Dogs are fantastic animal companions, loyal forever friends, and some are even dedicated workers! In this post, we share some fun dog facts for kids.
Fun and Fascinating Dog Facts
Anatomy
As omnivores, our furry friends need a well-rounded diet that includes more than just meat. They also need proteins and vegetables.
A dog’s average body temperature should hover around 101.2.
Contrary to what many believe, dogs are able to see color, but not as vividly as their human friends.
Obesity is the number one health problem dogs deal with.
Dogs have a sense of smell that is 10,000 to 100,000 times better than ours. Because of their exceptional sense of smell, they make excellent working dogs and are frequently used in airports and other environments to sniff out illegal items such as drugs or bombs. Each dog's nose print is unique, just like our fingerprints.
Dogs’ sense of hearing is also amazing - they are great guard dogs because they can hear sounds at high frequencies that humans can’t.
The only sweat glands a dog has are between his toes, so it’s important to keep your dog hydrated and cool in the dog days of summer. Make sure they have plenty of shade and water, and that they stay inside on very hot days.
Communication
Dogs cannot communicate verbally, but they do so through various means. If your dog positions her body in an unusual way, makes unusual facial expressions, bares her teeth, barks, or marks her scent, she's trying to communicate with you (or other animals)!
Dogs wag their tails to the right when they’re happy, and to the left when they’re frightened.
Language
Dog - the English word for our canine friends - originated from the Middle English dogge, which stemmed from Old English docga, meaning “a powerful dog breed.
Domesticated Dog Origin
We've gradually domesticated dogs into the friendly companions we know and love over the last several thousand years. Dogs have been kept as pets for approximately 12,000 years.
Dog Breeds
192 different dog breeds are officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. Whether you’re thinking of getting a miniature dachshund or a large energetic Samoyed, you’ll be sure to find a breed you love!
The Labrador Retriever is America's most popular breed, and it has held that position since the 1990s. Their intelligent and playful personalities make them excellent pets. They can also be used as working dogs, therapy dogs, or guide dogs.
The German Shepherd and Golden Retriever round out the country’s 3 most popular breeds.
Dogs as Pets
While we enjoy having dogs as pets for many years, many breeds are also known for being excellent workers, trained to track down missing people, join police and military ranks, provide protection, assist handicapped people, hunt and pull loads, herd, and more.
