Busting Dog Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction

Introduction

Dogs are one of the most popular pets in America. They're also one of the most misunderstood animals, even by their owners. While there may be no shortage of information about dogs out there -- including a bunch of myths! -- we've rounded up some common misconceptions that people have about dogs and put them to rest once and for all.

Myth: You can train dogs to act like cats.

You can't train a dog to act like a cat, and vice versa. Dogs are not cats, and they have very different personalities and needs.

The main difference between dogs and cats is that dogs are pack animals while cats are solitary hunters who live in groups called colonies. This means that dogs have been domesticated by humans for centuries--they thrive on human companionship and interaction with other animals (especially humans), while cats prefer to be left alone most of the time unless they're hunting or taking care of their young offspring.

Cats live longer than most dogs do because they don't have as many health issues related to age; however, both species require regular veterinary checkups throughout their lives so that any problems can be caught early on before becoming serious issues later down the road!

Myth: Dogs have a gut reaction when they see their owners.

While it's true that dogs can be trained to react in a certain way when they see their owners, it's not always the case. Dogs can also be trained to react differently to different people, meaning they may not always know who their owner is by sight alone.

Additionally, while some dogs do seem able to tell the difference between people they know and strangers simply by looking at them (even if they haven't seen each other before), many others cannot do this--at least not reliably enough for us humans who are used to reading faces better than our furry friends!

In fact, there are many factors that go into reading body language correctly: age of dog; breed; sex; experience level with training/socialization; health status etcetera... So unless you have been specifically trained as an expert in understanding canine behavior (like I have!), then chances are good that even if your dog seems friendly towards strangers all day long - there could still be something else going on behind those adorable eyes...

Myth: All small dogs are lapdogs.

While all dogs can be lapdogs, not all small dogs are. Some of them may be good guard dogs and others may be better suited for apartment living.

• If you want a dog that is going to sit on your lap most of the time and snuggle with you, then a large breed would probably be better suited for this task than a small one.

• If however, it's more important for your pet to have some independence and be able to roam around outside without being underfoot all day long, then perhaps one of these smaller breeds could work as well!

Myth: Dogs have shorter attention spans than humans.

It's a common misconception that dogs have shorter attention spans than humans. In fact, they can focus on a task for longer than humans can.

A study done by the University of Cambridge found that dogs are able to maintain their focus on a task for up to 20 minutes, while humans only last about 5 minutes before losing interest or switching to something else (1). Another study showed that some dogs were able to stay focused on tasks for up to 4 hours (2).

Myth: Dogs can't count.

Dogs can count up to five, but not all dogs will be able to do this. Some dogs have what is called "high working intelligence," which means that they are able to learn new things faster than others. If you want your dog to learn how to count, start with one object at a time and then build up from there. When teaching them how many objects are in something like food or toys, it helps if those items are different sizes so your dog can tell them apart easily by size alone (for example, one treat versus four treats).

You may also want to try teaching your dog how many times they hear certain sounds--like when the doorbell rings or when someone knocks on their crate door--or if there's another way for them understand what number corresponds with each sound?

Myth: It's not possible to train a deaf dog.

While it's true that deaf dogs cannot respond to verbal commands and whistles, it is still possible for them to be trained. In fact, there are many options available for training a deaf dog. Hand signals and tapping on the floor are two examples of non-verbal cues that can be used by owners in place of verbal commands. Dogs also have an excellent sense of smell, so if you want your pup to respond when he smells something specific (like food or another animal), then this can work well too!

The bottom line: don't let being unable to hear stop you from adopting an adorable pup; there are plenty of ways around these common misconceptions!

Myth: You should never touch your dog's head or face because it's bad for them.

The truth is that touching your dog's head and face is not bad for them. Dogs have a sensitive sense of smell, so it's important to wash your hands after touching their face. When you touch the top of their head or muzzle, they may lick you in return--but this isn't an act of aggression; it's just how dogs show affection!

Myth: If you spay or neuter your dog too young, they won't be able to breed later in life.

If you've heard this myth, it's time to bust it. Spaying and neutering is a good idea for many reasons, but there are no negative side effects from doing so early in your dog's life. In fact, if you wait too long and let them go through puberty before getting them fixed, they may develop health problems associated with their reproductive system later on--like testicular cancer or uterine infections.

There are many benefits to spaying and neutering:

• Spayed females won't go into heat and attract unwanted male attention while you're out walking them; they also won't get pregnant or have puppies (which can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars).

• Neutered males aren't as likely to mark their territory by urinating all over the yard (and thus making it smell bad).

Myth: Dogs don't get jealous of each other if they're male-male or female-female pairs and they're raised together from birth.

It's true that dogs can experience jealousy. A dog who has been raised with another dog or animals, including humans, may become jealous if they start to receive more attention than the other members of his pack.

It's also important to note that jealousy isn't limited to just pairs of animals--it can happen in groups as well. If you have multiple dogs at home and one gets more treats than another, for example, this could cause tension between them and lead to some serious problems down the road!

There are a lot of misconceptions about dogs out there -- but they don't have to be true!

There are a lot of misconceptions about dogs out there -- but they don't have to be true!

Misconception: Dogs are like cats.

Truth: Dogs are not really cats and vice versa. While both pets can be trained to do many things, they're still very different animals. In fact, dogs' brains work differently than humans' do because they haven't evolved as much over time; this means that your dog will never be able to understand things like quantum physics or the meaning behind Van Gogh's paintings (but it doesn't mean he isn't smart).

Misconception: My pup will freak out when he sees me after being gone all day at work. Truth: All dogs are different even within the same breed (like Border Collies) so some might get excited when their owners come home while others may not care at all! The key here is finding out what works best for both yourself and your furry friend before making any decisions about training him/her further down the road."

Conclusion

Dogs are great companions, but they come in all shapes and sizes. It's important to know what type of dog is right for you and your family before bringing one into your life. You can also learn how to train your dog at home with just a few simple commands!