You won't believe it! 5 Myths about dogs we've accepted as truth, but what does science say?

Have you ever wished you could understand your dog? If so, you know that your furry friend is more than just a pet. Because of that great love, we sometimes follow old beliefs, thinking we're doing the right thing. But what if I told you that many of those lifelong beliefs are myths that confuse the care of your best friend?

Today, in a simple way, we will discover the science behind the most popular beliefs. Get ready to truly get to know your dog!

1. “One dog year equals 7 human years”

• The myth that one dog year equals seven human years is false. A recent study compares the DNA of a one-year-old dog with that of a 30-year-old human, finding similarities.
• It is believed that this was a simple way to remember that dogs age faster. Dogs age very quickly in the first two years, then the pace slows down. It is important to consider that aging varies significantly by breed.
• Assuming a 5-year-old dog "is young" can be dangerous. Large and giant breeds at that age may already require joint care.
• If you notice less activity, visit your local vet. A supplement like Waggy's NAD+ can help them regain their vitality and give you more years together.

2. "He wags his tail because he's happy"

• This is the most dangerous misunderstanding of all. Seeing a wagging tail makes us let our guard down, but for a dog, its tail is its way of speaking, and it doesn't always say "I love you."
• This is a reflection of its brain. It has been discovered that if the tail leans more to the right, the dog is feeling something positive. If it leans to the left, be careful! It could be feeling anxiety or fear.
• Learn to look at its entire body. If you see it restless, Waggy's Relax can help it feel calmer and more secure in stressful situations.

🟡 Important: A quick, stiff movement can be a warning sign.

3. "He eats grass to purge himself"

• Does your dog eat grass like a cow? Although it is believed to be due to stomach pain, to vomit, or to deworm itself, most do it out of pleasure or boredom.
• Only 22% of dogs who eat grass vomit afterward. If it does it compulsively, it could be a lack of fiber or stress. The real danger is chemicals or parasites in the grass. If it vomits frequently, consult your veterinarian.

⭐ Pro Tip: Give him Waggy's Belly to strengthen his immune system and take care of his tummy.

4. "Dogs see in black and white"

• Sometimes we feel sorry thinking that they cannot see the colors of a sunset, but their world is not a 1940s movie.
• Dogs do see colors, but differently. Their vision is like that of a colorblind person. They can see blues and yellows perfectly, but red and green look like shades of gray or brown.
• A shiny coat and clear eyes start from within with good nutrition; support them with Shine and Super salmon oil.

👀 Fun Fact: That's why sometimes he can't find the red ball in the green grass; for them, everything is the same color. Buy him a blue ball and you'll notice the difference!

5. "Dry nose = Fever"

• This is the most used "thermometer" in the world and, unfortunately, the most flawed.
• A dog's nose can be dry simply because it just woke up, because the environment is very hot, or because it hasn't licked its nose in a while.
• A dog can have a wet nose and be burning with fever, or have a dry nose and be perfectly healthy.
• If you notice that he doesn't want to eat, is very sad, or his ears feel very hot, don't go by his nose. The best thing is always a visit to your local vet to clear up any doubts.

Beyond the myth

Our dogs give us their hearts unconditionally. Understanding their true nature, without myths, is the best way to say "thank you for being with me." Let's keep learning so that their only concern is deciding what their favorite toy of the day is!

References

• Quaranta, A., Siniscalchi, M., & Vallortigara, G. (2007). Asymmetric tail-wagging responses by dogs to different emotive stimuli. Current biology:CB, 17(6), R199–R201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2007.02.008 
• Siniscalchi, M., d'Ingeo, S., Fornelli, S., & Quaranta, A. (2017). Are dogs red-green colour blind?. Royal Society open science, 4(11), 170869. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.170869 
• Siniscalchi, M., Lusito, R., Vallortigara, G., & Quaranta, A. (2013). Seeing left- or right-asymmetric tail wagging produces different emotional responses in dogs. Current biology:CB, 23(22), 2279–2282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2013.09.027
• Sueda, K. L. C., Hart, B. L., & Cliff, K. D. (2008). Characterisation of plant eating in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 111(1–2), 120–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2007.05.018 
• Wang, T., Ma, J., Hogan, A. N., Fong, S., Licon, K., Tsui, B., Kreisberg, J. F., Adams, P. D., Carvunis, A. R., Bannasch, D. L., Ostrander, E. A., & Ideker, T. (2020). Quantitative Translation of Dog-to-Human Aging by Conserved Remodeling of the DNA Methylome. Cell systems, 11(2), 176–185.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cels.2020.06.006