Five Common Myths About Dogs

Dogs are receiving a tremendous amount of attention of late. New TV shows, new products, and new books spring up all the time. It’s been a pleasure to watch as the collective consciousness has risen over the past few years. But a few myths and misunderstandings are still very persistent. Here’s a short list with some myth-busting (I hope) facts.

1. A wagging tail means a dog is friendly. This is a very common misconception. Probably the best explanation I’ve ever heard for a wagging tail is “willingness to interact.” That statement leaves a lot of room for different intentions on the part of the dog. The fact is, trying to read a dog’s feelings or intent on any one body part is a mistake. You need to look at the entire dog.
2. Growling is always unacceptable. Less common, but something I do run into quite often. Dogs have a very limited vocal range, and like reading body language, making a judgement based on a single indicator like a growl is a bad idea. Growling during play, such as a game of tug, is perfectly fine. Moreover, as Erica at Dog Star Daily points out, a growl can be a huge favor.
3. “He tried to bite me.” No he didn’t. He snapped at you. Dogs are faster than you, and if they want to place their teeth on you, they will. He warned you and was probably being very patient. Think about that for a while.
4. “She knows she did something wrong. She looks guilty.” No she doesn’t and no she does not. Dogs don’t have guilty looks. Recent research indicates that what we frequently interpret as guilty looks are really responses to our behavior.
5. Feeding a dog “people food” will make her beg for more. No, feeding a dog from the table, will make her beg. What do you think would happen if you fed her her kibble from the table? Food is food as far as dogs are concerned, and if they are successful in getting some in a given situation, they will try if that situation surfaces again. People food is fine for trying, and is usually healthier than most of the stuff sold as dog treats.

Do you know any other myths that I have missed?

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