{"id":361,"date":"2015-01-30T19:30:17","date_gmt":"2015-01-30T19:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/petcarefacts.com\/?p=361"},"modified":"2015-01-30T19:31:27","modified_gmt":"2015-01-30T19:31:27","slug":"myths-about-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/training-and-behavior\/myths-about-dogs","title":{"rendered":"Myths about dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_362\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-362\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-362 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pawversity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dog-with-muffin-on-head.jpg?resize=650%2C433\" alt=\"dog doing a trick with muffin\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dog-with-muffin-on-head.jpg?w=650&amp;ssl=1 650w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dog-with-muffin-on-head.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-362\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">&#8220;Stuff like this is why old dogs pretend that they can&#8217;t learn new tricks.&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The list of myths about dogs far exceeds the topics covered below. From ancient tribal superstitions, to wives\u2019 tales from the farmlands, we humans have carried beliefs about dogs that have transcended the centuries.\u00a0 Look through the below list to set the record straight:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>A dog\u2019s mouth is cleaner than a human\u2019s mouth:\u00a0 <\/b>For many years people regarded dog saliva as an antiseptic, able to clean wounds sufficiently.\u00a0 While dogs certainly attend any cuts, scrapes or ailments by licking the sore places, their saliva does have bacteria.\u00a0 This is mostly caused by diet, the items they chew on, and the bacteria caused by oral and gum disease.\u00a0 Dogs are just susceptible to different kinds of diseases and bacteria than humans.<\/li>\n<li><b>One year in a dog\u2019s life is the same as seven \u201cpeople\u201d years: \u00a0 <\/b>This seems like a logical conclusion when you consider that most dogs live roughly 10-12 years, which is about 70-74 years, and just below the average life expectancy for humans. \u00a0 However, aging is rather relative for dogs, since every breed develops differently in each season of life. For example, many larger dog breeds\u2019 health usually declines at a more rapid rate than smaller dog breeds.<\/li>\n<li><b>Dogs yawn when they are tired:<\/b>\u00a0 This is true; dogs do yawn when they are tired. However dogs ALSO yawn when they are stressed or feeling tense, and they yawn when they are uncomfortable or when they want space.\u00a0 Some believe that dogs also yawn when excited.<\/li>\n<li><b>You can\u2019t teach an old dog new tricks:\u00a0 <\/b>This principle originated from a saying in England in the 16<sup>th<\/sup> century, basically stating that you must teach a dog when he is young, or he will not be able to stand correction when he is old. This concept sadly dissuades many eager per-owners from adopting adult dogs. \u00a0 Though instructing a dog is most effective if the process begins at an early age, with patience and persistence training, adult and senior dogs can acquire a wealth of useful skills.<\/li>\n<li><b>Dogs wag their tail when they are happy:\u00a0 <\/b>Usually this is correct!\u00a0 However, dogs also have a tendency to wag their tails if they are feeling confident and aggressive, or tense and agitated.\u00a0 Dogs sometimes use their tails as a warning signal.\u00a0 Note if the tail is wagging while pup\u2019s ears are back and his gaze is attentive, or he is creeping forward slowly; the dog might be afraid or ready to attack.\u00a0 Use common sense and evaluate all aspects of the dog\u2019s stance and behavior.\u00a0 Give a good look over the whole dog before you decide if it is wise to approach him.<\/li>\n<li><b>Growling means the dog is angry:<\/b> \u00a0 False! Dogs growl when they play tug-o-war, when they want to give another dog a gentle warning to back off of their territory.\u00a0 Growling can be authoritative, but it can also be the way a rowdy pup tells his owner it\u2019s time to wrestle!<\/li>\n<li><b>Putting a dog in the yard is enough exercise:<\/b>\u00a0 False.\u00a0 Dogs were designed to work and use their bodies.\u00a0 Even the smallest, seemingly \u201csedentary\u201d of breeds need a solid stretch of the legs, that exceeds running around a yard. \u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/pawversity.com\/dogs\/caring-for-your-dog\/exercise-play-with-your-dog\">Exercising<\/a> dogs is not only important for their physical health, but for their mental stimulation as well.\u00a0 Dogs that fail to have vigorous, regular exercise are more likely to develop behavioral problems.<\/li>\n<li><b>A dry\/warm nose means a sick dog<\/b>:\u00a0 False.\u00a0 If a dog\u2019s nose is dry, it could just mean that he is dehydrated from playing out in the sun, or maybe there is just not enough circulation in a room.\u00a0 Dogs also tend to get dry noses if they are indoors in an over-heated house during wintertime, etc.\u00a0 Look for other alarming symptoms that show your dog is ill before you rush him off to the vet.<\/li>\n<li><b>Mutts are healthier than purebreds:\u00a0 <\/b>This is not necessarily true. Though mutts are less likely to suffer from the genetic disorders, spinal diseases, and skin diseases that often assail purebreds; mutts also face their own health complications.\u00a0 Recent studies have shown that <a href=\"http:\/\/pawversity.com\/breeds\/mutts-vs-purebred-dogs\">mutts and purebreds<\/a> equally can suffer from hip dysplasia, cancer and epilepsy and other ailments.<\/li>\n<li><b>Dogs should have a litter before they are spayed:<\/b>\u00a0 False. There is no medical evidence backing this claim up. Giving birth is not necessarily better for the dog, as it increases the risk for cancer and uterine infections, and is a great physical strain for any creature.\u00a0 Spaying dogs also helps guard the community from overpopulation, and the need to euthanize shelter pets.<\/li>\n<li><b>Indoor dogs\/Companion dogs don\u2019t need training:\u00a0 <\/b>The difference between a well-behaved dog and an untrained, unruly animal is a stark contrast indeed. Even if your fluffy fur ball is a lap pet whose only goal in life is to eat, lounge, and traipse about the house, it is still your responsibility to train him. \u00a0 This way, the dog will understand who is in charge, and will not run amuck on the furniture, or charging and jumping up on anyone that walks through the front door.\u00a0 A well-trained dog makes a home a much more pleasant place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The list of myths about dogs far exceeds the topics covered below. From ancient tribal superstitions, to wives\u2019 tales from the farmlands, we humans have carried beliefs about dogs that have transcended the centuries.\u00a0 Look through the below list to set the record straight: A dog\u2019s mouth is cleaner than a human\u2019s mouth:\u00a0 For many [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":362,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[15],"tags":[21],"class_list":["post-361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-training-and-behavior","tag-dogs"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dog-with-muffin-on-head.jpg?fit=650%2C433&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5xKys-5P","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=361"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrofile.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}