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Why are dog noses black?

Dog noses are black for two main reasons. The first is to protect the dog's nose from being burnt by the sun, and the second is the intervention of human aesthetic preferences during the breeding process. Black-nosed dogs are relatively common in daily life, but some dogs may also change their nose color due to environmental changes, diseases, and pigmentation, such as some Labrador Retrievers whose nose turns pink as they age.

  1. Protect the dog's nose from sunburn

Since dog noses lack hair protection, black noses can effectively inhibit ultraviolet rays, preventing gene mutations in dogs caused by UV exposure. Conversely, after exposure to sunlight, these substances will further darken, making the dog's black nose even darker and not fade.

  1. Aesthetic preferences of humans during the breeding process

Black-nosed dogs are more popular, so people tend to continue this healthy trait when breeding new breeds. Although this is just a human aesthetic requirement without any other significance, it is still a form of artificial selection and will affect the bloodline of domesticated dogs.