10 Dog Facts Most People Don’t Know

Stereo smelling

Dogs smell in 3D. Each nostril pulls in slightly different air, so the brain can locate where a scent comes from in space.

Those little nose slits matter

The slits on the sides of the nose vent air out while fresh air flows in through the front. That lets a dog keep pulling scent in with almost every breath.

A second smell system

Inside the roof of the mouth sits the vomeronasal organ. It reads social and chemical signals that the regular nose barely notices.

Puppy eyes are a real muscle

Most dogs have an extra facial muscle near the inner eyebrow that wolves lack. Lifting it creates the soft eye look that humans find hard to resist.

Tail wags have a left and a right

Many dogs wag a little more to the right when they feel positive and a little more to the left when unsure. The brain is asymmetric, and the tail can show it.

Whiskers do more than you think

Whiskers feel tiny air shifts and help judge gaps in the dark. The eyebrow whiskers also trigger a blink to protect the eyes.

Front dewclaws are useful

On the front legs the dewclaw touches the ground during sharp turns and helps steady the wrist joint. Many sporting and working dogs use them at speed.

Ear control is extreme

Dogs have a lot of small ear muscles and can move each ear separately. That helps pinpoint sounds and filter what matters on busy streets.

Every nose print is unique

The line and bump pattern on a dog’s nose is like a fingerprint. Some registries use nose prints for identification.

Dreams are part of dog sleep

Dogs cycle through REM sleep and often dream. Small dogs tend to have more frequent short dreams, while large dogs dream less often but for longer.