Or Not: Dog Myths We All Fall For

Or Not

In today’s world many misconceptions have been perpetuated—becoming modern day “facts”—when, in reality, myths and hearsay have taken over. Sorry to burst your bubble, but in this weekly column, Ripley’s puts those delusions to the test, turning your world upside down, because you can’t always…Believe It!

Today: Dog Myths.

Dogs Eat Grass if They’re Sick

According to researchers, dogs just like to eat grass. Their original craving for the plant may have to do with the prey they ate as early wolves, but dogs will eat grass just for the taste of it. Some vets have observed that a dog will eat a lot of grass in order to induce vomiting, but this isn’t normal behavior.

A Dog’s Mouth is Cleaner than a Human’s

While a human’s mouth is a veritable cesspool of microorganisms, a dog spends its day sticking its tongue into all sorts of questionable places. Some rumors have even been floated that dog saliva can ward off infection, but dog saliva is just as dirty as human saliva. The culprit for being “cleaner” is simply due to different types of bacteria being present—the germs that affect you are more likely to be in your mouth already.

Dogs Are Colorblind

Though some dogs rely heavily on their senses of smell and hearing, some have excellent eyesight as well. Though they can’t see colors as vividly as people, most dogs can see blues, yellows, greens, and shades of gray.

Dog Years

The popular rule of thumb may be to multiply your dog’s age by seven to get their age in “dog years,” but veterinarians use a very different formula to equate your pup’s maturity with your own. Puppies develop quickly, but that accelerated aging doesn’t carry into their later years. Instead, the first two years are more akin to 12 years each. After that, just add four years for each human year.

A Dry Nose Means Your Dog Is Sick

A dog’s nose can go from wet to dry in a matter of seconds. The temperature, humidity, or excitement of your dog can all affect how moist it is.

A Wagging Tail Means a Happy Dog

A tail in motion can mean all sorts of things for a dog. While a dog will typically wag its tail when happy or excited, it can also wag when it feels afraid or threatened. Instead of just looking at the tail, read the whole dog’s body language to gauge how it feels.