6 myths about dogs that we always believed certain

Dogs eat grass when they are sick

A common myth states that dogs voluntarily feed on grass to provoke vomiting when they are sick. Although some veterinarians say that it is a kind of purgative that helps keep the digestive system in order, the reality is that this is not a consistent behavior and many dogs include grass in their diet only because they like it.

Seven dog years are one human

How old is your dog in human terms? The idea that it is possible to know the "human age" of your pet is one of the most common myths about dogs. Actually, it is a nonsensical comparison, since both species develop in completely different times and ways: while a dog reaches maturity only in the first year of life becoming an adult, a human requires approximately 18 years to reach such a biological age .

They smell the fear

The canine myth par excellence. Believing that dogs have the ability to smell human fear is widely accepted, but that does not mean it is true. This false idea is based on the prodigious sense of canine smell, especially sensitive to certain aromas; However, there is no scientific evidence to believe that our body emits any substance every time we feel fear (not even proven the existence of human pheromones).

Move the tail for happiness

For many, there is no better indication of the joy and vitality of your pet than the rapid movement of its tail. It is common for dogs to shake vigorously before a greater stimulus, such as the arrival of their owners or the excitement of going for a walk; however, this agitation does not always correspond. In moments of extreme tension or self-defense, some dogs also wave their tails due to the stress of the situation.

Some breeds lock their jaws when they bite

Have you ever heard that the Dobermann or pit bull are more aggressive than the others because they "lock" their jaw when they bite? It is a myth that has no application in reality: despite their differences, the canine jaws are designed to open and close continuously, exert specific pressure (the same to cut meat, hold a prey or load their puppies) and it does not have to "lock". This mistaken view is the product of disinformation and bad breeding of popular breeds that, unfortunately, are exploited for the lower purposes (like dog fights) or educated in a violent environment.

They only see black and white

For centuries, it was believed that dogs had poor vision and perceived the world only in black and white; However, today we know that despite not having a privileged view, they are able to distinguish some chromatic tonalities. The possibility of seeing each color of the electromagnetic spectrum according to its wavelength is given by the cones, cells sensitive to light whose development varies according to the species. In the case of dogs, they only have two types of cones and they perceive especially blue, yellow and green shades, but not with pink or orange.