Dogs are familiar creatures to most people, since many families either own one or know somebody who does. People spend so much time with dogs, learning about their mannerisms and other actions, and yet there are an incredible amount of myths about them. What some might say is a “common fact” about dogs might actually be a common misconception instead. Some myths—especially those that are newer—are commonly believed, while others are not. In order to understand dogs and their behaviors, it is important for these wrong ideas to end.
A common myth some believe to be true is known as the 1:7 ratio myth, which is that a one-year-old dog is equivalent to a seven-year-old human. This, however, is false. The formula for calculating a dog’s age in human years is actually much more complicated. It depends a lot on the dog’s breed. Larger dogs tend to have shorter life spans, and therefore would age faster, while a dog with a longer life span might age a bit slower. During the first few years of a dog’s life they usually age faster, and then they slow down over time.
Dogs wag their tails all the time, but does it always mean they are happy? Another myth is that dogs only wag their tails when they are feeling friendly; however, this is not the case. Dogs use their tails to convey a number of different emotions. The way in which a dog is wagging its tail says a lot about its mood. A slowly-wagging tail that is low to the ground usually means that a dog feels threatened, nervous, or even sometimes annoyed, and it is sometimes accompanied by growling and ears that are pinned back against the head. A tail is typically raised parallel with the spine or slightly higher in the air and wagging quickly when a dog is happy. Dogs are not born with all of this knowledge, but they learn it very quickly. Also, dogs’ tails are not the only thing they communicate with. To truly understand what a dog is trying to say, the rest of its body language must also be observed.
Anyone that owns a dog has probably seen them yawn before. People often assume that this means their dog is tired, like it often does with humans. In truth, dogs will yawn for several different reasons. The first cause is stress. An anxious or uncomfortable dog may repeatedly yawn. Perhaps they are around another dog that is making them uneasy, or maybe they are at the vet and feeling tense. They could have heard a strange noise or seen someone unfamiliar. Dogs also yawn sometimes when they are excited. Yawning helps them to calm down because it brings oxygen to their brain. Another reason why dogs yawn is that they are trying to empathize, and therefore sometimes copy what a human is doing, including yawning. They do this especially if it is someone they know well and are close with.
There are over fifty well-circulated myths about dogs, and it is important that people know what is and is not one so that they can have the most effective communication possible with their dogs. Believing something false about dogs can lead to—in the worst scenarios—prescribing medicine for or punishing a dog whose actions were only misinterpreted. However, it also is simply not fair to dogs to have so much false information about them spread around as truth. Dogs are incredible, unique creatures, and they deserve to be treated as such.
Sources:
www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/busting-common-dog-myths/
www.rd.com/list/dog-facts-that-are-false/
https://jpost.com/health-science/new-study-debunks-dog-years-myth-dogs-and-humans-age-differently-633899
https://www.mypetshealth.ca/eng/behaviour/article/myth-vs-reality-does-a-wagging-tail-always-mean-a-dog-is-happy#fermerdoorcountypulse.com/pet-talk-a/
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/dogs-lives-seven-year-myth-b2015303.htmlwww.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/why-do-dogs-yawn/
https://www.tag24.com/animals/dogs/dog-guide/why-do-dogs-yawn-is-your-pet-stressed-out-or-just-tired-2624982
Image credit: iStock
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/surprised-dog-question-mark-on-a-blue-background-gm1044653794-279586823
Oh wow, I never knew any of that!
That’s cool! Yeah, a dog also wags its tail when it’s agitated sometimes, and the age depends on their breeds. This is a lot of new information for me though XD.
Good job! This was really interesting!🐶
Great job! I didn’t know any of that!
Wow thats really cool! You did an AMAZING job writing that!
Great Job Emma, this actually helped me know that my dog was aggravated not happy the other day.
I didn’t know any of this, thanks for writing it, Emma! Also, it’s so cute that dogs yawn to empathize with people sometimes <33
I really enjoyed reading this! Great job, Emma!
cool article!
Niceeee the only thing I already knew was the tail thing… good job!