Dog Facts for Kids

A Picture of a Dog
  • Name: Dog
  • Trinomial Name: Canis lupus familiaris
  • Lifespan: Between 10 and 13 years (average)
  • Diet: Meat (carnivorous)
  • Range: Worldwide (domesticated)
  • Length: Varies by breed
  • Weight: Varies by breed

17 Dog Facts for Kids

  1. Dogs are members of the Canidae family and the Canis genus.
  2. Their scientific trinomial name is Canis lupus familiaris.
  3. As of 2019, the AKC (American Kennel Club) recognizes 202 standard dog breeds.
  4. Dogs were the first animal species to be domesticated by humans.
  5. The average length of a dog varies by breed, they can be as short as 6 inches and as long as 8 feet.
  6. The average weight of a dog varies by breed, they can weigh as little as 4 ounces, or more than 300 pounds.
  7. It’s estimated there are over 900 million domesticated dogs worldwide.
  8. It’s estimated there are over 75 million domesticated dogs in the United States of America.
  9. Dogs are the most popular domestic pet in the world.
  10. When a puppy is born, it’s blind, deaf and has no teeth.
  11. A healthy, genetically normal adult dog will have 42 teeth.
  12. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell. They have around 300 million receptors in the nose. To put that into context, a human only has around 5 million receptors.
  13. Dogs do see in color, contrary to popular beliefs. However, they don’t see colors as vivid as humans do.
  14. Pet owners give their dogs all kinds of unique names. However, the most popular names are Max, Molly, Sam, Zach and Maggie.
  15. Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on the planet, reaching a running speed of up to 45 miles per hour.
  16. Dogs don’t curl up into a ball when they sleep to keep warm. Long ago, before dogs were domesticated, they would curl up into a ball when they slept to protect their organs from predators.
  17. Dalmatians are born with no spots and are completely white. Their spots develop as they get older.

Additional Resources on Dogs

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