De Zaguates (Land of the Strays) is home to over 1.300 wagging tails. Their belief is that every dog deserves a chance at life and their mission is to either find home for the pooches or provide them a safe sanctuary. The shelter used to let visitors wander the fields with dogs for free, but has since closed for renovations and plan to open for public in the upcoming year.

territoriodezaguates Report

#16

Some Australian Shepherds Try To Herd Small Children Out Of Instinct

Some Australian Shepherds Try To Herd Small Children Out Of Instinct

Untrained Aussies may nip at the feet and heels of small children, like they would with sheep, but this is usually out of boredom or lack of boundaries set by their owners.

Ted Van Pelt , wiki Report

#17

Dogs Have The Biggest Heart Relative To Their Body

Dogs Have The Biggest Heart Relative To Their Body

Even though the largest heart in the animal kingdom belongs to Blue Whale (one weighed in 2014 was 440 pounds (199.5 kilograms)), the biggest heart-to-body-weigh ratio was recorded with no other than the good boys (and gals)!

Manoela Padilha , ncsu Report

#18

Ancient Greeks And Romans Mourned And Buried Their Dogs

Ancient Greeks And Romans Mourned And Buried Their Dogs

According to "Mourning Animals– Rituals and Practices Surrounding Animal Death" book, people of the Ancient world sometimes buried their dogs with gravestones that survived the upcoming centuries. One of the surviving epitaphs reads:"I am in tears, while carrying you to your last resting place as much as I rejoiced when bringing you home in my own hands fifteen years ago."

Margo DeMello Report

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HoffLensMetalHedLovesAnimalsUK
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So they should, the darkest times of my life has been losing my dogs, my wife gets just as sad but she carries on, i just go into a depressed stink for about a week or two, never get over the loss just get used to it as time goes on. And the epitaph is heartbreaking.

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#19

There's A Prison Program That Allows Inmates To Train Service Dogs

There's A Prison Program That Allows Inmates To Train Service Dogs

There is a program that makes prison inmates responsible for training and raising seeing-eye dogs. Many of the inmates reported that they felt like they were making amends for their past actions by working with the puppies. NEADS has a "Prison PUP Program" and its information page says: "90-95% of NEADS puppies are trained in 7 correctional facilities throughout New England. Our statistics show that, under the guidance of NEADS staff, inmates are able to provide consistent training at a high level simply because of the amount of time they are able to devote to the dogs. This enables us to place dogs faster with people in need."

My Photo Journeys , neads Report

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Carol Emory
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have talked about wanting to expand this program to other prisons. The dogs actually live with the inmates 24/7. The program not only helps the prisoners make amends, it gives them a purpose and skill to use beyond their incarceration, it cuts down on prison violence and it boosts the moral of both prisoners and prison staff. It gives them something to be proud of. Our family is talking about expanding the program to have physically and mentally disabled adults also train animals.

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#20

Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Never Scratch, Paw Or Bark At The Luggage When They Detect Explosive Materials

Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Never Scratch, Paw Or Bark At The Luggage When They Detect Explosive Materials

All bomb-sniffing dogs are trained to calmly stop and sit down when they detect the scent of explosive materials.

Marianne O'Leary , smithsonianmag Report

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Tami Bridges
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had the privilege to watch some training of explosives-sniffing dogs, and it is something to see. They are 100% into their job, not distracted by anything around them. Once they find what they're supposed to and sit quietly to signal, they get a particular toy and go from soldier to puppy instantly.

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#21

Dog Brains Link The Smell Of Their Owners With Pleasure

Dog Brains Link The Smell Of Their Owners With Pleasure

According to Gregory Berns, a neuroeconomist at Emory University in Atlanta who led a study on brain-imaging, dogs respond to their owner's scent in a similar way humans do to their loved one's perfume. The research team ran MRI scans on 12 dogs while exposing them to five scents on gauze pads: a familiar human, an unfamiliar human, a dog that lived in their household, an unfamiliar dog, and their own scent. The research found out that dogs’ caudate nucleus, an area of the brain associated with positive expectations, was most activated by the scent of the familiar person.

Bennilover , nationalgeographic Report

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Night Owl
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably works the other way around too but the smells would need to be a bit stronger because human sense of smell isn't that good

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#22

The Dogs React To Humans Crying The Same Way They Do To A Dog Whining

The Dogs React To Humans Crying The Same Way They Do To A Dog Whining

Annika Huber of the University of Vienna's Clever Dog Lab and her colleagues conducted an experiment that observed a number of dogs reacting to various sounds. Dogs showed to be responding more to emotional sounds (dogs whining, people laughing or crying) than neutral sounds (birds chirping, water running). They also appeared to react more to negative emotions than positive and the reactions were identical when exposed to humans crying and dogs whining. The researchers explained that it's likely an evolutionary reaction. "If an animal is displaying negative emotions because it's in a dangerous situation, it would be wise for nearby animals to pick up on those feelings."

Eddie~S , discovermagazine Report

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Carol Emory
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Animals, including cats, also pick up on pain. My neighbors cat could always sense when my neighbors hip was hurting her. The neighbor would be laying on the couch with her bad hip up and the cat would climb up and lay on her hip, acting like a little heating pad. She said the cat would start purring too. After about 30 minutes, her hip would be feeling better. Go figure.

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#23

Dogs Who Have Negative Experiences Tend To Lie Awake At Night Worrying

Dogs Who Have Negative Experiences Tend To Lie Awake At Night Worrying

A study published by The Royal Society scientific journal found that dogs, quite like humans, have trouble sleeping when they've had negative experiences beforehand. The research studied dogs' sleeping patterns after they were subjected to different positive (being called a good boy, getting head scratches) and negative (being approached by a stranger) treatments. The study showed that dogs had difficulty sleeping and were prone to tossing and turning while asleep after having experienced negative treatment.

Bennilover , royalsocietypublishing Report

#24

Dogs That Are Elderly, Small Or Short-Haired Actually Need Sweater For Cold Temperatures

Dogs That Are Elderly, Small Or Short-Haired Actually Need Sweater For Cold Temperatures

PetMD suggests that dogs that were not genetically "designed" for colder temperatures, as well as older dogs and dogs with weaker immune systems do need a sweater, especially dogs that have to go outside.

funkblast , petmd Report

#25

Dogs Can And Will Use Deception To Get A Tasty Treat

Dogs Can And Will Use Deception To Get A Tasty Treat

Since it's quite well known that dogs are capable of recognizing emotions, one has to ask if they're also capable of manipulating them. Well, one research shows that dogs can definitely be sneaky and are capable of using deceptive tactics to get their favorite treats. Led by Marianne Heberlein of the Department of Evolutionary Biology and Experimental Studies at the University of Zürich, the study paired 27 dogs with two different partners. Some would hand dogs treats while others would show a tasty snack, but it in the pocket. Naturally, dogs preferred the generous partners and would start to approach them spontaneously. Researches crafted a more elaborate system to see if dogs would try to get a tasty snack and a higher reward by playing the system. And it turns out that, yeah, they would!

livingdeadgirl , smithsonianmag Report

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Carol Emory
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've actually seen three dogs working like a trained Navy Seal team..two of them created a diversion (yowling and barking at non-existent intruders) while the other snuck in and stole the sandwiches left on plates by humans that went to investigate the ruckus...sneaky buggers.

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#26

There Have Been Numerous Cases Of Dogs Shooting Their Owners In America

There Have Been Numerous Cases Of Dogs Shooting Their Owners In America

Although dogs, obviously, have no knowledge on how to operate a firearm and don't intentionally use them, they occasionally do end up pulling a trigger on a loaded weapon. Between 2004 and 2015 there had been more than 10 cases of dogs shooting a person reported in the USA. They were most often hunting accidents, however with the country where firearms are so widely owned it's no surprise such accidents occur outside of the hunting grounds. The dog-on-owner shootings rarely end up with fatalities, however it's not the case with one Texas hunter who, in 2008, took a shotgun blast to the thigh after his dog jumped on the gun in the bed of his truck. The man later died of blood loss, unfortunately.

Staff Sgt. Christopher Sofia , Christopher Ingraham Report

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El Dee
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your country has more cases of dogs shooting people than mine has of people shooting people

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#27

According To Facebook Data, Dog People Have More Friends While Cat People Get Invited To More Events

According To Facebook Data, Dog People Have More Friends While Cat People Get Invited To More Events

According to data collected by Facebook, "on average, dog people have 26 more Facebook friends than cat people". However, cat people, while having less friends, are more likely to be invited to various events, meaning that they're putting those friendships to good use. Unsurprisingly, cat people tend to be friends with other cat people and dog people with other dog people.

Francesco Doglio , Facebook Report

#28

Before Laika Was Launched To Space, One Of The Scientists Took Her Home To Play With His Children

Before Laika Was Launched To Space, One Of The Scientists Took Her Home To Play With His Children

Laika was the first animal to orbit the Earth and while her achievement might be extraordinary, her story was tragic. Soviets, preparing to launch Sputnik 2 knew very well that Laika's trip was going to be one-way. Despite many accepting her sacrifice for science as worthy, some had their reservations. In a book chronicling the story of Soviet space medicine, Dr. Vladimir Yazdovsky wrote, "Laika was quiet and charming ... I wanted to do something nice for her: She had so little time left to live." He took the dog home before the launch so she could play with his children. Also, one of the technicians who was preparing Laika's capsule for final liftoff stated that "after placing Laika in the container and before closing the hatch, we kissed her nose and wished her bon voyage, knowing that she would not survive the flight."

wiki Report

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#29

In 2014, An Estimated 2.8 Million Dogs In America Were On An Antidepressant Drug Like Prozac

In 2014, An Estimated 2.8 Million Dogs In America Were On An Antidepressant Drug Like Prozac

According to the National Pet Owners Survey of the American Pet Products Association, an estimated 2.8 million dog owners give their dogs calming and anxiety medicines like Prozac each year. The medicine could be given for a number of reasons, starting from separation anxiety and ending with increased aggressiveness to mellow them out.

Matt Phillips , abcnews Report

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Chris Jones
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a very anxious dog, a rescue, and we manage it by minimising the situations that cause him anxiety. It is quite a lot of work at times but he is absolutely worth it.

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#30

In Bronze Age, Boys Killed Pets To Become Warriors In Early Russia

In Bronze Age, Boys Killed Pets To Become Warriors In Early Russia

Archaeologists Dorcas Brown and David Anthony were excavating the Bronze Age site of Krasnosamarkskoe in Russia's Volga region when they unearthed the bones of at least 51 dogs and 7 wolves. At first puzzled, they soon investigated and found out that "all the animals had died during the winter months, judging from the telltale banding pattern on their teeth, and all were subsequently skinned, dismembered, burned, and chopped with an ax". Following the clues, as well as combining knowledge about culture and mythology they soon pieced together a possible explanation. The dogs were killed by their own boy owners, as part of a ritual to become warriors. Grim, isn't it?

Denish C , nationalgeographic Report