Fact or Fiction: 9 Myths About Dogs
There are so many “facts” about dogs circulating around out there that are just untrue. To help you discern fact from fiction about man’s best friend, here are some that are tales that are nothing more than myths.
1. Dogs are color blind. Sure… and skunks have no sense of smell, and whales breathe under water (none of this is true)! Dogs CAN see in color, however, due to the cones in a dog’s retina, a dog’s color vision inclines more on the blue zone of the color spectrum so it does differ from humans.
2. A dog’s mouth is extremely clean! Ewww, really? This is definitely untrue. Just think about some of the things your dog licks, eats, or just puts in his mouth. It is pretty evident that a dog’s mouth is not as clean as some people would have you believe. A dog’s mouth, like any mouth for that matter, contains a significant amount of germs, bacteria and other gross things. Well, most of these aren’t harmful to dogs and humans, but you still don’t want your dog to be replacing your dishwasher…
3. Cold Wet Nose = Healthy, Warm Dry Nose = Illness This makes no sense at all. If your dog’s nose is warm and dry, it just means that your dog’s nose is warm and dry!
4. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” This is just silly. Although it isn’t easy to teach an old dog new tricks, with a little work and attention it can be done. An older dog may not possess the reflexes or energy of a younger dog, but with a little patience and lots of love and treats, the task can be done.
5. Tail Wagging = Happy Dog! Although it is true that dogs usually wag their tails when happy or excited, they also do so for a number of reasons. Tail wagging can also suggest anxiety or fear, which are triggers of aggression. Don’t just assume that behind a wagging tail is a dog welcoming your presence.
6. Indoor dogs don’t need heart worm prevention. Dogs contract heart worms through mosquitoes, and unfortunately the annoying critters do get inside buildings. Heart worm prevention is essential. Heart worm treatment is long and expensive treatment, and the damage can be devastating. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
7. Only male dogs mount other dogs. Research tells us that mounting is often an act of dominance and is perfectly normal. Males and females show signs of dominance however, this most notable in male dogs. Some research may suggest that dogs low in confidence may be more apt to display this behavior.
8. One year of a human’s life is seven dog years. While your dog does age faster than a human, this method of calculation is outdated. There are many factors associated with dog years versus people years. A dog’s breed and size are two such factors; smaller dogs typically live longer than their larger counterparts.
9. Specific breeds such as Pitt Bulls and Rottweilers are always aggressive and will attack anyone. Any dog can be aggressive without proper socialization. No dog is born inherently vicious, and a number of things go into whether or not a dog is aggressive including training, socialization and mental health.
