Dogs are cute and cuddly creatures who love to play. They make wonderful companions and are the most popular house pet in the world. They are loyal to their humans and are just as important as our other family members. Learn more about your favorite canine friend with these paws-itively delightful dog facts for kids!
1. Dogs belong to the Canidae family, which also includes wolves, foxes, jackals, and coyotes.
This means domesticated dogs are direct relatives of these other wild canines, and they are most like the gray wolf. Watch this video to see their common behaviors in action.
2. The ancient people of Siberia were the first group of people to domesticate dogs, approximately 23,000 years ago.
This means they were the first group of people to keep dogs as house pets. What an amazing discovery!
3. The average dog sleeps for 12 to 14 hours per day, at different times throughout the day and night.
They typically sleep for 45 minutes at a time instead of straight through like humans. Yet, they somehow always know when it is time to get up for food and playtime! Learn more fun dog facts for kids in this cool video.
4. A group of dogs is called a pack, while a group of puppies is called a litter.
Talk about cuteness overload with all of that fluffy sweetness! Check out this video for more fun facts about puppies.
5. Dogs are the most popular pet in the United States.
There are an average of 76 million dogs living in homes in the United States—that’s about 45% of households. You can help save a homeless dog’s life by adopting one as a pet today! This video has plenty of tips on how to take care of dogs.
6. There are about 450 different dog breeds.
Each breed has special characteristics, making dogs the most diverse type of land mammal on Earth. Learn more about the different breeds by watching this video.
7. Dogs are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and meat.
We all know they will try to eat whatever they can get their paws on, especially under the dinner table!
8. Dogs are color-blind. They have trouble seeing shades of red and green but can see blues and yellows.
This is similar to color blindness in humans. They also have much better night vision than humans. Learn about more interesting dog facts for kids in this video.
9. Dogs have a much better sense of hearing than humans do.
They can hear sound frequencies up to 45,000 Hz. Humans typically hear frequencies up to 20,000 Hz. Cats can hear even better than both groups, at frequencies up to 64,000 Hz. Meow!
10. Dogs are as smart as a 2-year-old child.
They can understand around 150 words and gestures.
11. The oldest dog lived to be 29.5 years old.
He was a cattle dog named Bluey, and he lived in Australia.
12. The belief that each year of a dog’s life equals 7 human years is false!
They are actually 15 human years old when they turn 1. Add 9 years for age 2, and then 4 or 5 from age 3 on, depending on the size of the dog. This nifty chart will help you figure out your canine friend’s human age.
13. Dogs have a super-strong sense of smell and can smell up to 40 times better than humans.
They can help track missing people and even detect different diseases in humans using their sense of smell. This is also why they are used to sniff out bombs, drugs, and other unsafe things. Talk about a nose that knows!
14. Dogs sweat through their paws and noses.
They also cool themselves down by panting when they get too hot.
15. Dalmatians are born all white.
They develop their spots as they grow and mature. Learn more traits about dalmatians in this fact-filled video.
16. The largest dog breed is the Great Dane when looking at height, but when looking at height and weight combined, it is the English mastiff.
Irish wolfhounds are also up there in height and weight. All three are at the top of the size charts, which you can see in this video about the top 10 largest dog breeds.
17. The smartest dog is the border collie.
They are excellent sheep herders and are known as workaholics.
18. German shepherds are also one of the smartest dog breeds.
They are also very fast, loyal, and hard workers. This is why they are the most commonly used breed for police dogs. Watch this video to see police dogs in action.
19. Chihuahuas are the smallest dog breed.
Chihuahuas only weigh 4 to 6 pounds and are about 4 inches tall. Learn more about these cute and tiny babies in this adorable video.
20. At least 31 dogs have lived in the White House.
Presidents who had dogs include John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, promised their daughters they could get a dog when they moved into the White House. They loved Bo so much, they also got a second dog, Sunny, a few years later. What a win for the Obama girls!
21. Puppies cannot see or hear when they are first born.
These senses kick in at around two weeks old but don’t fully form until six weeks old. It’s a good thing that their moms are extra attentive to them from the start!
22. Poodles come in three sizes: toy, standard, and miniature.
They have hair instead of fur, making them hypoallergenic! Poodles are originally from Germany and are great hunters. Learn more about these fluffy cuties in this fact filled video.
23. When a dog wags his or her tail, it has different meanings.
Emotions conveyed include excitement, happiness, nervousness, and curiosity. It is always a great feeling when your dog wags his or her tail like crazy when you walk in the door. Pure love right there!
24. There are many popular dogs who have starred in movies and television shows.
Famous real-life dogs in Hollywood include Lassie, Benji, and Toto (The Wizard of Oz). Famous cartoon dogs include Clifford the Big Red Dog, Snoopy (Peanuts), Scooby Doo, and Astro (The Jetsons). You can watch clips of these cartoon dogs, plus seven more animated pups, in this fun-filled video.
25. Specially trained dogs serve as assistants for humans with physical and mental disabilities.
Guide dogs help blind people get from place to place. They can also help humans with household tasks like opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, and retrieving items. And they can calm down anxious situations. This video explains how service dogs act as special helpers.
What are your favorite dog facts for kids? Share in the comments below!
Want more articles like this? Be sure to subscribe to our newsletters.
