7 Myths About Dogs

Did you know that dogs can see more than just black and white? And that spaying or neutering your pup at a young age will make no difference in preventing any future behavioral issues? You can be forgiven for thinking these dog myths are true, though. Most of us grew up believing dozens of "facts" about our canine friends, which research has since debunked.

To shatter these misconceptions, Reader's Digest recently interviewed several experts in the field to get their opinion on various other dog myths. Based on their findings, here are seven "facts" we can stop believing:

1. Tail wagging is a sign of happiness. A wagging tail may be a sign of happiness, but it may also mean something else completely. Veterinary Jess Trimble explained that a dog's vigorous tail wag to the right indicates happiness at seeing its owner, but a tail held halfway down could indicate fear or insecurity. A tail held high and wagged extremely fast could mean fear or aggression.
2. Old dogs can't learn new tricks. Of course they can, said certified animal behaviorist Trish McMillan. It may just take them a little longer. "It is true that puppies are little sponges, making it so easy to teach them new things with gentle, positive reinforcement methods. But make no mistake, old dogs can learn, too," McMillan explained.
3. Dogs only see in black and white. This is possibly the most common dog myth around. They can see in color, but the spectrum is limited to hues of greens and reds, said veterinarian Adam Christman.
4. Let dogs you've just met sniff your hand. It is widely believed that to put a dog you have just met at ease, you should let it sniff your hand. This could actually be mistaken as a sign of aggression, said dog trainer Guillermo Roa. "It’s better to just calmly wait for the dog to approach you if it is interested in doing so. If you must approach a new dog, do it from the side and avoid staring," Roa noted.
5. Seven human years is equivalent to one dog year. Dogs age quicker to humans, but not according to the seven-to-one ratio, which is another commonly believed dog myth. Trimble explained that a dog's age is actually determined by several factors including breed, size, and genetic makeup. Bigger dogs age faster. "I have patients that are 10-pound terriers that still act like puppies at 16 years and would be considered around 75 to 80 in human years. In contrast, a Great Dane at 16 would be a record and considered to be over 130 years of age," Trimble explained.
6. A warm, dry nose means a sick dog. Most of us believe that a cold and wet nose is a sign of a healthy pooch, while a warm and dry nose means your dog may be sick. Christman dismissed this common dog myth as completely untrue. "Everything from dry air to allergies to simply taking a nap can affect the wetness of your dog's nose," he said. "However, while nose health isn't normally concerning, if you notice your pet's nose is constantly dry, cracking, or running — not simply wet — then you should make an appointment with the veterinarian."
7. Spaying or neutering at a young age will prevent future behavioral issues. Chances are you have heard that to prevent your dog from acting up later in life, you should have it spayed or neutered at a young age. Dog director Adam Gibson said there is growing evidence that suggests this could be just one more dog myth to stop believing. Furthermore, he believes there are added health benefits to allowing dogs to keep their reproductive organs intact into adulthood.

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