Dog Myths and Untruths

Puppies should not be brought home until they are *at least* seven weeks old. This is true as they need this time to learn how to be dogs- from their litter mates and from their mom. In many areas, it’s illegal to sell puppies before they are eight weeks old.

A pet store is a bad place to buy a puppy. Pet stores are absolutely HORRID places to buy a puppy. Caring breeders never send their pups off to a pet store to be sold to anyone who has the ca$h to buy them. Most pet store pups come from horrible puppy mills- see www.nopuppymills.com for more info.

Purebred dogs are *always* less healthy than mutts. This is obviously untrue- some mixed breed dogs do suffer from genetic diseases like hip dysplasia, epilepsy, hypothyroidism and PRA, and many purebreds are perfectly healthy throughout their lives.

Female dogs have better personalities if they are allowed to have a litter before being spayed. Studies have shown this to be false. Many of the health benefits of spaying occur only if the bitch is spayed before that first litter.

The jaws of pit bulls are anatomically different from those of other dogs so that they can lock shut when they fight. They are jaws like any other jaws, and they have no special ‘locking’ device.

The Chinese Crested and other hairless dogs have higher body temperatures than dogs with hair. They just feel warmer because they don’t have any hair.

The poodle originated in France. It’s actually a German breed. Its name comes from the Old German word ‘pudeln’ meaning to splash in puddles. It was originally a retrieving breed.

The dog was the first domesticated animal. This is a true statement.

Mixed-breed dogs do not get hip dysplasia. False, they also get this crippling disorder.

Some drug-detecting dogs are trained by addicting them to the drug that they are supposed to find. This is definitely false. In fact, they are trained by associating the smell of the drug with a special toy or treat.

If your dog makes a mess on the carpet, you should rub his nose in it to teach him not to go in the house. All this does is train your dog to go on the carpet without letting you see him!

Only male dogs raise a leg to urinate. Many very dominant females also raise a leg- just not as high as males!

Dogs who are just household pets don’t need obedience training. Obedience-trained dogs can really be your companions! My dogs have gone on airplanes, in stores, to schools and hospitals, and on vacation. Untrained dogs can’t share these experiences.

The best way to get your dog trained is to have someone else do it. Nope. If someone else trains your dog, the dog will listen to that person- not you!

In laboratory tests, dogs really are ‘smarter’ than cats. Sorry, cat fans. Dogs are far superior at problem-solving, puzzle boxes, learning commands, etc.