Five persistent myths about dogs

A warm nose means illness, wagging means joy and old dogs no longer learn. Such sentences sound simple, but they don't do the dog justice. Five common misconceptions show why context and body language are so important.

Myths often persist because they are easy to remember. However, dog behaviour and health are rarely explained with a single rule. If you look more closely, you will see more and make better decisions for your own dog.

The temperature and humidity of the nose fluctuate throughout the day. After sleeping, in warm indoor air or after sun, the nose can be dry and warm. A sick dog may also have a cool, wet nose.

Behaviour, appetite, breathing, vomiting, diarrhoea and actual body temperature are more meaningful. Persistent cracks, discharge, bleeding or other complaints should be examined.

Wagging initially shows excitement. This can be friendly, insecure, tense or conflictual. The height, speed and mobility of the tail provide clues, but alone are not enough.

Look at the whole body:

A dog with a stiff body, fixed gaze and short, high wags needs distance, even if the tail moves.

Many dogs occasionally eat grass without appearing sick beforehand. Taste, smell, habit or keeping occupied can play a role. Only some dogs vomit afterwards.

Frequent hasty eating of grass along with vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss or fatigue should be investigated. Also avoid areas with pesticides and unknown poisonous plants.

Dogs see colours, but differently than humans. Their colour perception is primarily focused on blue and yellow. Red and green are much harder to distinguish.

This comes in handy during training. A blue or yellow object often stands out better on a meadow than a red toy. Dogs compensate for their limited colour differentiation with good movement perception, smell and other senses.

Seniors can also learn new signals, routines and tricks. Training simply needs to be adapted to hearing, vision, mobility and concentration.

Short sessions, non-slip floors and easy tasks promote success. Learning can provide security and strengthen relationships. If a senior suddenly forgets familiar things or appears disoriented, a medical cause should first be ruled out.

A single sign leads to quick conclusions. Wagging is interpreted as consent, even though the dog needs distance. A wet nose is calming even though the dog is weak. Eating grass is dismissed as harmless, even though blood is also vomited.

Good observation therefore asks:

Observe your dog in relaxed situations. How does your dog hold the tail and ears? How does breathing change after exercise? What do his gums look like normally? Which games motivate him?

Videos can help detect small changes. Compare similar situations and avoid premature labels such as stubborn, dominant or lazy. Pain, insecurity and excessive demands can significantly change behaviour.

Dogs are more complex than simple mnemonics. A warm nose is not a fever test. Wagging is not automatically joy. Eating grass is often normal, but not always. Dogs see colours and seniors can learn. If you pay attention to the context and the bigger picture, you will understand your dog more reliably.