The Truth about Dog Myths

Are dog myths true or false? Well, it depends on the myth, and here are four great myths to explore.

Have you ever heard that letting a dog lick your wound can heal it faster? Dogs have licked their wounds for as long as history can remember. This licking helps to clean the lesion and rid it of bacteria. Removing bacteria helps to promote healing. If however, the licking persists, it may actually prevent the wound from healing. Dog saliva does not have actual healing powers, just rather cleaning powers. Of course, removing bacteria is the first step to healing for any wound.

So, should you let your dog lick your wound? No. If you have an antibacterial rinse or soap available, why not just use that? There are many different germs on a dogs tongue and they will probably cause an infection if you let him lick your wound.

Another dog myth is that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. This myth is false because really it depends upon the training method and the dog. Yes, some dogs may be stubborn and seemingly untrainable but with some work you will likely see results. The way to any old dog’s heart is through their stomach, so be sure to bring treats.

You should be able to teach your old dog many new tricks because you have already established a relationship with them, so they are trusting of you. Try to stay consist with positive training methods and avoid punishment.

It is with great hope that you never have to find out if it is really possible to fool a bloodhound. This myth says that you can hide your tracks from a bloodhound by going in a zig-zag pattern, climbing trees, moving upstream and crossing running water.

If you cross a river, the humans working with the dog will see where your path ended and help the dog to cross the water to pick up your scent on the other side. If you decide to stay in the water for a while and move upstream or evendown stream, you will have to get out eventually and the humans who are working with the dog know this. They will probably comb the banks of the river or lake where you are until the bloodhound finds the scent again. Bloodhound noses are strong. If your scent is there, they will find it.

If you believe that a wagging tail is always the sign of a happy dog, you should be aware that this myth is false. Yes, dogs do wag their tails when they are happy, but not all tail wags equal happiness.

A tail that is held high and wagged may mean that the dog’s guard is up. They may be ready to pounce. Another bad tail wag is a low wag. A dog who wags their tail low to the ground may be feeling submissive or scared. This type of tail wag is not as broad as the high or medium tail wagging movement. A slow tail wag may even mean the dog is confused or worried. You should also pay attention to any nervousness in the dog’s face.

A good tail wag is usually right in the middle and accompanied by a smiling dog face. This middle wag signals friendless and a lowered guard.

So, as you can see, the truth of a dog myth depends on the individual nature of a dog and it depends on the situation in which the dog is involved. Never believe a dog myth until you have a chance to explore it for yourself.