Given that dogs are man’s best friend, it makes sense that we constantly are making assumptions about them. And many times, those assumptions become accepted as truth without being more closely examined. In several cases, these accepted “truths” snowball until they become facts when in reality, they are much closer to myths. Let’s take a quick glance at three of the most common of these myths to see if we can’t get to the real truth of the matter.
- A Wagging Tail Means a Happy Dog: While a wagging tail does occasionally mean that your pup has reached its happy place, this isn’t always the case. Therefore, to avoid misinterpreting your dog’s mannerisms, it’s important to recognize what else could be causing this adorable movement. In addition to happiness and excitement, certain dogs might wag their tails when they are angry, frustrated, or agitated, and these emotions obviously deserve more consideration than a “Good boy!” and a scratch behind the ears. Tail wagging is a highly effective communication tool, but you as the pet parent must be able to interpret what that hind movement signifies. For instance, if the tail is gyrating high in the air and back and forth, you can reasonably assume that the dog is overjoyed. However, when the tail is low to the ground and horizontal, they are likely doing some investigative work and are in a skeptical mood. The tail tuck is a sign of fear, and a low wag usually suggests anxiety or insecurity. All dogs are different however, so work on recognizing the position and movement of your animal’s hind quarters and place those actions in context to help determine what each different wag and position really means.
- All Dogs Are Colorblind: By definition, this common assumption is patently false. Colorblindness is a condition in which an animal is incapable of seeing shades of color other than black, white, or grey. That said, dogs have a different visual capacity than human beings, which means that they often are unable to see the same spectrum as their owners or that they see these colors in a different way. But this doesn’t mean that they are colorblind, per se. Most canines color spectrum is limited to blues, yellows, and purplish hues. The reason for this is that their retinas are different than ours; their photoreceptors are “limited” in that they do not have fovea, which is what we humans have that helps our sharper visual acuity. However, they do have more rods in their photoreceptors than we do, which gives them excellent night vision and superb visual tracking skills, aiding in navigation in difficult terrain and hunting.
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Eating Grass Means a Dog Is Sick: Nope! While it’s true that eating grass can aid in digestion, experts aren’t exactly sure why dogs eat grass so often. The most likely theory lies in their instincts. Dogs aren’t, strictly-speaking, carnivores; they’re omnivores, which means that they have been pre-programmed to scavenge whenever and wherever possible. The name of the game is sustenance, not succulence, which means that dogs will take their meals where they can get them, even if that means devouring the occasional yard salad. Conversely, given their relatively recent domestication, dogs are beginning to shed some of their programming. Namely, whereas their ancestors would eat their prey entirely (including the stomachs of herbivores), modern canines must look for various plants in order to receive certain vital nutrients. And since grass is both plentiful and conveniently located inches from their adorable faces, it’s also the most logical plant-based choice. The bottom line is that there’s likely no danger in your pooch chowing down on the front lawn (unless, of course, you’ve recently sprayed pesticides or the like), but if your dog seems to be eating an exorbitant amount in a short period of time, it might be wise for them to take a trip to the veterinarian.
Myths are common, and myths are easy. What myths are usually not, is true. Stay tuned to learn more about your pup and for new knowledge concerning what is true about canines and what is false.
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