19 common ‘facts’ about dogs that are actually false

“Spaying and neutering dogs at a young age was happening at an alarming rate several years ago, and many veterinarians took the stance of ‘the younger, the better,’” says dog trainer, Adam Gibson. The idea is that early neutering or spaying will curb behavioural issues as the pet gets older. Gibson points out that numerous studies have shown this to be untrue and waiting to neuter your dog may be safer in the long run. “There are also added health benefits to allowing dogs to keep their reproductive organs intact into adulthood,” Gibson says. The community is responding to this new data, and more vets and owners are waiting six months to one year to spay or neuter pups.

Sure, they taste good, and your dog might beg for them, but the best dog treats aren’t just a way to bribe your pet into following your orders. The best dog trainers view treats as rewards – not bribes. “Treats are a really great way to show your dog that their consistent good behaviour or listening is going to be positively reinforced with a reward,” says Nick Navarro, a professional dog trainer.

“When we’re training our dogs’ behaviours, we want to consider when we are giving them their treats. If you’re giving them treats before a bad behaviour happens, that would be considered a bribe. However, after they do something good – like dropping something they shouldn’t be chewing on or coming when called – you should definitely be digging into that treat jar for a job well done.” Bottom line: Treats (store-bought and homemake dog treats) are an excellent training tool for young dogs. Combine it with other training methods, and you’ll have an all-star pup in no time.

If you see these behaviours, your dog might need obedience training.

This is one of the most common dog myths vets encounter. If a dog’s saliva was as antibacterial as the myth states, they’d be walking medical superheroes. Sure, dogs are superheroes in their own right, but this is one dog myth we’ve got to put to rest. “While dog saliva has a slightly more alkaline pH, which can discourage some bacteria from reproducing, it’s not truly antibacterial,” says Dr Trimble. “In fact, as a vet, one of the most common causes of canine skin infections we see is from a dog licking a wound or itchy spot too much.”

Dogs and wolves may come from the same lineage, but treating them as an interchangeable species is not ideal and can even impact their health. Dogs evolved from wolves more than 11,000 years ago, says Dr Trimble, and over that evolution, they’ve become two entirely different creatures. “Dogs should not eat the wild-wolf-type diet that’s becoming popular by boutique pet food manufacturers,” she says.

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Known as the alpha wolf theory, McMillan explains that it became a popular dog training method after wolves were first studied in captivity. However, with time, we’ve learned that dominance isn’t necessarily the best approach. “Later studies of wild wolves showed that packs are just families, with the older wolves caring for and teaching the younger ones until they’re old enough to leave,” McMillan says.

“Modern dog trainers use behavioural principles to look at the antecedents and consequences of behaviour, managing the environment, meeting dogs’ needs for social time, enrichment and exercise, and teaching dogs what we want them to do, rather than solely punishing them when they misbehave.”

This is one of those dog training myths that does more harm than good. Because dogs tend to understand behavioural problems at the time the behaviour occurs, rubbing your dog’s nose in an accident when you come home and find it likely will not help them make the connection. “When you do this, you’re in essence punishing a dog that doesn’t know why it’s being punished. This could exacerbate the issue and create more problems in the future,” warns Dr Christman. “Rather, it’s best to catch them in the act and redirect them to their proper potty destination.”

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Adopting two puppies at once sounds like a perfectly reasonable approach – and one that promises countless adorable puppy pictures. But it’s one of those dog myths that may lead to headaches all around, warns Gibson. “From a training and behavioural standpoint, the biggest issues I see with two young puppies being raised together are that they end up being much harder to train,” he says. Even if they are one of the easiest dog breeds to train, “they are oftentimes so co-dependent upon each other that they don’t seem to develop nearly as much as a puppy raised appropriately by itself.” Additionally, Gibson says they tend to be distracted by each other, and because their bond is so strong, they tend to place less value on their human relationships.

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What do dogs want? If your answer is love, you’re only partially right. Love is important when it comes to fostering a healthy relationship with your pup and training them well, but don’t confuse love with poor boundaries. “Pets are increasingly seen as part of the family, and that can be wonderful,” says Roa. “We often want to indulge them by giving them the comfiest seat in the house or food from the table, but that can backfire. Like human children, furry kids require boundaries. Without boundaries, you will end up with many behavioural issues that can include aggression.” Dogs don’t think that humans are dogs, which means boundaries set by humans are beneficial. For Roa, gentle guidance and redirection are vital to establish a mutually respectful bond that benefits both pets and their humans.

Dogs are highly emotional, and it affects their behaviours. If you catch your dog mid-yawn, you might just assume it’s feeling sleepy and ready for a nap. That’s a reason humans yawn, after all. But not so fast! Yawning is common in dogs, and while they may yawn when they are tired, Dr Butzer says dogs also yawn due to boredom, anxiety, stress or when they want to get away with something. “For example, my dog will yawn when she has to sit still on the couch while we are eating dinner in the dining room. Dogs will also yawn during a veterinary visit due to stress or wanting to leave the appointment.”

When people think of dog grooming, they often think of haircuts. So it’s easy to assume that only long-haired dogs would need routine maintenance. But that’s one of those dog myths that’s bad for their health. The reality is that whether you choose to see a professional or groom your dog at home, every dog requires grooming to maintain good health. “All dogs need routine care, like bathing, ear cleaning, nail clipping and teeth brushing, to stay clean, comfortable and healthy,” says Vogel. “For example, long nails aren’t just unattractive or noisy – they can affect your dog’s overall health and comfort.” Routine ear checks and cleaning can ensure your dog is free of parasites, while brushing and bathing removes loose hair and dander. “Basic hygiene and grooming services aren’t luxuries reserved for special occasions; they’re imperative to maintaining your dog’s overall health and wellness.”

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Source: RD.com