Dog Myths - Busted!

There have been stories that have been doing the rounds for centuries about canine behavior and health that falls short of what is the actual truth. Most of these tips, if incorporated, could lead to serious problems with the dog or those interacting with it. Here are five myths about dogs, busted:

Table scraps are good for your dog

This is completely false. Things like cheese, chocolate, garlic, spices and other such ingredients that are present in our food are very unhealthy for dogs and can cause serious health problems. Even leftovers such as chicken bones should not be fed to dogs as they can splinter and cause choking, gastrointestinal damage and even death.

Dogs wag their tails when they are happy

Although dogs do wag their tails as an expression of joy or excitement, they may do so for other reasons as well. A wagging tail can also portray fear, anxiety and aggression. The best way to determine a dog’s mood is by focusing on the overall body language instead of just looking at its tail.

Dogs can only see in black and white

This is another popular myth, which is only partially true. Since the canine retina has only two types of cones, green and blue, they see colors more towards the blue side of the spectrum. This means they see things mostly in greenish-yellow, yellow, blue and shades of grey, but not completely in black and white.

A dry nose indicates that the dog is unwell

This is a very popular belief, originating from when canine distemper was rampant. Symptoms were thickening of the nose and foot pads, causing them to become hard and dry. However, due to vaccines distemper has almost been eradicated. A Dog’s nose is usually warm and dry when it has just woken up. However, a nose that is always dry and crusted may be a sign of a health issue. On the other hand, an excessively wet or runny nose may also be a sign of illness.

Dogs destroy furniture and household belongings because they are angry

Usually, this is not the case. There could be many reasons why they destroy household items, for example when they are teething. Also, they tend to target things that may smell like their owner, as familiar scents comfort dogs.

Once you can put aside these false beliefs about dogs and their behavior, you can focus on what really matters, teaching your dog how to be a well-behaved companion!