Understanding the unique and sometimes confusing behaviors and characteristics of dogs plays a large part in our ability to own and care for them correctly. But sometimes, the things we read and hear about dogs are not at all true. In this list, we’ll reveal 10 common lies most of us have always believed to be true about man’s best friend.
They Are Color-Blind
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. Nevertheless, dogs have some visual perks that we humans don’t. In the retina of a dog’s eye, there are more rods. This gives dogs superior night vision to humans.
When They Wag Their Tails, It Means They’re Happy
The primary function of a dog’s tail is to communicate. 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 the tail is lowered and wagging frantically, this could suggest that the dog is about to run or fight. Thankfully, this works the other way, too. Sometimes, when your dog’s tail isn’t wagging, he could just be relaxed.
The Larger They Are, The Longer They Live
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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 the Saint Bernard, as their average life span is just 5–8 years.
They Can’t See Flat-Screen TVs
It is 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. We humans, have a flicker fusion frequency (the number of frames we need to see in one second to perceive a film as continuous without flicker) of around 16–20 frames per second. In dogs, this frequency is much higher, around 40–80 frames per seconds. When they watch a CRT TV, they will just see lots of flickering. 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.
You Should Wake Them Up If They Appear To Be Having A Nightmare
Dogs show REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is the type of sleep that we have when dreaming. 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. 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.
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. The wetness and temperature of a dog’s nose is 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.
Bacon Won’t Harm Them
For most people, it seems logical that bacon would be a decent treat to gift to your canine companion from time to time. 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. This can lead to your dog digesting food incorrectly and becoming extremely ill.
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. Despite being such a famous breed, the English bulldog has a shockingly long list of health concerns compared with the average dog. One of the common risks with bulldogs is brachycephalic syndrome. Dogs with this syndrome constantly snort as they struggle to catch their breath.
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 bull baiting. This belief encouraged laws to be made in many areas of England stating that bulls had to be baited before being slaughtered. Although the bulldog suffers today due its unique facial shape, the original purpose of this was actually to assist the dog.
They Enjoy Being Hugged
This fact is a little hard-hitting for dog lovers. Between humans, a hug is a loving, comforting gesture. 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. However, this isn’t true for all dogs. If a dog has a nervous reaction to the gesture, he will demonstrate this by changing his body language. This is an obvious sign that he is confused by the action, probably wondering what he did wrong.
Dogs Eat Grass When They’re Ill
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. 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.
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