What Are The Biggest Dog Myths?
Dogs are undoubtedly one of the most common animals you’d find in the majority of households that keep pets. Their unfaltering loyalty, fluffy fur, soft coat, cute barks, and more, have seamlessly won the hearts of many pet parents. However, there are many speculations and superstitions surrounding these loyal breeds. And as expected, we are here to happily demystify some of the most popular dog myths known to man. Sit tight, because some of them might actually surprise you. Here we go!
Dogs Can Only See In Black And White
A good number of us were convinced by this popular myth that dogs can only see with x-ray vision. It not only sounded cool, but had some scientific backing no? Well, it will surprise you to know that’s not entirely true. Dogs can make out some bright colors such as blue and yellow, their color detection may not just be as advanced as ours. They are able to tell fewer colors in the spectrum apart but may not be able to view their environs and the world at large in its full vibrancy. See it as a situation of color blindness, where they can’t fully distinguish between colors like red and green. They have dichromatic color perception while most mammals and humans have trichromatic color perception. So yes, there’s a possibility that your pet is viewing that red squeaky toy you got it as yellow.
Dogs Eat Grass To Induce Vomiting
You’ve probably seen a dog throw up after ‘grazing’ on a grass field, many have speculated that an already queasy dog does this to relieve an upset stomach. The thought that dogs intentionally chewed on grass whenever they felt sick in their stomach probably came from pet parents that noticed the connection between the two. However, contrary to that belief, some dogs may actually just really like to eat grass, and it’s a completely normal phenomenon even among wild dogs. Eating too much of it is definitely likely to upset the stomach, and that’s why some dogs are seen throwing up right after. Veterinarians went further to clear the air, explaining that dogs eating grass should be considered as a totally normal and natural behavior.
A Warm Dry Nose Means The Dog Is Sick
It has become a common speculation or better still, yardstick to use a dog’s nose to determine the state of their health. It’s believed that if the nose is warm and dry, then it’s time to pick up and visit the vet. Well, you may spare yourself some useful bills with this vital information; a warm and dry nose does not necessarily mean that your dog is sick. In fact, a warm nose is deemed completely natural and should not be considered as an indicating sign of illness. A dog’s nose could easily become dry when exposed to dry air, temperature changes and the likes. Even something as simple and natural as taking a nap could determine how dry or wet your dog’s nose could be. On the other hand, if the dog’s nose stays dry overtime to the point of cracking, accompanied by a runny nose, maybe it is time to make an appointment with the vet.
Dogs Naturally Have A Clean Mouth
There’s much wonder where or how this particular myth came about, Is there any animal that has a self cleansing mouth? Their teeth may not decay as fast as ours thanks to the type of food they are exposed to, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need a good oral hygiene routine. The main reason behind the need to constantly take care of our teeth as humans is simple… diet. While we consume an array of cooked foods, snacks, fizzy drinks and the likes, animals either consume plants, raw meat or both. They equally don’t stand the risk of tooth decay because of their sugarless diet and strict water consumption. So please don’t get carried away by the people saying it’s okay to share a hotdog with your dog just because ‘their mouth is cleaner than yours’. Just like humans, there are good and bad bacteria lingering in their mouth that could be harmful to you.
For more options, check out our detailed reviews of the Best Dog Toothpaste and Best Dog Toothbrushes.
A Wagging Tail Means A Happy Dog
This is indeed a very popular belief among both pet owners and non-pet owners, it has a viable foundation too. This particular idea could get you on the bad side of a tail wagging dog that is ‘not so happy’. Yes, it is known that dogs usually wag their tails when they are happy, excited and thrilled at something. You’d find them wagging away when their pet parent comes home, or when offered their favorite treat or chew toy. In addition to wagging their tails for happy reasons, they are other reasons why they could be doing that. Reading a dog’s body language may be harder than it actually seems, and tail wagging is one of the numerous ways dogs communicate. While it does connote happiness and excitement, it could also depict fear, anxiety or foretell possible aggression.
Dogs Should Eat Like Wolves
Science has proven that dogs and wolves share a very common ancestry; they basically originated from the same animal. As the decades have gone by, dogs have evolved to be a more omnivorous species and not strict carnivores like their brothers. However, some are of the opinion that dogs require a strict ‘raw meat’ diet to thrive just like the wolves. This idea is baseless and may be harmful to a dogs health. Even wild dogs consume both meat and vegetation. It has become only natural to mix up their diet and have the best of both worlds. So strictly offering a raw meat diet can result in harmful health consequences for your pet. It’s best to consider a more balanced diet that would be more nutritious and friendly to the dogs evolved biological needs instead.
Rubbing Your Dog’s Nose in an Accident Will Prevent Them in Future
So we know how annoying it can be to come home to a little accident around the house, and they’ve been different tips by various people on how to stop those slips from happening. One of which is to dip or rub the dog’s nose in their ‘emissions’. It’s easier to teach or train a dog on their behavioral downers when the event actually happens. Punishing them much later may not prove to be as effective, so the clueless dog would probably repeat such in future. The best way to ‘potty train’ a dog is to be around at the time they are easing themselves in a wrong location, reprimand and take them to the appropriate place. It’s equally important to clean up messes with an anti-bacterial, pet-friendly cleaner that would totally eliminate the smells left behind.
Dogs Hate The Mailman
Dogs can sometimes be a bit aggressive to strangers and the most common, to the mailman. A picture of a dog chasing the mailman or dragging on his trousers is one that easily pops up once this header is read. The exact reason why they do that may be unknown, but it’s unlikely that they just have an innate hatred for all mailmen. It is important to note that dogs see their pet parents as their masters/mistresses, and have the natural feeling to protect. So when an unknowing person approaches the premises, the first instinct would probably be to attack. This is probably why most resident dogs chase after the mailman; they don’t necessarily have any personal vendetta against the man or the mail.
Garlic is a Great Household Remedy for Fleas and Ticks
The are a lot of quick or easy home remedies a lot of sites propagate on the internet, they may seem safe and effective since they are natural but end up doing more harm than good. Garlic has been mentioned by a number of people and sites as a good remedy for fleas and ticks, and you may have heard of this too. First off, garlic isn’t known to scientifically be effective against fleas, in fact, on the other hand, it may end up harming a good number of dogs that ingest it. Garlic has medically been known to cause a rare disease called hemolytic anemia; this causes the body to attack the red blood cells. As the name implies, it consequently causes a bad case of anemia in dogs which is quite expensive to treat.
You may also like our guide on Flea Treatment for Dogs.
A Dogs Thick Fur Will Protect Them When It’s Cold
It’s easy to think that a furry dog won’t need a warm place to snuggle in the winter because of their thick coat and fur. First off, this is not a guarantee, especially in areas, regions or seasons where/when it’s extremely cold. Dogs do feel cold and may essentially get frostbite on their paws, behind the ears and even the scrotum. These areas are generally the parts where the fur doesn’t cover. Yet all in all, don’t assume a furry dog would naturally feel warm. Get them a warm bed and covers in the winter to prevent the cold from numbing susceptible areas. While furry dogs stand a better chance of having fun in the winter, they still need to be well taken care of during such periods.
You may also like our guides on Heated Dog Beds and Dog Beds.
Source:
- Common Dog Myths – Blue Cross
