Dogs have been living with humans for a very long time. And it would seem that during this time we could learn everything about our four-legged comrades, especially since science does not stand still. However, there are still misconceptions that complicate the life of both dogs and their owners.
1. Dogs see in black and white
Dogs really don’t see like humans, but the world is still not black and white for them. Scientists believe that these animals see their surroundings in various shades of blue and yellow.
The thing is that in any eye there are light receptors called cones and rods. Cones help to distinguish colors, and sticks help to see in dim light. So there are fewer cones in dogs than in humans, which means that our pets simply cannot distinguish all the colors that we see. For example, dogs cannot distinguish red from green, so when looking at a traffic light, they focus only on the brightness of signals and the behavior of people. But dog eyes have more sticks than human eyes, which means that they see better in the dark and in dim light.
2. One year of a dog’s life is equal to seven years of a human
This myth is extremely popular, but also incorrect. This can be explained very simply – most dogs reach puberty at the age of one year, and according to popular beliefs, this would have to correspond to the human age of 7 years. In addition, some pets live for 20 years or more — that is, if translated into human age, it would be equal to 140 human years, which, of course, is unrealistic. In addition, the lifespan of four-legged friends is closely related to the breed, and dogs of larger breeds usually live less than small ones.
3. The dog is wagging his tail with joy
Of course, a dog can wag its tail if it is glad to see you or wants to show its love. But not the only reasons.
In fact, the body language of dogs is very complex, and the same movements can mean different states. Therefore, wagging the tail is both joy, love, excitement, and a manifestation of vigilance or fear. To understand for sure what is currently happening with the pet, keep an eye on the accompanying manifestations.
4. If the nose is dry, the dog is sick
Many dog owners determine the health status of their dogs by the humidity of the nose. In fact, the nose can dry even when your dog is absolutely healthy, if:
- He has just woken up — his nose may dry out in a dream;
- He’s been running around and wants to drink — dehydration also dries his nose;
- It is affected by the weather — exposure to the sun, wind or cold can dry the dog’s nose. Also lying near heat sources such as fire or battery can cause dry skin on your dog’s nose;
- Your pet has just grown up — some dogs get dry nose with age.
It is also worth noting that sick dogs may have a wet nose. So much more important indicators of a pet’s health are its behavior, activity and appetite.
5. You only need to train large dogs
Some owners believe that small dogs do not need to be trained, and therefore do not teach their chihuahuas how to behave on the street. Therefore, sometimes random passers-by are horrified at the sight of these small aggressive dogs.
In fact, any dog needs to be brought up so that she knows exactly how to behave in a given situation, and how not to. In addition, training helps to better establish a connection between the pet and the owner. The earlier the training begins, the better, because in this case you will not have to wean your friend from already accumulated bad habits.
6. Dogs learn well only in childhood
Of course, most often dogs begin to be trained in puppyhood, while they do not understand anything and absorb information like a sponge. However, it also happens that a pet gets to people already adults, and its behavior needs to be corrected. The good news is real. Moreover, adult dogs are often even easier to train, as they have more self-control. The bad news is that the dog may not want to be trained. But in this case, it’s not about age, but about her character. So when training an aged dog, it is better to be patient and always make allowances for the physical capabilities of the pet: do not forget that some older dogs have hearing, vision and joint problems.
7. Before sterilization, the dog needs to give birth at least once
There is still a fairly common myth that before sterilization, it is useful for a dog to undergo a sexual cycle or even give birth once. In fact, this will not make the animal healthier. In fact, sterilizing a dog before the first cycle will significantly reduce the likelihood of breast cancer later in life. This will also completely eliminate the possibility of developing uterine or ovarian cancer and uterine infections. So sterilization can be safely carried out in the first 6 months of the animal’s life. Moreover, many veterinarians now sterilize healthy dogs at the age of 8 weeks.
8. There are fighting dog breeds
They most often include, for example, pit bulls, Dobermans or Rottweilers, which are famous for their aggressiveness and bloodlust. But veterinarians note that there is no such thing as “fighting breeds”. This myth was born due to the fact that pit bulls, Dobermans and Rottweilers were specially bred for dog fighting.
At the same time, experts identify breeds that are classified as potentially dangerous — these are large and strong dogs that can cause serious injuries to people. Such pets need to be given more time and attention to properly educate them, and then there should be no problems.
9. There are dogs for allergy sufferers
This may upset people with animal allergies, but there are no anti-allergic dogs. People with allergic reactions to dogs do not react at all to wool, but to a special protein contained in the structure of the dog’s fur or saliva. All dogs have these proteins. However, representatives of some breeds may cause fewer allergy symptoms than others.
10. Dogs don’t need clothes
Of course, dogs with dense and thick fur, for example, Samoyed, do not need outerwear — they are quite warm in winter. However, small and miniature short hair dogs, such as chihuahuas or French bulldogs, simply cannot generate and retain enough heat to keep warm, and need protection from cold and wind. Also, clothes will not interfere with pets with short legs, because they can freeze from the cold coming from the ground.