Amazing Facts About Your Dog

7 Amazing Facts You May Not Know About Your Canine Companion

Dogs can be very open to their owners but their behaviors may also sometimes be hard to understand. How well do you know your dog? For instance, if your dog acting is mysterious after a good night’s sleep, is it because he is trying to catch your attention or is there really a serious matter that needs to be addressed? Let’s talk about some facts you may not know about your dog.

1. When your canine companion chases his or her tail, he may need help from the veterinarian. There are many reasons why a dog might chase his tail: exercise, predatory instinct, discomfort, or presence of fleas. A visit your nearest animal hospital is the safest and surest way to determine the real reason your dog is chasing his tail.
2. Dogs do dream at night. Do not be dismayed if you witness your dog barking or moving his feet while asleep. He may have been chasing his love at the park in his dream. Humans and dogs share the same SWS (slow wave sleep) as well as REM (rapid eye movement) while asleep. So let your dog enjoy twitching while his eyes are closed. (Editor’s note: This is a question I hear all the time in my office, usually from new puppy owners. Why does my puppy twitch when he sleeps? Or my dog whines while he’s sleeping – is that normal? Yes, these things are normal when a dog sleeps and dreams.)
3. Dogs can see things in the dark. Have you ever wondered why your dog gets around so well at night? How do dogs capture robbers who are trying to steal your valuables when the sun has gone down? Well, dogs have a tapetum lucidum, which enables them to see even when it’s dark. So, this explains why dogs are your best bodyguards. (Editor’s note: The tapetum lucidum is a layer of tissue in the eye that reflects light back through the retina, effectively making more light available to the photoreceptors in the eye and making night vision possible. The tapetum lucidum is also the reason your pet’s eyes will have a strange glow when photographed with a flash. The light from the flash reflects off the tapetum lucidum and the reflection is evident in the resulting image.)
4. If your dog is acting comical, go get your umbrella. Experts have not yet found the secret behind this, but according to Petside.com, dogs can detect the weather, especially when it’s going to rain. So, the next time you see your dog acting funny, go get your umbrella. It always pays to be prepared. Nothing to lose but so much to gain. (Editor’s note: I have to confess I’ve never heard this one about dogs acting comical when a change in weather approaches. But I do know that many dogs can sense when a thunderstorm or other changes in the weather are approaching. For instance, there are numerous stories of dogs warning their owners of an approaching tornado, sometimes even waking their owner out of a deep sleep to seek shelter.)
5. Dogs never sweat except with their pads. Dogs do not sweat everywhere. As a matter of fact, dogs only sweat on their pads. When you see that their paw pads are sweating, you get the notion that the room is a bit warm for them. (Editor’s note: Dogs also release excess body heat through panting.)
6. Your dog’s nose absorbs scents. Being known to be the chief of scent, dogs secrete a mucous on their nose to help them discern a scent (more accurately than we do). When their nose becomes wet, they lick it to sample the scent they have gathered using their mouth.
7. Dogs are the captains of scent. Dogs can smell 100,000 times more accurately than people. No wonder why even the FBI and other law enforcement agencies seek help from them in searching for drugs and harmful chemicals in public places. This also explains why, when you leave your fried chicken unattended, you may be left with nothing but an empty plate.

Many pets exhibit strange, seemingly unexplained behaviors. If your dog’s behavior changes, particularly if it does so suddenly and without cause, you should consult with your veterinarian. It’s not impossible that your dog is experiencing a medical issue that is causing the change.