10 Dog Facts You Didn’t Know Until Now

Lifestyle

Dog facts - Sophie's dogs Florrie & Mabel

We’re head over heels for dogs here at Sophie Allport. There are a fair few wagging tails and muddy paws at home with us – too many to count, in fact. Fox Red Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Terriers are among the most popular, and did you know that Sophie’s very own pooches are called Florrie, Mabel and Margot… Sophie’s a bit outnumbered with a husband and three sons otherwise! 

Sophie and her fox red labrador Florrie

But how much of an expert are you when it comes to dogs? Do you know your Bassets from your Beagles? Your Pointers from your Pugs? We’ve researched ten amazing dog facts you didn’t already know and might not even find out at Crufts this year..!

  1. Ever wondered why dogs circle before they lie down? Scientists think it’s due to the fact that in the wilderness, they’d need to mat down tall grass and kick out any bugs or snakes that might be lying in their chosen spot! 
    Fab Labs Pet Bed
  2. Golden retrievers are believed to be amongst the top 5 smartest canines in the world. Border Collies nab the top spot, with Poodles close behind, German Shepherds third and Golden Retrievers fourth.
  3. Did you know that your dog’s nose can be used to prove his identity, just like your fingerprint? Yep! A pooch’s nose print is as unique to him as your fingerprint is to you. No two noses are the same, and the Canadian Kennel Club has been accepting dog nose prints as a form of identity since 1938. 
    Dog facts you didn't know
  4. Can you guess what age the oldest canine on record lived for? It was an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey who lived for 29 years and 5 months! In human years, Bluey was more than 160!
  5. Do you know why Labradors are called Labradors? It’s not because they originate from Labrador, as people commonly believe. Instead, Labradors were bred to work in Newfoundland and spent their days working in the Labrador Sea off the coast of eastern Canada. 
    Facts about dogs
  6. Ever wondered why fleas tend to eat your four-legged-friend rather than you? It has something to do with dogs’ high body temperatures… the average body temperature of a dog is 38 to 39 degrees Celsius, which fleas prefer. Phew!
  7. Do you know why small dogs don’t eat much at once? It’s because small breeds of dogs, like Chihuahuas, have a stomach no bigger than the size of a walnut. Dog facts by Sophie Allport
  8. Have you always believed that dogs see in black and white? It’s not true! Dogs actually see in colour – just not as well as humans. They have two cones to detect colours in their eyes compared to humans’ three, which means that dogs can see on a blue and yellow scale. The only thing they can’t distinguish between is red and green, but it does mean that they have better night vision us. 
    Facts about different dogs
  9. Did you think poodles were a French breed? Think again! Poodles are actually German dogs, but the French nobility quickly became enamoured with them. 
  10. Finally, in ancient China, people used to keep warm by putting dogs up their sleeves. Really! This is where the smallest Pekingese variants get their nickname 'sleeve dogs' from. We imagine it kept the dogs pretty toasty too! 
Do you have a pet at home? Let us know – we’d love to hear about yours! 

5 comments

  • Hi Cynthia, Yes the covers on our dog mattresses can be removed and popped into the wash, you can also purchase the mattress cover only, so you have a spare when it’s in the wash. All the best, Paige from Sophie Allport

    Paige @ Sophie Allport on

  • We loved the square dog bed. Does it have a removable cover for washing . ?

    Cynthia Hunt on

  • You have probably met elijah our greyhound you sleeps a lot ,getting on a bit now but still as content and great 😊 as ever💜

    Brian Savory on

  • Hi Pamela (Dive) Such a lovely story. So glad your lovely Barney has settled and happy. I have a lovely little Border Terrier with the same issue. She loves Everyone but problem with other dogs due to same reason. I’ve tried everything and was wondering if you could share some tips to your success. Thank you. Please feel free to reach out on my e mail. Kind regards Ruth B-H

    Ruth Baker-Hayes on

  • Dear Sophie and team I thought you might like to hear about Barney, our beautiful Portuguese Sheepdog (still quite an unusual breed in the UK), throughout the lockdown. We found Barney on a rescue centre website based near Oxfordshire whilst looking for another “shaggy” dog to adopt after we sadly lost our previous dog some months earlier. He was a bouncy six month old puppy looking for a new home after he had previously been rehomed 3 times before he arrived at the centre with what was described as “issues”. As experienced dog owners, living in the beautiful Northumberland countryside, we were lucky to be given the chance to make this, finally, his forever home! Over the last 18 months we have worked hard to introduce Barney to as many doggy friends as possible, as this we discovered was at the bottom of his problems due to a lack of socialisation as a puppy. Luckily this has been successful and he is still able to visit Jem, Glenny and Tubs, our local working Border collies on his morning walks, as well as Hamish the labrador and other neighbours’ dogs in the village on his outings – keeping his social distance where necessary! Like everyone, Barney misses visits from doggy friends who used to regularly visit our home as part of his rehabilitation (and on occasions share his Sophie Allport dog bed on sleepovers!), but we are confident he and we can survive this isolation for the future. Thanks for the interesting Top Facts and for all our efforts during this difficult time. Barney, Pamela & Peter x PS I have lovely picture of Barney and Sasha the West Highland Terrier on his SA dog bed should you like to see it!

    Pamela Dive on


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