10 dog myths you need to stop believing

When you get a dog, it becomes part of your family. You love her and are ready to give her a better life. But are you always able to fully understand your pet? Is the information you know about dogs up to date with recent research?

We love dogs, and after looking at some reliable sources, we realized that a lot of the advice from dog experts often does more harm than good.

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1. If the dog yawns, then she wants to sleep.

Sometimes dog owners may notice that their dog yawns in situations that shouldn't make them sleepy, such as while playing. But this does not mean that the dog is bored or wants to sleep. Yawning is a way for dogs to manage anxiety and relieve stress.

2. The best food for dogs is raw meat.

Some dog owners believe that dogs should be fed raw meat, as their closest relatives (wolves) eat meat in the wild. But they do not take into account the fact that over thousands of years of living together, dogs have adapted to completely different foods. In addition, meat does not contain enough of the nutrients and vitamins that dogs need, and it can contain parasites and pathogens.

3. Fluffy dogs should be shaved in summer to keep them from overheating.

Many dog ​​owners shave their pets in the summer thinking that this is the right way to save their pets from the heat, but in most cases, this is not the case. This is because dogs have what is called an undercoat. In winter, it becomes thicker and protects the dog from the cold. And in the spring, when the dog loses its hair naturally, an undercoat appears to make the animal feel comfortable. If you shave a dog's coat, the structure of the new coat will be broken - it may become frizzy or tangled. It is better to find another way to prevent the dog from overheating.

4. Dog shoes are just fashion accessories.

Dog shoes can actually be quite necessary in some cases. Obviously, nature must take care of everything and make sure that the dog does not freeze when she walks in winter or in any other weather, but it is very unlikely that nature expected us to spread reagents everywhere. In addition, the paws of some breeds of domestic dogs are much more sensitive than the paws of other dogs.

5. You can't teach an old dog new commands.

You can and should teach your dog new tricks, no matter how old they are. Obviously, this can take more time and patience with older dogs.

6. If the dog is delighted when the owner comes home, then she loves him very much.

If your dog loses control when you get home (running around, jumping, whining, or even urinating), it doesn't mean he loves you more than a dog who greets his owner by wagging his tail. It only means that the dog has not been properly trained. There are different ways to get a dog to meet its owner calmly.

7. All dogs love to swim.

Dogs with powerful chests and heavy skulls are not very good swimmers, such as bulldogs, mastiffs, dachshunds, and boxers. Small dogs should be placed in the water in a more careful way because they are more prone to hyperthermia.

8. If a dog has a dry nose, then it is sick.

This myth has been debunked many times, but dog owners continue to touch their pets' noses and worry about whether they will be warm or dry. A cold, wet nose doesn't always mean a dog is healthy, it can sometimes signal a pet's rhinitis. Look closer at the skin on your pet's nose. If it is cracked or covered with something, this may be a sign of illness. But in general, you should pay attention to the behavior and appetite of the dog, and not worry about the temperature and humidity of his nose.

9. Dogs should chew bones.

For centuries, people continued to believe that dogs needed bones. This myth has been depicted in literature and art, but in reality, bones can do much more harm than good. The most dangerous bones are long, boiled, and tubular, like a chicken leg. Dogs can gnaw on them and easily swallow sharp pieces that can damage their digestive tract. In some cases, it can even lead to death.

10. If a dog wags its tail, then it is friendly.

This misconception often leads to unpleasant situations: the dog wags its tail, the person tries to pet it, and the dog bites. People tend to think that a wagging tail means a dog is friendly, but this is not always the case.