Have you ever heard the saying, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” Well, it turns out you can. It might take them a little bit longer, but aging dogs will love to spend time with you and try something new.
And that’s not the only dog myth that’s gained popularity over the years and is now presented as a “fact” online. Continue reading to separate fact from fiction and learn the truth behind the rumors, which will help keep you and your canine safe.
1. Dog Saliva Can Heal Wounds
Among the popular dog myths is the widely held belief that allowing a dog to lick your wounds will help them to heal faster.
This myth probably stems from the fact that dogs lick their own wounds to help them heal. There are indeed specific proteins found within their saliva that can help prevent infection. These histatins, along with other chemicals, could help clean some wounds. A 2018 study found that cuts licked by dogs could heal twice as fast as those that were not.
Still, dog saliva is not an antibacterial liquid, and allowing your canine to lick a cut could do more harm than good. Remember that dogs lick the ground, rubbish, their own butts, and even faeces. For these reasons, your dog’s saliva could contain bacteria that will make your cut more susceptible to infection.
While there are some potential elements of truth behind this myth, you should not allow your dog to lick wounds. Not only could this action cause the wound to reopen, but it could also deposit harmful bacteria and lead to infection.
2. Certain Dog Breeds Are Hypoallergenic
Some dog breeds are branded and even marketed as hypoallergenic species based on anecdotal evidence that allergy sufferers are more tolerant of them than other breeds. It may be true that allergy sufferers only experience symptoms around some breeds of dog, but this is more to do with the different types of allergens in each breed.
At some point, a low shedding rate became synonymous with a dog being hypoallergenic, but this is not the case. Allergies are triggered by dog dander which comes from skin cells, urine, and saliva. This means that the fur’s length, type, and shedding frequency don’t remove the presence of dander from a canine.
If you suffer from allergies, you may find that only some breeds trigger your symptoms; still, no dog is allergen-free. Adopting a dog is a huge responsibility, and for the 10-20% of children and adults who suffer from dog allergies, these animals could make their everyday living environment pretty uncomfortable.
3. Dogs Can Catch a Cold
Let’s be clear about this myth; dogs can catch a cold, but they can’t catch our cold. In recent years the prominence of zoonotic diseases such as swine flu and bird flu, increase our worry of spreading illnesses between ourselves and our pets. The thing is, dog colds are not contagious to humans, and human colds are not transferable to dogs.
4. A Dog Wagging Its Tail Is Happy
A dog wagging its tail can indeed be a sign of happiness. We’ve all seen videos of adorable canines excited to see their owners – who could forget the enjoyment of this golden retriever when their favorite toy duck came to life? The thing is – a wagging tail doesn’t always indicate joy; sometimes, it can carry an entirely different message.
Dogs will wag their tails to express several emotions, including fear and insecurity. A wagging tail can also be a warning sign or a social challenge. This motion generally shows that a dog is mentally aroused; still, it doesn’t confirm whether that is positive or negative.
Some subtle signs can help you decipher the meaning of your dog’s tail wagging, though:
- A tail wagging parallel to the spine is often the sign of a happy dog.
- If the tail drops slightly as it wags, it suggests happiness with a hint of submissiveness.
- The tail is low or moves between the dog’s legs, which signifies fear.
- A high tail is a sign of dominance; if it’s high and making rapid movements, this is the best indicator that your dog is feeling aggressive.
5. You Need to Dominate Your Dog
If you search the internet for ways to train aggression in a dog, you’ll likely stumble across the idea that you should assert dominance over your dog to establish yourself as the pack’s leader.
In a sense, you do play the dominant role over your dog. They understand that it’s you looking after them, you providing for them, and they rely on you to meet their needs. Still, the idea that you must use harsh training methods to establish yourself as “the pack leader” is more myth than fact.
The hierarchy theory is based on the idea of the “alpha wolf” as the dog’s wild ancestor. However, much of the research confirming alpha, beta, and omega wolves is based on studies of those in captivity and does not accurately represent the structure of a wolf pack in the wild.
The truth is that many wolf packs consist of two-parent wolves and their offspring. Much like a human family, these “alphas” are the leaders thanks to their age, experience, and role within the family.
