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Research suggests that dogs experience similar sleep patterns to humans, including the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage where dreaming occurs. You may notice your dog twitching, vocalizing, or moving while asleep, indicating they are likely dreaming.
A dog's dreaming frequency varies with size and age. Larger dogs have longer dreams every 60-90 minutes, while smaller dogs have shorter dreams every 10 minutes. Puppies dream more frequently than adults.
It's really normal: you let out a yawn, and then your dog, looking at you, does the same. Contagious yawning may be a way for animals who live together to coordinate activities. Since dogs and humans have been living together for between 14,000 and 30,000 years, contagious yawning may be deeply rooted in canine evolutionary history. Dogs' long-standing relationships with us may have enabled them to reach across species lines to feel what we're feeling.
Several studies have shown that blood pressure goes down when a person pets a dog. What's more, dog owners have lower blood pressure than non-owners — probably because their pets have a calming effect on them and because dog owners tend to get more exercise. If you own a dog or are thinking about it, the potential benefits for your heart health are a nice plus.
Dogs have very sharp ears and eyesight. But they are actually born deaf and blind. Their eyes and the inner ear structure develop 3-5 weeks after birth. The first sense that works up in a puppy is its sense of touch, taste, and smell. Touch is the first form of contact a puppy has with the world, while it uses its nose to sniff out its mother's mammary glands.
Canine researchers have confirmed that dogs have a sixth sense, through which they can sense an incoming storm. Researchers have concluded that dogs are very sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure, which humans can't feel. They also have a sense of the earth's magnetic field, which is common amongst many animals and birds. Scientists believe that this instinct came down from the wolves, as they migrated over large distances.
Jealousy is something that is very necessary for love. Dogs get jealous when they see their owners petting other dogs or when they can smell the scent of other dogs on their owners. They can react aggressively towards the other dog or even defy the owner intently. Their possessiveness about us is truly heart-warming. In fact, dogs are known to read emotions off a human face. They can also understand when you are angry, happy, or sad and then they behave accordingly.
Just like humans have unique fingerprints, our four-legged friends have unique nose prints. Even twin dogs have completely different patterns on their nose. Some experts believe this unicity can help tag dogs more effectively in a database, instead of body patterns that are currently used.
While cheetahs can run twice as fast as Greyhounds, they can only maintain that 70 mph speed for about thirty seconds. A Greyhound can maintain a 35 mph speed for about seven miles. The cheetah may start first, but the Greyhound would soon overtake them.
The Chow Chow and the Shar-Pei are the only two dog breeds that have fully black tongues. Even more interesting, the cause of these black tongues is currently unknown. Except for these two, all of the other dogs have pink tongues like humans.
This intriguing dog fact solves a common question among dog owners: Why are dogs' noses wet? According to Vetstreet, dogs' wet noses aid in absorbing scent chemicals. Their noses produce a unique mucus that captures these chemicals, allowing dogs to lick and analyze scents effectively.
Cancerous cells release different metabolic waste products than healthy cells in the human body. Dogs may even be able to sniff out cancer cells simply by smelling someone's breath.
When your dog is carefully choosing the perfect place to do his business, it is because they prefer to go poop in alignment with the Earth's magnetic field. By aligning themselves with the magnetic field, dogs may be able to orient themselves better and establish a sense of direction.
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