Illustration: Petepop/Condutta. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
Dogs are our best friends, and because of this, we think we know everything about them. However, science says this is not true, and there is still much to discover about dogs.
1. Your pet might be older than you think
Researchers from the University of California revealed that the idea that one dog year equals seven human years is a myth. According to the authors of the study, the rate of aging slows down over time.
A 4-year-old dog can be compared to a 52-year-old human. The animal’s aging rate decreases when it turns 7 years old. Thus, a 12-year-old dog is similar to a 70-year-old human.
2. They also have a rebellious adolescence
Humans are not the only ones going through the emotional rollercoaster of puberty. British scientists discovered that dogs go through a similar phase during adolescence. They analyzed how obedient pets were at 5 and 8 months old and found that dogs are more likely to ignore commands during puberty.
3. They actually understand what you’re saying
Many owners believe their pets understand what they are saying, and they might be right. A study by Emory University found that dogs have a basic understanding of words, can distinguish between terms they’ve heard before and those they haven’t, and are eager to try to understand what is being said to them.
4. Your best friend recognizes your voice
In addition to identifying words, dogs can also recognize when someone new is speaking. Researchers from the University of Sussex studied the ability of pets to spontaneously recognize the same word when spoken by different people. The response to commands was positive. Furthermore, dogs were able to differentiate the sound of voices of familiar people from those of strangers.
5. And it’s not just words they understand
In an attempt to find out if a dog’s ability to follow commands is innate or learned exclusively through training, a study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that stray dogs understand when someone points to a location even without training. The researchers said this suggests that animals can understand complex gestures simply by observing humans.
6. Having a dog is good for your health
A lot is said about pets’ ability to help humans with mental well-being, reducing anxiety and loneliness. However, little is discussed about the positive effects of dogs on human physical health, according to science.
By combining data from 3.8 million people from various studies, researchers found that having a dog can lead to better cardiovascular outcomes, especially for survivors of heart attacks and strokes who live alone.
7. Therapy dogs in hospitals can help reduce your anxiety
Petting a dog can help patients waiting for treatment in hospitals relax, according to research conducted by a team from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.
There is growing scientific evidence that interacting with dogs not only reduces patient anxiety, heart rate, and blood pressure but also increases dopamine production, a neurotransmitter linked to feelings of pleasure and well-being.
8. Dogs can be trained as medical professionals
As early as the 16th century, dogs were used as guides for blind people. Since then, they have taken on a much broader role in healthcare. Dogs are trained to detect cancer, as well as various other medical conditions: type 1 diabetes, allergies, Addison’s disease (a rare adrenal gland disorder), and possibly in the near future, even Parkinson’s disease and malaria.
9. Your dog’s nose is cold for a good reason
Researchers revealed that dogs’ noses serve as ultra-sensitive heat detectors. A study conducted by a team of researchers from Sweden and Hungary and published in Scientific Reports suggests that the tip of a dog’s nose plays a sensory function. This allows dogs to detect very weak heat sources—such as the presence of a small mammal—at a distance of 1.5 meters.
Illustration: Petepop/Condutta. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
