5 Superpowers That You Didn’t Know Dogs Have

We all know that every dog is a unique little snowflake, but as a species, they’re downright extraordinary. In fact, compared to human abilities, some of their skills seem almost superhuman. Below are just a few ways dogs stand out as truly remarkable creatures.

Predicting the Weather
It’s well-known that some animals can alert us to approaching storms, earthquakes, or tsunamis. Dogs are no exception, as they possess the ability to sense changes in atmospheric pressure. They might also detect static electricity buildup before lightning strikes or smell the formation of ozone that signals impending rain.
If your dog has a fear of thunderstorms, you may notice this ability even more. Atmospheric pressure can drop hours or even days before a storm arrives, and a storm-phobic dog might begin to show signs of anxiety long before the first clap of thunder. If your pup starts pacing, drooling, whining, cowering, or hiding without any apparent reason, check the weather forecast—you may find that a thunderstorm is on its way.

A Wider Field of Vision
While humans rely heavily on their eyesight, dogs place more importance on their senses of hearing and smell. Although our vision is sharper and more colorful than that of dogs, they do have a couple of visual advantages over us. For one, they can see in low light about five times better than humans can.
Even more impressive, dogs have a much broader field of vision. While humans can see just slightly beyond 180 degrees, dogs can see up to 270 degrees around them. This could explain why your bird-obsessed dog spots a pigeon on the curb before you do, or why an aggressive dog might react to another dog approaching from behind before their human even notices. This is also why it’s smart to bring high-value treats on walks—you can use them to regain your dog’s focus in surprising or stressful situations.

Built-in Navigation System
Many stories tell of lost dogs traveling vast distances—sometimes hundreds or even thousands of miles—to find their way home. Although such tales are rare and often exceptional, it’s possible that dogs have an innate sense of direction.
In addition to using landmarks like humans do, research suggests that dogs may have a magnetic compass built into their biology. A particularly unusual study observed dogs’ behavior while relieving themselves and found that they were sensitive to magnetic fields, often orienting themselves along a north-south axis. This means that if you’re ever lost, your dog’s bathroom habits might double as a compass—especially if you’ve trained them to go on cue. This ability could explain how dogs navigate long distances without GPS. It might also shed light on how clever city dogs in Russia have learned to use the subway.

Exceptional Hearing
Have you ever noticed your dog tilt her head toward the door before you even realize someone’s there? That’s because dogs’ hearing is about five times more sensitive than ours. While the structure of human and canine inner ears is similar, dogs have a unique advantage: their earflaps contain 18 additional muscles, which allow them to move their ears and pick up sounds more effectively. Dogs with upright ears generally hear better than those with floppy ears.
Because their hearing is so much sharper than ours, loud noises (like vacuum cleaners) can be distressing or even painful for them. If you live in a noisy area, such as a bustling city, or frequently use loud appliances, it’s important to help your dog acclimate. Introduce noisy environments gradually, pairing exposure with rewards like tasty treats so your dog develops a positive association. For adult dogs, it’s best to avoid loud places like construction zones or crowded streets to reduce their stress.

Superpowered Sense of Smell
It’s no secret that dogs have an incredible sense of smell. With up to 300 million olfactory receptors (compared to humans’ 6 million), their noses are truly amazing. This is why so many dogs have important jobs, such as detecting drugs, bombs, or even IEDs in war zones. Nearly half of a dog’s brain is dedicated to processing smells.

Researcher James Walker of the Sensory Research Institute at Florida State University puts this into perspective: “If you compare it to vision, what you and I can see at a third of a mile, a dog could see more than 3,000 miles away and still see as well.” Truly remarkable! It’s almost as though dogs can “see” through their noses. When they pick up a scent, they can determine details like the size and age of the creature, how long ago it was there, and where it went. So, the next time your dog wants to stop and sniff during a walk, let them enjoy it! They may not have access to the Internet, but they’re definitely hooked on “pee-mail.”