Lifestyle

Wiekes weetjes: 10 facts about your dog

By Wieke Veenboer | #!31Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:45:38 +0200+02:003831#31Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:45:38 +0200+02:00-7Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam202631 29am31am-31Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:45:38 +0200+02:007Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam2026312026Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:45:38 +0200457453amSunday=9#!31Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:45:38 +0200+02:00Europe\/Amsterdam3#03-29-2026#!31Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:45:38 +0200+02:003831#\/31Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:45:38 +0200+02:00-7Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam202631#!31Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:45:38 +0200+02:00Europe\/Amsterdam3#

Although I am more of a cat person than a dog person, a barking four-legged friend also makes me very happy. Ideally, I would later live in a large detached house with as many cats and dogs as possible (that do not fight with each other, please).

And the more I learn about dogs, the more I will like them. Take these ten facts: if you know this, how can you not love dogs?

1. Dogs do not know guilt
‘They do know ’primary' feelings like happiness and sadness, but not secondary emotions; guilt and shame, for example.

2. Dogs pet you to show their love
When your dog puts his/her paw on you, that is their way of saying they love you. Although it can sometimes also mean they are hungry or need something else.

3. Dogs can feel jealousy
And they feel it, for example, when you are petting another dog. Yep, dogs are one of the few species that can have this, just like humans.

4. Dogs know your rhythm exactly
And that is partly due to their good sense of smell; if you leave and return at around the same time every day, they can tell by the scent what time it is and how long it takes before you finally come back.

5. It is a good sign if your dog looks at you when he/she is pooping
They are at their most vulnerable then — and your dog looks at you because you serve as protection against danger.

6. Stray dogs in Moscow know how to take the metro
This was in the news in 2010; and yes, they also knew exactly their standard stop where they had to get off. Smarter than you would think, dogs.

7. A dog can also become mayor
At least, in the village of Idyllwild in California. There has been a dog mayor since 2012, named Mayor Max. He passed away in 2013 and now Mayor Max II is the figurehead of this place.

8. Dogs are not gourmets
Their taste buds are only one-sixth of what we have. This means they actually eat almost anything; they just don't taste that much.

9. Dogs dream of their owners
Isn't this the cutest thing ever?

10. Dogs cry when they are reunited with their owners
No wait, maybe this is the cutest thing ever...

Image: Netflix