Do you often find it difficult to decipher your adorable pet pooch’s behavior? I bet there have been times when you’ve felt puzzled by mixed signals from your dog. Many theories surround dogs and their behavior. It is important for every dog owner to correctly interpret their conduct, especially as far as their health aspect is concerned. There’s no doubt that dogs are a man’s best friend and make for fantastic pets. At the same time, some of their activities and behavior are capable of leaving you astounded and wondering as to what to make of it.
Interpreting dogs may seem like a toughie and confusions may give rise to myths, owing to which you might unknowingly treat your dog the wrong way. Dogs will waste no time in biting people who they’re suspicious of. But if you’ve been a victim of vicious dog bite injuries due to no fault of your own, you might be entitled to compensation by the irresponsible owner. You can contact experienced St. Louis Dog Bite Lawyers for further guidance.
In this post we will look at the top 8 myths related to dogs and sniff out the facts.
Myth # 8. Dogs Are Colorblind
Not true. Dogs can see color, but not as well as humans do. Dogs see the blue side of the color spectrum best and exclude red hues. This is what limits their color recognition. Color vision in dogs is considered to be slightly similar to the red-green colorblindness in human beings. It is said that dogs see primarily in blue, green-yellow, yellow and shades of gray.
Myth # 7. Chocolates Are Good For Dogs Too
No doubt we humans find chocolates delicious and it does have some scientifically proven benefits for us. However, when it comes to dogs, chocolates can actually bring about potentially fatal diseases in them. The truth is that the more chocolate, they eat, the sicker it makes them. One ounce of chocolate can be toxic to a dog weighing 30 pounds.
Myth # 6. All Dogs That Snarl and Bite Are Nasty
That’s not true either. Growling and snarling are indicators of discomfort and fear. By doing so they’re not necessarily gearing up to bite you, but are trying to show that they want the threat to retreat/stop. You can eliminate such behavior in your dog by simply understanding and respecting these signs.
Myth # 5. An Old Dog Cannot Learn New Tricks
Of course he can! Dogs are not bound by aging constraints, unless you expect them to overuse their physical capacities. One also needs to understand that it is unreasonable to expect a dog to do something that he isn’t used to doing since some time. You dog will get habituated to what you teach him at the age of 3 months, than what you teach him at the age of 3 years.
Myth # 4. A Dog Who Is Afraid Of People Has Been Abused
Not necessarily. Although it is true that the dog might start to fear people if he has been abused, this does not apply all the time. Dogs that have not been socialized adequately or have had negative experiences in the initial socializing experiences might start to cringe around people. Some dogs also tend to be uncomfortable with petting and might exhibit that behavior by cowering down.
Myth # 3. A Dog with a Warm/Dry Nose Is Unwell
A warm or dry nose is not an indicator of your dog’s health. Dogs, typically, have a dry or warm nose when they wake up after a nap. It is advised to focus more on unusual behavior, swelling, abnormal breathing, runny nose, etc. by your dog to detect possible health problems. Contact your vet for treatment.
Myth # 2. Female Dogs Should Have a Litter before Being Sprayed
There is no evidence of any health benefits to female dogs if they are sprayed before having a litter. In fact, dogs that have been sprayed before they have puppies are at a lower risk for uterine infections and cancer.
Myth # 1. A Wagging Tail Means a Happy Dog
Not Always. Your dog tries to communicate with you through body language. It is commonly believed that wagging of the tail is a sign that the dog is happy and in a good mood. However, a wagging tail can also signify nervousness, fear, anxiety and building aggression. To decode how he’s really feeling, focus on his overall body language.
Conclusion
Understanding dogs can be tricky for some, especially when you’re bringing one home for the first time. Although he will be a loyal and affectionate member of your family, it is important that you don’t take him for granted and follow certain dos and don’ts in caring for him. I hope the above mentioned facts will be helpful.
Interpreting dogs may seem like a toughie and confusions may give rise to myths, owing to which you might unknowingly treat your dog the wrong way. Dogs will waste no time in biting people who they’re suspicious of. But if you’ve been a victim of vicious dog bite injuries due to no fault of your own, you might be entitled to compensation by the irresponsible owner. You can contact experienced St. Louis Dog Bite Lawyers for further guidance.
In this post we will look at the top 8 myths related to dogs and sniff out the facts.
Myth # 8. Dogs Are Colorblind
Not true. Dogs can see color, but not as well as humans do. Dogs see the blue side of the color spectrum best and exclude red hues. This is what limits their color recognition. Color vision in dogs is considered to be slightly similar to the red-green colorblindness in human beings. It is said that dogs see primarily in blue, green-yellow, yellow and shades of gray.
Myth # 7. Chocolates Are Good For Dogs Too
No doubt we humans find chocolates delicious and it does have some scientifically proven benefits for us. However, when it comes to dogs, chocolates can actually bring about potentially fatal diseases in them. The truth is that the more chocolate, they eat, the sicker it makes them. One ounce of chocolate can be toxic to a dog weighing 30 pounds.
Myth # 6. All Dogs That Snarl and Bite Are Nasty
That’s not true either. Growling and snarling are indicators of discomfort and fear. By doing so they’re not necessarily gearing up to bite you, but are trying to show that they want the threat to retreat/stop. You can eliminate such behavior in your dog by simply understanding and respecting these signs.
Myth # 5. An Old Dog Cannot Learn New Tricks
Of course he can! Dogs are not bound by aging constraints, unless you expect them to overuse their physical capacities. One also needs to understand that it is unreasonable to expect a dog to do something that he isn’t used to doing since some time. You dog will get habituated to what you teach him at the age of 3 months, than what you teach him at the age of 3 years.
Myth # 4. A Dog Who Is Afraid Of People Has Been Abused
Not necessarily. Although it is true that the dog might start to fear people if he has been abused, this does not apply all the time. Dogs that have not been socialized adequately or have had negative experiences in the initial socializing experiences might start to cringe around people. Some dogs also tend to be uncomfortable with petting and might exhibit that behavior by cowering down.
Myth # 3. A Dog with a Warm/Dry Nose Is Unwell
A warm or dry nose is not an indicator of your dog’s health. Dogs, typically, have a dry or warm nose when they wake up after a nap. It is advised to focus more on unusual behavior, swelling, abnormal breathing, runny nose, etc. by your dog to detect possible health problems. Contact your vet for treatment.
Myth # 2. Female Dogs Should Have a Litter before Being Sprayed
There is no evidence of any health benefits to female dogs if they are sprayed before having a litter. In fact, dogs that have been sprayed before they have puppies are at a lower risk for uterine infections and cancer.
Myth # 1. A Wagging Tail Means a Happy Dog
Not Always. Your dog tries to communicate with you through body language. It is commonly believed that wagging of the tail is a sign that the dog is happy and in a good mood. However, a wagging tail can also signify nervousness, fear, anxiety and building aggression. To decode how he’s really feeling, focus on his overall body language.
Conclusion
Understanding dogs can be tricky for some, especially when you’re bringing one home for the first time. Although he will be a loyal and affectionate member of your family, it is important that you don’t take him for granted and follow certain dos and don’ts in caring for him. I hope the above mentioned facts will be helpful.
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