Dogzippy

Dogs aren’t actually color-blind

This is one of the most common dog “facts” that are actually false. Despite a prevailing myth that dogs can only see in black and white, your pooch actually can see a spectrum of color. While they do have trouble distinguishing between different shades of green and red, which will mostly just appear as grays and browns, blue and yellow tones are relatively clear to them.

Dogs p**ping has a pattern

Ever wonder why dogs like to twirl around before they do their business? Well, it’s one of the many dog behaviors that perplex researchers, but the prevailing theory is that it has to do with the Earth’s magnetic field. Dogs like to p**p facing north or south, and spinning around helps them correctly orient their internal compasses.

Your dog’s feet might smell like corn

Some pet owners might notice the faint scent of corn chips or popcorn lingering around their dog. This is called “Frito feet,” and it happens when sweat and bacteria build up in the paws.

Those dog “kisses” don’t mean what you think

You might think a lick to the face is your dog’s way of giving you a kiss. But that’s another popular dog fact that’s not quite true. “Kissing” isn’t a form of showing affection that comes naturally to dogs, so your snout-smooches may not be received as lovingly as you might think. If they lick your face—or make other motions like shifting their position, yawning, or licking their own lips—this could actually be a sign they want you to give them space, since having a face so close to their own could be viewed as aggressive or threatening. But, of course, dogs have been adapting to live with humans for thousands of years, and the Happy Puppy Site says that some dogs do catch on and learn to associate the kisses with affection.

Sticking your hand out isn’t the best way to introduce yourself to a new dog

This is another of the fun facts about dogs that aren’t quite true. You probably grew up believing that the old “hold your hand out to an unfamiliar dog, let it smell you” advice was gospel. And it can work, but you have to be careful about how you do it. Just shoving your hand toward a strange dog’s face can scare or alienate her. You’re better off letting the dog approach you first and then offering your hand to the dog to smell, rather than assuming she wants to and waving your hand under her nose. And approach the dog from the side, rather than from straight on, if you must approach the dog yourself.

A dog’s yawn is not quite the same as a human’s yawn When your dog lets out a big yawn, you probably just assume it means what it does when we yawn—that he’s sleepy. And it certainly can be a sign of tiredness, but dogs yawn for other reasons as well. Dogs can also yawn to calm themselves down, so repeated yawns could be a sign that your pup is feeling anxious or stressed out. It’s similar to the way a cat’s purr can mean lots of different things, so assessing the context of the situation can usually help you figure out what’s going on.