5 Common Dog Myths

Myths are created from the unknown. It’s no different for dogs.

However these myths were originated, whether from old folklore or historical events, these five myths have been debunked. Everyone who is a good dog owner wants the best for their little (or big) companion, and some very common myths can be damaging to your little guy’s well-being.

Check out these five myths to learn more.

1. Myth: “A warm or dry dog nose means a dog is sick.”

This is a very common myth spread around. A warm or dry nose is not a good indicator for your pup’s health. In fact, a dog’s nose may be warm and/or dry if he or she had just woken up.

Anything from dry air, to allergies, to taking a nap can affect the wetness of your dog’s nose, says Petful.com.

The origin of this myth is somewhat unknown, but it is likely grounded in fact. Some believe the myth may have been started by a disease in some dogs called canine distemper.

Canine distemper is a deadly virus that was once more of a problem than it is now, thanks to vaccines. One symptom of canine distemper is hyperkeratosis, or thickening of the nose and footpads.

A nose that has been consistently dry and crusty could be a sign of a health problem. Contact your local veterinarian if you notice any abnormal appearances on your dog’s nose or any other signs of illness.

2. Myth: “Canines can only see in black and white.”

This is regarded as one of the most common myths in the world, and for good reason.

Humans and many other primates have trichromatic vision, which is vision made up of three cone cells used for controlling color perception (red, green, and blue). Dogs and other canines have dichromatic vision. They have two cone cells, compared to our three (yellow and blue).

Interestingly enough, the American Kennel Club says that dogs can see some color, but the spectrum is much more limited to what human can perceive.

There is no evidence behind the origins, although it is most likely to do with old science. Scientists may have come to a conclusion that dogs could only see in black and white before they fully understood the canine eye and the functions of cones.

Canine color vision is thought to be considered similar to red-green color blindness in humans, although it is not exactly the same. It is believed that dogs primarily see in blue, greenish-yellow, yellow, and some shades of gray, but they can probably see the blue spectrum the best.

Check out Dog-Vision.com. It will give you an approximation of how your dog can see the world.

3. Myth: “Dogs wag their tails only when they’re happy.”

While a wagging tail could suggest enthusiasm, excitement, happiness or eagerness, it’s not always the case. Sometimes a wagging tail can indicate aggression or fear in the dog, as well as a warning that you might want to back off.

If you come across a stray dog or a dog that is unknown to you with a wagging tail, stay aware. It could mean more than its excitement to see you.

The tail can will wag slower, rapidly, or while the dog is turned over on its back, but pay attention to the rest of the dog’s body language as a better indication as to the dog’s current temperament.

4. Myth: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

Although this is not true, it may be based in some truth. Many older dogs can suffer from vision or hearing loss, making it more difficult for an older dog hear or see you trying to teach them or to follow your commands.

Many people believe that this myth was started by older people who didn’t want to learn something new, like a skill, or by people too lazy to teach an older dog a trick.

Age is not a determining factor, though, as dogs can learn new tricks at any time or age. In fact, teaching your dog new tricks helps keep their mind healthy and their body active.

5. Myth: “Dog mouths are cleaner than human mouths.”

This is an odd myth to be circulated so much. Have you seen dogs? They sniff and lick butts, they eat and sample poop, they lick their wounds, etc. Honestly, a dog’s mouth contains more bacteria than you’d like to think about.

This myth was most likely started from the fact that dogs lick their wounds and they sometimes heal faster because of it. Dogs lick their wounds because their rough tongues help remove dead tissue and promote circulation, but it can sometimes do more harm by introducing bacteria and irritating the wound.

All in all, as long as you keep your dog dewormed, up-to-date on its vaccines, and healthy, you won’t have much to worry over.