Common misconceptions about dogs, debunked

A wagging tail always means a happy dog

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

While dogs do wag their tails when they're happy, friendly, and excited, they also do it when they're scared or insecure. It's important to pay attention to the rest of their body language and use caution when approaching a dog you don't know.

Dogs only see in black and white

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

Although dogs can't see the world in full technicolor like humans, they do see some colors. Their eyes detect fewer colors than ours, so their perception is similar to humans with color blindness.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

It may take a little longer, but as long as their brain is in good shape, an older dog can absolutely learn new things!

One dog year equals seven human years

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

Although dogs do age quicker than humans, this ratio isn't quite accurate. Different breeds take different lengths of time to reach maturity, and lifespans vary based on size and genetics, too.

If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

In actuality, you shouldn't stick your hand out toward any dog you've just met. Your hand can be misinterpreted as a sign of aggression, and a dog may bite you. 

Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

When doing this, you're punishing a dog that doesn't know why it's being punished. This could exacerbate the issue and create more problems in the future. Instead, it's best to catch them in the act and redirect them to their proper potty destination.

A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

The temperature, dryness, or moistness of a dog's nose isn't a reliable indicator of their health, nor does it indicate an illness. 

Always spay or neuter at a young age

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

Numerous studies have shown this to be untrue, and waiting to neuter your dog may be safer in the long run. Plus, there are also added health benefits to allowing dogs to keep their reproductive organs intact into adulthood.

Dogs only need physical exercise

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

While physical exercise is crucial for a dog's well-being, mental stimulation is equally important. Puzzle toys, interactive games, and obedience training can keep their minds sharp and prevent behavioral issues.

A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

While dog saliva has a slightly more alkaline pH, which can discourage some bacteria from reproducing, it's certainly not clean! 

Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

Although dogs and wolves come from the same lineage, treating them as an interchangeable species isn't ideal and can even impact their health. In fact, evolution has made them two entirely different creatures.

Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

Just like humans, pets should have regular medical care to ensure the best health. Yearly exams, weight checks, and routine diagnostics are an integral part of keeping your furry friend as healthy as possible.

Use dog treats to bribe your pet

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

The best dog trainers view treats as rewards, not bribes. If you're giving them treats before a bad behavior happens, that would be considered a bribe. However, after they do something good, like dropping something they shouldn't be chewing on, then you could give them a treat. 

It's important to show your dominance

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

The concept of the "alpha wolf" and dominance-based training has been widely discredited in the dog training community. Positive reinforcement trainers focus on building a strong bond based on trust and cooperation, rather than instilling fear or dominance. 

You can leave your dog in a car with the windows down on a hot day

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

It's never okay to leave your dog alone in a hot car, even with the windows down. Cars heat up extremely quickly in warm weather, and heatstroke can be fatal in a matter of minutes.

Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

The biggest issue with raising two puppies together is that they'll be harder to train. This is because they're oftentimes so co-dependent that they don't seem to develop as much as a puppy raised by itself.

Short-haired dogs don't need grooming

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

When people think of dog grooming, they often think of haircuts. However, grooming includes bathing, ear cleaning, nail clipping and teeth brushing, which is something all dogs need to stay clean, comfortable, and healthy

Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs, and puppies will continue to chew into adulthood.

It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

Some rescue dogs may have some behavioral challenges and sensitivities, and won't be suitable to live with young children. But many rescue dogs will have successfully lived with them in the past and can do so in a new family. 

It's okay to give human food to pets

A wagging tail always means a happy dog, Dogs only see in black and white, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, One dog year equals seven human years, If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand, Rubbing your dog's nose in an accident curbs future behavior, A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick, Always spay or neuter at a young age, Dogs only need physical exercise, A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's, Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them, Dogs only need to go to the vet when they're sick, Use dog treats to bribe your pet, It's important to show your dominance, Having two puppies at once is best, as they'll have a playmate, Short-haired dogs don't need grooming, Puppies will stop chewing once they lose their baby teeth, It's not suitable to have a rescue dog with a young family, It's okay to give human food to pets

Given the vast difference between the digestive systems of humans and dogs, their ability to process food is very different. Hence, certain items like berries, chocolate, milk, fried food, dry fruits, coffee, and processed meat must be avoided.

Sources: (Reader's Digest) (Pupford) (Blue Cross) 

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