Celebrate National Dog Month with These Fun and Fascinating Dog Facts

Mackenzie Counts
Aug 8
3 min read

August is National Dog Month and what better way to honor our four-legged companions than with a roundup of fun facts, surprising trivia, and interesting insights about some of the world’s most beloved breeds?

Whether you’re a lifelong dog lover or just starting your canine journey, these fun facts are sure to make you smile (and maybe appreciate your pup a little more!).

Fun Dog Facts You Might Not Know

1. Your dog can “smell” time.

Dogs have such sensitive noses they can detect scent changes throughout the day—helping them anticipate when you’ll be home!

2. A wagging tail isn’t always happy.

Tail wagging can signal excitement, nervousness, or even warning. The direction and speed of the wag tell the whole story.

3. Dogs dream just like humans.

If you’ve ever seen your dog twitching or softly barking in their sleep, they’re likely dreaming! Puppies and seniors tend to dream the most.

Bonus Fun Fact: The bigger the dog the longer the dream!

4. Their noses are like fingerprints.

Every dog’s nose print is unique, just like human fingerprints. Some kennels even use nose prints for identification.

5. Dogs can learn over 1,000 words.

Border Collies and other highly intelligent breeds can recognize and remember hundreds of words, objects, and commands.

Breed Spotlights: Cool Traits from Some Popular Pups

Labrador Retriever

Labs are famous for being outgoing, friendly, and eager to please—but did you know they were originally bred to help fishermen retrieve nets?

German Shepherd

Loyal and smart, German Shepherds were among the first service dogs in history. Their trainability makes them a favorite for police, military, and search & rescue work.

Border Collie

Often considered the most intelligent breed, Border Collies can learn complex commands and even understand sentence structure!

Basset Hound

Their long ears aren’t just cute—they actually help sweep scents toward their nose, enhancing their already powerful tracking ability.

Chihuahua

Small but mighty! Chihuahuas have one of the biggest personalities in the dog world, and they were once considered sacred by ancient Aztec cultures.

Golden Retriever

Sweet, reliable, and social, Goldens are not only great family dogs—they’ve also been therapy and guide dogs for decades thanks to their gentle nature.

Four dogs relax in a sunny park. Two are tan, one is black and white, and one is a Corgi. Trees and parked cars in the background.

Weird & Wonderful Dog Facts

Dogs are full of surprises and some breeds have quirks that make them truly unique! Here are a few oddball facts that might just blow your mind:

The Basenji can’t bark

Instead of barking, the Basenji makes a unique sound called a “baroo,” which is a yodel-like noise. This is due to the shape of their larynx, making them one of the quietest dog breeds out there.

Dogs have more teeth than humans

Adult dogs have 42 teeth, compared to 32 in adult humans. That’s a whole lot of chomping power packed into those jaws!

Chow Chows have blue-black tongues

Unlike most dogs with pink tongues, Chow Chows (and Shar Peis!) have tongues that range from purple to bluish-black. It’s totally normal, and one of their defining features.

Dogs sweat through their paws

While dogs mostly cool down by panting, they also sweat through the pads on their feet! That’s why you might see little paw prints on the floor during hot summer days.

Puppies are born deaf and blind

At birth, puppies are completely reliant on smell and touch because their eyes and ears are closed for the first two weeks of life.

Dogs prefer to poop aligned with the Earth’s magnetic field

Strangely enough, studies have shown dogs often align themselves north-south when doing their business. Scientists don’t fully know why, but it’s a real thing!

Celebrate All Month Long

Whether you’re tossing your dog a new toy, teaching them a fun trick, or just taking a few extra minutes to snuggle on the couch, August is the perfect time to celebrate the joy dogs bring into our lives.

Take a moment this month to: