What do you call your dog as “doggo” or “pupper”. Whatever you call them, Most of us love dogs. They are friendly and loyal. But we all have some myths and misconceptions that are needed to be busted. So,if you have a dog here are the 10 myths about them that most of us believe are true.
10 – They Are Color-Blind
You’ve probably been told at least once in your life that dogs are color-blind, meaning they are only able to perceive black and white. This is, in fact, just a myth. Although a dog’s vision does not enable it to experience colors in the way that we do, they are able to see some colors. Rather than a gray-scale spectrum, dogs tend to see more in yellows, blues, and violets. This means that colors available in the human spectrum of vision—such as red, green, and orange—are not accessible to canines. In both humans and dogs, the photoreceptors in the retina contain rods and cones. However, what causes our vision to differ is the presence of a fovea (a minor depression in the retina) that gives us the ability to see with sharp visual detail. This isn’t present in dogs.
9 –When They Wag Their Tails, It Means They’re Happy
This one isn’t entirely false. When a dog wags its tail, it could indeed indicate happiness. However, this isn’t always the case. Unlike humans, dogs do not express emotions through their facial expressions. They use their tails for this. Some gestures are relatively obvious. For example, a tail tucked between the legs shows fear. But what about the wag? If a dog is portraying happiness, its entire back body will generally sway with the tail. A dog whose tail is standing high and wagging slowly is actually indicating caution. If you are unfamiliar to the dog, this could be a warning sign to you to keep your distance. If the tail is lowered and wagging frantically, this could suggest that the dog is about to run or fight (depending on the situation).
8 –The Larger They Are, The Longer They Live
Actually, generally speaking, the opposite is true. Although the average life span of small dog breeds such as the Chihuahua and dachshund is around 14–15 years, the average life span of larger breeds such as the Alaskan malamute is 8–10 years. This life span decreases even further for “giant” breeds such as Saint Bernard, as their average life span is just 5–8 years. Sadly yet unsurprisingly, the decreased life expectancy of larger dogs is due to how they have been bred by humans over the years. Larger dogs grow rapidly in their first year. Great Danes (the largest dog breed) develop five times faster than humans. Due to this speedy growth, large dog breeds also age quickly, meaning that their lives are shortened.
7 –They Can’t See Flat-Screen TVs
This often thought that dogs are completely unable to perceive images on a flat-screen TV due to their different experience of vision. However, this isn’t exactly the case. CRT TVs (the old-fashioned kind) produce images at roughly 24 frames per second, which appears to us as a moving image. When they watch CRT TV, they will just see lots of flickering. But what about modern TVs? The myth that dogs are unable to see images on a flat-screen TV is almost definitely false because the number of frames provided in one second is much higher than the rate produced by old-fashioned TVs. Also, there is definitive proof that dogs react to images on plasma TVs, proving that they are able to see something.
6 –You Should Wake Them Up If They Appear To Be Having A Nightmare
For owners who witness their dogs whining and twitching in their sleep, it can be quite stressful leaving them when they appear to be uncomfortable. Many owners take it upon themselves to break the canine free of its supposed sleepy horrors. However, this could actually be more stressful and harmful to the dog’s health. Like humans, dogs require a certain amount of deep sleep to ensure good mental health and normal development. Dogs tend to nap between 14–16 hours every day, but very little of this is deep sleep. When a dog appears to be dreaming, it is most likely gaining some of that vital deep sleep it requires. Disrupting this sleep could actually be unhealthy for them.
5 – If Their Noses Are Wet, They Are Healthy
Actually, a dog with a warm, dry nose could be just as healthy as one whose nose is cold and wet. From day to day, the temperature and dampness of a dog’s nose will change. This could be due to their recent activity, environment, or possibly other factors. The wetness and temperature of a dog’s nose are not in the slightest a valid or even reliable measurement of its health. A dog with a wet, cold nose could be suffering from a serious illness, just as a dog with a hot, dry nose could be. If you ever catch your dog with a dry nose, don’t be concerned. He’s probably just been lying out enjoying the sun.
4 –Bacon Won’t Harm Them
Although it is common knowledge that dogs should not be given chocolate, many people are unaware that many other human food products can harm dogs, too. Perhaps the most shocking in that collection is bacon.For most people, it seems logical that bacon would be a decent treat to gift to your canine companion from time to time. After all, bacon is meat and meat is an essential part of a dog’s diet. However, bacon can actually be very harmful to dogs and possibly lead to long-term health problems. The rich levels of fat and grease in this pork snack can cause inflammation of the pancreas, which is referred to as pancreatitis. Pancreatitis diminishes the ability of the pancreas, meaning that it cannot function properly. This can lead to your dog digesting food incorrectly and becoming extremely ill.
3 –English Bulldogs Have A Flat Face Due To A Breeding Mistake
With its stocky shoulders, jutted-out jaw, and wrinkled skin, the English bulldog is probably one of the most distinguishable of all dog breeds. One of the common risks with bulldogs is a brachycephalic syndrome, a disorder found in dogs with short heads and narrowed nostrils. Ironically, the English bulldog was bred to have this odd facial structure to improve its breathing for its early purpose. The English bulldog was primarily bred for the purpose of bullbaiting. At the time, people believed that this tenderized the meat by thinning the blood of the animal. This belief encouraged laws to be made in many areas of England stating that bulls had to be baited before being slaughtered. The short, flat skull of the bulldog actually helped him breathe when baiting bulls as he could maintain a firm grip on the bull while still being able to breathe through his nose.
2 –They Enjoy Being Hugged
This fact is a little hard-hitting for dog lovers. Between humans, a hug is a loving, comforting gesture. Displaying that behavior to our dogs is just our way of showing them that we care. However, dogs don’t quite interpret the act in the same way. To dogs, the positioning of a limb over the body is a showcase of dominance, which makes the dog under the limb feel anxious. This is the action we use when hugging. In our attempt to show our affection to our buddy, we’re actually portraying dominance in his eyes. However, this isn’t true for all dogs. How your dog feels about a hug depends on his personality and interpretation of the action. If a dog has a nervous reaction to the gesture, he will demonstrate this by changing his body language. The dog may become stiff, close his mouth, and maybe lick his lip.
1 –Dogs Eat Grass When They’re Ill
It’s commonly thought that the sole purpose of dogs eating grass is to allow themselves to be sick in order to purge something harmful from their stomachs. In actual fact, this is rarely the case. Less than 10 percent of dogs that eat grass appear to be sick. Sometimes, dogs eat grass due to a condition called pica which causes animals to have cravings for anything containing nutrients and minerals they are lacking. Pica can also occur as a result of boredom, which can lead your dog to eating other bizarre things such as paint chips. Other times, dogs eating grass may be due to territorial factors. Dogs may eat grass to taste who has been on their territory. A more simple explanation for the behavior, however, is just that dogs enjoy the taste of grass.
