They wag their tails happily, look up at us with big eyes and hardly leave our side: our best friends, the dogs. And yet there is more to them than we might think. No more boring pets, the dog has it all, beating humans by 100 points in smelling and hearing. High time to give something back to our animal companions. We dedicate these lines to them and also promise an extra treat.
The nose
Dogs are nasal animals (macrosmatic animals) and have a keen sense of smell. In principle, the longer the snout, the better the smelling ability. Humans have five million olfactory cells, dachshunds have 125 million and sheepdogs have 220 million. The area of the brain that assigns odors is four times larger in dogs than in humans.
Feeding dogs
Chow Chow, the Chinese dog breed, translates as “tasty-tasty”. Its blue-black tongue in particular is considered a delicacy in China. Most dogs have pink tongues, only the Chow Chow and the Sharpei have black tongues.
Breeds
People soon began to cross-breed dogs with certain characteristics and breed them. Today, there are around 350 different breeds that are bred and more than 800 dog breeds that exist worldwide.
Dogs cost
A dog can cost a lot of money. The Swiss spend over 115 million Swiss francs a year on their dogs – not including doctor or vet fees. Healthcare costs. You should consider the following costs before getting a dog:
Purchase costs: The purchase of a dog can vary depending on the breed, origin and age of the animal. While some dogs from animal shelters or private individuals can be acquired free of charge or for a small nominal fee, pedigree dogs from breeders can cost several hundred to over a thousand euros.
Initial equipment: At the beginning, there are costs for basic equipment such as a lead, collar, harness, food bowls, basket or dog bed, toys, transport box and possibly a dog gate for the car. The cost of this can vary depending on quality and individual preferences.
Food costs: The monthly food costs depend on the size, age and activity of the dog. For a diet of dry or wet food, the costs can be between 20 and 100 euros per month. If you want to feed your dog fresh meat and vegetables, you have to reckon with higher costs.
Vet costs: Regular vaccinations, worming and vet examinations are necessary to ensure the dog’s health. In addition, unforeseen illnesses or injuries can result in high veterinary costs. Dog health insurance or dog surgery insurance can be useful here to cover unforeseen costs.
Dog tax: In Switzerland and Germany, the dog tax is a compulsory tax that is levied by the municipalities or local authorities. municipalities. The amount of dog tax varies depending on the municipality and can be between 50 and 200 euros per year. Higher taxes may apply for certain breeds or listed dogs.
Dog liability insurance: Dog liability insurance is compulsory in many federal states and protects against damage that can be caused by the dog. The annual costs for this are between 50 and 150 euros.
Dog school and training: Attending a dog school or a training course can be particularly advisable for first-time dog owners. In Switzerland, this course is even compulsory. The costs for this vary depending on the offer and scope of the course.
Grooming and accessories: Depending on the breed and coat condition, there are costs for grooming the dog, e.g. for brushes, shampoo, claw clippers or regular visits to the groomer.
Childcare costs: If the dog needs to be looked after during working hours or on vacation, costs may be incurred for dog sitters, day care or boarding kennels.
The hearing of dogs
Dogs have very sensitive and powerful hearing, which is better than human hearing in many respects. Here are some interesting facts about dogs’ hearing:
Frequency range: Dogs can perceive frequencies from around 40 Hz to 60,000 Hz. For comparison: humans hear in a range from around 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. This means that dogs can hear both low-frequency and high-frequency sounds better than humans.
Number of ear muscles: Dogs have about 18 ear muscles, while humans only have six. These additional muscles allow dogs to move their ears independently in different directions to better locate sounds.
Sound localization: Due to the mobility of their ears and the ability to perceive the slightest differences in transit time between the two ears, dogs can determine the direction and distance of sound sources very precisely.
Sensitivity: Dogs’ hearing is about four times more sensitive than human hearing. This means that they can also perceive quiet noises from a greater distance.
Imprinting on noises: Dogs can become accustomed to certain noises and their meaning in the course of their lives. For example, they can learn to associate the sound of the car key with an upcoming car journey or the rattling of the food bowl with feeding time.
Sensitivity to loud noises: Dogs are more sensitive to loud noises than humans. It is therefore important to ensure that dogs are not exposed to extremely loud noises, as this can damage their hearing or cause anxiety and stress.
How did dogs come to humans?
It is disputed when the wolf joined humans (between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago), but it did so because food scraps fell to it. The oldest drawings showing man and dog hunting are over 8,000 years old and were found in Algeria.
Intelligence and facial expressions of dogs
According to a US study, Border Collies are the most intelligent dog breed in the world, closely followed by Poodles and German Shepherds. Border Collies can understand up to 250 words – comparable to a 2-year-old child. The dog is descended from the wolf, hence its scientific name “Canis Lupus Familiaris” (the tamed wolf). Foxes, jackals and coyotes also have the same ancestors. The wolf, in turn, is descended from a small, carnivorous mammal called Miacis, which lived on Earth around 50 million years ago.
Dogs have more than 100 facial expressions in which the ears play a major role. Bulldogs and pit bulls only have ten facial expressions due to their breeding. As a result, they are often “misunderstood” by other dogs, which often leads to fights.
Funfacts
The largest dog is the Great Dane. It weighs up to 86 kilos and has a shoulder height of up to 1.16 meters. The smallest dog is the Chihuahua: fully grown, it weighs 1.5 kilos and is 15 centimeters long. One of the most expensive dog breeds at the moment is the Portuguese Water Dog. US President Barack Obama had one. It costs around 3,000 francs.
There are around 500 million domestic dogs worldwide, of which around three quarters are free-roaming.
10 to 11 million dogs live in Germany, or in other words, a dog lives in 12% of all households. This puts them in second place on the popularity scale behind cats (25%).
Dogs (canidae) are found on all continents. They were originally absent from Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Madagascar and Antarctica, but human help has finally made them native there too.
And what else? Dogs curl up to sleep to warm their noses with their tails. Their sweat glands are only located on their paws, not on their tongue. The smaller the male dog, the higher he tries to lift his leg. Because the one who pees the highest is the boss!
Read everything you need to know about Snoopy, probably the most famous dog in the world of comics.