Here are some fun things to know about puppies.
Puppies are adorable, cute and can brighten up a bad day. It would be hard to find a person who doesn't find a puppy cute. However, there is so much more to them than that. Here are a few fun facts about puppies you may not know.
Puppies have baby teeth
When puppies are born, they are toothless. Their teeth start to come in after about two to four weeks. When they are about 12 to 16 weeks old, their baby teeth fall out. They begin to sport their adult teeth around the time they are six months.
Puppies need to sleep a lot
Just like a newborn human baby, puppies need to sleep a lot. They need around 15 to 20 hours of sleep a day. While it may be tempting to wake them up from their nap, experts advise against it. This rest period helps in the developing process of their brain, immune system and muscles. They should also have their own sleeping area where they will not be disturbed.
They are blind and deaf at birth
At birth, puppies are blind and deaf. This may be a fascinating insight many may not be aware of. However, there is good reason for it. Pregnancy can make it difficult for a carnivore to hunt its food. That is why dogs evolved to have short gestation periods. A brief pregnancy allowed for canine mothers not to take long breaks from hunting. But because dog embryos spend little time in the womb, puppies are not fully developed when they are born. They heavily rely on their sense of smell to find their mother during this time.
Sometimes puppies are born green
In some cases, puppies are born green. This generally occurs in a light-coloured litter. While it is rare, it tends to occur when a green pigment found in dog placentas stains a light-haired puppy. The colour slowly disappears after a few weeks.
Even puppies can have identical twins
While there is still much to learn about identical twin puppies, it can happen. This is a relatively new discovery and scientists are still trying to find out how common this is.
Looking at a puppy could make you more productive
A 2012 study found participants who were asked to look at pictures of puppies and kittens were able to concentrate more easily on their tasks than other participants who looked at images of food and adult animals.
