15 fatti interessanti sui cani che pochi sanno. Non li guarderete più con gli stessi occhi

#1 Proprio come noi, i cani sognano e probabilmente sognano cose…da cani!

Just like humans, a dog's sleep cycle has an REM phase, where most of our dreaming occurs. Stanley Coren, author and professor of psychology, told Live Science, "What we've basically found is that dogs dream doggy things. So, pointers will point at dream birds, and Dobermans will chase dream burglars." ADORABLE.

#2 I cani possono letteralmente sentire l’odore delle malattie umane: ciò aiuta molto nelle terapie ospedaliere.

The human nose has about 5 to 6 million olfactory receptors, compared to 220 million for a pooch. A 2009 study in which dogs tried to detect cancer by smelling breath samples of patients had a success rate of around 90%. That's incredible to think about.

#3 La visione dei cani, comparata alla nostra, non è totalmente in bianco e nero, ma solo molto sfocata e con molti meno colori.

#4 Al buio, i cani riescono a vedere molto meglio rispetto agli umani grazie a cellule sensibili alla luce.

While dogs have fewer cones in their eyes, they have more light-sensitive cells, or rods, toward the center of the retina. A larger pupil also lets in more light.Don't go by this GIF, though. It must have been hella dark.

#5 La razza labrador è la più diffusa; al secondo posto ci sono i cani di razza pastore tedesco, seguiti dai golden retriever.

According to the American Kennel Club, the Lab has been the most popular canine in the US for a staggering 26 consecutive years. German shepherds and golden retrievers come in and second and third, respectively.

#6 L’impronta del naso dei cani è unica… proprio come le impronte digitali degli umani!

#7 Ai cani piace tantissimo rotolarsi in sostanze…maleodoranti, perché, per loro, profumano divinamente!

Not only do dogs have way more olfactory receptors than us, but they're probably designed differently as well. This means they perceive smells differently, and it might explain why it's a delight for your dog to roll around in their own doodoo, but not acceptable for you to do the same.

#8 Quando i cani si accucciano su se stessi per dormire, formando quasi una palla, è per il loro istinto primordiale di protezione dai predatori.

Clinician Margaret Gruen says that a dog will curl up while sleeping if they're cold, but it may have something to do with instinct as well. "It also protects their most vulnerable organs in the abdomen from would-be predators,” she adds.This means that if your dog is sprawled out on your floor, they're either feeling super hot or super safe.

#9 La razza di cane Saluki, la più vecchia esistente al giorno d’oggi, è stata al fianco degli uomini dal lontano 329 avanti Cristo.

Some historians identify the saluki as a distinct breed of dog as early as 329 BCE in Egypt. For some perspective, that was around the same time when Alexander the Great invaded India.That would make the saluki breed well over 2,000 years old.

#10 Alcuni cani, come quelli di razza Newfoundland che passano molto tempo in acqua, hanno le zampe palmate per riuscire a nuotare meglio.

Breeds that tend to do a lot of work in water, like the Newfoundland and the Portuguese water dog, have specially modified webbed feet to help them swim better.

#11 I cani possono percepire le nostre emozioni solo ascoltandoci parlare, riconoscendo le diverse tonalità della voce.

The human brain has an audio cortex which differentiates voices from other sounds, and reacts based on the emotion expressed in the voice. A study found that dogs have one too, and it's located in a very similar area of their brain.This makes sense, since humans have been breeding dogs for centuries, so at least a portion of their brain must go toward interpreting human cues.

#12 I nobili cinesi nascondevano i cani di razza Pechinese nelle maniche dei loro vestiti come forma di attacco per difendersi dai malintenzionati.

Pekingese dogs were bred as guard dogs for royals in imperial China. Emperors would carry the smallest and fiercest ones in their sleeves and release them to scare away any shady characters.They were ancient pepper spray, basically.

#13 Nonostante gli occhioni da cucciolo quando sbagliano…i cani non provano rimorso! Hanno solo imparato a recitare quando siamo arrabbiati.

Veterinary scientist Susan Hazel believes that "it’s pretty clear that dogs don’t feel or display guilt." They've just learned to act that way to appease their masters when they're angry.So don't trust those puppy-dog eyes after they've broken something in the house. THEY DON'T GIVE A SHIT.

#14 Se hai più di 30 anni, sei più vecchio di qualsiasi cane vivente al mondo: il cane più longevo è arrivato a 29 anni.

 

#15 C’è un posto sulla terra che, letteralmente, sembra un paradiso dei cani: è un rifugio che si trova in Costa Rica ed ospita circa 900 cani!

Territorio de Zaguates, or "Land of the Strays," is a volunteer-run shelter in Costa Rica. They have about 900 dogs there, and they have special hikes across the hills with you AND THE DOGS. OH MY GOD.Every one of the dogs in the shelter is up for adoption.

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