Some interesting Dog Facts that you might not know! This is why the 'Blog Dog' enjoys her pie and ice cream!
Meat-Seeking Missiles
Dogs actually have specific taste buds receptors that are “tuned in” to meats and meat-related chemicals. Dogs also have sweet-seeking taste buds which – partially – explains why your dog looks longingly at you while you finish off the last piece of apple pie. It’s believed that your dog’s sweet tooth comes hardwired from his wild ancestors who had to supplement their meat-based diet with berries and fruit.
Cats, on the other hand, who ate exclusively meat in the wild, generally tend to have little or no interest in sweets.
Glow-In-The-Dark Eyes
Have you ever noticed how your dog’s eyes seem to glow in flash photos or if you shine a flashlight looking for him in the yard at night? This glow is caused by a structure in the eye called the tapetum lucidum which acts to collect extra light from the environment that other parts of your dog’s eyes may have missed. The ability to collect this extra light makes your dog’s night vision much better than that of other species – such as humans – who lack this extra light-catching effect.
Make No Bones About It
Your dog’s shoulder bones are only loosely connected to the rest of his skeleton and body. In fact, if you feel around your dog’s shoulder and neck you will see he lacks the collar bone that we humans have. The “disconnected” shoulder bones help to maximize your dog’s stride length for running and jumping.
Before You Trim Those Whiskers
Whiskers, technically called vibrissae, are an important part of your dog’s sensory functions. The whiskers are extremely sensitive and receptive to touch and movement; so sensitive, in fact, that they can detect subtle changes in air currents. If you look at the base of each whisker (where it connects to your dog’s face), you will see a little dark spot which is actually a collection of nerves that helps the whisker to transmit information about movement to your dog’s brain. The whiskers are particularly helpful because dogs have difficulty focusing well on objects right in front of them – rather than relying on their eyesight, they use their whiskers as a guide to help them locate and identify objects. Because of the important role your dog’s whiskers play and because they are so sensitive, many experts agree that it best to leave them untouched when grooming your dog.
The Nose Knows
While you have only five million scent receptors in your nose, your dog, depending on the breed or mix, has around 220 million scent receptors. Also, inside your dog’s nose is a shelf-like area that allows your dog to collect and accumulate odor molecules. The shape of the shelf traps odor molecules, and when your dog breathes his breath passes under the shelf without disturbing the shelf’s scent “contents.” The scent molecules are then processed by two olfactory bulbs in your dog’s brain. Whereas a human brain’s olfactory bulbs weigh only about .5 ounces, your dog’s olfactory bulbs weigh 2 ounces. Combine this with the fact that the human brain is about ten times larger in total than a dog’s, and we can say that your dog devotes nearly 40 times more of its brain to scent than humans do.
Resource and credits: 2010 AKC Newsletter Jan. 2010
Nicely put together and informative post. I have never before seen a dog with wings.
Very interesting, Lyn!! I had never heard about the tapetum lucidem before! We love dogs, and I must say our dog has done a beautiful job training US!! LOL!
Lyn. Very informative post. I know dogs love pie because a roommate's dog once ate an entire apple pie my sister-in-law baked for my birthday. ;-)
Years ago, my mom put an apple pie on a picnic table on the patio to cool off ... when she returned an hour later, our Irish setter had jumped up and eaten it!
Mike: Just liked that photo.
Rick & Maureen: It seems every dog loves pie!
Sonja: Yes, the Blog Dog has me trained well. I'm a sucker for a cute face.
Really interesting facts. Dogs just amaze me all the time. I have 2 Shih Tzus that love chicken but I think they are allergic. Meal times are not fun for me. I cook beef and add vegies and brown rice or oats, and try to make it interesting, but I have never tried pie!
We had a dog who ate every appetizer, placed in another room, shortly before some 25 guests arrived. Pate, cheese, crackers, etc. everything but the olives.
Michael
Hello Lyn,
Thank you for the informative post on interesting Dog Facts! I enjoyed reading it! Dogs really do like pie!
Rita
HI Lyn, Great picture; love the outfit. Thanks for all the info; very interesting reading. I didn't know that about the "shelf" for collecting odor molecules.
Sandra: The pie is a winner with a picky eater.
Michael: Interesting about the olives - the roving garbage can really shouldn't be that picky.
Rita: Thanks for stopping by.
Toni: I thought that was interesting too how they collect the smells, and the pie.
Must be a well trained dog to be able to handle that outfit. Most dogs can't handle a hat on theri head.
I just joined this group because we just got a Labradoodle 7 1/2 week old puppy. I will post some info on this breed.
Tom: It's more like a helmet not a hat. Show us those Labradoodle pics when you get a chance. My sister has a great dane who always falls in love with labradoodles at training school classes. If a dog could whistle, he would at these gals! He's smitten.
My dog likes LOBSTER!
The three cats won't touch it. Too funny!
Thanks for the dog facts; love your Blog Dog!
Carole: That's a great story, thanks for sharing! My Blog Dog here will eat tuna fish if I let her. I just don't think it's right, kind of like the lobster!
Most dogs have a sweet tooth !!!!!!!!!!!!! For that matter some will eat almost anything !!!