Fun Facts About Puppies to Celebrate National Puppy Day
With national puppy day approaching, we must celebrate! Read below for some fun facts about puppies!
1) Short Gestation
A dog’s pregnancy lasts about 2 months. This causes puppies to be underdeveloped at birth. Underdeveloped means that these fur babies are born deaf, blind, and without teeth. However, there is a reason for the short pregnancy period. Because a pregnant dog in the wild can not contribute to the pack like normal, pregnancy time evolved to be shorter. This way, they can get back to hunting, supplying, and sharing with their pack.
2) Learning From Mom
Puppies learn the most when they are around 5 weeks old and are taught by their mothers and littermates. Mommy dogs teach their pups acceptable behavior by snapping or growling at unwanted behavior. This form of parenting helps pups learn obedience and makes training easier later in life! Additionally, puppies learn social skills from their litter mates. This helps with future interactions with people and other animals.
3) French Origins
The word “puppy” has french origins. The French word “poupee” translates to “doll” or “toy”. It has been said that Shakespeare’s play King John is the first work to reference the word “puppy”.
4) Importance of Sleep
Just like human babies, puppies spend a lot of time sleeping! Your pal tends to nap after meals and after a play in addition to their nightly sleep. Puppies need uninterrupted sleep for their muscles, brains, and immune systems to develop!
5) Litter Sizes Differ From Breeds
Larger breeds can hold more puppies during gestation than smaller dogs. So, it is usual for smaller breeds to have smaller litters. On average, a litter of puppies can be anywhere between 1 to 12 puppies!
6) Identical Twins
Puppies of the same litter often look similar. However, in 2016 a vet discovered that two of seven puppies were identical twins! The vet discovered the two pups shared a placenta while performing a C-section on an Irish Wolfhound. Later DNA testing confirmed that the two fur babies were identical.
Share these fun facts about your little companions with your friends and family to test their knowledge!