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Grasping the distinct and occasionally perplexing behaviors and traits of dogs is crucial for being a responsible pet owner. However, many of the things we hear or read about dogs simply aren’t true. In this article, we’ll expose 10 common misconceptions most of us have held about our loyal companions.
10. Dogs Are Color-Blind
You’ve likely heard at some point that dogs are color-blind, seeing only in black and white. However, this is a misconception. While a dog’s vision doesn’t allow them to perceive colors the way humans do, they can still distinguish certain hues.
Instead of perceiving the world in shades of gray, dogs primarily see hues of yellow, blue, and violet. This means that colors such as red, green, and orange, which are visible to humans, are not detectable by dogs.
Both humans and dogs have rods and cones in the retina that help with vision. However, our ability to see in fine detail comes from the fovea, a small depression in the retina that is absent in dogs.
However, dogs have some visual advantages over us. Their retinas contain more rods (the photoreceptors that enable vision in low light). As a result, dogs have superior night vision compared to humans.
9. Tail Wagging Means They’re Happy
This isn’t entirely incorrect. While a dog wagging its tail can be a sign of happiness, it’s not always the case. Unlike humans, dogs don’t show emotions through facial expressions. Instead, they communicate through their tails.
The main role of a dog’s tail is to communicate. Understanding what various tail movements mean can help you better understand your pet. Some signals are quite clear. For instance, when a dog tucks its tail between its legs, it usually indicates fear.
But what does a wagging tail actually mean?
When a dog is happy, its whole body often moves along with the tail. However, if the tail is high and wagging slowly, it’s a sign of caution. If you’re unfamiliar to the dog, this could be a warning for you to keep your distance.
If the tail is low and wagging rapidly, it could indicate that the dog is about to flee or fight, depending on the situation. On the flip side, when the tail isn’t wagging at all, it’s likely that the dog is simply relaxed.
8. The Bigger They Are, The Longer They Live
In fact, the opposite tends to be true. While smaller dog breeds like the Chihuahua and dachshund typically live around 14–15 years, larger breeds like the Alaskan malamute have an average lifespan of just 8–10 years. For even larger breeds, such as the Saint Bernard, their life expectancy drops further to just 5–8 years.
This unusual pattern in lifespan is contrary to most animals in the kingdom. Generally, the larger the creature, the longer its life expectancy. For example, the world’s smallest mammal, the bumblebee bat, lives an average of 5–10 years, while the largest mammal, the blue whale, enjoys a much longer lifespan of 80–90 years.
Scientists attribute this trend to differences in energy usage. Larger mammals tend to have slower, more efficient cellular processes, which contributes to their longer life spans. So, why does this pattern reverse in dogs?
Unfortunately, the shortened lifespan of larger dogs can be traced back to how they’ve been bred by humans over time. Larger dogs grow at an incredibly fast pace during their first year. For instance, Great Danes (the largest dog breed) develop five times faster than humans. This rapid growth accelerates aging, which results in a significantly shorter life expectancy for large breeds.
7. They Can’t See Flat-Screen Televisions
Many believe that dogs are completely incapable of seeing images on flat-screen TVs due to differences in how they perceive vision. However, that’s not entirely true. Older CRT TVs (the traditional ones) display images at around 24 frames per second, which appears as a continuous image to us because our flicker fusion frequency (the number of frames we need to perceive motion without flicker) is around 16–20 frames per second.
In dogs, their flicker fusion frequency is much higher, between 40–80 frames per second. When they watch a CRT TV, all they see is a blur of flickering images. But what about modern televisions?
The belief that dogs can’t see images on a flat-screen TV is likely false. Modern TVs display a much higher frame rate than the older models, and there’s clear evidence that dogs do respond to images on plasma screens, suggesting they can see something on the screen.
6. You Shouldn’t Wake Them Up If They Seem to Be Having a Nightmare
The question of whether dogs dream has long been debated. While there’s no definitive answer, strong evidence suggests they do. Dogs experience REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is the sleep phase in which humans dream.
Dreaming is thought to play a role in memory consolidation, and dogs have certainly demonstrated the ability to remember things. But what about nightmares? It’s impossible to say for sure whether dogs experience nightmares since we can’t definitively confirm if they dream at all.
For owners who see their dogs whining and twitching in their sleep, it can be stressful to leave them when they seem to be in distress. Many owners feel compelled to intervene and free their dogs from what they believe are unpleasant dreams.
However, this could end up causing more stress and potentially harm the dog’s well-being. Just like humans, dogs need a certain amount of deep sleep to maintain mental health and proper development.
Dogs typically sleep for 14–16 hours a day, but not much of that is deep sleep. When a dog appears to be dreaming, it’s likely gaining some of the crucial deep sleep they need. Interrupting this sleep could actually be detrimental to their health.
5. If Their Noses Are Wet, It Means They Are Healthy
In reality, a dog with a warm, dry nose can be just as healthy as one with a cold, wet nose. A dog’s nose temperature and moisture level can fluctuate depending on factors like recent activity, their surroundings, or other influences.
The moisture and temperature of a dog’s nose are not reliable indicators of its health. A dog with a cold, wet nose could be seriously ill, just as one with a hot, dry nose could be.
If you notice your dog’s nose is dry, there’s no need to worry. They’re likely just basking in the sun. When should you be concerned about your dog’s health? More accurate signs are changes in their eating, drinking, or behavior. A sudden shift in appetite or personality may warrant a visit to the vet.
4. Bacon Won’t Harm Them
While most people know that chocolate is toxic to dogs, many are unaware that several other human foods can also be dangerous for dogs. Bacon, surprisingly, is one of these foods.
It may seem natural to think of bacon as an occasional treat for your dog. After all, bacon is meat, and meat is a key component of a dog’s diet.
However, bacon can be quite harmful to dogs and may lead to serious long-term health issues. The high fat and grease content in bacon can trigger inflammation in the pancreas, a condition called pancreatitis. The pancreas is essential for releasing digestive enzymes that help the body properly absorb and digest food.
Pancreatitis impairs the pancreas’ ability to function properly, which can result in improper digestion and serious illness. So, the next time your dog gives you those pleading puppy eyes while drooling over your breakfast plate, it’s best to resist the urge to share. You’ll be helping your dog stay healthy in the long run.
3. Dogs Eat Grass When They’re Ill
Many people believe that dogs eat grass to make themselves vomit and clear their stomachs of something harmful. However, this is a rare occurrence. In fact, less than 10 percent of dogs that consume grass show any signs of illness.
At times, dogs eat grass because of a condition known as pica, which causes animals to crave substances they are missing in terms of nutrients and minerals. Pica can also develop due to boredom, leading dogs to munch on odd things like paint chips.
In other cases, dogs might eat grass because of territorial instincts, tasting what other animals have left behind in their area. Another simpler explanation is that dogs may simply enjoy the taste of grass, just as we have specific flavors we prefer. Grass might just be one of those tastes for them. Regardless, the notion that dogs only eat grass when they’re unwell is a misconception.
2. They Enjoy Being Hugged
This one might be a bit tough to hear for dog lovers. For humans, a hug is a sign of affection and comfort. When we hug our dogs, it's our way of showing them how much we care.
However, dogs don’t interpret hugs the same way. To them, having a limb placed over their body signals dominance, which can make the dog feel anxious. This is essentially what happens when we hug them. What we see as a loving gesture may come across as dominance in their eyes.
That being said, not all dogs feel the same way about hugs. How your dog reacts depends on their personality and how they perceive the action. If a dog feels uneasy, they may show it through changes in their body language.
Signs that your dog is uncomfortable with a hug include becoming stiff, closing their mouth, or even licking their lips. These are clear indicators that they’re confused and possibly wondering what they did wrong. But don’t worry—if your dog doesn’t like hugs, it doesn’t mean they love you any less. They still care about you deeply.
1. English Bulldogs Have A Flat Face Due To A Breeding Mistake
With their sturdy build, protruding jaw, and signature wrinkled skin, the English bulldog is one of the most recognizable dog breeds. This breed is often associated with iconic British figures, particularly Winston Churchill.
Despite their popularity, English bulldogs face a surprisingly long list of health issues compared to other breeds. One common problem is brachycephalic syndrome, a condition affecting dogs with short, broad heads and narrowed nostrils. This condition can obstruct their airways, making it difficult for them to breathe, leading to constant snorting as they struggle for air.
Ironically, the flat face that defines the English bulldog was intentionally bred to enhance its breathing ability for its original purpose. The breed was originally created for bull-baiting, a cruel practice where people believed it tenderized meat by thinning the blood of the animal.
This belief led to the creation of laws in various regions of England that required bulls to be baited before slaughter. The bulldog’s short, flat skull was specifically designed to aid in this process, allowing the dog to maintain a firm hold on the bull while still being able to breathe through its nose. This unique feature was intentionally bred into the bulldog. While the breed now suffers due to its distinct facial structure, the original intention behind it was to improve the dog's ability to perform its task.
