Interesting facts and myths about dogs

There are many myths around every fact about dogs. So what do you believe when someone tells you something about your pet? Here are 10 of the most common misconceptions about our furry friends.

1. Dogs have black and white vision.

One of the most common myths about dogs is that dogs are color blind. According to the American Kennel Club, dogs can see some colors, but the spectrum is limited compared to human vision. Dogs have dichromatic vision, meaning their eyes have only two types of cones that perceive colors. Humans and most other primates have three types of cones and therefore have trichromatic vision. To find out how your dog sees the world (similar to a person with red-green color blindness, according to scientists), you can use the Dog Vision online tool. The dog sees this orange squeaky toy in blue!

2. The age of the dog in human terms

It is common knowledge that dogs age much faster than humans, and one common misconception is that one year of a pet’s life is equal to seven human years. This vague formula implies that a ten-year-old dog is the same age as a seventy-year-old man. According to Priceonomics, this myth has existed since the XNUMXth century! Your puppy grows and ages very quickly, but the seven year old (or three for cats) rule is not accurate. In fact, there is not a single exact formula for comparing the age of dogs and people, because you need to take into account the mass, breed and heredity. Want to know how old your dog is now compared to your brother or grandfather? Pet Health Network® has developed a great chart based on dog weight and age so you can get information about how your pet ages over time.

3. The dog has a warm and dry nose – what does this mean?

It is generally accepted that a healthy dog ​​has a cold and wet nose. However, warm or dry noses are completely normal for dogs and should not be taken as a cause for concern for your pet’s health. Petful writes that everything from dry air and allergies to sleep can affect the moisture in a dog’s nose. If your dog’s nose is consistently dry, cracked, or if there is swelling of the mucous membranes (not just moisture), then you should be concerned if you make an appointment with your veterinarian.

4. Dogs have a clean mouth

Ugh! Of all the myths about dogs, this one is the most unthinkable. A dog explores the world with its mouth and nose, which means that even in your wildest fantasies you can’t imagine what was in your pet’s mouth during the day. Oh yes, many more dogs eat their own feces – and this is quite normal. If oral hygiene is important to you, develop the habit of brushing your dog’s teeth daily. As for whether you can get sick from dog kissing, The New York Times reports that the germs in your dog’s mouth are unique to dogs. By the way, some pathogens, such as salmonella, can be transmitted to humans through dog saliva, but serious infections are relatively rare. So don’t worry if the dog suddenly licks you.

5. Why do dogs wag their tails?

Do you think your puppy is happy to have you at home when he wags his tail from side to side? You may be right, but tail wagging means much more than just happiness. According to PawCulture, a wagging tail can also be a sign of anxiety, frustration, or nervousness. So how can you tell if your dog is feeling happy or anxious when he sees you? Pay attention to the dog’s entire body language. The Pet Health Network suggests considering tail wagging in combination with the dog’s posture, ear position, and gaze when you approach it.

6. Can dogs eat raw meat?

Yes, dogs and wolves are related, and they are descended from the same animal. However, over thousands of years, they have evolved from purely carnivorous animals such as wolves to omnivores. This means that eating only raw meat can actually have very negative health consequences for your pet. In addition, domesticated domestic animals are different from wild animals living in the forest: wolves usually live only about six years – much less than dogs, in whose life proper nutrition plays a significant role. So ignore the ads when pet food companies say you should feed your dog “wolf” food. Instead, look for nutritionally balanced foods that have biological value and are formulated specifically for dogs.

7. It’s okay to leave your dog in the car.

No no and one more time no! In extreme weather conditions, dogs can develop serious health problems after just a few minutes of sitting in a car where it is too hot or too cold. On such days it is better not to leave the dog in the car. Even your short trip to the store can turn out to be very deplorable for the dog if you get stuck there for a while. In some countries it is even legal to break the windows of a car to save a dog if it has been left there. Do not do that! Remember that this is your big-eared baby and, as with human babies, never leave him unattended in a locked car.

8. An adult dog is not trainable.

This is one of the most common myths about dogs – and it is as far from reality as the rest. There is some truth to this, though, and that is that a dog needs to be prepared for social life from an early age in order to avoid behavioral problems. Learning is possible at any age.

9. Dogs hate postmen

So, we don’t know if your dog has a real vendetta against your mail carrier, their strange behavior usually comes from the need to warn and protect you – their pack leader. So when they see this stranger approaching your house, they just do what they need to do to protect you. One way to curb this behavior is to introduce the dog to your postal operator a couple of times so that he perceives this person as a friend, not a threat.

10. Why do cats and dogs fight?

Cats are independent, finicky creatures, while dogs are curious and generally friendly. It was this opinion that gave rise to the myth of the enmity of dogs and cats. They will get along and even be friends if properly introduced and socialized. This does not mean that your cat will not hit the puppy when he wants to play with her. The cat just wants to be alone. Therefore, it is necessary to understand at what point the situation may escalate, and try to resolve it by switching the attention of a playful puppy to something else. From the misconception about the enmity of cats and dogs, the myth of a secret society of cats trying to take over the world, and dogs – the first line of defense, was born. This myth has not yet been debunked.

11. If you poke your dog’s nose into his stool, he will no longer poop.

Another myth. A dog will usually only realize that it has committed a misdemeanor if you catch it in the act. When you come home and find that the dog has messed up, you poke his nose into this “dirty thing”, but it is very likely that he will not even understand what he did wrong. So, you are essentially punishing a dog that doesn’t even understand what it is being punished for – this can aggravate the situation and create additional problems in the future. It is best to try to catch her at the moment of committing a “crime” and send her to the right place. Also, don’t forget to clean the area where your pet messed up with a pet-friendly cleaner, as dogs have a keen sense of smell and will often return to places they have previously marked.

Bonus: Dogs look forward to your care.

It’s safe to say that it’s true! Your dog considers you his master and relies on your care. This means that you must feed her properly, groom her regularly, train her, take her to the vet, pamper her even more and stroke her when she needs it.

It’s not hard to see how misconceptions spread, and now you – as a well-informed pet owner – must put things in their proper place. The next time you hear one of these dog myths from a friend, tell them how things really are!