Top 10 Questions About Dogs Answered!

1. Why Do Dogs Lick People?

There are many reasons dogs will lick people and other dogs. When they are puppies it's a way for them to ask for food. Adult dogs will also lick as a sign of submission, or as a way to get attention. Giving these adorable kisses can also be a way to self-soothe, releasing endorphins that both calm and relieving stress.

2. Why Do Dogs Scoot Their Butts?

Typically dogs scoot their butts when their anal sacs are full or impacted. Most mammals, including dogs have two scent glands under their tail, one on either side of their anus. When these glands become full the pressure can feel itchy and irritating to the dog. While most dogs are able to naturally empty these glands during a bowel movement, some dogs need to be brought to a vet to have them expressed, or emptied.

3. Do Dogs Dream?

Yes, dogs dream. According to studies conducted by using EEGs (electroencephalogram) on sleeping dogs, there is evidence that suggests dogs dream much like we do. If you've ever closely watched your dog sleep, you might have noticed they occasionally move as if running, or occasionally whine, bark, or even growl, Sometimes you may also see rapid eye movement during their dreams.

4. Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

Does your dog eat grass? Don't worry it doesn't mean your dog has a nutritional deficiency. Most dogs will eat grass out of boredom, or because they like the taste or it can also just be a learned behavior. For most dogs, eating grass doesn't cause vomiting. In fact, it's so common, many just consider it normal dog behavior.

5. Why Are Dogs' Noses Wet?

Many of us have heard the old wives' tale that a dog is sick if their nose is dry. This actually isn't true at all, and is a common misconception. To amplify their sense of smell dogs excrete a thin layer of mucous across their nose to better absorb scents. They then regularly lick their noses to bring these scents into their olfactory glands, which are located on the roof of their mouth. In addition to aiding their sense of smell, a wet nose can also help a dog regulate their body temperature. Unlike humans, dogs don't have sweat glands across their body, and instead sweat only through their paw pads and noses.

6. Why Do Dogs Bury Bones?

This famous behavior is actually residual instinct, left over from before dogs were domesticated. Burying bones helped them keep food safe from scavengers. Coincidentally, this behavior also kept the food from spoiling as fast, as it was kept it cool underground and protected it from sunlight.

7. How Much Better is a Dog's Sense of Smell Than Ours?

Depending on the dog, their sense of smell can range from 10,000 to 100,000 times better than ours. Humans only have a mere 6 million olfactory receptors compared to a dog's 300 million. Their part of the brain that aids in sense of smell is also 40 times larger than ours. On top of this, their noses also work entirely different than ours. While people must breath in and out the same way, dogs breathe in through their nostrils and out through the slits on the side of their nostrils. This creates a constant flow of new smells. Additionally, certain breeds like the Bloodhound have the advantage of extra long, floppy ears to help push new smells up to their nose. It's no wonder dogs are used for so many jobs!

8. What are the Most Common Dog Names?

Banfield's list of 2018's top most popular dog names are as follows: (first) Charlie, Coco, Daisy, Bailey, Lola, Molly, Sadie, Toby, Sophie, and Bear (tenth).

9. Why is Chocolate Bad for Dogs?

Most of us have heard that chocolate is bad for dogs. But have you ever wondered why? Chocolate contains methylxanthines and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. These can cause multiple symptoms, such as vasoconstriction (tightening of the veins), increased heart rate and central nervous system stimulation. Small amounts may just cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but large amounts can cause heart failure, weakness, seizures, coma and in some cases, even death. This is why it's so important to call your vet if you're worried your dog ate chocolate, and try your best to tell them the type and quantity of chocolate that your dog ingested.

10. How Long are Dogs Pregnant?

A typical pregnancy in dogs is a little over two months, around 63 days.