There are hundreds of official dog breeds in the world and even more mixes and mutts than we can count. Check out some of these interesting and far-out facts about dogs. Even the most experienced dog owner will be surprised by these completely mind-blowing facts about our beloved canine companions!

also read: Amazing facts: 10 Interesting Facts about Dubai

• When dogs howl, they adjust the pitch according to what other dogs’ howls sound like so that theirs can appear unique.
• Dogs can recognize over 250 words, they can count to 5 and they can complete simple mathematical equations. 
• A greyhound can run 45mph, compared to the average 19mph speed of most dogs. This makes them the fastest breed in the world, and the second fastest land animal behind the cheetah.
• The only dog unable to bark is the Basenji from Central Africa. It is thought the ability was bred out of them because a barking dog would have historically betrayed people’s presence to enemies. The noise they make when excited is often described as yodeling.
• Dogs and humans have the same type of slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) and during this REM stage dogs can dream. The twitching and paw movements that occur during their sleep are signs that your pet is dreaming.
• Dogs have been known to detect various ailments in humans, from cancer to diabetes. A study at the Schillhohe Hospital in Germany found that dogs may be able to smell many organic compounds in the human body that show it isn’t working properly.
• A dog’s whiskers can sense minute changes in airflow. They are small, touch-sensitive hairs are called vibrissae and are found above the eyes, on the muzzle, and below the jaw.
•  Dogs’ eyes contain a special membrane, called the tapetum lucidum, which allows them to see in the dark.
• Dalmatians can often suffer from deafness in one or both ears, with 30% of them experiencing this. This is because they don’t have many mature melanocytes (melanin-producing cells) in their inner ears, which is common in dogs with a piebald or albino coat. 
• A dog’s shoulder blades are detached from their skeleton to allow for greater flexibility when running.
• Sometimes dogs roll around in something because they want to take the smell of it with them if they particularly like 

also read:  Amazing facts: 20 Fascinating Facts About Butterflies