67 Dogs Who Left Their Owners Wondering What Exactly Was Going On In Their Heads (New Pics)

Even though folks seem divided by the endless debate over cats versus dogs, many people simply can’t resist having a canine pet. According to research by the World Population Review, about 30% of homes globally have a dog, and the United States leads the world with 90 million pet dogs. 

The most popular breed seems to be the Labrador, and in places like China, folks tend to have Pekingese, Chow Chow, Shar Pei, and Tibetan Mastiffs. In Argentina, even though they have only 10 million canines, the Dogo Argentino is their national dog, known for its strength and protective nature.

All the pups on this list seem pretty goofy and awkward, but research shows the average dog has intelligence similar to that of a 2-year-old child. WebMD explains that canines have been observed to understand 100-200 words, which is why they respond to verbal commands and seem to listen to their owner.

Some dogs understand words better, while others respond to their human’s voice and body language. That’s why experts have also found that these pups might react with excitement to nonsense words that are said in the same tone as their familiar commands, and may stay still if the body language or sound doesn’t match.

Just like humans are right- or left-handed, dogs also tend to favor one paw, and a study on food retrieval gave researchers better insight into how canines reached for their treats. According to Purina, 74% of pups showed a clear preference for one paw over the other, while 26% used both legs equally. 

Unlike humans, who mainly use their dominant hands to complete tasks, dogs seem a bit more relaxed. They may use one paw more than the other, but this can also change depending on what they are doing. So, next time you want to figure out whether your canine is a righty or lefty, watch closely which leg they use most.

One kind of dog in Africa, called the Basenji, doesn’t bark like its siblings; it yodels instead. Their unique sound is often described as a mix between a whine, chortle, and howl with a lot of expressiveness and variability. Basenjis also communicate with each other through body language and facial expressions, in addition to yodeling.

This interesting sound is said to occur because the shape of their larynx limits their ability to produce the rapid vibration needed to bark. This distinct anatomy doesn’t affect their health or lifespan, and it shows that dogs can communicate in many ways we aren't used to hearing.

We’ve all seen videos of dogs helping someone in trouble or being brave in dire situations, but research shows that canines engage in selfless acts of kindness. This was observed when dogs gave to one another after noticing a group member needed help. 

This helpful behavior seemed to be more pronounced between canines who were familiar with one another. This kindness might show up because, before domestication, dogs relied on other pack members, and helping each other with resources was the best way to survive. 

Anyone who has a dog as a pet knows how expressive they are, and one of their most agile features is their ears. According to the PSDA vet charity, canines have 18 muscles in their ears that help them hear sounds from many directions, allowing them to stay alert and be prepared for anything.

Their ears also signal how they feel, helping them communicate with humans and other dogs. When this muscle seems to be perked up, it signals that they might be paying attention to something. If their ears are flattened against their head, it could signal anxiety or submissiveness. One up and one down can also show curiosity, or that they are paying attention to multiple noises at once.

Even though pups have an incredible ability to hear sounds compared to humans, their sense of taste isn’t as strong. According to Reader’s Digest, canines have 1,700 taste buds while humans have roughly 9,000, making their sense of taste about one-sixth as powerful as ours.

Dogs can definitely taste sweet, sour, bitter, and salty foods, but they have a heightened sense of smell, and their ability to smell and taste is closely intertwined. That’s also probably why canines are drawn to aromatic foods with strong odors, like kibble.

Every pet parent wants to make sure that their furry friend will be taken care of for life and never have to worry about a thing. That’s probably why so many rich dogs sit on massive fortunes around the world. One of the wealthiest is Gunther VI, who is a German Shepherd with a net worth of $500 million. This wealth was inherited from the late German countess Karlotta Liebenstein and has been used for the welfare of her dogs.

Oprah Winfrey’s dogs will inherit $30 million when she passes, and Leona Helmsley’s dog received $12 million after the businesswoman disinherited her human children, though a judge reduced the fortune to $2 million.

There’s certainly something special about dogs, because no matter what they do, their antics never fail to bring a smile to our faces. The canines in this list did their best to show their wild side, so hopefully that impressed you enough to try some of these poses and behaviors yourself.

Which of these dog photos did you like the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and add any awesome pet pictures you have, too.