Woof Wednesday
Dogs. You gotta love them, what, with being Man’s best friend and all. They’re loyal, funny, loving, and snugly. But many myths prevail about our canine friends.
Here are the top five dog myths we've busted wide open.
#5 Dogs Love to Eat Tasty, Pungent Foods
Have you ever noticed your dog chow down on a smelly bone or questionable lump of meat he’s pulled out of the garbage? Or worse, lap enthusiastically at that suspicious looking smear of something on the pavement?
Dogs can detect bitter, sweet, salty, and sour tastes, but how we perceive "taste" may be different that how they perceive it. Although dogs have only one-sixth the number of taste buds than that of a human, it is possible that dogs gain more information about food from its sense of smell. Regardless of what leads them to smelly food, you shouldn't be tempted to feed your dog curry, leftovers, or takeout from your favorite restaurant. It's bad for them. Instead, feed them healthy, well-balanced meals that are high in protein, carbohydrates and fiber.
#4 Dry Nose = Sick Dog
This is false. The dog's nose has nothing to do with its state of health. In fact, its nose can change from wet and cool to warm and dry in minutes. So don't panic. This is completely normal, and probably has to do more with the weather and humidity.
#3 Only Happy Dogs Wag Tails
Usually a dog wagging its tail suggests happiness, excitement, and eagerness (walk time!). But not always. Sometimes a wagging tail can mean fear, aggression, or even a warning to back off! So you should always be careful when approaching strays, or strange dogs you haven’t met before.
#2 Old Dogs Can’t Learn New Tricks
Pure poppycock. Misinformation, we suspect, spread by old people trying to get out of learning something they didn’t want to do. But just like there are plenty of octogenarians out there getting on the computer for the first time and becoming Google savants after a few days, dogs can learn new tricks at any age. It helps keep the dog active and his mind young.
#1 Sex, Litters, and Fixing the Dog
Lots of people wait before getting their dog neutered or spayed because they believe letting their dog have sex or have a litter is the best thing.
It isn’t. Letting your dog have sex usually results in a bunch of puppies that you struggle find homes for. And while there is some controversy as to how early you should have a dog fixed, there is no reason why you should refuse to neuter your dog and further exacerbate the animal population control problem.
So now that we've debunked the top 5 dog myths, share your newfound knowledge with your friends.
Woof! It’s Wednesday
Top 5 Dog Myths Debunked originally appeared on PetMD.com
