True story, given the hot weather Malaysia is currently facing, my mother suggested to shave our doggo’s fur, so that her body can release heat and keep her cool. However, this is a common misconception about dogs with a double coat. Their fur is designed to allow heat to escape and keep their bodies cool during warmer seasons. Shaving a doubled-coated dog can actually make it harder for the dog to cool off.
This got me thinking, what are other misconceptions about dogs that people believe to be true? Here are 10 that I found.
Dogs are colour-blind.
No, dogs are not colour-blind. Although they cannot see the full colour spectrum like we do, they are able to see a couple of colours thanks to the 2 types of photoreceptors required to see colours that are found in the canine retina. These include different hues of yellow, blue and grey.
Seven human years equal one dog year.
This is not true for any dog. A dog’s age is determined by factors like breed, size and genetics. For example, a small dog has a lifespan of 15 to 18 years, while a giant breed has a lifespan of 7 to 10 years. Diet and exercise play an important role as well. For an age estimation, here is a chart from Veterinary Economics, 2007.
Dogs are good swimmers.
This misconception might come from news and entertainment media where dogs are shown swimming without an issue. But just because those dogs can swim doesn’t mean all dogs are good at swimming, even though the majority of dogs love being in water. Breeds like bulldogs, mastiffs, dachshunds and boxers, for example, are not good swimmers because they have a heavy skull and a powerful chest. It also should be noted that smaller breeds might be more susceptible to hyperthermia, so do take caution on how they are placed into water.
Dogs feel guilt.
Although you might have seen the thousands of videos on social media sites and in movies showing dogs feeling guilty for their actions, there is no evidence to support the fact that they feel secondary emotions like shame or guilt. Researchers believe that the emotions shown in media are a learned response to human reaction.
“You can't teach an old dog new tricks.”
It’s a common proverb used to describe people who won’t or can’t change their ways. It was derived from the fact that older dogs are harder to train and learn new tricks. However, this is not entirely correct. While it takes a little longer, you can certainly train an old dog. Motivation is a good teacher so get some delicious treats and keep the training sessions fun and positive. Here is an article to help you train your senior dog.
A little bit of chocolate is fine… Right?
NO. Chocolate contains a chemical which is toxic to dogs called theobromine. White chocolate contains a little, but dark chocolate contains a high amount of theobromine. Although it is okay to give a small amount of white chocolate to a large breed, it is best not to take any risk. Avoid chocolates altogether!
I need to show my dog who’s the alpha.
Based on a study of captive wolves in the 1970s, which showed that the wolves become the leader of the pack by being aggressive towards other wolves. These leaders are known as the “alpha”. Since dogs are descendants of wolves, it was assumed that this theory would work on them as well. However, modern science has debunked this theory. You don’t have to use any methods that cause fear or pain to teach your dog good discipline. Use methods that use positive training techniques.
Dogs wag their tails when they're happy.
Yes, it is, but not every time. Dogs wag their tails to convey other emotions as well, like anxiety, submission, feeling threatened, frustration or nervousness. So how does one tell if a dog is friendly or preparing to attack? Just look at their overall body language. If a dog’s body is almost motionless and it only wags its tail, it’s likely preparing to attack you. For more detailed reading, here is a link.
Dogs should eat like wolves.
Since dogs are descendants of wolves and wolves are strictly carnivores, it is only right to assume that a dog’s diet should consist of only meat, right? Well, although they share a genetic ancestral line, dogs have evolved over thousands of years to be mesocarnivores or scavenger carnivores. These types of animals depend on meat for at least 50 percent of their diet. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as dogs eat almost everything, especially anything from your plate. Therefore, keeping them on a strict carnivorous diet might have a negative health impact on your dog. This can be seen in the lifespan, where dogs have a lifespan of more than 10 years, a wolf only has a lifespan of around 6 years. So, feed your dog a balanced diet.
This last misconception is something The OMG is trying to change from the minds of every person.
Rescue dogs are all damaged.
They have to be, because there is a reason they are a rescue dog, right? Absolutely not true! Many potential pawrents are put off getting a dog from a rescue centre or an animal shelter, because they think the dog will have a whole host of health or behavioural problems. This is true to some extent, since dogs’ behaviours are heavily influenced by their owners, thus if a dog has problems, it’s because it was neglected by its owner. However, with the right owner and a loving home, their behaviour can change. It’s just about giving them a second chance.
Another benefit of adopting an adult dog compared to a puppy is that adult dogs’ personalities are already formed, so when you meet a dog at the center or shelter and connect with them, you can be sure that their personality and behaviour won’t change. A puppy on the other hand might be an angel to start but might grow up to be a rascal.
How many of these misconceptions did you find yourself believing? Let us know on Facebook. While you’re there, share with the community some common misconceptions that you know of.
That’s all from yours truly. See you in the next!