This National Dog Day we're keen to celebrate the big, the small, the mutts and the pedigrees, but most of all we're keen to celebrate just how clever they are.
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All dog owners know their pooch is the smartest on their block, but just how smart are they really?
And, there's all sorts of interesting quirks when it comes to dogs. For example, did you know that dalmatians are born pure white?
Scroll on to learn more fun facts about your dog.
They were the first
The dog was the first animal to be domesticated by humans.
Which toy is that?
A border collie named Chaser has learned the names for 1022 toys after three years of training, so many that her trainers have had to mark the names of the objects lest they forget themselves.
This is higher than Rico, another border collie, who could remember at least 200 objects.
Grrr I'm learning about you
Research has found that dogs are able to tell how big another dog is just by listening to its growl.
Dogs on board the Titanic
Of approximately a dozen dogs that were on the Titanic, three dogs survived the sinking. One family even received an insurance settlement for their two dogs that didn't survive.
Where's all the spots?
Dalmatian puppies are pure white when they are born and develop their spots as they grow older.
My, what big eyes you have
It is a myth that dogs are colourblind. They can actually see in colour, just not as vividly as humans. It is akin to our vision at dusk.
Poodles have pom poms for a purpose
The poodle's 'haircut' was to improve their swimming abilities. The pom-poms were left to keep their joints warm!
Good 'ole Aussie was the oldest
The world's oldest dog is claimed to be an Australian cattle dog named Bluey who lived to the age of 29 years and five months.
It's all in the nose
Dog's nose prints are as unique as a human's fingerprints and can be used to accurately identify them.
Howling successors in our homes
Dogs are all direct descendants of wolves.
Shush, there's no barking here
The Basenji is the world's only barkless dog.
Urine is a way to communicate
Different smells in the a dog's urine can tell other dogs whether the dog leaving the message is female or male, old or young, sick or healthy, happy or angry.
When the nose knows, it knows
Some dogs can smell dead bodies under water, where termites are hiding, and natural gas buried deep under dirt. They can even detect cancer that is too small to be detected by a doctor and can find lung cancer by sniffing a person's breath.
Who's got the smarts? And, who doesn't
The most intelligent dogs are reportedly the border collie and the poodle, while the least intelligent dogs are the Afghan hound and the Basenji.
It's all in the patting
Petting dogs is proven to lower blood pressure of dog owners.
- The facts in this story came from Adelaide Vet.
Nadine Morton
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
