10 Facts And Myths About Dogs All Owners Should Know, By "Knowledgesaurus"

With so many common dog myths surfing around and people genuinely believing in them, Bored Panda reached out to Dr. Jerry Klein, American Kennel Club’s Chief Veterinary Officer, who debunked some of the most widespread beliefs.

“Most people think they know their dog's health by judging the regular behavior like activity level and appetite, but most dog owners do not really detect many of their dog's medical issues until they become more significant problems,” Dr. Klein told us. However, “Conditions like dental disease and ear infections eventually present to veterinarians because most owners don't closely examine their dogs’ mouths and ears.”

Yearly wellness exams by a veterinarian are crucial to your dog's health, urged Dr. Klein, “because they will detect things like subtle weight fluctuations, which could be a clue to underlying disease, new heart murmurs that have developed, and intervene before more serious disease occurs.”

And when it comes to popular myths, Dr. Klein busted a couple of very widespread ones. You've probably heard of people saying that dogs age seven years for every one human year. Turns out, it’s actually false! Dr. Klein said that this myth has been around for so long that most people see it as a fact.

“Although dogs do age quicker than humans, the 7:1 ratio is not perfectly accurate. Dogs age faster when they are younger and then the aging process slows down as they get older. The size of the dog also plays a role in the aging process—larger dogs age faster than small dogs.”

Another common myth is that a warm nose on a dog indicates sickness. Dr. Klein explained how it's false: “The idea that a dog in good health should have a cold, wet nose is nothing more than another myth. The temperature of a dog’s nose does not represent his health or sickness. Using a thermometer is the only way to accurately measure your dog’s temperature.”

If you assume that old dogs can’t learn new tricks, we have to tell you it’s false! “We have all heard the expression 'you can’t teach an old dog new tricks' at some point in our lives,” Dr. Klein said, but assured us that “you can absolutely teach old dogs new tricks; like how to shake hands, speak or roll over.” The chief veterinary officer at AKC added that “Keeping the training sessions short, fun and using plenty of positive reinforcement like treats and praise can help make the training process easier.”

“At one point in time, it was believed that dogs can only see in black, white and shades of grey, and this myth happens to still be believed by many people today. Dogs have fewer color-sensitive cones in their eyes than humans do.” However, Dr. Klein explained that “it has been discovered that, although not in the same way as humans, dogs can in fact see color. They can see blue, greenish yellow, and yellow along with various shades of grey.”

A wagging tail means a happy dog is probably one of the most common myths we hear too often! But Dr. Klein has busted this one too. “A wagging tail does not always mean the dog is happy,” he said and explained: “While, a natural, mid-level wagging tail does indicate contentedness, most other wags indicate the opposite. A high, stiff wagging tail can be a sign of agitation in the dog, suggesting that he is ready to protect something, while a low and quick wag may express that the dog is scared and submissive,” he concluded.

We also spoke to Alyssa Mages, the chief visionary officer at “Empowering Veterinary Teams,” who said that the majority of pet parents really do know their pets well as they've been with them every day, sometimes since puppyhood. “In my experience as a CVT, I would refer to this exact phenomenon telling owners that I only see a single instant of how their pet is, while they see a more in depth, long-term presentation,” she said. “Both of which are essential when they come into the hospital—for either an acute or emergent concern where my or a veterinarian's expertise comes to the forefront vs. updates on a chronic condition that can vary and present differently from day to day.”

When asked about the common dog myths, Alyssa said that the majority of these have already been debunked—“their mouths aren't cleaner, they do see in color, their age, etc.—but I think that there is one that remains, that myth of the 'perfect' breed of dog. This simply doesn't exist!”

She continued: “There are unicorns of every breed, and we cannot forget our mixed breeds, those loveable mutts are simply the best! What does exist is the perfect pairing—you'll know the best dog for you when you meet each other. The energies will blend, the body languages will match, and everyone wins.”