Dr Kylie Mitchell, Vet Advisor and Relationship Manager

As a proud dog parent, you’ve probably come across plenty of information about dogs whether that’s through online forums, chats at the dog park or through your own personal network. With oodles of information, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction, so in this article we’ll decode some common myths.

Myth 1: Dogs are colourblind

A common myth is that dogs only see the world in shades of black and white, but this is far from the truth. While dogs don’t see colours the same way we do, they aren’t colourblind. Dogs have dichromatic vision which means they see the world mainly in shades of blue and yellow#. Knowing how your fur baby sees the world can help explain why a green toy might be hard for them to see in grass or why a red objective might not stand out as much to them.

Myth 2: Dogs only eat grass when they are sick

People often say dogs only eat grass when they are sick, but studies of canine grass eating behaviour^ show that dogs may eat grass for plenty of reasons. Nibbling away on grass could just be a sign of hunger and is generally considered normal behaviour.

But if your notice your dog going to town by eating excessive amounts of grass, and if they are vomiting or showing any other unusual signs, it’s best to take them straight to the vet for a check-up.

Myth 3: If dogs drag their bottom, they’ve got worms

Another common myth is not dogs only drag their bottoms of they’ve got worms! While it’s true that worms can be a potential cause of an irritated bottom, this behaviour could always come down to other things like anal gland irritation or allergies. Make sure your pooch is up to date with preventative treatments to try and protect them from worms.

Myth 4: If a dog’s nose is dry as a bone, they must be sick

Okay, so this one is a little more complicated. A moist nose is normal in dogs as it can help with their sense of smell. However, a dry nose is not always a sign that something is wrong either. A common time for a dog to have a dry nose is when they have just woken up from a nap because while they are sleeping they aren’t sniffing, so their nose doesn’t need to be wet.

Keep in mind that a dry nose could also be a result of environmental factors like humidity. That said, there are diseases that can cause a dry nose in dogs including dehydration, fever, allergies, and autoimmune diseases so make sure you keep a close eye on your fur baby and consider their dry nose in the context of their overall health and behaviour.

Myth 5: One human year equals 7 dog years

We all know the saying that one dog year equals seven human years, but it’s not quite this simple.

Dogs age at varying rates, depending on their size and their breed. Studies show smaller dog breeds generally reach maturity more rapidly than larger breeds*. As dogs age, the differences continue with larger dogs generally aging more quickly than smaller dogs.

In general, this means the life expectancy of small dogs is longer than large or giant breeds.

So there you have it, five common dog myths debunked. Dogs are incredible creatures so knowing the truth about their behaviour and health means we can be better dog parents, so we can better understand the signs of their behaviour and live happier and healthier lives together.

 

References:

# Color vision in the dog, Cambridge University (2009)

^Grass eating patterns in the domestic dog, Canis familiaris, University of New England (date not published)

*AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines, American Animal Hospital Assocation (2019)

 

Supporting research:

Reduction in grass eating behaviours in the domestic dog, Canis familiaris, in response to a mild gastrointestinal disturbance

Caring for senior cats and dogs