Misconceptions about dogs that people need to stop believing

Sometimes misconceptions can appear in the dog world, either by people who know a lot about dogs, or a new first-time owner. I'm here to prove these misconceptions wrong.

If you've believed these dog misconceptions for a long time, that's okay! But, they are wrong.

#1: ______ can lock their jaws

I hear this one quite a lot and it is one that tends to make me roll my eyes silently. Breeds that are presumed to have locking jaws are the dachshund, the pit-bull type dogs, Rottweilers, and Dobermans. What people mean by 'locking jaws' is that when the dog bites you, or anything, the jaw locks and you can't make the dog let go. In reality, if you compare the skull of a dachshund, and let's say, the skull of a Labrador, you'll find that they are very similar in build, besides the fact that a dachshund's skull is more elongated than a Labradors. Dogs' jaws are hinge points, which allow the bottom jaw to move up and down, and there is no joint that allows the dog to lock its jaw on a victim when in reality, the dog must have a very strong grip.

#2: ____ brains grow and cause them to attack their owners

Another one that rubs me the wrong way is this one. This one is referring to Rottweilers and Doberman's. This means that people think that the brain of these dogs never stop growing and push against the skull, causing the dog to become aggressive and lash out at its owner. However, these two breeds of dog were bred as guard dogs, and being guard dogs is in their blood. But with proper socialization and the right owner, these dogs are not aggressive and are gentle and mis-understood beasts.

#3: Dogs eat grass because___________

The things people list to explain why dogs eat grass is just a theory, as it is unknown why dogs do this. Some canine behavior specialists believe they do it because of stress, lack of vitamins, curiosity, and even boredom.

#4: Dogs can see in black and white

While it is true that dogs can see black and white, they do not just see black and white. It has been proven that dogs can see yellow and blue, as well. There are about six-seven million cones in a humans eye, but only two in a dogs. Dogs can not see red, green, or anything that looks red or green. Do your dog a favor and buy him a toy that is blue or yellow.

#5: A dry nose means that a dog is sick

The feeling of a dogs nose has no meaning to his health. A dogs nose can be dry for many reasons. Exposure to heat, sun, wind, cold, and even age can make a dogs nose dry. The reason why a dog's nose is wet is because a dog licks it. Dogs lick their nose because they want to keep it clean, and the only way to do that is by licking it. If your dogs' nose is ever chapped, put Vaseline on it to help put some moisture back in that sniffer.

#6: One dog year is seven human years

Many people follow this method when calculating their dogs age and seeing how old they would be as a person. However, if this were true, a ten year old dog would be a seventy-seven year old person. But you need to take the dogs' size into consideration, as large dogs mature and age faster than small dogs.

#7: A dogs mouth is cleaner than a humans mouth.

This one makes me laugh. Don't people know that dogs lick their own genitals and eat poop? Do humans do that? I think not.

#8: A dog that is happy wags his tail

This one is extremely dangerous, as a stressed and anxious dog may wag his tail as well. If a dog that is wagging his tail and has a stiff body, do not approach the dog. It is acting aggressive and telling you to stay away. A dog that has a wagging tail and has a relaxed body is fine to approach, as long as the owner says so. Never approach a dog you don't know.

#9: A Pitbull is a dog breed

Pitbulls are not a single dog breed, but refer to many breeds of dogs. Dogs that are called pitbulls are the American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, and sometimes Rottweilers. These dogs all have similar traits; a stocky body, large heads, small ears, blocky muzzles, and thin tails. The American Pitbull Terrier is often called a Pitbull, for short. Next time someone says anything about a pitbull, ask "Which one?"

#10: Only male dogs hump

I can debunk this one due to experience. I used to have a female dog named Sandy that would hump pillows, her bed, stuffed animals, and even the air! Both genders of dogs, neutered or not, can hump for many reasons,such as play-activity, attention, boredom, or even just a habit, because no one has told them that humping was unacceptable. Even now, my neutered male dog Buddy tried to hump our spayed females dogs, he's just playing though.

#11: Dog saliva heals wounds

You may have heard that if you got a scratch, let your dog lick it. But, do not do that. The reason why dogs lick their own wounds is to clean them. By cleaning them, they remove any dirt or hair that may infect the wound, causing it to not heal. And if you let a dog lick your open wound, you may get a nasty disease called Capnocytophaga canimorsus, which is transmitted through the dirty saliva of a dog or cat. You can die from this disease.

#12: You can't teach an old dog new tricks

I guarantee everybody's heard this saying. And its false. A dogs age doesn't change the ability of the dog to be able to learn something. In fact, the average dog has the intelligence of a three year old child.

#13: A bitch should have her first heat cycle before being spayed

While its your choice if you want your dog spayed or not, a bitch doesn't have to have her heat cycle to be spayed. In fact, if you decide to spay after her first heat cycle, it increases the chances of mammary cancer, cancer of the breast.

#14: Dogs feel guilt

It is true that dogs know what they did. You come home, see the mess the dog made and you are ready to scold it.But, the dog looks up at you with those sad, wide eyes and the worried expression. You put your scoldiness away. "Ah, he knows he's guilty," you say to yourself. But the dog doesn't know he's guilty. The 'puppy eyes' is a response to your aggressive nature and hand gestures. It's the way you talk to him.

#15: Mixed breeds are healthier than purebreds.

This a common one. While it is true that purebred dogs can have diseases certain to their breed, for example, some breeds are more prone to Canine Hip Dysplasia. A mix-breed dog is a dog that has two, or several breeds of dogs in its blood. Since there's many different breeds in that dog, the mix-breed may get all kinds of diseases. I currently own three mixed breed dogs that seem to be as healthy as my step-grandparents two pure-blood Yorkshire Terriers! And with mix-breeds, its harder to tell what the temperament of the dog is going to be like.

#16: If it's below 70 degrees,it's okay to leave your dog in the car

This is another really dangerous one. No matter the temperature outside, you shouldn't leave your dog in the car anyways. But if you do need to bring your dog, make sure it is in the 40-50 degrees zone before leaving your dog in the car. If it is over 60 leave your dog at home. If you see a dog that is locked in a car in 80 degree weather, it is critical that you get the dog out. Its better to save a life than worry about being sued for damage to a vehicle. Signs of heatstroke in a dog include bright pink gums, heavy and excessive breathing, low energy, and decreased heart beat. It is critical that you take the dog to a cool place or the dog will die. DO NOT place the dog in cold water, as this will cause shock because the body temperature changes to fast. In 2019, seventy-eight dogs died of heatstroke. Seventy-eight too many...

#17: Dogs and cats are sworn enemies

Again, I can prove this one wrong with personal experiences. I have two indoor cats that love my dogs! My male cat, Dan, can be seen wrestling or cuddling with our dogs! But, a cat and a dog that aren't properly socialized may be scared at each other. Cats will see the dog as something that will try to hurt them, and the dog sees the cat as prey.

#18: Rubbing your dogs nose in an accident is training them that that is wrong

When you get home and you find poop or pee n the floor, d not rub your dogs nose in it. Chances are, by then your dog has forgotten all about it and will go and hide next time they need to to that. The best way to house-break a dog is to catch the dog in action and take the dog outside. You need to take the puppy out at certain times a day and he'll get used to the time and relive himself then. Another option is when you are gone for more than a few hours, crate the puppy. Puppies won't soil where they sleep. As soon as you get home, let the dog outside. Reward him when he goes.

#19: __________are hypoallergenic

While it is true that some breeds of dogs either shed little, or shed none at all, there is no dog that is hypoallergenic, that is, having people not allergic to them. A dog that doesn't shed produces less dander, the stuff that people are allergic too. Some breeds that have little-to-no shedding are the three Poodles, Affenpinscher, Bichon Frise, Basenji, American Hairless Terrier, Afghan Hound, and many other dogs to numerous to list. These dogs do shed, it is just very limited. And, they produce dander.

#20: ______ are the most aggressive dog breed

Now this is the one that truly rubs me the wrong way. You'll here on the news about 'Viscous pit bull kills child' or read articles saying 'these are the most dangerous breeds of dog.' But let me explain. Any breed of dog can become aggressive. Some breeds of dogs are bred for guarding, such as the Rottweiler and the Doberman, and some dogs are bred for calmer activities such as Labradors. All three of these dogs need socialized and trained when young. Did you know that most dog attacks are provoked? Parents need to be responsible and train children the appropriate way to handle a dog. And people need to train their dog.

#21: Dogs like being hugged

When you hug a dog, yo are confining it in a tight space. Dogs will tense up when being held tightly. That being said, that may be lead to aggression, if the dog is scared or nervous enough.

#22: Letting a dog sniff your hand is the right way to introduce yourself

When you shove your hand in a dogs face, the dog may lash out thinking you are going to hurt it. The dog will bite you. The best and easiest way to introduce yourself to a new dog is by talking gently. If the dog seems interested, then you can stick out your hand, but keep it in a closed fist position. If the dog doesn't seem interested, leave the dog alone.

Now that I've debunked 22 popular dog myths, please let me know if you used to believe in any of these! AN let me know if I've forgotten any! Happy Reading! And of course, Canine Good.