7 weird facts you probably didn't know about dogs

Dogs see colours on a blue and yellow scale but they cannot distinguish between red and green.

Dogs are domesticated mammals. They are not naturally wild. Originally, dogs were bred from wolves. They have been bred by humans for a long time and were the first animals ever to be domesticated.

Today, most dogs are not only domesticated, they are also used as pets; and these ones are usually playful, friendly, loyal and listen to humans. However, others are used to help humans do their work.

Here are some weird facts you probably didn't know about dogs

1. The "smell" center of a dog's brain is 40 times larger than that of humans

It is true that dogs can smell thousands of times better than humans. Their noses have millions of scent receptors, for example, a human nose averages 5 million while a Dachshund's has 125 million; making them useful in sniffing out drugs, dead bodies, bed bugs, explosives, and more.

 

2. Dog’s urine can corrode metal

Believe it or not, the acidic content of a dog’s urine can actually corrode a metal. Do not allow your dog to wee on a lamp-post because it could be more dangerous than you think. The acids in the urine corrode the metal.

3.  Dogs do see in colours

Although it is believed that dogs can only see in black and white but the truth is, they can actually see colours; only not just as vividly as humans. They only have two cones in their eyes to detect colours, whereas humans have three. That means dogs see colours on a blue and yellow scale but cannot distinguish between red and green. In natures balance to that, their night vision is excellent.

 

4. Dogs also dream

Only dog owners can understand this better. Have you ever noticed your pooch twitching in her sleep? If you have, then you've probably watched her dream. Researchers found that dogs have similar sleep patterns and brain activity as humans, and that small breeds tend to dream more than large ones.

5. Tail wagging does not always mean excitement

Observe your dog, if she wags her tail to the right then she’s happy. And to the left, then she’s frightened. But you already know that if she excitedly wags her tail, it means she’s happy to see you. To consolidate this, according to Discovery.com, dogs wag their tails to the right when they're happy and to the left when they're frightened. Wagging low means they're insecure, and rapid tail wagging accompanied by tense muscles or dilated pupils can signal aggression.

 

6. Puppies are born blind and deaf

When a dog is newly born, it undergoes a developing process. According to ‘Psychology Today,’ the ear canals and eyes of newborn dogs are still closed. In most cases, puppies open their eyes and respond to noises after about two weeks.

7. Dogs can smell disease

If you are wondering why your pet is acting strange and you've observed that nothing is wrong her, then you should probably go for medical check up. Because the problem could be with you.

Research at the Schillerhohe Hospital in Germany found dogs have an incredible ability to recognize the smell of a range of organic compounds that show the human body isn't working as it should.

With realization to this, it becomes easy to understand that dogs can actually diagnose cancer, something scientists are eager to explore further, as well as diabetes and the early signs of an epileptic seizure.